NHL Best Bets for January 17: Buffalo Continues Pittsburgh’s Struggles
- Scott Kacsmar
- January 17, 2025
Top NHL Pick: Sabres ML (-131) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
The NHL’s Friday slate is a light one with only 2 games scheduled, but we looked at the current odds at the top-rated sportsbooks to find our favorite NHL picks for winners and props.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Buffalo Sabres
Friday, January 17, 2025 – 07:00 PM ET at KeyBank Center
Two Struggling Teams
Neither the Pittsburgh Penguins (18-20-8) nor the Buffalo Sabres (17-22-5) are treating their fans to a stellar season right now. Both teams rank among the bottom 3 in the Eastern Conference in points percentage in regulation time this season, but this could lead to a competitive game.
However, the Pens have dropped 7-of-8 games coming into Friday night and are heading in the wrong direction. While the Sabres recently had that 13-game losing streak, they have gone 6-3-1 in their last 10 games, including a 4-2 win over the Hurricanes on Wednesday.
These teams haven’t met since early in October in a 6-5 overtime win by the Penguins in Pittsburgh. Sidney Crosby scored his first goal of the season on a powerplay in the extra session for the win and extra point.
But the Penguins have really struggled defensively and rank 32nd in goals allowed. The team waived goaltender Tristan Jarry after another poor showing in a 4-2 loss against the Kraken this week. Jarry was allowing a career-high 3.31 goals per game in 22 appearances this season.
The Pick
The Penguins are only 6-10-5 in road games this season. Only Chicago and Nashville have fewer wins on the road than Pittsburgh.
You could certainly consider taking the over 6.5 goals with the way both teams struggle defensively. But with the better recent play from Buffalo combined with home-ice advantage and Pittsburgh’s uncertainty in the net, the best NHL pick here is for the Sabres to win the game.
NHL Pick: Sabres ML (-131) at BetOnline
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Friday, January 17, 2025 – 07:00 PM ET at Lenovo Center
Good Test for Vegas
Unlike today’s other game, this one is between two very good teams: the Vegas Golden Knights (29-12-3) and the Carolina Hurricanes (26-16-3). The Golden Knights are in a tight race with Winnipeg for the best record in the Western Conference while the Hurricanes look to be well on their way to the postseason.
But Vegas has not had the best week with a 1-3 record over the last 4 games, including a pair of home losses to both New York teams where the Golden Knights managed just a single goal. Vegas is 18-0 this season when scoring at least 4 goals, a record only surpassed by Washington (20-0) for the most wins without a loss.
These teams only met once in November in a 5-2 loss by Vegas in a game where it trailed 4-0. But the Hurricanes are also entering on a 2-game losing streak after falling in overtime to Anaheim and losing 4-2 in Buffalo on Wednesday.
Vegas is a respectable road team this season with a 11-6-3 record and they are +50 in shot margin away from home. However, they are also just +4 in goal differential in road games, which pales in comparison to the teams they’re competing with for the best record like Washington (league-best +24) and Winnipeg (+13).
Keying in on Sebastian Aho
Carolina’s Sebastian Aho is having another solid season where he is 2nd on the team with 44 points (13 goals and 31 assists). He is also just a handful of shots on goal (121) away from the team lead in that category this season too.
But when these teams last played, Aho did not register a shot on goal or a point despite over 18 minutes of ice time in the 5-2 win. It was 1-of-4 games this season where Aho did not register any shots on goal.
The Knights have allowed the 3rd-fewest shots on goal on the road this season, and Aho has gone over 2.5 shots on goal in 2-of-5 games since last week.
The Pick
This could easily be a more competitive game than the last meeting between these teams, but it is understandable why Carolina is favored at home. But with the total line at 6 instead of a more favorable betting edge with 6.5, our favorite NHL pick for this game is the shot prop pick for Aho finishing under 2.5.
NHL Pick: Sebastian Aho Under 2.5 Shots (-125) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.