The NHL rolls on this week, with a total of 51 games for fans around the world to enjoy between the 9th and 15th of December. All four divisions remain incredibly tight at the top, meaning that every game counts in the 2024/25 season. This week, there are plenty of crucial games that could impact the final standings and for the top teams, they focus on avoiding upsets against teams that, in theory, shouldn’t cause them any trouble.
In our NHL betting picks for this week, we focus on three games, which are the Ottawa Senators vs the Anaheim Ducks, the Edmonton Oilers vs the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Calgary Flames vs the Florida Panthers!
Game 1: Anaheim Ducks @ Ottawa Senators
- Date: Wednesday 11th December 2024
- Time: 7:30 pm EDT
- Our Pick: Under 5.5 Goals
The first game we’re going to be looking at this week is the Ottawa Senators vs the Anaheim Ducks, with it being a case of ‘same old same old’ for both of these teams. The Ducks shocked a few experts when they defeated the Senators at the start of December, albeit after penalties, which should give them a well-needed confidence boost when they face off again on Wednesday evening.
Although the Ducks currently sit at the bottom of the NHL Pacific division, they’ve actually conceded less than 6 of the teams above them, including the Golden Knights and the Los Angeles Kings. If the Anaheim Ducks are going to stand a chance in this encounter, they will likely look to keep their defense tight and steal a goal or two towards the later stages. Should Greg Cronin look to implement this strategy, it could be a low-scoring affair, which is why we’re picking under 5.5 goals in this game.
Game 2: Vegas Golden Knights @ Edmonton Oilers
- Date: Saturday 14th December 2024
- Time: 4:00 pm EDT
- Our Pick: Vegas Golden Knights Money Line
This is a rather important fixture for the future of the Pacific Division, as the Knights look to create space for themselves at the top of the table. Both of these teams are on an impressive run of form, winning four of their last five matches, which sets up a juggernaut encounter on Saturday afternoon.
Put simply, if the Oilers are looking to repeat their second-place finish from last season, they have to start making moves now. However, when the Golden Knights are in their groove, they’re truly a tough team to beat. We think this game could be one packed with goals, with the team from Las Vegas ultimately coming out on top. For fans of hockey, this has all the making of being a true barn-burner of a match that cannot be missed!
Game 3: Florida Panthers @ Calgary Flames
- Date: Saturday 14th December 2024
- Time: 10:00 pm EDT
- Our Pick: Florida Panthers -1.5 Puck Line
For our third focus game of the week, we have the Calgary Flames vs the Florida Panthers, a match in which many can only see going one way. The Flames have really struggled recently, picking up only 1 win in their last 7 matches, and losing the other six. It’s also worth mentioning that two of these losses came after extra time, further fueling the fire of disappointment that the Flames have become all too familiar with.
Despite losing to the Penguins on 4th December, we think the Florida Panthers will storm to victory in this game, as do most other experts. We’re backing them to overcome the -1.5 puck line in a matchup that is historically packed with goals.
Expect fast-paced action from the start, with the Flames likely to try something unique to catch the Panthers off-guard. If this doesn’t work, or the team from Calgary simply sticks to their usual game plan, it should be a very long night against a Panthers team that looks ready to go all the way this season.
How Many Games Does Each NHL Team Play This Week?
There are a total of 51 NHL games scheduled between the 9th and 15th of December 2024, 15 of which are scheduled for Saturday the 14th. Fans can also enjoy an abundance of ice hockey action on Thursday 12th December, which features a total of 14 different matches with almost all teams taking to the ice.
When it comes to the busiest teams this week, the Anaheim Ducks, the Boston Bruins, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Minnesota Wild, the New York Rangers, the St Louis Blues, and the Toronto Maple Leafs all have packed calendars, with each team playing 4 games.
Here’s a look at exactly how many games each team plays between 9th December and 15th December 2024:
| Team | Number of Games This Week |
| Anaheim Ducks | 4 |
| Boston Bruins | 3 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 4 |
| Calgary Flames | 3 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 3 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 4 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 3 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 4 |
| Dallas Stars | 2 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 3 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 3 |
| Florida Panthers | 3 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 3 |
| Minnesota Wild | 4 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 3 |
| Nashville Predators | 3 |
| New Jersey Devils | 3 |
| New York Islanders | 3 |
| New York Rangers | 4 |
| Ottawa Senators | 3 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 3 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 3 |
| San Jose Sharks | 3 |
| Seattle Kraken | 3 |
| St. Louis Blues | 4 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 3 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 4 |
| Utah Hockey Club | 3 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 3 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 3 |
| Washington Capitals | 2 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 3 |
How to bet on the NHL Online with BetVictor
Want to bet on the NHL online with us? BetVictor has got you covered with this step-by-step guide:
1. Sign in to your BetVictor account. If you’re not already registered with us, click or tap on the green ‘Sign Up’ button in the top right corner and add your information to the fields that pop up. You can then verify your details and make a deposit to bet on the NHL!
2. Head to the ice hockey betting section of our sportsbook.
3. Find the NHL betting section.
4. Scroll down and find the game(s) you’d like to bet on.
5. Click on your desired selection to add it to the bet slip.
6. Type a stake size that matches your preferences into the bet box and confirm your wager!
At BetVictor, we offer odds for all NHL games that are played throughout the season, alongside a variety of other ice hockey odds for competitions around the world. As soon as each match gets underway, you can find it on our in-play betting page, allowing you to bet on the action as it happens.
Before placing a bet on the NHL, why not check out our offers page? We offer a range of different bonuses for both new and existing players, many of which can be used across all sports betting markets, including on ice hockey. These bonuses are updated on a regular basis to keep things fresh for players!
Frequently Asked Questions About our NHL Picks
Our picks for NHL games between the 9th and the 15th of December include under 5.5 in the Ottawa Senators vs Anaheim Ducks game, the Vegas Golden Knights to win (Money line) against the Edmonton Oilers, and the Florida Panthers -1.5 (Puck line) against the Calgary Flames.
The best place to bet on the NHL online is right here at BetVictor. We have a huge range of markets for punters to choose from, alongside in-play betting options and a selection of different bonus offers!
The Anaheim Ducks, the Boston Bruins, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Minnesota Wild, the New York Rangers, the St Louis Blues, and the Toronto Maple Leafs all play the most games in the NHL this week with 4 each.
