Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Pretty lousy day for me on the NHL yesterday with the huge slate, going 5-8 to lose 3.17 units. Not what I wanted by any means. Today we got a solid Sunday slate with seven games. Let’s bounce back!
Rangers vs. Islanders (1:00)
The New York City rivalry continues today in a matinee with both of these teams in the second half of back to backs. The Rangers continue to lead the Metro Division, four points ahead of Carolina. Coming off a 7-4 blowout win last night in Pittsburgh, they’re rolling right now with a 15-3-1 record in their last 19 games. The Isles are now tied with the Caps and a point back of Detroit for the second Wild Card spot in the tight race in the East and come into today on a three game losing streak after a 4-3 overtime loss to the Sens at home yesterday. The first game between these teams was outdoors at MetLife with the Rangers coming back from a 4-1 deficit to with 6-5 in overtime. I like them to win again at home today and I’ll take them for half a unit. I think the total is pretty much a coin flip.
Golden Knights vs. Devils (3:30)
This isn’t a great cross conference game here with neither of these teams playing all that well lately. The Golden Knights still hang onto their Wild Card spot in the West, while the Devils have struggled all year and are outside of the playoff picture. The first game between these teams in Jersey needed overtime with a 6-5 Devils win at home. I think Vegas is the better team here and I’d lean they win at home, but I don’t think its worth betting on at -185. I’d also lean the over, but not enough to bet it, so I’ll stay off this game entirely. Could actually end up being a fun one to watch.
Senators vs. Hurricanes (6:00)
Lousy matchup here in the East that I don’t expect to be good by any means as there’s a huge gap in talent between these teams. The Senators, despite being on a three game win streak (all needing at least OT), coming off a 4-3 overtime win on Long Island yesterday afternoon, have been awful this season, at the bottom of the Atlantic Division. The Hurricanes came back from a 3-0 deficit in Toronto to with 5-4 on Jake Guentzel’s shootout goal. The Canes are still my pick out of the Metro to make the Eastern Conference Finals and they’re playing great right now. They won the first two games between these teams easily, winning 5-3 at home and 4-1 on the road. I like them to complete the sweep today and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet its especially considering how terrible the Sens defense is.
Penguins vs. Red Wings (6:00)
Not a great game here in the East. The Penguins, who are coming off a 7-4 loss to the Rangers at home yesterday, have been terrible this season and they have just two wins in their last ten games, against the Blue Jackets and the Sharks. The Red Wings went crashing down and ended a seven game losing streak yesterday afternoon with a 4-1 win at home against my Sabres, to get a point ahead of the Isles and Caps for the second Wild Card spot in the East. Detroit won the first game between these teams 6-3 back in October at home. I think they’re the better team here and I’d lean they win this one at home, but not enough to bet it. I’d also slightly lean the over, but with both of these teams not playing great lately and both in the second half of back to backs, the best move to me here is no play at all. I’ll lay off this game completely.
Blue Jackets vs. Jets (6:00)
Huge mismatch here. The Blue Jackets are in the second half of a back to back, coming off a 4-2 win against the Sharks yesterday that ended their three game losing streak, but they’re still easily the worst team in the East, struggling on both ends of the ice. The Jets though, who trounced the Ducks 6-0 for an easy win on Friday night, have been fantastic this year, two points back from the Avs and Stars for first in the Central. In the first game between these teams this year, the Jets blew out the Jackets 5-0 at home in January. I expect a similar result here. I’ll take Winnipeg in regulation for a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Blackhawks vs. Sharks (6:00)
Horrible matchup here between literally the two worst teams in the NHL, the two first teams to get eliminated from playoff contention and the two teams with the highest odds in the Maclin Celebrini sweepstakes. Both teams are horrendous on both ends of the ice. The first game between these teams needed a shootout to determine a winner in January, with the Blackhawks winning 2-1 at home. I’d slightly lean they win against and the under, but no shot I’m touching this game. Complete garbage.
Blues vs. Ducks (7:00)
This game isn’t a great one to close out tonight’s slate. The Blues have been a mid tier team, who are going to miss the playoffs. Coming off a 3-2 shootout win against Minnesota yesterday, they’re now on a three game win streak. The Ducks, coming off getting shut out twice in a row, are awful, the third worst team in the NHL. They’re on a five game losing streak right now. St. Louis won the first game between these teams 3-1 on the road in November, and I expect another win here for them. I’ll take the Blues in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
.5u Rangers ML (-155)
.5u Hurricanes in regulation (-120)
1u Jets in regulation (-155)
.5u Blues in regulation (-135)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 497-448-11 (-84.56 units)
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A Town's Zone 