Metro Bet gives out a pair of picks for Wednesday’s late-night NHL slate.
Nashville Predators at Vegas Golden Knights
Moneyline: Predators +110, Golden Knights -125
Puckline: Predators +1.5 goals (-225), Golden Knights -1.5 goals (+195)
Betting Total: 6.0 goals (Over -110, Under -110)
Time (Eastern), TV: 10 p.m., NBCSN
Two of the west’s best teams, the Nashville Predators and the Vegas Golden Knights, meet at the T-Mobile Center on Wednesday night seeking to stop their respective mini-skids. Vegas has dropped three of their last five contests, while Nashville has lost four of their last six. The home team has a decisive edge, at least in the special teams department.
The Golden Knights have killed off 16 of their last 18 penalties (87.5 percent) and have scored twice on the power play since going 0-for-6 in their 4-1 loss to Winnipeg on Jan. 15. Meanwhile, the Predators’ penalty kill has surrendered seven power play goals in their last 21 chances, and their power play is 0-for-23 dating back to Jan. 10.
Vegas right winger Alex Tuch, who has taken the team lead in points (39) despite playing eight fewer games than runner-up Jonathan Marchessault, has five points over his last five efforts. Tuch is now just two points behind defenseman Nate Schmidt for the team lead in plus/minus rating at plus-12. Paul Stastny has been finding friendly sticks left and right of late, registering six assists over his last four outings to go with one goal of his own.
It’s been tough to beat the Golden Knights defense of late (2.4 goals allowed per game) and at home, where they are 16-8 straight-up this year (2.2 goals allowed per game).
Prediction: Golden Knights win, 4-3
The play: Golden Knights moneyline and Blues vs. Ducks Under 5.5 goals Parlay (+230)
St. Louis Blues at Anaheim Ducks
Moneyline: Blues -120, Ducks +105
Puckline: Blues -1.5 goals (+225), Ducks +1.5 goals (-265)
Betting Total: 5.5 goals (Over EVEN, Under -120)
Time (Eastern): 10 p.m.
There are several signs to suggest the Anaheim Ducks will dismantle the St. Louis Blues at the Honda Center on Wednesday night. They’re 21-6 straight up in home games vs. this opponent, and 4-1 in their last five meetings overall. But Anaheim is 3-13 in their last 16 tilts and is still reeling from a recent 12-game losing streak, so a wager on the total seems like a better idea.
Simply put, goals have been hard to come by for both clubs recently. The Under is 7-2 in the last nine Blues games, and 4-1 in the last five Ducks home games. Going further back, Anaheim’s Over/Under record is 16-33-2 in their last 51 contests, per Covers.com, and the Under has cashed in four of the last five meetings between these two squads.
Injuries could further hamper these offenses on Wednesday night. David Perron (upper body), second in points for St. Louis (35), could miss his third straight game. Anaheim forwards Jakob Silfverberg (lower body), Ryan Kesler (lower body) and Ondrej Kase (upper body) all sat out practice on Monday and have missed multiple games already.
Prediction: Ducks win, 3-2
The play: Golden Knights moneyline and Blues vs. Ducks Under 5.5 goals Parlay (+230)
