The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue to deliver thrilling excitement on a nightly basis. Things don’t appear to be slowing down any time soon, which is great news for hockey fans. Wednesday’s slate brings us a pair of intriguing matchups as the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres begin their second round series and the Anaheim Ducks battle the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of their series. If you will be following along and want some action, I have picked out my 3 NHL best bets for Wednesday’s games with lines and odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook at the time of publishing. In addition, don’t forget to check out all of our NHL predictions for EVERY game throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including both games on today’s schedule.
NHL best bet: Montreal Canadiens ML over Buffalo Sabres (+110)
The Canadiens enter their second round matchup against the Sabres coming off a thrilling 7-game series against the Lightning. All 7 games were decided by a single goal with 4 games needing to be decided in overtime. It was a physical, evenly-matched series that undoubtedly gives Montreal plenty of momentum heading into Buffalo. Winning those types of tightly-contested playoff games against a veteran team with plenty of playoff experience makes the Canadiens the much more battle-tested team heading into this series.
While the Sabres prevailed over the Bruins in 6 games, they weren’t exactly on fire when playing at home. The Sabres dropped 2 of 3 games at KeyBank Center in the first round. Their only home win came in Game 1, and they were throughout out-played and trailed for over 50 minutes of that contest. It took a wild 4-goal 3rd period comeback to find the win column. In what should be a wild series to watch unfold, I expect the Canadiens to steal a Game 1 victory on the road.
NHL best bet: Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres Over 5.5 (-122)
The Canadiens enter this series looking to get back on track offensively. Montreal scored just 2 total goals over Games 6 and 7 against Tampa Bay, but they have found success against Buffalo this season. The Canadiens scored at least 3 goals in 3 of their 4 regular season matchups against the Sabres. In addition, at least 6 total goals were scored in all 4 matchups. Coming off a defensively grueling series with limited ice space against Tampa Bay, look for things to open up a bit more for Montreal in Game 1 against Buffalo.
It’s only a matter of time before the Buffalo power play gets rolling. The Sabres went just 1-for-24 on the man advantage in the first round against the Bruins. However, in 2 home games against the Canadiens in the regular season, the Sabres went 3-for-8 on the power play. That should give them some confidence heading into this matchup. These teams have shown they know how to score plenty of goals against one another, and while things may tighten up a bit in the postseason, they should still be able to clear the listed total of 5.5 in Wednesday’s Game 1.
Check out our full Canadiens vs Sabres Game 1 prediction
NHL best bet: Anaheim Ducks vs Vegas Golden Knights Over 6.5 (+102)
The Ducks and Golden Knights are set for Game 2 on Wednesday night after Vegas took Game 1 by a score of 3-1 on Monday. It was a bit of a controversial win, as Ivan Barbashev’s game-winning goal came on a controversial non-icing call late in the 3rd period. After 4 total goals were scored in Game 1, I expect things to open up a bit more in Game 2. Despite scoring just a single goal, the Ducks managed to out-shoot the Golden Knights by a margin of 34-22. Anaheim scored 4.33 goals per game in the first round against Edmonton, and while the Oilers are not nearly as strong of a defensive team as the Golden Knights, the Ducks should still have some confidence in the offensive zone.
Vegas ranks 4th among all playoff teams scoring 3.71 goals per game so far in the playoffs. They potted 5 goals each in the final 3 games of their series against Utah, and while they needed a Mitch Marner empty-netter to reach 3 goals in Game 1 of this series, don’t be surprised if they find another gear in Game 2. The Ducks are not a strong defensive team, as they ranked 29th in the NHL allowing 3.51 goals per game throughout the course of the regular season. Vegas is a well-coached team full of veterans, and they should be able to make the necessary adjustments to put forth a better offensive performance in this one. Look to the over.
For a play on the side, find our Wild vs Avalanche Game 1 prediction
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