It’s a 12-game slate tonight as the NHL tries to get in as many games as possible before the Christmas break. Many teams are playing their 4th game in 6 days tonight, while the Penguins are playing the rare and dreaded 5-in-7.
Pittsburgh’s home game against Minnesota was one of the games we identified at the start of the year as an awful scheduling spot that we’d look to fade, and that’s precisely what we’re doing. It’d be nice if we could catch better than even money with the Wild on the road at Pittsburgh, but given how the Pens are in such a huge fatigue spot and coming off a win last night against the hated rival Capitals, we still see value on Minnesota.
We’re on four other games as well as we try to bounce back from Tuesday’s 1-3 evening. Good luck on whatever you play.
Odds below are at the time we made the pick.
Final Note: This our last post for a week or so as we will be taking a break for the Christmas holiday. Have a great holiday season everyone!
Reasons to bet Nashville: The Predators should bring full focus coming off consecutive losses to Ottawa and Chicago. Philadelphia has lost 5 of 7 at home, where it’s just 6-7-2 on the year.
Reasons to bet Philadelphia: The Flyers snapped a 4-game losing streak Tuesday with a 3-2 win over Detroit in their first game under interim coach Scott Gordon. Nashville has lost 8 straight on the road.
Other things to know:
- Nashville is 3-0-2 in its last 5 games in Philadelphia and 5-2-3 in the last 10 meetings overall
- Nashville is playing its 4th game in 6 days
- Nashville has scored 3 regulation time goals or less in 8 straight
Philadelphia allowed 2 goals Tuesday against Detroit after allowing 22 in its previous 4 games combined - The Under is 3-0-1 in the last 4 meetings in Philadelphia
Probable goalies: Rinne, Hart (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Minnesota: The Wild typically bounces back well from losses such as Tuesday’s 4-0 loss at home to San Jose, winning 18 of its last 24 games following a defeat by 3+ goals. Pittsburgh is playing for the second straight night and 5th in 7.
Reasons to bet Pittsburgh: The Penguins are 6-2-1 in their last 9. Minnesota has lost 7 of 10.
Other things to know:
- Minnesota is 7-8 on the road
- Pittsburgh is 9-7-2 at home
- Minnesota has scored 3 goals or less in 8 of its last 10 games
- Pittsburgh has scored 3 goals or less in 7 of its last 9 games
- Minnesota has allowed 2 goals or less in 5 of its last 7 games
- Pittsburgh has won 12 of its last 16 games when playing on 0 days rest
- The Over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Pittsburgh
Probable goalies: Dubnyk (confirmed), DeSmith
Reasons to bet Chicago: The Blackhawks have scored 17 goals in their last 5 games and are coming off a 2-1 win over Nashville Tuesday.
Reasons to bet Dallas: The Stars are 11-3-1 at home while Chicago is 4-12-2 on the road. Chicago has lost the last 4 meetings.
Other things to know:
- Chicago has allowed 4+ goals in 13 of its last 14 road games
- Dallas has allowed 3 goals in its last 3 home games
- The Under is 5-1 in Dallas’ last 6 home games
- The Over is 11-4 in Chicago’s road games this year
Probable goalies: Ward, Bishop (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Tampa: The Lightning has won 9 of 10 and is 11-3-2 on the road. Calgary has lost 8 of its last 10 home games versus Tampa and is playing its 4th game in 6 days.
Reasons to bet Calgary: The Flames are 11-3-2 at home. Tampa has allowed 129 shots in its last 3 games.
Other things to know:
- Tampa has scored 4+ goals in 9 of its last 10 games, averaging 5 goals per game during that stretch
- Calgary has allowed 2 goals or less in 6 of its last 7 games
- Tampa has allowed 2 goals or less in 4 of its last 6 games
- Calgary has won 19 of its last 26 games when playing its 4th game in 6 days
Probable goalies: Vasilevskiy, Rittich (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Winnipeg; The Jets have won 8 of their last 10 overall and 5 of their last 6 on the road.
Reasons to bet San Jose: The Sharks have won 5 straight, scoring 24 goals during the streak. Winnipeg has 3 regulation time wins in its last 10.
Other things to know:
- San Jose is 11-3-2 at home
- Winnipeg has allowed 3+ goals in 5 straight games
- San Jose has allowed 15 goals in its last 8 games and 5 goals in its last 3 at home
- The Under is 6-1-1 in Winnipeg’s last 8 games following a loss of 3+ goals
Probable goalies: Hellebuyck, Jones
Reasons to bet Florida: The Panthers have scored 9 goals in their last 2 games and 3+ in 6 of their last 8. Toronto is playing its first home game following a 5-game road trip and just its second home game since Nov. 28.
Reasons to bet Toronto: The Leafs have won 6 straight home games against Florida and look to avenge a 4-3 OT loss to the Panthers from last weekend. Florida has lost 4 of 5 on the road.
Other things to know:
- The home team is 9-0-1 in the last 10 meetings
- Florida has allowed 4+ goals in 5 of its last 8 games
- Toronto is 9-5-1 at home
- Toronto has won 6 of its last 7 home games following a road trip of 7+ days
- The Over is 5-1 in Florida’s last 6 games
- The Over is 8-2 in Toronto’s last 10 games
Probable goalies: Luongo (confirmed), Andersen (confirmed)
Reasons to bet New Jersey: The Devils were ripped by coach John Hynes after Tuesday’s 7-2 loss at home to the Leafs. Columbus has scored just 8 goals in its last 5.
Reasons to bet Columbus: The Blue Jackets have won 6 of 7 against New Jersey and 5 of their last 7 home games versus the Devils. New Jersey has just 3 road wins in 17 games this year (3-11-3).
Other things to know:
- New Jersey has lost 8 of its last 10 games and 21 of its last 28
- New Jersey has allowed 4+ goals in 8 of its last 10 games
- Columbus has allowed 2 regulation time goals in its last 3 games
- The Over is 19-7-1 in New Jersey’s last 28 games
- The Under is 5-0 in Columbus’ last 5 home games
Probable goalies: Blackwood (confirmed), Bobrovsky (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Detroit: The Red Wings have won 7 of 8 trips to Carolina, including a 4-3 shootout win earlier this year. The Hurricanes have dropped 6 of 8.
Reasons to bet Carolina: The Hurricanes have outshot Detroit 91-53 in 2 meetings this season. The Red Wings have lost 4 straight and 7 of 9.
Other things to know:
- Carolina beat Detroit 3-1 Oct. 22 in Detroit
- The road team has won 7 of the last 10 meetings
- Detroit has allowed 3+ goals in 7 of its last 8 games
- Carolina has scored 12 goals in its last 3 games
- Carolina has allowed 4+ goals in 4 of its last 6 games
- The Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings
- The Under is 11-4 in Carolina’s last 15 games
Probable goalies: Bernier (confirmed), Mrazek
Lean: First Period Under 1.5 -106 (also like Ducks +0.5 in regulation time -115)
Reasons to bet Anaheim: The Ducks have won 9 of their last 11 games. Boston has lost 9 straight meetings with the Ducks.
Reasons to bet Boston: The Bruins are 11-4 at home. Anaheim’s playing its 4th road game in 6 days.
Other things to know:
- Anaheim is 4-0-1 in its last 5 games in Boston
- Anaheim is 9-8 on the road
- The Under is 22-13 in Anaheim’s games this year
- The Under is 21-12 in Boston’s games this year
- Anaheim has scored 1 regulation time goal in 3 of its last 6 games
- Anaheim has won 6 of its last 7 road games
- Anaheim has won 13 of the last 16 meetings
- Boston has scored 3+ goals in 3 of its last 4 games and 4 of 6
- Boston has allowed 3+ goals in 7 of its last 9 games
- The Over is 8-3-4 in the last 15 meetings
Probable goalies: Gibson, Halak (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Montreal: The Canadiens have allowed 2 goals or less in 6 of their last 8 games on the road. Arizona has lost 6 of its last 7 games and is 6-9-1 at home.
Reasons to bet Arizona: The Coyotes are 4-1-1 in their last 6 games against Montreal and 6-2-1 in the last 9. Montreal has lost 5 straight games when playing on 0 days rest and 9 of 11 when playing its 3rd game in 4 days
Other things to know:
- Montreal is 7-6-3 on the road
- Montreal has scored 1 goal in its last 2 games
- Arizona has scored 1 goal or less in 3 of its last 4 games
- The Over is 11-1-1 in the last 13 meetings in Arizona and 14-4-3 in the last 21 meetings overall
- Arizona has lost 7 of its last 8 home games
- The Over is 5-1 in Arizona’s last 6 home games
- The Over is 8-1 in Montreal’s last 9 games when playing its 3rd game in 4 days
Probable goalies: Niemi, Kuemper
Reasons to bet New York: The Islanders have earned points in 5 of their last 6 games (4-1-1) and are 9-7-1 on the road. Vegas is playing its first home game following a 4-game eastern road trip.
Reasons to bet Vegas: The Golden Knights are 10-3-1 at home. Vegas beat the Islanders 3-2 last Wednesday in New York.
Other things to know:
- New York has allowed 4 goals in its last 3 road games and 2 or less in 4 of its last 5 on the road
- New York is playing its 3rd game in 4 days and 4th in 6
- Vegas is 3-1-1 in its last 5 games and has earned points in 7 of 10 (6-3-1)
- Vegas has scored 13 goals in its last 3 home games
- Vegas has allowed 3 goals or less in 8 of its last 10 games
- The Under is 10-2 in New York’s last 12 games
- The Over is 8-3-1 in Vegas’ last 12 games
Probable goalies: Greiss, Fleury
Reasons to bet St. Louis: The Blues have won 3 of their last 4 games and are 4-1 in their last 5 trips to Vancouver. The Canucks are playing their 4th game in 6 days.
Reasons to bet Vancouver: Even after a 5-2 home loss to Tampa on Tuesday, the Canucks have won 5 of their last 7. St. Louis has lost 6 of its last 7 games following a win and has dropped 5 of its last 6 against teams with losing records.
Other things to know:
- Vancouver beat St. Louis 6-1 Dec. 9 in St. Louis
- St. Louis has won 8 of the last 10 meetings
- St. Louis has allowed 1 goal in its last 2 road games
- Vancouver has scored 3+ goals in 6 of its last 7 games
- Vancouver has lost 7 of its last 10 home games
- The Under is 7-2 in St. Louis’ last 9 road games
- The Under is 18-7-4 in the last 29 meetings in Vancouver
Probable goalies: Allen, Markstrom
Good luck!
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