Won my only NHL bet last night for a unit on the over in the second period, not even watching the game. Today we have another huge 14 game slate staggered through the day as they compete with March Madness, let’s crush it!
Rangers vs. Canucks (1:00)
Boring cross conference game to start the night between two of the teams that are outside looking in but the closest to the second Wild Card spots in both divisions. Seeing Elias Pettersson face JT Miller for the first time since that trade should add a little bit of fun to it though. The Rangers are on a three game losing streak, coming off a 4-3 loss at home to the Leafs on Thursday, and have just two wins in their last nine games. The Canucks are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss in St. Louis on Thursday in a big game for that Wild Card spot and they haven’t been much better than the Rangers, with a 6-7-1 record in their last 14 games. The first game between these teams in Vancouver was close, with the Rangers winning 4-3 on the road back in November. I’d slightly lean the Rags win again here at home in MSG, and I’d slightly lean the over, but I’m not touching this game. If either of these teams make the playoffs, they’re losing in the first round.
Wild vs. Sabres (2:00)
Incredibly boring cross conference matchup here. The Wild are pretty comfortably in the first Wild Card in the West, but have dealt with a ton of injuries this year. They’re coming off two wins in a row after a 4-0 shutout win on Wednesday at home against the Kraken, but have just five wins in their last 12 games. The Sabres on the other hand are the worst team in the East and a complete joke. Scoring an empty netter on themselves in pathetic fashion with a 6 on 4 to try to tie the game late, Buffalo is coming off a 5-2 loss in Utah on Thursday night in honestly a game that wasn’t awful for them and fell apart late. We have won three of our last five games after a six game losing streak, but this is just a bad team. Minnesota won the first game between these teams 1-0 at home in November. I’d lean they win again at home, but don’t like it enough to bet on. I’d also lean the over, but the best play here is not touching this game.
Stars vs. Flyers (2:00)
Huge cross conference mismatch here in a boring game. The Stars are struggling a little bit right now, with just one win in their last four games, but they’re having a great season and are still three points ahead of the Avalanche for home ice in the first round. Coming off a 3-2 shootout loss at home to the Lightning on Thursday, they’ve gone 14-4-3 in their last 21 games. The Flyers stink, on a three game losing streak after falling short on their late push in a 3-2 loss in Washington on Thursday. Philly has just one win in their last nine games. Dallas won the first game between these teams 4-1 on the road in January and I expect another similar win today. I’ll take the Stars in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Blues vs. Blackhawks (3:00)
Big mismatch in the Central Division. The Blues have played themselves into the second Wild Card in the West, a point ahead of the Canucks, who they beat 4-3 in overtime in a huge game on Thursday. That was the fourth straight win for St. Louis, who have a 10-2-1 record in their last ten games. The Blackhawks are one of the worst teams in the NHL, officially eliminated from the playoffs already. Coming off a 3-1 loss in LA on Thursday, they’re on a six game losing streak. The Blues won both prior games between these teams in high scoring games, winning 6-2 on the road outdoors at the Winter Classic on New Year’s Eve, then winning 6-5 in a shootout at home in February. I like St. Louis to complete the season sweep here. The price on this game is pretty expensive, but I’ll lay the -185 on them in regulation for a unit, and I’ll also jump on their team total over 3.5 for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’ll just stick to the Blues side.
Islanders vs. Flames (4:00)
Not a great cross conference game here since I don’t think either of these teams are good whatsoever. They both have a pretty decent chance at a playoff spot though. The Islanders are two points behind the Habs in the tight race for the second Wild Card in the West. They’re on a three game win streak, coming off a big 4-3 overtime win against Montreal at home on Thursday. The Flames are coming off two wins in a row on the road, beating the Devils 5-3 on Thursday, scoring four unanswered goals in the third period to hit the over and screw up my sweep. Calgary’s still right in the playoff race, just two points back from the Blues. The first game between these teams in Calgary back in November went to a shootout tied 1-1 with the Flames winning 2-1 at home. I’d slightly lean the Isles answer back at home, but I’m not touching it. I’d slightly lean the under, but both of these teams are trending over lately, so I’ll lay off it completely.
Kings vs. Hurricanes (4:00)
Really solid cross conference game here between two teams playing really well. The Kings are comfortably in third place in the Pacific, just two points behind the Oilers for home ice in the first round. Coming off a 3-1 win in Chicago on Thursday, they’ve won six of their last seven games. The Canes are pretty much locked into the second place spot in the Metro and should make easy work of the Devils fun the first round. They’re on an eight game win streak, coming off a 3-1 on the road against the Sharks to cap off my night with a win on Thursday. LA won the first game between these teams 4-2 in Carolina in February. I’d lean the Canes answer back on the road and the under, but this is way too close of a matchup to bet for me. I’ll lay off it, but should be a great game.
Capitals vs. Panthers (5:00)
This should be a great game by the two teams leading their divisions in the East. The Caps are one of the top teams in the league, with their spot in the playoffs clinched, the first team to 100 points, in the second fastest amount of games in NHL history. Coming off a 3-2 win at home against the Flyers on Thursday, where Ovi got to seven away from Gretzky, they’re on a three game win streak with just one loss in their last nine games. The Panthers still lead the Atlantic, tied with the Leafs. Coming off a 1-0 overtime win in Columbus on Thursday, they have 13 wins in their last 18 games. The Caps won both of their prior games against the Cup Champs, winning 4-1 on the road in November and 6-3 at home in February. I’d slightly lean Florida wins this one on the road to avoid the season sweep, but this is way too close of a toss up for me to bet. I’d also lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Utah HC vs. Lightning (5:00)
Not the best matchup for this cross conference game. Coming off a 5-2 win against my Sabres on Thursday, Utah’s playing pretty well right now, with a 10-5-2 record in their last 17 games. They have an outside shot at the playoffs, four points back for the Blues for the second Wild Card spot in the West. The Lightning have been fantastic, two points behind the Panthers and Leafs for first in the Atlantic. Coming off a 3-2 shootout win in Dallas on Thursday, they’re on a three game win streak with an impressive 13-3-1 record in their last 17 games. I like the Bolts to win this one soon the road and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but don’t see an edge in betting it.
Canadiens vs. Avalanche (7:00)
Not the best matchup on paper, but I could see this being a pretty fun game tonight. The Habs currently hold the second Wild Card spot in the East, two points ahead of the Rangers and Islanders. They’re coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders on the road on Thursday, but have been solid lately, with an 8-1-3 record in their last twelve games. The Avalanche are playing great recently, comfortably in a playoff spot, three points back from Dallas for home ice in the first round. Coming off a 5-1 win in Ottawa on Thursday, they’re on a 9-1-1 run in their last eleven games. Montreal won the first game between these teams 2-1 in a shootout on the road in January. I like the Avs to answer back and I’ll take Colorado for half a unit, laying the -185. I’d lean the over, but don’t like it enough to bet at 6.5.
Devils vs. Senators (7:00)
Pretty game here in the East. The Devils have played decent hockey lately, although I don’t see them getting past Carolina in the first round without Jack Hughes. Coming off a 5-3 loss at home to the Flames on Thursday, they have four wins in their last six games. The Senators are in the first Wild Cards spot in the East and playing great right now. They’ve lost their last two games, coming off a 5-1 loss at home to the Avs on Thursday, but have a 7-2-1 record in their last ten games. These teams each won on the road in the first two games between these teams, a 3-1 win for Jersey in October and a 2-1 win for the Sens in January. I’d lean Ottawa wins this one on the road, and I’d lean the under, but I don’t see enough of an edge anywhere to bet this game.
Predators vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
Quite the mismatch for this cross conference game, but there’s some nice value on it. The Predators have been a horrible disappointment this year, one of the worst teams in the league, and they’re on a four game losing streak right now, coming off a 4-1 loss at home to the Ducks on Thursday. The Leafs are playing well, tied with the Panthers at the top of the Atlantic Division. They’re on a three game win streak, coming off a 4-3 win on the road against the Rangers on Thursday. Toronto won the first game between these teams 3-2 at home in December and I like them to win again on the road, at a cheaper price than I expected. I’ll take the Maple Leafs for a unit. I’d lean the under slightly, but am definitely not betting it.
Golden Knights vs. Red Wings (8:00)
Not the best matchup here. These teams just played last Sunday afternoon, with a surprising 3-0 shutout win at home for the Red Wings. Vegas is the way better team in this game, leading the Pacific with a three point lead over the Oilers. They’re coming off a 5-1 win at home against the Bruins on Thursday, but have just a 2-2-2 record in their last six games. The Red Wings are four points back from the Habs for the second Wild Card in the East, but coming off a 4-1 loss in DC on Thursday, they hav just two wins in their last ten games. I like the Knights to answer back here and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet on.
Oilers vs. Kraken (10:00)
Big mismatch here in the Pacific to get into the late games. The Oilers are in second place in the Pacific right now, three points back from Vegas and two ahead of the Kings for home ice in the first round. Coming off a 4-3 overtime loss at home to the Jets that ended a three game win streak, they’re on a four game point streak. The Kraken haven’t been great this year, but are playing better as of late. They’re coming off getting shut out 4-0 in Minnesota on Thursday, but have a 4-2-1 record in their last seven games. Edmonton won both prior games between these teams 4-2 in January, on the road and then at home. I like them to win again and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’m not touching the total.
Sharks vs. Bruins (10:30)
Terrible cross conference matchup between two bad teams to end the night. Both of these teams blow. The Sharks are the worst team in the league, already eliminated from playoff contention. Coming off a 3-1 loss to the Canes on Thursday, they have just one win in their last six games (against the Blackhawks, who are just as bad). The Bruins were big sellers at the deadline, dismantling their roster. They’re done, coming into tonight on a four game losing streak after a 5-1 blowout loss in Vegas on Thursday, and they have just three wins in their last 15 games. Boston won the first game between these teams with a 6-3 win at home in January. They should win again here on the road, but I don’t trust the Bruins enough to bet it, so I’ll just stay off this game despite San Jose pretty much being an auto-fade for me all season. I’d lean the over, but I’ll lay off this game completely.
Game Bets
1u Stars in regulation (-175)
1u Blues in regulation (-185)
.5u Blues TT over 3.5 (-120)
1u Lightning ML (-115)
.5u Avalanche ML (-185)
1u Maple Leafs ML (-170)
.5u Golden Knights in regulation (-150)
.5u Oilers ML (-162)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 476-429-13 (-53.36 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 