NHL Daily Gambling Preview – 12/30/21

Another great night in hockey, going 4-1-1 to win 2.02 units yesterday. Made the right move buying down the Blues/Oilers total to 6, which got me a push since the Blues sucked with an empty net. Such a clutch win on the Flyers as they answered back to tie the game just 15 seconds after the Kraken made it 2-1 before Ivan Provorov got the game winner to hit the ML and TT over 2.5 in overtime. Then the Canucks closed out the night with another overtime winner, beating the Ducks 2-1. Tonight we have a seven game NHL slate. Let’s make it three nights of winners in a row!

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Panthers vs. Lightning (7:00)

The battle of Florida is back with two great teams facing off against each other in this in-state rivalry and they both come into this game off wins after the break. With their third string goalie in net last night, the Bolts beat the Habs 5-4 in overtime in an awesome game on Tuesday night for their fourth straight win and ninth win in their last ten games. Tampa’s 21-6-4, they’re averaging the tenth most goals in the NHL, an average of 3.26 per game while allowing a ninth fewest average of 2.65 goals per game. Florida comes in on the second half of a back to back after last night’s 4-3 win against the Rangers, where the Panthers scored three straight goals in the third period. That was their first win in four games, but they have a solid record on the season at 19-7-4. They’ve been particular good at home, 15-3 on the season. The Panthers are allowing an average of 2.93 goals per game but their offense has been great, averaging a third best 3.57 goals per game. These teams have met twice this season so far and split those games, with a 4-1 Florida win and 3-2 Lightning win in overtime with both games in Tampa. With this game going to Sunrise and Tampa likely starting their third string guy again, I’d lean Florida wins this one and I’ll take them for a half unit tonight. Even though neither game they played this season even hit over 5.5, I like the 6.5 here and will take that for half a unit as well.

Blue Jackets vs. Predators (7:00)

Last night coming out of the Christmas break, the Preds ended their seven game win streak with a 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals (winner for me). Nashville’s a pretty good 19-11-1 on the season, averaging 2.94 goals per game and allowing a twelfth fewest 2.71 goals per game. Tonight on the second half of a back to back though, they’ll likely be starting David Rittich instead of their stud goaltender Juuse Saros. Columbus is 14-13-1 on the season but going into the Christmas break, they only had two wins in their last ten games, playing pretty pathetic hockey. They’re averaging an eleventh most 3.18 goals per game but they are allowing a seventh most in the NHL 3.36 goals per game. The first time these teams met this season in Smashville a month ago on November 30th, Nashville dominated in a 6-0 shutout win. If Saros was starting, I would be all over Nashville here again, but with Rittich likely starting, the Preds on the second half of a back to back and Columbus not having played since December 16th, I’ll skip this game. I’d still slightly lean the Predators but not enough to bet it. I’d also lean the over but not enough to bet it.

Hurricanes vs. Canadiens (7:00)

This might be one of the most lopsided matchups of the season and the books know it, with an egregious -420 line on Carolina at home tonight against the Habs. The Hurricanes have been one of the best teams in the NHL this season. They’re 21-7-1 and went into the break with six wins in their last seven games. Carolina has the top defense in the NHL, allowing the fewest goals in the league, an average of only 2.14 goals per game and they’ve been great offensively too, averaging an eighth most 3.28 goals per game. The Canadiens blow. They’re 7-21-4 and come into this game with only one win in their last nine games. They’ve been terrible on both ends of the ice, scoring the second fewest goals in the league, an average of only 2.19 goals per game and allowing the third most goals, and average of 3.56. Just like the 4-1 win Carolina had over the Habs in October, I expect the Hurricanes to crush them pretty easily again here. No chance I’m laying -420 on any hockey game ever so I will take Carolina -1.5 for a unit which is a pretty rare type of bet for me and the Carolina TT over 3.5 in regulation for a unit.

Islanders vs. Sabres (7:30)

This game sucks. The Islanders have been the biggest disappointment of this NHL season with an 8-12-6 record. They’re averaging the second fewest goals per game in the NHL, scoring only 2.19 per game and they’re allowing 2.85 goals per game. The Sabres aren’t much better with. a 10-16-5 record after their 4-3 loss at home to NJ last night. They’re averaging an eighth fewest, 2.68 goals per game while allowing a fifth most 3.45 per game. I’m not putting too much thought in this game cause I don’t really have any desire to come close to betting this game. The Islanders should win it at home with the Sabres heading to Long Island on the second half of a back to back, but that’s not even close to worth betting to me at -225. I’d slightly lean the under too, but with the Sabres likely starting Malcolm Subban in goal, who has an .877 save percentage and an INSANE 4.79 GAA, I’ll lay off that one too.

Kraken vs. Flames (10:00)

Last night the Seattle Kraken came back from the break and took a 3-2 overtime loss at home to the Philadelphia Flyers (I went 2-1 on that game, winners). Seattle’s sucked. They’re 10-17-4 and come into this game with only one win in their last seven games. They are averaging 2.77 goals per game and allowing the fourth most goals in the NHL, an average of 3.55 goals per game which can mostly be blamed on their bad goaltending from both guys in net. Calgary hasn’t played a game since December 11th with a ton of postponed games so I’m not even considering their four game losing streak and looking more at how they’ve been on the season. The Flames are a pretty good 15-7-6, averaging a 13th best 3.04 goals per game and winning games on the back end. They’re allowing a second fewest 2.21 goals per game on the great play from Jacob Markstrom (1.94 GAA, .933 save percentage). I love Calgary in this game coming in on a ton of rest and Seattle losing in overtime last night and I’ll take the Flames for a unit on the ML and half unit on the puck line.

Kings vs. Canucks (10:30)

The Vancouver Canucks continued their win streak last night in Anaheim with a 2-1 overtime thriller over the Ducks, extending their winning streak to seven games and staying undefeated since hiring Bruce Boudreau (Bruce, there he is). They’re now 15-15-2 on the season with just one loss in their last ten games. On the season, they’re averaging a fifth fewest 2.5 goals per game and allowing a 14th fewest average of 2.81 goals per game but that doesn’t completely take into account this whole new look this team has now. Coming back from the Christmas break on Tuesday, the Kings lost 6-3 to Vegas in a game they were never even close in. LA’s 14-12-5 on the season, averaging a sixth fewest 2.58 goals per game and allowing an average of a seventh fewest 2.61 goals per game. I really like the under here and I’ll take that for a unit. I have to keep riding Boudreau’s Canucks and I’ll take them for + money as a road dog here for half a unit.

Sharks vs. Flyers (10:30)

I went 2-1 last night on the Flyers 3-2 overtime win in Seattle with a clutch winner from Ivan Provorov in overtime that hit the ML and TT over 2.5 for me. They’re now 13-12-5 after rattling off five wins in their last six games. On the season, they’re averaging a seventh fewest 2.67 goals per game and they’re allowing an average of 3.13 goals per game. The Sharks beat the Yotes on Tuesday night in a crazy 8-7 shootout win and they’re now 16-14-1 on the season. They’re averaging a tenth fewest 2.74 goals per game and allowing an average of 2.94 goals per game. I don’t really like any bets on this game. I’d slightly lean the under and the Sharks here but see no value to any of that, so I’m skipping this one entirely.

Game Bets

.5u Florida ML (-150)

.5u Tampa/Florida over 6.5 (-120)

1u Carolina -1.5 (-175)

1u Carolina TT over 3.5 in regulation (-152)

1u Flames ML (-190)

.5u Flames -1.5 (+143)

1u Kings/Canucks under 5.5 (-110)

.5u Canucks ML (+115)

Record (Regular Season): 215-179-10 (-19.42 units)

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