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Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (12/4)

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The NHL season is underway! Let's highlight a few key games for today, Monday, Dec. 4.

Monday's NHL Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Dallas Stars (-112) at Tampa Bay Lightning (-108) | O/U 6.5 (-102/-118)

The Stars are one of the league’s most balanced teams, which will help them make another playoff push this season. Their 53.29% of expected goals are seventh in the league, with Jake Oettinger is still one of the better goaltenders, and the team is seventh in expected goals against. They had the sweet taste of victory against the Lightning as they grabbed the 8-1 win on Saturday.

The return of Andrei Vasilevskiy was supposed to spark the return of the Lightning and their dominance, but it hasn't worked out yet. He had a great first start with a .917 save percentage and two goals allowed, but he struggled in the next three with a .840 save percentage and allowed nine goals. The offense that has supported the struggling defense all year is in a slump, scoring five goals in the last four games.

Don't expect another one-sided matchup, especially with both teams familiar with each other. As good as the Bolts are at home at 6-3-3, the Stars are 8-1-2 on the road. It might take some time for Tampa to get back on track, but it won't be tonight.

Pick: Stars Moneyline (-112)

Washington Capitals (-102) at Arizona Coyotes (-108) | O/U 6 (-105/-115)

With the Capitals having so many offensive superstars, including one of the greatest goalscorers in the game’s history, you wouldn't expect the offense to be this bad. They are 31st in goals scored per game and 29th in expected goal percentage, and it never looks good when a defenseman is one of your points leaders (John Carlson/Alex Ovechkin 14 points).

After Arizona was one of the worst teams in the league last year, it's been a turnaround. Lawson Crouse had a career year in 2022-23, and he continues that with ten goals. Michael Carcone is finally getting some playing time, and he's coming in tonight with a team-high 11 goals. Another young player who's stepping up is Connor Ingram, as his 2.40 GAA is eighth, and he's allowed one goal or fewer in three of his last four starts.

The Coyotes have some key wins against Vegas, Tampa Bay, Colorado, and St. Louis. As long they can contain an already mediocre Washington offense, they can pull off another win.

Pick: Coyotes Moneyline (-118)

St. Louis Blues (+170) at Vegas Golden Knights (-205) | O/U 6 (-118/-102)

After getting just five points in six games, the Golden Knights are coming off back-to-back wins. The offensive attack had not been playing up to par, but it's broken through, with Jack Eichel getting three points in each of the last two games, William Karlsson having a point in each, and the same with Mark Stone. The question surrounds the availability of Adin Hill, as he missed the previous game and is listed as day-to-day.

The Blues are in the midst of a brutal schedule; they made a week-long trip to the West Coast a couple of weeks ago, played once at home, two more road games, followed by one home game, and are now back heading west. They haven't won back-to-back games in their last two opportunities, but the metrics don't look good, with 46.12% expected goals.

The status of Hill may not be that important, but the odds will dip if he is confirmed as the starter, so grab these odds now.

Pick: Golden Knights -1.5 (+120)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Monday:

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