Great Friday night for me on the NHL yesterday, going 3-1-1 to win 2.84 units. Huge 14 game slate today as we ramp down this week for All Star Break. Let’s stack up the wins!
Flyers vs. Bruins (12:30)
Both of these teams have been good this season and both are comfortably in playoff spots in the East, but the Flyers have dropped off quite a bit recently (which is likely to do with the whole Carter Hart thing). Philly comes into this game on a four game losing streak off a 3-0 shutout loss in Detroit on Thursday. The Bruins got a huge win for me on Thursday night, beating the Sens 3-2 in overtime on Marchand’s game winner. They’ve been fantastic on both ends of the ice and playing great right now. I like Boston to win this game to get the day going on the road. I’ll take them for 1.5 units along with half a unit on the puck line. I’d slightly lean the over, but that’s too close of a coin flip for me to bet on.
Stars vs. Capitals (2:00)
This is a pretty decent cross conference early game. The Stars have been very good this season, comfortably eleven points ahead of Nashville for third place in the Central Division. The Caps are having a decent season, right in the Wild Card mix in the East, but coming off a 6-2 loss in Colorado on Wednesday, they’re on a three game losing streak. The offense for Washington has been horrible and although their defense is very good, Dallas is the much better team here. The first game between these teams in our nation’s capital needed a shootout to decide it, with the Stars winning 5-4. I like them to win again at home, this time inside 60 minutes. I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but no way would I bet that.
Oilers vs. Predators (4:00)
The Oilers are fucking nasty. McDavid and their offense is firing on all cylinders but the defense has been even more impressive, completely turning it around and playing incredible. This team could absolutely win the Stanley Cup. They just extended their record breaking win streak to 15 straight games on Thursday with a 3-0 shutout win against the Blackhawks at home. The Preds aren’t playing all that great lately, but coming off a 3-2 win in Minnesota on Thursday, they’re still in a Wild Card spot in the West. These teams split their first two games this season with a 6-1 Oilers win in Smashville, and a 5-2 win by the Preds in Edmonton. I like the Oilers to keep extending the win streak at home and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but don’t see any value in betting it.
Sharks vs. Sabres (4:00)
My Sabres impressed me late Wednesday night, erasing a 3-1 deficit with four straight goals to beat the Kings 5-3 in a pretty well played game. We’ve still really struggled this season, playing poorly on both ends of the ice. The Sharks are the worst team in the NHL, but they’re shockingly on a three game win streak, coming off wins against the Ducks, Kings, and Rangers. In the first game between these teams in Buffalo, the Sabres got a solid 3-0 shutout win. I like us to win again here on the road in San Jose and I’ll take my boys for a unit. With the struggles of both of these teams, I’d lean the under with the poor offenses of both teams, but with the shitty defenses, I’ll stay off the total.
Senators vs. Rangers (7:00)
This is a huge mismatch in the East, but these two teams are coming into tonight’s game on opposite trajectories. The Senators are the worst team in the Eastern Conference, but coming off their 3-2 overtime loss to the Bruins on Thursday, they’ve picked up at least a point in each of their last five games, with a 3-0-2 record in that span. The Rangers are the best team in the Metro, but they’ve struggled lately. They’re coming off a 5-2 loss to the Golden Knights at home last night, with just one win in their last five games and only three wins in their last eleven. In the first game between these teams this year, the Sens pulled off the upset, with a 6-2 win at home in December. I feel like this is a good “get right” spot for the Rags, even in the second half of a back to back. I’ll take New York here for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Lightning vs. Devils (7:00)
This should be a pretty fun matchup here in the East. Both of these teams have played similar hockey this season with fantastic offense but struggles on the back end. The Bolts are playing incredible offensively lately, come into tonight’s game with seven wins in their last eight games, scoring six goals in each of their last two games. The Devils are struggling with a bunch of injuries lately. Coming off a 3-2 loss in Carolina on Thursday, they’ve just won three of their last nine games. Tampa won the first game between these teams a few weeks ago 4-3 in overtime. I like them to win at home today. I’ll take them for a unit along with half a unit on their team total over 3.5. I like the over as well, which I’ll take for half a unit too.
Penguins vs. Canadiens (7:00)
Not a great matchup here. The Penguins are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Panthers (nice win for me) last night. They’ve struggled recently with just one win in their last six games. The Habs haven’t been great this year, having ended their three game losing streak on Thursday night with a 4-3 win over Patrick Roy and the Islanders. The Pens won the first game between these teams in a shooting, winning 4-3 on the road. I like them to win again here, even in the second half of a back to back, and I’ll take them for half a unit in regulation. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Hurricanes vs. Coyotes (7:00)
This cross conference matchup isn’t great. The Hurricanes have been very good after their slow start to the year. They’re comfortably in second place in the Metro Division and playing great hockey on both ends of the ice. Coming off a 3-2 win against the the Devils on Thursday, they have an 11-2-1 record in their last 14 games. The Coyotes haven’t been terrible this year, but they’re still not a great team. They have just four wins in their last twelve games, having given up six goals in both of their last two games in the state of Florida, losing 6-2 to the Panthers and 6-3 to the Lightning. Carolina should win this game pretty easily at home tonight, and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit.
Jets vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
Fantastic cross conference matchup up in Canada in the second half of this home and home. The first game between these teams on Wednesday was a double shutout, with the Leafs winning 1-0 at home in overtime on who else but Auston Matthews’ game winner. Toronto now has three wins in their last four games as they’re in the first Wild Card spot in the East. The Jets are now in second place in the Central, but having such a fantastic season. Although they’ve lost their last two games, they’re still on a fantastic run right now, with an 18-3-3 record in their last 24 games. I like Winnipeg to answer back and tie the season series here with a far better defense and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but at 5.5 with how inconsistent the Leafs defense has been, I’ll just stick with the side in this matchup.
Islanders vs. Panthers (7:30)
This should be a pretty fun game. The Panthers came through for me in the shootout last night, beating the Penguins 3-2 for their third straight win. They’ve been fantastic on both ends of the ice, and could absolutely win the East again this year. The Islanders have struggled lately with just one win in their last seven games, and although they seem to have new life with Patrick Roy as their new bench boss, they’re coming off two losses in a row by a goal, coming off a 4-3 loss in Montreal on Thursday. The Isles won the first game between these teams 4-3 in Florida. I like the Panthers to answer back with a win here tonight, even in the second half of a back to back. I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Red Wings vs. Golden Knights (8:00)
This should be a fantastic cross conference game tonight in Hockeytown. These teams have both played well despite dealing with injuries to key players. The Red Wings are in the second Wild Card spot in the tight race in the East. Coming off a 3-0 shutout win against the Flyers on Thursday, they have an 8-2-1 record in their last eleven games. The Golden Knights are playing really well lately too. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a big 5-2 win on the road in MSG last night against the Rangers. The defending Cup Champs are on a six game point streak with a 5-0-1 record in the span. Vegas is the better team in this matchup, but in the second half of a back to back, I’d slightly lean the Red Wings win at home. I’d also slightly lean the over. Took me till the eleventh game on the slate, but I’ll stay off this game entirely.
Wild vs. Ducks (9:00)
This game isn’t great. The Wild are struggling this season, not competing for a playoff spot but not bad enough to be in the lottery mix. They’re coming off a 3-2 loss at home against the Preds on Thursday that ended their three game win streak. The Ducks are one of the worst teams in the NHL, playing terribly on both ends of the ice. Coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Stars on Thursday, they have just three wins in their last 14 games. The Wild should win at home here, and although the price is a bit more on this game than I expected, I’ll take Minnesota in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’ll just stick with Minnesota here.
Flames vs. Blackhawks (10:00)
What a boring matchup in the West. Both of these teams come into tonight’s game on losing streaks but there’s a pretty big gap in talent here. The Flames, coming off a pathetic 5-2 loss to the Blue Jackets on Thursday, are now on a four game losing streak. They’re a middle of the road team that likely misses the playoffs. The Blackhawks, coming off a 3-0 loss in Edmonton, are one of the worst teams in the NHL, with just four wins in their last 23 games. Earlier this month, Chicago did pull off the 4-3 win in the first matchup between these teams. I’d expect the Flames to answer back with a win here tonight at home. I know the Blackhawks are brutal but the -300 I think is a ripoff. I will still take a shot on Calgary though in regulation to get right for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but see no point in betting that.
Canucks vs. Blue Jackets (10:00)
Huge cross conference mismatch to close out tonight’s slate. The Canucks have been incredible this season, leading the Western Conference. They’re coming off a 4-3 overtime loss on Wednesday at home against the Blues, but are on a ten game point streak, with a overtime and a shootout loss in that span. That shootout loss came against the Blue Jackets on the road in Columbus in the first game between these teams this year. Columbus has been terrible this year, in last place in the Metro, but are coming off a 5-2 win in Calgary on Thursday night. I like the Canucks to get the win here at home to bounce back from their loss on Wednesday. I’ll take them in regulation for 1.5 units. I’d slightly lean the over, but I’ll just stick with Vancouver.
Game Bets
1.5u Bruins ML (-157)
.5u Bruins -1.5 (+154)
1u Stars in regulation (-137)
1u Oilers in regulation (-134)
1u Sabres ML (-180)
.5u Rangers ML (-118)
1u Lightning ML (-155)
.5u Lightning TT over 3.5 (-116)
.5u Lightning/Devils over 6.5 (-125)
.5u Penguins in regulation (-136)
1u Hurricanes in regulation (-148)
.5u Jets ML (-130)
.5u Panthers ML (-132)
.5u Wild in regulation (-129)
.5u Flames in regulation (-175)
1.5u Canucks in regulation (-185)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 365-329-10 (-53.32 units)
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