Hello and welcome everyone to the Wednesday edition of the NHL Best Bets on December 18th, 2024! First stab at the new week of NHL picks for me here today but don’t worry I was in the lab Monday and Tuesday even though I didn’t have an NHL best bets article. 

If you listened to yesterday’s Fantasy Alarm show on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio, then you got a free winning pick as well! Just 5 games to sort through today but I have some NHL picks that I am backing 100%! Good luck out there everyone and see you back here tomorrow. 

 

 

 

NHL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 12/18

In this NHL Best Bets Today article you will find a wide array of choices from some Money Lines and Team totals to plenty of player props for the action today in NHL Picks! 

14 games on this weekday slate, so let's dive into my expert NHL Best Bets today!

  • Regular Season Record: 96-74-1
  • Bankroll: +10.9 Units

*Follow me on X/Twitter @jwaggs10

 

 

 

Canucks vs. Utah Hockey Club Prediction: Wednesday, December 18th

Things have definitely improved for Utah in the past few weeks as they’ve fought their way to the middle of the Central Division, but they are still lacking a major split and are playing poorly on home ice. They are 4-8 straight up in front of those new hockey fans in Salt Lake City and they could be in for a test against this visiting Canucks team that is an impressive 10-2-1 on the road! 

This game projects as a coin flip in my models but the Canucks are plus money underdogs and as someone that seeks value in wagering it's hard to not like this spot for Vancouver. They don’t have the edge in goaltending, but they do play better defense overall allowing just 2.46 goals per game as the away side and they score 3.2 goals on the offensive side. 

Compare that to Utah who scores 2.75 goals per game at home, and you see they may have trouble keeping up tonight. Give me the Canucks to grab the win as an underdog in what is a mispriced line.

 

 

 

Best NHL Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 12/18