Nice 2-0 sweep for me last night in the NHL, winning a unit. Let’s keep it going on a pretty good eleven game slate today!
Sabres vs. Golden Knights (12:30)
Terrible mismatch in this cross conference game to start the day, and its always fun when Jack Eichel comes back to town. The Sabres are awful, and Jack was absolutely right in forcing his way out of this dump to go win his Stanley Cup. We’re even worse than we were when Jack got traded. Coming off a pathetic 7-3 loss in Detroit on Wednesday, we have just one win (that we probably should’ve lost) in our last eight games. The Golden Knights on the other hand have been fantastic, leading the Pacific Division with a five point lead over the Oilers. After two losses they bounced back with a 4-0 shutout win in Columbus on Thursday and have an 8-2-1 record in their last eleven games. Vegas is my pick to win the Cup this year, and I think they beat the Sabres pretty easily. I’ll take the Knights for a unit. Along with that, I’ll take Jack Eichel to score a goal for half a unit against the joke of a franchise that refused to let a superstar player get the surgery he wanted. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Penguins vs. Devils (3:00)
Pretty boring Metro Division game for the mid afternoon matinee. The Penguins blow this season, in last place in the division, but come into tonight on a three game win streak, coming off a 5-3 win at home against the Blues on Thursday (loss for me on St. Louis). The Devils are on a three game win streak as well, coming off a 3-2 win at home against the Oilers on Thursday. Jersey’s pretty comfortably in the playoffs, eight points ahead of the Jackets for third in the Metro, but without Jack Hughes, this team isn’t going anywhere in the playoffs. That being said, they’re still a solid team and should beat the Pens today for the third time this season, winning the first game with a 3-0 shutout at home in December, then 3-2 in a shootout on the road in February. I’ll take the Devils for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to touch it.
Sharks vs. Capitals (5:00)
Horrendous matchup between one of the worst teams in the league and one of the best. The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the NHL, right alongside the Blackhawks, who they beat 4-2 on Thursday at home to end a three game losing streak. That was just the fourth win for San Jose in their last 21 games. The Capitals on the other hand have been fantastic, in a two way battle with the Jets for the President’s Trophy, and Ovi’s just nine goals away from breaking Gretzky’s record. They had a five game win streak come to an end with a 3-0 shutout loss in LA on Thursday night. Somehow in the first game between these teams in DC, the Sharks won it 2-1 in overtime on the road. I love Washington to answer back here and bounce back from Thursday’s loss. I’ll take the Caps in regulation for a unit, and I’ll go back to Ovi anytime goal for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Bruins vs. Lightning (7:00)
This isn’t the best game on the slate as these teams meet for the second time in a week. Last Saturday when they played, I was all over Tampa after the Bruins dismantled their team at the deadline, and although the Bolts were the better team in that matinee, they got shut out 4-0 on home ice. These teams split their two games prior, with the Lightning winning the first game 4-1 at home in January and the B’s answering back with a 6-2 victory at home five days later. The Bruins have been pretty terrible, but somehow are still alive for the playoffs, just two points back from the Rangers and Blue Jackets for that second Wild Card spot in the East in that crowded race. Coming off a 6-3 loss in Ottawa on Thursday, they have just three wins in their last 12 games. The Lightning come into tonight two points back from the Leafs for home ice in the first round, and four points ahead of the Sens. They’re on a three game losing streak, coming off a 4-3 shootout loss in Philly on Thursday (big loser for me), but have been quite good recently with a 10-3-1 record in their last 14 games. I like Tampa to get a bounce back win here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Maple Leafs vs. Senators (7:00)
The Battle of Ontario’s always fun and both of these teams are looking like they’re going to make the playoffs this year, making it even better. The Leafs are in a bit of a slump right now, with just one win in their last five games, coming off a 3-2 loss at home to the Panthers that they’re chasing for first place in the division. They still hold a two point lead though for home ice in the first round over the Lightning. The Senators have been on first, solidifying their spot in the first Wild Card with a five point lead over the Rangers and Blue Jackets, and just four points back from Tampa for third in the division. Coming off a 6-3 victory against the Bruins at home on Thursday, they’re on a five game win streak with a 6-0-1 record in their last seven games. Ottawa won both previous games between these teams with a 3-0 shutout on the road in November and a 2-1 win at home in January. I’d lean the Leafs, who are the better team, avoid the season sweep against their provincial rival at home, but I don’t like it enough to bet on. I’d also lean the over, but the best play on this game is nothing at all. I’ll lay off it completely. Should be some solid hockey.
Canadiens vs. Panthers (7:00)
My initial thought on this Atlantic Division game was that its a pretty boring mismatch, and it still might be, but I could see Montreal making it competitive. The Habs are a point out from the second Wild Card spot in the East, and they’ve been hot lately with a 6-1-2 record in their last nine game, coming off a 5-4 overtime loss in Seattle on Wednesday. The Panthers have been great lately, with a four point lead for the Atlantic Division over Toronto, who they beat 3-2 on the road on Thursday, their twelfth win in their last 15 games. The Canadiens won the first game between these teams with a surprising 4-0 shutout win on the road in December. I like the Cup Champs to answer back here with a win on the road and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but didn’t even consider betting it.
Flyers vs. Hurricanes (7:00)
Not a great game here in the Metro. The Flyers stink, but ended a five game losing streak with a 4-3 shootout win at home against the Lightning on Thursday (big loss for me). The Hurricanes have been on fire, pretty much solidified in second place in the Division, and on a six game win streak, in the second half of a back to back tonight following a 4-2 win at home against the Red Wings on Friday. Carolina won the first two games between these teams with a 6-4 win at home and a 4-1 win on the road in November. I like the Canes to complete the season sweep here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’m not touching it.
Blue Jackets vs. Rangers (7:00)
Great matchup here between the two Metro Division teams tied for the second Wild Card spot in the East. These teams have both been inconsistent this season, in slumps right now with a ton of teams hot on their tail right now. The Blue Jackets, coming off a 4-0 shutout loss at home to the Golden Knights on Thursday, have just one win in their last five games. The Rangers ended a four game losing streak on Thursday, beating the Wild 3-2 in overtime on the road. The Rangers are 2-1 between these teams this season, winning 1-0 in a double shutout in a shootout in January at home, winning 4-3 on the road in Columbus in February, then losing 7-3 on the road last Sunday. I’d slightly lean the Rags win this one, and I’d lean the over, but I’m definitely not betting this game. Complete toss up that means a ton in the standings.
Wild vs. Blues (8:00)
Kind of a boring matchup here in the Central. The Wild are comfortably in the the first Wild Card spot in the West, four points behind the Avs for third in the division and dealing with a ton of injuries this year. Coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Rangers at home on Thursday, they have just three wins in their last nine games. The Blues have been inconsistent, two points back from the Flames and Canucks for the second Wild Card in the West. They are coming off a 5-3 loss in Pittsburgh on Thursday, but have been good lately, with a 7-2-2 record in their last eleven games. Minnesota’s won all three previous games between these teams, with a 4-1 win on the road in October, a 4-2 win on the road in November, and a 6-4 win at home in January. I’d slightly lean St. Louis avoids the season sweep, and I’d slightly lean the under, but I don’t see enough of a edge to bet this matchup so I’ll lay off it.
Kings vs. Predators (8:00)
Pretty big mismatch in the West for a boring game. The Kings have been great lately, on a four game win streak after a 3-0 shutout win at home against the Capitals on Thursday, now just a point back from Edmonton for the second spot in the Pacific. The Predators have been pathetic this year, and in the second half of a back to back tonight. After beating up on a handful of the worst teams in the league for a four game win streak, that run ended last night with a 2-1 loss in Anaheim. These teams split their first two games in Nashville with a 3-0 shutout win for the Kings in November, and a 3-2 overtime win for the Preds at home in December. I like LA to win here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Canucks vs. Blackhawks (10:00)
Terrible late game in the West to end the night as the only late game, yet still a big mismatch. I think the Canucks, who are tied for the second Wild Card spot in the West (although I think they get waxed in the first round if they make it). They’re coming off a 4-3 shootout win in an important game in Calgary on Wednesday and have four wins in their last ten games. The Blackhawks are one of the two worst teams in the NHL. Coming off a 4-2 loss in San Jose against the other worst team in the show, they’re on a three game losing streak. The Canucks won both previous games between these teams with a 6-3 win on the road in October and then a 4-1 win at home in November. Vancouver should win this game at home, but against no team in this league should they be a -270 favorite. Ridiculous price. I’d lean the over, but I’ll finish my night early with no plays on this game.
Game Bets
1u Golden Knights ML (-192)
.5u Jack Eichel anytime goal (+140)
.5u Devils ML (-142)
1u Capitals in regulation (-170)
.5u Alex Ovechkin anytime goal (+100)
.5u Lightning ML (-180)
.5u Panthers in regulation (-120)
.5u Hurricanes ML (-170)
.5u Kings in regulation (-150)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 451-414-13 (-57 units)
PS: Bonus NLL bet: 1u Bandits ML (-188)
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A Town's Zone 