Another great night on the NHL again for me yesterday, crushing the slate, going 9-2 to win 5.1 units! Tonight we have just a four game slate before another huge slate tomorrow. Let’s keep crushing it!
Panthers vs. Wild (7:00)
This is a pretty lousy matchup tonight, but I see plenty of value here. The Panthers have been fantastic this season, in second place in the Atlantic Division, improving from last year when they went to the Cup Finals. I don’t think it would surprise anyone if they return there out of the East, playing an elite level of defense and pretty solid offense. After a nine game win streak, they come into tonight’s game on a three game losing streak, losing twice in OT at home in their last two games, coming off a 3-2 OT loss to the Red Wings on Wednesday night. The Wild have been terrible this season. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 7-3 loss in Tampa last night (triple winner for me). They’ve struggled on both ends of the ice and they come into tonight’s game with just one win in their last six game and only two in their last eleven. The Wild won the first game between these teams with a 2-0 shutout win at home in the first week of the season. With that, along with the losing streak the Panthers are on, and that Minnesota is in the second half of a back to back, I LOVE Florida here. I’m surprised that the price on this game isn’t more than -200. I’ll lay the -192 on the Panthers for 2 units and take the puck line for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Hurricanes vs. Red Wings (7:00)
This is a great matchup in the East tonight. The first matchup between these teams in Detroit was tight, with the Canes winning 2-1 on the road. Both of these teams have played really well recently. The Hurricanes are in third place in the Metro Division, coming off a 5-2 loss at home to the Kings on Monday, ending an eight game point streak. That was just their second loss in their last nine games and the second time they haven’t picked up at least a point in their last 14 games. Statistically they’ve been very good on both ends of the ice. The Red Wings are playing really well too, currently holding the first Wild Card spot. Coming off a 3-2 overtime win in Florida on Wednesday, they’ve picked up at least a point in each of their last seven games with a 6-0-1 record in that span. Detroit’s offense has been fantastic all season, but they’ve struggled a bit defensively. I’d lean the Hurricanes win here at home, but not enough to bet on it. I do like the over here though and I’ll take the alternate over 6 for a unit.
Blue Jackets vs. Devils (7:00)
This isn’t all that great of a game between the two teams at the bottom of the Metro Division standings for the last time this season. There is a pretty significant gap in talent though between these teams, as the Devils have a ten point lead over the Jackets and although their second last in the division, they’re still only three points back from a Wild Card spot in such a tight Eastern Conference race. The Blue Jackets are 1-1-1 against Jersey this season, winning 2-1 in New Jersey, losing 6-3 at home and then losing 4-3 in overtime on the road. They shocked me on Monday, beating the Canucks 4-3 in a shootout. That was just their third win in their last eleven games, ending a three game losing streak as they’re struggling on both ends of the ice. The Devils, dealing with a ton of injuries lately have struggled as well. On Wednesday night, I took a double loser on their game as they lost 3-2 at home to the Habs. They’ve won just one of their last five games. On the season, Jersey has been very good offensively but they’ve struggled even more on the back end. I still think they’re the better team here though, and I’ll go back to the same bets I had on them Wednesday with half a unit each on the Devils and the over in this game, with two terrible defenses.
Blackhawks vs. Islanders (8:30)
Pretty lousy matchup to close out tonight’s (early) slate. Both of these teams have really struggled lately. The Blackhawks are in the second half of a back to back, coming off a 3-0 shutout loss against my Sabres in Buffalo as they got dominated on both ends of the ice (by a team that’s not good). This team is horrible, with just four wins in their last 19 games and especially without Bedard in the lineup, they’re easily the second worst team in the NHL (behind the Sharks). The Islanders are still in the Wild Card race in the very close Eastern Conference, two points back from the Caps. They come into tonight’s game on a three game losing streak coming off a 4-2 loss in Winnipeg on Tuesday night. They have just one win in their last six games and haven’t played great on either end of the ice. Especially with Chicago in the second half of a back to back, I like the Isles quite a bit here. I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it at 5.5.
Game Bets
2u Panthers ML (-192)
1u Panthers -1.5 (+130)
1u Hurricanes/Red Wings over 6 (-136)
.5u Devils ML (-157)
.5u Devils/Blue Jackets over 6.5 (-125)
1u Islanders in regulation (-143)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 341-298-7 (-42.74 units)
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