NHL December 18, 2025

Look, the public loves Detroit here at 65%, and I get why. The Red Wings are 11-7-1 with a strong 6-3-1 home mark, and they're rolling at home. But here's the thing - Seattle's 6-2 road ATS record is absolutely elite, and nobody's talking about it. The Kraken have been quietly covering on the road all season, and that 14-4 overall ATS mark is legit.

Detroit's been solid lately at 5-4-1 in their last 10, but Seattle's 5-2-3 isn't far behind. The over/under trends are interesting too - Seattle's 5-4-1 O/U in their last 10 suggests these games are going right around the number. Joey Daccord has been steady between the pipes for Seattle, and this team plays a disciplined road game. Don't sleep on the Kraken getting points here.

This is a battle between two teams that simply can't cover spreads. Toronto's 6-13 ATS overall and 5-8 at home is brutal. St. Louis is equally bad at 6-13 ATS. So what do you do when both teams stink against the number? You look at totals. And man, Toronto's 9-1 over in their last 10 games is screaming at us.

The Leafs have the firepower with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner - wait, no, Marner's with Vegas now after that July trade. So it's Matthews, John Tavares, and William Nylander carrying the load. Point is, Toronto games are going over, and St. Louis' 5-5 O/U mark means they're not exactly shutting anyone down. The 6.5 total looks right for an over play in this one.

I'm going to tell you something wild - Tampa Bay is 0-9 ATS at home this season. Zero. For. Nine. That's not a typo. The Lightning simply cannot cover as home favorites, and yet the public keeps feeding them money. New Jersey comes in red-hot at 13-4-1 overall, and while they're just 4-6 on the road ATS, they don't need to dominate to cover against this Tampa team.

Jack Hughes and the Devils have championship aspirations, and games like this are where they prove it. Tampa's still got Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point, so they're dangerous, but their inability to cover at home is a massive red flag. The public is nearly split here, which tells you sharp money might be waiting on the Devils. Don't be shocked if New Jersey wins outright.

Columbus is 9-1 on the road ATS. Let that sink in. Nine and one. That's the best road ATS record in the NHL, and Winnipeg's getting 74% of the public money as heavy favorites? This is the kind of spot where sharps are salivating. The Blue Jackets have been the ultimate road underdog cover machine this season, and nobody's giving them credit.

The Jets are solid at home with a 5-3 record, and their 4-4 home ATS mark is respectable. But when you're laying this kind of juice against a team that covers 90% of their road games, you're asking for trouble. Columbus has young talent developing, and they play hard every night on the road. This is one of the best contrarian spots of the night - take the points with the Blue Jackets.

Dallas is 2-8 ATS at home. The Stars are one of the best teams in the West at 12-4-3 and 7-1-2 in their last 10, but they simply cannot cover at American Airlines Center. Meanwhile, the Islanders are 7-4 on the road ATS, which is quietly one of the better marks in the league. This is classic sharp vs. public - 69% on Dallas, but the numbers say New York.

The Islanders play that heavy, grinding style that travels well. They're not flashy, but Brock Nelson, Mathew Barzal, and their defensive structure make them tough to blow out. Jake Oettinger's been excellent for Dallas, and Jason Robertson leads a dangerous offense. But if you're betting the spread, the Islanders' road covering ability against Dallas' home struggles is the play. Don't be a hero laying big numbers with the Stars.

Here's the best bet of the night: Chicago is 15-3 ATS overall and 7-1 at home. That's not just good - that's historically elite. And the public agrees, hammering the Blackhawks at 77% even as home underdogs. For once, the public and the sharps are on the same side. Calgary's 5-12-3 record and brutal 2-8-1 road mark tells you everything you need to know.

The Blackhawks are rebuilding, but Connor Bedard is a generational talent who makes them competitive every night. They've figured out how to cover, even in games they lose outright. Calgary's been a mess, and traveling to the United Center against a motivated home underdog with the best ATS record in hockey is a recipe for disaster. This line looks too good to be true, but sometimes you just take the gift.

San Jose is 8-2 at home ATS, and they're getting 63% of the public money as underdogs. The Sharks have Macklin Celebrini leading the rebuild, and while they're not a playoff team, they're scrappy at SAP Center. Utah's 4-8 road ATS record is concerning, especially against a home team that's been covering like crazy.

Utah's still adjusting to their new identity after relocating from Arizona, and road games in California haven't been their strength. San Jose's playing with nothing to lose, and their young players are developing confidence. The under also looks live here - San Jose's 3-7 under in their last 10 suggests low-scoring affairs. If you're backing the Sharks, you're betting on home ice, covering ability, and the energy of a rebuilding team with something to prove.

The Rangers are 9-1-1 on the road. That's not a typo. New York is the best road team in hockey, and they're coming into Vegas against a Golden Knights team that's 2-8 ATS at home. Vegas picked up Mitch Marner in that July trade, adding to their firepower, but they simply can't cover at T-Mobile Arena. The Rangers' 8-3 road ATS mark seals the deal.

Igor Shesterkin gives New York a chance every night, and their road record proves they thrive away from MSG. Vegas has been inconsistent at 3-3-4 in their last 10, while the Rangers are rolling at 7-3. This is a near pick'em, but if you're taking sides, the Rangers' road dominance against Vegas' home covering struggles is the clear angle. New York might just win this one outright and make it look easy.