Cup Champion Panthers Road Favorites At Utah In NHL Picks

• What: Wednesday NHL Picks
• Who: Florida Panthers at Utah Hockey Club
• When: Wednesday, January 8, 10:00 p.m.

There's history being made in the Wednesday NHL picks. For the first time ever, a reigning Stanley Cup champion is playing a game in Utah.

The Florida Panthers are visiting the Utah Hockey Club. Its the start of a seven-game homestand for Utah. Meanwhile, the 24-15-2 Panthers are completing a two-game Western road trip.

Oddsmakers aren't counting on home cooking supplying a winning recipe. It's the visting Panthers who are being established as -133 away favorites.

Let's look at the latest betting line on this game. Odds are subject to change.

	Puck Line	Moneyline	Total
Florida Panthers	-1.5 (+195)	-133	O 6 (-101)
Utah Hockey Club	+1.5 (-225)	+118	U 6 (-115)

The Panthers are 12-7-3 straight up as a road team this season.

There are only four NHL games on the agenda during a quiet Wednesday night of action, and this is one of the games that we think provides the best bets of the night in the NHL picks.

Best NHL Picks For You

Before we take a deeper look into Wednesday's Florida vs Utah NHL picks and best bets, why not take a look at our handy NHL betting guide to see where the best NHL betting odds and picks are located, including the latest props and futures wagering. As well, these online sportsbook reviews will also aid in helping you decipher which betting site is the one that's going to service your NHL betting needs on a comprehensive basis. And if you're someone who is living life on the move, these are the best sports betting apps that can help you get your NHL bets down in the midst of your busy day.

Panthers vs Utah Betting Trends

In a previous life as the Arizona Coyotes, Utah was 2-7-1 SU over the last 10 games against Florida. The Panthers outscored them 3.5 goals to 2.5 on average over that 10-game span.

Even seven straight home games isn't something for Utah to get excited about. Home ice hasn't been kind to Utah this season. They are showing just five wins in 16 games at home this season.

Overall, Utah is 1-6 SU through the past seven games. Even worse, the club is 1-8 SU over the last nine games at home. There is one sliver of good news, though. Utah is 4-1 SU in the last five games facing Eastern Conference opposition.

Florida is 6-1 SU is the last seven games facing Utah (Arizona). The Panthers are 13-7 SU in their last 20 clashes with Central Division teams. Overall, though, Florida is just 2-4 SU in the past six games.

Five of the last six Florida vs Utah (Arizona) games have gone under. Overall, six of Utah's last nine games hit on the under. The under has proven to be the winning play in seven of Florida's last eight games and 5 of the Panthers last seven road games.

As a betting underdog, Utah is 8-15-3 SU. The club is 7-9 at home against the puck line. Florida is 10-10 against the puck line as a road squad. The Panthers are 18-14-1 SU as the chalk in the betting line.

Panthers Hurting On Defense

Florida is 24-15-1 and currently sitting second in the Atlantic Division. The Panthers are four points back of first-place Toronto. Florida has taken points in 13 of 20 games as a road club this season.

During their current 2-4 skid, the Panthers have scored just 10 goals. Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov, the club's top scorers, have combined for two goals and two assists over that span.

THAT'S A TEXTBOOK GIVE-AND-GO pic.twitter.com/0HLQYPUgZb

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) January 7, 2025

Florida is also dealing with a depleted blue line corps. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad (undisclosed injury) missed Monday's loss at Colorado. Rearguard Niko Mikkola (upper-body injury) has missed Florida's last five games.

Utah Can't Get It Done At Home

If Utah is going to make hay during this upcoming homestand, the hockey club will need to find some sort of formula that works for them on home ice. Utah is currently the NHL's worst home team. The squad has claimed a league-low 14 points from a 5-7-4 slate on their home rink.

Consistency has proven to be a difficult quality to locate. Utah's 6-0-2 run in December has been quickly followed by the club's current 1-4-2 slide.

Happy Tuesday from the Olympic Oval!👋🏼

Fully-attended #UtahHC practice ahead of tomorrow’s game against the Florida Panthers. pic.twitter.com/8UntkKSgg6

— Belle Fraser (@bellefraser1) January 7, 2025

Forward Clayton Keller is leading the team in points (39) and assists (25). Dylan Guenther has netted a team-leading 16 goals. With both goals in Utah's 3-2 overtime loss against the Dallas Stars, Matias Maccelli was ending a personal 12-game points drought.

Karel Vejmelka figures to get the start in goal for Utah. He's 1-3-1 with a 3.03 goals-against average over his past five starts.

Florida vs Utah NHL Picks

Yes, the Panthers are struggling of late, but struggling is a way of life for Utah. You can rename and relocate the team, but the same problems that plagued the squad in the desert followed them to Salt Lake City.

Florida Panthers To defeat Utah Hockey Club

-133

Bet Now!

All-time, the Panthers are 10-2-1 SU against the Utah (Arizona) franchise. Look for Florida to continue to shine against Utah in the Wednesday NHL picks.