I went 2-2 on yesterday’s small NHL slate, losing 0.47 units. Not a huge deal. Eight game slate tonight. Let’s get some wins.
Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets (7:00)
Pretty big mismatch here. The Leafs are playing solid hockey (despite keeping a lot of games close), coming into tonight on a seven game point streak with three wins in their last four games after a huge 7-3 win over the Rangers on the road on Tuesday. They’ve picked up at least a point in all but one of their last 13 games. The one concern is that they still keep a lot of games close. The Blue Jackets, coming off a 5-2 loss to the Panthers on Sunday have been awful with just one win in their last five games. This should be an easy win for the Leafs. Even though they keep games close, I like Toronto to get this done inside regulation, which I’ll take for half a unit along with their team total over 3.5 for half a unit. I like the over on the game even better though, which I’ll take for a unit.
Flyers vs. Capitals (7:00)
This is a pretty interesting matchup, which is unexpected. The Flyers are playing great defensively under Torts this season. They had a four game win streak come to an end on Tuesday in Nashville, but have picked up at least a point in their last six games. I thought this was going to be one of the worst teams in the NHL this season but they’ve far outperformed that. The Caps have outperformed my expectations as well. They got out of their little slump with two wins against the Blackhawks and the Rangers in their last two games. Similar to the Flyers, they’ve struggled offensively but have been very good defensively. I’d slightly lean Philly wins here, but not enough to bet on it. I do like the under quite a bit though. I don’t love the 5.5, but I’ll take the alternate under 6 for a unit.
Red Wings vs. Hurricanes (7:30)
I’m expecting this to be a pretty fun game to watch tonight. The Red Wings ended their three game losing streak with a 6-4 win in St. Louis on Tuesday. They’ve been a pretty good team this season. The Canes I expected to be one of the top teams in the East this year, but they’ve struggled a bit more than I expected. They just ended a four game losing streak with a 4-1 win in Ottawa on Tuesday. Both of these teams have been good offensively but have struggled on the back end. I do think Carolina’s the better team here but I don’t like them enough on the road for this to be a good bet whatsoever at -175. If anything there’s value to Detroit as a home dog, but I don’t like either side enough to bet on it. I do like the over though and I’ll take the alternate over 6 for a unit.
Blues vs. Senators (8:00)
Not a great cross conference game here. The Senators, coming off a 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes on Tuesday have played better lately, with three wins in their last five games. The Blues, who come into tonight’s game on a four game losing streak after a 6-4 loss to the Red Wings on Tuesday night, just fired head coach Craig Berube fired after the loss that night. Although St. Louis has been pretty terrible for the last year and a half, I was a bit surprised with that firing, seeing that Berube took them from last place in the league to lifting the Cup in 2019. I’d lean the Sens win here and like the over, but neither enough to bet on. I’ll stay off this game completely.
Wild vs. Flames (8:00)
Not the best matchup here. Neither of these teams has done anything to impress this season. The Wild have played much better since firing Dean Evason, with five wins in their last seven games, but they’re still not a great team. The Flames aren’t much better, coming into tonight with just one win in their last six games after a 5-4 overtime loss to Vegas (loss for me too since I had the Knights in regulation). I’d lean the Wild and the over here slightly, but not enough to bet anything in this matchup. I’ll skip this one.
Oilers vs. Lightning (9:00)
This should be a pretty fun cross conference game tonight. McDavid and the Oilers have completely turned around their season. They’re buzzing right now, coming into tonight’s game on an impressive eight game win streak. They’re playing great. The Lightning are playing well also after a slump, with three wins in their last five games. Tampa won the first game between these teams 6-4 at home on November 18th. I like there Oilers to answer back here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I also like the over, which I’ll take for half a unit too.
Canucks vs. Panthers (10:00)
I’m expecting this to be a really fun cross conference game and it should be pretty competitive. The Canucks are playing great this year, coming into tonight on a three game win streak off a 4-1 win against the Bolts on Tuesday. The Panthers just got blanked in Seattle with a shocking 4-0 shutout loss on Tuesday, which ended their three game win streak. Florida’s been really good though this year as the defending Eastern Conference champs. In the first game between these teams in Sunrise earlier this year, the Canucks won 5-3 on the road. Both of these teams are playing great on both ends of the ice. I’d give a slight edge to Vancouver at home and would lean the over, but not enough to bet either with both teams playing solid defensively. I’ll stay off this game entirely.
Kraken vs. Blackhawks (10:00)
Horrendous matchup to close out the night with two of the worst teams in the NHL. They’re both brutal and I’m not going to overanalyze this one. I’d lean Seattle wins this game at home, coming off their surprising 4-0 win over Florida on Tuesday, but I’m absolutely not betting the side on this game. Plus I think the -240 price on this one is ridiculous. I know Chicago stinks, but Seattle should never been that expensive. I’d also lean the under since neither of these teams can get anything going offensively. At just 5.5 though, I don’t like it enough to bet on it or to pay the juice to buy it up to 6.
Game Bets
.5u Maple Leafs in regulation (-150)
.5u Maple Leafs TT over 3.5 (-150)
1u Maple Leafs/Blue Jackets over 6.5 (-132)
1u Flyers/Capitals under 6 (-135)
1u Hurricanes/Red Wings over 6 (-134)
.5u Oilers ML (-167)
.5u Oilers/Lightning over 6.5 (-120)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 204-198-2 (-45.62 units)
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