The week that is often full of festivities around the world is also packed with a selection of NHL action, many of which have huge implications for the rest of the season. All four divisions remain incredibly tight towards the top, with things being particularly intense in the Atlantic Division, where the Maple Leafs and Panthers are locked in a fierce brawl.
On this page, we will be discussing our NHL betting tips and picks for three of the most crucial games that occur throughout the Christmas week. These games are the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Florida Panthers, the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Washington Capitals, and the Winnipeg Jets against the Ottawa Senators!
Game 1: Florida Panthers @ Tampa Bay Lightning
- Date: Monday 23rd of December 2024
- Time: 7:00 pm EDT
- Our Pick: Florida Panthers -1.5 Puck Line
First up is the Lightning against the Panthers, with this game being a crucial one for the team from Florida. The Panthers were looking to be on track to open a gap for themselves towards the top of the Atlantic Division. However, disappointing defeats to the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks have left them neck and neck with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Despite these two hiccups, we’re expecting the Panthers to continue with the offensive form that they’ve shown in recent games against the Oilers and the Wild, in which they found the back of the net 6 times. Defensively, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been relatively sound this season, however, they’re in pretty dire need of an upset here, too, which could lead to an end-to-end affair. We think this style of game would suit the Florida Panthers, who we back to run away with things and cover the -1.5 puck line.
Game 2: Washington Capitals @ Toronto Maple Leafs
- Date: Saturday 28th of December 2024
- Time: 7:00 pm EDT
- Our Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs Money Line
Much like the Panthers seemingly must beat the Lightning, the Maple Leafs are in the same position. They will host the Capitals in their first game back after Christmas and while the break is a short one, the Maple Leafs will want to make sure that they come out firing on all cylinders.
On the other end of things, the Washington Capitals will be hoping for some sort of reset over the festive pause, as they look to brush off defeats against the Blackhawks and the Stars before continuing their charge for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division.
The head-to-head favors the Maple Leafs, who lead 4-1 in their last 5 meetings with the Capitals, and the team from Toronto are certainly not ones to back down during important games. We think the well-rounded Maple Leafs will pick up the win against the Capitals. However, we’re expecting it to be a close one.
Game 3: Ottawa Senators @ Winnipeg Jets
- Date: Saturday 28th of December 2024
- Time: 7:00 pm EDT
- Our Pick: Over 6 Total Goals
Last but not least is the Winnipeg Jets against the Ottawa Senators, which tips off at exactly the same time as the Toronto Maple Leafs game, giving fans across Canada a tough decision of which one to spectate. While the NHL odds are stacked against the team from Ottawa in this one, they have experienced a strong run of form recently, picking up wins against tough teams, including a 3-0 destruction of the Carolina Hurricanes.
On the other side of things, the Jets recently experienced a rather shocking defeat to the Ducks, so momentum is certainly not on their side. We’re expecting the Senators to be full of confidence. However, it’s highly unlikely that the Jets won’t adopt their signature aggressive playstyle. It could certainly be a tight encounter that has the potential to go either way, which is why we’re backing over 6 total goals.
How Many Games Does Each NHL Team Play This Week?
There are only 41 NHL games this week, due to December 24th, 25th, and 26th all being taken off for Christmas. With that being said, the days on either side of this break are stacked with intense clashes. Monday the 23rd of December 2024 is the busiest day of the week, featuring 13 games, closely followed by Saturday the 28th with 11.
The Colorado Avalanche and the Seattle Kraken have an incredibly quiet festive period, playing only 1 game each between the 23rd and 29th of December. Adversely, there are 20 teams that will take to the ice 3 times, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Boston Bruins, and the Montreal Canadiens.
Here’s a table that shows exactly how many games each team will be playing in the upcoming week:
| Team | Number of Games This Week |
| Anaheim Ducks | 3 |
| Boston Bruins | 3 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 3 |
| Calgary Flames | 2 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 3 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 3 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 1 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 3 |
| Dallas Stars | 3 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 3 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 2 |
| Florida Panthers | 2 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 2 |
| Minnesota Wild | 3 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 3 |
| Nashville Predators | 2 |
| New Jersey Devils | 3 |
| New York Islanders | 3 |
| New York Rangers | 2 |
| Ottawa Senators | 2 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 3 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 3 |
| San Jose Sharks | 3 |
| Seattle Kraken | 1 |
| St. Louis Blues | 3 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 3 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 3 |
| Utah Hockey Club | 2 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 2 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 3 |
| Washington Capitals | 3 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 2 |
How to bet on the NHL Online with BetVictor
For anyone looking to bet on the NHL online with us at BetVictor, here’s a guide for getting started:
1. Sign in to your BetVictor account. If you aren’t registered with us yet, simply click on the green ‘Sign Up’ button in the top right corner and fill in the various fields that appear. You can then confirm your details to bet on the NHL.
2. Navigate to the ice hockey betting page.
3. Go to the ‘Competitions’ tab and click ‘NHL’.
4. From here, you can pick the game(s) you want to bet on from the list.
5. Once you’ve selected the game, browse through the different NHL betting markets and add your desired selection(s) to the bet slip.
6. Last but not least, type in a stake size that matches your preferences and confirm the bet!
Here at BetVictor, you can find a huge range of ice hockey odds and NHL markets for all games that occur throughout the season. Each game will also appear on our in-play betting page as soon as it gets underway, allowing you to follow the action as it happens on the ice.
Before placing an NHL bet online, why not check our offers page, too? There are plenty of different sports betting bonuses available, with options for both new and existing members!
Frequently Asked Questions About our NHL Picks
Our NHL picks for games between the 23rd and 29th of December 2024 include the Florida Panthers -1.5 (Puck Line) against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Toronto Maple Leafs to beat the Washington Capital (Money Line), and over 6 goals in the game between the Winnipeg Jets and the Ottawa Senators.
There are 20 teams that are all tied for the most fixtures over this festive week, including the Montreal Canadiens, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Vegas Golden Knights, who all play 3 times each.
The best place to bet on the NHL online is right here at BetVictor. In addition to our huge range of NHL odds and in-play betting markets, we also offer a variety of different bonuses that are updated on a regular basis.
