NHL Betting Picks of the Week: January 29th Edition

With the 2017-18 regular season steamrolling towards the second half, let’s get down to business and find some answers while revealing some of the top NHL betting picks of the week. Can the Toronto Maple Leafs hold it down at home on Wednesday when they host the visiting New York Islanders? Who’s going to bring home the bacon when the Vegas Golden Knights hit the road to take on the Winnipeg Jets in a huge matchup on Thursday night? Last but not least, who’s going to light the lamp more when Sidney Crosby and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins host Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Friday night? Let’s find out right now, but don’t forget to check the latest NHL odds on a daily basis.

Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week – January 29th Edition

Coach Jon Cooper hopes that his #NHLAllStar clash with @GoldenKnights coach Gerard Gallant was a little preview for a Cup showdown in June. https://t.co/VBdbBpMBjf
— NHL (@NHL) 29 de enero de 2018

NY Islanders (25-20-5) at Toronto Maple Leafs (28-18-5)

When: Wednesday, January 31, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON, CA
TV: MSG+

The Islanders have gone 5-4-1 over their last 10 including their 2-1 win over Vegas on Thursday night. Toronto has gone 5-3-2 over the same span and rides a two-game winning streak into the new week that includes their 4-1 smackdown win over Dallas on Thursday. While the Isles are absolutely fantastic offensively this season in ranking second in scoring (3.4 GPG), they’re also just that bad defensively as they rank a pitiful 31st in goals allowed (3.6 GPG). Cae in point, New York has allowed at least four goals in four of their last five losses. Toronto is a lot more consistent as they rank seventh in scoring (3.1 GPG) and a respectable 17th in goals allowed (2.8 GPG). The Leafs are 13-8-2 at home this season while the Islanders are just 12-13-2 on the road. Keep it simple and back Austin Matthews and the Leafs to hold it down at home in somewhat of a high-scoring affair. NHL Betting Pick: NY Islanders 3 – Toronto Maple Leafs 5

Vegas Golden Knights (32-12-4) at Winnipeg Jets (29-13-8)

When: Thursday, February 1, 7:00 PM ET
Where: Bell MTS Place, Winnipeg, MB, CA
TV: AT&TSN
Streaming: NHL.tv

Vegas has gone 5-3-2 over their last 10, but they took a tough 2-1 loss on the chin against the mediocre Islanders on Thursday to snap a two-game winning streak. Winnipeg has gone 6-2-2 over their last 10 and they also took a loos the last time they took to the ice as they fell to Anaheim 4-3 in a shootout on Thursday.

The Golden Knights shouldn't be one of your NHL Betting Picks of the Week.

I’m going to get right to the point by saying that, although the Knights have the look of a possible Stanley Cup champion this season, Winnipeg is the pick in this Thursday night throwdown seeing as how they’ve compiled a blistering 17-3-1 mark at home and Vegas has struggled just a bit on the road by going 13-9-2 away from T-Mobile Arena. This one should be a thriller, but the Jets are the pick people! NHL Betting Pick: Vegas Golden Knights 2 – Winnipeg Jets 3

Washington Capitals (29-15-5-) at Pittsburgh Penguins (27-21-3)

When: Friday, February 2 at 7:00 PM ET
Where: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
TV: AT&TSN
Streaming: NHL.tv

Washington has gone 6-2-2 over their last 10 and snapped a three-game skid by man-handling Florida 4-2 on Thursday. Pittsburgh is heating up nicely right about now, having gone 8-2 over their last 10 while winning two straight including their 6-3 smackdown of Minnesota on Thursday. While I’ve got my reservations about the Penguins being a legitimate title contender this year after winning the Cup in each of the last two seasons, right now, the Pens are on fire while Washington is struggling mightily, having lost four of their last six. Pittsburgh is desperate right now and I believe they’ll get the confidence-boosting win at home in this one, although it won’t be easy! NHL Betting Pick: Washington Capitals 3 – Pittsburgh Penguins 4