NHL Wednesday Games and Odds: Analysis & Predictions

Our NHL Picks and Parlays for Wednesday have to start with the obvious game of the night when the Boston Bruins (34-5-4, 72 points) head to the island to face the New York Islanders (23-18-4, 50 points). With an 11-point lead in the Atlantic Division, the B’s are getting closer to putting a division crown out of reach. The Islanders would technically own the last wild card spot in the East, but a 4-4-2 mark in their last 10 has them treading water. Like New York, the Calgary Flames (21-15-9, 51 points) are clinging to a wild card spot, they’ll host the Colorado Avalanche (22-17-3, 47 points) at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Let’s start our NHL Wednesday Games and odds preview by diving into each.

Must-Watch Television

There’s not much else to say about the Boston Bruins, except they are the best team in hockey, and the second-best might not be close. The B’s are number one in our power rankings with the New Jersey Devils a car ride away at #2.

Boston has scored five goals or more 15 times this season, a major reason why they have been a consistent friend to bettors.

New York is coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Washington Capitals after blowing a 3-goal lead on Monday, in their 4-3 loss. With the Pittsburgh Penguins owning two games in hand for the last wild card spot, every game becomes meaningful for the Islanders who are still considered one of the best defensive teams in the league.

Other than Jake DeBrusk being out for Boston until early February, both teams have managed to keep names off the NHL injury list, so this game will be a straight-ahead handicap.

We do think the Islanders will pay attention to defensive detail in a game they need to play well in. So, let’s not get crazy, but if you must get involved play New York because laying -175 is too rich for our bankroll at this point in the season.

Let’s continue our NHL Wednesday Games and odds with a look at the Avalanche and Flames.

This is a game that’s a little more bankroll friendly, with the Flames -130 at home. The public is starting to get excited about betting on the Avalanche again after winning their last two games by a combined score of 13-3.

Before we start getting giddy about Colorado, whose main goal is staying off the NHL injury list, let’s remind you that those wins were against the Detroit Redwings and Ottawa Senators.

Going into Calgary and beating the Flames is a different task. The Avalanche are still without Gabriel Landeskog, Bowen Byram, and Josh Manson. The latter two are key missing pieces to their backend.

In their loss to Nashville (2-1), Monday, it was an obvious lack of effort that doomed the Flames, waking up too late to get the game-tying goal. It’s hard to believe that going home against the defending champions will not motivate the Flames into playing an “interested” 60 minutes.

The oddsmakers seem to be begging you to take Colorado and the plus money, but we’re not taking the bait. Bet the Flames -130.

Ice Chips

Other than the New Jersey Devils, the Tampa Bay Lightning are the hottest team in the National Hockey League with four straight wins and eight in their last 10 games.

‘Tampa who is still 15 points behind the Boston Bruins but are sneaking up on the Toronto Maple Leafs for second in the Atlantic.’

There’s no real angle to sink our teeth into from a betting standpoint, other than to potentially look at the under, but it’s worth a watch with the Canucks snapping a 4-game skid as a +245 underdog against the Carolina Hurricanes (4-3, SO) on Sunday; and Tampa who is still 15 points behind the Boston Bruins but are sneaking up on the Toronto Maple Leafs for second in the Atlantic.

The Lighting are only up +120 units for the season, while the Canucks are -430 units. There are a few games where taking notes is more important than being involved financially, and this is one of those games.

Let’s conclude our NHL Wednesday games and odds by looking at the worst game on the board between the Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks.

Wait for Highlights

This is by far the game you can pass on from a viewing standpoint, but it is also known as the get-out game.

Going back to our supporting headline, you may want to ride the hot streak the betting public is on, cashing all seven totals last night. In this one, 62% of the wagers have come in on the over 6 (-115).

You may want to take a long shot with the Sharks considering the Stars are coming off an impressive 4-0 win in Vegas, but you’re not going to build a bankroll on most nights with the Sharks as your last hope.

That does it for NHL Wednesday games and odds. Let’s hope the players can continue their incredible run on the totals, NHL injury report.

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