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Top 3 NHL Best Bets, Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (1/19)

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We have a loaded 13-game slate of hockey on Thursday with some great matchups. Below, I give out my three best bets for Thursday's NHL slate.

Here are our other best bets for Thursday:

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Today’s Best NHL Bets

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New Jersey Devils (-125) @ Seattle Kraken (+105) | O/U 6.5 (+100/-120)

The Pacific Division’s Seattle Kraken host the Metropolitan Division’s New Jersey Devils in this cross-country tilt. New Jersey enters this contest in fantastic form, winning five straight games and seven of its last nine.

This trend will likely continue with goaltender Vitek Vanecek slated to take the crease for the Devils. Through 29 appearances between the pipes this season, Vanecek is 18-5-2 with a .914 save percentage (SV%) and 2.37 goals against average (GAA).

Entering this matchup in tremendous form, he is 6-0 with a .925 SV% and 2.29 GAA over his last six starts. Based on his metrics, regression should not be an issue as Vanecek ranks 10th among starting goaltenders in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60) at 5-on-5. In his last start against Seattle, Vanecek stopped 29 of 31 shots for a .935 SV% en route to a 5-2 win.

Across the ice, goaltender Martin Jones is projected to start between the pipes for the Kraken. While Jones has put together a somewhat solid campaign, his underlying metrics are concerning. He ranks in the bottom half among starting goaltenders in GSAx/60 at 5-on-5.

Not only do the Devils possess the goaltending advantage, but they also rank higher than Seattle in both expected goals per 60 minutes (xGF/60) and expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5-on-5. Back the road team with the better goaltender, offense and defense.

Best Bet: Devils ML (-125 via BetMGM)

Boston Bruins (-110) @ New York Rangers (-110) | O/U 6 (-104/-118)

There is an Eastern Conference tilt with the Metropolitan Division’s New York Rangers hosting the Atlantic Division’s Boston Bruins. A tremendous goaltending battle should be in store as Jeremy Swayman is slated to go against reigning Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin.

Through 17 appearances in the crease this season, Swayman is 10-3-3 with a .912 SV% and 2.35 GAA. Entering this contest in particularly good form, he is 3-0 with a .966 SV% and 1.00 GAA over his last three starts.

This strong play will likely continue against New York, a team Swayman has previously performed terrifically against. Across his three career starts against the Rangers, he boasts a .937 SV% and 1.64 GAA. Additionally, Swayman’s underlying metrics this season are incredible. If he qualified, Swayman would rank seventh among starting goaltenders in GSAx/60 at 5-on-5.

Meanwhile, Shesterkin certainly needs no introduction. Picking up where he left off last year, he is 20-7-6 with a .918 SV%, 2.43 GAA and ranks fifth among starting goaltenders in GSAx/60 at 5-on-5.

In front of each of these two netminders are strong defenses that each rank in the top half of the league in xGA/60 at 5-on-5. There have now been six or fewer total goals scored in six of the last nine meetings between these two teams - a trend that is likely to continue on Thursday evening.

Best Bet: Under 6 (-118 via Barstool Sportsbook)

Chicago Blackhawks (+175) @ Philadelphia Flyers (-210) | O/U 6 (-109/-109)

The Metropolitan Division’s Philadelphia Flyers host the Central Division’s Chicago Blackhawks in what should be a lopsided affair. While the Hawks have racked up four wins over their last five games, now is the time to sell high on a team that is likely to be the front-runners in the Connor Bedard sweepstakes by the end of the season.

Slated to take the crease for Chicago is goaltender Petr Mrazek, who has been one of the worst netminders in hockey this season. Through 17 starts, he is 4-10-1 with a .877 SV% and 4.17 GAA. Positive regression is unlikely as Mrazek ranks second-to-last among starting goaltenders in GSAx/60 at 5-on-5. Over his last two starts against the Flyers, he is 0-2 with a .840 SV% and 4.06 GAA.

In front of Mrazek is a disaster of a lineup. At 5-on-5, the Hawks rank third-to-last in the league xGF/60 and last in xGA/60.

While Philadelphia’s metrics are not the strongest at 5-on-5, they still outrank Chicago in both categories. However, the Flyers’ biggest edge in this matchup is in net, as goaltender Carter Hart is projected to get the start. Through 32 appearances between the pipes this season, Hart possesses a .907 SV%, 3.00 GAA and ranks 14th among starting goaltenders in GSAx/60 at 5-on-5. In his two career starts against the Hawks, he is 2-0 with a .944 SV% and 2.00 GAA.

Seven of the Flyers’ past eight wins have come by at least two goals, while each of Chicago’s last 14 losses has come by at least two goals.

Best Bet: Flyers -1.5 (+116 via BetRivers)

Best of luck!

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Tony Sartori is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Tony, check out his archive and follow him @tony_sartori.

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