As we enter the week of Christmas, the Boston Bruins still lead the National Hockey League’s Atlantic Division, but they are in a bit of a free fall, losers of three in a row and eight of their last ten. Buffalo has fallen off too, but here come the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers, putting together the sort of streaks that could bring them into division contention if the Bruins don’t figure things out. In the Metropolitan Division, the Washington Capitals are still pulling away, winners of eight of their last ten and leading the New York Islanders by eight points. In the Central Division, the St. Louis Blues have won five in a row and seven of ten to start pulling away, leading Colorado by five points. The Arizona Coyotes have moved to the top of the Pacific Division standings, tied with Vegas but with a game in hand. If your holiday plans include NHL betting, check out our two best picks.
Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week – December 16th Edition
NHL Power Rankings: 1-31 poll, plus hopes and dreams in 2020 for all 31 teams https://t.co/XIeoigp63F pic.twitter.com/Ol4Ms6KF80
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Monday, December 23rd
Washington at Boston (7:00 pm ET, RSN)
The Capitals have lost just once in their last five games, a somewhat mystifying 3-0 blanking at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Around that loss, though, the Capitals have stacked wins over the Bruins and the Lightning, in the two games before that loss, and in the two games since then, they have gone to New Jersey and doubled up the Devils, 6-3, and then handled the Lightning one more time, 3-1 at home on Saturday. In that win over Tampa Bay, the Lightning had a 5-on-3 for more than a minute, and their man advantage unit leads the NHL. However, Braden Holtby stopped 26 shots on the night, including both of the shots in that minute-plus, and Dmitry Orlov scored the go-ahead goal.
The Caps head to Boston to take on a reeling Bruins squad, winless since December 14. Since then, they have lost to the Kings, the Islanders and the Predators, all at home, and all by single-goal margins. Their loss to the Predators on Saturday came with less than a minute remaining in overtime. The B’s did get two goals from Patrice Bergeron and a goal from Par Lindholm, along with 25 saves from Jaroslav Halak, but they are 0-1-4 in their last five home games. Can they turn things around against Washington?
NHL Betting Prediction: Washington 5, Boston 4
Montreal at Winnipeg (8:00 pm ET)
The Canadiens have split their last four games, sandwiching losses to Detroit and Edmonton around wins over Vancouver and Calgary. They had started their Western Canada swing off well, beating the Canucks and the Flames, but then they lost in Edmonton, 4-3, on Saturday. In that game, the Oilers won for just the second time in their last eight games. Max Domi, Phillip Danault and Jeff Petry lit the lamp for the Habs, and Carey Price stopped 22 shots, but they took some bad penalties and gave up two goals on 2-on-1 breakaways, so their decisions need to improve for the Canadiens to win in Winnipeg.
It’s been feast or famine for the Jets lately, as they beat Philadelphia, 7-3, last Sunday, and then lost to Carolina and Chicago by a combined 10-4 score during the week. Then on Saturday they routed Minnesota on the road, 6-0, ahead of their Monday tilt with Montreal. In that win over the Wild, Connor Hellebuyck stopped 31 shots to get his third shutout of the 2019-20 season, and Blake Wheeler moved into the franchise lead with career points with 616, posting a goal and an assist. Winnipeg got two goals from Patrick Laine, as well as goals from Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers and Logan Shaw. Which Jets team will show up on Monday night?
NHL Betting Prediction: Winnipeg 3, Montreal 2
