Wednesdays are generally a light night on the weekly NHL schedule. In fact, there hasn’t been a Wednesday this season with more than five games on the docket but that changes this week because of U.S. Thanksgiving.
Since all 32 teams get Thursday off, it means there’s 14 games for fans to look forward to Wednesday before a bonus slate of Friday afternoon games.
Six Canadian teams are in action with the Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets featured on Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey, the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs playing on regional Sportsnet channels while the Senators visit the Sharks in one of eight additional games available on SN NOW.
With several notable matchups and streaks to keep an eye on, here are a few player prop bets to monitor during an unusually heavy Wednesday slate of games.
Should you consider fading Kadri’s point streak?
Save for a brief four-game drought from Oct. 19-26, Nazem Kadri has been automatic for the Colorado Avalanche this season. The forward is riding a nine-game point streak, but can he make it double-digits against the Anaheim Ducks?
John Gibson, Anaheim’s projected starting goalie, has lost two in a row but has made 30-plus saves in three consecutive starts and has posted solid career numbers when facing Colorado – an 8-5-2 record, .933 save percentage and 2.10 goals-against average.
Kadri’s odds to record at least one point are a chalky -170, and if you wager his streak comes to an end you can get it at +130. The reason you’re getting plus-money on the fade is the fact Kadri sits tied for fourth in league scoring.
If you think he can extend his hot streak and you’re seeking better value on Kadri than the aforementioned -170 bet then you can look to the multi-point market where a two-point outing from the second-line centre has +180 odds. Kadri has registered three or more points in four of his past seven games and if he adds another three-point night you can cash a ticket with +687 odds. Kadri has 12 points in the past four games alone, so it’s well within the realm of possibility.
Dubois faces Blue Jackets for first time
It has been 10 months since Pierre-Luc Dubois was traded to the Winnipeg Jets from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a deal that saw Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic go back the other way.
Dubois is on pace for a career year and will be looking to send a message to the team that drafted him third overall in 2016. The 23-year-old has -123 odds to record a point (+175 anytime assist odds and +225 anytime goal odds) against his former team. He hasn’t registered an assist in four games, so those +175 odds have some bounce-back appeal.
Will Ovechkin continue feasting on Montreal?
Alex Ovechkin is favoured by approximately -300 to register at least one point Wednesday and it’s no surprise considering he has 33 goals and 22 assists in 50 career games against Montreal – not to mention he ranks second in league goals and third in points so far this season.
Ovechkin has 10 goals in eight regular-season games against the Canadiens since 2017-18 and No. 8’s anytime goal odds for Wednesday are set at +114. A multi-goal outing would net a +400 return and a hattrick a whopping +2400.
Time to consider a superstar parlay?
Instead of our usual bargain hunting section this week, let’s try something different. Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews both have enticing road matchups tonight against the Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings, respectively, and with McDavid coming off his first pointless game of 2021-22 and Matthews pointless in his last two outings it’ll be fun wagering that both light up the scoresheet.
McDavid doesn’t have a multi-goal game in more than a month, while Matthews has scored just twice in his past eight which is below his usual pace. The two superstars have identical +100 anytime and +400 multi-goal odds, which means you would get a +300 return on a parlay if they both scored and a +2400 return if a McDavid-Matthews multi-goal parlay cashed.
All listed betting odds via Bodog as of Wednesday afternoon
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