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.
Philadelphia Flyers @ New York Rangers – 7.00PM ET
The Philadelphia Flyers hit the road and take on the New York Rangers for their first game in December. Both teams haven’t played in a few games as they were both scheduled to play the Islanders late last month, those games were postponed. The Flyers are hoping the change in month will help them break a current six game losing streak, whereas the Rangers will be aiming to build on their three game winning streak that ended off the month of November.
Denis Kirilov
The Philadelphia Flyers are in a 6-game losing streak ahead of their visit to New York. Philly might be able to defeat everybody in the NHL, but they also proved that they can be beaten by any team. The current situation within the Flyers is quite unfamiliar for them. Not only do they need to deal with this losing run, but they will also need to find short-term replacements to some of their top players like Derick Brassard and Ryan Ellis who are recovering from minor injuries. This awful streak dropped them to the 12th place in the Eastern Conference with a -12 goals difference. They will need to find a way out of this situation, if they want to have a clear path to the Playoffs in the spring.
The New York Rangers continue their mission to grab some of the top places at the end of the regular season. They are on a 3-game winning streak, defeating teams like the Buffalo Sabres, the New York Islanders, and the Boston Bruins. Their victory over the Bruins surely gave them further confidence for the upcoming fixture. The Rangers are sitting at 5th place with games in hand with 29 points, just 4 behind the 1st place taken by the Florida Panthers. The team doesn’t have any troubles in terms of injured players and I think this will play a huge role against the Flyers. In my opinion, they will be able to defeat Philly, but the game will surely be a narrow one.
Denis’ NHL Pick: New York Rangers (-184)
Tony Battalio
Both of these teams have had some rest over the past week as their individual games against the New York Islanders were canceled. Now they will open up the month of December against each other, as two Metropolitan Division teams will face off. New York and Philadelphia have had polar opposite seasons. The Rangers find themselves in the playoff hunt while the Flyers have been slumping lately. Playoff positioning will be on the line as the 3rd place team meets the 7th place team in the Metro.
Smiles only. pic.twitter.com/uiUGUAX81d
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 30, 2021
The New York Rangers come into this game with a record of 13-4-3 on the year. They’ve had a somewhat successful month of November compiling a record of 7-2-2 in the 11 games they played last month. New York also comes into this game with a three game winning streak, having been victorious in seven of their last eight games. Meanwhile the Philadelphia Flyers come into the game with a record of 8-8-4 after a rough month. Over the 14 games they played in November they went 4-6-3. Now they will look to close out 2021 with a successful month of December. As for the result of this game I look for the New York Rangers to pick up a win at home.
Tony’s NHL Pick: New York Rangers (-184)
Michael Lantz
The Philadelphia Flyers have been abysmal lately: they’ve gone winless in six straight, which occurred after they had an impressive 2-1 win over the Calgary Flames on November 16th. As they continue to struggle on both sides of the puck, their road doesn’t get any easier, as they head to Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Rangers.
New York have won three straight, as they continue to establish themselves as a force in the Eastern Conference. They’ve had big wins over various rivals and they look to tack on another against their Philly foes. The Rangers have been electric across the ice as forward Chris Kreider has established himself into an elite goal scorer and Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox continues to impress in both his defensive and offensive performances. The Flyers are capable of pulling off big wins in games where they’ve been regarded as the underdog, but I’m not convinced after their recent display. I’ll take this Rangers team to cover.
Michael’s NHL Pick: New York Rangers -1.5 (+142)
Seattle Kraken @ Detroit Red Wings – 7.30PM ET
The Seattle Kraken end their four game road trip in Detroit when they take on the Red Wings. The Kraken are starting to show people just what they are made of, and they have won four of their last five games, against some of the best teams in the league, like the Capitals, Hurricanes and Panthers. The Red Wings are playing on back-to-back nights, and last night they got the win against the Bruins, 2-1.
Denis Kirilov
Both the Seattle Kraken and the Detroit Red Wings are not expected to make the Playoffs in the spring. However, both teams are far away from the bottom of the table as the Red Wings are 8th in the East with 25 points, while the Kraken are 13th in the West with 17 points. Detroit is a pretty underestimated team as they come into this game after three straight wins against top contenders like the St. Louis Blues and the Boston Bruins. They also managed to outsmart the Buffalo Sabres after overtime.
The Seattle Kraken had a rough start in their NHL history as they were losing around 80% of their games. However, recently, they won 4 out of their 5 games. What is even more impressive are the teams they have defeated in this run. The Florida Panthers, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Washington Capitals fell victims to this newly-established Seattle Kraken’s squad. In my opinion, this game will be solid on both sides and we will see a lot of great defensive plays. Hence, I am reluctant to go with the option for “under goals” in this one.
Denis’ NHL Pick: Under 5.5 (-128)
Tony Battalio
The Detroit Red Wings got a big 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. They took the lead close to midway through the second. And never looked back. Detroit would end up going up two to nothing before Boston would pull one back but it just wasn’t enough from the Bruins. The victory improves the Red Wings record to 11-9-3 on the year as they are hovering just below the .500 mark this season.
The Seattle Kraken have not had the introduction to the NHL they were hoping for. They have struggled their way to a 8-13-1 record on the year. However they have one for their last five games so things may be starting to turn around. As for the result of this game I look for Seattle to continue their decent string of play lately and pick up a victory at home. If they can keep this level of play up they may find their way into the bubble of the playoff conversation as we near the season’s end.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Seattle Kraken (-113)
Michael Lantz
People were writing off the Kraken a little too quick. The Kraken looked like they were heading down the normal expansion route as opposed to the Golden Knights route of 2018; then the team had a sudden surge. They’ve beaten Stanley Cup contenders including the Capitals, Hurricanes, and Panthers and have won four of their last five. Now, they head to “The Motor City” to take on a Red Wings team that has stayed alive in the Western Conference thanks to an exciting young core.
The Red Wings sit at 11-9-3, and are currently led by 19-year-old Lucas Raymond who’s recorded 21 points on the year. As good as the Kraken have been lately they’ll have their hands full with this Red Wings team that has so many young attacking players. Additionally, the Red Wings are coming off a to-the-wire win against the Boston Bruins. This will either: rile them up for tomorrow’s game or have them completely wiped out. It’s a tough one to pick, but I have a hard time going against this confident Kraken team right now.
Michael’s NHL Pick: Seattle Kraken (-113)
Colorado Avalanche @ Toronto Maple Leafs – 7.30PM ET
The Colorado Avalanche open up the month of December with a five game road trip, and their first stop is Toronto, when they take on the Maple Leafs. The Avalanche didn’t play as many games as other teams in November, but overall their record for last month stands at 7-3, and for the entire season, 11-6-1. The Maple Leafs have won nine out of their last 10 games, which includes a current four game winning streak.
Denis Kirilov
The meeting between the Colorado Avalanche and the Toronto Maple Leafs will be one of the most compelling matchups on Wednesday night in the NHL. Both teams are title contenders this year as the Avalanche are top favorites for the Stanley Cup. The Maple Leafs have fantastic players like Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares who are hungry for new heights with the Canadian team. Toronto is 2nd in the East with tied 33 points with the teams above and below them, the Panthers and the Capitals respectively. They are on a 4-game winning streak and on a 14-2 run, defeating plenty of great teams like the Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning. Their current form is exceptional and it will be really hard for some teams to stop them.
The Avalanche, on the other hand, are 11th in the Western Conference, but with many games to play. On average, they have played 3 games less than their opponents, and if they win two out of these three, they will go up to 5-6th place. So, the situation in Colorado is not as bad as it seems at first sight. They have been completely merciless recently as they won 7 out of their last 8 games in high fashion. Scoring 6 goals on average in their winning run was as impressive as conceding just above 2 goals on average for the span of six games. Both teams are ready to produce one of the most unforgettable matches for this season and I think it can go either way. I will rely on their attack to score plenty of goals and to make this show in Scotiabank Arena worth watching.
Denis’ NHL Pick: Over 6 (-112)
Tony Battalio
Before the season the Colorado Avalanche were anointed as the potential Stanley Cup winners. However as we reach the season’s quarter mark they have not lived up to those expectations. They are currently in fourth place of the Central division and have a record of 11-6-1. However they have started to turn their season around as they have won seven of their last eight games. This game against the Toronto Maple Leafs is the first of a five game road trip for the team as they will be looking to continue their improved play in the month of December.
Nice to be home 😊#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/EgYmXXPppG
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) November 30, 2021
The Toronto Maple Leafs come into this game with a record of 16-6-1 on the year. They currently sit in first place in the Atlantic division. They have been one of the hotter teams in the NHL this season. They come into this one on a four-game winning streak having won 9 of their last 10 contests, with their lone loss coming to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Put a result of this game I look for the Maple leaves to pick up another victory and extend their streak to five games.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs (-122)
Michael Lantz
When a team has Auston Matthews at the helm, you’re going to expect him to be the team MVP year in and year out. Matthews has continued to prove why he’s one of the NHL’s best, but the Maple Leafs true MVP this season has been goalie Jack Campbell. Campbell has the NHL’s highest save percentage and is allowing the fewest goals per game, turning Toronto into more than just a slick offense. Campbell and the Maple Leaf defense will have a big test on Wednesday night as they face the Colorado Avalanche.
Even with Hart Trophy candidate Nathan MacKinnon injured, the Avalanche have continued to dominate on offense. They’ve been averaging 5.6 goals per game in MacKinnon’s absence. Along with big plays from captain Gabriel Landeskog and all-star Mikko Rantanen, the team has seen Nazem Kadri develop into a star. That being said, the Avalanche haven’t faced that many elite goalies this season. So, Campbell will hope to slow this opposing team down at Scotiabank Arena, in what should be a thrilling Wednesday night showdown.
Michael’s NHL Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs (-122)
Vegas Golden Knights @ Anaheim Ducks – 10.00PM ET
The Vegas Golden Knights hit the road for two games, and the first stop is a game against the Anaheim Ducks. The Knights have had a fairly inconsistent November, and are hopeful to turn things around in December, they still have a positive season record, which stands at 12-9-0. The Ducks are playing on back-to-back days, and last time out they got a hard fought shootout victory over the Kings.
Denis Kirilov
After their narrow 4:5 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, the Anaheim Ducks further closed the gap to the leaders in the Western Conference. They are 5th with 27 points out of 23 matches, just 4 points behind Minnesota and Calgary. The team surprises everybody with their playing style this season as they were considered to be an outsider for the Playoffs. However, the Ducks managed to pull a rabbit out of a hat with their 8 straight wins early on this campaign. This streak helped them climb the rankings ladder and enter the top 3 at some point in time. Troy Terry and Ryan Getzlaf continue to lead their team, but what is really interesting to observe is the sheer balance within the roster.
The Vegas Golden Knights are still far away from their top form, but they have been performing really well recently. The team won 6 out of its last 9 games, losing just to top-tier teams like the Carolina Hurricanes, St. Louis Blues, and Edmonton Oilers. The Golden Knights are 9th in the West, 4 places and 3 points behind their upcoming opponent. However, they have two games in hand which kind of puts them really close to Anaheim. In my opinion, Anaheim’s batteries will run out of power soon, while the Vegas Golden Knights will need to find a way to their first significant streak for the season. For me, this fixture should go Vegas’ way.
Denis’ NHL Pick: Vegas Golden Knights (-166)
Tony Battalio
The Las Vegas Golden Knights come into this game with a record of 12-9-0 on the year. They are coming off of a 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers last Saturday. Now they will take on an Anaheim Ducks team that was the hottest team in the league at one point this season. It was a mixed bag for the Knights during the month of November, so only time will tell how they turn it around this month.
The Anaheim Ducks come into this game with a record of 12-8-3 on the year. Earlier last month they had a huge win streak that has since been eliminated by a rough finish to the month. After winning the first seven games in the month of November they would go on to finish the month with a 2-4 record. As for the result of this one, I expect the Las Vegas Golden Knights to pick up a road win in this one.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Vegas Golden Knights (-166)
Michael Lantz
The Anaheim Ducks continue to surprise in this 2021-22 season, as they defeated their Southern California rivals, the L.A. Kings, on Tuesday night 5-4 in a shootout. They got another goal from breakout American Troy Terry, who now has 24 points on the year, as the Ducks remain third in the Pacific Division. They’ll have under 24 hours until they take on a division rival that is breathing down their necks: the Vegas Golden Knights.
Vegas is 12-9-0, after losing a tight game to the Edmonton Oilers. Still, the Golden Knights are slowly but surely getting their talent back. They recently had captain Mark Stone return to their roster, and Max Pacioretty came back last week. They’re still waiting for a few more depth players to return, and the possibility of Jack Eichel playing for the team is still there. Whether he plays or not, this Vegas team is getting healthy and ready to climb the Pacific Division. After a loss to the OIlers, they’ll want to get their ascent going against the Ducks. After so many injuries it’ll take a couple games to get everyone clicking again, but I think the Knights will start to figure it out. After a strenuous game on Tuesday night, I think the Ducks will be a bit wiped out going into Vegas against a Golden Knights team that’s been able to rest up since Saturday.
Michael’s NHL Pick: Vegas Golden Knights (-166)
Pittsburgh Penguins @ Edmonton Oilers – 10.00PM ET
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in the second game of their five game road trip, when they take on the Edmonton Oilers. The Penguins were on a five game winning streak, until they lost their final two games in November, now they are looking to get back on track against a highly competitive Oilers team. The Oilers have won four of their last five games, with their only loss coming against the Stars, 1-4.
Denis Kirilov
The clash between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Edmonton Oilers will be a fantastic way to close out Wednesday night in the NHL. Although the Penguins have had some ups and downs throughout the season, I think they are a really dangerous team. Their 5-game winning streak a week ago proved exactly that. They defeated five different teams after scoring 16 goals and conceding just 2 goals for 5 hours of playing time. The Penguins are back at almost full strength after Sidney Crosby made his recovery recently. The situation in the Oilers is quite difficult when it comes to the injury list. There are a total of 10 players who are expected to miss a certain number of games in the upcoming weeks.
When comparing both teams, Edmonton takes the edge over the Penguins so far. The Oilers are 3rd in the Western Conference with 30 points out of 20 games, while Pittsburgh is 7th in the West with 25 points in 22 matches. The Penguins suffered two unpleasant losses to Canadian teams recently as they lost to Montreal at home and to Calgary on the road. The Oilers, on the other hand, are looking to get their 3rd win in a row after defeating the Coyotes and the Golden Knights in their last matches. The team also has a fantastic home record, standing at 8-1 so far. I think they will be able to outplay the Penguins and continue fighting for 1st place in the West.
Denis’ NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (-132)
Tony Battalio
The Penguins make another stop north of the border for the second game of their five game road trip in this game. In their first game of the road trip they were defeated by the Calgary Flames in a shootout. That loss brought their overall record on the year to 10-7-5 as they have struggled most of the season. The Penguins struggles are understandable as they’ve been without Crosby and Malkin for long portions of the season. They will look to bounce back against the Oilers on Wednesday.
“It doesn’t make headlines. I’ll be the first to admit that when I block a shot, it hurts– bad. It speaks volumes to the type of warrior he is.”
Kris Russell’s coach & teammates had plenty of accolades for the vet d-man as he becomes the @NHL‘s all-time leader in blocked shots. pic.twitter.com/ZfFvfIPXBN
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 30, 2021
The Edmonton Oilers have been one of the hottest teams in the National Hockey League this season. When you have two of the best players in the world at their respective sport that is easy to do. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl both have been making cases for why they should be the season’s most valuable player. The Oilers come into this game with a record of 15-5 on the year and look like a potential Stanley Cup favorite. When the final horn sounds in this one, I look for the Oilers to come out of this one with a big home win.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (-132)
Michael Lantz
For tomorrow’s nationally televised game, it’s a showdown between two of the greatest players in recent history: Sidney Crosby vs. Conor McDavid (if only Evengi Malkin was healthy to make it Malkin vs Leon Draisaitl as well). Pittsburgh has been revived since Crosby’s return; the team started off hot, despite missing both Crosby and Malkin, but then they started to feel the lack of star power, as they constantly floated around .500. Then, when Crosby returned, they went on to win five consecutive games. Unfortunately, the Pens have taken another turn for the worst, as they’ve picked up back-to-back losses. Still a win against a lethal Edmonton offense could get them back in high spirits, as Malkin’s return appears to be soon.
Meanwhile, the Oilers are staying strong with a 15-5-0 record, after picking up a big win against conference rivals the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. Their offense is a terror, per usual, thanks to Draisial who is leading the league in goals and total points and McDavid, who is leading the league in assists and is third in points. The Oilers also are second in total goals per game and have the NHL’s best power play. They’ll see if they can keep it going against the Penguins breakout goalie Tristan Jarry. Still, even as their offense continues to be the talk of the league, the defense has been a question mark. They’ll have their hands full against a Crosby led Pens team in this one. So, ultimately, I’ll take the over in this one. Even though Jarry has been brilliant, the Oilers are on another level offensively.
Michael’s NHL Pick: Over 6.5 (-105)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
