Ryan Hodges
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A great week of NHL hockey is capped by a modest 5-game slate on Sunday. The first game is at 2:00pm ET and the final game begins at 10:30pm ET. Hopefully you have a lazy day just putting up Christmas decorations and eating Thanksgiving leftovers. Regardless, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy hockey from around lunchtime until bedtime. With a small slate, maybe you just want to make a few plays to have a dog in the fight to enjoy Sunday’s games. If you are looking to combine some picks from these games, check out these parlay picks that have +1140 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Arizona Coyotes vs Minnesota Wild under 6 (-110)
Winnipeg Jets -1.5 (+150) over Chicago Blackhawks
Los Angeles Kings -1.5 (+160) over Ottawa Senators
Parlay odds: +1140
Get our NHL picks for all 5 games tonight
Arizona Coyotes vs Minnesota Wild under 6 (-110)
The under has been hot for both of these teams lately. That makes sense given that the Wild rank 25th in the NHL in goalscoring, and the Coyotes are 27th. Goal prevention has been just okay for both teams, but ultimately has not made up for lack of scoring which has brought several low totals. The total has gone under in 11 of Minnesota’s last 15 games, and in 7 of Arizona’s last 9 games. In their respective last 10 games, their combined over-under record is 6-14 across those 20 total games. The Wild are 4-5-1 in those 10 games and the Coyotes are 4-4-2. Lately it has not mattered who they play against, the totals are going low for these teams.
Wild games have averaged a total of 5.75 goals so far this season as they both score and allow fewer than 3 goals on average. That average is even lower in their last 10 games. With 23 goals scored and 23 allowed, their game totals have averaged a total of 4.60 goals during that span. Coyotes games’ haven’t been lighting up the scoreboard either lately. In their last 10 games, they have scored 25 goals and allowed 30 goals for an average game total of 5.50. Again, those goal-prevention numbers are not bad. But their respective offensive attacks, or lack thereof, do not have enough firepower lately to carry the weight of a high total if the over were to hit. The under should continue trending for both of these teams in this one.
Be sure to check out our full Arizona Coyotes vs Minnesota Wild predictions
Winnipeg Jets -1.5 (+150) over Chicago Blackhawks
The Jets and Blackhawks have trended in very different directions early on this season. Chicago is 6-10-4, ultimately back to where they were expected to be entering the season in the cellar of the standings. Winnipeg is 12-6-1 and just 3 points behind the Central leading Stars with the T-fewest games played in the division entering Sunday. The Jets have won 10 out of their last 14 games which includes a 4-0 shutout win over the Blackhawks. Winnipeg has had Chicago’s number particularly in the last couple years as they are 5-1 in their last 6 games against the Blackhawks. Chicago enters this game having lost 6 straight games and 7 of their last 8 at home. Current form leans far more in the favor of Winnipeg to fade this plus money value.
The Jets have better numbers than the Blackhawks in home road splits, splits as a favorite and underdog, against the spread, and home road splits record against the spread. Winnipeg has better numbers per game than Chicago in several statistical categories including goals scored, goals allowed, penalty kill, goal differential, shot differential, and save percentage. The Blackhawks make for a favorable matchup against most teams in the league in their current form. Considering how the Jets have played early on this season, they would be no exception. Winnipeg has a very favorable matchup against Chicago, and anything plus money is good value against the spread, let alone at +150.
Be sure to check out our full Winnipeg Jets vs Chicago Blackhawks predictions
Los Angeles Kings -1.5 (+160) over Ottawa Senators
There is a bit of frustration in the air in Ottawa early on this season. There was optimism after one of the stronger offseasons in the NHL that looked like would speed up their rebuild. But Ottawa finds themselves 7-12-1 with the T-2 fewest points in the NHL. The Senators have dropped 11 out of their last 14 games, and 7 out of their last 9 on the road. In 5 of their last 6 losses, the Senators have lost by more than 1 goal with an average loss by 2.67 goals in those games. When they score, their goal prevention isn’t picking them up. When they minimize damage, their goal scoring isn’t picking them up. Ottawa just can’t seem to put it all together on the same night and that has resulted in losses.
The Kings have had a good month as they have points in 10 of their last 14 games. They have won 5 of their last 6 games at home. Their per game statistics are not anything special. Nonetheless, they have both scored more and allowed less goals per game than the Senators. Their record and position in the standings indicate they are able to find more consistency and put it all together on the same night despite their average underlying numbers. The Kings have not done anything particularly special thus far this season, but they don’t have to do anything special to beat this Senators team by a couple goals. Until this Ottawa team finds some consistent success, they just are not a reliable pick.
Be sure to check out our full Ottawa Senators vs Los Angeles Kings predictions
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