NHL Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (2/22)
It's a thin three-game slate in the NHL tonight that sees the Jets take on the Islanders, the Coyotes host the Flames, and the Blackhawks go for their fourth straight win against the Stars.
We crept back into the positives thanks to a 3-0 night last night. Let's keep it rolling! Here are my top three plays on the ice tonight.
Trent's Betting Record Since 1/21/2023
- Total: 13-12 (+0.03 Units)
- NHL: 11-10 (+0.16 Units)
Odds courtesy of PointsBet Sportsbook
Winnipeg Jets vs. New York Islanders
Two of the top defensive teams in the league square off tonight at UBS arena as the Islanders host the Jets. Winnipeg will go for the 'Lower New York Sweep' after beating the Rangers Monday night. As for the Isles, they were victorious on Monday as well, topping the Penguins 4-2 in Pittsburgh. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET tonight from Long Island.
Not much separates these two teams this year. They've both been excellent defensively, ranking inside the top 10 in overall defense and inside the top five on the penalty kill.
But one thing stands out to me in this game, and that's how excellent Connor Hellebuyck (26-16-1, 2.39 GAA, .926 SV%) has been playing. While he's very similar statistically to Illya Sorokin (19-17-5, 2.43 GAA, .924), Hellebuyck is coming off of a monster performance against the Rangers Monday. The American-born netminder made 50 saves on 51 shots in the 4-1 victory at MSG. Look for him to ride the momentum and be the difference-maker tonight in Elmont. Let's take the Jets on the moneyline.
Bet: Winnipeg Jets Moneyline (+100 via PointsBets)
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Dallas Stars
Two teams trending in opposite directions face off tonight in Dallas. Pick any other block of this season, and it'd typically be the Hawks who were trending downward and the Stars up; however, Dallas has dropped four straight games while Chicago notched its third straight win last night. These Central Division foes get going at 9:30 p.m. ET tonight in the Lone Star State.
Despite the recent woes, this game presents an excellent opportunity for the Stars to get back in the win column. They boast the third-ranked overall defense (2.42 GAA) and are tasked with taking on the league's second-worst offense (2.5 GPG). Furthermore, as I mentioned, the Hawks played last night, taking out the Golden Knights in a shootout.
Meanwhile, the Stars are fresh, not having played since a 4-1 loss to the Blue Jackets on Saturday. With the possibility that they drop out of first place in the division tonight, I expect the Stars to bring their best game against arguably the worst team in the league. Look for Jake Oettinger (23-7-9, 2.20 GAA, .926 SV%) to shut down this lowly Chicago offense while the Dallas offense does enough to stretch out the lead by 2+ goals. Let's take the Stars on the puck line.
Bet: Dallas Stars -1.5 (-145 via PointsBet)
Calgary Flames vs. Arizona Coyotes
The Flames hit the road for a three-game road trip that'll feature stops in Arizona, Vegas, and Colorado. Calgary will take on an Arizona team that won on Sunday, beating the Blue Jackets 3-2 in shootout fashion. This one gets underway at 9:30 p.m. ET from Mullet Arena in Tempe, AZ.
Calgary has dropped off a bit recently, losing five of its last seven games while simultaneously sliding four points outside of the second Wild Card spot. To me, it seems like the Flames just don't have it this year. They're really missing top-end players, and I guess we should've seen this coming when they decided to depart with the heart and soul of their franchise in Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk.
With that being said, I'll back the Yotes in some capacity tonight and take them +1.5 goals. For some reason (probably their below-average metrics), I can't muster up the confidence to take them to win outright. However, they've actually been excellent at the Mullet this season, posting a 13-8-2 record. One of the main reasons for their home success is Karel Vejmelka, who's 9-4-2 at home with a 2.77 GAA and .920 SV%. Look for him to slow down the Flames tonight and keep the Yotes inside the puck line.
Bet: Arizona Coyotes +1.5 (-140 via PointsBet)
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