I had a double loser last night on my Sabres, losing 2.11 units. Tonight every NHL team is in action tonight on a 16 game slate with staggered start times of a game starting every 15 minutes. Lot of opportunities to win here, let’s bounce back and crush it!
I think tonight is such a great idea for a league that cannot stay out of its way from a marketing and growing the game perspective, while having such an incredible product on the ice every night. ESPN is doing a whole new NHL take on a “Red Zone” style thing tonight with this slate, bouncing around every game, which I think’s a great idea for the sport. Hopefully this goes well tonight, the league learns from it and they can implement it at a bigger scale in the future to grow the game of hockey.
Capital vs. Maple Leafs (6:00)
The night of hockey starts with the Caps hosting the Leafs in what I don’t think is a great matchup for Washington. I expect Toronto to start off tonight’s slate with a win on the road, even with Joseph Woll confirmed in goal and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet on it.
Blue Jackets vs. Ducks (6:30)
These are two of the worst teams in the NHL. I’m not touching a side on this one as I consider it pretty much a coin flip. I kind of like the over and considered betting on it but as bad as these defenses are, the offenses are just as putrid, so it’s best in my opinion to just stay off this game completely.
Senators vs. Sabres (6:45)
The Sabres had the only game on the slate last night, losing 3-1 to the Habs in a game that we actually played pretty well and couldn’t solve Jake Allen. I don’t have a whole lot of faith in my boys getting it done here in the second half of a back to back. I’ll bet against them and take the Sens here for half a unit. I also like the over, and I’ll lay the juice on the over 6.5 for half a unit as well.
Lightning vs. Hurricanes (7:00)
I didn’t really expect a ton out of Tampa to start the season since their All-Star goalie is out, but the Hurricanes defense, as the team that I expect to win the Eastern Conference has been pretty disappointing. I’m giving them another shot here and expect them to win on the road to bounce back from their losses in Colorado and Seattle and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet on it.
Canadiens vs. Devils (7:15)
Last night the Habs rode the great play of Jake Allen in goal to beat the Sabres 3-1. I don’t have a whole lot of faith in them winning back to back here and think the Devils are the far better team in this matchup. I like Jersey to win this one on the road, and since the moneyline is a bit too expensive for me at -235, I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over but not enough to bet it.
Penguins vs. Stars (7:30)
This is an interesting matchup as I broke down in depth last night in my article on StatSalt. As I said in that article, I like the Stars to win here and will take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the over but not enough to bet it.
Panthers vs. Sharks (7:45)
This isn’t a great matchup whatsoever with the defending Eastern Conference Champions, who I do think are not going to capture the magic they did in their playoff run last year as the last seed in the East, host the worst team in the NHL in the Sharks. I broke it down in depth in my article on StatSalt. I keep betting agains the Sharks and I’m not going to stop that trend here, even with Anthony Stolarz confirmed in goal for the Panthers. I expect this to be a get right spot for them from their loss to the Canucks on Saturday. The moneyline is far too expensive to bet at -278, and the first thing I looked it was the team total which I’ll take for half a unit. I’d lean the over on the game but not enough to bet on it.
Islanders vs. Avalanche (8:00)
I think the Avalanche could win the Stanley Cup this year and I fully expect them vs. the Golden Knights for the Western Conference Finals. This is a fantastic team and they’re a perfect 5-0 to start the year. The Isles have done nothing to impress me and I expect the Avs to move to 6-0 with a road win tonight. I’ll take them for half a unit.
Red Wings vs. Kraken (8:15)
I don’t think either of these teams are all that special but this should be a really fun game. The Red Wings after opening their season with a loss, are now 5-1 and on a fantastic five game win streak. I’d lean they win here but the play I like better on this game is the over, and I’ll take the alternate over 6 here for half a unit.
Blackhawks vs. Bruins (8:30)
The Bruins really made people sweat out their 3-1 win against the Ducks late on Sunday night. They’re a perfect 5-0 and tonight I expect them to get another win against Bedard and the Blackhawks. The moneyline is too expensive here at -230, but I’ll take the B’s in regulation for half a unit.
Jets vs. Blues (8:45)
I have zero interest in this shitty game. I’d expect the Jets win it at home, but no way am I trusting them enough to bet on at -178. I’ll lay off this matchup entirely.
Wild vs. Oilers (9:00)
This is a really fun matchup. Even with Connor McDavid out with an injury that’s expected to sideline him for 1-2 weeks, I’d lean Draisaitl and the rest of this team are good enough to get them the win on the road against a solid Wild team. That being said, I’m done with betting the Oil till they figure out their offense and the putrid start to their season. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet it. I’ll stay off this game completely.
Predators vs. Canucks (9:15)
This is a fun game but this is a complete coin flip for me. I feel like both of these teams are right in the middle of the league in terms of talent and don’t even have a lean on this game, so I’m obviously skipping it.
Flames vs. Rangers (9:45)
I’m not sold on either of these teams this season. I don’t think either of them are all that special but I also don’t think they’re bad teams. I’d slightly lean the Rags win this one on the road and the under, but I’m not betting anything on this game tonight.
Kings vs. Coyotes (10:30)
I don’t expect the Coyotes to be a good team but they’re going to be a complete pain in the ass for teams to play against on a nightly basis. The Kings are the far better team in this matchup and they should win at home tonight. I think the moneyline is fair at -185, but I don’t necessarily see any value in that. I’ll take a stab on them to get it done in regulation for half a unit with less of a risk at -120.
Golden Knights vs. Flyers (11:00)
I think the Golden Knights are going to repeat and win the Stanley Cup again. They’re so deep and there’s been zero hangover for these guys. Vegas is the first NHL team in history to start a season 6-0 after winning the Cup. This team looks fucking phenomenal. The Flyers have impressed me with their 3-1-1 start when I expected them to be one of the worst teams in the league, but the Knights are on a whole other level. The Champs improve to 7-0 with a win at home in the Fortress tonight. I’m not going to lay the -200 on the moneyline, but I’ll take the Golden Knights in regulation for a unit as my biggest bet of the day.
Game Bets
.5u Maple Leafs ML (-162)
.5u Senators ML (-180)
.5u Senators/Sabres over 6.5 (-142)
.5u Hurricanes ML (-125)
.5u Devils in regulation (-140)
.5u Stars ML (-113)
.5u Panthers TT over 3.5 (-164)
.5u Avalanche ML (-142)
.5u Red Wings/Kraken over 6 (-130)
.5u Bruins in regulation (-140)
.5u Kings in regulation (-120)
1u Golden Knights in regulation (-127)
Record: 31-36 (-9.62 units)
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