NHL Wednesday best bets: Flames to right ship vs. Coyotes
Tuesday night was not kind to us on the ice. Despite the Lightning jumping out to a 6-0 lead, they did not manage to win the opening period. The Golden Knights scored on their first shot of the game but couldn't see that lead through 20 minutes either.
We'll look to rebound with three plays for Wednesday night's pint-sized slate.
Flames (-210) @ Coyotes (+180)
It is desperation time for the Calgary Flames, who are quickly losing ground in the Western Conference playoff race.
They have dropped five of the last seven games and sit four points out of a spot as a consequence. That'd be concerning on its own, but it looks worse given the caliber of opponents. With points at a premium, it's not exactly an ideal time to lose to the Red Wings (twice), Flyers, and Senators in the span of a couple weeks.
While that run will no doubt scare some away from the Flames, I think it's the perfect time to jump back on the wagon.
They have largely played well during this 2-5 stretch. In fact, their 58.62% expected goals share at five-on-five ranks second to the Hurricanes over the last seven games. They're controlling the run of play and generating a lot more chances than they're giving up. It just hasn't turned into results.
The Arizona Coyotes provide a great opportunity for the pendulum to swing in Calgary's direction. Although the Coyotes claimed at least a point in nine of the last 10 games, they're still very beatable.
They routinely get outchanced at five-on-five and they lack the raw talent to compensate. Arizona is also taking a ton of penalties, having spent more time shorthanded than any team but the Senators over the last 10.
It is very likely the Flames dominate the run of play at full strength, especially given the level of urgency they should demonstrate. If they fail to do damage there, they can fall back on more power-play opportunities than they'd expect against most other teams.
Bet: Flames in regulation (-135)
Kyle Palmieri over 2.5 shots (-110)
The New York Islanders are absolutely decimated by injuries. Mathew Barzal, Josh Bailey, J.G. Pageau, and Oliver Wahlstrom are all sidelined right now, which means a lot more opportunity for a guy like Kyle Palmieri.
Palmieri is skating on the second line, but he is far and away the most talented right wing on the roster. He is also very trigger-happy, as he's shown since the Islanders' recent wave of injuries: He leads the team in shot attempts over the last three games.
The Jets are targetable for shots, especially by right-wingers. They rank 20th in shots allowed versus the position over the last 20 games, which is their worst ranking against any group.
Win or lose, I expect Palmieri to be firing on home ice.
Josh Morrissey over 2.5 shots (-115)
Morrissey is heating up. He has amassed 73 shot attempts over the last 10 games, which slots him behind only Roman Josi and Dougie Hamilton among NHL defensemen.
Unsurprisingly, that volume is leading to success for Morrissey in the prop market, particularly of late. He has gone over his total in five of the last eight games.
Morrissey finds himself in an enticing matchup against the Islanders, who rank 24th in shots allowed per game to opposing defensemen this season. Perhaps more importantly, they're bleeding shots as a whole - and getting caved in at five-on-five - with so many important pieces missing due to injury.
I expect the Jets to flirt with 30-plus shots Wednesday night and for Morrissey to take his fair share.
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.