NHL Predictions Today: Player Props, Odds & NHL Picks for 12/14
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NHL Picks, Predictions & Best NHL Hockey Bets For 12/13
- ⭐ Alex Ovechkin Over 3.5 Shots (+120) at ESPN BET
- ⭐ Tampa Bay and Edmonton Over 1.5 Goals First Period (+270) at DraftKings
- ⭐ Florida and Vancouver Over 6.5 Goals at Caesars
- ⭐ St. Louis In Regulation (+135) at FanDuel
Welcome to TGIF on the NHL Picks. Yes, that is no misprint because “Thursday Goes In Front.” Anyway, this is a bit atypical as the balanced schedule takes hold this week. Eight games are on the schedule in all. There is one game exclusively on ESPN/Hulu as well (Carolina vs. Detroit) at 7:30 pm ET.
FanDuel, DraftKings, ESPN BET, and Caesars bring in some new numbers for Thursday night. Also, every team playing tonight is rested. Thursday's NHL predictions expect to explore again some different avenues with the hope of kickstarting some lagging fortunes.
Wednesday night saw a little of everything. Pittsburgh and Montreal hit the Over early, then subjected fans to a 12-round shootout. Colorado did what they were supposed to and helped secure a profitable night. Winnipeg surprised many as former Los Angeles forward Gabriel Vilardi struck for four points in a 5-2 road win. Anyway, NHL Tonight goes in the search for more picks.
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NHL Picks: Washington vs. Philadelphia Odds & NHL Predictions
⭐ Alex Ovechkin Over 3.5 Shots (+120) at ESPN BET
Washington and Philadelphia is an old-school rivalry that has spanned decades. This time, it features two goaltenders who have anchored their teams well. Charlie Lindgren (Washington) and Carter Hart (Philadelphia) are in good form this season. That has made bettors some profit while gaining a place in our NHL Best Bets for Thursday night.
When it comes to NHL predictions today, do we stick with the goaltenders as a potential player prop? No, we are going to take a risk on an old friend of sorts. It has been a rough year for Alex Ovechkin. In 25 games, “The Great Eight” has a mere five goals despite a solid 90 shots on goal. He has a career-low shooting percentage of 5.6 and has struggled mightily to generate quality chances.
A few plays with Ovechkin roll into our NHL Best Bets today. Getting +120 for four or more shots seems like a reasonable shot to take. Also, Ovechkin is +165 to score a goal at any time. That is worth a one-timer, at least.
⭐ Recommended Bet: Alex Ovechkin Over 3.5 Shots (+120) at ESPN BET
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NHL Picks: Tampa Bay vs. Edmonton Odds & NHL Predictions
⭐ Tampa Bay and Edmonton Over 1.5 Goals First Period (+270) at DraftKings
Let’s get into one of the late games. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers are two teams who are certainly not allergic to goals. Naturally, in our best NHL bets, we had to include the possibility multiple goals could be scored early on Thursday night. The red lamp has been going on frequently (39 goals during the eight-game winning streak) in the land of the Oilers.
Again, NHL Picks Tonight emphasizes the notion of goals being on the menu. Stuart Skinner has been allowing some first-period goals, and Tampa Bay has allowed some stinkers on the road lately. Furthermore, Edmonton has scored 40 goals in the first period, including 22 at home which is more than any other period.
NHL Predictions on Thursday run with the teams combining for at least two goals in the first 20 minutes. One could take the risk of betting on the most goals to be scored, too (+420 via FanDuel). However, that original wager at +270 via DraftKings is a better plan.
⭐ Recommended Bet: ⭐ Tampa Bay and Edmonton Over 1.5 Goals First Period (+270) at DraftKings
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NHL Picks: Florida vs. Vancouver Odds & NHL Predictions
⭐ Over 6.5 Goals (EVEN) at Caesars
The Florida Panthers and Vancouver Canucks are our finale for Thursday night. There were plenty of NHL Predictions we could have made today. Instead, we look at Vancouver, who is 11-3 at home while scoring a league-leading 113 goals. Naturally, Florida is the type of team that can score more goals on the road, especially during the third period (20 in all).
One of the prime NHL Best Bets here is that Game Total of 6.5 Goals. It fires in at EVEN on Caesars this Thursday night. If Thatcher Demko is not on his game, Florida can easily score 3-4+ goals by themselves.
As for the Canucks, the scoring has been incredible. Brock Boeser has an insane 21 goals in 29 games already. Elias Pettersson is probably the player prop to zero in on, along with Matthew Tkachuk from Florida. Keep an eye on those numbers as they will move. In the meantime, this is a game where we take the Over simply because of that final kick in the third period.
⭐ Best NHL Bet: Over 6.5 Goals (EVEN) at Caesars
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NHL Picks: Ottawa vs. St. Louis Odds and NHL Predictions
⭐ St. Louis In Regulation (+135) at FanDuel
Ottawa and St. Louis may appear to be far from a glamorous matchup. NHL Predictions today did predict Craig Berube would not last 2023 and that came true. However, D.J. Smith is still coaching in Ottawa. That has surprised even more people than what we saw late Tuesday night.
The Ottawa vs. St. Louis predictions do believe in the new coach bump with the Blues at home on Thursday night. St. Louis is 7-5 at home and looking to snap a four-game losing streak. Ottawa sets out for a five-game road trip that does not look pretty from an initial look. They next play in Dallas on Friday night as well.
Does St. Louis curb their bad defensive tendencies tonight? That answer is likely yes. As Drew Bannister sets out to coach his first NHL game, he needs to get this underachieving group to perform. NHL Picks goes for a simple wager, as we expect St. Louis to pull this one out in regulation.
⭐ Best NHL Bet: St. Louis In Regulation (+135) at FanDuel
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Final Word on the NHL Hockey Best Bets Today
Thanks to the best online betting sites, we can always ponder a few more wagers. Keep an eye on Chicago and Seattle. Expect Connor Bedard to light the lamp again on Thursday. Yes, Seattle posted that aforementioned shutout versus Florida. Do not expect it again.
NHL predictions humbly apologize for not considering Toronto and Columbus in the mix for Thursday night. Toronto has scored 25 goals in their past six games (three or more in six straight). Meanwhile, Columbus has yielded four or more goals in three of their previous four contests. Take Toronto in the Race To 4 at -120 on Thursday night.
Lastly, NHL best bets today again thanks Colorado for their services in providing bettors with the ability to go Christmas shopping with peace of mind. Who will be that team tonight? Stay tuned and get wagering!
As we look forward to the thrilling NHL matchups for today, there's another exciting development on the horizon for sports betting enthusiasts. As of September 28, Kentucky has officially launched online sports betting, paving the way for the emergence of new sports betting apps in Kentucky. This opens up a new realm of opportunities for fans and bettors alike. Stay tuned for more updates on this front.
FAQ
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