Last night’s NHL slate sucked for me and wasn’t nearly as fun as Monday’s with my picks going 2-5-1 to lose 3.42 units, with all four road teams surprisingly winning. Let’s bounce back on the four Game 2s tonight!!
Game 2: Hurricanes vs. Islanders (7:00)
Game 1 of this series on Monday night was just as boring as I expected with the Hurricanes winning 2-1 at home. They outshot the Isles 37-26 and outplayed them by an expected goal rate of 3.51-2.48. Both of Carolina’s goals came on the power play while the Islanders went 0-4 on their power play chances and could barely sustain pressure in the offensive zone at many points of the game. I’m going to jump right back on Carolina here for a unit. I love the under even more in this series and I’m going to keep hammering it between these two teams that play the boringest hockey. I’ll lay the juice on the under for 2 units.
Game 2: Bruins vs. Panthers (7:30)
The Panthers actually played really well in Game 1 of this series on Monday night, yet the Bruins still beat them 3-1. Florida outshot the B’s 32-29 and slightly outplayed Boston by an expected goal rate of 3.24-3.1. With the Bruins winning that game even without their best effort, that makes me even more confident that they don’t take more than probably five games to win this series and I already added a prop on them to win it in five or less games for 1.5 units after Monday’s game. I’m going right back on the Boston again tonight with them in regulation for 1.5 units. I’d lean the over here but not enough to bet on it.
Game 2: Stars vs. Wild (9:30)
The best Game 1 of all eight series in the first round was easily this one. Playing old school, hard-nosed hockey, these teams went to double overtime with Brock Faber, fresh out of college hockey making a game saving blocked shot and Ryan Hartman scoring the game winner 12:20 into 2OT for the Wild to get a 3-2 win on the road. Such a fun game to watch despite it going so late. Minnesota outplayed the Stars by an expected goal rate of 4.07-3.76 but were outshot 53-48. As I said going into the series, I really think this series goes to seven games with very competitive hockey. I like the Stars to win tonight to even up the series at home and will take them for a unit. I also like the under, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Game 2: Oilers vs. Kings (10:00)
In Game 1 on Monday night, after getting shut out for the first two periods of the game, the Kings came back from a 3-1 deficit more than halfway through the third period, with Anze Kopitar scoring the game-tying goal for LA with 16.7 seconds remaining in regulation on the power play in a 6 on 4 situation to force overtime, with Alex Iafallo getting the Kings the overtime game-winner on the power play 9:19 into OT. The Oilers outshot LA 40-35 and outplayed the Kings by an expected goal rate of 4.09-3.71. Leon Draisaitl scored twice for Edmonton with Adrian Kempe scoring twice for the Kings. Anze Kopitar had three assists and a goal while the best player in the NHL, Connor McDavid was held off the scoresheet. After Monday night’s loss at home for the Oilers, this is a must-win game for Edmonton to bounce back and even the series heading to LA for Game 3. As one of the favorites to win the West, they cannot go down 2-0 in the series and go on the road. I expect them to bounce back after losing in disappointing fashion on Monday night, giving up the tying goal with 16.7 seconds left in regulation and going on to lose in OT after blowing a 3-1 lead. Connor McDavid was left off the scoresheet on Monday and I can’t see that happening tonight from the best player in the world. I’m doubling down on the series here and will take the Oilers to win it for 2 units at the much cheaper -130 price. For tonight in Game 2, I will take them to win in regulation for 2 units along with the over for half a unit.
Game Bets
1u Hurricanes ML (-170)
2u Hurricanes/Islanders under 5.5 (-125)
1.5u Bruins in regulation (-132)
1u Stars ML (-150)
.5u Stars/Wild under 5.5 (-110)
2u Oilers in regulation (-125)
.5u Oilers/Kings over 6.5 (-121)
Series Bets
1u Bruins to win series in six games or less (-177)
1.5u Bruins to win series in five games or less (-125)
1.5u Hurricanes/Islanders over 5.5 games (-162)
1.5u Stars to win series (-150)
2.5u Stars/Wild over 5.5 games (-167)
.5u Stars/Wild over 6.5 games (+220)
1.5u Oilers to win series in six games or less (-112)
2u Devils/Rangers over 5.5 games (-167)
1u Devils to win series (-125)
2u Maple Leafs to win series (-177)
1u Maple Leafs/Lightning over 5.5 games (-162)
1.5u Golden Knights to win series (-175)
2u Oilers to win series (-130)
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)
2u Edmonton Oilers – Stanley Cup Champions (+800)
Record: 738-574-30 (-26.48 units)
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A Town's Zone 