Welcome to Christmas eve week and happy holidays to everyone! What better way to offset some holiday shopping with some winning picks to put some money back in your pocket? This week will feature some big time slates around the NHL and tonight it is just that with 12 games on the hockey docket. There are a handful of plays that I like that include a pair of game totals, and a Puck Line plus the Dog of the Day play is back! If you like the rationale then tail the picks, if you don't feel free to fade as sometimes the best bets are the ones not taken!

  • Season Record: 50-48-2
  • Bankroll: +0.11 units
  • Dog of the Day Record: 3-3 (+1.35 Units)

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**all bets are one unit unless specifically mentioned.

NHL Best Bets for December 21

St. Louis Blues at Florida Panthers

The Blues are frauds and the collapse that I predicted a few weeks ago is finally happening! The Blues on the road the last 30 days have scored just 2.3 goals per game and have allowed 3.6, that's just short of a full meltdown in the process of losing 5 of the last 7 on the away side. They are 6-11 straight up on the season as well on the road. In addition to that in the betting world they are 7-10 against the spread away from home this season. Now let's get into the home side in the Panthers who are 9-4 in front of their fans and allow just 2.77 goals per game, the 8th best average in the NHL. Sergei Bobrovsky starting tonight is another boost as well as he has a 2.49 GAA on the season with 14 wins under his belt. Florida should cruise in this one and that's why I am on the Puck Line tonight at plus money. 

Pick: Florida Panthers Puck Line -1.5 (+115 on BetMGM)

 

Edmonton Oilers at New Jersey Devils

After winning 8 straight games the Oilers have now fallen in their last 3 games and its due to the defense falling apart once again, allowing 15 goals in that span. This fits the mold of the Oilers from the last few seasons has the offense needs to carry the load and it will have to tonight against a Devils team that scores 3.43 goals per game. The Oilers aren't far behind though with 3.34 goals per game and it has me looking at the game total. New Jersey has gone over in 10 of 15 home games this season and the offense is firing right now with most of the pieces back and healthy. Edmonton has also gone over the total in 7 of 13 games this season, while less impressive still more likely than not. The goaltenders aren't impressive either between Calvin Pickard and Akira Schmid so let's ride the over even with the tall total number. 

Pick: Oilers & Devils Over 7 Goals (-105 on Caesars)

 

Carolina Hurricanes at Pittsburgh Penguins

I have seen this matchup many many times and very rarely do they turn into shootouts and I don't expect that tonight either. The Penguins have allowed 2.4 goals per game on home ice in the last 30 days and that's one of the best marks in the NHL. Alex Nedeljkovic will get the nod in the net for them as well and its a revenge game on top of his recent run of stopping 63 of the last 69 shots he has faced. On the Carolina side they have had crazier games of late but on the road they are struggling to score goals with 2.4 scored in the last 30 days. 6.5 seems a bit steep to me given all of these trends and the fact its a divisional game with a pair of hot goalies. 

Pick: Hurricanes & Penguins Under 6.5 Goals (-110 on BetMGM)

 

NHL DOG OF THE DAY

Vancouver Canucks at Dallas Stars (+125 on DraftKings) Half Unit