Last night I had a great night on the NHL, going 4-2 to win 3.6 units, bounced back from a lousy night on Thursday in the midst of an awesome week. Today we have a fully loaded 13-game slate. Let’s keep crushing this week!
Predators vs. Panthers (2:00)
This is an interesting matchup between two mid tier teams that play complete opposite hockey. The Predators are 25-21-6 on the season, coming off a 5-0 shutout loss to the Bruins at home on Thursday night (double winner for me). They’ve struggled offensively but have been good defensively this season with Juuse Saros in goal. The Panthers took a big step back from winning the President’s Trophy last year and come into tonight’s game with 28-24-6 record. They’ve played well recently with five wins in their last seven games. In opposite fashion of Nashville, Florida’s been great offensively but have struggled defensively. I like the Panthers to get a win on the road and will take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over but not enough to bet it.
Blues vs. Avalanche (2:00)
This will be the fourth and final matchup of the season between these Central Division teams. Last year the Blues gave the Avs their toughest test of the playoffs in the second round but have taken a huge step back this year. This year the Avalanche are 2-1 against St. Louis, lowing 3-2 at home on November 14th, winning 3-2 in overtime on December 11th in St. Louis and then winning 4-2 at home on January 28th. This season Colorado has a 29-19-5 record, currently in third place in the Central Division and coming off a 3-2 win in Minnesota on Wednesday. They’ve struggled offensively this season but have been great on the back end. The Blues on the other hand are 26-25-3 and have been a huge disappointment this year. They made a blockbuster trade last night, sending Ryan O’Reilly to the Leafs to build for the future. St. Louis comes into today’s game on a three game win streak, coming off a 4-2 win at home against the Devils on Thursday (big loser for me). Their offense has been decent but their goaltending and defense is horrible. I like the Avs to win here on the road and will take them in regulation for a unit. I’ll also take the alternate under 6.5 here for half a unit.
Bruins vs. Islanders (5:00)
I don’t expect a whole lot out of this game. The Bruins are the best team in the NHL by far, coming into tonight’s game with a historic 41-8-5 record and a 22-2-3 record on home ice. On Thursday they dominated the Preds to win 5-0 on the road, and the B’s have been on of the best teams in the show on both ends of the ice. The Isles came back from down 4-2 late in the second period to beat the Penguins 5-4 last night in a game they really had no business winning. That win ended a three game losing streak and improved New York to 28-23-7 on the season. Although the Isles have been good defensively with Ilya Sorokin in goal, they’ve been pathetic offensively. The Bruins won both previous games they played this season against the Isles, winning 4-3 in a shootout at home on December 13th and 4-1 on Long Island on January 18th. Especailly with the Isles in the second half of a back-to-back, I expect another easy B’s win. I’ll take them in regulation for 1.5 units along with the under for a unit.
Penguins vs. Devils (5:30)
I broke this game down in depth with my article on StatSalt. As I said in that article, I like the Devils to get a win here on the road, especially with the Pens in the second half of a back to back and will take them for a unit. I’d slightly lean the under but not enough to bet on it.
Stars vs. Blue Jackets (6:00)
I don’t expect a great game here with a huge talent descrepency between these teams. I broke this game down in depth with my article on StatSalt and like I said in that article, I expect a blowout win from the Stars to bounce back from their shootout loss to the Wild last night. I’ll take the Stars in regulation for a unit and the Stars team total over 3.5 for 1.5 units.
Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens (7:00)
This shouldn’t be an interesting matchup in the Atlantic Division but with the Habs having won the first two games they played, it is as the season series shifts to Toronto. I broke this game down in depth with my article on StatSalt. I like the Leafs to get their first win of the year against Montreal at home tonight and I’ll take the Leafs puck line and team total over 4 for half a unit each.
Hurricanes vs. Capitals (8:00)
The NHL takes it outdoors at NC State for this Stadium Series game with a great Metro Division matchup between the Canes and the Caps. Always awesome to see the game go back to its outdoor roots, although the Stadium Series doesn’t quite have the appeal of the Winter Classic. The Hurricanes are having a great year, leading the Metro Division with a 36-10-8 record and come into tonight’s game with an 11-1-1 record in their last 13 games after a 6-2 beatdown of the Habs on Thursday night. Carolina’s been good on both ends of the ice this season, especially defensively. The Caps have struggled recently, coming into tonight’s game on a three game losing streak after a 6-3 loss at home to the Panthers on Thursday night to drop to 28-23-6 on the season and relinquish their Wild Card spot. Washington’s been good defensively but they have struggled offensively and they’re still without their best players as Ovi is taking a leave of absense from the team due to his father’s death. The Canes won both previous games between these teams this season, winning 3-2 in both of them, a shootout win at home on Halloween and a regulation win just four days ago in Washington. I like Carolina to win here “at home” tonight and will take them in regulation for a unit along with the alternate under 6 for a unit.
Flames vs. Rangers (10:00)
The Rangers are the hottest team in the NHL right now. Last night they came back from a 4-1 first period deficit in Edmonton to win 5-4 in a long shootout. That was the Rags’ seventh straight win and with an incredible 22-4-3 record in their last 29 games they’ve improved to 33-14-8 on the season. They’ve played awesome hockey on both ends of the ice and their offense is on fire lately. The Flames have been disappointing this season with a 25-19-11 record on the year and only one win in their last five games, coming off a 5-2 loss at home to the Red Wings on Thursday. They haven’t been spectacular on either end of the ice. In the first game between these cross conference teams this season, the Rangers won 5-4 in overtime at home on February 6th. I’m gonna keep riding the Rags until the wheels fall off on them and even in the second half of a back to back, I’ll take them for a unit as an underdog here. I really like the over in this game though which I’ll take for 2 units.
Canucks vs. Flyers (10:00)
This cross conference matchup fucking blows. The Canucks are a mess of an organization, coming into tonight’s game with a 21-30-4 record. After a 6-4 loss at home to the Rangers on Wednesday night, they’re on a three game losing streak with just five wins in their last 21 games. They’ve been alright offensively but horrible on the back end. The Flyers are 22-24-10 on the year and after losses to Seattle in both halfs of a home and home, they’re also on a three game losing streak with only two wins in their last nine games. They’ve been decent defensively but horrible offensively. Philly won the first game between these teams this season 3-2 at home on October 15th. I’d slightly lean the Canucks win at home and the over but not enough to bet on either. I’ll lay off this game completely.
Kings vs. Coyotes (10:30)
Last night the Kings got me a big double winner, beating the Ducks 6-3 in a very heated game in Anaheim. That win puts LA just a point behind Vegas for first place in the Pacific with a 31-18-7 record and extends their win streak to three straight. They’be been good offensively this season but have been inconsistent on the back end. The Coyotes are coming off a shocking 1-0 shootout win in a double shutout against the Lightning at home on Wednesday night. Their GM cannot be happy as this team right now is exemplifying that players don’t tank, organizations do and they’re jeopardizing their spot in the Bedard sweepstakes, having picked up at least a point in their last seven straight games to improve to 19-28-8 on the season. Statistically they’ve been pretty terrible on both ends of the ice. These teams split their two previous games this season, with the Kings winning 5-3 at home on December 1st and then the Coyotes answering back with a 2-1 shootout win at home on December 23rd. I’d expect the Kings win tonight, even in the second half of a back to back, but with how feisty the Yotes have played lately, I don’t think they’re worth laying the -220, nor do I want to limit myself to regulation only in this game, so I’ll just lay off it completely.
Kraken vs. Red Wings (10:30)
The Red Wings are rolling right now, coming into tonight’s game on five game win streak after a 5-2 win in Calgary on Thursday night. That improves them to 26-20-8 on the season. Statistically Detroit hasn’t been great on either end of the ice this season. The Kraken are having a great season, currently in third place in the tight Pacific Division with a 31-18-6 record. They’ve been great offensively but inconsistent defensively. I’d lean the Kraken win here at home but with the way the Red Wings have played lately, I don’t think they’re worth betting on at the -180 price, so I’ll just stay off the side in this one. I do like the over though and will take the alternate over 6 for a unit.
Golden Knights vs. Lightning (10:30)
This should be a great game. The Golden Knights have gotten out of their slump and with a 2-1 win against the Sharks on Thursday night with Will Carrier scoring the game winner with 16 seconds left in regulation (big win for me on the regulation line), they’re on a four game win streak. Vegas holds a point lead over the Kings for first place in the Pacific with a 33-18-4 record. They’ve played decent on both ends of the ice, especially defensively. The Lightning are comfortably in third place in the Atlantic with a 35-16, pretty much locked in to play the Leafs in the first round of the playoffs ago. Their offense has been fantastic this season and although their defense hasn’t been as incredible as the last several years, the Bolts are still pretty solid on the back end. This should be a great game and I’d lean Vegas wins at home and the under here but not enough to bet on either.
Sharks vs. Sabres (10:30)
My Sabres finally ended a lousy four game losing streak on Wednesday night with a dominant 7-3 win in Anaheim to improve to 27-22-4 on the season. We’ve been fantastic offfensively this season but have struggled on the back end. The Sharks have been pretty terrible this year with a 17-28-11 record and will likely be trading at least one, if not both, of their two best players in Erik Karlsson and Timo Meier before the deadline. They have three losses in their last four games after a 2-1 loss to Vegas on Thursday, giving up the game winner with just 16 seconds left in regulation to cash in on my bet on the Knights. They’ve struggled mightily on both ends of the ice this season. In Buffalo on December 4th, the Sabres won the first game between these teams this season pretty easily with a 6-3 score. I like my Sabres to win here tongiht on the road and I’ll keep it simple with the moneyline for a unit. Even though the Sharks keep letting me down on it at home, I’ll take the over here for half a unit as well.
Game Bets
.5u Panthers ML (-135)
1u Avalanche in regulation (-109)
.5u Avalanche/Blues under 6.5 (-127)
1.5u Bruins in regulation (-143)
1u Bruins/Islanders under 6 (-125)
1u Devils ML (-130)
1u Stars in regulation (-155)
1.5u Stars TT over 3.5 (-137)
.5u Maple Leafs -1.5 (-152)
.5u Maple Leafs TT over 4 (-132)
1u Hurricanes in regulation (-129)
1u Hurricanes/Capitals under 6 (-143)
1u Rangers ML (+130)
2u Flames/Rangers over 6.5 (-110)
1u Kraken/Red Wings over 6 (-130)
1u Sabres ML (-120)
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: 444-372-13 (-29.96 units)
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