Last night my four day winning streak on the NHL came to an end but I limited the damage going 1-1, just losing 0.28 units. Tonight we have another small three game slate before a big eleven game slate tomorrow. Let’s win!
Bruins vs. Blues (7:00)
The Bruins, despite coming off a 2-1 loss in Toronto on Saturday night are still one of the best teams in the NHL this season, leading the Eastern Conference with a 10-2 record. Boston’s been incredible to start the year under new head coach Jim Montgomery, playing great hockey on both ends of the ice. They’re scoring an average of 4.17 goals per game on an average of 34.6 shots on goal and allowing an average of 2.5 goals per game on an average of 30.4 shots allowed. Linus Ullmark, confirmed in goal tonight has been very good with an 8-1 record, 2.16 GAA, .929 save percentage and a shutout this season. The Blues have struggled mightily so far this season. After starting the year 3-0, St. Louis has since lost their last six games, none of which were close. They’ve been bad on both ends of the ice so far this season. The Blues offense has only been able to generate an average of 2.33 goals per game on an average of 29.4 shots on goal and they’ve allowed a high average of 3.89 goals per game on an average of 31.2 shots given up. Jordan Binnington, despite having a shutout this season looks like he did last year when he took a back seat to Ville Husso and lost his #1 role. Binnington has a 3.40 GAA and .879 save percentage in his seven starts this season. These cross conference teams who met in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2019 and took that series to seven games, split their two games last season, with a 4-2 Blues win and 3-2 overtime Bruins win. I love the Bruins to bounce back at home from their loss on Saturday with a big win tonight against a very struggling Blues team. I’m going big on this game with two units on Boston in regulation, a unit on the puck line and half a unit on the B’s team total over 3.5.
Islanders vs. Flames (7:00)
This is a fun matchup. The Islanders five game win streak came to an end in Detroit on Saturday afternoon as they got shut out 3-0 by the Red Wings. The Isles have been good this year at 7-5 and they’ve played well on both ends of the ice. They’re scoring an average of 3.42 goals per game on an average of 32.3 shots per game and they’ve allowed an average of just 2.5 goals per game on an average of 31.3 shots allowed. They’ll likely have Ilya Sorokin back in goal tonight after giving Varlamov the start on Saturday. Sorokin’s been one of the better goalies in the NHL this season with a 2.12 GAA, .933 save percentage and a shutout. The Flames have struggled quite a bit, coming into tonight’s game with a 5-4-1 record on a four game losing streak after starting the year 5-1. On Saturday they lost 4-3 to the Devils at home in overtime, coming back from down 3-1 after the first period to tie it up and force overtime but ultimately losing on an OT power play. I cashed my biggest bet of the season so far (before tonight’s Bruins game obviously that I’m going hard on) pretty easily with the Devils TT over 2.5. On the season, Calgary’s offense has been fine, producing an average of 3.2 goals per game while pouring it on with an average of 36.2 shots per game. They’ve struggled defensively to start their year, allowing an average of 3.3 goals per game on an average of 28.6 shots allowed. Jacob Markstrom hasn’t played to the level that he did last year with a 2.84 GAA and .900 save percentage in his seven starts this season. Calgary won both games between these teams last season, beating the Isles 5-2 both at home and on the road. I’d slightly lean the Islanders win this game at home but I think this is a very even matchup that isn’t worth betting either side of. I’d slightly lean the under but not enough to bet that either. The play I do like on this game though which is a bit different than how I usually bet games is Ilya Sorokin over 31.5 saves, which I’ll take for half a unit. I think the Flames likely pour on the shots trying to get off their losing streak and Sorokin’s a solid enough goaltender that I like this bet.
Capitals vs. Oilers (8:00)
The Capitals haven’t been great this year, on a four game losing streak with a 5-6-2 record going into tonight. They’re coming off a 3-2 loss at home to the lowly Coyotes on Saturday where they gave up the game winner with just 36 seconds left in regulation, giving up a 2-0 lead early in the third period and outshooting the Yotes 36-26. They sustained even more injuries now, with Dmitry Orlov going down to add him to the list of injured Caps with John Carlson, Tom Wilson, Nick Backstroke, TJ Oshie and Connor Brown. Washington has struggled offensively, scoring an average of only 2.69 goals per game on an average of 28.5 shots on goal. They’ve been decent enough defensively, allowing an average of 2.85 goals per game on an average of 31.6 shots allowed. The Caps have Charlie Lindgren confirmed in goal tonight. He’s 1-1-1 this season with a 3.03 GAA and .919 save percentage. The Oilers are 7-5 coming into tonight off two home losses in a row, getting smoked 6-2 by the Stars on Saturday and losing 4-3 to the Devils (in the best game I’ve watched all season) on Thursday. Connor McDavid, the best player in the league, to no surprise leads the NHL with 25 points and 12 goals. His Oilers offense is averaging 3.83 goals per game on an average of 33.4 shots on goal, generating the fifth most high danger chances in the NHL. Defensively Edmonton hasn’t been as spectacular, allowing an average of 3.5 goals per game on an average of 33.4 shots allowed. Even though Stuart Skinner has a 2-2 record, he’s been good so far this season with a 2.10 GAA and .944 save percentage. He’s confirmed in goal tonight, which should be a good thing for them since starter Jack Campbell has been as horrendous as he was in Toronto last year, with a 4.20 GAA and .874 save percentage this season. The Oilers won both games between these teams last season with a 5-3 win and 4-3 overtime win. I like the Oilers to get a win on the road tonight to bounce back from their two home losses and beat up on a depleted Caps team. I’ll take Edmonton for a unit.
Game Bets
2u Bruins in regulation (-125)
1u Bruins -1.5 (+123)
.5u Bruins TT over 3.5 (-113)
.5u Ilya Sorokin over 31.5 saves (-115)
1u Oilers ML (-162)
Record: 87-78-2 (-12.26 units)
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