I took a big loss on Carolina last night, ending up with a brutal night on the NHL, going 1-4 to lose 3.54 units. Big ten game slate tonight. Let’s find a way to crush some wins here.
Senators vs. Flyers (7:00)
This Eastern Conference game isn’t great to start off tonight’s slate. The Senators are coming off two wins in a row on the road, shutting out the Leafs 3-0 in the Battle of Ontario on Tuesday after beating the Bruins 3-2 in overtime on Saturday. Statistically they’ve been pretty solid on both ends of the ice. The Flyers have gone to three straight shootouts, coming off a 4-3 win against the Sharks on Monday. This team isn’t good no matter how you look at it. I like Ottawa to win here at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Lightning vs. Jets (7:00)
This should be a really fun cross conference matchup down in Tampa tonight. The Lightning had a pretty good start to their season, but they’re on a lousy skid now in their first game back after having a week off. Coming into tonight’s game on a four game losing streak after a 2-1 shootout loss at home against the Flyers last Thursday. The Jets have been spectacular, off to the best start in NHL history with a 15-1 record, coming off an impressive 6-3 win against the Rangers in MSG on Tuesday night. This team’s been incredible on both ends of the ice. I like the Jets to keep winning here and can’t stay off them. I’ll take Winnipeg for half a unit at pretty much a pick em on the road. I’d lean the under, but with two very good offenses, I can’t bet that.
Panthers vs. Devils (7:00)
These teams just played each other two days ago as the Panthers didn’t show up for me, giving me a double loser in their 4-1 loss. That ended Florida’s impressive seven game win streak. I still think the Panthers are the best team in the East though and expect them or Carolina to be in the Cup Finals out of the Eastern Conference. The Devils have been very solid this year too. Tuesday was Jersey’s fourth win in their last five games. I’m going right back to the same plays I had on this game on Tuesday, expecting the Panthers to bounce back tonight with a win on home ice. I’ll take Florida for half a unit and I’m back on the over for half a unit as well.
Rangers vs. Sharks (7:00)
Real lousy cross conference matchup here. The Rangers are a very good team, but are coming into tonight’s game off a 6-3 loss at home against the Jets on Tuesday. They have done a good job of bouncing back from losses though this season, not losing twice in a row yet. They have an easy matchup at home tonight against the Sharks, who are one of the worst teams in the league. They’re coming off a 4-3 shootout loss in Philly on Monday, but have played better than expected lately, with a 5-2-1 record in their last eight games. The price on this game is nuts (although it makes sense) at -400. Even the regulation line is too expensive at over -200, but I’ll take the Rags puck line for a unit.
Sabres vs. Blues (7:30)
This isn’t a great matchup as neither of these teams are very good, but it should be a fun, pretty evenly matched game. My Sabres seemed like they found something for a bit, going on a nice three game win streak, but that seemed to collapse big time defensively on Monday afternoon, losing 7-5 to one of the worst teams in the league at home against the Canadiens. The goaltending and defense was brutal, although the offense did get five goals on the board. The Blues started off the season hot, but they’ve struggled lately, with just two wins in their last eight games, coming into tonight on a three game losing streak after a 3-2 loss at home against the Bruins on Tuesday. I’d lean my Sabres bounce back here and get a win at home, and I’d slightly lean the over, but I’m not betting this game at all. Let’s go Buffalo!
Stars vs. Bruins (8:00)
Interesting cross conference game here. The Stars are a very good team, playing really solid hockey on both ends of the ice. After a bit of a rough stretch, where they lost twice to the Panthers in Finland and then in Winnipeg, they bounced back big time in Pittsburgh on Monday with a 7-1 beatdown of a win. The Bruins haven’t been all that great in their 8-7-2 start to the season, struggling quite a bit offensively. The B’s have been playing better as of late, with a 4-1-1 record in their last six games, coming off a 3-2 win in St. Louis on Tuesday. I think Dallas is the better team in this one and I like the Stars to win it at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I really considered betting my first under of the season on this one, but I’m not doing it.
Wild vs. Canadiens (8:00)
Horrendous mismatch for this cross conference game. The Wild have been off to an absolutely fantastic start to their season. They’re coming off just their second loss in their last seven games, losing a shocker in overtime, 2-1 in Chicago on Sunday. This team’s been lethal though on both ends of the ice and I love this spot for them to bounce back. The Habs have been awful to start the year, on both ends of the ice, especially defensively. They ended a lousy six game losing streak with a 7-5 win in Buffalo on Monday afternoon, beating my Sabres with the key part of the game with two goals by Nick Suzuki in the final 45 seconds of the second period. I love Minnesota here and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit.
Oilers vs. Predators (9:00)
I had really high expectations for both of these teams, but they’ve both been pretty disappointing in their starts to the season. This is already their third and final matchup of the season, with the Preds looking to avoid the season sweep after Edmonton won 4-2 and 5-1 on the road in October in those first two games. The Oilers are coming off two wins in a row after their 4-3 overtime win against the Isles on Tuesday. The Predators have still continued to struggle, with only one win in their last five games, coming off a 3-2 overtime loss in Colorado on Monday night. I’d slightly lean the Oilers complete the season sweep here, and I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet either. I’ll stay off this game completely.
Canucks vs. Islanders (10:00)
Pretty boring cross conference matchup in this one. The Canucks are a pretty solid team again this season, with four wins in their last five games, coming off a 3-1 win against the Flames on Tuesday night. The Isles are on a four game point streak after two overtime losses to the Devils and Oilers, but have just three wins in their last nine games. I like Vancouver to win here at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I like the over too, which I’ll take on the alternate line of 5.5 for half a unit as well.
Kraken vs. Blackhawks (10:00)
Terrible matchup to end tonight’s slate. Both of these teams suck. The Kraken have won their last two games in a row, coming off a 5-2 win against Columbus on Tuesday night after beating Vegas 4-3 in overtime on Friday after a stretch of just one win in the span of eight games. The Blackhawks stink too, but have three wins in their last five games, coming off a shocker as they beat the Wild 2-1 in overtime on Sunday night. Seattle’s the better team here and should win at home, but I’m not touching this lousy game.
Game Bets
.5u Senators ML (-175)
.5u Jets ML (-108)
.5u Panthers ML (-142)
.5u Panthers/Devils over 6 (-115)
1u Rangers -1.5 (-148)
.5u Stars ML (-175)
1u Wild in regulation (-155)
.5u Canucks ML (-175)
.5u Canucks/Islanders over 5.5 (-140)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 106-87-4 (-9.43 units)
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