NHL Picks – Dec. 23rd, 2017

I flat out forgot to do these last week.  No reason, no excuse, it just completely slipped my mind.  Now, maybe I should quit!  2-3 the last time out, 2-2-1 the week before that, and then a run of 6-15-1 is what proceeded that.  So I’m not that great at picking NHL games the last six weeks or so!  But, either I’m an idiot or stubborn….maybe it’s both.  Anyway, 21-24-2 on the season, which as much as I play the victim here it’s actually not that bad.  One good night and I’m .500 again….just like the Oilers.

Minnesota at Tampa Bay

Over 6 (+105)

The Lightning are one of those teams where it’s just always wise to take the over.  You have Alex Stalock coming back down to earth after a few good starts and he’s on the second half of a back to back, obviously the rest of the squad is as well, and the Wild aren’t playing too buttoned up of late allowing four goals in each of their last three games.  So at +105, I love the over here.

Ottawa at Florida

Senators +110

Something called a Harri Sateri will start in goal tonight for the Panthers.  I’m not sure if that’s the same as a shooter tutor, but we’ll soon find out.  I’m not trusting a Harri Sateri to win me a hockey game, especially if my team is on the second half of back to backs as the Panthers are.  And the Sens are on their last legs before Pierre Dorian blows it all up.  They’re pretty much in must win mode from here until the trade deadline.  I feel the Sens are the better team, and will have the better goaltender tonight, so I like them to take this one.

Nashville at Dallas

Predators +115

Preds have lost two straight, but the fact of the matter remains that this is the best club in the West right now, and I’m getting them at +115 against a Stars club which has been very inconsistent all season?  Earlier in the month the Preds walked into Dallas and smoked the Stars 5-2.  It’s just too good of odds to not take the Preds in this spot.

St. Louis at Vancouver

Blues -1.5 (+215)

BIG odds here, but I really like it.  The Canucks are lost without Bo Horvat in the lineup.  They were already banged up pretty good with him, now without him it’s 90 year old Henrik Sedin and nothing else down the middle.  Then you have the Blues coming off three straight loses on the Canadian prairies, so you have to think they’ll be the more desperate team tonight.  So you got a desperate and more talented team, I really like rolling the dice here and picking the Blues to triple your money.

St. Louis at Vancouver

Over 5.5 (+105)

The Canucks are bleeding goals right now.  In regulation time in their last six games they’ve given up five, seven, three, six, seven, and four.  That’s what they’ve given up, and to win this one at better than doubling your money the over is only six.  They’ve hit six or more in seven straight games.  So definitely take the over here.

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