Had my second winning night in a row on the NHL yesterday, going 5-2-1 to win 0.9 units. Tonight we have a completely loaded 13 game slate. Let’s make it three in a row.
Hurricanes vs. Wild (7:00)
The Canes have been very good, leading the Metro Division with a 27-9-8 record. They’re coming off a 4-3 shootout loss on Sunday at home against the Canucks where they gave up the tying goal with just 17 seconds left in regulation. Carolina’s in a little bit of a slump right now with just two wins in their last seven events. The Wild are playing pretty good hockey too. They’re in third place in the Central Division with a 25-14-4 record. They come into tonight’s game on a three game win streak after a 4-2 win in Washington on Tuesday where they got dominated but still found a way to win. The Wild won the first game between these cross-conference teams this season, winning 2-1 in overtime at home on November 19th. Both of these teams have played very similarly on both ends of the ice, playing quite well. I think this is a very close matchup thats essentially a coin flip. I’d slightly lean the Canes win at home and the under in this game but not enough to bet on either.
Blue Jackets vs. Ducks (7:00)
What a horrendous matchup this is. These are two of the worst teams in the NHL this season and they’ve both played terrible on both ends of the ice. I’d slightly lean the Blue Jackets and the over in this game but no shot I’m betting this game. Who the fuck cares.
Canadiens vs. Panthers (7:00)
Despite the struggled they’ve had all season, the Habs have won their last two games in a row and three of their last four. Coming off a huge upset on Tuesday, beating the Jets 4-1 at home, Montreal’s now 19-23-3 on the season. They’ve still struggled big time though on both ends of the ice. The Panthers have taken a big down turn from winning the Presidents Trophy last year, coming into tonight’s game with a 21-20-5 record. They’ve played decent lately. Coming off a 5-4 overtime loss in Toronto on Tuesday where they blew a 4-2 lead, Florida’s won five of their last eight games, picking up at least point in six of those games. Their offense has been good again this season but their defense and goaltending has struggled. In the first game between these teams this year on December 29th in Florida, the Panthers won 7-2 in a blowout. I’d expect Florida to win this game but I don’t think they’re worth laying the -250 on the moneyline. Instead I’ll take the Panthers TT over 3.5 for half a unit. I’d also lean the over but not enough to bet it.
Rangers vs. Bruins (7:00)
This is a really fun matchup in MSG tonight. The Rangers are playing their best hockey of the season right now, coming into tonight’s game with a 25-13-7 record. After a 3-1 win in Columbus on Monday they’ve won 14 of their last 19 games, only losing in regulation three times in that stretch. The Rags have played well on both ends of the ice this season. The Bruins lead the NHL with a 35-5-4 record, a historically great first half of the year, slated to beat the NHL record for the most points in a season by a significant amount. Coming off a 4-1 win on Long Island last night against the Isles, they’re on a three game win streak with just one loss in their last eight games. Boston’s the best statistical team on both ends of the ice this year. In the first game between these teams in New York on November 3rd, the Bruins won 5-2. The Bruins are the best team in the NHL and even on the second half of a back to back, I think they get another win on the road. I’ll take the B’s for half a unit. I’d lean the under but not enough to bet it.
Flyers vs. Blackhawks (7:00)
A few weeks ago this would be a complete dogshit game. But these teams have somehow played well lately. The Flyers have impressed me recently, with Torts figuring out how to fix his team and they’ve fixed their offense, winning eight of their last ten games. They’ve only lost to the Leafs and Bruins in that stretch, two very good teams. On Tuesday they got me a double winner with their 5-2 win against the Ducks. On the season Philly’s now 19-19-7 on the season with a lousy offense that’s since figured it out and they’ve been decent defensively. The Blackhawks found a way to beat my Sabres on Tuesday with a 4-3 overtime win with a tying goal that should have been goaltender interference. They’ve won four of their last five games to improve to a still horrible 12-26-4 on the season. Chicago’s one of the worst teams on both ends of the ice this season. I’ll go right back to my same picks I had for the last Flyers game with half a unit each on them to win in regulation at home and the team total over 3.5. I’d lean the over but not enough to bet it so I’ll just ride with scumbag Philly.
Maple Leafs vs. Jets (7:00)
This is a fantastic cross conference matchup between two great teams this season. The Leafs are 27-11-7 on the season, pretty much already locked into the playoffs in the Atlantic and somehow just halfway through the season are already playing for home ice against Tampa in the first round. They’re coming off a comeback 5-4 overtime win at home against the Panthers on Tuesday. They’ve played very well on both ends of the ice with great defense. The Jets lead the Western Conference with a 29-15-1 record, having an awesome season. Their three game win streak came to an end on Tuesday with a disappointing 4-1 loss in Montreal. They’ve played very well on both ends of the ice this season, especially defensively with one of the best goalies in the league in Connor Hellebuyck. In the first game between these teams this season on October 22nd in Winnipeg, the Leafs won 4-1. I’d lean Toronto wins here again at home but not enough to bet it. I do like the under though with two of the top defenses in the NHL facing off. I’ll take the alternate under 6.5 in this game for half a unit.
Sabres vs. Islanders (7:30)
Tonight’s a big night in Buffalo with Ryan Miller’s #30 getting raised to the rafters of KeyBank Center. I can’t wait to be there as my favorite goalie’s number gets retired. Hopefully, we get a solid game after the ceremony. The Sabres are coming off a disappointing 4-3 overtime loss to the Blackhawks on Tuesday night where we actually played pretty well and was a bit controversial with what should have been goaltender interference on the tying goal. We’re on a bit of a slump right now with just one win in our last six games to drop to 21-19-3 on the season. Our offense is one of the best in the NHL but our defense and goaltending has struggled. The Islanders are in a slump as well, with just one win in their last seven games. They’re 23-19-4 on the season, coming off a 4-1 loss at home to the Bruins last night. Kind of the opposite of how the Sabres play, the Isles have struggled offensively but have been good defensively with solid goaltending from Ilya Sorokin. With the emotion of it being Ryan Miller night and the Isles on the second half of a back to back, I think the Sabres win at home tonight and I’ll take them for half a unit.
Add: 4u Sabres ML (-130). I’m balling my eyes out crying for Ryan Miller’s ceremony in the arena. Let’s. Fucking. Go. Sabres.
Blues vs. Predators (8:00)
This is a really interesting Central Division game between two teams that have been pretty disappointing this season. The Blues, who are coming off a 2-1 win at home against the Senators on Monday are 22-20-3 on the season and have been very streay this season. They’ve been decent offensively but have struggled big time on the back end. The Preds are 21-17-6 and play the opposite style of hockey than the Blues do. They won their last two games back to back, both 2-1 against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday and the Flames on Monday. Nashville’s been very lousy offensively but have been good defensively this season. These teams played twice already this season with each of those games going the opposite way than I expected based on the way these teams played. The home team won both games, with the Preds winning 6-2 in Smashville on October 27th and the Blues winning 1-0 in overtime for a double shutout on December 12th. This is a coin flip in both directions, so I’ll stay off this game entirely. I do think that this ends up going with the way play is dictated so if I thought the Blues would win, I’d parlay it with the over and if I thought the Preds would win, I’d parlay it with the under. But either way I’m not betting this one.
Coyotes vs. Capitals (9:00)
I broke this game down in depth for my article on StatSalt. I like the Caps to get a win here on the road against the lowly Yotes and will take them in regulation for half a unit.
Oilers vs. Lightning (9:00)
This is an awesome matchup between two of the highest scoring teams in the NHL. I went in depth breaking down this game with my article on StatSalt. I love the over here, which I’ll take for a unit.
Kraken vs. Devils (10:00)
I’d expect a really fun cross-conference game here tonight in Seattle. The Devils are back to their winning ways that they started the season with and coming into tonight’s game on a five game win streak with a 7-1-1 record in their last nine games after going on a bad slump. That improves Jersey to 29-12-3 on the season, playing great hockey on both ends of the ice this season. The Kraken lost back to back on Monday and Tuesday against Tampa and in Edmonton after going on an impressive nine game win streak. They’ve improved a ton from their inaugural season last year, with a 26-14-4 record to sit in second in the Pacific just two points back from Vegas. They’ve played awesome offensively but have had plenty of issues defensively. I’d slightly lean the the Devils win here on the road but not enough to bet it. I love the over though, and I’ll take the alternate over 6 here for 1.5 units
Golden Knights vs. Red Wings (10:00)
Vegas fell out of first in the West but still lead the Pacific Division with a 28-15-2 record this season. Coming off a 4-0 loss to the Stars at home on Monday they’ve only won one of their last four games. The Knights have played well on both ends of the ice this year after missing the playoffs for the first time. The Red Wings are on a three game losing streak after falling 4-3 in a shootout to the Coyotes on Tuesday, blowing a 3-1 lead in the first period and outshooting the Yotes 40-23. On the season Detroit is 18-17-8. They’ve been okay offensively but have struggled big time on the back end. Vegas won the first game between these teams this season 4-1 in Detroit on December 3rd. I’ll take the Knights to get another win at home in the fortress tonight for a unit. I’ll also take the alternate over 6 for half a unit.
Kings vs. Stars (10:30)
This is one of the best games on tonight’s slate out in the West with the third and final game between these teams. They split the first two games with the home team winning each, the Stars winning 5-2 on November 1st in Dallas and the Kings answering back with a 3-2 win in LA two days later. Both teams have been great this year. The Kings ended a three game win streak with a 5-2 loss at home against the Devils on Saturday to go to 25-15-6 on the season. They’ve been great offensively this year but have been struggling a bit defensively. The Stars are 26-13-7. Last night they blew a 3-0 lead, giving up five unanswered goals to the lousy the Sharks in San Jose to lose 5-3. They’ve been great on both ends of the ice this season. I’d slightly lean the Stars and the over in this game but not enough to bet it, so I’ll stay off this game.
Game Bets
.5u Panthers TT over 3.5 (-150)
.5u Bruins ML (-120)
.5u Flyers in regulation (-139)
.5u Flyers TT over 3.5 (-122)
.5u Maple Leafs/Jets under 6.5 (-125)
.5u Sabres ML (-120)
4u Sabres ML (-130)
.5u Capitals in regulation (-122)
1u Oilers/Lightning over 6.5 (-120)
1.5u Devils/Kraken over 6 (-132)
1u Golden Knights ML (-170)
.5u Golden Knights/Red Wings over 6 (-136)
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: 325-284-9 (-39.26 units)
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