Every week, I single out two NHL best bets that seem appealing to me and tonight's slate just may have the answers.
For Thursday's best bets, I'm zeroing in on the Winnipeg Jets vs Minnesota Wild, as well as the Toronto Maple Leafs vs Vegas Golden Knights.
Let's dive into my NHL best bets, prediction and pick for Thursday, January 15.
Jonny Lazarus' NHL Best Bets for Thursday
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 8:00 p.m. | |
  | 9:30 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. | ||
Jets vs. Wild
Tonight feels like the perfect opportunity for a get-right game for the Minnesota Wild, as they play host to the Winnipeg Jets.
The Jets have quietly won three straight games coming into this contest after getting out of an abysmal 11-game losing streak. Minnesota is hoping to avoid a three-game losing streak of their own as they have dropped their last two games to the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils.
Despite this small winning streak, over the last month the Jets have not been playing great hockey. Offensively, they're averaging less than three goals per game over their past 14, scoring just 2.79 goals per contest. Not only are they struggling at 5v5, but their power play is clicking at just a 14.3% success rate.
In this same span, at 5v5 the Jets are currently generating the second-lowest high-danger chances per 60 minutes, putting up just 9.89 per contest. On the other hand, Minnesota haven't had many issues offensively over the past month.
Kirill Kaprizov, Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy have become quite the exciting trio in the National Hockey League. The three have combined for 43 points over the team’s last 14 games.
As a team, the Wild have been scoring 3.50 goals per game in this span and at 5v5, they're generating 12.39 high-danger chances per contest. The Wild should be able to pick apart Winnipeg's goaltending tonight with how their tandem has been playing lately.
Connor Hellebuyck is likely to get the start tonight and his last 12 starts have not exactly gone well. In those games, Hellebuyck holds a record of 2-6-4, while skating to a .875 save percentage and 3.18 goals against average.
On the flip side, the Wild have been alternating their net-minders. Jesper Wallstedt started in their most recent game, so it is likely that Filip Gustavsson will get the nod in tonight's contest. Gustavsson is 4-1-2 over his last seven starts while boasting a .920 SV% and a 2.29 GAA, so the edge will go to the Wild in net.
Minnesota should show a ton of desperation as they try to get back in the win column, and I like their chances on home ice.
Pick: Wild ML (-140)
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Maple Leafs vs. Golden Knights
For the first time since being traded, Mitch Marner and the Vegas Golden Knights are gearing up to play against his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
That said, this isn't Marner's return to Toronto since Vegas will be the home team, but the emotions should still be pretty high. Vegas is also playing the second leg of a back-to-back after beating the Kings in overtime in Los Angeles last night.
Since December 23rd, the Leafs have been playing some incredible hockey, and a lot of that success has to do with their captain.
In his last 10 games, Auston Matthews has scored eight goals while adding four assists for 14 points in that span. Matthews missed one of the team's games during this span, but in that time, the Leafs have gone 8-1-2 and are tied for the most points in the NHL in that time frame.
Toronto's special teams have been carrying them, but they haven't been able to convert on the man-advantage in their last two games. It seems as though the power play is cooling down a bit, but tonight could be the night when they get it back on track.
During this run, the Leafs' man-advantage is skating to a 28% success rate, while their penalty kill has been even more impressive at a 92.3%.
Vegas has been playing some really good hockey too lately as they're currently riding a five-game winning streak. Jack Eichel, of course, has been leading the way with nine points over the five-game stretch, and the Golden Knights have been soaring offensively.
That being said, I don't have a ton of faith in the Golden Knights' goaltending right now. Based on reports, it sounds like Adin Hill might be making his return to the lineup tonight after being out due to injury for the past three months. His last start was on October 20th. Coming back to the lineup and facing a Leafs team that is averaging 4.00 goals per game over their last 11 games.
Toronto is coming off of a 6-1 loss, and they know how important this game is when you factor in the emotions of taking on Marner.
I expect another big road win like the one they had in Colorado the other night.
Pick: Maple Leafs ML (+115)
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