With two late losses, I went 1-3 on the NHL last night, losing 1.64 units. Today we have a huge 14 game today before the Four Nations break starts on Monday. Let’s crush it!
Canadiens vs. Devils (1:00)
Not the best Eastern Conference matchup to start the day. Both of these teams are struggling right now. The Habs are coming off a 6-3 loss in LA on Wednesday and after going on a great run, they’ve since won just one of their last seven games, and that win was against the lowly Sharks. The Devils are in third place in the Metro, two points behind the Canes. After a slump with just two wins in the span of eleven games, they’ve since won four of their last seven, coming off a 3-1 loss at home to the Golden Knights on Thursday. Jersey won both previous games between these teams, 5-3 at home in November and 4-3 in OT on the road a few weeks ago. I like the Devils to win here on the road and complete the season sweep. I’ll start my day with half a unit on Jersey. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Red Wings vs. Lightning (1:00)
Pretty solid matchup here in the Atlantic with two teams battling for a playoff spot and separated by just a point in the standings. The Red Wings have been hot lately. Coming off a 5-4 shootout win on Tuesday where Patrick Kane became the all time NHL shootout goal leader, they’re on a seven game win streak with a 15-3-1 record in their last nine games. The Lightning have the tiebreaker over Ottawa right now for third place in the division coming off two huge wins at home against the Sens, 5-1 on Thursday and 4-3 on Tuesday. They’re on a four game point streak and have played well on both ends of the ice all year. These teams split their first two games, both winning at home last month, a 5-1 Bolts win and a 2-0 shutout win for Detroit. I’d lean Tampa wins this one on the road and I’d slightly lean the under, but I’m laying off this game. Should be a lot of fun to watch.
Hurricanes vs. Utah HC (1:00)
This is such a lousy cross conference game. The Hurricanes are comfortably in a playoff spot with a two point lead over the Devils for home ice in the first round. They’re on a three game losing streak, coming off a 2-1 loss on the road in Minnesota on Thursday. Utah’s coming off two 3-2 overtime wins in a row against the Jackets and Flyers, but have just seven wins in their last 22 games. Utah actually won the first game between these teams 4-1 at home back in November and I like the Canes to answer back here at home. I’ll take Carolina in regulation for half a unit. I like the under as well, which I’ll also take for half a unit.
Bruins vs. Golden Knights (3:30)
Interesting cross conference game for this matinee in Boston. I don’t think the Bruins are great, but they’re not far out from the playoff picture, despite struggling on both ends of the ice. Coming off a 3-2 loss on the road to the Rangers (still can’t believe I couldn’t cash my over 5.5 there), they’re still just two points back from third place in the Atlantic. I think the Golden Knights are a very good team and they’re my pick to win the Cup, in second place in the Pacific Division, two points behind the Oilers. They’ve been in a pretty big slump recently though. They’re coming off a 3-1 win in Jersey on Thursday, ending a four game losing streak with just their third win in their last twelve games. I like the Knights to win here on the road and I’ll take Vegas for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Panthers vs. Senators (7:00)
I actually think this is a great matchup to start off the 7:00 slate. The Panthers lead the Atlantic Division, a point ahead of the Leafs. The Cup Champs have four wins in their last five games, coming off a late finish for their 3-2 win in St. Louis on Thursday night, with Tkachuk scoring the game winner with just twelve seconds left in regulation. The Sens are tied in points with Tampa for third in the division in a very tight playoff race. Ater going on a 10-2-1 run, they had a five game win streak end this week with 4-3 and 5-1 losses in Tampa. Back in October, Ottawa won the first game between these teams 3-1 at home. I think Florida wins this one at home, but I think the price is too expensive at -185, so I’ll stay off it. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Flyers vs. Penguins (7:00)
Zero luster to this Pennsylvania rivalry as these two teams have both been horrible, at the bottom of the Metro Division. The Flyers, coming off a 4-3 loss at home to the Caps on Thursday are on a five game losing streak with just one win in their last eight games. The Penguins are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 3-2 win on the road against the Rangers last night. They’re on a four game point streak with a 3-0-1 record in their last four games after winning just three wins in the span of 14 games. The Pens won the first game between these teams 7-3 at home to go into the Christmas break. With Pittsburgh in the second half of a back to back, I’d lean Philly wins at home. I’d also lean the under, but I’m not touching this game. I’ll lay off it completely.
Blue Jackets vs. Rangers (7:00)
I actually think this is a fun matchup despite neither of these teams being all that great, but they have both been solid enough lately to be right in the Wild Card race in the East. The Blue Jackets have far exceeded my expectations this year, right in the Wild Card mix in the tight race in the East. They’re on a three game losing streak, coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at home to Utah that had a pretty fun finish on Thursday night. The Rangers are back in the Wild Card mix as well, but coming off a 3-2 loss at home to the Penguins last night they have two wins in their last six games. The first game between these teams a few weeks ago was a double shutout in MSG with the Rangers winning 1-0 in a shootout. With the Rangers in the second half of a back to back, I like the Jackets to end their losing streak here. I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under with the total at 6.5, but I’m not touching it.
Blues vs. Blackhawks (7:00)
Pretty terrible Central Division matchup here. The Blues, coming off giving up the game winning goal with twelve seconds left to lose 3-2 at home to the Panthers on Thursday night, are struggling right now with just one win in their last seven games. The Blackhawks (along with the Sharks) are one of the worst teams in the NHL. They’re in the second half of a back to back, coming off a 6-2 blowout win at home against the Predators last night, just their fifth win in their last 21 games. St. Louis won the first game between these teams 6-2 outdoors in the Winter Classic on New Year’s Eve. Especially with Chicago in the second half of a back to back and on the road, I like the Blues to win this one again. I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Canucks vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
Not the best cross conference Canadian matchup. The Canucks needed overtime to beat the Sharks on Thursday night, a game I’m glad I stayed off of since I absolutely would’ve taken them in regulation if I had bet that game. They’re playing much better lately, back in the mix for a playoff spot in the West with a 5-1-1 record in their last seven games. The Leafs are on a three game win streak, coming off a 3-1 win in Seattle on Thursday night and they’re just a point back from Florida for first place in the Atlantic. Vancouver won the first game between these teams with a 3-0 shutout on the road in Toronto in January. I like the Leafs to answer back here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I kind of like the under too, which I’ll also take for half a unit.
Predators vs. Sabres (8:00)
This cross conference game is fucking terrible. The Predators are the biggest disappointment of the year and can’t score whatsoever despite bolstering their offense in the offseason with two of the biggest signings in Stamkos and Marchessault. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, getting blown out 6-2 by the shitty Blackhawks on the road last night for their sixth straight loss. My Sabres aren’t much better, the worst team in the Eastern Conference. We are on a four game winning streak though for the first time all season after a 3-2 win at home against the Jackets on Tuesday night. Buffalo won the first game between these teams 4-3 at home a little over a week ago on Jiri Kulich’s game winner with 2:04 left in regulation on Rob Ray night. I’d lean they win again, especially with the Preds in the second half of a back to back, but not a chance I’m betting on my team here to make it five straight wins. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Wild vs. Islanders (8:00)
Pretty boring cross conference matchup, but I’d expect this to actually be a solid game. Both of these teams are playing well right now. The Wild have the tiebreaker over Colorado for third place in the Central, but are very comfortably in a playoff spot. Coming off a 2-1 win at home against Carolina on Thursday to bounce back from two shutout losses on the road to Boston and Ottawa, they’ve won four of their last six games. The Islanders after being in last place in the Metro most of the season are on fire lately, right back in the Wild Card mix. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 4-3 loss in Winnipeg last night (win for me), but have eight wins in their last ten games. With the Isles in the second half of a back to back, I’d lean the Wild win here, but don’t like it enough to bet on. I love the under here though with two offenses that aren’t great and two solid defenses. I’ll take the under for a unit.
Flames vs. Kraken (10:00)
Such a boring Pacific Division matchup. I’m not sold on the Flames by any means. They dropped back outside of the Wild Card spot, two points behind Vancouver as they come into tonight with one win in their last four games after a 4-2 loss at home to the Avs on Thursday. Their offense has been brutal, but they’ve been good defensively. The Kraken are terrible, struggling on both ends of the ice. Coming off a 3-1 loss at home to the Leafs on Thursday they’re on a three game losing streak with just one win in their last six games. These teams split their first two games, with the Kraken winning 2-1 in overtime at home in October and the Flames winning 3-2 on the road last Sunday. I’d lean the Flames and the under, but I’m not touching this game.
Sharks vs. Stars (10:00)
Terrible mismatch out West. The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the NHL. Coming off a 2-1 overtime loss at home against the Canucks on Thursday they are on a three game losing streak with just four wins in their last 28 games. This team fucking blows. The Stars have been very good, with a two point lead over the Wild and Avs for second place in the Central. They’re coming into tonight off two losses in a row, in the second half of a back to back tonight after a 5-4 shootout loss in a crazy game in LA last night (that they lost twice). Dallas won both previous games at home between these teams, 3-2 in a shootout in October and then 5-2 in November. Even in the second half of a back to back, Dallas is the FAR better team here. I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I like the over as well, which I’ll buy down to 5.5 for a unit.
Kings vs. Ducks (10:30)
Kind of a lousy rivalry matchup in California to end the night. The Kings are a solid team, in third place in the Pacific Division (although I fully expect them to be bounced in the first round regardless of what seed they end up with). They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 5-4 shootout win against the Stars last night in a crazy game that they had to win twice, with Adrian Kempe’s sick game winner in overtime being called back. That was their third straight win coming out of a slump. The Ducks have been surprisingly hot lately. Coming off a 2-1 win against the Stars on Thursday, they have five wins in their last six games. LA won both previous games between these teams on the road, 4-1 in October and 2-1 in November. I like them to win again tonight at home, even in the second half of a back to back and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under since both of these offenses aren’t great, but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
.5u Devils ML (-155)
.5u Hurricanes in regulation (-140)
.5u Hurricanes/Utah under 5.5 (-108)
.5u Golden Knights ML (-162)
.5u Panthers/Senators over 5.5 (-115)
.5u Blue Jackets ML (+124)
.5u Blues in regulation (-165)
.5u Maple Leafs ML (-142)
.5u Maple Leafs/Canucks under 5.5 (-112)
.5u Predators/Sabres over 6.5 (-102)
1u Wild/Islanders under 5.5 (-118)
1u Stars in regulation (-155)
1u Stars/Sharks over 5.5 (-155)
.5u Kings in regulation (-165)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 354-326-13 (-46.15 units)
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