There are six games on the ice Monday, and the marquee matchup between the Winnipeg Jets and Boston Bruins pits a pair of Stanley Cup odds favorites in a head-to-head showdown to open the slate.
A pair of mismatches in the NHL odds also dot the schedule with the Chicago Blackhawks visiting the Vancouver Canucks, and the Los Angeles Kings playing host to the San Jose Sharks.
I’ve also got my eyes on the Vegas Golden Knights-New Jersey Devils tilt with one of my NHL player props, and matchups between the Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators, and Pittsburgh Penguins and Arizona Coyotes round out the action.
Here are our free NHL picks for Monday, January 22.
NHL prop picks and best bets for January 22
- Hellebuyck Over 27.5 saves (-105 at Bet99)
- Toffoli Under 0.5 points (+105 at Bet99)
- Dubois Over 0.5 points (-110 at Bet99)
Picks made on January 22 at 1:15 p.m. ET.
Read full analysis of each pick.
Bet on the NHL at Bet99!
Sign Up Offer
One of Canada's best sportsbooks for NHL betting, join Bet99 and get a 100% match on your first deposit of up to $1,000 when using Bet99 promo code COVERSBONUS!
Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets
Prop bet #1: TD Garden a fruitful saves setup
The Boston Bruins have topped 30 shots in six consecutive games, and the Winnipeg Jets have allowed 36 per night through three games with No. 1 center Mark Scheifele (lower body) sidelined. Scheifele’s absence is notable because he paces Winnipeg forwards in ice time, and the Jets have to elevate centers into roles they’re not accustomed to or capable of succeeding in for a prolonged stretch. The uptick in shots allowed aligns with Adam Lowry and Vladislav Namestnikov being relied on more up the middle.
Additionally, Boston’s shot metrics climb at TD Garden, with the Bruins posting 31.84 shots and 60.58 attempts per 60 at home compared to 28.99 and 54.49 marks on the highway. I value this split because the last-change advantage presents opportunities for head coach Jim Montgomery to create favorable on-ice mismatches.
It all adds up to Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck seeing enough rubber to clear this 27.5-save total Monday. He’s hit the Over in the saves market in seven of his past eight starts, and Hellebuyck is sporting a career-best .927 save percentage and 2.15 GAA for the campaign while leading the league with 22.4 goals saved above average.
Finally, the Connor Hellebuycks odds in the saves market have been slow to adjust. His total was 28.5 saves against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, and there isn’t a huge gap in the home-ice shooting numbers for the Sens and Bruins. Ottawa registered 35 shots, and Hellebuyck made 34 saves. I’m anticipating another 30-save showing from the Vezina Trophy odds favorite Monday.
Connor Hellebuyck prop: Over 27.5 saves (-105 at Bet99)
Prop bet #2: No luck for Toffoli vs. Vegas
The New Jersey Devils have swapped wingers Tyler Toffoli and Timo Meier on their top two lines, with Toffoli skating with Michael McLeod and Dawson Mercer during Monday’s morning skate. It’s a notable downgrade for Toffoli because McLeod and Mercer respectively rank 10th and 11th on the Devils in points per 60 minutes. Toffoli is also expected to drop to the No. 2 power-play unit Monday against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Additionally, even with a goal last time out, Toffoli has been mired in a lengthy scoring slump. The 31-year-old winger has five goals and four assists for just 1.39 points per 60 minutes through 23 games since December 1, and he’s missed the scoresheet entirely in 16 of those contests. For perspective, he ranks 253rd in points per 60 among regular forwards during the noted stretch.
Vegas is also playing strong defense with just 2.5 goals against per game out of the holiday break, and projected starting goaltender Logan Thompson has found a groove with a .946 save percentage and 1.61 GAA during his active 4-1 heater.
The Tyler Toffoli odds in the points market aren’t fully accounting for the tough matchup, his underwhelming offensive form, and his expected demotion down the lineup.
Tyler Toffoli prop: Under 0.5 points (+105 at Bet99)
Prop bet #3: Top billing pays off for PLD in LA
Los Angeles Kings forward Pierre-Luc Dubois joined the No. 1 line with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe during the third period of Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators, and then stuck around in the top-line gig for Saturday’s 2-1 win over the New York Rangers.
Dubois had been skating down the depth chart at even strength, so the promotion should provide more ice time and boost his offensive upside. The first-year King has been a more efficient five-on-five scorer this season, too. He posted 1.72 points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 while averaging 14:17 per game across the past two seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, and has 1.87 points per 60 with just 12:41 at 5-on-5 this year.
The San Jose Sharks are a league-best matchup, too. Not only do the Sharks rank last in my defense ratings, but they’ve allowed the most goals per game (3.96), most 5-on-5 goals per 60 (3.2), and rank last in penalty-kill percentage (713%).
I don’t think the promotion to the No. 1 line is being fully priced into these Pierre-Luc Dubois odds. Additionally, while Dubois, Kopitar, and Kempe don’t have oodles of chemistry over 19:13 of ice time, Dubois and Kempe did flash earlier this season with 4.52 goals per 60 at 5-on-5 across a modest 39:46 of shared ice time.
Pierre-Luc Dubois prop: Over 0.5 points (-110 at Bet99)
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site.
Today’s NHL games
Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the 
to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
