We’ve finally arrived to the last day of the NHL regular season before the playoffs start on Saturday! Solid night for me last night, going 4-3 to win 1.38 units. Tonight we finish the season with six meaningless games besides determining the opponents of the two Pacific Division series.
This wasn’t a good regular season for me gambling wise, actually the worst that I’ve ever had…BY FAR.
That being said, this regular season was incredible. The playoff race in the East coming down to Game 82 with four teams in it for one spot in their final game, four complete horses that set records in the Hart race of MacKinnon, Kucherov, McDavid, and Matthews, plenty of on and off ice drama, Matt Rempe, just incredible. Capped off with Arizona saying good bye to the Yotes last night in winning fashion.
The playoffs are always fantastic but with all of the stories of this season, I cannot fucking wait until Saturday. It’s going to be incredible. And from a gambling perspective, I’m feeling pretty good about it even though I don’t really have a pick on who’s even getting to the Cup Finals. Preview blogs of each series coming in the next few days before each one begin.
Time to get into the greatest postseason there is as these 16 teams battle for the most prized trophy in all of sports, the Stanley Cup.
Wild vs. Kraken (7:00)
This game is completely meaningless, with both of these Western Conference teams eliminated from the playoffs a while back. The Wild are playing okay lately, coming into tonight’s final game of the season off two wins in California in a row, beating the Kings 3-1 on Monday night. The Kraken, coming off a 4-3 loss in Winnipeg on Tuesday are on a four game losing streak. Minnesota won both previous games between these teams this year on the road in Seattle, winning 3-0 in a shutout in December and 5-2 in February. I like the Wild to complete the season sweep and end the year on a three game win streak and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but I’m not touching it.
Jets vs. Canucks (8:00)
Both of these Western Conference teams are in the playoffs, with the Jets set to host the Avs in the first round and the Canucks hosting the Predators. Neither team have anything to play for tonight in a completely meaningless game and I’d expect both will rest a lot of their players tonight, giving us essentially an AHL game here. Both of these teams head into the playoffs in great form with the Jets on a seven game win streak and the Canucks on a 3-0-1 run. These teams split their first two games in Vancouver with the Jets winning 4-2 on the road in February and the Canucks answering with a 5-0 shutout win at home in March. I’d very slightly lean the the Jets at home and the over in this matchup but there’s no value in betting this with the circumstances of neither team caring about this game. I’ll stay off it completely.
Flames vs. Sharks (9:00)
Pretty terrible Pacific Division matchup to close out the season for these two teams. They’ve both had awful seasons. The Sharks were the worst team in the league this year and they’re the favorites to win the lottery for Maclin Celebrini. Coming off getting shit pumped 9-2 in Edmonton on Monday night, they have just four wins in their last 28 games. The Flames has a pretty bad year too, but are a much better team here. Coming off a 4-1 loss in Vancouver on Tuesday, they’ve won three of their last five games. These teams split their first two games, each winning on the road, a 6-3 San Jose win in February and then a 3-2 Flames win in OT nine days ago. I like Calgary to finish their year with a win at home and I’ll take the Flames in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over but not enough to bet it. I can’t wait till after tonight’s over and I don’t have to look at shitty matchups like this until October.
Avalanche vs. Oilers (9:30)
Like the Canucks vs. Jets game, this one is completely meaningless too, with both of these teams in the playoffs. The Avs are set to play the Jets as the #3 seed in the Central while the Oilers await if they’ll host the Golden Knights or the Kings based off the results of their games tonight, likely having Vegas come to town. Colorado hasn’t been great lately to head into the playoffs. Coming off a 4-3 overtime loss in Vegas on Sunday, they have just three wins in their last ten games. The Oilers are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 5-2 loss in Arizona last night in the final Coyotes game ever (double winner for me) and have just one win in their last four games. These teams split their first two games in Edmonton, with the Avs winning 3-2 in OT on the road in March and the Oilers answering back with a 6-2 win at home on April 5th. I’d lean the Avs win at home with the Oilers in the second half of a back to back, but I’m not betting it with these lineups and goalies tonight. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Golden Knights vs. Ducks (10:00)
Horrible Pacific Division matchup here and Vegas can decide their opponent for the first round, either facing the Oilers with a win or the Stars with a loss tonight at home in the regular season finale at the Fortress. After a 3-1 win against the Blackhawks on Tuesday night, the Knights are on a three game win streak right now, playing solid hockey. The Ducks have been awful all year, one of the three worst teams in the NHL. Coming off a 3-1 loss in LA on Saturday, they have just three wins in their last 19 games. Surprisingly, despite the huge gap in talent between these teams, the Ducks are actually 2-1 against Vegas this season, losing 4-1 in the first week of the season in Vegas, then winning 4-2 at home in November, and 5-2 in December. I like the Knights to win this one easily and lock in that matchup in Edmonton and I’ll take them on the puck line for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Kings vs. Blackhawks (10:30)
Another terrible Western Conference matchup that could end up being completely meaningless if Vegas wins tonight. If Vegas loses, the Kings need a point in this game to move up to the #3 seed in the Pacific and face the Oilers rather than the Stars in the first round. I really don’t think that matters a whole lot though. LA’s played decent lately. Although they’re coming off a 3-1 loss at home to the Wild on Monday night, they’ve won six of their last eight games. They get a cakewalk of a game tonight against one of the two lottery teams in the Blackhawks, one of the worst teams in the NHL. Chicago comes into tonight on a five game losing streak after a 3-1 loss in Vegas on Tuesday night. The Kings dominated both previous games between these teams in March, winning in a 5-0 shutout on the road and a 6-2 victory at home. They should complete the season sweep tonight even if this game means nothing. I’ll take the LA puck line for a unit. I’d lean the under slightly, but I’m not touching the total.
Game Bets
.5u Wild ML (-148)
.5u Flames in regulation (-165)
.5u Avalanche/Oilers over 6.5 (-120)
1u Golden Knights -1.5 (-148)
1u Kings -1.5 (-135)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
Record: 598-523-12 (-92.26 units)
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