In this article, I’ll outline the most noteworthy game odds, news, and betting notes from the marquee matchups from Wednesday’s five-game NHL slate, and I’ll also offer up my best bet.
Best bet-Columbus Blue Jackets moneyline
Blue Jackets moneyline
Backing the Columbus Blue Jackets to best the Calgary Flames on Wednesday already seemed quite strong at an opening price of -110, and barring unforeseen injury news, it’s quite surprising that the price has actually improved to -105 as we get closer to puck-drop.
The scrappy young Blue Jackets have been well-deserving of their solid 7-5-0 record this season. Through 12 games, they rank 13th in the NHL with an expected goal share of 51.56% and hold a +4 goal differential.
While bettors must be careful not to overvalue the first month of the season from a handicapping perspective, the Blue Jackets finished with 89 points last season, and their roster composition does look quite solid.
The name power of the Blue Jackets’ top line of Sean Monahan, Kirill Marchenko, and Dmitri Voronkov is not quite on par with other similarly dominant top units, but the results certainly are. Dating back to the start of last season, Monahan, Marchenko, and Voronkov have outscored opponents 38 to 13.
Beyond the Blue Jackets’ stellar top unit, their offensive depth up front is at least on par with what the Flames are offering on paper, and their bottom three lines have outperformed Calgary’s where it counts this season.
The Flames scored just 2.68 goals per game last season and have generated only 2.14 goals per game this season, which ranks dead last in the NHL. They hold some young talents with meaningful upside, such as Connor Zary and Matthew Coronato, but both have not shown any progression this season, which puts a ton of pressure on aging top forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri to carry the load offensively.
Calgary’s underlying results are solid, as it sits one spot below the Blue Jackets in expected goal share. Still, it seems unlikely that the Flames will find the positive offensive regression that the metrics suggest may be coming, as there is a distinct lack of dynamic offensive talent in the lineup.
Entering the year, the Flames’ greatest edge on paper over the Blue Jackets would be in goal, as Dustin Wolf was fantastic last season, while the Blue Jackets received some of the league’s worst goaltending.
Jet Greaves was the one Blue Jackets goaltender that did achieve strong results last season, though, playing to a +14.5 GSAx rating in 11 starts. So far this year he has proven that last year’s excellent results were no fluke, as he holds a +7.7 GSAx and a .916 save percentage in seven appearances.
If the Flames do not actually hold a noteworthy edge in goal, it’s difficult for me to see why they deserve to be slight favourites in a matchup versus a vastly superior offensive side in the Blue Jackets.
At -115 or better, I see value in backing the Blue Jackets to win Wednesday’s matchup on the road.
Utah Mammoth vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
| Mammoth moneyline odds | +130 |
| Maple Leafs moneyline odds | -155 |
| Game total | Over 6.5 goals (-105), Under 6.5 (-115) |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
- The over is 11-2-0 in the Maple Leafs‘ first 13 games of the season. Head coach Craig Berube certainly is not striving to play such a high-event brand of hockey, but Toronto’s defensive play has been quite shaky, and its goaltending has been much worse than last season, while star forwards such as William Nylander and John Tavares have been productive as usual.
- The underlying results suggested that the Maple Leafs were not actually much improved defensively last season under Berube, but that Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll were simply exceptional. As the Leafs hold the sixth-worst save percentage in the NHL this season, they have suddenly allowed 3.62 goals against per game.
- The Mammoth will be playing back-to-back after earning an overtime win Tuesday in Buffalo. Karel Vejmelka started Tuesday’s matchup, so backup Vitek Vanecek will likely start in this matchup. Vanecek holds a +3.0 GSAx rating and a .913 save percentage in three appearances this season.
- With his team trailing by three goals entering the third period of Monday’s matchup, Berube stacked Nylander, Auston Matthews, and Matthew Knies on the top line, and the trio combined for six points during the team’s four-goal third period.
St. Louis Blues vs. Washington Capitals
| Blues moneyline odds | +125 |
| Capitals moneyline odds | -150 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (-110), Under 6 (-110) |
| Time | 7:30 p.m. ET |
- The Capitals are on a four-game losing skid entering this matchup. They did not lose four straight during the 2024-25 season.
- The Blues snapped a seven-game losing skid on Monday with an impressive comeback win versus the Edmonton Oilers.
- Capitals centre Pierre-Luc Dubois suffered a significant lower-body injury on Friday. As a result, Connor McMichael will centre the Capitals’ second line alongside Aliaksei Protas and Tom Wilson.
- Top forward Robert Thomas returned to the Blues lineup Monday, recording one goal and one assist in 19:56 of time-on-ice.
- Logan Thompson has been confirmed as the Capitals’ starting goaltender. Thompson holds a .935 save percentage and 1.51 GAA in eight starts this season and, per Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL on X), is the only remaining starter to have recorded a quality start in every game this season.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Calgary Flames
| Blue Jackets moneyline odds | -105 |
| Flames moneyline odds | -115 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (-110), Under 6 (-110) |
| Time | 9:30 p.m. ET |
- The Flames played to a record of 23-12-6 on home ice last season but are just 1-3-1 so far this year. The Blue Jackets are 4-2-0 on the road this season.
- Jet Greaves is expected to start in goal for the Blue Jackets. It takes a large sample of play to know for sure that any goaltender is completely legitimate, but in 17 games dating back to the start of last season Greaves holds an eye-popping +22.2 GSAx rating.
- Flames head coach Ryan Huska has adjusted his offensive units entering this matchup, pairing Connor Zary, Nazem Kadri, and Joel Farabee on the top line
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks
| Blackhawks moneyline odds | +140 |
| Canucks moneyline odds | -165 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (-110), Under 6 goals (-110) |
| Time | 9:30 p.m. ET |
- Red-hot forward Connor Bedard will return home to take on his hometown side. Bedard has put up just two assists in five career games versus the Canucks. Maybe the first matchup of this season will go differently, though, as Bedard has put up 16 points in 13 games this season and eight points over the last five.
- The Canucks wrapped up a three-game road trip with a 5-4 overtime win over the Nashville Predators on Monday. Captain and top skater Quinn Hughes returned to the lineup in that game, recording six shots on goal across 28:04 of time-on-ice.
- Conor Garland still leads all Canucks skaters with 11 points in 11 games played but is considered doubtful to return to the lineup in this matchup.
- Spencer Knight is expected to start in goal for the Blackhawks after resting on Monday in Seattle. Knight holds a .913 save percentage and a 2.62 GAA in nine games played this season.
Connor Bedard to score vs. Canucks
San Jose Sharks vs. Seattle Kraken
| Sharks moneyline odds | +140 |
| Kraken moneyline odds | -165 |
| Game total | Over 6.5 goals (+100), Under 6.5 (-120) |
| Time | 10 p.m. ET |
- The Kraken are off to a strong start under new head coach Lane Lambert, playing to a record of 6-2-4 in their first 12 games. Their underlying results are less convincing, as they rank 26th in expected goal share.
- Top forward Jared McCann is expected to remain sidelined for the Kraken in this matchup.
- Macklin Celebrini has put up 18 points in 13 games this season while displaying an elite compete level all over the ice, and is making a case for the Canadian Olympic team.
- Number-one goaltender Joey Daccord has not yet been confirmed for the Kraken. The disparity in play between Daccord and Matt Murray/Philipp Grubauer will likely be quite significant this season, and given that Lambert may view this as a spot to manage Daccord’s workload, it is worth keeping an eye out for confirmation towards who will start in goal for the Kraken in this matchup.