I got reverse swept on the NHL last night for my second lousy day of hockey in a row, going 0-5 to lose 4.01 units. Not great. Today we have a big twelve game slate with an early start. Gotta bounce back!
Capitals vs. Rangers (12:00)
Pretty lousy matchup in the Metro to start the day. The Rangers are coming off a 2-1 win against the Bruins on Thursday that ended their four game losing streak, just their fifth win in their last 20 games. The whole franchise is in complete disarray. The Caps have been fantastic, leading the Eastern Conference. They’re coming off a 4-3 shootout loss at home against the Wild on Thursday. Washington won the first game between these teams 5-3 back in October and I expect a similar result here today to get the day started in our nation’s capital. I’ll take the Capitals for a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Sharks vs. Devils (4:00)
Huge cross conference mismatch in this one. The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the NHL but shocked me on Thursday night, ending an eight game losing streak with a 2-1 win at home over the Lightning. The Devils on the other hand are one of the top teams in the East but let me down in each of their last two games in California, losing 3-0 to the Kings on New Year’s Day and 3-2 to the Ducks the night before, coming into tonight on a three game losing streak. San Jose won the first game between these teams with a 1-0 shutout in Jersey on November 10th. I really like the Devils to answer back with a win here on the road. I’ll take their puck line for a half a unit. I’d very slightly lean the under, but didn’t even consider the total in this matchup.
Jets vs. Red Wings (7:00)
Not a great cross conference matchup here. The Jets won the first game between these teams easily, with a 6-2 win in Detroit back in October. Winnipeg’s coming off two losses in a row after a 4-3 overtime loss to the Ducks at home on Thursday, but still lead the NHL standings. The Red Wings are on a three game win streak, coming off a 5-4 win in Columbus on Thursday but sit only above the Sabres in the Atlantic Division. I expect another easy win for the Jets here and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I like the over as well, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins (7:00)
It’s always fun when these two Atlantic Division rivals meet. They split their first two games this season, with the Bruins winning the first 4-3 in overtime at home and the Leafs answering back with a 4-0 shutout at home. Toronto’s coming off two wins in a row against the Isles in a home and home and are tied with Florida to lead the Atlantic. The Bruins are right behind them in third place, coming off two losses in a row after falling in a surprising 2-1 loss in MSG to the Rangers on Thursday. I’d lean the Leafs and the under in this matchup, but I’m not betting it. This is a matchup that’s best to just stay off during the regular season.
Hurricanes vs. Wild (7:00)
This should be an awesome cross conference matchup between two pretty solid teams. Carolina’s comfortably in third place in the Metro Division, coming off a solid 3-1 win (double loser for me) in Florida on Thursday. The Wild are coming off a big 4-3 shootout win in DC on Thursday and have just one loss in their last five games, in second place in the Central Division. Both of these teams have been pretty solid this season. I’d give the edge offensively by quite a bit to the Canes here at home, but I think the price is too inflated at -195 to bet them. I’d also lean the over, but I think the best play on this game is nothing at all.
Blue Jackets vs. Blues (7:00)
Not a great matchup but this could be an interesting game as both of these teams have played pretty well lately. The Blue Jackets haven’t been good for most points of this year, but they’ve been pretty decent lately with a 4-2-1 record in their last seven games, coming off a close 5-4 loss at home to the Red Wings on Thursday. The Blues are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 4-0 shutout win at home against the Senators after a dominant 6-2 win in the Winter Classic on Tuesday, and have four wins in their last five games. Even in the second half of a back to back, I’d lean St. Louis wins this one. I’d also lean the over, but I’m not betting this game whatsoever.
Avalanche vs. Canadiens (7:00)
A month ago I would’ve said that this game is a huge cross conference mismatch, but with the way the Habs have played as of late, this actually might be a really solid game. The Avalanche have a point lead over Dallas for third place in the Central Division as they come into tonight on a six game win streak with just two losses in their last twelve games. They’re coming off a 6-5 win at home in overtime against my Sabres on Thursday where they came back from a 3-0, 4-2, a 5-3 deficit (with 2:26 remaining in regulation) after Jonathan Drouin tied the game up to force overtime with just eight seconds left before Devon Toews ended it 48 seconds into OT. The Habs looked like one of the worst teams in the NHL for most of the season but have caught fire lately, on an impressive 6-2 run. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight after they had a three game win streak on the road against Florida, Tampa, and Vegas end last night, taking a 4-2 loss in Chicago. I’d lean the Avs win this one at home, but at -300 with the way Montreal’s played, I’m staying off the side in this matchup. If anything there’s value on the Canadiens at +250, but the best move is skipping it. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Stars vs. Utah HC (8:00)
This Central Division matchup isn’t great. The Stars come into tonight on a three game win streak and five game point streak, a point behind the Avs for third place in the Central, coming off a 4-2 win at home against Ottawa on Thursday. Utah has struggled lately, ending a five game losing streak with a 5-3 win in Calgary on Thursday night. Dallas won both road games previously against Utah in December, 2-1 and then 3-2. I’d expect that trend to continue here with them at home. I’ll lay the -180 on Dallas at home for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Kings vs. Lightning (9:00)
Quite the interesting cross conference matchup here. The Kings are playing well, tied with the Oilers for second place in the Pacific Division. They’re on a three game win streak, coming off shutting out the Devils in a 3-0 win at home on the only game on New Year’s Day. The Lightning crushed me on Thursday, taking a 2-1 loss on the road to the Sharks. Prior to their two losses in a row, they had been playing great, with six wins in their prior seven games before Sunday’s 5-2 loss to the Habs at home. This game’s a complete toss up to me. I think Tampa’s the better team but with LA at home I’ll lay off the side. I’d also lean the under slightly but not enough to bet that either. I’ll lay off this game completely.
Flames vs. Predators (10:00)
Terrible Western Conference game to start the 10:00 slate. The Flames are playing alright lately but haven’t been a great team. Coming off a 5-3 loss at home to Utah on Thursday they have a 4-2-2 record in their last eight games. The Predators have been a terrible disappointment all season and are in the second half of a back to back tonight, ending a three game losing streak with a 3-0 shutout win in Vancouver last night. Calgary won the first two games between these teams with a 2-0 shutout win at home in November and a 4-3 win on the road in Smashville in December. I’d lean the Flames complete the season sweep here at home and I’d lean the over very slightly, but not a chance in hell I’m betting on this game.
Kraken vs. Oilers (10:00)
Pretty lousy matchup in the Pacific. The Kraken are on a three game point streak, coming off a 4-3 shootout loss at home to the Canucks on Thursday, but have struggled with just two wins in their last eight games. The Oilers have been very good, with a 13-3-1 record in their last 17 games, surging to a tie with LA for second place in the division. Edmonton’s the way better team here and I like them to win this one on the road. I know its pricy at -192, but I’ll take the Oilers for a unit. I considered taking them in regulation but I’ll just lay the juice here. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet it at 6.5.
Golden Knights vs. Sabres (10:00)
My two favorite teams face off for quite the lousy cross conference mismatch to end the night. Vegas has been spectacular this season and they’re my pick to win the Stanley Cup, comfortably leading the Pacific Division. After a 3-2 loss at home to the Habs on Tuesday, they bounced back Thursday with a big 5-2 win at home against the Flyers. They’ve been on fire with just three regulation losses in their last 19 games. The Sabres on the other hand fucking blow. They blew 3-0, 4-2, 5-3 leads (with 2:26 remaining in regulation), giving up the tying goal to the Avs with eight seconds left before losing 6-5 in overtime on Thursday. Buffalo has just three wins in our last 17 games and we’re pathetic in every way. Vegas is the FAR better team here and I’ll take the Golden Knights in regulation for 1.5 units, along with Jack Eichel to score for half a unit against his former team. I’d lean the over on the game but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
1u Capitals ML (-170)
.5u Devils -1.5 (-142)
1u Jets in regulation (-130)
.5u Jets/Red Wings over 5.5 (-122)
.5u Avalanche/Canadiens over 6.5 (-118)
1u Stars ML (-180)
1u Oilers ML (-192)
1.5u Golden Knights in regulation (-135)
.5u Jack Eichel anytime goal (+140)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 261-221-10 (-20.24 units)
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