NHL Best Bets Today, 12/14: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Saturday
We have a loaded NHL slate with games throughout the entire day but we'll focus on the 11 games starting at 7 pm! It's been a weird schedule for the NHL this week but we're back in full force with almost the entire league in action on this beautiful Saturday!
NHL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 12/14
After just a single game on last night's slate, we are rolling into a full slate of games! Blowouts and higher-scoring games seem to be the theme this week with 11 teams scoring at least four goals back on Thursday. This may lead to some upsets here and there but it's always encouraging from a prop perspective knowing we're dealing with a ton of open ice.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Winnipeg Jets Prediction: Saturday, December 14th
After a blazing hot start to the season, things have been a bit up and down for the Winnipeg Jets, who come having lost six of their last 10 games. Luckily, they have a soft matchup against the Montreal Canadiens to get back on track tonight.
I have full faith that the Jets will get back to cruising altitude and push towards the playoffs. This is the type of matchup where they should dominate from start to finish, with a ton of shots on goal.
This season, the Canadiens have allowed 62.78 Total Shot Attempts per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the fifth-worst in the league. This has been the theme for the Habs over the last several years, a lacking defense that presents a ton of value in the prop market for opposing teams.
This brings me to Kyle Connor, who leads the Jets with a whopping 101 shots on goal. Not only does he lead the team, it's by a considerable margin as the next highest player is at only 70 shots on goal. Connor is the primary shooter for the Jets and with him coming off a game where he didn't have a single shot on goal, I love this as a bounceback spot for him.
- Expert Picks Canadiens vs. Jets
- Kyle Connor Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (+114 on FanDuel)
Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche Prediction: Saturday, December 14th
After a successful 4-1 road trip, the Colorado Avalanche returned home to face the Utah Hockey Club and dropped a 4-1 dud. The Avs' offense was rolling with at least three goals in four of those five road games, a level of production I expect them to return to tonight.
They are up against the Nashville Predators, who are in the midst of a disastrous season considering some of the offseason moves they made. To this point in the year, the Predators have allowed 2.54 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the 12th worst in the league.
That doesn't bode well for the Predators considering the Avalanche offense is peaking over the last two weeks with 2.89 Goals scored per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the seventh-best in the league.
We all know the offensive power the Avs have and that leads me to none other than Cale Makar. The former Norris Trophy winner has his sights set on another one this season and piling up the points is routine for him. With 36 points in 31 games this season, Makar has the most points of any defender in the league.
TIme on the first power-play unit alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen always put Makar in a spot to pick up multiple points in any matchup.
- Expert Picks Predators vs. Avalanche
- Cale Makar To Record 2+ Points (+220 on DraftKings)
Best NHL Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 12/14
- Connor McMichael Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-110 on DraftKings)
- Clayton Keller Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-120 on DraftKings)
Player News
Paul Skenes has announced that he will pitch for Team USA at the World Baseball Classic
Skenes has pitched for Team USA in two other tournaments during his career and actually spent two years at the Air Force Academy. He is arguably the best pitcher in baseball right now and will partner with arguably the best hitter in baseball right now, Aaron Judge, to lead Team USA in what figures to be an extremely competitive WBC tournament in 2026.
White Sox LHP prospect Hagen Smith (fatigue) will have his workload managed at Double-A Birmingham.
Hagen Smith’s velocity fluctuated in his last outing, and the White Sox were cautious about him showing some signs of fatigue. They shortened his last outing and will skip his next start to help him manage his workload in his first full professional season. Everything is fine with Smith from a medical perspective, but this is a good reminder that Smith is an immense talent, but fantasy managers shouldn’t expect a major impact this season as he adjusts to professional baseball.
Paul Blackburn (knee) will make his final rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday
Blackburn has already made four rehab starts, so he will need to be reinstated from the injured list after his start on Friday. As of now, there is no room in the Mets’ rotation, so the most likely outcome is that Blackburn would serve as a multi-inning reliever, which could bump Dedniel Nunez back to the minors.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora admitted the team will “take a look at” whether or not to remove Tanner Houck from the starting rotation.
After his brutal start on Monday, Houck admitted this is “probably the most lost [he’s] ever been.” The struggles really began in the second half of last season, but Houck now has an 8.04 ERA and has allowed double-digit runs in less than three innings twice this season already. Houck does have minor league options remaining, so the Red Sox could simply send him to Triple-A and give him time to figure out what’s going out. If they were to do so, that would allow Hunter Dobbins to stay in the rotation even after Walker Buehler returns next week.
MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy suggests that the Brewers could call up Logan Henderson to start on Wednesday against the Guardians.
Milwaukee has pushed Jose Quintana’s start back to Saturday against the Twins, which means they currently don’t have a starter for Wednesday’s game. Henderson is already on the 40-man roster, so he would make some sense and be an intriguing streamer in deeper formats.
Austin Slater (knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.
SLater had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee back on April 16th. He was given a four-to-six week timeline at the time, so he remains on track in his recovery. He could need multiple weeks of rehab games before returning to the White Sox lineup.