I bounced back nicely from Monday with a perfect 3-0 night on the NHL to win 2.5 units yesterday, for my fourth winning day in the last five. Let’s keep winning on tonight’s five game slate!
Maple Leafs vs. Golden Knights (7:30)
Great cross conference matchup here to start off the night. The Leafs, even without Auston Matthews in the lineup, are rolling right now. Coming off a 4-3 overtime win on Saturday against the Oilers, they’ve won five of their last six games and have picked up at least a point in nine of their last eleven. Vegas is still my pick to win the Stanley Cup this season, but they come into tonight off a 5-2 loss at home to the Capitals on Sunday. I think Vegas is the better team here, but with the struggles they’ve had on the road with a 3-3-2 record outside of T-Mobile Arena, I don’t think it’s worth betting the side here. I do like the over though, which I’ll take at 6 for half a unit.
Flyers vs. Hurricanes (7:30)
Although both of these teams have played relatively well lately, this is still a pretty big mismatch in the Metro Division. I still think the Flyers stink, but they’ve won four of their last six games, having a five game point streak come to an end on Monday with a 3-2 loss at home against the Avalanche. The Hurricanes are a very good team though, just a point behind Washington to lead the division. They’ve won three of their last four games, coming off an easy 4-1 win against the Blues on Sunday. The first time these teams played this season in Carolina, the Canes won 6-4 at home. I’d expect another easy win for them on the road tonight and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over here, but not enough to bet it since I don’t see Philly scoring much against the Hurricanes’ elite defense.
Stars vs. Sharks (8:00)
This might be the most expensive line we’ve seen all season, coming in at an astounding -500 on this huge mismatch. The Stars are an elite team on both ends of the ice, but come into tonight off a shocker 4-2 loss to the Ducks at home on Monday, giving me a big loss that ended a three game win streak for Dallas. The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the league, but come into tonight off a 5-4 overtime win in Detroit to end a three game losing streak on Monday. San Jose has surprisingly been hanging in games, mainly against lousy opponents, but they have picked up at least a point in all but three of their last eleven games. They took Dallas to a shootout in the first game these teams played this season, with the Stars getting a 3-2 win at home in the first week of the season. I fully expect an easy win for Dallas tonight at home and I’ll take their puck line for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’ll just stick with the Stars here.
Kraken vs. Predators (10:00)
This is such a boring matchup to me. I don’t think the Kraken are a great team. After a stretch of just one win in eight games, they had a four game win streak after that come to an end on Sunday with a 2-0 loss at home to the Rangers on Sunday (win for me). The Predators have been the most disappointing team in the NHL this season. There were quite high expectations going into the year with their big splashes of added Stamkos and Marchessault, but this team stinks. They’re just 6-10-3 on the season, and ended a three game losing streak on Sunday with a 5-3 win in Vancouver, just their second win in their last eight games. Although I still think the Preds are the more talented team, Seattle’s playing better hockey and there’s value on them at +120 at home, but I’m not betting it. I’d also lean the under, but I’m not touching this game whatsoever. Another lean I have here is the first period over. There’s a trend with teams scoring after they get shut out the previous game, with the 1st period over hitting in 24 of the 35 games that fit that trend, and goal in the first ten minutes following that trend in 26 of 35. In the games that first period did not go over, the second period over hit in nine of those eleven times. Worth noting and likely worth the bet, which I’m going to continue to keep track of.
Kings vs. Sabres (10:30)
Sabres after dark is back as we make our first west coast road trip of the season, out in California to face the Kings. LA’s a pretty solid team, in second place at the top of the Pacific, just a point behind Vegas, but they haven’t played great. They’re coming off a 4-1 win on Saturday against the Red Wings at home, but have just two wins in their last five games. My Sabres are coming off a 5-2 loss in Philly on Saturday in a pretty disappointing game, but they’ve won four of their last six games. The Kings should win this game at home, but I don’t like it enough to bet against my team. I’d lean the over, but I think the best move here is no bets at all. Let’s go Buffalo!
Game Bets
.5u Maple Leafs/Golden Knights over 6 (-118)
1u Hurricanes in regulation (-135)
.5u Stars -1.5 (-175)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 123-100-4 (-9.5 units)
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