Top NHL Betting Picks For Wednesday, April 6th (2022)

It's hard to believe, but there are just barely three weeks to go in the NHL regular season.

We've seen some incredible excitement on the ice this season. This year is on pace to be the highest-scoring season in the last two decades, Auston Matthews is up to 54 goals and counting, and Alex Ovechkin has climbed up to third on the all-time goal-scoring list. But the fun isn't over; it's actually just beginning.

There's a five-game slate on tap for tonight, but not many particularly enticing matchups. Three of the five favorites are -200 or better, and four are -160 or better. It's tough finding value, but here are my two favorite bets for Wednesday.

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Calgary Flames -1.5 (+100; BetMGM)

For those who've followed the “Best Bet” series throughout the year, you know puck line bets are rare and that my absolute minimum on puck lines is even money. So it goes without saying that I wouldn't play the Flames any lower than the posted odds.

The Pacific Division-leading Flames have been a powerhouse all season but have hit the skids lately, making the top of the standings more interesting than Calgary had hoped. They're just 1-2-1 in their last four games, three of which came on home ice, where the Flames have been practically unbeatable of late. But they bounced back Monday against the Kings, and I expect them to use that win as a jumping-off point as we head down the stretch.

Calgary presents an incredibly tough matchup for the Ducks, especially these Ducks who've been depleted by the trade deadline. The Flames are second in CF% and third in xGF%, but the real mismatch is in high-danger areas. In high-danger chances, Calgary is tops in the league, while Anaheim is just 17th. If there are prime chances to score, expect them to favor the road team.

The Ducks were stripped of a ton of talent at the trade deadline, and they've struggled mightily since. Anaheim is 1-5-1 since the deadline, with their only win coming against the lowly Coyotes, which stands as their lone tally in the victory column in their last 13 games. It may seem square to fade a team that's losing this much, but the Ducks aren't just losing. They're getting blown out. Of their 12 losses over the cold streak, seven have come by multiple goals, including a 6-1 stomping at the hands of the Oilers on Sunday.

The Flames are motivated; the Ducks are a shell of themselves and are toast in terms of playoff chances. Calgary by a bunch in this one.

St. Louis Blues / Seattle Kraken Over 6 (-105; Caesars)

There are some 5.5's out there, but you'll have to lay a ton of juice. There are also some 6.5's at plus-money, but that's too rich for my blood. Over 6 is the perfect line, but I would only play it down to -110.

The Blues have been on a scoring rampage of late. St. Louis has scored four or more goals in each of the last five contests, totaling 24 goals. And uncharacteristically, the Blues are giving up many goals of their own. Over their last seven games, they've allowed 27 goals overall and have let in at least four goals on four separate occasions. These numbers are conducive to the over, which is 5-1-1 over this seven-game stretch for the Blues.

I'm also expecting a Jordan Binnington start here. This would be a red flag in years past and would convince me to consider the under. But 2019's biggest breakout star has struggled mightily this year to the tune of a 3.25-goals-against average, and a .899 save percentage -both barely replacement-level numbers at the NHL level. 

Binnington has started just four times since the beginning of March and has played the role of backup in each of the last six games for the Blues. Against a poor team like Seattle, this could be the perfect time for head coach Craig Berube to sneak in a start for Binnington. Especially considering the Blues have Minnesota, a surging Islanders team, and the Bruins on the horizon.

As for Seattle, we know their goaltending has been terrible all season. They're second-to-last in goals allowed above expectation, ahead of only the Devils, but the offense has woken up a bit of late for the Kraken. They've notched four or more goals in four of the last seven games, and the over is 5-2-0 in that span. I expect Seattle to turn back to Philipp Grubauer in this matchup after starting backup Chris Driedger in their last game. Usually, a starting goalie is worse news for an over than a backup, but not in Seattle's case. Grubauer is dead-last in the NHL in goals allowed above expectation, and he'll be tested against this red-hot Blues lineup.

Compare odds from all major sportsbooks for today's games >>

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Mike Wagenman is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @mjwags23.