Hockey fans and bettors alike have plenty to look forward to on this midweek NHL slate, with some intriguing matchups and betting angles to exploit. With several teams playing on the second night of a back-to-back, fatigue could be a major factor, making it a prime opportunity to find value in the betting market.
Tonight, we’re targeting two key games: the Blackhawks hosting the Oilers and the Rangers taking on the Bruins. Chicago has shown a knack for keeping games close against elite teams, while the Rangers' newly formed top line is clicking at the perfect time. Plus, we’ve got a plus-money player prop parlay that looks promising given the matchup dynamics. Let’s dive into our best bets and props for Wednesday’s NHL action.
Blackhawks +1.5 vs. Oilers (-115, BetMGM)
I mentioned this the other day on The Daily Boost podcast, about how the Blackhawks seem to play very well against elite competition and sink against their fellow losers. They have already beaten the Oilers once this season, and also have two wins against the Colorado Avalanche. They lost two games to the Carolina Hurricanes, but covered the +1.5 in both of them. Any time that I can get a +1.5 for a decent price, it almost has to be an auto-bet, especially with a team that has shown the ability to stick with these good teams.
Edmonton is also coming off of a 3-2 overtime win last night, so their legs could be a little tired for this one. The last back-to-back they had to play, they allowed three 1st period goals to the Maple Leafs and looked totally gassed. Chicago isn’t nearly as good as Toronto, but I could see some heavy legs out there for the Oilers. If you want to take a shot on the Blackhawks moneyline, you can do that for +225, which is some great plus money. I would not be shocked if they won the game outright at home.
Rangers -1.5 vs. Bruins (+135, BetMGM)
If you would rather take them on the moneyline around -180, I don’t mind that, but I never like to lay a ton of juice in hockey. I’ll take a shot that New York can get the job done here winning by at least two goals at +135 odds. This is mostly a fade of the Bruins on the road, who have been absolutely dreadful when they have to travel. Boston is allowing an NHL-worst four goals per game on the road, ranking dead last. Yes, even worse than the Sharks and Blackhawks. In addition to that, the Bruins played just last night, so they are another team that is on a back-to-back, and could have some very tired legs.
Backup netminder Joonas Korpisalo is expected to start tonight for Boston, which adds to my confidence in this wager. For the Rangers, the addition of JT Miller has been an incredible success so far. Both he and star winger Artemi Panarin have four points in two games playing together on the top line, and Miller just had two goals against the Bruins a couple of games ago in Boston. I think at home here, they can dominate against the worst road team in the league, and getting plus money is just a bonus.
Artemi Panarin and JT Miller Over 0.5 Points Parlay (+107, BetMGM)
This just adds on to what I was talking about above, with how good the top line of the Rangers have been offensively since the trade. Panarin and Miller have four points each in two games, and Miller had two goals against Boston in his first game with New York. The Bruins at home are allowing 2.54 goals per game, which is 6th best in the NHL. On the road, they are allowing four goals per game, which is the worst figure in the league. And again, with the Bruins on a back-to-back, they might have some tired legs that will hurt them even more here. With backup netminder Korpisalo in the net instead of Jeremy Swayman, who has been great, this could be a great matchup for Panarin and Miller.
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