I broke completely even last night, going 4-3 on that fun Monday night NHL slate. Tonight we have another eight game slate with a couple huge games to determine the final remaining playoff spot.
Bruins vs. Senators (7:00)
Pretty lousy matchup in the Eastern Conference tonight that is pretty much just for seeding for the Bruins. With a win tonight they lock up first place in the Atlantic Division, but can still get that spot anyway depending on how the Panthers do against the Leafs tonight. Boston’s in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 2-0 shutout loss in DC last night. The Senators are one of the worst teams in the Atlantic and got shut out last night as well, losing 4-0 to the Rangers in MSG, but they haven’t been awful lately. Boston won both previous games between these teams, winning 3-2 in Ottawa in OT in January and then in dominant fashion with a 6-2 win in March. As much as I’d rather have them lose and face the Leafs in the first round and have a Battle of Florida, I don’t see the B’s falling to Ottawa tonight and think they complete the season sweep at home. I’ll take the Bruins in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under slightly, but not enough to bet it.
Canadiens vs. Red Wings (7:00)
These Atlantic Division teams are in the second half of a home and home on a back to back to close their regular seasons with huge implications for the Red Wings. Last night’s game was incredible, as the Red Wings came back from a 4-1 deficit with 4:01 left in the second period to keep their season alive, forcing overtime on Lucas Raymond’s game tying goal with just 1:17 left in regulation and then he scored the game winner in OT. That was the third game between these teams that went to OT this year, with the road team taking the two previous games, with the Habs winning 3-2 in Detroit in November and the Red Wings winning 5-4 in Montreal in December. Detroit has struggled lately, with just eight wins in their last 22 games. They’ll still need help to get into the playoffs, needing a win tonight and a Caps loss OR they need to at least get to overtime and have the Caps lose in regulation. Montreal’s on a three game losing streak with just one win in their last seven games, the worst team in the Atlantic. I like the Red Wings getting their part done tonight on the road and I’ll lay the -192 on them for half a unit along with going right back to their team total like I did last night for half a unit. I also like the over on the game here, which I’ll take for half a unit as well.
Flyers vs. Capitals (7:00)
HUGE game here in the Metro for the final spot left in the playoffs. The Capitals, who currently hold the tiebreaker for everyone left in that race for the final Wild Card spot can make it very easy with the most simple scenario to get in, just win. Washington wins, nothing else matters. They can also get in with an overtime loss and Red Wings and Penguins losses. The Flyers have the hardest path after holding the third spot in the Metro Division for most of the season. They need to win this game and have both the Red Wings and Penguins lose their games in regulation, which takes it all the way down to the sixth tiebreaker. Both of these teams coming into tonight off two wins in a row, but they’ve both struggled lately. The Caps, coming off a 2-0 shutout win against the Bruins last night have three wins in their last four games after a six game losing streak while the Flyers come off a 1-0 shutout win against the Devils on Saturday and a 4-1 win against the Rangers on Thursday after an eight game losing streak. These teams split their first two games, with the Flyers winning 4-3 in a shootout at home in December, and the Caps winning 5-2 in March at home. I’d very slightly lean the Flyers make it difficult and get a win at home tonight with the Caps in the second half of a back to back, with both of these teams likely getting eliminated. I’d also slightly lean the under, but the best play on this game is nothing at all. I’m not touching this one.
Blue Jackets vs. Hurricanes (7:00)
Huge mismatch here in a game that is completely meaningless. The Blue Jackets are the worst team in the Eastern Conference this year and coming off a 6-4 loss in Nashville on Saturday are on a four game losing streak, with just four wins in their last 18 games. The Hurricanes are on fire, but this game means nothing for them as they’re already locked into second place in the Metro with home ice in their matchup against the Islanders set for the first round. Coming off a 4-2 win on Sunday against the Blackhawks, they’re on a five game win streak and one of the hottest teams in the league going into the playoffs. Carolina’s 3-0 against the Jackets, winning 3-2 at home in November, 4-2 on the road in February, and then in a 3-0 shutout a week ago. Carolina’s sitting a ton of guys here and pretty much throwing this game away, but I still like them to get the win here on the road to complete the season sweep, and I’ll take a stab here on half their AHL team for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’m not touching that.
Panthers vs. Maple Leafs (7:30)
This game doesn’t mean much but we could very easily see these teams face each other in the first round next week, but it could still determine the seeding of the Panthers and Bruins. If Boston loses to the Senators in regulation, the Panthers could move into first place and have a Battle of Florida against Tampa instead with a win or an overtime loss to the Leafs or if the Bruins lose in overtime, the Panthers would move to first place win an overtime loss. Florida, coming off a 3-2 overtime win against the Sabres on Saturday have played well lately, on a five game point streak with four wins in their last five games. The Leafs have played well too, with this game being meaningless for them, locked in as the #3 seed in the Atlantic. They come into tonight’s game off two losses in a row after a 5-4 overtime loss at home to the Red Wings on Saturday. Toronto’s 2-1 this season against the Panthers, losing 3-1 on the road in December, winning 2-1 in a shootout in November at home, and then winning 6-4 a few weeks ago. I’d slightly lean Florida wins here tonight to even the season series since they have something to play for, but that also doesn’t really matter much, with them having home ice regardless. I’d also lean the under, but the right play here to me is just staying off this game completely.
Jets vs. Kraken (8:00)
Pretty terrible matchup here in a big mismatch in the West that doesn’t mean a whole lot. The Jets are playing to hold onto second place in the Central and can clinch it to get home ice over the Avs in the first round with a win tonight to make the games for either team not matter on Thursday. Winnipeg’s been on fire lately, coming into tonight’s game on a six game win streak with two shutout wins in a row against their other Central Division playoff opponents, winning 3-0 in Dallas on Thursday and then 7-0 in a blowout in Colorado on Saturday. The Kraken’s season is over, and they come into tonight with three straight losses after a 4-1 loss in St. Louis on Sunday and they have just five wins in their last 18 games. These teams split their first two games in March with the Kraken winning 4-3 in Winnipeg and the Jets answering back with a 3-0 shutout win on the road three days later. I like the Jets to lock up home ice with a win at home tonight and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit.
Golden Knights vs. Blackhawks (10:00)
Horrible mismatch here. The Golden Knights are playing for seeding, a point back from the Kings with a game in hand to determine if they finish in the third spot in the Pacific with a first round matchup against the Oilers, or in the second Wild Card spot with a matchup against the Stars. Coming off a 4-3 overtime win where they erased a 3-0 deficit in the third period and won on Tomas Hertl’s overtime winner, they’ve won their last two games in a row. The Blackhawks’ season has been long over as they’re one of the worst teams in the NHL and they come into tonight’s game on a four game losing streak after a 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes on Sunday. These teams split their first two games back in October, with the Knights winning 5-3 in Chicago and the Blackhawks answering back with a 4-3 win in OT in Vegas. This should be the easiest win on the slate tonight for the Golden Knights. The price obviously reflects that with Vegas at -425. I’ll take the Knights team total over 3.5 and the puck line for a unit each.
Canucks vs. Flames (10:00)
Lousy Pacific Division matchup here that’s pretty much meaningless. The Canucks have home ice in the first round, leading the Oilers by three points coming into tonight and can lock up the top seed in the Pacific with a point tonight, already holding the tiebreaker over Edmonton. It really doesn’t matter much though. They’re playing okay hockey now, coming off a 3-1 win in Edmonton on Saturday. Calgary had their season end about a month ago, so this game means nothing for them. They have played okay lately, with wins against some lousy teams in the West as they’ve won their last two games after a 6-5 comeback win against the Coyotes at home on Sunday. Vancouver’s 2-1 this season against the Flames, losing 5-2 on the road in November, winning 4-3 on the road in December, and then winning 4-2 at home in March. Tonight the Canucks will get their starting goalie Thatcher Demko back, and I like them to get the win on home ice tonight. I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but I’m not touching this game.
Game Bets
.5u Bruins in regulation (-135)
.5u Red Wings ML (-192)
.5u Red Wings TT over 3.5 (-120)
.5u Red Wings/Canadiens over 6.5 (-105)
.5u Hurricanes ML (-162)
.5u Jets in regulation (-135)
1u Golden Knights TT over 3.5 (-162)
1u Golden Knights -1.5 (-155)
.5u Canucks in regulation (-135)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 588-517-12 (-94.03 units)
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