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Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (12/6)

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The NHL rolls out a slim four-game slate tonight, but we have a couple of thrilling matchups on the horizon. I'll dive into three of the four games and lock in a best bet for each breakdown.

Let's waste no time and get into the picks and analysis!

Wednesday’s NHL Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook)

Pittsburgh Penguins (+110) @ Tampa Bay Lightning (-130) | O/U 6.5 (-110/-110)

The NHL action gets underway out east, as the Penguins make the trip to Florida to take on the Lightning. The Pens enter this contest at 11-10-3, while the Bolts are currently 11-10-5. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. 

Pittsburgh hasn't played great hockey recently, winning just three of their last 10 games. Interestingly, one of the three wins was against Tampa Bay (4-2) on Nov. 30. Despite the head-to-head win, I will ride with the Lightning here, as they look to pick up their second straight victory. They've played well at home this season, going 7-3-3. 

Statistically, Tampa Bay has been the better offense this year. They're currently 11th in goals per game (3.3) and boast the league's second-best power play (31.03%). Conversely, Andrei Vasilevskiy has still been finding his groove since returning from surgery. But, the Russian netminder has been lights out in two home starts this year, posting a 1.52 GAA and .943 SV%. The Lightning should cruise to a home victory if he brings his best tonight. 

Bet: Tampa Bay Lightning Moneyline (-130)

Vegas Golden Knights (-155) @ St. Louis Blues (+130) | O/U 6.0 (+100/-120)

We have a home-and-home scenario tonight as the Golden Knights take on the Blues for the second time in three nights. St. Louis pulled out a 2-1 overtime win in Sin City on Monday night. This Western Conference tilt gets underway at 9:00 p.m. ET from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.

I'm going back to the under in this game. These have been two of the best teams to the under this season, with St. Louis going 17-7 (first in the NHL) to the under while Vegas is currently 17-9 (third). Defensively, Vegas is the best team in the NHL, allowing just 2.12 goals per game. They have the fourth-best penalty kill (86.67%), and they've blocked the fourth-most shots per game (18.73). That's a great recipe for unders to hit. 

On the flip side, St. Louis comes into tonight's game at 15th in defensive scoring, allowing 2.92 goals per game. However, it has actually been their offense that’s one of the key reasons for all of the unders cashing. They bring in the league's second-worst power play unit (9.86%), and they're scoring just 2.9 goals per game (22nd). I'm anticipating another lower-scoring affair tonight in Missouri. Give me the under

Bet: Under 6.0 (-120)

Carolina Hurricanes (-105) @ Edmonton Oilers (-115) | O/U 6.5 (-130/+110)

The night wraps up out west as the Hurricanes take on the Oilers, who are riding a four-game win streak. This cross-conference showdown is slated for 9:30 p.m. ET from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. 

Carolina has typically had a "defense-first" mindset in recent history. Well, that appears to have changed entering this season, as the Hurricanes rank ninth in scoring (3.4 GPG) and 18th in goals against per game (3.04). The defensive woes can be traced back to the goaltending, as the three netminders have a combined SV% of just .876.

That won't bode well against an Oilers team that's on fire right now. After a slow start, Edmonton has climbed to 14th in scoring (3.3 GPG) and owns the sixth-best man-advantage unit (26.58%). The Oilers are also third in expected goals per 60 minutes (3.6), so it was only a matter of time before things started clicking. Both of these clubs have strong offenses and less-than-ideal defensive setups, so I think we see at least seven goals tonight. I'm playing the over in Alberta. 

Bet: Over 6.5 (-130)

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


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