Really nice bounce back day for me on the NHL yesterday with a 3-0 Sunday sweep, winning three units. Today we have a huge ten game slate slate of mostly day games, let’s crush it again!
Sabres vs. Ducks (12:30)
Not a great cross conference matchup to start off the day between these two pretty terrible teams. My Sabres are coming off a nice 3-2 overtime win in Minnesota on Saturday night, their second win in their last three games, but we’ve been brutal this season. The Ducks have been awful too, coming off a 9-2 loss in Toronto. Anaheim won the first game between these teams 4-2 at home in January. Both of these teams have struggled on both ends of the ice, but the Sabres have the edge here on both ends of the ice. I’d expect Buffalo to get a win here to tie the season series and I’ll take my boys for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Bruins vs. Stars (1:00)
This should be a great cross conference matchup between two very good teams. The Bruins are in a bit of a slump right now. They’re a point back from Florida now in second place in the Atlantic Division and coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to the Kings at home on Saturday, they’re on a four game losing streak. Dallas leads the Central, coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Oilers at home on Saturday that ended a three game win streak. Both of these teams have been good on both ends of the ice, with an edge offensively to the Stars and an edge defensively to the B’s. The first game between these teams in Dallas was close, with the Bruins winning 3-2 on the road. I’d slightly lean the Stars win this one and the under, but not enough to bet it. I’ll lay off this game completely.
Blues vs. Maple Leafs (1:00)
Not all that appealing of a game here between these two playoff teams. Auston Matthews yet another hat trick on Saturday night as the Leafs blew out the Ducks 9-2 for their third straight win (such an easy win on my team total). Having won seven of their last nine games, they’re back in third place in the Atlantic, a point ahead of Tampa. Toronto’s offense has been obviously very good this season, but their defense has been inconsistent and has struggled at times. The Blues have been decent, but I’m still not sold on them this year. They’re in the second Wild Card spot in the West, coming off a 5-2 loss to the Preds on Saturday, but have won eight of their last eleven games. Statistically they haven’t been great on either end of the ice. Toronto won the first game between these teams less than a week ago, winning 4-1 at home. I like the Maple Leafs to win this one again on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Wild vs. Canucks (2:00)
This Western Conference matchup isn’t great and a bigger mismatch than I think the price indicates (value!). Both of these teams have played well lately, but the Canucks are the far better team here. Vancouver leads the NHL, playing fantastic hockey on both ends of the ice. They’re coming off a 4-2 loss to the Jets at home on Saturday that ended a three game win streak. The Wild have been pretty bad on the season, but they come into today’s game on their best run of the year. They’re on a five game point streak with seven wins in their last ten games, with a 3-2 overtime loss to my Sabres on Saturday that ended their four game win streak. Statistically Minnesota’s struggled on both ends of the ice, especially offensively. The first two games between these teams were very low scoring with the Canucks winning a 2-0 shutout at home and the Wild answering back with a 2-1 shootout win at home. I like the Canucks to win here today on the road, and I’ll take them for a unit. I also really like the under, which I’ll take for a unit as well at 6.5.
Kraken vs. Red Wings (3:30)
This isn’t the best cross conference matchup, but I could see this being an interesting game since these teams play completely opposite styles of hockey. The Kraken have been in a slump, but come into today’s game off two wins in a row, coming off a 4-1 win in Boston on Thursday and a 2-1 shootout win on Long Island on Tuesday. Seattle’s offense has been horrible this year, but they’ve been very good defensively. The Red Wings are hanging onto the second Wild Card spot in the East. They’re coming off a 5-0 shutout win in Calgary on Saturday. Detroit’s been very good offensively despite a bunch of injuries but their defense and goaltending has been a struggle for them. The first game between these teams needed overtime in Detroit back in October, with the Kraken winning 5-4. I think the Red Wings are the better team here and I think they’re worth a shot as a dog on the road, and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to even consider betting on it with the Red Wings trending over big time.
Flames vs. Jets (4:00)
This one’s not all that interesting of a Western Conference matchup. The Jets have been really good this year, very comfortably in third place in the Central Division. They’re on a three game win streak, coming off a big 4-2 win in Vancouver on Saturday. Offensively they haven’t been all that great, but Winnipeg’s an elite team defensively. The Flames are on a three game losing streak, a bit outside of the playoffs, with three lousy losses, getting shut out 5-0 by the Red Wings, losing 6-3 to the Sharks, and getting shut out 2-0 to the Rangers. They haven’t been great on either end of the ice. Calgary won the first game between these teams 5-3 early in the season. I love the Jets to win here with a huge defensive edge and I’ll take them for a unit on the road. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Coyotes vs. Oilers (4:00)
Huge mismatch in the West here. The Coyotes have been horrible lately, coming into today’s game in the second half of a back to back, losing 4-3 in Colorado last night, their ninth straight loss. The Oilers have been awesome, in third place in the Pacific. They’re coming off a 4-3 overtime win in Dallas on Saturday. After their 16 game win streak to go into the All Star break, they’ve since gone 3-3 since returning. Edmonton’s been very good on both ends of the ice. Especially with the Yotes in the second half of a back to back, I love the Oilers to win this game easily. I’ll take the Oilers in regulation for a unit along with their team total over 3.5 for 1.5 units. I’d lean the over as well, but not enough to bet it. I’ll just stick to the Edmonton sides of this one.
Sharks vs. Golden Knights (4:00)
Not much luster to this rivalry game in the Pacific, as it’s a huge mismatch with Vegas being the far better team here. Vegas will look to compete the season sweep of the Sharks this afternoon as they won 4-1 on the road, 5-0 at home, and 5-4 in a shootout at home. The Knights are coming off two losses in a row after a 3-1 loss at home to the Canes on Saturday, but they’ve played well lately with a 7-3-1 record in their last eleven games. The Sharks, coming off a 4-3 loss at home to the Jackets on Saturday, have been awful all season. Vegas is the way better team here as the -280 price indicates. I fully expect the Golden Knights to complete the season sweep here and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Hurricanes vs. Blackhawks (7:00)
This is the biggest mismatch on the board and I completely expect this game to be a boring blowout to watch. The Canes are in second place in the Metro and playing great hockey right now. They’re coming off a 3-1 win in Vegas on Saturday in the second half of a back to back after crushing the Yotes 5-1 the night before, and have 15 wins in their last 20 games. Carolina’s played very well on both ends of the ice. The Blackhawks on the other hand are horrendous, in last place in the NHL. They’re coming off a 3-2 win against Ottawa on Saturday that ended an eight game losing streak, but have been awful on both ends of the ice. This should be an easy blowout win for Carolina. I’ll take the Hurricanes puck line for 1.5 units. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Lightning vs. Senators (7:00)
Not a great Atlantic Division matchup to finish off the day. The Lightning have been very good, a point behind the Leafs for third in the Atlantic, but sitting in the first Wild Card spot in the East. They’re coming off a bad 9-2 blowout loss at home to their rival Panthers on Saturday in a disappointing game that I though would be a really fun matchup. That ended a three game win streak for Tampa, who have eleven wins in their last 15 games. Their offense has been very good, but their defense has been inconsistent. The Senators have played well lately, but have been awful on the season and come into tonight’s game off two embarrassing losses, losing 3-2 in Chicago on Saturday and 5-1 at home to the Duck on Thursday. Ottawa’s offense hasn’t been too but, but their defense is awful. These teams split their first two games, with the Sens winning 5-2 at home and then the Bolts answering back with a 6-4 win on the road. I love the Bolts to win here and I’ll take them for a unit, along with half a unit on the puck line. I like the over as well, which I’ll also take at the alternate 6.5 for a unit.
Game Bets
.5u Sabres ML (-184)
.5u Maple Leafs ML (-155)
1u Canucks ML (-122)
1u Canucks/Wild under 6.5 (-121)
.5u Red Wings ML (+120)
1u Jets ML (-126)
1u Oilers in regulation (-165)
1.5u Oilers TT over 3.5 (-170)
1u Golden Knights in regulation (-159)
1.5u Hurricanes -1.5 (-162)
1u Lightning ML (-162)
.5u Lightning -1.5 (+145)
1u Lightning/Senators over 6.5 (-152)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 424-377-11 (-57.89 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 