There are only four games on Wednesday night's slate, but there is plenty of value on the board.
Let's dig into it as we look to build on a 3-0 night with our best bets.
Devils (+270) @ Maple Leafs (-340)
The Toronto Maple Leafs own a very pedestrian 5-4-1 record over the last 10 games, but don't let that fool you - they have largely outplayed their opponents.
At five-on-five, the Maple Leafs have controlled over 56% of the shot attempts (fourth) and 57% of the expected goals (fifth) during this spell of mediocre results.
It is not exaggerating to say the only thing holding Toronto back is goaltending. The Leafs' .896 save percentage is among the league's worst over the last 10 contests, and the issues date back long before then.
The good news is the New Jersey Devils have dealt with similar problems. While their five-on-five profile also suggests they're better than the results indicate, goaltending has been their undoing. Only the Seattle Kraken have a worse team save percentage than the Devils this season.
Adding Andrew Hammond to the mix should help, but there's only so much a 34-year-old journeyman can do. There's also no guarantee he starts tonight, which would mean New Jersey either sends out Nico Daws back-to-back nights - the club pulled him last time it tried that - or Jon Gillies and his .884 save percentage.
No matter who the Devils put in the crease, the Leafs are in a good spot to pick up a bounce-back victory.
Bet: Maple Leafs -1.5 (-130)
Blackhawks (+105) @ Ducks (-125)
The Anaheim Ducks are not a good team. The Ducks have won just two of their last 10 games and recently sold off key veterans like Rickard Rakell, Hampus Lindholm, and Josh Manson. Even so, I like Anaheim to pick up two points in this one.
As poorly as the Ducks are playing, the Chicago Blackhawks might be a tier below. The team has controlled just 43% of the (five-on-five) expected goal share over the last 10 matchups, ranking them 27th in the NHL - just below the Buffalo Sabres.
Anaheim has fared much better in that category, controlling more than 52% of the expected goal share over the same period of play. The Ducks don't have many good players to finish the chances they get, but routinely generating more than their opponents is a good sign.
I think the Ducks should be able to punch above their weight class in terms of finishing in this game. Why? With Marc-Andre Fleury out of the picture, Kevin Lankinen is now the Blackhawks' starter - and he has been an unmitigated disaster this campaign.
Among all netminders with at least 17 appearances, only one grades out worse in goals saved above expected per start. One.
It doesn't take much to beat Lankinen. If Anaheim can once again get the bulk of the chances, it should lead to success in this game.
Bet: Ducks (-125)
Trevor Zegras over 2.5 shots (+105)
Trevor Zegras finds himself in a very good spot at home against Chicago. The Blackhawks are among the league's worst teams at limiting shots to centers, ranking in the bottom 10 since the beginning of February and for the season as a whole. Whether you weigh the larger sample or recent play more heavily, Chicago looks very attackable.
Matchups are very important for a player like Zegras, as his volume tends to be inconsistent. He has proven capable of taking advantage of plus matchups, with previous outings against Chicago serving as the perfect examples.
Zegras registered at least three shots in both meetings versus the Blackhawks this season, combining for a whopping 13 shot attempts in that time. Look for that success to continue tonight.
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.
