NHL Picks for Today 12/19/2024
On Thursday, we see 9 games on the NHL schedule, with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins in Nashville to face the struggling Predators, the Bruins in Edmonton against Connor McDavid and the Oilers, and the Road-savvy Canucks in Las Vegas to face the Golden Knights in a big Western Conference showdown. Here are betting previews for these 9 matchups along with Moneyline and Totals odds, Starting Times, Records, Trends, and Picks from the Sides, Totals, and Puck Line markets and Picks.
Blues vs Lightning Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST/4:00 PST |
| Lightning Line: | -205 |
| Blues Line: | +170 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Tampa Bay (8-4-1 at Home) welcomes the Blues (9-7-2 on Road) to Tampa Bay for an inter-conference meeting in the Sunshine State on Thursday. Looking at the last 10 series meetings, we see that St. Louis has held the upper hand (6-4) but winning just 1 time in the last 4 at Tampa Bay (18 GF-9 GA). The Over is 6-4 across that span and a perfect 4-0 at Tampa (7, 7, 6, 7). These Blues vs Lightning Wings picks will back the Home club who have a positive Goal Differential and are better at Amalie Arena vs a St Louis side still with a negative Goal Differential as well as the Over. Picks: Lightning -205, Over 6
Devils vs Blue Jackets Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST/4:00 PST |
| Blue Jackets Line: | +164 |
| Devils Line: | -198 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Devils (11-4-0 on Road) have been dominant in this Eastern Conference series against the Blue Jackets (8-4-3 at Home), going 7-3 in the last 10 meetings and winning 6 of the last 7 and the last 3 in Columbus (13 GF-6 GA). New Jersey has scored 4 or more goals in 9 of the last 10 meetings. This Devils vs Blue Jackets will back New Jersey on the Puck Line with Columbus on a 5-game slide and losing Pick: Devils -1.5, +120
Kings vs Flyers Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:30 EST/4:30 PST |
| Flyers Line: | +140 |
| Kings Line: | -166 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+, Hulu, Disney+ |
This series has been choppy with each team winning 5 in the last 10, the Over 5-4-1 and the Kings winning the last 2 meetings in Philadelphia and the Flyers winning the last 2 in Los Angeles. There have been 2 straight Unders (6,5), but just barely with both Totals lined at 6.5. Los Angeles (8-7-3 on Road) has been playing well of late (7-2-1 L10) while Philadelphia has been average (5-3-2) and still have a negative Goal Differential (-13). This Kings vs Flyers pick will lean to the Road team winning for a 5th straight time. Pick: Kings -166
Penguins vs Predators Prediction
| Game Time: | 8:00 EST/5:00 PST |
| Predators Line: | -155 |
| Penguins Line: | +130 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Predators (2-5-3 L10) have stunk lately while the Penguins (7-2-1 L10) are finally playing some good hockey. In the last 10 series meetings, Evgeni Malkin and Pittsburgh have owned Nahsville, going 7-3 and winning 4 of the last 5 (14 GF-8 GA). The under is an even more profitable 8-2-0 over that span , winning 6 straight times in games averaging just 4.5 gpg. These two Penguins vs Predators picks will respect those Trends and look for a 7th straight Under and another win by Pittsburgh, the team who has gained confidence. Picks: Penguins +130, Under 5.5
Kraken vs Blackhawks Prediction
| Game Time: | 8:30 EST/5:30 PST |
| Blackhawks Line: | +124 |
| Kraken Line: | -148 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Kraken (7-8-0 on Road) have dominated this Western Conference series vs the apathetic Blackhawks (6-8-0 at Home), going 7-3 in the last 10 skates and winning the last 3 in a row in overwhelming fashion (16 GF-4 GA), although all 2 were played in the Emerald City. The Over has also been a good bet, also going 7-3-0 with the last 3 in the Windy City all going Over (7, 13, 9). These Kraken vs Blackhawks picks will look to another high-scoring Over and the visitors on the Puck Line for some added value with Seattle winning the last 3 meetings by 2, 4, and 6 goals. So they win by 8 here? Picks: Kraken -1.5 +170, Over 5.5
Senators vs Flames Prediction
| Game Time: | 9:00 EST/6:00 PST |
| Flames Line: | -125 |
| Senators Line: | +105 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
This all Canadian inter-conference matchup from Calgary (11-4-2 at Home) will be a toss-up with the Senators (7-2-1 L10, W3) on a roll and trying to get into Playoff positioning in the rugged Atlantic Division. Ottawa is 6-4 in the last 10 but lust 1-3 in the last 4 at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Totals market is split (5-5-0 L10) with the winning team tallying at least 4 scores in the last 9 games. This Senators vs Flames pick will look for an Over with each team capable of scoring thrice in what is an underrated game on the Thursday night slate. Pick: Over 5.5
Bruins vs Oilers Prediction
| Game Time: | 9:00 EST/6:00 PST |
| Oilers Line: | -175 |
| Bruins Line: | +145 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Bruins (8-7-1 on Road) head to Alberta to face Leon Draisaitl and the defending Western Conference champion Oilers (9-7-1 at Home). Word came out on Tuesday that Edmonton almost traded Draisaitl to the Lightning for Nikita Kucherov, but the Oilers decided to keep the talented German and are still hoping to get Canada its first Stanley Cup since Fred Flintstone met Wilma, Looking at the last 10 series meetings we see that the two teams have each won 5 with the Road team winning the last 9 straight. You read that right. The Under is 4-1 in the last 5 and a sexy 8-2-0 in the last 10, so let’s look for another low-scoring game and make this Bruins vs Oilers pick the Under. Pick: Under 6
Canucks vs Golden Knights Prediction
| Game Time: | 10:00 EST/7:00 PST |
| Golden Knights Line: | -166 |
| Canucks Line: | +140 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Golden Knights (11-3-0 at Home) welcome the Canucks (10-2-1 on Road) to the Fortress for a huge Pacific Division game and likely one of the best watches on the night. Vancouver has gone 3-1 in its last 3 trips to Sin City (16 GF- 9 GA) but VGK has improved some this season after a somewhat disappointing 2023-24 NHL Regular Season campaign (45-29-8, 3rd place in Pacific Division). The Over has won 2 straight (7, 9) and like the Senators-Flames game, each team should score at least 3 times in this high-energy game. Pick: Over 6
Avalanche vs Sharks Prediction
| Game Time: | 10:30 EST/7:30 PST |
| Sharks Line: | +200 |
| Avalanche Line: | -245 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Colorado (10-7-0 on Road) heads to San José to swim with the Sharks (6-8-1 at Home) in a Western Conference mismatch. San José has been poor over its last 10 (3-6-1) while Colorado has been beyond dominant vs the Sharks, winning the last 10 meetings and outscoring San José 46-17 in the process with only 2 of those victories coming by 1 goal both at San José). The Under has won 2 straight (5, 4) This Avalanche-Sharks pick will back Colorado to win by 2 goals or more and suggest taking the visitors on the Puck Line. Pick: Avalanche -1.5 +100