Expert NHL Game Previews, Matchups and Key Insights
The National Hockey League (NHL) has four total games on the schedule for Wednesday night, including a doubleheader on TNT/HBO Max/truTV at 7:30 p.m. ET with the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks, while the Los Angeles Kings and Seattle Kraken meet at 10 p.m. ET.
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NHL Best Bets & Picks: Rangers vs Blackhawks and Kings vs Kraken – Expert Game Previews
For the latest NHL Odds, including NHL Futures and NHL player props, visit RotoWire's NHL Betting page. For up-to-date NHL player news and NHL Injury Report info, head to RotoWire's NHL Lineups page. You can find more picks at Bookies.com/picks. Here are our NHL Best Bets today, featuring expert NHL picks for an action-packed slate of games.
NHL Best Bets Tonight: Expert Game Previews, Picks & Matchup Insights
New York Rangers 
at Chicago Blackhawks 
The Rangers (15-12-4) and the Blackhawks (12-11-6) meet in an Original Six battle on Wednesday night at United Center in the first end of the nationally-televised doubleheader.
Last season, the road team won each of the two meetings, and the road team has picked up victories in six of the past seven in the series. The Over has cashed in the past five meetings at the United Center in Chicago, too.
The Blackhawks had a couple of ugly games to wrap up the road trip, suffering a 6-0 loss Saturday in Los Angeles in the second end of a back-to-back with the Kings, while getting pounded 7-1 by the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. That's a 13-1 deficit in the past two games, with the Over going 2-0 in those games, and 6-1 in the past seven outings dating back to Nov. 26.
In the past 10 games, the Blackhawks have allowed 42 goals, or 4.2 goals per game (GPG). Arvid Soderblom coughed up seven goals on 53 shots in Anaheim, including two power-play goals.
Tyler Bertuzzi was the only goal scorer for the Blackhawks on Sunday in Anaheim, and that came on a power play. Little Bert has two goals and four points in four games in four December outings, while posting 13 goals and 19 points in the past 16 games, including seven power-play goals and four assists on the man advantage.
The Rangers suffered a pair of 3-2 overtime losses at home to the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights, but there's no shame in that. The Rangers have been much better lately, going 5-1-2 in the past eight games, averaging 3.0 GPG in the past 10 outings, while allowing 2.6 GPG in the previous nine contests. The Under is 4-1 in the past five games, and 6-2-1 in the previous nine outings.
Igor Shesterkin (12-9-3, 2.45 GAA, .913 SV%, 1 SO) is projected to start for the Blueshirts, while Soderblom (3-5-1, 3.92 GAA, .876 SV%) is likely for the home side. Shesty has been much better on the road, going 9-3-1 with a 2.29 GAA and .918 SV% with a shutout in 13 road starts.
Let's back the Rangers to get the job done on the road, and we'll side with the Over.
- Rangers ML (-138 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Over 5.5 Goals (-140 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Los Angeles Kings 
at Seattle Kraken 
The Kings (14-8-7) and Kraken (11-10-6) meet at Climate Pledge Arena at 10 p.m. ET in the second end of the double dip.
Los Angeles has been so much better on the road this season than it is at home, going 10-2-4, as opposed to just 4-6-3 at Crypto.com Arena. The Kraken are just 6-5-3 at CPA.
Last season, these teams split the series 2-2, with the road team each winning once on the others' ice. The Over cashed in both meetings in Los Angeles, with a total of 17 goals, or 8.5 GPG.
After a couple of home losses to Washington and Chicago, the Kings have rebounded with a 6-0 win in the rematch with the Blackhawks, and a 4-2 road win against the Utah Mammoth last time out on Monday. The Over has cashed in each of the past two games, too.
For the Kraken, they're skidding hard, losing five straight in regulation, while going 0-5-1 in the past six games with just 10 goals scored, or 1.7 GPG. Seattle has coughed up four or more goals in four straight, and 21 total goals in that span, or 5.3 GPG.
With the Kings dominant on the road, and the Kraken playing horrific hockey lately, backing L.A. is the way to go, especially as moderate favorites. Go rather aggressively on the Kings, too, as long as the number closes at -170 or lower. And, since the Kraken have been very giving lately, go Over 5.5, too.
- Kings ML (-145 at BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbooks)
- Over 5.5 Goals (+102 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Don't make any bets on your favorite sports betting apps without first consulting the latest NHL odds.
Parlay Strategy and Super Parlay Picks for NHL Betting Slates
4-Leg NHL Super Parlay (+782 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Rangers ML at Blackhawks and Over 5.5 - SGP (+182)
- Kings ML at Kraken and Over 5.5 - SGP (+212)
2-Leg NHL Totals Parlay (+242 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Over 5.5 (-140) - Rangers at Blackhawks
- Over 5.5 (+100) - Kings at Kraken
2-Leg NHL Sides Parlay (+188 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Rangers ML (-140) at Blackhawks
- Kings ML (-146) at Kraken
