I ran into such bad luck on Monday’s NHL slate, going 3-6 to lose 3.58 units with the Bruins giving up the tying goal with five seconds left in regulation and the Avs giving up two goals in the last 38 seconds to lose. After a much needed day off, tonight we have a packed slate with 14 games before Thanksgiving off tomorrow. Let’s bounce back big here!
Red Wings vs. Devils (7:00)
I expect this to be a great matchup in the Atlantic Division tonight although both of these teams are struggling big time, each with just one win in their last five games. In the first game between these teams early in the season the Devils won 4-3 and I’d lean they win again tonight with Jack Hughes back and the Red Wings coming back from their trip to Sweden. I’ll take them for half a unit on the road. I like the over even more though and I’ll take the over 6.5 for a unit.
Lightning vs. Jets (7:00)
This is a fun cross-conference matchup to me. Both of these teams come into this game on three game winning streaks. The Bolts fucked me on Monday night, beating the Bruins 5-4 in OT after Stammer scored the game-tying goal with just five seconds left in regulation to give me a huge loss on the B’s. The Jets have impressed me with their play too far this season, exceeding my expectations. I’d slightly lean Tampa wins this one at home but this one’s pretty close to a coin flip to me. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Panthers vs. Bruins (7:00)
This should be an awesome second rematch of the year of last year’s first round series where the #8 seed Panthers upset the greatest regular season of all time, beating the B’s in overtime of Game 7 on their way to winning the Eastern Conference. These teams have both been really good this season and lead the Atlantic Division. The first game between them this season needed overtime with the B’s winning 3-2 at home. I got so fucked on Monday night by the Bruins, giving up the game-tying goal to the Lightning with five seconds left in regulation and then going on to lose in OT. The Panthers have been awesome, coming off a 5-3 win against the Oilers on Monday with just one loss in their last eight games and they have their best two defenseman back in the lineup with Montour and Ekblad both returning from injury. I expect tonight to be just as close as that first game and although I’d slightly lean the Bruins win it on the road and the under, I don’t think either is worth betting on. I’ll stay off this game completely. Should be a great one!
Penguins vs. Rangers (7:00)
This should be a fun matchup in the Metro Division. The Rangers are coming off a 6-3 loss to the Stars on Monday night where they blew an early 2-0 lead and gave up six straight goals, ending their four game losing streak and eleven game point streak. This team’s been very good this year. The Penguins have been pretty solid recently and I think this ends up being a pretty close game. I’d lean the Rags bounced back with a win tonight and the under, but not quite enough to bet on either. I’ll lay off this matchup.
Capitals vs. Sabres (7:00)
As a big Sabres fan, I’m not feeling all that great about this matchup. Ovi and the Caps (along with the Oilers for the opposite reason) have been one of the biggest surprises for me this season, far exceeding my expectations for them. They come into tonight on a four game win streak with an 8-1-1 record in their last ten games. My Sabres offense hasn’t gotten much going and got out of a three game losing streak with a 3-2 win in Chicago on Sunday. I expect the Caps to win at home tonight and I’ll take them for a unit (bit of an emotional hedge). I like the under but not enough to bet it.
Hurricanes vs. Oilers (7:00)
Interesting matchup. The Oilers are still a mess and after getting out of their slump with a three game win streak, they’ve since lost their last two in a row and haven’t been able to keep the puck out of their own net. The Canes have been a decent team, especially at home but have been a bit of a disappointment vs. my preseason expectations of them winning the East. I like Carolina to win this one at home tonight and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under but not enough to bet it with the horrible defense of the Oilers.
Blue Jackets vs. Blackhawks (7:00)
This matchup blows. Both of these teams are terrible and come into this game on big losing streaks with four straight losses for the Blackhawks, and even worse, the Blue Jackets on a nine game losing streak with just one win in their last 14 games. I’d slightly lean Bedard and the Blackhawks win this game tonight on the road but I’m not betting it. I’d lean the over and looked at buying it down to 6, but I don’t think that’s worth it at -145, so I’ll stay off this game completely.
Islanders vs. Flyers (7:30)
I don’t love this Metro Division matchup. The Flyers are cruising again, coming into tonight’s game on a solid five game winning streak. The Isles ended their seven game losing streak with a 5-4 shootout win in Calgary on Saturday. I don’t think either of these teams are great, and although I’d slightly lean the Flyers win this one on the road as a dog on Long Island, I don’t think its worth betting on. I’d slightly lean the over at 5.5, but I could easily see this being a 3-2 game and I’ll skip it.
Predators vs. Flames (9:00)
Another lousy matchup in the West on today’s slate. I’d slightly lean the Preds offense gives them an edge at home in this matchup to answer back from the 4-2 Flames win between these teams on November 7th, but I wouldn’t even consider betting on this coin flip of a game. I’d slightly lean the over, but I’m not betting on that either. I’ll pass on this one completely.
Coyotes vs. Blues (9:00)
Although this is a lousy Central Division matchup, I think it ends up being a fun game. These teams split their first two games in St. Louis with completely different results, a 6-2 Yotes win on the road and a 2-1 Blues win at home. The Yotes are a better team at home at the Mullett but like the first two games between these teams, the team that dictates style of play wins this. If the Coyotes win it’s a higher scoring game and if the Blues win its a low scoring defensive game. I’d lean Arizona gets the win, but I’m not betting this game.
Stars vs. Golden Knights (9:30)
Phenomenal matchup here between two of the three teams that I think could win the Stanley Cup this season. The first game between these teams needed a shootout for the Knights to win 3-2 at home. They’re in a bit of a slump right now with just one win in their last four games, getting shut out twice in that span. The Stars have been on fire lately and I feel like they tie up the season series in a close game that might be the best matchup of the year so far. I feel like the total is a coin flip. I’ll tune into this game but I’m not betting it.
Avalanche vs. Canucks (10:00)
This slate features a bunch of really solid games and this one is no different. Both of these teams have been good. I’d lean the Avs bounce back from their loss in Nashville on Monday night where they blew a lead and lost, giving up two goals in the last 38 seconds (big loss for me) and get a win here at home, but with how well the Canucks have played on both ends of the ice, I’m not touching the side on this game. I do like the over though quite a bit, which I’ll take for a unit.
Ducks vs. Canadiens (10:00)
Both of these teams have been on losing streaks, with the Ducks dropping their last three and the Habs on a four game skid. I do think Anaheim is the better team in this matchup and think they win it, but not enough to et this game. I’d slightly lean the under but don’t see any edge in that either.
Kraken vs. Sharks (10:00)
I don’t think the Kraken are all that great of a team but no one’s worse than the Sharks. Right back to it like every night, hammer whoever plays SJ. I’ll lay the juice on the Kraken in regulation for 2 units and take their team total over 3.5 for a unit. I considered the alternate puck lines, but I don’t really expect the Kraken to win by four goals and I don’t think the +140 is worth it on the -2.5.
Game Bets
.5u Devils ML (-148)
1u Devils/Red Wings over 6.5 (-135)
.5u Lightning/Jets over 6.5 (-113)
1u Capitals ML (-126)
.5u Hurricanes ML (-142)
1u Avalanche/Canucks over 6.5 (-125)
2u Kraken in regulation (-172)
1u Kraken TT over 3.5 (-143)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 135-118-2 (-3.42 units)
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A Town's Zone 