My strange start to the NHL season continued yesterday as I went 1-3 to lose 1.68 units. Tonight we have a big nine game slate. Let’s get after it.
Flyers vs. Canucks (6:00)
The Canucks shocked me as they opened the season with back to back wins in a home and home against the Oilers. Pretty impressive, especially their opening night 8-1 win at home. The Flyers are probably going to suck though this season as I expected, opening their year 1-1. I like Vancouver to improve to 3-0 on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit here.
Canadiens vs. Wild (7:00)
I like the Wild to win this game on the road, but not enough to bet on it. I’d slightly lean the under as well but not enough to bet it. So I’ll skip this game completely.
Sabres vs. Lightning (7:30)
After losing to the Rags in our opener, my Sabres were much better against the Isles on Saturday yet still lost 3-2. Buffalo, along with the Oilers are the only teams in the NHL without even a point in the standings yet. If the Sabres can play like they did on Saturday night, they should win this game at home tonight against the Lightning backup goaltenders and without Stamkos in the lineup for Tampa. I’m not betting it though, I already have enough emotionally invested in this team, I don’t need to bet them too. I do like the over quite a bit though and I’ll lay the extra juice on the alternate 6.5 in this game for half a unit.
Islanders vs. Coyotes (7:30)
I think this actually ends up being a pretty competitive game. I’m not really sold on the Islanders. They’re very good defensively but they have nothing going on offensively in their lineup. The Coyotes I think will see a decent improvement this season while still missing the playoffs. I’d expect the Isles to win at home here, but I don’t think they’re worth betting on at -190 against a scrappy Yotes team, so I’ll stay off this matchup.
Predators vs. Oilers (8:00)
McDavid, Draisaitl, and the Oilers are shockingly one of only two teams in the NHL (along with my Sabres) who haven’t gotten at least a point yet this season, taking back to back losses in a home and home against the Canucks. They got plenty of chances but their shooting percentage was so low on pucks actually finding the back of the net. I expect them to get their first win of the year here and I’ll take them for half a unit on the road. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Jets vs. Kings (8:00)
I broke this game down in depth in my article on StatSalt. As I said in that article, I’d lean the Kings and the under in that game, but not enough to bet on either so I’ll stay off this game completely.
Kraken vs. Avalanche (10:00)
I think the Avs are going to be a fantastic team this season and they’re my pick to go to the Western Conference Finals against Vegas. They’re 2-0 and after dominating the Kings in their first game in LA, they let me down needing a shootout to beat the Sharks in San Jose. That game was just a frustrating, bad luck game to watch though since Colorado had a ton of chances, generating 52 shots on goal and over 5 expected goals. The Kraken haven’t been able to generate anything offensively though as they’ve scored a goal or less in each of their three games. I like the Avs to win here and I’ll take them for half a unit.
Golden Knights vs. Stars (10:30)
This should be a pretty good game in the West tonight. The Golden Knights have looked fantastic in their first three games of the season, all 4-1 wins after lifting their banner (although two of those were against the Ducks and Sharks, who I expect end up being atrocious). The Stars got a 2-1 shootout win in a closer game than I expected in their home opener, but I expect them to be pretty good too. I like Vegas to win here at home in the fortress and will take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but I’m not taking it.
Sharks vs. Hurricanes (10:30)
The Sharks are going to be an atrocious team this season. I was shocked that they took Colorado to a shootout in their 2-1 loss on Saturday night, with MacKenzie Blackwood being fantastic in goal to steal away two big bets from me. San Jose gave up 52 shots and over 5 expected goals in that loss. This teams going to be atrocious. Then Sunday night Carolina let me down, losing 6-3 in Anaheim. This feels like a perfect get-right spot in the league and I expect the Canes to bounce back with a big win against a Sharks team that performs at their talent level (horrible). The moneyline is way too high at -310, but I’ll take the Hurricanes in regulation for half a unit.
Game Bets
.5u Canucks ML (-130)
.5u Sabres/Lightning over 6.5 (-152)
.5u Oilers ML (-130)
.5u Avalanche ML (-155)
.5u Golden Knights ML (-102)
.5u Hurricanes in regulation (-186)
Record: 14-22 (-8.33 units)
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