I won a unit yesterday on the only NHL game, with an easy win for the Hurricanes in Arizona. Following just the one game last night, today we have a gigantic 13 game slate. Let’s crush it!
Bruins vs. Kings (12:30)
A couple months ago this would look like such a fantastic cross conference game but with the way these teams, especially the Kings, have been playing lately, the luster is kind of off this matchup for me. The Bruins, coming off a disappointing 4-1 loss to the Kraken on Thursday, are on a three game losing streak, now tied with the Panthers for first in the East. The Kings after a pretty big slump have now won three of their last four games, bouncing back from an embarrassing 7-0 shutout loss in Buffalo with a 2-1 win in Jersey on Thursday. Statistically both of these teams have been good on both ends of the ice, with an edge to Boston on both. The B’s won the first game between these teams 4-2 on the road in LA early in the season and I expect another win for them here today at home to get the day started. I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Stars vs. Oilers (3:00)
This should be a great Western Conference matinee today between two very good teams. The Stars are leading the Central, coming off kicking the shit out of the Preds in a 9-2 blowout win on the road in Smashville, their third straight win and their seventh in their last eight games. McDavid and the Oilers have been very good as well, but after they went into the All Star break on a record breaking 16 game win streak, but have since lost three of their last five, coming off a 6-3 loss in St. Louis on Thursday. These teams have both been spectacular on both ends of the ice this season, with an edge to the Stars offensively, and a slight edge to the Oilers on the back end. The Stars won the first game between these teams in a tight 4-3 game on the road in November. I feel like the side on this one is a complete toss up, and I’ll stay off it. I do like the over though quite a bit, expecting both teams to score, and I’ll take it for half a unit.
Blackhawks vs. Senators (3:00)
Pretty shitty cross conference matchup between two lousy teams here. Bedard being back in the lineup on Thursday didn’t help a whole lot for the Blackhawks as the worst team in the NHL, extending their losing streak to eight straight, with just three wins in their last 20 games. They’ve been completely brutal on both ends of the ice. The Sens have been terrible this season too, in last place in the Atlantic. They’ve played relatively well lately though. They’re coming off a 5-1 blowout loss at home to the Ducks on Thursday (double loser for me), that ended their four game win streak. Ottawa’s offense has been good this season, but their defense has sucked. I like the Senators to bounce back with a win here on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d definitely lean the over, but not enough to bet it with how abysmal the Chicago offense is.
Flames vs. Red Wings (4:00)
This isn’t the best cross conference game on paper, but it is an interesting one that could end up being fun. The Flames haven’t been great this season, on the outside looking in on a Wild Card spot. After a four game win streak, they’re now coming off two losses in a row, after a 2-0 loss to the Rangers on Monday and then a surprising 6-3 loss at home to the Sharks on Thursday. The Red Wings have played well, right in the mix for the second Wild Card spot in the East, but they’re in a little bit of a slump lately with just one win in their last four games, coming off a 4-1 loss in Vancouver on Thursday night. They have a 10-4-2 record in their last 16 games though, playing well offensively but inconsistent defensively. Detroit won the first game between these teams 6-2 at home in October. I’d lean they win again, but not enough to bet it. I do like the over here though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Lightning vs. Panthers (5:00)
I am so pumped for the Battle of Florida tonight with both of these Atlantic Division playoff teams playing fantastic hockey right now. The Lightning, coming off a 6-3 win in a dominant win against the Avalanche are on a three game win streak, are in third place in the Atlantic, playing great. The Panthers are even better. They just shut out my Sabres in a 4-0 win, their fourth loss in a row, to move into a tie for first place in the Atlantic with the Bruins. The first game between these teams lived up to the hype, with the Panthers winning 3-2 in Tampa. I think the Panthers are the better team here and would lean they win again on the road, and would also lean the under, but not enough to bet on either. I’ll lay off this game entirely. Can’t wait to watch it!
Blues vs. Predators (5:00)
Pretty boring Central Division matchup here tonight. The Blues are playing solid hockey right now, getting themselves into a Wild Card spot in the West, but they haven’t been great on the season on either end of the ice. They pulled off a big win on Thursday, with a 6-3 win against the Oilers, their eighth win in their last nine games. The Predators have struggled recently, getting blown out 9-2 at home by the Stars on Thursday and picking up just one win in their last six games. Statistically neither of these teams have been great on either end of the ice, with a bit of an edge defensively to the Blues. The Preds won the first game between these teams with a dominant 8-3 victory in St. Louis in November. I’d lean the Blues answer back with a win at home, and I’d also slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet anything on this game. I’ll lay off it completely.
Wild vs. Sabres (5:00)
Pretty lousy, and boring, cross conference matchup for my Sabres tonight as they go on the road to Minnesota. After a dominant 7-0 win against the Kings on Tuesday, we followed that one up with a 4-0 loss at home to the Panthers in a “well played losing effort”. God we fucking suck. This season’s been a God damn disaster. The Wild are on a hot run right now, despite being pretty lousy on the season. Coming off a 3-1 win in Arizona on Wednesday night, they’re on a four game win streak with seven wins in their last nine games. Both of these teams have sucked this season statistically on both ends of the ice. The Sabres won the first game between these teams 3-2 at home in November. I like the Wild to answer back with a win at home tonight and I’ll take them for half a unit. I like the under as well, which I’ll take for half a unit also.
Maple Leafs vs. Ducks (7:00)
This is a pretty shitty cross conference game with a pretty big mismatch. Despite this game having a huge gap in talent, the first game between these teams early in January was close, going to overtime with a 2-1 win for the Leafs on the road. Toronto’s in the first Wild Card spot in the East, with three wins in their last four games, coming off a 4-3 overtime win at home against the Flyers on Thursday. The Leafs offense has been very good, but their defense has struggled at times. The Ducks, who are coming off a 5-1 win in Ottawa on Thursday, have been terrible this season. They’ve struggled on both ends of the ice, only better than the Sharks and Blackhawks in the West. Of course I like the Leafs to win this game, but no way they’re worth the -295. I do like their team total though, which I’ll take at 3.5 for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet that.
Canadiens vs. Capitals (7:00)
This Eastern Conference matchup is so boring. Both of these teams have been quite lousy and playing boring hockey, setting up a lousy matchup. The Habs are coming off a 7-4 loss in New York to the Rangers on Thursday, with just one win (against the Ducks) in their last four games. They’ve struggled on both ends of the ice this season. The Capitals haven’t been a whole lot better. Coming off a 6-3 loss to the Avs on Tuesday, they have just one win in their last nine games. Washington’s been awful offensively and haven’t been all that great on the back end either. Montreal won both of the first two games between these teams, winning 3-2 in overtime at home, and then 5-2 on the road. I’d lean the Caps avoid the season sweep with a win on the road and would lean the under as well, but not enough to bet on either. I’ll lay off this game entirely.
Devils vs. Flyers (8:00)
The NHL takes it back outdoors at MetLife for the first of two Stadium Series games this weekend with this solid Metro Division matchup. The first two games between these teams this year both needed overtime, with the road team winning each game, a 4-3 win for the Devils, and a 3-2 win for the Flyers. The Devils have struggled a bit, coming off a heated 2-1 loss to the Kings at home on Thursday. They’re still in the Wild Card mix, with a really solid offense even with a bunch of injuries this season, but a pretty bad defense. The Flyers have played the complete opposite style of hockey. The offense has struggled for Philly, but their defense has been awesome. They’re coming off a 4-3 overtime loss in Toronto, ending a four game win streak to come out of the All Star break. I’d lean the Flyers win this game and would slightly lean the under, but I’m not betting it. Outdoor games are a blast and I can’t wait to watch this one.
Canucks vs. Jets (10:00)
This should be a great game out West tonight. The Canucks have been fantastic this season, leading the NHL and playing incredible hockey on both ends of the ice. They’re the best team in the league and are coming into tonight’s game on a three game win streak after a 4-1 win against the Red Wings at home on Thursday night. The Jets have been very good too, in third place in the Central. After a bit of a slump, they’ve since won their last two games, not that either of those games have been great, just being the Sharks and Pens by a goal in each of them. On the season, Winnipeg hasn’t been great offensively, but they’ve been elite defensively. I like the Canucks to win this one and I’ll take them for half a unit. I like the under as well, and I’ll take the alternate under 6 for half a unit.
Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes (10:00)
Fantastic cross conference matchup tonight. Both of these teams have been great this season and could contend for the Cup (although I wouldn’t really say either is my pick to win at this point). The Golden Knights are coming off a 5-3 loss at home to the Wild on Monday, and although they’ve had significant injuries, they’ve gone 7-2-1 in their last ten games and are comfortably in second place in the Pacific. The Hurricanes have been very good lately, and are in second in the Metro Division. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a dominant 5-1 win in Arizona last night (easy winner for me) and have won 14 of their last 19 games. Carolina’s been very good on both ends of the ice. The Hurricanes won the first game between these teams 6-3 at home in December. With the Canes in the second half of a back to back, I’d lean the Knights win this one at home to tie up the season series, as well as the under, but not enough to bet either. I’ll lay off this game completely. Solid one to close out the night.
Sharks vs. Blue Jackets (10:30)
Horrible cross conference matchup out West to close out tonight’s slate. The Sharks, although going ahead of the Blackhawks in the standings, are still a horrendous team, one of the worst in the NHL. They’ve been terrible on both ends of the ice, statistically the worst team in the league on both ends of the ice. The Blue Jackets have been marginally better, the worst team in the East, and they just fired their GM. Coming off a 6-3 loss to the Senators on Tuesday, they have just five wins in their last 19 games. Although Columbus has been better offensively than San Jose, they’re just as horrible defensively. I’d lean the Jackets win this one on the road, but no shot I’m betting on them. I’d also slightly lean the over, but the best play on this shitty game is none at all.
Game Bets
.5u Bruins ML (-146)
.5u Stars/Oilers over 6.5 (-135)
.5u Senators ML (-167)
.5u Flames/Red Wings over 6.5 (-110)
.5u Wild ML (-148)
.5u Wild/Sabres under 6.5 (-113)
.5u Maple Leafs TT over 3.5 (-182)
.5u Canucks ML (-125)
.5u Canucks/Jets under 6 (-125)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 418-372-10 (-58.9 units)
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A Town's Zone 