Losing day on the NHL for me yesterday, going 4-5 to lose 1.67 units on some games that I should’ve stay off entirely. Tonight we have an okay five game slate. Let’s bounce back from the lousy weekend.
Rangers vs. Lightning (7:00)
This isn’t a great game in the East. The Rangers are coming off getting shut out 4-0 in Jersey on Saturday afternoon and have just five wins in their last 15 games. They’re now six points back from Montreal in the Wild Card race in the East. The Lightning have been very good, with their playoff berth clinched, in second place in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of the Panthers for home ice, and four behind the Leafs for first place. They’re coming off two losses in a row, losing 3-2 in a shootout in Buffalo on Saturday night (double loser for me). Tampa won the first game between these teams with a 6-2 win at home in December. I like them to bounce back here on the road and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Jets vs. Blues (7:30)
This should be a great game tonight. The Jets have been a solid team all year, with a three point lead over the Stars, leading the Western Conference in a race for the President’s Trophy. They are coming off a bit of a surprising 4-1 loss in Utah on Saturday. The Blues meanwhile are the hottest team in the NHL since the 4 Nations break, on a twelve game win streak as they sit in the first Wild Card in the West, coming off a 5-4 win at home against the Avs on Saturday. The road team has won all three previous games between these teams, with the Jets winning 3-2 in October, the Blues answering with a 4-1 win in December, and the Jets answering back from that with a 4-3 shootout win in February. This game’s a complete toss up to me, which makes the -185 on Winnipeg feel far overpriced and I see some nice value on the Blues. I’d slightly lean the under on this game as well, but this is a game that I think is best to just stay off of entirely.
Ducks vs. Oilers (10:30)
Not the best matchup in the Pacific. The Ducks haven’t been good this year, and they come into tonight off two losses in a row, losing 6-2 in Vancouver on Saturday (nice win for me on the over). The Oilers are pretty much locked into third place in the Pacific, four points back from the Kings for home ice. They’re coming off getting shut out 3-0 in LA on Saturday, ending a three game win streak. They’ve been inconsistent with both Draisaitl and McDavid still out of the lineup. Anaheim leads the season series between these teams 2-1, winning 5-3 at home in December, losing 3-2 on the road in January and then winning 6-2 on the road last month. I’d lean Edmonton wins this one at home to tie up the season series, as they are the better team, but its too tough for me to trust them without their two superstars. The total’s a crapshoot that I’d very slightly lean the under on, but I’m not touching this game.
Kings vs. Kraken (10:30)
Big mismatch in the Pacific Division. The Kings have played great hockey to lead into the playoffs. They’re on a four game win streak coming off a 3-0 win at home against the Oilers on Saturday, four points ahead of Edmonton for home ice in the first round and five behind Vegas to the Pacific lead. Seattle is coming off two big wins in a row in San Jose and Vancouver, but they’re having a pretty bad year. These teams split their first two games, with LA winning 2-1 at home in November and the Kraken answered with a 4-2 win at home in January. The Kings are the way better team here and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the under, but don’t like it enough to bet on.
Sharks vs. Flames (10:30)
Terrible Pacific Division matchup to end the night. The Sharks are horrible, one of the worst teams in the NHL this season. They’re on a five game losing streak, coming off getting blown out 5-1 by the Kraken at home on Saturday. The Flames are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at home to the Golden Knights on Saturday, tying the game after being down 2-0 with eight seconds left in the second period, then lost in OT on a crazy goal by Reilly Smith. Calgary has just two wins in their last six games, likely missing the playoffs now six points back from the Wild for the second Wild Card in the West. The Flames won both previous games between these teams, 3-1 on the road in December then 3-2 at home in February. I expect them to win again with San Jose being a complete auto-fade for me. I’ll take the Flames in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but I’m not touching the total.
Game Bets
1u Lightning ML (-155)
1u Kings in regulation (-150)
.5u Flames in regulation (-130)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 543-465-14 (-45.35 units)
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A Town's Zone 