I went 2-2 on the NHL last night, losing 0.43 units on the small slate. Tonight we have a big ten game slate with some good matchups. Can we find some wins?
Bruins vs. Jets (7:00)
Not a great cross conference game. The Bruins are in the first Wild Card in the East, playing pretty lousy this season. Although they’re coming off a 7-2 loss in Buffalo on Tuesday where they gave up two hat tricks, they have played better lately with a 5-2-1 record in their last eight games. The Jets lead the Western Conference playing great hockey. They’re on a four game win streak with an 8-2-1 record in their last eleven games, coming off a 4-1 win in Montreal on Tuesday. Winnipeg completely blew out Boston in the first game between these teams in December, winning 8-1 at home. I expect another win for them here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’m not touching the total.
Canadiens vs. Wild (7:00)
This is sort of an interesting, but not the best cross conference matchup. The Habs were playing great with a stretch of going 13-3-1, but now come into tonight on a three game losing streak after a 4-1 loss at home to the Jets on Tuesday. The Wild are comfortably in a playoff spot in third place in the Central and have won their last two in a row after a slump with one win in six games. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 3-1 win in Toronto last night. Minnesota won the first game between these teams with a 3-0 shutout at home in November. I’d lean Montreal and the under in this game, but I don’t like either enough to bet it.
Senators vs. Capitals (7:00)
Fun Eastern Conference matchup here. The Senators, coming into tonight off two wins in a row after a 3-1 win at home against Utah on Sunday with a 7-2-1 record in their last ten games, have moved into the third place spot in the Atlantic in a tight playoff race in the East. The Caps are on another level though, easily the best team in the East. Coming off a 3-1 win in Calgary on Tuesday they have just one loss in their last eight games and a 10-1-3 record in their last 14 games. The first game between these teams was a double shutout, with the Caps winning 1-0 in overtime on the road a few weeks ago. I like Washington to win again and I’ll take them for a unit and with some insane value, I’ll take the puck line for half a unit as well. I also like the under, and even at 5.5, I’ll take it for half a unit.
Lightning vs. Kings (7:00)
This should be a pretty fun cross conference game as both of these teams have been good this season but are in slumps right now. On Tuesday night the Lightning let me down big time, losing 4-1 at home to the Blackhawks and they have just one win (in OT against Chicago) in their last five games. They’ve fallen from the third place spot in the Atlantic down to a tie with Columbus for the tight race for the Wild Card spots in the East. The Kings are in an even biggest slump. Coming off a 3-0 shutout loss in Florida last night, they’re on a three game losing streak with just two wins in their last nine games. LA won the first game between these teams 2-1 at home earlier this month. Especially with the Kings in the second half of a back to back, I’d lean Tampa wins this one at home tonight, but I’ll lay off it. I’d also lean the under but I think the best play on this game is nothing at all. I’ll stay off it completely.
Hurricanes vs. Blackhawks (7:00)
Huge mismatch for this cross conference game. Carolina’s been great this season, comfortably in second place in the Metro, playing for home ice with the Devils in the first round. Coming off a 4-0 shutout in MSG against the Rangers on Tuesday, they’re on a 5-0-1 run right now, playing well on both ends of the ice. The Blackhawks are one of the worst teams in the NHL, but shocked me on Tuesday with a 4-1 win on the road in Tampa (big loss for me there). Although they’ve picked up at least a point in five of their last six games, they’ve only won four of their last 17 games. The Canes did need overtime to beat the Blackhawks on the road in the first time they played ten days ago, but this should be an even easier win for them. The price at -425 is obviously not playable, but I’ll take the Hurricanes puck line for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’m not touching it.
Flyers vs. Islanders (7:30)
Classic, yet boring game here in the Metro Division. Both of these teams have been pretty lousy this season, but they’ve played well lately. The Flyers are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 5-0 loss in Jersey, and have just one win in their last four games, but prior to that, they had gone 5-0-1. The Islanders are on a five game win streak, coming off a 5-2 win at home against the Avalanche on Tuesday, and have eight wins in their last ten games, easily the best they’ve played all year. These teams split their first two games earlier this month on Long Island, with the Flyers winning 5-3 on the 16th and the Isles answering back with a 3-1 win at home last Friday. With Philly in the second half of a back to back, I’d lean the Isles win this one on the road, but I’m not touching it. I’d lean the under, but I’m laying off this game completely.
Flames vs. Ducks (9:00)
This Pacific Division matchup is so boring to me. The Flames are hanging onto a Wild Card spot in the West, but come into tonight off two losses in a row after a 3-1 loss at home to the Capitals on Tuesday. The Ducks have been awful on the season, but they’re on a three game win streak right now, coming off a 6-4 win in Seattle on Tuesday after home wins against the Preds and Penguins. The first game between these teams earlier this month in Anaheim went to OT, with the Flames winning 3-2 on the road. I’d lean they win again here at home, as they’re the better team on both ends of the ice, but I’m not laying the -185 on them. I’d lean the under since both teams struggle to score, but they’ve both trended over lately, so I’ll just stay off this matchup entirely.
Oilers vs. Red Wings (9:00)
This cross conference matchup isn’t great. The Oilers are tied with Vegas at the top of the Pacific Division and playing fantastic hockey. Coming off a 4-2 win at home against the Kraken on Monday they are on a three game win streak with eleven wins in their last 14 games. The Red Wings have struggled this year, but they’re on a pretty good run right now themselves. After a 5-2 win at home against the Kings on Monday, they’re on a three game win streak as well, with an 11-3-1 record in their last 15 games. Edmonton won the first game between these teams 3-2 in overtime in Detroit back in October. I like them to win again tonight at home and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under slightly, but I’ll pass on that.
Golden Knights vs. Blue Jackets (10:00)
On paper this doesn’t look like a great game, but I’d anticipate that this cross conference matchup actually ends up being a lot of fun. The Golden Knights are my pick to win the Cup despite their pretty big slump right now. Coming off blowing a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 on Wyatt Johnston’s natural hat trick in overtime at home on Tuesday (hitting my over), they have just three wins in their last eleven games. The Blue Jackets have been the biggest positive surprise this season. They’re right in the mix for a Wild Card spot in the East, and coming of a 3-2 overtime win at home on Saturday against the Kings, they have a 12-4-2 record in their last 18 games. Vegas is definitely the better team here and they should absolutely win at home, but the price is way too inflated to me at -290. I’m not touching that or buying it down to regulation, but I do like the over, which I’ll take at 6 for half a unit.
Kraken vs. Sharks (10:30)
What a shitty matchup to end the night between the two worst teams in the Pacific Division. Coming off a 6-4 loss at home to the Ducks on Tuesday, the Kraken have five wins in their last ten games, pretty much just beating shitty teams in that span (the Sabres and Penguins each twice). The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the NHL. They ended a six game losing streak on Monday with a 2-1 win at home against the Penguins, just their fourth win in their last 21 games. San Jose actually won both previous games between these teams in a back to back home and home in November, 8-5 at home and then 4-2 on the road the next night. I’d lean Seattle wins this one, but not a chance am I laying the -195. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit on the alternate 5.5 line.
Game Bets
.5u Jets ML (-142)
1u Capitals ML (-110)
.5u Capitals -1.5 (+235)
.5u Senators/Capitals under 5.5 (-110)
.5u Hurricanes -1.5 (-162)
.5u Oilers in regulation (-165)
.5u Golden Knights/Blue Jackets over 6 (-130)
.5u Kraken/Sharks over 5.5 (-140)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 332-297-13 (-46.57 units)
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