Happy New Year! Break even night again on the NHL yesterday for me, going 12-11 to win $6. Let’s crush today’s eight game slate!
Senators vs. Capitals (1:00)
I wouldn’t say this is the best game on the board to start the day off. The Senators have been struggling, now in last place in the Atlantic Division with an 18-15-5 record, on a three game losing streak coming off a 4-1 loss at home to the Blue Jackets on Monday. Ottawa’s been good offensively, but they’ve struggled on the back end. The Capitals haven’t played all that great lately with just three wins in their last ten games to fall to 21-14-5 on the season, but have been good on both ends of the ice this year. They’re in the second half of a back to back today, coming off a big 6-3 win at home against the Rangers yesterday afternoon. The first game between these teams in October was a blowout with the Sens winning 7-1 on the road. I’d lean the Caps answer back here on the road, but in the second half of a back to back, I don’t think they’re worth betting. I do like the over though in this game quite a bit though, which I’ll take for a unit. I’ll also parlay Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, and Tom Wilson to each get a point for half a unit.
Islanders vs. Mammoth (3:00)
Pretty boring cross conference matchup here. The Islanders have exceeded my expectations, currently in second place in the Metro with a 22-14-4 record. Coming off a 3-2 shootout win in Chicago on Tuesday, they’ve won three of their last four games. The Mammoth have struggled after their hot start, falling to 18-19-3 on the season, coming off a 4-3 loss at home to the Preds on Monday. The first game between these teams in Utah in November, the Isles won 3-2 on the road. I’d slightly lean they win again at home, but I’m not touching the side. Both of these teams have been good defensively, but have struggled offensively. I like the under a lot here, which I’ll take for a unit, not expecting much action in this one.
Maple Leafs vs. Jets (7:00)
Lousy game here between two teams that had high expectations going into the season, but they’ve both sucked. The Leafs have seemingly figured something out lately, with a 3-0-1 record in their last four games to improve to 18-15-6, coming off a 4-0 shutout win at home against the Devils on Tuesday, but they’re still in second last in the Atlantic. The offense has been good for them, but their defense and goaltending stinks. The Jets have been awful, dead last in the Central with a 15-19-4 record. They’re a broken team, on a seven game losing streak with just three wins in their last 19 games. Their only guys that could score are Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele (who’s been AWFUL defensively, doesnt even back check), and Gabe Vilardi, and even having the best goaltender in the world in Connor Hellebuyck hasn’t really helped them. Winnipeg’s in the second half of a back to back, coming off a 2-1 loss in Detroit last night. I’d lean the Leafs win at home, but I don’t trust them to bet them. The total’s a complete toss up to me. I do like a player prop parlay here though, and I’ll take Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Auston Matthews to each get a point for half a unit.
Penguins vs. Red Wings (7:00)
Not the best Eastern Conference matchup, but this should be a pretty fun game. The Penguins are playing well their last few games. Coming off a surprising 5-1 blowout win at home against the Hurricanes on Tuesday, they have three wins in their last four games after an eight game losing streak to improve to 17-12-9 on the season. The Red Wings are playing great, leading the Atlantic Division with a 24-14-3 record with ten wins in their last 13 games. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight after grinding out a 2-1 win at home against the Jets last night. Statistically these teams match up pretty evenly, but I do think Detroit’s the better team, and I’ll take a half unit shot on them here as an underdog on the road, even in the second half of a back to back. I like the over as well, which I’ll also take for half a unit. Additionally, I’ll parlay Sidney Crosby and Lucas Raymond to each get a point for a unit.
Hurricanes vs. Canadiens (7:00)
Fun game here in the East, while still being a bit of a mismatch. The Hurricanes are coming off a 5-1 loss in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, but have been very good this season, leading the Metro Division with a 24-12-13 record and playing really well on both ends of the ice. The Habs have been a blast to watch, with an electric young offense, but not a great defense. They’re coming off a big 3-2 overtime win in Florida on Tuesday and are on a six game point streak to improve to 21-12-6 on the season. I like the Canes to win here, and I’ll lay the -180 on them for half a unit. I really like the over here too which I’ll take for a unit. I’ll also parlay Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Sebastian Aho to each get a point for a unit.
Kings vs. Lightning (7:00)
Interesting cross conference matchup. The Kings haven’t been great, with a very good defense, but an awful offense. Coming off a 5-2 loss in Colorado on Monday, they’re just 16-13-9 on the season. The Lightning have been fantastic on both ends of the ice, two points back from the Atlantic Division lead with a 23-13-3 record. They’re in the second half of a back to back, coming off a 4-3 overtime win in Anaheim in a matinee yesterday to extend their win streak to five in a row. LA won the first game between these teams 2-1 on the road a couple weeks ago. I like the Bolts to answer back here on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit, even in the second half of a back to back. I’d lean the under in this one, with two good defenses, and a bad offense for the Kings, but not enough to bet it at 5.5. I’ll also take a half unit shot on Nikita Kucherov to get over 1.5 points for half a unit.
Blackhawks vs. Stars (8:30)
Huge mismatch in the Central here. These teams just played on Saturday coming out of the Christmas break, with the Blackhawks shocking me with a 4-3 shootout win on the road in Dallas. Chicago’s been awful without Connor Bedard in the lineup, with that win on Saturday being their only one in their last nine games to drop to 14-18-7 on the season. This team’s terrible on both ends of the ice. The Stars are one of the top three teams in hockey, right there with the Wild just behind the Avalanche (who are far and away the best team in the league). Dallas is 25-8-7 on the season, and come into tonight on a three game losing streak, in the second half of a back to back after a 4-1 loss at home to my Sabres last night. After scoring 15 seconds into the game, Buffalo controlled the game the entire rest of the way. I love Dallas to bounce back here on the road and I’ll lay the -175 on them for 1.5 units. I like the over too at 5.5, which I’ll take for half a unit. I like several player props here too in this bounce back spot. I’ll parlay Mikko Rantanen, Jason Robertson, and Wyatt Johnston to each get a point for a unit, and I’ll take a half unit shot on Mikko to have over 1.5 points.
Kraken vs. Predators (10:00)
Boring late night game to end the night, but this could be an interesting matchup with two lousy teams that are both playing pretty good right now. The Kraken are 16-14-7, coming off a 3-2 shootout loss at home on Monday to the Canucks, ending a four game win streak after a stretch of just one win in their previous eleven games. Seattle’s been good defensively this year, but awful offensively. The Predators have gotten hot after their horrible start. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 4-2 win in Vegas yesterday afternoon for their twelfth win in their last 17 games, improving to 18-17-4 on the year. On the season, they’ve struggled on both ends of the ice, but that hasn’t been the case lately. I’d slightly lean Nashville wins here on the road, but I’m not touching them in the second half of a back to back. I do like the under here though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Bets
1u Senators/Capitals over 5.5 (-135)
.5u parlay: Tim Stutzle/Brady Tkachuk/Tom Wilson 1+ point each (+211)
1u Islanders/Mammoth under 5.5 (+115)
.5u parlay: Kyle Connor/Mark Scheifele/Auston Matthew 1+ point each (+128)
.5u Red Wings ML (+114)
.5u Penguins/Red Wings over 6.5 (-105)
1u parlay: Sidney Crosby/Lucas Raymond 1+ point each (+107)
.5u Hurricanes ML (-180)
1u Hurricanes/Canadiens over 6.5 (+114)
1u parlay: Nick Suzuki/Cole Caufield/Sebastian Aho 1+ point each (+174)
.5u Lightning ML (+105)
.5u Nikita Kucherov over 1.5 points (+160)
1.5u Stars ML (-175)
.5u Stars/Blackhawks over 5.5 (-120)
1u parlay: Mikko Rantanen/Jason Robertson/Wyatt Johnston 1+ point each (+112)
.5u Mikko Rantanen over 1.5 points (+135)
.5u Predators/Kraken under 5.5 (-105)
Record: 345-375-1 (-46 units)
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