Hello and welcome everyone to the MLK Jr. Day edition of the NHL Best Bets on January 20, 2025! It’s been an awesome start to 2025 so far here with our NHL picks and I hope you all have enjoyed the ride thus far! 

Up about 9 units this month and now we dive into a 9-game slate with today’s NHL best bets. What better way to spend a holiday off from work?

 

 

 

NHL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 1/20

In this NHL Best Bets Today article you will find a wide array of choices from some Money Lines and Team totals to plenty of player props for the action today in NHL Picks! 

Nine games on this weekday slate let’s dive right into my expert NHL Best Bets today!

  • Regular Season Record: 135-100-1
  • Bankroll: +21.2 Units

*Follow me on X/Twitter @jwaggs10

 

 

 

Lightning vs. Maple Leafs Prediction: Monday, January 20th

I went through this on the Fantasy Alarm show with Howard Bender on SiriusXM Fantasy last week; why are the Maple Leafs getting great value at home given what we’ve seen from them this season? 

It could be that John Taveres is out of the lineup, but hard to imagine he carries that much weight with the sportsbooks, but either way, let’s dive into the Maple Leafs Money Line tonight. The goaltending matchup is a bad one for the Lightning who are planning to start Jonas Johansson in the cage tonight. 

The backup Tampa Bay goaltender is 5-4 straight up on the season with a 3.18 GAA, not exactly eye-popping numbers for a goalie taking on Auston Matthews and company. On the other side of the rink will be Joseph Woll for the Maple Leafs and he’s been their MVP to me this season with all their injuries on offense. Woll is ranked 8th in the NHL is goals saved above expected this season as well at 12.2 through 24 games started. 

The Toronto defense at home overall is stout in addition allowing just 2.59 goals per game this season. That’s all without talking about how explosive the offense can be as well, so let’s take the Leafs to win at home against a backup goaltender tonight. 

 

 

 

Best NHL Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 1/20