NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Monday, December 23:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
Montreal Canadiens at Columbus Blue Jackets (-135, 6.5)
7 p.m. ET
The Montreal Canadiens have owned the Columbus Blue Jackets not just this season, winning both contests but have won seven straight, outscoring the Jackets, 31-12.
The Habs have won four straight and are seeking their first five-game winning streak since February of 2022. The Jackets are going in the other direction, dropping six of their last seven games.
Early goals have been the norm of late in Montreal games. Their last six games have had a goal in the first 10 minutes and 10 of their last 12 games have had at least two goals scored in the opening 20 minutes.
NHL Predictions: Montreal Canadiens/Columbus Blue Jackets 1st period Over 1.5 (-130) – 1 unit
Montreal Canadiens/Columbus Blue Jackets Over 6 (-145) – 1 unit
Patrik Laine anytime goal (+200) – ¼ unit
Patrik Laine PP point (+290) – ¼ unit
Lane Hutson Over ½ point (-122) – ½ unit
Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins (-120, 6.5)
7 p.m. ET
The Penguins are coming off being blanked by the Devils in their previous game, which automatically triggers our system plays of a goal to be scored in the first 10 minutes and the first period Over 1.5 goals. The Penguins are the home favorite for just the sixth time this season and are 4-1 in this spot. Interestingly, four of the five games with Pittsburgh being the home favorite have gone to Overtime. The Pens have played 12 games that have gone past 60 minutes, and the Flyers have played 11 games needing extra time, including their most recent game on Saturday, where they rallied to beat Columbus, 5-4. Two of the four meetings between the Penguins and Flyers last season needed to be settled in Overtime. Pittsburgh has won the last two meetings, five of seven and seven of the last 10.
A couple of player props that are worth targeting. The Pens Rickard Rakell has nine goals in 16 games versus the Flyers, including two goals in the one game he faced Philadelphia netminder, Samuel Ersson. The Flyers Tyson Foerster has four goals in five games against the Penguins and three goals in two games against Pens goalie, Tristan Jarry.
NHL Predictions: Rickard Rakell anytime goal (+195) – ¼ unit
Tyson Foerster anytime goal (+350 – ¼ unit
Philip Tomasino anytime goal (+390) – ¼ unit
Philadelphia Flyers/Pittsburgh Penguins Goal in the 1st 10 minutes (-165) – 1 unit
Philadelphia Flyers/Pittsburgh Penguins 1st period Over 1.5 (-145) – 1 unit
Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild (-220, 5.5)
8 p.m. ET
Going to keep this one very simple. The Wild were blanked on Saturday, 5-0 by the Winnipeg Jets, which triggers our system plays on a Goal in the first ten minutes and the first period Over 1.5 goals. For the season, a goal in the first ten minutes in this spot is 40-17 and the first period Over is 36-21.
NHL Predictions: Chicago Blackhawks/Minnesota Wild Goal in the 1st 10 (-160) – 1 unit
Chicago Blackhawks/Minnesota Wild 1st Period Over 1.5 (-115) – 1 unit
San Jose Sharks at Vancouver Canucks (-260, 6)
9 p.m. ET
The Sharks have lost four straight and seven of their last eight. The Sharks’ last four losses have been particularly tough for the team in teal as they have had a third-period lead in all four games. Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss had to sting the most, giving up the tying and winning goals in a span of 36 seconds of game time. In defeat, the Sharks did get an outstanding performance from goalie Yaroslav Askarov, stopping 39 of 42 shots.
If history tells us anything, the Sharks are destined to see their losing streak extend to five games. The Sharks have lost 15 of 17 to the Canucks and have not won at Vancouver since February of 2019. Thatcher Demko is expected to get the start tonight. He has given up three or more goals in three of his four starts since returning. His career numbers against San Jose have been outstanding, going 11-0-0 with a 2.17 GAA and .925 save percentage.
If San Jose goes to Alexandar Georgiev in goal tonight, then we will be all over Vancouver in the first period. With Georgiev in goal, his teams are a combined 1-17-3 (0-2-1 with San Jose) in the opening 20.
Vancouver native and first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini will play his first NHL game in his hometown. Celebrini was held to just two shots on goal Saturday at Edmonton. In his last six games, after not recording at least three shots on goal in a game, he has followed up with 6, 6, 4, 3, 5, and 3 shots on goal.
NHL Predictions: Macklin Celebrini Over 2.5 SOG (-155) – ½ unit
Vancouver Canucks 1st period – ½ goal (+105) – 1 unit…Note only if Georgiev starts for the Sharks
Macklin Celebrini Over 3.5 SOG (+170) – ½ unit
Sam Jose Sharks TT over 2.5 (+105) – 1 unit
Dallas Stars (-160, 6) at Utah HC
9 p.m. ET
No deep dive into this game tonight other than to target playing Utah HC to win the first period. Utah is 8-3-3 at home in the opening 20 minutes. The Stars are 0-4-3 in their last seven and 1-4-5 in their last 10 overall when it comes to the first-period money line.
NHL Prediction: Utah HC 1st period ML (+110)
Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights (-340, 6.5)
10 p.m. ET
The Ducks are coming off a thrilling 4-1 come-from-behind victory Sunday in Utah, rallying with a pair of third-period goals and then winning 5-4 in a shootout. It was the fifth time this season Anaheim won a game when trailing after 40 minutes. Now they are faced with a quick turnaround. For the second time this season, they will play the Golden Knights in the second half of a back-to-back. Vegas has won all three meetings this season against the Ducks, outscoring Anaheim, 10-4.
The Golden Knights are riding a three-game winning streak and have won seven of their last eight overall. Vegas sits just two points behind the Winnipeg Jets for first overall in the NHL and has played one fewer game. The Jets are in action today in Toronto.
I will get involved in this game in a couple of ways. The first period Over 1.5 goals has been profitable with Anaheim on the road (10-5) and Vegas home games (11-5). In their three meetings this season, the first-period Over has cashed twice. I do like Vegas to win today’s game, so with that in mind I will attack the Ducks team total (Under 2.5). The Ducks have scored two goals or less in 18 of their 19 losses this season.
Finally, two player props have caught my eye. If it’s a Vegas game, then those familiar with me are aware that I will play Pavel Dorofeyev to go Over his shots on goal prop. Dorofeyev was one of three players to get benched for part of the Knights game on Saturday and finished with just one shot on goal. In his previous three games, after being held to one shot on goal or less, he has had at least three shots on goal in the next game. I also have a small play on Victor Olofsson to score a goal today. He has three goals in three games against Ducks starting goalie, John Gibson.
NHL Predictions: Pavel Dorofeyev Over 2.5 SOG (-130) – 1 unit
AnaheimDucks/Vegas Golden Knights 1st period Over 1.5 goals (-140) – 1 unit
Victor Olofsson anytime goal (+240) – ¼ unit
Best of the Rest:
Tampa Bay Lightning/Florida Panthers 1st period Over 1.5 (-145) – 1 unit
Carter Verhaeghe (Florida) anytime goal (+210) – ¼ unit
St. Louis Blues/Detroit Red Wings Over 5.5 (-120) – 1 unit
Washington Capitals/Boston Bruins 1st period Over 1.5 (-115) – 1 unit
Washington Capitals/Boston Bruins Over 5.5 (-115) – 1 unit
Taylor Raddysh (Washington) anytime goal +550 – ¼ unit
