Last night I completely broke even, going 2-1 on the NHL. Tonight we have a big ten game slate, let’s crush it and make some money!
Sabres vs. Hurricanes (7:00)
This isn’t as horrible of an Eastern Conference matchup as it would’ve been a month ago, but it’s still a huge mismatch. The Sabres now that they’re eliminated from the playoffs decided that it’s time to play hockey now and ruin our draft pick with meaningless games. Coming off a 6-3 win at home against the Bruins on Sunday (nice winner for me there), we’re on a four game win streak with just one loss in our last eight games. The Hurricanes have had a great season, comfortably in second place in the Metro with an easy matchup against the Devils in the first round. After a 12-2 run, they’ve since lost their last two games in surprising fashion, coming off a 5-1 loss in Boston on Saturday. These teams split their first two games, both winning at home, a 4-2 win for the Sabres in January and a 5-2 answer from the Canes in February. Carolina’s still the far better team here and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I like the over as well, which I’ll take at 6 for a unit.
Canadiens vs. Red Wings (7:00)
It might be a little bit too late in the season for this game to matter for the Wild Card race, but it is a decent game in the Atlantic. The Habs hold the second Wild Card in the East, six points ahead of the Rangers and Red Wings. Both of these teams are playing well right now. The Canadiens are on a five game win streak, coming off a 2-1 win in Nashville on Sunday night. Detroit after a horrendous stretch are now coming into tonight on a 3-0-1 run, beating the Panthers 2-1 at home on Sunday. Montreal’s 2-1 this season against the Wings, winning 4-3 on the road in December, then 5-1 at home the next night in the second half of a back to back for a home and home, before Detroit answered back with a 4-2 win at home in January. I like the Habs to win here at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Panthers vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
Great matchup between these two playoff teams in the Atlantic, who have a chance at meeting in the first round. The Panthers are in third place in the Division, just two points ahead of the Senators, and have the chance of falling back to that first Wild Card, which would mean they’d face the Leafs in the first round rather than the Lightning. They’re on a bad stretch, on a five game losing streak, coming off a 2-1 loss in Detroit on Sunday. Toronto has a two point lead over the Bolts for first place in the division. Coming off a 5-0 shutout win at home against the Blue Jackets on Saturday, they’re playing great right now, with an 8-1-1 record in their last ten games. Florida leads the season series between these teams 2-1, winning 5-1 at home in November, winning 3-2 on the road last month, then losing 3-2 this past Wednesday. I think the Panthers are the better team here and I’d slightly lean they win here at home, but no chance am I betting it. I’d also lean the under, but I’ll stay off this game entirely.
Devils vs. Bruins (7:00)
Terrible matchup in the Eastern Conference. The Devils are pretty much locked into third place in the Metro Division and although they’re playing well right now, they’re still seven points back from Carolina, who I think smoke them in the first round. Jersey’s on a three game win streak with four wins in their last five games, coming off shutting out the Rangers 4-0 on Saturday. The Bruins meanwhile are the worst team in the East, eliminated from the playoffs for the first time in a long time after dismantling their roster at the trade deadline. Coming off a 6-3 loss in Buffalo on Sunday, they have just one win in their last twelve games. Jersey won the first game between these teams 5-1 back in January. I expect a similar result tonight and I’ll take the Devils in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under slightly, but not enough to bet it.
Blue Jackets vs. Senators (7:00)
These teams were in the race for the Wild Card a month and a half ago but that’s since fallen apart as the Sens are a win away from clinching their spot in the playoffs and the Blue Jackets have fallen eight points back from the Habs for the second Wild Card in the East. These teams just played in the first half of a home and home on Sunday, with the Senators winning 4-0 at home for their second win against the Jackets this season, winning the first 3-2 at home at the end of March. Ottawa’s on a three game win streak, just two points back from Florida for the third spot in the Atlantic, pretty much playing for seeding on if they’re playing the Lightning or Leafs in the first round. The Blue Jackets are struggling big time. Sunday was their second shutout loss in a row, in the second half of a back to back after they had gotten shut out 5-0 in Toronto the night before. They’re on a three game losing streak with just three wins in their last 13 games. I like Ottawa to complete the season sweep here on the road and I’ll take the Sens for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Penguins vs. Blackhawks (7:00)
This is a horrible matchup for the second half of a home and home between these two terrible cross conference teams. These teams just played on Sunday, with the Pens letting me down as the Blackhawks won 3-1 at home. That ended a five game losing streak for Chicago, who are one of the worst teams in the NHL, just their second win in their last 14 games. Although the Penguins have only won two of their last seven games, they still have a 7-4-2 record in their last 13 and are the better team. I’ll take a shot on them for half a unit to bounce back here at home. I liked the over going into Sunday’s game which was a clear cut loser since neither team can score, so I’ll stay off the total in this one tonight.
Predators vs. Islanders (8:00)
Pretty awful cross conference game here. The Predators are a horrendous disappointment this year. Coming off a 2-1 loss at home to the Habs on Sunday they’re on a six game losing streak with just two wins in their last 13 games. The Islanders are marginally better, but a bit too far behind, seven points back from the Habs for the second Wild Card spot. After a six game losing streak, they’ve won their last two games in a row, coming off a 4-1 win at home against the Capitals. A win that absolutely no one cared about as Ovi made history scoring #895 at UBS Arena, which the Islanders organization and the NHL did a spectacular job of rolling out the red carpet for mid game. This Isles won the first game between these teams with a 7-4 blowout at the beginning of March and I like them enough at the -125 to take them for half a unit to do it again. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Stars vs. Canucks (8:00)
Quite the lousy matchup out West. The Stars have been fantastic all year, comfortably in second place in the Central, five points back from Winnipeg in the chase for the President’s Trophy. They’ve screwed me two games in a row over the weekend though, losing 3-2 in overtime in Minnesota on Sunday after a 5-3 loss at home against the Pens on Saturday. Those two losses were following a seven game win streak for Dallas. The Canucks have been pretty terrible and quite inconsistent. They have just one win in their last five games, coming off a 3-2 loss at home to the Golden Knights on Sunday (in a game that actually should’ve been 3-1 and Vancouver got lucky with the tying goal. Dallas won both previous games between these teams, winning 5-3 at home in January and 4-1 on the road in March. I like the Stars again and I’m going right back to them to complete the season sweep. I’ll take Dallas in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Utah HC vs. Kraken (9:00)
Not the best game in the West, but I could actually see it being fun. Neither of these teams have been great this year, both missing playoffs, but they’ve both played pretty well as of late. Utah is coming off a surprising 4-1 win at home against the Jets on Saturday and have three wins in their last four games. The Kraken are in the second half of a back to back, coming off a shocking 2-1 loss in LA last night (my only loss last night), and are now on a three game win streak. Seattle won both previous games between these teams, 5-2 in December and then 4-2 in March, both at home. Utah should win here to avoid the season sweep but the price at -240 is WAY too expensive, even with the Kraken in the second half of a back to back. I don’t trust them enough to lay that price, so I’ll lay off it. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it. I’ll end my night early.
Avalanche vs. Golden Knights (9:30)
GREAT game out West to end the night. Both of these teams have been very good. The Avalanche are in third place, five points ahead of the Blues in the Central Division. They just lost 5-4 in St. Louis on Saturday in a great game, with their comeback falling short after going down 4-0 to start the game. Although they have just two wins in their last five games, they still have a 14-3-2 record in their last 19 games. The Golden Knights have been very good as well. Coming off a 3-2 win in Vancouver on Sunday night (that should’ve been a 3-1 win, bullshit call on that tying goal), they’re in first place in the Pacific with a five point lead over the Kings. These teams split their first two games, with Vegas winning 8-4 at home in the first game of the season and then Colorado answered with a 2-1 shootout win at home in November. Vegas has struggled on the road this season, so I’d lean the Avs win this one at home, and I’d slightly lean the under, but the right play on this game is just laying off it completely.
Game Bets
.5u Hurricanes in regulation (-120)
1u Hurricanes/Sabres over 6 (-130)
.5u Canadiens ML (-135)
.5u Devils in regulation (-140)
.5u Senators ML (-115)
.5u Penguins in regulation (-140)
.5u Islanders ML (-125)
1u Stars in regulation (-140)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 545-466-14 (-45.35 units)
Please follow me:
Instagram: @atownszone
Twitter: @atownszone
If you like the site and my work, share it with your friends!
… and tell Dave Portnoy to hire me at Barstool…
A Town's Zone 