NHL Daily Gambling Preview – 12/18/21

Last night was another shit show in the NHL, going 2-3 and losing 3.46 units. Tonight there’s already four postponed games so that leaves us with a six game slate.

Flyers vs. Senators (7:00)

Ottawa’s been shockingly very good this month with five wins in their last seven games to improve to a still pretty shitty 9-17-1. They’re allowing the second most goals in the NHL, an average of 3.59 per game while they’ve scored an average of 2.78 goals per game. The Flyers come into this game with three wins in their last four games and an 11-12-5 record. They’re averaging only an eighth fewest 2.61 goals per game and allowing an average of 3.18 goals per game. I think this game’s a coin flip but would give the Flyers a slight advantage of being at home. I like both teams to score though and will take the over 6.5 (I hate the 6.5, but its not worth the juice to buy it down on this game) for half a unit.

Hurricanes vs. Kings (7:00)

Carolina’s a great team. They’re 20-7-1 and have five wins in their last six games. They have the best defense in the NHL, allowing just 2.18 goals per game and they’ve averaged a ninth most 3.21 goals per game themselves. This team has the talent to be able to win the Stanley Cup. LA is 13-10-5, with three wins in their last four games. They have a very good defense as well, allowing a fourth fewest 2.43 goals per game but their offense is only scoring an eight fewest 2.61 goals per game. I’m pretty sure I bet the under on the first time these teams played this season on 11/20 that didn’t stand a chance when the Canes won 5-4. I’m going to try to run back the under here again cause it statistically lines up for half a unit along with Carolina ML for half a unit.

~~Canucks vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)~~

Since hiring Bruce Boudreau, the Canucks are undefeated with six straight wins (eight wins in their last nine games) to improve to 14-15-2 on the season after their miserable 6-14-2 start to the season. On the season they’re not great statistically, averaging a fifth fewest 2.52 goals per game and allowing an average of 2.87 goals per game. Those don’t really reflect much on how they’ve played recently though since they started the season so horribly before hiring Boudreau. The Leafs on the other hand, have been one of the best teams in the NHL this season. They’re 20-8-2 with three wins in their last four games. They’ve allowed a fifth fewest average of 2.5 goals per game and Jack Campbell looks to be a likely Vezina candidate this season (1.94 GAA, .937 save percentage) while their high powered offense has averaged an eighth most 3.27 goals per game. I’d lean the Leafs here but with the way the Canucks have played recently and tonight’s Canadian tilt taking place in Vancouver, I’m not betting on this game. The -120 on Toronto seems way too cheap which make me think this is a trap game not worth betting on.

Red Wings vs. Devils (8:00)

Both of these teams have sucked lately, losing four of their last five games and they’re both very similar statistically. Detroit’s 14-13-3, averaging 2.73 goals per game and allowing an average of 3.4 goals per game. NJ is 10-13-5, averaging 2.75 goals per game and allowing an average of 3.32 goals per game. I’d slightly lean the Red Wings at home here but definitely am not betting this. I like the over though since both defenses suck and I expect some goals from both sides with both teams trending over. I’ll take the alternate over 6 here for half a unit.

Stars vs. Blackhawks (8:00)

Dallas is in a slump lately, losing their last five straight games after a seven game winning streak to now drop to 13-12-2 on the season. This team’s very streaky this year. On the season the Stars are averaging only 2.59 goals per game, sixth fewest in the NHL but they’ve been decent on the back end, allowing an average of 2.85 goals per game. The Blackhawks have gone back and forth, losing every other game they’ve played for the past month or so and they’re 11-15-3 on the season. They’ve been pretty bad on both ends of the ice, averaging a fourth fewest 2.28 goals per game and allowing a tenth most 3.21 goals per game. I’d lean Dallas here but not enough to even consider laying -195 on them to end a five game skid. I’d also lean the under but not enough to bet on it.

Kraken vs. Oilers (10:00)

Both of these teams with a significant difference in talent have lost four of their last five games. Seattle’s been pretty bad all year and they’re 10-16-3, allowing the third most goals in the NHL, an average of 3.52 goals per game while averaging 2.79 goals per game. The 17-11 Oilers have slumped big time, especially offensively. Their 5-2 win over Columbus on Thursday ended a six game losing streak for McDavid and Draisaitl’s boys and that game was the first time this team’s scored more than two goals since December 1st. On the season, they’ve dropped down to the seventh highest scoring offense in the league, averaging 3.36 goals per game and they’re been pretty lousy on the back end, allowing an average of 3.11 goals per game. So when their high powered offense doesn’t show up, they lose. I like the Oilers to get a win here against a shitty Kraken team to get right and I’ll take the ML for half a unit along with the alternate over 6 for half a unit.

Game Bets

.5u Flyers/Senators over 6.5 (-110)

.5u Carolina ML (-167)

.5u Carolina/LA under 5.5 (-127)

.5u Red Wings/Devils over 6 (-125)

.5u Oilers ML (-130)

.5u Oilers/Kraken over 6 (-129)

Record (Regular Season): 201-170-9 (-23.84 units)

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