NHL · 5 months ago

NHL Wednesday Predictions | Blackhawks, Islanders and Stars Best Bets

Sportsgrid Staff

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NHL Wednesday Predictions | Blackhawks, Islanders and Stars Best Bets

Wednesday’s NHL Best Bets

The NHL slate is heating up as teams battle for playoff positioning, and Wednesday night offers sharp betting opportunities across the board. From struggling defenses to surging five-on-five metrics, we’ve broken down three matchups where the numbers reveal real value. Let’s hit the ice and lock in our best bets for tonight.

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Vancouver Canucks at New York Islanders

The Vancouver Canucks limp into UBS Arena tonight, trying to salvage their lengthy six-game road trip. Despite a shootout win in their last outing, their recent form remains suspect. Vancouver has been outmatched in five of its past six games, managing a shaky 47.6% expected goals-for rating while surrendering 10+ high-danger chances in three of those contests.

Meanwhile, the New York Islanders have found their stride offensively, especially at five-on-five. They’ve netted three even-strength goals in four of their last five games and are averaging 10.8 high-danger chances over that span. The Isles have cracked double digits in quality chances in four of those five outings.

With Vancouver bleeding prime opportunities and New York trending upward in both scoring and shot quality, there’s more implied win probability in backing the Isles than the market reflects. Take New York at near-even money on home ice.

Pick: Islanders Moneyline (-113)

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New Jersey Devils at Chicago Blackhawks

Things are unraveling quickly for the New Jersey Devils, and a trip to Illinois may not offer the reprieve they need against the Chicago Blackhawks. New Jersey has dropped three straight and seven of its last 11, and goaltending has become a liability. Over their past five, Devils netminders have posted a dreadful .868 save percentage while allowing 3.74 goals per game.

Defensive breakdowns are primarily to blame. New Jersey has allowed five of its last six opponents to generate double-digit high-danger chances, averaging 12.0 allowed per game.

While not a juggernaut offensively, Chicago has quietly improved under the hood. The Blackhawks have created 10+ high-danger chances in four of their last seven and recently broke out for seven total goals—five of them at five-on-five—in a long-overdue offensive eruption. That surge suggests their production is finally catching up to the process.

With the Devils’ defense in disarray and goaltending continuing to sink, Chicago holds enough value as a +190 home underdog to justify the risk.

Pick: Blackhawks Moneyline (+190)

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Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers

The absence of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leaves a gaping hole in the Edmonton Oilers‘ lineup, and oddsmakers have responded accordingly. Edmonton still won without them last time, but the underlying numbers tell a different story. The Oilers posted just a 45.7% expected goals-for rate at even strength and were thoroughly out-chanced in two of their last four games.

The Dallas Stars, on the other hand, are thriving defensively. The Stars haven’t allowed more than nine high-danger chances in six straight games and have given up only 16 goals over that stretch. They’re suffocating opponents, with their last three foes combining for no more than 23 total scoring chances.

The Oilers will likely struggle against Dallas’ elite defensive core without their offensive engines. The Stars are underpriced here and worth a play as short road favorites.

Pick: Stars Moneyline (-137)

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