Brutal day on the NHL for me yesterday, losing my biggest plays to lead off a losing day, going 3-7-1 to lose 6.5 units. Today we have a decent five game slate, let’s bounce back.
Go Bills!
Red Wings vs. Kraken (3:00)
Pretty lousy cross conference matchup to start off the day, and it’s perfectly fine that they hid this one in the middle of NFL Wild Card Sunday. The Red Wings have been pretty terrible this season but come into today on a hot run, on a six game win streak following a 5-3 win at home against the Blackhawks on Friday night. The Kraken have been horrible this year and are in the second half of a back to back, coming back from a 2-0 deficit in the first period, scoring six times unanswered with four goals in the third period to beat my Sabres 6-2 on the road yesterday afternoon. That win ended a four game losing streak for Seattle, just their third win in their last twelve games. Especially with the Kraken in the second half of a back to back, I like the Red Wings to stay hot and get a win here. I’ll take them for half a unit. I like the over as well at 5.5, which I’ll also take for half a unit.
Senators vs. Stars (5:00)
This is a pretty big mismatch to me in this cross conference game, with both of these teams in the second half of back to backs coming off wins on the road yesterday. The Senators are struggling right now, but it didn’t look it last night as they shut out Pittsburgh 5-0 on the road to end a four game losing streak, just their second win in their last eight games. The Stars are on fire lately. Coming off a 2-1 shootout win in Montreal last night (cashing my Habs +1.5), they’re on a seven game win streak and in third place in the Central, essentially playing for seeding in the West. Dallas won the first game between these teams this season, 4-2 about a week and a half ago at home. I like the Stars to win this one again on the road and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Penguins vs. Lightning (5:00)
I don’t think this Eastern Conference matchup is great. Both of these teams are in slumps right now and both are in the second half of back to backs coming off losses yesterday. The Penguins have just one win in their last six games, getting shut out 5-0 at home yesterday by the Senators. They have hung in a lot of games lately though, picking up at least a point in 15 of their last 21 games. I think the Lightning are a very good team, but they have just two wins in their last seven games, losing 3-2 in overtime in Jersey last night. The Bolts needed overtime in the first game between these teams in November, winning 3-2 on the road. I expect a similar result tonight as Tampa’s the way more talented team here. I’ll take them for half a unit. The total’s a complete toss up to me.
Hurricanes vs. Ducks (5:00)
Huge cross conference mismatch here. The Hurricanes are comfortably in third place in the Metro Division, but have been inconsistent with a 5-4-1 record in their last nine games, coming off a 2-0 shutout win at home against Vancouver on Friday night. The Ducks are one of the worst teams in the NHL and are in the second half of a back to back tonight, on a three game losings streak after a 6-0 shutout loss in Philly last night (push on my under there). This should be a pretty easy win at home for Carolina and the books know that with the moneyline at -440. I’ll take a shot at the Canes puck line for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Golden Knights vs. Wild (8:00)
Really solid Western Conference matchup between these two playoff teams to end the night, and it’ll likely be the only game I watch today, on the second screen with Sunday Night Football when I get home from the Bills game. Both of these teams have had great seasons and are in the second half of back to backs tonight. The Golden Knights let me down big time two games in a row, putting up a dud of a game at home as they got shut out 4-0 by the Islanders on Tuesday and then losing 2-1 in a game they outplayed the Rangers in last night. They’re still my pick to win the Cup and just have three losses in their last eleven games. Minnesota’s having a great season too. Coming off a 3-1 win in San Jose last night, they have seven wins in their last nine games, comfortably in second place in the Central. Vegas won the first game between these teams 3-2 on the road in December. I think the Golden Knights are the better team here and have an edge on both ends of the ice, especially looking to bounce back from those two home losses in a row. I’d lean they win it at home tonight, but I don’t like it enough to bet the -170 on them. I’d also lean the over and really considered it, but I think the best play here is staying off it completely.
Game Bets
.5u Red Wings ML (-148)
.5u Red Wings/Kraken over 5.5 (-125)
1u Stars ML (-142)
.5u Lightning ML (-148)
.5u Hurricanes -1.5 (-155)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 287-246-11 (-27.2 units)
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A Town's Zone 