NHL Picks for Today 12/23/2024
On Monday there are a whopping 13 games with the league taking Tuesday (Christmas Eve), Wednesday (Christmas Day), and Thursday off. Here are betting previews for these 13 holiday week matchups along with Moneyline and Totals odds, Starting Times, Records, Trends, and Picks from the Sides, Totals, and Puck Line markets.
Rangers vs Devils Prediction
| Game Time: | 1:00 EST/10:00 PST |
| Devils Line: | -195 |
| Rangers Line: | +155 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
New Jersey (9-6-3 at Home) welcomes the struggling Rangers (9-7-0 on Road) to the Prudential Center for an Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division game early on Monday. Looking at the last 10 games in this series we see that New York is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings (18 GF-12 GA) with the Under 3-1-0 in the last 4. This Rangers vs Devils pick will suggest another Under (7-3-0 L10) with 3 of the last 4 in Newark going Under (6, 8, 4, 4) Pick: Under 6.5
Jets vs Maple Leafs Prediction
| Game Time: | 2:00 EST/11:00 PST |
| Maple Leafs Line: | -148 |
| Jets Line: | +124 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Auston Matthews and Toronto (14-4-0 at Home) have been playing well of late (7-3-0 L10, W3) and have held the upper hand in this Canadian rivalry with the high-flying Jets (12-7-0 on Road). In the last 10 meetings, the Maple Leafs have gone 8-2 with Toronto winning 6 straight (26 GF-11 GA), including the last 3 played in Ontario (12 GF-4 GA). For some reason, Toronto has Winnipeg figured out so this Jets vs Maple Leafs pick will do the obvious and back the Home side. Pick: Maple Leafs -148
Capitals vs Bruins Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST/4:00 PST |
| Bruins Line: | -148 |
| Capitals Line: | +124 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Capitals (12-4-0 on Road) head to Beantown to face the Bruins (9-6-2 at Home) in a meeting between two Eastern Conference clubs playing some pretty good hockey the last two weeks. In the last 10 series meetings, Washington has gone 4-6-0 with the Under 5-4-1 and cashing the last 3 meetings. The Caps are 2-2 in the last 4 in Boston and will enjoy the return of living legend Alexander Ovechkin after the holiday break. This Capitals vs Bruins pick will look for another Under with just 10 goals scored in the last 3 meetings (3.3 gpg). Pick: Under 6
Blues vs Red Wings Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST/4:00 PST |
| Red Wings Line: | -130 |
| Blues Line: | +110 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Red Wings welcome their former Norris Division rivals, the Blues, to Hockeytown on Christmas Eve Eve day for what should be a close game. In the last 10 series meetings, the two clubs are dead-even (5-5) with the Over (8-2-0) being the smartest series play on the betting board. The Over has clicked the last 3 (7, 10, 7) and 8 of the last 9 so this Blues vs Red Wings pick will look for yet another high-scoring affair at Little Caesars Arena here. Pick: Over 5.5
Lightning vs Panthers Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST/4:00 PST |
| Panthers Line: | -148 |
| Lightning Line: | +124 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | NHL Network |
The defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers (10-5-1 at Home) and their rivals the Lightning (8-6-1 on Road) played in Tampa the night before, so check what happened in that one before making up your mind about this one. Taking a handicapping looking at the last 10 meetings in this series, we saw Florida was an impressive 8-2 with 2 Overs and 2 Unders at Amerant Bank Arena (7, 5, 5, 8). With Florida having played 20 Overs in 34 games heading into the first of this Sunshine State back-to-back, this Lightning vs Panthers pick will also predict another high-scoring game and over with many tired bodies on the ice in Sunrise. Both teams will be looking forward to the 30-day holiday break. Pick: Over 6
Flyers vs Penguins Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST/4:00 PST |
| Penguins Line: | -135 |
| Flyers Line: | +114 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Another great in-state rivalry on Monday night sees the Flyers (7-6-3 on Road) heading to Pittsburgh (9-7-2 at Home) not to trade Primanti Bros. sandwiches for Geno’s cheesesteaks, but to trade elbows and punches in the spirit of the holidays. Looking at the last 10 series meetings in this Metropolitan Division series we see that Sidney Crosby and the Penguins have gone a profitable 7-3 with the under 5-2-0 in the last 7. This Flyers vs Penguins pick will back Pittsburgh who have been playing much better of late (6-3-1 L10, W3) than the Flyers (4-5-1 L10, L3). Pick: Penguins -135
Canadiens vs Blue Jackets Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST/4:00 PST |
| Blue Jackets Line: | -130 |
| Canadiens Line: | +110 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Canadiens (4-9-1 on Road) head to Ohio to skate with the Blue Jackets (9-4-3 at Home) in a battle between the two 7th-place teams in the Eastern Conference. Looking at the last 10 series meetings we see that Les Habs are 7-3 and have won the last 7 straight, outscoring Columbus 31-12. The Under is 6-4-0. So this Canadiens vs Blue Jackets pick will side with the visitors to make it 8 straight. Pick: Canadiens +110
Sabres vs Islanders Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:30 EST/4:30 PST |
| Islanders Line: | -162 |
| Sabres Line: | +136 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Two teams from the Empire State collide on Long Island when the slumping and last-place Sabres (5-8-1 on Road) face the also last-place Islanders (6-7-2). In the last 10 series meetings, New York has gone 4-6 with the Under the best bet at 7-3-0, hitting the last 4 in Elmont (3, 5, 2, 5). This Sabres vs Islanders will side with NY withBuffalo on a nasty 13-game Losing Streak as well as the Under at UBS Arena. Picks: Islanders -162, Under 6
Hurricanes vs Predators Prediction
| Game Time: | 8:00 EST/5:00 PST |
| Predators Line: | -148 |
| Hurricanes Line: | +120 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Predators (7-7-3 at Home) play host to the Hurricanes (7-7-1 on Road) in Opryland in an interconference game between two teams playing below average the last 2+ weeks. Looking at the last 10 meetings in this series, we see that the two clubs have each won 5 times with the Over a powerful 7-3-0 over that span, winning 4 of the last 5 times. Carolina has gone just 1-3 the last 4 meetings (13 GF-21 GA). This Hurricanes vs Predators pick will look for another high-scoring affair from Bridgestone Arena. Pick: Over 6.5
Blackhawks vs Wild Prediction
| Game Time: | 8:00 EST/5:00 PST |
| Wild Line: | -258 |
| Blackhawks Line: | +210 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Wild (8-7-1 at Home) have been really good so far, but surprisingly average in the Land of 10,000 Frozen Ponds and One Purple Musical Genius, but luckily for Minnesota, Santa Claus has brought them a date with the Blackhawks (5-12-2 on Road) as an early Christmas present. In the last 10 series meetings, the Wild (5-0 at Home, 17 GF-6 GA) have owned Chicago, going 9-1 with the Under an almost as impressive 8-1-1, going 7-0-1 the last 8 skates. The Blackhawks vs Wild Side pick is forced to go to the Puck Line market with the odds so steep you could get a nosebleed with the Totals pick calling for another Under. Picks: Wild -1.5 +100, Under 5.5
Sharks vs Canucks Prediction
| Game Time: | 9:00 EST/6:00 PST |
| Canucks Line: | -298 |
| Sharks Line: | +240 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | NHL Network |
The Sharks (5-10-5 on Road) have sucked like they almost always do (3-6-1 L10, L4), so the Canucks (6-7-4 L10) will enjoy this Western Conference date on Monday night. In the last 10 series meetings, Vancouver has gone 9-1 winning all 5 games in Ogopogoville by at least 2 goals (27 GF-11 GA) while the Over has been a profitable 7-2-1. This Sharks vs Canucks pick also chooses to employ the Puck Line and look for another 2+ goal to win from the British Columbia side. Pick: Canucks -1.5 -118
Stars vs Utah Hockey Club Prediction
| Game Time: | 9:00 EST/6:00 PST |
| Utah Hockey Club Line: | +115 |
| Stars Line: | -135 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Jake Oettinger and the Stars (6-8-0 on Road) head to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Hockey Club (5-5-3 at Home) in this Central Division meeting on the night before the night before Christmas. In the previous meeting this year, Dallas won 2-1 in SLC in a game that went way under the closing Total of 6. With the Stars going 37-17 vs the franchise when they were still the Coyotes and winning those previous 7 meetings, this Stars vs Utah Hockey Club pick will be a no-brainer and back Matt Ducheene (30 goals) and Dallas to make it 9 straight vs this franchise which started off as the original Winnipeg Jets in the World Hockey Association (WHA) back in 1972. Pick: Stars -135
Ducks vs Golden Knights Prediction
| Game Time: | 10:00 EST/7:00 PST |
| Golden Knights Line: | -325 |
| Ducks Line: | +250 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The last game on the NHL schedule before the 3-day Christmas holiday break sees the Not So Mighty Ducks (6-5-3 on Road) at The Fortess to face Jack Eichel and the Golden Knights (12-3-0 at Home). In the last 10 in this series, VGK has gone 6-4, winning the last 3 skates (10 GF-4 GA) and holding Anaheim to 2 goals or less each of those 3. The Under is a powerful 8-2-0 over that span, collecting 4 in a row (5, 5, 3, 5). These two Ducks vs Golden Knights picks will ride this series’ recency bias and back the Home team in Sin City in another low-scoring affair with G Adin Hill (14-5-2, 2.69 GAA) looking to pitch a Shutout at the T-Mobile Arena where they bang the drum loudly. Picks: Golden Knights -1.5 -125, Under 6.5