NHL Odds, Picks, & Predictions: Thursday (12/12)

If you’re a fan of the NHL, the league has gifted 14 games to watch tonight, offering tons of value to target in various NHL betting markets. There are some great matchups on tap, including the Los Angeles Kings vs. New Jersey Devils, the Vegas Golden Knights on the road against the Winnipeg Jets, the Edmonton Oilers vs. Minnesota Wild, and the Florida Panthers against the Vancouver Canucks.

Last Thursday’s NHL Odds, Picks, & Predictions finished 1-1. Seattle netted two 1st period goals to bust under 1.5 1st period total goals between the Kraken and Islanders, while our winner cashed at plus odds when Carolina won in regulation 5-3 over Carolina at +105 odds.

I’m back with two NHL best bets to tail on Thursday’s massive 14-game slate. Follow me on X at Matt_MacKay_ for more NHL free bets and weekly analysis.

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Thursday’s NHL Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Los Angeles Kings vs. New Jersey Devils

The Kings head to the Prudential Center for a tilt against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night. It’s the first matchup between these two opponents this season but the Kings have held the edge in recent head-to-head matchups, winning the last two outings 5-1 and 2-1.

Devils top goaltender Jacob Markstrom is back in the crease to face Los Angeles’ 15th-ranked offense, scoring 3.07 goals per game. The Kings expect to deploy goaltender David Rittich against New Jersey. Rittich has been rock solid lately, holding eight of his last nine opponents faced to two or fewer goals.

The Devils lead the league in shots on goal, while the Kings rank 23rd in this metric, which is why oddsmakers have New Jersey favored on the moneyline at home at -152 odds. The total goals line is 5.5, leaning over, however, the under has hit in four of New Jersey’s last five home games played.

Markstrom and Rittich are trending up. Plus, the Kings have gone under 5.5 total goals in five of their last six games played. New Jersey has gone under 5.5 total goals in three consecutive contests, so at even odds, let’s bite on the under 5.5 total goals between the Kings and Devils at the Prudential Center tonight.

Pick: Under 5.5 (+100)

Edmonton Oilers vs. Minnesota Wild

Edmonton and Minnesota both have seven wins in their last ten games played, so tonight’s matchup should be highly competitive at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild have won four of the last five head-to-head matchups against the Oilers, including a 5-3 road win on November 21st.

Minnesota netminder Filip Gustavsson has been confirmed as the starter and he’s coming off of a shaky outing against Utah, surrendering four goals before holding up in a shootout win on the road. Gustavsson has recorded five consecutive wins as a starter for the Wild, so despite allowing four goals against 25 shots a couple of nights ago, he should return to form, previously allowing five total goals across four starts.

Stuart Skinner is projected to be Edmonton’s goaltender tonight and he’s been much improved lately, allowing two or fewer goals in five consecutive starts for the Oilers. Oddsmakers have the Wild at +125 on the moneyline, making them marginal home underdogs. The goal total line is set to 5.5, which has gone over in two of Minnesota’s last three games played, while going under 5.5 in three of Edmonton’s past five matchups.

The Wild are 5-0 straight up in their last five home games against Edmonton. The total has also gone under in all five of Minnesota’s last five home games played. Taking the Wild as home underdogs is tempting, however, Edmonton has won six of their last seven games played. Ultimately, I think Minnesota keeps their momentum rolling after rallying late to beat Utah on the road, so let’s stake a unit on Minnesota to win outright and defend home ice successfully against the red-hot Oilers.

Pick: Minnesota Wild Moneyline (+125)