The 2022-23 NHL season is picking up steam with the arrival of December. The All-Star Game and trade deadline will be here soon, meaning the pressure is on for players and teams to step up and deliver.
A new slate of hockey games also means more betting opportunities. From a potential Stanley Cup preview to begin the week to a surging Hart Memorial Trophy candidate, here’s everything NHL betting-related a hockey bettor needs to know for the week of Dec. 5.
NHL Games of the Week: Dec. 5 – Dec. 11
- Vegas Golden Knights vs. Boston Bruins (Monday, Dec. 5)
The Vegas Golden Knights took on the Boston Bruins on Monday in what could be the 2022-23 Stanley Cup Final matchup. The final score was 4-3 for the Golden Knights.
The Golden Knights entered the game as the Western Conference’s No. 1 team at 18-7-1, while the Bruins sat second in the East at 20-3 behind the New Jersey Devils.
Both clubs’ superb play has landed them as Stanley Cup favorites at various sportsbooks. Vegas ranks third at +900 odds, while Boston occupies the No. 2 spot at +600, trailing only the Colorado Avalanche (+500).
One of the biggest storylines of this contest was that the Bruins had yet to lose at home in 14 outings. The Golden Knights were just 1-3 in four all-time trips to TD Garden.
Another aspect to keep an eye on was Brad Marchand’s play. The Boston wing had recorded 19 points in 15 games this year. He was also a good pick for goal props seeing as he had four goals in his last four games against Vegas.
As far as the game’s odds go, the Bruins were the -184 favorite on the moneyline compared to Vegas at +152. Boston was a perfect 14-0 as the favorite this season. However, it’s also worth pointing out that Vegas was a strong 11-2-1 on the road.
The projected total for the game was set at six goals, with the over being favored at -114. That said, there was a decent possibility of a lower-scoring game. The total has gone under in five of the Golden Knights’ last six games and six of their previous eight games with the Bruins. The average total of those eight games was exactly five goals.
Regardless of the game’s outcome, both squads could play for the Stanley Cup in the spring.
- Nashville Predators vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (Thursday, Dec. 8)
Veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh played 267 games and won two Stanley Cups in a Tampa Bay Lightning jersey before being traded to the Nashville Predators in July. Now, he must face his former team for the first time when the Predators visit the Lightning on Thursday.
On the one hand, Nashville has been heating up, going 7-1-1 in its last nine games coming into the week. Tampa Bay has been just as hot, going 8-2 over its previous 10.
Despite their success, the Predators haven’t fared well against the spread (ATS) this season, covering in just four of 11 road games. The Lightning have also been difficult to trust, going 5-7 ATS at home. Keeping that in mind, Tampa Bay is 5-1 in its last six games at Amalie Arena, outscoring opponents by an average score of 4.5 to 3.
Unfortunately for McDonagh’s team, this won’t be an easy game for Nashville. The Predators have lost 10 of their last 12 games against the Lightning, which includes only one victory in their previous five matchups on the road.
It’s also hard to project how many goals the teams will score. The total has gone under in eight of Nashville’s last 12 games but over in nine of Tampa Bay’s 12 outings at home thus far. Nevertheless, these two teams have combined for five goals or fewer in their last six meetings, making it interesting to see precisely how McDonagh’s return to Florida unfolds.
NHL Futures Odds Update
Jason Robertson’s Hart Trophy Odds Surge
- Connor McDavid, EDM (+125)
- Jason Robertson, DAL (+500)
- Auston Matthews, TOR (+1200)
- Leon Draisaitl, EDM (+1400)
- Kirill Kaprizov, MIN (+1500)
- Jack Eichel, VGK (+1500)
Jason Robertson has been one of the hottest players in the league lately. The talented Dallas Stars centerman begins the week riding an 18-game point streak where he’s amassed 21 goals and 13 assists. He paces the league with 23 goals, which has helped his Hart Memorial Trophy odds skyrocket.
At +500 odds, Robertson only trails Connor McDavid (+125) in this season’s MVP race. The 23-year-old didn’t even have top-12 odds back on Oct. 31.
It isn’t shocking that McDavid is still the odds-on favorite, though. He still leads the league in both assists (26) and points (47), pushing his Hart Trophy odds from +155 to +125 over the last two weeks.
Other notable changes since the last update include Auston Matthews dropping from +500 to +1200. Meanwhile, Jack Eichel’s impressive play (22 points over his previous 18 games) has boosted him into a tie with Kirill Kaprizov for the fifth-best MVP odds at +1500.
Bruins Remain Eastern Conference Favorites
- Boston Bruins (+350)
- New Jersey Devils (+550)
- Carolina Hurricanes (+600)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (+600)
- Tampa Bay Lightning (+750)
- Florida Panthers (+950)
Although the Devils are the top-ranked team in the East, the Bruins are favored to win the conference. The Bruins were +500 co-favorites back on Nov. 14, but a 20-3-0 record has helped improve their odds to +350.
Speaking of New Jersey, they weren’t even on the radar in the last update but now have the second-best odds (+550) after racking up an NHL-leading 41 points in 25 games. That success rate puts them on pace for 134 points by the end of the season.
Not all teams saw their odds improve. Some clubs that have fallen include the Lightning (+700 to +750), Florida Panthers (+700 to +950) and Pittsburgh Penguins (+800 to +1000).
Western Conference Odds Tighten Up
- Colorado Avalanche (+240)
- Vegas Golden Knights (+350)
- Calgary Flames (+750)
- Dallas Stars (+800)
- Edmonton Oilers (+850)
- Minnesota Wild (+1100)
Despite not being as dominant as last season, oddsmakers still favor the Avalanche to win the Western Conference. Their odds have slightly worsened since mid-November (+200 to +240), highlighting that they must soon move up from the conference’s No. 6 spot.
At the same time, the Golden Knights have leaped. Currently sitting in first place in the West, Bruce Cassidy’s team’s odds have jumped from +750 to +350 over the last three weeks. Continuing that success will only see Vegas’ odds rise even more as the season continues.
Only one regulation loss in their last 10 games has helped the Dallas Stars’ odds improve from +1400 to +800. However, the most significant improvement since last month is the Seattle Kraken moving from +3400 to +1800 after winning seven of their previous eight games. Though this is only their second season in the league, the Kraken can’t be underestimated in the Western Conference race.
