NHL Daily Gambling Preview – 2/18/22

Last night I went 8-3 on the NHL yet broke completely even, with a huge 5.5 unit swing on the Blues giving up the tying goal with 10 seconds left in regulation and a three unit swing on the Rangers shootout loss to the Red Wings. Tonight we have a four game slate of some solid games.

Hurricanes vs. Predators (7:00)

These teams are having good seasons but both come into this game struggling a bit. Carolina’s a great team, holding a 32-11-4 record but have just one win in their last five games, coming off a 3-2 overtime loss (I split that game) against Florida on Wednesday night. The Canes are averaging 3.45 goals per game, sixth most in the NHL and they’re even better defensively, allowing the fewest goals in the league, an average of just 2.38 goals per game. Nashville’s been decent this year at 28-17-4 but they’ve been kind of lousy lately with just one win in their last five games. They’re averaging 3.04 goals per game and allowing a twelfth fewest in the NHL average of 2.78 goals per game. Carolina won the first matchup between these teams 3-2 back on October 16th in Nashville. I like them to win this one at home tonight and I’ll take them for a unit. With two good goalies in Saros and Andersen, I’d lean the under here as well which I’ll take for half a unit.

Wild vs. Panthers (8:00)

This should be a fun game to watch here between two electric offenses. The Florida Panthers, coming off a 3-2 overtime win against Carolina on Wednesday night where Sam Reinhart tied the game with just 51 seconds left in the game and Aaron Ekblad scored the game winner just 16 seconds into OT. Florida’s been incredible this year and they’re 33-10-5 with a 15-3-1 record in their last 19 games. They have the highest scoring offense in the NHL, averaging 4.06 goals per game and they’ve allowed an average of 2.88 goals per game. Minnesota’s been just as electric and they have a 30-12-3 record with a 16-3-1 record at home. After their 6-3 loss in Winnipeg on Wednesday (loss for me, but I made part of it back on the live over), they have a 2-2 record in their last four games with both losses coming to the Jets in their last ten games. They also have an electric offense, scoring a third most in the NHL average of 3.78 goals per game while allowing 2.91 per game. When these teams played on November 20th, they traded goals in a 5-4 game that Florida won. This game screams over again, but I hate betting on 6.5s, let alone 7s but I just can’t see this one staying under. I’ll take the alternate over 6.5 for a unit and contradictory to what I just said, I’ll go with a half unit on the alternate over 7.5 here that Draftkings has boosted to +200. I just think there’s a lot of value to that, since I expect this game to be a very high scoring affair. I like Florida to win here as well, as I think they’re the better, well rounded team and I’ll go with them for a unit.

Blackhawks vs. Stars (8:30)

I crushed the over on the Blackhawks game last night with a 7-4 loss for Chicago against the Blue Jackets that had a five goal first period. The Hawks suck this season with an 18-25-7 record and they have only three wins in their last twelve games. They’re struggling on both ends of the ice, averaging only 2.42 goals per game, third fewest in the NHL and they’re allowing an average of 3.38 goals per game, ninth most in the league. Dallas has been inconsistent but good. They’re 26-19-2, coming off a huge 4-1 win on Tuesday in Colorado and they have an 8-3 record in their last eleven games. The Stars are averaging 2.96 goals per game and allowing an average of 3 goals per game. When these teams played the first time this season in Dallas, the Stars won 4-3 in overtime on December 18th. I’d think the Stars get a win again here and probably get it done easier, even on the road, especially with the Blackhawks on the second half of a back to back. I’ll do with the Stars here for 1.5 units.

Golden Knights vs. Kings (10:00)

Jack Eichel made his debut for the Golden Knights on Wednesday night’s 2-0 shutout loss to Colorado. Vegas is 28-18-3 on the season, getting blanked in both of their back to back losses to the Avs and Flames (6-0 on February 9th) but prior to those two games had a 5-1-1 record in their previous seven. They’re averaging 3.22 goals per game, twelfth most in the NHL and are allowing an average of 2.94 goals per game. The Kings are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Oilers on Tuesday and are 24-17-7 on the season, with four wins in their last seven games. They’re playing the opposite kind of hockey than Vegas is, as they’re struggled a bit offensively, only averaging 2.79 goals per game, eleventh fewest in the NHL. LA’s been awesome defensively though, allowing only 2.71 goals per game, sixth fewest in the NHL. The two games these played earlier this season went in opposite blowouts in LA, with the Kings winning 6-2 on October 14th and the Golden Knights winning 6-3 on December 28th. I’d lean the Knights win this one but not enough for me to lay the -170 price, so I’ll just skip this game. I’d lean the under, but these teams have trended way over in their first two games so I’ll just skip it completely. Hope Jack scores.

Game Bets

1u Carolina ML (-155)

.5u Carolina/Nashville under 6 (-122)

1u Florida ML (-125)

1u Florida/Minnesota over 6.5 (-132)

.5u Florida/Minnesota over 7.5 (+200)

1.5u Stars ML (-175)

Record: 448-307-16 (+32.76 units)

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