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Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (3/20)

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The NHL is back with a slim, three-game slate tonight. Below, I'll dive into each game from a betting angle and let you know where I'm laying my money on the ice tonight.

Our NHL Prop Bet Cheat Sheet assists bettors by comparing lines from leading sportsbooks with our daily projections >>

Wednesday's NHL Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Toronto Maple Leafs (-142) vs. Washington Capitals (+120) | 6.5 (+100/-120)

The night opens up in the nation's capital as the Capitals host the Maple Leafs. Toronto's coming in on the second night of a back-to-back, where they dropped a 4-3 game to the Flyers last night. Washington last played on Monday, when they secured their third straight victory by beating Calgary 5-2 in Alberta. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET from Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.

This feels like a great spot to back Washington at plus money. The Capitals have been playing well recently, going 4-2-0 in their last six games. That includes a current streak of three straight wins, where they've out-scored the opposition 9-3. Furthermore, Washington has found most of its success at home this season, where they're a respectable 17-10-5. 

If there was an area where you'd want to attack Toronto, it'd be their defense. The Leafs are just 19th in overall defense (2.97 GAA) and 24th on the penalty kill (77.01%). Factor in that they're playing their second game in as many nights, and you can start to imagine how their defense might get a little loose in this game. Finally, circling back on Washington's offense, they've been heating up over the last month, averaging 3.6 goals per game over their last 15 contests. Let's take a flier on the Caps tonight. 

Bet: Washington Capitals Moneyline (+120)

Arizona Coyotes (+230) vs. Dallas Stars (-285) | 6.5 (+100/-120)

We have a Central Division showdown tonight, as the Coyotes square off against the Stars. Dallas is currently third in the division with 91 points, while Arizona comes in at seventh in the standings (61 points). This one gets underway at 8:00 p.m. ET from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. 

I'm going to play the over tonight in the Lone Star State. I want to start with a trend. The Stars are the best "over team" in the league when playing at home, going 24-10 to the over. That's due to their dynamic offense, which is third in the league (3.6 GPG). The Stars bring in the ninth-best power play, cashing 23.76% of their man-advantage opportunities. 

This will be a favorable matchup against a pedestrian Arizona defense. They're currently 23rd in overall defense (3.06 GAA) and 26th on the PK (76.00%). However, I believe that the Yotes can help contribute to the scoring tonight as well. Arizona is 3-2-0 in their last five games, averaging 3.4 goals per game over the five-game sample size. I'm expecting a barnburner between these two divisional foes - give me the over. 

Bet: Over 6.5 (+100)

Minnesota Wild (+124) vs. Los Angeles Kings (-148) | 5.5 (-125/+105)

The NHL nightcap is a Western Conference showdown between the Wild and the Kings. Both teams enter on the second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota took care of Anaheim in a 4-0 rout last night, while Los Angeles cruised to a 6-2 home win against Chicago. Puck drop is set for 10:00 p.m. ET from crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. 

As of this writing (Wednesday morning), we only have one confirmed goaltending matchup, and it comes in this game. Per Daily Faceoff, Marc-Andre Fleury gets the nod for the Wild, while the Kings opt for David Rittich. Like the Caps game above, I think this is a great spot to roll with the underdog. I'm locking in the Wild on the moneyline at +124. 

This is a big fade of Rittich. The backup netminder hasn't been sharp over his last eight starts, going 4-4-0 while making only 183 saves on 205 shot attempts (.893 SV%). Meanwhile, Fleury is on a great run right now, going 4-1-1 with a 1.64 GAA and .936 SV% over his last six starts. Plus, the Wild are heating up as a team, where they're 6-0-2 in their last eight games, which means they're riding an eight-game point streak. I think Minnesota is worth a look tonight, so I'll be riding with the Wild!

Bet: Minnesota Wild Moneyline (+124)

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

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