NHL Picks December 9: Buffalo Hosts Detroit in Atlantic Division Clash

The NHL season is nearly one-third complete. Teams are getting a feel for whether they have what it takes to make a push for a postseason spot. There is a light three-game schedule for December 9, with the Detroit Red Wings taking on the Buffalo Sabres in the headline matchup.

Buffalo Sabres versus Detroit Red Wings

In this Atlantic Division showdown, the Sabres enter with the 5th best record while the Red Wings are 7th.  Detroit is “ice cold down” on the Team Strength Oscillator after four straight losses and Buffalo is “dead” after losing five in a row. Detroit is +4 to +2 on the Power Ranks Indicator. The teams are trending in games “over” the line with a score prediction of 3-2 in favor of Buffalo with 41 percent confidence.  Both teams won one at home in the two previous meetings. Detroit is 5-6-2 at home and Buffalo is 5-5-1 on the road. Buffalo has a scoring differential edge, although both teams are minus in that category. I like Detroit because they are at home in a game “over” the line.

Chicago Blackhawks versus New York Rangers

Chicago enters with the worst record in the NHL and New York is 4th in the Metropolitan Division. Both teams are 1-5 over the last six and “dead” on the Team Strength Oscillator. The teams have been involved in games  “over” the line in 11 of the last 12 and the score prediction is 3-2 in favor of New York with 54 percent confidence.  The Rangers are 6-5-1 at home versus 4-9-2 on the road for the Blackhawks. Both teams are very consistent regarding their favorite/underdog status.  This is the first meeting between the teams this season.  With a scoring differential edge of +6 to -18 and playing at home, I like the Rangers to win by at least two goals in a game “over” the line.

Anaheim Ducks versus Montreal Canadiens

Here’s a game with two teams heading in opposite directions. Both teams are last in their divisions but Montreal is “burning hot” after winning two straight while Anaheim is “ice cold down” after losing four of the last six. Montreal is +8 to +3 on the Power Ranks Indicator. Note that the teams are trending on opposite sides of the line over the last two games and the score prediction has Anaheim in a 3-2 victory with 60 percent confidence. The Ducks have a better road record than home record and the Canadiens are a very solid 7-5-2 at home. Both teams are +7 on the Team Volatility Oscillator, indicating they consistently perform with their favorite/underdog status. Montreal has one of the worst scoring differentials in the league at -21. I like Anaheim in a road upset but pass on the over/under.