NHL Best Bets Today: 4 Expert Picks With a Juicy Underdog (Thursday, January 25)
Kirk Irwin/NHLI via Getty Images. Pictured: Cole Sillinger #4 of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Check out our NHL best bets today for Thursday, January 25 – our top hockey picks and predictions.
The Action Network's hockey experts have compiled their favorite betting picks for tonight's nine-game slate, which we've also covered exhaustively with our individual NHL game guides.
However, for our NHL best bets tonight, we're targeting four games in particular. Our experts have scoured the NHL odds boards and all of the betting markets, and they've uncovered a handful of moneyline and puck line plays that are full of value.
Tonight's NHL lineup kicks off at 7 p.m. ET, and the final puck drop is set for 9 p.m. ET, so we've got night-long betting opportunities to tail.
Below, check out our expert picks for those games, which are all available on ESPN+.
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NHL Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our NHL betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NHL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Bruins vs. Senators
By Carol Schram
Most days, this should be an easy win for the Bruins. But on Thursday, this is a sweet spot on the schedule for the Senators.
They’re on their hottest streak of the year with seven of a possible eight points in their last four games. All signs suggest that they’re starting to get into sync with their new coach, Jaques Martin, and Joonas Korpisalo has been playing well in net since Anton Forsberg went down with a groin injury.
Meanwhile, the Bruins on the second half of a back-to-back after seeing a five-game winning streak snapped with a tough 3-2 home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. In the game, Boston controlled only 43% of expected goals at 5-on-5, went a grim 1-for-3 on the penalty kill, and saw Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark bested by journeyman Spencer Martin.
Now, they’re headed on the road to face a team that is finally sharing some good vibes with its fans after a frustrating few months. The Sens are also 2-0-0 since Shane Pinto returned from his gambling suspension on Jan. 21. Rested and ready to make amends as he shores up the Sens’ center depth, he has two points and is a plus-four through two games.
It may not be a beatdown, but Ottawa should give Boston some trouble and come away with two points.
Play the Senators down to +100.
Pick: Ottawa Moneyline (+115 at Caesars Sportsbook)
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Coyotes vs. Lightning
By Ryan Dadoun
Tampa Bay underperformed in the early portion of the campaign, suffering an 8-1 loss to Dallas to drop to 10-10-5 on Dec. 2.
That was the low point of the Lightning’s season, though, and they’ve since played like we’ve come to expect from the perennial contenders. They've posted a 15-8-0 record over their last 23 contests, including a run of six wins over their last seven games.
Lately, goaltending has played a prominent role in the Lightning’s success. Andrei Vasilevskiy didn’t make his season debut until Nov. 24, and the four-time Vezina Trophy finalist initially struggled after returning. However, the 29-year-old seems to have turned a corner as evidenced by his 5-1-0 record, 2.34 GAA and .919 save percentage over his past six appearances.
Vasilevskiy’s recent resurgence still pales in comparison to what Nikita Kucherov has done for the Lightning. The 30-year-old forward has an incredible 31 goals and 80 points through 47 games, putting him in a battle with Nathan MacKinnon for the scoring title. Kucherov is showing no signs of slowing either, providing six goals and 21 points across his last 11 outings.
The Coyotes have nothing comparable. Their top forward is Clayton Keller (19 goals, 24 assists), and their only other skater with at least 30 points is Matias Maccelli (seven goals, 25 assists). By contrast, Tampa Bay has five players with at least 40 points, so there’s a clear gap between these two offenses.
Additionally, the Coyotes are playing on the road and in the second half of a back-to-back after suffering a 6-2 loss to Florida on Wednesday, so a lot is stacked against them, making Tampa Bay a great pick on the puck line, where the spread is 1.5 goals in the Coyotes’ favor.T
The opening line was even better, but we'll take the +118 odds at FanDuel and play it down to +110.
Pick: Tampa Bay -1.5/Puck Line (+118 at FanDuel)
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Ducks vs. Stars
By Greg Liodice
The Dallas Stars are in the midst of a three-way battle for supremacy of the Central Division. In their quest to get closer to the top spot, they have the struggling Anaheim Ducks in their path.
It’s been a hard season for the Ducks, who are in full rebuild mode. They’re missing key players including Trevor Zegras, Alex Killorn, Pavel Mintyukov and Max Jones, so Anaheim is feeling shorthanded already.
Even in this ugly stretch, they came out on top on Tuesday against the Sabres, winning handily 5-2. But, the Sabres are not the Stars – and the Stars have the clear upper hand.
Dallas ranks in the top five in 5-on-5 play with a 53.57 xGF% (expected goals) and 2.35 xGA/60 (expected goals against per 60 minutes) whereas the Ducks are at the bottom of the barrel. They rank 25th with a 46.48 xGF%, and defensively they allow a 2.83 xGA/60.
Sometimes teams who have poor 5-on-5 play do better in special teams, but the Ducks don’t do that well either. Their 18% power play is no match for the Stars’ 83% penalty kill.
Dallas has all the makings of a Stanley Cup-winning team. Jason Robertson is playing his best hockey of the season, and his chemistry with Roope Hintz is unmatched.
My one concern here is goaltending, as Jake Oettinger isn’t the player we saw at the beginning of the season. However, if Dallas’ defense can hold on and stifle the ineffective Ducks (which I think it will), then the goaltending won’t be a problem.
Pick: Dallas -1.5/Puck Line (-125 at PointsBet)
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Blue Jackets vs. Flames
The Blue Jackets continue to play more competitive hockey than their actual results suggest, and that was the case again on Tuesday against the red-hot Oilers.
The Blue Jackets easily could have been up 3-1 entering the third period with any kind of puck-luck on some of their high-quality flurries.
The numbers agree with the eye test on the idea that the Blue Jackets are not playing like a pure bottom feeder anymore. In their last 10 games, they own a 48.35% expected goals rating, which is actually a highly competitive mark when we are talking about this kind of betting number.
The Flames also own a 44.28% expected goals rating in their last 10 games, and they've been getting by in large due to an unsustainably high finishing rate on low-danger chances.
Columbus is capable of hanging around at even strength with the Flames, and both teams own equally dreadful power plays beyond that.
Jacob Markstrom offers a significant edge in goal, but that is not enough for the Flames to be worthy of a -200 price tag in this spot.
Pick: Columbus Moneyline (+165 at PointsBet)
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