Slight losing night for me on yesterday’s three game NHL slate, going 1-1-1 to lose 1.05 units. Let’s bounce back and crush tonight’s big ten game slate with more key games in the playoff race!
Sabres vs. Capitals (7:00)
A few weeks ago we thought this game could be huge for both of these teams in the playoff race, but although it’s still very important for the Caps, it no longer matters for Buffalo. My Sabres didn’t play too bad in their 3-2 loss in Dallas on Tuesday night, but were eliminated from playoff contention for the 13th straight season. So fucking depressing and sad. The Capitals just ended a six game losing streak on Tuesday night with a 2-1 win in a very key game in Detroit. That win moved the Caps ahead of Detroit for the second Wild Card spot in the East, a point ahead of of the Pens, and Red Wings, two ahead of the Flyers, and two back from the Isles for third in the Metro. These teams split their first two games this season, with the Caps winning 4-3 in overtime at home in November, and the Sabres answering back with a 6-2 win last week for Jeff Skinner’s 1,000th game. I’d lean Washington wins this one to keep their foot on the gas in the playoff race, but I feel like it could be the most Buffalo thing ever for us to go on a run this last week of the season and then end the year just a couple points out from a playoff spot after we missed it by a point last season. I’ll stay off betting this one. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet on that either, with both of these teams trending under.
Maple Leafs vs. Devils (7:00)
Fun game for the second half of a home and home in the East for a matchup that isn’t great. The Leafs are the far better team here and just won 5-2 in Jersey on Tuesday night in the second half of a back to back, answering back from the 6-3 Devils win in Toronto a few weeks ago. That loss on Tuesday ended the Devils season, officially eliminating them from playoff contention, and they shut down their best player, Jack Hughes for the rest of the season. The Maple Leafs are playing well, in third place in the Atlantic, and coming into tonight on a three game win streak with just one loss in their last seven games. The Devils stink, and have just one win in their last six games. I like the Leafs to win this one at home, and I’ll take their team total over 3.5 for half a unit. I cashed in on the over in their game on Tuesday, and I’m right back on it again tonight for half a unit as well.
Lightning vs. Senators (7:00)
This Atlantic Division matchup is terrible, a huge mismatch. The Lightning have their tickets punched to the playoffs and they’re playing great hockey. Coming off a 5-2 win against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday night (easy win for me on the puck line), they’re on a 12-2-1 run in their last 15 games. The Senators have been awful, one of the worst teams in the division, and are coming off a 2-0 shutout on the road against the Panthers on Tuesday, picking up just one win in their last five games. Surprisingly, Ottawa is 2-1 against the Bolts this year, winning 5-2 at home in the first week of the season, losing 6-4 at home in November, and then winning 4-2 in Tampa in February. I like the Bolts to win this game to even the season series. I’m going with three plays on this game. The first two are on Tampa, taking them in regulation and their team total over 3.5 for half a unit each. I like the over on the game as well, which I’ll also take for half a unit.
Panthers vs. Blue Jackets (7:00)
Huge mismatch for this lousy Eastern Conference game. Florida’s been struggling a bit lately with just four wins in their last 13 games, but they’re still one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, comfortably in second place in the Atlantic Division. They’ve picked up at least a point in their last three games including two shutout wins against the Senators. The Blue Jackets meanwhile are one of the worst teams in the East, and coming off a 5-2 loss in Tampa on Tuesday they have just four wins in their last 16 games. The Panthers won both previous games between these teams, winning 5-4 in overtime at home in November and then 5-2 on the road in December. I fully expect them to complete the season sweep at home tonight. The moneyline here is way too expensive at -410, but I’ll take the Panthers puck line for half a unit. I’d lean the over on the game, but not enough to bet it.
Rangers vs. Flyers (7:00)
With the way these two Metro Division nearby rivals have been playing lately, this isn’t a great matchup. The Rangers are playing great hockey. They come into tonight’s game as the President’s Trophy leaders and although they had a three game win streak end with a 4-2 loss to the Isles on Long Island on Tuesday, they have eight wins in their last ten games, and have just seven losses in their last 31 games. The Flyers went from being in third place in the Metro all season but have since dropped big time and are in danger of missing the playoffs. They just got blown out 9-3 in Montreal on Tuesday for their seventh straight loss. Philly’s now two points out of the Wild Card spot and four back from the Isles for the third spot in the Metro. The Rags are 3-0 against the Flyers this year, winning 3-1 on the road in November, 2-1 on the road in February, and then 6-5 in overtime at home a few weeks ago. I like them to complete the season sweep here tonight and I’ll take New York in regulation and their team total over 3.5 for half a unit each. I considered the over on this game, but I think the best play is just keeping it on the Rangers side.
Penguins vs. Red Wings (7:00)
This is such a huge game in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race. These two teams are currently tied a point back from the Capitals for the second Wild Card spot in the East. The Penguins pretty much looked dead all season, but they’re right back in it now and playing solid hockey. They have a nine game point streak going right now, having a four game win streak come to an end with a 3-2 overtime loss in Toronto on Monday night. The Red Wings are still hanging on but they’ve been terrible for the last month and a half. Coming off a 2-1 loss to the Caps in a critical game on Tuesday, they have just five wins in their last 19 games. These teams split their first two games, both winning 6-3 at home. With the way these teams are playing right now, I like the Pens to win this one at home and I’ll take Pittsburgh for half a unit. I expect both teams to score and I’ll take the over at 6 for half a unit as well.
Islanders vs. Canadiens (7:30)
This Eastern Conference matchup stinks and I don’t expect it to be a fun game by any means. The Isles have played themselves into the third spot in the Metro, with a two point lead over the Capitals in the midst of a crazy race for the two remaining spots in the East. Coming off a huge 4-2 win in MSG against the Rags on Tuesday, they’re on a five game win streak with seven wins in their last nine games after a bad stretch. The Habs are horrible, one of the worst teams in the East. They’re coming off a 9-3 win at home against the Flyers on Tuesday, ending a three game losing streak. Montreal won both previous games between these teams at home, winning 5-3 in December and 4-3 in January. I like the Isles to stay hot and avoid the season sweep. I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d definitely lean the over, which doesn’t really make sense to me at just 5.5 but I’m not betting it.
Stars vs. Jets (8:00)
Great matchup here between two of the top three teams in the Central Division, both going into the playoffs in great form. The Stars, coming off a 3-2 win at home that eliminated my Sabres from playoff contention on Tuesday, lead the Western Conference and are playing awesome hockey, with just one loss in their last eleven games. The Jets are very comfortably in third in the division, two points back from the Avs. Coming off a 4-3 overtime win in Nashville on Tuesday, they’re on a four game win streak. The Stars are 3-0 against the Jets this year, winning 3-2 and 2-0 on the road in November, and 4-1 at home in February. I’d slightly lean the Jets avoid the season sweep here on the road, although I do think Dallas is the better team, so I will stay off the side. All three previous games between these teams hit the under, but I’d lean this one goes over. I’ll stay off this one entirely, which is easily the best game on tonight’s slate.
Kraken vs. Sharks (10:00)
Terrible Pacific Division matchup in this game with both of these teams already eliminated from the playoffs, but is still a huge mismatch. The Kraken have had a terrible season but have played well lately with five wins in their last seven games, all against shitty teams like San Jose. The Sharks are the worst team in the NHL, and coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Flames at home on Tuesday, they have just three wins in their last 25 games. Seattle’s 2-1 against the Sharks, winning in a 7-1 blowout at home in November, losing in a 2-0 shutout at home in January, and then winning 4-2 in San Jose ten days ago. I like the Kraken to win again tonight at home and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under but not enough to bet it.
Kings vs. Flames (10:30)
This Pacific Division matchup isn’t the best. The Kings are playing well right now, a point ahead of the Golden Knights for third in the division. They’re coming off a 3-1 loss in Anaheim on Tuesday that ended their three game winning streak. Calgary’s season is over. They’re coming off a 3-2 overtime win in San Jose on Tuesday that ended a three game losing streak with just their second win in their last ten games. Despite LA being the the better team here this year, the Flames are 2-1 in their previous games, losing 5-3 in LA in December, and winning 4-2 at home twice, in February and March. I like the Kings to even up the season series at home here tonight and I considered laying the -192, but I think I’d rather reduce some juice and take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
.5u Maple Leafs TT over 3.5 (-135)
.5u Maple Leafs/Devils over 6.5 (-110)
.5u Lightning in regulation (-140)
.5u Lightning TT over 3.5 (-140)
.5u Lightning/Senators over 6.5 (-115)
.5u Panthers -1.5 (-148)
.5u Rangers in regulation (-135)
.5u Rangers TT over 3.5 (-118)
.5u Penguins ML (-155)
.5u Penguins/Red Wings over 6 (-122)
.5u Islanders in regulation (-130)
.5u Kraken in regulation (-150)
.5u Kings in regulation (-125)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 565-502-12 (-93.77 units)
Please follow me:
Instagram: @atownszone
Twitter: @atownszone
If you like the site and my work, share it with your friends!
… and tell Dave Portnoy to hire me at Barstool…
A Town's Zone 