Second break even day in a row for me on the NHL yesterday since the Lightning needing OT to beat Chicago, so I went 3-1 and won a couple bucks. Today we have a huge 13 game slate, let’s crush it!
Bruins vs. Avalanche (1:00)
Kind of an interesting cross conference matchup to start the day. The Bruins haven’t been a good team this season, but they still hold a Wild Card spot in the East, a point back from Tampa (who have three games in hand) for the third spot in the Atlantic. They’ve played pretty well lately though, coming off a 2-0 shutout win at home against the Sens on Thursday with a 4-1-1 record in their last six games after they had gone on a six game losing streak. The Avs made a huge move yesterday, trading one of their best players, Mikko Rantanen to Carolina in a massive three way trade in exchange for Martin Necas, Jack Drury, a 2025 second round pick, and a 2026 fourth round pick. Colorado’s comfortably in the first Wild Card in the West, playing for seeding with the Wild and Stars. They’re coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at home to the Jets on Wednesday. Boston won the first game between these teams 5-3 on the road in October. I like the Avs to answer back here on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Oilers vs. Sabres (4:00)
Huge mismatch in this cross conference game. The Oilers have been fantastic, one of the best teams in the West, just a point behind Vegas for first place in the Pacific Division. Even without McDavid in the lineup, who will serve his third and final game of his suspension today, they’re coming off a dominant 6-2 win at home against the Canucks on Thursday night. My Sabres on the other hand are a complete joke. This team clearly can’t compete with any good team, with just one win in their last four games. They’re coming off a 5-2 loss in Calgary on Thursday night where they couldn’t capitalize on plenty of chances and completely feel apart, getting outworked more and more as the game went on. Even without Connor in the lineup, this should be an easy win for Edmonton at home. I’ll take the Oilers in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Kraken vs. Penguins (4:00)
What a horrible cross conference game this is, between two quite lousy teams. The Kraken have been pretty bad all year, coming into tonight off a 3-0 shutout loss at home to the Capitals, but they do have four wins in their last seven games (two of them came against the Sabres, and one against the Pens they face today, so take that with a grain of salt). Terrible season for the Penguins too. Their defense and goaltending has been some of the worst in the NHL and they have just three wins in their last twelve games, coming off a 5-1 loss in Anaheim on Thursday. When these teams played the first time in Pittsburgh eleven days ago, the Seattle picked up a 4-2 win on the road. This game’s a complete toss up to me. I’d very slightly lean the Penguins answer back on the road and the over, but I’m not touching this game whatsoever.
Canadiens vs. Devils (7:00)
This is a pretty fun matchup in the East to get the 7:00 slate started off. The Habs are playing great right now, right in the Wild Card mix in the East after a horrible start to the season. They’re coming off a 4-2 loss in Detroit on Thursday, but have 13 wins in their last 18 games. The Devils have been really good this whole year, and are playing for home ice against Carolina in the first round, since they’re not catching the Caps or getting caught by any other teams at this point. They took a big hit this week as goaltender Jacob Markstrom will be out 4-6 weeks with injury. Jersey’s been in quite the slump lately, ending a four game losing streak on Wednesday with a 5-1 win against the Bruins at home, just their third win in their last twelve games. The Devils won the first game between these teams 5-3 at home early in November. I like the Habs to answer back here. I considered laying the -175 for the +1.5, but I’ll just take a shot on the moneyline for half a unit on Montreal as a home dog. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Senators vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
The Battle of Ontario’s always a fun matchup. The Sens are coming off getting shut out twice in a row, losing 2-0 to the Bruins on Thursday after a 5-0 loss on the road to the Rangers on Tuesday after they had gone on a 5-0-1 stretch. The Leafs are coming off a 5-1 loss at home to the Blue Jackets on Wednesday, ending a three game win streak. Toronto’s been very good this year, in first place in the Atlantic Division. Ottawa won the first game between these teams with a 3-0 shutout on the road in November. I like the Maple Leafs to answer back here and I’ll take them for half a unit. The total’s a complete toss up to me.
Red Wings vs. Lightning (7:00)
Not the best Atlantic Division matchup here. The Red Wings went on a hot run, with a seven game win streak, but since then they’ve won just two of their last six games, coming off a 4-2 win at home against the Canadiens on Thursday. The Lightning are in the third spot in the Atlantic with three games in hand over the Bruins chasing them. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 4-3 win in Chicago last night that needed overtime (losing my regulation bet but cashing my over and team total) that had quite the fun finish, bouncing back from losses in Montreal and Toronto. Tampa won the first game between these teams in dominant fashion, winning 5-1 at home a week ago. Even in the second half of a back to back, I like the Bolts to win again here tonight and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Blue Jackets vs. Kings (7:00)
This should be a really fun cross conference matchup tonight. The Blue Jackets have been one of the biggest surprises this season. I thought they’d be in the basement of the league, yet they’re over exceeding expectations and are in the mix for a Wild Card spot in the East, actually in the second one right now. Although they have just one win in their last four games, coming off a 7-4 loss in Carolina on Thursday (double loser late on my +1.5 and +2.5), they’ve played well lately with a 7-2-1 record in their last ten games. The Kings have been good this season, comfortably in third place in the Pacific and one of the best defensive teams in the league. They’ve been in a slight slump lately with just two wins in their last six games, coming off a 2-1 win at home against the Panthers on Wednesday. LA won the first game between these teams 5-2 at home in November. I’d lean the Kings win this one, but I do think the Jackets hang in here as a home dog and wouldn’t be shocked if they win it. Especially with the Kings playing low scoring games, I like Columbus +1.5, which I’ll take for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but I’m not betting it at 5.5.
Blues vs. Stars (7:00)
Not the best Central Division game but it could end up being a kind of interesting one. The Blues are currently in the Wild Card race in the West, playing inconsistently this year, struggling offensively but playing decent defensively. Coming off a 4-2 loss in Vegas in the second half of a home and home on Thursday, they’ve gone 4-3 in their last seven games. The Stars have been very good this season and they’re in a solid playoff spot. Tonight they’re in the second half of a back to back, coming off a 4-3 win at home against the Golden Knights last night, but have struggled a bit recently with that being just their third win in their last four games. Dallas won the first game between these team in a 2-1 grind of a game, winning in OT at home in December. I like Dallas to win again here on the road, even in the second half of a back to back and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’m not betting it.
Wild vs. Flames (7:00)
Pretty boring game out West here. The Wild are still in third place in the Central Division but have been on quite the slump lately with just one win in their last five games, coming off a 4-0 shutout loss at home to Utah on Thursday. I don’t think the Flames are that great of a team, but they’re in the second Wild Card in the West right now and have five wins in their last seven games, coming off a 5-2 win against my Sabres on Thursday night. Calgary won the first game between these teams 4-3 in a shootout at home back in November. I do think Minnesota’s absolutely the better team here, but I don’t like them enough to bet on in the midst of this mini slump. I’d lean the under as well, but I think the best play on this game is to stay off it completely.
Islanders vs. Hurricanes (7:30)
This Metro Division game is a pretty big mismatch. The Islanders blow, in last place in the division. They’re coming off two wins in a row though after a 3-1 win at home against the Blue Jackets on Monday. The Hurricanes have played very well lately and come into tonight on a four game win streak following a 7-4 win against the Blue Jackets on Thursday at home. They made a huge splash with a blockbuster trade last night, acquiring Mikko Rantanen from Colorado in exchange for Necas, Drury and draft picks. Big move. These teams split their first two games in December, with the Isles winning 4-3 at home and the Canes answering back with a 4-0 shutout at home. I like Carolina to win this one and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but I’m not touching it.
Canucks vs. Capitals (10:00)
Pretty lousy cross conference matchup here. The Canucks have been brutal lately with just two wins in their last ten games, coming off a 6-2 loss in Edmonton on Thursday night, struggling on both ends of the ice. The Capitals on the other hand have been fantastic this season, on a six game heater and 13 game point streak, coming off a 3-0 shutout win on the road in Seattle on Thursday. They lead the NHL, the first team in the league to get to over 70 points on the season, playing elite hockey on both ends of the ice. The Caps needed overtime to beat Vancouver the first time they played at home earlier this month, winning 2-1. I expect them to win even easier tonight, and the price is great here. I’ll take Washington for 1.5 units. I’d lean the under, but I’ll stay off it.
Ducks vs. Predators (10:00)
This matchup’s brutal between two pretty shitty teams in the West. The Ducks are coming off a 5-1 win against the Penguins at home on Thursday, ending a four game losing streak with just their second win in their last nine games. The Predators have been a huge disappointment this year, but they’re playing well right now, on a five game win streak, coming off a 6-4 win in San Jose on Thursday. On that win streak though, three of those were against the Sharks twice and the Blackhawks, so I still don’t think the Preds are great. I do still think they keep the win streak going tonight though against an inferior Anaheim team. I’ll take Smashville for half a unit, laying the -192. I’d lean the over, but I’m not betting it.
Sharks vs. Panthers (10:00)
Biggest mismatch on the board to close out the night with this cross conference game. The Sharks, coming off a 6-5 loss at home to the Predators on Thursday are one of the two worst teams in the NHL along with the Blackhawks. They’re on a five game losing streak with just one win in their last ten games and three in their last 20, playing brutal hockey on both ends of the ice. The Panthers have been very good as the defending Cup Champs this year. They’re coming off a 2-1 loss in LA on Wednesday and are in second place in the Atlantic. Florida won the first game between these teams pretty easily 3-1 at home in December. I fully expect another win here on the road to bounce back from Wednesday’s close loss. The moneyline at -300 is too expensive, but I’ll lay the -185 on them to get it done in regulation time for a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but I’m not touching it.
Game Bets
.5u Avalanche ML (-130)
1u Oilers in regulation (-150)
.5u Canadiens ML (+145)
.5u Maple Leafs ML (-118)
.5u Lightning ML (-135)
.5u Blue Jackets +1.5 (-180)
.5u Stars ML (-135)
1u Hurricanes in regulation (-135)
1.5u Capitals ML (-125)
.5u Predators ML (-192)
1u Panthers in regulation (-185)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 320-283-13 (-40.51 units)
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