Pick Management 
Jacob’s Above Average Plays is hitting the ice with three above-average NHL plays. He has one dog, one favorite, and a totals play that will help you to build that bankroll bigger and bigger.
Take Pittsburgh Penguins +105 versus Boston Bruins (7:00 pm EST, Thursday 16 January 2020)
This is simply a case of one team being injured, and the other getting their star player back. On paper, these teams are nearly identical, and both have above-average offenses and defenses. Pittsburgh ranks sixth in overall offense, while Boston ranks ninth on defense. Pittsburgh ranks eighth overall, while Boston ranks fifth. In the last ten games between these two teams, they have each won five. The difference here is going to be that Pittsburgh is at full strength now that team captain Sidney Crosby is back.
Bruins goalie, Tuukka Rask, is expected to miss this game due to the concussion he sustained in Tuesday’s game against Columbus, and I really do not like their chances against the Penguin’s offense with a backup goalie in. Pittsburgh has won eight of the last ten games, and are averaging three and a half goals per game. Their defense is allowing less than three goals per game (2.72). Boston has lost back to back games and was just shut out by Columbus.
The Penguins are working on catching the Metropolitan’s first-place team: Washington. They are just three games back, and I recently made futures bet on them to win the division – that’s how much I believe they will take first place. Part of that starts tonight, beating Boston who is two games ahead of the Pens in the Eastern Conference. This line opened with Penguins as +120 underdogs before the line dropped to +105, so I’d jump on this line quickly to still get plus money. Take Pittsburgh Penguins +105.
Take Nashville Predators -125 in regulation vs Anaheim Ducks (8:00 pm EST, Thursday 16 January 2020)
I’m going back to the well tonight as I go against the Ducks again. Anaheim is the second-worst team overall in hockey, and the only team that scores fewer goals per game than them is Detroit. They are facing an above-average offense in Nashville, and they are playing on the road where they have won just six games out of the twenty-four played. Nashville hasn’t been playing great overall lately, but they score an above-average amount of goals – especially when playing Anaheim.
Anaheim is just horrendous on offense. They score an average of just 2.3 goals per game when playing on the road, and they have lost all but three games to Nashville in the last ten played. The average score between these two teams in the last ten played has been: Nashville 3.9, Anaheim 2.4. Overall, Anaheim has lost seven of the last eight games and lost five straight road games – including losing five straight road games against Nashville. The Ducks defense isn’t any better. They rank 25th in the NHL in goals allowed on the road, allowing over three goals per game. They simply do not have the firepower to keep up with Nashville, and I doubt they find a way tonight.
With Nashville scoring an average of 3.38 goals per game and Anaheim’s recent form, I just do not see a win in Anaheim’s future tonight. I like Nashville to really beat up on Anaheim tonight as they rebound from a road loss to Edmonton in their last game. I’m taking Nashville to win in the first 60 minutes, and at a much better price than with overtime included. Taking Nashville to win in regulation. Nashville -125.
(For this bet to win Nashville must win in the first 60 minutes. If the game goes to overtime we have a loser. Odds provided by DraftKings.)
Take LA Kings versus Florida Panthers OVER 1.5 Goals First Period -155 (9:00 pm EST, Thursday 16 January 2020)
These are two of the best teams in the NHL when it comes to going over 1.5 goals in the first period. This year, the Kings have gone over in 62.5% of their games (30 of the 48 games played). Florida’s above-average offense loves to pour in goals all game, and that includes the first period. In the last ten games, Florida hasn’t just gone over 1.5 goals seven times, but two goals as well. The Panther offense averages 3.96 goals per game when playing at home, that ranks them second in the NHL in scoring at home.
I think Florida can get this done themselves, but it helps that the Kings go over in two-thirds of their games. This line is going to continue to go up as it gets closer to game time, so I would get this early. Take LA Kings versus Florida Panthers over 1.5 goals in the first period -155.
(For this bet to win the first-period score must be at least two goals. If the score is under two we have a loser. Odds provided by DraftKings.)
