NHL Betting Guide: Lines, Trends & Picks For Thursday, Dec. 15

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

A new week brings new opportunities to make some cash on December hockey, and we have a massive 12-game slate to pick through and discover some best bets on this tremendous Thursday. 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. The model has gone 24-16 (60% win) on 4-Star and higher NHL total bets over the last 30 days, so join us and start winning!

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We'll start things off in our nation's capital, where the Dallas Stars will travel to take on the Washington Capitals. Dallas has won three of their last five games, and we had a bad break on them against the Penguins the other night. They took the lead almost immediately, but couldn't score the entire rest of the game and lost 2-1. Now they get the red-hot Capitals, who have won five straight games and are starting to get things together after a rough start to the year. Dallas is scoring 3.63 goals per game and allowing 2.73, so the offense and goaltending have been getting it done. They are getting 32.1 shots on net per game, and 31.1 shots against per game.

Washington has been steadily improving their numbers since they started on this little run of theirs. They are scoring 3.03 goals per game and getting 30.8 shots on goal per game, so pretty average, but those numbers are still up. Defensively, they are allowing 30.7 shots per game and 2.90 goals per contest. This is a team that I think is only going to get better as they get healthy, and they are starting to bring it all together.

MY PICK: That being said, this is basically a pick'em, with the Caps being -115 favorites here because they are at home. Dallas is a very good team, and they can just as easily win this game, so I'll take the cheaper price with them at -105.

Next up, we'll head to New York, where the Rangers will be looking to defend their home ice against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs from the North. After a slower start, Toronto has really brought the heat over the last month. They have won four of their last five games, and four straight coming into this contest. Perhaps most impressive for them is the goaltending, which allows an insanely low 2.30 goals per game. The defense has also done their job, allowing 29.3 shots against per game, so they have it working on that side of the ice. The offense has been good, getting 31.6 shots on goal per game and scoring 3.33 goals per game, but maybe a tad underwhelming with the amount of star power they have.

New York is a team that we talk about a lot, and nothing has really changed with this team. I've said for a while that they are a team that is going to get things together and start winning, and they have now won four straight games, including against the Devils as we predicted the other day. The offense was bound to start scoring, as they get 33 shots on goal per game, yet only score 3.07 goals per game. That number is starting to go up. On defense, they are still just as solid, allowing 29.5 shots on goal per game and just 2.80 goals.

MY PICK: People aren't going to like it, but I'm going with the Rangers here at home. We are getting plus-money at +110 for a team that I think is just as good as the road team, perhaps better. You are getting more value here with New York than laying -130 with Toronto.

Last game for the night, and it brings us to Florida, where the Pittsburgh Penguins will travel to take on the Panthers. The Penguins seemingly can't be stopped right now, as they are winners of six straight and red-hot right now. I really thought we had them with the Stars the other night, but it wasn't meant to be. I just am not convinced with this team. The offense is good, there's no denying that, scoring 3.48 goals per game and taking 33.3 shots on net. It's the defense that has me really doubting them. Pittsburgh allows a whopping 33.8 shots on their goal per game, but is allowing just 2.90 goals. Regression is coming, and they can't expect to keep winning allowing that many opponent chances.

Florida is a team I feel the opposite about. They have started off really rough after such a great 2021, but there is every reason to expect a turnaround. For one, the offense is fantastic, taking a ridiculous 37.1 shots per game on their opponents, and scoring 3.37 goals per game. Defensively, they need to work on things, allowing 31.4 shots per game and 3.23 goals per game. Spencer Knight has been by far their better option in net, and if he can stay healthy, I think they cam really turn it around on that side of the ice.

MY PICK: This is the spot where I think the streak ends for the Penguins. They allow a million shots per game, and Florida takes a million. At just -115, this is a game where I am willing to pay the little juice. I like what Florida brings more than the Penguins.

BetMGM NHL OGP Insurance Play of the Day

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Here is a 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, essentially making this a bet on just the goal; you can apply this strategy to any goal scorer, any night: 

Austin Matthews Anytime Goal
NY Rangers under 2.5 (1st period)
Maple Leafs under 3.5 (1st period)
Maple Leafs +2.5 (game)
OGP odds: +115

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