Lost a little under a unit on yesterday’s NHL slate, going 5-8. Lousy run the last few days. Let’s turn it around on tonight’s four game slate before a huge slate tomorrow to head into the Christmas break!
Lightning vs. Blues (7:00)
This is a huge mismatch for a cross conference game to get the night started. The Lightning have been very good this year with a 19-13-3 record, ending a three game losing streak with a big 6-4 win at home against the Hurricanes on Saturday. The Blues have struggled all season on both ends of the ice, but they’re playing much better as of late. They’re 14-15-8 with a 5-3-1 record in their last nine games, coming off a big 6-2 win on the road against the Panthers on Saturday. This should be an easy win for Tampa at home. The -250 price is pretty expensive here, and I thought about bringing it down a bit with Kucherov to get a point, but even that isn’t worth it, so instead I’ll take the Bolts in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Flyers vs. Canucks (7:30)
Boring cross conference matchup here. The Flyers are having a pretty good season, coming into tonight with a 17-10-7 record, but they’re struggling a bit right now. Coming off a 5-4 shootout loss on the road against the Rangers on Saturday, they have just one win in their last six games, but only one of those five losses came in regulation (to my Buffalo Sabres). The Canucks have been awful all year, but somehow after trading their best player Quinn Hughes, they’re now on a four game win streak, coming off a 5-4 shootout win in Boston on Saturday. I like Philly to win here at home with the far superior defensive play, and I’ll take them for half a unit at a cheap enough -130 price. I’d lean the under, with two poorly performing offenses and a great defense for the Flyers, but don’t like it enough to bet on at a juiced up 5.5 with Vancouver’s lousy defense.
Ducks vs. Kraken (10:00)
This is a pretty lousy Pacific Division matchup between the top and bottom teams in the division, but both of these teams are struggling right now. The Ducks are at the top of the division with a 21-13-2 record, and they’re 12-5 at home, coming off a 4-3 win at home against the Blue Jackets on Saturday, just their second win in their last six games. Their young offense has been very good, but their defense has been pretty terrible. The Kraken have been awful, especially offensively, now in last place in the entire NHL with a 13-14-6 record. They ended a four game losing streak, beating the Sharks 4-2 on the road on Saturday for just their second win in their last twelve games. In the first week of the season, Seattle did beat the Ducks 3-1 at home. I like Anaheim to win here at home and I’ll lay the -175 for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it at 6.5. I have continuously betting Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Troy Terry point props, with all three of those players averaging a point per game, and keep losing on them. Carlsson’s out, which makes Gauthier and Terry a bit more expensive, and even though I think both of them could definitely get on the score sheet here against a struggling Seattle team, but they’re just not worth betting at their prices, either individually or parlayed, so just sticking with Anaheim moneyline in this one.
Kings vs. Blue Jackets (10:00)
Quite the bad, and boring cross conference game between two struggling teams. I think the Kings are good when you look at their roster and how fantastic defensively they are, but their offense sucks and that’s what’s killing them. LA comes into tonight with a 15-10-9 record, ending a four game losing streak with a 2-1 win in Tampa on Thursday. The Blue Jackets have been terrible, with a 14-15-6 record and just one win (which they needed overtime for) in their last eight games, coming off a 4-3 loss in Anaheim on Saturday. Additionally, Columbus will be without their best player, Zach Werenski for at least the next week, their best defenseman and their leading scorer (in points, goals, and assists). With Werenski out, I like the Kings to win here enough to lay the -160 on them for half a unit. I’d lean the under but not enough to bet it with how bad the Jackets defense is. I considered betting Marchenko to get a point, but I don’t think its worth betting with how little LA gives up defensively.
Bets
1u Lightning in regulation (-160)
.5u Flyers ML (-130)
.5u Ducks ML (-175)
.5u Kings ML (-160)
Record: 293-324-1 (-47.14 units)
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