I didn’t have my best night on the NHL yesterday, going 3-7 to lose 1.68 units on the loaded night of games. Tonight we have just two hockey games on the Sunday slate, let’s bounce back!
Blackhawks vs. Devils (7:00)
I lost on each of these team’s in their last game. I took the Devils on Friday night as they lost 4-1 on the road in St. Louis in a surprisingly bad offensive performance in the second half of a back-to-back. Bedard and the Blackhawks got a surprising 5-2 win at home against the Panthers last night. I like the Devils to win here on the road and will take them in regulation for a unit. I like the over as well and will take the alternate over 6 for half a unit.
Ducks vs. Golden Knights (8:00)
This isn’t a great matchup in the Pacific Division, which I broke down in my article on StatSalt. This will be the second time this season these teams have faced each other after a 4-1 Knights win on October 14th early in the season at home, in a game where Vegas dominated, outshooting the Ducks 38-23. Vegas went 3-0-1 against Anaheim last season, winning 5-4 at home, winning in a 4-0 shutout on the road, losing 3-2 in overtime at home, and then winning 7-2 on the road. Since lifting the Stanley Cup last season, the Vegas Golden Knights have been spectacular through the start, setting a record for the best start an NHL team has ever had after winning the Cup. The Knights are in the second half of a back-to-back tonight after a huge 7-0 shutout win at home against the Colorado Avalanche last night in a game I thought would be a good preview of a possible Western Conference Championship. After being one of the worst teams in the league last season, the Anaheim Ducks are off to a pretty good start this year, coming into tonight’s game with a 6-4 record and are riding a five-game win streak. The Ducks were one of just two teams in the NHL that were not in action on last night’s huge 15 game slate. Even in the second half of a back-to-back, I still really like the Golden Knights to get a win on the road here. I give them an edge on both ends of the ice. Offensively, Vegas has scored the sixth-most goals in the NHL, having generated the 16th-fewest expected goals per 60 minutes (3.1) and the eighth-most high-danger shots in the league. The Ducks have scored the twelfth-most in the NHL, having only generated the eighth-fewest expected goals per 60 minutes (2.86) and the 16th-fewest high-danger shots in the league. Defensively the Golden Knights have allowed just the third-fewest goals in the NHL, having given up the eighth-fewest expected goals per 60 minutes (2.92). Meanwhile, the Ducks, although allowing just the twelfth-fewest, have given up the fourth-most expected goals per 60 minutes (3.55). I expect Vegas to capitalize on that, even in the second half of a back-to-back on the road. I like the price at -176 and will take them for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
1u Devils in regulation (-129)
.5u Devils/Blackhawks over 6 (-125)
1u Golden Knights ML (-176)
Record: 70-65 (-9.3 units)
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