Top 3 NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (1/8)
Eight teams are set to hit the ice in the NHL tonight, rendering us a four-game slate to bet on. Below I'll dive into three of the games from a betting perspective, as well as provide my three favorites wagers on the ice.
Wednesday's NHL Best Bets
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Colorado Avalanche (-265) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (+215) | 6.5 (+102/-122)
Let's start off in the Windy City, where the Blackhawks (13-25-2) host the Avalanche (25-15-1) in a Central Division showdown. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET from the United Center in Chicago, IL.
Chicago's rebuild isn't going very well, as the team still finds itself in the cellar of the Central Division. They've been horrific lately, going through a 1-6-0 stretch of hockey. Specifically, it's the offense that continues to lag behind. Chicago has scored two or fewer goals in four of their last five contests, and they're averaging only 2.2 games during the stretch. Overall, the Hawks enter tonight's game ranked 30th in scoring (2.5 GPG) and 28th in high-danger shots (121).
Meanwhile, Colorado appears to have fixed its goaltending issues with the trades for Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood. In nine games played, Blackwood is 7-1-1 with a 1.69 GAA and .938 SV%. Wedgewood is 4-2-0 with a 2.35 GAA and .917 SV% in seven outings. The Avalanche are on a tear, riding an 11-2-1 heater, where they've allowed two of fewer goals in 10 out of the 11 victories! I expect Chicago's offensive woes to continue tonight, so I'm playing their team total to stay under 2.5 goals.
Bet: Chicago Blackhawks Team Total Under 2.5 Goals (-130)
Florida Panthers (-135) vs. Utah Hockey Club (+114) | 5.5 (-130/+110)
The Panthers (24-15-2) wrap up their two-game road trip tonight, and they'll be looking to rebound after losing 3-1 to the Avalanche last time out. Up next is the Utah Hockey Club (17-15-7), which finds itself in sixth place in a dangerous Central Division. This cross-conference clash gets underway at 10:00 p.m. ET from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, UT.
Utah hasn't been playing well lately, going just 1-4-2 over their last seven outings. Over the seven-game sample size, they've been out-scored 27-17. As you can see, the defense and goaltending have been shaky, as the H.C. is allowing 3.9 goals per game during the seven-game stretch. Utah doesn't have much of a home-ice advantage either (5-7-4 at home), so I'll fade them in this spot. Give me the champs on the moneyline tonight.
Florida is trending in the right direction, winning 12 of its last 19 games (12-6-1). Overall this season, they're better than Utah in scoring (3.2 GPG vs. 2.9), defense (2.78 GAA vs. 2.79), high-danger shots (151 vs. 134), and expected goal differential per 60 minutes (+0.31 vs. 0.0). Ultimately, I think Florida has the pedigree to go into the Delta Center and emerge victorious, and I don't mind laying the juice with them on the road.
Bet: Florida Panthers Moneyline (-135)
Calgary Flames (+190) vs. Los Angeles Kings (-230) | 5.5 (-118/-102)
The NHL wraps up with a Pacific Division tilt in Los Angeles, as the Kings (23-10-5) host the Flames (19-14-7). The nightcap is slated for 10:30 p.m. ET from crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA.
Calgary is entering this contest on the second night of a back-to-back, and they managed to escape Anaheim with a 3-2 overtime victory last night. Now the Flames are tasked with trying to beat one of, if not the best defensive team in the league. I don't see Calgary, who's just 27th in scoring (2.6 GPG), finding much offensive success in this game. I'll ride with the Flames to stay under 2.5 goals tonight.
Circling back to Los Angeles' defense, they've been a force this season. The Kings enter the night ranked fourth in GAA (2.37), 10th in SV% (.900), and first in both expected goals against per 60 minutes (2.51) and high-danger shots against (91). To put the high-danger shots against metric into perspective, the next closest team is the Stars (112), who have faced 21-fewer high-danger shots. Los Angeles' defense is smothering opposing offenses, not letting them get quality scoring chances. I expect the well-rested Kings to extinguish the Flames tonight at home.
Bet: Calgary Flames Team Total Under 2.5 Goals (-135)