NHL Best Bets for Tuesday (12/17)

We’re looking to bounce back strong Tuesday with a big 10-game NHL slate. The first puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. I’ve gone through all the games and will go through the best values below.

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Today’s Best NHL Bets

Winnipeg/San Jose Over 6

(+100, Bet365)

This version of the 2024-25 Sharks is going to have a lot of high-scoring games. Their two goalies (Alexander Georgiev and Vitek Vanecek) are statistically two of the worst goaltenders in the league. It has nothing to do with the team that they’re playing for, either. Both goalies have a negative GSAA, and in Georgiev’s case, he has been playing with one of the best defense groups in the NHL in front of him (the Avalanche) for the majority of the season. The Jets have a ton of firepower on offense and is just one week removed from putting up 8 goals against the Bruins. While the Jets do have an edge, I do feel the Sharks are a team that has always been able to put up a fight, and in this case, I expect them to put up their best effort offensively to keep pace.

New York Rangers ML

(+106, FanDuel Sportsbook)

The Rangers and Predators have been two of the NHL’s biggest disappointments this season. The Rangers have been struggling to the point where they are now right at .500, which is hard to believe for a team that won the President’s Trophy the year before and has kept the team largely intact. Even so, the Predators are, without a doubt, a bigger disappointment. Don’t look now, but they’ve lost 9 of their last 10 games, and the only win in that span was from backup goalie Justus Annunen in his best game of the season. The Predators will also be without their best player, Roman Josi, who has been out the last few games with a lower-body injury. It might end up being an ugly game, but regardless, the Rangers should have this one.

St. Louis Blues +1.5

(-165, 3.3u to win 2u, Caesars)

St. Louis Blues ML

(+158, Caesars)

Once again, the Blues are a much different team now with Jim Montgomery behind the bench. We’ve officially hit 10 games under Montgomery, and the Blues are competitive in every single game they are playing. All but one game has been either a win or a 1-goal loss, and their one game where they lost by two was through a lucky bounce of a goal by Troy Stecher of all people. The Devils are a tough opponent, but the Blues are a team that’s consistently performed better against tougher competition since Jordan Binnington has been around.

Bonus Bets

Seattle Kraken ML (+110, Bet365/BetMGM/Caesars)
Los Angeles Kings ML (-136, BetRivers)
Anze Kopitar OVER 0.5 assists (+100, Bet365/DraftKings)
Robert Thomas OVER 0.5 assists (+100, Bet365/DraftKings)
Jakob Chychrun OVER 0.5 points (-100, DraftKings/BetMGM)
Oliver Bjorkstrand OVER 0.5 points (-105, DraftKings/BetMGM)
Andrei Svechnikov OVER 2.5 SOG (-142, DraftKings)