NHL Best Bets Today, 1/31: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Friday
It's been a solid week of NHL Best Bets, and we have four games tonight to keep things rolling.
Despite the smaller slate, there are some elite players to target tonight, as we look to keep stacking up units!
NHL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 1/31
We had a very solid slate of NHL games yesterday and NHL Best Bets went 2-1, with both wins being at plus money!
Let's close out the week on a high note with a few more wins.
Predators vs. Sabres Prediction: Friday, January 31st
Filip Forsberg is, and always has been, a high-volume shooter. As usual, we see Forsberg in the top 10 of the league for shots on goal this season with 178 through 49 games, or 3.6 per game. While it's been a rough season for the Predators overall, Forsberg brings consistency every night, as we've seen over the last 10 games, where he has piled up 49 shots on goal.
This has been his calling card for years and it's not slowing down a decade into his career. As for tonight's matchup against the Buffalo Sabres, it shouldn't be slowing down either. Over the last month, the Sabres have allowed 59.9 Total Shot Attempts per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the 11th worst in the league.
For the Predators, they have generated 62.55 Total Shot Attempts in the same situations over the last month, which is the sixth-highest in the NHL. We have a team in the Predators who are using the pace on offense and the Sabres, who are allowing opposing offenses to pile up the attempts. It's a great spot for Forsberg to do his thing.
- Expert Predators vs. Sabres Picks:
- Filip Forsberg Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (-110 on DraftKings)
Blues vs. Avalanche Prediction: Friday, January 31st
After a huge trade last week, the new-look Colorado Avalanche offense has a good thing going with Martin Necas.
Right from the jump, they put him on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, which has led to four points and seven shots on goal in his first three games. I think all of that continues tonight and we see Necas get his first goal on his new team, in his first home game for his new team.
Over those three games, Necas has led the team with 16 High Danger Scoring Chances created, per NaturalStatTrick. He's always been great at driving to the net and that should be on full display tonight versus the Blues. Over their last five games, the Blues have allowed 1.48 High Danger Goals against per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the 11th worst in the league.
The Blues have been struggling on defense and Necas is good at precisely the thing the Blues are weak at. Simply put, Necas piles up the shots and will be in a good spot to grab his first goal on the Avalanche tonight.
- Expert Blues vs. Avalanche Picks:
- Martin Necas To Score a Goal (+220 on FanDuel)
- Martin Necas Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-125 on DraftKings)
Best NHL Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 1/31
- Dallas Stars 3-Way Money Line (+100 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
Player News
Miguel Vargas went 2-for-5 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored on Tuesday evening, propelling the White Sox to a 5-1 victory over the Reds in 10 innings.
Vargas smacked a leadoff double off of Andrew Abbott in the fourth inning and scored the game’s first run on an RBI knock by Edgar Quero. He then broke it open with a 373-foot (101.7 mph EV) three-run blast off of Emilio Pagan in the 10th inning that increased the White Sox’ lead to 5-1. Vargas has picked up the pace considerably since his brutal start to the season and is now hitting .221/.314/.350 with three homers and 15 RBI on the season.
Chase Meidroth delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the 10th inning on Tuesday night as the White Sox bested the Reds.
The 23-year-old rookie infielder had been hitless in four at-bats entering the 10th inning, but he saved the best for last, smacking a two-out, two-strike offering from Emilio Pagan for an RBI single that gave the White Sox a 2-1 lead they would never relinquish. With his 1-for-5 night, Meidroth is now slashing .242/.333/.273 with zero homers, three RBI and three stolen bases over 75 plate appearances in his first 20 games with the White Sox.
Steven Wilson picked up his second blown save of the season on Tuesday night, serving up a game-tying solo homer to Elly De La Cruz in the ninth inning.
Wilson was called upon to face the heart of the Reds’ lineup with the White Sox clinging to 1-0 advantage on Tuesday. He wound up giving up that game-tying blast to De La Cruz after a six-pitch battle, then rebounded to retire each of the next three hitters in order. Wilson was then the beneficiary of the White Sox scoring four times in the home half of the 10th as he snagged his first victory of the season. Cam Booser, who had received the White Sox’ previous save chance, worked a scoreless 10th inning in this one and may be the arm to speculate on in the White Sox’ bullpen for those desperate in saves.
Jonathan Cannon was brilliant in a no-decision against the Reds on Tuesday, allowing just four hits over six innings of shutout baseball.
The 24-year-old right-hander racked up six strikeouts on the night and didn’t walk a batter. He exited with a 1-0 lead and in line for a hard-earned victory, but the White Sox’ bullpen was unable to hang on for him. Cannon got seven swings and misses on 96 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 25 percent. He’ll see if he can build off of this success as he carries a 3.60 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 39/17 K/BB ratio (50 innings) into Sunday’s battle against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Elly De La Cruz swatted a game-tying home run in the ninth inning on Tuesday, but the Reds would wind up falling to the White Sox in extra innings.
The Reds entered the ninth inning facing a 1-0 deficit until De La Cruz clobbered a leadoff 435-foot (114.9 mph EV) solo shot off of Steven Wilson that tied the game. The superstar shortstop also singled in the contest, finishing the night 2-for-4. On the season, he’s slashing .250/.324/.405 with seven homers, 30 RBI and 14 stolen bases.
Andrew Abbott was terrific in a no-decision against the White Sox on Tuesday night, piling up seven strikeouts over six innings of one-run baseball.
The 25-year-old southpaw scattered just four hits on the evening and did not walk a batter. The only run that the White Sox were able to muster against him came on an RBI single by Edgar Quero in the fourth inning. Abbott generated 13 swings and misses on 96 pitches on the night — eight of those on his fastball — while posting a CSW of 29 percent. He’ll bring a pristine 2.10 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and a 38/12 K/BB ratio (30 innings) into Sunday’s tilt against the Guardians.