I started the NHL playoffs perfectly last night, going 2-0 to win 2.5 units. Solid start. Today we have four games staggered through the day as more series begin. I don’t have my series previews done yet on the later games, so I’m splitting this into two blogs today.
Panthers vs. Lightning (12:30)
Fantastic matchup in the Atlantic Division as the Battle of Florida kicks off today at 12:30 with the defending Eastern Conference Champs and the #1 seed in the Atlantic, Florida Panthers facing their in-state rivals, the 1st Wild Card seeded Lightning. As I broke down in depth in my series preview blog, I expect the Panthers to win this series in five or six games, as they’re so much better of a team defensively this season. I’ll lay the -180 on them to win the series for 3 units. Expecting them to win the series, I’ll take them to win Game 1 at home today for a unit, along with half a unit on the puck line. I like their team total as well, and I’ll take that for a unit too.
Rangers vs. Capitals (3:00)
As I broke down in depth in my blog previewing this series, I’m anticipating this to be a very quick series with a lousy matchup between the President’s Trophy winning Rangers against the second Wild Card Washington Capitals in a huge first round mismatch in the Metro Division. I expect this series to be over very quickly with the Rangers winning in four or five games. I think the Caps probably get one win at home against their divisional rival, but it wouldn’t shock me if the Rangers sweep this series. The price on this series is insane at -450 for the Rags. I’ll lay the -190 on the Rangers to win it in six games or less for 2.5 units, and like I did for the Canes series, I’ll add another unit on them to win it in 5 games with a half unit on them to sweep. Obviously I like the Rangers to win Game 1 today at home and I’ll take them in regulation for 1.5 units. I’d expect the games in this series to trend under. In the four regular season games between these teams, three of them stayed under the 5.5 (with the other one getting to 6 goals in a 5-1 blowout). Rangers games this season trended over, with the over going 42-35-5, while Caps games stayed under, with the under going 43-34-5. I expect the Rangers defense to completely shut down the Caps pathetic offense and even in big wins, these games should stay under the total. In Game 1 today I’ll take the under for half a unit.
Game Bets
1u Panthers ML (-170)
.5u Panthers -1.5 (+162)
1u Panthers TT over 3.5 (+115)
1.5u Rangers in regulation (-135)
.5u Rangers/Capitals under 5.5 (-120)
Series Bets
4u Hurricanes in six games or less (-155)
1u Hurricanes in five games (+300)
.5u Hurricanes in four games (+540)
3u Bruins/Maple Leafs over 5.5 games (-188)
3u Panthers (-180)
2.5u Rangers in six games or less (-190)
1u Rangers in five games (+250)
.5u Rangers in four games (+400)
Futures
4u Vegas Golden Knights – Stanley Cup Champions (+1000)
3u Carolina Hurricanes – Stanley Cup Champions (+650)
Regular Season Record: 599-527-12 (-95.22 units)
Round 1 Record: 2-0 (+2.5 units)
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A Town's Zone 