Losing night on yesterday’s NHL slate for me, going 3-5 to lose 1.87 units after a monster night on Thursday. Today we have a big eleven game slate, so let’s bounce back!
Predators vs. Kings (1:30)
Not the best game here in the West to start the day. The Predators are the worst teams in the NHL and saying this season is a disappointment for them would be an understatement. Coming off a 5-4 overtime loss at home to the Penguins on Thursday, they have two wins in their last four games, but those are their only two wins in their last twelve. The Kings have been a solid team though, coming into today with an 8-1-1 record in their last ten, bouncing back from a 3-2 overtime loss in Pittsburgh on Tuesday with a dominant 7-3 win in Philly on Thursday. LA shut out the Preds 3-0 in Nashville the first game between these teams and I like them to win on the road again today at way too cheap of a price. I’ll take the Kings for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Flames vs. Blackhawks (4:00)
This is a pretty terrible matchup in the West. The Flames haven’t been all that great, coming off two overtime losses in a row at home, 3-2 against Ottawa on Thursday and 4-3 against the Bruins on Tuesday. They have just three wins in their last twelve games. The Blackhawks are one of the worst teams in the league, but come into today on a three game win streak after a 3-1 win at home against the Kraken on Thursday that I’m glad I stayed off. Calgary won the first game between these teams 3-1 at home in the first week of the season. Both of these teams have struggled on both ends of the ice this year, and although I think the Flames are the better team, I don’t like them enough to bet it at -165. I’d also slightly lean the under, but this game isn’t worth betting on. I’ll lay off it entirely.
Oilers vs. Sharks (4:00)
Huge mismatch in the Pacific in this matchup. The Oilers are absolutely Cup contenders again after their slow start to the season. On Thursday they bounced back form Monday’s 6-5 loss in the rematch of last year’s Cup Final with a 3-2 overtime win against the Bruins at home. Edmonton’s been on fire lately, with nine wins in their last eleven games. The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the league and coming off a 4-2 loss to the Avs on Thursday (double winner for me), they’re on a three game losing streak with just one win in their last seven games. This should be such an easy win for the Oilers at home, but the books think so too with the moneyline at an astounding-450. I’ll take the Oilers -1.5 for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Bruins vs. Sabres (7:00)
Terrible Atlantic Division matchup. The Bruins haven’t been all that great this season, but with the East not being very deep at all, they should still make the playoffs this year, tied in points right now with the Lightning for third place in the Atlantic. They’re coming off a 3-2 overtime loss in Edmonton on Thursday but have been decent lately with a 9-4-1 record in their last 14 games. The Sabres are in the second half of a back to back tonight after they made it twelve straight losses in a row last night with a pathetic 6-3 loss at home in a game that felt like it was in Toronto. This team’s the biggest joke in the NHL. Boston historically owns the Sabres and especially with Buffalo playing as poorly as they have been in this losing streak that makes this city want Pegula to sell the team, and in the second half of a back to back, I love the Bruins to win here. I’ll take the B’s for 1.5 units along with another half a unit on the puck line. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Maple Leafs vs. Islanders (7:00)
Pretty lousy Eastern Conference matchup here. The Leafs have played really solid hockey this year, tied with Florida at the top of the Atlantic Division. They’re in the second half of a back to back, coming off an easy 6-3 win in Buffalo last night that should’ve felt like a home game for them for their fifth win in their last six games, and third straight. The Islanders on the other hand have struggled this year. Coming off a 4-0 shutout loss in Carolina on Tuesday, they have just six wins in their last 15 games. Even in the second half of a back to back, I like Toronto to win here at home and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the over, but definitely not enough to bet it.
Canadiens vs. Red Wings (7:00)
Such a bad matchup here between two of the three worst teams in the Atlantic Division, both of these teams only better than my shitty Buffalo Sabres, as they play the second half of a home and home on the second half of a back to back. Last night the Habs won 4-3 on the road in Detroit in a back and forth game that was actually pretty solid. I’d lean Detroit answers back on the road in Montreal tonight, but just like in last night’s game, I don’t like it enough to bet on. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit at the alternate line of 6.
Devils vs. Penguins (7:00)
Not the best matchup in the Metro Division. The Devils are coming off a 4-2 loss in Columbus on Thursday that dropped them a point behind the Caps for first place in the Division, ending a three game win streak. Jersey’s been very good this season, playing really solid on both ends of the ice. The Penguins have been horrible this season, but have been hot lately. Coming off a 5-4 overtime win in Nashville on Thursday, their third game in a row that needed extra time, they’ve gone 8-2-1 in their last eleven games. The Devils are the way better team here though and I like them to bounce back from Thursday’s loss with a win at home. I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet on it with how awful the Pens have been on the back end, and how well both offenses have played recently.
Flyers vs. Blue Jackets (7:00)
Pretty lousy Metro Division matchup here. Neither of these teams have been good this season, separated by a point at the bottom of the division (along with the Islanders). The Flyers, coming off a 7-3 loss at home to the Kings on Thursday (easy winner for me) are on a three game losing streak with just two wins in their last eight games. They’ve struggled on both ends of the ice. The Blue Jackets have been solid offensively but even worse defensively. They’re coming off a surprising 4-2 win at home against the Devils on Thursday, ending a five game losing streak with just their second win in their last ten games. Philly won the first game between these teams 5-3 on the road eleven days ago. I feel like this matchup’s pretty much a toss up between two bad teams. I’d lean the over, but this is a game I’d rather just stay off completely.
Jets vs. Wild (7:00)
Really solid matchup here between the top two teams in the Central Division. The Jets are still leading the NHL standings after their hot start to the season. They let me down on Wednesday night, giving up the game winner in a bad matchup against the Ducks with just 26 seconds left in regulation, losing 3-2 after giving up the game tying goal with less than five minutes to go. In general they’ve been solid though, with a 5-2-1 record in their last eight games, so I’ll chalk that one up to the added fatigue of being in the second half of a back to back. The Wild have been very good this season but they’re struggling right now, on a three game losing streak as they come into tonight on the second half of a back to back after giving me a double loser in their 2-1 loss to Utah at home last night. Winnipeg won both previous games between these teams, winning 2-1 in OT in October at home and then 4-1 in November on the road. With Minnesota in the second half of a back to back, I like the Jets to win this one to complete the season sweep at home, and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Canucks vs. Senators (10:00)
This should be a fun cross conference Canadian matchup tonight. Vancouver’s been a good team, two points back from the Oilers in the fourth spot in the Pacific Division. They’re struggling a bit as of late though with just two wins in their last seven games, coming off a 3-1 loss in Vegas on Thursday. The Senators after their lousy start to the season have turned a corner, playing solid hockey right now to get them back within two points of the Lightning and Bruins for third place in the Atlantic Division. They’re on a five game win streak with just one loss in their last eight games, coming off a 3-2 win in Calgary on Thursday. The Canucks won the first game between these teams 4-3 on the road in November. I think they’re the better team still, and I’d slightly lean they win this one at home, but not enough to bet against the run the Sens are on right now. I’d lean the under, but at 5.5 I don’t like it enough to bet on. I considered the alternate line of 6, but I don’t think that’s worth the -150. I’ll stay off this game. Should be a fun night cap.
Golden Knights vs. Kraken (10:00)
I don’t think this Pacific Division matchup is great. The first game between these teams was close, with the Kraken pulling up the upset, winning 4-3 at home in overtime back on November 8th. Vegas is the way better team here, leading the Pacific and my pick to win the Stanley Cup. They’re playing great right now with six wins in their last seven games and a 10-2-1 record in their last 13 games, coming off a 3-1 win at home against the Canucks on Tuesday. The Knights have especially been elite at home in the Fortress, where they’re an impressive 12-3. The Kraken are struggling right now, on a three game losing streak, coming off a 3-1 loss in Chicago on Thursday that I’m glad I didn’t touch. I like the Golden Knights to win here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
1u Kings ML (-112)
1u Oilers -1.5 (-162)
1.5u Bruins ML (-185)
.5u Bruins -1.5 (+142)
1u Maple Leafs ML (-162)
.5u Red Wings/Canadiens over 6 (-135)
.5u Devils in regulation (-160)
.5u Jets ML (-175)
1u Golden Knights in regulation (-135)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 221-185-9 (-16.6 units)
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