Only two days remain until the NHL adjourns for the Winter Olympics break. But don't worry, there's still plenty of money to be made over the next 48 hours. Below, I'll dive into three matchups from Wednesday's 10-game NHL slate, breaking each one down from a betting perspective. Here are my top three NHL picks & predictions for Wednesday, February 4th.
Wednesday's NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Chicago Blackhawks (+124) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (-148) | O/U 6.5 (+102/-122)
The Blue Jackets (28-20-7) are absolutely rolling, riding a 9-1-0 streak entering Wednesday's cross-conference clash with the Blackhawks (22-25-9). This matchup gets underway at 7:00 p.m. ET from Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH.
Columbus played on Tuesday night, shutting out New Jersey 3-0 on the road. While the Blue Jackets have tightened things up a bit in their own zone, they're still not really a beacon of sound defense in the NHL. Even during their 9-1-0 run, the Jackets have posted a modest 2.57 goals against per 60 minutes (GA/60 minutes). They'll welcome in a Blackhawks team coming off a 6-3 shellacking of the Sharks, and they've now seen six or more combined goals in five straight games. They're a younger roster that should be able to take advantage of a potentially worn-out Blue Jackets team on zero days of rest.
On the other side of the equation, Columbus should manage to hit the three-goal mark and pull their weight in getting this final score over the number. The Blue Jackets, over the last 10 games, are sixth in goals per 60 minutes (G/60 minutes) with a mark of 3.86, ninth in shooting rate (13.18%) and third in high-danger shots on goal (45). The Blackhawks have conceded three or more goals in five straight games, including a 4-2 loss to the Blue Jackets in Chicago on Friday. At +102 odds, I think betting on the over is worth a shot.
Bet: Over 6.5 Goals (+102)
Montreal Canadiens (-110) vs. Winnipeg Jets (-110) | O/U 6.5 (+105/-125)
The Canadiens (31-17-8) currently occupy the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, and they're priced in the pick’em range in tonight's game against the struggling Jets (22-25-8). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB.
I get why the Habs are sitting at -110 on the Moneyline in this road matchup, but I also think it's a complete bargain of a price. Montreal is clearly the better overall team this season, owning a +8 goal differential, compared to Winnipeg's mark of -11. Furthermore, the Canada Life Centre hasn't exactly been a fortress for the Jets, who are just 12-10-5 on home ice this season.
The big issue with Winnipeg recently has been its offense. Over the last 10 games, the Jets rank 26th in both G/60 minutes (2.36) and shooting rate (9.64%). They're a mediocre 13th in high-danger shots on goal (35), so their inability to challenge opposing netminders with quality shots could hold them back in this matchup. The Canadiens are averaging 3.62 G/60 minutes over the last 10 games (10th), while ranking eighth in shooting rate (14.02%). Montreal has the more skilled offense, and I expect its budding stars to produce enough offense to escape with a victory.
Bet: Canadiens Moneyline (-110)
Vancouver Canucks (+225) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (-278) | O/U 6.5 (-102/-118)
There likely isn't a team looking forward to the break more than the lowly Canucks (18-32-6). They've slid to last place in the entire league courtesy of a brutal 2-13-3 stretch of play. The Canucks are sizable +225 underdogs on the road tonight against the Golden Knights (25-16-14). This Pacific Division matchup is slated for 10:00 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
Where do we even start with this Vancouver squad? Going back even further than the above-mentioned 18-game sample size, the Canucks have allowed four or more goals in 15 of their last 22 games. They've sunk to dead last in GA/60 minutes (3.57) this season, while also ranking 25th in team SV% (.879), 31st in high-danger shots on goal allowed (222) and 32nd on the penalty kill (70.41%).
I think the Golden Knights will have a field day offensively, and I do not mind laying the -160 vig to lock in the over on their team total. Vegas is on a groove offensively, notching four or more goals in eight of its last 15 games. They bring in a power-play unit ranked fifth-best in the NHL at 25.31%. Over the last 20 games, they're averaging 3.53 G/60 minutes. The Golden Knights should pour it on against a horrendous Canucks defense.
Bet: Vegas Golden Knights Team Total Over 3.5 Goals (-160)
