NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (12/29)

We have a giant 11-game slate to look at tonight. Here are my favorite bets.

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Monday’s NHL Best Bets & Picks

San Jose Sharks (+156) @ Anaheim Ducks (-159)

So many bets, so little time on this one. The Sharks (18-17-3) head into Anaheim to take on the surprisingly decent Ducks (21-15-2) in what should be a high-scoring affair. Anaheim allows an NHL-high 3.47 goals per game, but San Jose is third at 3.45. Anaheim scores in bunches, ranking fourth at 3.32 goals per contest. The Ducks have gone OVER their total in seven of their last 10, while the Sharks have cleared it in each of their previous six. I’m smashing it.

How will it get there? Macklin Celebrini has been as advertised and then some, ranking third in the NHL in points (57) behind only Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. He had three points the last time these teams met, and I like him to pick up a couple tonight. On the Anaheim side, Mikael Granlund gets to face his old team, and I think he’ll light the lamp against the San Jose porous defense. Let’s sprinkle on his anytime goal.

Pick: OVER 6.5 (+110)
Pick: Macklin Celebrini Over 1.5 Points (+156)
Lean: Mikael Granlund Anytime Goal (+270)

Los Angeles Kings (+205) @ Colorado Avalanche (-210)

My first thought with this matchup is to take the UNDER 5.5, but in head-to-head contests, there is a 50% split on that over the last 10. My second thought was, “Are you really going to recommend the Avalanche puck line again after having them let you down in the last two articles you’ve written?”

Yes. Yes, I am.

Pick: Colorado -1.5 (+115)

Connor McDavid Over 1.5 Points (-112)

Since recording no points in the first game of December, McDavid has been on a ridiculous tear, dragging the Oilers back to relevancy in the way he and Leon Draisaitl do every year around this time. In the other 12 games this month, McJesus has 32 points, including 13 of his 24 goals this season. In 36 career games versus the Jets, he has 12 goals and 49 assists.

Let’s not get fancy. Take it and run.

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