NHL Wednesday best bets: Canes to snap Oilers' win streak
We had a perfect night on the ice Tuesday, winning both best bets - as well as all three player props.
Let's look at a couple sides worth backing as we try to stay hot.
Golden Knights (-160) @ Blues (+135)
The Blues have been a roller-coaster ride this season, seemingly following every win with a loss and vice versa.
I don't think it's a worthwhile trend to bet on but believe it says a lot about the Blues' lack of quality.
St. Louis ranks near the bottom of the league in terms of five-on-five shot share. The same can be said of expected goals.
It's not a good team at full strength. Only one team - the Capitals - has scored fewer goals while on the power play. There isn't much to get excited about.
The Blues essentially win if the goaltending is very good and lose if it isn't. You can't rely on grade A netminding every night, hence the fluctuation in their results.
They ground out a win against the Golden Knights last time out, but it certainly wasn't deserved. Vegas dominated the puck and piled up the chances throughout, winning the expected goals battle 4.85-2.52.
I think that discrepancy shows how much of a gap there is in quality between the two sides. The Golden Knights are also as consistent and structured as they come. They often respond immediately following a loss, and I expect no different this time around.
Back the Golden Knights to flex their muscles at five-on-five and take home two points inside 60 minutes.
Bet: Golden Knights in regulation (-105)
Hurricanes (-105) @ Oilers (-115)
The Hurricanes dominate territorially every night. They've controlled 57% of the expected goals share at five-on-five this season, and those numbers are trending upward. Their xG share sits above 60% over the past couple of weeks.
Carolina is generating substantially more than it gives up regardless of the caliber of opponent. In their most recent game, the Hurricanes outshot a strong Jets team 43-22 in Winnipeg. Impressive stuff.
Although that didn't translate to a victory, they did everything but convert. That shouldn't be as much of an issue against the Oilers.
Stuart Skinner owns an .881 save percentage through 17 starts and ranks dead last in goals saved above expected at -9.2, putting him a couple goals clear of the next closest goaltender, Vitek Vanecek.
Shot volume is rarely an issue for the Hurricanes. That means a lot is going to be put on Skinner's shoulders - and we have no reason to believe he'll be able to handle it.
Although the Oilers are a strong five-on-five team in their own right, they aren't at the Hurricanes' level. They don't have the same depth up front and aren't as structured on the back end.
If the Hurricanes can stay disciplined and avoid parading to the box against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, they have a very good chance of snapping Edmonton's four-game winning streak.
Bet: Hurricanes (-105)
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.