Wednesday Wagers: Rangers' Mika Zibanejad a player to target

With COVID once again making its way through the NHL, resulting in an increasing number of players entering the league’s health and safety protocols, the spotlight in the hockey world this week is not focussed solely on box scores.

However, the show goes on, since all the issues surrounding COVID and the upcoming Olympic decision won’t be solved in one day, and there are three games for fans to enjoy Wednesday night.

There aren’t any Canadian teams in action on Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey this week. Instead, the Washington Capitals visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Sportsnet channels with Rangers-Coyotes and Kraken-Ducks both available to watch on SN NOW Premium.

Here are a few player prop bets to consider for Wednesday’s three-game slate:

Can Zibanejad go off vs. Coyotes?

Mika Zibanejad is in a bit of a slump, pointless in three of his past four games with only one goal in his past 17 games. Can a meeting with Arizona help him inch back toward point-per-game production?

The Rangers are a remarkable 13-0-3 this season when Zibanejad registers at least one point and just 5-7-0 when he doesn’t. Arizona has lost five straight, allowing nearly five goals against per night during this stretch, and New York is a two-to-one moneyline favourite to win the game. (Keep in mind the Blue Shirts played last night in Colorado and had to travel with no days off.)

Zibanejad’s anytime point odds are a chalky -200, indicating the oddsmakers expect his name to hit the scoresheet. The over on his 3.5 shots total is -135, although he has only registered four or more shots on goal 10 times this season. His anytime assist odds are +100 and anytime goal is set at +140. Zibanejad has five multipoint outings this season and his odds to register two or more points against the Coyotes is +275; his first three-point night of the season would cash at +1275 odds.

Worth chasing plus-money on Ovechkin shot total?

Alex Ovechkin’s shot total was listed at 4.5, with the over laying +108 odds. Now, you’re not going to get plus-money odds on Ovechkin shot totals too often. Unsurprisingly, the Capitals superstar is tied for the league lead in shots on goal with 121, averaging just above 4.3 shots per game.

Ovechkin would need at least five shots on goal for the over to hit, something he has done in 13 of the 28 games he has played this season. The winger has averaged 3.75 shots per game over 20 games when playing the Blackhawks, and Chicago allows the 14th-fewest shots against per game.

BARGAIN HUNTING

Here are a few players in Wednesday night’s action laying promising goal odds to keep an eye on:

Zegras +250 to score vs. Kraken: Trevor Zegras is known more for his playmaking than his goal scoring, yet he has three straight goose eggs in the points column since his assist of the year that drew old-school criticism from John Tortorella. The 20-year-old forward stood up for himself, questioned Tortorella’s comments, and because of this, him scoring his first goal in a month is my “Pipe down, Torts” Play of the Day!

Look for Zegras to add another highlight to his collection, except this time of the goal variety. As a side note, Zegras’s +150 anytime assist odds are tempting going up against a Seattle team allowing the fifth-most goals against.

Strome +325 to score vs. Capitals: Dylan Strome has only five points this season and was healthy-scratched just last week, but he’s getting an opportunity on Chicago’s top line between Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat. When you play with players like those two wingers, +325 goal odds carry obvious value.

Donskoi +400 to score vs. Ducks: Wait, Joonas Donskoi hasn’t scored this season? He has scored between 14-17 goals four years running and is averaging more than 16 minutes per night. Could Wednesday night be the night?

All listed betting odds via Bodog as of Wednesday afternoon

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