Really nice night for me on the NHL last night, going 4-1 to win 2.38 units coming out of the Christmas break. Today we have another big eleven game slate, let’s keep rolling!
Panthers vs. Canadiens (1:00)
Huge mismatch in the Atlantic Division to drop the puck on the day. The Panthers are one of the best teams in the East once again, at the top of the division and my pick to come out of the Eastern Conference for the third straight season. They went into the break off a 4-0 shutout loss at home against Tampa in the second half of a home and home for the Battle of Florida, ending a four game win streak. Florida has a 10-3-1 record in their last 14 games and have been really solid, especially offensively. The Habs have played pretty well lately. They’re still one of the worst teams in the East, but had a three game win streak come to an end with a 5-4 loss in Columbus on Monday. Florida’s by far the better team here and the books know that, with the Panthers coming in as huge -340 favorites. I’ll play this game with half a unit each on the Panthers puck line and their team total over 3.5. I like the over on the game as well, which I’ll take at the alternate line of 6 for half a unit as well.
Canucks vs. Kraken (4:00)
This Pacific Division matchup’s pretty boring and lousy. The Canucks haven’t been all that great recently despite being a decent team. They ended a three game losing streak with a 4-3 win at home against the Sharks on Monday, just their third win in their last nine games. The Kraken have been awful though, on a five game losing streak, all by multiple goals to go into the Christmas break. I like Vancouver to win this one at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d very slightly lean the under, but I think the total’s pretty close to a complete toss up on this one and I’m not touching it.
Ducks vs. Flyers (4:00)
Pretty awful cross conference game here and if it weren’t for the Cutter Gauthier drama no one would give a fuck about this matchup. The Ducks are one of the worst teams in the NHL, and although they have three wins in their last five games, coming off a 3-1 loss in Vegas on Monday, those are their only three wins in their last ten games. The Flyers have been just as brutal lately with just three wins in their last ten games as well, but with just one (in OT against the Blue Jackets) in their last five, going into the break with a 7-3 loss in Pittsburgh. I’d lean the Flyers win this game and would slightly lean the over, but no chance I’m betting this game at all. I’ll lay off it completely.
Kings vs. Oilers (4:00)
Pretty fun Pacific Division matchup here with these teams both in playoff spots and separated by just a point. The Kings have been solid this season, but went into the Christmas break with two wins in their last six games off a 3-1 loss in DC on Sunday after they had gone on a six game win streak prior. Their defense especially has been elite. The Oilers have been fantastic recently with just two losses in their last 13 games, and they look like a Cup contender again, coming into today on a three game win streak off a 3-1 win at home against the Sens last Sunday. I like the Oilers to win here on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under but not enough to bet it.
Blue Jackets vs. Bruins (7:00)
These teams just played yesterday and it wasn’t pretty for the Bruins, giving me my only loss on the slate as the Blue Jackets won 6-2 at home. That was the second big loss that Columbus has given the B’s this season as they beat the Bruins 5-1 back in November on the road in Boston. Overall this is a lousy matchup as the Bruins are the far better team. I like Boston to avoid the season sweep here and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Capitals vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
This should be a great game between two of the top teams in the East. The Capitals have been fantastic this season, comfortably in second place in the Metro Division. Ovechkin could be back in the lineup tonight for the Caps after missing a few weeks which should give them a nice boost. Although Washington has just two wins in their last five games, going into the break with a 4-1 loss in Boston on Monday, they have a 10-3-1 record in their last 14 games. The Leafs have been really solid as well. Last night they came out of the break with a 5-2 dominant win in Detroit, even with Auston Matthews out of the lineup. These teams split their first two games with the Leafs wining 4-3 in overtime in DC and the Caps answering back with a 3-1 win in Toronto. I’d slightly lean the Capitals win this one tonight on the road with Toronto in the second half of a back to back, especially if they get the greatest goal scorer of all time back, but I don’t like it enough to bet on. The total is a complete crap shoot to me with the Leafs trending over and the Caps trending under, so I’ll just lay off this one completely.
Lightning vs. Rangers (7:00)
Pretty terrible matchup in the East. The Lightning were rolling heading into the Christmas break. Coming off a bounce back 4-0 shutout win against the Panthers in the second half of a back to back home and home in the Battle of Florida, they’ve won five of their last six games and are playing great, especially offensively, as they lead the league in scoring. The Rangers on the other hand are in complete disarray, tanking down to a tie for last place in the Metro with the Islanders. After getting shut out 5-0 in Jersey on Monday, they have just four wins in their last 17 games. I love Tampa here at home and I’ll take them for 1.5 units along with half a unit on the puck line. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it. This feels like a 4-1 Bolts win.
Hurricanes vs. Devils (7:00)
Really solid Metro Division matchup for the second half of this back to back home and home between these two playoff teams for their last meeting of the regular season. All three previous games between these teams have been 4-2 wins for the home team, including last night in NJ. I’d slightly lean the Devils buck that trend tonight and win this one (probably 4-2) on the road tonight and I’d slightly lean the over, but just like last night, I’m not touching this game from a betting perspective.
Jets vs. Senators (7:00)
Pretty interesting cross conference Canadian matchup. The Jets are one of the top teams in the NHL. They went into the Christmas break with four wins in their last five games, coming off a 5-2 win in Toronto on Monday. The Sens have vaulted up the standings, playing good hockey as well. They had a six game win streak come to an end last Sunday with a 3-1 loss in Edmonton as Linus Ullmark is really shining in goal. I do think Winnipeg’s the better team here and I’ll take them at home for a unit. I’d lean the under, but with Ullmark out with a back injury for this road trip I’ll stay off it.
Islanders vs. Penguins (7:30)
This is a terrible Metro Division matchup. The Islanders have been awful, tied with the Rangers at the bottom of the division. They went into the Christmas break with just one win in their last four games, having the Sabres end their own 13 game losing streak with a 7-1 dominant performance on Long Island. The Penguins were brutal to start the season but have been decent lately, going into the break with a 9-3-1 record in their last 13 games off a 7-3 win against the rival Flyers on Monday. The first game between these teams needed a shootout to determine a winner, with the Isles winning it 4-3 at home back on November 5th. The side here is a complete toss up to me. I’d slightly lean the Pens win this one on the road, but I’m not touching it. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Sharks vs. Flames (10:00)
Terrible Pacific Division matchup to end the night. The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the NHL. After coming back from the Christmas break last night with a 6-3 loss at home to the Golden Knights, they’re now on a six game losing streak with just one win in their last ten games. Brutal on both ends of the ice. The Flames aren’t great, but they’re better than San Jose. They went into the break with a 6-4 win against the Blackhawks last Saturday but have just four wins in their last 13 games. With the Sharks in the second half of a back to back, I like the Flames to win here on the road. They still stink though, so I’m just sticking with half a unit at the -170. I also like the over, which I’ll take for half a unit as well.
Game Bets
.5u Panthers -1.5 (-122)
.5u Panthers TT over 3.5 (-165)
.5u Panthers/Canadiens over 6 (-135)
.5u Canucks ML (-130)
.5u Oilers ML (-135)
1u Bruins in regulation (-140)
1.5u Lightning ML (-175)
.5u Lightning -1.5 (+145)
1u Jets ML (-166)
.5u Islanders/Penguins over 6 (-105)
.5u Flames ML (-170)
.5u Flames/Sharks over 6 (-125)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 238-193-10 (-11.09 units)
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