NHL Odds, Betting Insights, & Picks For December 5

In this article, I’ll outline the most noteworthy NHL odds, news, and betting insights from the marquee games from Friday’s five-game NHL slate, and I’ll also offer up my best pick of the night.

Pick—Mammoth Moneyline: -130

The “best bets” from these daily slate breakdowns are on a seven-pick winning streak. All of those picks came in on selections with better odds than -130, but even at -130 this looks to be the best bet on the board tonight, and I’m willing to lay the juice given that the Utah Mammoth arguably deserve to be priced closer to -150.

The Vancouver Canucks rank 31st in the NHL in points percentage, are just 3-7-1 on home ice, and own the second-worst goal differential in the NHL. Over the last 10 games, they hold an expected goal share of 44.29% and have generated only 24.75 shots per 60.

Now, in fairness to head coach Adam Foote and the Canucks, it’s important to keep in mind that they have dealt with a ton of injuries this season and, depending on who you view as everyday NHLers, have had the most man games lost in the league. Their injury report remains quite lengthy entering this matchup, as Filip Chytil, Thatcher Demko, Teddy Blueger, and numerous others will remain sidelined, though Conor Garland may return, which is significant.

This seems to be a logical spot to expect a desperate performance from the Canucks on home ice, but the talent remaining on the roster, specifically up front, is just too far off of the Mammoth for me to see this price.

The Mammoth have not been in great form recently, but their roster composition still looks quite solid, and it seems reasonable to believe they can right the ship and contend for a Wild Card spot this season. Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, and JJ Peterka offer a high-quality top line, while Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther offer meaningful offensive upside to the second unit.

The Mammoth feature a solid defensive core on paper, and recalling 2022 first-round pick Maveric Lamoureux from the AHL should prove to be a wise decision. In his first game of the season on Wednesday, Lamoureux finished with a +4 rating and one assist in 16:51 of ice time.

Karel Vejmelka has had a disappointing start to the season, but there’s a lot of randomness to goaltending, and his excellent work last season offers some cause for optimism that he is capable of better moving forward.

Public bet percentages will certainly be high on the Mammoth in this matchup, but this looks like a good spot to not overthink it and ride with the better team at -130.

Buffalo Sabres @ Winnipeg Jets

Sabres moneyline odds	+110
Jets moneyline odds	–130
Game total	Over 6.5 goals (-105), Under 6.5 (-105)
Time	7:07 p.m. ET

Odds courtesy of bet365.

• The Sabres beat the Jets, 5-1, in Buffalo Monday night, which prompted a players-only meeting postgame. The Jets responded with a better effort Wednesday in Montreal, but ultimately lost 3-2 in a shootout.
• The Jets are 1-5-1 in the time that Connor Hellebuyck has been unavailable due to injury. Eric Comrie and Thomas Milic have not been horrible in goal, but there’s obviously still been a drop-off there, and they have played a tough schedule.
• The Sabres got off to a solid start in Philadelphia Monday evening, but the game swung heavily after the Flyers recorded three goals in 59 seconds following a lost goaltender interference challenge. Over the last 10 games, the Sabres hold a 54.03% expected goal share and are 6-4-0.
• It seems as though sharper bettors did value the Sabres at their opening price of +130, as they are now down to +110 with no major lineup news coming from either side.

Vegas Golden Knights @ New Jersey Devils

Knights moneyline odds	-130
Devils moneyline odds	+110
Game total	Over 6 goals (-105), Under 6 (-115)
Time	7:07 p.m. ET

Odds courtesy of bet365.

• Following three straight regulation losses, Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe has opted to split up his top unit of Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier ahead of this matchup. Hischier and Meier will remain on the top line alongside Stefan Noesen, while Bratt will play with Dawson Mercer and Ondrej Palat on the second line.
• Though the Knights’ 12-6-8 record is relatively modest relative to expectations, they are now on top of the Pacific Division entering Friday’s slate.
• The Knights are 5-2-4 on the road this season, while the Devils are 9-3-1 on home ice. However, the Devils have dropped three straight on home ice, and most of their 9-0-1 start came with Jack Hughes still in the lineup.
• Jacob Markstrom has been confirmed as the Devils’ starting goaltender. Markstrom holds an .875 save percentage and 3.55 GAA, and for a second consecutive season has been outperformed by backup Jake Allen.

San Jose Sharks @ Dallas Stars

Sharks moneyline odds	+225
Stars moneyline odds	–275
Game total	Over 6 goals (-120), Under 6 (+100)
Time	8:07 p.m. ET

Odds courtesy of bet365.

• This is the Stars’ first home game following a two-game road trip, in which they garnered three of four points from the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils. The Stars are 8-4-1 on home ice this season.
• The Stars will remain without Thomas Harley, Tyler Seguin and Matt Duchene in this matchup.
• The Sharks enter off an embarrassing 7-1 loss on home ice versus the Washington Capitals. The Sharks are 8-7-0 following a loss this season.
• Jake Oettinger has been confirmed as the Stars’ goaltender, while the Sharks have not named a starter. Stars goaltending confirmations do not appear to hold much weight this season, as for a second straight season Casey DeSmith has been arguably every bit as good as Oettinger, if not better.

Washington Capitals @ Anaheim Ducks

Capitals moneyline odds	-150
Ducks moneyline odds	+125
Game total	Over 6.5 goals (-120), Under 6.5 (+100)
Time	10:07 p.m. ET

Odds courtesy of bet365.

• The Capitals enter this matchup in the midst of a six-game winning streak, and are 9-1-0 over the last 10 games. They have found success in a lot of areas recently, but it’s been the power play that has offered the greatest turnaround recently, with Ryan Leonard’s addition to the top unit going as the most notable change. In six games since Leonard was added to the top unit, the Capitals’ power play has succeeded on 30.8% of opportunities.
• The Ducks will likely be forced to start Ville Husso in goal once again, as Lukas Dostal and Petr Mrazek are expected to remain unavailable. Dostal was once again performing as one of the best goaltenders in the NHL this season, so the dropoff between him and Dostal is likely to remain quite significant.
• Leo Carlsson had his seven-game point streak snapped in the Ducks’ 7-0 loss to the Mammoth Wednesday evening. Carlsson has recorded 36 points in 27 games this season, and is priced at -200 to record at least on point in Friday’s matchup.