It’s hard to bet on the 3-4-1 Ducks with any real confidence, but there might be a slight edge on Wednesday up against an Islanders team that just lost 3-6 to the Panthers.
This is the first of a back-to-back for New York with a tricky road trip to Columbus to follow on Thursday.
The Ducks, meanwhile, are coming in off a two-day break hoping James Reimer, who replaces the injured John Gibson, can somehow shake off the cobwebs after allowing six to the Devils on Sunday.
Key game in terms of the Metropolitan Division with the Rangers and Caps sitting only three points apart in the standings.
Both are coming off a healthy two-day break, but the edge does go to the visitors given the Rangers have averaged about six more shots per game and close to 1.5 goals.
Having won eight of their last 10 against the Caps, New York looks like a worthwhile outright play.
Player Pick
Artermi Panarin is still among the league leaders in goals, sitting in a tie for eighth with six next to his name.
He’s gone goalless over his last three games but has finished with a point and an assist in each, while he’s also scored 12 times against the Caps, including last year in the first round of the playoffs.
- Tip: Artermi Panarin Anytime Goal Scorer
We bet the Sharks at the line last week against the Kings and had some success, although it was a bit of a sweat when Los Angeles led 3-0 in the first period.
Even so, these two sides square off again for the second time in less than a week, and I think San Jose could at least keep this close with the Kings potentially looking ahead to tomorrow’s game against the visiting Golden Knights.
They are on the second of a back-to-back, but give me San Jose at the line with the same value on offer.
Player Pick
It’ll be interesting to see who starts in goal for the Kings, but my gut says David Kuemper with Dave Rittich holding a better goal average, which the team should factor in against Vegas on Wednesday.
Kuemper has allowed over six goals on average through only a handful of starts this year, so you can probably have a bet on Mikael Granlund to find the back of the net after he took six shots and scored twice when these two sides met last week.
- Tip: Mikael Granlund Anytime Goal Scorer