I got out the brooms for a mini sweep on the NHL last night, going 3-0 to win 2 units. After just four games last night, we have a huge 13 game slate today (without many day games) as the regular season winds down. Let’s win again and crush the weekend!
Predators vs. Blues (1:00)
This has actually become a fun matchup in the Central Division to get the day started. Both of these teams have had pretty disappointing seasons and were big sellers before the trade deadline. The Preds still have an unlikely, but outside shot of making the playoffs, five points back from the Jets for the second Wild Card spot in the West. They have a 37-29-8 record and are in a slump right now with just three wins in their last nine games, coming off a 2-0 shutout loss in Pittsburgh on Thursday. Nashville’s been good defensively this season with Juuse Saros between the pipes but they’ve struggled offensively big time. The Blues play an opposite style of hockey. Their offense has been good but their defense and goaltending has been terrible this season. They’re 35-34-6 on the season and have been hot recently with a 6-1-1 record in their last eight games. St. Louis won two of the first three games this season between these teams, losing 6-2 in Nashville on October 27th, winning 1-0 in overtime of a double shutout at home on December 12th and then winning 5-2 at home on January 19th. I’d slightly lean the Predators win at home but not enough to bet it. The total is a complete coin flip to me based on whoever dictates the pace of play of this game.
Penguins vs. Bruins (3:00)
This could be a fun game in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins really don’t have anything to play for besides the record books until the playoffs start, as they’ve already clinched the President’s Trophy with the best regular season record in the league, coming into tonight’s game with a 58-12-5 record. They’re coming off a 2-1 overtime win against the Blue Jackets at home on Thursday and have won eight of their last nine games. Boston has the best defense in the NHL and the second best offense. The problem from now till the end of the season with them though is the motivation vs. the rest. Against Carolina last Sunday, they left their entire first line at home and still won. The Penguins on the other hand need every point they can get. They’re hanging onto the second Wild Card spot in the East by a point over the Panthers, with a 37-28-10 record. Coming off a 2-0 shutout win against the Preds at home on Thursday, they’ve won three of their last five games after going on a four game losing streak prior to that. Pittsburgh’s been decent, but inconsistent on both ends of the ice this year. The Bruins won both previous games between these teams this season, winning 6-5 in overtime on November 1st in Pittsburgh and then 2-1 at home on January 2nd. I’d slightly lean the Bruins and the under in this game but not enough to bet either, so I’ll just lay off it.
Canadiens vs. Hurricanes (7:00)
There isn’t really any luster to this Eastern Conference matchup, which I broke down in depth in my article on StatSalt. As I said in the article, I expect the Canes to complete their season sweep of the Habs and to do so inside 60 minutes, so I’ll take Carolina in regulation for a unit. They already clinched a playoff spot but are just a point ahead of the Devils in the tight Metro Division race, needing every point for that first seed in the division. I’d slightly lean the under in this game but not enough to bet it.
Senators vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
I broke down this final Battle of Ottawa in depth in my article on StatSalt. As I said in that article, I expect the Leafs to get a win on the road here tonight in Ottawa and will take them for half a unit. I like the over better though, which I’ll take for a unit. Should be a fun game.
Flyers vs. Sabres (7:00)
Last night the Sabres hopeful goalie of the future made his first NHL start, winning 3-2 in overtime at home against the Rangers in SUCH a fun game to watch. That was a crucial two points for the Sabres, who still have an outside shot at a Wild Card spot, coming into tonight’s game on a four game win point streak with three wins in those last four games to improve to 36-31-7 on the season, five points back from the Penguins with a game in hand. Buffalo’s young offense has been fantastic this season, but the defense and goaltending has been atrocious. The Flyers have had a disappointing year, coming into tonight’s game with a 29-32-13 record. They’ve played well recently though with a four game win streak coming to an end on Thursday in Ottawa where they lost 5-4 in OT. Philly has picked up at least a point in each of their last seven games. They’ve played pretty poorly on both ends of the ice this year. The Flyers beat the Sabres in both previous games they played against us, winning 4-0 in Buffalo on January 9th and then 5-2 at home on March 17th. I’d lean that even in the second half of a back to back, the Sabres get a win on the road here tonight, but not enough to bet it. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Blue Jackets vs. Panthers (7:00)
Pretty big mismatch here tonight in Columbus. The Panthers came up clutch late in their game on the road in Montreal on Thursday night to get me a nice triple winner in their 5-2 win against the Habs. That was a crucial two points for Florida as they’re now just a point back from Pittsburgh for the last Wild Card spot in the East with a 38-31-7 record. Florida’s been great offensively all season but their defense and goaltending has struggled. The Blue Jackets are one of the worst teams in the NHL, right in the Bedard sweepstakes with a 23-43-8 record and coming into tonight’s game on a three game losing streak after a 2-1 overtime loss in Boston on Thursday night. They have just three wins in their last 13 games and have played horribly on both ends of the ice this year. These teams split their first two games this season, with the Blue Jackets winning 5-3 at home on November 20th and the Panthers answering back with a 4-0 shutout win at home on December 13th. I like Florida to win tonight pretty easily on the road. The moneyline at -250 is a bit too expensive for me but I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. The play I love on this game though is their team total and will take the Panthers TT over 3.5 for 1.5 units, along with the alternate over 6.5 on the game for a unit.
Lightning vs. Islanders (7:00)
This should be a fun game that matches up the two teams that went to the closing minutes of the Eastern Conference Finals in Game 7 a few years ago. Both of these teams have had their ups and downs this year, but both hold playoff spots in the East currently. The Lightning are comfortably in third place in the Atlantic with a 44-26-6 record, with their matchup set against the Leafs in the first round. I expect the Bolts to lose that first round matchup for the first time in four seasons. Tampa’s offense has been very good this season just as it has been the last several years, but their defense and goaltending has taken a significant step back, which is why I think Toronto beats them. They’re coming off two wins in a row after shutting out Carolina on the road on Tuesday and then beating the Caps 5-1 at home on Thursday. The Isles are coming off a win against Washington as well, winning 2-1 in a shootout on the road on Wednesday night, their second win in a row as well. The Isles hold the first Wild Card spot in the East with a 39-28-9 record and they’ve played well recently with a 5-1-1 record in their last seven games. In opposite fashion of Tampa, the Islanders have been very good defensively with a Vezina candidate in between the pipes in Ilya Sorokin but a lousy offense. The Bolts won the first game between these teams this season, winning 5-3 at home on October 22nd. I think they win again tonight at home and will take them for half a unit.
Blackhawks vs. Devils (8:00)
This matchup stinks, huge mismatch. The Devils are having a fantastic season, with their spot in the playoffs already clinched, just a point behind Carolina for the division lead with a 47-20-8 record. They’re coming off a 2-1 win against the Rangers on Thursday in what was likely a preview of their first round matchup. New Jersey’s played fantastic hockey on both ends of the ice this season. The Blackhawks have been horrible, one of the worst teams in the NHL with a 24-45-6 record, coming into tonight’s game with a 24-45-6 record and on a seven game losing streak after a 5-3 loss to the Blues on Thursday night. Chicago’s been awful on both ends of the ice this year. In the first game between these cross-conference teams this season in Jersey on December 6th, the Devils won in a 3-0 shutout. I’d expect them to easily win again tonight. The moneyline at -335 is way too expensive, as is the regulation line at -195, but I’ll take the Devils puck line for a unit.
Avalanche vs. Stars (9:00)
This should be a fantastic matchup between two of the top three teams in the Central Division. Last night the Stars completed the sweep on the night for me, beating the Coyotes 5-2 on the road. They’re in second place in the division, a point behind the Wild with a 41-20-14 record, with a 4-1-1 record in their last six games. The defending Cup champ Avs are having a great season too, in third place in the Central with a 44-24-6 record, two points back from Dallas. They’re coming off a 4-2 loss at home to the Wild in a very entertaining game, ending their three game win streak. Both of these teams have played really well on both ends of the ice. The Avalanche lead the season series between these teams, winning the first game 3-2 in a shootout on the road in Dallas on November 21st, winning 4-1 at home on November 26th, and then losing 7-4 in Dallas on March 4th. With the Stars on the road in the second half of a back to back, I’d expect the Avs win again tonight and will take them for half a unit.
Coyotes vs. Sharks (10:00)
What a terrible matchup this is. The Coyotes have been pretty bad this season (although they’ve likely played themselves a bit out of the Bedard sweepstakes), coming into tonight’s game with a 27-36-13 record, on a six game losing streak. Last night I finished my mini sweep of the board as they lost 5-2 at home to the Stars, but Arizona’s surprisingly played well at home this season at the Mullett, where they have a 20-13-4 record. The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the NHL with a 21-39-15 record, but are coming off two surprising wins in a row, shutting out the Jets 3-0 on Tuesday and then screwing me big time as Logan Couture jumped on a bad giveaway and scored the game winner in overtime to beat Vegas 4-3 on Thursday. Both of these teams have been terrible statistically on both ends of the ice. The Sharks won both of the first two games between these teams this year, a 3-2 win at home on December 13th. I’d lean the Yotes avoid the season sweep with a win at home tonight, even in the second half of a back to back. I’d lean the over as well, but not enough to bet that either, so I’ll just stay off this shitty game completely.
Oilers vs. Ducks (10:00)
This is a huge mismatch in the Pacific Division. The Oilers are in second place in the Pacific, just two points back from Vegas for the Western Conference lead, with a 44-23-9 record. McDavid and Co. have been on fire, coming into tonight’s game on a nine game point streak with an 8-0-1 record in that span after a 2-0 win at home against the Kings on Thursday night. Led by the best player in the world, Edmonton’s offense is easily the best in the NHL, but their defense and goaltending has been inconsistent at best. The Ducks are one of the worst teams in the show, with just a 23-42-10 record, right in the Bedard sweepstakes as they come into tonight’s game on a six game losing streak after a 4-1 loss in Seattle on Thursday night. Anaheim’s been horrible on both ends of the ice this year. These teams split their first two games this season with the Ducks winning 4-3 in Edmonton on December 17th and the Oilers answering back with a 6-2 win in Anaheim on January 11th. I’d expect Edmonton to win easily tonight and so do the books with the price on this game coming in at an insane -480 price. Obviously I’m not betting that, nor the -278 regulation line or -195 puck line. Fuck that. I’ll take the Oilers team total (still a high price, especially at 4.5) and the alternate over 6.5 in this game for half a unit each.
Kraken vs. Kings (10:00)
This should be a fun matchup in the Pacific Division, both playoff teams. The Kraken are comfortably in the first Wild Card spot in the West with a 41-25-8 record, coming off a 4-1 win at home against the Ducks on Thursday night. The Kings will look to avoid getting swept by the Kraken on the season tonight. They’re in third place in the Pacific with a 43-22-10 record, but have lost their last two games, coming off a 2-0 shutout loss in Edmonton on Thursday night. Both of these teams have been good offensively all season but inconsistent defensively. Seattle has won all three previous games between these teams this season, winning 4-1 in LA on October 13th, 3-2 in overtime at home on November 19th, and then winning 9-8 in overtime in LA in probably the most entertaining game I’ve watched all season. I’d slightly lean the Kraken win this game but not enough to bet on it, expecting this one to pretty much be a toss up. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Golden Knights vs. Wild (10:00)
We close out tonight’s slate with a fantastic matchup between the top two teams in the West, separated by just two points in the standings. Vegas officially clinched a playoff berth, the first and only team so far in the West to do so with a 46-22-7 record, the first time Jack Eichel will be in the playoffs his entire career. They’re coming off two losses in a row after a very disappointing (especially for my bankroll) 4-3 overtime loss in San Jose on Thursday night where Alex Petrangelo made a lousy turnover in OT that led to a breakaway that Logan Couture scored the game winner on. The Golden Knights have played well on both ends of the ice. The Wild are leading the Central with a 44-2-9 record and come into tonight’s game on a six game point streak and a three game win streak after an electric 4-2 win in Colorado on Wednesday night. They’re one of the hottest teams in the NHL right now with a 16-1-4 record in their last 21 games. Minnesota’s elite defensively all season and although their offense has struggled plenty at points this season, they’re on fire recently even without Karill the thrill in the lineup. I’d slightly lean the Wild win here on the road and the over in this game, but not enough to bet on either. I’ll stay off this game from a betting perspective but I’ll absolutely be staying up to watch this one.
Game Bets
1u Hurricanes in regulation (-167)
.5u Maple Leafs ML (-160)
1u Maple Leafs/Senators over 6.5 (-135)
.5u Sabres/Flyers over 6.5 (-135)
1u Panthers in regulation (-150)
1.5u Panthers TT over 3.5 (-182)
1u Panthers/Blue Jackets over 6.5 (-150)
.5u Lightning ML (-150)
1u Devils -1.5 (-127)
.5u Avalanche ML (-165)
.5u Oilers TT over 4.5 (-125)
.5u Oilers/Ducks over 6.5 (-162)
.5u Kraken/Kings over 6 (-122)
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)
.5u Minnesota Wild – Stanley Cup Champions (+2000)
1u Minnesota Wild – Western Conference Champions (+800)
Record: 651-534-27 (-57.19 units)
PS: I wish that amount of units was an April Fools Joke too…
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