Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (12/20)
It's just a slim three-game slate in the NHL tonight, but there are plenty of ways to spice things up by getting some skin in the game. Below I'll break down all three games and let you know where I'm laying my money on the ice. Let's dive into my top plays and analysis for tonight's NHL action.
Wednesday's NHL Best Bets
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Detroit Red Wings (+130) vs. Winnipeg Jets (-155) | 6.5 (-112/-108)
The Red Wings head to the Great White North tonight as they prepare to take on the Jets. Detroit's riding a three-game losing streak, while Winnipeg is 6-1-1 in its last eight games. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB.
These teams are trending in completely opposite directions right now. In addition to the current three-game slide, the Wings have lost six of their last seven games overall. They've lost by 2+ goals in three of those seven games. Meanwhile, the Jets are heating up as they've climbed into third place in the Central Division at 18-9-3. They've played well at home this season, going 9-5-2.
I'm going to take a shot with Winnipeg on the puck line. I think this is a good plus-money opportunity, considering the goaltending matchup. James Reimer should get the start since Alex Lyon and Ville Husso are sidelined with injuries. The netminder has struggled on the road this year, going 1-1-1 with a 3.28 GAA and .890 SV%. Meanwhile, Laurent Brossoit gets the nod tonight, and he is a combined 72/75 (.960 SV%) in his last two starts. Let's ride with the hotter team - give me the Jets.
Bet: Winnipeg Jets -1.5 (+150)
New York Islanders (+105) vs. Washington Capitals (-125) | 5.5 (-125/+105)
The Islanders make the trip to the nation's capital after earning a 3-1 win against the Oilers last night. Washington was idle yesterday, but they're coming off a 2-1 shootout win against the Canes on Sunday. This Metropolitan Division showdown is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET from Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.
I'm not going to overthink this one, and I'm riding with the under 5.5 goals. There are some 6.0s on the board, but I'll take a shot with the plus-money at 5.5 goals rather than lay the juice at 6.0. Starting with Washington, their offense is still one of the worst, if not the worst, in the NHL. They're 31st in scoring (2.4 GPG), and they still own the league's worst power play at just 9.76% - yikes!
On the flip side, the Isles look like they have made progress offensively this season, but they're still scoring just 3.1 goals per game (19th). Factor in that New York is on the second night of a back-to-back, and I think we'll see them play a slower-paced game tonight. Finally, it's worth noting that Washington has been the best team to the under this season, going 18-9-1 to the under.
Bet: Under 5.5 (+105)
Seattle Kraken (+142) vs. Los Angeles Kings (-170) | 6.0 (-112/-108)
The hockey night wraps up out west as the Kings host the Kraken in a Pacific Division clash. Seattle lost 4-3 in overtime to Dallas on Monday, while Los Angeles took care of business 4-1 against San Jose last night. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET from crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA.
Similar to Washington, Seattle has been snake-bitten offensively this season. They come into tonight's game ranked 27th in scoring, putting up just 2.7 goals per game. The Kraken owns the 19th-best power play, where they cash in on 20.59% of their man-advantage opportunities. Seattle has lost 10 of its last 14 games, and their offense has managed to net just 29 goals over the stretch (2.4 GPG).
That won't bode well against this Los Angeles side that tops the league defensively. They're currently first overall in defensive scoring, allowing just 2.29 goals per contest. The Kings own the third-ranked PK, killing off 86.36% of opposing power plays. On the flip side, the Kings are 2-2-1 in their last five games, scoring just 2.4 goals per game. I'm playing the under tonight in L.A.
Bet: Under 6.0 (-108)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday:
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- Thursday Night Football Betting Primer & Expert Picks
- NBA Player Prop Bet Odds, Pick & Predictions
- College Basketball Odds, Picks & Predictions
- Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions
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