My NHL picks on yesterday’s big slate got crushed, going 5-12-1 to lose 8.35 units. Not great. Tonight we have just a five game slate before two fully loaded days to close out the regular season.
Jets vs. Flyers (7:30)
Both of these teams seasons didn’t go well. The Jets ended their four game losing streak pulling off a 4-1 upset against the Avalanche on Sunday. They are 36-32-11 this season with only three wins in their last eleven games. Winnipeg’s been very inconsistent this year and have not been great on either end of the ice, scoring an average of 2.99 goals per game and allowing an average of 3.13 goals per game. The Flyers lost 3-1 in Chicago on Monday night and they’ve sucked this season with a 25-44-11 record. They only have four wins in their last 16 games. Philly’s been horrible on both ends of the ice. They’re averaging only 2.6 goals per game, fifth fewest in the NHL and they’re allowing an average of 3.58 goals per game, sixth most in the NHL. When these teams played in Philly on February 1st, the Flyers won 3-1. I’d lean the Jets win this one at home but don’t think its worth laying the -200 moneyline. I’d also lean the under, but not enough to bet on it with two lousy defenses. I’ll just skip this game. Can’t wait till the playoffs next week when there’s no more of these shitty, meaningless matchups.
Rangers vs. Canadiens (7:30)
The Rangers lost 4-3 in Carolina last night in a game that the score looks a lot closer than it was. The Canes were the dominant team in that game and they locked up the Metropolitan Division, putting the Rags in second place with home ice in the first round against whoever finishes third in the division between Pittsburgh or Washington. The Rangers have played great this season with a 51-23-6 record and they have seven wins in their last ten games. Their offense has averaged 3.05 goals per game and have played much better in the second half of the season, generating much more chances. They’re one of the best defensive teams in the NHL, allowing only a second fewest in the NHL 2.48 goals per game. Igor Shesterkin will get the night off tonight so it’ll likely be Alexandar Georgiev starting in goal. Georgiev has sucked this season with a 2.91 GAA and .898 save percentage but he has won his last seven starts. The Habs are the worst team in the NHL this season with a 20-49-11 record and come into tonight’s game on a nine game losing streak. They have the allowed the most goals in hockey, an average of 3.9 goals per game and they’re not much better offensively, averaging only 2.55 goals per game, second fewest in the NHL. The Rangers have nothing to play for with their seed in the playoffs all locked up already so along with Igor sitting, they’ll be scratching a few other key players tonight including Artemi Panarin, Andrew Copp and Adam Fox. The Rangers won both previous games these teams have played, winning 3-1 in Montreal on October 16th and then again 3-2 at home on November 16th. Even with the Rags not playing for anything and everyone out, they should still beat the shitty Canadiens tonight at home in MSG. I don’t think the moneyline’s worth betting on this game but I’ll go with half a unit on the Rangers in regulation.
Blackhawks vs. Golden Knights (8:30)
Technically the Golden Knights haven’t been eliminated, yet…but they’re pretty much out of the playoffs needing to beat both the Blackhawks and the Blues in their remaining games and have Dallas not get even a point in their two remaining matchups against pretty easy competition against the Coyotes and Ducks. The Knights haven’t played well lately with only two wins in their last seven games. On the season, they’re scoring an average of 3.15 goals per game, 13th most in the NHL and they’ve allowed an average of 2.96 goals per game. Logan Thompson is projected to start in goal again tonight in back to back games. They should have a pretty easy matchup tonight against the lousy Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks are 27-42-11 this season and although they’re coming off a 3-1 win against the Flyers on Monday, this team blows with only three wins in their last 15 games. They have scored an average of only 2.6 goals per game, fifth fewest in the NHL and they’ve allowed an average of 3.54 goals per game, seventh most in the NHL. Their defense has gotten worse and worse since trading Fleury at the trade deadline. Kevin Lankinen is confirmed starting in goal tonight and has been one of the worst goalies in the NHL with a 3.53 GAA and .890 save percentage. These teams split their two previous games this season in Vegas which were both determined by a goal with a Blackhawks 2-1 win on January 8th (Fleury started that game against his former team and made 31 saves) and a 5-4 overtime win for the Knights on March 26th. Even though I’d expect the Golden Knights to officially be eliminated from playoff contention, I think that comes with the Stars beating the Coyotes later. Vegas should be able to score on Lankinen pretty easily to win this game on the road to at least keep their tiny chance alive. No chance am I betting the -190 moneyline on this game but I’ll take the Golden Knights in regulation for a unit.
Stars vs. Coyotes (8:30)
Last night the Stars essentially punched their ticket to the playoffs with a 3-2 overtime win against the Golden Knights. Technically they’re not officially in yet, needing to get just a point either tonight against the Yotes or against the Ducks on Friday night with Vegas losing either of their remaining games against the Blackhawks or Blues…so yeah, the Stars are in. Dallas plays boring hockey and I’d pretty much guarantee they lose in five games or get swept by whoever they match up against in the first round, regardless of if it’s Colorado or Calgary. The Stars have only scored an average of 2.83 goals per game, eleventh fewest in the NHL and they’ve allowed an average of 2.98 goals per game. Tonight they go up against one of the worst teams in hockey, the Arizona Coyotes. The Yotes are 23-50-7 and last night pulled off a huge upset in Minnesota, beating the Wild 5-3 to end their ten game losing streak. They only have three wins in their last 20 games. Arizona has the lowest scoring offense in the NHL, averaging only 2.46 goals per game and they’re only slightly better defensively, allowing a third most in the NHL average of 3.78 goals per game. Tonight they have Harri Sateri (still convinced this is a made up name) confirmed in goal tonight who’s got a horrendous 5.88 GAA and .822 save percentage. Dallas is 2-1 this season against the Coyotes, winning 3-2 in the dirty desert on November 27th, winning 4-1 at home on December 6th and then losing 3-1 in Arizona on February 20th. The Stars should officially punch their ticket to the playoffs with a win tonight at home, but no shot this game’s worth betting on the moneyline at a ridiculous -480 price. Even the regulation line at -275 isn’t worth. I’d slightly lean the under here but don’t think its worth betting with the amount of goals that Arizona could give up, especially with Satari starting tonight. I’ll go with a unit on the Stars TT over 3.5, expecting them to score at least four goals.
Kraken vs. Kings (10:00)
With the Oilers clinching the second spot in the Pacific Division and the Kings locked into the third seed in the Pacific, this game is meaningless for them as they’re set to play Edmonton and can’t get home ice. LA is 43-27-10 this season and I pretty much expect them to lose in 5 or 6 games to the Oilers and get bounced out of the first round. They’ve played well in this closing stretch of the regular season, coming into tonight’s game on a four game win streak and five wins in their last six games. For a playoff team they’ve been pretty bad offensively, scoring an eleventh fewest in the NHL average of 2.83 goals per game. They’ve been quite good defensively though, allowing a seventh fewest in the NHL average of just 2.79 goals per game. Last night I got a triple winner on the Kraken game as they lost 5-2 in Vancouver for their third straight loss. Seattle has had a pretty bad inaugural season with a 26-37-6 record. They’re terrible on both ends of the ice, scoring on a third fewest in the NHL average of 2.58 goals per game and allowing a ninth most in the NHL average of 3.48 goals per game. The Kings are 2-1 against Kraken, winning 3-1 on the road in Seattle on January 15th, 4-2 at home on March 26th and then getting blown out 6-1 for a home loss on March 28th. LA’s obviously the much better team in this game but I’d expect them to rest a bunch of their key players for the rest of the regular season to make sure everyone’s healthy for the playoffs. I’d lean the Kings win this game but see no edge in betting anything on it so I’ll just completely skip this matchup.
Game Bets
.5u Rangers in regulation (-141)
1u Golden Knights in regulation (-118)
1u Stars TT over 3.5 (-190)
Record: 803-593-32 (+26.64 units)
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