I lost my only bet on the NHL last night while being on the right side, as the Leafs needed overtime to beat the Ducks and couldn’t get it done in regulation, losing 0.62 units. After just two games yesterday, tonight we have a huge 13 game slate. Let’s bounce back!
Bruins vs. Penguins (7:00)
Interesting matchup as both of these teams have been hot lately. Coming off a 4-1 win in Columbus on Tuesday, the Bruins are cruising on a four game win streak as they lead the Eastern Conference. The Penguins had their three game win streak and six game point streak come to an end on Tuesday, losing 4-3 to their rival Caps. They’ve played their best hockey as of late with a 7-2-1 record in their last ten games. Despite where both of these teams are in the standings, they actually match up pretty close statistically. The Bruins are the better team and I’d lean Boston wins at home, but not enough to bet it. I’d lean the under, but with the line set at 5.5, I don’t see any value in betting on it or buying it up to 6. I’ll lay off this game.
Canadiens vs. Sabres (7:00)
Pretty lousy Atlantic Division matchup here tonight. Both of these teams have been pretty terrible this season. My Sabres have been a huge disappointment and we have just five wins in our last 21 games. The Habs have only been marginally better, having ended a three game losing streak on Tuesday with a surprising 4-3 win in Dallas. Both of these teams have played poorly on both ends of the ice. Montreal won both previous games between these teams on the road in Buffalo, winning 3-1 and then 3-2 in a shootout. I’d lean they win again at home tonight and although the under hit in the first two games, I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet anything on this shitty game. I’ll stay off it entirely.
Rangers vs. Blackhawks (7:00)
This is a giant mismatch in this cross conference game and the -400 price on the Rangers makes sense. The Rags lead the Metro Division and have been fantastic on both ends of the ice. They’re coming off a 6-1 blowout loss at home to the Hurricanes on Tuesday and will look to bounce back tonight against one of the worst teams in the league. The Blackhawks have been horrendous on both ends of the ice, and coming off a 3-0 shutout loss in Nashville on Tuesday, they have just two wins in their last eleven games. This should be an easy blowout win for the Rangers tonight at MSG. I’ll take their puck line for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not quite enough to bet it. I also looked at alt lines, the Rangers team total over and the Blackhawks team total under, but none of these were worth betting at their prices.
Flyers vs. Blue Jackets (7:00)
This is a pretty big mismatch in the Metro Division. Although they’ve struggled a bit recently, with just one win in their last six games, the Flyers have been very good this season. Torts has that defense playing fantastic hockey, although the offense has struggled. They’re in a Wild Card spot in the East, just a point back from the Islanders for third in the Metro. The Blue Jackets have been brutal this season, in last place in the Metro. Coming off a 4-1 loss at home to the Bruins on Tuesday, they’ve lost five of their last six games. They’ve struggled on both ends of the ice, especially defensively. Philly won both of the first two games between these teams, winning 4-2 on the road and then 5-2 at home. I expect them to get right with another win here again and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Blues vs. Canucks (8:00)
I really like this spot for Vancouver. The Canucks have been very good this season, leading the Western Conference, playing great hockey on both ends of the ice. They’re coming off an easy 6-3 win on Tuesday against the Sens. Vancouver’s gone 8-1-2 in their last eleven games. The Blues have played better recently with five wins in their last eight games, but they come into tonight off two losses to go into the New Year, losing 2-1 last Friday at home against the Avs and then 4-2 in Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Canucks won the first game between these teams with a 4-0 shutout at home on October 27th. Although I’d expect this game to be closer tonight, I like Vancouver to win this one on the road and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but don’t see any edge to bet it.
Predators vs. Flames (8:00)
Not the best matchup in this one in Smashville. The Preds have been a pretty solid team this season, currently in the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, playing way better than I had expected them to this season. They’ve won their last two games after a three game losing streak and have been solid with a 15-6-1 record in their last 21 games. The Flames are playing better lately with five wins in their last seven games but they haven’t been great on the season. These teams split their first two games, each winning 4-2 at home. Nashville’s better than the Flames on both ends of the ice and I expect another win for them here tonight. I’ll take the Preds for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Stars vs. Avalanche (8:00)
Fantastic matchup in the Central Division between two of the top three teams in the division. Both of these teams are playing excellent hockey this season. The Avs have been on fire, with a 5-0-1 record in their last six games. The Stars are coming off a surprising 4-3 loss to Montreal at home on Tuesday but have played really well lately with a 7-2-1 record in their last ten games. The first game between these team in Dallas was electric, with the Stars getting out to a 3-0 lead early and the Avalanche roaring back with six straight unanswered goals to win 6-3. I’d slightly lean Dallas answers back with a win at home tonight, but this game’s pretty close to a coin flip to me that I don’t see worth betting. I like the over there though, expecting both teams to light the lamp, and I’ll take the over at 6 for a unit.
Wild vs. Lightning (8:00)
This is a pretty boring matchup in my eyes but it could be a fun game. The Lightning have been a decent team this season and they’re sitting right outside the playoff picture in the East. Coming off a 4-2 loss in Winnipeg on Tuesday, they have just one win in their last four games. Their offense has been good but they’ve struggled at times on the back end. The Wild are on a three game losing streak, coming off a 3-1 loss to the Flames and they haven’t been all that great on either end of the ice. I’d slightly lean the Lightning and the over in this game, but not enough to bet on either. I’ll lay off this one completely.
Coyotes vs. Islanders (9:00)
On paper this game doesn’t look great, but I’d actually think this matchup will end up being a lot of fun. The Coyotes are having a solid season, hanging onto the second Wild Card spot in the West, with a winning record. They have been great at home in their rinky dink barn at Mullett Arena where they’re 12-6 and the Yotes have been awesome defensively. The Islanders have been solid this season too, in third place in the Metro. After a really hot run in November and December, the Isles have since cooled off with just three wins in their last nine games. I’d lean Arizona wins this game at home tonight and would slightly lean the over but both the side and the total here are way too close to a coin flip for me to bet on it. I’ll lay off this game. Should be a fun watch.
Golden Knights vs. Panthers (10:00)
Tonight we have the second rematch from last season’s Cup Finals, where the Golden Knights lifted Lord Stanley in five games. The Panthers won the first rematch on December 23rd at home 4-2. These teams are coming into tonight on different trajectories, with the Knights picking up just one win in their last six games, coming off a 3-0 shutout loss outdoors in Seattle for the Winter Classic. Florida’s been fantastic this year, showing that they didn’t just capture magic in a bottle, comfortably in second place in the Atlantic. They’re coming into tonight on a five game win streak after a 4-1 win in Arizona on Tuesday night. Statistically this is a pretty close matchup with the Knights being slightly better offensively and the Panthers being slightly better defensively. I’d slightly lean Vegas ties up the season series with a win at home in the Fortress and would slightly lean the under, but I don’t see any edge in betting anything on this one. Game of the night for sure.
Kraken vs. Senators (10:00)
This is such a lousy matchup, but both of these teams have been playing their best hockey lately. The Kraken are on a tear, climbing up from being one of the worst teams in the league, to now just two points out of a playoff spot. They’ve won their last five games in a row and have a 7-0-2 record in their last nine games. Joey Daccord’s been great in goal, coming off his 3-0 shutout win outdoors in the Winter Classic on Monday. The Sens are still one of the worst teams in the league, but have three wins in their last five games. Statistically these two teams couldn’t be more opposite. Seattle’s been brutal offensively, but very good on the back end. Ottawa’s been really solid offensively, but their defense blows. The Senators won the first game between these teams at home with a 2-0 shutout win. I like the Kraken to stay hot here and I’ll take them for half a unit to tie up the season series. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Kings vs. Red Wings (10:30)
This is a pretty interesting game to me. The Kings have been very good this season, currently in third place in the Pacific Division. They’re coming into tonight on a three game losing streak after getting shut out 3-0 by the Leafs on Tuesday at home. LA’s played great hockey on both ends of the ice. The Red Wings have really struggled defensively. Their offense has been incredible and Patrick Kane has been over a point per game player, but the defense can’t keep the puck out of their own net. They haven’t been able to win a game this season where they scored less than four goals. Detroit’s won just four of their last 14 games. That huge defensive edge should give the Kings a win here to end their losing streak at home tonight. I’ll take them for a unit. I’d absolutely lean the over in this matchup, but with how well the Kings have played defensively, I’ll lay off the side here.
Sharks vs. Jets (10:30)
Gigantic mismatch here tonight. The Sharks are horrendous. Coming off a 5-3 loss to the Red Wings on Tuesday they’re on a nine game losing streak and they’ve been statistically the worst team in the NHL on both ends of the ice. The Jets have been fantastic, a point behind the Avs for first place in the Western Conference, playing great hockey on both ends of the ice. They’re on a three game win streak after a 4-2 win against the Lightning, having picked up at least a point in each of their last nine games with an 11-1-2 record in their last 14 games. The first game between these teams was a shocker with San Jose winning 2-1 at home. I fully expect the Jets crush the Sharks tonight with an easy win. I’ll take the Jets in regulation for 2 units, their team total over 3.5 for half a unit, and the Sharks team total under 2.5 in regulation for a unit. I looked at the alt lines, but I don’t think its worth betting any of them.
Game Bets
1u Rangers -1.5 (-148)
.5u Flyers ML (-188)
1u Canucks ML (-146)
.5u Predators ML (-120)
1u Stars/Avalanche over 6 (-125)
.5u Kraken ML (-114)
1u Kings ML (-180)
2u Jets in regulation (-162)
.5u Jets TT over 3.5 (-128)
1u Sharks TT under 2.5 in regulation (-167)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 272-257-6 (-52.27 units)
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