Slight winning day yesterday for me on the NHL, going 3-2 to win 0.52 units, even with getting screwed on my under with 3 goals in the last 3 minutes of Canes/Jets. Tonight we have a four game slate with some nice spots. Let’s win again!
Sabres vs. Oilers (7:00)
Pretty bad mismatch to start the night with this cross conference game. After a great game that still resulted in a 6-5 loss in Tampa on Thursday, the Sabres followed it up with our sixth straight loss in a pathetic, uninspired 4-0 shutout loss on the road to the Panthers on Saturday night. This whole franchise is a complete joke. The Oilers are playing well, with three wins in their last four games after a bit of a losing streak, four points back from Vegas for first place in the Pacific Division. They’re coming off a 5-4 win at home against the Stars on Saturday night that had an electric finish, holding off the comeback effort for Dallas. Edmonton won the first game between these teams 3-2 at home in January. I like the Oilers to win this one again and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it juiced up at 6.5.
Senators vs. Red Wings (7:30)
Not the best Atlantic Division matchup, but this game is important in the Wild Card race and I think could end up being pretty fun and competitive. The Sens have been hot lately, on a four point win streak with three wins in that span, coming off a 4-3 overtime win at home against the Rangers on Saturday. Those wins played them into the second Wild Card spot in the East, with a tight race that has seven teams within four points for those two spots. The Red Wings are one of those other teams on the outside looking in, three points back. They’re struggling right now, on a five game losing streak with just two wins in their last nine games, coming off a 5-2 loss in DC on Friday (win for me). These teams split their first two games, with Ottawa winning 2-1 at home in December and the Detroit answering with a 3-2 overtime win at home in November. I’d lean the Sens win this one at home, but didn’t even consider betting it. Both of these teams have trended over as of late, and I’d lean the over in this one, but the best play on this game in my eyes is nothing at all.
Avalanche vs. Blackhawks (9:00)
Huge mismatch in the Central Division giving us a -600 line for the first time this season. Insane, but it absolutely makes sense in this case. This is a terrible game. The Avalanche have been dominant lately, passing the Wild and now holding the third spot in the Central with a two point lead over Minnesota. They’re on a five game win streak with nine wins in their last twelve games, scoring seven goals in two games in a row after being one of the big winners of the trade deadline. On Saturday they erased a 4-2 with less than five minutes left in the second period, scoring five unanswered to beat the Leafs 7-4 in a game that didn’t look nearly close to the blowout that the score seems. The Blackhawks on the other hand are one of the worst teams in the NHL behind the Sharks. Shockingly they’re on a five game point streak, with a 3-0-2 record in that span, after they had just five wins in their previous 26 games, coming off a 3-2 overtime loss in Nashville on Saturday. What’s even more shocking is that Chicago’s 2-0 on the season against the Avs, winning 5-2 on the road in October and then 3-1 at home in January. I don’t see that trend continuing and think this is a very easy win for Colorado at home. I’ll lay the juice on their puck line for a unit. I like the over in this game as well, which I’ll take for half a unit. The Avs could easily score 7 on their own here again.
Utah HC vs. Maple Leafs (10:00)
Not the best game, but this should be a decent enough cross conference matchup to end the night. Utah’s playing pretty well lately, four points out of the second Wild Card spot in the West. They’re coming off a 4-3 overtime loss in Chicago on Friday, but have seven wins in their last eleven games. The Leafs are on a three game losing streak, four points back in the standings from Florida. On Saturday night, they blew a 4-2 lead, giving up five unanswered goals in the final 25 minutes of the game to lose 7-4 in Colorado. The Leafs won the first game between these teams 3-2 at home in November. I think Toronto’s definitely the better team here and the price I think is giving slightly too much credit to Utah. I’ll take the Leafs on the road to end this losing streak for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
.5u Oilers ML (-192)
1u Avalanche -1.5 (-185)
.5u Avalanche/Blackhawks over 6.5 (-110)
.5u Maple Leafs ML (-115)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 441-402-13 (-53.3 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 