NHL Best Bets for January 9 – Finding Value in Momentum
Summary
Friday’s hockey matchups are defined by current form over reputation. Utah hosts St. Louis, a team that just allowed seven goals and struggles with consistency. Utah’s aggressive, attacking style at home should exploit St. Louis’s weak defense and penalty kill, making a bet on over 5.5 total goals compelling.
Meanwhile, Chicago welcomes Washington riding a four-game win streak with exceptional special teams. The Blackhawks, playing with confidence at home, recently beat the Capitals and hold a clear edge in momentum and execution. Backing Chicago on the moneyline offers value against a struggling Washington squad.
Friday’s slate features two matchups where it’s not about who looks better on paper — it’s about who’s actually playing better hockey. Utah hosts a St. Louis team that just gave up seven and hasn’t been able to string wins together.
Chicago welcomes a Washington squad that’s been grinding through inconsistency, while the Blackhawks are riding a four-game win streak with special teams firing on all cylinders. Both games set up as spots where recent form and minor edges matter more than season-long resumes.
Utah Mammoth vs St. Louis Blues
Utah’s been grinding through a long homestand and playing like a team that knows every point matters down the stretch. St. Louis rolls into Salt Lake after getting torched for seven by Chicago, still trying to figure out what consistency looks like—they haven’t won three in a row all season.
The styles here couldn’t be more different. Utah wants to attack in waves and force you to defend for long stretches. St. Louis is hoping to hang around, keep it tight, and rely on Hofer to steal one with a few timely saves.
That’s the matchup in a nutshell.
1) Best Bet – Over 5.5 Goals (-115)
The number is too low for what this game actually is.
Utah creates offense at a high rate, and St. Louis gives it up at an even higher one. The Blues are allowing 3.4 goals per game on the season, and the recent trend is worse—including that seven-spot they just ate against Chicago. Even when they tighten up early, they’ve shown a tendency to unravel in the second period, when fatigue and mistakes start to accumulate.
Utah plays an aggressive, attacking style at home. They generate sustained pressure, get traffic to the net, and make life miserable for opposing defenses. St. Louis doesn’t have the structure or personnel to withstand that kind of pace for a full game.
Add in the fact that St. Louis’ penalty kill has been a problem area all season. Utah doesn’t need a red-hot power play to capitalize—they just need one or two chances. In a game with a total sitting at 5.5, a couple of special-teams tallies can be the difference between a sweat and a comfortable cash.
I’m not asking for a shootout—just a normal NHL game where the better offense creates chances and the weaker defense does what it usually does: give ’em up.
Washington Capitals at Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks are riding four straight wins and playing with the kind of swagger young teams get when everything starts clicking at once. The United Center crowd is alive, the power play is clicking, and Chicago looks like a team that actually believes it belongs in the playoff hunt.
Washington’s been the opposite—grinding through an uneven stretch where nothing is coming easy. Their coach has been calling out the stagnant attack publicly, and Tom Wilson’s health is a question mark heading into this one. The Caps still have more talent on paper, but they’re pressing right now while Chicago’s playing loose and dangerous.
Best Bet – Chicago Blackhawks Moneyline (+128)
Chicago at plus money is the move here — not an all-in play, but a smart sprinkle on a live home dog.
Chicago’s power play has been on fire lately, scoring seven power-play goals over their last five games. Their penalty kill has been just as sharp, allowing only one goal in that same stretch. In a tight matchup like this, special teams can be the entire difference between winning and losing—and right now, Chicago owns that edge.
Here’s the kicker: Chicago already showed the path to victory in their last meeting. They beat Washington 3-2 in D.C. just recently, and that game looked exactly like this handicap—keep it close, stay disciplined, let the power play do damage, and drag the Caps into a grind they’re not comfortable playing.
I expect a close one where it may be decided late or even in OT. At +128, you’re getting paid to back the hotter home team — with a small chance Bedard returns. Even without him, they’ve got enough to keep it tight and steal a mild upset.
Best Bets Summary
Game 1: St. Louis Blues at Utah Hockey Club
- Best Bet: Over 5.5 Goals (-115)
Game 2: Washington Capitals at Chicago Blackhawks
- Best Bet: Chicago Blackhawks ML (+128)
