NHL Picks for Today 12/22/2024
On Sunday there are 6 games on the NHL schedule, including the Rangers in Carolina to brawl with the Hurricanes, the Panthers in Tampa to play their rivals, the Lightning, and the Kings in Washington, DC to face the Capitals in a battle of two teams off to impressive starts. Here are betting previews for these 6 matchups along with Moneyline and Totals odds, Starting Times, Records, Trends, and Picks from the Sides, Totals, and Puck Line markets.
Hurricanes vs Rangers Prediction
| Game Time: | 12:30 EST/9:30 PST |
| Hurricanes Line: | -142 |
| Rangers Line: | +120 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | NHL Network |
Carolina (13-4-0 at Home) welcomes the slumping Rangers (8-7-0 on Road) to the Lenovo Center early Sunday for an Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division game between two teams with two different types of problems. For the Hurricanes, it’s an injury to starting G Frederik Andersen and for the Broadway Blueshirts, it’s losing games and failing to get any traction this year. Looking at the last 10 games in this series we see that New York is 6-4 with a 3-2 record the last 5 in Charlotte with the Over also 6-4 and hitting 2 straight. This would be a tough handicap using only those numbers, but the bigger pictures are that Sebastian Aho and the Canes seldom lose at Home and the Rangers are in a tailspin (L3, 3-7-0 L10). This Rangers vs Hurricanes pick will back the hosts. Pick: Hurricanes -142
Panthers vs Lightning Prediction
| Game Time: | 5:00 EST/2:00 PST |
| Lightning Line: | -110 |
| Panthers Line: | -110 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers (11-6-1 on Road) head across the state to face their fierce rivals, the Lightning (10-4-1 at Home). Looking at the last 10 meetings in this series, we see the Panthers are a dominating 8-2 with 5 wins in the last 6 trips to Amalie Arena (29 GF-17) with 3 Overs and a Push in the last 4 played here (11, 8,8, and 9 goals) where any beer stuck on the bottom of your shoes is free. With Florida playing 20 Overs and 14 Unders and that Trend in mind, this Panthers vs Lightning pick will look to the Totals market and another high-scoring game. Pick: Over 6.5
Kings vs Capitals Prediction
| Game Time: | 5:00 EST/2:00 PST |
| Capitals Line: | -142 |
| Kings Line: | +120 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Capitals (10-4-2 at Home) welcome the Kings to DC and Capital One Arena for a nice inter-conference meeting. In the last 10 series meetings, Washington has gone a dominating 8-2 with the Under 6-3-1. The Caps are 4-1 in the last 5 in DC (20 GF-14 GA) and waiting for Alexander Ovechkin to return. This Kings vs Capitals pick will look for a tight-checking and low-scoring affair, like a 3-2-type game. Pick: Under 5.5
Ducks vs Utah Hockey Club Prediction
| Game Time: | 5:00 EST/2:00 PST |
| Utah Hockey Club Line: | -238 |
| Ducks Line: | +195 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Ducks won the first meeting ever against this franchise (5-4, OT) now called the Utah Hockey Club and if they are smart they will eventually get a cool nickname like the Bees, the Salty Sticks, or the Slashing Mormons or something. Utah (5-5-3 at Home) has been playing well of late (W3, 7-2-1 L10) while Anaheim (4-5-1 L10)ise also playing better than they were, but may find it hard to win in Salt Lake City with the hosts finally giving the Home crowd something to cheer about. This Ducks vs Utah Hockey cClubpick will support the hosts in a revenge spot. Pick: Utah Hockey Club -238
Kraken at Avalanche Prediction
| Game Time: | 8:00 EST/5:00 PST |
| Avalanche Line: | -230 |
| Kraken Line: | +190 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | NHL Network |
Seattle (4-5-1, L3) is in Colorado to face the Avalanche (8-8-0 at Home) in what seems like a good spot to take Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and the Home team). Looking at the last 10 meetings in this Western Conference series, we see that the Avalanche have gone 6-4, but lost 3 of the last 4 in the Rocky Mountains (11 GF-13 GA) with the Under a profitable 6-3-1. With Colorado winning the last 3 (14 GF-6 GA), this Kraken vs Avalanche pick will side with Colorado finding a way to win in the end. Pick: Avalanche -230
Senators vs Oilers Prediction
| Game Time: | 8:00 EST/5:00 PST |
| Oilers Line: | -185 |
| Senators Line: | +154 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
An all-Canadian matchup, Ottawa continues its western Canada Road Trip in Edmonton—the Senators won 3-2 in Calgary for its 5th straight victory—and look to keep up the winning ways (7-2-1 L10). In the last 10 in this series, Connor McDavid and the Oilers have gone 7-3, winning the last 2 at Rexall (9 GF-4 GA) and 4 of the last 5 meetings overall. The Over is 4-1 in the last 5 (7, 8. 4, 9, 9). With Edmonton playing well (8-2-0 L10) and Ottawa not wanting to see its streak snapped, these Senators vs Oilers picks will lean toward the hosts winning in a relatively high-scoring affair. Picks: Oilers -185, Over 6