Won my only play yesterday on the Mammoth for half a unit on that interesting slate. Today’s loaded with hockey with 13 NHL games, let’s make it three winning nights in a row!
Sabres vs. Panthers (1:00)
Real banger of a hockey game in the Atlantic Division to start off the day. My Sabres came to life on Wednesday night, getting their first win in impressive fashion, beating Ottawa 8-4 at home. They’re still not a good team though. The Panthers are the back to back Cup Champs, but still just 3-3 to start the year as they’re dealing with a ton of injuries. I like Florida to end their three game losing streak here and I’ll take the Cats for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Senators vs. Islanders (3:00)
Lousy matchup here. The Senators are struggling with Brady Tkachuk out of the lineup and the Islanders stink in general. I still think Ottawa’s the better team here and should win at home, but not enough to bet it. I do like the over here though, and I’ll take that as my first total of the year.
Devils vs. Oilers (3:30)
Interesting cross conference matchup as both of these teams are off to a hot start. I’d lean the Oilers win here on the road to end Jersey’s three game win streak, but don’t like it enough to bet on. I’d lean the under slightly, but I’ll lay off this game entirely.
Maple Leafs vs. Kraken (7:00)
I don’t think this matchup’s great. The Leafs are a really solid team, even with their 3-2 start to the season. The Kraken have been a bit better than I expected in their 2-0-2 start, but have lost their last two games. I like Toronto to win this one at home, and I’ll take them in regulation to give Seattle their first regulation loss of the season. I’d lean the over, but didn’t even consider betting it.
Canadiens vs. Rangers (7:00)
This game could be fun. The Habs have been electric to watch to start the year and they’re a really solid 4-1, coming off two overtime wins in a row with Cole Caufield scoring both the tying and game winning goals in both of those comebacks at home against the Preds and Kraken. The Rangers have looked horrible offensively to start the year and are 2-3-1 on the season. I like Montreal to win again at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under since the Rags can’t score, but I’m not touching it.
Flyers vs. Wild (7:00)
Boring cross conference matchup. The Flyers aren’t a good team, and I don’t see them contending for a playoff spot. I do think the Wild are a good team, but they haven’t look great this year either. Minnesota’s in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off getting blown out 5-1 on the road last night in Washington. I’d lean the Wild win here on the road, but in the second half of a back to back, I’ll stay off it. I’d lean the over, but I’ll lay off this game entirely.
Blue Jackets vs. Lightning (7:00)
This should be a fun matchup, but both of these teams have been pretty bad to start the season. Going into the year, I thought the Blue Jackets would contend for a playoff spot and figured the Lightning would be near the top of the East. It’s still early in the year, and teams have to get it going. Tampa’s the better team here, and even in the second half of a back to back after their 2-1 overtime loss in Detroit last night, they should win on the road tonight, but I can’t bet them until they turn this bad start around. I’d lean the over, but I’ll stay off this matchup.
Blues vs. Stars (7:00)
This should be a solid game in the Central. I think both of these teams are good, but are both coming off kind of surprising losses. The Blues are 2-2 to start the year, coming off a pretty shocking 8-3 loss at home to the Blackhawks on Wednesday night. The Stars had their 3-0 win streak to start the year come to an end on Thursday with a 5-3 loss to the Canucks at home. I like Dallas to bounce back here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I like the over as well, which I’ll also take for half a unit.
Jets vs. Predators (7:00)
This isn’t a great game in the Central. The Jets are a really solid team, backed by the best goalie in the world. The Predators haven’t improved much from their awfully disappointing season last year. I like Winnipeg to win this one at home and I’ll lay the -185 on them for half a unit. The total’s a toss up for me.
Avalanche vs. Bruins (9:00)
Big mismatch here. The Avalanche are absolutely a Cup contender and are an almost perfect 4-0-1 to start the season. The Bruins have exceeded my expectations to start the year. I thought they’d be a bottom five team coming into the year, and are 3-2 right now, starting the season 3-0 and then losing one goal games to Vegas and Tampa. I expect Boston to regress. I’ll take the Avs in regulation at home for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Kings vs. Hurricanes (9:00)
Pretty interesting cross conference matchup. The Kings have been pretty awful to start the year, but I think they still have a roster that should be solid this season. The Hurricanes meanwhile have looked incredible on both ends of the ice and have been the best team in the East in their 4-0 start. I like the Canes to win here on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but wouldn’t consider taking it here.
Golden Knights vs. Flames (10:00)
Huge mismatch in the Pacific. The Golden Knights are my Stanley Cup pick and although they’ve hung around in games they should have won easily, they’re playing solid hockey. The Flames have looked awful, winning the Battle of Alberta on the road in a shootout to start the season and then losing four straight, not generating anything offensively. A theme for them that I expect to keep going all year. These teams played on Tuesday with Vegas erasing a 2-0 first period deficit to win 4-2 on the road. I like the Knights to win again here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. The total’s a toss up for me, but with it at 6.5, I’d very slightly lean the under, but absolutely not enough to bet it.
Sharks vs. Penguins (10:00)
Lousy game to end the night. The Sharks have looked just as horrendous defensively to start the season as they did last year, but their offense hasn’t been too shabby in their 0-2-2 start. This is still a bottom tier team, even though I think their young team improves. The Penguins have been slightly better than expected, starting 3-2 this year. With the Sharks in the second half of a back to back, I’d lean the Pens win on the road, and I’d definitely lean the over even at 6.5, but I’m not touching this game.
Bonus: I’ll throw in a lottery ticket .2u parlay on all my picks (with MLs instead of regulation lines)
Bets
.5u Panthers ML (-145)
.5u Senators/Islanders over 5.5 (-135)
.5u Maple Leafs in regulation (-135)
.5u Canadiens ML (-118)
.5u Stars ML (-125)
.5u Stars/Blues over 5.5 (-135)
.5u Jets ML (-185)
.5u Avalanche in regulation (-165)
.5u Hurricanes ML (-148)
.5u Golden Knights in regulation (-165)
.2u parlay: all of the above with MLs instead of regulation lines (+14332)
Record: 26-22 (-8.58 units)
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