Yesterday had several bounces of bad luck that prevented a huge winning night on the NHL as I went 7-6-1, losing 1.42 units. Tonight we have a four game slate. Let’s bounce back again.
Maple Leafs vs. Sabres (7:30)
What a lopsided game this is gonna be and as a Sabres fan I hate this matchup. The Sabres blow, they’re 16-30-8 on the season and are currently on a six game losing streak. We’re bad on both ends of the ice, scoring an average of just 2.61 goals per game, seventh fewest in the NHL while still allowing an average of 3.59 goals per game, fourth most in the NHL. The Leafs are on a three game win streak coming into tonight and are 34-14-4 on the season with a 19-5-1 record at home. The Leafs offense, as expected is fantastic, scoring the third most goals in hockey, an average of 3.68 goals per game. Their goaltending has been tough lately and they’ve plummeted defensively, now allowing an average of 2.85 goals per game. The first time they played this season on November 13th in Buffalo, the Sabres kept it close, with Morgan Reilly scoring the game winner with twelve seconds left for a 5-4 victory. Even with the Leafs currently bleeding away goals, they should win this game…no fucking shot I’m betting this team though. Not only did I already retire from betting the Leafs and I fucking hate them, even with this lopsided matchup Toronto isn’t worth the -420 price (nor is any team in the NHL). To add to that, even the -250 regulation price or even the -165 puck line doesn’t remotely have any value. The team total on the Leafs is even fucking ridiculous set to 4.5 with way too much juice to buy down on. I’ll take the over on this game for a unit. Let’s go Sabres!!!
Rangers vs. Blues (7:30)
This is a very interesting games between two good teams this season that should be a great one to watch tonight. The Blues are having a solid year at 32-14-6 and after their easy 4-0 shutout win in Chicago on Sunday, they’re on a four game win streak with a 6-0-1 record in their last seven games. St. Louis has been good on both ends of the ice. They’re scoring an average of 3.58 goals per game, fifth most in the NHL and are just as good on the other end of the ice, as they’re allowing a fifth fewest average of 2.67 goals per game. Ville Husso came out of no where this year and turned from a liability to one of the best goalies in the NHL with a 2.03 GAA and a .935 save percentage. The Rangers are a very good team as well at 33-15-5 coming into tonight’s game on back to back losses to Vancouver and Pittsburgh. The Rags haven’t been great offensively, averaging 2.89 goals per game but with Igor Shesterkin’s absolutely incredible Vezina play in goal (1.95 GAA, .941 save percentage), they’ve been great defensively, allowing a third fewest in the NHL average of 2.49 goals per game. I think the Blues are more well rounded of a team and will take them for a half unit here, even though it scares me a bit betting against Igor. I’d lean the under as well but don’t think its worth betting on at 5.5 juiced up to -130 so I’ll skip that.
Stars vs. Kings (8:30)
This is another fun game on tonight’s slate. Dallas is having a solid season at 29-20-3 on the year with an 11-4-1 record in their last 16 games and they’ve been really good at home where they’re 19-7-1 this year. The Stars have scored an average of 2.85 goals per game and are allowing an average of 2.87 goals per game. The Kings are coming off a 7-0 blowout loss to the Bruins on Monday night (lost my under by a goal) that ended their five game win streak. They’re 29-18-7 on the season and playing great hockey lately with a 9-2-2 record in their last 13 games. LA’s scoring an average of 2.87 goals per game and have been great defensively and in goal, allowing only 2.74 goals per game on average, eighth fewest in the NHL. These teams split their two prior games this season with the home team winning each game with a 3-2 overtime win for the Stars on October 22nd and a 4-0 shutout win for the Kings on December 9th. I’d lean Dallas wins this one again at home but the Kings have been playing better lately and I feel like the better move is to just skip a side on this. I’ll take the alternate under 6 in regulation on this game (to give a little more insurance on a 3-3 game going to OT) for a unit.
Kraken vs. Predators (10:00)
The Kraken suck. They haven’t had the inaugural season they wanted and come into tonight’s game on a seven game losing streak with a 16-34-5 record. They’ve struggled on both ends of the ice, scoring only an average of 2.53 goals per game, fifth fewest in the NHL and they’ve allowed a seventh most in the NHL average of 3.55 goals per game. The Preds haven’t played great lately, coming off a 3-2 loss to the Bolts outdoors at home on Saturday and they have only two wins in their last seven games but they’re having a decent season at 30-19-4. Nashville’s scoring an average of 3.04 goals per game but with Juuse Saros in goal, they’re allowing an eleventh fewest in the NHL average of 2.81 goals per game. These teams split their first two games this season, with the Kraken winning 4-3 in Smashville on October 14th and the Predators getting their revenge with a 4-2 win on January 25th in Seattle. Nashville’s the way better team in this game and should get another win on the road. I’ll take the Preds ML for 2 units. I’d lean the over as well but not enough to bet on it.
Game Bets
1u Sabres/Leafs over 6.5 (-121)
.5u Blues ML (-112)
1u Kings/Stars under 6 in regulation (-155)
2u Predators ML (-185)
Record: 511-357-19 (+24.89 units)
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