I should’ve just stayed off last night’s small NHL slate, but lost 0.72 units on the Rangers on my only play. Tonight we have a big eleven game slate, let’s bounce back and stack some wins!
Devils vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
Fun Eastern Conference matchup to get the night going. Both of these teams have been solid this year, in second place in their divisions, and coming off losses. The Devils are coming off getting shut out 4-0 by the Avs on Sunday (double loser for me on that one) while the Leafs have lost two in a row, coming off a 5-2 loss in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Toronto won the first game between these teams 4-2 on the road in the first week of the season. I like Jersey to answer back at home today with the way better offense and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but I’m not touching it.
Penguins vs. Avalanche (7:00)
The Penguins seem to have figured something out after their tire fire of a start to the season, actually making this an interesting cross conference game and a fun one as Nathan MacKinnon gets to face his childhood hero from his home, Sidney Crosby. Pittsburgh was horrendous to start the season, but coming off a 5-2 win at home on Saturday against the Leafs, they’ve now won five of their last six games. The Avs have been pretty good lately too, with three wins in their last four games, coming off a 4-0 shutout win in Jersey on Sunday. I like Colorado to win this one and I’ll take them for half a unit. I really like the over though, which I’ll take for a unit.
Hurricanes vs. Sharks (7:00)
I think this is the biggest mismatch on paper we’ve seen all season with the Canes as astounding -550 favorites at home in this cross conference matchup. Carolina’s a very good team, but they’re struggling was of late, with just one win in their last five games, coming off a 4-3 loss on Long Island on Saturday. The Sharks are coming off two losses in Florida, losing 3-1 to the Panthers on Saturday after getting blown out 8-1 in Tampa on Thursday. Prior to that they had won three in a row, but this is one of the worst teams in the league. The problem though is the lines on this game make it pretty much impossible to bet on. I do like the over, which I’ll take at the alt line of 6, laying the -150 for half a unit.
Blue Jackets vs. Flyers (7:00)
Not a great game here in the Metro as both of these teams aren’t great and have been inconsistent. The Blue Jackets are coming off a big 4-1 win against the Jets on Sunday, ending a three game losing streak. The Flyers after a bit of a hot run come into tonight on a three game losing streak, coming off a 4-2 loss at home to Utah. I’d slightly lean the Blue Jackets are the better team here with the way higher scoring offense and should win at home, and I’d lean the over, but I’m not touching this matchup.
Islanders vs. Kings (7:30)
This isn’t a great cross conference matchup. The Islanders aren’t a great team but somehow still sit in the middle of the Metro standings in a division that isn’t very deep this year. After a run of just two wins in the span of ten games, they’ve since won their last two games, beating Ottawa 4-2 on the road on Sunday after a surprising 4-3 win at home against the Canes on Saturday. The Kings are on fire right now, on a five game win streak as they’re coming off a 4-1 win at home against the Wild on Saturday. I like LA to win here on the road, I like the price and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the under, but I’m not betting it with the under 5.5 juiced all the way up to -145.
Predators vs. Flames (8:00)
This is a pretty shitty matchup out West. The Predators are a complete dumpster fire after having high expectations following their offseason moves. They come into tonight on a seven game losing streak off a 3-1 loss in Ottawa on Saturday. The Flames started the season hot, but have sucked lately too, with just one win in their last seven games, coming off a 6-2 loss in Dallas on Sunday (that saved my night). Calgary won the first game between these teams with a 2-0 shutout at home in November. I’d lean they win here on the road in Smashville, and I think there’s value on them at +155, but the line on this game and the price makes no sense. There’s no way the Preds should be -185 against any team besides maybe the Blackhawks. The total’s a complete toss up to me too. I’m not touching this game whatsoever.
Jets vs. Bruins (8:00)
This should be a pretty fun matchup tonight. The Jets started the season as the best team in the league and are still at the top of the standings, tied with Minnesota. They’re not as hot lately though, with just two wins (against the Sabres and Blackhawks) in their last seven games. The Bruins have been on a hot run since they fired Montgomery, on a four game win streak after a 4-3 overtime win at home against the Flyers on Saturday with seven wins in their last nine games. I do think Winnipeg’s the better team here and would lean the Jets win at home, and I’d lean the under slightly, but I’m not betting this game at all. Should be a solid tilt.
Oilers vs. Lightning (9:00)
I’m expecting this to be a really fun cross conference matchup. The Oilers are playing well, currently tied with the Canucks for the third playoff spot in the Pacific. Coming off a 4-2 win at home against the Blues, they’ve won five of their last six games. The Lightning have played good hockey too, coming off a 4-2 win in Vancouver on Sunday. I think the side on this game is pretty much a toss up, but I do like the over on it, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Utah HC vs. Wild (9:30)
Pretty lousy Central Division mismatch in this game. Utah isn’t a great team but they’re playing pretty well right now, with three wins in their last four games, coming off a 4-2 win in Utah on Sunday. They’ve been alright defensively, but have struggled on the back end. The Wild have been fantastic, tied with the Jets at the top of the NHL standings. I like Minnesota to win this one on the road and I love the price on them as a slight dog. I’ll take the Wild for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Canucks vs. Blues (10:00)
This is kind of a boring matchup in the West to me, but it could be a good game. The Canucks have played solid hockey, but come into tonight’s game off a 4-2 loss at home against the Lightning on Sunday which ended a four game point streak for them. The Blues have been pretty good since hiring Jim Montgomery, coming into tonight on his first regulation loss for St. Louis behind the bench, losing 4-2 in Edmonton on Saturday, ending a 4-0-1 run. I like the Canucks to win this one at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not quite enough to bet on it, even at 5.5.
Kraken vs. Panthers (10:00)
This isn’t all that great of a cross conference matchup to end the night. The Kraken are playing pretty decent hockey, erasing a 3-1 deficit to come back and beat the Rangers 7-5 on the road on Sunday for their third win in their last four games. The Panthers are the top team in the East in my eyes but they let me down on Saturday for the second time in three games, as I laid a ton on their team total against the Sharks where they won 3-1 at home, failing to hit the 3.5. They’re still a fantastic team though and after a lousy run, they’ve gone 5-0-1 in their last six games (and should’ve won the overtime loss in Pitt that they dominated). I like Florida to win here and I’ll lay the juice on them for a unit. I also like the over and I’ll take the alternate line at just 5.5 for a unit.
Game Bets
.5u Devils ML (-130)
.5u Avalanche ML (-185)
1u Avalanche/Penguins over 6.5 (-125)
.5u Hurricanes/Sharks over 6 (-150)
1u Kings ML (-130)
.5u Oilers/Lightning over 6.5 (-118)
1u Wild ML (-108)
.5u Canucks ML (-180)
1u Panthers ML (-185)
1u Panthers/Kraken over 5.5 (-140)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 182-151-7 (-13.45 units)
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