Not my best Saturday on the NHL yesterday, going 2-4 to lose 1.75 units. Today we have a completely loaded nine game Sunday slate though, so let’s bounce back and get some wins!
Red Wings vs. Sabres (1:00)
Pretty solid Atlantic Division matchup to start off the day. I think my Sabres, although not technically eliminated from the playoffs yet, will have a tough time chasing down the five teams that are ahead of them for the second Wild Card spot in the East in a crazy race. The Red Wings are one of those teams in that chase as well, a point back from the Pens (crazy its the Penguins now) for that Wild Card spot. Buffalo’s played pretty well lately, coming into tonight with three wins in our last four games after a solid 4-2 win against the Flyers on Friday night. Detroit is struggling right now, coming into tonight’s game with just one win in their last six games after a 4-3 loss at home to the Rangers on Friday night, and just four wins in their last 17 games. The Red Wings have won two of the three previous games between these teams, winning 5-3 in Buffalo in December, losing 7-3 in Buffalo in March, and then answering back with a 4-1 win at home four days later. I’d slightly lean the Sabres win here on the road although I think the Red Wings are the better team, and I’d lean the over, but I’ll stay off this game completely. Let’s Go Buffalo!
Blackhawks vs. Wild (3:30)
Pretty lousy Central Division matchup here, with both of these teams in the second half of back to backs, who are both missing playoffs. The Blackhawks are one of the worst teams in the NHL, but after a shocking 3-2 win to start the day against the Stars yesterday afternoon, they’ve actually won four of their last six games. The Wild are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Jets yesterday, their second loss in a row and after going on a really good stretch, they’ve won just two of their last seven games. Minnesota’s the way better team here and they’ve won both previous games between these teams, 4-1 at home in December and then 2-1 on the road in February. I like them to complete the season sweep on the road today and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it at 5.5.
Hurricanes vs. Blue Jackets (5:00)
Terrible mismatch in the Metro Division here between one of the best teams in the East vs. the worst in the East. The Hurricanes, coming off a 4-2 win at home against the Capitals have three wins in their last four games as they’re VERY comfortably in second place in the Metro Division. The Blue Jackets are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 6-2 win at home against the struggling Flyers, and surprisingly have three wins in their last four games, but they’re still easily the worst team in the Eastern Conference. Carolina won both previous games between these teams, 3-2 at home in November and then 4-2 on the road in February. Especially with Columbus in the second half of a back to back, I LOVE the Hurricanes at home today. But so do the books. The price on this game is ridiculous at -525, but I’ll take the Canes puck line for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Capitals vs. Senators (6:00)
This isn’t a great matchup but I’d anticipate this ends up being a pretty fun game. The Capitals are on a losing run, coming into tonight on a five game losing streak after a 4-2 loss in Carolina on Friday, but they’re still just a point out from the Penguins and Flyers for the second Wild Card in the East. The Senators have been terrible this season, tied with Montreal for last in the Atlantic. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight after a heated 4-3 loss to the Devils at home yesterday to extend their own losing streak to three in a row. These teams split their first two games, both high scoring, with a 6-1 Sens win and a 6-3 Caps win. I like the Caps to get out of their losing streak here and get the win on home ice. I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’ll stay off it.
Sharks vs. Coyotes (6:00)
Pretty awful Western Conference matchup here. Both of these teams have been terrible, but there’s still a pretty significant gap in talent. The Sharks are the worst team in the NHL and they’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 3-2 overtime win at home against the Blues yesterday to complete their season sweep. That was just their third win in their last 23 games though. This team blows. The Coyotes blow too, but they’re a way better team. They shocked me on Friday, scoring six unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the Golden Knights 7-4 and prevent me from sweeping the board on a huge swing. That was their sixth win in their last ten games. The Yotes won both previous games between these teams, winning a 1-0 shutout at home in December and then 5-2 on the road later in December. I like them to finish off the season sweep here and I’ll take Arizona in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Devils vs. Predators (7:00)
This isn’t the best cross conference matchup but I’d anticipate it ends up being a pretty fun game.The Devils are a bit outside of the Wild Card race in the crowded Metro Division, more than likely missing playoffs since I don’t see them running down all these teams ahead of them. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 4-3 win in a heated game in Ottawa last night to end a three game losing streak. The Predators are on the second half of a back to back as well. They’re comfortably in a Wild Card spot in the West, but after going on an 18 game point streak, they’ve only won one of their last five games, coming off a 2-0 shutout loss to the Islanders on Long Island last night. Jersey won the first game between these teams 4-2 in Smashville in February. I’d lean the Preds answer back with a win on the road tonight, and I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet either. I’ll lay off this game completely.
Rangers vs. Canadiens (7:00)
Terrible Eastern Conference matchup in this game for a huge mismatch. The Rangers lead the President’s Trophy race and have been the hottest team in the NHL. Coming off a 4-3 win in Detroit on Friday night, they’ve won seven of their last eight games and have just six losses in their last 29. The Habs have been terrible this year. Coming off a 4-2 loss to the Leafs at home last night (winner for me), they’re tied with the Sens for last place in the Atlantic. These teams split their first two games, with Montreal winning 4-3 at home in a shootout in January, and the Rags dominating at home in a 7-4 win in February. I full expect another Rangers win here with the Habs in the second half of a back to back, and I’ll take New York on the puck line and their team total over 3.5 for half a unit each. I’d lean the over, but I’ll just stick with the Rangers here.
Ducks vs. Blues (8:00)
Not a great game in the West in this one. The Ducks have been brutal, one of the worst teams in the NHL. Coming off a 3-1 loss at home to the Kraken on Friday, they have just one win in their last seven games and two in their last 15. The Blues are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off getting swept on the season by the worst team in the NHL, losing 3-2 in overtime to the Sharks last night. St. Louis has been playing solid hockey lately with eight wins in their last 13 games, but its too late at this point for them to have a shot at making the playoffs. The Blues won both prior games between these teams, 3-1 on the road in November, and 4-2 at home last month. I like them to bounce back from last night’s loss and complete the season sweep, and I will take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but I’m not touching that in this matchup.
Avalanche vs. Stars (10:00)
Great game between the top two teams in the Central Division to close out the night. The Avs, coming off a 6-2 loss in Edmonton on Friday night (winner on my over), are three points back from the Stars, playing for seeding in the first round, and two points ahead of the Jets. Dallas leads the Western Conference and they’re in the second half of a back to back, coming off a 3-2 loss in Chicago yesterday afternoon, quite the shocker to end their eight game win streak. The Avalanche have won all three previous games between these teams, winning 6-3 on the road in December, 5-4 in overtime on the road in January, and then in a 5-1 win at home in February. I’d slightly lean Colorado finishes the season sweep here, especially with the Stars on the road and in the second half of a back to back, but no shot I’m betting the side of this one. I like the over though, expecting both teams to score, which I’ll take for a unit.
Game Bets
.5u Wild in regulation (-135)
.5u Hurricanes -1.5 (-184)
.5u Capitals ML (-140)
.5u Coyotes in regulation (-125)
.5u Rangers -1.5 (-142)
.5u Rangers TT over 3.5 (-175)
.5u Blues ML (-148)
.5u Avalanche/Stars over 6 (-122)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 551-496-11 (-96.94 units)
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