Lousy night of pucks for me yesterday, going 4-7 to lose 3.62 units. Since the NHL can’t stay out of their own way, we have a five game slate going up against the NFL Conference Championships today. Let’s bounce back.
Rangers vs. Avalanche (1:00)
Pretty fun game to start off the day, the only game on the slate that anyone is watching since everyone’s pivoting to football as soon as the NFC Championship starts. The Rangers have been pretty brutal this year, but they seem to have finally figured things out and are back in the form that got them to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. Coming off a 6-1 blowout win at home against the Flyers on Thursday, they’re on a ten game point streak with an 8-1-3 record in their last twelve games. The Avalanche made a huge splash on Friday night by trading Mikko Rantanen to the Canes for Marty Necas, Jack Drury, and draft picks. Colorado’s in the second half of a back to back today, coming off a 3-1 loss in Boston to start the day yesterday where they gave up three goals in the third period. They’re now on a three game losing streak. The first game between these teams a couple weeks needed overtime with the Avalanche winning 3-2 at home. With the Avs in the second half of a back to back, I’d lean the Rangers win this one at home, and I’d lean the under, but I’ll stay off this game entirely. Should be a fun lead-in before football today.
Senators vs. Utah Hockey Club (5:00)
Boring cross conference matchup for this game as neither of these teams have been very good. The Senators are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 2-1 win at home last night against their rival Leafs in the Battle of Ontario. Ottawa’s kind of rolling right now with a 6-2-1 record in their last nine games. Utah’s struggled, but after picking up just two wins in the span of twelve games, they just had a three game win streak come to an end with a 5-2 loss in Winnipeg on Friday night (easy win for me). The Sens dominated the first game between these teams in October, winning 4-0 in a shutout on the road. I’d lean they win again very slightly, and I’d lean the over, but I’m not touching this game. I’ll lay off it completely.
Jets vs. Flames (6:00)
I don’t think this matchup is great, but it very well could be a preview of a first round playoff series if the playoffs were to start tomorrow with the Jets leading the West and the Flames holding onto the second Wild Card spot in a tight race. The Jets have been fantastic this season on both ends of the ice, leading the Western Conference. Coming off a 5-2 win at home against Utah they’ve won their last two in a row, with a 6-2-1 record in their last nine games. The Flames are playing pretty good lately too, with six wins in their last eight games. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, and on a three game win streak, after they held off the comeback efforts from Minnesota last night, beating the Wild 5-4 in a game that they had 4-1 and 5-2 leads in. I’m not sold on Calgary whatsoever and think they’re a pretty lousy team. These teams split their first two games this year, both winning on the road, with a 5-3 Jets win in October and a 3-1 Flames win earlier this month. Winnipeg’s the way better team here, and especially with the Flames in the second half of a back to back, I like the Jets to win here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over very slightly but didn’t even consider a bet there.
Blackhawks vs. Wild (7:00)
Not a great game in the slightest in the Central Division and I’m fine with it being hidden today during the AFC Championship. The Blackhawks, alongside the Sharks, are one of the worst teams in the NHL. They’re somehow on a four game point streak coming off a 4-3 overtime loss at home to the Lightning on Friday night (making me go 2-1 on that game rather than 3-0 with the Bolts in regulation), but have just one win in their last seven games and just three in their last 15. The Wild are still holding onto the third place spot in the Central and they should make the playoffs without much issue, but they’re in a pretty big slump right now. In the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 5-4 loss at home against the Flames last night where their comeback effort fell short, they have just one win in their last six games. Minnesota’s gone 2-0-1 against Chicago this season, losing 2-1 in overtime on the road, then winning 3-2 and 4-3 at home. I feel like this is a good get-right spot for the Wild and I’ll lay the -177 on them (I locked this in last night) for half a unit. Both of these teams haven’t been great offensively, so I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Golden Knights vs. Panthers (8:00)
Phenomenal cross conference matchup here for a rematch of the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals and two of the best teams in the NHL. Great job to the scheduling department for hiding it on a Sunday slate at night during the most important football game of the NFL season. Fucking idiots. The first game between these teams this season was awesome back in October in Florida. The Panthers poured it on, outshooting Vegas 49-26 and were rewarded with the win on Gustav Forsling’s game winner, but it needed overtime for Florida to win 4-3, with both teams trading goals all game and neither getting a two goal lead all game. Vegas has been very good this year and they’re my pick to win the Cup this season, but they fell back to second in the Pacific Division yesterday and are in the midst of a pretty big slump with just one win in their last six games, coming off a 4-3 loss in a great game in Dallas on Friday night. The Panthers are in second place in the Atlantic Division, in the second half of a back to back tonight following a 7-2 blowout win against the Sharks last night, their fourth win in their last six games. I’d slightly lean the Knights tie the season series at home tonight with the Cats in the second half of a back to back, but I’m not betting it. I do like the over though at 5.5, which I’ll take for half a unit. I still cannot believe the league made this game the same night the Bills play the Chiefs in the AFC Championship. Un-fucking-real. Go Bills.
Game Bets
1u Jets in regulation (-145)
.5u Wild ML (-177)
.5u Golden Knights/Panthers over 5.5 (-130)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 324-290-13 (-44.13 units)
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