After a rare night where the NHL had zero games scheduled, with the only game on the night being postponed with the Calgary Flames suffering a Covid-19 outbreak, the NHL returns with a full slate of games. December 14th has 13 games scheduled with 26 of the league’s 32 teams scheduled to play. With the surplus of games come plenty of intriguing matchups that hockey fans and bettors alike will look to find profitable bets.
Under 5.5 – Los Angeles Kings Vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
| Kings stat line | 12 wins in 26 games | 2.65 goals per game | 2.58 goals against per game |
| Lightning stat line | 17 wins in 27 games | 3.22 goals per game | 2.67 goals against per game |
The Kings and Lightning have two of the best defenses in the NHL and both units look to control the upcoming game. The Kings should eliminate the Lightning offense with Alexander Edler, Matt Roy, Michael Anderson, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting passing lanes for the Lightning forwards. Moreover, The Kings defensive unit will force direct shots on the net, allowing goaltender Jonathan Quick to make plenty of easy saves throughout the game. The Lightning meanwhile should also eliminate the Kings offense with Victor Hedman, Jan Rutta, Mikhail Sergachev, and the rest of the defensive unit controlling the center of the defensive zone to create easy turnovers and force the Kings forwards to generate shots from along the boards, allowing goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy to blank the Kings shots throughout the game.
The Under will cover with both defenses stepping up and controlling this game.
Also Consider: Kings (+165) – The Kings are a talented team that can pull off the upset in this game and with great odds in the process as road Underdogs.
Detroit Red Wings (+100) Vs. New York Islanders
| Red Wings stat line | 13 wins in 28 games | 2.75 goals per game | 3.43 goals against per game |
| Islanders stat line | 7 wins in 23 games | 2.17 goals per game | 2.96 goals against per game |
The Islanders face the Red Wings for the second time in ten days and look to even the score from the 4-3 overtime game in which the Red Wings came out on top. The problem for the Islanders is that the Red Wings can once again find favorable mismatches on both ends of the ice. The Red Wings should limit the Islanders struggling offense with Moritz Seider, Filip Hronek, and the rest of the defensive unit controlling the blue line and limiting the Islanders from establishing an offensive zone presence. The Red Wings also have received great performances from goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic and he should cover up the Islanders’ initial shots on the goal, eliminating second chances.
The Red Wings should also find the back of the net multiple times in the game with Lucas Raymond, Dylan Larkin, and the rest of the forward unit crashing the net on the odd-man rush. The Red Wings will also find quick scoring chances in the offensive zone with great puck movement while Nick Leddy and Moritz Seider find open skaters near the net while also generating shots through traffic.
The Red Wings will win this game with a great performance at home.
Also Consider: Over 5.5 – Both teams have struggled offensively but have improved in recent games and look to find the back of the net throughout the upcoming game.
Boston Bruins (-115) Vs. Vegas Golden Knights
| Bruins stat line | 14 wins in 24 games | 2.83 goals per game | 2.54 goals against per game |
| Golden Knights stat line | 16 wins in 27 games | 3.48 goals per game | 3.15 goals against per game |
The Bruins are heading back home after back-to-back wins in Alberta and face a Golden Knights team that has looked great in recent games as well. The Golden Knights can win this game and pull off the upset but the Bruins look to find favorable matchups on both ends of the ice. The Bruins should find plenty of scoring chances with Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, and the rest of the forward unit establishing a strong offensive zone presence and great puck movement near the net. The Bruins will also find open shots on the net goal throughout the game and allow defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Derek Forbort to help pick apart the Golden Knights’ struggling defense from the point.
The Bruins defense meanwhile should eliminate the Golden Knights offense with Charlie McAvoy, Derek Forbort, and Brandon Carlo leading the way. McAvoy, Forbort, and Carlo, along with the rest of the defensive unit should create turnover in the neutral zone and defensive zone alike while limiting the Golden Knights from making plays from the point. In addition, the Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman should make plenty of saves throughout the game and cover shots to limit the Golden Knights from generating pressure on the net.
The Bruins will win the game with great play on both ends of the ice.
Over 6.5 – Toronto Maple Leafs Vs. Edmonton Oilers
| Maple Leafs’ stat line | 19 wins in 29 games | 3.21 goals per game | 2.55 goals against per game |
| Oilers stat line | 16 wins in 26 games | 3.38 goals per game | 3.08 goals against per game |
This is a high total and it’s easy to think that the Under will cover with both defenses stepping up. However, both teams have great offenses that look to pile on the goals in the upcoming game. The Oilers will find plenty of scoring opportunities with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl skating into the offensive zone on the rush with the puck to find open shots on the net and catch the Maple Leafs defense out of position. Moreover, the Oilers should find the back of the net off of centering passes in the offensive zone from McDavid, Draisaitl, and the rest of the forward unit.
The Maple Leafs should also find the back of the net multiple times with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander establishing a strong offensive zone presence and quick passes near the net. The Maple Leafs will also create open shots from the point for Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin while also finding loose pucks near the net, allowing Matthews, Tavares, and the rest of the forward unit to clean up easy scoring opportunities in the game.
The Over will cover in a high-scoring game controlled by both offenses.
Also Consider: Oilers (+105) – The Oilers look to bounce back against the Maple Leafs and pull off the home upset, led by their offense, particularly their two goal-scorers in McDavid and Draisaitl.
San Jose Sharks (-140) Vs. Seattle Kraken
| Sharks stat line | 15 wins in 28 games | 2.68 goals per game | 2.71 goals against per game |
| Kraken stat line | 9 wins in 27 games | 2.85 goals per game | 3.59 goals against per game |
The Sharks host the Kraken in a Pacific Division matchup and look to exploit mismatches on both ends of the ice. The Sharks will find the back of the net a few times with Timo Meier, Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl, and the rest of the forward unit crashing the net on the odd-man rush and finding open shots on the net against a struggling Kraken defense. On the other end of the ice, the Sharks should eliminate and potentially shut out the Kraken top-heavy forward unit with Mario Ferarro, Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the neutral zone while limiting shooting lanes for the Kraken offense. Additionally, the Sharks goaltender James Reimer should step up in the net and blank the Kraken shots on goal, forcing them to make extra passes to catch Reimer out of position.
The Sharks will win the game against a struggling Kraken team.
Also Consider: Under 5.5 – The Kraken defense has struggled but both defenses look to step up against two top-heavy offenses.
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