We have a small three-game slate on the docket for Wednesday night. Let's look at three bets that stand out from the rest.
Red Wings (+210) @ Wild (-250)
The Red Wings are starting to come down to earth following a surprisingly strong start to the season, and rightfully so.
They've won just twice over the last eight games, which makes a lot of sense when you look at the numbers.
Detroit has posted a putrid 43.48% expected goal share at five-on-five, which ranks 29th in the NHL, only ahead of bottom-feeders like the Blackhawks, Coyotes, and Ducks. That's not the best company to be keeping for a team hoping to contend for a playoff spot.
Ville Husso has done a great job of masking the Red Wings' problems this season. But they're playing at such a poor level he has little margin for error.
Take Tuesday, for example. Husso conceded one goal against an excellent Hurricanes team, and that wasn't enough to help Detroit grab even one point in the standings.
Now the Red Wings have to travel to Minnesota to take on a red-hot Wild team. Minnesota has won six of its last eight and stomped opponents at five-on-five, posting a remarkably strong 56.55 expected goals for percentage.
The Wild should dominate the run of play against a fatigued and struggling Red Wings team. Although Husso has started both legs of a back-to-back this season, Detroit will likely turn to Alex Nedeljkovic in this spot.
If that's the case, Kirill Kaprizov and Co. should be champing at the bit to get a piece of him. Nedeljkovic owns a .880 save percentage and has won just two games through nine appearances.
He's also conceded 11.1 goals more than expected. Among 59 goaltenders to man the crease at least nine times this campaign, only Elvis Merzlikins has allowed more goals than expected on a per-start basis.
Look for the Wild to take care of business inside 60 minutes.
Bet: Wild in regulation (-155)
Canucks (+150) @ Flames (-175)
The Canucks and Flames are amid very strange seasons. It feels like you never know what you'll get from either on a nightly basis.
Vancouver will look like it's in the Conor Bedard sweepstakes one night but then take out a top-tier team the next. The Flames will look like last season's powerhouse club one night but then lose to the Blue Jackets by multiple goals the next.
However, scoring goals in the first period is the one consistent area for both teams.
Only two squads - Golden Knights and Sabres - have scored more times in the first period than the Flames this campaign. Win or lose, Calgary generally finds a way to put the puck in the net early.
The Canucks aren't far behind. They're tied for eighth in goals scored in the opening frame and rank fifth on a per-game basis.
With each side playing high-event hockey in the early goings of contests and both clubs ranking bottom 10 in team save percentage, there's plenty of reason to expect early fireworks here.
Bet: Over 1.5 first period goals (-140)
Elias Pettersson over 2.5 shots (-140)
Sticking with this all-Canadian matchup, Elias Pettersson pops off the page more than anybody else with regards to shot props.
Pettersson has been remarkably consistent shooting the puck, generating at least three shots on target in nine of the last 10 games.
He's hit against the Vegas Golden Knights twice, Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals, and Wild in that time, so it's not as if he's benefited from a soft schedule. He's getting the job done against strong teams.
Pettersson has one of the highest shooting ceilings and floors in the league right now. He's generated 72 shot attempts over the last 10 games, which ranks eighth in the NHL behind the likes of Tage Thompson and Auston Matthews.
The Flames aren't a priority target for shots. But 2.5 isn't a big ask given the volume we're seeing from Pettersson.
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.
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