Horrible Saturday for me on yesterday’s big NHL slate, as I went 5-7-1, losing 6.71 units, a big damper on my hot run for the last month. Let’s bounce back on today’s eight game slate!
Islanders vs. Capitals (12:30)
This would otherwise be a pretty boring mismatch in the Metro Division, but since Alex Ovechkin made history in incredible fashion on Thursday night in DC, scoring twice to tie Wayne Gretzky’s record with the Great One in the building. This afternoon he has the chance to break it after he didn’t want to do it on the empty net. This game itself isn’t great. The Islanders aren’t a good team, just ending a six game losing streak with a 3-1 win at home against the Wild on Friday. The Capitals still comfortably lead the Eastern Conference, but have just two wins in their last six games, coming off a 5-3 win over the Blackhawks on Friday in that historic game. The first game between these teams went to overtime with Washington winning 5-4 in overtime at home in November. I like Washington to win again here and will take the Caps for half a unit. I also like Ovi to end the chase this afternoon, and I’ll take his anytime goal for a unit. If he doesn’t hit it today, I’m tripling down on it Thursday when they’re back at home. I’d lean the over, but not quite enough to bet it.
Wild vs. Stars (3:00)
Both of these Central Division teams look like they’re making playoffs, but it isn’t a great matchup by any means. With a ton of injuries the Wild have limped through the back half of the season, in the second Wild Card in the West, just four points ahead of the Flames. They’re on a four game losing streak right now, coming off a 3-1 loss on Long Island on Friday. The Stars have been very good, just four points back from Winnipeg to lead the NHL. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight coming off a 5-3 loss at home to the Penguins yesterday (pricey double loser for me), ending a seven game win streak and ten game point streak. Dallas is 2-0-1 this season against Minnesota, winning 2-1 on the road in November, losing 3-2 in overtime in December, then winning 3-0 a couple weeks ago. I like the Stars to win this one to bounce back from last night and will take them for a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but I’m not touching it.
Senators vs. Blue Jackets (5:00)
Not the best Eastern Conference matchup, but I could see this being a pretty fun game with both of these teams in the second half of back to backs. The Senators are in the first Wild Card in the East, coming off a 3-0 shutout win yesterday afternoon against the Panthers and have a 4-1-1 record in their last six games. The Blue Jackets got shut out 5-0 in Toronto last night and are likely missing playoffs, six points back from the Habs for the second Wild Card. They come into tonight with just four wins in their last 15 games. Ottawa won the first game between these teams about a week ago 3-2 at home. I’d lean they win again tonight at home, but I think the -185 is just a bit too expensive. The total’s pretty much a crapshoot to me, so I’ll stay off this game completely.
Red Wings vs. Panthers (5:30)
Not a great Atlantic Division matchup. The Red Wings haven’t been great, pretty much out of the Wild Card race, now six points back from the Habs for the second Wild Card in the East. They’re coming off a big 5-3 win at home against Carolina on Friday night, getting out to a 4-1 lead and hanging on for the win in what ended up being a close game. That was just the fifth win for Detroit in their last 17 games. The Panthers have their spot in the playoffs clinched as they look to defend the Cup, but they’re not playing great as of late. They’re in the second half of a back to back on the road, now on a four game losing streak after getting shut out 3-0 in Ottawa last night. The Red Wings won the first game between these teams 5-2 on the road in January. Even in the second half of a back to back on this losing streak, Florida’s still the better team here. I like them to end that run with a win on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but didn’t really even consider betting it.
Sabres vs. Bruins (6:00)
Horrible matchup here between the two worst teams in the East, one that can tank correctly when their season is over, and one that can’t, but they’re both in the second half of back to backs, coming off wins last night. My Sabres are on their yearly run of playing great hockey after the season is over to ruin their draft pick and stay in mediocrity for the future. Coming off a 3-2 shootout win against the Lightning last night at home (double loser for me on Tampa and the over), they’re on a three game win streak with just one loss in our last seven games. The Bruins were officially eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since 2016, but ended their first ten game losing streak in a decade with a 5-1 win at home against the Canes last night, just their fourth win in their last 21 games. Buffalo’s 2-1 against the B’s this year, losing 3-1 in December on the road, winning 7-2 at home in January, and then 3-2 in overtime on the road in March. I like the Sabres to win here again and I’ll back my boys for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but don’t trust Boston to score, so I’ll stay off it.
Blackhawks vs. Penguins (6:00)
Terrible cross conference game here between two bad teams. The Blackhawks are one of the worst teams in the NHL. They blew a 3-2 third period lead in Washington on Ovi’s historic night on Friday where they lost 5-3, now on a five game losing streak with just one win in their last 13 games. Pittsburgh’s had a bad season as well, but they’ve been far better than Chicago. Last night the Pens scored three unanswered in a four goal third period to beat the Stars 5-3 on the road (big double loser for me). They have been playing better as of late, with a 7-3-2 record in their last twelve games, despite having just two wins in their last six games. The Pens are the better team here and I’ll take a half unit shot on them on the road, even in the second half of a back to back. I like the over too, since neither of these teams can keep the puck out of the net, which I’ll take at 6 for half a unit.
Predators vs. Canadiens (7:00)
Quite the boring cross conference matchup. The Predators have been awful all season, a pathetic disappointment. They got smoked 5-1 in Dallas on Thursday (easy winner for me) and are on a five game losing streak with just two wins in their last eleven games. The Habs are playing solid hockey, four points ahead of the Rangers for the second Wild Card spot in the East. They’re on a four game win streak, in the second half of a back to back tonight after a 3-2 win yesterday at home against the Flyers. Montreal won the first game between these teams with a 3-0 shutout at home back in December. Even in the second half of a back to back on the road, I like them to win again and will take the Canadiens for half a unit. I’d lean the under but I’m not touching it.
Canucks vs. Golden Knights (10:00)
Not the most exciting Pacific Division game to end the night with both of these teams in the second half of a back to back (both getting me wins yesterday). The Canucks haven’t been great, six points back from the Wild for the second Wild Card in the West. They’ve been inconsistent, ending a three game losing streak with a dominant 6-2 win yesterday at home against the Ducks. The Golden Knights have been good, leading the division, three points ahead of the Kings with seven wins in their last nine games. Last night they blew a 2-0 lead in Calgary, but got the 3-2 win on a crazy goal by Reilly Smith in overtime. Vegas won both prior games between these teams 3-1 at home, in December and February. I like them to win again here despite their struggles on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but the total here is pretty much a toss up, which I’ll stay off.
Game Bets
.5u Capitals ML (-148)
1u Alex Ovechkin anytime goal (-120)
1u Stars ML (-155)
.5u Panthers ML (-120)
.5u Sabres ML (-175)
.5u Penguins ML (-135)
.5u Penguins/Blackhawks over 6 (-121)
.5u Canadiens ML (-110)
.5u Golden Knights ML (-162)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 539-460-14 (-43.68 units)
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