I stayed off last night’s two lousy NHL games (my leans would’ve went 3-1), but tonight we’re back with a loaded 15 game slate with all but two teams in action before a day off for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Let’s make it three winning nights in a row!
Sabres vs. Wild (7:00)
This should be a pretty solid game in Buffalo tonight. My Sabres return home tonight from sweeping the California road trip off a 4-2 win in San Jose on Saturday, playing our best hockey, coming into tonight on a three game win streak with seven wins in our last nine games. Tonight will be a tough test though, as the Wild have been a very good team this season, excelling on both ends of the ice. Coming off a 4-1 loss to the Jets on Tuesday, they’ve lost their last two games in a row. I think this is a lousy matchup for Buffalo, and it might be a bit of an emotional hedge, but I’ll take the Wild for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Devils vs. Blues (7:00)
This cross conference matchup isn’t great. The Devils have been a very good team this season, leading the Metro Division by a point. They come into tonight on a three game win streak off an easy 5-2 win at home against the Preds on Monday (easy double winner for me). They’ve won ten of their last 13 games and have played great on both ends of the ice. The Blues are coming off a 5-2 win in New York with Jim Montgomery behind the bench as their new head coach on Monday, but St. Louis has struggled on both ends of the ice, especially offensively. I like Jersey to keep the win streak going here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Hurricanes vs. Rangers (7:00)
This should be a really good matchup in the Metro Division between two really solid teams. The Hurricanes are a point behind the Devils to lead the Division and have been playing really well this season. After two losses, they bounce back big on Tuesday with a huge 6-4 win at home against the Stars. This is one of the best teams in the league. I still think the Rangers are also a very good team, but they’re struggling right now, on a three game losing streak after a 5-2 loss at home against the Blues on Tuesday. I like the Canes to win here at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but definitely not going to bet that.
Red Wings vs. Flames (7:30)
This is a quite lousy cross conference matchup that could be a decent game. I don’t think either of these teams are good. The Red Wings are coming off a 4-2 win on Long Island on Monday, just their second win in their last six games. This team hasn’t been great on either end of the ice. I’m not sold on the Flames, but they’re absolutely exceeding expectations for them this season. They had a four game win streak come to an end on Monday with a 4-3 loss in Ottawa, just their second regulation loss in their last ten games. Calgary’s the better team here and should win on the road, but I don’t trust them enough to bet it. I’d lean the under, but the best play on this game is nothing at all, so I’ll stay off it completely.
Lightning vs. Capitals (7:30)
This should be a really fun Eastern Conference matchup between two teams that are both sitting in playoff spots and having good seasons. The Lightning are coming off their biggest win of the year, blowing out Colorado 8-2 on Monday to bounce back from two tough losses in a row. They’ve gone 4-1-1 in their last six games and are playing good hockey. The Caps bounced back from two losses as well with a big 4-1 win in Florida, doing it against the Panthers with Ovechkin still out of the lineup. The Bolts won the first game between these teams 3-0 at home late in October. I’d lean Tampa wins again here with Ovi still out, but I’m not betting this game. Too close of a matchup for me to handicap. Should be fun to watch!
Panthers vs. Maple Leafs (7:30)
Great game here between the top two teams in the Atlantic Division! I think the Panthers are the best team in the East, but come into tonight on a terrible four game losing streak, losing all of those games by multiple goals, coming off a 4-1 loss to the Caps at home on Monday. The Leafs on the other hand have been rolling lately to get to first in the division. They’re on a four game win streak, coming off a 3-2 win in Sunday’s only game against Utah, making me sweat out their regulation win. I’d lean Florida ends their losing streak here at home and flips the script, and I’d lean the under slightly, but there’s no good bet on this game. I’ll lay off it but it should be another one that’s a blast to watch!
Islanders vs. Bruins (7:30)
Not a great game here by any means. The Islanders have sucked this season, and coming off a 4-2 loss at home to the Red Wings on Monday, they’ve picked up just one win in their last five games. The Bruins have been just marginally better with just two wins in their last six games. After winning both of their first two games after firing Jim Montgomery last week, they’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 2-0 shutout loss last night at home against the Canucks. I think the side on this game is a complete toss up, but I do like the under here, not expecting either team to score much, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Penguins vs. Canucks (7:30)
This is a pretty lousy and boring cross conference matchup. The Penguins have been so awful this year that it makes you feel bad that Sidney Crosby wants to finish his career in Pittsburgh. Coming off a 6-1 blowout loss at home by utah, they’re on a three game losing streak with just one win in their last seven games and just four wins in their last 18 games. The Canucks are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 2-0 shutout win in Boston last night. Vancouver won the first game between these teams at home 4-3 earlier this year. Even in the second half of a back to back, I like the Canucks to win here again and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Blue Jackets vs. Canadiens (7:30)
Terrible matchup here. Both of these teams suck. The Blue Jackets are playing better than I thought they would this season. They come into tonight’s game on a three game win streak, impressing me with wins against Carolina, Tampa, and Boston. After a six game losing streak, they’ve since won four of their last five games. The Habs have been pretty much as bad as expected. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at home against Utah last night and they have just three wins in their last twelve games. Montreal dominated the first game between these teams a couple weeks ago with a 5-1 win at home. The Blue Jackets should win this one at home, especially with the Canadiens in the second half of a back to back, but they’re absolutely not worth betting on at -175. I’d also lean the over, but I’m not touching this game.
Predators vs. Flyers (8:00)
Horrible cross conference game since both of these teams blow. The Predators, who are coming off a 5-2 loss in Jersey on Monday, have been easily the biggest disappointment of the season. They’re a pathetic 7-12-3 and have just three wins in their last eleven games. The Flyers aren’t really much better. They’re coming off a 5-4 shootout loss at home against Vegas (winner for me) and have just one win (an OT win against the Blackhawks) in their last four games. I’d slightly lean the Preds win at home here, but no shot am I paying the -170 on Nashville. I’d also lean the under since neither of these teams can score, but I’m not betting on this lousy game.
Blackhawks vs. Stars (8:30)
Huge mismatch here in the Central Division. This is already the third time these teams are meeting this season and the Stars are 2-0 in those first two games, as expected, winning both by two goals with a 4-2 win on October 27th and 3-1 on November 7th, both at home. Dallas has been very good this season, but come into tonight off a 6-4 loss in Carolina on Monday. Meanwhile the Blackhawks are horrible this year, also as expected. Coming off a 3-2 overtime loss in Philly on Saturday afternoon, they have just one win in their last five games. I like the Stars to win this one easily and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Avalanche vs. Golden Knights (10:00)
Great matchup here in the West. The Avalanche started their season slow, dealing with a bunch of injuries but have since come back to life. They did get blown out 8-2 in Tampa on Monday, ending a three game win streak, but they have six wins in their last eight games. The Golden Knights are a very good team, but have been shaky on the road. They come into tonight on a three game road win streak though, coming back to force overtime against the Flyers on Monday and then winning 5-4 in a shootout. Vegas dominated the first game between these teams with an 8-4 win to open the season. With Colorado looking to bounce back at home from Monday’s embarrassment against the Lightning, I’d lean the Avs win tonight at home to even the season series. I don’t like it enough to bet on though. I love the over though, which I’ll take for a unit.
Kings vs. Jets (10:00)
This should be a pretty solid matchup in the West. The Kings are talented but have been inconsistent this season. They’re coming off a 7-2 loss in San Jose on Monday night and have just two wins in their last six games. The Jets have been the best team in the NHL this season. After losing 4-1 in the second half of a back to back in Nashville on Saturday, they bounced back with a big 4-1 win in Minnesota on Monday. Winnipeg’s been elite on both ends of the ice and I expect them to get a win here on the road. I’ll take them for half a unit with the great price on this game as a pick’em. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it at 5.5.
Kraken vs. Ducks (10:00)
Lousy matchup here for the second time in three days as these teams play the second half of a home and home in Seattle tonight. The Kraken won the first game between these teams on Monday 3-2 on the road. They’ve now won six of their last eight games. The Ducks aren’t great, with that loss at home on Monday ending a four game point streak. I like the Kraken to win here again tonight and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I considered the under here as well, but don’t like it enough at 5.5 to bet it.
Sharks vs. Senators (10:30)
Another shitty cross conference game to end the night. The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the NHL, but just ended a three game losing streak with a big 7-2 win at home against the Kings, scoring six unanswered goals, including five in the third period and two from Macklin Celebrini in the span of 2:40 early in the third. The Sens have been pretty lousy too. They just ended a five game losing streak with a 4-3 win at home against the Flames on Monday. I’d expect the Sens to win here on the road, but no shot are they worth the -210 line on this game. I do like the over, since neither of these teams can keep the puck out of the net, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Game Bets
.5u Wild ML (-135)
1u Devils in regulation (-135)
.5u Hurricanes ML (-150)
.5u Islanders/Bruins under 5.5 (-115)
.5u Canucks ML (-115)
1u Stars in regulation (-140)
1u Avalanche/Golden Knights over 6.5 (-120)
.5u Jets ML (-110)
.5u Kraken in regulation (-125)
.5u Senators/Sharks over 6 (-110)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 138-113-4 (-9.31 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 