Last night on the NHL I went 4-4, losing just half a unit. Not too bad. Tonight we have a huge ten-game slate. Let’s stack up some big wins!
Bruins vs. Sabres (7:00)
My Sabres are coming off a very disappointing loss to the Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. I broke tonight’s matchup against my most hated team in the league, the Bruins, down in depth with an article on StatSalt. As I said in that article, I’d lean we lose this one but I’m not betting against my boys. I do like the over though, and I’ll take the alternate over 6 for a unit.
Red Wings vs. Kraken (7:00)
I broke this cross-conference game down in depth in my article on StatSalt. As I said in that article, I like the Kraken to win here on the road and will take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under but not enough to bet it.
Panthers vs. Predators (7:00)
The Predators are in full fire sale mode, trading a ton of their assets for trade picks before tomorrow’s deadline, stacking up picks for Barry Trotz. Yesterday they added to that, sending Mikael Granlund to Pittsburgh in exchange for a second round draft pick. Nashville’s coming off a 3-1 loss to the Penguins at home on Tuesday night, ending a three game win streak and dropping to 29-23-6 on the season. The Preds have struggled offensively this season quite a bit but they have been quite good defensively with Juuse Saros between the pipes. The Panthers took a big step back from winning the President’s Trophy last season, coming into tonight’s game with a 30-26-6 record. On Tuesday they got a huge win, dominating their biggest rival Lightning for a 4-1 win on the road. Florida’s offense has been very good once again this season but their defense and goaltending has really struggled. The first game between these cross conference teams was very high scoring, with the Preds winning 7-3 at home in Smashville on February 18th. I like the Panthers to win here and will take them for half a unit in regulation. I like the over even more though, which I’ll take for a unit.
Rangers vs. Senators (7:00)
It’s finally SHOWTIME. Tonight Patrick Kane makes his Rangers debut in Madison Square Garden. Last night in Philly, the Rangers need overtime (which lost my regulation bet) but got the 3-2 win, their second win in a row to improve to 35-17-9 on the season, currently in third place in the Metro Division. They’ve been very good on both ends of the ice and will improve even more adding the greatest American born hockey player of all time to their lineup. The Senators are surging up the standings lately, coming into tonight’s game on a three game win streak after big wins against the Red Wings at home on back-to-back nights. They’re now 30-26-4 on the season, still a bit on the outside of a Wild Card spot. Yesterday they made a big move in acquiring Jakob Chychrun from Arizona in exchange for three draft picks. Statistically Ottawa hasn’t been all that special on either end of the ice on the year. These teams split their two previous games, with the Rangers winning 3-1 in Ottawa on November 30th and the Senators winning 3-2 in overtime in New York on December 2nd. I expect the Rags to win tonight at home in Kane’s debut and will take them for half a unit along with the Rangers team total over 3 for a unit. I’d definetely lean the over in this matchup but with both previous games staying under, I’ll stay off the total.
Lightning vs. Penguins (7:00)
This should be a very fun game between these Eastern Conference teams. The Lightning are having a really solid season and they’re pretty much locked in for another first round series against the Leafs, comfortably in third place in the Atlantic Division with a 37-19-4 record. They have lost their last two games in a row though and have just one win in their last four games. Tampa’s been fantastic offensively this season and although they haven’t quite been as up to par on the back end as they’ve been the last several years, they’re still very good defensively. The Penguins have played themselves back into a Wild Card spot, coming into tonight’s game with three straight wins after a 3-1 win in Nashville on Tuesday to improve to 30-21-9 on the season. They made a few moves this week before tomorrow’s trade deadline, sending Teddy Blueger to Vegas and then acquiring Mikael Granlund to Pittsburgh from the Predators for a second round draft pick. The Pens have been good offensively this season but they’ve been inconsistent at best defensively. Pittsburgh won both previous games against the Bolts in blowout fashion at home, winning 6-2 on October 15th and then winning 7-3 just this past Saturday. I like Tampa to answer back with a win at home tonight and will take them for half a unit. I love the over in this game as well, and will take it for 2 units.
Blackhawks vs. Stars (8:30)
This matchup has the best team in the Central Division, the Stars, facing the worst team in the division, the Blackhawks. I broke this game down in depth in my article on StatSalt. I’d expect Dallas to win tonight and shut down Chicago. I have some hesitancy though with the Stars on the road, in the second half of a back-to-back and being projected to start a rookie goaltender for the first time in this game. If it weren’t for that, I would be all over the Blackhawks team total under, but I’ll stay off that. I’ll take the Stars in regulation and the Stars team total over 3.5 for half a unit each. I’d slightly lean the under but not enough to bet it.
Flames vs. Maple Leafs (9:00)
The first game between these teams this season was fantastic with the Leafs winning 5-4 in overtime at home on December 10th. This isn’t a great matchup though. The Leafs are pretty much locked into a first round rematch with the Lightning, comfortably in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 37-16-8 record. They’ve played very well on both ends of the ice this season. They’re coming off a 5-2 loss in Edmonton last night that ended a three game winning streak for them. After already making some big moves, yesterday they Luke Schenn from Vancouver, bringing him back to Toronto after they initially drafted him. The Flames haven’t been great, with a 27-21-13 record. On Tuesday night, they far outplayed the Bruins and yet still couldn’t get the win, losing 4-3 in overtime. That puts them in a three game losing streak with just two wins in their last eight games. Calgary hasn’t been all that great on either end of the ice. I’d lean the Leafs win tonight on the road even in the second half of a back to back but don’t think they’re worth betting on here. I like the over though which I’ll take for a unit.
Canucks vs. Wild (10:00)
The Wild are on fire right now. Coming off a 2-1 shootout win at home against the Isles on Tuesday (that after a first period sweat turned into the easiest under ever), they’ve won six of their last seven games, picking up at least a point in each of those games with a 7-1-2 record in their last ten games. Minnesota’s now 34-21-6, in second place in the tight Central Division. They haven’t been great offensively but they’ve been an elite defensive team. The Canucks are a mess of an organization but they’re coming off a shocking 5-4 overtime win in Dallas on Sunday. They’ve won three of their last five games and are 24-31-5 on the season. Vancouver’s been decent offensively but they’re one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL. The Wild won both previous games between these teams this season, winning 4-3 in overtime on October 20th at home and then shutting out the Canucks 3-0 on the road on December 10th. I expect a season sweep tonight and will take the Wild for a unit.
Kings vs. Canadiens (10:30)
This is a pretty big cross-conference mismatch tonight going down in LA. The Kings are in second place in the Pacific Division with a 34-20-8 record, coming off a 6-5 shootout win in Winnipeg on Tuesday night. They’ve played well recently with 9-3-2 record in their last 14 games. Yesterday they made a huge trade shipping their two time Cup champion goaltender Jonathan Quick to Columbus (who then traded him to Vegas) in exchange for Vladislav Gavrikov and Joonas Korpisalo. LA’s been good offensively this season but they’ve been very inconsistent defensively. The Habs are in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 26-30-4 record and have won three of their last four games, coming off a 3-1 win in San Jose on Tuesday night. Statistically they haven’t been good on either end of the ice. LA won the first game between these teams this season, winning 4-2 in Montreal on December 10th. I like the Kings to win again at home here and will take them in regulation for half a unit along with the over for a unit.
Sharks vs. Blues (10:30)
This matchup blows. The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the NHL with an 18-31-12 record on the season, coming into tonight’s game on a three game losing streak after a 3-1 loss at home to the Habs on Tuesday. I anticipate them to get even worse after they trade Timo Meier to the Devils and it wouldn’t shock me if they traded Erik Karlsson before tomorrow’s deadline. The Blues are awful too, with a 26-29-5 record and they’ve already traded all their big assets for the future. They’re on a six game losing streak after a 5-3 loss at home to the Kraken on Tuesday (nice win for me), and they only have three wins in their last 14 games. Both of these teams have been terrible statistically on both ends of the ice, especially defensively. St. Louis won the first game between these teams this season 5-3 at home on November 10th. I’d slightly lean they win again on the road but no way I’m betting a side on this game. I like the over in this game though, and I’ll take the alternate over 6 for half a unit.
Game Bets
1u Bruins/Sabres over 6 (-129)
.5u Kraken ML (-120)
.5u Panthers in regulation (-110)
1u Panthers/Predators over 6.5 (-125)
.5u Rangers ML (-160)
1u Rangers TT over 3 ( -177)
.5u Lightning ML (-170)
2u Lightning/Penguins over 6.5 (-120)
.5u Stars in regulation (-139)
.5u Stars TT over 3.5 (-124)
1u Flames/Maple Leafs over 6.5 (-110)
1u Wild ML (-150)
.5u Kings in regulation (-159)
1u Kings/Canadiens over 6.5 (-110)
.5u Sharks/Blues over 6 (-127)
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 York Rangers – Stanley Cup Champions (+1300)
1u New Jersey Devils – Stanley Cup Champions (+1600)
Record: 506-422-17 (-44.34 units)
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