NHL Odds, Picks, & Predictions: Thursday (12/19)

The NHL has nine matchups on Thursday’s slate to watch as we settle into the holiday season. There are a few good matchups on tap, including St. Louis vs. Tampa Bay, Ottawa vs. Calgary, and Vancouver on the road against Vegas during tonight’s late puck drop action.

Last Thursday’s NHL Odds, Picks, & Predictions once again finished 1-1. New Jersey and Los Angeles went without a goal in the 1st period before the Devils pulled away with a 3-1 victory, cashing under 5.5 total goals. The loser was Minnesota’s moneyline at plus odds against Edmonton, as the Wild were blown out 7-1 on home ice against the surging Oilers.

I’ve included two NHL best bets to tail below on tonight’s nine-game NHL slate. Follow me on X at Matt_MacKay_ for more NHL free bets and weekly analysis.

• NHL Game Props
• NHL Top Bettor Picks
• NHL Matchups
• NHL Betting Systems

Our NHL Prop Bet Cheat Sheet assists bettors by comparing lines from leading sportsbooks with our daily projections >>

Thursday’s NHL Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

St. Louis Blues vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

The St. Louis Blues will look to get back on track against Tampa Bay tonight after losing 4-1 at home to New Jersey. Goaltender Jordan Binnington is confirmed in the crease for the Blues and he’s struggled lately, allowing three or more goals in five of his last six starts.

The Lightning are trending up, going 7-3 SU in their last 10 games, while riding a three-game winning streak into tonight’s home matchup as a heavy betting favorite. Tampa Bay is 5-0 ATS in its last five home games played but the Blues did beat them 3-2 back at Enterprise Center in early November.

I expect Tampa Bay to keep its foot on the gas and score numerous goals in a favorable matchup against St. Louis. The Lightning have covered -1.5 in five of their last six games played, and based on their talent compared to St. Louis, I’ll gladly grab plus odds on the superior team’s puck line.

Pick: Tampa Bay Puck Line -1.5 (+116)

Seattle Kraken vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Seattle and Chicago will face off for the second time this season at the United Center in Chicago tonight. The Kraken are 1-3 SU in their last four games, while Chicago has won back-to-back matchups against the Islanders and Capitals.

Chicago’s goaltender, Arvid Soderblom, is already confirmed as the Blackhawks’ netminder in tonight’s matchup against Seattle. He didn’t play against the Kraken during Chicago’s previous 3-1 loss but Soderblom has done his part to help the Blackhawks record back-to-back wins .

Soderblom allowed a pair of goals in the 1st period against Washington before Chicago stormed back to win 3-2, however, he only recorded 20 saves against 22 shots. Soderblom draws another potential low-volume matchup against Seattle, who ranks bottom-12 in total shots on goal recorded this season.

The Kraken are coming off of a 3-0 loss to Ottawa where they recorded 27 shots on goal, however, I expect Seattle to light the lamp a few times against Chicago tonight. Based on their shot accuracy and volume, combined with Soderblom recording less than 27 saves in six of 12 starts for the Blackhawks this season, let’s bet a unit on this goalie prop and fade Soderblom with under 26.5 total saves against the Kraken tonight.

Pick: Arvid Soderblom Under 26.5 Total Saves (-125)