I stayed off last night’s small NHL slate of great matchups, which was fine. We have a huge eleven game slate tonight, let’s crush it and win!
Bruins vs. Senators (7:00)
Pretty solid Atlantic Division here between two teams that are playing decent right now, tied in points, but are both pretty lousy on the season. Both previous games between these teams this year went to overtime with the Sens winning 3-2 in OT on the road in November and then 6-5 in a shootout at home a week ago. The Bruins are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 5-1 loss in Jersey yesterday. After a six game losing streak, they’ve gone 3-1-1 in their last five games. Ottawa had a six game point streak come to an end on Tuesday with a 5-0 shutout loss on the road against the Rangers, and have a 5-1-1 record in their last seven games. I’d slightly lean Ottawa wins this one again with the B’s in the second half of a back to back, and I’d lean the over, but I don’t like anything on this game to bet it. I wouldn’t be surprised if this one went to overtime too and ends up being a very close game.
Red Wings vs. Canadiens (7:00)
This Atlantic Division isn’t the best. The Red Wings are only better than the Sabres in the Division and after a seven game win streak, they’re now back to the status quo, on a three game losing streak, coming off a 2-1 overtime loss in Philly on Tuesday with just one win in their last five games. The Habs on the other hand are playing excellent lately, flying up the standings and in the mix for the Wild Card. Coming off a 3-2 win at home against the Lightning on Tuesday, they’ve won 13 of their last 17 games. Montreal won both previous games between these teams, winning 4-3 on the road and 5-1 at home the next night in a home and home back to back in December. I don’t see why Detroit is the favorite here and like the Habs to win, who I will take for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Rangers vs. Flyers (7:00)
Both of these Metro Division teams have struggled this season and sit tied in points towards the both of the division, but they’ve played pretty well lately. The Rangers might’ve figured something out as they come into tonight on a nine game point streak with six wins in that span, coming off a 5-0 shutout win at home on Tuesday against the Senators. The Flyers are rolling right now as well, on a three game win streak after a 2-1 overtime win against the Red Wings at home on Tuesday and a 5-0-1 record in their last six games. Philly won the first game between these teams 3-1 at home in November. I’d very slightly lean the Rags win this one at home in MSG and I’d lean the under, but I’m staying off this game entirely.
Hurricanes vs. Blue Jackets (7:00)
Quite the interesting Metro Division matchup, although it doesn’t look good on paper. The Hurricanes are comfortably in a playoff spot, in second place in the division, essentially playing for home ice against Jersey in the first round for the rest of the regular season since I don’t think they’ll fall back to the Wild Card and don’t see them catching the Caps. Coming off a 2-1 win in Dallas on Tuesday, they’re on a three game win streak. The Blue Jackets are in the second half of a back to back tonight, and after losing two in a row, they bounced back last night with a big 5-1 win in Toronto. Going into the season I had Columbus pegged as a team that was finishing last in the East, but they’ve been a big surprise and are right in the Wild Card mix. They’ve played great lately with an 11-3-2 record in their last 16 games. Although the Canes are the way better team here, the Jackets have had success against them this year, winning 5-4 in a shootout at home, losing 4-1 in Carolina, and then answering back with a 4-3 win at home, coming again in a shootout. With the Jackets in the second half of a back to back on the road, I’d think Carolina wins this one to tie up the season series, but the price here is way too expensive and I think there’s a huge amount of value on Columbus. I’ll take the Blue Jackets +1.5 (at + money) and +2.5 for half a unit each. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Blues vs. Golden Knights (8:00)
I don’t love this matchup but with the way these teams are coming into this game, it makes it interesting. These teams just played for the second time this season on Monday, with the Blues winning 5-4 in a shootout on the road in Vegas after the Knights had erased a 4-2 deficit to force OT. Vegas won the first game between them 4-3 at home back in October. The Blues are in the mix for the second Wild Card in the West and have three wins in their last four games coming into tonight. The Golden Knights are still my pick to win the Cup but they’re in a pretty big slump right now, on. a four game losing streak with just one win in their last seven games. I like Vegas to answer back here and I’ll take the Knights for half a unit. I’d very slightly lean the over, but don’t think it’s worth betting at 6.5.
Wild vs. Utah Hockey Club (8:00)
This Central Division matchup isn’t great. The Wild are having a great season, in second place in the division, playing for seeding with Dallas and Colorado. They ended a three game losing streak on Monday with a 3-1 win on the road against the Avs and will get Kirill Kaprizov and Jared Spurgeon off the IR tonight to give a big boost to their lineup. Utah isn’t a great team, but come into tonight off two wins in a row, impressively beating the Jets 5-2 at home on Monday. These teams split their first two games each winning on the road in December, a 5-4 Wild win in a shootout and then a 2-1 Utah win. With Kirill the Thrill back in the lineup, I like Minnesota to win this one at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Oilers vs. Canucks (9:00)
These teams played a heated game with an electric finish on Saturday night as the Canucks tied up the season series with a 3-2 win at home (big loser three ways for me) after the Oilers won the first game between them 7-3 on the road in November. Connor McDavid and Tyler Myers won’t be in the lineup tonight though as they both got suspended three games for dirty crosschecks in the closing seconds of that game. The NHL didn’t do themselves any favors with that, since especially if McDavid was in the lineup tonight it would’ve been awesome to watch (along with what should’ve been McDavid vs. Ovechkin on Tuesday). Edmonton’s lost their last two games in a row, losing 3-2 at home to the Caps on Tuesday, but they’ve been very good, comfortably in second place in the Pacific and just a point back from the Golden Knights. The Canucks have been horrible lately with just four wins in their last 16 games, coming off a 3-2 loss at home against the Sabres on Tuesday (a goal short of hitting my over). Even without Connor in the lineup, I like the Oilers to answer back here with Leon taking over. I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’m just sticking with Edmonton.
Flames vs. Sabres (9:00)
This is a pretty brutal cross conference matchup. The Flames aren’t a great team, but they hold the second Wild Card spot in the West, coming off a 3-1 win in Winnipeg on Saturday. Calgary’s been solid defensively, but terrible offensively. My Sabres are horrendous, by far the worst team in the Eastern Conference, but we’re coming off a 3-2 win in Vancouver on Thursday night, where they couldn’t get me one more goal to hit the over. The Sabres won the first game between these teams 3-2 at home in a shootout back in November, not a great game. I don’t see Buffalo winning two in a row here on the road and I’d lean the Flames answer back here and the under, but I’m not touching this game.
Ducks vs. Penguins (10:00)
Horrible game here between two terrible cross conference teams. The Ducks have just one win in their last eight games, on a four game losing streak coming off a 5-2 loss to the Panthers on Tuesday (my only win that night). The Penguins aren’t much better and I expect them to absolutely be sellers at the deadline. They surprised me Monday night with a 5-1 win in LA, just their third win in their last eleven games. Pittsburgh won the first game between these teams 2-1 at home in overtime on Halloween. I’d lean they win here on the road and the over, but I’m staying off this shitty game entirely.
Kraken vs. Capitals (10:00)
Big mismatch here for this cross conference matchup. The Kraken have been terrible this season. They’ve played better lately with four wins in their last six games (although two of those are against the Sabres and one’s against the Penguins, so take that with a grain of salt), coming off a 6-4 win at home against Buffalo on Monday afternoon. Ovechkin and the Capitals are awesome this year, leading the NHL. Coming off a 3-2 win in Edmonton on Tuesday night they’re on a five game win streak and eleven game point streak. They’ve played elite hockey on both ends of the ice. I like Washington to win this one on the road and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the under, but I’m not betting it.
Sharks vs. Predators (10:30)
Horrible Western Conference game to end the night. These teams just played on Tuesday night, with the Preds winning 7-5 at home. The Sharks are one of the two worst teams in the NHL (along with Chicago) and in a four game losing streak with just four wins in their last 22 games. The Predators have been a terrible disappointment this season but they’re playing their best hockey right now. I know they’re beating up on shitty teams with wins against the Sharks and Blackhawks, they’re on a four game win streak right now with six wins in their last eight games. Not a chance that I was betting them on the prices at home on Tuesday, but I will take them in regulation tonight for half a unit with the cheaper price on the road. I’d lean the over, but I’ll stay off it.
Game Bets
.5u Canadiens ML (+110)
.5u Blue Jackets +1.5 (+124)
.5u Blue Jackets +2.5 (-165)
.5u Golden Knights ML (-155)
.5u Wild ML (-162)
.5u Oilers ML (-185)
1u Capitals ML (-135)
.5u Predators in regulation (-145)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 313-278-13 (-40.47 units)
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A Town's Zone 