NHL Wednesday betting preview: Coyotes continue Canucks' slide

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It was a rough outing Tuesday after a great couple of days, as we finished 1-3.

Let's put this train back on its tracks.

GOATs and scapegoats

Alex Stalock was a horse for the Minnesota Wild last night, making 37 saves on 38 shots to help them beat the Nashville Predators and ensure we at least cashed one of our Tuesday bets.

A big reason why we didn't win a second was Martin Jones. Since when did he remember how to play hockey? He looked like Evgeni Nabokov last night, stonewalling the Toronto Maple Leafs. That's what I get for betting on the Leafs.

Wednesday bets

Columbus Blue Jackets (+150)

The Blue Jackets visit the Calgary Flames, with both teams clinging to a playoff spot. The Flames are developing a reputation as road warriors because their play away from home has kept them in the postseason picture. They've lost six of their last seven on home ice, though - only beating the Anaheim Ducks - and 11 of their last 15 at the Saddledome. They've lost four of their last five at home to Eastern Conference teams, as well.

Columbus hasn't played its best hockey of late, but the team snapped a run of 11 games - 1-5-5 over that span - without a regulation win Sunday. The Blue Jackets have lost five in a row on the road but they're playing tight games, as three of those defeats came in overtime or a shootout. They're playing teams tough regardless of recent results, and it's possible Sunday's outstanding comeback win has officially broken them out of this slump. Regardless, there's no way the Flames should be laying -170 given their track record on home ice. There's too much value with the Blue Jackets here to pass up.

Best bet

Arizona Coyotes (+100)

There's something fishy about this line. The Coyotes have lost 10 of their last 11 on the road and the Vancouver Canucks are 20-7-4 at home this season. All logic states the Canucks should be, at the very least, -135 in this spot, not -115. So, why is the line so low, and dropping?

Well, Vancouver has lost three in a row, letting in 14 goals over that span. The Canucks have allowed at least three goals in seven straight contests. They're also 1-4 at home this season in their first game back from a road trip of at least three games. They're struggling defensively, and that should be the perfect remedy for a Coyotes offense that's been sputtering on the road. You can't love the idea of betting against the Canucks on home ice, but sometimes you have to trust what a line is telling you.

Trend of the night

The Philadelphia Flyers are on a 12-1 run to the over on the road, while the Washington Capitals are on an 8-0-1 run to the over on home ice.

It's a high total of 6.5 tonight, but all signs point to plenty of goals in D.C. The Capitals have allowed at least three goals in five straight at home, while the Flyers have scored three or more in 10 straight on the road. Perhaps Philadelphia's team total over of 2.5 is in play, as well?

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.

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