I completely broke even yesterday on the NHL, going 3-3 with all three losses being close. Tonight we have a solid nine game slate, let’s win!
Lightning vs. Sabres (7:00)
Terrible mismatch in the Atlantic Division to start off the night. The Lightning are on fire lately, comfortably in third place in the division and just three points back from Toronto and Florida for the top seed. Coming off a 6-2 win at home against the Blue Jackets on Monday, they have gone 10-1-1 in their last twelve games. Tampa got even better this week, bringing back Yanni Gourde, along with acquiring Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Kraken in exchange for a bunch of draft picks. Meanwhile, while other teams are making moves to improve or tank, all Buffalo is doing is re-signing Jordan Greenway. I’m fine with that move, but this team’s not improving at all with that move, and two years from now when that new contract expires, this team’s gonna be in the same pathetic spot they are now. This team’s horrible, the worst team in the Eastern Conference, coming into tonight on a four game losing streak following a pathetic 6-2 loss at home to the Sharks on Monday. I love the Bolts to win here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for 1.5 units. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Red Wings vs. Utah HC (7:00)
Not the best, but kind of an interesting cross conference matchup here. Coming off a 2-1 loss at home to the Hurricanes on Monday, the Red Wings are on a three game losing streak and fell behind Ottawa for the second Wild Card spot in the East. Utah isn’t great, but have played better recently. Coming off a 3-1 loss at home on Saturday to the Devils, they’ve won six of their last nine games. I think Detroit’s the slightly better team here and I’d lean they win at home, but I’m not touching this game. Additionally, the total’s a complete toss up, so I’ll stay off this game completely.
Panthers vs. Blue Jackets (7:00)
This should be a solid game that I’d expect to be more entertaining than the -300 price on Florida makes it look. The Panthers are fantastic, tied with Toronto at the top of the Atlantic Division. They’re on a four game win streak coming off a 2-1 win on Monday at home in the Battle of Florida, with nine wins in their last eleven games. The Blue Jackets have been a great surprise this season, in the first Wild Card spot in the East after expectations of being one of the worst teams in the league going into the year. They had a four game win streak come to an end on Tuesday, losing 6-2 in Tampa. The first time these teams played this year in Columbus back in October, Florida won 4-3. They’re the better team and the Jackets have struggled on the road, so I expect the Cup Champs to win again. The price is way too inflated at -300, and even the regulation line at -200 is too much. I’ll lay off this game. I considered the over and the Florida team total over, but the best move is just staying off it. I will parlay the Panthers moneyline though with the Hurricanes.
Flyers vs. Jets (7:00)
Not a great cross conference matchup, but I could see this being an entertaining game. The Flyers have been lousy all year, but they’re playing decent hockey lately. Although they’re coming off a 6-3 loss at home to the Flames on Tuesday, they’ve gone 4-1-1 in their last six games. The Jets have been fantastic this season led by the best goalie in the world in Connor Hellebuyck, but they do come into tonight on a three game losing streak against pretty bad teams, coming off a close 3-2 loss on Long Island on Tuesday. These teams just played on Saturday in Winnipeg with the Flyers winning 2-1 in a shootout. I like the Jets to answer back here and I’ll take them for half a unit on the road. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it with Eric Comrie in goal for Winnipeg, so I’ll lay off the total.
Hurricanes vs. Bruins (7:00)
Pretty boring matchup in the East here. The Hurricanes have been good, pretty much solidified in second place in the Metro, especially with Jack Hughes out the rest of the season for the Devils, who are in third. They’ve won three of their last four games after a lousy streak, coming off a 2-1 win in Detroit on Tuesday. The Bruins have really struggled this year. Coming off a 6-3 loss at home to the Preds on Tuesday, they have only one win in their last eight games. Carolina dominated the first game between these teams, blowing out the B’s 8-2 at home on Halloween. I like them to win again here at home tonight, but the price is just way too expensive with the Canes at -340 and the regulation line even -225 to bet them individually. I did take their moneyline in parlay with Florida. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it, so I’ll stay off this game on straight bets.
Predators vs. Kraken (8:00)
Terrible, lousy matchup in the West. The Predators have been the biggest disappointment of the season, by far. This team’s awful. They’re coming off a 6-3 win in Boston on Tuesday, just their fourth win in their last 14 games. Nashville acquired yesterday from Pittsburgh in exchange for Luke Schenn and Tommy Novak. The Kraken have only been marginally better, quite the shitty team too. Coming off a 4-3 loss at home to the Wild on Tuesday, they only have three wins in their last nine games. Seattle made a move to get worse now, but better for the future this week too, sending Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand to Tampa for a haul of draft picks. The Kraken won both previous games between these teams convincingly, winning 7-3 on the road in the first week of the season and then a 3-0 shutout at home in November. The side’s a toss up. I’d give a slight edge to Smashville at home to avoid the season sweep, but I’m not touching that. I’d lean the under, since neither of these teams could score, but they’ve also both struggled defensively, so I’ll lay off this game entirely.
Stars vs. Flames (8:00)
Terrible mismatch in the West. The Stars have been very good, comfortably in second place in the Central. They’re on a three game win streak, coming off an electric finish on Tuesday night against the Devils, where they blew a 3-1 lead going into the third period before Thomas Harley won it with five seconds left in regulation. Dallas is on a great run right now, with an 11-2-1 record in their last 14 games. The Flames are tied for the second Wild Card spot in the West with the Canucks, but if they do end up in the playoffs, they’re getting smoked in the first round by Winnipeg (same with if Vancouver gets in). I don’t think they’re a good team and coming off a 6-3 win in Philly on Tuesday, ending a three game losing streak, they have just three wins in their last nine games. The Stars smoked Calgary the first time these teams played back in December and I like them to win again. I’ll take the Stars in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over, but don’t like it quite enough to bet it.
Oilers vs. Canadiens (9:00)
This isn’t a great cross conference game, but with the way these teams come into tonight, it does make it an intriguing matchup. The Oilers are now six points behind Vegas to lead the Pacific, and three points ahead of the Kings. They come into tonight with just one win in their last seven games, getting embarrassed in a 6-2 loss at home to the Ducks on Tuesday. Montreal has been very inconsistent this year, but they’re on a hot run beating up on lousy teams right now, two points back from Ottawa for the second Wild Card spot in the East. After a stretch of just one win in nine games, they come into tonight on a five game win streak, coming off a 4-3 overtime win at home against the Sabres on Monday where they blew a 3-0 first period lead but still won in overtime won Mike Matheson’s game winner, their second win in a row against Buffalo to sweep the season series against us. The Habs won the first game between these teams with a 3-0 shutout at home in November. I don’t trust it a ton but this feels like a “back to the status quo” type of game that the Oilers win at home. I’ll take Edmonton in regulation for half a unit. I also like the over, which I’ll take for half a unit as well.
Avalanche vs. Sharks (9:30)
There’s a lot of big mismatches on the board tonight, but none bigger than this one, with the Avs coming in as -425 favorites at home. Colorado comes into tonight on a three game win streak, two points back from Minnesota for the third spot in the Central and very comfortably in the first Wild Card spot in the West. They’re coming off a 4-1 win at home against the Penguins on Tuesday night that was much closer than the score looks, with Casey Mittelstadt giving them a 2-1 lead on the power play with just 4:09 to go in regulation, before Artturi Lehkonen and Jack Drury capped the game off with two empty netters. The Sharks are the worst team in the league and have been horrible all season, but they’re hanging in games lately, with two wins in a row with a big 6-2 win in Buffalo on Tuesday night in the second half of a back to back after they came back from a 2-0 deficit on Monday night, beating the Leafs 3-2 in a shootout. They’ve picked up points now in four of their last five games. The Avalanche won both previous games between these teams on the road easily, 4-1 in October and then 4-2 in December. I think things go back to normal here tonight and San Jose’s been an auto fade for me all season. I like the Avs to win this one pretty easily to complete the season sweep, and I’ll take their puck line for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
1.5u Lightning in regulation (-160)
1u parlay: Panthers ML & Hurricanes ML (-138)
.5u Jets ML (-145)
1u Stars in regulation (-150)
.5u Oilers in regulation (-160)
.5u Oilers/Canadiens over 6.5 (-110)
.5u Avalanche -1.5 (-155)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 427-391-13 (-54 units)
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A Town's Zone 