Bummer to not cash the over with 2.5 minutes of empty net in Rags/Bs last night and with that, I went 1-3 to lose 1.12 units on the NHL. Tonight we have a big nine game slate, let’s crush it!
Lightning vs. Senators (7:00)
Pretty good matchup here in the playoff race in the Atlantic with these two teams right in the mix and separated by just two points in the standings. These teams just played on Sunday for the second time this season with the Bolts winning 4-3 at home to answer back from a 5-4 win for Ottawa at home back in October. The Lightning have struggled a bit lately with just three wins in their last eight games. Prior to their loss Sunday in Tampa, they had gone on a five game win streak with a 10-2-1 record. I’d lean the Bolts win this one at home tonight, but don’t like it enough to bet on. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Devils vs. Golden Knights (7:00)
This is a pretty interesting cross conference matchup with both of these teams in solid playoff spots, but struggling right now. The Devils are coming off a 3-2 shootout win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night and although they have four wins in their last six games, they’ve won just six of their last 17 games. They’re comfortably in third place in the Metro, just two points back from Carolina for home ice in the first round. The Golden Knights are still my pick to win the Cup, but they’re struggling a ton right now. Coming off a 2-1 loss on Long Island on Tuesday they’re on a four game losing streak with only two wins in their last eleven games. I’d lean the Devils and the under here, but I’m not touching this game. Let’s Go Knights!
Flyers vs. Capitals (7:00)
This isn’t a great Metro Division matchup by any means and I love the value on it from a betting perspective. The Flyers blow, tied with Pittsburgh for last in the division. They’re on a four game losing streak coming off a 3-2 overtime loss in Utah on Tuesday and have only one win in their last seven games. The Capitals on the other hand have been phenomenal, leading the Eastern Conference all season. They bounced back from two 5-4 overtime losses in a row with a dominant 6-3 win against the Panthers at home on Tuesday. Washington’s picked up at least a point in all but one of their last 17 games. Both previous games between these teams were easy victories for the Caps, winning 4-1 on the road and then 6-3 at home in October. I like them to win easy again here. I’ll take the moneyline for 1.5 units along with the puck line for half a unit. Even on the road the line on this game should be north of -200. I’d slightly lean the over, but I’m not betting it.
Blue Jackets vs. Utah Hockey Club (7:00)
Not the most fun game on the board by any means and I’m sure most people don’t give a shit about this one. The Blue Jackets have been the biggest surprise of the season. I had expectations for them to be at the bottom of the league, but they’ve far exceeded that, right in the Wild Card mix in the East. They are coming off two losses in a row though, after a 3-2 loss in Buffalo on Tuesday. Columbus is missing their leading scorer though with Kirill Marchenko getting injured in Sunday’s loss in Dallas. Utah has struggled quite a bit, especially offensively this year. They ended a five game losing streak on Tuesday, beating the Flyers 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday on Dylan Guenther’s game tying and game winning goals. The first game between these teams last Thursday went to overtime with the Zach Werenski winning it 3-2, 1:01 into OT. I like the Jackets to win again at home tonight, bouncing back from their last two losses. I’ll take them as a home dog for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but I’m not touching it.
Wild vs. Hurricanes (7:30)
For as much as this is a good cross conference matchup, I also think it’s quite a boring game. The Wild are pretty comfortably in a a playoff spot, in third place in the Central, but they’re coming into tonight off two shutout losses in a row, losing 3-0 in Boston on Tuesday and 6-0 in Ottawa on Saturday and have four wins in their last eleven games. Although the defense for Minnesota’s been very good, their offense has struggled and they still don’t have Kirill Kaprizov in the lineup. The Hurricanes have a two point lead over the Devils for home ice in the first round. They just got shut out 3-0 in Winnipeg on Tuesday for their second straight loss after a 6-0-1 run. The Wild won the first game between these teams pretty easily with a 4-0 shutout on the road last month. I’d lean the Canes answer back here on the road but I don’t like it enough to bet on. I’d also lean the under, but I think the best play here is staying off this game entirely.
Blues vs. Panthers (8:00)
This is a pretty big mismatch for this cross conference game. The Blues blew a late 2-1 lead against the Oilers on Tuesday, losing 3-2 in overtime (nice big cash for me) on a sick setup by Connor McDavid to Connor Brown. St. Louis has struggled, with just one win in their last six games. The Panthers have been very good, a point ahead of the Leafs in first place in the Atlantic Division. They’re coming off a 6-3 loss on the road to the Caps on Tuesday, ending a three game win streak, but have six wins in their last nine games. The first game between these teams went to overtime, with the Panthers winning 2-1 at home. I like Florida to win this one too on the road and I’ll take them for a unit. I think the total’s a complete toss up on this one.
Flames vs. Avalanche (9:00)
I think this is quite a boring game between the two teams that are currently holding the two Wild Card spots in the West. In fact I think the Flames are just a boring team and there’s not really any games they play besides the Battle of Alberta that I care about. Calgary has been decent this year although I’m not sold on them, in a tie with Vancouver for the second Wild Card spot in the West. They’re coming off a 6-3 loss at home on Tuesday to the Leafs and have just two wins in their last six games after a 6-2 stretch prior to that. The Avalanche are pretty comfortably in the first Wild Card, two points back from the Wild for third in the Central. Coming off a 3-0 shutout loss that was a bit surprising on Tuesday, they have three wins in their last five (and eight) games. I do like the Avs to bounce back here on the road from getting shut out on Tuesday and I’ll take Calgary for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but don’t like it from a betting perspective for some reason, so I’ll stay off it.
Kraken vs. Maple Leafs (10:00)
Such a boring, lousy mismatch. The Kraken blow. They’re having a terrible season, and coming off a 5-4 shootout loss to the Red Wings at home on Tuesday that saw Patrick Kane become the NHL leader in shootout goals, they have just one win in their last five games (with that win coming against the Sharks). The Leafs have been very good this season, just a point back from the Panthers to lead the Atlantic. After a three game losing streak they’ve won their last two games on the road in Alberta, beating the Oilers 4-3 on Saturday and the Flames 6-3 on Tuesday. Toronto won the first game between these teams 4-1 on Halloween. I fully expect another win here and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the over, but at 6.5 I’m not touching it or buying it down.
Sharks vs. Canucks (10:30)
Terrible game to end the night. The Sharks are the worst team in the NHL. They’re coming off a 4-3 loss at home to the Habs on Tuesday (much needed win for me) and have just one win in their last nine games (and just five in their last 27). This team’s awful. The Canucks haven’t been great, but they’re playing better lately. They’re tied with the Flames for the second Wild Card and coming off a 3-0 shutout win at home against the Avs on Tuesday they have a 4-1-1 record in their last six games. Vancouver won both previous games between these teams, 3-2 on the road in November and 4-3 at home in December. I’d expect them to win again tonight, but the price at -210 is too expensive for me to trust betting them, especially with Quinn Hughes still out. The total is a coin flip and I’ll just stay off this game completely.
Game Bets
.5u Lightning/Senators over 5.5 (-125)
1.5u Capitals ML (-162)
.5u Capitals -1.5 (+160)
.5u Blue Jackets ML (+136)
1u Panthers ML (-170)
.5u Avalanche ML (-165)
1u Maple Leafs ML (-155)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 348-321-13 (-48.01 units)
Please follow me:
Instagram: @atownszone
Twitter: @atownszone
If you like the site and my work, share it with your friends!
… and tell Dave Portnoy to hire me at Barstool…
A Town's Zone 