Losing night for me on the NHL yesterday, going 1-2 to lose 1.76 units, both losses by a goal. Tonight we have a big nine game slate, let’s bounce back and stay hot.
Canadiens vs. Bruins (7:00)
Not a great game here in the Atlantic to start the night. The Bruins have crumbled after trading away half their lineup at the deadline and they’re now last in the East for the first time since 1997. Coming off a 4-3 loss at home to the Caps on Tuesday (triple winner for me), they’re on a nine game losing streak with just three wins in their last 20 games. Brutal. The Habs are coming off a 3-2 overtime win at home against the Panthers, beating the Cup Champs for the second game in a row on the clutch game tying goal with nine seconds left in regulation from Nick Suzuki and then his game winner in OT (that bet on Florida hurt to lose). They’re tied with the Rangers for the second Wild Card in the East. Boston won both previous games between these teams at home, 6-4 in October and then 6-3 at home in December. The B’s are a completely different team now, and I like the Canadiens to avoid the season sweep with a win at home. The Bruins are a complete auto-fade the rest of the year and I’ll take Montreal in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over very slightly, but didn’t even consider betting it.
Senators vs. Lighting (7:00)
Solid matchup between two playoff teams in the Atlantic. The Senators are coming off a 5-2 loss at home to my Sabres on Tuesday, but they’re playing well with a 9-4-1 record in their last 14 games, comfortably five points ahead of the Habs in the first Wild Card spot in the East. The Lightning are on a four game win streak, coming off a 4-1 win on Long Island on Tuesday, in second place in the Atlantic, a point ahead of the Panthers and three behind Toronto. The Bolts are 2-1 between these teams this year, with all three games being won by the home team, with the Sens winning 5-4 in October, the Bolts answering with a 4-3 win in February, and then again 5-1 two days later. I do like the Tampa to win this one on the road, which I’ll take for half a unit. I’d very slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Blue Jackets vs. Avalanche (7:30)
This is kind of a mismatch in this cross conference game, but I think it could be a fun one. The Blue Jackets are two points back from the Rangers and Habs for the second Wild Card in the East. After a bad stretch, they’ve won three of their last four games, coming off an 8-4 blowout at home against the Predators on Tuesday. Colorado’s comfortably seven points ahead of the Wild and Blues in third place in the Central, coming into tonight in the second half of a back to back. They let me down last night, getting shut out 2-0 in Chicago going into the third period and not even sniffing my puck line as they won 3-2 in a shootout against the one of the worst teams in the league. Colorado has been on fire lately though with a 13-2-2 record in their last 17 games. Columbus won the first game between these teams 6-4 on the road in the first week of the season. Even in the second half of a back to back on the road, I like the Avs to answer back here, and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Blues vs. Penguins (8:00)
Not a great cross conference matchup here by any means. The Blues are the hottest team in hockey and have been since the 4 Nations break. Coming off a 2-1 overtime win in clutch fashion against Detroit on Tuesday where Jordan Kyrou tied it up to send it to OT with 29 seconds left, St. Louis is on a ten game win streak with a 16-2-1 record in their last 19 games, tied with the Wild for the two Wild Card spots in the East, seven points ahead of the Flames. The Penguins blow, and after going on a little four game win streak, they’ve since won just two of their last six games, coming off a 1-0 overtime win at home against the Senators on Sunday with none other than Sidney Crosby scoring the game winner. These teams played earlier this month in the last game that the Blues lost, with the Pens winning 5-3 at home. I like St. Louis to answer back here and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. The total’s a complete toss up to me, that I’ll stay off.
Stars vs. Predators (8:00)
This is a huge mismatch in the Central. The Stars have been fantastic, comfortably in second place in the division, and just four points back from the Jets to lead West and six points ahead of Colorado for home ice. Coming off two wins in Seattle, they’re on a six game win streak with a 20-4-3 record in their last 27 games. The Predators meanwhile are horrendous, coming into tonight on a four game losing streak after getting blown out 8-4 in Columbus on Tuesday. This team’s a huge disappointment with just two wins in their last eleven games. These teams split their first two games earlier this season, each winning on the road, a 4-3 win for Dallas the first week of the season and a 4-1 surprise win for the Preds in December. I like the Stars to stay hot with an easy win here and I’ll lay the -185 on them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’m not touching the total.
Utah HC vs. Kings (9:00)
On paper this isn’t the best match out West, but I could see it being a fun game. Utah’s not terrible although they’ll definitely miss the playoffs. They’re coming off two wins in a row, beating the Flames 3-1 at home on Tuesday, but still have just five wins in their last 13 games, playing inconsistently. The Kings are coming off a big 4-1 win at home against the Jets on Tuesday and are playing solid hockey with eleven wins in their last 14 games. They’re two points ahead of the Oilers for home ice in the first round and five points back from Vegas to lead the Pacific. LA’s the better team here and won both previous games at home between these teams, winning 3-2 in October and 5-3 in February. I like them to complete the season sweep here and I’ll take them for half a unit. Although both of these teams have trended over lately, I’d lean the under, but don’t see any value in betting it.
Flames vs. Ducks (9:30)
Such a boring Western Conference matchup. I don’t think the Flames are a great team and they’re incredibly boring to watch. They still have a slight chance at making the playoffs, but thankfully I doubt they make it, still seven points back from the Wild and Blues for the Wild Card spots in the West. Coming off a 3-1 loss in Utah on Tuesday, although they have just one win in their last four games, they have a 5-2-1 record in their last eight games. The Ducks are coming off a shockingly fun 4-3 shootout win on Tuesday night at home against the Sharks and have four wins in their last six games after a lousy stretch. Calgary won both previous games between these teams in January, winning 3-2 in overtime on the road and then 4-1 at home. The Flames are the better team, but I don’t like them enough to bet the -155 on them. I’d slightly lean the under, but I think the better play here is just staying off this game entirely.
Golden Knights vs. Jets (10:00)
Great game here between the two division leaders out West. The Golden Knights have their ticket to the playoffs punched for their seventh time in their eight year history and playing well right now, five points ahead of the Kings as they lead the Pacific. They’re coming off a 3-2 loss at home to the Oilers on Tuesday, ending a six game win streak. The Jets are four points ahead of the Stars in the Central, in a race for the President’s Trophy with Washington. They had a three game win streak come to an end Tuesday, losing 4-1 in LA in a game I thought was going to be awesome but was a bit of a dud. Both prior games between these teams this year were great, decided by just a goal, with Vegas winning both, a 4-3 win at home in November and a 3-2 overtime win on the road in December. I’d slightly lean the Knights win this one at home to complete the season sweep, and the total’s pretty much a toss up to me, so I’ll stay off this game entirely. It should be a ton of fun to watch though.
Sharks vs. Oilers (10:30)
Huge mismatch in the Pacific to end the night. San Jose is coming off a 4-3 shootout loss in Anaheim on Tuesday and they’re one of the worst teams in the NHL, on a three game losing streak. The Oilers have been good, even through their injuries they’ve dealt with lately. They have Draisaitl back now and have won their last two games, coming off a 3-2 win in Vegas on Tuesday and have a 6-2-1 record in their last nine games. Edmonton needed overtime to win the first game between these teams 3-2 at home in December. I expect them to win this one easier, and I’ll lay the -180 on them to win in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
1u Canadiens in regulation (-130)
.5u Lightning ML (-142)
.5u Avalanche ML (-142)
1u Blues in regulation (-155)
1u Stars in regulation (-185)
.5u Kings ML (-130)
1u Oilers in regulation (-180)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 525-450-13 (-42.3 units)
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