So close, yet so far away. We’ve started our week on a losing note going 0-2 in our daily parlay but 2-4 with individual picks. We returned to a same-game parlay last night, hoping a return to our last parlay win would bring us some luck and get us back on the winning track.

We chose the Toronto Maple Leafs and came so close to hitting the parlay as the Maple Leafs defeated the Florida Panthers, and the game hit the over. However, the Leafs couldn’t cover the spread, winning 5-4 in overtime.

This week, we’re now 0-3 on our daily parlays but 4-5 on our overall picks. We’re determined to get back on the winning path and think we have found a winning parlay for Wednesday, January 18.

Oklahoma City Thunder over Indiana Pacers (-169)

Indiana has the slightly better overall record but is 8-13 on the road, while OKC is 13-9 at home. The Pacers have lost four straight games and are 5-5 in the last ten games, while the Thunder have won three straight games and are 6-4 in the last ten games.

These two teams’ statistical splits are very similar, as OKC and Indiana are side-by-side in statistical rankings. OKC averages 116.8 ppg and is ranked 9th overall, while Indiana averages 115.5 ppg and is ranked 10th. Defensively, OKC is ranked 21st, giving up 116.0 ppg, while Indiana is ranked 22nd, giving up 116.3 ppg.

OKC is at home, shoots better from the field and free throw line, and is the better offensive rebounding team. We’ll take OKC as the home favorite in what should be a very evenly matched contest.

Colorado Avalanche over Calgary Flames (+100)

The rumors of the Colorado Avalanche’s demise have been greatly overstated. Yes, the season is half over, and Colorado is out of a playoff position, but the Avs have struggled with injuries this season, with Nathan MacKinnon, Valeri Nichushkin, Bowen Byram, and Josh Manson all spending time on the long-term injured reserve list, while Captain Gabriel Landeskog hasn’t taken to the ice since raising the Stanley Cup banner in September.

The Avalanche are slowly getting healthy and have won their last two games but are on 3-7 in the last ten games. Colorado is 4-1 in the last five games in Calgary and 8-3 in the last 11 games overall.

While Calgary’s recent record looks better, the story isn’t as great when you look deeper. Calgary is 5-5 in the last ten and collecting points along the way. However, the Flames have given far more scoring support to Dan Vladar, who has been the Flames’ better goaltender this season.

With head coach Darryl Sutter riding Jacob Markstrom rather than the hot goalie and the Flames returning from a five-game road trip, we’ll take the Avalanche to get the road win as the underdog and continue their march toward a playoff spot.

Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 over Vancouver Canucks (+125)

The Vancouver Canucks are having another tumultuous season and are more focused on internal issues rather than play on the ice. The Tampa Bay Lightning are quietly putting together another great season with yet another deep playoff run in mind.

Tampa Bay has won four straight games and eight of the last ten games. Tampa Bay has won six of the last eight games by at least a 1.5-goal spread. However, one of the wins to end in a one-goal game was against the Canucks on January 12.

The favorite (Tampa Bay) is 5-0 in the last five meetings and 7-1 in the last eight meetings in Vancouver. With a probable goaltending matchup of Andrei Vasilevskiy versus Spencer Martin, we think Tampa Bay will cruise to an easy win and will cover the spread in the process.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.