After a great night Tuesday on the NHL, last night I went 0-2 on the small slate losing 2.92 units. Not great, especially with the Jets giving up the game winner in the last minute of the game. Tonight let’s bounce back on a big nine game slate!
Lightning vs. Blues (7:00)
Not the most interesting cross conference matchup to start off the night. The Lightning are having a solid season, on a three game win streak coming off a 5-3 win against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. They have five wins in their last six games. The Blues got hot when they hired Jim Montgomery, but they’ve slowed down a bit lately with just one win (against the Rangers) in their last four games. St. Louis won the first game between these teams 3-2 at home early in November. The Bolts are the better team here and I like Tampa to answer back with a win here at home. I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over, which I considered a lot at 5.5, but I’ll stay off the total.
Blue Jackets vs. Devils (7:00)
Huge mismatch between the top and bottom team in the Metro Division. The Blue Jackets, coming off a 5-3 loss in Tampa on Tuesday are the worst team in the division, on a five game losing streak with just one win in their last nine games. The Devils on the other hand have been fantastic this season, coming into tonight on a three game win streak, coming off a 4-1 win in St. Louis on Tuesday. I love the Devils on the road in this game and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Flyers vs. Kings (7:30)
This cross conference matchup isn’t great. The Flyers aren’t all that good of a team. They’re coming off a 4-1 loss in Minnesota on Saturday and have just two wins in their last seven games and have struggled a bit on both ends of the ice. The Kings are having a good year, and they’re hot right now, with a 7-1-1 record in their last nine games. They’re coming off a 3-2 overtime loss in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, giving up the game tying goal with 5:35 left in regulation. I like LA to bounce back here on the road and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not quite enough to bet on it.
Predators vs. Penguins (8:00)
Terrible cross conference matchup here with two disappointing, lousy teams. The Predators are coming off a 2-0 shutout win against the Rangers at home on Tuesday, their second win in their last three games, but they’ve been horrible this season. They’ve won just those two of their last eleven games. There was a lot of potential for this team going into the season, but they’re at the bottom of the Metro Division tied with the Blackhawks. Who would’ve thought that’d be the case with a playoff team last year that in the offseason added Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault. Pathetic. The Penguins are coming off a 3-2 overtime win against the Kings at home on Tuesday, with Matt Grzelcyk scoring the game tying goal with 5:35 left in regulation before Rickard Rakell ended it 1:44 into OT. Although they were horrendous to start the year, they’ve been decent lately with a 7-2-1 record in their last ten games. I’d lean the Pens win this one on the road and the under, but there’s not a fucking chance I’m putting any cash on this game. Not touching it.
Blackhawks vs. Kraken (8:30)
Such a boring, shitty Western Conference matchup here. The Blackhawks come into tonight off two wins in a row, scoring three times in the third period to beat the Capitals 3-2 on Tuesday night but they’re still tied with Nashville for the worst team in the NHL. Seattle’s not great either, under .500, coming off a 3-0 shutout loss at home against the Senators on Tuesday. The Kraken won the first game between these teams 3-1 at home in November and I’d lean they’re the better team that wins here again tonight on the road, but I don’t like it enough to bet on. I’d also lean the under, since neither team can score, but not enough to bet it with the 5.5 juiced to the under. I’ll stay off this game entirely.
Flames vs. Senators (9:00)
Another cross conference matchup here that isn’t all that interesting, but this could be a fun game. Neither of these teams are all that great, both sitting around the middle of their divisions, separated by two points in the standings. The Flames are in a slump right now with just three wins in their last eleven games, coming off a 4-3 overtime loss at home to the Bruins on Tuesday night, blowing a 3-1 lead going into the third period. The Senators are playing easily their best hockey of the season right now, on a four game win streak with an 8-2-1 record in their last eleven games, coming off a 3-0 shutout win in Seattle on Tuesday. The Sens won the first game between these teams 4-3 at home the last week of November. I like Ottawa to stay hot here and I’ll take them for half a unit. The total’s a complete toss up to me.
Oilers vs. Bruins (9:00)
This may not end up being a great game, but I think going into it this is a pretty fun matchup. The Oilers are coming off a 6-5 loss in a rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup Final in what was probably the most fun hockey game I’ve seen this season. Such a great game. That loss ended Edmonton’s five game win streak, just their second loss in their last ten games as they’ve played great lately on both ends of the ice. The Bruins have snuck into the third place spot in the Atlantic, a point ahead of Tampa. Although on the year they’ve struggled on both ends of the ice, especially offensively, they’re playing well lately with six wins in their last eight games. I like Edmonton to bounce back here from Monday’s loss with a win at home and I’ll lay the -185 on them for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Golden Knights vs. Canucks (10:00)
Really solid tilt in the Pacific. The Vegas Golden Knights have been fantastic this year and they’re still my pick to win the Cup, playing elite hockey, especially at home with an 11-3 record at the Fortress. Coming off a 3-2 win in Minnesota on Sunday, they’re on a great run right now with a 9-2-1 record in their last twelve games. Vancouver’s pretty solid too, but have just two wins in their last six games, in the second half of a back to back tonight coming off a 3-2 overtime loss in Utah last night (goal short of the over for me there). I think the Knights are the better team here and I’ll take my boys for a unit, especially with the Canucks in the second half of a back to back. I’d lean the under slightly, but definitely don’t like it enough to bet on.
Sharks vs. Avalanche (10:30)
Pretty shitty Western Conference matchup to end the night. Brutal mismatch. The Sharks are the worst team in the Pacific. Coming off a 4-3 loss to the Jets on Tuesday they have just one win in their last six games, struggling mightily on both ends of the ice. The Avs have been pretty solid after their slow start to the year. They’re coming off a 3-1 loss in Vancouver on Monday (double loser for me), but have five wins in their last eight. Colorado won the first game between these teams 4-1 on the road in October. I expect a similar result here. I’ll take the Avalanche in regulation for a unit. I also like the over here, which I’ll take two ways, with half a unit each on the alternate over 6 and the Avs team total over 3.5.
Game Bets
.5u Lightning in regulation (-145)
1u Devils in regulation (-135)
1u Kings ML (-162)
.5u Senators ML (-130)
1u Oilers ML (-185)
1u Golden Knights ML (-175)
1u Avalanche in regulation (-165)
.5u Avalanche/Sharks over 6 (-145)
.5u Avalanche TT over 3.5 (-155)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 211-179-8 (-18.87 units)
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