NHL Betting Guide: Lines, Trends & Picks For Wednesday, Dec. 7

NHL Betting Guide: Today's Lines, Trends & Picks

We're now getting into the thick of December hockey, and we have an unusual seven-game slate to pick through and discover some best bets on rivalry Wednesday. So be ready to make some wagers and let's cash. BetQL subscribers can see more betting trends and all of our best bets with star ratings for every pick.

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For our first matchup of the night, we'll head to Ohio, where the Buffalo Sabres are traveling to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. After starting the season out hot, the Sabres flame has started to fade out, and they have lost three of their last five games. This has been mostly due to some very poor goaltending that they have been getting, allowing 3.68 goals per game is not a way to win hockey games. The defense hasn't helped out much to be fair, and they allow 32.4 shots on goal a game. The offense has been fantastic, scoring 3.80 goals per game and getting 32.6 shots on target each time out.

Columbus is just a bad hockey team, and it's a bit surprising, as I thought they had a chance to be at least a decent team in 2022. That certainly has not been the case. If the Sabres have problems in net and on defense, wait until you hear these numbers from the Blue Jackets. They are allowing a whopping 3.91 goals per game and a stupid 36.3 shots on their net. Both of those numbers ate bottom-5 in the NHL. Simply put, they couldn't stop a nosebleed, and they have been bleeding quite a lot lately. Columbus has lost four of their last five games, and it doesn't stand to get any easier. Couple all of that with an offense that scores 2.65 goals per game and gets 29.7 shots to the net, and it's a total disaster.

MY PICK: Buffalo should be able to score at will here, but Columbus also should at least be able to put up more than their average against this poor Sabres goaltending. The over is probably the safest bet, but I also like Buffalo to come out on top.

Next up is probably the best matchup of the night, as we see the New York Rangers travel out west to Nevada to take on the Las Vegas Golden Knights. These teams were supposed to be opposites this season, with the Rangers projected to be a serious contender and the Knights taking a step back. Instead, it's the other way around early on. New York hasn't been bad, but their record says they haven't been good either. The biggest issue for this team is simply getting the puck into the net. They actually take 33.4 shots per game, which is good, but they don't capitalize. Defensively, they have been great, allowing 2.93 goals per game and 29.1 shots. They've lost three of their last five, and need to start playing like the team they can be.

Vegas has surpassed most expectations already with their play, as after an offseason full of departures, they have remained on of the league's top squads. The offense hasn't missed a beat, scoring 3.41 goals per game and taking 32.6 shots on net per game. What has been most surprising is the play of their goaltenders, who have allowed just 2.63 goals per game this season. Logan Thompson has been great in net, and his emergence has been a great blessing for the team. They have won three of their last five, and they just handed Boston their first loss at home on the year, which we called in Monday's article.

MY PICK: It's hard to pick the Rangers right now, and no one will want to in this game. That's why we are going to. I still think this is a team that is going to go on a run at some point here, as their stats say they are far better than their record indicates. You'll get great plus-money here with New York as well.

To end things off, we'll take a look at a rematch of a game that just happened last week. This time however, it's the Boston Bruins that are heading out west to Colorado to face the defending champion Avalanche. Boston is the premier team in the NHL to start the season, compiling a 20-3-1 record. It's hard to find a weakness in the team, as they do pretty much everything well. The offense is one of the top units in the league, scoring 3.96 goals per game and taking 34.8 shots on net each night. On defense, they are are allowing just 29.4 shots on their own net per game. Their greatest asset is their goaltending, which has been unconscious, allowing only 2.17 goals per game.

Colorado lost one of their best players recently in Nathan MacKinnon, which will be a huge blow to this team. His offense is crucial to them, and without him, it sets them back significantly. The defending champions haven't looked anything like 2021's team, and it shows in their record. The offense hasn't been bad when everyone is healthy, taking 32.8 shots per game and scoring 3.30 goals per game. They also have gotten some good goaltending, allowing 2.87 goals per game, but the defense has struggled the most. They are letting up 33.2 shots on net, and a lot of pressure on their goalie.

MY PICK: Boston isn't losing two games in a row in my opinion. That loss to Vegas was a wake-up call that they aren't unbeatable, and now they will face an injured Avalanche team with a chip on their shoulder. Take Boston here on the ML or -1.5.