Last night was my fifth winning night in the last six days on the NHL, going 2-1 to win .9 units. Let’s stay hot and keep rolling on tonight’s solid ten game slate!
Bruins vs. Utah HC (7:00)
The Bruins surprised the hockey world a bit on Tuesday afternoon as they fired head coach Jim Montgomery. It’s not all that shocking though as the B’s have struggled this season, coming into tonight’s game on a three game losing streak after getting blown out 5-1 in an embarrassing game against the Blue Jackets at home on Monday night. Utah’s struggling right now too, with just three wins in their last twelve games, coming off a 6-2 blowout loss at home Monday to the Caps. Utah got a 2-1 overtime win in the first game between these teams last month. With the interim coach factor, I like the Bruins to win here and I’ll take them for half a unit at home.
Senators vs. Golden Knights (7:00)
Not the best cross conference matchup here. The Senators haven’t been great lately, coming into tonight on a three game losing streak after a 5-2 loss at home against the Oilers on Tuesday night. They’ve been a bit inconsistent this year. The Golden Knights have struggled their last three games, on a three game losing streak on their own, and in the second half of a back to back tonight after getting shut out 3-0 in Toronto last night. The Knights are my pick to win the Cup still but haven’t been good on the road where they’re just 3-4-2. Vegas won the first game between these teams 6-4 at home in October and I’d lean they bounce back with a win here tonight, but I’m not betting them, as this feels like a tough spot. I do like the over in this game though, which I’ll take at the alternate line of 6 for half a unit. With Vegas coming off a shutout last night, I do like a first period trend here, with the 1P over hitting in 24 of 36 games following a team being shut out and goal in the first ten minutes in this same scenarios hitting in 26 of 36. I’ll jump on that first period over 1.5 for half a unit, especially since I already like the over in this game anyway.
Red Wings vs. Islanders (7:00)
What a boring matchup in the East. Both of these teams have been lousy lately. The Red Wings, who are coming off a 5-4 overtime loss in San Jose on Monday, are on a three game losing streak and have just one win in their last six games. The Isles aren’t really playing any better, with just one win in their last five, coming off a 2-1 shootout loss in Calgary on Tuesday. They have picked up at least a point in all but one of their last seven games. I’d lean the Islanders win here on the road and would slightly lean the under, but I’m not touching this game whatsoever.
Devils vs. Hurricanes (7:00)
This Metro Division matchup is spectacular, between two of the best teams in the division. Carolina won the first game between these teams 4-2 at home in the first week of the season. The Devils have been very good lately, with seven wins in their last ten games, but are coming off a 4-0 shutout loss in Tampa on Saturday. The Canes are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 4-1 win in Philly last night where they score three times in the third period for their third straight win. I think Carolina’s the better team here, but with them on the second half of a back to back on the road, I’ll lay off it. The total is a complete toss up, so I’m not betting this matchup, but it should be a very fun game to watch. I considered jumping on the first period over trend on this one too since the Devils are coming off getting shut out, but with how elite Carolina is defensively, I’ll lay off it here.
Capitals vs. Avalanche (7:00)
This cross conference matchup should be a lot of fun. Washington’s been spectacular this season with a 13-4-1 record, and they come into tonight on a very good three game win streak on the road out West, with 5-2 wins in Colorado and Vegas, and a 6-2 win in Utah on Monday. The Caps will be without Ovechkin though, as this year’s league leader in scoring and the greatest goal scorer of all time is out week to week now after sustaining a lower body injury in the third period of their game against Utah. The Avs, who started the season quite slow, have since seemed to find something recently, with four wins in their last five games, coming off a 3-2 win in Philly on Monday. The Capitals won the first game between these teams on the road last week, with a 5-2 win and I’d lean they win again here, even without Ovi, but I don’t like it enough to bet on. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Blue Jackets vs. Lightning (7:00)
Lousy mismatch in the East here. The Blue Jackets started the season over-exceeding expectations, as a pain in the ass for teams to play against. Although they’re coming off a 5-1 win in Boston on Monday, they’re back to reality, with just two wins in their last nine games. The Lightning have been a pretty solid team, on a three game win streak after coming all the way back to beat the Penguins 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday night, a big win for me on Brayden Point’s game winner. I like Tampa to win here on the road and I’ll take the Bolts for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Blues vs. Sharks (8:00)
Brutal matchup here as both of these teams stink. The Blues, after a decent start to the season, have been awful lately, with just one win in their last seven games, coming off a 4-2 loss at home to the Wild on Tuesday (win for me). The Sharks are even worse of a team but are playing better as of late. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 5-2 loss in Dallas that was a lot closer than that score shows as they made me sweat out my Stars puck line until Dallas scored twice on the empty net to close it out. Although the Sharks have won just once in their last five games, they’ve picked up at least a point in eight of their last twelve games. I’d expect the Blues to win here, but even against the San Jose in the second half of a back to back, I can’t trust them to bet it. I’d also lean the over, but the best play on this shitty game is nothing at all.
Blackhawks vs. Panthers (8:30)
This is a terrible cross conference mismatch. The Blackhawks have the worst record in the NHL, coming into tonight on a three game losing streak with just one win in their last six games. They just lost Tuesday 3-2 at home against the other worst team in the league, the Ducks. The Panthers are one of the best teams in the East, but have just one win in their last four games, coming off a 6-3 loss in Winnipeg on Tuesday for the second half of a home and home. I love them to bounce back here and will take them in regulation for 1.5 units. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Flames vs. Rangers (9:00)
I feel like this is a pretty boring game. I’m not sold on the Flames, but they’re playing relatively well lately, with three wins in their last four games and picking up at least a point in six of their last seven, coming off a 2-1 shootout win at home against the Isles on Tuesday. The Rangers have been very good this season, and are on a three game win streak coming into tonight off a 4-3 win in Vancouver on Tuesday night. I like the Rags to win here on the road and I’ll take New York for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but I’m not betting it.
Oilers vs. Wild (9:00)
Really fun Western Conference matchup to close out the night. The Oilers have played much better lately than they did to start the season with a 4-1-1 record in their last six games, bouncing back from a 3-0 shutout loss in Montreal on Monday night with a 5-2 win in Ottawa on Tuesday. The Wild I think are a very good team. They beat the Blues 4-2 on Tuesday night (nice winner for me) and are cruising this season with a 12-3-3 record as they’ve played well on both ends of the ice. I’d lean the Wild win here on the road and the under, but not enough to bet this nightcap. Should be a lot of fun to watch though.
Game Bets
.5u Bruins ML (-166)
.5u Senators/Golden Knights over 6 (-135)
.5u 1P Senators/Golden Knights over 1.5 (-135)
.5u Avalanche/Capitals over 6.5 (-105)
1u Lightning ML (-175)
1.5u Panthers in regulation (-140)
.5u Rangers ML (-155)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 125-101-4 (-8.6 units)
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