NHL Wednesday betting preview: Doughty will get last laugh over Tkachuk
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Overtime decided our fate on Tuesday, as we settled for a 1-2 record with our bets, though you managed a 2-2 night if you followed our trend of the day.
Despite the small card on Wednesday, we're undoubtedly set to bounce back.
GOATs and scapegoats
Jamie Benn went into Tuesday with just 15 goals through 55 games this season. That had him pace for 23, which would be his lowest output since the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign. The Dallas Stars captain put on his cape for us yesterday though, potting a hat trick in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Boy, did we need that.
Benn's performance was especially important after we lost our best bet on the Pittsburgh Penguins, who fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in overtime. Evgeni Malkin scored the Pens' lone goal in the game, but I still can't believe what I saw from him in overtime. There are forwards playing in the GTHL that would have put forth a better defensive effort on Yanni Gourde's overtime winner.
Wednesday bets
Montreal Canadiens/Boston Bruins under 5.5 (+105)
Canadiens netminder Carey Price is looking like his old self these days, posting a remarkable .947 save percentage since Jan. 11. Price was pulled back on Nov. 26 in his last meeting with the Bruins, so you can expect an inspired performance from one of the league's best goaltenders.
The last six meetings between these teams in Boston have gone under the total, with Montreal scoring just nine goals combined. Don’t expect much offense from the Canadiens tonight, but Price should keep them in the game.
Patrick Kane over 3.5 shots (-110), Bo Horvat over 2.5 shots (-110)
There should be a ton of offense in this matchup with the total set at 6.5 (more on that below with our trend of the night). The Chicago Blackhawks' last seven meetings with the Vancouver Canucks north of the border have produced six overs and a push, with Patrick Kane and Bo Horvat being major factors. Kane has recorded at least four shots in all four meetings with the Canucks over the last two seasons, while Horvat has managed a whopping 23 shots over his last four games against the Blackhawks (5.75 per game), including 14 in the two meetings this season.
Best bet
Los Angeles Kings (+120)
The Kings are in the midst of a miserable 1-9-1 run, but the team - especially stud defenseman Drew Doughty - always seems to get fired up for dates with nemesis Matthew Tkachuk and the Calgary Flames. The Kings have won two of three meetings with the Flames this season, including a 4-1 victory in the other game in Los Angeles.
The Flames will be without both of their top defensemen, Mark Giordano and Travis Hamonic, and have endured a busy travel schedule of late, while Los Angeles has been idle since Sunday. The Kings have won five straight home games on two days of rest and seven of their last eight.
L.A. goalie Jonathan Quick is playing some of his best hockey of the season right now, and his home/away splits show just how much better he performs at Staples Center. Quick should have no problem getting up for this game, much like he did in the 4-1 win over the Flames in Los Angeles back in October, his only previous start against Calgary this season.
Trend of the night
The Canucks and Blackhawks have gone over the total in 10 of their last 11 meetings.
There's a high total of 6.5 for Wednesday's game, but if history is any indication, it won't be a problem. The previous two matchups between these sides this season produced 19 total goals.
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.