Solid winning night for me yesterday to bounce back on the NHL, going 3-1 to win 1.38 units. Today we have a huge 13 game slate, let’s win again!
Flyers vs. Islanders (12:30)
Pretty lousy game to start the day with this matinee between two boring Metro Division teams. They’re both definitely playing better than expected lately though. Coming off a 2-1 loss in Ottawa, the Flyers have three wins in their last five games and have actually been pretty solid defensively this year. The Islanders meanwhile had their offense come to life recently, on a four game win streak after blowing out the Red Wings 7-2 on Thursday night. The side on this game’s a complete toss up. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it, so I’ll lay off this game completely.
Bruins vs. Avalanche (3:00)
Huge mismatch for this cross conference day game. The Bruins after winning their first three games of the season have been awful, on a six game losing streak, coming off a 7-5 loss at home to the Ducks on Thursday. The Avalanche are very good, but coming off two overtime losses in a row, losing 5-4 in a shootout at home to the Canes on Thursday in the awesome looking Nordiques vs. Whalers game, but erased a 4-1 deficit to get there. These teams played last week in Denver, with the Avs winning 4-1 at home. I like Colorado to win this game pretty easily again and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. The total’s a toss up to me.
Maple Leafs vs. Sabres (5:00)
The NHL and Leafs smartly moved this game a couple hours earlier so it doesn’t go up against the World Series across the street up in Toronto. This is the second half of a back to back home and home between these teams after my Sabres got a 5-3 win on home ice last night in the first game between them. The Leafs are struggling while Buffalo has looked really solid with four wins in our last five games. I’m still not convinced we’re a good team and don’t see us beating the same team twice. I’ll take the Leafs for half a unit. I also like the over, which I’ll take for half a unit as well.
Lightning vs. Ducks (5:00)
Interesting cross conference game here. The Lightning have really struggled and look awful to start the year, when I expected them to be a very good team this year. They still have only one win, with a 1-4-2 record, and come into tonight on a four game losing streak, coming off a 3-2 loss at home to the Blackhawks (that I should have bet) on Thursday. The Ducks are playing well, with a 4-2-1 record, coming off a 7-5 win in Boston on Thursday. I still haven’t lost all hope on Tampa and I’d lean they win here at home, but you can’t bet them whatsoever at -190 when they’ve played so poorly. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it, so I’ll lay off this game completely.
Panthers vs. Golden Knights (6:00)
On paper this should be a pretty good game between two of the best teams in the NHL, but I don’t think it will be. The Panthers are struggling with all their injuries, with only one win (against the Bruins) in their last five games, coming off a 5-3 loss at home to the Penguins on Thursday. Vegas meanwhile looks fantastic, without a regulation loss yet this year. They’re still my pick to win the Cup this year, and proved how good they are with a 4-1 win at home against the Canes on Wednesday, their fourth win in a row. I’ll take the Golden Knights for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Wild vs. Mammoth (6:00)
Interesting matchup here in the Central. I thought going into the season the Wild would be a really solid team, but they’ve struggled to start the season. Coming off a 4-1 loss in Jersey on Wednesday, they have just one win in their last five games. The Mammoth have looked really good so far this year, surprising a lot of people. They’re on a five game win streak, coming off a 7-4 win in St. Louis on Thursday to improve to 6-2 on the season. I’ll follow the trend here with half a unit on Utah. I’d lean the under, but didn’t consider betting it.
Red Wings vs. Blues (7:00)
This should be a fun cross conference matchup. The Red Wings looked awesome starting the season, but have struggled there last two games, dropping bad losses in Buffalo, 4-2 on Wednesday and then 7-2 on Long Island on Thursday. The Blues are a mixed bag as well, coming 7-4 to Utah at home on Thursday to drop to 3-3-1 on the year. The side is a toss up here, but I like the over, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Penguins vs. Blue Jackets (7:00)
Going into the year, I don’t think many people would think this would be a solid matchup in the Metro, but it should be fun. The Penguins are far exceeding my expectations to start the year. Coming off a 5-3 win on the road to the Panthers on Thursday, they’re on a four game win streak to improve to 6-2. The Blue Jackets have been inconsistent, in the second half of a back to back, coming off a 5-1 loss at home to the Capitals last night (win for me) to drop to 3-4 on the year. I’d lean Pittsburgh wins here at home, but not enough to bet on them. The total’s a toss up, so I’ll lay off this game entirely.
Capitals vs. Senators (7:00)
This is a pretty bad matchup. The Capitals look awesome so far this year, starting the season 6-2, with six wins in their last seven games. They’re in the second half of a back to back, coming off a 5-1 win in Columbus last night (winner for me), and Ovi’s now just a goal away from 900. The Senators meanwhile have struggled quite a bit without Brady Tkachuk in the lineup. They’re coming off a 2-1 win at home against the Flyers on Thursday. Even in the second half of a back to back, I like the Caps to win here at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but don’t like it enough to bet on.
Canucks vs. Canadiens (7:00)
Decent matchup here. I don’t think the Canucks are all that great. Coming off a 2-1 loss in Nashville, they’re 4-4 on the season. The Habs have been such a fun team to watch and they’re now 6-3 on the year, coming off a 6-5 loss in Edmonton on Thursday, where the blew a 5-3 lead in the third period (ruining my +190 money line on them, and making me wish I took the +1.5 puck line like I originally considered taking in that one). Montreal’s been electric and I like them to bounce back here on the road, and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Predators vs. Kings (8:00)
I don’t think this Western Conference matchup is very good. The Predators ended an four game losing streak on Thursday, beating the Canucks 2-1 at home to improve to 3-3-2 on the year. The Kings are 3-3-2 on the season as well, coming off two overtime wins on the road, beating the Stars 3-2 on Thursday night. I still think LA’s the better team here, and would lean they win. I’d lean the over, but I’m not touching this game whatsoever.
Stars vs. Hurricanes (8:00)
This should be a great cross conference matchup between two very good teams. The Stars have struggled lately, dropping to 3-3-1 on the season, now on a four game losing streak, coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at home to the Kings on Thursday. The Hurricanes look fantastic, with a 6-1 record. They bounced back from losing 4-1 in Vegas on Monday with a 5-4 shootout win in Colorado in the Nordiques/Whalers game on Thursday, blowing a 4-1 first period lead but still getting the win. I’d lean Carolina and would slightly lean the over, but this is too close of a matchup in my mind to bet on.
Kraken vs. Oilers (10:00)
Not the best game to end the night out in the Pacific. The Kraken have been a bit inconsistent and I don’t think they’re a great team. They’re coming off a surprising 3-0 shutout win in Winnipeg on Thursday to bounce back from their two previous losses and improve to 4-2-2 on the year. The Oilers have been inconsistent as well. They came back from a 5-3 third period deficit agains the Habs on Thursday, to win their second in a row, winning 6-5 to improve to 4-3-1. I like the Oilers to win this game on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but don’t think its worth laying the -145 on the 5.5 or taking the 6.5.
Bets
.5u Avalanche in regulation (-120)
.5u Maple Leafs ML (-155)
.5u Maple Leafs/Sabres over 6.5 (-105)
.5u Golden Knights ML (-120)
.5u Mammoth ML (+100)
.5u Red Wings/Blues over 5.5 (-125)
.5u Capitals ML (-125)
.5u Canadiens ML (-105)
.5u Oilers ML (-180)
Record: 42-39 (-10.56 units)
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