NHL Picks & Predictions: Oilers vs. Blackhawks (Wednesday)
Let’s dive into a few of my top NHL picks and predictions for tonight’s NHL game: Oilers vs. Blackhawks.
Betting the GIFT (Goal In First Ten) is simple. Pick whether or not a game will have a goal scored in the first 10 minutes of play (00:00-09:59). It's that easy and all you have to do is root for anyone to score and you win. It is an area of hockey betting with a high success rate league-wide, with over 81% of the league currently cashing at 50% or better this season. By the end of the season, that number should be even closer to 90% meaning there is still plenty of money left to be made from GIFTs this season.
Anytime Goal Scorer props are even easier. Pick a player to score and if they light the lamp at any point, you win!
Wednesday’s Best NHL Picks & Predictions: Oilers vs. Blackhawks
2024-25 Record: 86-82-1 | GIFT Record: 40-16 | ATG Record: 46-66-1 | Last: 1-2 | Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
My published picks are 48-28 (.632) since Nov. 23, including a stellar 24-2 (.923) record cashing GIFTs and a 24-26 (.480) record on ATGs. Let’s roll!
For additional prop bets check out our brand new daily NHL Prop Bet Cheat Sheet. Additionally, I will post my favorite bets in the BettingPros Discord, which is free to join and filled with info from some of the sharpest analysts in the field, including myself.
Edmonton Oilers at Chicago Blackhawks
The Oilers are expected to send out Calvin Pickard to tend the twine. The 32-year-old Canadian comes in at 13-4-0, carrying a 2.47 GAA and a .901 Save% this season. Edmonton is 34-19 (.642) cashing the GIFT this season, including an 18-6 record (.750) away from Rogers Place. The Oil have covered the GIFT in six of their last 10 games.
On the opposite end of the ice, Chicago will likely roll out Arvid Soderblom to guard the crease. The 25-year-old Swede is 7-12-3, carrying a 2.89 GAA and a .909 Save% this season. The Blackhawks are 34-18 cashing the GIFT this season with a 20-6 record (.615) on the friendly United Center ice. The ChiHawks have cashed the GIFT in 10 of their last 11 home games and eight of their last 10 games overall.
These teams’ combined 68-37 record (.648) cashing the GIFT this season and this includes a 38-12 (.760) in these home/road conditions should mean the lamp should be blazing early in the Windy City.
Pick: Goal In First Ten (-160)
Luke Monaldo is a featured writer at BettingPros. Follow him on Twitter @MoKnowsSports and Discord @alydar1227 AKA The GIFTing Crooner. For more from Luke, check out his archive.