NHL Betting Guide: Lines, Trends & Picks For Monday, Dec. 19

NHL Betting Guide: Today's Lines, Trends & Picks

Christmas is right around the corner, and you know little Johnny needs a new bike sitting under that tree. This manic Monday is a chance to earn him that present, with an eight-game NHL slate. So be ready to make some wagers and let's cash.

BetQL subscribers can see more betting trends and all of our best bets with star ratings for every pick. One trend to note is that the BetQL model has gone 49-39-4 (56% win) on 3-Star and higher NHL total bets of $100 in the last 30 days.

Take advantage of BetQL's free trial and see all of today's best NHL bets, plus what the model is projecting for every NFL, NBA and NCAA football and basketball game this week! Start your free trial today!

We start things off in Massachusetts, where the Boston Bruins will play host to the struggling Florida Panthers. This should be one of the better games on tonight's slate, which doesn't feature many "great" matchups. Florida has lost three of their last five games, but they did manage to beat the Devils last time out. I continue to be a believer in the Panthers, because it's hard to ignore their stats and think they will continue to lose. This is a team that is outshooting their opponents an average of 37.1 to 31.7, so they are controlling the puck and getting it to the net. They also score 3.34 goals per game. The goaltending is what has struggled most, giving up 3.22 goals each time out.

Boston continues to tear up the league, winning three of their last five games for a 24-4-2 record. You can't deny this has been the best team in the NHL, and their stats back it up. Boston is scoring 3.80 goals per game and getting 35.1 shots on opponents nets each night. That type of offense is hard to deal with, and Florida will have a tough time doing so. The goaltending might be the most impressive, allowing a ridiculous 2.13 goals per game, easily the best in the league.

PICK: Panthers +165. As you know, I like to bet based on value, and laying -195 is simply not value. Getting a team like Florida at +165 is rare, because they certainly have the talent to win this game. I'll sprinkle their moneyline and hope they can pull one off on the road.

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Here is my play for today, using the strategy of taking both teams to go under their maximum goal total in the 1st period (gimmie legs), taking the favorite at their maximum spread, and adding the most likely goal scorer; you can apply this strategy to any game, any night: 

Pastrnak Anytime Goal
Bruins Under 3.5 1P
Panthers Under 2.5 1P
Bruins +2.5
OGP odds: +105

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Our last game of the night brings us north of the border to Canada, where the Vancouver Canucks will host the St. Louis Blues. Both teams have had their struggles this season, and neither one has a winning record. The Blues have won three straight, however, and that seems to be the MO for this team. They go on short winning and losing streaks. St. Louis scores 2.97 goals per game and gets 29.6 shots on goal per game, so their offense stinks. The defense/goaltending have also been bad, allowing 32.5 shots per game and 3.65 goals each night. This is not a good team, but then again, look who they are playing tonight.

The Canucks are also pretty bad, and one of the most disappointing teams in the league. They are scoring 3.37 goals per game, so much better than the Blues, but they absolutely hemorrhage goals. This team is giving up a whopping 3.87 goals per contest, which is one of the worst numbers in hockey. They have won three of their last five games, but this isn't a team that you should bet on if they are favored.

MY PICK: Blues -105. The difference between these teams is minimal, and it could go either way, so give me the team with the better price on a hot-streak right now.

Take advantage of BetQL's free trial and see all of today's best NHL bets, plus what the model is projecting for every NFL, NBA and NCAA football and basketball game this week! Start your free trial today!