Underdog Fantasy NHL Picks December 12th: Mark Scheifele and the Jets fly into the Shark Tank

Welcome into NHL player projections central for the season on Underdog Fantasy! Player projections are becoming one of the hottest growing things in hockey over the past few seasons and I have definitely taken notice as it adds yet another layer to a great game experience. Throughout this season you will find picks offered on the Underdog site that I find the most appealing as there are many to choose from so that's why I'm here to help you sift through the options.
For today's slate, we have 10 games on tap around the NHL and plenty of options for player props! I have highlighted a trio of plays that I will be following tonight that includes 3 players around the league for the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets! Good luck to everyone on the plays tonight, let's win some cheddar!
NHL Underdog Fantasy Top Picks December 12
Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings - HIGHER than 1.5 Shots On Goal
Not everyday we get a blueliner as an Underdog play for the NHL but here we go with the Red Wings and Seider! He has quickly become one of the more underrated offensive defenseman in the league over the past couple of seasons and the breakout of the Detroit offense has helped him big time. He has gone higher than 1.5 shots on goal in 9 of the last 10 games leading up to tonight and has averaged 2.7 shots per game during that span. The St. Louis Blues allow 32.48 shots per game, the 6th most in the NHL so buckle up for a big night on this play!
Zach Hyman, Edmonton Oilers - HIGHER than 3.5 Shots on Goal
The rising tide does in fact raise all boats and that is what is going on with the Oilers offense right now as they are just ripping teams apart. McDavid gets all the attention of course but Hyman playing beside him is just as important and the production has been excellent. Over the past 15 games Hyman has gone higher than 3.5 shots in 9 games for a 60% hit rate and the Chicago Blackhawks allow the 4th most shots per game in the NHL. Seems like simple math to me on this play.
Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets - HIGHER than 2.5 Shots on Goal
The Jets have been one of the more surprising teams so far this season but not usually because of the their offense. They are in a great matchup tonight though as the San Jose Sharks allow the most shots per game this season in the NHL at a whopping 36.89! Enter the best healthy player on the roster in Scheifele and he should go off tonight. He has gone higher than 2.5 shots on goal in 8 of last 10 games averaging 3.1 shots per game in that timeframe.
Player News
Isaac Collins was removed from Wednesday’s game against the White Sox with a right elbow contusion.
Collins was hit by a pitch in the early stages of Wednesday’s contest and tried to gut it out for a couple frames before being lifted for Vinny Capra at second base. He’ll presumably head for X-rays to rule out any fractures.
Clayton Kershaw (toe, knee) allowed three runs over five innings on Wednesday in a minor league rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Kershaw struck out four and issued one walk, throwing 66 pitches (44 strikes) in his latest rehab outing. The 37-year-old southpaw is likely to make a couple additional starts in the upper minors before making his season debut at some point in mid-May when he’s eligible to be activated from the 60-day injured list.
Bo Naylor clobbered a three-run homer on Wednesday, propelling the Guardians to a 4-2 victory over the Twins.
Naylor gave the Guardians a commanding four-run lead with his seventh-inning no-doubter to right field against Twins reliever Brock Stewart. The 25-year-old backstop has homered in back-to-back games and is up to four round-trippers on the season.
The New York Post’s Paul Schwartz reports Giants OL Evan Neal is moving from tackle to guard.
Neal was selected seventh overall by the Giants in 2022 to play right tackle. Injuries have led to just 29 games played in three seasons for the 24-year-old, including 27 starts. Neal has struggled amidst the injuries, posting a 61.2 PFF grade last season - good for No. 73 out of 140 qualifying tackles. The Giants signed James Hudson III and Stone Forsythe to back up at tackle, leaving Neal to kick inside and compete for the right guard spot. It is a contract year for Neal, so his attempt to become a starter at guard will be crucial to watch throughout the season.
Brooks Lee hit his second home run of the season on Wednesday in a loss to the Guardians.
Lee put Minnesota on the scoreboard with an eighth-inning solo shot off reliever Hunter Gaddis. The 24-year-old former top prospect figures to continue playing regularly between second and third base until Willi Castro (oblique) is ready to return from the injured list.
Maxi Kleber (foot) is available to play against the Timberwolves in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Kleber has been sidelined since before he was traded to the Lakers as part of the Luka Doncic deal, and this will be the first time he is available to suit up for Los Angeles. In a win-or-go-home game for them, it’s unclear how much head coach JJ Redick will lean on a new player that hasn’t played in three months.