I had a great bounce back last night on the NHL winning two units, going 3-0 for my third sweep of the board in the last four days. Tonight we have a solid nine game slate, let’s win again!
Sabres vs. Jets (7:00)
Not a great game in Buffalo tonight as both of these teams come into tonight’s game on lousy four game losing streaks. The Sabres are struggling right now. They’re coming off a pathetic collapse on Tuesday, blowing a 4-0 first period lead to go on and lose 5-4 to the Avalanche. The Jets have been very good this year, but they come in on a four game losing streak as well, coming off a 4-1 loss at home to the Blues on Tuesday. I like Winnipeg to bounce back here and I’ll take the Jets for half a unit. I’d lean the under slightly, but not enough to bet it.
Canadiens vs. Predators (7:00)
Brutal cross conference matchup here. Both of these teams have been horrible. The Canadiens are coming off a 2-1 overtime win against the Islanders on Tuesday, just their second win in their last six games. The Habs are one of the worst defensive teams in the league. The Preds are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 3-2 loss in Toronto last night in a game that had a pretty fun finish to it, but thankfully Nashville fell short of the comeback to cash my Leafs bet. I’d lean the Preds end their losing streak on the road here tonight, even in the second half of a back to back, but not a fucking chance I’m betting this game. I’d also lean the under very slightly, but I’m not touching this one at all.
Senators vs. Red Wings (7:00)
Lousy Atlantic Division matchup between two similar teams that don’t look great this year. Ottawa is coming off a 4-3 shootout loss in Anaheim on Sunday, their second loss in a row. They have just two wins in their last nine games. The Red Wings have picked up at least a point in six of their last eight games, but they’ve only won three games in that span, coming into tonight on a three game losing streak off a 3-2 overtime loss in Boston on Tuesday night. I’d lean the Sens win this one at home with the way better offense, but not enough to bet it, especially at the -185 price. I do like the over though, which I’ll take at 6 for half a unit.
Lightning vs. Sharks (7:00)
Pretty big mismatch here but this is kind of an interesting game with the way both of these teams are coming into this game. The Lightning have struggled with a few injuries recently and have just two wins in their last six games. They’re coming off a 5-3 loss at home to the Leafs on Saturday where they almost came back late but fell short before an empty netter for Toronto ended it. Their offense especially has been good though. The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the league but on a real hot run right now, coming into tonight on a three game win streak with four wins in their last five games, coming off a 2-1 overtime win against the Caps on the road on Tuesday (double loser for me there). Even without Kucherov in the lineup tonight, I’d expect the Bolts win here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I also like the over, which I’ll take at 6 for a unit.
Flyers vs. Panthers (7:00)
This isn’t the best Eastern Conference matchup, but it does make a bit of an interesting game. The Flyers aren’t a great team but they’re actually playing pretty solid hockey as of late. Coming off a 3-2 overtime win in St. Louis on Saturday afternoon, they’re on a three game win streak and five game point streak with an 8-2-2 record in their last twelve games. The Panthers took a pretty shocking loss on Tuesday, losing 5-4 in overtime in Pittsburgh to an a three game win streak in a game that they outshot the Pens 41-16 but had to climb out of a 4-1 deficit in the third period to force overtime. The first game between these teams this season went to a shootout in Florida with the Panthers winning 4-3. I like Florida to bounce back from Tuesday’s loss with a win here and I’ll lay the -185 on the Panthers for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Hurricanes vs. Avalanche (7:00)
This is such a great cross conference matchup. These are two good teams that are struggling a bit as of late. The Hurricanes are comfortably in a playoff spot in the Metro but come into tonight on a three game losing streak after a 4-2 loss at home to the Kraken on Thursday after back to back losses to the Panthers in a home and home. The Avalanche came back in impressive fashion from a 4-0 deficit in the first period to beat my Sabres 5-4 on Thursday. That was just their second win in their last five games after going 6-1 in the seven games previous to that. Colorado won the first game between these teams 6-4 in November at home. I’d slightly lean Carolina wins this one at home, but not enough to bet it. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Islanders vs. Kraken (7:30)
Such a boring cross conference matchup here on Long Island tonight. Both of these teams have been pretty lousy. The first game between them a few weeks ago in Seattle was close, with the Kraken winning 3-2 at home. The Isles are coming off a 2-1 overtime loss in Montreal on Tuesday and have picked up just two wins in their last nine games. The Kraken are coming into tonight off an impressive 4-2 win in Carolina on Tuesday after getting embarrassed with back to back losses to the Sharks and losing at home against the Ducks. I’d lean the Isles win at home, but no way am I betting them. I’d also lean the under since neither of these teams can score, but at 5.5 with it juiced to the under, I’m not touching this game at all, especially with both trending over lately.
Flames vs. Blues (9:00)
This is another boring matchup in the West. I don’t think either of these teams are great. The Flames haven’t been all that great lately, but ended a four game losing streak with a 3-0 win at home against the Blue Jackets in a very emotional night on Tuesday as they gave their tribute to Johnny Gaudreau. The Blues are doing pretty well since hiring Jim Montgomery to be their new head coach, on a four game point streak with a 3-0-1 record with Monty behind the bench, coming off a 4-1 win in Winnipeg on Tuesday. I think the side is a complete toss up. I do like the under though, which I’ll take at the alternate line of 6 for half a unit.
Oilers vs. Blue Jackets (9:00)
Not the best cross conference game to close out this slate, but I could see it being fun. The Oilers are coming off a 1-0 shutout loss in Vegas on Tuesday night that ended their three game winning streak. This season the Edmonton offense has been pretty disappointing but their defense has been solid. The Blue Jackets have been much better than my expectations this season, playing the opposite style of hockey with a good offense but bad defense and goaltending. They had a six game point streak come to an end on Tuesday with a 3-0 shutout loss in Calgary, just their second loss in their last seven games. Columbus won the first game between these teams back in October with a 6-1 blowout at home. I’d expect the Oilers answer back with a win here at home, but at -290 I feel like that price isn’t bettable, and I’m not going to limit them to just regulation. I like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Game Bets
.5u Jets ML (-135)
.5u Senators/Red Wings over 6 (-118)
.5u Lightning in regulation (-155)
1u Lightning/Sharks over 6 (-120)
1u Panthers ML (-185)
.5u Hurricanes/Avalanche over 6.5 (-115)
.5u Flames/Blues under 6 (-135)
.5u Oilers/Blue Jackets over 6.5 (-135)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 165-136-5 (-13.71 units)
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