Three intriguing games are on the schedule for Wednesday Night Hockey - the Ottawa Senators are in Toronto for another edition of the battle of Ontario, Florida is in DC to take on the Capitals, and the night cap is a powerhouse matchup between the Golden Knights and Kings.
Let's take a look at each game and make some picks!
Senators Money Line +150
Maple Leafs Money Line -170
Total: O/U 7.0
Talk about a couple teams desperate for a win. Both the Leafs and Senators have struggled to find their way over the last couple of weeks.
In Ottawa, the Sens are 1-5-0 in their last six games. They got booed off the ice in their last home game, a 6-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. There are chants from their fans to fire their head coach, D.J Smith. Things are not going well right now in the nation’s capital.
Defense and goaltending are an issue in Ottawa. They've given up 25 goals in their last six games. Their team save percentage is .876 in those games. It's not good enough.
Having your goaltending not playing up to par heading into Toronto to take on Auston Matthews, who has 13 goals in 12 games, is less than Ideal.
The Maple Leafs are coming off a big win on Monday night against the Lightning where they came back after being down by three. But prior to that they've struggled. They're 1-2-2 in their last five games and have had a hard time getting offence from their depth players.
But thankfully for the Leafs, they have two players named Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews. Those two have combined for 20 points in their last five games. They're carrying the Leafs right now.
This is a tough game to pick. Both teams aren't playing great hockey. They're both loose defensively and have less than average goaltending.
I'll take the home team with the two best players on the ice. I'll also take the over as both teams are struggling to keep the puck out of their net.
Money Line: Toronto Maple Leafs (-170)
Over/Under: Over 7.0 Goals (+105)
Panthers Money Line -140
Capitals Money Line +120
Total: O/U 6.5
Both the Panthers and Capitals are playing their best hockey of the season heading into Wednesday night’s game.
Florida is 6-2-1 in their last nine games and are playing a winning brand of hockey. Head Coach Paul Maurice has thought the Panthers are playing their best defensive hockey since he's been named the head coach. They're not the most dynamic offensive team. In their last nine games, the Panthers only have one player who is at or above a point per game (Sam Reinhart).
The Washington Capitals have started to turn things around after a horrific start to the season. They are 4-1-0 in their last five games and have scored 14 goals in their four wins over that time. Their best players are starting to play like their best players, led by Alex Ovechkin, who has five points in his last five games.
This is another tough game to prognosticate. Both teams are on a roll heading into tonight’s game, and both have their veteran forwards playing some good hockey.
I'll take the Florida Panthers on the money line and for the game to go to overtime.
Money Line: Florida Panthers (-140)
Game to end in regulation: No (+320)
Kings Money Line +115
Golden Knights Money Line -135
Total: O/U 6.0
The marquee game on Wednesday night is a battle between two Pacific Division rivals.
The Golden Knights lost their first game in regulation on Sunday night to the Anaheim Ducks, their second game of a back-to-back where they traveled from Vegas to Anaheim.
The Knights are now 11-1-1, and are rolling. The entire Vegas lineup is playing great hockey.
It starts in net as both Adin Hill and Logan Thompson have had incredible starts to the season. Hill, in particular, has been out of this world. He has played in seven games. In those games he has a 0.938 save percentage and a 1.81 goals against average.
This might be the biggest test for the Golden Knights this season. The LA Kings are 7-1-1 in their last nine games and look like a juggernaut. The Kings have four forwards who are playing at a point per game or higher pace. Quinton Byfield is having a breakout season as he has 10 points in his first 11 games. Cam Talbot is 6-2-1 and has a 0.923 save percentage and a 2.14 goals against average. There is a lot to like about the Kings.
I think this is going to be a tight checking, playoff style, one goal game. I'll take the under and for the game to go to overtime.
Over/Under: Under 6.0 Goals (-105)
Game to end in regulation: No (+300)
Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.
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