I absolutely crushed last night’s NHL slate, going 7-1-1 to win 4.14 units, just a Devils loss away from a sweep. Tonight we have a solid seven game Friday slate, let’s crush it again!
Sabres vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
Pretty lousy matchup for my Sabres here as the losing streak likely goes to twelve in a row. Such a fucking pathetic franchise. We’re coming off probably the biggest embarrassment of the losing streak, getting dominated 6-1 by the Habs on Tuesday night. That loss drops Buffalo to the worst team in the Eastern Conference. The Leafs on the other hand are tied with Florida for first place in the Atlantic Division and playing great. Coming off a 5-3 win in Dallas on Wednesday, they’ve won four of their last five games, including a 5-3 win in Buffalo last Sunday the first time these teams played this season. They dominated that game, outshooting the Sabres 41-27 led off by a John Tavares hat trick. Tonight they’re throwing a twist into this game with Matt Murray getting his first start in goal since April 2023. I still like the Leafs to win this one and I’ll take them for a unit. This is pretty much going to be a home game for Toronto with all the Leafs fans buying up all the tickets that no one from Buffalo wants to be in attendance for. Along with that, I like the over, which I’ll take at 6 for a unit as well.
Red Wings vs. Canadiens (7:00)
Pretty lousy Atlantic Division matchup here between two of the three worse teams in the East (only ahead of the Buffalo Sabres). Both of these teams blow. The Red Wings are coming into this game off two wins in a row with three in their last four, coming off a 6-4 win at home against the Flyers on Wednesday. Montreal has four wins in their last seven, coming off a 6-1 win at home against the Sabres, with Patrik Laine putting on a show, scoring an early hat trick all in the same fashion. I think Detroit’s the slightly better team here and would lean they win this one at home, but not enough to even consider betting it. I considered betting the over, but with both of these teams struggling to score, although their defenses are both awful, I feel like the best play on this game is nothing at all.
Panthers vs. Blues (7:00)
Not a great cross conference matchup here. The Panthers are tied with the Leafs for first place in the Atlantic Division and in my eyes I think they’re the best team in the East, who should go to their third straight Stanley Cup Final. After a big 6-5 win in the game of the year in Edmonton on Monday for a rematch of last year’s Cup Final, they followed it up with a dominant 6-1 win in Minnesota on Wednesday, one of the top teams in the NHL standings. The Blues are in the second half of a back to back tonight coming off a 3-1 loss in Tampa last night and have just one win in their last five games. I like Florida to win here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not quite enough to bet it.
Capitals vs. Hurricanes (7:00)
Great matchup here between two of the top three teams in the Metro Division in what could potentially be a first round matchup in the playoffs this year. The Capitals come into tonight off back to back losses in Chicago and Dallas on Monday and Tuesday, but have been fantastic this season, a point back from the Devils for first place in the East. And they’ve done that all without Ovi in the lineup for the past few weeks, who was skating this morning in a normal practice jersey, so the greatest goal scorer of all time should be back soon. The Hurricanes are coming off two wins in a row after shutting out the Islanders 4-0 at home on Tuesday night. Both of these teams have been spectacular this year on both ends of the ice. Carolina won the first game between them 4-2 at home on November 3rd. I think they’re very slightly the better team and I’d lean they win this one on the road. I’d also lean the under, but not enough to bet either of those, so I’ll lay off this game completely.
Stars vs. Rangers (8:00)
Going into the year and even for the first month and a half of the season this looked like an incredible matchup, but the luster’s off it now for sure. The Stars are playing just as good as expected this season, tied with the Avs for third place in the Central Division. They’re coming off a 5-3 loss at home against the Leafs on Wednesday, but have three wins in their last five games, playing really good on both ends of the ice. The Rangers had expectations to contend in the East again this year but that whole organization is in disarray right now, both on and off the ice. In the last ten days they’ve lost twice to the 32nd place team in the league (the Blackhawks and the Predators at the time the Rags played each of them). They’re on a three game losing streak, coming off a 2-0 shutout in that loss in Nashville and have just three wins (against the Sabres, Pens, and Habs) in their last 14 games. This team blows. I love the Stars to bounce back from Wednesday’s loss with a win here. I’ll lay the -185 on them for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Wild vs. Utah HC (8:00)
Kind of an interesting matchup in the Central Division. The first game between these teams ten days ago was closer than I expected it to be, with the Wild needing a shootout to beat Utah 5-4 on the road. Minnesota’s been great, in second place in the league. Coming off a 6-1 loss to Florida on Wednesday after a 3-2 loss to Vegas at home on Sunday, they have just two wins in their last six games, including that shootout win in Utah. The Utah Hockey Club’s playing well lately. Coming off a 3-2 overtime winner at home against the Canucks on Wednesday that was a goal short of hitting the over for me, they’re on a six game point streak with a 7-1-2 record in their last ten games. I like the Wild to win here at home and I’ll take them for half a unit at a cheaper price than expected. I also like the over at the alternate 5.5 line, which I’ll take for half a unit as well.
Ducks vs. Avalanche (10:00)
Terrible Western Conference mismatch to end the night despite the first game between these teams back in October needing overtime for the Avs to win 4-3 at home. I think they win this one way easier. Anaheim comes into tonight off two wins in a row, winning 4-3 in OT in Columbus last Saturday and following it up with a 3-2 win at home against the Jets on Wednesday (loser for me) with Frank Vatrano tying the game up with less than five minutes to go and Troy Terry scoring the game winner with just 26 seconds left in regulation. The Avs are in the second half of a back to back tonight, getting me a double winner last night with their 4-2 win in San Jose, their fifth win in their last seven games. Colorado’s been really solid lately and even in the second half of a back to back, I like the Avalanche to win this one on the road. I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
1u Maple Leafs ML (-162)
1u Maple Leafs/Sabres over 6 (-115)
1u Panthers in regulation (-177)
1u Stars ML (-185)
.5u Wild ML (-125)
.5u Wild/Utah over 5.5 (-130)
1u Avalanche in regulation (-145)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 218-180-9 (-14.73 units)
Please follow me:
Instagram: @atownszone
Twitter: @atownszone
If you like the site and my work, share it with your friends!
… and tell Dave Portnoy to hire me at Barstool…
A Town's Zone 