Losing night for me yesterday on the NHL, thanks to my Sabres beating the Caps in a shootout, going 1-2 to lose 1.82 units. Tonight we have a big ten game slate, let’s bounce back!
Bruins vs. Oilers (7:00)
Not the best cross conference matchup to start off the night between these likely playoff teams. The Bruins are in a slump right now. Coming off a 5-4 overtime loss at home to the Islanders on Sunday, they’re on a four game losing streak but still hold the third place spot in the Atlantic with a three point lead over the Lightning. Their offense has struggled all year. The Oilers on the other hand are playing great right now. They come into tonight on a three game win streak after a 4-2 win in Seattle on Saturday and have an impressive 14-3-1 record in their last 18 games. Edmonton needed overtime but got a 3-2 win at home in the first game between these teams a few weeks ago. I’d expect another Oilers win here on the road and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Red Wings vs. Senators (7:00)
Not a great Atlantic Division matchup as these two teams sit at the bottom of the standings separated by just two points, both only better than the Buffalo Sabres. The Red Wings have been awful but come into tonight on a four game win streak after an impressive 4-2 victory in Winnipeg on Saturday. The Senators were on a hot streak but have cooled down with just one win in their last five games after a six game win streak. Ottawa won the first game between these teams 2-1 on December 5th. I’d very slightly lean the Sens win this one again on the road and would slightly lean the under, but I’m not touching this game.
Rangers vs. Stars (7:00)
Going into the season this would’ve looked like a hell of a cross conference matchup but the Rangers blow, which makes this a pretty lousy game. The Rangers have been awful, tied with the Islanders at the bottom of the Metro Division. They do have two wins in their last three games, coming off a 6-2 win in Chicago on Sunday afternoon, which really doesn’t mean much against the worst team in the NHL. They have just six wins in their last 22 games. Brutal. The Stars have played well this season and come into tonight on a four game win streak and six game point streak off a 3-2 overtime win against Utah on Saturday. The Rags actually did win the first game between these teams 3-1 a couple weeks ago, which makes me like Dallas on the road here even more to answer back. I’ll take the Stars for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Penguins vs. Blue Jackets (7:00)
Terrible Metro Division matchup that could be a fun game. Both of these teams suck and are separated by just a point in the standings. The Penguins are coming off two overtime losses in a row (both that I lost on since I had their opponents in regulation) and are on a three game losing streak with just one win in their last five games, coming off a 4-3 OT loss in Carolina on Sunday. The Blue Jackets have been very inconsistent this year. At times they are a pain in the ass for good teams to play against while at other points they look horrible. They’re coming off a 6-4 win against the Blues at home on Saturday and have a 5-2-1 record in their last eight games. Columbus dominated the first game between these teams in November, winning 6-2 at home. I think the Pens are the better team here, but the Jackets are playing better, making the side on this game a complete toss up to me, which I’m not touching from a betting perspective. I do like the over though, since both teams can score but neither can keep the puck out of there own net, so I’ll take that for half a unit.
Lightning vs. Hurricanes (7:00)
Pretty interesting matchup in the East between these two likely playoff teams. The Lightning are struggling right now and keep costing me a ton of money lately, coming into tonight on a four game losing streak after a 4-1 loss in Anaheim on Sunday. They’re now three points back from Boston for third in the Atlantic but only ahead of everyone else by a few points. The Hurricanes are playing pretty well, comfortably in third place in the Metro. They let me down needing overtime against the Penguins on Sunday in a 4-3 win at home, and have a 3-1-1 record in their last five games. The Bolts won the first game between these teams 4-1 on the road in the first week of the season. I feel like Tampa has to figure it out eventually and although I’d lean Carolina wins this game, the Lightning coming home from this awful California road trip makes me stay off it. I’d lean the under in this matchup, but my move here is no play at all.
Flyers vs. Maple Leafs (7:30)
This isn’t the greatest game for the second half of a home and home between these teams. They just played in Toronto on Sunday night, with the Leafs cashing in for me on their 3-2 overtime win on Morgan Reilly’s game winner. Philly’s been a pretty lousy team with just three wins in their last ten games, struggling on both ends of the ice. The Maple Leafs have been quite good this season on both ends of the ice. They’re leading the Atlantic Division with a four point lead over Florida and are on a four game win streak. I like that trend to continue here and I’ll take Toronto for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Wild vs. Blues (8:00)
This is a fun rivalry matchup in the Central and both of these teams are playing pretty well right now. Minnesota’s been very good this year, just two points back from the Jets to lead the Central. They’re on a three game win streak, coming home from a 4-0 shutout win in Carolina on Saturday with five wins in their last six games. This team’s elite defensively. The Blues are in the Wild Card mix, and playing pretty solid right now after a slow first half of the season. They’re coming off a 6-4 loss in Columbus on Saturday but have four wins in their last six games. The Wild are 2-0 so far against the Blues, winning 4-1 and 4-2 on the road and I like them to beat St. Louis again at home tonight. I’ll take Minnesota for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Jets vs. Predators (8:00)
This is a pretty horrible Central Division matchup. Despite being on a three game losing skid, the Jets still lead the division and have played great this season. They’re coming off a 4-2 loss at home to the Red Wings on Saturday. Winnipeg’s been elite on both ends of the ice. The Predators on the other hand have been a complete disappointment all season as they’re only better than the Blackhawks. They do come into tonight on a two game win streak, coming off a 3-0 shutout win on Friday in Vancouver and a 4-1 win in Calgary on Saturday, and have a 5-3-1 record in their last nine games. These teams split their first two games with the Preds winning 4-1 at home in November and the Jets answering back with a 3-0 shutout win at home at the end of December. I like the Jets to get right here and get a win at home tonight. I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Ducks vs. Flames (10:00)
Quite the lousy Pacific Division matchup to get into the late games. The Ducks have been awful on the season but are playing really well right now. Coming off a 4-1 win at home against the Lightning on Sunday to bounce back from a loss in Edmonton on Thursday, and they have four wins in their last five games. The Flames aren’t great. They’re coming off losses to the Preds and Utah and haven’t impressed with just six wins in their last 18 games. Calgary’s the better team here but it’s tough to bet against the way Anaheim’s played lately, but I think the best play is to stay off the side here. I do like the under though at 6.5, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Sharks vs. Golden Knights (10:30)
Giant mismatch for tonight’s nightcap in the Pacific Division. The Sharks are coming off two wins in a row after an eight game losing streak, beating Tampa on Thursday and following it up with a 3-2 win over the Devils on Saturday. Make no mistake though off those two games, this team’s brutal on both ends of the ice and had just one win in their previous twelve games. The Vegas Golden Knights on the other hand have been spectacular and my pick to win the Cup this season looks great. They lead the NHL and have been elite on both ends of the ice, with a 16-3-1 record in their last 20 games, coming off a dominant win against my Sabres on Saturday night at home, where Eichel recorded two points against his former team. The Knights dominated the first two games between these teams, winning 7-3 at home in October and 6-3 on the road on the 27th. I love Vegas tonight on the road here to complete the sweep of the season series against their once rival team. I’ll take them in regulation and their team total over 3.5 for a unit each. I’d lean the over, since Vegas could hit that 6.5 by themselves but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
1u Oilers ML (-155)
1u Stars ML (-166)
.5u Penguins/Blue Jackets over 6.5 (-115)
1u Maple Leafs ML (-142)
.5u Wild ML (-130)
1u Jets ML (-166)
.5u Flames/Ducks under 6.5 (-115)
1u Golden Knights in regulation (-170)
1u Golden Knights TT over 3.5 (-150)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 269-229-10 (-20.42 units)
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