Great day for me yesterday on the NHL, one game short of a sweep, as I went 7-1 to win 4.2 units. Awesome night. After a huge 15-game slate yesterday, we have just a small five-game slate today with a lot to like. Let’s crush it again!!
Note: I locked in every play for today last night, so some lines might have shifted since I placed them.
Coyotes vs. Avalanche (3:00)
I broke this game down in depth in my article on StatSalt for the second half of a home and home in the last game between these Central Division teams this season. As I said in that article, I’d expect the Avs to win on the road. The -315 moneyline isn’t worth betting though and even the -190 regulation line is a bit pricey. I actually see some value in the Yotes alternate puck line +2.5, with Arizona playing well at home this season and I’ll take for half a unit. I’d lean the under but not enough to bet it.
Hurricanes vs. Bruins (5:00)
This is a fantastic Eastern Conference matchup between the first two teams to clinch playoff spots this season, leading their divisions. Yesterday, the Bruins, who are easily the best team in the NHL this season clinched the Atlantic Division title with a 2-1 win at home against the Lightning. That extended their win streak to six in a row, improving them to 56-11-5, which already set a record for the fastest team to 50 wins and they’re projected to finish the year with the best record in NHL history. Boston is second in the NHL in scoring this season behind just the Oilers and they’re easily the best defensive team in the league. The Hurricanes lead the Metro Division with a 47-16-8 record, coming off a 5-3 win at home against the Leafs last night, their fourth win in their last six games. Carolina’s played great hockey on both ends of the ice, but they’re not quite as good as Boston on either. These teams split their two previous games this season, with the Bruins winning 3-2 in overtime at home on November 25th and the Canes answering back at home with a 4-1 win on January 29th. I think the B’s are the better team in this matchup and I like the Bruins to win on the road here. I will take them for half a unit with a great pick ‘em price at -110 (which I locked in last night). I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Blackhawks vs. Canucks (6:00)
This isn’t a great matchup with two pretty disappointing seasons for these teams, both in the second half of a back-to-back. There’s still a pretty big talent discrepancy between them though, which I broke down in depth in my article on StatSalt. As I said in that article, I expect the Canucks to win this game easily on the road tonight and will take them for a unit on the ML and half a unit on the puck line. Along with that, I’ll take the Canucks team total over 3.5 for a unit. (I locked in all of those bets last night, anticipating line movement). I’d lean the over but not enough to bet on it and have to rely on the Chicago scoring.
Predators vs. Maple Leafs (6:00)
Both of these teams are in the second half of back-to-back games, both coming off losses last night. Yesterday the Predators had the unveiling of Pekka Rinne’s statue at Bridgestone Arena spoiled as they were defeated 7-2 at home by the Kraken. The Preds fall to 36-27-8 on the season with that loss and they’ve only picked up two wins in their last six games. Big sellers at the deadline, Nashville is still outside of the playoff picture, five points back from Winnipeg for the last Wild Card spot in the West. The Preds have played well defensively this season, backstopped by Juuse Saros (who’s projected to start tonight on back-to-back nights after starting yesterday) but their offense has been pathetic. The Leafs are comfortably in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 43-20-9 record and I expect them to finally beat Tampa in the first round of the playoffs. They’re coming off a 5-3 in Carolina last night in a game where they outshot the Canes 44-28. Toronto’s been very good on both ends of the ice. The first game between these teams this season in Toronto on January 11th was a low scoring grind, with the Leafs winning 2-1 at home. I like them to bounce back tonight from yesterday’s loss with a win on the road in Smashville and will take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the over but not enough to bet it.
Kings vs. Blues (10:30)
This isn’t a great game tonight with both of these teams in the second half of a back-to-back. The Kings are having a fantastic season, coming into tonight’s game in second place in the Pacific Division with a 42-20-10 record. They’re on an eleven-game point streak with a 9-0-2 record in that span, coming off a 4-1 win at home against the Jets yesterday afternoon. LA has been very good offensively all season but they’ve been inconsistent defensively. The Blues have had a disappointing season, coming into tonight’s game with a 33-33-6 record and they were big sellers before the deadline.
They’ve played alright recently though, on a five game point streak with four wins in their last five games, coming into tonight’s game off a 6-3 win against the Ducks last night in Anaheim. St. Louis has been decent offensively this year, but they’ve really struggled on the back end. To make that matter worse (although he has played well in his limited starts this season), third-string backup Joel Hofer is projected to start for Blues in the second half of a back-to-back. The Kings won both previous games between these teams this season by multiple goals, winning 5-1 on the road in St. Louis on October 31st and then 4-2 at home on March 4th. I expect them to complete the season sweep tonight at home and will take them in regulation for a unit along with half a unit each on their team total over 3.5 and the alternate over 6 for the game.
Game Bets
.5u Coyotes +2.5 (-167)
.5u Bruins ML (-110)
1u Canucks ML (-162)
.5u Canucks -1.5 (+150)
1u Canucks TT over 3.5 (-107)
.5u Maple Leafs ML (-177)
1u Kings in regulation (-132)
.5u Kings TT over 3.5 (-132)
.5u Kings/Blues over 6 (-134)
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: 620-515-24 (-59.19 units)
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