The NHL is back with a four-game slate tonight, and below I'll dive into three of the games from a sports betting perspective. Here are my three favorite wagers on the ice tonight.
Wednesday's NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Boston Bruins (-155) at Chicago Blackhawks (+130) | O/U 5.5 (-112/-108)
The Bruins (13-11-3) hit the road tonight tonight after logging a 3-2 overtime win against the Red Wings last night. Up next is the Blackhawks, who reside in the cellar of the Central Division at 8-15-2. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET from the United Center in Chicago, IL.
The Joe Sacco era in Boston is off to a solid start, as his Bruins have compiled a 5-2-0 record under his reign. It appears fixing the defense was Coach Sacco's first move, as the B's are conceding only 1.86 goals per game over the seven-game stretch. Considering they're looking good on the backend and taking on a lowly Chicago offense, I'm confident in backing Boston here - even at a rest disadvantage.
Boston will be looking to shut down a Hawks offense that's one of the worst in the league. Chicago is 31st in overall scoring production (2.4 GPG), 26th in shooting percentage (9.36%), and 24th in high-danger shots (78). Furthermore, with Joonas Korpisalo starting in net last night, we should see Jeremy Swayman between the pipes tonight. Swayman (3.09 GAA, .893 SV%) hasn't been great this year, but this is a great confidence-building matchup for him. I'm willing to lay the juice with the B's tonight.
Bet: Bruins Moneyline (-155)
Vegas Golden Knights (-180) at Anaheim Ducks (+150) | O/U 6.0 (-120/+100)
Like the aforementioned Bruins, the Golden Knights (16-7-3) also find themselves on the second night of a back-to-back. Vegas took care of visiting Edmonton last night in a 1-0 contest, and now they'll make the trip to take on last-place Anaheim (10-10-3). This Pacific Division tilt is set for 10:00 p.m. ET from the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.
Over the last four games, Vegas has seen six or fewer combined goals three times. Three of the games were against the high-flying offenses of the Avalanche (L: 2-1), Jets (W: 4-3), and Oilers (W: 1-0). Being that the Golden Knights were able to shut down those top-tier offenses, I think they'll have no issue stopping the Ducks tonight. Anaheim is scoring just 2.6 goals per game (25th) while cashing 15.71% of their man-advantage chances (27th).
On the other hand, the Ducks have been sound defensively this year. Mainly, it's their goaltending that's held up very well. Anaheim's netminders have combined to post a .913 SV%, which is the third-best mark in the league. Being that they're hosting a Vegas squad that's on the second night of a back-to-back, it should give their defensive core an edge as well. I think goals will be tough to come by in this one, so I'll play the Under.
Bet: Under 6.0 Total Goals (+100)
Dallas Stars (-122) at Los Angeles Kings (+102) | O/U 5.5 (-118/-102)
Right down the street from the Honda Center, the Kings (14-8-3) will host the Stars (16-8-0) for a Western Conference battle. Puck drop is slated for 10:00 p.m. ET from crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA.
Sticking with the theme of this article, I feel like the goals will be at a premium in this high-stakes conference clash tonight. I'm taking the Under. Starting with Los Angeles, their defense has been exceptional this year. They're conceding only 2.52 goals per game, which is fifth in the NHL. Their penalty kill is a middle-of-the-pack 16th, escaping cleanly 80% of the time. Los Angeles has faced the fewest high-danger shots this year (61), and it's not even close. The next-closest team is Vancouver at 70. So, it's really been the structure in front of the goaltender that's guided the overall success. That's key to long-term success and does bode well for us against a solid Dallas offense.
As for the Stars, they're right there with the Kings in terms of overall defense, giving up only 2.42 goals per game (4th). They're also fifth on the PK at 82.61%. The Stars have seen fewer than 5.5 goals in two straight games, while the Kings have stayed under this threshold in five of their last seven games. I think we'll see some well-structured, mistake-free puck in L.A. tonight - give me the Under.
Bet: Under 5.5 Total Goals (-102)
