NHL Picks for Today 12/27/2024
On Friday the NHL returns to the frozen water with 8 games after the world’s best Hockey league took Tuesday (Christmas Eve), Wednesday (Christmas Day), and Thursday off for the annual holiday break. Here are betting previews for these 8 matchups along with Moneyline and Totals odds, Starting Times, Records, Trends, and Picks from the Sides, Totals, and Puck Line markets. Also, get Kevin’s Predictions.
Blackhawks vs Sabres Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST/4:00 PST |
| Sabres Line: | -180 |
| Blackhawks Line: | +150 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN2 |
Chicago (12-21-2) heads to Buffalo to skate with the Sabres (12-19-4) for a game between last-place teams with two of the worst 3 Records at the Christmas break (Sharks). Looking at the last 10 series meetings, we see the Blackhawks (5-13-2 on Road) are 4-6, losing the last 3 at Buffalo (5 GF-10 GA), twice in OT. The Over is 5-4-1 over that span. With the Sabres snapping a 13-game Losing Streak last game and the Sabres winning the last 3 series meetings at Home, it would be tempting to take the hosts with this Blackhawks vs Sabres pick. But who wants to trust Buffalo (6-10-3 at Home, 1-7-2 L10)? On Monday, the Wild-Hawks scored 7 Goals between them while the Sabres exploded for 7 in a 7-1 win over the Islanders. With these two teams rested, let’s suggest the Over. Pick: Over 5.5
Maple Leafs vs Red Wings Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST/4:00 PST |
| Red Wings Line: | -155 |
| Maple Leafs Line: | +130 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Auston Matthews (23 points) and Toronto (7-6-2 on Road) head south of the border to Hockeytown to face the Red Wings (7-9-2 at Home) in an Atlantic Division meeting. In the last 10 meetings, the two teams have each won 5, with the Maple Leafs going 1-3-0 in the last 4 meetings between two of the Original 6. The Under has been a profitable 7-2-1, winning 3 of 4 times in Detroit with the last game there ending in a Push. At open, you can find both 5.5’s and 6’s in the Total market, so this Maple Leafs vs Red Wings will suggest finding a 6 (DraftKings) and playing the Under. Pick: Under 6
Hurricanes vs Devils Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST/4:00 PST |
| Devils Line: | -125 |
| Hurricanes Line: | +105 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Hurricanes (8-8-1 on Road) head to Newark, New Jersey and the Prudential Center to face the Devils (11-6-3 at Home) in a Metropolitan Division showdown. Over the last 10 meetings, Carolina has gone a dominating 8-2, capturing 6 of the last 7 with 2 Pushes after 4 Unders after 4 Overs in the Totals market. With no Overs in the last 6 series meetings (0-4-2), this Hurricanes vs Devils pick will look for yet another Under, and if it lands on 6 for a 4th straight time, oh well. A Push is always better than a Loss and you live to fight another day. Pick: Under 6
Bruins vs Blue Jackets Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST/4:00 PST |
| Blue Jackets Line: | +136 |
| Bruins Line: | -162 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Bruins (8-7-2 on Road) head to Columbus to bang the boards with the Blue Jackets (10-4-3 at Home) who are teetering between 5th- and last-place in the Metropolitan Division with 34 points. Looking at the last 10 meetings in this series, we see the B’s are 8-2 and have won 4 of the last 5 in Columbus (18 GF-12 GA). The Under is 6-3-1 in those 10 and 6-1-1 in the last 8. This Bruins vs Blue Jackets pick will side with David Pastrnak (35 points) and the Road team who are 7-2-1 in their last 10 and on a 2-game Win Streak. Pick: Bruins -148
Predators vs Blues Prediction
| Game Time: | 8:00 EST/5:00 PST |
| Blues Line: | +105 |
| Predators Line: | -125 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Predators (3-10-4 on Road) head to St. Louis to lace up the skates with the Blues (6-8-1 at Home) for a post-Christmas Central Division game. In the last 10 meetings, each team has won 5 times with Nashville winning the last 4 straight (25 GF-9 GA) in very high-scoring games (7, 11, 7, 8 goals). The Over has cashed 5 in a row. This Predators vs Blues pick will suggest backing the Over with both Sides rested and that massive Totals trend. You can see why the Predators are the Road Favorite here. Pick: Over 5.5
Wild vs Stars Prediction
| Game Time: | 8:00 EST/5:00 PST |
| Stars Line: | -166 |
| Wild Line: | +140 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Wild (12-3-3 on Road) head to Big D and American Airlines Center to face Goalie Jake Oettinger and the Stars (13-5-0) in an exciting Central Division matchup deep in the heart of Texas. Looking at the last 10 in this series we see that Dallas has been dominant, going 8-2 and winning the last 7 straight (32 GF-9 GA) with the Over 4-5-1 over that span (2023 to 2024) with the Stars being the Favorites in the last 6. This Wild vs Stars pick will stick with the Home team, even though Minnesota (4-6-0 L10) has been great on the Road. Pick: Stars -166
Avalanche vs Utah Hockey Club Prediction
| Game Time: | 9:30 EST/6:30 PST |
| Utah Hockey Club Line: | +120 |
| Avalanche Line: | -142 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN2 |
Nathan MacKinnon (57 Points) and the Avalanche (12-7-0 on Road) head south to the Beehive State to face the Utah Hockey Club (5-6-4 at Home) in a Central Division showdown at the Delta Center. These two teams have met twice this 2024-25 NHL Regular Season with each winning on the other guy’s rinks with both games going Under the 6.5 Total. When this franchise was still the Arizona Coyotes, Colorado was 33-26 (3.1 GFA-2.6 GAA). This Avalanche vs Utah Hockey Club pick will side with Mikko Rantanen (19 Goals, 52 Points), Cale Makar (45 Points), and the Road team to make it 3-0-0 this year. Pick: Avalanche -142
Golden Knights vs Sharks Prediction
| Game Time: | 10:30 EST/7:30 PST |
| Sharks Line: | +205 |
| Golden Knights Line: | -250 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The last game on the NHL schedule after the 3-day Christmas holiday break sees the team with the best Record at the Holiday break, Goalie Adin Hill (15-5-2, 2.61 GAA) and the Golden Knights (23-8-3, 49 Points), in San José and the SAP Center to swim with the Sharks (6-9-1 at Home). In the last 10 in this series, VGK has gone 7-3, winning the last 5 straight (25 GF-8 GA) and holding San José to just 8 goals. This Golden Knights vs Sharks pick will side with Jack Eichel (45 Points), William Karlsson and VGK to win by 2 Goals or more. Pick: Golden Knights -1.5 +105