I easily won my only bet last night for half a unit. Tonight we have the first Frozen Frenzy of the NHL season, with all 32 teams in action for a 16 game slate all with staggered starts through the night. Let’s crush it!!
Flyers vs. Penguins (6:00)
I don’t think this Pennsylvania rivalry is all that great this year but this should be a fun matchup to start the day off. The Flyers have played pretty well recently with three wins in their last four games to improve to 4-3-1 on the season, coming off a shootout win against the Isles on Saturday. The Penguins have been on fire to start the year, far exceeding my expectations. They’re in the second half of a back to back, hitting my over by themselves with a 6-3 win at home against the Blues last night to improve to 7-2-1 on the year. I’d lean the Pens win this one, but not enough to bet on it to start this Frenzy. I like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit to get the night going.
Maple Leafs vs. Flames (6:00)
Pretty bad mismatch here in this cross conference game. The Leafs haven’t been great, starting their season 4-4-1. They ended a three game losing streak on Saturday, beating the Sabres 4-3 in overtime at home for the second half of a back to back home and home on John Tavares’ game winner. The Flames are one of the worst teams in the league, playing awful hockey on both ends of the ice. They finally ended an eight game losing streak on Sunday, beating the Rangers 5-1 at home. I like the Leafs here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but I’m not betting the total in this one.
Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights (6:30)
This should be an amazing cross conference game, between two very good teams both coming off losses over the weekend. These teams played last Monday with the Golden Knights winning 4-1 at home. The Hurricanes are coming off a 3-2 loss in Dallas on Saturday, just their second loss of the season, and their second in their last three games. Vegas is coming off two losses in a row in the state of Florida over the weekend, losing 2-1 in OT in Tampa on Sunday after getting shut out 3-0 by the Panthers on Saturday, but are still 5-1-3 on the year. I could see this matchup[ being this year’s Cup Finals, and it’s pretty much a toss up to me. I’d slightly lean the Canes answer back from last week’s road loss with a win at home, and I’d slightly lean the under, but the right move on this game is laying off it completely.
Sabres vs. Blue Jackets (6:45)
Interesting game here in the East. Both of these teams are playing decent hockey right now, but I’m still not convinced either of them are good teams. My Sabres have four wins in our last six game to improve to 4-4-1 on the year, coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Leafs in the second half of a back to back home and home on Saturday. The Blue Jackets are playing pretty good too, coming off a 5-4 shootout win in Pittsburgh on Saturday for their third win in their last four games, improving to 4-4 on the year. I’d slightly lean Buffalo wins at home, but this game’s pretty much a toss up, so I’m staying off the side. I like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Panthers vs. Ducks (7:00)
Kind of an interesting game here. The Panthers have struggled with injuries to start their year trying to three peat as the defending back to back Cup champs. They’re coming off a big 3-0 shutout win at home against the Golden Knights on Saturday, just their second win in their last seven games, starting the season with a 5-5 record. The Ducks have been fun to watch in their 4-3-1 start. They lost 4-3 in Tampa on Thursday after back to back wins in Boston and Nashville. I’d lean Florida wins this game at home, but I think the -185 is too expensive to bet on, so I’ll stay off this game. I’d also lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Bruins vs. Islanders (7:15)
Horrible matchup between two bad teams in the East. The Bruins have been awful after their 3-0 start to the year. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, getting blown out 7-2 in Ottawa last night after their shocking 3-2 win against the Avs on Saturday, which was their only win in their last eight games. I expected the Islanders to be terrible this year, but coming off a 4-3 shootout loss in Philly on Saturday, they’ have a 4-0-1 record in their last five games after starting the year 0-3. With Boston in the second half of a back to back, I like the Isles to win here on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I like the over as well, which I’ll take at the alternate line of 6 for some push insurance for half a unit.
Predators vs. Lightning (7:45)
Pretty terrible cross conference matchup with the way these teams have played to start the season. The Predators are 4-4-2, coming off a 3-2 loss to the Stars on Sunday after winning their previous two games. The Lightning have seemed to figure something out over the weekend after their horrendous start, improving to 3-4-2 after a 2-1 overtime win at home against Vegas on Sunday and a 4-3 win against the Ducks on Saturday. Both of these teams have struggled on both ends of the ice, but I like the Bolts to win this one. I’ll take Tampa for half a unit. The total’s a complete toss up.
Wild vs. Jets (8:00)
I don’t think this Central Division matchup is all that great, and the price doesn’t really make sense to me with the way these teams have started the year. The Wild have looked awful, especially defensively. They’re on a three game losing streak with just one win in their last seven games, dropping to 3-5-2 on the season, coming off a 6-5 overtime loss at home to the Sharks on Saturday, giving up six goals in each of their last two games over the weekend. The Jets have been very solid, but have dropped to 6-3 with two losses in their last three games after a 3-2 loss at home to Utah on Sunday (a game I’m glad I stay off of). Winnipeg should be a bigger favorite on the road here than the pick’em that it is, and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but I’m not touching it.
Blues vs. Red Wings (8:15)
Not the greatest cross conference matchup by any means here, but I absolutely think this will be a fun game. St. Louis started the season pretty well but have dropped off since pretty badly. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight coming off a 6-3 loss in Pittsburgh yesterday (such an easy win on my over) for their fourth straight loss. The Red Wings have been pretty inconsistent, and got right to improve to 6-3 on the season when these teams played the first half of this home and home on Saturday, winning 6-4 at home. With the Blues in the second half of a back to back, I’d lean Detroit wins, but don’t like it enough to bet on. I do like the over though, which I will take at 6 for half a unit.
Stars vs. Capitals (8:30)
Fantastic cross conference matchup here between two really good teams. After a four game losing streak, the Stars bounced back over the weekend with back to back 3-2 wins at home against the Canes and on the road in Nashville to improve to 5-3-1. The Capitals have been very good, but dropped to 6-3 on the year with a 7-1 blowout loss in the second half of a back to back at home to the Senators on Saturday. I’d slightly lean Dallas at home and the under in this game, but didn’t even consider betting anything on this game. Way too close in my eyes to bet on.
Blackhawks vs. Senators (8:45)
This should be a solid game between two teams that I don’t think are all that great, but are both playing quite well coming into tonight. The Blackhawks are coming off a 3-1 loss at home to the Kings on Sunday, but have a 4-3-2 record on the season with a 4-1-1 record in their last six games. They’re exceeding my expectations, considering that I thought they’d be a lottery team this year. The Senators have struggled quite a bit with Brady Tkachuk out due to injury, but are now on a three game win streak to improve to 5-4-1, scoring seven goals in each of their last two games, in the second half of a back to back tonight after a 7-2 win at home against the Bruins last night. I’d lean Ottawa wins this one, but don’t like it enough to bet on with them in the second half of a back to back on the road. I’d lean the under, but don’t see enough of an edge in it to bet it. So I’ll stay off this game entirely.
Avalanche vs. Devils (9:00)
Great game for this cross conference matchup between two teams that should absolutely make the playoffs this year for the second half of a home and home. In Jersey on Sunday afternoon, that game went to overtime with the Devils winning 4-3 at home. The Avalanche started the year off in fantastic fashion, but come into tonight now on a four game losing streak. The Devils lead the NHL with their 8-1 record, on an eight game win streak after their opening night loss in Carolina. I’d lean the Devils win here as a dog on the road, but not enough to bet it. I’d also lean the over slightly, but not enough to bet that either, so I’ll lay off one of the best games on the slate completely.
Oilers vs. Mammoth (9:30)
I’d expect this to be a solid Western Conference game. The Oilers haven’t been great, starting the season 4-4-2, coming off two losses in a row over the weekend, losing 4-3 in overtime in Vancouver on Sunday. The Mammoth have been incredible shockingly leading the West with an 8-2 record. Coming off a 3-2 win in Winnipeg on Sunday, they’re on a seven game win streak, playing fantastic hockey on both ends of the ice. With Edmonton struggling, I feel like you have to take Utah here as a dog. I’ll take the Mammoth for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but don’t like it enough to bet on.
Canucks vs. Rangers (10:00)
This would be a boring cross conference matchup between two games that I don’t think are all that good, but Rangers captain JT Miller making his return to Vancouver for the first time after last year’s drama with him and Elias Pettersson that led to the trade gives this game quite the dramatics. Neither of these teams are good though. The Canucks are coming off a 4-3 overtime win on Sunday night against the Oilers on Kiefer Sherwood’s second goal of the game with quite the highlights. That win ended a three game losing streak for them to improve to 5-5. The Rangers have been awful. They’re coming off a 5-1 loss in Calgary on Sunday for their third loss in a row and they’re just 3-5-2 on the year. I’d lean Vancouver wins this one as a slight home dog, but I’m not betting them. I’d also lean the under, but don’t like it enough to bet on at 5.5. I do like a player prop here, which shouldn’t come as a shock, but I’ll lay the -185 on JT Miler to get a point.
Kraken vs. Canadiens (10:30)
Both of these teams have been better than expected to start the year. The first game between these teams earlier this month in Montreal was great, with the Habs winning 5-4 at home, with Ivan Demidov tying it up with 2:41 left in regulation and Cole Caufield ending it in overtime. The Kraken are coming off two wins in a row, improving to 5-2-2 off a 3-2 win at home on Saturday against the Oilers after shutting out the Jets 3-0 on the road on Thursday. Their offense hasn’t been great, but their defense has been very good. The Habs, coming off a 4-3 win in Vancouver on Saturday have been so much fun to watch. Every game they’ve played has been electric and they’re 7-3 to start the season. I’d lean Montreal wins here on the road and the under, but don’t like either enough to bet this game. Should be fun to tune into.
Sharks vs. Kings (11:00)
Lousy California matchup to end the night. The Sharks have been brutal to start the year, as expected. They’re 2-5-2 but after a 6-5 overtime win in Minnesota on Sunday where they blew three two goal leads, they still got the win on Macklin Celebrini’s game winner for their second win in their last four games. The Kings have been pretty underwhelming, starting the season 4-3-3. They’re playing better lately though, on a five game point streak with three wins in their last four games, coming off a 3-1 win in Chicago on Sunday. LA should win this game pretty easily, and I’ll take them in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but I don’t think it’s worth laying the -145.
Bets
.5u Flyers/Penguins over 5.5 (-135)
.5u Maple Leafs in regulation (-135)
.5u Sabres/Blue Jackets over 6.5 (-110)
.5u Islanders ML (-155)
.5u Islanders/Bruins over 6 (-121)
.5u Lightning ML (-155)
.5u Jets ML (-115)
.5u Blues/Red Wings over 6 (-113)
.5u Mammoth ML (+130)
.5u JT Miller over 0.5 point (-185)
.5u Kings in regulation (-135)
Record: 50-46 (-11.28 units)
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