Last night was great opening the NHL season, but my picks weren’t great as I went 1-3 to lose 1.57 units, with a double loser on the Pens game as they blew a 2-0 lead more than halfway through the game to lose 4-2 and I split the Vegas game. Tonight we have a six game slate, let’s bounce back!
Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens (7:00)
I don’t expect this to be a great game. As much as I hate them, I have big expectations of the Leafs this year after they finally got out of the first round of the playoffs last year. The Habs on the other hand I don’t think we’ll be great. I’m not gonna overthink this game much at all. Toronto wins it easily at home. The moneyline is too expensive to bet at -285. Although it’s a bit pricey, I’ll take them in regulation for a unit and their team total over 3.5 for half a unit. I like the over too, but I’ll stay off it.
Hurricanes vs. Senators (7:00)
I think the Canes are going to be a fantastic team this season and they’re my pick to win the Eastern Conference this year. I expect the Sens to improve this season and fight for a playoff spot this year (but likely fall a bit short with my Sabres getting in over them). This should be a fun game to watch, but Carolina should be able to open their season with a win at home. I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under but I’m not betting it.
Bruins vs. Blackhawks (7:30)
Last night the Blackhawks shocked me as Bedard and his boys came back from down 2-0 on the road in Pittsburgh to beat the Pens 4-2. Double loser there for me. I still don’t expect them to be a great team this year. The Bruins set records for how good their regular season was last year before they got bounced in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs to the eventual Eastern Conference Champion Panthers. I do think they take a pretty significant step back this season. Especially with Chicago in the second half of a back to back on the road to start the year though, I don’t see them winning two in a row and the B’s should win this one pretty easily at home. The moneyline is way too pricey at -310 and even the regulation line at -210 is too expensive for me, but I’ll take the Bruins puck line for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to consider betting it.
Flames vs. Jets (10:00)
This should be a fun matchup tonight. The Flames weren’t great as they missed the playoffs last season and fired their head coach Daryl Sutter. That was a disappointing season for them and I expect them to improve. The Jets made the playoffs last year, getting eliminated in five games in the first round to the eventual Cup Champion Golden Knights. I don’t expect them to be a great team, and thought they’d be sellers at the deadline and trade Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck, but this week they signed them both to seven year extensions to lock them up in Winnipeg. I’d lean the Flames win here at home but not enough to bet them. I’d also slightly lean the under, but I’ll stay off this game entirely.
Canucks vs. Oilers (10:00)
I feel like there’s a lot of value at -150 on the Oilers here on the road in Vancouver. The Oilers were a great team last year, giving the Golden Knights the best series they saw in the playoffs. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl make this team a Cup contender every year out of the West if they could figure out their defense. The Canucks struggled last season and although I think Rick Tocchet and his team improve this season, they’re not beating Edmonton. I’ll take the Oilers for half a unit. Along with that, I expect McDavid to be a pretty big factor here and he had over 3.5 shots in 61 of his 91 games last year, including in all three matchups against the Canucks (shout out Todd Cordell from theScore for that stat), so I’ll take McJesus to have over 3.5 shots for half a unit. I like the over on the game too but not enough to bet it at 7 or buy it down to 6.5.
Kings vs. Avalanche (10:00)
I broke this game down in depth in my article on StatSalt last night. As I said in that blog, I think both of these teams end up having really good seasons. I’d lean the Kings win at home and the under tonight, but not enough to even consider betting either, so I’m staying off this game completely.
Game Bets
1u Maple Leafs in regulation (-167)
.5u Maple Leafs TT over 3.5 (-168)
.5u Hurricanes in regulation (-121)
.5u Bruins -1.5 (-124)
.5u Oilers ML (-150)
.5u Connor McDavid over 3.5 shots (-143)
Record: 1-3 (-1.57 units)
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