I went into the Christmas break on Monday with a nice profitable 6-3 day on the NHL, winning 2.34 units. After a couple days off, tonight we have pretty good eight game slate to get back in the swing of hockey, let’s win!
Sabres vs. Blackhawks (7:00)
Horrendous cross conference matchup to get tonight’s slate started between two of the worst teams in the NHL. Going into the break my Sabres finally ended their 13 game losing streak with a big and very much needed 7-1 win against the Isles on Long Island. This team’s horrendous from top down. The Blackhawks are pretty much just as brutal. They’ve lost their last two, coming off losses in Calgary and Minnesota after going on a surprising three game win streak. Buffalo won the first game between these teams 4-2 on the road in October. I’d say this one’s a complete toss up and not a chance I’d even considered betting the side on this game. I do like the over though since neither team can keep the puck out of their own net, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Red Wings vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
This isn’t the best Atlantic Division matchup. Yesterday the Red Wings fired head coach Derek Lalonde, hiring Todd McLellan as their new bench boss. They’ve had a terrible season, only better than the Sabres in the East. They come into tonight on a three game losing streak with just three wins in their last twelve games. The Leafs went into the break off two losses in a row, losing 5-2 to the Jets on Monday night at home. They have been very good this season though, just two points behind Florida to lead the division. These teams split their first two games, both winning at home, a 3-1 Toronto win in November and a 4-2 Detroit win earlier this month. The new coach situation does concern me a bit, but I like the Maple Leafs to win this one on the road, and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet on.
Devils vs. Hurricanes (7:00)
Fantastic matchup here between two of the top three teams in the Metro Division. Both of these teams have been fantastic this season. The Devils are coming off two shutout wins in a row at home, blanking the Rangers 5-0 on Monday after a 3-0 win against the Penguins. They lead the Eastern Conference with just one loss in their last six games. The Hurricanes went into the break off a 5-2 loss in Nashville on Monday, but have been pretty solid on the season. These teams split their first two games, each winning 4-2 at home. I’d slightly lean the Devils in this game but not enough to bet it. I’d also lean the under, but with both previous games getting six goals, the best move on this matchup is no bets at all, so I’ll just stay off this game entirely. Should be a fun one to watch.
Blue Jackets vs. Bruins (7:00)
This is a boring, lousy Eastern Conference matchup. The Blue Jackets have been pretty bad this season. They’ve shown signs of being a decent, pain in the ass team to play against at times this season but overall it’s been a bad year for them. They did go into the Christmas break with a three game point streak off a 5-4 win at home against Montreal on Monday, yet have just three wins in their last twelve games. The Bruins have been pretty solid since making their coaching change, two points ahead of Tampa for the third spot in the Atlantic. They went into the break on a five game point streak with four wins in their last five games, coming off a 4-1 win on Monday against the Caps. Columbus dominated the first game between these teams with a 5-1 win on the road in Boston back in November. I like the B’s to answer back here and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Blues vs. Predators (8:00)
This isn’t a great Central Division matchup as neither of these teams have been good. The Blues went into the break with a 4-0 shutout win in Detroit on Monday that ended a three game losing streak for them, just their second win in their last seven games. The Preds have easily been the biggest disappointment of this season as one of the worst teams in the NHL. They did go into the break hot though, on a four game point streak with three wins in their last four games, coming off Monday’s 5-2 upset at home over the Hurricanes. I’d lean the Blues win here at home and slightly lean the under, but I’m not betting this game.
Stars vs. Wild (8:00)
I’d expect this to be a really good matchup tonight between two solid playoff teams in the Central Division. The Stars haven’t played their best hockey as of late, with a 4-5 record in their last nine games to go into the break, coming off a 3-2 win in Utah on Monday. The Wild were on a big slump of their own, ending a four game losing streak on Monday night with a 4-3 win against the Blackhawks at home. The first game between these teams was close, with the Stars winning 2-1 in Minnesota in November. Although the record is better for Minnesota, I think Dallas is the more talented team here and I’d lean they win at home. I don’t like it enough to bet at the -205 though. I do like the under though and I’ll lay the -150 on the alternate under of 6 for half a unit.
Utah HC vs. Avalanche (9:30)
This Central Division matchup should be pretty fun with both of these teams playing pretty well lately. Both of the first two games between these teams were blowouts, with the road team dominating both of them, a 5-1 win for the Avs and a 4-1 win for Utah. Utah’s eight game point streak ended on Monday with a 3-2 loss to the Stars at home after a solid 6-0-2 run. The Avalanche went into the break hot, on a three game win streak after a 5-2 win at home against the Kraken last Saturday, with just two losses in their last nine games. I’d lean Colorado wins on the road and the over in this matchup, but not enough to bet either coming off the Christmas break.
Sharks vs. Golden Knights (10:30)
Pretty lousy Pacific Division rivalry game here with a big mismatch between the top team in the NHL standings and one of the worst teams in the league. The Golden Knights went into the break on a four game win streak with a 3-1 win on Monday against the Ducks to put them in first overall in the NHL. The Knights have just one loss in their last nine games and have played fantastic on both ends of the ice. San Jose on the other hand are one of the worst teams in the NHL, on a five game losing streak after a 4-3 loss in Vancouver on Monday with just one win in their last nine games. Vegas dominated the first matchup between these teams, winning in a 7-3 blowout at home back in October. I fully expect another similar result here. I’ll take the Golden Knights in regulation for 2 units.
Game Bets
.5u Sabres/Blackhawks over 6 (-108)
1u Maple Leafs ML (-155)
1u Bruins ML (-162)
.5u Stars/Wild under 6 (-150)
2u Golden Knights in regulation (-160)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 234-192-10 (-13.47 units)
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A Town's Zone 