Great night of hockey for me yesterday, going 5-2 to win 3.5 units on the NHL (both losses at + money). Tonight we have a five game slate before the last huge slate tomorrow before the Four Nations break. Let’s win again!
Rangers vs. Penguins (7:00)
Lousy Metro Division matchup to start the night. The Rangers are back in the mix for a Wild Card spot and they’re playing a bit better now than they were through November and December. Coming off a 3-2 win against the Bruins (can’t believe still I couldn’t hit my 5.5 there), they’ve won two in a row after a three game losing streak, going 9-3-3 in their last 15 games. The Penguins are only three points back from them though at the bottom of the Metro, and they blow this season. They’re coming off a 3-2 shootout loss on Tuesday against the Devils after two wins, yet have just five wins in their last 17 games. Pittsburgh will be without Sidney Crosby tonight though due to injury. The Rags won both previous games between these teams with a 6-0 shutout on the road in October and a 4-2 win at home in December. Especially with Sid out, I like New York to win this one again at home. The moneyline is too expensive but I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but I’m not touching it.
Jets vs. Islanders (8:00)
A month ago this would’ve been a terrible cross conference matchup, but with the way the Isles have played lately, this is quite the interesting and solid game. The Jets have led the Western Conference the entire season and come into tonight on a seven game win streak with ten wins in their last twelve games, playing fantastic on both ends of the ice. The Islanders came back to life recently after being in last place in the Metro all year. They’re now in the Wild Card mix, with eleven wins in their last 14 games, bouncing back from a 6-3 loss in Florida on Sunday that ended a seven game win streak with a 2-1 win at home against Vegas on Tuesday. Winnipeg’s still the far better team here and I’ll take them to win at home for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet on at 5.5 juiced to the under.
Blackhawks vs. Predators (8:30)
Horrible Central Division matchup here. Both of these teams blow, at the bottom of the division. The Blackhawks (alongside the Sharks) are one of the worst teams in the NHL. They’re coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Oilers at home on Wednesday (I split that game since they were able to get to OT), and are on a three game losing streak with just four wins in their last 20 games. The Predators are only marginally better, a huge disappointment this year. They’re on a five game losing streak, coming off a 5-2 loss at home to the Senators on Monday. Nashville won both previous games between these teams, both 3-2, in regulation on the road in October and then in a shootout at home in January. I’d lean they win again here as the much more talented, yet underperforming team. No change they’re worth the -200 though or buying down to regulation. The total’s a complete crapshoot since both teams stink both offensively and defensively, and I’ll lay off this game entirely.
Oilers vs. Avalanche (9:00)
Pretty solid Western Conference matchup here between two playoff teams. On Wednesday in the second half of a back to back, the Oilers got a 4-3 win in Chicago in overtime in a game that was tied 1-1 after two periods. They lead the Pacific Division, two points ahead of the Golden Knights and have been fantastic on both ends of the ice. The Avalanche have been pretty good as well, comfortably in the first Wild Card in the West and just two points back from Minnesota for third place in the Central. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 4-2 win in Calgary last night to bounce back from a 3-0 shutout loss in Vancouver on Tuesday. They’ve won four of their last six games. Edmonton won both previous games between these teams on the road, 4-1 in November and 4-3 in January. With the Avs in the second half of a back to back on the road, I like the Oilers to complete the season sweep at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over but not enough to bet it.
Kings vs. Stars (10:30)
This is a good matchup between two playoff teams in the Western Conference to close out the night. The Kings are a point ahead of Vancouver for the third place spot in the Pacific Division and have been pretty good this year. They have been in a pretty big slump lately, but after a four game losing streak they come into tonight off two wins in a row with a 6-3 win at home against Montreal on Wednesday. Even off those two wins, LA still has just four wins in their last twelve games. The Stars have been very good, comfortably in a playoff spot in second place in the Central, but just a point ahead of Minnesota and three ahead of Colorado. They had a five game win streak come to an end on Tuesday, with a pretty shocking 2-1 loss in Anaheim. The Kings won the first game between these teams 3-2 back in December, erasing a 2-0 deficit in the first period, in a game that Dallas outshot them 28-17. I like the Stars to bounce back from Tuesday’s loss and avenge that first loss in LA with a win on the road tonight. I’ll take Dallas for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
.5u Rangers in regulation (-135)
.5u Jets ML (-192)
.5u Oilers ML (-185)
.5u Stars ML (-108)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 353-323-13 (-44.51 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 