Very small loss for me last night on the NHL, going 5-3 to lose 0.32 units. After two ten game slates in a row, we just have a light three game slate tonight before the last giant slate of the season tomorrow night as the season comes to a close. Let’s get a bounce back going into the playoffs.
Islanders vs. Canadiens (7:00)
This is a huge mismatch to start off tonight’s slate. It’s now a two horse race between the Islanders and the Penguins for the last Wild Card spot available in the playoffs. The Isles can clinch that spot in the playoffs with a win tonight on home ice. Coming off a 5-2 loss on the road in Washington on Monday night, they’re 41-31-9 on the season. The Isles offense has been pretty pathetic the entire season but their defense and the goaltending from Ilya Sorokin has been fantastic this year. The Habs on the other hand have been horrible, in last place in the Atlantic with a 31-43-6 record. Coming off a 7-1 loss in Toronto on Saturday, they have just one win in their last six games and only five in their last 20. Montreal has really struggled on both ends of the ice this season. These teams split their first two games this season, with the Isles winning 2-1 at home on January 14th and then the Canadiens winning 4-3 in overtime on February 11th at home. The Isles are the much better team in this game and I expect them to clinch their spot in the playoffs tonight and eliminate the Penguins. Can’t bet the moneyline at -375 and even the regulation line at -215 is too expensive. I’ll take them on the puck line for a unit. I’d lean the under in this matchup but not enough to bet it.
Blues vs. Stars (7:30)
Huge mismatch here in the Central Division. The Stars are having a fantastic season and with two games left including tonight for both them and the Avalanche, they’re a point back for first place in the Division with a 45-21-14 record. They’re on a four-game win streak tonight coming off a 6-1 blowout win in Detroit on Monday night and have played really well recently with a 15-5-2 record in their last 22 games. Dallas has played well on both ends of the ice. The Blues are having a disappointing year with a 37-36-7 on the season and were big sellers before the deadline. They are coming off a 5-3 loss in Minnesota on Saturday but have played pretty well recently, with an 8-3-2 record in last 13 games. The offense for St. Louis has been decent but their defense has been horrendous. The Stars easily won the first game between these teams this season, winning 4-1 in St. Louis on November 28th. I’d expect another very similar result tonight in the first half of this home and home to close out the season. I’m loading up on the Stars here with 1.5 units on the moneyline, half a unit on the puck line, and two units on their team total over 3.
Flames vs. Sharks (10:00)
The Flames were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Monday night with their shootout loss to the Predators and the Sharks come into tonight’s game right in the Bedard sweepstakes as one of the worst teams in the league. I broke this game down in depth in my article on StatSalt. Like I said in that article, I like the Flames to close out their season with a win at home in this very favorable matchup. Although the moneyline at -240 is too expensive for me, I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
1u Islanders -1.5 (-141)
1.5u Stars ML (-165)
.5u Stars -1.5 (+148)
2u Stars TT over 3 (-167)
.5u Flames in regulation (-148)
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: 714-565-29 (-37.84 units)
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