NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
NY Rangers (19-16-4) at NY Islanders (20-13-4)
Rangers (-110) at Islanders (-110) – Total 5.5 (Under, -115)
6 p.m. ET
The Rangers closed out the break with a 7-3 win over Washington and have won three of their last four games. The road has been far kinder to the Rangers, who have won five of their last seven away from MSG and 14 of their 19 wins overall. The Islanders closed out the break with a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils but have lost three of their last four games.
The Islanders defeated the Rangers 5-0 at MSG back in November, snapping a five-game losing streak to the Blueshirts. Both teams have trended to the Under, with seven of the last 10 Rangers games having a combined five goals or fewer. The Islanders have cashed the full game Under in five straight. While the Under cashed in their first meeting this season, the two teams have gone Over in seven of their last 10 matchups.
The Islanders are on the front end of a back-to-back and are (2-4) in this spot. The Islanders should get a boost from the return of Bo Horvat, but goalie Ilya Sorokin is still dealing with an undisclosed injury. Horvat has six goals in 10 games against Rangers’ goalie, Igor Shesterkin. Without Horvat, the Islanders have scored three goals or fewer in 13 of their last 16 games, including each of the five games with Horvat in the lineup. Anders Lee has points in four straight, five of six, and seven of the last 10. The Rangers will also welcome the return of a key player as defenseman Adam Fox returns after missing the last 12 games with an upper-body injury. While Fox returns, J.T. Miller was put on injured reserve.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Anders Lee Over ½ point (+105) – .25 units
Bo Horvat anytime goal (+145) – .10 units
Boston Bruins (20-17-1) at Buffalo Sabres (18-14-4)
Bruins (+106) at Sabres (-128) – Total 6.5 (Under, -115)
7 p.m. ET
Break up the Sabres. Buffalo closed out the break on a seven-game winning streak, their longest since winning 10 straight in 2018. They are just three points back of Florida (who owns the tiebreaker) for the second Eastern Conference wild card spot. The Bruins have lost four straight (all at home) and five of their last six, giving up five goals or more in four of the five losses. Boston has given up four goals or more in 14 of their 18 losses this season.
The B’s have taken the first two meetings with Buffalo this season, but both those games were at TD Garden in Boston. The Sabres have won 11 of 18 on home ice this season and are an impressive 6-3 as a home favorite. Buffalo scored first in five of their last six home games and six of seven overall. The Bruins have given up the first goal of the game in seven of their last eight games and have led just once on the road after the first period in 17 games (1-7-9).
Late note out of Buffalo, the Bruins, like all road teams, flew into Buffalo today, and their flight was delayed. Buffalo’s Tage Thompson has seven goals in 10 games versus Joonas Korpisalo. Ryan McLeod has points in six of his last seven games. Jack Quinn, who plays on the same line as McLeod, has enjoyed home cooking, cashing his shots on goal prop in nine of his last 10 home games and four of five at home against the Bruins. Alex Tuch has had three or more shots on goal in three straight and five of his last seven games. Boston’s David Pastrnak has picked up an assist in six of his last seven and 10 of his last 13 games versus Buffalo. This stat just came my way courtesy of @ryansura18. The Sabres have lost 10 straight when defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is not in the lineup. Dahlin is unavailable as he is dealing with a personal matter.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
David Pastrnak Over ½ assist (-110) – .25 units
Ryan McLeod Over ½ point (+120) – .25 units
Quinn Over 1.5 shots on goal/ Tuch Over 2.5 shots on goal – parlay (+234) – .25 units
Buffalo Sabres Team Total Over 3.5 (+104) – .50 units
Buffalo Sabres 1st goal/1st period (+105) – 1 unit
Tage Thompson anytime goal (+140) – .25 units
Ottawa Senators (18-13-5) at Toronto Maple Leafs (16-15-5)
Senators (-130) at Maple Leafs (+110) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
Tonight is the first time these two teams will meet since the Leafs eliminated the Senators in last year’s playoffs in six games. The Sens have won five straight and six of the last seven regular-season meetings between the two teams. Toronto put an end to a three-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over Pittsburgh in the final game before the Christmas break and will now look to win back-to-back games since the beginning of December, when they won three straight.
The Maple Leafs have lost five of seven overall and are on the front end of a back-to-back with a game at Detroit on Sunday. Toronto has struggled in the first game of back-to-backs, going to just (1-5). The Senators fell victim to the Buffalo Sabres in their final game before the Christmas Break, putting a halt to their four-game winning streak. The Sens are (6-3) as a road favorite this season. Ottawa has scored the opening goal in six of their last eight games. The Leafs have given up four or more goals in fifteen of their 20 losses this season.
Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle is on fire with points in eight straight (seven goals, eight assists), but with his points prop at (-190), you would be best to parlay his point prop. I will play his anytime goal prop (+195). Stutzle has two goals in three games versus Maple Leafs goalie Joseph Woll. For me, the best play on the board in this game is Claude Giroux Over half a point (+115). Giroux is on a four-game point streak, has points in 11 of 13 and 14 of the last 17 against the Maple Leafs. Tonight is also a milestone night for Giroux, who is playing in career game 1300.
With the Senators’ solid record as a road favorite (6-3) and the Maple Leafs woeful on the front end of a back-to-back (1-5), I will also be on Ottawa money line. Toronto’s Auston Matthews eyes must light up when he sees Linus Ullmark between the pipes. He has scored 12 goals in 11 games against the Senators netminder. Finally, the Maple Leafs have been making their goalies work by giving up 30 or more shots on goal in six of their last 10 games and at least 29 shots on goal in eight of their last 10.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Claude Giroux Over ½ point (+115) – 1 unit
Ottawa Senators Money Line (-120) – .50 units
Tim Stutzle anytime goal (+195) – .10 units
Auston Matthews anytime goal (+140) – .20 units
Joseph Woll Over 25.5 Saves – .50 units
Claude Giroux anytime goal (+450) – .10 units
Tampa Bay Lightning (20-13-3) at Florida Panthers (20-14-2)
Lightning (-115) at Panthers (-105) – Total 6 (Under, -120)
7 p.m. ET
This is the third meeting this season between the in-state and Atlantic Division rivals, with the road team winning each game. The Panthers enter tonight’s game playing their best hockey of the season, having won eight of their last 10 games, highlighted by a pair of wins over Carolina, where they trailed both games entering the third period only to outscore Carolina by a combined 8-2 over the final 20 minutes. Florida has won four of their last five home games. The full game Over for Florida has cashed in three straight and six of eight overall.
Tampa has won two straight, aided by the return of number one goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who earned the victory in both games. This is the front end of a back-to-back for the Lightning, who host Montreal on Sunday. Tampa is (4-2) this season when playing the first game of two games on consecutive days. Tampa’s last nine wins have been by two goals or more, and of the Panthers 16 losses this season, 14 have been by two or more goals. Tampa has won only four of the last 10 regular-season meetings between the two teams, but they have covered the Puck Line in all four victories. The Bolts are (5-2) in the role as a road underdog and (5-5) as the road favorite.
Brad Marchand is riding a six-game point streak and leads Florida in scoring with 20 goals and 41 points. Sam Reinhart has points in three straight and 17 of the last 21 games. Reinhart also has points in four straight and 14 of the last 18 games against the Lightning. Tampa’s Jake Guentzel has points in three straight and six of seven overall (three goals, 10 points). He has 11 points in his last 11 games versus the Cats (points in 10 of 11 games). Brayden Point has cashed his shots on goal prop (Over 1.5) in eight straight, 11 of 12, and five of his last seven against the Panthers. He has 17 goals in 26 games against Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
Tampa is a small underdog in this game and is 5-2 this season as a road underdog (5-5 as a road favorite). The Panthers are just 10-9 as a home favorite. The Bolts are still without defensemen Victor Hedman, Eric Cernak, Emil Lilleberg, and Ryan McDonagh.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Marchand/Reinhart point parlay (+111) – .50 units
Guentzel Over ½ point/Point Over 1.5 shots on goal -parlay (+119) – .25 units
Brayden Point anytime goal (+210) – .15 units
Florida Panthers/Tampa Bay Lightning Over 6 (-110) – 1 unit
Washington Capitals (19-13-5) at New Jersey Devils (20-16-1)
Capitals (+100) at Devils (-120) – Total 5.5 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
After rattling off six straight wins, the Caps have dropped seven of their last nine, including their final three games heading into the Christmas break. Washington has given up four or more goals in four of their last six losses. Four of their last five losses have been by three or more goals. The Devils have had struggles of their own, having lost back-to-back games and nine of their last 13 games. In this matchup, the road team has won five straight and 10 of the last 11. The Caps have won four straight and 12 of the last 14 meetings at New Jersey. The last six meetings in Jersey have combined six goals or more, and the first period Over 1.5 goals has cashed in four straight. Washington has scored four or more goals in five of the last six meetings in Jersey.
Both teams are trending to the first period Under 1.5 goals, with Jersey going Under in four straight and the Capitals going Under in each of the last three games. The Devils are also riding a six-game under streak. The Capitals are (4-5) as a road favorite and (4-2) as a road underdog. Tonight is the second of four meetings between the two teams, with the Devils winning 3-2 in a shootout on November 15 in Washington, marking the 10th time in the last 11 meetings that the road team has come away with the victory.
When it comes to player props, the Devils’ Nico Hischier has cashed his shots on goal prop in four straight, six of eight, and 11 of his last 12 games versus Washington. Defenseman Luke Hughes has six assists in eight games against Washington. The Capitals’ Connor McMichael has cashed his shots on goal prop in back-to-back games, three of four, and eight of his last nine games against the Devils. He also has points in each of the last six regular-season meetings and seven of the last eight. He plays on the Capitals’ top line and top power play unit and is available at “plus money” to record a point. Can’t pass up the value. McMichael also has six goals in 10 games versus New Jersey. Alexander Ovechkin has gone nine games without a goal but scored in three of the last four games against New Jersey.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Nico Hischier Over 2.5 shots on goal (+136) – 1 unit
Luke Hughes Over ½ assist (+145) – .25 units
Connor McMichael Over 1.5 shots on goal (-110) – 1 unit
Connor McMichael anytime goal (+340) – .20 units
Connor McMichael Over ½ point (+120) – 1 unit
Alexander Ovechkin anytime goal (+190) – .15 units
Washington Capitals Money Line (+105) – 1 unit
Minnesota Wild (22-10-6) at Winnipeg Jets (15-17-3)
Wild (-115) at Jets (-105) – Total 5.5 (Over, -125)
7 p.m. ET
This will be the third meeting this season between these Central Division rivals, with the road team coming away with victories in the two previous contests. The Wild’s win on November 23rd snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Jets, with Eric Comrie starting in goal in place of the injured Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck accounted for seven of the nine victories during the win streak (Lauren Broissoit has the other two). The Jets defeated Washington 5-1 in Hellebuyck’s return, but they have gone on to lose his next four starts.
Minnesota entered the Christmas break having dropped back-to-back home games for the first time since losing four straight at home in late October. The Wild are facing a Jets team that has dropped four straight and nine of their last 11. Quick strikes have been a characteristic of the Wild this season, scoring first in nine of their last 13 games. The Jets have given up the first goal in four straight and six of the last seven overall, but they have scored first in three of their last four home games. Minnesota’s last seven wins have all been by two goals or more. Six of the Jets’ last nine losses have been by one goal.
Winnipeg is 1-3 this season as a home Underdog. The lone win came in Connor Hellebuyck’s return from injury on December 13th when the Jets defeated Washington, 5-1. Last season, the Jets were 2-1 as the home underdog. The Wild have just one regulation loss in their last nine games.
Minnesota’s Marcus Johansson has registered points in six of his last seven games and in three of his last four against the Jets. Ryan Hartman has cashed his shots on goal prop (Over 1.5) in seven consecutive games. Teammate Joel Eriksson Ek has had three shots on goal or more in three straight overall and six of his last meetings against the Jets. Kirill Kaprizov has goals in back-to-back games against the Jets and does have eight goals in 18 games versus Connor Hellebuyck. The Wild have fired 65 shots in two games (30,35) against the Jets and have put up 30 or more shots on goal in six of their last 10 games and at least 28 shots on goal in nine of the ten.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Minnesota Wild Money Line (-115) – 1 unit
Marcus Johansson Over ½ point (+135) – .25 units
Hartman Over 1.5 shots/Eriksson-Ek Over 2.5 shots (parlay) +164 – .25 units
Kirill Kaprizov anytime goal (+130) – .10 units
Connor Hellebuyck Over 23.5 Saves (-110) – 1 unit
Nashville Predators (16-16-4) at St. Louis Blues (14-16-8)
Predators (-105) at Blues (-115) – Total 6 (Under, -120)
8 p.m. ET
This is the third meeting in 12 days between these two Central Division rivals, with the Predators outscoring the Blues 12-4 (7-2,5-2) in taking the first two games. Nashville has turned their season around. After winning just six of their first 22 games, the Preds have won 10 of their last 14 games.
The Blues have been one of this season’s biggest disappointments. Their (-36) goal differential is the worst in the league, and yet they are just three points out of a playoff spot. St. Louis is the only team in the NHL that has won all their games in regulation. They have lost all 10 games that have gone to overtime (eight) and a shootout (two). The Blues have traded wins and losses in their last six games, and of their last seven losses, they gave up four or more goals, six times.
St. Louis is currently a (-125) home favorite, a role that they have struggled in this season. The Blues are (3-9) as a home favorite and (4-3) as a home underdog. Nashville’s top line of Filip Forsberg, Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly have been stacking points and have torched the Blues in the two matchups this season. Forsberg is on a nine-game points streak and has points in eight of his last nine games against St. Louis, including four points in the two contests this season. O’Reilly is on an eight-game point streak and has points in 12 of his last 14 games. He has three points in the two games against the Blues. Stamkos has points in five straight and has four goals and one assist in the two games versus St. Louis this season. He has also had three or more shots on goal in six of his last eight games and nine of his last 10 against the Blues.
One other note on Stamkos. He has scored in 12 different games this season, and in six of the games, he scored a goal in the third period, including three of the last four games where he has found the back of the net. One other Nashville shot prop for me will be on is Michael Bunting, who has cleared his shots on goal prop (Over 1.5) in eight of his last 11 games and six of his last eight games against the Blues. He also has six goals in 11 games against the Blues. Two St. Louis props for me will include a “pizza money” wager on is a Justin Faulk anytime goal. He closed out the break with goals in back-to-back games and three of his last four. Forward Dalibor Dvorsky scored twice in the last meeting.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Michael Bunting Over 1.5 shots on goal (-128) – 1 unit
Forsberg/O’Reilly point parlay (+104) – .50 unit
Steven Stamkos Over 2.5 shots on goal (+122) – 1 unit
Steven Stamkos 3rd period goal (+750) – .05 units
Michael Bunting Over 1.5 shots on goal (-128) – .50 units
Michael Bunting anytime goal (+280) – .10
Nashville Team Total Over 3 (+100) – .50 units
Justin Faulk anytime goal (+600) – .05 units
Dalibor Dvorsky anytime goal (+390) – .05 units
First Period Over 1.5 (-118) – 1 unit
Chicago Blackhawks (13-17-6) at Dallas Stars (25-7-6)
Blackhawks (+290) at Stars (-375) – Total 6 (Under, -125)
8 p.m. ET
It’s been tough sledding for the Chicago Blackhawks without Connor Bedard and then compounded by the additional loss of second-line center, Frank Nazar. Chicago has dropped six straight and five of those since Bedard went down with injury. They now sit dead last in points in the NHL. The Hawks have been held to two goals or less in five of the six losses, and six of their last seven games have gone Under the full game total. Four of their last five losses have been by two goals or more.
This is the front end of a back-to-back for Chicago, who hosts Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Hawks have lost all three games on the front end of a back-to-back this season. The Stars lost their final game before the Christmas break, but prior to that, they had won four straight (all by two goals or more). So, it should be no surprise that the Stars are an overwhelming favorite today (-375).
This season, favorites (-300+) are 7-2, have covered the Puck Line (-1.5 goals) in six of the wins, a goal in the first ten minutes (GIFT) is 7-2 and the first period Over 1.5 goals is 6-3. Interestingly, the full game has only gone Over the total in three of the nine games. The Underdog has scored a first-period goal in seven of the nine games, and despite the Blackhawks’ struggles to score, they have scored a goal in the first period three times during their current six-game losing streak. Dallas has given up a first-period goal in two of their past three games.
In trying to find some value with player props, Dallas veteran forward Jamie Benn stands out. Benn has points in four straight overall and in five of the last six games versus the Blackhawks. He’s cashed his shots on goal prop (Over 1.5) in four straight overall and 10 of 12 versus the Hawks, including six games with four or more shots and eight games with three or more. Benn also has goals in three of his last four overall and four of his last six home games versus Chicago. Jason Robertson scored three goals in four games against Spencer Knight.
NHL Best Bets:
Jamie Benn Over 1.5 shots on goal (-122) – 1 unit
Jamie Benn Over ½ point (+110) – .25 units
Jason Robertson anytime goal (+110) – .15 units
Blackhawks 1st period Over ½ goal (+100) – .25 units
Anaheim Ducks (21-14-2) at Los Angeles Kings (15-12-9)
Ducks (+115) at Kings (-135) – Total 6 (-110)
9 p.m. ET
It’s round two of the “Freeway Series” with the Ducks taking round one, rallying from down 4-2 with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation to win a 5-4 shootout. The Ducks, along with Vegas and Edmonton, all sit atop the Pacific Division with 44 points, five more than the Kings, who currently occupy one of two Western Conference wild-card spots.
Both the Ducks and Kings have hit a bump in the road. Anaheim has lost five of their last seven games. The Kings have dropped six of seven, including back-to-back home losses to Columbus and Seattle. The regulation loss came to a Jackets team that had one regulation win in their previous 18 games and a Kraken team that had played the night before and had lost 17 consecutive games on the back end of back-to-backs prior to defeating the Kings. Anaheim has scored four or more goals in 19 of their 21 wins this season.
The Kings have cashed the first period Under 1.5 goals in 15 of their last 18 games, and the full game Under has cashed in seven straight and ten of the last 12. One Kings player who has flourished against the Ducks, especially at home, is Kevin Fiala, who has five goals in his last five home games against the Ducks.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Kevin Fiala anytime goal (+175) – .10 units
Mikael Granlund anytime goal (+400) – .10 units
Alex Laferriere anytime goal (+350) – .10 units
Anaheim Ducks Money Line (+115) – .50 units
