Had a bit of bad luck last night on the NHL with the Pens losing in OT and Canes need OT to win and went 1-3 to lose 2.5 units. No matinees today, so later start for this big 13 game slate tonight, let’s bounce back!
Panthers vs. Lightning (5:00)
We’ve got the first Battle of Florida of the season to start off the night. Neither of these teams have been all that great to start the season. The Panthers are playing better recently with three wins in their last four games, coming off a 6-3 win at home against the Capitals on Thursday, improving to 9-7-1 on the year while they deal with key injuries. The Lightning are dealing with injuries right now too, but after their bad start to the year, they’ve improved as well. They’re coming off a 7-3 win at home against the Rangers on Wednesday, but have seven wins in their last nine games. I like the Bolts to win here on the short road against their biggest rivals and I’ll take Tampa for half a unit. The total’s a complete toss up to me, so I’ll stay off it.
Wild vs. Ducks (6:00)
Interesting matchup here in the West. The Wild were horrible to start the year, coming into tonight with a 7-7-4 record, but they’ve seemed to pick it up a bit recently. Coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Sharks on Tuesday, they’ve gone 4-1-1 in their last six games, still struggling offensively but playing much better on the back end. The Ducks have been electric, leading the Pacific Division with an 11-5-1 record with an awesome offense. They come into tonight off two road losses though, losing 6-3 in Detroit on Thursday after a 4-1 loss on Tuesday in Colorado. I like Anaheim to win this one the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. The total’s a toss up to me on this one too, so I’ll lay off it. I like a player prop parlay here too on Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Kirill Kaprizov each to get a point, which I’ll take for half a unit at a nice +188 price.
Red Wings vs. Sabres (7:00)
Not a great matchup by any means in the Atlantic Division. The Red Wings started the season hot but have since dropped off, ending a three game losing streak with a 6-3 win at home against the Ducks on Thursday to improve to 10-7 on the season. My Sabres have been horrendous, with just one win in their last nine games to drop to 5-8-4 on the year, on a five game losing streak off a 6-3 loss in Colorado on Thursday that they hung in better than I expected them to. The first time these teams played a few weeks ago, the Sabres won 4-2 at home, and I like Detroit to answer back tonight at home. I’ll take the Red Wings for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not quite enough to bet it.
Canadiens vs. Bruins (7:00)
This should be a pretty fun game tonight in the Atlantic with both teams in a three way tie with Ottawa at the top of the Division. The Habs are struggling right now. Coming off a 7-0 loss at home to the Stars, they have just one win in their last five games, dropping to 10-5-2 after their incredible start to the season. The Bruins have far exceeded my expectations, having a seven game win streak come to an end on Thursday with a 5-3 loss in Ottawa. I still think Boston’s a bad team while I think Montreal’s pretty good, so I’d lean the Canadiens win at home, but not enough to bet them on this lousy run. Both of these teams have played well offensively, but have struggled defensively, so I love the over here. I’ll take it at 6 for a unit. I’m going with another player prop parlay here as well with Suzuki, Caufield, and Pasta to all get a point, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Senators vs. Kings (7:00)
Interesting cross conference matchup. The Senators after their slow start without Brady Tkachuk in the lineup have played much better as of late, in a three way tie for the Atlantic Division lead with a 9-5-4 record. Coming off a 5-3 win at home against the Bruins on Thursday, they’re on a seven game point streak, picking up at least a point in all but one of their last twelve games. The Kings have turned it around as well with the same 9-5-4 record heading into tonight, a point back from the Ducks for the Pacific Division lead. They’re on a three game win streak, beating the Leafs 4-3 in overtime on Thursday. This game is a complete toss up in all directions to me. These teams play entirely different styles of hockey with a good offense but bad defense for Ottawa, and a good defense but bad offense for LA. I’ll lay off it completely.
Capitals vs. Devils (7:00)
Not the best game here with these teams sitting on the opposite ends of the Metro Division standings. The Capitals have been a pretty bad 8-8-1, with just two wins in their last nine games, coming off a 6-3 loss in Florida on Thursday. They’ve struggled to light the lamp but have been good defensively on the year. The Devils have gone to overtime in their last four games in a row, coming off a 4-3 win in Chicago on Wednesday, leading the division with a 12-4-1 record. They’ll be without their best player though for the next six to eight weeks since Jack Hughes cut his hand during a team dinner in Chicago on Thursday night with Frank the Tank. The Fleming curse hits his favorite athlete. I think that could end up being a pretty big hit for them, although as a team Jersey has played pretty well on both ends of the ice. I’d lean the Devils win here on the road, but don’t like it enough to bet them. Total’s a toss up too, so I’ll stay off this game entirely.
Hurricanes vs. Oilers (7:00)
This isn’t a great game with how these teams have started the season. The Hurricanes are in the second half of a back to back tonight, needing overtime to beat the Canucks 4-3 last night (screwing my regulation bet but easily hitting the over). They’ve been fantastic this year, with a 12-5 record with five wins in their last six games, playing great on both ends of the ice. The Oilers have been pretty disappointing in their start. They’re 8-7-4, coming off a 5-4 loss in Columbus on Thursday. Their offense has been fine but Edmonton’s been awful on the back end. Even in the second half of a back to back, I like the Canes to win here which I’ll take for half a unit. I love the over too, which I’ll take at 6 for a unit.
Blue Jackets vs. Rangers (7:00)
Such a boring matchup in the Metro Division between two teams that both aren’t great. The Blue Jackets are 9-7-1, coming into tonight off two wins in a row, beating the Oilers 5-4 at home on Thursday. Offensively they’ve been pretty good, but they’ve struggled on the back end. The Rangers have played the opposite, with a bad offense but a great defense backstopped by an incredible goalie. They have three wins in their lsat four games to improve to 9-7-2 and have a very good 8-1-1 record on the road, while they’ve been awful at home, coming off a big 7-3 win in Tampa on Wednesday. I’d very slightly lean Columbus wins at home and the over, but didn’t even consider betting on this game, and I’ll stay off it completely.
Blackhawks vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
Interesting cross conference matchup in a game that absolutely no one would’ve cared about before the season. The Blackhawks, who are 8-5-4, have been really exceeding expectations, playing well on both ends of the ice. They’re on a four game point streak, having a three game win streak come to an end with a 4-3 overtime loss at home to the Devils on Wednesday night. The Leafs have been pretty horrible at 8-8-2 on the year. They’re on a four game losing streak, coming off a 4-3 overtime loss at home to the Kings on Thursday with a spectacular offense, but a horrendous defense. I’d lean the Leafs win on the road since they’re still the way better team, but no chance I’m touching them, especially with Auston Matthews out of the lineup with injury. I do like the over though, which I’ll take at 6 for half a unit.
Blues vs. Golden Knights (8:00)
Big mismatch with both of these teams in the second half of back to backs, both coming off overtime losses last night. The Blues, coming off a 6-5 shootout loss at home to Philly last night, have been awful all year, with just a 6-8-4 record, playing horribly on both ends of the ice. The Golden Knights have been pretty good statistically, but come into tonight on a four game losing streak to drop to 7-4-5 on the year. Last night they came back from a 2-0 deficit late in the second period, then gave up the tying goal with 2:37 to go in regulation, losing 4-3 on a shorthanded OT goal by the Isles after Vegas dominated overtime. I think this is a great bounce back spot for the Knights and I’ll take them for a unit. I like the over too at just 5.5, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Stars vs. Flyers (8:00)
Kind of a bad cross conference game here. The Stars are a solid team, on a four game win streak coming off a 7-0 win in Montreal on Thursday night, improving to 11-4-3 on the season, playing well on both ends of the ice. The Flyers aren’t bad defensively, but their offense isn’t good. They’re 9-5-3 on the season, on a five game point streak but with just three wins in their last seven games, coming off a 6-5 shootout win on Trevor Zegras’ shootout winner in a three point night. With Philly in the second half of a back to back, I especially like the Stars to win at home tonight. I’ll take Dallas in regulation for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but don’t like it enough to bet on.
Flames vs. Jets (10:00)
Terrible mismatch with a way cheaper price than I expected in this Western Conference game. The Flames are 5-12-2 and have been the worst team in the league to start the season. They ended a three game losing streak on Thursday with a 2-0 shutout win at home against the Sharks. The Jets are a pretty good team but they’re struggling right now. They’re 10-7 on the season, playing well on both ends of the ice, but have just one win in their last five games, coming off a 5-3 loss in Seattle on Thursday night. This is already the third and final game between these teams this season, with Winnipeg winning both previous games, 2-1 on the road and then 5-3 at home. I like the Jets to complete the season sweep here and I’ll take them for a unit at a way cheaper price than it should be. I’d lean the under, but don’t like it enough to bet it.
Kraken vs. Sharks (10:00)
Pretty bad Pacific Division matchup to end the night. The Kraken haven’t been great, with an 8-4-5 record, coming off a 5-3 win at home agains the Jets on Thursday. They’ve been good defensively, but pretty terrible offensively. The Sharks started the season terribly, but have turned it around to come into tonight with an 8-7-3 record. They had a four game win streak and seven game point streak end on Thursday with a 2-0 shutout in Calgary on Thursday night. San Jose won the first game between these teams 6-1 on the road two weeks ago. I think this matchup’s a complete coin toss with the styles of play and I’ll stay off both this game entirely.
Bets
.5u Lightning ML (+115)
.5u Ducks ML (+110)
.5u parlay: Leo Carlsson/Cutter Gauthier/Kirill Kaprivoz 1+ point each (+188)
.5u Red Wings ML (-166)
1u Canadiens/Bruins over 6 (-120)
.5u parlay: Nick Suzuki/Cole Caufield/David Pastrnak 1+ point each (+120)
.5u Hurricanes ML (-120)
1u Hurricanes/Oilers over 6 (-134)
.5u Maple Leafs/Blackhawks over 6 (-125)
1u Golden Knights ML (-162)
.5u Golden Knights/Blues over 5.5 (-130)
.5u Stars in regulation (-145)
1u Jets ML (-135)
Record: 110-100-1 (-18.74 units)
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