The end of last night’s NHL slate fell apart a bit, so I ended up going 3-4 to lose 1.34 units. Not the best. Tonight we have a big ten game slate. Let’s bounce back here.
Sabres vs. Sharks (7:00)
Brutal matchup to start the night between the worst team in the East against the worst team in the league, both in the second half of back to backs after going to overtime in their games last night. Last night in Montreal, the Sabres had a typical Buffalo loss, going down 3-0 with some lousy play early in the first period, then coming back to force overtime with just a minute left, before ultimately losing in OT for the season sweep by the Habs. That’s our third loss in a row after a nice stretch of six wins in seven games. The Sharks are the worst team in the NHL, in the second half of a back to back tonight as well. Last night they erased a 2-0 third period deficit, coming back to beat the Leafs 3-2 in a shootout, ending their eight game losing streak with just their second win in their last 16 games. The Sabres won the first game between these teams 4-2 on the road in November, and I like my boys to actually win here tonight. It’s rare, but I’ll take the Sabres in regulation for half a unit. San Jose’s a complete auto-fade, every game, especially coming off a win. I like the over as well, which I’ll also take at 6 for half a unit.
Bruins vs. Predators (7:00)
Another pretty bad matchup. Both of these teams suck. The Bruins, coming off getting shut out 1-0 in Minnesota on Sunday, have just one win in their last seven games. Not great for a team that was the best in NHL history just two years ago. To make matters worse, they’re missing two of their best players, Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy, both out with injuries. Today they also traded Trent Frederic to the Oilers. The Predators have been a huge disappointment. They have just three wins in their last 13 games, coming off getting shut out 4-0 on the road against the Rangers on Sunday. Nashville won the first game between these teams with a 4-0 shutout at home in October. The Bruins are the better team here, and I’d lean they answer back with a win at home, but I’m not touching it. I do like the under though since neither of these teams can score, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Red Wings vs. Hurricanes (7:00)
Fun matchup in the East. The Red Wings are in the second Wild Card spot in the East, in a logjam for those two spots. They’re coming off two losses to the Blue Jackets in a row, losing 5-3 outdoors at Ohio State on Saturday in the Stadium Series, but they have been very good lately, with a 9-3-2 record in their last 14 games. The Hurricanes are two points ahead of the Devils as those two teams are going to be playing for home ice throughout. Carolina’s been inconsistent recently, with just two wins in their last nine games, coming off a 2-1 overtime win against the Flames on Sunday (my only loss of the day since I had the puck line). I do think the Canes are the better team here, but I wouldn’t be shocked in the slightest if Detroit beats them at home tonight. The total’s a toss up to me as well, so I’ll lay of this game entirely.
Lightning vs. Blue Jackets (7:00)
Interesting Eastern Conference matchup that I think could end up being a really fun game. The Lightning have had a fantastic run, as they’re comfortably in third place in the Atlantic Division. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, having an eight game wins streak and ten game point streak ending last night with a 2-1 loss in Lauderdale in the Battle of Florida. The Blue Jackets have been the best pleasant surprise there’s been this season. They’re currently holding the first Wild Card spot in the East and coming into tonight on a four game win streak after a 5-3 win outdoors at Ohio State against the Red Wings on Saturday. These teams split their first two games, with the Jackets winning 7-6 in overtime at home in November and the Bolts answering with 5-3 win at home in December. I’d lean that Tampa bounces back from last night’s loss with a win at home tonight, but I think the -175 is too pricey on it, so I’ll lay off the side. With Vasilevskiy likely getting the night off, and the Jackets trending over, I do like the over here, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Flyers vs. Flames (7:00)
Pretty lousy cross conference matchup. I think both of these teams are pretty bad. The Flyers are on a hot streak right now. Coming off a 2-1 shootout win on Saturday against the Jets on the road, they’re on a five game point streak with a 4-0-1 record in that span. The Flames are in a tie with the Canucks for the second Wild Card in the West, but I feel like if they do make the playoffs, they’re going to get smoked in the first round. Calgary won the first game between these teams 6-3 in the first week of the season at home. I’d lean the Flyers answer back with a win, and I’d lean the under, but I’m not touching this game.
Islanders vs. Jets (7:30)
Pretty big mismatch for this cross conference game. The Islanders are only better than the Pens in the Metro and have struggled the entire season. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight coming off getting shut out last night 4-0 by their rival Rangers and they have just two wins in their last seven games. The Jets continue to hav the best record in the NHL this season, but come into tonight off two losses in a row after they had gone on a ten game win streak, surprisingly losing 2-1 in a shootout at home to the Flyers on Saturday. Winnipeg won the first game between these teams 4-3 at home to go into the 4 Nations break. I love them to bounce back here with another win on the road tonight. I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but didn’t even consider betting the total.
Stars vs. Devils (8:00)
This should be a great cross conference matchup between two playoff teams. The Devils have been very good this season, very comfortably in second place in the Central Division. Coming off a 6-3 win at home on Sunday against the Blues at home on Sunday, they’ve gone 10-2-1 in their 13 games. The Devils are two points behind Carolina in the Metro for home ice in the first round. They’ve been pretty inconsistent and struggling a bit lately with just nine wins in their last 29 games, coming off a 2-0 shutout loss in Vegas on Sunday. The bigger issue that came out of that loss though was Jack Hughes getting injured after a collision on the glass with Jack Eichel. These teams just played a couple weeks ago in Jersey with the Stars winning 4-2 on the road. I like Dallas to win again tonight at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. Total’s a complete toss up to me.
Avalanche vs. Penguins (8:00)
Huge mismatch for this cross conference game. The Avalanche are playing well right now, comfortably in a playoff spot and two points back from Minnesota for third in the Central. Coming off a 5-2 win at home against that Wild team on Friday, they’ve won six of their last night. Colorado got better this week too, acquiring Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey from the Rangers. The Penguins are horrible, the worst team in the Metro and only better than the Sabres in the East. Coming off a 6-5 overtime loss in a great, really fun matinee at home on Sunday afternoon, they have just one win in their last seven games. The Avs won the first game between these teams 6-2 on the road in December and I expect another easy win for them at home tonight. I’ll take Colorado in regulation for a unit. I like the over as well, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Oilers vs. Ducks (9:00)
Pretty big mismatch in the Pacific. The Oilers have been very good this season, comfortably in second place in the division, four points back from Vegas and four ahead of LA. They ended a surprising five game losing streak with a 3-1 win in Carolina on Saturday. Edmonton got better today, acquiring Trent Frederic from the Bruins today to beef up their defense. The Ducks have just one win in their last four games after a great stretch of seven wins in their last eight games prior, coming off a bit of an embarrassing 6-3 loss at home to the Blackhawks on Saturday. These teams split their first two games, with the Ducks winning 5-3 at home in December and the Oilers answering with a 3-2 win at home in January. The prices on this game are nuts, but I’ll take the Edmonton puck line for half a unit. I like the over here too, which I’ll take for half a unit as well.
Kraken vs. Wild (10:00)
Such a boring matchup to end the night. The Kraken are awful, only better than the Sharks in the Pacific. Coming off a 6-3 win at home agains the Canucks on Saturday, they have just four wins in their last ten games. The Wild are comfortably in a playoff spot, two points ahead of the Avs for third place in the Central, but they’re struggling with so many injuries right now. Minnesota ended a three game losing streak on Sunday with a 1-0 shutout win at home against the Bruins. The first game between these teams went to overtime in Minnesota in the first week of the season, with Seattle winning 5-4 in a shootout. Even through all the injuries, I still think the Wild’s the better team here and should win on the road, but this isn’t a game trustworthy enough of betting on. I’d lean the lean the over but I’m not touching this game.
Game Bets
.5u Sabres in regulation (-160)
.5u Sabres/Sharks over 6 (-113)
.5u Bruins/Predators under 5.5 (-105)
.5u Lightning/Blue Jackets over 6.5 (-130)
1u Jets in regulation (-115)
.5u Stars ML (-162)
1u Avalanche in regulation (-180)
.5u Avalanche/Penguins over 6.5 (-112)
.5u Oilers -1.5 (-130)
.5u Oilers/Ducks over 6.5 (-120)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 419-383-13 (-53.32 units)
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