Profitable Sunday on the NHL for me, going 2-1 with a late collapse from Utah to win 0.95 units. Today we have a huge 13 game slate with a few day games before a couple days off for the Christmas break, let’s win again!
Devils vs. Rangers (1:00)
Pretty terrible Metro Division rivalry matchup to get the day started early. The Devils have been fantastic this season. Coming off a 3-0 shutout win against the Penguins on Saturday, they’ve won four of their last five games, a point back from the Caps to lead the division. The Rangers on the other hand have been horrendous, in disarray as an organization from top down. They’re in the second half of a back to back today, coming off a 3-1 loss at home against the Canes yesterday they’ve only won four of their last 16 games. Jersey easily won the first game between these teams earlier this month, 5-1 at MSG. I expect another easy win for the Devils here and I’ll take them in regulation for 1.5 units to start the day. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Maple Leafs vs. Jets (2:00)
Although Rangers/Devils sucks, we get an awesome matchup for today’s other day game. Both off these cross conference teams have played great this year. The Leafs look to bounce back after taking a 6-3 loss at home to the Islanders on Saturday, ending a three game win streak. They’re two points back from the Panthers for first in the Atlantic and have played well on both ends of the ice. The Jets have been fantastic this year, in first place in the league standings. They’re coming off a big bounce back win on Saturday, shutting out the Wild in a 5-0 win at home. The Jets are the better team here and I’d slightly lean they win, but with the Leafs at home and coming off a loss, I don’t think it’s worth betting. I do like the over though, which I’ll take at the alternate 5.5 for half a unit.
Bruins vs. Capitals (7:00)
This is kind of an interesting Eastern Conference matchup. The Bruins had a lousy start to the season but have played well lately, jumping into third place in the Atlantic, two points ahead of the Lightning and Senators. They’re coming off an easy 3-1 win against my Sabres on Saturday, and have a 7-2-1 record in their last ten games. They have struggled a bit statistically on both ends of the ice though. The Capitals have been fantastic this year and should get Ovi back in the lineup right after the Christmas break. They’re coming off a 3-1 win at home against the Canes on Friday and have ten wins in their last 13 games. I think there’s value here on Washington as a dog on the road, and I’ll take the Caps for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Red Wings vs. Blues (7:00)
This is such a boring cross conference matchup. Neither of these teams are great. The Red Wings are only better than the Sabres in the Atlantic, coming off losses in both halves of a back to back home and home against Montreal on Friday and Saturday. Pathetic. The Blues are just marginally better. They’re on a three game losing streak, coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Panthers on Friday (loss for me since I had Florida in regulation) and hav just one win in their last six games (against the lowly Rangers). St. Louis is the better team here and although I’d lean they win on the road and the under, I’m not touching this game.
Panthers vs. Lightning (7:00)
The Battle of Florida is in the second half of a home in home. Yesterday afternoon in Tampa, the Panthers got a 4-2 win on the road in the first game between these teams. That win put Florida two points ahead of Toronto at the top of the Atlantic, extending their win streak to four in a row. The defending champs have a 10-2-1 record in their last 13 games. The Lightning had last night’s loss end their four game win streak, just their second loss in their last eight games. I’d slightly lean the Panthers win here again at home, but not enough to bet on it. I’d also slightly lean the over, but the best play on this game is none at all.
Penguins vs. Flyers (7:00)
The Battle of Pennsylvania doesn’t have much juice at all this season as both of these rivals have sucked this year. That does set up an interesting matchup though with these teams separated by just a point. The Penguins after getting hot for a while after their horrid start to the season are coming off a 3-0 shutout loss in Jersey on Saturday. The Flyers ended a three game losing streak on Saturday with a 5-4 overtime win against the Blue Jackets. I’d slightly lean the Penguins win at home and the over, but I’m not touching this game.
Blue Jackets vs. Canadiens (7:00)
Horrible matchup between two of the four worst teams in the East. The Blue Jackets have just two wins in their last eleven games, coming off a 5-4 overtime loss in Philly on Saturday. They had points this season of showing solid signs and being a pain in the ass to play against, but that’s not the case right now by any means. The Habs are on a three game win streak right now, coming off two wins agains the Red Wings back to back in a home and home on Friday and Saturday after beating the Sabres 6-1 on Tuesday. Montreal won both previous games between these teams this year, winning 5-1 at home and then 4-3 in overtime on the road. I’d slightly lean the Jackets avoid the season sweep with a win here at home, but I’m not touching it. I do like the over though with both defenses being horrendous, but I don’t like it enough to bet at 6.5 and don’t see it worth the -145 on the alternate line of 6, so I’l lay off this game completely.
Islanders vs. Sabres (7:30)
Will the Buffalo Sabres make it 14 straight losses? My pathetic team made it lucky number 13 losses in a row on Saturday, losing 3-1 late to the Bruins on the road on Saturday (always easy wins). This team’s a horrendous joke of a franchise from ownership down and Terry Pegula needs to sell this fucking team. The Islanders haven’t been great, but have played okay recently with four wins in their last seven games, coming off a surprising 6-3 win in Toronto on Saturday. The Isles have dominated the Sabres historically for years now and will look to complete the season sweep tonight after winning 4-3 in Buffalo and then 3-0 in a shutout at home in November. I fully expect another Islanders win as Buffalo makes it 14 losses in a row. I’ll take the Isles for a unit. I considered the puck line too, but I’ll just stick with the moneyline. I’d lean the over, but I’m not touching that.
Predators vs. Hurricanes (8:00)
This is a pretty terrible cross conference matchup. The Predators have been playing their best hockey lately, with a 3-1-1 record in their last five games but have been absolutely horrendous this year, at the very bottom of the NHL standings after high expectations in the offseason. Biggest disappointment of the year, bar none. They’re coming off a 3-2 overtime win on Saturday afternoon against the Kings. The Hurricanes area pretty solid team. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 3-1 win in MSG in the early game yesterday, in third place in the Metro with five wins in their last eight games. Even in the second half of a back to back on the road, I like Carolina to win here and I’ll take the Canes for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Wild vs. Blackhawks (8:00)
Huge mismatch in the Central Division. The Wild have been very good this season, in second place in the division but they’re in a big slump right now. As Foligno said though, it could be worse, they could be the Sabres. They’re on a four game losing streak, coming off a 5-0 shutout loss in Winnipeg. This should be a great get right spot for them with the lowly Blackhawks coming to town. Chicago’s one of the worst teams in the NHL and had a three game win streak come to an end on Saturday with a 6-4 loss in Calgary. These teams split their first two games this year, with the Blackhawks winning 2-1 in overtime at home and then the Wild winning 3-2 at home. I like the Wild to end the losing streak with a win at home tonight and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit.
Canucks vs. Sharks (9:00)
This is a pretty bad mismatch in the Pacific Division in a game that’s quite boring to me. The Canucks have been decent on the season but have struggled recently. Coming off a 5-4 loss at home to the Senators on Saturday, they’re on a three game losing streak with just two wins in their last eight games. San Jose is one of the worst teams in the league, on a four game losing streak after forcing overtime yet losing 3-2 to the Oilers on Saturday afternoon (loss on my Edmonton puck line there). They have just one win in their last eight games. Vancouver won the first game between these teams 3-2 on the road early in November. I like the Canucks to get right with a win at home here and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I think the total’s a complete toss up.
Utah HC vs. Stars (9:00)
I think this is actually a pretty fun Central Division matchup as both of these teams are tied in the standings. Utah is in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 5-4 shootout loss that let me down against the Ducks yesterday, but they’re on an eight game point streak with an 8-1-3 record in their last twelve games. The Stars are underperforming quite a bit as of late, coming off losses to the Rangers and Toronto. Dallas won the first game between these teams 2-1 on the road earlier this month. I do think the Stars are the much more talented team here and I’ll take them for half a unit, especially with Utah in the second half of a back to back. I’d lean the under but not quite enough to bet it.
Golden Knights vs. Ducks (10:00)
Pretty huge mismatch for the night cap to go into the Christmas break. The Vegas Golden Knights have been spectacular and my pick to win the Stanley Cup. Especially at home in the Fortress they’ve been incredible, with a 13-3 record at T-Mobile Arena. Coming off a 6-2 win against the Kraken on Saturday, Vegas has an 11-2-1 record in their last 14 games. They should have a pretty easy matchup tonight against the lowly Ducks. Anaheim has played decently lately with three wins in their last four games, in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 5-4 shootout win in Utah last night. The Knights will look to complete the season sweep tonight after three wins already between these teams with a 3-1 win at home in October, then 3-2 on the road in November, and 4-1 on the road earlier this month. I love the Knights to head into the break with a nice win and I’ll take their puck line for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
1.5u Devils in regulation (-160)
.5u Maple Leafs/Jets over 5.5 (-135)
.5u Capitals ML (+110)
1u Islanders ML (-155)
.5u Hurricanes ML (-122)
.5u Wild in regulation (-145)
1u Canucks in regulation (-175)
.5u Stars ML (-162)
1u Golden Knights -1.5 (-125)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 228-189-10 (-15.81 units)
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