NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Dallas Stars (25-10-8) at Washington Capitals (22-15-6)
Stars (+106) at Capitals (-128) – Total 6.5 (Under, -120)
7 p.m. ET
First off, shop around on the total depending on if you want to play the Over or the Under, as there are 6’s available for those who want to play the game going Over the total. I posted the total at 6.5 because that is what most available sportsbooks are posting.
The Stars have lost six straight, given up four goals or more in all six losses, and five of the six losses have gone Over the total. Washington has traded wins and losses over their past five games (coming off a win over Anaheim), and the full game Over has cashed in each of the last six games.
Washington will once again be without forwards Tom Wilson and Aliaksei Protas. Logan Thompson will get the start tonight for Washington and has struggled of late, giving up 4,6,3 and 4 in his last four starts, which opens the door for both the Stars team total and for the Stars to snap their six-game losing streak.
We don’t have a goalie confirmation for Dallas. Jake Oettinger was pulled last night after giving up five goals on 15 shots, so I do wonder if he starts again tonight. Oettinger is 6-0-0 with a 1.25 goals against average and two shutouts. The Stars’ Jason Robertson has an assist in four straight games (five) and has six assists in nine games against the Stars. One other Stars player prop (for now) is a Mavrik Bourque anytime goal. Bourque is on the top line, and it is his birthday today. How can he be denied a goal on his birthday?
For the Capitals, Ryan Leonard has points in five straight and six of his last seven games, and his linemate Connor McMichael has points in eleven of his last 14 games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Leonard/McMichael point parlay +194 – .50 units
Jason Robertson Over ½ assist (+104) – .50 units
Dallas Stars Over ½ power play goal (-105) – .25 units
Mavrik Bourque anytime goal (+450) – .10 units
Calgary Flames (18-20-4) at Montreal Canadiens (23-13-6)
Flames (+130) at Canadiens (-150) – Total 6 (Over, -118)
7:30 p.m. ET
The Canadiens return home after a five-game road trip that saw them go (3-1-1), with two of the wins coming in overtime. With Montreal playing their final two games before the Christmas break, this will be the Habs’ first home game since December 20th. I don’t like this spot for Montreal, coming off a long road trip, and then tomorrow they host the Florida Panthers.
Tonight kicks off a five-game road trip for the Flames, who do struggle on the road with just six wins in 21 road games, but they have had success in Montreal, coming away with victories in each of their last two visits. Two of the last three meetings in Montreal have gone to overtime, and four of the last eight overall between the two teams have gone past regulation.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Calgary Flames 1st period Money Line (+122) – .50 units
Calgary Flames (full game) Money Line (+130) – .50 units
Regulation Draw (+310) – .10 units
Ottawa Senators (20-16-5) at Utah Mammoth (20-20-3)
Senators (+105) at Mammoth (-125) – Total 6.5 (Over, -125)
9:30 p.m. ET
The Senators travel to Utah for the first of two on the road, which has them in Denver tomorrow to face the Avalanche. That’s two games, back-to-back, and both in elevation. Thanks, NHL schedule maker, Steve Hatze Petros.
I would expect Leevi Merilainen to get the start tonight and Mads Sogaard to get the start tomorrow against Colorado, making tonight a “must win” or at least get the game to overtime for Ottawa and salvage a loser point. I do think we will see goals tonight, but I will shop around for a six, or, if I can’t find one before the game, I’ll wait in-game and hope we don’t get a quick goal.
This game is high on my list for player props. Dylan Guenther has goals in four of his last six games and has three goals in five games against the Sens. I will also sprinkle some money on Guenther to score at least three goals tonight. Every night in 2026, we have had a hat trick in the NHL, and Guenther is a dynamic goal scorer who has one hat trick in the books this season.
Forward Lawson Crouse is on the top line for Utah and has Cy Young numbers against Ottawa with seven goals and zero assists in 15 games versus the Sens. Defenseman Sean Durzi has points in nine of his last 10 games and has five assists in four games against Ottawa. Durzi’s defense partner Mikhail Sergachev has cashed his shots on goal prop in 14 of his last 15 home games.
The Senators Fabian Zetterlund has four goals in four games versus Utah and three goals against Mammoth starting goalie, Karel Vejmelka.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Fabian Zetterlund anytime goal (+440) – .15 units
Lawson Crouse anytime goal (+320) – .15 units
Sean Durzi Over ½ point (+140) – .25 units
Dylan Guenther anytime goal (+165) – .15 units
Dylan Guenther 3+ goals (+7500) – .05 units
Mikhail Sergachev Over 1.5 shots on goal (-118) – 1 units
