Welcome to VSiN’s NHL Betting Guide for Monday, January 8th, featuring odds, predictions and best bets. The guide also includes the latest news, projected starting goaltenders, and important injury updates. Whether you’re a seasoned NHL bettor or just learning how to bet on hockey, this guide is an essential resource for making informed bets on NHL games.
Monday’s NHL Odds
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Check out the VSiN NHL Odds page.
Game Predictions (Projected Home Win Probability)
- Buffalo has a 73.1 percent (-272) of winning assuming Samuel Ersson is in goal for Philadelphia.
- Ottawa‘s chances of winning are 51.5 percent (-106) of the time assuming Juuse Saros, and Anton Forsberg are between the pipes.
- Montreal should win 35.3 percent (+198) of the time assuming Philipp Grubauer and Jake Allen start.
- Los Angeles has a 49.1 percent (+104) chance of winning assuming Jonathan Quick and Stuart Skinner get the nod.
Best Bets
- Buffalo Sabers Regulation Moneyline (60 min) -145
Buffalo’s underlying numbers don’t jump off the page, but if you’ve observed this team – you know – the Sabers are the real deal. No team has scored more goals this season, and Monday, they’re up against a team that, up until a few weeks ago, was the worst offensive team in hockey. The Flyers have been filling the net (4.42 goals per 60 prior to Sunday’s 6-2 loss to the Maple Leafs) but I’m willing to bet that it’s not the norm.
Samuel Ersson is expected to start for the Flyers after Carter Hart allowed all six goals on Sunday, and while Ersson is 3-0 so far in his NHL career, those wins came against the Sharks, Kings and Ducks ie, not the most formidable teams. in terms of offense. Buffalo has won eight of its last nine games and they’re a good bet to pick up a regulation win on Monday.
Records:
Wins: 52 Losses: 55
Units Won: -7.07 units
ROI: -14.9 percent
All bets tracked on third-party app Betstamp.
Schedule Notes
- Buffalo will play two games (Philadelphia and Seattle) in two days, but they’ve only played three so far this month.
- Philadelphia hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.
- Nashville has had two days off, but this is the first of three games (Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal) in four days.
- Seattle is in the middle of a seven-game road trip, and this is the first half of a back-to-back. The Kraken will play the Sabers on Tuesday.
- Edmonton is beginning a stretch of four games (Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose and Vegas) in six days.
Projected Starting Goaltenders
No goaltenders are confirmed unless otherwise stated. Projections are based on factors like rest, venue, opponent and upcoming games. Follow Andy on Twitter for updates on starting goaltenders.
- Philadelphia: Samuel Ersson (Carter Hart started on Sunday in Toronto and Felix Sandstrom, although still listed on the Flyers’ roster page, was sent down to the AHL for a conditioning stint.)
- Buffalo: Craig Anderson (The 41-year-old hasn’t started since January 1st and Eric Comrie is still on a conditioning stint in the AHL.)
- Nashville: Jesus Saros (After making 64 saves, Saros needed a break, and he got it.)
- Ottawa: Anton Forsberg (Cam Talbot was pulled after allowing five goals on 19 shots against Seattle).
- Seattle: Philipp Grubauer (Grubauer has lost six of his last seven starts and serving him up to the NHL’s best offense (Buffalo) on Tuesday would seem cruel. Montreal is one of the worst offensive teams in the league.)
- Montreal: Jake Allen (This is anyone’s guess. Allen has started the last two games and he’s had a rough time lately, but he is coming off a win. Flip a coin – your guess is as good as ours.)
- Edmonton: Stuart Skinner (Los Angeles is the toughest test Edmonton will face until January 14th.)
- Los Angeles: Jonathan Quick (Pheonix Copley has started the last three games. Quick hasn’t started since December 31st.)
Injury Updates
Check out the VSiN NHL Injury Report page.
- Montreal – Brendan Gallagher, Mike Matheson and Sean Monahan will not play.
- Los Angeles – The Kings have not provided any updates on Arthur Kaliyev or Trevor Moore.
Players To Watch
- Thomas Novak (Nashville Predators) – The 25-year-old has scored four goals and seven points in nine games with the Predators and he’s currently playing on Nashville’s power play unit. There’s not much of a prop market out there for Novak, but one shop that I don’t have access to has him listed at +460 to score a goal.
- Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators) – Only five players have generated more shots than Tkachuk, but those players are among the league leaders in goals while he is ranked 61.st. Tkachuk has two goals in his last 15 games. His shooting percentage is below his career average, but he might not have the scoring touch of other elite play drivers.
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