NHL Picks for Today 12/30/2024:
There are 3 games scheduled on the NHL ice on Monday, the Rangers at the Stanley Cup champion Panthers in an Atlantic Division showdown, the Predators at the Jets in a Central Division contest north of the border, and the Utah Hockey Club at Seattle in a Western Conference meeting between the two newest-named clubs. Here are betting previews for the 3 matchups along with Moneyline and Totals odds, Starting Times, Records, Trends, and Picks from the Sides, Totals, and Puck Line markets.
Rangers vs Panthers Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST/4:00 PST |
| Panthers Line: | -180 |
| Rangers Line: | +150 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | NHL Network |
Rangers Outlook: New York (9-9-0 on Road) has had a bad December, going 3-9 after a loss in Tampa on Saturday night and falling into 8th and last place in the Atlantic Division. And scoring Goals is a big reason why the Broadway Blueshirts have struggled with just 2, 1, 3, 1, 2, 0, 3, 1, and 0 heading in that span. That’s an average of only 1.44 gpg and a recipe for missing the NHL Playoffs. The Under was a profitable 7-3 over the last 10, clicking on 5 straight before Saturday’s Over.
Panthers Outlook: Florida (10-7-1 at Home) hasn’t been playing that great of late, with the Defending Stanley Cup champions may be a bit tired after a Canadian Road Trip and possibly too much poutine in the stomachs. Luckily for the Black Cats, the listless Rangers are coming to town and the Panthers had won 4 in a row before a 3-game slide and were tied with the Maple Leafs atop the Atlantic Division, so no need to panic. The NHL season is as long as Chile, running from Fall to Summer.
Head-to-Head: In the last 10 series meetings, Florida is 7-3, winning 4 straight (11 GF-6 GA) in games that all went Under the closing Totals of 5.5, In the 4 games played in Sunrise, Florida, the Panthers went 3-1, winning all 3 of those by 1 Goal and losing the one time by 1 Goal (OT). In fact, in the last 7 meetings between these 2 teams, there have been 7 1-Goal games, so keep that in mind if contemplating a wager in the Puck Line market. These Rangers vs Panthers picks will elect to side with the Home team in what could likely be another low-scoring, close affair. Picks: Panthers -180, Under 6
Predators vs Jets Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:30 EST/4:30 PST |
| Jets Line: | -155 |
| Predators Line: | +130 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Predators Outlook:
Nashville (3-11-4 on Road) has been abysmal away from Opryland, and facing one of the best Home teams in the league probably won’t be fun for the Predators on Monday night. Nashville (1-4 last 5 Road), like the Rangers, have been bad in December (4-7), with an 8-game skid from the end of November until December 10 ruining its Christmas spirit. The Predators have played 3 Overs in 4 games heading into this one in games that saw 7, 9, and 11 Goals.
Jets Outlook:
Winnipeg started off the 2024-25 NHL Regular Season with an incredible 15-10 Record, but since then, the Jets (12-3-1 at Home) have gone just 10-9-0 and find themselves in a battle in the Central Division with the Wild and coming Avalanche. Winnipeg is 4-1 in its last 5 and did shut out Minnesota when they met in Winnipeg on December 21 (5-0). The Under is 2-0-1 in the last 3 games at the Canada Life Centre.
Head-to-Head:
In the last 10 series meetings, the Jets are 6-4, going 3-1 at Home. But Nashville has won 3 of the last 4 meetings overall (14 GF-9 GA), including the last one at the Canada Life Centre last March. The Under is 6-3-0 in the last 9 meetings. This Predators vs Jets pick will side with Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Winnipeg, who again have the best record in the NHL (26-10-1, 53 points). Nashville just can’t be trusted on the Road, Bubba. Kevin’s Pick: Jets -155
Utah Hockey Club vs Kraken Prediction
| Game Time: | 8:00 EST/5:00 PST |
| Kraken Line: | -110 |
| Utah Hockey Club Line: | -110 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Utah Hockey Club Outlook: Utah (11-6-2 on Road) has been better away from Salt Lake City than playing there, and this team is on a 3-game Losing Streak (7 GF-12 GA)—all at Home. So maybe escaping the Beehive State is just what the ice doctor ordered? We will see. Utah had played 4 Unders in 5 games and 5 of its last 6 were 1-Goal games, so we can probably expect a 2-1 or 3-2 Final score here, possibly needing OT or a SO to determine a winner. This team had won 4 in a row before the 3-game streak of black ice (ANA, DAL, COL).
Kraken Outlook: Seattle won in OT at Vancouver on Saturday afternoon (5-4), rallying for 2 late scores to tie it and then winning in the extra 5 minutes—brother it’s always a Cryptozoological drama when Bigfoot and Ogopogo meet—avoiding its 6th straight setback (11 GF-26 GA), after losing the previous 5 by 2 Goals or more. So this team is in a semi-swoon as they head into the first meeting between these two teams with the Arizona Coyotes moving to SLC and becoming the Utah Hockey Club like a bat turning into Count Dracula. The last 3 Seattle games saw at least 6 Goals (9, 7, 8), so instead of expecting the Kraken to win at Home, this game is better played in the Totals market.
Head-to-Head: Like the Human Bean writing the sentences above just said, these two have no history with these names—the Kraken were 5-4 lifetime vs the Coyotes (3.9-2.4 AVG)—and with Seattle sliding, but at Home, who knows who wins here and how. Utah is good on the Road but this is a tough scheduling spot. So this Utah Hockey Club vs Kraken pick will side with the Over in the Totals market and expect (at least) 3 Goals from each team. Pick: Over 6