Second winning night in a row for me on the NHL yesterday, going 3-2 to win .66 units. Tonight we have a nine game slate with a lot of lousy matchups, let’s make it three winning nights in a row!
Canadiens vs. Senators (7:00)
Kind of an interesting matchup here in the Atlantic between two teams right in the playoff race and playing pretty well lately. The Habs, coming off a surprising 3-1 win at home against the Panthers on Saturday have gone 7-1-2 in their last ten games, just a point back from the Rangers for the second Wild Card spot in the East. The Senators hold the first Wild Card, five points ahead of New York. They’ve been on fire lately, on a six game win streak with a 7-0-1 record in their last eight games. Montreal won both previous game between these teams, opening the season with a 4-1 win at home in October and then winning 5-2 on the road in Ottawa in February. I’d slightly lean the Sens win here on the road, but not enough to bet it. The total’s a complete toss up to me, so I’ll stay off this game completely.
Rangers vs. Flames (7:00)
Kind of a boring game here between two teams in their Wild Card races. The Rangers are in the second Wild Card spot in the East, a point ahead of Montreal in a tight race with six teams within four points of them. They haven’t been great lately, with two wins in their last seven games, coming off a 3-1 loss at home to the Oilers on Sunday. The Flames are open the outside looking in on that last Wild Card in the West, two points behind Vancouver. They’re in a slump as well, on a three game losing streak with just two wins in their last nine games, in the second half of a back to back, coming off a 6-2 loss in Toronto last night (easy winner for me). Calgary won the first game between these teams 3-2 at home back in November. With the Flames in the second half of a back to back, I’d expect the Rangers to win here at home, but the -200 is way too pricey for me, so I’ll lay off it. The total’s pretty much a toss up to me, so I’ll lay off this game entirely.
Penguins vs. Islanders (7:00)
Terrible matchup between two bad teams in the Metro Division. The Penguins have struggled all year, but are on a surprising four game win streak coming into tonight, with some solid wins in that span, coming off a 7-3 win at home on Saturday. The Islanders haven’t been good all year either and have been in a slump, with just five wins in their last 13 games. They did pull off an unexpected comeback win on Sunday though, scoring four unanswered goals in the third period, erasing a 2-0 deficit to beat the Panthers 4-2 at home. The Isles are 2-1 against Pittsburgh this year, winning 4-3 in a shootout at home in November, 6-3 at home in December, then losing 3-2 on the road the following day in the second half of their home and home back to back. I’d slightly lean the Pens stay hot here and get the win at home, but didn’t even consider betting the side. I’d lean the under, but I’m staying off this game. No value in betting it whatsoever.
Capitals vs. Red Wings (7:00)
Not the best matchup here in the East. The Capitals have been fantastic, in a two way race with the Jets for the President’s Trophy with the GR8 just eight goals away from breaking Gretzky’s goal record. He scored a beauty on Saturday night as they beat the Sharks 5-1 on the road for their sixth win in their last seven games. Washington’s excelled on both ends of the ice this season. The Red Wings have not, but are still in the Wild Card race, just two points back from the Rangers for that second spot. They’ve been in a pretty big slump lately though, with just two wins in their last nine games, coming off a 3-0 shutout win at home against the Golden Knights on Sunday. These teams split their first two games this year, with Detroit winning the first game 4-2 at home in December and the Caps answering with a 5-2 win at home earlier this month. I like Washington to win here again at home, and will take them for a unit. I also like the over, which I’ll take at 6 for half a unit, along with Ovi to score again for half a unit.
Predators vs. Blues (8:00)
This isn’t a great game in the Central. The Predators have been a terrible disappointment this year, and after beating up on some lousy teams for a four game win streak, they’ve since lost their last two games in a row, coming off a 1-0 overtime loss in LA on Saturday. The Blues have played great lately, now tied with the Canucks for the second Wild Card in the West. Coming off a 7-2 win at home agains the Ducks on Sunday, they have a 9-2-2 record in their last 13 games. In the first game between these teams, St. Louis won in a blowout, winning 7-4 at home in December. I like the Blues to win again here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Stars vs. Ducks (8:00)
Huge mismatch in the West here, but what makes it a bit interesting is that the Ducks actually won both previous games between these teams, winning 4-2 on the road in Dallas in November, and 2-1 at home in February. The Stars are the far better team here, in second place in the Central Division, two points ahead of the Avs for home ice in the first round. Although they have just one win in their last four games, coming off a 4-3 overtime loss in Colorado in a spectacular game on Sunday, they’ve played very well lately, with a 13-4-2 record in their last 19 games. The Ducks have been pretty terrible, with just two wins in their last seven games, coming off getting blown out 7-2 in St. Louis on Sunday. This should be an easy win for Dallas to avoid the season sweep, and the price indicates that with the moneyline at -375. I do like them to win here though and I’ll take the Stars puck line for half a unit. I’d lean the over slightly, but I’m not touching it at 6.5.
Blackhawks vs. Kraken (8:30)
Terribly boring, lousy matchup in the West. Both of these teams have had bad seasons. The Blackhawks are one of the two worst teams in the NHL (alongside the Sharks). They’re on a four game losing streak coming off a 6-2 loss in Vancouver on Saturday. The Kraken haven’t been a whole lot better, but are playing decent lately, with a 3-1-1 record, coming off blowing a 2-0 first period lead to lose 3-2 in overtime at home against the Jets (huge win for me there). These teams split both of their first two games with 3-1 wins at home earlier this season. I don’t think Seattle’s a good team by any means, but Chicago’s still an auto-fade for me and getting the Kraken at just -155 I think is good enough value to take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under slightly, but I’m not touching it.
Oilers vs. Utah HC (9:00)
Kind of an interesting Western Conference matchup. The Oilers haven’t played their best hockey lately, only a point ahead of the Kings for home ice in the first round. They’re still just four points behind Vegas though for the Pacific Division lead. Coming off two wins in a row against the New York teams on the road with a 3-1 win against the Rangers on Sunday, they have round wins in their last six games, after they had gone on a 1-6 run prior. Utah’s playing decent lately, two points back from Vancouver and the Blues for the second Wild Card spot in the West. They have a 9-4-2 record in their last 15 games, coming off a 3-1 win in Vancouver on Sunday. The Oilers won both previous games between these teams with a 4-3 win on the road in overtime in November then a 4-1 win at home on New Year’s Eve. Edmonton’s definitely the better team here and I like them to complete the season sweep, which I’ll take for half a unit. I’d lean the under, and considered taking it, but don’t like it quite enough to bet it.
Canucks vs. Jets (10:00)
This pretty big mismatch that could potentially be a preview of the first round of the playoffs with the Canucks currently in the second Wild Card spot and the Jets leading the Western Conference. The Jets lead the West, with a significant eleven point lead over Dallas, in a two way battle with the Caps for the President’s Trophy. After giving up a 2-0 lead in the first period on Sunday night in Seattle, they came back to win 3-2 in overtime on Dylan Samberg’s game winner for their third straight win and fifth win in their last six games. The Canucks haven’t been great, but still hold a two point lead over Calgary and Utah, tied with the Blues for the second Wild Card in the West. They’ve been quite inconsistent, with five wins in their last twelve games, coming off a 3-1 loss at home to Utah on Sunday. Winnipeg dominated the first game between these teams with a 6-1 win at home in January and I like them to win again. I’ll take the Jets for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
1u Capitals ML (-170)
.5u Capitals/Red Wings over 6 (-120)
.5u Alex Ovechkin anytime goal (+100)
.5u Blues ML (-118)
.5u Stars -1.5 (-135)
.5u Kraken ML (-155)
.5u Oilers ML (-148)
1u Jets ML (-166)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 462-422-13 (-56.52 units)
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A Town's Zone 