Last night I was just Florida needing OT away from a sweep (but Marchy got a point on the game winner with his assist to Bennett the Menace to cash that), going 4-1 on the NHL to win 2.2 units. Today we have a big eleven game state, let’s make it five days in a row!
Flyers vs. Sabres (1:00)
Pretty bad Eastern Conference matchup to start off the day between the worst team in each division. The Flyers after firing Torts on Thursday ended a six game losing streak with a 6-4 win at home against the Habs, with just their second win in their last 13 games. My Sabres are on a three game win streak yet still the worst team in the East, coming off a 7-3 win at home against the Penguins on Thursday. Philly won the first game between these teams 5-2 at home in November. I’d lean the Sabres win this one on the road, but I’m definitely not betting it. I do like the over here though, which I’ll take at 6 for half a unit.
Lightning vs. Islanders (2:00)
Pretty big mismatch in the Eastern Conference. The Lightning have been fantastic, in third place in the Atlantic, just a point back from the Leafs for home ice in the first round and two behind Florida to lead the division. Coming off blowing out Utah 8-0 at home on Thursday (easy win for me), they’ve won five of their last seven games. The Islanders stink, yet are just a point back from the three way tie between the Blue Jackets, Habs, and Rangers for the second Wild Card spot in the East. They’ve struggled, on a three game losing streak after a 5-2 loss at home against the Canucks on Wednesday. The Isles won the first game between these teams 3-2 in overtime in Tampa in February. I like the Bolts to answer back and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I like the over as well, which I’ll also take for a unit at just 5.5.
Avalanche vs. Blues (4:30)
This should be a great game out West this afternoon between two of the hottest teams in the league right now. The Avalanche are on a four game win streak coming off a 4-0 shutout at home against the Kings on Thursday, five points back from the Stars for home ice in the first round, with a 12-1-1 record in their last 14 games. The Blues have been the hottest team in the NHL since the 4 Nations break, with a 14-2-2 record in that time, now on an eight game win streak, coming off a come from behind 3-2m win in Smashville on Thursday. They’re comfortably in the second Wild Card in the West, just two points behind the Wild. These teams split their first two games, both winning at home, a 5-0 win for the Avs in January and a 3-1 win for St. Louis in February. I think Colorado’s the better team here and they should win at home, but the books are big time disrespecting the Blues with the Avs at -195. That’s absolutely not worth betting, and I considered betting St. Louis, but the right play on this game is just staying off it. I’d lean the under very slightly, but I’ll lay off this matchup entirely.
Wild vs. Devils (6:00)
Pretty lousy matchup here between two pretty similar teams. Both of these teams looked good to start the year and they’re both likely making playoffs, but with some key injuries I don’t see them going anywhere, expecting both to get bounced in the first round. The Wild are in the first Wild Card spot, just two points ahead of the Blues. They have won four of their last six games, coming off a surprising 4-2 win at home against the Capitals on Thursday. The Devils aren’t making it past five games with Carolina in the first round, and they come into tonight with just one win, which was against Chicago, in their last five games, coming off getting shut out 4-0 in Winnipeg. I’d lean the Wild win this one at home and the under, but this is too close to a toss up for me to find any value in betting anything on.
Predators vs. Golden Knights (6:30)
Pretty big mismatch with some nice value on it in this Western Conference matchup. The Predators have been a horrible disappointment this year. Blowing a 2-1 lead going into the third period to lose 3-2 at home to the Blues on Thursday, they have just two wins in their last eight games. The Golden Knights are my pick to win the Cup and they look great lately. They’ve had their struggles on the road this season where they’re just 17-13-5, but come into tonight on a five game win streak with a 13-3-2 record in their last 18 games. Vegas is in the second half of a back to back tonight, scoring three unanswered in the third period to cover my puck line, coming from behind to beat the Blackhawks 5-3 on the road. Nashville won the first game between these teams 5-3 at home in January. Even in the second half of a back to back, which is giving us a better price on the Knights, I like them to win here on the road. I’ll take Vegas for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Senators vs. Blue Jackets (7:00)
Not the best matchup, but pretty meaningful game here between the two teams currently holding the two Wild Card spots in the East. The Senators are pretty comfortably in the first Wild Card, six points ahead of the log jam for the second Wild Card, which the Blue Jackets currently have the tiebreaker for over the Habs and Rangers. Ottawa’s been solid lately, with a 9-3-1 record in their last 13 games, coming off a 4-3 win in Detroit on Thursday. The Blue Jackets have struggled lately, but have two shootout wins in a row after a six game losing streak, in the second half of a back to back tonight, beating the Canucks 7-6 last night at home. With Columbus in the second half of a back to back, I like the Sens to win this one at home and I’ll take them for half a unit in regulation. The total’s a complete toss up to me.
Kings vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
Really solid cross conference game here. The Kings are two points ahead of the Oilers now for home ice in the first round, and have been surging up the standings. They had a four game win streak come to an end on Thursday with a 4-0 shutout loss in Colorado, just their second loss in their last eleven games. The Leafs were a huge let on Thursday night (ruining what could’ve been a monster night), losing 6-5 in San Jose in a shootout, forcing OT with two goals in the final minute of regulation. They’re a point ahead of Tampa for home ice in the first round and just a point behind Florida for first place in the Atlantic, with a 4-1-1 record in their last six games. Toronto won the first game between these teams 6-2 early in the season at home in October. I’d slightly lean the Kings win this one at home and would very slightly lean the over, but I’m not touching this matchup. Should be a fun game for the second screen during the Elite Eight tonight.
Red Wings vs. Bruins (8:00)
Quite the boring Original Six Atlantic Division matchup. The Red Wings have struggled, but are still just three points back from the three way tie for the second Wild Card in the East. Coming off a 4-3 loss at home to the Senators on Thursday, they have just three wins in their last 14 games. The Bruins meanwhile have looked like the worst team in the league since they dismantled their team at the trade dealing. They’re on a pathetic seven game losing streak with just three wins in their last 18 games after getting blown out 6-2 in Anaheim. Boston won both previous games between these teams, 2-1 on the road in November and 3-2 in OT at home in December, but that was obviously a quite different Bruins team than now. I don’t think Detroit’s a great team but the B’s have become an auto-fade to the same level as the Sharks and Blackhawks. I’ll take the Red Wings to get it done at home in regulation and avoid the season sweep for half a unit. I’d lean the over slightly, but not enough to bet it.
Oilers vs. Flames (10:00)
Not the best Battle of Alberta here tonight that we’ve seen. The Oilers are still without McDavid and Draisaitl, and come into tonight with just one win in their last four games after getting stomped 6-1 in Seattle on Thursday night. The Flames have been solid lately, having a four game win streak come to an end on Thursday with a 5-2 loss at home to the Stars. I don’t think Calgary’s good and they’re now six points back from the Blues for the second Wild Card. These rivals split their first two games, both winning on the road with a 4-1 Flames win in October and a 4-2 answer back from Edmonton in November. I’d lean even without their superstars, the Oilers win this one at home, but they’re not worth the -170 in a rivalry matchup like this without them. I’d slightly lean the over with how these teams have played lately, but I’m not touching it.
Sharks vs. Rangers (10:30)
This cross conference game kind of sucks. The Sharks are the worst team in the league, but surprisingly come into tonight off two wins in a row, beating the Leafs 6-5 in a shootout at home on Thursday after they beat the Bruins 3-1 on Saturday. The Rangers are in the three way tie with the Blue Jackets and Canadiens for the second Wild Card in the East despite their pretty bad year. They’re in the second half of a back to back, coming off a 5-4 overtime loss in Anaheim last night, with just one win in their last six games. The Rangers won the first game between these teams 3-2 at home in November. San Jose is still an auto-fade and I like the Rags to bounce back here. I’ll take New York for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but didn’t even consider betting the total.
Kraken vs. Stars (10:30)
This isn’t a great Western Conference matchup to end the night. The Kraken have struggled all year, but did end a three game losing streak with a 6-1 blowout win at home against Edmonton (who didn’t have McDavid or Draisaitl) on Thursday night. Dallas on the other hand have been very good this year. They’re comfortably in second place in the Central, six points back from the Jets and five ahead of the Avs. They’re on a four game win streak and seven game point streak, coming off a 5-2 win in Calgary on Thursday night. The Stars won the first game between these teams with a 2-0 shutout at home in October. I’ll take Dallas to win again for a unit on the road. I’d lean the over, but I’ll lay off the total.
Game Bets
.5u Flyers/Sabres over 6 (-124)
1u Lightning in regulation (-150)
1u Lightning/Islanders over 5.5 (-130)
1u Golden Knights ML (-162)
.5u Senators in regulation (-135)
.5u Red Wings in regulation (-120)
.5u Rangers ML (-162)
1u Stars ML (-148)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 503-441-13 (-48.82 units)
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