NHL Best Bets for January 3: It’s All in on McJesues on Home Ice
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Eric Kelly
- January 3, 2025
Top NHL Pick: Connor McDavid Over 1.5 Points (-120) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Although we have just six games on our NHL card tonight, we didn’t struggle to find some bets we liked the look of. Firstly, we take a trip to Edmonton, where we expect Connor McJesus to have a strong night in front of the net.
Elsewhere, the Vancouver Canucks are looking to make it back-to-back wins in the NHL for the first time in over a month.
Anaheim Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers
Friday, January 03, 2025 – 09:00 PM at Rogers Place
McDavid Can Score a Combo on Home Ice
This is already setting up to be an even better pick than we originally thought having now seen the upset Anaheim caused in Winnipeg last night. Not only did the Ducks cash as heavy underdogs, they’re now on a back-to-back night on the road against the power scoring of Connor McDavid and company.
McDavid has scored 3/1/1/2/2 points in each of his previous five games and has a much better home record compared to his away record, having had 34 points at home compared to 20 on the road.
Throughout his career, McDavid has averaged 1.7 points per game against the Ducks.
Connor McDavid’s Trends & Facts
- Connor McDavid is the highest points-scorer in the NHL this season with 54 points in 34 games. He also has the 2nd best point-per-game ratio in the league.
- McDavid has finished inside the top 3 points-scorers for the previous 8 seasons, winning it on 5 of those occasions.
The Pick
When McDavid scores, he tends to do so in patterns, scoring twice in 7 of his previous 12 games. Talking about that number, he is currently on a 12-game scoring streak.
We like the scenario at play here, especially given McDavid’s strong numbers against Anaheim and the fact the Ducks are on a back-to-back. Give us McDavid to score 2+ points tonight at -120 NHL betting odds.
Yes, it’s laying juice on a strong betting line, but it’s McJesus after all.
NHL Pick: Connor McDavid Over 1.5 Points (-120) at BetOnline
Nashville Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks
Friday, January 03, 2025 – 10:00 PM ET at Rogers Arena
Canucks To Bounce Back on Home Ice
Despite being 2-2 in their previous 4 home games, the Vancouver Canucks have actually failed to lose in regulation during those four games and come into this game off the back of an impressive 4-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken.
Despite having a rough month or two having gone 9-10 in their previous 19 games, the Canucks are just about inside the playoff zone and can create a two-game winning gap between themselves and Calgary with a win on home ice tonight.
Tonight’s opponents are no great shakes, struggling overall throughout the season. They currently rank 2nd last in the Western Conference, having gone 11-20-7.
Predators & Canucks’ Trends & Facts
- The total has gone Under in 5 of Nashville’s last 7 games against an opponent in the Pacific Division.
- The total has gone Under in 4 of Vancouver’s last 6 games against Nashville.
- Nashville is 1-10 in their last 11 games on the road.
The Pick
We love this spot for Vancouver. Although they are on a back-to-back tonight, they should be strong enough on home ice to overcome a team as weak as Nashville. Plus, their road game last night was their shortest road trip of the season, so they wouldn’t have had too much traveling to do to get back home.
Currently, the Canucks are as low as -120 on the moneyline. We do like this set of odds but wouldn’t advise laying any more than -125, maybe -130 at a push.
Interestingly the Canucks are 0-3 on home ice against the Predators in their previous three games, so this should also be an extra reason why they have to fancy themselves to win this game tonight. The Predators are 0-4 in their previous four road games and 1-9 in their last ten, so they would need a miracle regardless.
NHL Pick: Canucks ML (-120) 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.
