NHL Picks Today: Friday, January 23
Anaheim Ducks vs. Seattle Kraken
The Ducks enter tonight's affair on a five-game winning streak. Their victims include high-caliber teams like Dallas and Colorado. Anaheim is playing so well now because its defense has improved tremendously. Its defenders have improved their effort, their basic fundamentals, and their comfort in their defensive system. Because they are thus playing harder and more intelligently, they have held their last five opponents to a combined total of eight goals.
Anaheim’s offense will be good enough against a Seattle defense that tends to lose intensity and success after a win by three goals or more. For example, they gave up four goals to Boston after beating Calgary by four goals. Before that, they gave up five goals to Edmonton after beating Vegas by three goals. The list continues. The Kraken defense had been struggling before its last game, allowing four goals or more to Boston, Utah, and Pittsburgh. Seattle’s let-down spot will ensure a return of its defensive struggles.
New York Rangers vs. San Jose Sharks
San Jose has improved its play and is now winning more consistently. The Sharks have won their last four games that directly followed a loss. They are also in a good spot tonight because they are playing in a home game that directly follows a road game. San Jose has won its last seven such home games, with victims including great teams like Dallas and Minnesota. The Sharks in their doubly great spot tonight will defeat a Rangers team that ranks 25th in goal-scoring offense and is now at least as bad defensively thanks to injuries to defenseman Adam Fox and goaltender Igor Shesterkin. The Rangers are 2-10 in their last twelve games and have allowed four goals or more in six of their last seven games. New York’s ongoing tendency to allow many goals and to lose by two or more goals justifies the expectation that San Jose will win by multiple goals.
New Jersey Devils vs. Vancouver Canucks
The Devils’ defense has found its footing, holding four of its last five opponents to two goals or fewer. The one exception came against a Carolina team whose offense ranks 24 spots higher than Vancouver’s. The Canucks have the second-worst goal-scoring offense, ranking only ahead of New Jersey’s. While Vancouver has been a very bad team this year on both offense and defense, the Canucks finally look competitive again. In their last game, they held Washington’s fourth-ranked goal-scoring offense to three goals. Concerns about their defense are invalid because New Jersey’s scoring struggles have continued even against an Edmonton goal-scoring defense that ranks lower than Vancouver’s. New Jersey lacks the scoring power to challenge our “under” bet. This game will therefore be a defensive battle.
| Matchup | Pick | Odds | Confidence Level | Sportsbook |
| Ducks vs. Kraken | Ducks ML | +102 | Highest | Bovada |
| Rangers vs. Sharks | Sharks -1.5 | +180 | Highest | BetOnline |
| Devils vs. Canucks | Under 6 | -115 | Highest | Heritage |
Anaheim Ducks vs. Seattle Kraken
The Ducks enter tonight's affair on a five-game winning streak. Their victims include high-caliber teams like Dallas and Colorado. Anaheim is playing so well now because its defense has improved tremendously. Its defenders have improved their effort, their basic fundamentals, and their comfort in their defensive system. Because they are thus playing harder and more intelligently, they have held their last five opponents to a combined total of eight goals.
Anaheim’s offense will be good enough against a Seattle defense that tends to lose intensity and success after a win by three goals or more. For example, they gave up four goals to Boston after beating Calgary by four goals. Before that, they gave up five goals to Edmonton after beating Vegas by three goals. The list continues. The Kraken defense had been struggling before its last game, allowing four goals or more to Boston, Utah, and Pittsburgh. Seattle’s let-down spot will ensure a return of its defensive struggles.
New York Rangers vs. San Jose Sharks
San Jose has improved its play and is now winning more consistently. The Sharks have won their last four games that directly followed a loss. They are also in a good spot tonight because they are playing in a home game that directly follows a road game. San Jose has won its last seven such home games, with victims including great teams like Dallas and Minnesota. The Sharks in their doubly great spot tonight will defeat a Rangers team that ranks 25th in goal-scoring offense and is now at least as bad defensively thanks to injuries to defenseman Adam Fox and goaltender Igor Shesterkin. The Rangers are 2-10 in their last twelve games and have allowed four goals or more in six of their last seven games. New York’s ongoing tendency to allow many goals and to lose by two or more goals justifies the expectation that San Jose will win by multiple goals.
New Jersey Devils vs. Vancouver Canucks
The Devils’ defense has found its footing, holding four of its last five opponents to two goals or fewer. The one exception came against a Carolina team whose offense ranks 24 spots higher than Vancouver’s. The Canucks have the second-worst goal-scoring offense, ranking only ahead of New Jersey’s. While Vancouver has been a very bad team this year on both offense and defense, the Canucks finally look competitive again. In their last game, they held Washington’s fourth-ranked goal-scoring offense to three goals. Concerns about their defense are invalid because New Jersey’s scoring struggles have continued even against an Edmonton goal-scoring defense that ranks lower than Vancouver’s. New Jersey lacks the scoring power to challenge our “under” bet. This game will therefore be a defensive battle.