Both NHL games I bet went to OT last night and I obviously went 0-2 on them, losing 1.56 units. After just four games last night, huge twelve game slate tonight before just two games tomorrow. Let’s get some wins!
Panthers vs. Sabres (7:00)
This is a pretty big mismatch in the Atlantic despite my Sabres playing well right now. We come into tonight’s game on the first three game win streak of the season, coming off a really fun 3-2 shootout win at home against Carolina on Sunday evening but we’re still a really lousy team this year. On the season our defense hasn’t been awful and UPL’s been fantastic in goal, but our offense has been pathetic, flipping the script entirely from last year’s electric team that struggled on the back end. The Panthers are coming off a 3-2 overtime win against the Caps on Saturday (loss for me since I had them in regulation, the second time in their last three games that’s happened to me), and have been fantastic this year, a point behind the Bruins and Rangers to lead the NHL. They’ve won eleven of their last 13 games, playing fantastic hockey on both ends of the ice. Florida won the first game between these teams easy this season, winning in a 4-0 shutout in Buffalo less than two weeks ago. I fully expect the Panthers to end our win streak here. The moneyline at -225 is too expensive, but let’s see if I can get let down again with them in regulation again for half a unit. Last game I took Sam Reinhart to score against his former team that drafted him second overall and he had the chance to score on the empty net, instead passing it for the assist. I considered it again tonight, but I’ll stay off it and just stick with Florida to get it don in 60 minutes. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Maple Leafs vs. Golden Knights (7:00)
With injuries for Vegas, some of the luster is off this cross conference matchup, but this should still be a pretty solid game. The Leafs are on fire right now. They’re comfortably in a playoff spot in the East, coming into tonight’s game on an impressive seven game win streak after a 4-3 win in Colorado on Saturday. Toronto’s played phenomenally on the offensive end of the ice, but they’ve been inconsistent defensively all season. The Golden Knights are dealing with some big injuries, including Mark Stone now on the LTIR, are now on a three game losing streak with just one win in their last six games. Vegas has played well on both ends of the ice this season. These teams played less than a week ago last Thursday, with the Leafs winning 7-3 on the road in Vegas. I like Toronto to win again here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d definitely lean the over as well, but not enough to bet on it.
Canadiens vs. Coyotes (7:00)
Horrible cross conference matchup here between two lousy teams that are both really struggling. The Habs are now the worst team in the Atlantic Division, coming into tonight’s game on a five game losing streak with just seven wins in their last 20 games, coming off a 4-3 loss in Jersey on Sunday. The Coyotes are on a bad twelve game losing streak, coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Jets (that I lost on since I had them just in regulation) on Sunday and have just four wins in their last 22 games. Both of these teams have struggled on both ends of the ice, with a slight edge to Arizona both offensively and defensively. The first game between these teams in Arizona was close, with the Yotes winning 3-2. I think this game’s a complete coin flip and I’ll stay off it entirely. These teams stink, there’s no good bet here.
Red Wings vs. Capitals (7:00)
Pretty interesting matchup here tonight. The Red Wings are playing great hockey right now, comfortably in the first Wild Card spot in the East. Coming off an electric finish for a 3-2 win on Sunday on Patrick Kane’s overtime game winning breakaway in his return to Chicago on Chris Chelios’ jersey retirement night, Detroit’s on a five game win streak with a 15-4-2 record in their last 21 games. Their defense and goaltending has been shaky at times this season, but their offense is electric. The Caps play the opposite style of hockey and are on the second half of a back to back tonight. They’re on the outside looking in on the Wild Card in the East, but come into tonight’s game on a five game point streak after a pretty big slump, with a three game win streak coming to an end on Saturday with a 3-2 overtime loss in Florida, and then bouncing back last night with a 6-3 win against the Sens. Washington’s really struggled offensively this season, but their defense has been pretty good. I like the Red Wings to win here at home to keep their hot run going, and I’ll take them for half a unit.
Flyers vs. Lightning (7:00)
This should be a solid team between these two playoff teams in the East. The Flyers are having a solid season and are in third place in the Metro Division, but they’ve struggled a bit recently. Coming off a 7-6 loss in their rivalry game in Pittsburgh on Sunday (that I hilariously had the under in), they’ve only picked up one win in their last five games. On the season, Philly’s been fantastic defensively, but their offense has really struggled. Tampa’s played well too, coming into tonight’s game off back to back road wins, beating the Devils 4-1 and the Isles 4-2 and they’re in the second Wild Card spot in the East. The Lightning have played the opposite style of hockey, with a great offense but an inconsistent defense. Tampa won the first game between these teams pretty handily, 6-3 on the road in January. I’d slightly lean the Bolts win on the road again and the over in this game, but not enough to bet either. I’ll stay off this game entirely.
Predators vs. Senators (8:00)
This matchup isn’t great, but it should be a pretty entertaining game tonight. The Predators are rolling the last ten days as they hold the second Wild Card spot in the West. They’re coming home for for tonight’s game on a five game road win streak after a 4-2 win in Anaheim on Sunday. On the season Nashville hasn’t been great on either end of the ice. The Sens are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 6-3 loss in Washington last night, ending a four game point streak. They’ve been terrible on the season, but have played much better lately with a 7-3-1 record in their last eleven games. Ottawa’s offense has been decent this year, but their defense has been completely atrocious. The first game between these teams needed OT, with the Sens winning 4-3 at home at the end of January. With the Senators in the second half of a back to back, I’d lean Smashville keeps their win streak going here at home, and would slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet either. I’ll skip this matchup.
Wild vs. Hurricanes (8:00)
Initially this looks like a huge mismatch in this cross conference game, but it has the potential to actually be pretty fun. The Wild are playing by far their best hockey right now, having gone 7-1-1 in their last nine games, coming off two road wins in a back to back, beating the Oilers 4-2 and then the Kraken 5-2 on Friday and Saturday. On the season Minnesota hasn’t been great on either end of the ice. The Hurricanes have been fantastic this season, but come into tonight’s game off two losses in a row, losing 2-1 at home to the Stars on Saturday and then 3-2 in a shootout in Buffalo. Carolina’s a fantastic team this season, playing great hockey on both ends of the ice, comfortably in second place in the Metro. The Wild won the first game between these teams 5-2 on the road. I like the Canes to answer back here on the road with a win and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Jets vs. Blues (8:00)
I like this Central Division matchup quite a bit from a betting perspective. The Jets are playing awesome hockey this season, in second place in the Central, two points back from Dallas. Although they screwed me in their last two games by needing overtime after blowing leads against the Coyotes and the Blackhawks, but they’re on a three game win streak with just one loss in their last seven games. Winnipeg has the best defense and goaltending in the league, and although their offense isn’t spectacular, it gets the job done. The Blues are struggling right now. Coming off a 6-1 loss in Detroit on Friday, they have just one win in their last four games and fell from the second Wild Card spot in the West. They’ve struggled a bit on both ends of the ice, especially offensively. Winnipeg won both of the first two games between these teams, winning 4-2 at home and then 5-2 on the road. I like them to complete the season sweep here and I’ll take the Jets for half a unit. I’d lean the over but not enough to bet it.
Flames vs. Kings (9:00)
This is a pretty interesting Pacific Division matchup. The Kings are in the second half of a back to back tonight in Alberta, coming off a 4-2 loss in Edmonton last night, but they have played well lately with seven wins in their last ten games. LA sits comfortably in the first Wild Card spot in the West and have played well on both ends of the ice, especially defensively. The Flames are coming off a game in Edmonton as well, winning the Battle of Alberta 6-3 on Saturday night. They’re on a three game win streak, but still o the outside of a Wild Card spot by a few points. They haven’t been great on either end of the ice, but have a slight edge offensively in this matchup. LA won the first game between these teams 5-3 in December. I’d lean they win again, but in the second half of a back to back on the road, I’ll stay off this game. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet that either, so I’m laying off this game.
Avalanche vs. Stars (9:30)
Easily the best game on the slate tonight between two of the top three teams in the Central. Colorado’s in third place in the Division, still very comfortably in a playoff spot, but they’ve struggled lately with just three wins in their last ten games, coming off a 4-3 loss against the Leafs at home on Saturday. The Stars lead the Division, but also come into tonight’s game in a slump. They let me down in overtime last night, losing 3-2 at home to the Islanders and they have just one win in their last six games. On the season both of these teams have played excellent hockey on both ends of the ice. Colorado won both previous games between these teams on the road, winning 6-3 and then 5-4 in overtime. With Dallas in the second half of a back to back, I’d lean the Avs win again at home tonight. I just don’t see a big enough edge to bet it. I do like the over enough to bet though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Canucks vs. Penguins (10:00)
Pretty huge mismatch in this cross conference game here. The Canucks lead the NHL and have been fantastic on both ends of the ice this season. They ended a four game losing streak on Saturday night with an electric finish, beating the Eastern Conference leading Bruins 3-2 in overtime. The Penguins come into tonight’s game off two wins in a row, beating the Flyers 7-6 on Sunday afternoon, but they’ve struggled this season. Although the defense has been good for Pittsburgh, their offense has struggled. Vancouver needed overtime, but won the first game between these teams 4-3 on the road. I like them to win again here and I’ll take them for a unit at home. I’d lean the under but not enough to bet it.
Sharks vs. Devils (10:30)
Shitty cross conference matchup to end the night. The Sharks are awful, one of the two worst teams in the NHL, playing horrible hockey on both ends of the ice. Coming off a 4-2 loss at home to the Preds on Saturday (easy win for me), they’re on a three game losing streak with just one win in their last six games. The Devils are a much better team, still in the Wild Card mix, but they’re not playing great right now either. They have just one win in their last four games (against the Habs), coming off a 4-1 loss at home to the Lightning on Sunday. Although their offense has been good, Jersey’s defense is garbage. The Sharks dominated the first game between these teams, shockingly winning 6-3 on the road in December. I’d fully expect the Devils to answer back with a win on the road, but not enough for me to lay the -260 or limit myself to regulation with how they’ve played. The play I like here is the Devils team total, which I’ll take for half a unit. I’d lean the over on the game, but I’ll just stick to Jersey’s side on it.
Game Bets
.5u Panthers in regulation (-134)
.5u Maple Leafs ML (-166)
.5u Red Wings ML (-165)
.5u Hurricanes ML (-142)
.5u Jets ML (-182)
.5u Avalanche/Stars over 6.5 (-115)
1u Canucks ML (-155)
.5u Devils TT over 3.5 (-138)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 449-409-11 (-78.12 units)
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