We are loving the action throughout this impressive NHL season so far. As we move towards the mid way point in the season, each division’s ladder is starting to take shape. Every single win or loss can have a significant impact on where each team will finish at the end of the season, so it is important that you don’t miss any of the action!
Here at SportsTips, we are just as keen on the NHL as you are! We spend each and every day going through the best games and previewing them for you. Our experts offer up their free NHL picks, which means that you not only get enjoyment out of watching some intriguing games, but also make extra cash while doing so!
Look below to find our free NHL picks, as we preview the best five games on today’s schedule.
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Vancouver Canucks – 7.00PM ET
*This game has since been postponed.*
The road trip continues on for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and on Saturday night they take on the Vancouver Canucks. The Maple Leafs have won their last two games, against the Blackhawks and Oilers, which brings their season record to 20-8-2. The Canucks have won six games in a row, and this takes their season record to 14-15-2.
Denis Kirilov
The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a fantastic month of November which pushed them up to the top of the Eastern Conference. They are still tied for first place with 42 points from 30 games. The team is playing incredibly in offense and has decent defensive stats at the same time. The Maple Leafs will be looking to secure their spot in the Playoffs as early as possible so that they can give some rest to their best players, William Nylander and Auston Matthews. They have been on fire recently and quickly gained back high spots in the individual scoring rankings. Toronto comes into this game after two victories over the Chicago Blackhawks and the Edmonton Oilers.
The Vancouver Canucks, on the other hand, enjoy a 6-game winning streak and if we look even further back, they are on an 8-1 run at the moment. They defeated some of the top contenders for the Stanley Cup including the likes of the Carolina Hurricanes, the Boston Bruins, and the San Jose Sharks. This remarkable performance didn’t have much effect on their place in the standings as they were far behind the top ten in mid-November. However, they managed to close the gap to the 10th place occupied by the Kings to just a single point. They are 12th with 30 points from 31 matches and I think their march through the NHL will continue even after the game on Saturday. Be confident and pick the Canucks.
Denis’ NHL Pick: Vancouver Canucks
Tony Battalio
The Toronto Maple Leafs continue their road trip against another Canadian team after they beat the Oilers on Tuesday and their game against the Flames was postponed, due to a Covid outbreak for Calagry. They come into this one against Vancouver with a two game winning streak as they are currently 20-8-2 on the year. They find themselves in a first place tie with Tampa Bay for the Atlantic Division, as both teams currently have 42 points. A win in this game could allow them to move into first place due to the Lightning’s game being postponed.
Maple Leafs forwards Wayne Simmonds and Jason Spezza have been placed into the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.
Forward Alex Steeves and defenceman Carl Dahlström have been recalled from the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 18, 2021
The Vancouver Canucks are having a rough season up to this point. They come into this game with a record of 14-15-2, as they are sitting slightly below the .500 mark on the season. However they currently find themselves on a six game winning streak and they have won eight of their last nine games. They are on a hot streak at the moment and that is something that I see continuing with a win at home over Toronto in this one. A win for Vancouver also provides great odds as they are the underdogs in this game as well.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Vancouver Canucks
Michael Lantz
Ever since the Vancouver Canucks fired their coach and general manager, they’ve looked like a new team. They’ve won six straight games, and are hoping to pull off a season similar to the 2019 St. Louis Blues, who fired their coach early in the season and made a run to become Stanley Cup Champions. It might be a bit drastic to expect the same thing from Vancouver, but they definitely have the talent to compete for a playoff spot. They’ll have a big test on Saturday as they face the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Unfortunately for the Leafs, they’ll be without top players Alexander Kerfoot and Jonathan Tavares. This is a major blow to a team that’s looked like a Stanley Cup contender and have scored five goals in their past two games. The Canucks young core is thriving in Bruce Boudreau’s system as they should be able to take out a Maple Leafs team that’s missing some of its biggest names.
Michael’s NHL Pick: Vancouver Canucks
Los Angeles Kings @ Carolina Hurricanes – 7.00PM ET
The road trip continues for the Los Angeles Kings, who travel to Carolina on Saturday to take on the Hurricanes. The Kings have won three of their last four games, with their only loss coming at the hands of the Lightning, in overtime. The Hurricanes have won five out of their last six, which brings their season record to 20-7-1.
Denis Kirilov
The Los Angeles Kings will face one of the toughest teams in the NBA this season, the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes had the best start to this campaign winning their first 9 games, all in regulation. They had to overcome a tough period in the end of November and in the beginning of December, but they managed to bounce back and are now on a 5-1 run. Defeating the likes of the Winnipeg Jets, the Calgary Flames, and the Edmonton Oilers, surely ignited the spark in them and they are ready to dominate the NHL once again.
The Kings, on the other hand, are still looking to find their rhythm as they find themselves around 10th place throughout most of the current season. They are now 9th with 31 points from 28 games which is certainly not enough for them if they would like to make the Playoffs. They will need to push hard, but looking at the teams ahead, this task won’t be an easy one. However, at least their defense is doing a fantastic job denying most of their opponents. They are 2nd in least conceded goals in the West which might play a deciding factor for the rest of the season. I think that the Hurricanes are slightly better and they will build further on their great performance from the past games. My pick here goes in favor of the hosts from Raleigh, Carolina.
Denis’ NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-172)
Tony Battalio
The Los Angeles Kings come into this game with a record of 13-10-5 on the year, as they are slightly below the .500 mark through their first 28 games. They are currently on a one game winning streak and have picked up victories in three of their last four games. Those wins have come against top tier competition like the Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers. Now they will be looking to add another big win against another top team in the Carolina Hurricanes.
The previously mentioned Carolina Hurricanes come into this game with a record of 20-7-1 on the year. They are one of the top teams in the National Hockey League at the moment and have firmly cemented themselves as a serious contender for the Stanley Cup this season. They find themselves in a three way tie for first place in the Metropolitan Division with the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers. A win in this game would push them into sole possession of first for the time being. As for the result of this game, I expect them to pick up the win at home over the Los Angeles Kings.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-172)
Michael Lantz
The Los Angeles Kings have gotten some big wins against top teams in recent weeks; this included beating the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Thursday night. They’ll look to continue their recent success against a Carolina Hurricanes team that’s third in the Metropolitan Division, but is missing top players Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis.
Still, the Hurricanes got a 5-3 win against an exciting young Detroit Red Wings team on Thursday night. The ‘Canes have enjoyed having Tony DeAngelo back from injury as he provided a big goal in the win against Detroit. They’ve also seen the likes of Nino Niederreiter step up with some big goals in recent games. While the Kings have shown they have the confidence to take on anyone and skate away with a win, I think the Hurricanes showed they can succeed without Aho. I think they take this one at home in a close one.
Michael’s NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-172)
Chicago Blackhawks @ Dallas Stars – 8.00PM ET
Both the Chicago Blackhawks and the Dallas Stars are playing on back-to-back nights. The Blackhawks lost last time out against the Predators, 2-3, in overtime. The Stars also suffered a loss last time out, which brings their losing streak to five.
Denis Kirilov
The Chicago Blackhawks suffered a narrow 2-3 in overtime against the Nashville Predators in their last match in the NHL. They now go on the road to face off the Dallas Stars on Saturday night. The team is swinging back and forth so far as they haven’t won or lost more than a single consecutive game since November 18th, 2021. This suggests that it’s time for a victory, but I am not sure whether this will be the case against the Stars. The Blackhawks are still on the bottom of the table in the West with just 25 points out of 29 games.
The Dallas Stars, on the other hand, enjoyed a fantastic 9-1 run in the end of November and in the beginning of December, but after suffering a tight 4-5 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, they had difficulties in finding the right path to victory. Ever since then, they lost each single fixture which puts them in an unpleasant position with 5 straight losses heading into this game. They are just ahead of their opponents in the current standings with 28 points from 27 games. Both teams have troubles in front positions and I believe this will be the best option to go for. I will choose the option for “under goals” as it seems the one with the most value to me.
Denis’ NHL Pick: Under 5.5 (+100)
Tony Battalio
The Chicago Blackhawks will be playing the second game of a back to back in this one. After facing the Nashville Predators on Friday evening they will be up against the Dallas Stars on the road in this one. Both of these teams could use a win to keep ground in the Central Division race. Both teams are towards the bottom of the division with only the Arizona Coyotes far enough at the bottom to stop them from falling into last place anytime soon.
“We’re trying to fight our way back into a playoff spot. Is that not enough motivation?”@ATT | #TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/y0eG1pZzUN
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) December 18, 2021
The Dallas Stars come into this game with a record of 13-12-2 as they are sitting right below the .500 mark so far this season. Dallas also come off of the first night of a back to back as they hit the road to play the St. Louis Blues for the second straight game. They have struggled through the month of December so far through their first seven games so they may be desperate for a win as well to get some momentum. As for the result of this one, I have the Chicago Blackhawks picking up the victory on the road in Dallas.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Chicago Blackhawks (+158)
Michael Lantz
After winning seven straight games, the Dallas Stars have gone 180 and now have lost five consecutive games, including back-to-back losses against the St. Louis Blues where they were overpowered 1-4 in both games. Dallas won’t have things any easier as they face a Chicago team that started off awful, but are finding their form as of late.
Chicago may have lost to the Nashivlle Predators last night, but the Preds are also the hottest team in the NHL. The Blackhawks still took the game to overtime, losing 2-3. In the game before this they took out the Washington Capitals. The Blackhawks may still be a couple games under .500, but they’re showing they can compete with the best teams in the NHL. They seem to be going in a different trajectory than Dallas, and even with this one taking place in the “Lone Star State”, I think the Blackhawks bounce back from a loss to the Predators by continuing the Stars’ suffering.
Michael’s NHL Pick: Chicago Blackhawks (+158)
New Jersey Devils @ Detroit Red Wings – 8.00PM ET
The New Jersey Devils hit the road and take on the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. The Devils are looking to snap their current four game losing streak, which has dropped their season record to 10-13-5. The Red Wings suffered a loss last time out, and their season record is currently sitting at 14-13-3.
Denis Kirilov
The New Jersey Devils will have to significantly improve their game if they want to achieve at least something this season. They are not a bad team, but the current situation in the standings suggests otherwise. The Devils are 12th in the Eastern Conference with 25 points from 28 games. They have lost their last four games to teams that they should be able to defeat like the Predators, the Islanders, and the Flyers. In the end, each one of the opponents took advantage of them and got the victory. The game against the Detroit Red Wings will be of vital importance as the hosts are not a team they should be afraid of.
The Red Wings took off for a perfect 5-0 run in the end of November, but were quickly dropped to the ground as they have lost 4 out of their last 5 games in the NHL. They had to face some of the best teams in the League so far including the Hurricanes, the Avalanche, the Blues, and the Predators, so I guess, this can serve as an excuse to them. They have been quite decent at home this year, winning 10 and losing 5 matches. That’s why I believe that the Red Wings will be once again victorious and will worsen the situation within the Devils even more.
Denis’ NHL Pick: Detroit Red Wings (-130)
Tony Battalio
The Detroit Red Wings come into this game with a record of 14-13-3 as they are two games below the .500 mark so far this season. They will be looking for a win here as they have lost four of their last five games and have had a rough month of December so far. Much like the Devils, the Red Wings are quickly losing ground in a competitive division and will need to start stringing some victories together soon.
The New Jersey Devils come into this game with a record of 10-13-5 on the year as they are in the middle of a four game losing streak. They will be desperate for a victory in this one to snap that current losing streak. Only less than 30 games into the season they are in serious danger of falling out of the playoff race in a very competitive Atlantic Division that includes five potential playoff teams. However I don’t see that happening as I have the Detroit Red Wings grabbing the win at home.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Detroit Red Wings (-130)
Michael Lantz
The Detroit Red Wings are coming off a 3-5 loss to a Carolina Hurricanes team that’s without Sebastian Aho. Their offense was still great, as they got points out of Tyler Bertuzzi, Dylan Larkin, and Lucas Raymond. Those three have been thrilling to watch evolve this season, but the Red Wings defense still remains a big question. They’ll go up against a New Jersey Devils team that’s fallen on some tough times, going winless in eight of their last nine games.
New Jersey are 10-13-5 and have slipped to seventh in the Metropolitan Division, proving their offseason signing of Dougie Hamilton wasn’t enough to fix glaring problems across the board. They’ve had a tough time on both sides of the puck, and even though Detroit is anything but consistent themselves, they still have the scary group of aforementioned forwards that the Devils will have to work hard to slow down. I’ll go with the Red Wings to win at home.
Michael’s NHL Pick: Detroit Red Wings -1.5 (+198)
Edmonton Oilers @ Seattle Kraken – 10.00PM ET
Two Pacific Division teams go head to head on Saturday night, in the form of the Edmonton Oilers and the Seattle Kraken. The Oilers were finally able to stop their six game losing skid, with a win last time out against the Blue Jackets, 5-2. The Kraken have only won one of their last five games, which brings their season record to 10-16-3.
Denis Kirilov
The Edmonton Oilers and the Seattle Kraken are two of the teams who are not enjoying a great month of December so far. The Kraken are 2-5 recently, while the Oilers are even worse, standing at 2-6 for the past 20 days. Edmonton had to go through 6 straight losses, five of which came at home against direct rivals for the Stanley Cup. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl had no answer to their opponents’ goals and this had a huge effect on the outcome of these matches. This bad performance had an enormous negative impact on their position in the Western Conference as they are now 8th with 34 points from 28 games.
The Seattle Kraken is among the teams with less ambitions for this season as they have just been established and it’s quite understandable to take some time before they can make their mark. They have won 10 from 29 games which puts them in 15th place in the West with just 23 points. The Kraken will need to improve a lot on both ends as they are really terrible when it comes to defending. They have conceded more than 100 goals already which makes their average a bit less than 4 goals per game in their net. I think that the Oilers will bounce back as the team with the best forwards in the NHL doesn’t deserve to be only in 8th place. I am expecting a dominant victory through a masterclass from McDavid and Draisaitl.
Denis’ NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers -1.5 (+220)
Tony Battalio
This one is a division matchup between one of the best teams in the league and one of the worst. As the Edmonton Oilers head south of the border to play the National Hockey League’s newest team, the Seattle Kraken. Edmonton comes into this one at 17-11-0 on the year. While they are still firmly a Stanley Cup contender when McDavid is healthy, they have been slumping lately as they have only picked up a win in one of their last seven games. They will be looking to pick up a huge momentum swing, needing to win this game.
walking out the office on a friday like: pic.twitter.com/TBYKsSbbW4
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) December 18, 2021
The Seattle Kraken come into this game with a record of 10-16-3 as they are nearly double digits below the .500 mark in the win/ loss column. Much like Edmonton they have been in a slump as they have lost three of their last four games. They too will be looking for a huge momentum boosting win in this game. However I don’t see that happening as I expect the Edmonton Oilers to pick up the victory on the road in this Pacific Division contest.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (-118)
Michael Lantz
After winning five of seven games in late November/ early December against Stanley Cup quality teams, the Seattle Kraken have gone back to playing inconsistent hockey. They’ve definitely had some highs, but ultimately look like most expansion teams, as they continue to figure out their first season all playing together. One of their recent wins came against the Edmonton Oilers, which was a 4-3 thriller in Seattle. They play that same Oilers team on Saturday night, with the hopes of a similar result.
Meanwhile the Oilers have had some tough times lately. Despite having two of the NHL’s best players in Leon Draisaitl and Conor McDavid, they recently went winless in six straight games. Luckily, the team got over their skid with a 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. It’s vital for this Oilers team to give Draisaitl and McDavid some help. In the game against the Blue Jackets, Jesse Puljujarvi did just that, scoring two big goals for the team. If the Edmonton Oilers want any chance of going far in the postseason, they’ll need their depth guys to step up and assist their two big stars. I think the Oilers build on that win against Columbus and pay back the Kraken for defeating them two weeks ago.
Michael’s NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers -1.5 (+220)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
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