NHL Picks for Today 12/11/2024: NHL Predictions

On Wednesday the NHL schedule serves up just 2 games, Artemi Panarin and the Rangers upstate in Buffalo and Troy Terry and the Ducks across the border in Ottawa. Here are more in-depth betting previews for these 2 games along with Moneyline and Totals odds, Starting Times, Records, Trends, and Picks from the Sides, Totals, and Puck Line markets.

Rangers vs Sabres Prediction

Rangers: The Rangers (2-0-0 L10) just haven’t found their groove yet this season and are one of many teams who actually have better Records on the Road (7-5-0) than at Home (7-7-1). This flies in the face of the traditional Trends we have seen in the NHL where winning on one’s Home ice was almost expected. Over their last 10, Artemi Panarin and the Broadway Blueshirts have struggled, losing 7 of 9 and barely keeping their Goal Differential (+5) heads above water (86 GF-81 GA). New York has played 5 straight games at MSG and went 2-3, getting blasted by the Kraken on Sunday (7-5) and losing to the Blackhawks on Monday (2-1). New York was favored in 9 of its last 11 games, so anyone fading the Rangers over that span made some money.

Sabres: Buffalo (3-4-3 L10) has been in a slump lately, losing 7 straight (16 GF-28 GA) and falling to a -7 Goal Differential (85 GF-92 GA) with Alex Tuch (24 points), Tage Thompson (21 points), Rasmus Dahlin (19 points) and the Sabres being shut out twice (MIN, NYI). The sad thing for this team is that 6 of the 7 skates were at Home (6-8-3) at the KeyBank Center. In the Totals market, the Sabres had alternated Overs/Unders the last 6 heading into Monday (OUOUOU). Buffalo has scored 4 goals only twice in its last 11 games (Sharks, Red Wings) and have scored just 14 in this 7-game losing streak (2.0 gpg).

Series Trends and Pick: After winning 4 straight in this series, the Rangers have gone just 2-4 SU vs Buffalo, and 4 of the last 6 meetings have been in New York. The Sabres have won only 1 of the last 4 meetings at Home and have been outscored 11-6. With Buffalo on a losing streak and having trouble generating goals, New York having some success at KeyBank Arena, this Rangers vs Sabres pick will back Igor Shesterkin (9-9-1, 2,99 GAA) and the Road team. Pick: Rangers -130

Ducks vs. Senators Prediction

Ducks: Anaheim (4-4-2 L10) has been playing better lately but still find themselves in last place in the Pacific Division. Like the Rangers, Troy Terry (19 points), Ryan Strome (12 points), Frank Vatrano (12 points) and the Ducks are one of those teams who are playing better on the Road (5-3-3) than they are at Home (5-9-1) and Anaheim, who just ended a 4-game Homestand (1-3) before losing at Montreal on Monday, has won 3 of the last 4 away from home heading into this one. The Ducks have also alternated Unders/Overs in their last 7 games (UOUOUOU). Anaheim was Underdogs in all 10 of these games, so NHL bettors backing Anaheim fared very well.

Senators: Ottawa (4-5-1 L10) is 8-6-1 at Home and has a -4 Goal Differential (82 GF-86 GA). While the Ducks were Underdogs in their last 10 games, the senators were actually Favorites in their last 10, so anyone fading Tim Stutzle (34 points), Brady Tkachuck (29 points), Drake Batherson (28 points) and Ottawa did pretty well (-$353). The Over is 6-3-1 in the last 10 Senators games with 5 Overs, 2 Unders and 1 Push in the last 8 and 4 straight 7-Goal games at one point. This will be Ottawa’s 4th straight Home game at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Series Trends and Pick: Looking at the last 10 series meetings, we find that Anaheim has done very well vs Ottawa, going 7-3 and winning the last 3 in a row (11 GF-5 GA). Anaheim has gone 3-2 the last 5 in Ottawa, winning the last meeting 5-1 in a game that went under the 6.5 Total. And the Under has been the choice in the Totals market in this series, going 7-2-1 over those 10 with all 5 games at the Canadian Tire Centre going Under. These Ducks vs Senators picks will back these Trends knowing Anaheim is playing better, and has done well in the inter-conference series in low-scoring games. Picks: Ducks +200, Under 6