Richard Masana 
Welcome back to NHL Top Bets for the last NHL betting article for a few days with the All-Star Break starting on Thursday. The people made it known they wanted expanded NHL betting content, Win Daily listened and we have you covered below.
As always, think for yourself. The information below is only meant to supplement your knowledge and if you don’t agree with a portion, that’s fine, we’re all entitled to our own opinions. Also be sure to scour as many sportsbooks as possible before placing a bet as the odds tend to vary a little in most circumstances.
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NHL Bet Record “starting Jan 17, 2024” – 3-5
1/31 NHL Main Slate of Games – Beginning 7 p.m. ET
*All odds below have been obtained from DraftKings Sportsbook and are accurate as of the time of writing*
1/31 NHL Bets
Ottawa Senators at Detroit Red Wings – Detroit ML (-122) – 1 Unit
The pickings have been slim this week with so few games but we finally have a “big” three game slate tonight.
Let’s start at the top with the Ottawa/Detroit matchup. The Red Wings have been favored on the money line 16 times this season and have finished 11-5 in those games. The Senators have been made an underdog 27 times this season, and won eight, or only 29.6% of those games. From a surface view Ottawa has been a bit better lately. However, when we take a deeper dive, we see that aside from a pair of wins over Montreal, a win vs Philly and a win vs the Sharks, this team has lost ten of its last fourteen games. It goes without saying the “wins” listed above are not victories worthy of extended celebration.
Even though the Lions collapsed, the Red Wings continue to proudly represent and hold down all of Detroit. Over their last ten games, they are 7-2-1. In their last five wins, the Red Wings have given up five or fewer goals in each. The difference has been stellar play in net. As of the time of writing, Alex Lyon is expected to be in net for this matchup. Lyon is 13-6-1 this season with a 2.49 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. He has been particularly good in January, going 8-2-1 on the year with a .926 save percentage and a 2.51 goals-against average. In his last two starts, he has allowed only two goals on 60 shots, winning both games.
Los Angeles Kings at Nashville Predators – Nashville ML (-102) – 1 Unit
Looking at the second game of the night, I want no part of the Kings who are favored against the Predators despite their recent slide. Especially away in Nashville. Los Angeles has lost each of its past four games and 14 of its past 16, so my lean is certainly Nashville in this one.
In fact, I am not sure exactly why the Kings are favored in this one to begin with. On that note, I also wouldn’t be surprised if that line moves prior to gametime. You can also go for the under here and I think that’s a decent bet. With the Kings an absolute dumpster fire though as of late they shouldn’t be favored to win in a tough place to play like Nashville. The Predators have not been great over their last ten games (4-5-1) but are equal with the Kings on points for the season “52” and have a winning record (26-22-2).
The Kings have been favored on the money line 35 times this season and have gone 17-18 in those games. That’s pretty much the kiss of death for Los Angeles. Nashville isn’t an offensive powerhouse but plays good defense, gets solid if unspectacular goaltending from Juuse Saros (2.94 GAA, .903 SV %) and sticks to the script. Bridgestone Arena will be rocking and as far as this bet, “I like it, I love it, I want some more of it”. Until the Kings show they can snap their slide, let’s pile on.
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