NHL Wednesday Betting Preview: Blues and Kings Cooking
Los Angeles Keeps Surprising
Without a traditional marquee game for a four-game NHL Wednesday, the focus around the league shifts to teams that continue to win and are firmly entrenched in the Western Conference playoff picture. The St. Louis Blues have won four straight heading into a tough matchup with the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings — who few people thought would still be in the mix come March — have won seven of nine.
Let’s preview each of Wednesday’s four games with an eye to the NHL betting lines:
Sabres vs Maple Leafs
It has been a brutal couple of weeks for the Sabres in a long season and it might get worse as they visit the Maple Leafs. Buffalo has lost six straight and wraps up a brutal five-game road trip Wednesday in Toronto against a Maple Leafs team that has scored a ridiculous 18 goals during its three-game winning streak.
As you’d expect, the Maple Leafs are massive favorites. With how Toronto has lost some inexplicable matchups this season, throwing a dart on the Sabres on the moneyline isn’t the worst idea in the world.
But, the smarter move may be to go with Toronto covering the puckline in a parlay with the over. Buffalo gives up 3.59 goals per game and Toronto scores 3.68 goals per game, so the Maple Leafs should roll over the Sabres with either Dustin Tokarski or Craig Anderson in net. Plus, the Sabres could take advantage of Toronto’s own defensive problems as well.
Blues vs Rangers
The Blues take their winning streak into Madison Square Garden against a Rangers team that has to provide star goalie Igor Shesterskin with some help. New York has relied heavily on Shesterskin all night, which has been a successful strategy so far but it isn’t a sustainable one for the stretch run and the postseason.
St. Louis is coming off an impressive 4-0 beatdown of the Chicago Blackhawks and the Blues have been scoring plenty of goals and getting solid net play from both Ville Husso and Jordan Binnington. New York, on the other hand, has scored just one goal in its past two games and is averaging under 2.9 goals per game.
This one is a toss-up so side with the Blues as the better overall team.
Kings vs Stars
The Kings saw their five-game winning streak get abruptly snapped on Monday in a 7-0 loss to the Boston Bruins, a game that was basically over from the get-go. Los Angeles will try to start a new streak on the road against the Stars, who have split their last four games but have been really good over the past five weeks or so.
Jake Oettinger has asserted himself as Dallas’ top netminder but Braden Holtby could get the start because Oettinger has started six-straight games. He was great in Dallas’ 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.
Dallas is a slight home favorite, which is interesting considering how well the Kings have played lately — and the possibility of Oettinger getting a break. The Kings on the moneyline as underdogs might be the play here if you’re betting online.
Predators vs Seattle Kraken
The Predators are hoping that the Kraken, and their seven-game losing streak, can help kickstart Nashville’s offense amid a sluggish couple of weeks. Nashville has won two of three but lost its previous four games and the Predators have slipped down the Western Conference standings a bit.
Seattle has won just twice since the end of January amid the Kraken’s own offensive issues. Dave Hakstol’s team has scored two goals or fewer in six of its last seven games.
Nashville is a sizable favorite on the BetUS sportsbook and this is a great spot to take the Predators on the puckline. Five of Seattle’s seven losses on this streak have been by two goals or more and — with the Kraken’s offensive issues and how good Juuse Saros has been — the under is a good bet too.
