Nice bounce back last night for my seventh winning night on the NHL in the last eight, going 5-3 to win 2.24 units for a nice night! Tonight we have a good five game slate, let’s keep rolling!
Rangers vs. Wild (7:00)
Kind of a boring cross conference game to get the night started. The Rangers are two points back from the Habs for the second Wild Card spot in the East and have struggled lately. They dominated the Sharks, as they should have, winning 6-1 on the road on Saturday for just their fourth win in their last 13 games. The Wild are in the second Wild Card in the West, six points ahead of Calgary, and a point back from the Blues. Struggling with a bunch of injuries, they’ve won just one of their last five games, coming off a 3-2 shootout loss in Jersey on Monday. The Rangers won the first game between these teams in Minnesota last month, 3-2 in overtime. I’d slightly lean New York wins this one again and I’d slightly lean the under, but I’m not touching this game. Way too much of a toss up to find any value in.
Hurricanes vs. Capitals (7:00)
Great game between the top two teams in the Metro in what should be a solid preview of the potential second round series between these teams, which I expect both of them to have a pretty easy path to with their first round matchups. These teams split their first two games, each winning at home, a 4-2 win for the Canes in November and a 3-1 win for the Caps in December. Carolina pretty much has home ice in the first round locked up and should breeze through Jersey. The Hurricanes are on fire, coming off a 6-4 win at home against the Isles on Sunday and have just two losses in their last 13 games. The Capitals lead the East, with the first overall in the conference pretty much locked up. They have a 10-3-1 record in their last four games, in the second half of a back to back tonight ending a three game losing streak last night with a 4-3 win in Boston. Ovechkin scored to get now just four back from Wayne Gretzky. With Washington on the road and in the second half of a back to back, I’d lean the Canes win this one at home, but I don’t think it’s worth anywhere close to the -215. I’d actually see some value on the Caps, but the right play is staying off it. I’d lean the over, but don’t think that’s worth betting either. I do like Ovi to score again though, who scored in that November loss, and I’ll take it for half a unit at the nice +160 price.
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers (7:30)
Awesome Atlantic Division matchup here in the race for first place in the Division, with Toronto, Tampa, and Florida all within two points of each other, pretty much locked into those three spots and playing for very important seeding. The Leafs, coming off a 3-2 win in Anaheim on Sunday (win for me), now control their own destiny, a point ahead of the Bolts and two ahead of the Panthers. They’re on a hot stretch with 6-1-1 record in their last eight games. The Panthers are in the second half of a back to back tonight, losing 3-2 in overtime last night to the Habs, giving up the game tying goal to Nick Suzuki with nine seconds left in regulation before he won it for them 29 seconds into OT. Typically I wouldn’t care that much about a half unit bet losing, but the way that one played out hurt, especially at -192. The Cup Champs have struggled a bit as of late, with just three wins inter last eight games, all needing overtime. Florida won both previous games between these teams, winning 5-1 at home in November and then 3-2 in March. I’d lean the Leafs win this one at home, especially with Florida on the road in the second half of a back to back, but this game isn’t worth betting. I’d also lean the under, but the best play here is to sit back, watch, and enjoy the hockey with no action on it.
Blackhawks vs. Avalanche (9:30)
Horrendous matchup in the Central, as evidenced by the -400 line. The Blackhawks are one of the (now I’d say three with the Bruins) worst teams in the league. They’re on a three game losing streak, coming off a 5-2 loss to Utah at home on Sunday, and they have just one win in their last eleven games. The Avalanche are coming off two losses in a row after a 3-2 shootout loss at home to ruin my six day win streak on Monday, blowing a 2-0 third period lead to the Flames. They’re still a good five points ahead of the Blues for third place in the Central and despite those two losses are still 12-2-2 in their last 16 games. Surprising Colorado is 2-1 against the Avs, winning 5-2 on the road in October, 3-1 at home in January, and then losing in a 3-0 shutout that went back to the status quo last night. I fully expect Colorado to win this one easily tonight at home and I’ll take their puck line for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Canucks vs. Kraken (10:30)
Pretty lousy matchup in the Pacific to end the night. The Canucks have struggled this year and they’re now seven points back from the Wild for the second Wild Card in the West. They’re coming off a 3-1 loss in Winnipeg on Sunday, and have been inconsistent with a 5-3-2 record in their last ten games. The Kraken have been bad all year. Coming off two losses in a row against the Stars at home on Monday and Saturday, they have just one win in their last six games. Seattle’s 2-0-1 this season against the Canucks, all high scoring games, winning 5-4 in OT on the road in December, losing 4-3 in a shootout at home in January, then winning 6-3 at home in March. I’d lean Vancouver ties up the season series at home, but not enough to bet it. I do like the over in this game though quite a bit at 5.5 at even money, which I’ll take for a unit.
Game Bets
.5u Alex Ovechkin anytime goal (+160)
1u Avalanche -1.5 (-155)
1u Canucks/Kraken over 5.5 (+100)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 524-448-13 (-40.54 units)
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