A lighter Wednesday schedule across the sports slate doesn’t mean bettors are short on opportunity. With fewer games on the board, tonight’s slate rewards precision, creating value for those willing to trust the spots that stand out. Two matchups on the ice will be the focus as December rolls on. Here are tonight’s best bets brought to you by BetOnline.ag. Click here to join. All new players get a 50% welcome bonus and up to $250 in free bets.
First Pick: Under 5.5 Goals
Rundown: The Los Angeles Kings (14-9-9) travel to Amerant Bank Arena looking to snap a three-game losing streak as they face off with the Florida Panthers (17-13-2).
Florida opens a three-game homestand riding wins in five of its last six games, including back-to-back dominant road victories over Dallas and Tampa Bay. The Panthers’ offense has driven the surge, averaging 4.3 goals per game during that stretch with balanced production throughout the lineup. Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe and Brad Marchand have all chipped in offensively and been key to Florida's quality play on the ice.
That scoring depth will be tested against a Los Angeles defense that ranks second in the NHL in goals allowed. Los Angeles has shown an ability to limit dynamic offenses, allowing two or less goals in their last five wins. However, Florida holds a clear edge defensively against a Kings offense that sits 31st in the league, scoring 2.6 goals per game. With both teams built to defend and control pace, expect limited quality chances early which results in the score staying under the projected goal total.
Second Pick: Under 5.5 Goals
Rundown: The Vegas Golden Knights (16-6-9) return home for a brief one-game homestand as they host the New Jersey Devils (18-14-1) before heading back out on the road.
Vegas comes off an impressive five-game road trip, going 4-1 with its lone loss coming in a shootout against the Islanders. Defense has been the backbone of that run, as the Golden Knights allowed two goals or fewer in all four wins, including a shutout of New Jersey on Dec. 5. Ranked fifth in the NHL in goals allowed, Vegas’ defensive structure has pushed the team into second place in the Pacific Division through 31 games. Jack Eichel continues to drive the success, leading the team in points, assists and takeaways.
As for New Jersey, the Devils are searching for answers after dropping seven of its last nine games. Offensive inconsistency has plagued the Devils during that stretch, as they’ve been held to one goal or fewer in four of those losses. Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier will be leaned on heavily as New Jersey looks to regain momentum approaching the midpoint of the season. With both offenses ranking in the bottom half of the league, expect defenses to dictate pace and limit high-quality chances, setting up a low-scoring contest.