Happy Valentine’s Day! Profitable night for me yesterday on the NHL, going 3-2 to win 1.5 units. Tonight we have a small card with just three games, none with great matchups. Let’s get some more wins here!
Penguins vs. Panthers (7:30)
This isn’t all that great of a game, but it’s easily the best one on tonight’s slate. The Panthers have been fantastic this season, having improved from last season where they went to the Cup Finals, playing much better defensively. They’ve played well on both ends of the ice, as they’re comfortably in second place in the Atlantic Division. Coming off a 4-0 shutout win at home against the Avs on Saturday, Florida has six wins in their last seven games. The Penguins haven’t been all that great this year, having a sub par season. They lost back to back on Friday and Saturday, losing by a goal in Minnesota and then Winnipeg and have just two wins in their last seven games. Although Tristan Jarry’s goaltending and the Pen’s defense has been very good this year, their offense has really struggled. The Panthers won both previous games between these teams this season, winning 3-1 at home and then 3-2 in a shootout on the road. I like them to complete the season sweep here on the road and I’ll take Florida for half a unit. The play I really like in this game though is the under, which I’ll take at 6.5 for a unit.
Jets vs. Sharks (7:30)
Although these teams are coming into tonight’s game with different form, this is a gigantic mismatch in the opposite direction. The books know that too, with the Jets coming as a huge -400 favorite in this Western Conference matchup. The first two games this season between these teams in San Jose were a lot closer than that line indicates though, with them splitting 2-1 games, a Sharks win on December 12th and then the Jets answering back on January 4th. Winnipeg’s in a slump right now, but have had a very good season, comfortably in third place in the Central and playing really well on both ends of the ice. On Saturday they ended a five game losing streak with a 2-1 win at home against the Penguins. The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the NHL (not quite the worst anymore thanks to the Blackhawks being brutal), but they’ve actually played decent lately. Coming off a 3-2 overtime loss in Anaheim to go into the All Star break, they have a 4-1-1 record in their last six games. I fully expect the Jets to win this game at home, but with the prices on this game across the board being so expensive, with even the regulation line juiced all the way up to -240, I can’t find any value anywhere here. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it at 5.5. I’ll lay off this one completely.
Coyotes vs. Wild (9:30)
This is such a boring Central Division matchup tonight between two teams that haven’t been great this year. The Coyotes, coming off a 5-3 loss in Philly on Monday (winner for me), have struggled quite a bit recently, on a six game losing streak with just four wins in their last 16 games. The Wild haven’t been any better on the season but come into tonight’s game on a pretty good three game win streak, coming off a big 5-3 win in Vegas on Monday (that prevented me from sweeping the board). Statistically both of these teams have struggled on both ends of the ice, with a slight edge for the Coyotes defensively. The Yotes dominated the first game between these teams this year, winning 6-0 on the road in Minnesota on January 13th. I’d slightly lean the Wild answer back with a win on the road here tonight and the under, but not enough to bet it. This is a game that the best play is just staying off of it completely.
Game Bets
.5u Panthers ML (-121)
1u Panthers/Penguins under 6.5 (-134)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 407-362-10 (-58.44 units)
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