NHL Wednesday best bets: Avalanche to dethrone Kings
We opened the season with a split on sides and totals. The Penguins squandered a lead against the lowly Blackhawks, but fortunately, our under hit in Vegas relatively sweat-free.
Let's take a look at a couple of plays that stand out on Wednesday night's slate.
Jets (+115) @ Flames (-135)
Death, taxes, and unders between the Jets and Flames. Dating back to 2021, 13 consecutive games between these two sides have featured six goals or fewer. That's a crazy run.
The Flames have moved on from head coach Darryl Sutter, but the bulk of their team over the past couple of seasons remains intact.
They still lack high-end finishers and have the defensive personnel needed to be very stout. That isn't a great recipe for barn burners.
That's not to say the Flames can't or won't improve offensively. I think they will have the freedom to be more creative this year and expect more life in their attack than last season under Sutter.
Losing Tyler Toffoli up front is a stinger, though, and it may take some time for Ryan Huska's adjustments to become second nature.
Facing a healthy, rested, and now extremely rich Connor Hellebuyck isn't the ideal spot for an offensive explosion to start the season. Even if the shot and chance volume are there, converting that into goals against Hellebuyck will be tough.
On the flip side, the Jets were a bottom-10 side at scoring five-on-five goals a season ago. I think Gabe Vilardi and improved forward depth will give the Jets an offensive lift, but this is still a Rick Bowness-coached team.
Playing somewhat conservative, "smart" hockey still takes priority and likely puts a cap on the Jets' offensive ceiling - particularly against such a strong defensive side.
This strikes me as a 3-2 or 4-2 type of game - thus, I see value in the under.
Bet: Under 6.5 (-125)
Avalanche (-120) @ Kings (+100)
After a disappointing first-round exit against the Kraken, a reloaded Avalanche team is hungry to get back to the mountaintop. I think they'll be looking to make a statement in their season opener - and expect them to do just that.
The Kings are a solid team, but they tend to struggle against teams with high-end speed. There's no shortage of examples.
Connor McDavid and the high-flying Oilers have knocked the Kings out of the playoffs two years in a row, while the Avalanche have beaten the Kings in 10 of their last 12 head-to-head meetings.
Headlined by Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, the Avalanche have an abundance of team speed. Even some of their offseason depth additions - like Miles Wood and Ross Colton - can really fly and give opponents fits with their skating.
The Avalanche will be looking to use that to their advantage and give this slower-paced, methodically attacking Kings team all they can handle.
When their speed inevitably opens the Kings up, the Avalanche should feel good about their chances versus Cam Talbot.
He posted an .898 save percentage over 37 appearances with the Senators a season ago and, at 36 years of age, seems to be well beyond his best days.
He may well give the Avalanche a goal or two he shouldn't. That's something the Kings can't expect from Alexandar Georgiev at the other end of the ice.
Look for the Avalanche to convert speed and goaltending edges into an impressive road win.
Bet: Avalanche (-120)
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.