In this article, I’ll outline the most noteworthy NHL odds, news, and betting insights from Wednesday’s four-game NHL slate, and I’ll also offer up my best pick of the night.
Pick—Red Wings Moneyline vs Flames : -110
Red Wings moneyline
The Calgary Flames proved me wrong Monday evening in earning a 7-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres in what was a very messy matchup that was still much more competitive than the final score depicted. The Flames scored two goals off of 5-on-3 sequences and a lucky redirection to open the scoring, while the Sabres had a goal come off the board as Jordan Greenway was a hair offside.
The Flames’ performance in that matchup doesn’t change my beliefs regarding the weaknesses of the team. There is a distinct lack of high-end skill in the lineup, and while they have strung together a 7-2-1 stretch of play, this looks like a good time to sell high on a team that has generally been overvalued by online sportsbooks this season because of their strong play-driving numbers.
The Detroit Red Wings may not dominate the run of play in this matchup, but they feature some high-end offensive pieces that are much more adept than what Calgary has at creating and finishing the type of chances that are more likely to lead to actual goals.
While the Western Conference undoubtedly has the best team in the NHL, the Colorado Avalanche, the Eastern Conference is a drastically deeper bracket, and that may mean teams in the heart of the highly competitive Eastern race are being underrated in matchups versus Western teams such as the Flames.
Eastern Conference teams are 54-37-7 versus the Western Conference this season, and the Red Wings, in particular, are 9-4-0 versus the West and 7-2-0 versus the lowly Pacific Division.
Over the last 15 games, the Red Wings hold a 55.85% expected goal share, and though the Flames do hold a surprisingly strong 53.54% expected goal share in the same span, we have seen for two seasons that this current Flames roster is always likely to finish its chances off at a lower than average rate.
While I don’t love that John Gibson may get the start in goal for the Red Wings, it’s a livable concern considering how strong the case is that Detroit is still the much stronger side despite the Flames’ recent upswing.
New York Rangers @ Chicago Blackhawks
| Rangers moneyline odds | -140 |
| Blackhawks moneyline odds | +120 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (-105), Under 6 (-115) |
| Time | 7:37 p.m. ET |
Odds courtesy of bet365.
- The Blackhawks will be looking to respond from an ugly 7-1 loss in Anaheim Sunday night after a pair of off-days. Chicago is 6-5-3 at home this season.
- The Rangers played well over the weekend in a pair of 3-2 overtime losses to the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights. New York is 12-4-1 on the road this season.
- The Rangers have hung in respectably in their first four games without Adam Fox, playing to a record of 2-0-2 versus a tough slate of opponents. With Fox sidelined, the Rangers are expected to stick with a five-forward power play in this matchup, with Will Cuylle skating in Fox’s spot.
- Both teams are expected to start their top option in goal, as Igor Shesterkin and Spencer Knight are listed as probable at the time of writing. In a year where the league average save percentage is .898, Shesterkin holds a .913 save percentage, while Knight owns a .914 save percentage playing behind what has still been a pretty bad defensive team.
Detroit Red Wings @ Calgary Flames
| Red Wings moneyline odds | -110 |
| Flames moneyline odds | -110 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (-120), Under 6 (+100) |
| Time | 8:37 p.m. ET |
Odds courtesy of bet365.
- The Red Wings have started their current six-game road trip 2-0-1. They are 7-5-2 on the road this season.
- The Flames have confirmed that Devin Cooley will start in goal. Cooley holds a .920 save percentage and 2.17 GAA in 11 games played this season.
- Rasmus Andersson has put up 15 points over his last 12 games and is priced at +105 to record a point in Wednesday’s matchup.
- Patrick Kane has put up 10 points over his last 10 games and is priced at -145 to record a point in Wednesday’s matchup.
- Alex DeBrincat ranks eighth in the NHL with 15.4 expected goals, and has tallied 14 goals where it counts, though he’s still two shy of captain Dylan Larkin’s total of 16 for the team lead.
Florida Panthers @ Utah Mammoth
| Panthers moneyline odds | -115 |
| Mammoth moneyline odds | -105 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (-105), Under 6 (-115) |
| Time | 9:07 p.m. ET |
Odds courtesy of bet365.
- The Panthers have won two straight and are now five points back of the Philadelphia Flyers for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. They are just 4-6-0 away from home this season, having played eight more games on home ice.
- The Mammoth are just 4-6-0 over the last 10 games and hold an expected goal share of 46.13% in that span. Still, they hold the final Western playoff spot in what is shaping up to be a pretty soft race.
- Logan Cooley will be sidelined for the Mammoth. JJ Peterka is expected to remain in his spot on the top power-play unit, while they stuck with a second line of Barrett Hayton, Daniil But, and Dylan Guenther in Monday’s game versus the Los Angeles Kings.
Los Angeles Kings @ Seattle Kraken
| Kings moneyline odds | -150 |
| Kraken moneyline odds | +120 |
| Game total | Over 5.5 goals (+100), Under 5.5 (-120) |
| Time | 10:07 p.m. ET |
Odds courtesy of bet365.
- It feels like the Kings haven’t drawn much coverage from mainstream NHL media this season, but with a 4-3-3 run over the last 10 games they are only four points back of the Anaheim Ducks for the division lead, having played one less game.
- Contrary to last season, the Kings have been dominant on the road but have struggled on home ice. Los Angeles is 10-2-4 on the road this season.
- The Kraken are in the midst of the NHL’s longest current losing streak at six games. They hold an expected goal share of just 40.71% in that span, and have scored only 1.66 goals per game.