There is a slate of 3 NHL games on Monday, the Capitals in Dallas to face the Stars in a big inter-conference game, the Panthers in Edmonton to bang the boards with the Oilers, and the Avalanche in Vancouver to skate with the Canucks in a Western Conference showdown. Here are betting previews for these 3 matchups along with Moneyline and Totals odds, Starting Times, Records, Trends, and Picks from the Sides, Totals, and Puck Line markets.
Capitals at Stars Prediction
| Game Time: | 8:00 EST/5:00 PST |
| Stars Line: | -162 |
| Capitals Line: | +136 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Capitals: Washington has been brilliant in its last 10 (8-1-1-0) and have won 4 straight (13 GF-6 GA) after beating Buffalo on Saturday night, allowing just 1, 2, 1, and 2 goals in its last 4 games overall as starting Goalie Logan Thompson (12-1-2, 2.48 GAA) has been stellar. The Under is 3-0-1 in the Capitals last 4 games. And this team is doing it all without the services of living legend Alexander Ovechkin and they have beaten some of the best teams in the Eastern Conference over this stretch (TOR, TBL, NJD, FLA). The Capitals have the best Record on the Road (12-2-0), so this may be a good spot to back the conference leaders as a small Road Underdog.
Stars: Dallas and Goalie Jake Oettinger (15-7-0, 2.46 GAA) may have a tough Winter in the Central Division with the Jets and Wild playing so well and the Avalanche finally catching them in the Points total in what now may be the toughest division in the NHL. One thing the Stars (5-5-0 L10) do have going for them is their propensity to win at Home (12-3-0). But this may be a tough one to win against a team with the second most goals in the league (115)—even with their ace scorer sidelined.
Head-to-Head Last 10: The Stars have held the upper hand in the last 10 series meetings, going 7-3 and winning 5 of the last 6 (19 GF-14 GA) and winning the last 2 played in Dallas. The Under is a profitable 7-3-0 over that span with a 4-1 record in Big D and 2 Shutouts in the last 4 (DAL 2-0, WASH 5-0). So what happens here? Expect a tight-checking skate with both teams not wanting to lose and goals coming at a premium and a likely 1-goal win by someone. The Side lean goes to the streaking Capitals but this Capitals vs Stars pick will look to the Under with a beat-me-if-you-can 7 goals ultimatum. Pick: Under 6.5
Panthers vs Oilers Prediction
| Game Time: | 8:30 EST/5:30 PST |
| Oilers Line: | -135 |
| Panthers Line: | +114 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Panthers: Defending Stanley Cup champions Florida (6-3-1 L10) are 9-6-1 on the Road but have lost 2 straight away from home (CAL, VAN) and this Western Canadian Road swing has to be wearing on this team playing a long way from Sunrise and 3 Time Zones away (PST). What’s troubling for the Black Cats is that they have scored 0 goals—yep none—in their last 2 games and have just 1 goal in Regulation in the last 3 games, good for their opponents as well as Under backers (Under 4-0-0 last 4; 3, 4, 3 and 4 goals only).
Oilers: Edmonton (8-2-0-0 L10) has really picked it up here in December. and after doubling up on the Golden Knights on Saturday (6-3), the Oilers have won 5 straight games (25 GF-10 GA) and have been scoring lots of goals of late (5.0 gpg L5). This Stanley Cup Finals rematch looks like a big edge for Connor McDavid and the hosts in Alberta.
Head-to-Head Last 10: The Panthers are 6-4 in the last 10 series meetings, but 7 of those meetings were in the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals in June and hardly a reflection of NHL Regular Season play. The Over is 4-1 in the last 5 series meetings, but again, those all came in the Stanley Cup. What seems like the three best handicapping angles in this game is 1—Tired Florida has been shut out 2 straight games in Canada (0 GF-7 GA); 2—Edmonton has won 5 straight; and 3—The Oilers have overwhelmingly won the last 2 meetings in this building (13 GF-2 GA) so this Panthers vs Oilers pick will strongly be backing the Home team. Pick: Oilers -135
Avalanche vs Canucks Prediction
| Game Time: | 10:30 EST/7:30 PST |
| Canucks Line: | +105 |
| Avalanche Line: | -120 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Avalanche: Colorado (6-4-0 L10) is one of many teams in the NHL this season who plays better on the Road (10-6-0) than at Home (8-8-0), just like their Canadian opponents in this matchup. Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche have gone 4-1 in their last 4 Road games (20 GF-12 GA) and averaged 5.0 gpg. Colorado won their last game, beating the slumping Predators, 5-2 in Denver on Saturday.
Canucks: Vancouver (5-3-2 L10) has gone just 5-7-4 at Home (10-2-1 on Road) and this team is as close to the bone as a team can get with a 15-14 W/L mark (+1) and a 93 GF-92 GA Goal Differential (+1). The Canucks are just 1-3 in their last 4 and this will be their 5th straight Home game. Vancouver has alternated Overs/Unders in its last 6 (OUOUOU).
Head-to-Head Last 10: The Avalanche have won the last 4 series meetings (15 GF-7 GA), twice at Rogers Arena and are 6-4 in their last 10 vs Vancouver. The last five in Vancity in the Totals market are 2-2-1, so there is no rhyme or reason for hockey bettors in that market. This Avalanche vs Canucks pick will lean on four things here: 1—Colorado is 4-1 in its last 5 on the Road; 2—The Avs have been better on the Road this season; 3—The Canucks have been below average at Home; and 4—Colorado has won the last 4 series meetings and are simply playing better right now. Pick: Avalanche -125