NHL Daily Gambling Preview – 1/2/23

I started 2023 with a slight winning day on the NHL, going 4-3 to win 0.26 units. Today we have just three games headlined by the Winter Classic. Let’s get our third winning day in the last four, going into a huge slate tomorrow!

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Bruins vs. Penguins (2:00)

This season’s Winter Classic takes place today at Fenway Park in Boston between the Bruins and the Penguins. One of my favorite games every season as the NHL takes the great sport of hockey back to its roots and plays their marquee game of the regular season outdoors, just as so many kids across the US and Canada grow up playing this incredible game. This will already be the fourth time the Bruins have participated in the Winter Classic and the third for the Penguins. The Pens are 1-1 in those outdoor games and the Bruins are 2-1 in those games. The Bruins are the best team in the NHL this season with a 28-4-4 record and have yet to lose at home in regulation with a 18-0-3 record at the Garden. They’re coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Sabres at home on Saturday, where they dominated Buffalo but couldn’t get the win. Boston’s been the best defensive team in the NHL and the second best offensive team in the NHL (behind the Sabres). The Penguins are on a four game losing streak, coming off a 4-2 loss to the Devils on Friday night. They’ve been pretty good this year with a 19-11-6 record. Their offense has been good this season but they’ve struggled a bit defensively. In the first game between these teams this season in Pittsburgh on November 1st, the Bruins got a 6-5 win in overtime in an entertaining game that had four striaght goals scored by each team. I like the Bruins to win here today and the over. I’ll take them each for half a unit.

Avalanche vs. Golden Knights (9:00)

This is a fantastic matchup between two teams that have been at the top of the Western Conference for the last several years. The Avs, last year’s cup champions, are on a three game losing streak after a 6-2 loss at home against Toronto on Saturday night (my under didn’t stand a chance in that game). Colorado’s dealt with a ton of injuries and are 19-13-3 on the season. They’ve been pretty good defensively but have struggled offensively. The Golden Knights, after missing the playoffs last year, lead the Western Conference with a 25-12-2 record. They’re coming off a 5-4 overtime win against the Predators on Saturday afternoon where they blew a 4-2 lead more than halfway through the third period, giving up the game tying goal with just five seconds left in regulation but getting it done in overtime with a Nic Hague game winner. The Knights have been pretty good on both ends of the ice this season. I like Vegas as an underdog on the road here and will take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under but not enough to bet it.

Ducks vs. Flyers (10:00)

This is a terrible cross-conference matchup between two of the worst teams in the NHL. I broke this game down in depth for my article on StatSalt. As I said in that, I’d lean the Flyers and the under in this matchup, but not enough for me to actually bet it. I’ll lay off this shitty game entirely.

Game Bets

.5u Bruins ML (-185)

.5u Bruins/Penguins over 6 (-120)

.5u Golden Knights ML (+140)

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: 255-222-6 (-28.1 units)

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