I broke even last night splitting my two NHL plays on the small slate. Tonight we have a huge twelve game slate, let’s crush it!
Lightning vs. Blackhawks (6:45)
Not sure why this game’s starting 15 minutes early. It doesn’t really make sense, but at the same point, I don’t hate it. Big mismatch here, but I could see this actually being a good game. The Lightning have been horrible, on a three game losing streak with only one win on the season, coming off a 3-2 loss in Columbus on Saturday. The Blackhawks are coming off a 2-1 overtime win at home against the Ducks on Monday and are 3-2-2 on the year, exceeding expectations a bit. I feel like this is a great get-right spot for the Bolts, but it’s impossible to bet them at the ridiculous -300 price. If anything, there’s a ton of value on Chicago, but I’m not touching this game. I’d slightly lean the under, but the right move is staying far away from this game.
Bruins vs. Ducks (7:00)
This is a pretty bad cross conference matchup. The Bruins have regressed back to my expectations for them, on a five game losing streak now to drop to 3-5 after their 3-0 start to the season, coming off a 4-3 loss to Brad Marchand and the Panthers on Tuesday in his return to Boston with an insane end to that game (double winner there for me with the Marchy point bet hitting in the first minute of the game). The Ducks are looking pretty decent, 3-2-1 on the year after bouncing back from two losses with a 5-2 win in Nashville on Tuesday. I’d very slightly lean Anaheim wins on the road, but not enough to bet it. I’d also lean the over, but don’t think it’s worth taking at 6.5.
Senators vs. Flyers (7:00)
Pretty terrible Eastern Conference matchup as neither of these teams are good. The Senators, coming off a 3-2 OT loss to the Oilers on Tuesday, have looked awful this year without Brady Tkachuk, now 2-4-1 on the year. The team looks like they have an entirely different identity without him. The Flyers started slow but come into tonight with three wins in their last four games, off a 5-2 win at home against the Kraken on Monday. I’d very slightly lean Philly wins here and the over, but I’m not touching this game.
Panthers vs. Penguins (7:00)
I would’ve thought going into the season that this would be a huge mismatch, but it’s actually a decent game. The Panthers have struggled with a ton of injuries already this year and are 4-4 on the season, ending their four game losing streak with a 4-3 win in Boston on Tuesday night in Brad Marchand’s emotional return to TD Garden. The Penguins are exceeding expectations and playing well, on a three game win streak to improve to 5-2, coming off a 5-1 win at home against the Canucks on Tuesday. I still think Florida’s the way better team here, but I don’t think they’re worth betting at -195. I’d lean the under slightly, but not enough to bet it.
Islanders vs. Red Wings (7:00)
Not a great matchup here in the East. The Islanders are 3-3 and have definitely looked better, on a three game win streak after their 0-3 start. The Red Wings have impressed me this season in their 5-2 start, but are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 4-2 loss to my Sabres last night that ended their five game winning streak (in a game I didn’t watch since I was playing lacrosse). I like Detroit to bounce back here from last night’s loss and I’ll take them as the dog for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but don’t like it enough at 6.5 to bet on.
Rangers vs. Sharks (7:00)
Horrible cross conference matchup. The Rangers haven’t been great in their 3-4-1 start, and have been absolutely awful at home. They finally scored their first goal at home on Monday, 57 seconds into the game before they got shutout for the final 59 minutes in a 3-1 loss to the Wild after getting shut out in their first three home games. The Sharks are still the worst team in the league, still looking for their first win of the year. I think New York finally gets their first home win of the season here tonight, but the -275 price is an absolute joke in this game. Even against this lousy San Jose team, the Rags should not be that favored when they’ve only scored one goal in four games at home. I’d slightly lean the under, but I’m not touching this game with a ten foot pole. No thank you.
Blues vs. Mammoth (8:00)
This should be a pretty fun game in the Central Division. Both of these teams are playing pretty well to start the season. The Blues are 3-2-1, coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Kings on Tuesday night. The Mammoth are an impressive 5-2 on the year, on a four game win streak after a 4-3 overtime win in Colorado on an electric game winner from Dylan Guenther. Loss for me in that one to prevent me from sweeping the board, with quite the controversial review for offsides in ridiculous fashion on a Colorado goal to start the second period. It’s still insane to me the level that the NHL is taking these offsides reviews. This game’s a complete toss up to me, both on the side and the total, so I’ll lay off this game completely.
Predators vs. Canucks (8:00)
Pretty lousy Western Conference matchup. The Predators stink. They’re 2-3-2 to start the year, coming into tonight on a four game losing streak after a 5-2 loss at home to the Ducks on Tuesday. The Canucks haven’t been terrible, but are pretty inconsistent in their 4-3 start. They had a three game win streak come to an end on Tuesday, getting blown out 5-1 in Pittsburgh. I like Vancouver to win this one on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I like the over as well at 5.5, which I’ll also take for half a unit.
Jets vs. Kraken (8:00)
Not a great Central Division matchup. The Jets have been fantastic again in their 5-1 start to the year, on a five game win streak after dropping their first game. They look elite defensively. The Kraken started off the year with two wins, but have since gone 1-4 in their last five games, coming off a 4-1 loss in DC on Tuesday, going back to my exceptions. I like Winnipeg to win here and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Stars vs. Kings (9:00)
I thought this game would be awesome, but these teams are both struggling to start the season. The Stars, coming off a 5-1 loss at home to the Blue Jackets on Tuesday are 3-3 now on a three game losing streak. The Kings have looked terrible in their 2-3-2 start, ending a four game losing streak on Tuesday when they beat the Blues 2-1 in overtime on the road. I like Dallas to win this one and I’ll take them for half a unit. I like the over too, which I’ll take for half a unit as well.
Avalanche vs. Hurricanes (9:00)
This should be a fantastic cross conference game with these teams looking fantastic to start the year, both coming off losses in their last games. The Avs had a three game win streak ends in Utah on Tuesday, losing 4-3 in overtime, which I’ll blame on their goal that got called back on a bullshit offsides even though the puck clearly went off Dylan Guenther’s stick. They still haven’t lost in regulation though. The Hurricanes took their first loss of the season on Monday, losing 4-1 in Vegas, ending their five game win streak. This should be a great game. I’d slightly lean the Avalanche win at home, but this game is way too much of a toss up for me to bet on. I expect this game to be a grind and I’d lean the under, but I’m not touching it. I’ll stay off it completely, but I cannot wait to watch this game.
Oilers vs. Canadiens (9:00)
This should be a really fun cross-conference matchup up in Canada. The Oilers haven’t been great, starting the year 3-3-1, ending a three game losing streak on Tuesday with a 3-2 overtime win in Ottawa after blowing a 2-0 third period lead. The Canadiens have been electric this season, starting the year 6-2 with every game being fun to watch, coming off a 2-1 OT win in Calgary last night (winner for me). Edmonton’s still the better team here, but the price at -225 is way too much. I considered the +1.5 on the Habs at -135, but I think if the game ends up that close they win anyways, so I’ll just take a half unit risk at the nice +190 price on the money line. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Bets
.5u Red Wings ML (+115)
.5u Canucks ML (-110)
.5u Predators/Canucks over 5.5 (-130)
.5u Jets in regulation (-145)
.5u Stars ML (-145)
.5u Stars/Kings over 5.5 (-120)
.5u Canadiens ML (+190)
Record: 39-31 (-7.7 units)
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