Last night I just went 3-5, but actually pretty much broke even on the NHL, only losing a couple dollars. Today we have a big ten game slate staggered through the day for New Year’s Eve. Let’s end 2025 hot!
Capitals vs. Rangers (12:30)
Kinda of a lousy Metro Division matchup to start off the day. These teams just played for the second time this season last Tuesday, with the Rangers getting a big 7-3 win on the road to answer back from the Caps shutting them out 1-0 in MSG in the first week of the season. Both of these teams are struggling. The Caps are coming off a 5-3 loss in Florida on Monday and have just two wins in their last nine games to fall to 20-14-5 on the season. Washington has been very good on both ends of the ice though. The Rangers have been terrible offensively but pretty solid defensively. They’re coming off a 3-2 overtime loss in Carolina on Monday, they have just four wins in their last twelve games, falling to 19-17-5 on the season. They have been way better on the road though with a 14-7-2 record outside of MSG. I like the Caps to win this matinee at home, and I’ll take it for half a unit. I’ll also go back to the under in this matchup after getting shelled on it last week. I considered parlaying Tom Wilson and Artemi Panarin to each get a point, but I don’t think it’s worth betting.
Golden Knights vs. Predators (3:00)
Big mismatch here in the West, despite these teams being on the opposite runs than I’d expect. The Golden Knights fell a point behind the Oilers for the Pacific Division lead with a 17-9-11 record, coming off a 5-2 loss at home to the Wild on Monday. They’ve really struggled without Jack Eichel in the lineup, with just one win (against the Sharks) in their last six games. The Predators started the season horrendously and they’ve struggled statistically on both ends of the ice, but they’ve definitely turned it around, improving to 17-17-4 with eleven wins in their last 16 games. Vegas is the way better team here, and they should get Eichel back in the lineup this afternoon. I’ll take a risk here and lay the -185 on them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it. I’ll also parlay Eichel and Mark Stone to each get a point for half a unit.
Ducks vs. Lightning (4:00)
Not the best cross conference game, but this should be a fun one. The Ducks are struggling right now. Coming off a 5-4 loss at home to the Sharks on Monday, they’re on a three game losing streak with just two wins in their last nine games to drop to 21-16-2 on the season. Anaheim’s young offense has been really solid, but their defense stinks. The Lightning are having a great year, playing really well on both ends of the ice. They’re 22-13-3 on the season, coming into tonight on a four game win streak, coming off a 5-4 shootout win at home against the Habs on Sunday. Tampa won the first game between these teams 4-3 at home in October. I like the Bolts to win here on the road and I’ll take them for a unit. I like the over too, which I’ll take for half a unit. I like a few player props here too. For half a unit each I’ll take Nikita Kucherov to have over 1.5 points and parlay him to get a point along with Jake Guentzel and Leo Carlsson. I considered a few other guys on the Anaheim side, but don’t think any of them are worth betting.
Sharks vs. Wild (4:00)
Huge mismatch here in the West for an early matinee face off (local time), but the two previous games between these teams make this a pretty interesting game. In both prior games in Minnesota, the Sharks got overtime wins on the road, 6-5 in October and then 2-1 in November. San Jose comes into tonight off two high scoring wins in a row, coming off a 5-4 win in Anaheim on Monday, improving to 19-16-3 on the season. Their defense has been brutal, and they’re doing it on the back of Macklin Celebrini’s incredible sophomore season (who also just made Team Canada for the Olympics last night). The Wild are one of the best teams in the NHL, with a 24-10-6 record. They’re coming off a big 5-2 win in Vegas on Monday (I was a Quinn Hughes point away from cashing a huge play in that one). I love Minnesota to avoid the season sweep with a big win here and I’ll take them for a unit. I like the over as well, which I’ll also take for a unit. I like player props here too. I’ll parlay Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Macklin Celebrini to each get a point for a unit. I considered taking Celebrini to have over 1.5 points and considered another parlay with Quinn Hughes added it to, but don’t think either are worth betting.
Red Wings vs. Jets (6:30)
Not a great cross conference game here. The Red Wings are playing really well, leading the Atlantic Division with a 23-14-3 record. Coming off a 3-2 overtime win at home against the Leafs on Sunday, their third OT win in their last four games, they’ve gone 10-3-1 in their last 14 games. The Jets are struggling big time, on a six game losing streak coming off a 3-1 loss at home to the Oilers on Monday. I thought that getting Hellebuyck back would solve their problems, but it clearly hasn’t. They have just three wins in their last 18 games, tanking down to 15-18-4 on the season. I like the Red Wings to win here at home and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it. I’ll also parlay Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Lucas Raymond to each get a point for half a unit.
Blue Jackets vs. Devils (7:00)
Boring Central Division matchup here. The Blue Jackets are on a bit of a surprising three game win streak after a run of just one win in eight games, coming off a 4-1 win in Ottawa on Monday. They’re not 17-15-6 on the season, not playing all that stellar on either end of the ice. The Devils have been pretty good defensively, but they’ve sucked offensively. They’re 20-17-2 on the year, on a four game losing streak and in the second half of a back to back tonight after getting shut out 4-0 in Toronto last night, with just four wins in their last 15 games. These teams split their first two games, with the Devils winning 3-2 on the road in October and the Jackets answering back with a 5-3 win on the road earlier this month. I think the Devils are the better team here, but I’d lean Columbus wins here at home with Jersey on the road in the second half of a back to back, but definitely not enough to even consider betting it. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet that either. I will take a half unit parlay on this game though on Jack Hughes and Kirill Marchenko to each get a point.
Stars vs. Sabres (8:00)
I cannot wait for this game tonight, but I’m very much nervous as a Sabres fan. The Stars are a fantastic team, I’d put at the top of the NHL (along with the Wild), only behind the Avalanche (who are in a league of their own). They’re coming off two surprising overtime losses in a row, shocking me with a 4-3 shootout loss at home to the Blackhawks to come out of the loss. Dallas is fantastic on both ends of the ice, with a 25-7-7 record. My Sabres are the hottest team in the NHL right now, shocking the hockey world as they’re on a nine game win streak, and I’m having the most fun watching this team that I’ve had since like 2011. Wagon! We’re now right back in the playoff mix in the East with a 20-14-4 record, coming off a 4-2 win in St. Louis on Monday night. This game tonight makes me quite nervous that the win streak’s coming to an end, since I think Dallas outmatches us quite a bit. As a bit of an emotional hedge here that I’d be perfectly fine with losing, I’ll take the Stars for a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet it. I’ll also parlay Jason Robertson, Mikko Rantanen, and Wyatt Johnston to each get a point for half a unit.
Avalanche vs. Blues (9:00)
Huge mismatch in the Central Division. The Avalanche are far and away the best team in the NHL, and one of, if not the best team I’ve ever seen. They’re elite on both ends of the ice, leading the league both offensively and defensively. Coming off a 5-2 win at home against the Kings on Monday (with a miracle late goal by Cale Makar to cash a big parlay for me), they’re on an eight game win streak and eleven game point streak. The Blues meanwhile have been awful with a 15-17-8 record, struggling on both end of the ice, especially offensively. Coming off a 4-2 loss at home to the Sabres on Monday, they have a 4-5-1 record in their last ten games. I fully expect Colorado to win this one at home in dominant fashion, and so do the books with the moneyline at -340. I’ll take the puck line for a unit. I’d lean the under at 6.5, but not enough to bet it juiced all the way to -140ish. I’ll also go to my reliable player props here with a unit each on Nathan MacKinnon to get over 1.5 points and a parlay of the Nate Dogg, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas to each get a point along with the Avs ML.
Flames vs. Flyers (9:30)
This should be a pretty good game to watch tonight that I would’ve thought was a snooze fest earlier in the season, with both of these teams playing well right now. The Flames have improved to 17-18-4 on the year after their awful start to the season, coming into tonight with eight wins in their last eleven games, coming off a 2-1 overtime win at home against the Bruins on Monday. The Flyers have impressed me even though I don’t think they’re a great team, with a 20-11-7 record, currently in third place in the weak Metro Division. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 6-3 win in Vancouver last night (easy cash to get me even on the night) for their third win in their last four games. Calgary won the first game between these teams in Philly 2-1 early in November. With the Flyers in the second half of a back to back, I’d slightly lean the Flames complete the season sweep here at home, but didn’t consider betting it. Both of these teams haven’t been good offensively, relying on really good defensive play and goaltending to win. That clearly points me to the under, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Oilers vs. Bruins (9:30)
This could be kinda an interesting game to end the night, but based off how these teams have played lately, I don’t really see that happening. The Oilers, coming off a 3-1 win in Winnipeg on Monday have improved a ton after their putrid start to the year with a 9-3-1 record in their last 13 games to improve to 20-14-6 on the season. The Bruins have done the opposite, coming into tonight on a six game losing streak off a 2-1 OT loss in Calgary on Monday to fall to 20-18-2 after their shockingly hot start to the year. Edmonton won the first game between these two teams 3-1 on the road in Boston a couple weeks ago. I like them to win again here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit, with the moneyline way too expensive at -205. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it. Love some player props here too. I’ll take Connor McDavid to get over 1.5 points for a unit, and I’ll parlay McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and David Pastrnak to each get a point for a unit. I considered adding Morgan Geekie to that, but I’ll just stick with the three superstars.
Bets
.5u Capitals ML (-142)
.5u Capitals/Rangers under 5.5 (+100)
.5u Golden Knights ML (-185)
.5u parlay: Jack Eichel/Mark Stone 1+ point each (-130)
1u Lightning ML (-148)
.5u Lightning/Ducks over 6.5 (-110)
.5u Nikita Kucherov over 1.5 points (+130)
.5u parlay: Nikita Kucherov/Jake Guentzel/Leo Carlsson 1+ point each (+177)
1u Wild ML (-175)
1u Wild/Sharks over 6.5 (-110)
1u parlay: Kirill Kaprizov/Matt Boldy/Macklin Celebrini 1+ point each (+120)
1u Red Wings ML (-115)
.5u parlay: Mark Scheifele/Kyle Connor/Lucas Raymond 1+ point each (+149)
.5u parlay: Jack Hughes/Kirill Marchenko 1+ point each (+136)
1u Stars ML (-155)
.5u parlay: Jason Robertson/Mikko Rantanen/Wyatt Johnston 1+ point each (+115)
1u Avs -1.5 (-125)
1u Nathan MacKinnon over 1.5 points (-142)
1u parlay: Avalanche ML & MacKinnon/Makar/Necas 1+ point each (+105)
.5u Flames/Flyers under 5.5 (-102)
.5u Oilers in regulation (-120)
1u Connor McDavid over 1.5 points (-120)
1u parlay: Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl/David Pastrnak 1+ point each (-110)
Record: 333-364-1 (-46.12 units)
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