As we get nearer to Christmas, which will see a short break occur in the NHL, the action is seemingly more intense than ever, with all four divisions being closely contested. There are plenty of key matches this week too, some of which will be influential in deciding which team sits atop the table over the festive period.
You can find NHL betting tips and predictions for three highly anticipated games on this page, as we cover the Toronto Maple Leafs vs the Nashville Predators, the Montreal Canadiens vs the Washington Capitals, and the Dallas Stars vs the Calgary Flame!
Game 1: Nashville Predators @ Toronto Maple Leafs
- Date: Wednesday Dec 4th 2024
- Time: 7:30 pm EDT
- Our Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs -1.5 Puck Line
The first game we will be looking at this week is the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Nashville Predators. Many will be expecting a straightforward victory here for the Maple Leafs, who are currently on a winning streak of two after bouncing back from a 5-1 demolition at the hands of the Panthers. On the other end of things, the Predators are really struggling, losing all four of their last 4 games. To make things worse, the most recent 3 of these defeats were suffered in overtime, although they do have a short rest period now before they face off against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday evening.
It’s hard to really see anything other than a Toronto win in this match, with the Maple Leafs seemingly being back to firing on all cylinders. The Predators have been leaking goals from a defensive perspective, and the Maple Leafs will certainly take advantage of this if they’re given half a chance. We’re backing the team from Toronto to take this game in a comfortable fashion, with our pick being the Maple Leafs -1.5 puck line.
Game 2: Washington Capitals @ Montreal Canadiens
- Date: Saturday Dec 7th 2024
- Time: 7:00 pm EDT
- Our Pick: Over 6.5 Goals
Next up is the Canadiens against the Capitals, which is a game that offers a rather comfortable stylistic match-up in favor of the team from Washington. It’s their aggressive attacking plays that have got them so high up in the NHL standings. However, the Capitals will have to get the job done against the Canadiens without their leading scorer, Alex Ovechkin, this week, as he is still sidelined after breaking his leg on Nov 18th. Naturally, this means that most spectators will be focused on Connor McMichael, as he looks to lead the offensive line from the centre.
It’s also important to remember that this game means a lot to the Capitals, who are hot on the trail of the New Jersey Devils who currently occupy the top position of the Metropolitan Division. When you combine their incredible goal-scoring prowess (The highest in the league and the only team to have scored over 100), with the weak defense of the Canadiens, which has almost conceded 100 goals in itself, we think a high-scoring affair seems highly plausible.
Game 3: Calgary Flames @ Dallas Stars
- Date: Sunday Dec 8th 2024
- Time: 8:00 pm EDT
- Our Pick: Dallas Stars -1.5
Our third and final game for this week in the NHL focuses on the Dallas Stars and the Calgary Flames. The storyline here is similar to the one present in the other two games, with the Dallas Stars being in need of a win to continue their push for the top spots in the Central Division. They currently sit in third, with plenty of wiggle room between them and the Avalanche, who sit in fourth. A win in this game could put them within striking distance of the Jets and the Wild, while also allowing them to continue their impressive run of form.
The Calgary Flames are in dire need of a win, too, as 24/25 is starting to look like a repeat of last season, where they finished just outside of the playoff positions. We think the Flames will try to address their issues in terms of goal scoring in this encounter. However, this could certainly come back to bite them against a red-hot Dallas Stars, who we’re backing to cover the -1.5 puck line in this encounter.
How Many Games Does Each NHL Team Play This Week?
There are a total of 50 games this week in the NHL, with Saturday being the busiest day, featuring 11 different matches. The action is spread relatively evenly throughout this week, giving fans plenty to get excited about, while also allowing them to catch all of the key games without having to worry about scheduling issues.
As for the busiest teams, these include the Colorado Avalanche, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Dallas Stars, the New York Islanders, the Seattle Kraken, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Winnipeg Jets, all of which have a total of four games for this week.
Here’s a look at a full guide that details exactly how many matches each team will be playing between the 2nd and 8th of December 2024:
| Team | Number of Games This Week |
| Anaheim Ducks | 2 |
| Boston Bruins | 3 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 3 |
| Calgary Flames | 3 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 3 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 3 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 4 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 4 |
| Dallas Stars | 4 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 3 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 3 |
| Florida Panthers | 3 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 2 |
| Minnesota Wild | 3 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 3 |
| Nashville Predators | 3 |
| New Jersey Devils | 3 |
| New York Islanders | 4 |
| New York Rangers | 3 |
| Ottawa Senators | 3 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 3 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 3 |
| San Jose Sharks | 3 |
| Seattle Kraken | 4 |
| St. Louis Blues | 3 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 2 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 4 |
| Utah Hockey Club | 3 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 3 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 3 |
| Washington Capitals | 3 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 4 |
How to Bet on the NHL Online with BetVictor
Here’s a straightforward step-by-step guide for anyone who is looking to bet on the NHL online with us:
1. Sign in to your BetVictor account. If you’re not already registered, click or tap on the green ‘Sign Up’ button in the top right corner and fill in the various fields that appear. From here, you can verify your details and make a deposit to bet on NHL matches online.
2. Head to the NHL betting page and find the match, or matches, that you’d like to bet on.
3. Click on your desired outcome to add it to the bet slip.
4. Type in a stake size that matches your preferences and confirm the bet.
5. All that’s left to do then is enjoy the NHL matches!
Here at BetVictor, we have a comprehensive range of NHL betting options that cover all games that occur throughout the season. You can find ice hockey odds for other leagues in our sports betting catalogue, too, such as the Swiss League and the French Ligue Magnus.
As soon as each match gets underway, you can follow and bet on the action through our in-play betting page. Don’t forget to check out our offers page either, as it features an assortment of bonus offers that are updated on a regular basis!
Frequently Asked Questions about our NHL Betting Picks
Our NHL betting tips for games between the 2nd and 8th of December are the Toronto Maple Leafs -1.5 puck line against the Nashville Predators, over 6.5 goals in the Montreal Canadiens against the Washington Capitals game, and the Dallas Stars -1.5 puck line against the Calgary Flames.
The best place to bet on the NHL online is right here at BetVictor. We have an extensive range of odds, in-play markets, and a selection of bonus offers that can be used across all sports betting markets.
There are 7 teams that are tied for the most games played in the NHL this week, each playing 4 matches each. These are the Colorado Avalanche, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Dallas Stars, the New York Islanders, the Seattle Kraken, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Winnipeg Jets.
