After my monster Tuesday sweep on the NHL, losing day of hockey for me last night, going 2-2 with the Avs playing a dud to lose 1.36 units. Big ten game slate tonight, let’s crush it!
Senators vs. Sabres (7:00)
Pretty lousy game in the Atlantic Division since both of these teams suck. The Senators come into tonight on a three game losing streak after a 3-2 overtime loss in Detroit on Tuesday night, and have just one win in their last six games after they had gone on a run of just one loss in their prior nine games. My Sabres are coming off an impressive 4-3 shootout win against the Capitals at home on Monday night, actually playing solid hockey from start to finish for a change to end a three game losing streak. We’re still a brutal team though and that was just our fourth win in our last 20 games. Buffalo dominated the first game between these teams early in November, with a 5-1 victory at home. I like the Sens to answer back here at home and I’ll take Ottawa for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I don’t think it’s worth betting.
Lightning vs. Bruins (7:00)
Interesting matchup for the two teams battling for third place in the Atlantic Division, with the Bolts leading by a point. Both of these teams are struggling right now. The Lightning are coming off a big 3-2 win against the Hurricanes on Tuesday night with Brayden Point ending their four game losing streak with 52 seconds left in regulation. They have been fantastic on both ends of the ice statistically this season though. The Bruins are on a lousy downward skid, on a five game losing streak after getting shut out 4-0 at home by the Oilers on Tuesday. I think Tampa’s the better team here and I’ll take them to win this one at home. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Rangers vs. Devils (7:00)
The Battle of the Hudson is usually a fun matchup but there’s absolutely zero interest in this game tonight. Both previous games between these teams this season in December were complete blowouts with the Devils winning 5-1 on the road in MSG and then shut out the Rags 5-0 at home. The Rangers are in complete disarray as a franchise and have been awful with just six wins in their last 23 games. They’re coming off blowing a 3-0 lead in the first eleven minutes of Tuesday’s game at home to the Stars, then gave up the game tying goal with 2:39 left to go in regulation before losing 5-4 in overtime. The Devils have been a very good this season, very comfortably in second place in the Metro. They ended a four game losing streak with a 3-2 win in Seattle on Monday night. I like Jersey to win this one pretty easily at home tonight. I’ll take them for a unit along with half a unit on the puck line. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Flyers vs. Stars (7:00)
This cross conference matchup isn’t a very good one by any means. The Flyers suck. They’re on a three game losing streak after two 3-2 losses to Toronto in a row in a home and home, and they have just three wins in their last ten games. Dallas is on a roll right now. Coming off a 5-4 overtime win in comeback fashion against the Rangers on Tuesday, they’re on a five game win streak and seven game point streak. This should be an easy win to keep that run going for Dallas. I’ll take the Stars for a unit. I’d lean the under, but I’m not betting it.
Penguins vs. Oilers (7:00)
There’s a lot of star power in this game, but it’s still a pretty lousy mismatch for this cross conference game. The Penguins have been pretty terrible this season. Coming off a 4-3 shootout loss at home to the Blue Jackets on Thursday (big third period to hit my over in that game), they’re on a four game losing streak but have picked up at least a point in nine of their last twelve games. Edmonton is playing at a whole other level than them though, on a four game win streak with a 15-3-1 record in their last 19 games, coming off shutting out the Bruins 4-0 on the road in Boston on Tuesday. The Oilers shut out the Pens 4-0 at home in October and I like them to put together a similar result tonight on the road in Pittsburgh. My favorite play here is the Oilers team total over 3.5, which I’ll take for a unit along with half a unit on them to win in regulation. I’d lean the over, but I’ll just stick to the Oilers side of this game.
Blue Jackets vs. Kraken (7:00)
Lousy cross conference matchup that I guess could be a decent game. Both of these teams are pretty terrible. The Blue Jackets have been such an inconsistent team. At times they’re horrendous while at other points are a pain in the ass for teams to play against. Right now they’re playing decent with a 6-2-1 record in their last nine games, coming off a 4-3 shootout win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The Kraken have been even worse, really struggling to score. They’re on a three game losing streak, only better than the Sharks in the Pacific, and have just two wins in their last ten games, coming off a 3-2 loss at home to the Devils on Monday. Seattle won the first game between these teams 5-2 in November at home. I’d very slightly lean Columbus wins this one as a home dog, but I’m definitely not betting it. I’d also lean the over, but this isn’t a game that’s worth betting on. I’ll lay off it entirely.
Hurricanes vs. Maple Leafs (7:30)
Really solid matchup between these two Eastern Conference teams, both firmly in playoff spots right now. The Canes are in third place in the Metro, coming off a 3-2 loss, giving up a late goal to the Lightning on the road on Tuesday. They have just three wins in their last eight games. The Leafs are on fire, leading the Atlantic Division as they come into tonight on a five game win streak after 3-2 wins in both legs of a home and home with Philly. I’d lean Toronto wins this one on the road and think there’s value on them as a dog on the road, as I think the Canes should be closer to like a -125ish not -170. I’d also lean the under but I think the best move on this game is staying off it completely.
Blues vs. Ducks (8:00)
Not the best Western Conference game here. I’m not sold on either of these teams being all that good, but they’re both playing pretty well lately. The Blues are coming off two 6-4 losses on the road against the Wild and Blue Jackets but had four wins in the prior five games. The Ducks were brutal to start the year, but have been much better lately with a 4-1-1 record in their last six games, coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at home against Calgary on Tuesday night. I like the Blues to win this one at home, but I think the price is too inflated with it at -200 and I don’t trust them enough to bet the regulation line. I’d also lean the over, but statistically that doesn’t line up much. I will stay off this game as well.
Wild vs. Avalanche (8:00)
This game should be an awesome potential preview of a first round playoff matchup in the Central Division. Minnesota’s been spectacular this season. Coming off a huge three goal third period in an awesome game on Tuesday to beat the Blues 6-4 at home, they’re on a four game win streak with six wins in their last seven games. The Avalanche are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a complete dud of a game last night, taking their first regulation loss in their last nine games with a 3-1 loss in Chicago, just their second loss in that span (giving me my only two losses in the last two days). Colorado has the edge offensively, while the Wild do defensively. I’d slightly lean the Wild win this one at home with the Avs in the second half of a back to back, but I could also see the Avalanche try to bounce back hard from last night’s game and get the road win here. I’ll stay off the side. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Golden Knights vs. Islanders (10:00)
Horrible cross conference mismatch to end the night. The Golden Knights are the best team in the NHL and my pick to win the Stanley Cup. This team’s incredible, on both ends of the ice. They’re on a three game win streak with just two losses in their last 15 games, coming off a 4-2 win in San Jose, capped off with some fantastic play by Mark Stone at the end of the game to complete my sweep with his setup on the empty netter. The Islanders on the other hand are horrendous this year, at the bottom of the Metro Division with just three wins in their last nine games, struggling especially offensively. I like Vegas to win this one pretty easily at the Fortress where they’re 17-4. I’ll take the Golden Knights at home for 1.5 units, along with another half unit on the puck line. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it since I don’t see the Isles scoring much.
Game Bets
.5u Senators ML (-155)
.5u Lightning ML (-170)
1u Devils ML (-162)
.5u Devils -1.5 (+160)
1u Stars ML (-155)
1u Oilers TT over 3.5 (-132)
.5u Oilers in regulation (-130)
.5u Avalanche/Wild over 5.5 (-130)
1.5u Golden Knights ML (-180)
.5u Golden Knights -1.5 (+145)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 280-231-10 (-14.28 units)
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