Last night although I crushed the National Championship, I went 0-2 on the two NHL games, losing 1.02 units. No biggie, but probably shouldn’t just stayed off both. After just two games last night, tonight we have a huge 13 game loaded slate. Let’s crush it like we did Sunday!
Bruins vs. Hurricanes (7:00)
Great matchup here between two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins, coming off a 3-2 overtime win against the Panthers on Saturday extended their Atlantic Division lead to five points with their fourth win in a row. The Hurricanes are comfortably in second in the Metro, five points back from the Rangers. After a 3-0 shutout win against the Blue Jackets on Sunday, they come in with four wins in their last five games, with that one loss coming to the Bruins. These teams split their first two games, wing the Canes winning 3-2 in Boston in January and the Bruins answering back with their 4-1 win in Carolina last week. I’d slightly lean the Hurricanes win this one, but its a complete coin flip that I don’t see as worth betting. I do really like the under here though, expecting this to be another low scoring defensive battle. I’ll take the under for half a unit.
Canadiens vs. Flyers (7:00)
This Eastern Conference game is pretty boring, but it is a very important game for the Flyers. Philly fell out of their playoff spot, now a point back from Detroit and Pittsburgh for the second Wild Card spot and two points back from the Isles for third in the Metro. They’re on a downward spiral, coming into tonight’s game on a six game losing streak as they just lost 6-2 in Columbus on Saturday. The Habs have had a terrible season, in last place in the Atlantic. Coming off a 5-2 loss in New York on Sunday, they’re on a three game losing streak. These teams split their first two games with the Flyers winning 3-2 in a shootout at home in January, and then the Canadiens answered back with a 4-1 win two weeks ago at home. I’d expect the Flyers to win this one to stay in their playoff race, but I’m not betting on them with how lousy they’ve played lately. I’d also lean the over, but not enough to bet that either, so I’ll stay off this game entirely.
Red Wings vs. Capitals (7:00)
HUGE matchup between two of the teams right in the race for the second Wild Card spot in the East. The Red Wings are tied with the Penguins for that Wild Card spot in the midst of a bunch of teams in that race. They have two wins in their last three games, coming off a 3-1 win against my Sabres at home on Sunday. The Capitals after going on a really hot run to get themselves into the mix have since lost their last six games in a row, coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at home to the Senators on Sunday (only loss on that slate for me), but they’re still just a point out of that Wild Card spot and two behind the Isles for this in the Metro. These teams split their first two games, with Detroit winning 8-3 at home in February and the Caps answering back with a 4-3 overtime win at home a few weeks ago. I’d lean the Red Wings win this one at home and the over, but not enough to bet this game. I’ll stay off it completely.
Lightning vs. Blue Jackets (7:00)
Horrible mismatching the East that I don’t expect to be even close to a good game by any means. The Lightning have their spot in the playoffs locked up, in the first Wild Card spot in the East. They’ve played great hockey, coming into tonight on an 11-2-1 run after a 4-3 loss in Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Jackets, coming off a 3-0 shutout loss in Carolina on Sunday have been easily the worst team in the East this season, but they have won three of their last five games. These teams split their first two games in Columbus, each winning 4-2. I love Tampa to win here in what I expect to be a blowout, but so do the books with the moneyline all the way up to -365. I’ll take the Bolts puck line for a unit.
Panthers vs. Senators (7:00)
Pretty lousy matchup between the Tkachuk brothers in a huge mismatch in the Atlantic Division. The Panthers have been one of the best teams in the East all season long, in second place in the division. They’ve struggled lately though. Coming into tonight’s game off a 3-2 overtime loss in Boston on Saturday, they have just three wins in their last twelve games. The Senators have been terrible this year, in second last place in the division. They’re coming off a 3-2 overtime win in Washington on Sunday that kept me from sweep the board that night, to end a three game losing streak. Florida’s 3-0 this season against the Sens, shutting them out twice in Ottawa, 5-0 in November and 6-0 last week, along with a 3-2 overtime win at home in February. I expect them to complete the season sweep here and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I like the over as well, but I’ll just stick with the Cats at home.
Devils vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
This should be a pretty fun game, although not the best matchup in the East tonight. The Devils have had a terrible season and although on paper they haven’t been eliminated yet from playoff contention, they’re not chasing all these teams down. No shot. Coming off a 3-2 shootout loss in Nashville on Sunday, they have just one win in their last five games. The Maple Leafs are playing well, in third place in the Atlantic, likely facing the Panthers in the first round. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 3-2 overtime win at home (losing my over) against the Pens last night and have just one loss in their last six games. Despite being the worse team, Jersey won the first game between these teams two weeks ago 6-3 in Toronto. I’d expect the Leafs answer back with a win tonight on the road, but not enough to bet it with them in the second half of a back to back. I do like the over though which I’ll take for half a unit.
Islanders vs. Rangers (7:00)
The Battle of New York City is always a fun rivalry. Both of these teams are in playoff spots and they both come into tonight’s game on good runs. The Rangers lead the President’s Trophy race and have been incredible. Coming off a 5-2 win against the Habs on Sunday, they’re on a three game win streak with eight wins in their last nine games, with just six losses in their last 30 games. The Isles after looking dead at points of the season now find themselves in third place in the Metro in the midst of the huge race for the second Wild Card spot in the East. They’re on a four game win streak after a 2-0 shutout win against the Preds on Saturday at home. The Rags won both previous games between these teams, winning 6-5 outdoors in the Stadium Series in an incredible comeback in OT and then 5-2 at home a few weeks ago. I like them to win again tonight on Long Island as the far better team, and I’ll take them for half a unit on the road. I’d slightly lean the under, but no fucking shot I’m touching that.
Stars vs. Sabres (8:00)
Horrible mismatch for my Sabres down in Dallas. The Stars look like a true and clear cut Stanley Cup contender, playing fantastic hockey. They come into tonight as the leaders of the Western Conference and have just one loss (a game they clearly threw away in Chicago on Saturday) in their last ten games, with a very impressive 5-0 shutout win against the Oilers last Wednesday and a 7-4 win in Colorado (easy winner on the over for me) on Sunday. The Sabres aren’t playing horrible and we’re not technically eliminated for the playoffs yet, but this has been a failure of a season. We’re coming off a 3-1 loss in Detroit on Sunday afternoon where we gave up all three goals in the first 7:37 of the game, but couldn’t solve Alex Lyon as we outshot the Red Wings 38-24. We’ve won four of our last seven, but this year’s over. Too little too late. Dallas won the first game between these teams in Buffalo 2-1 in February and I expect an even easier win for them tonight at home. I’ll take the Stars in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Predators vs. Jets (8:00)
Really good matchup between these two playoff teams in the Central Division. The Preds are in the Wild Card in the West, that they played themselves into with their 18 game point streak, but have since cooled off with just two wins in their last six games, coming off a 3-2 shootout win in Jersey on Sunday. The Jets are in third in the Central, two points back from getting home ice against the Avs in the first round, coming into tonight on a three game win streak after a 4-2 win in Minnesota on Saturday. Nashville is 2-1 this season against the Jets, losing 6-3 on the road in November, then answering back a few weeks later with a 3-2 win at home, followed by a 4-2 win on the road in March. I’d lean the Jets even the season series on the road in Smashville tonight, but not enough to bet this game, so I’ll stay off it.
Avalanche vs. Wild (9:30)
Interesting matchup in the Central. The Avs are in second place in the Division, two points ahead of the Jets but have struggled lately. Coming off a bad 7-4 loss at home against the Stars on Sunday night, they have just two wins in their last seven games. I do still think this team has a very good chance of winning the Cup though. The Wild are missing the playoffs, and although they’re coming off a 4-0 win in Chicago on Sunday have struggled lately too after a hot run, now with just three wins in their last ten games. Colorado’s 3-0 this season against Minnesota, winning 3-2 on the road in November, 2-1 in overtime last month at home, and then 5-2 on the road last week. I like the Avs to complete the season sweep here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’m not betting it.
Ducks vs. Kings (10:00)
This isn’t a great game in California tonight between these two nearby Pacific Division rivals as there’s a huge gap in talent between them. The Kings are in third place in the Pacific, playing for seeding with the Golden Knights. They come into tonight’s game on a three game win streak after a 6-3 win against the Canucks on Saturday. The Ducks meanwhile are one of the worst teams in the NHL this season. They’re coming off a 6-5 shootout loss to the Blues on Sunday and have just two wins in their last 16 games. Pathetic. The Kings won both previous games between these teams, 5-2 on the road in November and then 3-2 in a shootout at home in February. I like LA to win again here and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to even consider it.
Kraken vs. Coyotes (10:00)
Terrible matchup in the West between these two lousy teams who are both eliminated from playoff contention. The Kraken, coming off a 3-1 win in Anaheim on Friday night have just four wins in their last 14 games, but all four of those wins were against the Ducks or Sharks, two of the three worst teams in the league. The Coyotes have had a bad year, but they’re playing pretty decent lately with seven wins in their last eleven games, coming off a 5-2 win in San Jose on Sunday. Both previous games between these teams in Arizona needed overtime with the Yotes winning both, 4-3 in a shootout in November, and 2-1 in OT last month. I’d slightly lean Seattle avoids the season sweep with a win at home tonight and I’d lean the under, but no shot I’m touching this game at all.
Sharks vs. Flames (10:30)
Pretty awful Pacific Division matchup to end tonight’s slate. The Sharks are the worst team in the NHL, with just three wins in their last 24 games, coming off a 5-2 loss in Arizona on Sunday. The Flames are a way better team but they have had a lousy season too, with just one win in their last nine games, coming off a 4-2 loss at home against the Oilers on Saturday. San Jose surprisingly won the first game between these teams 6-3 on the road in February. I’d expect Calgary wins this game on the road tonight but at the same point, I don’t think it’s worth the -220 price. I’ll just stay off this shitty matchup. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it, so I’ll stay off this game entirely.
Game Bets
.5u Hurricanes/Bruins under 5.5 (-112)
1u Lightning -1.5 (-135)
.5u Panthers in regulation (-155)
.5u Maple Leafs/Devils over 6.5 (-110)
.5u Rangers ML (-135)
1u Stars in regulation (-140)
.5u Avalanche in regulation (-130)
.5u Kings in regulation (-175)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 558-499-11 (-95.16 units)
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