I went 2-3 on last night’s NHL slate, losing 0.86 units. Not the best as the Red Wings got smoked by the Yotes. Today we have a huge 13 game Saturday slate, let’s bounce back!
I’m keeping my write ups of each game pretty short today.
Sabres vs. Oilers (12:30)
I don’t really love my Sabres to contend much in this game with McDavid and Draisaitl coming to town. I like the Oilers to bounce back here from their loss on Thursday to the Blue Jackets in a pretty terrible team and I’ll bet against my boys with half a unit on the Oilers. I’d lean the under but not enough to bet it.
Devils vs. Hurricanes (12:30)
This Metro Division matchup isn’t great. The Canes are a fantastic team, and the Devils stink. Carolina already won both previous games between these teams at home, both in one goal games. They made a big splash at the deadline, acquiring Jake Guentzel from the Pens. I expect them to complete the season sweep here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d very slightly lean the under, but I’ll just stick with the Hurricanes.
Blue Jackets vs. Predators (12:30)
Pretty big mismatch here in this cross conference game. Although the Blue Jackets have won three of their last four games, they’re still a lousy team. The Preds are on fire lately, and I like them to get the win here on the road. I’ll take Nashville for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Bruins vs. Penguins (3:00)
This isn’t a great matchup. The Bruins are a very good team while the Penguins stink. Pittsburgh did win the first game between these teams in a high scoring 6-5 win in Boston in January. I love the B’s to answer back here at home this afternoon and I’ll take them for half a unit in regulation. I’d lean the over, but don’t see any edge in betting it.
Panthers vs. Flames (4:00)
This is a pretty interesting matchup here. Both of these teams have played fantastic hockey. The Panthers I think are the best team in the East and easily my pick to go to the Cup Finals again, but are coming off a 2-1 loss at home to Philly on Thursday. Calgary won the first game between these teams at home and I like the Panthers to win this one at home. I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’ll just stick with Florida here.
Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
This is a pretty big mismatch talent wise in the Atlantic Division. The Habs blow this season while the Leafs are a pretty solid playoff team. These teams tend to always play close though and Toronto’s been very inconsistent. They won the first game between them 6-5 in a shootout at home in the first week of the season. I really like Toronto to win this one on the road, but I don’t think they’re worth betting on at -210, and I don’t want to limit myself to regulation since both of these teams like going to OT. I’d lean the over too, but I’ll stay off this game entirely.
Lightning vs. Flyers (7:00)
This is a pretty interesting matchup in the East between these two playoff teams. These teams split their first two games in Philly, with the Lightning winning 6-3 and then the Flyers answering back 6-2. Both of these teams have been pretty inconsistent and play completely opposite styles of hockey, with Tampa playing really well offensively, and the the Flyers playing pretty well defensively, but struggling on the opposite end of the ice. I’d like the Bolts win this one at home and the over, but the best play on this game is none at all.
Capitals vs. Blackhawks (7:00)
Pretty bad matchup here. The Caps haven’t been great this year, but they’re far better than the Blackhawks, who are the worst team in the NHL. The Caps won the first game between these teams 4-2 on the road in December and I expect a similar result tonight. They’re not a team I love betting on, but I’ll take the Caps in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Sharks vs. Senators (7:00)
Both of these teams fucking blow, and they both got worse at the trade deadline yesterday. Horrible cross conference matchup here. I’d lean the Sens win here and the over, but no chance I’m betting this shitty game.
Rangers vs. Blues (7:30)
Not the best matchup here in MSG tonight. The Rangers are the far better team in this matchup, but come into tonight’s game off two losses in a row to the Panthers and the Leafs. The Blues have struggled but they did win the first game between these teams 5-2 at home in January. I like the Rags to win this one at home and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under in this one, but not enough to bet it.
Canucks vs. Jets (10:00)
This game’s pretty solid in the West, between two really good playoff teams. They’re both playing well and have been two of the most elite defensive teams in the league. The Jets won the first game between these teams 4-2 last month. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight coming off a 3-0 win in Seattle yesterday (winner for me), and with that I like the Canucks to answer back. I’ll take them for half a unit. I also like the under here and I’ll take the alternate under 6 here for half a unit.
Golden Knights vs. Red Wings (10:00)
Very interesting cross conference matchup and I can’t wait to watch this one tonight. Both of these teams are holding Wild Card spots comfortably in their conferences, but are in slumps right now, coming into tonight on four game losing streaks. My Knights made the biggest move of the deadline yesterday besides maybe Guentzel, acquiring Tomas Hertl with term from the Sharks. HUGE move and with their LTIR moves on Stone and Eichel, I think they’re gonna go back to back and win the Cup. Detroit’s struggling right now, and are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a lousy 4-0 shutout in Arizona yesterday. The Red Wings won the first game between these teams 5-2 at home in January, and with Detroit in the second half of a back to back, I’d expect the Knights get the win here at home today. I just don’t think their worth betting on at -200. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet that either.
Kings vs. Stars (10:30)
Great game to close out the night. Both of these teams in the West are playing great hockey. The Stars won the first game between them dominating in a 5-1 win and in the second half of a back to back tonight after an easy 6-2 win in Anaheim last night, I’d expect this game to be much closer. I feel like this is pretty much a coin flip on both the side and the total, and I’ll lay off it completely.
Game Bets
.5u Oilers ML (-180)
.5u Hurricanes ML (-146)
.5u Predators ML (-160)
.5u Bruins in regulation (-125)
.5u Panthers in regulation (-140)
.5u Capitals in regulation (-140)
.5u Rangers in regulation (-135)
.5u Canucks ML (-142)
.5u Canucks/Jets under 6 (-120)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 471-433-11 (-86.83 units)
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