Sweat free 2-0 night to win 1.5 units with the Sabres scoring early and often in a 7-2 win for my second relatively easy winning day in a row. Tonight we have a giant 15 game slate with all but two NHL teams in action before a much needed day off for Thanksgiving tomorrow.
Sabres vs. Blues (7:00)
Last night the Sabres finally ended their eight game losing streak with a huge 7-2 win in Montreal. They scored early, getting up 3-0 just 2:13 into the game and just rode that out. Fantastic victory. Even the defensive issues that have plagued them in that losing streak looked much better yesterday. Tonight they’ll have a tougher test at home against the Blues who are on a seven game win streak after their eight game losing streak they went on last month. I’d lean the Blues win here in a higher scoring game on the road but not enough to bet on either. So I’ll just stay off this game. Let’s go Sabres!
Hurricanes vs. Coyotes (7:00)
Both of these teams come into this game on losing streaks but there’s a huge talent discrepancy here. After a 4-3 shootout loss in Nashville on Monday (only loss for me that night since the Preds couldn’t get it done in regulation), the Yotes are on a four game losing streak to drop to 6-9-2 and have been one of the worst teams in the NHL on both ends of the ice. The Canes have taken their last three straight games to overtime and have lost all of them to come into tonight with a 10-5-4 record. They are the much better team in this game and should easily get off their losing streak with a win at home. The moneyline is insane at -385 and even the regulation line at -220 is too expensive for me so I will take the Canes -1.5 for half a unit.
Blue Jackets vs. Canadiens (7:00)
Both of these teams have played pretty bad hockey this season. The Habs are on the second half of a back to back after getting blown out by the Sabres 7-2 last night after they gave up three goals to us in the first 2:13 into the game. Both of these teams have been efficient enough offensively but they suck on the back end. I’d slightly lean Montreal wins here on the road to bounce back from last night’s loss but not enough to bet on it. These teams just played six days ago with a very high scoring 6-4 Blue Jackets win. I will take the alternate over 6.5 for 1.5 units, expecting both teams to score.
Red Wings vs. Predators (7:00)
After a very slow start to the season, the Preds have been rolling lately with a 4-0-1 record in their last five games after their 4-3 shootout win against the Coyotes on Monday (which screwed me from a perfect gambling day because they couldn’t win in regulation). The Red Wings are much improved from last year with a 9-5-4 record and return home after back to back wins against the Jackets and Sharks. Juuse Saros will get the night off with Kevin Lankinen starting in goal. I’d slightly lean Detroit wins tonight but not enough to bet on it, so I will just stay off this game.
Panthers vs. Bruins (7:00)
As much as I hate it as a Sabres fan, the Bruins are the best team in the NHL this season at a very impressive 17-2 record, coming into tonight’s game on a seven game win streak after a 5-3 win in Tampa on Monday where captain Patrice Bergeron picked up his 1000th career point. This team’s playing for him this season and feel like a team of destiny to win the Cup. The Panthers are on a three game losing streak to drop to 9-8-2 this year. They’ve been fine offensively but have struggled defensively. These teams already played in Boston on October 17th with the B’s picking up a 5-3 win. I expect Boston to keep rolling with a win here in Florida tonight against a team that has clear defensive holes. This game’s cheaper than I expected with them on the road and I will take the Bruins for a unit. I’d lean the over with both backups likely starting, but not enough to bet on it.
Wild vs. Jets (7:00)
The Jets have quietly played great hockey this year, coming into tonight’s game with an 11-5-1 record off a 4-3 overtime win against the Hurricanes on Monday. They haven’t really been all that impressive offensively but they’ve had some of the best defensive play in the league backstopped by a very possible Vezina candidate in Connor Hellebuyck, who I think is one of the best goalies in the league. The Wild are coming off an overtime win against the Canes as well, but they’ve declined big time from last season on both ends of the ice. I like the value on Winnipeg here and will take them for half a unit with the nice +130 odds.
Devils vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
The Devils have played incredible hockey this year. They’re on a 13 game win streak moving to 16-3 on the year after a 5-2 win against the Oilers on Monday. They’ve played the best offensive hockey in the league, leading the NHL in high danger scoring chances and expected goals. Surprisingly they’ve also been very good on the back end and could definitely be a contender. The Maple Leafs are 10-5-5 on the season with a 6-1-3 record in their last ten games. For a team that has come into the year as a top five Cup favorite, they’re not that good. The Leafs already shitty defense has been decimated. With Morgan Reilly placed on long term IR, they’re now without their top three defenseman in Reilly, Muzzin and Brodie. Six days ago in Toronto, the Devils got a nice 3-2 overtime win against the Leafs the first time they played this season. I like the Devils to keep rolling and get a win here in this big game at home tonight and will take them for a unit.
Penguins vs. Flames (7:00)
This is an interesting game to me. Both teams have underperformed on the year but they’ve played much better lately. The Pens are 9-7-3 and on a three game win streak. Their offense has been very good but their defense has struggled. The Flames are 9-7-2 with four wins in their last five games after their seven game losing streak earlier this month. Similar to Pittsburgh, Calgary’s offense has been good but they’ve had their holes defensively and they’ve run into a fair amount of bad puck luck. These teams already played their game in Calgary this season with a 4-1 Flames win at home on October 25th. I’ll take the over here for half a unit expecting both teams to be able to score. I’d slightly lean the Pens win at home but think the Flames are the better team so I’ll stay off betting a side in this game.
Islanders vs. Oilers (7:30)
The Oilers are coming off a 5-2 loss in Jersey on Monday night and their problems have definitely been exposed this season. Beyond Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who are clearly incredible, Edmonton has no scoring depth beyond those two. McDavid leads the NHL in scoring but if a team can shut down him and Draisaitl, no one’s scoring. Additionally, their defense blows and Jack Campbell, who’s projected to start tonight, has been awful with a 4.27 GAA and .873 save percentage. The Islanders are 12-8 and have been pretty decent on both ends of the ice, coming off a 3-2 overtime win in Toronto on Monday night. Ilya Sorokin, likely to start tonight has been incredible with a 2.37 GAA and .926 save percentage. I like the Islanders to win here and will take them for half a unit.
Capitals vs. Flyers (7:30)
After their hot start to the season, the Flyers have come back to their preseason expectations and fucking blow. They’re 7-8-4 and come into tonight’s game on a seven game losing streak. They’ve struggled on both ends of the ice even with Carter Hart playing fantastic for them between the pipes. The Caps have struggled this season as well but I’d attribute that much more to their injuries to so many key players, not a lack of talent. They’re coming off a 4-0 shutout loss at home to the Avs on Saturday and are on a four game losing streak to drop of 7-10-3 on the season. I think Washington is the much better team here and I like them to get a win at home tonight to get off their losing streak and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit.
Stars vs. Blackhawks (8:30)
The Stars have impressed me in their start to the season with an 11-5-3 record. They’re coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Avs at home on Monday (in a game I’m glad I stayed off) and they have a 6-2-2 record in their last ten games. Dallas has over exceeded my expectations on both ends of the ice. The Blackhawks have dropped down to being an expected lottery team, coming into tonight’s game on a four game losing streak with just two wins in their last twelve games to drop to 6-9-3 on the season. They’ve sucked both offensively and defensively. I like the Stars to bounce back from their loss on Wednesday with a win at home tonight. The moneyline at -305 is way too expensive but I will lay the juice on the Stars in regulation for a unit.
Ducks vs. Rangers (10:00)
Last night the Rangers came back from down 2-0 early to win 5-3 in LA in a game where they got outshot 38-25. They’re 10-6-4 on the season with a 3-0-1 record in their last four games. They haven’t really been all that impressive though after last year on either end of the ice. Jaroslav Halak is projected to start tonight after Igor played last night. Halak hasn’t gotten a win yet with an 0-4-1 record in his five games this year with a 3.22 GAA and .883 save percentage. The Ducks are the worst team in the NHL, still yet to win in regulation this season with a 5-13-1 record. Coming off two loss in St. Louis in a row, they’re on a three game losing streak with only one win in their last seven games. Anaheim has been one of the worst teams in the league on both ends of the ice. These teams already played in MSG this year with a 6-4 Rangers win. With Halak probably starting and the Rangers on the second half of back to back on the road in California, this does worry me a bit. I think the price on this game though does have value though despite those concerns and I will take them for half a unit.
Avalanche vs. Canucks (10:00)
After a bit of a slow start to their season with a Stanley Cup winning hangover, the Avs have really been rolling lately playing great hockey. They’re 11-5-1 on the season, coming into tonight’s game on a three game losing streak after beating the Stars 3-2 in a shootout on Monday. They have only one loss in their last eight games. They’ve played well on both ends of the ice. The Canucks have struggled this season with a 6-10-3 record and they only have two wins in their last six games. They’ve been decent enough offensively but they’ve sucked on the back end. I like the Avs to win at home tonight and keep rolling. I’ll take Colorado in regulation for a unit.
Kraken vs. Sharks (10:00)
The Kraken have improved a ton since their inaugural season last year. They’re 10-5-3 on the year and they’ve impressed me with how much they’ve gotten better on both ends of the ice. The Sharks have played better recently but they’ve still been pretty lousy on both ends of the ice. I like Seattle to win here tonight at home in this Pacific Division matchup and will take them for half a unit.
Golden Knights vs. Senators (10:00)
The Golden Knights, coming off a 5-4 win in Vancouver on Monday night and have been easily the best team in the Western Conference with a 15-4-1 after missing the playoffs for the first time in franchise history last year. They’ve been one of the best teams in the NHL on both ends of the ice this year. Logan Thompson, confirmed in goal tonight is a rookie of the year candidate to me with a 2.4 GAA, .920 save percentage and two shutouts this year. The Senators are 6-11-1, coming off 5-1 losses to the Sharks and the Devils. They only have two wins in their last twelve games. They have been decent offensively on the season but have sucked defensively. In Ottawa on November 3rd in the first matchup between these teams this year, the Knights got out to a 5-1 lead and rode that out to a 5-4 win that actually turned into a bit of a third period sweat. I really like Vegas to keep rolling here and will take them in regulation for a unit.
Game Bets
.5u Hurricanes -1.5 (-137)
1.5u Blue Jackets/Canadiens over 6.5 (-140)
1u Bruins ML (-110)
.5u Jets ML (+135)
1u Devils ML (-140)
.5u Penguins/Flames over 6.5 (-130)
.5u Islanders ML (-120)
.5u Capitals in regulation (-141)
1u Stars in regulation (-180)
.5u Rangers ML (-150)
1u Avalanche in regulation (-120)
.5u Kraken ML (-180)
1u Golden Knights in regulation (-148)
Futures
1u Boston Bruins – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
1.5u Boston Bruins – Stanley Cup Champions (+1100)
2u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1200)
1.5u Carolina Hurricanes – Stanley Cup Champions (+1300)
1u New Jersey Devils – Stanley Cup Champions (+1600)
Record: 133-120-2 (-15.48 units)
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