I got reverse swept on last night’s small NHL slate in disappointing fashion, going 0-3 to lose 2.66 units, with Connor McDavid who I expected to be out having three assists in his return to cap off my loss. Let’s bounce back here on tonight’s ten game slate.
I can’t wait till this last week of the season with a bunch of completely meaningless games is done and we’re onto the playoffs.
Blue Jackets vs. Sabres (7:00)
Not a great game in the East to start the night. My Sabres were officially eliminated from the playoffs last night for the 14th straight season for this pathetic franchise, but now they’re not even tanking correctly. They’re ruining their draft pick as they come into tonight on a five game win streak with eight wins in their last nine games, coming off a 3-0 shutout win at home against the Hurricanes on Tuesday. The Blue Jackets haven’t officially been eliminated yet, but it isn’t looking great for them, now eight points back from the Habs for the last remaining playoff spot in the East. Ain’t happening. They’ve struggled with just four wins in their last 14 games, ending a three game losing streak on Tuesday with a 5-2 win at home against the Senators (loss for me). These teams split their first two games, with Columbus winning 6-4 at home in October and the Sabres answering with a 3-2 win at home in February. I’d lean Buffalo wins here on the road, but I don’t like it enough to bet on. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for a unit.
Bruins vs. Blackhawks (7:00)
What a toilet bowl game this is. Two of the worst teams in the league. The Bruins are the worst team in the East, having completely dismantled their roster at the trade deadline. They have just two wins in their last 13 games (both in their last three), coming off a kind of surprising 7-2 win in Jersey on Tuesday. The Blackhawks have been awful all year, and have just two wins in their last 14 games, coming off a 5-0 shutout loss in Pittsburgh Tuesday night. Boston won the first game between these teams 4-2 on the road in December, but that was with a far different roster than they have now. I’d lean the B’s win again here at home, but no shot am I betting them, especially at -185. Way too expensive. The total’s a complete crapshoot to me, since neither team could score but they both blow defensively too. No chance I’m touching this shitty game.
Panthers vs. Red Wings (7:00)
Not the best matchup in the Atlantic Division. The Panthers are in third place in the Atlantic, three points back from the Lightning and four ahead of the Sens, playing for seeding in the first round. Florida has struggled with injuries in this closings streak of the season and ended a five game losing streak with a 3-1 win at home on Tuesday night against the Leafs. The Red Wings are’t officially out of the playoffs left, but are essentially eliminated, eight points back from the Habs for the second Wild Card. They’ve played relatively well lately, with a 3-1-1 record in their last five games after a stretch of three wins in 13 games, coming off a 4-1 loss in Montreal on Tuesday. Detroit won both previous games between these teams, 5-2 on the road in November and then 2-1 at home on Sunday. I like Florida to avoid the season sweep here and I’ll take the Panthers in regulation for half a unit. I also like the under, which I’ll take for half a unit as well.
Capitals vs. Hurricanes (7:30)
Great matchup here that should be a nice preview for the second time in eight days of the second round playoff series in the Metro Division. The Capitals are coming off a 4-1 loss on Long Island…that no one cared about as the GR8 chase came to an end with Alex Ovechkin breaking Wayne Gretzky’s goal record with #895 in incredible fashion from the Ovi office. They have struggled a bit as of late with just two wins in their last seven games, although that’s all meaningless hockey since they already have the Metro Division lead locked up. Carolina pretty much already has second place against the Devils locked up too, but come into tonight on a three game losing streak to shitty teams, coming off a 3-0 shutout loss in Buffalo on Tuesday. The Canes are 2-1 against the Caps, with all three games between these teams won by the home team; a 4-2 win for Carolina in November, a 3-1 win for the Caps in December, and a 5-1 win for the Canes last week. I’d slightly lean the Capitals win this one at home after the ceremony at home tonight, and I’d slightly lean the over, but with both of these teams playing for nothing and coasting into the playoffs, the right move here is just staying off this game completely.
Islanders vs. Rangers (7:30)
The Battle of New York doesn’t have a whole lot of luster this year as both of these teams suck. They’re both not officially eliminated from the playoffs, tied eight points away from the Habs for the last Wild Card spot in the East. Thankfully that isn’t gonna happen. They’ve both struggled a bit. After two wins in a row, the Isles are coming off blowing a 6-4 lead with 2:07 left in regulation to lose 7-6 in OT on the road in Nashville. The Rangers are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off an embarrassing 8-5 loss at home to the Flyers last night that I’m glad I stayed off. The Rags are 3-0 against their rivals this year, winning all of those games convincingly, winning 5-2 at home in November, 5-1 on the road in February, and 4-0 in a shutout at home in March. I’d slightly lean with the Rags in the second half of a back to back, that the Isles avoid the season sweep at home, but I’m not touching it. I’d also lean the over slightly, but I’ll lay off this game entirely.
Stars vs. Jets (8:00)
Solid game here between the top two teams in the Central Division. Dallas in four points back from the Jets for the Western Conference lead. They’re coming off a completely collapse on Tuesday, blowing a 5-2 lead with less than a minute left in regulation, completely fucking me as they lost 6-5 at home to the Canucks. Now they’re on a three game losing streak after a seven game win streak, with a just one regulation loss in their last 13 games. The Jets are coming off a 3-1 win at home to the Blues on Monday night and have nine wins in their last twelve games. The home team has won all three games in the season series between these teams, with a 4-1 Winnipeg win in November, a 3-1 Stars win in December, and a 4-1 Jets win last month. I’d lean Dallas ends their losing streak here and I’d slightly lean the under, but there’s no edge in betting this matchup, which should be the best game on the slate tonight.
Avalanche vs. Canucks (9:00)
This Western Conference matchup isn’t great by any means. The Avalanche have been very good, comfortably in third place in the Central Division, six points back from Dallas for home ice. They’re coming off a 3-2 shootout win in comeback fashion at home against Vegas on Tuesday night in a great game and have a 15-3-2 record in their last 20 games. The Canucks have sucked and have already been eliminated from playoff contention. They’re coming off a crazy come from behind win, scoring three times in the final minute at home against Dallas, then winning 6-5 in overtime on the road. That was just their second win in their last six games. I like the Avs to win here at home and I’ll take them for half a unit in regulation. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Utah HC vs. Predators (9:00)
Lousy matchup in the Central between two teams that are out of the playoffs. Utah’s playing well right now, but it’s too little too late for them at this point. Coming off a 7-1 blowout win at home on Tuesday night against the Kraken, they have four wins in their last five games. The Preds have been horrible all year, a full 20 points behind Utah. They ended a six game losing streak on Tuesday, scoring twice in the last 2:07 against the Isles to force overtime before winning it 7-6 in OT. Nashville won the first game between these teams with a 4-0 shutout at home back in November. I like Utah to answer back here and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, since neither of these teams can score, but I’ll stay off the total.
Golden Knights vs. Kraken (10:00)
Huge mismatch in the Pacific Division, although I could see this actually being a competitive game. The Golden Knights have a six point lead over LA as they lead the division. They’re coming off a 3-2 shootout loss, blowing a 2-0 lead in Colorado on Tuesday night, but have an 8-2-1 record in their last eleven games. The Kraken have had a bad year, and they’re coming off a 7-1 loss in Utah on Tuesday night, but they are playing better as of late, with that loss ending a three game win streak for them. These teams split their first two games, with Seattle winning 4-3 in overtime at home in November and Vegas answering back with a dominant 6-2 win at the Fortress in December. I like the Knights to win again here at home, even without a few key guys in the lineup and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the under, but I’m not touching it.
Kings vs. Ducks (10:00)
Big mismatch in the Pacific between these California rivals, but I do actually see it being a pretty good game. The Kings have been fantastic, two points ahead of the Oilers for home ice, but still six behind Vegas for the lead of the division. They had a four game win streak end on Monday, losing 2-1 at home in surprising fashion to the Kraken, just their fourth loss in their last 17 games. Last night the Ducks came back from a 3-1 deficit with four minutes to go, beating the Flames 4-3 in overtime at home on Cutter Gauthier’s game winner. They’ve struggled all year, but have five wins in their last eight games. The road team has won all three games between these teams with the Kings going 2-0-1 in those games, winning 4-1 in October, 2-1 in November, then losing 2-1 in a shootout in February. I like LA to win again here, especially with the Ducks in the second half of a back to back on the road and I’ll take the Kings puck line for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Game Bets
1u Blue Jackets/Sabres over 6.5 (-118)
.5u Panthers in regulation (-135)
.5u Panthers/Red Wings under 5.5 (-120)
.5u Avalanche in regulation (-140)
.5u Utah in regulation (-115)
1u Golden Knights in regulation (-170)
.5u Kings -1.5 (-130)
Futures
2u Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+1800)
Record: 547-475-14 (-52.11 units)
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A Town's Zone 