Profitable day on yesterday’s NHL slate going 3-3 to win 1.05 units. I’ll take that. After a weekend packed with games, we just have a quick three game slate tonight.
Devils vs. Canucks (7:30)
Yesterday the Canucks got a nice 5-2 win in MSG against the Rangers (they did start Georgiev in net, which I should’ve gone with my gut on that game with the Canucks and over which would have been double winners) for their third straight win and their fifth win in their last six games to improve to 26-22-6. Bruce (there he is) Boudreau’s a great coach and its crazy how much he’s turned around this Vancouver team. On the season, the Canucks have struggled to score, averaging 2.76 goals per game, tenth fewest in the NHL but they’ve scored at least four goals in all of their last five games and are actually averaging 4.63 goals in their last eight games. Pretty impressive when you look at it in that smaller sample size. Defensively they’ve been very good all season, allowing an average of 2.74 goals per game, ninth fewest in the NHL. On the second half of a back to back on the road, they will likely be starting Jaro Halak in goal tonight who with his 2.93 GAA and .899 save percentage, hasn’t been nearly as good as Thatcher Demko has. The Devils have been bad this season at 18-29-5 and coming off an 8-5 loss to Chicago on Friday with a 3-3 record in their last six games now that they’ve started to get healthier. NJ has been decent offensively, scoring an average of 3 goals per game and in their last six games, have lead the NHL in goals scored both overall and five on five. They’ve been terrible defensively though, allowing an average of 3.6 goals per game, third most in the NHL. The over has hit in all of the last five games for each of these teams and I’m riding the alternate over 6 here for 2.5 units. I think the Canucks are the better team here but wouldn’t bet on them on the second half of a back to back on the road with Halak starting.
Capitals vs. Maple Leafs (7:30)
These are two of the most annoying teams in the NHL to gamble on. No matter how you bet them or bet against them, you lose. The Leafs are on a two game win streak since I retired from betting on them with a 3-1 win against Minnesota on Thursday and then the highest scoring game of the season on Saturday where they won 10-7 in Detroit. Toronto’s now 34-14-4 on the season. They’re scoring an average of 3.65 goals per game, fourth most in the NHL but have fallen defensively, bleeding goals away lately to allow an average of 2.85 goals per game on the year. The Caps are now 28-17-9 on the season and are coming off back to back losses against Philly and the Rangers and have been very inconsistent lately. On the year, they’re scoring an average of 3.17 goals per game, twelfth most in the NHL and they’re allowing an average of 2.76 goals per game, eleventh fewest in the NHL. Not bad, but they just can’t win games. I’d slightly lean the Leafs and the over here but not enough to bet on either so I’ll just skip this game.
Kings vs. Bruins (10:30)
Both of these teams are playing great hockey lately and have been cashing in bets for me. The Bruins are 31-17-4 on the season and on a four game win streak, coming off a 3-1 win in San Jose on Saturday night (huge three unit win for me) that was quite the sweat as they outplayed the Sharks in ever facet of the game but just couldn’t get the puck in the back of the net, but it cashed anyway so a win’s a win. They’re averaging 2.88 goals per game on the season and have been great defensively, allowing an average of 2.69 goals per game, seventh fewest in the NHL. The Kings have been great lately too with a 29-17-7 record and with their 5-2 win against the Isles on Saturday (split that game, losing the under with less than two minutes left but getting the easy win on the King’s moneyline) they’re now on a five game win streak with a 9-1-2 record in their last twelve games. LA’s scoring an average of 2.92 goals per game but like the B’s are much better on the back end, allowing a fifth fewest in the NHL average of 2.66 goals per game. I think the Bruins are the slightly better overall team in this game but would slightly lean the Kings win it at home, so I’ll stay off a side in this matchup. The bet I like here is the under, which I’m going to lay the juice to go a little safer on with the alternate under 6 in regulation only for a unit.
Game Bets
2.5u Devils/Canucks over 6 (-139)
1u Bruins/Kings under 6 in regulation (-177)
Record: 503-350-18 (+25.56 units)
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