Yesterday wasn’t great for me on the NHL, going 6-7 to lose 2.14 units on the big slate of day games. Tonight we have another big slate, with eight games on the schedule. Let’s bounce back again!
Panthers vs. Senators (7:00)
This Atlantic Division matchup to start the night isn’t great. The Panthers have been fantastic, in second place in the Atlantic, a point behind the Bruins. Coming off a 9-2 win against their biggest rival in the Battle of Florida on Saturday, they’re on a five game win streak with nine wins in their last ten games, playing spectacular hockey on both ends of the ice. The Senators are in the second half of a back to back, coming off a big 4-2 win against the Lightning last night (triple loser for me). They’ve been terrible on the season, but have played their best hockey as of late, with five wins in their last seven games. Offensively Ottawa has been decent, but they’re awful on the back end. In the first game between these teams the Panthers blew out the Sens with a 5-0 shutout win on the road. I expect another similar result here with a blowout win for Florida, especially with Ottawa in the second half of a back to back. I’ll take the Panthers in regulation for 2 units. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Rangers vs. Stars (7:00)
This should be an awesome cross conference game tonight between two leaders of their divisions. The Rangers are coming off an incredible comeback outdoors in the Stadium series on Sunday, erasing a 4-1 deficit against the Isles, with Mika Zibanejad tying up the game to force OT with 1:29 left in the third and then Panarin won it with the net off its bearings just ten seconds into overtime. That win extended the Rags win streak to seven straight as they lead the Metro. The Stars lead the Central, but come into tonight’s on the second half of a back to back, having lost their last two games in a row, both in overtime, losing 4-3 in a shootout in Boston yesterday afternoon and 4-3 in OT to the Oilers on Saturday. Statistically both of these teams have been very good on both ends of the ice this season, with an offensive edge to the Stars and a defensive edge to the Rags. Dallas won the first game between these teams 6-3 at home in November. With the Stars in the second half of a back to back on the road, I like the Rangers to answer back with a win at home here to extend their win streak, and I’ll take New York for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Penguins vs. Islanders (7:00)
Although I don’t think either of these Metro Division teams are all that good, this should be a solid, competitive matchup tonight. The Penguins haven’t been great lately, coming off a 2-1 loss at home to the Kings on Sunday in Jagr’s jersey retirement night. They’ve won just three of their last 13 games, and although their defense has been good, the offense has struggled. The Islanders aren’t any much better, just three points up in the standings, and playing lousier defensively, without much better of an offense. They’re on a three game losing streak, coming out of blowing a 4-1 lead and losing 6-5 in overtime outdoors to the Rangers in the Stadium series outdoors on Sunday. The Isles have won just three of their last 13 games as well. The Pens won both of the first two games between these teams, winning 7-0 on the road in December on Long Island, and then winning again 3-1 at home a few days later on New Year’s Eve. I’d slightly lean Pittsburgh wins again tonight at home, and I’d slightly lean the under, but no way I’m betting this game. I’ll lay off it completely.
Capitals vs. Devils (7:00)
Neither of these Metro Division teams have been spectacular, setting up another interesting matchup tonight in our nation’s Capital. This will be the fourth and final game of the season between these teams with the Caps leading the season series 2-1, with 6-4 and 4-2 wins in Jersey, following by a 6-3 loss at home. Washington’s been struggling lately. Coming off a 4-3 win in Montreal on Saturday, they have just two wins in their last ten games. Their defense has been decent on the season, but has dropped a little bit lately. The offense for the Caps has been awful all year though. The Devils have played better lately as they’ve gotten healthier, with three wins in their last four games, coming off a big 6-3 win outdoors against the Flyers in the Stadium Series on Saturday. Jersey’s offense has been good this season, but their defense has struggled. I like the Devils to win here to tie the season series and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet on it.
Jets vs. Wild (8:00)
This Central Division game isn’t great with both of these teams in the second half of a back to back, coming off quite interesting games yesterday. The Jets, who are comfortably in third place in the Central with an eleven point lead over the Blues, are coming off a 6-3 loss in Calgary yesterday that ended a three game win streak for them. Winnipeg’s offense hasn’t been great this season, but their defense is one of the best in the NHL. The Wild are easily playing their best hockey right now, but they’re not great on the year. Yesterday they pulled off an insane win, coming back from a 5-2 deficit with 33 seconds left in the second period, scoring six straight goals in less than six minutes of game time to beat the NHL leading Canucks 10-7. INSANE game. That extended Minnesota’s point streak to six in a row, with five wins in that span. Statistically the Wild have struggled on both ends of the ice. Winnipeg won both previous games between these teams this season, winning 4-2 at home and then 3-2 on the road the next night. I like them to win again here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it, especially at 5.5 with these teams both in the second half of a back to back after very high scoring games yesterday.
Avalanche vs. Canucks (9:00)
This should be a spectacular Western Conference matchup tonight. Both of these teams have been fantastic this season. The Avs are in second place in the Central, coming off a 4-3 win against the Coyotes on Sunday. They’re in a little bit of a slump, with just two wins in their last seven games. The Canucks lead the NHL, but come into tonight’s game in the second half of a back to back, off two losses in a row. After losing 4-2 to the Jets at home on Saturday, yesterday they lost the best game of the day, losing 10-7 to the Wild in a crazy game. They had a 5-2 lead with 33 seconds left in the second period, but gave up six straight goals (four of which came on the power play for the Wild) in less than six minutes of game time and couldn’t come back from that. Colorado won the first game between these teams 5-2 at home in November with a three goal third period. Both of these teams have been very good on both ends of the ice, with the Canucks having a pretty significant advantage defensively. With that, I’d lean they win here on the road, but in the second half of a back to back, I’ll stay off the side. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Golden Knights vs. Predators (10:00)
This isn’t a great matchup. The Golden Knights are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a no sweat, easy 4-0 win in San Jose last night. Despite key injuries they come into tonight’s game with an 8-3-1 record in their last twelve games. Statistically they’ve been very good, especially defensively this season. The Predators haven’t been great lately. After getting blown out 9-2 at home against Dallas on Thursday, and having GM Barry Trotz cancel their trip to see U2 at the Sphere in Vegas, they bounced back with a 5-2 win in St. Louis on Saturday, just their second win in their last seven games. Nashville hasn’t been great on either end of the ice. The Knights won the first game between these teams 4-1 at home and even in the second half of a back to back, I like them to win again here. I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Kings vs. Blue Jackets (10:30)
Pretty lousy cross conference game to close out tonight’s slate. The Kings have turned it around from the slump they were on, coming into tonight’s game on a three game win streak after a 2-1 win in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, having won five of their last six games. Statistically on the year they’ve been very good this season on both ends of the ice, holding the first Wild Card spot in the West. The Blue Jackets have been terrible, the worst team in the East. They’re coming off a 4-3 win in San Jose on Saturday, just their sixth win in their last 20 games. Columbus has been terrible on both ends of the ice. The Kings won the first game between these teams on the road in Columbus in December, but needed overtime to do so. I don’t see that happen again. I’ll take the Kings in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
2u Panthers in regulation (-143)
.5u Rangers ML (-137)
.5u Devils ML (-170)
.5u Jets ML (-146)
.5u Avalanche/Canucks over 6.5 (-118)
.5u Golden Knights ML (-139)
1u Kings in regulation (-157)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 430-384-11 (-60.03 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 