On Thursday we have 9 games on the NHL schedule including the Avalanche in Carolina to skate with the Hurricanes and the Panthers in Philadelphia to check with the Flyers. Here are betting previews for the 9 matchups along with Moneyline and Totals odds, Starting Times, Records, Trends, and Picks from the Sides, Totals, and Puck Line markets.
Jets vs Sabres Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST |
| Sabres Line: | +114 |
| Jets Line: | -135 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Jets (18-8-8-0, O/U 11-14-1) head to Buffalo to face the Sabres (11-12-0, O/U 12-9-4) in this inter-conference meeting. Winnipeg has won 4 of the last 5 series meetings (15 GF-8 GA) and the losing team in the last 6 has scored exactly 2 Goals. Despite that strange reality, the Under is a profitable 8-1-1 in the last 10 series meetings, although the last meeting went Over (WIN 5 BUF 2, Total 6). This Jets vs Sabres pick will be to take the visiting Jets who started off so hot but have now cooled off (3-7-0, Lost 4) as Buffalo has also lost 4 straight. Pick: Jets -135
Predators vs Canadiens Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST |
| Canadiens Line: | +124 |
| Predators Line: | -148 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Canadiens (9-13-2-1, O/U 14-11-0) host the Predators (7-12-6, 2-6-4 on Road) who have hit a patch of black ice again (2-3-5), losing 5 of their last 10 in OT or in a SO. The last 10 series meetings show that the Predators have been the side to bet, going 7-3. But with the Over 6-1-0 in the last 7, this Predators vs Canadiens pick will look to the Totals market and take the Over. Pick: Over 6
Red Wings vs Senators Prediction
| Game Time: | 10:00 EST |
| Senators Line: | -162 |
| Red Wings Line: | +136 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Red Wings (10-11-4-0, O/U 11-14-0) and Senators (10-12-1-1, O/U 12-10-2) face off in Ottawa in a series that has been dominated by the Senators (8-2). Ottawa has won 5 of the last 6 and the last 5 in Ottawa have all been Overs (8, 7, 7, 8, 7). With that in mind, this Red Wings vs Senators pick will lean to the Over at the Canadian Tire Centre. Pick: Over 6
Sharks vs Lightning Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST |
| Lightning Line: | -250 |
| Sharks Line: | +205 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
This inter-conference showdown sees the Sharks (10-13-1-4, O/U( 13-12-3) in Tampa to cross check the Lightning (12-9-1-1, O/U 11-10-2). Looking at the last 10 meetings in this series we see that Tampa Bay has gone 8-2, winning 8 of the last 9 and holding San José to just 1 Goal in the last 2 meetings (6-0, 4-1). This Sharks vs Lightning pick will look to the Puck Line market and water down the odds and take the Home team. Pick: Lightning -1.5 +105
Panthers vs Flyers Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST |
| Flyers Line: | +140 |
| Panthers Line: | -166 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Flyers (12-10-1-2, O/U 12-13-0) welcome the Panthers (15-9-2-0, O/U 17-9-0) to the City of Brotherly Love and Cheesesteaks for an Eastern Conference matchup. The last 10 series meetings show that the Panthers have won 2 straight after the Flyers won 4 in a row after the Panthers won 3 straight. Get it? Got it? Good. The Under is 3-1 in the last 4 series meetings and this Panthers vs Flyers pick will be to back the Under with a sudden rash of Unders in the NHL. Pick: Under 5.5
Avalanche vs Hurricanes Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST |
| Hurricanes Line: | -148 |
| Avalanche Line: | +124 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Avalanche (14-12-0-0, O/U 14-9-3) are a team to back betting in December, as they have been the last couple if seasons, but on Thursday at the Hurricanes (16-8-0-1, O/U 10-12-3) it might be a good idea to just watch. With Carolina Goalie Frederik Andersen (Knee) out and expected to have surgery, looking to the Totals market seems like the logical approach and Avalanche vs Hurricanes pick, especially seeing the last 3 meetings have gone Over (10, 7, 10). Pick: Over 6.5
Kraken vs Islanders Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:30 EST |
| Islanders Line: | -142 |
| Kraken Line: | +120 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+, Hulu |
With Seattle still a relatively new expansion franchise, the Kraken (12-13-1-0, O/U 11-14-1) and Islanders (9-10–1, O/U 14-11-1) have only played 7 times with the Kraken winning 5 of the 7 and 2 of the 3 on Long Island. All 3 games at the UBS Arena have been dead Unders (3-0, 4-0, 2-1, SO) with an average of just 3.34 ppg being scored in Elmont, New York. The Kraken have won 3 consecutive meetings so these Kraken vs Islanders picks will back these strong Trends. Picks: Kraken +120, Under 5.5
Blues vs Flames Prediction
| Game Time: | 9:00 EST |
| Flames Line: | -130 |
| Blues Line: | +110 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Blues (12-12-2-0, O/U 9-14-3) have been a fairly strong Under team but at Calgary in this Western Conference meeting, taking the Canadian Side vs the American team won’t be the Blues vs Flames pick. Why? Because St. Louis is a powerful 6-2 vs the Flames in the last 10 skates and because the Over looks better with the Over 5-1 the last 6 games in Calgary with 7, 3, 7, 10, 8, and 9 pucks seeing the back of the net at the Scotiabank Saddledome. That’s a healthy average of 7.33 gpg and enough for me to suggest the Over. Pick: Over 5.5
Blue Jackets vs Oilers Prediction
| Game Time: | 9:00 EST |
| Oilers Line: | -270 |
| Blue Jackets Line: | +220 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The last game on the Thursday slate sees Blue Jackets up in Edmonton to face Connor McDavid and the Oilers in an inter-conference date. Columbus has won 2 straight in the series and 5 of the last 6. But Edmonton has woken up (7-2-1 L10) and won 3 straight and with the Blue Jackets just 3-7-2 on the Road and 13-31-9 away from home since last season (24.5%), this Blue Jackets vs Oilers pick is to back Stuart Skinner (8-6-2, 3.09 GAA, 2-2-1, 3,06 GAA vs Columbus) and the Home side. If Edmonton starts Calvin Pickard, he has a better GAA vs the Blue Jackets (2.98), but is 2-3-1 in 4 decisions vs Columbus. Pick: Oilers -1.5 -110