Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (4/16)
Only one playoff spot remains in the NHL, and the Montreal Canadiens will attempt to solidify their position in the postseason when they host the Carolina Hurricanes tonight. Below I'll dive into that contest and two others from a sports betting perspective. Here are my three favorite NHL bets from tonight's six-game slate.
Wednesday's NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook)
Carolina Hurricanes (-102) vs. Montreal Canadiens (-118) | O/U 6.0 (-105/-115)
Let's get things started in what's essentially a do-or-die spot for the Canadiens (39-31-11, 89 points). All they need to do is earn a point tonight, otherwise the Blue Jackets can overtake them for the final spot with a victory over the Islanders tomorrow. This matchup with the visiting Hurricanes (47-28-5, 99 points) gets underway at 7:00 p.m. ET from the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC.
I played the Flames moneyline (-115) in a do-or-die spot against a superior team in last night's best bets article, and that's a strategy that I'm going to apply here as well. I typically wouldn’t be looking to bet against a stout defensive team like the Hurricanes, but considering the stakes and the home-ice advantage for the Habs, I'll lock them in as slim favorites.
Additionally, while the Canes have been sharp defensively this year, they're not in great form at the moment, going just 1-4-1 in their last six games. Over the six-game sample size, Carolina has allowed 3+ goals in every game, and they're conceding an average of 4.2 goals per game during the stretch.
Meanwhile, Montreal has been the fifth-best defensive team over the last 10 games, allowing only 2.18 goals per game. The Bell Centre's going to be rocking tonight, as the fans try to will their team to the postseason for the first time since 2021. Give me the Canadiens to take care of business tonight.
Pick: Canadiens Moneyline (-118)
Anaheim Ducks (+225) vs. Winnipeg Jets (-275) | O/U 6.0 (+100/-120)
The Jets (55-22-4, 114 points) have the Presidents’ Trophy wrapped up, which will earn them home ice throughout the NHL postseason. They'll close out an excellent regular season at home tonight against the Ducks (35-37-9, 79 points), who took a decent step forward in 2024-25. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB.
While this game may be meaningless in terms of the standings, there's still a lot on the line here in terms of legacy. I just checked the NHL records this morning, and Connor Hellebuyck (46-12-3 record in net) can move into second all-time in terms of single-season goalie wins with a victory tonight. Only Braden Holtby ('15-'16) and Martin Brodeur ('06-'07), who are tied at 48 wins, would sit above the Michigan-born netminder if he secures a win tonight.
Additionally, Helle (-145 consensus to win the Hart Trophy) can essentially lock up the Hart Trophy tonight with a big performance. He'd be the first goalie since Carey Price ('14-'15) to win the award. Luckily for Hellebuyck and Winnipeg, they draw a great matchup against a bottom-tier Ducks offense. Anaheim is 27th in scoring (2.7 GPG) and 32nd on the power play (11.82%) this season. Over the last 10 games, they're 29th in both scoring (2.5 GPG) and shooting percentage (8.96%), while ranking dead last in high-danger shots (20). I'll play Anaheim to stay under 2.0 goals at +105.
Pick: Ducks Team Total Under 2.0 (+105)
Edmonton Oilers (-210) vs. San Jose Sharks (+175) | O/U 6.5 (+100/-120)
The NHL nightcap comes out West with a Pacific Division clash between the Oilers (47-29-5, 99 points) and the Sharks (20-49-12, 52 points). Edmonton is set to play Los Angeles in the opening round of the playoffs, while San Jose will miss the postseason for a sixth straight campaign. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET from the SAP Center in San Jose, CA.
This game is completely meaningless, and considering the Oilers' injury concerns right now, it's a bit of a toss-up from a sports betting perspective. I just want to mention that because it's not my most confident wager of the night, and I'm just going to throw a few bucks on it to have some action on the game.
With that being said, in my mind, it would make sense for Edmonton to roll out their best lineup tonight to have a tune-up performance before they enter the playoffs this weekend. If that's the case, then the Oilers should absolutely steamroll the Sharks in this game. I'll sprinkle on the visitors -1.5 at +118.
The Sharks remain the worst defensive team in the league, allowing 3.58 goals per game (32nd) while registering a SV% of just .881 (30th). Over the last 10 games, San Jose is 32nd in both GAA (4.62) and xGAA (4.13), while ranking 31st in high-danger shots against (49). They've lost 10 straight games (0-7-3), with five of those defeats coming by 2+ goals. I'll take a flier on the Oilers -1.5 tonight.
Pick: Edmonton Oilers -1.5 (+118)