Great night for me on the NHL yesterday on Ovi’s historic night tying Gretzky’s goal record, as I went 4-1 to win 3.59 units on his two goal night. Today we have a huge 13 game slate. Let’s keep crushing it!
Devils vs. Rangers (12:30)
The Battle of the Hudson’s been lousy this year. The Devils are going to make the playoffs, in third place in the Metro, but I don’t see them getting past more than probably five games against Carolina without Jack Hughes. They’re coming off two wins in a home and home against the Wild, beating them 3-2 in a shootout at home on Monday. The Rangers have had a bad year, but they’re still just two points behind the Habs for the second Wild Card spot in the East. They are coming off a 5-4 overtime win at home against the Wild on Wednesday and although they’ve won their last two games, they have just five wins in their last 14 games. Jersey’s 2-0-1 in the games between these teams this year, winning 5-1 on the road and 5-0 at home in December, then 3-2 in overtime at home in January. This game’s pretty much a toss up. I’d very slightly lean the Devils complete the season sweep at home here and the over, but I’m not touching this game.
Senators vs. Panthers (2:00)
Interesting matinee in the Atlantic Division between these two playoff teams. The Senators are five points ahead of the Habs for the first Wild Card in the East but have been a bit inconsistent lately with a 4-4-1 record in their last nine games after a six game win streak, coming off a 2-1 win at home against the Lightning on Thursday. The Panthers are on a three game losing streak after a 3-2 loss in Toronto on Wednesday and are now in third place in the Atlantic. These teams split their last two games, with the Sens winning 3-1 at home in October and the Panthers answering with a 5-1 win at home in February. The Cup Champs are the better team here and I’ll take Florida for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Stars vs. Penguins (3:00)
Huge mismatch in this cross conference game. The Stars have been fantastic, in the race for the President’s Trophy, just four points back from the Jets. Coming off a dominant 5-1 win at home against the Preds on Thursday, they’re on a seven game win streak, playing great hockey. The Penguins have stunk all year. Coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to the Blues that screwed me on Thursday (since I had the Blues in regulation and Pittsburgh tied it with 25 seconds left), they have just one win in their last five games. Dallas blew out the Pens the first time these teams played, winning 7-1 on the road in November. I expect another easy win here for the Stars. I’ll lay the -185 on them in regulation for a unit along with taking their team total over 3.5 for a unit. I’d lean the over on the game, but I’ll just stick to the Dallas side of this one.
Canucks vs. Ducks (4:00)
Lousy game in the Pacific. The Canucks have struggled and they’re now eight points back from the second Wild Card in the West and I’m pretty glad they’re not making playoffs. Coming off a 5-0 loss at home to the Kraken at home on Tuesday they’re on a three game losing streak and have just two wins in their last seven games. The Ducks haven’t had a good year either, but have played better as of late with four wins in their last seven games. Vancouver’s 2-1 against the Ducks this year, winning 5-1 on the road in November, losing 5-2 on the road in February and then winning 3-2 at home in March. I’d slightly lean Anaheim wins this one on the road today, but I’m not touching it. I do like the over in this game though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Kings vs. Oilers (4:00)
This should be a solid preview of the playoffs as these teams will likely meet in the first round again in the Pacific. The Kings hold a two point lead over the Oilers for home ice in the first round and are just three back from Vegas to lead the division. LA comes into today on a three game win streak after a 4-2 win in Utah on Thursday and have twelve wins in their last 15 games. The Oilers are on a three game win streak as well, coming off a 3-2 win in San Jose on Thursday night. Leon Draisaitl got hurt again in that game and they are still without McDavid. These teams split their first two games with the Kings winning 4-3 in overtime at home in December and the Oilers answering with a 1-0 shutout at home in January. I’d lean the Kings win this one at home, but the price at -185 is too expensive to bet on. I’d slightly lean the under, but the best play here is just laying off this game completely.
Sabres vs. Lightning (7:00)
Not a good Atlantic Division matchup. My Sabres now that they’re out of the playoffs can’t even tank correctly. They’re no longer last in the East, winning meaningless games to ruin next year’s draft pick. They come into tonight off a 5-2 win in Ottawa to complete their season sweep against the Sens on Tuesday and have five wins in their last six games. The Lightning have been very good this season, in second place in the division, a point ahead of the Panthers and three behind Toronto. They had a four game win streak come to an end of Thursday, losing 2-1 in Ottawa. Tampa won the first game between these teams 6-5 at home in March in what was a highly entertaining, awesome game. I like them to win again and will take the Bolts in regulation for a unit. I like the over even more, which I’ll take at 6 for 1.5 units.
Bruins vs. Hurricanes (7:00)
This game is a huge mismatch in the Eastern Conference, even with the Canes in the second half of a back to back. The Bruins are rapidly tanking since the deadline when they dismantled their entire roster. They have lost 10 in a row for the first time in a decade, now in last place in the East for the first time since 1997, coming off a 4-1 loss in Montreal (easy winner for me) on Thursday night. The Canes have been very good, pretty much locked into home ice for an easy first round matchup against the Devils. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 5-3 loss in Detroit last night, but have twelve wins in their last 15 games. Carolina won both previous games between these teams at home, 8-2 on Halloween and 3-2 last month. I like them to bounce back and complete the season sweep in Boston. The B’s are a complete auto-fade and I’ll take the Hurricanes in regulation for a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but I’m not touching the total.
Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets (7:00)
Not the best Eastern Conference matchup, but both of these teams are playing well, so it could be a fun one. The Leafs have a three point lead over Tampa for first place in the Atlantic Division and come into tonight on a three game win streak with a 7-1-1 record in their last nine games, coming off a 3-2 win at home against Panthers on Wednesday. The Blue Jackets are trying to make a push for that second Wild Card spot in the East, four points behind the Habs to make the playoffs. They’re coming off a 7-3 loss at home to the Avs on Thursday, but have three wins in their last five games after a six game losing streak. Columbus won both prior games between these teams in convincing fashion, winning 6-2 at home in October and 5-1 on the road in January. I like Toronto to avoid the season sweep and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not quite enough to bet it.
Canadiens vs. Flyers (7:00)
Pretty boring Eastern Conference matchup here. The Habs are in the second Wild Card spot in the East, two points ahead of the Rangers. They’re on a three game win streak coming off a 4-1 win at home against the Bruins on Thursday after they had gone on a five game losing streak. The Flyers have sucked this year, but are on a three game win streak, coming off beating the Preds 2-1 at home on Monday. These teams split their first two games in Philly, with the Canadiens winning the first game 4-3 on the road in October and the Flyers answering with a 6-4 win at home a couple weeks ago. I like Montreal to win this one at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. The total’s a complete toss up to me.
Blues vs. Avalanche (7:00)
Great game here in the Central for the second time in a week between two teams playing great hockey. The Blues won that game last Saturday 2-1 on the road and lead the season series 2-1, having won 3-1 at home in February and losing 5-0 in January. St. Louis is the hottest team in the league right now as they’re in the first Wild Card in the West, on an eleven game win streak. On Thursday, they blew my regulation bet, giving up the game tying goal to the Penguins, but still won in OT. The Avalanche are comfortably in third place in the Central, six points back from Dallas for home ice in the first round. Coming off a 7-3 win in Columbus on Thursday, they have a 14-2-2 record in their last 18 games. I do think the Avs are the slightly better team and I’d lean Colorado ends this win streak for the Blues, and I’d lean the under, but just like their game last week, I’ll lay off this game entirely.
Utah HC vs. Jets (7:00)
Not the best matchup in the Central. Utah’s coming off a 4-2 loss at home to the Kings on Thursday and have been very inconsistent, with two wins in their last six games. The Jets meanwhile lead the NHL, four points ahead of the Stars and in a three way battle with them and the Caps for the President’s Trophy. Winnipeg dominated Vegas with a 4-0 shutout (without Hellebuyck in goal) on the road on Thursday and they have four wins in their last five games. The home team has won all three previous games between these teams with a 3-0 win for the Jets in November, a 5-2 win for Utah in January, and a 5-2 answer back from the Jets four days later. Winnipeg’s the better team here, I like them to win on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but don’t like it enough to bet on.
Flames vs. Golden Knights (10:00)
I think this is a boring mismatch that does have a bit of intrigue to it in this Pacific Division game. I don’t think the Flames are a good team, overachieving this season with really good play in goal from Dustin Wolf. They’re coming off an 4-1 win against the Ducks on Thursday and do have a 6-2-1 record in their last nine games, and still have a chance at the playoffs, five points back from the Wild for that second Wild Card in the East. The Golden Knights have their spot in the playoffs clinched, three points ahead of the Kings to lead the division. After a six game win streak, they are coming off two losses in a row at home, getting dominated by the Jets 4-0 on Thursday at home. The Knights shut out Calgary in both games between these teams this year, winning 5-0 and 3-0, both at home, in October and December respectively. I like Vegas to bounce back here and win this one on the road (where they’re far worse than at T-Mobile Arena), which I’ll take for half a unit. I’d lean the under and think it is a good bet, but I just can’t get there to bet it.
Sharks vs. Kraken (10:00)
Lousy Pacific Division matchup to end the night. Both of these teams stink. The Sharks are one of the worst teams in the NHL this year, playing brutal hockey. They’re on a four game losing streak, coming off a 3-2 home loss to the Oilers on Thursday. The Kraken are second worse in the division, 20 points ahead of them. They’re coming off a 5-0 shutout win in Vancouver on Wednesday (a goal short of hitting my over), just their second win in their last seven games. San Jose actually has a winning record against the Kraken, winning 8-5 at home and 4-2 on the road in November, then losing 6-2 in January. I like Seattle to tie the season series here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I also like the over, which I’ll take at 6 for half a unit as well.
Game Bets
.5u Panthers ML (-130)
1u Stars in regulation (-185)
1u Stars TT over 3.5 (-150)
.5u Canucks/Ducks over 5.5 (-125)
1u Lightning in regulation (-120)
1.5u Lightning/Sabres over 6 (-134)
1u Hurricanes in regulation (-140)
.5u Maple Leafs in regulation (-135)
.5u Canadiens ML (-162)
.5u Jets ML (-120)
.5u Golden Knights ML (-166)
.5u Kraken ML (-180)
.5u Kraken/Sharks over 6 (-118)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 534-453-13 (-36.97 units)
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