My name is Chad Wetzel, an NHL writer for Pickswise, and I have been a huge hockey fan since I was young. Today I’m writing my first mega parlay. For my first mega parlay, I’m going with a theme in the 6-game slate on Wednesday night and that is fading teams on a back-to-back. Regardless of the result the night before, there is a small advantage for rested teams playing a team that played the night before. Before diving in, be sure to check out all of our picks and previews for every game tonight. You can also follow Pickswise on Twitter for plenty of daily betting content.
This parlay is just under 16/1 odds at BetMGM.
Chicago Blackhawks ML (+165)
Seattle Kraken -1.5 (+100)
New York Islanders -1.5 (+220)
Parlay Odds +1596
Let’s break down each game.
Chicago Blackhawks ML over the Edmonton Oilers (+165)
The Edmonton Oilers looked to have corrected the ship before the all-star break, winning 5 of their last 6 games. Then they played the Knights in their first game out of the break and went back to some old habits from that slump that saw them lose 13 out of 15 games. Bad goaltending, terrible defense and not finishing their scoring chances were all on show, especially against the backup goalie for the Knights Laurent Brossoit.
The Chicago Blackhawks aren’t as well off statistically as the Oilers, but they hang around in games and give themselves a chance to win. In 5 of their last 6 games leading up to the all-star break, they lost to the Wild in OT, gave the number one team in the NHL — the Avalanche — two very close games, lost to the Canucks with an empty-net goal and beat the Red Wings. With the Oilers playing back-to-back games and projected to start Stuart Skinner, the 46th ranked goalie in goals saved above expected, place your bet on the Blackhawks money line.
Seattle Kraken -1.5 over the Arizona Coyotes (+100)
The Arizona Coyotes needed an amazing effort from goalie Scott Wedgewood last Tuesday night against the Colorado Avalanche to make sure the Coyotes didn’t go into the all-star break on a 7-game losing streak. Over that 7-game span leading up to the break, the Coyotes were outscored 28-13.
The Seattle Kraken went into the all-star break on a 4-game road trip, splitting the trip 2-2-0 with only 1-goal losses to the Rangers and Bruins. They rank higher than the Coyotes in all offensive categories and have a better goals-against average as well. With the Coyotes traveling to play the Kraken while playing back-to-back games, place your bet on the Kraken puck line.
New York Islanders -1.5 over the Vancouver Canucks (+220)
The Vancouver Canucks went into the all-star break on a bit of a low, losing 5 of their last 7 before the stoppage. The Canucks played the night before and started top-20 goalie Thatcher Demko. This is key to note as they will be playing back-to-back games and will project to start backup goalie, Jaroslav Halak, who is technically ranked in the top-30 in goals saved above average. However, he only has 9 starts this season and is in the twilight of his career. The immediate games after the break won’t be any easier either, as top defenseman Quinn Hughes is out with COVID.
The New York Islanders went into the all-star break like the Canucks, winning 2 of their last 5 before the break, with tough one-goal losses to the Kings and Wild. Since their slow start, which saw them at or near the bottom of most rankings, they have turned it around. They rank higher in expected goals for than the Canucks, rank 15th in expected goals against and rank 5th in goals against per game. With the Canucks projected to start their backup goalie and being on back-to-back games, place your bet on the Islanders puck line.
Pickswise is the home of free NHL Picks and NHL Predictions. Check back for our daily NHL Best Bets, including our favorite NHL Prop Bets.
