With the Sabres beating the Canes somehow last night, I lost my only bet to drop 1.86 units. Following just two games yesterday, today we have a big 13 game NHL slate. Let’s get after it.
Maple Leafs vs. Devils (7:00)
This should be a fantastic game as both of these Eastern Conference playoff teams have been very good this season but come into tonight off losses. The Leafs are still leading the Atlantic but come into tonight on a three game losing streak off a 4-1 loss at home to the Stars on Tuesday. The Devils are comfortably in a playoff spot, in second place in the Metro but have been inconsistent lately and in a slump with just a 2-4-2 record in their last eight games, coming off a 2-1 shootout loss at home to Florida on Tuesday. Toronto won both previous games between these teams on the road, 4-2 in October and 2-1 in overtime in December. I’d slightly lean the Devils avoid the season sweep here and I’d slightly lean the under, but I’m not betting anything on this game.
Senators vs. Capitals (7:00)
I don’t think this is a great game in the East and I don’t understand why the price on it is a pick’em. After a slump of one win in the span of seven games, the Sens have since won their last three in a row, coming off a 2-0 shutout win on Long Island on Tuesday. The Capitals lead the Eastern Conference and have been fantastic this year. They’re coming off two wins in a row on an eight game point streak coming off a 3-0 shutout win at home against the Ducks on Tuesday. Washington’s the far better team here and I don’t see why this is a pick’em. I’ll take the Caps for a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Lightning vs. Ducks (7:00)
Big mismatch here. The Lightning have been very good this year, in third place in the Atlantic Division. They’re coming off a 6-2 loss in Boston on Tuesday that ended a four game point streak. Tampa’s been solid on both ends of the ice. The Ducks have been one of the worst teams in the league, with just one win in their last five games, coming off getting shut out 3-0 on the road in DC on Tuesday. Anaheim shockingly won the first game between these teams, winning 4-1 at home earlier this month. I like the Bolts to answer back here and I’ll take their puck line for half a unit. I’d lean the under, not expecting the Ducks to really score, but I’m not betting it.
Panthers vs. Red Wings (7:00)
Although these two Atlantic Division teams sit at opposite ends of the standings, this is quite the interesting game with the way they’ve both been playing lately. Florida’s been really solid once again this season but they’re in kind of a slump right now. The Cup Champs are coming off a 2-1 shootout win on the road in Jersey on Tuesday, just their fourth win in their last ten games. The Red Wings had a hell of a run come to an end on Tuesday, with a seven game winning streak ending with a 6-3 loss at home to the Sharks. The Panthers are still the way better team and I like them to win this one at home. I’ll take Florida in regulation for half a unit. I like the over as well, which I’ll also take for half a unit.
Blue Jackets vs. Sharks (7:00)
Not a great cross conference matchup. The Blue Jackets have been climbing the leaderboard and are right in the Wild Card mix in the East. Coming off a 3-2 shootout win at home against the Flyers on Tuesday, they have nine wins in their last twelve games. The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the NHL. They ended a three game losing streak with a 6-3 win in Detroit on Tuesday, just their fourth win in their last 18 games. San Jose won the first game between these teams in a snooze fest, 2-1 in overtime at home late in November. I like Columbus to answer back here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under with the total at 6.5, but I’m not touching it.
Islanders vs. Flyers (7:30)
Horrendous matchup here in the Metro Division. Both of these teams blow. The Islanders had a three game win streak come to an end, getting shut out 2-0 by the Senators on Tuesday and are the worst team in the Metro. The Flyers are on a three game point streak coming off a 3-2 shootout loss in Columbus on Tuesday, but have been only marginally better than the Isles. I’d lean Philly and the under in this game, but not a shot in hell I’m betting it.
Blues vs. Flames (8:00)
This is a pretty boring Western Conference matchup between two of the steams right in the Wild Card mix, so it’s actually an important game. These teams just played each other on Tuesday with the Blues winning 2-1 as they look to complete the season sweep tonight after getting a 4-3 overtime win on the road in the first meeting between them back on December 5th. That win on Tuesday was the sixth win in the last ten games for St. Louis. The loss ended a three game win streak for Calgary, and they have six wins in their last ten as well. I’d lean the Blues complete the season sweep at home and slightly lean the under, but I don’t think this game’s worth betting on. I’ll stay off it completely.
Predators vs. Blackhawks (8:00)
Horrible matchup between the two bottom teams in the Central Division. The Preds have been a huge disappointment this season and I expected them to be far better than they are. They’re coming off a surprising 5-3 win at home against the Golden Knights on Tuesday, but I still think this team sucks. The Blackhawks meanwhile are easily the worst team in the NHL. They’re on a three game losing streak coming off a 5-2 loss at home to the Flames on Monday, and have just two wins in their las televen games. The Predators won the firs game between these teams 3-2 on the road in Chicago back in October. Nashville should win this game at home, but this team should never be valued at -290. Way too expensive, even against the worst team in the league. I’d lean the over, but I’m not touching this game.
Stars vs. Canadiens (8:00)
Quite the interesting cross conference matchup here. The Stars have been fantastic this year, comfortably in a playoff spot in the West, currently in third place in the Central. They have just one loss in their last nine games, bouncing back from a 3-2 loss in Ottawa on Sunday with a 4-1 win in Toronto on Tuesday. Montreal’s still towards the bottom of the East standings, but have been on fire recently. They’re on a five game point streak with a 10-2-1 record in their last 13 games. These teams just played last week, with the Stars winning 2-1 in a shootout in Montreal. I’d lean Dallas wins this one again, but there’s value on the Habs, and I’m going right back to the same bet I had on them on Saturday with half a unit on the Canadiens +1.5. I’d lean the under but I’m not betting it at 5.5.
Jets vs. Kraken (8:00)
Pretty terrible Western Conference matchup here. The Jets lead the NHL standings and have been phenomenal all year. They’re on a four game point streak coming off a 6-1 win at home against the Canucks on Tuesday night, and have been great on both ends of the ice. The Kraken have struggled big time, especially offensively. They’re coming off a 4-2 win against the Penguins on the road on Tuesday (push on my over) and have just four wins in their last 14 games. Winnipeg needed overtime but got a 4-3 win on the road in the first game between these teams in Seattle back in October. I like the Jets to win this one again and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. With Hellebuyck likely to start I’m also going to take a shot at the Kraken team total under 2.5 for half a unit. I’d lean the over on the game with the total at 5.5, but I’ll lay off that.
Utah HC vs. Rangers (9:00)
Such a lousy cross conference matchup between two pretty bad teams. Utah’s been struggling. They’re coming off a 5-3 loss at home to the Habs on Tuesday and have just two wins in their last eleven games. The Rangers have been awful, a huge disappointment for a team that went to the Eastern Conference Finals last year. They’re playing much better lately though. They are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss in Colorado on Tuesday, but have a 4-1-2 record in their last seven games after a four game losing streak. Utah won the first game between these teams 6-5 in overtime on the road in MSG in the first week of the season. I would lean the Rags answer back here with a win on the road, but I’m not touching them from a betting perspective. Despite there being eleven goals in the first game between these teams, I’d lean the under in this one, but this isn’t a game worth betting on and the best move here is to stay off this game entirely.
Avalanche vs. Oilers (9:30)
Spectacular Western Conference matchup here between two very good teams. The Avalanche are in the first Wild Card spot in the West, with a pretty solid grasp of a playoff spot, playing for seeding as they’re just two points back from the Stars for third in the Central. Coming off a 3-2 overtime win in a fun finish against the Rangers on Tuesday they have a 9-2-1 record in their last twelve games, playing well on both ends of the ice. The Oilers have been very good too. They’re in the second half of a back to back, erasing a 2-0 deficit on their way to a 5-3 win on the road in Minnesota last night. They’re on a three game win streak and have seven wins in their last eight games. Edmonton won the first game between these teams 4-1 on the road in November. With the Oil in the second half of a back to back, that makes this one much tougher to bet on. I think the Oilers are the better team but I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if the Avs win at home. I’d lean the over as well, but I’ll stay off this game.
Canucks vs. Kings (10:00)
Kind of a boring Pacific Division matchup to end the night. The Canucks have been brutal lately, still in the mix for the last Wild Card in the West. Coming off a 6-1 loss in Winnipeg on Tuesday they have just three wins in their last 13 games, but they do have a bunch of overtime losses, staying in games in that span. The Kings are a pretty solid team, comfortably in the third playoff spot in the Pacific. Although their offense isn’t the best, their defense has been elite. LA’s coming off two losses in a row following a five game win streak, getting shut out 1-0 on the road in Edmonton on Monday night. Vancouver own the first game between these teams 4-2 on the road in LA. I like the Kings to bounce back and answer back here with a win on the road. I’ll take LA for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but I’ll just stick with the Kings here.
Game Bets
1u Capitals ML (-108)
.5u Lightning -1.5 (-122)
.5u Panthers in regulation (-175)
.5u Panthers/Red Wings over 5.5 (-105)
.5u Blue Jackets ML (-175)
.5u Canadiens +1.5 (-142)
.5u Jets in regulation (-140)
.5u Kraken TT under 2.5 (-145)
.5u Kings ML (-110)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 296-254-12 (-31.08 units)
Please follow me:
Instagram: @atownszone
Twitter: @atownszone
If you like the site and my work, share it with your friends!
… and tell Dave Portnoy to hire me at Barstool…
A Town's Zone 