NHL Betting Picks and Player Props to Target: Sunday 1/7/24

Sunday in the NHL during football season is usually quiet, and today is no different with just four games. How can we find value amongst them?

Whether it's moneylines, total goals, or player props, there are plenty of ways to bet on the NHL action all season long. It's a long 82-game season, meaning that the best selections of each night can be very different based on backup goalies coming into play, injuries that add up, and if teams are due for positive or negative swings.

Let's dive into the best bets for tonight.

Note: Lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. All NHL betting odds and totals come from FanDuel Sportsbook.

NHL Best Bets

Los Angeles Kings at Washington Capitals

Anze Kopitar to Record an Assist (+108)

This line is pretty crazy for one of the league's best apple generators.

Anze Kopitar has handed out 21 assists in 35 games this season, but those raw numbers don't even really do him justice. Behind a 55.7% expected-goals-for rate (xGF%), the Los Angeles Kings have blown out several clubs and ended his night early.

Despite a 5.5-goal total in this one, the Kings figure to have a decent time mounting offense in D.C. this evening. The Washington Capitals are a middle-of-the-road team in expected goals allowed per 60 minutes (3.11), and tonight's starting goaltender, Darcy Kuemper, has posted -1.99 goals saved above expectation (GSAx) in the past 30 days.

numberFire's projections peg Kopitar for 0.63 assists on Sunday, translating to -170 implied odds for one. The plus coin here is a gift.

Calgary Flames at Chicago Blackhawks

Over 5.5 (-128)

This ambiguous cocktail of ineptitude can be difficult to decipher, but I still lean backing offense here at a low total.

The projected scoring is fairly low because the Chicago Blackhawks have a litany of injuries entering this game that has left them without their top-three skaters. Chicago's league-worst 2.46 expected goals per 60 minutes could get even worse, but the Calgary Flames are doing their best to level the playing field by starting Dan Vladar. Of 82 qualifying goaltenders in the league, Vladar ranks a dismal 76th in GSAx (-5.44).

On the other side, the Flames offense has posted 3.24 expected goals per 60 minutes (ninth-best in the NHL), yet they've only accumulated 2.99 actual goals per 60 thus far. Chicago's weak defense (64.7 Corsi allowed per 60 minutes; fourth-worst in the NHL) is a good place to get started even if Petr Mrazek (4.95 GSAx this season) can provide a bit of resistance.

numberFire's model projects 6.22 goals in this contest at the median.

Detroit Red Wings at Anaheim Ducks

Ducks ML (+130)
Alex DeBrincat Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (+134)

Balancing tonight's skaters and goaltenders, I could make a solid argument the 13-24-1 Anaheim Ducks should be favored at home tonight.

Anaheim's 44.7 xGF% isn't that far behind that of the Detroit Red Wings (48.3 xGF%), so the 19-14-1 record the Wings enter with is definitely influencing this line. Peripheral data suggests these teams are far closer.

However, the gap in goal couldn't be much wider in the Ducks' direction. Anaheim's Lukas Dostal is a budding star, posting the fourth-most GSAx in the NHL during the past month of play (9.19). On the flip side, Detroit's Alex Lyon has badly struggled in the same period, amassing -3.28 GSAx.

The Ducks are 21-17 against the spread (ATS) this season, and I still think their goaltending duo is undervalued. It's nerve-wracking to target them with excellent skating teams, but the Red Wings really aren't one.

In addition to the moneyline, both of the leaky defenses are bottom 10 in Corsi allowed per 60 minutes, so I wanted to add a shot prop to what should be a competitive game. Detroit's Alex DeBrincat is the team's leading shooter with 123 shots in 39 games (3.15 per contest). A plus matchup like Anaheim could shift him toward four-plus chances -- a mark he eclipsed seven times in December but has yet to in January.

nF projects DeBrincat for 3.56 shots on goal at the median in this one, implying -127 odds that he reaches four. Like Kopitar's prop, the plus money here will absolutely suffice.

Looking for more NHL betting opportunities? Check out all of the NHL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.