A pair of all-Canadian contests will be in the spotlight on Wednesday night as the NHL regular season gets into full swing. The evening begins in Toronto, where the Maple Leafs look to avenge their early ouster from last season's playoffs as they take on the Montreal Canadiens as -170 home favourites on the NHL odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Toronto opens the campaign with plenty to prove after falling to the Canadiens in seven games in their first-round playoff series. But the team has dominated Montreal in regular-season meetings on home ice, claiming victory in eight of their last 10 going into Wednesday night's matchup at the Air Canada Centre.
The Maple Leafs' playoff failure has not dampened their strong position on the Stanley Cup odds, where they sit among the favourites at +1100. However, Toronto will have to make do without forward Auston Matthews, who will open the campaign on the sidelines with a wrist injury. The status of forward Mitch Marner has also been called into question after he was forced to leave practice on Tuesday following an on-ice collision.
The Canadiens return to action after last summer's march to the Stanley Cup Final but will hit the ice in Wednesday's season opener as +145 underdogs at sports betting sites. Montreal took steps to bolster its lineup during the off-season, but health issues remain a concern. Among the regulars that will be missing from Wednesday's lineup are Mike Hoffman, Paul Byron, and Joel Edmundson, and both Carey Price and Shea Weber are also on the shelf indefinitely as the Canadiens look to tally their first season-opening victory in four years.
Later on Wednesday, the Vancouver Canucks will be looking to rebound from a forgettable 2021 campaign as they visit the Edmonton Oilers as +155 underdogs. The Canucks return to action after finishing last in the North Division standings last season. Hobbled by injuries and an extended COVID-related shutdown, Vancouver closed out last season with just four wins in its final 15 contests. However, the Canucks continued to produce steady results against the Oilers, who look to Wednesday as -180 chalk. Vancouver claimed victory in three of five visits last season while averaging four goals per game.
Also on Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets visit the Anaheim Ducks as -155 road favourites. The Jets aim to rebound after going winless in three pre-season road contests, but tied for fourth in the NHL with 17 road wins last season. The team has also impressed in recent trips to Anaheim, posting shutout wins in two of their past three road dates with the Ducks.
