Last night the Caps let me down late and the Knights lost in overtime for a losing night on the NHL, going 1-2-1 to lose 2.17 units. Big twelve game slate today to bounce back, let’s win!
Sabres vs. Flames (1:00)
Interesting game between two teams I don’t think are great. My Sabres are on fire their last two games, coming off a 6-1 win against the Rangers on Thursday where all twelve forwards recorded a point for the rest time in 30 years for Buffalo. Second huge win in a row after a 5-1 dominant win against the Sens. I’m not sold on the Flames and I’ll flip my script here and take the Sabres for half a unit at home. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Jets vs. Stars (3:00)
This should be a spectacular matchup between the two best teams in the Central. I think the side’s a complete toss up and will stay off it. I’d lean the under, but both teams are playing solid defensively and I don’t see an edge in betting it.
Panthers vs. Flyers (6:00)
Huge mismatch here. The Panthers are the best team in the East and have been spectacular, on a six game win streak, coming off a 6-2 blowout win against the Preds on Thursday night. The Flyers are coming off a surprising 2-1 shootout win in Tampa on Thursday, but this team stinks. This should be an easy win for Florida at home and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it with Philly not scoring.
Bruins vs. Senators (7:00)
Both of these teams have been inconsistent this season. The Bruins have seemed to have gotten better recently with three wins in their last four games, coming off a 4-3 overtime win against the Flames on Thursday. The Sens after their hot start have since tanked down, losing three of their last four, coming off a 4-2 loss at home to the Isles on Thursday. The Bruins should win this one tonight at home, but I think it’s tough to trust them at -150. I’d also lean the under, but I think the best play here is none at all. I’ll lay off this game completely.
Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens (7:00)
This Canadian Atlantic Division matchup isn’t great. The Leafs are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 3-1 win in the Hall of Fame game at home against the Red Wings last night, extending their win streak to three in a row. Montreal’s been horrible this season, coming into tonight on a five game losing streak with just two wins in their last eleven games. The Leafs, who I still don’t think are all that great of a team, are the far better team here, and even in the second half of a back to back, I like them to win tonight. I’ll take the Leafs in regulation for half a unit.
Red Wings vs. Rangers (7:00)
This is another Atlantic Division matchup that isn’t too appealing. The Rangers have been very good this season but are coming off an embarrassing 6-1 loss at home against my Sabres on Thursday, where Buffalo chased Shesterkin out of the net with five goals on 12 shots. The Red Wings are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 3-1 loss in Toronto last night. I like the Rags to bounce back here with a win on the road tonight and I’ll take them for a unit.
Blues vs. Capitals (7:00)
Interesting matchup here. The Blues have been a bit inconsistent this season and haven’t been great statistically on either end of the ice. They’re 7-7, coming off a 4-2 loss at home to Utah on Thursday after two big wins in a row against Tampa and Toronto. The Caps have been fantastic, far exceeding my expectations at 9-4 on the season. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 4-2 loss in a rivalry matchup against the Penguins last night. I like the Caps to bounce back here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d very slightly lean the under, but I’m not touching it.
Islanders vs. Devils (7:30)
This Metro Division matchup should be pretty fun. The Islanders, who I’m not sold on and started the season lousy, have since been playing pretty solid hockey. Coming off a 4-2 win in Ottawa on Thursday (loss for me), they’ve won three of their last four games. The Devils have been very good recently as well. They’ve won four of their last five games after a dominant 5-3 win over Montreal on Thursday. These teams played a couple weeks ago in Jersey with the Isles winning 4-3 in overtime. I like the Devils to answer back with a win here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I also like the over, which I’ll take at 6 for half a unit.
Predators vs. Utah HC (8:00)
Pretty fun matchup here in a bad game between two struggling teams. I had huge expectations going into the season for the Predators, thinking their additions of Stammer and Marchessault would give them a nice boost to get past the first round. They’ve been horrible though, with just a 4-9-1 record and coming into tonight on a three game losing streak with just one win in their last six games, coming off getting blown out 6-2 in Florida on Thursday. Utah started off hot, but have been lousy with just two wins in their last eight games off a 4-2 win in St. Louis. I do think Nashville’s the better team here and should win at home, but no shot I’m betting it. I’d also lean the over, but neither team’s really lighting the lamp, so I’ll just stay off this game entirely.
Avalanche vs. Hurricanes (9:00)
I would’ve thought going into the season that this would be a circled game for a spectacular matchup but with the way both these teams have started the year, I’m not expecting it to be great. The Avalanche have been pretty terrible. Despite playing decent in Winnipeg on Thursday night, but weren’t able to solve Hellebuyck, getting shut 1-0 despite peppering him with 35 shots. Colorado’s won just one of their last five games, really struggling defensively. The Hurricanes on the other hand, coming off blowing out Pittsburgh on Thursday, are on an eight game win streak as they lead the East. This team’s playing awesome on both ends of the ice. I like Carolina to win here and I’ll take them for half a unit on the road and their team total over 3.5 for half a unit, along with the over on the game for half a unit, which I’m liking a lot in this matchup.
Kings vs. Blue Jackets (9:00)
Not a great cross conference game here. The Kings have played very good lately, second in the Pacific with an 8-4-3 record. They’ve been a little bit inconsistent, coming off a 4-2 loss at home to the Canucks. The Blue Jackets started the season better than I expected them to, being a pain in the ass for teams to play against. They’re not great though and come into tonight on a three game losing streak, somehow losing 2-1 in overtime to the Sharks on Tuesday night in a game where they generated 50 shots on goal against the worst team in the league. I like LA to win here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Canucks vs. Oilers (10:00)
This should be a great game. The Canucks have been playing good hockey lately, on a three game win streak after a 4-2 win in LA on Thursday. The Oilers have been pretty disappointing. They’re coming off a 4-2 loss to Vegas on Wednesday (winner for me) with McDavid back in the lineup. I think the side on this one is a complete toss up that I’m not touching. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it, with nothing backing that up statistically. I’ll end my hockey night early.
Game Bets
.5u Sabres ML (-142)
1u Panthers in regulation (-160)
.5u Maple Leafs in regulation (-130)
1u Rangers ML (-162)
.5u Capitals ML (-114)
.5u Devils ML (-135)
.5u Devils/Islanders over 6 (-115)
.5u Hurricanes ML (-125)
.5u Hurricanes TT over 3.5 (+100)
.5u Hurricanes/Avalanche over 6.5 (-115)
.5u Kings in regulation (-122)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 92-74-4 (-4.81 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 