NHL Picks

The Minnesota Wild are travelling to Anaheim to face the Ducks for the second time this season. In their November meeting, these teams scored only two goals combined. However, a lot has changed since then, and we can expect to see many more goals in tonight’s game. The Wild are built to score and have been one of the highest-scoring teams since acquiring Quinn Hughes. While their goaltending remains well above average, it doesn’t guarantee that they won’t allow goals.

The Ducks come into tonight’s game on a 4-game losing streak, having allowed a staggering 18 goals while scoring only 9 during this period. As a young hockey team, they are experiencing the expected growing pains. While their goal-scoring ability is evident, they tend to give up many high-danger scoring chances. If this trend continues tonight, the Wild will capitalize on it. Both teams have average penalty kills, which gives the offense an additional advantage. We should expect plenty of back-and-forth action, hopefully leading to many goals.

Wild vs Ducks Prediction: Over 6.5 (-125) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number or better.

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The Seattle Kraken are traveling to Vancouver to take on the Canucks for the second time this season. These 2 teams faced off less than a week ago, with the Kraken narrowly winning 3-2. This matchup marks the Kraken’s second game in consecutive nights, so fatigue may become a factor as the game progresses. While both teams rank among the worst in offensive performance in the league, it doesn’t mean we won’t see plenty of scoring opportunities.

As the Canucks head into 2026, they have a disappointing home record of 4-12-1. The team has struggled defensively, allowing 5 or more goals in 3 of its last 4 games. Thatcher Demko is expected to start, and although his overall statistics this season are decent, his recent performances haven’t met expectations. While we may not see many scoring chances, that doesn’t rule out both teams combining for 6 goals. We’re leaning toward the Over, hoping that neither goalie performs at his best.

Kraken vs Canucks prediction: Over 5.5 (-125) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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This matchup represents the second of a home-and-home between the Penguins and Red Wings. Pittsburgh beat Detroit in overtime on Thursday in a great game. What gives the Red Wings a slight advantage in this one is home-ice advantage, their overall recent form, and that generally, it is not easy to beat the same team twice in as many games.

The Penguins snapped an ugly 1-5-4 stretch with a current 3-game winning streak. But the Red Wings have been a bit better long term, and as well as the Penguins are playing, Thursday’s matchup still needed time beyond regulation. Detroit is 5-1-1 in their last 7 as part of an 11-3-2 run since the start of December. They have won 6 out of their last 7 played at home to the Penguins’ 1 win in their last 5 played on the road. This one sets up well for the Red Wings.

Red Wings regulation win +105 available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

Considering as well as several teams have been playing, of all teams it is the Buffalo Sabres that have taken the league by storm in the past month. The Sabres enter this game having won 10 consecutive games, of which 7 were on the road. When a team is this hot, they just plain are a tough fade. A team on a 10-game winning streak is a more reliable play than fading with the justification that “it has to end sometime”. 

The Sabres would be a tough fade against most teams in the NHL. They are even more difficult to fade against a Blue Jackets team that sits in the cellar of the Eastern Conference by 3 points. That is not as much of an indictment on Columbus as it may seem. They have won 3 out of their last 4 games. Even considering, Columbus has 6 wins in their last 18 and has dropped 6 out of their last 9 played at home. Buffalo has won 7 straight on the road going 6-1 against the spread as well. Until or unless the Sabres cool down even a little bit, they have proven to be a good play. 

Sabres -110 available at the time of publishing. Playable to -115.

The under has been trending for both the Mammoth and Devils lately. The total has gone under in 8 out of New Jersey’s last 9 games. While the under has hit in just 1 out of Utah’s last 4 games, the longer term trends have been more telling. The under hit in their prior 3 consecutive games, and has also hit in 5 out of their last 7 games on the road. Head to head, trends have also favored the under as the total has gone under in 4 out of the last 5 played between these teams.

For the Devils, their game totals have been lower for an unfavorable reason. They have been very snakebitten offensively. On Wednesday, the Devils scored 3 goals which was the most goals they have scored in a game in their last 8 games played. With that, New Jersey scored 2 or fewer goals in 7 out of their last 8 games. These teams have already played a game this year in which the final was 2-1. Recent trends set up for another low total. 

Game total under 5.5 (-105) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

The over has hit in 5 out of Philadelphia’s last 7 games, as well as in 4 out of their last 6 played on the road. High totals trends have been amplified in Edmonton as the over is 12-5 in Oilers home games. Combining Flyers road games and Oilers home games, the over is 23-13. 

Game total overs seem to always have a good chance in Oilers games as they score the 6th most goals per game in the NHL, have the best power play in the league, and rank 25th in goals allowed per game. Recent results for both teams give way for a higher total as well. The Flyers lost 5-1 on Wednesday just a game after they won 6-3. The week prior, Philadelphia either scored or allowed 5 goals in 3 consecutive games. The range of outcomes against a strong offensive team like the Oilers gives the over appeal.

Over 6.5 (+100) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

The Canadiens have played good hockey in the last couple weeks. For the first half of December, Montreal struggled to get things going after a tough November. But in their last 7 games, the Canadiens are 5-0-2. During that stretch, the Canadiens have scored 31 goals for an average of 4.43 goals scored per game. With that, they now rank 3rd in the NHL in goals scored per game and have the 7th best power play.

If the Canadiens just hold to their season averages in this one, it will be an uphill battle for the Blues. St. Louis just cannot score. They rank last in the NHL in goals scored per game, they have just 2 players with 10 goals, and no players near a point per game average. If the Canadiens continue this strong offensive production, the Blues just do not have the horses to keep up. The case is especially true considering the Blues also allow the 4th most goals per game in the NHL and will be playing their second game in as many days. This one sets up well for the Canadiens in just about every aspect. 

Canadiens -120 available at the time of publishing. Playable to -135. 

The Vegas Golden Knights and St. Louis Blues kick off a 4-game Friday NHL slate at 3:00 pm ET. These Western Conference have met once this season, in a 4-1 Vegas win in November. Here is our Golden Knights vs. Blues prediction for their second meeting of the season.

The Golden Knights are 0-2-1 in their last 3 games, so I expect the team to play urgently. They have an excellent roster and are easily within range of the Pacific Division lead, but just 17 wins in 38 games is not a result they should be happy with this. While they may be on the road, the Blues are a far weaker opponent that presents a great opportunity to earn a much-needed win. The Blues have been poor of late, posting a record of 1-3-0, and being outscored 16-7. This checks out with an overall tough season that sees that at 15-18-8. There is a major roster mismatch in this one in favor for Vegas, and while that doesn’t always translate to a win, I believe it will in this one. For our Golden Knights vs. Blues prediction, take Vegas on the money line.

Golden Knights vs. Blues prediction: Vegas Golden Knights ML (-150) available at time of publishing. Playable to -165.

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The 2026 Winter Classic features the New York Rangers battling the Florida Panthers at LoanDepot Park in Miami. Despite both New York and Florida having some offensive inconsistencies this season, they should be able to total at least 6 goals in this one. New York’s offensive woes this season are well-documented, but the Rangers got a huge boost with the return of star defenseman Adam Fox earlier this week. Fox missed more than a month with an upper body injury, and provided an immediate boost by scoring a goal and dishing out an assist on New Year’s Eve against the Capitals. He has 28 points in 28 games this season, and could lead the Rangers to a solid offensive effort in this one. There’s also a possibility that J.T. Miller returns, which would be another positive for New York.

On the other side, the Panthers have been in plenty of high-scoring games this season. Florida ranks 12th in the league averaging 3.12 goals per game, and the over is a strong 22-17 in their 39 games so far this season. New York goaltender Igor Shesterkin has allowed 3+ goals in 7 of his last 9 games, and owns a goals-against average above 3.00 in 8 career games against the Rangers. It’s also worth mentioning that the retractable roof at LoanDepot Park will be closed at the start of the game, but is slated to open up at some point throughout the contest. That could potentially cause some depth perception issues for both goaltenders. Consider the over.

Rangers vs Panthers prediction: Over 5.5 (-115) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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