The Hurricanes got shut out 3-0 by the Sens, giving me a 1.36 unit loss on the only NHL game last night. To follow up that lousy game today we have a fully loaded 15 game slate to bounce back on.
These are the type of schedules that piss me off for the NHL. Two games Wednesday, 14 Thursday, just one yesterday and now all these today. Maybe spread them out a bit more if you want to grow your game. Fucking idiots.
Let’s win today!
Devils vs. Blackhawks (1:00)
Huge mismatch for this cross conference game. I expect the Devils to win it easily at home, and so do the books with the ML at -335 and regulation line at -255. I’ll take the Jersey puck line for half a unit. I’d lean the under but not enough to bet it.
Rangers vs. Kings (1:00)
Pretty interesting cross conference game here. The Rangers are really struggling right now, despite coming off a 3-2 win in Buffalo in such a boring game on Wednesday night. The Kings had a six game win streak end with a 3-1 loss in Jersey on Thursday and I like them to bounce back here on the road. I’ll take LA at the pick’em line. I’d lean the under but not enough to bet it.
Wild vs. Flyers (2:00)
Not a great matchup here. The Wild are coming off getting trounced 7-1 by the Oilers on Thursday and they’re now a point back from the Jets for first place in the NHL. The Flyers have been inconsistent and not great, but come in off two wins in a row against weak teams, the Red Wings and Blue Jackets. Philly won the first game between these teams 7-5 earlier this season and I like Minnesota to answer back with a big win here.I’ll take the Wild for a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but I’m not touching the total.
Oilers vs. Golden Knights (4:00)
Spectacular matchup here in what could be a preview of an awesome playoff series in the Pacific. Both of these teams are firing on all cylinders right now, coming off big wins and both on four game win streaks. Vegas won both previous games between these teams, 4-2 on the road in November and in a 1-0 shutout at home eleven days ago. I’d lean Edmonton answers back here and the Oilers get a win at home this afternoon and I’d also lean the under, but the best play on this game is none at all. Can’t wait to watch this game on the second screen while Army/Navy is on.
Capitals vs. Sabres (7:00)
Brutal matchup here in the East. My Buffalo Sabres are an absolute joke of a franchise. Coming off a 3-2 loss to the Rangers that saw four goals in the last six minutes to make the final score look less pathetic than the game actually was, we’re on an eight game losing streak with no signs of improvement anywhere. Fire Kevyn Adams and sell the team, Terry. Completely pathetic organization. The Capitals meanwhile have been spectacular this season, still leading the East, on a three game win streak and eight game point streak, even without Ovechkin in the lineup (who should be back soon). I love Washington here and I’ll bet against my boys with a unit on the Caps and half a unit on their puck line. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Senators vs. Penguins (7:00)
Not the best game but an interesting matchup here for sure since both of these lousy teams have been playing pretty good hockey as of late. The Senators are in the second half of a back to back tonight coming off a 3-0 shutout win on the road in Carolina yesterday (giving me a loss on my only bet on the only game of the night) and they’ve now won four of their last five games. The Penguins after their brutal start have been rolling too. Coming off a 9-2 blowout win in Montreal on Thursday where they scored six unanswered goals in the third period, Pittsburgh’s now won six of their last eight games. I’d very slightly lean the Pens win here on the road, but definitely not enough to bet them. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Red Wings vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
Pretty bad Atlantic Division matchup. The Red Wings have been terrible, coming off a 4-1 loss in Philly on Thursday with just one win (in comeback fashion against the Sabres) in their last seven games. The Leafs couldn’t get me an empty netter after a few good looks at it, beating the Ducks 3-2 on Thursday and they’ve been playing well all season, tied with Florida at the top of the Atlantic. Toronto beat Detroit 3-1 in the first game these teams played this year and I expect a similar result tonight. I’ll take the Leafs on the moneyline for a unit along with half a unit on the puck line. I’d lean the under on the total, but I’ll lay off it.
Blue Jackets vs. Ducks (7:00)
Horrendous cross conference matchup between these two teams, who are both at the bottom of their divisions and playing terrible hockey. The Blue Jackets are far better offensively than Anaheim is, but they’re not worth -185 in any matchup, even though the Ducks should be an auto fade. The Ducks won the first game between these teams 4-2 at home last month, and I’d lean Columbus answers back with a home win tonight, but I’m not betting them at that price. I’d also lean the over, but the best play on this game is nothing at all. I’ll stay off it entirely.
Jets vs. Canadiens (7:00)
Big cross conference mismatch here. The Jets are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to Vegas on Thursday but still are leading the NHL this season after their incredible start to the season. The Habs are coming off getting shit kicked 9-2 by the Penguins on Thursday and have been pretty lousy all year, but have three wins in their last five games. I like Winnipeg to get the win here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the under slightly but no shot I’m touching the total in this game.
Stars vs. Blues (8:00)
Kind of an interesting matchup here. The Stars are the much better team in this matchup but they’re struggling right now, with just one win in their last four games, coming off a 4-1 loss at home against the Preds on Thursday. The Blues aren’t great, but they’re playing decent hockey since hiring Jim Montgomery. They’ve won five of their last eight games but are coming off a surprising 4-3 loss to San Jose on Thursday. I like the Stars to get right here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Avalanche vs. Predators (9:00)
Going into the year I would’ve thought this would have been an awesome matchup in the Central Division. It isn’t though. The Avs are coming off a 4-1 loss at home to Utah on Thursday (double loser for me) but went on a three game win streak on the road prior to that. The Preds have been the biggest disappointment of the season after high expectations going into the year. They’re coming off a big 4-1 win in Dallas on Thursday but have been awful prior to that, with that win ending an eight game losing streak. These teams split their first two games, each winning at home, a 5-2 win for Smashville and then a 3-2 answer in overtime for the Avalanche about a week later. I like Colorado to win here at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but I’m not touching it.
Flames vs. Panthers (10:00)
Not the most interesting cross conference game. The Flames haven’t been all that great, coming off an 8-3 blowout loss at home against Tampa on Thursday and they’ve gotten just one win (in Nashville) in their last four games. Florida leads the Atlantic Division and they’re my pick to win the East this year for the third straight season. They’re coming off a pretty shocking 4-0 shutout loss in Vancouver on Thursday that ended a three game win streak and seven game point streak for the Stanley Cup champs. I feel like the Panthers are going to come into this game with a vengeance after their loss on Thursday and come out swinging. I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I like the over as well, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Sharks vs. Utah HC (10:00)
Not a great game here. The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the NHL, but ended a three game losing streak with a surprising 4-3 win in St. Louis on Thursday night. Utah’s not the best team but they’ve been playing pretty decent lately, on a four game point streak with three wins in that span, coming off a 4-1 win in Colorado on Thursday night. San Jose won the first game between these teams, 5-4 in overtime on the road late in October. I like Utah to answer back here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Canucks vs. Bruins (10:00)
I feel like every game in this cross conference rivalry’s been fun since Vancouver burned their city down in 2011. This matchup’s interesting. The Canucks have been inconsistent lately, but are a pretty solid team, coming off a 4-0 win at home against the Panthers on Thursday after losing their two previous games at home. The Bruins went on a solid run after making their coaching change, but after going on a four game win streak, they’ve since gotten blown out in their last two games, losing 5-1 in Seattle on Thursday and 8-1 in Winnipeg on Tuesday. Vancouver won the first game between these teams with a 2-0 shutout on the road. I like them to win at home here and I’ll take them for half a unit. The total’s a complete crap shoot to me.
Kraken vs. Lightning (10:00)
This should be a pretty fun cross conference matchup to end the night. Seattle’s been inconsistent this year but have played pretty well lately. Coming off a 5-1 win at home against the Bruins on Thursday they’ve gone 4-1-1 in their last six games. Tampa’s been solid this year, coming off an 8-3 blowout win in Calgary on Thursday and they’ve also won four of their last six. I like the Lightning to win here on the road and I’ll take the Bolts for half a unit. I also like the over, which I’ll take for half a unit as well.
Game Bets
.5u Devils -1.5 (-135)
.5u Kings ML (-110)
1u Wild ML (-155)
1u Capitals ML (-185)
.5u Capitals -1.5 (+140)
.5u Senators/Penguins over 6.5 (-105)
1u Maple Leafs ML (-180)
.5u Maple Leafs -1.5 (+145)
1u Jets in regulation (-170)
.5u Stars in regulation (-160)
.5u Avalanche ML (-175)
1u Panthers in regulation (-115)
.5u Panthers/Flames over 5.5 (-120)
.5u Utah ML (-185)
.5u Canucks ML (-135)
.5u Lightning ML (-130)
.5u Lightning/Kraken over 6 (-120)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 193-164-7 (-18 units)
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