I broke even last night on the NHL going 2-2. Today we have a big 13 game slate, including taking it outdoors to Ohio Stadium for the Stadium Series. Let’s cash in!
Islanders vs. Predators (12:30)
Terrible cross conference matchup to start the day. Both of these teams blow. The Islanders are only better than the Penguins in the Metro Division. After they went on their best run of the season before the break, they just ended a four game losing streak on Thursday with a 2-1 grind of a win in Boston on Thursday night. The Predators are the biggest disappointment this season and horrible. They’re coming off a 2-1 win at home against the Jets (who were in the second half of a back to back) on Thursday night, just their third win in their last eleven games. I’d lean the Isles win this matinee, but I’m not betting this game. I’d lean the over, but I’ll lay off this matchup entirely.
Capitals vs. Lightning (12:30)
For as lousy as the other early game is, this one’s fantastic! The Capitals are the best team in the East and have been incredible, with Ovi just twelve goals away from Wayne Gretzky. They do come into today off two surprising losses in a row after they went on a 21 game point streak, coming off a 5-2 loss at home to the Blues on Thursday. The Lightning are playing great right now, comfortably in third place in the Atlantic as they come into tonight on a seven game win streak and nine game point streak, coming off a 3-0 shutout win at home against the Flames on Thursday. These teams split their first two games, with the Bolts winning 3-0 at home in October and the Caps answering back with 5-4 win on the road in November. I’d lean Washington ends their two game losing streak with a win at home today to end Tampa’s win streak, but I’ll lay off the side. I do like the over though at 6, which I’ll take for half a unit. I’m gonna go back to Ovi to score as well, for half a unit too.
Panthers vs. Flames (3:00)
Not the best cross conference matchup. The Panthers have been very good, a point behind the Leafs for first in the Atlantic as they keep going back and forth. Coming off a big 4-3 win against the Oilers in a great rematch of last year’s Cup Finals, the champs have seven wins in their last nine games. I don’t think the Flames are a good team, but they’re just a point behind the Canucks for the second Wild Card in the West. They’re coming off a 3-0 shutout loss in Tampa on Thursday. Calgary surprisingly won the first game between these teams with a 3-0 shutout at home in December. I like Florida to answer back here and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not quite enough to bet it.
Penguins vs. Bruins (3:00)
Quite the lousy matchup here in the East. The Penguins are the worst teams in the Metro Division, and only better than the Sabres in the Eastern Conference. They ended a four game losing streak on Thursday with a 5-4 overtime win at home in the second half of a home and home with the Flyers. The Bruins don’t seem as awful, but are only five points ahead of Pittsburgh. Coming off a 2-1 loss at home to the Isles on Thursday, they’re on a five game losing streak. The Pens won the first game between these teams 2-1 on the road in November. I do think the Bruins are the better team here and I’d lean they win this one on the road, but I’m not touching this game. I’d lean the over, which both teams have been trending that way with bad defensive play, but neither of these teams can score, so I’ll lay off this game entirely.
Blue Jackets vs. Red Wings (6:00)
I think this is actually a really fun game in the Eastern Conference in the second half of a home and home..but this time they take it outdoors in Columbus for the Stadium Series, with one of the largest crowds the NHL has ever had at Ohio Stadium, the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes. I love outdoor games and this is a great matchup for it with the two teams tied for the two Wild Card spots in the East. These teams split their first two games, both winning on the road, a 5-4 Red Wings win in January with the Jackets answering back with a 5-2 win on Thursday in Detroit. Columbus is playing well this year, the biggest positive surprise of the season, with Thursday’s win making it three wins in a row. The Red Wings have been very hot lately too, with a 9-2-1 record in their last twelve games. The side on this game’s a complete toss up to me, but I do like the over, and I’ll take it at 6 for a unit.
Sabres vs. Canadiens (7:00)
This Atlantic Division matchup isn’t great, with the top teams at the bottom of the division. My Sabres have been playing pretty well lately, with six wins in our last eight games, but are coming off a completely pathetic loss, getting dominated 5-2 in Carolina on Thursday. The Habs are on a three game win streak after a pretty big slump, coming off a 4-3 overtime win in San Jose on Thursday on an incredible goal from Cole Caufield. Montreal historically owns the Sabres, and they’re 2-0 against us this year, winning 7-5 in Buffalo in November and then blowing us out 6-1 at home in December. I like the Canadiens to win again here on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit, along with the over for half a unit as well.
Senators vs. Sharks (7:00)
Terrible cross conference matchup with both of these teams coming into tonight on losing streaks. The Senators, who are getting captain and Team USA stud Brady Tkachuk back in the lineup tonight, come into tonight on a five game losing streak after a 4-1 loss at home against the Jets on Wednesday (I split that game, cashing the Jets but losing the over). They’re on the outside, looking in on a Wild Card spot with an outside chance at catching Detroit and Columbus. The Sharks on the other hand, are the worst team in the NHL. Just horrendous on both ends of the ice. They’re coming off two overtime loss in a row in Montreal and Winnipeg, but are still on a seven game losing streak with just one win in their last 14 games. The Sens won the first game between these teams 4-3 on the road in November. I like Ottawa to win here again and I’ll lay the -190, taking them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Hurricanes vs. Oilers (7:00)
Really solid matchup for this cross conference tilt. The Hurricanes just blew out the Sabres 5-2 in a completely dominant performance at home on Thursday night, a nice slump buster for them for just their second win in their last seven games. They still have a two point lead over the Devils for home ice in the first round as those two teams are essentially locked into second and third in the Metro. The Oilers are four points behind Vegas for first in the Pacific and two ahead of a surging Kings team, but come into tonight on their biggest slump, on a five game losing streak after a 4-3 loss in Florida in the second rematch of last year’s Cup Finals. The first game between these teams back in October went to overtime in Edmonton, with the Canes winning 3-2 on the road. I’d slightly lean the Oilers answer back and the under, but the best play here is laying off this game entirely.
Jets vs. Flyers (7:00)
Pretty big mismatch in this cross conference game. The Jets are the best team in the Western Conference, and have been all year. They had an eleven game win streak come to an end in the second half of a back to back on Thursday night in a 2-1 loss in Nashville. The Flyers aren’t great. They come into tonight off a 5-4 overtime loss in Pittsburgh in the second half of a home and home against their rivals, ending a three game win streak (although two of those wins came against the Pens, so I’m not putting much stock in that). I like the Jets to bounce back here and I’ll take Winnipeg in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Blues vs. Kings (8:00)
Not a great game here in the West. The Blues aren’t very good, but have been hot lately, coming into tonight’s game on a three game win streak and five game point streak after a surprising 5-2 win in DC on Thursday. The Kings are pretty comfortably in third place in the Pacific, just two points back from the Oilers. They’re in the second half of a back to back, coming off a 6-2 loss in Dallas last night, their second loss in a row, ending a seven game point streak. I think LA is definitely the better team here and I considered taking the even money on them, but in the second half of a back to back, I think the best move here is to just stay off it. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it with both teams trending over lately.
Utah HC vs. Devils (9:00)
I like the value in this cross conference game. Utah’s playing pretty well right now, on the outside looking in on the second Wild Card spot in the West. They’re on a three game win streak after blowout out Minnesota 6-1 on Thursday and have six wins in their last eight games. The Devils are two points back from Carolina for home ice in the first round and have been inconsistent lately, coming off a 5-1 loss in Colorado on Wednesday night. They have six wins in their last eleven games. In the first game between these teams, Jersey won in a 3-0 shutout at home back in October. I like them to win again here on the road and I’ll take them as an even money dog for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet on.
Ducks vs. Blackhawks (10:00)
Pretty terrible Western Conference matchup to get into the late games. The Ducks are still a pretty bad team, but they have played well lately with an 8-2-1 record in their last eleven games, coming off a 5-2 win at home agains the Canucks on Thursday. The Blackhawks on the other hand, alongside the Sharks are one of the worst teams in the NHL. Coming off a 7-5 loss in Vegas on Thursday night where they went down 5-1 in the first period, Chicago’s on a five game losing streak with just three wins in their last 18 games. The road team won the first two games between these teams back in November, with the Blackhawks getting a 4-2 win and the Ducks answering a 3-2 win. I like Anaheim to buck that trend with a win at home. The Blackhawks are an auto-fade and I’ll take the Ducks for half a unit, at a pretty reasonable price. I’d lean the under, but I’m not touching it.
Kraken vs. Canucks (10:00)
Such a boring Pacific Division game to end the night. Seattle blows. Coming off a 7-2 loss in St. Louis on Tuesday, they have three wins in their last ten games. I don’t think the Canucks are much better, but currently hold the second Wild Card spot in the West, a point ahead of Calgary. They’re coming off a 5-2 loss in Anaheim on Thursday and have just one win in their last four games, but do have eight wins in their last 13. Both previous games between these teams went to overtime, with the Kraken winning 5-4 in OT on the road in December, and the Canucks answering back with a 4-3 shootout win a few days later in Seattle. I’d slightly lean Vancouver wins on the road and the over, but I’ll lay off this game completely.
Game Bets
.5u Capitals/Lightning over 6 (-110)
.5u Alex Ovechkin anytime goal (+110)
1u Panthers in regulation (-160)
1u Red Wings/Blue Jackets over 6 (-121)
.5u Canadiens ML (+124)
.5u Sabres/Canadiens over 6.5 (-108)
.5u Senators in regulation (-190)
1u Jets in regulation (-140)
.5u Devils ML (-102)
.5u Ducks ML (-155)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 406-374-13 (-55.26 units)
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A Town's Zone 