Another terrible night of the NHL for me yesterday that fell apart late in both games, with the Jets giving up the tying goal with 47 seconds left and the Oilers taking their first regulation loss at home for the first time since December in a game Edmonton outshot the Wild 43-19, also the first time they lost two in a row since then. I went 1-3, losing 4.92 units. We NEED to bounce back on today’s huge 13 game slate. Let’s keep grinding away.
How someone could put as much time and effort grinding through every single fucking NHL game every day for like five years now writing these blogs and I still can’t win blows my mind. It’s insane.
Red Wings vs. Blues (12:00)
Early noon start for this cross conference game to get the day started. This is an interesting matchup to me between these two Wild Card teams. The Red Wings, coming off a 2-1 win in an impressive game against the Avs on Thursday have played well lately, on a three game win streak and a point ahead of Tampa for the first Wild Card spot in the East. They’ve played well offensively all season despite but their defense has struggled an been inconsistent at times. The Blues are in the second Wild Card spot in the West, and come into today’s game of a 4-0 shutout win against the Isles, with nine wins in their last 13 games. Statistically they haven’t been great on either end of the ice. Detroit won the first game between these teams 6-4 on the road in December and I like the Red Wings to win this one again. I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over in this matchup but not enough to bet it.
Devils vs. Canadiens (2:00)
This isn’t all that interesting of a game here. Both of these teams have struggled. The Devils are still right in the Wild Card race in the East, on the outside looking in. Coming off a 5-1 loss at home against the Rangers on Thursday, they have just one win in their last four games. Jersey’s offense has been good this season, but their defense has been garbage for plenty of games this year. They desperately need to trade for Markstrom to fix their goaltending issues. The Habs have been terrible on both ends ends of the ice, coming into tonight’s game on a four game losing streak after a 4-1 loss in Pittsburgh on Thursday with just one win in their last seven games. These teams split their first two games, each winning on the road, a 5-2 Devils win followed by a 3-2 Habs win. I feel like this is a must win game for Jersey, but the price is way too inflated for me at -240. I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Islanders vs. Lightning (2:00)
This isn’t all that great of a matchup and I’m kind of surprised how close the books have this to a pick em. The Islanders are on the outside looking in on the Wild Card race and have struggled lately. Coming off a 4-0 loss in St. Louis win Thursday, they’ve won just one of their last five games and four of their last 15. They’ve been lousy on both ends of the ice. The Lightning are still in their second Wild Card spot in the East but are on a bit of a skid themselves, on a three game losing streak, coming off a 5-3 loss to the Caps on Thursday. The Isles won the first game between these teams dominating a 6-2 win and I like Tampa to answer back on the road. I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over but not enough to bet it.
Flyers vs. Rangers (3:00)
This should be a pretty solid Metro Division matchup today between two of the top three teams in the Division. The Rangers are rolling again, leading the Metro and coming into this afternoon’s game on a nine game win streak, coming off a 5-1 blowout against the Devils on the road on Thursday. They’ve been fantastic on both ends of the ice. The Flyers have been a decent team, coming off a 3-1 win in Chicago on Wednesday, they have a 5-1-1 record in their last seven games. The defense has been great for Philly, but their offense has been miserable all season. The Rags won the first game between these teams 3-1 on the road in November. I like them to win again here as well as the under, which I’ll take for half a unit each.
Panthers vs. Capitals (6:00)
This is a pretty lousy matchup in the East, a pretty big mismatch. The Panthers have been fantastic this year and they’re my pick to win the East. They had a six game win streak come to an end with just their second loss in their last twelve games on Thursday, losing 1-0 in Carolina. Florida’s been incredible on both ends of the ice. The Capitals are still in the Wild Card race in the East, and after a huge slump coming into tonight’s game on a three game win streak after a 5-3 win in Tampa on Thursday. Washington’s defense has been okay this year, but the offense has been brutal. The Panthers won the first two games between these teams 4-3 in OT on the road, then 4-2 at home. I like them to complete the season sweep tonight at home and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Senators vs. Golden Knights (7:00)
Pretty big mismatch in the cross conference game tonight and the line on it makes no sense whatsoever. The Senators have been terrible this season, in last place in the Atlantic. They’re coming off a 4-1 win against the Stars in a shocking game on Thursday night and have played better recently. Ottawa’s offense has been good this season but their defense has been some of the worst in the NHL. The Golden Knights are on a bad skid, but still hanging onto second place in the Pacific. Coming off a 7-3 blowout loss at home to the Leafs on Thursday, they have just one win in their last five games. Joining Jack Eichel on the LTIR this week was Mark Stone, another huge blow to the Cup Champs…but sets them up to make some huge moves again at the deadline with Stone and Eichel coming back for the playoffs with that LITR cap magic. A much healthier Vegas won the first game between these teams 6-3 at home earlier this season. Even without their studs in the lineup, I like the Knights to win here and I’ll take them for half a unit on the road. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Avalanche vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
Fantastic cross conference game that should be a blast to watch tonight. The Avs have been great, in third place in the Central and playing very well lately. Coming off a 2-1 overtime loss in Detroit on Thursday, they’ve gone 3-1-1 in their last five games after a bit of a skid. Toronto’s rolling right now too, in third in the Atlantic. After a big 7-3 win in Vegas on Thursday, they’re on a six game win streak with ten wins in their last twelve games. These teams have played very similar hockey, with spectacular offense, but struggling defense at times. The Avs won the first game between these teams 5-3 on the road. I’d lean the Leafs tie the season series up on the road tonight, but not enough to bet it. I love the over in this game though, which I’ll take for a unit.
Canucks vs. Bruins (7:00)
This is another fantastic matchup, between the two NHL leaders as the Eastern Conference leading Bruins visit the Western Conference leading Canucks. Both of these teams are coming off losses and haven’t played their best hockey lately. The Canucks are are on a four game losing streak, coming off a 5-2 loss in Seattle on Thursday. The Bruins are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss in Calgary and have just two wins (both needing overtime) in their last seven games. Both these teams have been awesome on both ends of the ice, with a bit of an offensive edge to the Canucks and a very slight of a defensive edge to the Bruins. Boston cruised to a 4-0 easy win in the first game between these teams at home this season. I’d lean the Canucks answer back at home tonight and would lean the under, but no shot am I betting this game.
Hurricanes vs. Stars (8:00)
Tonight’s slate is loaded with fantastic games and this one continues that. The Stars lead the Central Division, a point ahead of the of the Jets and Avs, but come into tonight’s game on a four game losing streak after a 4-1 loss in Ottawa on Thursday. The Hurricanes are in second in the Metro, playing awesome hockey right now. Coming off a 1-0 win against the Panthers on Thursday, they’re on a four game win streak with just five losses in their last 22 games. Both these teams have been great statistically on both ends of the ice, with an edge offensively to Dallas and an edge defensively to the Canes. The Stars won the first game between these teams 4-2 at home a few weeks ago. I’d lean Carolina answers back with a win here at home and would lean the under, but not enough to bet it. I’ll lay off this game entirely.
Oilers vs. Flames (10:00)
The Battle of Alberta’s always a blast. The biggest rivalry in the NHL gives awesome matchups regardless of how these teams go into these games. The Oilers let me down big time last night, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort. They took their first regulation loss at home for the first time since December in a game Edmonton outshot the Wild 43-19, the first time they lost two in a row in over two months. The Oilers have been spectacular on both ends of the ice. The Flames are on the outside looking in on a Wild Card spot, coming off two impressive wins, beating the Bruins 3-2 in overtime on Thursday after a 6-3 win against the Jets on Monday. Statistically they haven’t been special on either end of the ice. The Oil won the first two games between these teams, winning 5-2 at home and then 3-1 on the road. I expect a pissed off Oilers to take out the rage of their two losses out on their rivals tonight. Even in the second half of a back to back, I’ll take Edmonton for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Sharks vs. Predators (10:00)
This isn’t a great game out West. The Sharks are complete garbage, only better than the Blackhawks. Coming off a 4-0 shutout loss to Vegas on home ice on Monday they have just one win in their last five games. Statistically they’ve been one of the worst two teams in the NHL (along with Chicago) on both ends of the ice. The Preds, after getting embarrassed in a 9-2 loss at home to the Stars last week have since rattled off three impressive wins on the road, coming off a 4-1 win against the Kings on Thursday night. Nashville won the first game between these teams in blowout fashion, beating the Sharks 5-1 in October. I expect them to keep rolling with a win on the road. I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over very slightly, but no way I’d bet that.
Kraken vs. Wild (10:00)
This is a pretty interesting matchup between two teams that likely both miss the playoffs, but have played decent hockey as of late. The Wild are in the second half of a back to back on the road, somehow pulling off a 4-2 win in Edmonton last night in a game they really had no business winning, with Gustavsson playing out of his mind in goal. They’re rolling right now with a 6-1-1 record in their last eight games. Statistically Minnesota hasn’t been great on either end of the ice this season. The Kraken are coming off an impressive 5-2 win against the Canucks on Thursday and have a 3-0-1 record in their last four games after a skid of just two wins in ten games. Seattle’s been very good defensively, but awful offensively. Minnesota won the first game between these teams with a 3-0 shutout on the road in December. With the Wild in the second half of a back to back, I’d lean the Kraken win this one at home and would lean the under, but not enough to bet either. I’ll stay off this game.
Kings vs. Ducks (10:30)
Lousy California mismatch in the Pacific Division to close out the night. The Kings have been rolling lately, after a huge skid in January, in the first Wild Card spot in the West, two points behind the Oilers for third in the Pacific. They had a four game win streak come to an end on Thursday, losing 4-1 at home to the Preds, just their second loss in their last eight games. Statistically they’ve been very good on both ends of the ice. The Ducks on the other hand have been terrible both offensively and defensively, the third worst team in the West, only ahead of the Sharks and Blackhawks. LA won the first game between these teams 5-2 on the road and I like them to win easily at home again. I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but its pretty much a coin toss to me.
Game Bets
.5u Red Wings ML (-135)
.5u Devils in regulation (-139)
.5u Lightning ML (-105)
.5u Rangers ML (-135)
.5u Rangers/Flyers under 6.5 (-134)
.5u Panthers in regulation (-139)
.5u Golden Knights ML (-102)
1u Avalanche/Maple Leafs over 6.5 (-142)
.5u Oilers ML (-166)
1u Predators in regulation (-140)
1u Kings in regulation (-155)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 438-399-11 (-71.45 units)
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