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Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (12/27)

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The NHL returns after a quick Christmas hiatus, and the league is back with a bang. 28 teams are set to hit the ice for a jam-packed 14-game slate of hockey.

Below I’ll narrow in on three of tonight’s games from a betting perspective. Let’s dive into the odds and how I’m betting tonight’s action on the ice. 

Wednesday’s NHL Best Bets

Odds courtesy of (BetMGM Sportsbook)

Detroit Red Wings (+120) vs. Minnesota Wild (-145) | O/U 6.5 (-110/-110)

The Red Wings took a much-needed break after closing out the pre-Christmas schedule on a 1-5-0 run. As for the Wild, they continue to play well under new coach John Hynes, winning six of their last seven games overall. This cross-conference clash is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET from the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. 

The lone win over the recent stretch for the Red Wings came in a 7-6 shootout win after they blew an early 5-1 lead to the Flyers. It’s safe to say that they’re not in great form right now. However, rather than lay this hefty price with the Wild moneyline, I’ll opt for the over. I think it’s the best bet here considering Detroit’s defense has allowed 21 goals over the six-game stretch (3.5 GPG).

That’s not a great recipe heading into this contest against a Wild team that has scored 22 goals during their 6-1-0 stretch. It should also be noted that four of those wins went to extra time, so, once again, I’m not overly confident in laying the heavy juice. I think the factor that pushes this game over the total is Minnesota’s inability to stop opposing power plays. While they’ve improved, they’re still 30th overall on the PK at just 72.17%. They’ll host a Red Wings side that’s a respectable 15th overall (21.58%). I’m playing the over in this spot. 

Bet: Over 6.5 (-110)

Carolina Hurricanes (-140) vs. Nashville Predators (+115) | O/U 6.5 (+100/-120)

The Hurricanes are hanging around in the Metropolitan Division after a slow start, where they’re fifth in the division (38 points). As for the Predators, they reside in fourth place (38 points) in a surprisingly tough Central Division. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Considering how the season has played out thus far, I’m shocked to see the Canes as this big of a favorite on the road. They’ve failed to get goaltending all year, and that seems to be their biggest issue right now. Carolina is still just 19th in goals against per game, sitting at 3.06. They’ve also lost four of their past five games, albeit three of the losses went to overtime. 

Meanwhile, Nashville is firing on all cylinders right now as they’ve won eight of their past 11 games. This year’s team is finally getting some offense, scoring 3.1 goals per game (17th). Finally, the Preds have played winning hockey at home this season, going 11-8-0. I’ll lock in Nashville as a slight underdog tonight. 

Bet: Nashville Predators Moneyline (+115)

Winnipeg Jets (-225) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (+185) | O/U 6.0 (-110/-110)

Finally, let’s head over to the Windy City for a Central Division showdown. Chicago is going through the growing pains that we all anticipated, and they’re last in the division with just 21 points. Winnipeg has been playing well, and they’re up to third in the divisional standings (43 points). This one gets underway at 9:00 p.m. ET from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. 

I’m going to lay the 1.5 goals with Winnipeg in this game. Chicago is just 1-6-0 in its past seven games, losing five of those contests by multiple goals. They’ve failed to keep the puck out of their net this season, ranking 31st in goals against per game (3.52). Meanwhile, the Hawks are scoring just 2.4 goals per game, which is also 31st. 

On the flip side, the Jets are on fire right now. They’re playing very well and getting contributions from all lines. Winnipeg is coming off of a big win against Boston before the break, where they smoked them 5-1. That was their eighth win in the last 10 games, seven of which have been by 2+ goals. That includes a 3-1 win against Chicago back on December 2nd. Let’s take the Jets to stretch this lead out and win by multiple goals. 

Bet: Winnipeg Jets -1.5 (-140)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday:

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