Really nice day for me on the NHL (and I even forgot to bet one of my picks), going 7-3 to win 2.07 units. Today we have another huge twelve game slate, let’s build on those wins and crush it again!
Rangers vs. Canadiens (1:00)
Kind of a lousy game to start off the day. The Rangers I still think are a good team but they’re on a brutal losing streak, losing five in a row, coming off a 3-1 loss in Philly last night. The Habs stink but they’ve gone 4-2-1 in their last seven games, coming off a 4-3 overtime win in Columbus on Wednesday. New York blew out Montreal in the first game between these teams this season, winning 7-2 on the road. I like the Rags to get right here and get the win at home, even in the second half of a back to back. I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes (4:00)
Second half of a back to back home and home between the two best teams in the East today. Yesterday in the first matchup of the year between these contenders, the Panthers won 6-3 on the road in Carolina with a big three goal third period. I’d very slightly lean the Hurricanes answer back here, but not enough to bet it. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit, expecting both of these elite offenses to light the lamp.
Lightning vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
This should be a pretty solid game between two playoff teams in the Atlantic. The Leafs won the first game between these teams 5-2 at home in October. Tampa’s in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 3-2 overtime win in Nashville yesterday (double winner for me). They’ve been a good team, but a bit inconsistent recently. The Leafs had a four game win streak come to an end on Wednesday with a 5-1 blowout loss in Florida, just their second loss in their last nine games. I’d very slightly lean Toronto here on the road with Tampa in the second half of a back to back, but this matchup is too close to bet on for me. I do like the over though, which I’ll take at the alternate line of 6 for half a unit.
Devils vs. Capitals (7:00)
Great matchup here for the fourth and final time of the regular season between two of the teams at the top of the division. Both of these teams are in the second half of back to backs tonight, both coming off wins and playing great hockey. The Devils beat Detroit 5-4 on the road last night for their ninth win in their last twelve games. The Capitals, coming off a 5-4 overtime win at home against the Isles last night are on a three game win streak, even without Ovechkin in the lineup. The Devils are up 2-1 in the season series between these teams, winning 5-3 on the road, losing 6-5 in overtime at home, and then winning 3-2 on the road. I’d slightly lean Jersey wins again, but not enough to bet it. I like the over here also, and I’ll take that at 6 for half a unit.
Penguins vs. Flames (7:00)
This is a terrible cross conference matchup. The Penguins have been awful this season, but come into tonight’s game off two wins in a row after beating the Bruins 2-1 on the road last night. The Flames have been inconsistent this year, at points of the season over exceeding expectations. They come into tonight on a three game losing streak though off a 5-2 loss in Columbus yesterday. The first game between these teams went to a shootout in Calgary, with the Flames winning 4-3 at home. I’d lean the Flames win here on the road, but this isn’t a spot worth betting on. I considered betting the over, but these offenses have both been pathetic, making this a game that I’m just going to stay off completely.
Blues vs. Flyers (7:00)
Not the most interesting cross conference matchup here by any means. The Blues have won three of their last four games, coming off a surprising 3-0 shutout win against the Devils on Wednesday on the road after a 5-2 win against the Rangers in Jim Montgomery’s debut behind the bench. The Flyers have played decent lately, but still aren’t a great team. They beat the Rangers 3-1 at home yesterday afternoon for their third win in their last four games, going 3-0-1 in that span. Philly won the first game between these teams 2-1 on Halloween at home. I’d slightly lean St. Louis answers back here at home, but I don’t like it enough to bet on. I do like the under though, which I’ll take at 6 for half a unit.
Kings vs. Senators (7:00)
My initial reaction to this game was “another boring cross conference matchup”. The first time these teams played this year was electric though, with the Sens winning 8-7 in an overtime thriller the first week of the season. Both of these teams have been a bit inconsistent this year. The Kings are playing pretty well recently, with three wins in their last four games, coming off a 2-1 grind of a win against Anaheim last night. The Senators after a lousy run have won their last two in a row, coming off a 4-3 win in San Jose on Wednesday. I’d slightly lean LA wins this one at home, but with them in the second half of a back to back I’m not touching this game. Even though the first matchup between these teams saw 15 goals, I’d lean the under tonight, but the best play on this game is nothing at all.
Islanders vs. Sabres (7:30)
Solid matchup for my Sabres here. Last night, we can back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period to force overtime, but ultimately lost 4-3 at home to the Canucks for our second loss in a row. We’ve been playing pretty good lately though, with a 7-3-1 record in our last eleven games. The Islanders have struggled quite a bit this season, in the basement of the Metro Division. They’re on three game losing streak with just one win in their last seven games, coming off a 5-4 overtime loss in DC last night. The Isles did beat Buffalo in the first game these teams played this season, winning 4-3 on the road. I like my Sabres to answer back here on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit, which I like at + money. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Wild vs. Predators (8:00)
This is a pretty big mismatch to me in the Central. The Wild, who are coming off a 3-2 win against the Blackhawks yesterday that I forgot to bet on, have been very good this season, comfortably in second place in the division. The Preds on the other hand have been the biggest disappointment in the league this year. Coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at home against Tampa yesterday, they’re on a three game losing streak with just three wins in their last 13 games. I expect an easy win for Minnesota here at home and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Avalanche vs. Oilers (10:00)
This should be a really good Western Conference matchup. The Avalanche as they’ve gotten healthier recently are playing way better hockey. They’re coming off a 5-3 loss in Dallas last night, but have seven wins in their last ten games. The Oilers have been inconsistent this year and a disappointment, but they’re playing better lately too with a 6-2-1 record in their last nine games, coming off a 4-3 overtime win in Utah last night. I’d lean the Avs win here at home, but not enough to bet it. I really like the over though, which I’ll take for a unit with these two high powered offenses and two defenses that haven’t been great.
Golden Knights vs. Utah HC (10:00)
This matchup isn’t great. The Golden Knights have been very good this season and my pick to win the Stanley Cup, and they’ve especially excelled at home with a 9-2 record at T-Mobile Arena. They’re on a five game point streak, coming off a huge 4-3 win last night against the league leading Jets to bounce back from their shootout loss in Colorado on Wednesday. Utah hasn’t been great this year. They hung in there with the Oilers last night, losing 4-3 in overtime but have just two wins in their last seven games. Vegas won both previous matchups between these teams, winning 4-3 in overtime at home and then 4-2 on the road earlier this month. I like the Knights to complete the season sweep here and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Kraken vs. Sharks (10:00)
Pretty shitty Pacific Division matchup to close out the night for the second half of a back to back home and home. Last night the Sharks pulled off an 8-5 win at home against the Kraken. I like Seattle to answer back here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over again, but I’m not touching the total.
Game Bets
.5u Rangers in regulation (-125)
.5u Hurricanes/Panthers over 6.5 (-110)
.5u Maple Leafs/Lightning over 6 (-135)
.5u Devils/Capitals over 6 (-122)
.5u Blues/Flyers under 6 (-120)
.5u Sabres ML (+105)
1u Wild ML (-148)
1u Avalanche/Oilers over 6.5 (-115)
1u Golden Knights ML (-162)
.5u Kraken in regulation (-125)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 148-123-4 (-11.02 units)
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