Best NHL Bets Today | NHL Picks, January 17

Only three NHL games are being played tonight, as these games range from potential blowouts to potentially close outcomes. These games bring great value to NHL fans and sports bettors through sportsbooks. These oddsmakers are giving great opportunities for fans of the NHL and casual bettors to potentially earn some great winnings tonight through DraftKings.

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Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils

• Time: 7:00 PM E.T. - Wednesday

• Moneyline: Canadiens (+180) | Devils (-218)

• Puck Line: Canadiens +1.5 (-148) | Devils -1.5 (+124) 

• Total: Over 6.5 (-110) | Under 6.5 (-110)

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My Pick: New Jersey Devils (NJ)

Another Eastern Conference game kicking off Wednesday night in the NHL is the matchup between the Montreal Canadiens (18-18-7) going on the road to take on the New Jersey Devils (22-16-3). This game will be the second matchup of the season between the two teams.

The Devils took care of business on the road against a Canadiens team that had developed a good record to start the season. New Jersey defeated Montreal 5-2 on the road, as center Jack Hughes accounted for four assists and forward Tyler Toffoli accounted for three goals.

Two of the worst defenses in the league are set to meet on the ice once again. The Devils are ranked 28th in goals allowed per game (3.49), while the Canadiens are ranked 24th in goals allowed per game (3.35). While some of it is due to the pacing of the offense, mostly from the Devils, it is largely due to the lack of talent on the defensive side of the ice.

Hughes is expected to be out for a significant amount of time for the Devils, but it will not be months. Since the injury to Hughes in the 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on January 5, the Devils have managed to still score three or more goals in three of the four games. The Devils have managed to find scoring opportunities for their seventh-ranked scoring offense (3.46 goals per game).

Look for the Devils to make their statement in a solid offensive performance for their best game without Hughes in the lineup against a bad Canadiens defense.

Los Angeles Kings vs. Dallas Stars

• Time: 7:00 PM E.T. - Wednesday

• Moneyline: Red Wings (+180) | Panthers (-205)

• Puck Line: Red Wings +1.5 (-135) | Panthers -1.5 (+114) 

• Total: Over 6.5 (-125) | Under 6.5 (+105)

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My Pick: Florida Panthers (FLA)

One of the first games of the night is also potentially an Eastern Conference playoff matchup as the Detroit Red Wings (22-16-5) go on the road to take on the Florida Panthers (27-13-3). This game tonight will be the second time this season that the Red Wings and the Panthers will meet.

The Panthers defeated the Red Wings 2-0 in Detroit on November 2 in one of the first few games of the season for either team. Forward Anton Lundell was able to put the game away with two minutes and 12 seconds remaining on an empty netter. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky saved all 22 shot attempts from a talented Red Wings offense.

This Wednesday night is going to bring a matchup featuring top-five units. The Red Wings possess one of the most electrifying offenses in the NHL, led by forward Alex DeBrincat and center Dylan Larkin. Detroit’s offense averages 3.56 goals per game and has remained efficient in January.

They are set to take on an elite Panthers defense that allows an average of 2.56 goals per game, fourth in the league. The Panthers are led by several talented defenders and standout goalies, like Bobrovsky, who has the 20th-ranked save percentage in the NHL.

The other battle is set for the Panthers’ conservative offense to take on a poorly managed Red Wings’ defense. The Panthers are ranked 16th in the league in goals per game (2.36) while the Red Wings allow an average of 3.35 goals per game (25th in the league). The Panthers have the mismatch and the home-court advantage in this huge game.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres

• Time: 7:30 PM E.T. - Wednesday

• Moneyline: Blackhawks (+230) | Sabres (-285)

• Puck Line: Blackhawks +1.5 (-110) | Sabres -1.5 (-110) 

• Total: Over 6.5 (+110) | Under 6.5 (-130)

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My Pick: Under 6.5 Goals Scored (+130)

The final game of the night could be painful to watch, as most games feature the Chicago Blackhawks (13-29-2) and the Buffalo Sabres (19-21-4). The worst thing about this game is that it was chosen to be nationally televised. The Sabres will host the Blackhawks in what could be the lowest-scored game of the night.

The Sabres are coming into this game as serious favorites against a bad Blackhawks team that is coming off a 2-1 overtime win over the San Jose Sharks the night before. The Blackhawks are not expecting to have much energy.

Both the Sabres and the Blackhawks are coming into this game with horrible defensive play, but they are potentially just as bad on the offensive side of the ice. Buffalo averages 2.95 goals per game (22th in the league) while Chicago averages only 2.26 goals per game (31th in the league).

This game has a deep moneyline that features the Sabres as big favorites, but the segment that possesses great value is the over/under line. With both offenses struggling and the Blackhawks coming off a big, exhausting win, this game might be incredibly low-scoring.