It's a quiet day across the NHL on Friday, December 13th, with just three games on the schedule. The Winnipeg Jets visit the Pittsburgh Penguins, followed by a matchup between the New Jersey Devils and Anaheim Ducks. The Edmonton Oilers continue their West Coast road trip in San Jose against the Sharks. We'll look at two of these games, provide the odds, and give some betting predictions. Continue reading for the Friday NHL picks.
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Devils vs Ducks Odds & Prediction
 | Puck Line | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Devils | -1.5 (-110) | -275 | Ov 6.5 (-106) |
| Anaheim Ducks | +1.5 (-110) | +243 | Un 6.5 (-104 |
The surging Devils head to Anaheim on Friday searching for their third victory in a row. New Jersey is having quite the season, sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference with a solid 26-12-3 record. They rank seventh in goals scored with 3.44 per game while allowing just 2.63 per night. All around, this group is very fundamentally sound. NJ grabbed a huge win Tuesday over a divisional foe in the Carolina Hurricanes, who are slightly above them in the standings. Dawson Mercer played hero in this one, scoring twice and tallying an assist. Michael McLeod was also the ultimate provider, setting up a pair of goals. Friday's affair starts a four-game road swing out West for the Devils.
The Ducks don't have much to be happy about nowadays. They're one of the worst teams in the league on both ends of the ice, struggling to score and stop their opponents. Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry are about the only bright spots, but even their numbers aren't great. There is a chance Anaheim completely tanks to land Connor Bedard. Heading into this matchup, the Ducks are just 3-6-1 in their last ten and were just pummeled 6-2 by the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday evening. This group can't get much worse, allowing 13 goals in their last two outings.
We got two teams on opposite ends of the spectrum. I have little doubt the Devils will get it done in our Friday NHL picks, especially considering they've won back-to-back contests against the lowly Ducks.
Oilers vs Sharks Odds & Prediction
| Puck Line | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton Oilers | -1.5 (+150) | -153 | Ov 6.5 (-128) |
| San Jose Sharks | +1.5 (-170) | +138 | Un 6.5 (+116) |
The Oilers aren't exactly living up to expectations after making the West Finals last season. However, Edmonton did get back on track Wednesday in LA, beating the Ducks 6-2. While the opponent was far from elite, it was promising to see Jay Woodcroft's squad score goals and stay solid defensively. Connor McDavid put Zegras in a spin cycle for a highlight reel goal, while Klim Kostin scored twice. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Leon Draisatl, and rookie Dylan Holloway all found the back of the net, too. While the Oilers are just 5-4-1 in their previous ten appearances, the win over Anaheim is a definite confidence booster.
The Sharks haven't been good for a while, and that trend continued in 2022-23. They currently own a poor record of 13-22-8, which puts them seventh in the Pacific Division. They rank toward the end of the NHL in both scored and allowed goals. Timo Meier is about their only true bright spot, scoring 24 goals and tallying 19 assists. Erik Karlsson is also playing well. On a more positive note, San Jose put up a fight against the Kings on Wednesday, losing a 4-3 heartbreaker. The Sharks were tied 2-2 early in the third before giving up a pair of goals. Meier cut the deficit to one, but they couldn't find an equalizer.
Four wins straight for Edmonton against San Jose. That's a good reason to ride the visitors here in the Friday NHL picks, with three of those victories coming by more than two goals.
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