NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (12/11)
There are only two NHL games tonight, with the Sabres hosting the Rangers and the Ducks taking on the Senators in the Canadian capital.
I'll dive into each game from a betting perspective and let you know where I'm laying my money on the ice.
Wednesday's NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of BetMGM)
New York Rangers (-140) vs. Buffalo Sabres (+120) | O/U 6.0 (-110/-110)
The NHL action gets started with a battle of New York, as the Rangers (14-12-1) and Sabres (11-13-4) square off. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY.
Neither of these teams are playing their best hockey right now. The Sabres haven't won a game since November 23rd, going 0-4-3 in their last seven. Meanwhile, the Blue Shirts are 2-8-0 in their last 10 games, and they just lost 2-1 to the lowly Blackhawks on Monday. How should we bet on this one?
Well, being that we're getting a flat 6.0 goals for a total, I think we can make a decent argument to play the over. For Buffalo, their defense has been the issue during the seven-game slide, where they're conceding 3.86 goals per game. Overall this year, they've dropped to 26th defensively, allowing 3.07 goals per game.
Meanwhile, the Rangers haven't been nearly as sharp either, giving up four goals per game over their current 10-game cooler. With both offenses averaging at least three goals per game this year, I think it's worth a flier on the over at six goals.
Bet: Over 6.0 Goals (-110)
Anaheim Ducks (+200) vs. Ottawa Senators (-250) | 6.0 (-120/+100)
The Ducks (10-12-4) continue their four-game road trip tonight. It got started on the wrong foot when they lost 3-2 (shootout) to the Canadiens on Monday. Up next are the Senators (12-13-2), followed by stops in Toronto and Columbus to take on the Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets, respectively. This cross-conference clash gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON.
Although it's most likely not meant to be built this way, the Ducks are constructed as a pure under team this year. Their offense is among the worst in the NHL, ranking 30th in both scoring (2.4 goals per game) and shooting percentage (8.79%), while sitting 29th on the power play (15.79%). While the Senators have some volatility when it comes to their defense (2.93 GAA, 24th), they should have no issue shutting down a Ducks side that's averaging only 2.25 goals per game over their current 2-4-3 stretch of play.
Anaheim's strength has been its backend, specifically the goaltending. This duo of John Gibson (2.76 GAA) and Lukas Dostal (2.67) have been one of the lone bright spots for the Ducks, combining to post the third-best SV% (.909) in the NHL.
They're tasked with slowing down an Ottawa offense ranked 19th in scoring (3.0 goals per game), 23rd in shooting percentage (9.81%) and 30th in high-danger shots (81). The Sens have seen six or fewer goals in their last three games, while the Ducks are 6-2-2 to the under at this number in their last 10 games. Give me the under.
Bet: Under 6.0 Goals (+100)