Last night I split my two NHL plays, losing 0.28 units. No big deal. Tonight we have a huge twelve game slate, let’s crush it and keep this solid week rolling with a nice bounce back night!
Sabres vs. Islanders (7:00)
This is actually a pretty interesting matchup for my Sabres tonight as we’re actually just five points back from the Isles and Red Wings for a Wild Card spot. I don’t see it happening with a tough schedule down the stretch, but it is pretty fun that we actually have a shot and having three games, coming off the big 7-3 win against Detroit on Tuesday, in a row against those two teams that we’re chasing down. We split our first two games against the Isles, both back in October, losing 3-2 on Long Island and answering back with a 3-1 win at home. We come in on two wins in a row, but the Isles are playing really well right now. They chased down Detroit for the second Wild Card spot and just had a six game win streak come to an end on Monday night with a 3-0 shutout loss in the second half of a back to back on the road in LA. I’d lean the Isles win this one, but not enough to bet against my boys in this key game. I’d slightly lean the under, but I’ll lay off this game entirely.
Canadiens vs. Bruins (7:00)
Huge mismatch here in the Atlantic Division. The Bruins, who are coming off a surprising 5-1 loss at home to the Blues on Monday have been very good this season. The Habs on the other hand, although coming off a 3-0 win at home against the Jackets on Tuesday, fucking blow. The B’s are 2-0-1 this season against Montreal, losing 3-2 in OT on the road, 5-2 at home, and 9-4 at home. I fully expect Boston to win here easily at home. I’ll take the Bruins in regulation for half a unit.
Red Wings vs. Coyotes (7:00)
Quite the lousy cross conference matchup here. The Red Wings are in a pretty huge struggle right now. They’ve fallen out of their Wild Card spot in the East, tied in points now with the Islanders who have the tiebreaker over them. They’re coming off a 7-3 blowout loss to the Sabres on Tuesday, another team chasing them, and they’re now on a six game losing streak. The Coyotes blow too though, with just three wins in their last 21 games. Arizona won the first game between these teams last week with a 4-0 shutout at home. I’d lean the Red Wings get right with a win here, but they need to show signs of life before I bet them again. I’d lean the over, but the best move for me is staying off this game completely.
Lightning vs. Rangers (7:00)
Pretty interesting matchup here in the East between these two playoff teams. The Rangers lead the Metro (although I do think the Canes end up winning the division), and come into tonight’s game off a 7-0 blowout win against the Flyers on Saturday. Meanwhile the Lightning are on an three game win streak in their second Wild Card spot, coming off an impressive 1-0 shutout win in Carolina on Tuesday. The Rags won the first two games between these teams this year, winning 5-1 on the road in Tampa, and then 3-1 at home. I’d slightly lean the Rangers complete the season sweep on the road here, and would lean the under, but neither enough to bet on. Should be a great game, I’ll stay off betting it.
Penguins vs. Sharks (7:00)
Terrible cross conference matchup. This is a pretty big mismatch even though both of these teams suck. The Penguins, who are on a four game losing streak, coming off a 2-1 overtime loss in Ottawa on Tuesday, have been terrible this year. The Sharks have been brutal all season, the second worst team in the league behind the Blackhawks. Pittsburgh put on a clinic in the first game between these teams in November where they won in a 10-2 blowout on the road. I’d expect another win tonight, and although the moneyline at -320 is way too expensive, I’ll take the Pens in regulation for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, which is a bit of a stretch considering there was twelve goals in the first game, but I’ll stay off the total here.
Hurricanes vs. Panthers (7:00)
FANTASTIC matchup here in what I fully expect to be a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals this season, just as it was last year. These teams split their first two games with a 5-2 Florida win at home and a 1-0 Hurricanes shutout at home to answer back. Both of these teams have been great this season and they’re playing really good hockey right now. Although I expect the Panthers to win the East and go to the Stanley Cup Finals again, I’d lean the Canes win this one at home tonight, but not enough to bet it. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet that either. Sit back and just enjoy this game!
Blue Jackets vs. Senators (7:00)
Horrible matchup between the two worst teams in the East. Both of these teams blow, both this season and recently. They split their first two games with a 4-2 Jackets win at home, and a 6-3 Sens win at home. I do think Ottawa’s the better team here and will get the win on the road here and I’d lean the over in this matchup, but no shot I’m betting this lousy game. This isn’t a game that you find value on in the slightest. I’ll stay off this one completely, who the hell cares.
Flyers vs. Maple Leafs (7:30)
Solid game here in Philly tonight between the third team in both Eastern Conference divisions, both of which I’m not sold on. The first game between these teams was a good, close game, with the Leafs winning 4-3 in overtime at home in February. Both of these teams have played relatively well lately, but in completely opposite styles of hockey. The Leafs have a great offense and an inconsistent defense while the Flyers have a lousy offense but a good defense. I’d lean the Leafs win on the road and the under in this game but to me this one’s pretty much a toss up, I’ll lay off this one completely.
Stars vs. Devils (8:00)
Not the best cross conference matchup down in Dallas here tonight. The Stars are playing really well recently, tied with the Avs for first in points in the Central Division. They had a five game win streak come to an end on Tuesday as they blew a 3-0 lead halfway through the first period to lose 4-3 to the Panthers. The Devils on the other hand blow. Although they got two goalies at the deadline to address their biggest issue, its too little too late, and that didn’t do much for them. Dallas won the first game between these teams easily, 6-2 on the road, and I full expect another similar win tonight for them at home. I will go with two plays here tonight with half a unit each on the Stars moneyline and their team total over 3.5. I’d lean the over on the game, but I’ll just stick with the Dallas side with both of those play.
Wild vs. Ducks (8:00)
This matchup in the West isn’t all that great. I don’t see them making the playoffs, but they’re rolling right now. Coming off a 4-1 win at home against the Coyotes, they’re on a five game point streak, having won four games in that span. The Ducks are easily the third worst team in the NHL, coming off just getting blown out 7-2 to the worst team in the league in Chicago on Tuesday. Anaheim did win the first game between these teams 3-2 in Minnesota in January, and I love the Wild to answer back here with a win at home. I’ll take Minnesota in regulation for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Flames vs. Golden Knights (9:00)
Fun game here in the Central Division tonight. The Golden Knights after a pretty big slump made some huge moves at the deadline and have won their last two games in a row, pretty much playing for seeding with the Kings for either the Wild Card or the third spot in the Pacific. They came back from a 4-2 deficit in the third period to the Kraken on Tuesday, with Marchessault scoring the tying goal of the game with 17 seconds left in regulation, and Jack Eichel winning it in OT on his third point of the night. The Flames are in a slump right now. After giving up five unanswered goals in the second period to lose 6-2 to the Avs at home on Tuesday night (winner for me), they’re now on a three game losing streak, getting blown out by three playoff teams. The first two games between these teams needed OT with the Flames winning 2-1 at home, and the Knights winning 5-4 at home, before Calgary got a 3-1 win on the road in the third game. Vegas is the better team here and I’d lean they win, but this is more expensive than this one’s worth with the Knights at -170 on the road. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Kraken vs. Capitals (10:00)
Kind of a boring game to close out the night with this cross conference matchup. Both of these teams haven’t been great this season, especially offensively, and they both come into tonight’s game off two losses. Seattle won the first game between these teams 4-1 on the road in January. I’d lean the Kraken win again here at home as the better team on both offense, and especially defense, but not enough to bet either. I’ll lay off this game completely.
Game Bets
.5u Bruins in regulation (-145)
.5u Penguins in regulation (-180)
.5u Stars ML (-176)
.5u Stars TT over 3.5 (-116)
.5u Wild in regulation (-160)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 488-437-11 (-81.21 units)
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