Losing day for me yesterday on the NHL, going 6-5 but losing 1.49 units. Tonight we have an eight game slate with some solid games. Let’s bounce back here!
Senators vs. Avalanche (7:00)
Not a great matchup here in this cross conference game. The Avs let me down last night, losing 4-3 in Montreal to end their three game win streak. Colorado’s been fantastic this season, a point back from the Jets for first in the Central, with seven wins in their last nine games, picking up at least a point in ten of their last twelve games. They’ve played really well on both ends of the ice, especially offensively. The Senators on the other hand have been horrendous. On Saturday they ended a five game losing streak with a 5-4 win over the Sharks (that I cashed in on), just their fourth win in their last 16 games. Offensively Ottawa has been pretty solid but their defense is one of the worst in the league. In the first game between these teams this season the Avs won 6-4 at home. I like the Avs to bounce back from last night with a win tonight in the Canadian Tire, even with Prosvetov projected to start in goal. We’re getting a nice price break on them in the second half of a back to back, and I’ll take them for a unit along with another half unit on the puck line. I like the over quite a bit as well, which I’ll take at 6.5 for a unit as well.
Rangers vs. Kraken (7:00)
This is actually a pretty interesting cross conference matchup tonight. The Rangers have been fantastic this season, leading the Metro Division. After a bit of a slump, they just ended a four game losing streak on Sunday with a 2-1 win at home over the Caps in the second half of a home and home. The Kraken have played really well recently, getting themselves into the Wild Card mix in the West after a terrible start to the year. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 3-0 shutout loss in Pittsburgh yesterday afternoon. That loss ended a nine game win streak for them, but they’ve still be really good lately with a 11-1-2 record in their last 14 games. Seattle’s offense hasn’t gotten a whole lot going, grinding out all these low scoring wins with elite goaltending from Joey Daccord. He’ll likely get the night off tonight though in the second half of a back to back, with Chris Driedger projected to get his second start in goal tonight. In the first game between these teams in Seattle earlier this season, New York won 4-1. I’d expect the Rags to win again here at home tonight, but I think the moneyline is too inflated at -225. I’ll go with half a unit on Rangers in regulation. I’d lean the under, but with the uncertainty of Driedger in goal, who only has one start this season, against Calgary, who’s not all that great of a team offensively, and the line on this game being 5.5, I’ll stay off the total.
Capitals vs. Ducks (7:00)
Not the best cross conference matchup. The Capitals have been decent this year, right in the Wild Card mix in the East. They’re coming off a 2-1 loss at MSG on Sunday in the second half of a home and home that they split with the Rangers over the weekend. They’ve struggled a bit recently with just three wins in their last eleven games. They’ve been good defensively but have really struggled to score this year. The Ducks have been brutal on both ends of the ice, just better than that the Sharks in the Pacific. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, after they shocked me yesterday afternoon, beating the Panthers 5-4 in overtime on the road, losing my biggest play of the day on Florida, just their second win in their last nine games and sixth in their last 28. In the first game between these teams, the Capitals won 5-4 on the road. Especially with the Ducks in the second half of a back to back, I don’t see them getting it done again and I like Washington to win again in this game at home tonight. I’ll lay the -178 juice on the Caps here for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Stars vs. Kings (8:00)
This should be a really solid matchup in the Western Conference tonight between these teams who both hold the third playoff spot in their divisions. Statistically they’ve both been good teams on both ends of the ice. The Stars, coming off a 3-1 win in Chicago on Saturday, their third win in their last four games (and seven games). The Kings have been in a pretty big slump recently and they’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, after ending an eight game losing streak yesterday with a 5-2 win in Carolina. I think this game is pretty close to a coin flip with a slight edge for Dallas offensively and a slight edge for the Kings defensively. With LA in the second half of a back to back, I’d lean the Stars win it, but not enough to bet it. I’d also slightly lean the over, but I don’t see any value in betting anything in this matchup. Best to stay off this one.
Jets vs. Islanders (8:00)
On paper this isn’t all that great of a game when you look at it, but it could be a fun matchup. The Jets are in first place in the NHL standings this season, a big surprise for the hockey world. They’ve been fantastic on both ends of the ice and clearly a Cup contender. On Saturday they were shut out 2-0 at home against the Flyers, ending an eight game win streak and a 14 game point streak. They’ve still been really good lately with a 16-2-2 record in their last 20 games. The Islanders are in the Wild Card mix in the East but they’ve struggled lately. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight and were shut out 5-0 by the Wild on the road. They have just one win in their last five games and five wins in their last 15. The Isles haven’t been all that great on either end of the ice. Tonight they have Kenneth Appleby projected to start in goal, which I don’t think goes well for them with the Jets coming off a loss at home. I expect a big win for Winnipeg tonight. I’m hammering this game with two units on the Jets and a unit on the puck line.
Blackhawks vs. Sharks (8:30)
This is easily the worst matchup we’ve seen all season between the two worst teams in the NHL. Both of these teams are awful on both ends of the ice. The Sharks are on the second half of a back to back, after getting shut out early yesterday afternoon by my Sabres in a 3-0 loss. They’re arguably the worst team in NHL history, with just one win in their last 15 games. The Blackhawks, coming off a 3-1 loss at home to the Stars on Saturday have been only marginally better, with just three wins in their last 17 games. I can’t believe I’m betting on them, especially without Bedard in the lineup, but Chicago’s still the better team here (which really highlights how horrible the Sharks are) and with San Jose on the second half of a back to back on the road, I’ll take the Blackhawks here for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under with how awful these offenses are, but with how miserable the defenses are, I don’t think its worth betting on the total. Can’t fucking believe I’m betting on Chicago.
Flames vs. Coyotes (9:00)
Pretty lousy matchup that could be a pretty competitive game. Neither of these teams have been all that great, but they also haven’t been bad. These teams just played less than a week ago, with the Flames winning 6-2 on the road in Arizona last Thursday. They’ve played well recently. Coming off a 3-1 win in Vegas against the Cup champs, they’re on a three game win streak with nine wins in their last twelve games. The Coyotes bounced back from that home loss to Calgary with a 6-0 shutout win, crushing the Wild on the road, just their second win in their last six games. Statistically both of these teams have been middle of the road on both ends of the ice. I’d lean the Flames and the over, but not enough to bet anything on this game. I’ll lay off it entirely.
Oilers vs. Maple Leafs (9:00)
Awesome matchup to close out the night, easily the best game on the slate. The Oilers, coming off a 2-1 overtime win in Montreal on Saturday, set a franchise record with their tenth straight win. For a team that started the season brutal, they’ve now won 18 of their last 21 games. McDavid and that offense has been firing on all cylinders and now their defense and goaltending has caught up. The Leafs still hold their third place spot in the Atlantic, with a point lead over the Red Wings and Lightning. They’re a good team, but in no way is this team winning the Stanley Cup. No shot. They’re on a three game losing streak, coming off a 4-2 loss at home to the Red Wings on Sunday where Tavares and Bertuzzi were benched in the third period after they blew a 3-0 lead to lose 5-3 to the Avalanche. They can’t win games in regulation and only have five wins in their last 13 games, with four of those wins against the Sharks, Ducks, and Columbus. Bad. Statistically they’ve been fine, but this isn’t a good team. I like the Oilers to win this game at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it with Edmonton trending under quite a bit lately.
Game Bets
1u Avalanche ML (-118)
.5u Avalanche -1.5 (+195)
1u Avalanche/Senators over 6.5 (-148)
.5u Rangers in regulation (-130)
1u Capitals ML (-178)
2u Jets ML (-185)
1u Jets -1.5 (+136)
.5u Blackhawks ML (-137)
.5u Oilers ML (-152)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 323-294-7 (-55.17 units)
Please follow me:
Instagram: @atownszone
Twitter: @atownszone
If you like the site and my work, share it with your friends!
… and tell Dave Portnoy to hire me at Barstool…
A Town's Zone 