I cashed my only play for 1.1 units on the Sens as a dog in last night’s only NHL game. Today we have a giant 14 game slate with a lot of good games. Let’s win again!
Sabres vs. Blue Jackets (7:00)
Not a great game in the East to start the night. My Sabres are on a three game win streak, coming off a pretty good 4-3 win at home against the Devils on Sunday afternoon, getting out to a 3-0 lead in the first period to sustain them through a heavy push by Jersey in the third period. We stink though. The Blue Jackets have been a great surprise this year. Going into the year I thought they’d be the worst team in the East, but they’ve far exceeded those expectations, holding the first Wild Card spot. They had a three game win streak come to an end on Sunday night (kind of getting screwed on the game winner, which was clearly on a high stick but still counted) in a 5-3 loss in Dallas. Columbus has played really well lately with a 14-5-2 record in their last 21 games. They’ll be without one of their top players, Karill Marchenko, who’s out on IR for a few weeks with a broken jaw he sustained in Sunday’s loss. The Jackets won the first game between these teams 6-4 at home back in October, in a pathetic defensive game for Buffalo. I don’t see the Sabres going on a four game win streak and I like Columbus to bounce back from Sunday’s loss. I’ll take the Jackets for half a unit at a nice price as an underdog. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Bruins vs. Wild (7:00)
This is sort of a boring cross conference matchup, but I could see this being a pretty good game. The Bruins are right in the midst of the playoff race in the East, but I don’t think they’re all that great of a team. They have played a bit better lately though, with a 6-3-1 record in their last ten games, coming off a 6-3 win at home against the Rangers on Saturday afternoon. The Wild have been a solid playoff team all year, currently in third place in the Central. They had a three game win steak after a bit of a slump come to an end on Saturday, getting shut out 6-0 on the road in Ottawa (couldn’t give up one less goal to hit my under). Minnesota’s dealing with a bunch of injuries, but I’d slightly lean they win this one on the road to bounce back from Saturday’s loss. I’d also lean the under, but I think the best play on this game is laying off it entirely.
Lightning vs. Senators (7:00)
Huge game here between two of the four teams fighting for the third place spot in the Atlantic in a very tight playoff race. The Lightning, coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at home to the Islanders on Saturday are struggling a bit as of late, with just two wins in their last seven games. The Senators are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 5-2 win on the road in Nashville last night, scoring three unanswered in the third period for their fifth straight win. They’re playing really well right now, holding the third spot in the Atlantic with a 10-2-1 record in their last 13 games. The first game between these teams was tight, with Ottawa winning 5-4 at home way back in October. With the Sens in the second half of a back to back on the road, I’d lean the Bolts win this one at home. I’d slightly lean the over as well, but not enough to bet it. I’ll lay off this game.
Penguins vs. Devils (7:00)
Quite the lousy mismatch in the Metro Division. The Penguins are pretty brutal, tied for last place in the division with the Flyers. They’re coming off two wins in a row after a 3-0 shutout win at home against the Predators, just their fifth win in their last 16 games. The Devils have been a pretty solid team, comfortably in third place in the Metro. They have three wins in their last five games, coming off a 4-3 loss on the road to the Sabres where their comeback fell short on Sunday afternoon. Jersey won the first game between these teams 3-0 late in December at home and I like them to bounce back from Sunday’s loss with an easy win here. I’ll take them for half a unit here, as I’ll continue to be a bit caution with the Devils until they get Markstrom back. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Capitals vs. Panthers (7:00)
Fantastic matchup here that would be my pick to end up being a preview of this season’s Eastern Conference Finals. The Capitals have been the best team in the Eastern Conference all season, but they do come into tonight off two 5-4 overtime losses in a row, at home against the Jets on Saturday and in Ottawa on Thursday. The Panthers, who visited the White House yesterday, lead the Atlantic Division, three points ahead of the Leafs. They’re on a three game win streak after a 6-3 win on Sunday at home against the Islanders and have six wins in their last eight games. Washington won the first game between these teams on the road in November, a 4-1 victory in Lauderdale. Both of these teams have been great on both ends of the ice this season. I’d give a slight edge to the Caps at home to bounce back from those two losses and it wouldn’t shock me at all if this game goes to OT. I’d lean the under slightly, but I’ll stay off this game entirely. Can’t wait to watch it.
Islanders vs. Golden Knights (7:30)
Pretty interesting cross conference matchup with the way these teams are coming into tonight’s game. The Islanders had a terrible start to their year, but they’re playing really well right now and with how week the bottom of the East is, they’re right in the Wild Card mix already. On Sunday they had a seven game win streak come to an end, losing 6-3 on the road to the Panthers, just their third loss in their last 13 games. They’ve been good defensively this year, but haven’t been able to score whatsoever. The Golden Knights are a very good team and my pick to win the Cup, but to say they’re struggling right now is a bit of an understatement, despite still being tied with the Oilers at the top of the Pacific Division. Coming off a 4-2 loss to the Rangers on the road on Sunday where they went into the third period up 2-1, they have just two wins in their last ten games. In January when these teams met in Vegas, the Isles pulled off a pretty big upset at the time, shutting out the Knights 4-0. I’d lean the Golden Knights bounce back here and get their revenge on that loss on the road on Long Island, but I’m definitely not betting it. I’d slightly lean the under, but I don’t see an edge in betting it, so I’ll stay off this game completely too.
Blues vs. Oilers (8:00)
What a boring Western Conference mismatch this game is. The Blues have been pretty lousy this season, but ended a four game losing streak with a 2-1 win in Utah on Sunday night. The Oilers have been very good though, tied with Vegas to lead the Pacific Division. They are coming into tonight off two losses in a row after their comeback fell short in a 4-3 loss at home to the Leafs on Saturday. Edmonton won the first game between these teams 4-2 at home in December, and I expect a similar result here tonight for them to bounce back from those two losses. I’ll take the Oilers for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Jets vs. Hurricanes (8:00)
Pretty solid cross conference matchup between two of the top teams in the league. The Jets lead the Western Conference as they have all year, and coming off a 5-4 overtime win on the road against the Capitals, they’re now on a six game win streak with a 10-2-1 record in their last 13 games. The Canes are playing well right now too, in second place in the Metro Division. They had a seven game point streak come to an end on Saturday, losing 4-2 at home to the Kings for just their second loss in their last eight games. I’d lean the Jets win this one at home, and I don’t see why they’re an underdog in this game, but regardless, it’s too close of a matchup for me to bet on. I’d lean the over, but with two elite defenses I don’t really see an edge in betting it. I’ll lay off this game.
Flames vs. Maple Leafs (9:00)
This isn’t a very interesting Canadian matchup for this cross conference game. The Flames are in the second Wild Card in the West, but I’m not sold on them in the slightest. Coming off a 3-2 win in Seattle on Sunday they have two wins in their last five games. Although the defense has been good, Calgary’s offense has been pathetic. The Leafs have been very good, in second place in the Atlantic with a two point lead over the Senators and three points behind the Panthers. After going on a three game losing streak, they bounced back on Saturday with a 4-3 win on the road in Edmonton in a huge matchup. I like Toronto to win this one on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I like the under as well, which I’ll take at the alternate 6 line for half a unit too.
Utah Hockey Club vs. Flyers (9:00)
Such a boring cross conference matchup between two pretty lousy teams. Both of these teams come into tonight on losing streaks and have played quite poorly lately. Utah, coming off a 2-1 loss at home to the Blues on Sunday, are on a five game losing streak with just five wins in their last 20 games. The Flyers aren’t much better. They’ve gotten shut out in three straight games, coming off a 2-0 loss in Colorado on Sunday after losing 3-0 to the Islanders on Thursday and 2-0 to the Devils on Wednesday. After going on a 5-0-1 run, Philly’s now just won one of their last six games. Utah won the first game between these teams on the road in December, 4-2. I’d lean they win again here at home with the better defense, but this just isn’t a team I have any interest in betting. I do like the under though since neither team can score. I considered taking the alternate line of 6 at -141, but I’ll just stick to the regular 5.5 at a pick’em for half a unit.
Canucks vs. Avalanche (10:00)
Not too bad of a Western Conference matchup here, but not the best either. The Canucks have struggled quite a bit this season, but they’re still two points behind the Flames for the second Wild Card spot in the West. After a three game win streak, they’re coming off two losses in a row, losing 3-2 in overtime at home against the Red Wings on Sunday. They still have just seven wins in their last 22 games. To make things worse, they’re missing their best player, Quinn Hughes tonight. The Avalanche are playing well, comfortably in the first Wild Card spot, two points back from the Wild for third in the Central. They’re coming into tonight off three wins in their last four games after two shutouts in a row, beating the Flyers 2-0 on Sunday and the Blues 5-0 on Friday. Vancouver won the first game between these teams 3-1 at home in December. I like the Avs to answer back here on the road and I’ll take Colorado for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Kraken vs. Red Wings (10:00)
Not the greatest cross conference matchup here by any means. The Kraken stink, only better than the Sharks in the Pacific Division. They’re coming off a 3-2 loss at home to the Flames on Sunday and besides beating the Kings, their only wins the past month have come against the Penguins and Sabres twice, and the Sharks. The Red Wings have been hot lately, now in a Wild Card spot in the East and just three points back from Ottawa for third in the Atlantic. Coming off a 3-2 overtime win in Vancouver on Sunday, they’re on a six game win streak with a 14-3-1 record in their last 18 games. Detroit dominated the first game between these teams at home less than a month ago with a 6-2 win. I like the red Wings to win again here on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under slightly, but I’m not touching it.
Ducks vs. Stars (10:30)
Huge mismatch out West but it could end up being a fun game. The Ducks have been pretty terrible this season, but they’re playing well right now. Coming off a 3-2 home win against the Habs on Sunday they’ve won four of their last five games. The Stars are on fire right now, comfortably in second place in the Central. Coming off a 5-3 win at home against Columbus on Sunday (which I thought they shouldn’t have had their fourth goal count, on clearly a high stick), they’re on a five game win streak. Anaheim actually won the first game these teams played in November on the road in Dallas. I like the Stars to win here to tie up the season series and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I like the over as well, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Sharks vs. Canadiens (10:30)
Terrible matchup to end the night with this cross conference game. The Sharks are the worst team in the NHL. Coming off a 6-2 loss in Seattle on Thursday they have just four wins in their last 31 games. San Jose got even worse on Saturday, trading two of their top players, one of their leading scorers; forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci to the Stars for a first round pick. The Habs went on a hot run but they’re in a slump again, coming into tonight on a five game losing streak after a 3-2 loss in Anaheim on Sunday. I like the Canadiens to end that losing streak and I’ll take Montreal for half a unit. I’d lean the under but the total’s pretty close to a crapshoot here so I’ll stay off it.
Game Bets
.5u Blue Jackets ML (+120)
.5u Devils ML (-155)
1u Oilers ML (-180)
.5u Maple Leafs ML (-142)
.5u Maple Leafs/Flames under 6 (-129)
.5u Utah/Flyers under 5.5 (-110)
1u Avalanche ML (-155)
.5u Red Wings ML (-102)
.5u Stars in regulation (-145)
.5u Stars/Ducks over 5.5 (-115)
.5u Canadiens ML (-170)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 343-313-13 (-46.39 units)
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