NHL Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (4/12)

The NHL season is down to its final days as each team has just 1-2 games remaining. However, there’s still plenty to be determined in terms of playoff positioning down the stretch. Two of tonight’s three games have playoff implications, including the Canadiens taking on the Islanders and the Blues hosting the Stars. 

Let’s dive into those two matchups and get a couple of best bets locked in. 

Today’s Best NHL Bets

Montreal Canadiens (+300) vs. New York Islanders (-365) | O/U 6.0 (+100/-120) 

Thanks to an absolute flop from the Penguins last night, who lost to the Blackhawks 5-2 at home, the Islanders now have simple instructions heading into their finale: win, and you’re in. With a win tonight, New York will claim at least the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. They’ll host the Canadiens at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY, at 7:00 p.m. ET.

I have to ride with the Isles on the puck line tonight. As if motivation isn’t enough of a reason to back New York, they’re also better in just about every major statistical category.

The matchup I want to isolate in this Eastern Conference showdown is starting goaltender Ilya Sorokin versus the Canadiens’ offense. Sorokin has been the backbone of the club this season, going 30-22-7 with a 2.35 GAA and .925 SV%. He gets even better at home, seeing those numbers improve to 1.91 and .937, respectively. The Russian-born netminder will be tasked with taking on a Montreal team that’s currently 26th offensively (2.8 GPG) and 28th on the power play (16.3%). 

Furthermore, the Canadiens are just 1-4-0 over their last five games, and they’ve failed to cover the puck line in each defeat. Honestly, we may be in a spot where two goals are enough to win this bet. But it shouldn’t take much offense to get there tonight with Sorokin playing in a de facto elimination game. 

Bet: New York Islanders -1.5 (-135)

Dallas Stars (-165) vs. St. Louis Blues (+140) | O/U 6.0 (-125/+105) 

The Stars still have a chance at winning the Central Division, where they trail Colorado by a point heading into tonight’s action. Dallas will take on St. Louis in a divisional matchup set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO.

Dallas has been playing excellently recently, going 5-1-0 over their last six games and outscoring their opponents 28-12 during the stretch. This team is clicking on all cylinders right now, including getting great goaltending from Jake Oettinger. Over four games this month, the 24-year-old is 3-1-0 with a 1.62 GAA and .932 SV%. 

Offensively, the Stars will also have an edge, where they’re bringing in the sixth-ranked power play unit in the league (24.5%). During their current four-game win streak, they’ve gone 5/11 (45.5%) on the man advantage. Should they go up a man tonight, it could prove to be the difference-maker against a Blues side that’s 28th on the penalty kill (72.9%). I’m going to lay the juice with the Stars to win this game outright. 

Bet: Dallas Stars Moneyline (-165)