Great bounce back for me last night on the NHL with a perfect 4-0 night, led by the Jets to win 4.64 units. Today we have a gigantic 15 game slate today with almost every team in action, let’s crush it again!
Flyers vs. Blackhawks (1:00)
Terrible game to start off the day. Both of these teams stink. After a nice run of a three game win streak and five game point streak, the Flyers are back to reality now, coming off a 3-2 loss at home to the Avs on Monday and a 4-1 loss to Carolina on Wednesday. The Blackhawks shocked me with a huge loss for me on Thursday as they beat the Panthers 3-1 to end a three game losing streak. I’d very slightly lean the Flyers and the under in this game, but there’s not a chance I’m betting this one. I’ll be completely locked into Ohio State vs. Indiana during this entire game.
Flames vs. Wild (4:00)
I don’t think this matchup is all that great, but it should be a pretty fun game. The Flames come into today on a three game win streak, coming off a 3-2 win against the Rangers at home on Thursday night where they outshot the Rags 49-29 and dominated early. Still not sold on them. The Wild, coming off a 5-3 win in Edmonton on Thursday, have been very good all season with a 13-3-3 record. I like Minnesota to win here on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I like the under, but not enough to bet it.
Kings vs. Kraken (4:00)
This is an interesting Pacific Division game with the way that these teams have played lately. The Kings are on a lousy stretch with just one win in their last four games, coming off a 1-0 shutout loss at home against my Sabres on Wednesday night. The Kraken struggled to start the season, but they’re playing much better as of late, with five wins in their last six games, coming off a 3-0 shutout win at home against the Preds on Wednesday. I feel like LA’s the more talented team here and should win at home and I’d lean the under, but I don’t like anything on this game enough to bet it. I’m not touching this one.
Panthers vs. Avalanche (6:00)
This cross conference game should be a lot of fun. I think the Panthers are the best team in the East, but they’re struggling right now with just one win in their last five games, coming off a shocking 3-1 loss in Chicago on Thursday (huge loss for me). The Avs, who started their season lousy have gotten healthier and much better lately. They’ve won five of their last six games. I still think Florida’s the better team here and they should win at home in a pretty good spot to bounce back from that embarrassment in Chicago, but I don’t like it enough to bet on them with how these teams come into tonight. I’d also lean the over, but the best play on this game is none at all.
Lightning vs. Stars (7:00)
This should be a really fun cross conference matchup between two really good teams, both playing good hockey right now. The Lightning collapsed big time on Thursday night as they blew a 3-0 first period lead, eventually losing 7-6 in overtime in Columbus. That ended a three game win streak for the Bolts, but kept a five game point streak rolling. The Stars, who made me sweat out the end of Wednesday 5-2 win against the Sharks to hit their puck line (with two empty netters), have been very good all season, with four wins in their last five games. I’d lean Dallas on the road and the over in this one, but I’m not feeling strong enough on either of those leans to bet this game. Should be a solid one to watch!
Canadiens vs. Golden Knights (7:00)
Both of these teams are playing good hockey lately, but I don’t find this to be that interesting of a matchup by any means. The Habs were awful to start the season but have since won three of their last four games, coming off a pretty surprising 3-0 shutout win at home against the Oilers on Tuesday. The Golden Knights bounced back from getting shut out by the Leafs with a 3-2 win in Ottawa on Tuesday night. Vegas is still a Cup contender but they’ve been sub par on the road, where they’re 4-4-2. I like the Knights to win here though, and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Senators vs. Canucks (7:00)
This Canadian cross conference matchup isn’t great. The Senators are on a four game losing streak coming into tonight off a 3-2 loss at home to the Golden Knights on Thursday night. They’ve been inconsistent on both ends of the ice all season. The Canucks I think are slightly better, but have just one win in their last four games after a 4-3 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday. I’d lean Vancouver wins here on the road, but I don’t trust them enough to bet them. I do like the over here though, expecting both teams to score, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Red Wings vs. Bruins (7:00)
On paper this isn’t a great game, but it is an interesting matchup to me. The Red Wings ended a three game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Islanders at home on Thursday. The Bruins after firing Jim Montgomery in a bit of a surprise move on Tuesday afternoon bounced back from a three game losing streak of their own with a 1-0 shutout win against Utah on Thursday at home. Both of these teams have been pretty lousy on both ends of the ice. I’d lean the Bruins win on the road and the under, but not enough to bet either.
Penguins vs. Utah HC (7:00)
Such a lousy matchup as both of these teams have been terrible. The Penguins blow and even in a game that had Sidney Crosby get into a fight last night, they still lost 4-1 at home against the Jets (huge triple winner for me). They’ve picked up just one win in their last six games. Utah’s not any better. They’re coming off getting shut out 1-0 in Boston for their third straight loss on Thursday night. With the Pens in the second half of a back to back, I’d very slightly lean Utah, but not a shot I’m touching this shitty game.
Capitals vs. Devils (7:00)
This should be a fantastic game tonight in the Metro Division, although it would’ve been way more fun if Ovechkin wasn’t injured. In their first game without him on Thursday, the Caps lost 2-1 at home to the Avalanche to end a three game win streak and five game point streak. Washington’s been very good all season and they’ve far exceeded my expectations. The Devils have been really solid as well. Coming off a 4-2 win against Carolina at home on Thursday to bounce back from last Saturday’s 4-0 shutout loss in Tampa, they’ve won three of their last four games. This is the third game of the season already between these teams, who split the first two games. The Devils opened the season with a 5-3 win in DC and the Caps answered back with a 6-5 overtime win in Jersey. I’d slightly lean the Devils win here on the road with Ovi not in the lineup, but I’m definitely not betting it. I do like the over a lot here though, which I’ll take for a unit.
Blue Jackets vs. Hurricanes (7:00)
Huge mismatch here in the Metro Division. The Blue Jackets started the season exceeding expectations, then crashed down to reality of being a shitty team, but they’ve since won three of their last four games. They came all the way back from a 3-0 first period deficit on Thursday, beating the Lightning 7-6 at home in a shocker. I still don’t think they’re good in the slightest though, and they have a very tough test tonight. The Hurricanes are a fantastic force of a team. They come into tonight off a 4-2 loss in Jersey on Thursday in the second half of a back to back, ending their three game win streak. I love the Canes to bounce back here with a win and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Predators vs. Jets (7:00)
Not a great game here in the Central. The Jets are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off cashing my biggest plays of the year for a triple winner in a 4-1 win in Pittsburgh last night. Winnipeg’s the best team in the league so far this year, with an incredibly impressive 17-3 record. On the other hand, the Predators have been by far the biggest disappointment of the season with just a 6-11-3 record. They’re coming off a 3-0 shutout loss in Seattle on Wednesday, their second time getting shut out in their last three games, and they’ve won just two of their last nine games. This team stinks. Even in the second half of a back to back on the road, I like Winnipeg here and I’ll take the Jets for half a unit as a rare dog. I’d lean the under, but I’m not betting it.
Islanders vs. Blues (7:30)
Not an interesting cross conference matchup here in the slightest. The first game between these teams a little over a month ago was very boring, a double shutout with St. Louis getting a 1-0 overtime win at home. Both of these teams stink in my opinion. The Islanders after seeming to figure something out for a little bit have since dropped their last three games in a row, coming off a 2-1 loss in Detroit on Thursday night to drop to 7-8-5. The Blues are coming off a 3-2 shootout win against the Sharks on Thursday, just their second win in their last eight games. Both of the offenses in this game have been pathetic all season. With the better defense and goaltending I’d give the Isles and edge on home ice tonight, but I’m not betting them at -165. I like the under, but at 5.5 I don’t think that’s worth betting. I’ll lay off this game and won’t care about the result of it in the slightest.
Sharks vs. Sabres (8:00)
Boring matchup here for my Sabres to end this California road trip with Joe Thornton Night as Jumbo Joe’s number 19 goes up to the rafters of the Shark Tank. Last night Buffalo came all the way back from a 2-0 deficit, scoring twice in the last minute and a half of the second period to beat the Ducks 3-2 in overtime. We’ve got something figured out lately, as we’ve now won six of our last eight games. The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the league, and coming off a 3-2 shootout loss in St. Louis on Thursday they’ve won just one of their last six games. I’d lean Buffalo completes the California sweep of this road trip tonight, even in the second half of a back to back, but I don’t trust them enough to bet it. I’d also lean the over, but I don’t feel enough of an edge to bet it, so I’ll lay off this game completely. Let’s Go Buffalo!
Oilers vs. Rangers (10:00)
The only late game tonight’s a really solid one between two good cross conference teams. The Oilers have had their struggles this season as they’re right around .500 with just a win in their last four games, coming off a 5-3 loss at home to the Wild on Thursday night. The Rangers have had a good season so far with a 12-5-1 record. They’re coming off a 3-2 loss in Calgary where they got dominated early on Thursday, ending a three game win streak. I’d lean the Rangers are the better team here and win on the road, but not enough to bet it. The total’s a complete toss up to me, so I’ll end my night early and lay off this one.
Game Bets
.5u Wild ML (-142)
.5u Golden Knights ML (-162)
.5u Senators/Canucks over 6 (-108)
1u Devils/Capitals over 6 (-115)
1u Hurricanes in regulation (-150)
.5u Jets ML (+105)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 130-107-4 (-9.96 units)
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