NHL Picks for Friday 11/15/24: Top 5 NHL Predictions

There are five NHL games on the docket on Friday night, including Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals in Colorado to face Cale Makar and the Avalanche. Here are handicapping previews for all five games on the frozen water with picks and predictions from the Sides, Totals, and Puck Line markets.

Penguins vs Blue Jackets Prediction

Sidney Crosby and the Penguins (6-9-2, 3-5-2 on Road) head to Columbus face the Blue Jackets (5-8-2, 1-5-2 at Home) in a Metropolitan Division game. Columbus returns Home after a winless Road trip and a nasty 6-game losing streak. The Penguins are 8-2-0 in the last 10 series meetings, but lost the last one in a PK Shootout, 4-3 in Columbus. The Over is 3-1 in the last 4 series meetings in Columbus (7.25 gpg). This Penguins vs Blue Jackets prediction is to ride Evgeni Malkin (18 points) and the better team who has dominated the series (PIT 52 wins, CLB 26 wins). Pick: Penguins -125

Capitals vs Avalanche Prediction

Alexander Oveckin and the Capitals (10-4-2, 3-2-0 on Road) head west to the Rocky Mountain State and the Pepsi Can to face Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche (8-8-0, 5-5-0 at Home) in an intriguing inter-conference matchup and the best game of the night. Our Capitals vs Avalanche prediction comes from seeing that Colorado has won 4 straight in the series (19 GF-7 GA) and has held Washington to 2 or fewer goals in all 4 games. The Caps will travel 1,650 miles to Denver and play 2 hours later (MST) than their EST Body Clocks are accustomed to. Pick: Avalanche -176

Golden Knights vs Hockey Club Prediction

The slumping Golden Knights (9-4-2, 1-3-2 on Road) head to Salt Lake City to play The NHL Team Formerly Known As The Coyotes, the Utah Hockey Club (6-6-3, 3-2-1 at Home), in a Western Conference game which sees both coming in off losses. Last year when the Coyotes were still skating in Phoenix, Arizona went 2-1-0 vs the Golden Knights but this Golden Knights vs Utah Hockey Club prediction and free NHL pick will roll with the team who has dominated the lifetime series.(VGK 25-11, 3.3 gpg-2.2 gpg) Pick: Golden Knights -125

Predators vs Flames Prediction

The Flames (8-6-3, 5-3-0 at Home) welcome the Predators (5-9-2, 1-3-2 on Road) to the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Friday for a Western Conference game between two scuffling teams with Calgary 3-5-2 in its last 10 and Nashville 4-4-2. This Predators vs Flames prediction stems from three things, recency bias from Nashville playing so poorly, having just 1 Road win, and the angle of an American team playing in Canada. Juuse Saros (4-7-2, 2.64 GAA, .911 Save Percentage) and the Predators are 7-3 the last 10 series meetings and the Under is 12-5 in Flames games. Thus the 6 Total. Pick: Flames +110

Red Wings vs Ducks Prediction

This inter-conference game from Anaheim sees the Red Wings (6-7-1, 3-3-0 on Road) facing the Ducks (5-7-2, 2-3-2 at Home) in game which sees one of the four worst teams in the NHL (Blue Jackets, Canadiens, Predators, Ducks) facing a team with a 2-game losing streak. Five of the last 10 series meetings have gone to either OT or a PK Shootout and the Under is 7-3 over that span. This Red Wings vs Ducks prediction comes down to a slight lean to Lucas Raymond (13 points) and the visitors because Anaheim has just been so poor over the last two seasons (32-57-7, 33.3% Win Percentage) and have scored the least goals in the league (21). There are better games to bet on than this. Picks: Red Wings -148, Under 6.5