NHL Predictions – Expert Tips for Sunday, December 29th:

Here are the NHL predictions for tonight:

4 p.m. ET

The Oilers and Ducks are back-to-back in the second half and both teams are coming off losses. Edmonton lost 4-3 to the LA Kings in overtime, while the Ducks lost 3-1 at home to the Flyers. The Oilers haven’t lost consecutive games since mid-November (Toronto and Montreal). Edmonton has won seven straight times and nine of the last ten meetings, with the Ducks covering the puck line in all nine wins (-1.5 goals). In seven of the nine wins, the Oilers won by three or more goals. In Edmonton’s four losses so far this season, three times they have won the next game by three goals or more. The Oilers’ Viktor Arvidsson has scored goals in consecutive games alongside Leon Draisaitl. In his career, he has scored eight goals in 19 games against the Ducks, with five of his goals coming against goaltender John Gibson, who is in the starting lineup tonight. Teammate Jeff Skinner scored five goals in nine games against Gibson.

Anaheim enters tonight’s contest with back-to-back 3-1 losses and has lost three of its last four games. Six of the Ducks’ last eight losses have come by a margin of two goals or more. Two Anaheim players to consider as player props are Ryan Strome (3 goals in six games against Calvin Pickard) and Alex Kilorn (2 goals in 5 games against Pickard).

NHL Predictions: Edmonton Oilers TT over 3.5 (-155) – 1 unit
Edmonton Oilers -1.5 goals (-110) – 1 unit
Edmonton Oilers -2.5 goals (+165) – ¼ unit
Viktor Arvidsson any time goal (+260) – ¼ unit
Jeff Skinner Anytime Goal (+400) – ¼ unit
Ryan Strome Goal Anytime (+390) – ¼ unit
Alex Kilorn Anytime Goal (+370) – ¼ unit

5:00 p.m. ET

Often the hiring of a new coach gives a team a boost and they get that “coaching boost,” but for Detroit it was the same old story in head coach Todd McLellan’s debut as the Red Wings lost to Toronto by 5-2. The loss extended the Wings’ losing streak to four games and leaves them tied for last place in the Eastern Conference with the Buffalo Sabers. Detroit has also lost five of its last seven games, conceding four or more goals in each of the five losses. The Wings have conceded more than 4 goals in 16 of their 22 losses this season.

The Caps welcomed Alexander Ovechkin back to the lineup on Saturday after he missed the last five weeks with a lower-body injury in a game against Utah HC. The Great Eight scored an empty-net goal last night, giving him 16 goals on the season as he continues his march to becoming the NHL’s all-time leading scorer. Ovechkin has scored 24 goals in 35 career games against the Red Wings. A few other Washington players that are on my radar. Pierre Luc-Dubois has provided assists in four consecutive games. Jakob Chychrun had nine assists in 13 games against Detroit. Former Red Wing Jakob Vrana has three goals in his last four games.

Charlie Lindgren will start today for the Capitals. Lindgren has conceded three or more goals 10 times this season and in three of the last four meetings against Detroit. Alex DeBrincat scored three goals in five games against Lindgren and scored 11 goals in 13 games against the Capitals. Detroit’s Lucas Raymond also had some success against Lindgren with two goals in five games.

NHL Predictions: Washington Capitals/Detroit Red Wings 1^st Period over 1.5 (-135) – 1 unit
Pierre-Luc Dubois Over ½ assist (+155) – ¼ unit
Alex DeBrincat Anytime Goal (+235) – ¼ unit
Alexander Ovechkin any time goal (+165) – ¼ unit
Jakob Chychrun Over ½ assist (+170) – ¼ unit
Aliaksei Protas Over ½ point (+115) – ¼ unit
Jakub Vrana any time goal (+400) – ¼ unit
Detroit Red Wings TT over 2.5 (-145) – 1 unit
Lucas Raymond (+255) – ¼ unit

5:00 p.m. ET

The Canadiens are coming off a big upset against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Saturday and now face the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are riding a four-game winning streak. Tampa has dominated Montreal, winning eight of the last 10 meetings and scoring four or more goals in six of the eight victories. This season, Tampa has scored 4+ goals in 16 of its 20 wins and has also covered the puck line in 16 of its 20 wins. Jonas Johansson is in the starting lineup for Tampa. He has conceded over 1.5 goals in the first half in five of his six starts.

NHL Predictions: Montreal Canadiens/Tampa Bay Lightning 1^st Period Over 1.5 (-160) – 1 unit
Tampa Bay Lightning TT over 3.5 (-165) – 1 unit
Montreal Canadiens/Tampa Bay Lightning over 6.5 (-120) – 1 unit
Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 goals (+100) – 1 unit
Jake Evans Anytime Goal (+700) – ¼ unit
Jake Guentzel any time goal (+120) – ¼ unit
Brandon Hagel Anytime Goal (+150) – ¼ unit
Zemgus Girgenson’s Anytime Goal (+1200) – ¼ unit

The best of the rest:
Vegas Golden Knights in Regulation (-155) – 1 unit
Blake Coleman (CGY) Anytime Goal (+340) – ¼ unit
William Karlsson any time goal (+260) – ¼ unit
William Karlsson Over ½ assist (+155) – ¼ unit
New York Islanders/Pittsburgh Penguins over 6 (-120) – 2 units
Brock Nelson Anytime Goal (+300) – ¼ unit
Simon Holmstrom anytime goal (+425) – ¼ unit
Tanner Jean did not score (+550) – ¼ unit
Matvei Michkov any time goal (+300) – ¼ unit