NHL Betting Picks for Thursday 1/18/24: Kings Try to Get Back on Track

A huge 11-game slate gives us a ton of options for an NHL Thursday night.

Whether it's moneylines or total goals, there are plenty of ways to bet on the NHL action all season. It's a long 82-game campaign, 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 are from the NHL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. All advanced statistics are used from MoneyPuck.com and NaturalStatTrick.com.

NHL Best Bets

Arizona Coyotes at Vancouver Canucks

Under 6.5 Goals (-122)

The Arizona Coyotes have a tough test tonight -- slowing down the high-scoring Vancouver Canucks offense.

Vancouver has been an offensive juggernaut all season long, averaging a league-leading 3.78 Goals For per 60 minutes, and they have led for much of the 2023-24 campaign. Usually with an offense like the Canucks, we're taking the over each time, but with how these two teams play defensively and who are in net, we do like Under 6.5 Goals.

The Coyotes rank 15th in Goals Against per 60 minutes, allowing just shy of three goals per game (2.96). It's been dominance for the Cancuks in the same respect, ranking as the 2nd-best team in the NHL with just 2.52 Goals Against per 60 minutes. Considering that the Coyotes score only 2.96 Goals For, taking the under feels like a quality choice tonight.

Two of the league's best netminders this season are expected to be between the pipes, as the Coyotes will start Connor Ingram and the Canucks will start Thatcher Demko.

Ingram has been one of the main surprises of 2023-24, totaling a 2.52 goals against average and .918 save percentage. He also ranks 4th in the NHL with 15.81 goals saved above expectation.

Demko, on the other hand, is a contender for the Vezina Trophy this season (+340 odds). He's sporting a 2.47 goals against average and .919 save percentage while placing 3rd in hockey with 19.24 goals saved above expectation. They should be big reasons why this game isn't easy for either team scoring-wise.

numberFire's model is projecting these two teams to hit the under, giving it a 56.61% likelihood of happening.

Nashville Predators at Los Angeles Kings

Kings ML (-160)

A struggling yet talented team like the Los Angeles Kings eventually turns their woes around, which is why we're siding with them tonight.

The Kings have been one of the NHL's best teams with a 21-12-8 record. However, they've lost nine of their last 10 games -- a reasonable cause for concern. But against a Nashville Predators team that has sat in the middle of the league, they should be able to get back on track at home.

Even with their poor recent stretch, the Kings are tops with a 66.88 Corsi For per 60 minutes (3rd). Their Goals For per 60 minutes have dropped toward the average with a 3.22 clip, ranking 14th. Defensively, they remain as stingy as they come. Los Angeles is tied for second lowest in allowing their opponent to score, giving up just 2.52 Goals Against per 60 minutes.

Nashville only scores 3.10 Goals For per 60 minutes while allowing nearly the same with 3.12 Goals Against per 60 minutes. That too should help the Kings tonight with them not being difference-makers in any form.

With a 67.65% likelihood, per numberFire, the Kings are in the position to get themselves back on track and be a good bet tonight.

New York Rangers at Vegas Golden Knights

Rangers ML (-126)

They may be on the road, but the New York Rangers are in the driver's seat to dominate against a beat up Vegas Golden Knights.

Entering tonight's slate, the Golden Knights will be without Jack Eichel, William Karlsson, Shea Theodore, Adin Hill, and a few other key players for their lineup. That's a lot of talent not playing and against a Rangers team that sits atop the Metropolitan Division, so they're going to have a tough time.

It'll be that tough go that we're hoping for by taking the Rangers' moneyline. New York is potting 3.27 Goals For per 60 minutes, good for 12th in the NHL. Most of their success comes from limiting their opponents. The Rangers allow the ninth-least Goals Against per 60 minutes (2.78). Considering the Golden Knights are scoring only 2.00 Goals For per 60 minutes over their last 10 games, tonight sets up all the more perfect for New York to find success... and a win.

Igor Shesterkin and Logan Thompson are the probable goalies tonight. Shesterkin has been up and down this season in terms of his own numbers. While he's got a 2.80 goals against average, the .904 save percentage would be the worst of his career. Still, though, he's coming off back-to-back games of allowing just three goals total. Those are the expectations of the Rangers' goalie.

Thompson has similar numbers to Shesterkin with a 2.70 goals against average and .908 save percentage. It comes down to the skaters and who is on the ice with the similarities between the netminders.

A clear edge goes to the Rangers heading into tonight with that being the case, and that's enough to run with their moneyline.

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

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

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.