Winning day for me yesterday, going 7-4 on the NHL to win .91 units (with teams winning in OT instead of regulation to screw me more). I’ll take it. Today we have a pretty big slate for a Sunday, with seven games on the schedule. Let’s win again!
Devils vs. Lightning (1:00)
Both of these Eastern Conference teams cashed in wins for me yesterday. The Devils picked up a 4-3 win against the Habs at home yesterday, their second win in their last five games. They’re on the outside of the Wild Card but not too far back where a couple moves at the deadline could help them a ton as they try to chase down Tampa. The Lightning beat the Islanders 4-2 on Long Island yesterday afternoon to end a three game losing streak. They’re five points ahead of the Devils, holding the second Wild Card spot in the East, a point behind the Red Wings. These teams have played very similar hockey this season with solid offense but struggling defense. Tampa won the first two games between these teams this season, winning 4-3 at home in OT and then 6-3 at home. I think they’re the better team and would lean they win this one for the season sweep on the road, but with both of these teams in the second half of back to backs, I’ll lay off the side. I do like the over quite a bit though, expecting both teams to score, which I’ll take for a unit.
Penguins vs. Flyers (3:30)
The Pennsylvania rivalry’s always a fun one to watch. For the first time in a few years, the Flyers are the clearly better team. They’re 2-1 this season against the Pens, winning 4-3 in a shootout on the road, winning 2-1 in OT at home, and then losing 4-1 at home. The Penguins are probably missing playoffs, as they’re nine points back from Tampa for the second Wild Card spot in the East. They’re coming off a 4-1 win against the Habs on Thursday, just their second win in their last seven games. The Flyers are in the second half of a back to back today, coming off a 2-1 loss to the Rangers (double winner for me) at home yesterday. They’re comfortably in third place in the Metro and have played pretty well lately with a 5-2-1 record in their last eight games. Both of these teams have played very similar styles of hockey this year, playing great defensively but struggling offensively. Although Philly’s the better team this year, I’d slightly lean the Pens tie up the season series with a win at home today, especially with the Flyers in the second half of a back to back, but not enough to bet it. I do like the under though, which I’ll take at 6 for half a unit.
Sabres vs. Hurricanes (6:00)
Not a great matchup in the East here by any means. My Sabres come into today’s game with two wins in a row, just the fourth time we’ve done that all year, coming off a 2-1 win in Columbus on Friday and a 3-2 win in Montreal on Wednesday. We’ve played relatively well lately but this isn’t a good team by any means, struggling especially offensively. The Hurricanes on the other hand have been spectacular on both ends of the ice, comfortably in second place in the Metro. They’re coming off a 2-1 loss in Dallas last night, ending their four game win streak. We always struggle against Carolina and are 0-1-1 this season against them, losing 3-2 in overtime, and then 6-2. The Sabres haven’t won three in a row even once this season, and I fully expect the Canes to bounce back from last night’s loss with a win in Buffalo today. I’ll bet against my boys here and take Carolina for a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Blue Jackets vs. Rangers (6:00)
This is quite the lousy matchup in the Metro, a huge mismatch between the best and worst teams in the East. The Blue Jackets have been awful this season on both ends of the ice. They’re the worst team in the East, coming off a 2-1 loss at home to the Sabres on Friday night. The Rangers on the other hand have been fantastic, leading the Eastern Conference. Coming off a 2-1 win in Philly yesterday, they’re on a fantastic ten game win streak. These teams split their first two games this season, each winning at home. The Jackets pulled off the upset in the first week of the season, winning 5-3 and then the Rangers answered back in November with a 4-3 shootout win at home. I like them to win easily tonight on the road, extending the win streak and I’ll take the Rags for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Blackhawks vs. Red Wings (6:00)
This cross conference matchup’s pretty lousy. The Blackhawks will lift Chris Chelios number up to the United Center rafters tonight in Patrick Kane’s return this season to Chicago. They’re the worst team in the NHL, on a three game losing streak, coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Jets (which completely fucked me when they tied it up with 47 seconds left, since I had Winnipeg in regulation) and they have just one win in their last twelve games. Chicago’s been bad on both ends of the ice. The Red Wings have been playing great hockey lately. They’re in the first Wild Card spot in the East, coming into today’s game in the second half of a back to back after blowing out the Blues 6-1 to start the day, their fourth straight win. Detroit’s rolling right now, with a 14-4-2 record in their last 20 games. Their offense has been great all season, with their defense being inconsistent. The first game between these teams in Detroit was a blowout win for the Red Wings, winning 5-1. I expect a similar result here and I’ll take the Red Wings for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Jets vs. Coyotes (6:00)
Huge mismatch in the Central Division here. The Jets have been fantastic this season and they’re rolling right now. They’ve comfortably in second place in the division, and coming off a 3-2 overtime win in Chicago on Friday night (which screwed me since I limited myself to regulation only), they’ve won five of their last six games. Although the offense for Winnipeg hasn’t been the best, their defense and goaltending has been spectacular. The Coyotes on the other hand are on a huge skid, on an eleven game losing streak, coming off a 6-3 loss to the Leafs on Wednesday, playing brutal hockey on both ends of the ice. The Jets will look to sweep the season series here, having won 5-3 in Arizona, 5-2 at home, and 6-2 on the road. I’ll lock in Winnipeg in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Ducks vs. Predators (8:00)
Not a great game to close out the night, but kind of an interesting matchup here. Both of these teams are in the second half of back to backs tonight. The Ducks have been terrible this season, the third worst team in the league ahead of only San Jose and Chicago. They’ve played poorly on both ends of the ice, coming off a 3-2 shootout loss in LA last night. The Preds haven’t been all that spectacular on either end of the ice, but they’re having a decent season, holding onto the second Wild Card spot in the West. Coming off a 4-2 win in San Jose last night, they’re now on a four game win streak since getting embarrassed at home in their 9-2 loss to the Stars two weeks ago. Statistically Nashville hasn’t been great on either end of the ice. What makes this matchup interesting to me is that the Ducks won both of the first two games between these teams on the road in Smashville, winning 3-2 and then 5-3. I like the Predators to avoid the season sweep on the road, and with both teams in the second half of back to backs, I’ll take Smashville for half a unit.
BONUS PARLAY: I’m going to try hit a home run here today and throwing in a parlay on a bunch of my plays trying to hit big on it. I’ll parlay the over in Devils/Lightning, Hurricanes ML, Rangers ML, Red Wings ML, and Jets ML for a unit.
Game Bets
1u Devils/Lightning over 6.5 (-142)
.5u Penguins/Flyers under 6 (-122)
1u Hurricanes ML (-135)
1u Rangers ML (-177)
1u Red Wings ML (-170)
1u Jets in regulation (-140)
.5u Predators ML (-166)
1u parlay: Devils/Lightning over 6.5/Hurricanes ML/Rangers ML/Red Wings ML/Jets ML (+951)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 445-403-11 (-70.54 units)
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