We’re officially one week into the 2021 season and Wednesday brings us five big frozen matchups featuring Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs facing Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
We’re banking on the league’s most creative offense to pick up another win and playing a pair of totals from two games out of the West Division.
Wednesday is packed with bettable NHL action. We break down the odds and bring our best NHL picks and predictions for Wednesday, January 20.
NHL Picks for Today
Edmonton Oilers vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen started the season on a shaky note, but a 3-1 win versus Winnipeg on Monday may have the No. 1 netminder’s mind back on track. Freddy stopped 27 of 28 shots and preserved a one-goal lead throughout the third period where Winnipeg was constantly threatening.
After allowing nine goals through the first two games, the Buds have found a new defensive game that has seen them give up three goals on 47 shots over their previous two games.
Speaking of keeping the puck out of the net, the Oilers finished up a two-game series with the Montreal Canadiens and mustered just two goals (one shorthanded). Connor McDavid and company faced both Montreal’s No.1 and No. 2 goalies but still failed to light the lamp.
The Oilers are struggling on the backend as well, as their 14 goals allowed ranks third-last heading into Tuesday’s games. No team has allowed more 5-on-5 goals than Edmonton this year.
Edmonton has also surrendered two shorthanded goals while going 2-for-18 with the man advantage. Having a +/- difference of zero goals on the PP is not the way they wanted to start the season.
The top line of Toronto is buzzing and it’s just a matter of time before the flood gates break open as they lead the league in scoring chances for by a large margin.
We’re a little hesitant to hit the Over as both teams are a combined 0-4 O/U in their last four, but we will be riding the Leafs ML and taking them 3-way (in regulation) since the 2-way ML is -155.
PREDICTION: Toronto Maple Leafs 3-way regulation moneyline (+100)
San Jose Sharks vs St. Louis Blues
The San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues will play the second game of a two-game series Wednesday in St. Louis after the Blues won 5-4 in a back-and-forth offensive battle on Monday.
The Blues showed a lot of fight coming back from 2-0 in the first then 3-2 in the second before sealing with the go-ahead goal midway through the final period.
High-scoring games have been more common than not with these two teams this year as they are a combined 5-1 O/U to begin the year. The Sharks have given up at least three goals in each game this season and have played the Coyotes and Blues, who were not big offensive teams in 2020.
San Jose has also come out of the gates with one of the league’s best powerplays, at 4 for 11 to begin the year. The Blues are taking a healthy five penalties per game which is bad news for them as they surprisingly own the league’s worst penalty kill which is an Over-friendly 6-for-14 (42.9 percent).
With special teams possibly playing a big role in Wednesday’s game, we’re backing the Over 6 and are hoping for the penalty box to be a busy place Wednesday night.
PREDICTION: San Jose vs St. Louis Over 6 (-110)
Minnesota Wild vs Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks have just four goals through three games and three of those have come from their third-line winger. Somehow the Ducks have three points thanks to an OT loss and Monday’s 1-0 shutout win over the Minnesota Wild.
Wednesday, the Wild and Ducks will play the second game of a two-game set with some early line movement towards the Under 5.5 — for good reason.
The Wild picked up a pair of OT wins versus the Kings to start the season, but had to do it the hard way as they trailed both those games 3-1 heading into the third period. Minnesota has scored a total of three goals in seven of their nine periods and has started the year 0-for-16 on the powerplay.
Equaling the Wilds’ powerplay tallies are the Ducks with zero themselves. Anaheim, however, has done a terrible job of drawing penalties and has had only five powerplay chances through three games.
With a pair of goalies coming off 1-0 games and neither team having success burying the biscuit 5 on 5 or 5 on 4, there is only one way to bet this total, and that's with the Under.
PREDICTION: Minnesota Wild vs Anaheim Ducks - Under 5.5 (-135)
Top NHL Consensus for Today
Want to know who today's biggest NHL betting and consensus bets are right now? Check out our top NHL consensus picks.
Yesterday's picks: 1-1-1 (-0.09 units)
Season record to date: 6-13-1 (-5.18 units)
NHL Betting Card for January 20
- Toronto Maple Leafs 3-way regulation moneyline (+100)
- San Jose vs St. Louis Over 6 (-110)
- Minnesota Wild vs Anaheim Ducks - Under 5.5 (-135)
NHL Parlays
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Where Can I Bet on the NHL?
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