Following a busy 12-game NHL schedule on Tuesday evening, the NHL action slows down to just three games on Wednesday. Nonetheless, let’s dive in and see which bets are going to make the most money, including backing one team in a wildly favorable spot. For more NHL odds, best bets and parlays be sure to check out the OddsShopper tool.
Best NHL Bets Tonight and NHL Odds
Odds via FanDuel
Montreal Canadiens +1.5 vs. Ottawa Senators (-142)
It’s an Atlantic Division clash between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators tonight in Canada’s capital, and the Canadiens are getting some favorable odds in this matchup.
Despite being ahead of the Senators by a modest 4 points in the standings, the Habs are significant +168 road underdogs on the moneyline, but they should keep this one to a one-goal affair at the very least.
While the Canadiens are dealing with some injuries themselves, the Senators are without two of their best young centers in Josh Norris and Tim Stutzle. The Senators have fared well offensively with a solid 3.07 goals per game, but Stutzle was beginning to come into his own before the injury, while veteran Derick Brassard has been tabbed to center the team’s top line in his stead. It’s a significant downgrade at the top of the Senators forward chart.
The Senators are better than the Canadiens on offense, defense and on the power play this season. That said, Montreal has hung in there very well on the road, with a 7-5-2 record away from the Bell Centre that is slightly superior to the Senators’ 7-8-0 record on home ice.
After yielding seven goals in an overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 5, Montreal has allowed just seven goals over its last three games. The Senators are coming off a shutout win over the dreadful Anaheim Ducks but did surrender 11 goals over their previous three contests.
This is a fairly even goaltending matchup between the Canadiens’ Sam Montembeault and the Senators’ Cam Talbot. There isn’t much of a material difference between the two despite Montembeault allowing those seven goals to Vancouver his last time out.
The Senators do not deserve to be such heavy favorites in this one, and the Canadiens puck line value is certainly worth a strong look against a divisional opponent.
Minnesota Wild -1.5 vs. Detroit Red Wings (-104)
After a dreadful start to their season, the Minnesota Wild have made up significant ground in the Central Division, tied with the Colorado Avalanche for third. If they want to keep moving up the Central ladder, then this is a must-have game against the vulnerable Detroit Red Wings.
Winners of six of their last eight, the Wild face a Red Wings club playing their second game in as many nights after a hard-fought 1-0 home win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. However, the win didn’t come without a cost, as captain Dylan Larkin had a puck go off his hand, left the game and never returned. It doesn’t look good for Larkin, as he has already been ruled out for tonight’s game.
Having the Wings lose their best player is a fine start for the Wild. Minnesota has surrendered just one goal over their last two games, including keeping Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in check with a 2-1 win over the Oilers on Monday, holding Edmonton to just 21 shots in the process. The Wild have moved up into the middle of the pack in overall defense (15th), but they are actually fourth in expected goals against per 60 at five-on-five. Conversely, the Red Wings are 23rd in that department despite being just one spot back of the Wild in overall defense.
After Ville Husso shut out the Hurricanes last night, it should be Alex Nedeljkovic going for Detroit tonight. While Husso has a strong 2.48 goals against average (GAA) and .918 save percentage on the season, Nedeljkovic has scuffled to an ugly 4.09 GAA and .880 save percentage in his nine outings. This is a significant advantage for Minnesota. Even if the Wings change course and go with Husso again tonight, this isn’t an ideal goaltending situation for them.
As noted, this is a vulnerable Red Wings team in this spot. The Wild have no excuse not to win this game and should do so by at least two goals.
Calgary Flames 60-Minute Moneyline vs. Vancouver Canucks (-113)
It was a tough three-game, East Coast swing for the Calgary Flames, as they lost all three but they did grab a point in each of the last two in Toronto and Montreal. Now they return to face the rival Vancouver Canucks at home, where they’ve played their best hockey of the season.
The Flames have scuffled to a rough 3-6-4 record on the road but have been far superior at home, going 10-5-1. The Flames have the NHL’s eighth-ranked home offense compared to ranking 29th on the road, while the defense has surrendered an even three goals per game both at home and on the road.
Overall, however, the defensive metrics are favorable for a Flames team that is sixth in expected goals against per 60 at five-on-five. They’re also sixth in shot attempts against per game at five-on-five. In other words, they’ve been solid defensively but haven’t received much aid from a goaltending tandem that ranks 23rd at five-on-five.
That said, Canucks goaltending is 27th in that same department. But unlike Calgary, they haven’t defended well in front of Thatcher Demko or Spencer Martin, as they are 29th in expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five and 23rd in shot attempts per game in the same scenario.
As a result, the Canucks are 30th in overall defense, while a 30th-ranked 68.2% penalty kill is certainly not helping matters. For what it’s worth, the Flames are sixth on the penalty kill with an 81.4% mark.
The Canucks have gone on a bit of a run, winning six of their last nine, and this could be viewed as a lackluster game for the Flames just two days after returning from a disappointing road trip across the country. However, the numbers — especially the defensive ones — say the Flames have been the far superior team and are worth backing to win in regulation on home ice.
