NHL Best Bets Today: Matchups, Odds, Picks, Predictions

The NHL schedule begins Wednesday with Boston Bruins' visit to Washington Capitals. Both teams are vulnerable due to injuries involving star players.

Wednesday’s NHL schedule and odds are as follows: Toronto Maple Leafs (-260), Montreal Canadiens (+220), Columbus Blue Jackets (+230), Carolina Hurricanes (-275), Boston Bruins (+120), Chicago Blackhawks (+340), Colorado Avalanche (-425), Vancouver Canucks (+165), Edmonton Oilers (-195), Seattle Kraken (+105), Anaheim Ducks (-125).

Toronto Maple Leafs are losing to Montreal Canadiens. Columbus Blue Jackets are winning against Carolina Hurricanes. Boston Bruins are beating Washington Capitals. Chicago Blackhawks are up against Colorado Avalanche. Vancouver Canucks are down against Edmonton Oilers. Seattle Kraken is winning over Anaheim Ducks.

There are Wednesday's NHL Best Bets. Moneyline is Kraken, spread is 1.5, total is 6. 5, and Canucks are an upset.

Seattle Kraken are taking on Anaheim Ducks on the road. Kraken won just 11 of 41 road games last season. Anaheim's No. 1 goalie John Gibson is injured and they will turn to backup Anthony Stolarz. Seattle's new players include Andre Burakovsky, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Matty Beniers.

Colorado Avalanche are the reigning Stanley Cup champions. They are playing against the Chicago Blackhawks, who have the worst record in the league. Colorado won 22 of 41 home games last season by a margin of at least two goals. Chicago lost 16 of its 41 road games by at at most two or more goals last year.

Montreal finished with the worst record in the league last season. Montreal finished 30th in all-situations goalsagainst per 60 minutes on home ice last year. Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares was injured in training camp but he's ready for the season opener.

Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks are playing each other. Vancouver is an underdog at +165. Edmonton has more realistic Stanley Cup hopes. Edmonton hired Jay Woodcroft as their head coach last season and they played to a nearly 119 points.

Seth Jarvis finished his rookie season on the first line and on Carolina's No. 1 power play unit. He scored 20 points in 22 games last season. Jarvis is at home against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that struggled on road last year.

Scott Cullen is SportsbookReview.com's Sports Betting Analyst. He wrote about fantasy sports for TSN for many years and has written for The Athletic, NHL. com, The Hockey News, Monkey Knife Fight, and McKeen's Hockey. Cullen played hockey for Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario.