Check out our NHL best bets today for Tuesday, January 16 – our top hockey picks and predictions.
The Action Network's hockey experts have compiled their predictions and favorite betting picks for tonight's big eight-game slate, which we've also covered with our usual NHL game guides.
However, for our NHL best bets tonight, we're targeting just one game on the docket:
- Anaheim Ducks vs. Washington Capitals at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT)
Check out their picks for the ESPN+ matchup below.
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NHL Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our NHL betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
| 7 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. | ||
Ducks vs. Capitals
By Tony Sartori
Goaltender Darcy Kuemper is slated to start between the pipes for the Washington Capitals in this interconference matchup and should be a good fade candidate. Through 22 starts this season, Kuemper is 10-10-2 with a .891 SV% and 3.27 GAA.
Entering this matchup in particularly poor form, he is 2-4 with a .870 SV% and 4.26 GAA over his past six starts. These struggles are likely to continue against the Anaheim Ducks, a team that Kuemper possesses a .892 SV% against over his past seven outings.
Now, to be fairer to the Canadian netminder, he is playing behind one of the worst blue lines in hockey. At 5-on-5, Washington ranks 27th in the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).
So, if we are projecting the Ducks to find the back of the net frequently, then there is no better candidate to back on this team than All-Star Frank Vatrano. Leading the team in both goals and points, Vatrano has exploded this season and is scoring at an every-other-game clip.
He's been on fire over the past month, scoring in seven of his past 11 games. While Vatrano is a threat at 5-on-5, we also shouldn't be shocked if he scores on the power play in this matchup.
Eight of his 21 goals have come on the man-advantage this season, which could be especially dangerous against a Caps team that is just average in the penalty killing department. However, even if Vatrano doesn't score on the power play, he is still a threat at even-strength against Kuemper and this blue line.
We are catching a great price at +200 via FanDuel, which is 25-40 cents longer than the rest of the market.
Pick: Frank Vatrano Anytime Goalscorer (+200)
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Ducks vs. Capitals
Favorable luck in the key moments has been a big part of it. The Washington Capitals have managed to win the vast majority of close games – while losing in multi-goal fashion more often than not.
The Caps own a -29 goal differential, which is right there with the Ducks.
Defensively the Capitals have been legitimately solid, but their defensive play has not looked nearly as strong without Vezina-level play from Charlie Lindgren. Lindgren will sit in favour of Darcy Kuemper tonight, who has struggled to an .891 save %.
When teams manage to win all of their close games, we hear the usual sayings (clutch, winning DNA, etc.). In time, though, those sides tend to come down to earth. (Think of the Philadelphia Eagles this season if you're a football fan.)
The Capitals have generated only 2.34 goals per game, compared to a goals against average of 2.95. That does not paint the picture of a legitimately good team, but rather, one of a team that is much closer to the Ducks than this number suggests.
The Ducks are now healthier than they have been for much of the season with Troy Terry and Leo Carlsson both back in the mix, as well.
With Kuemper starting, the lineups that are set to compete in this matchup are more competitive than the price suggests. Backing the Ducks down to +145 provides value.
Pick: Ducks ML (+160 at BetRivers)
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