Brutal night for me on the NHL yesterday, going 4-6 to lose 5.08 units. Terrible with some big upsets. Tonight we have a five game slate with some good matchups to bounce back on.
Panthers vs. Penguins (7:00)
Big mismatch here in the East to get the night started. The Panthers have been one of the best teams in the East this season and my pick to go to the Cup Finals out of the East once again. They let me down last night though with a 3-1 loss at home to the Hurricanes, a double loser since I also had the over, and have just one win in their last four games. The Penguins stink this season, but they have been playing better for the last month or so, with ten wins in their last 16 games, coming off a 4-2 loss in Detroit on Tuesday night. Pittsburgh did surprisingly win the first game between these teams 5-4 in overtime at home a month ago. Even in the second half of a back to back, I like the Panthers to answer back here, and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I also like the over at just 5.5, so I’ll go right back to it for half a unit.
Blackhawks vs. Canadiens (8:00)
This is a pretty bad cross conference matchup. The Blackhawks are the worst team in the NHL, on a five game losing streak coming off the 6-2 loss outdoors in the Winter Classic on New Year’s Eve and have just four wins in their last 16 teams. This team blows. Montreal was pretty bad to start the year as well, but they’re playing way better as of late. They’re on a three game win streak coming off a shocking 3-2 win in Vegas on Tuesday and have just one loss in their last seven games. I’ll take the Habs for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’m not touching it.
Blues vs. Senators (8:00)
Interesting matchup here as both of these teams started the season quite lousy, but have since caught fire and are playing good hockey on both ends of the ice. The Blues have won three of their last four games, coming off a 6-2 blowout outdoors in the Winter Classic on Tuesday. The Sens are in the second half of back to back tonight coming off a 4-2 loss in Dallas last night, and after going on a six game win streak, they’ve sent one just one out of their last four games. Ottawa dominated the first game between these teams at home back in October, winning an 8-1 blowout. I’d slightly lean the Blues win this one at home and would also lean the over but not enough to bet on either. I’ll lay off this game completely.
Oilers vs. Ducks (9:00)
Huge mismatch in this Pacific Division game and the price on this game reflects that with Oilers coming in as a gigantic -550 favorite. Edmonton’s been on fire recently with a 12-3-1 record in their last 16 games, coming off a 4-1 win at home against Utah to close out 2024. One of those regulation losses came in a shocker in the first game between these teams with the Ducks winning 5-3 at home last Sunday. Anaheim’s been pretty terrible on the season, but they’ve been decent lately, on a three game win streak coming off a 4-3 overtime win in Winnipeg last night, and they have six wins in their last nine games. I like the Oilers to answer back here and although its tough to bet this game with the prices across the board, I’ll take their puck line for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Canucks vs. Predators (10:00)
Pretty lousy Western Conference matchup to end the night, and the price on this game makes no sense to me whatsoever. The Canucks aren’t playing great right now. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 4-3 shootout win in Seattle last night, which was just their second win in their last seven games (although they have picked up at least a point in 14 of their last 19 games. The Preds have been the biggest disappointment in the league this season, with high expectations for them going into the year, but they’re one of the worst teams in the NHL. They come into tonight on a three game losing streak off a 5-3 loss to the Wild on the road on Tuesday and have just four wins in their last 17 games. I handicapped this game as pretty much a pick’em and would favor Vancouver at home, even with them in the second half of a back to back. I’d likely stay off that if that was the price on this game, but in no way should Nashville be a -190 favorite on the road. No fucking shot. I’ll take a half unit stab on the Canucks at that price. I’d lean the over, but I’m not touching that.
Game Bets
1u Panthers in regulation (-127)
.5u Panthers/Penguins over 5.5 (-130)
.5u Canadiens ML (-142)
.5u Oilers -1.5 (-175)
.5u Canucks ML (+160)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 261-216-10 (-16.23 units)
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A Town's Zone 