Free NHL Picks For Today, Sunday 12/29/2024

We have a 9-game slate at the end of this week in the NHL, so make sure to get the NHL Picks for Sunday 12/29/2024.

Buffalo Sabres vs St. Louis Blues Prediction NHL Picks 12/29/24

Sabres at Blues at 3 PM ET

The Buffalo Sabres triumphed over the Islanders and the Blackhawks in recent matchups. The team is averaging 3.03 goals per game and successfully converting 14.6 percent of their power play opportunities. Leading the team in scoring, Tage Thompson has netted 17 goals, while Rasmus Dahlin has provided 19 assists, and Dylan Cozens has taken 86 shots on goal. On the goaltending front, Devon Levi has surrendered 28 goals on 225 shots, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has given up 71 goals on 676 shots faced.

The St. Louis Blues secured victories against both the Red Wings and the Predators. Currently, the team averages 2.62 goals per game and converts 15.7 percent of their power play chances into goals. Jordan Kyrou is the team’s leading scorer with 15 goals, while Robert Thomas contributes significantly with 20 assists. Additionally, Dylan Holloway has recorded 86 shots on goal. In terms of goaltending, Jordan Binnington has permitted 72 goals from 708 shots, whereas Joel Hofer has allowed 33 goals from 347 shots faced.

The Pick:

The Sabres have suffered losses in 7 out of their last 9 games. In contrast, the St. Louis Blues are coming off two commendable wins as underdogs, potentially marking a significant turning point in their season. Furthermore, early game start times generally are an advantage for the home team. My skepticism regarding the Sabres has persisted for several years. The betting line is appealing. I am backing the Blues.

Edmonton Oilers vs Anaheim Ducks Prediction NHL Picks 12/29/24

Oilers at Ducks at 4 PM ET

The Anaheim Ducks are set to compete in this game with the intention of rebounding from their recent 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Troy Terry stands out as the Ducks’ top scorer, having achieved 26 points, which include 10 goals and 16 assists. Leo Carlsson adds to the team’s efforts with 12 points, featuring 7 goals and 5 assists. In the net, Lukas Dostal has a record of 8 wins, 10 losses, and 3 overtime losses, accompanied by a goals-against average of 2.74 and a save percentage of .915. John Gibson’s performance this season includes 5 wins, 5 losses, and 1 overtime loss, with a GAA of 2.93 and a save percentage of .909.

The Edmonton Oilers approach this contest aiming to recover from a narrow 4-3 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings in their previous game. Leon Draisaitl stands out as the Oilers’ top scorer, having accumulated 53 points, which includes a leading total of 24 goals and 29 assists. Connor McDavid is also a significant contributor with 50 points, consisting of 15 goals and 35 assists. Furthermore, Evan Bouchard has tallied 25 points, with 6 goals and 19 assists, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has added 19 points, featuring 7 goals and 12 assists this season. In terms of goaltending, Calvin Pickard has achieved an 8-3 record, accompanied by a 2.37 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage, while Stuart Skinner has a record of 13-8-3, with a 2.89 GAA and a .894 save percentage.

The Pick:

Typically, I would contemplate backing a home underdog in certain situations; however, the Oilers have consistently dominated the Ducks in recent years. I do not believe the Ducks possess the strength to compete effectively in this matchup, particularly with both teams playing on consecutive nights. I favor the Oilers at -1.5.

Washington Capitals vs Detroit Red Wings Prediction NHL Picks 12/29/24

Capitals at Red Wings at 5 PM ET

The Washington Capitals secured a victory against the Maple Leafs but suffered a defeat to the Bruins. Currently, the Capitals are averaging 3.71 goals per game and converting 22.3 percent of their power play chances. Connor McMichael is the team’s leading scorer with 16 goals, while Dylan Strome has contributed 28 assists, and John Carlson has recorded 82 shots on goal. In terms of goaltending, Charlie Lindgren has conceded 44 goals on 442 shots faced, whereas Logan Thompson has allowed 43 goals on 511 shots.

The Detroit Red Wings experienced losses to the Blues and the Maple Leafs. At present, the team averages 2.54 goals per game and successfully capitalizes on 22.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Lucas Raymond stands out as the leading scorer for Detroit with 14 goals, while Dylan Larkin has provided 15 assists, and Alex DeBrincat has taken 93 shots on goal. In the net, Cam Talbot has allowed 51 goals on 541 shots, while Alex Lyon has given up 32 goals on 303 shots faced.

The Pick:

The Capitals are enjoying a period of good health and are consistently accumulating wins. They have proven to be formidable on the road, with a season record of 13-5. Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings have experienced 10 of their 18 losses at home and have not triumphed in any game for nearly two weeks. I suggest placing your support behind the Capitals at this fair line.

Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction NHL Picks 12/29/24

Canadiens at Lightning at 5 PM ET

The Montreal Canadiens enter this match aiming to capitalize on their recent 4-0 shutout victory against Florida. As they prepare for Saturday’s contest against the Panthers, Nick Suzuki leads the team with 35 points, comprising 11 goals and a team-high 24 assists. Cole Caufield follows closely with 32 points, including a team-leading 17 goals. Additionally, Mike Matheson has contributed 15 assists, while Juraj Slafkovsky has amassed 19 points, featuring 15 assists. Lane Hutson has also recorded 24 assists this season. In goal, Sam Montembeault holds a record of 12-14-2, with a 2.94 GAA and a .900 save percentage, while Cayden Primeau has a record of 2-3-1, with a 4.70 GAA and a .836 save percentage.

The Tampa Bay Lightning approach this game with the intention of capitalizing on their recent 6-2 victory over the New York Rangers. As they prepare for Saturday’s contest against the Rangers, Nikita Kucherov stands out as the leading scorer for the Lightning, boasting 50 points, which include a team-high of 15 goals and 35 assists. Brandon Hagel follows with 39 points, comprising 16 goals and 23 assists, while Anthony Cirelli contributes 30 points, primarily from 17 assists. Brayden Point also has 39 points, with a distribution of 22 goals and 17 assists, and Victor Hedman adds 28 points, featuring 24 assists. Additionally, Jake Guentzel has accumulated 35 points, including 19 goals and 16 assists. In goal, Andrei Vasilevskiy holds a record of 15-10-1, with a goals-against average of 2.41 and a save percentage of .911, while Jonas Johansson has a record of 4-1-1, with a 3.25 GAA and a .902 save percentage for the season.

The Pick:

At this moment, I believe both teams are performing exceptionally well, and I am not inclined to take a position against either. If I were to choose a side, considering their historical matchups, I would likely favor Tampa Bay. However, both teams are currently demonstrating a strong offensive capability, and given that this is a back-to-back situation, I anticipate a high-scoring game. Therefore, I am going for the Over.

New York Islanders vs Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction NHL Picks 12/29/24

Islanders at Penguins at 5:30 PM ET

This season, the New York Islanders have a record of 14-15-7 after their latest triumph against the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning 6-3. During this contest, the Islanders registered 34 shots on goal, won 54.8% of the face-offs, and failed to convert on two power play chances. The scoring was led by Cizikas and Lee, who each netted two goals, with additional contributions from Pageau and Duclair. Goaltender Sorokin successfully stopped 22 of the 25 shots directed at him.

After their latest game, in which they lost to the Islanders 6-3, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ season record stands at 16-16-5. In this match, the Penguins achieved 25 shots on goal, won 45.2% of face-offs, and had a power play success rate of 25%, converting 1 out of 4 opportunities. Goals were netted by Acciari, Bunting, and Rakell, while Jarry recorded 29 saves from 33 shots faced.

The Pick:

In the first game of this weekend’s doubleheader, New York achieved a 6-3 victory on Saturday night. Nevertheless, the Penguins will be playing at home for this contest. Pittsburgh has a home record of 10-7-2 this season, while the Islanders have recorded 7-7-5 on the road. Although Pittsburgh suffered a defeat on Saturday, they have won three out of their last five games, leading me to believe they will secure a win in this encounter.

Calgary Flames vs Vegas Golden Knights Prediction NHL Picks 12/29/24

Flames at Golden Knights at 8 PM ET

This season, the Calgary Flames have a record of 16-11-7 after their latest triumph against Chicago, where they won 6-4. The Flames managed to outshoot their opponents, totaling 30 shots against Chicago’s 28. They secured 45.5% of face-offs and had a power play success rate of 20%, scoring once on five attempts. The team saw contributions from Backlund, Coleman, Coronato, Huberdeau, Kadri, and Zary, while Wolf recorded 24 saves out of 28 shots.

This season, the Vegas Golden Knights have achieved a record of 24-8-3 after their latest triumph against San Jose, winning the game 6-3. The Golden Knights dominated in shots, totaling 36 against the Sharks’ 25. They secured 46.6% of face-offs and did not convert on their two power-play chances. Goals were scored by Dorofeyev, Eichel, Howden, Stone, Hanifin, and McNabb, with Hill successfully stopping 22 of the 25 shots directed at him during the match.

The Pick:

This season, the Golden Knights boast a home record of 14-3-0, in contrast to the Flames’ 5-7-4 record when playing away. Vegas has shown solid defensive performance, permitting two goals or fewer in four of their last five contests, and they are averaging more than 3.50 goals scored per game. The Flames will be facing the challenge of a back-to-back game, raising concerns about their performance on the road, especially against a strong home team. Therefore, it is recommended to take Vegas at -1.5.

Ottawa Senators vs Minnesota Wild Prediction NHL Picks 12/29/24

Senators at Wild at 8 PM ET

The Ottawa Senators suffered defeats against both the Oilers and the Jets. Currently, the Senators are averaging 3.06 goals per game and converting 24.6 percent of their power play chances. Brady Tkachuk is the team’s leading scorer with 16 goals, while Tim Stutzle has contributed 28 assists, and Thomas Chabot has recorded 81 shots on goal. In terms of goaltending, Linus Ullmark has conceded 51 goals from 602 shots faced, whereas Anton Forsberg has allowed 30 goals on 271 shots.

The Minnesota Wild beat the Blackhawks and Stars, and they play the Predators, Capitals, and Hurricanes next. The Minnesota Wild are averaging 2.94 goals per game and are scoring on 17.4 percent of their power play opportunities. Kirill Kaprizov leads Minnesota with 23 goals, Marco Rossi has 17 assists and Matt Boldy has 118 shots on goal. Defensively, the Minnesota Wild are allowing 2.67 goals per game and are killing 70.5 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Filip Gustavsson has allowed 54 goals on 690 shots faced, and Marc-Andre Fleury has given up 29 goals on 283 shots.

The Pick:

The Senators are in the midst of their second consecutive game away from home, having been traveling since the 17th. The Minnesota Wild, fresh off a notable underdog victory against the Stars, have secured wins in 8 of their last 10 matchups against the Senators. Although the Wild have shown impressive form on the road, this game offers a prime opportunity for them to perform well at home. The pricing is attractive. I anticipate a home win for the Wild.

Dallas Stars vs Chicago Blackhawks Prediction NHL Picks 12/29/24

Stars at Blackhawks at 8:30 PM ET

This season, the Dallas Stars have a record of 20-13-1 after their recent overtime loss to Minnesota, which concluded with a score of 3-2. In the game, the Stars outshot their opponents 29 to 18 and secured 48.1% of the face-offs, although they were unable to capitalize on their three power-play chances. Dadonov and Johnston contributed goals for Dallas, while Oettinger recorded 15 saves from 18 shots.

This season, the Chicago Blackhawks have a record of 12-22-2 after suffering a 6-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in their most recent outing. The Blackhawks were outshot by a margin of 35 to 17, achieved a face-off win percentage of 49%, and failed to convert on their only power play chance. Bertuzzi and Jones contributed to the scoring for Chicago, while Soderblom recorded 22 saves out of 24 shots in the defeat.

The Pick:

The Dallas team has experienced defeats in three out of their last four matches, culminating in a significant third-period breakdown in their most recent game. While I have reservations about the performance of both teams at this moment, it is worth noting that Dallas has demonstrated strong defensive capabilities. Therefore, I recommend taking the Stars with a -1.5 spread.

Philadelphia Flyers vs LA Kings Prediction NHL Picks 12/29/24

Flyers at Kings at 9 PM ET

The Philadelphia Flyers approach this contest with the intention of extending their momentum following a 3-1 triumph over the Anaheim Ducks in their previous game. Travis Konecny stands out as the team’s leading scorer, amassing 41 points through 16 goals and 25 assists. Matvei Michkov contributes significantly as well, with 27 points from 11 goals and 16 assists. Furthermore, Travis Sanheim has tallied 20 points, including 6 goals and 14 assists. In terms of goaltending, Samuel Ersson has achieved an 8-6-2 record this season, posting a 3.14 GAA and a .880 save percentage. Ivan Fedotov’s record is 4-4-1, with a GAA of 3.39 and a save percentage of .881, while Aleksei Kolosov has a record of 4-6-1, a GAA of 3.34, and a save percentage of .878.

The Los Angeles Kings enter this matchup aiming to build on their recent 4-3 overtime victory against Edmonton. Anze Kopitar is at the forefront for the Kings, boasting 37 points, which include 10 goals and 27 assists. Alex Laferriere follows with 25 points, comprising 13 goals. Adrian Kempe has accumulated 33 points, leading the team with 16 goals and 17 assists, while Brandt Clarke contributes 20 points, primarily through 17 assists. In goal, Darcy Kuemper has recorded a 9-2-5 record this season, with a goals-against average of 2.43 and a save percentage of .910. David Rittich holds a record of 10-8, with a GAA of 2.46 and a save percentage of .891, while Erik Portillo has impressive statistics with a GAA of 1.02 and a save percentage of .966.

The Pick:

The Flyers have demonstrated their ability to deliver value in similar situations while on the road, often securing favorable odds. However, the Kings recently achieved a decisive victory against the Flyers in Philadelphia, winning 7-3. I anticipate that the Kings will secure another victory at home in this matchup. I favor the Kings.