The action in the Stanley Cup Playoffs has already been fast and furious, and there doesn’t seem to be any signs of slowing down. Wednesday’s slate brings us a pair of Game 3 matchups as the Flyers host the Penguins and the Wild battle the Stars, as well as a Game 2 tilt between the Ducks and Oilers. If you will be following along and want to have some action for Wednesday’s 3-game playoff slate, I have picked out my 3 NHL best bets for today, with odds and lines courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook at the time of publishing. Furthermore, don’t forget to check out all of our NHL predictions for every game throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including all 3 Wednesday matchups.
NHL best bet: Dallas Stars ML over Minnesota Wild (+110)
The Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild are set for a pivotal Game 3 matchup on Wednesday night. Minnesota took the series-opener in dominating 6-1 fashion, but Dallas got the bounce back they needed with a 4-2 victory in Game 2. Dallas’ poise and experience was evident in that Game 2 win, as they got the job done with their backs against the wall. I expect that postseason experience and calm demeanor to shine through again in Game 3 when the series shifts to Minnesota.
The Stars have been solid on the road all season long, owning a 24-9-8 record away from Dallas. They also have the more experienced goaltender in Jake Oettinger, who looked sharp stopping 28 of 30 shots in Game 2. Jesper Wallstedt has plenty of skill, but Oettinger has the edge when it comes to playoff experience and playing in the biggest moments. With Oettinger back on track and playing with plenty of confidence again, look for the Stars to claim a hard-fought Game 3 win on the road.
Read our full Stars vs Wild prediction for tonight’s Game 3
NHL best bet: Philadelphia Flyers ML over Pittsburgh Penguins (-115)
The Pittsburgh Penguins look like a defeated team right now. Trailing 1-0 in this series, the Penguins laid an egg in Game 2 and lost by a score of 3-0 in a game that was never really in doubt. Now they are trailing 2-0 and have to hit the road for Game 3 in Philadelphia. After being thoroughly dominated in Game 2, I am not expecting the Penguins to suddenly get back on track in a raucous environment at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Pittsburgh looked overwhelmed from start to finish in Game 2, and most alarmingly, looked out-manned when they were on the power play. They gave up one short-handed goal, but could have very easily given 1 or 2 more. The Penguins have now lost 5 games in a row going back to the end of the regular season, and they’ve scored just 2 goals in this series so far. The red flags are flying around the Penguins right now, while the Flyers have all the momentum. Back the Flyers at home.
Read our full Penguins vs Flyers Game 3 prediction for tonight’s matchup
NHL best bet: Edmonton Oilers 3-way ML over Anaheim Ducks (-115)
The Edmonton Oilers took Game 1 of this series against the Anaheim Ducks thanks to a last-minute goal from Kasperi Kapanen. What really stood out about that Game 1 victory is that the Oilers scored 4 goals without receiving a single point from Connor McDavid. Edmonton got the depth scoring it’s been craving, as Kapanen and Jason Dickinson each scored a pair of goals and Vasily Podkolzin collected a pair of assists. In the playoffs, getting solid contributions from those types of role players will be huge for Edmonton.
It’s only a matter of time before McDavid gets back on the score sheet in a big way, which should have Ducks fans nervous about tonight’s Game 2. Plus, Leon Draisaitl looked just fine making his return to the ice after missing over a month with a lower body injury. He played over 22 minutes and recorded a pair of assists. Look for Edmonton’s dynamic duo to lead the Oilers to a Game 2 victory in regulation.
Lock in our Ducks vs Oilers prediction for Game 2
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