Really solid bounce back night for me on the NHL yesterday, going 6-2 to win 3.72 units. Need it. Let’s crush tonight’s big ten game slate and get rolling again!
Sabres vs. Canadiens (7:00)
Really fun matchup to start the night in the Atlantic Division in 05-06 night for Buffalo. My Sabres are in the second half of a back to back tonight, bouncing back from Monday’s loss at home to the Panthers with a 5-2 win at home last night against the Flyers in a game that they didn’t play all that well, but still controlled throughout. We’ve won 14 of our last 16 games, coming into tonight in the second Wild Card in the East with a 25-16-4 record. The Habs have been good this season, especially offensively, in third place in the division with a 26-14-7 record. They’re coming off a 3-2 overtime loss in Washington on Tuesday and have gone 9-2-3 in their last 14 games. Montreal won the first game between these teams 4-2 at home back in October. With Buffalo in the second half of a back to back, I’d slightly lean the Habs win this one, but didn’t even consider betting the side. I love the over in this game though, which I’ll take for a unit. I’ll also parlay Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Tage Thompson to each get a point for a unit. Let’s Go Buffalo!
Penguins vs. Flyers (7:00)
The Battle of Pennsylvania’s a heated rivalry and it’s pretty fun this year with both of these teams playing better than expected, with both teams tied in points right outside the third spot in the Metro and the Wild Card. They both come into tonight on losing streaks though. The Penguins are on a three game skid after a six game win streak, falling to 21-14-10 on the season, coming off a 2-1 shootout loss at home to the Lightning on Tuesday. The Flyers are struggling lately, on a four game losing streak, in the second half of a back to back tonight coming off a 5-2 loss in Buffalo last night. These teams split their first two games in Philly, with the Flyers winning 3-2 in a shootout in October and the Pens answering with a 5-1 win on the road in December. Especially with the Flyers in the second half of a back to back on the road, I like Pittsburgh to win here at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under slightly, but not enough to bet it. I’ll parlay Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to each get a point for a unit and take Sid to get over 1.5 points for half a unit.
Capitals vs. Sharks (7:00)
This should be a fun cross conference game. The Capitals have been a bit inconsistent, but good on both ends of the ice, holding a two point lead over the Pens and Flyers for the third playoff spot in the Metro Division with a 24-17-6 record. They’ve definitely struggled lately, with just six wins in their last 17 games, but have three wins in their last five, coming off a 3-2 overtime win at home on Tuesday against the Habs. The Sharks have been so much fun to watch, and that’s entirely credited to one elite player, Macklin Celebrini, dominating his sophomore season with 70 points and 24 goals. Kid’s incredible and must see hockey every night. The rest of his team sucks though, especially defensively. They’re in a playoff spot though with a 23-19-3 record, just two points back from the Kraken for third place in the Pacific. San Jose’s coming off a 7-2 loss at home to the Golden Knights on Sunday that ended a three game win streak for them. The first game between these teams was a complete shit kicking in San Jose, with the Capitals dominating in a 7-1 win on the road. I like the Caps to win again here at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but don’t think it’s worth betting with a solid defense and great goaltending for Washington with it set at 6.5 and juiced up. I will also take a shot here though on Celebrini to get over 1.5 points though for half a unit.
Blue Jackets vs. Canucks (7:00)
Lousy cross conference matchup. The Blue Jackets have been one of the worst teams in the East, with a 20-19-7 record. After firing Dean Evason on Tuesday, Columbus got their second win in a row, beating the Flames 5-3 at home. The Canucks are the worst team in the NHL, on an eight game losing streak, coming off a 2-1 loss in Ottawa on Tuesday to fall to 16-25-5 on the season. Vancouver won the first game between these teams 4-3 at home in October. Both of these teams have been awful on both ends of the ice, and I’d give a decent edge in talent both offensively and defensively to the Jackets, and I’d lean they answer back here at home, but at -165, I don’t think that’s worth betting. I’d also lean the over, but not enough to bet that either. I do like some player props though, and I’ll parlay Kirill Marchenko and Zach Werenski to each get a point for half a unit. I’ll also take a half unit shot on Werenski to get over 1.5 points.
Bruins vs. Kraken (7:00)
Kind of an interesting, yet boring, cross conference matchup here. The Bruins are tied with the Sabres for the second Wild Card spot in the East with a 26-19-2 record, on a four game win streak, coming off two shutout wins at home in a row, beating Detroit 3-0 on Tuesday and Pittsburgh 1-0 on Sunday, after blowing out the Rangers 10-2 on Saturday. This team’s far exceeding expectations. The Kraken are in the third playoff spot in the weak Pacific Division with a 21-15-9 record. Their defense and goaltending has been very good this year, but they’re offense has struggled. Seattle’s in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 3-2 overtime loss in Jersey last night (loss for me), their third loss in their last four games after an 8-0-1 run. The last game of that win streak for the Kraken was the first time these teams played in Seattle last week, where they beat Boston 7-4 at home. I like the B’s to answer back here at home and I’ll parlay their moneyline with David Pastrnak to get a point for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it at 5.5. I’ll also take Pasta to get over 1.5 points for half a unit as well.
Wild vs. Jets (8:00)
Interesting Central Division matchup that I think makes a great bounce back spot for Minnesota. The Wild are one of the best teams in the league with a 26-12-9 record, but they’re in a slump right now, with just one win in their last five games, coming off a 5-2 loss at home against the struggling Devils on Monday night. The Jets on the other hand went from winning the President’s Trophy last year to being one of the worst teams in the league, but they’re on a three game win streak coming off a 5-4 win at home against the Islanders on Tuesday to improve to 18-22-5 on the season. Minnesota’s 2-1 against the Jets this year, losing 4-3 in overtime at home in October, answering with a 3-0 shutout win on the road in November, then winning 4-3 in OT on the road a couple weeks ago. I love the Wild to get out of this slump here at home and I’ll take them for a unit. I like the over as well, which I’ll take for half a unit. Then I also like a bunch of player props here. I’ll parlay Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Kirill Kaprizov, and Matt Boldy to each get a point for a unit. Then I’ll do the same thing with Quinn Hughes added to it for half a unit.
Blackhawks vs. Flames (8:30)
Lousy matchup in the West. Both of these teams stink. The Blackhawks are 19-20-7 on the season, coming off a 4-1 loss at home to the Oilers on Monday, but they have won five of their last seven games. The Flames aren’t any better at 19-23-4, with just one win in their last six games after a hot 9-3 run, coming off a 5-3 loss in Columbus on Tuesday. The Hawks won both previous games between these teams in November, 4-0 on the road and 5-2 at home. I’d slightly lean Chicago wins at home to complete the season sweep, but I’m not touching the side in this one. Both of these teams are better defensively than expected, but both terrible offensively, so I do like the under, which I kind of was surprised was at 6.5, and I’ll take it for half a unit. I considered parlaying that with Connor Bedard to get a point, but don’t think it’s worth it, so I’ll just leave it as a straight bet.
Mammoth vs. Stars (9:00)
This should be a pretty solid game in the Central Division. I think the Stars are the way better team here, but they’re in a slump while the Mammoth are playing really good hockey lately. Utah’s 23-20-4 on the year, with a 4-0-1 record in their last five games, coming off blowing out the Leafs 6-1 at home on Tuesday. The Stars are very good, only behind the Avs in the standings with a 27-11-9 record, but coming off a 3-1 loss in Anaheim on Tuesday, they have just two wins in their last ten games. Dallas won the first game between these teams 4-3 at home in November. I like the Stars to win here again, especially getting them as an underdog, and I’ll take them for a unit. I like the over too at 5.5, which I’ll take for half a unit. I’ll go back to my reliable Dallas player props here too, and for half a unit I’ll parlay Wyatt Johnston, Mikko Rantanen, and Jason Robertson and add Clayton Keller to it to each get a point, along with half a unit on Mikko to get over 1.5 points.
Oilers vs. Islanders (9:00)
Not the best game, but this should be a pretty fun cross conference matchup. The Oilers are two points behind the Golden Knights for the Pacific Division lead with a 23-16-8 record. They’re on a five game point streak, coming off a 4-3 overtime loss in Nashville on Tuesday. Edmonton’s offense has been as good as expected, but their defense and goaltending stinks. The Islanders are way exceeding my expectations for them going into the season, in second place in the Metro with a 25-16-5 record. They’re coming off a 5-4 loss in Winnipeg on Tuesday night, but have gone 6-3-1 in their last ten games. In the second week of the season when these teams played on Long Island, the Isles won 4-2 at home. I’d lean the Oilers answer back with a win tonight at home, but not enough to bet them at -160. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit. I’ll go back to ole reliable here too and parlay Connor McDavid to get over 1.5 points and Leon Draisaitl to get a point for a unit.
Golden Knights vs. Maple Leafs (9:30)
Fantastic cross conference matchup to end the night in Mitch Marner’s first game against his former team. Both of these teams are playing fantastic hockey right now, making this game even better. The Golden Knights are in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off their fifth straight win to improve to 22-11-12 on the season, with Jack Eichel setting up Mark Stone with an incredible pass for the game winner on multi-point nights for both of those guys, beating the Kings 3-2 on the road. The Leafs are now a point outside of the second Wild Card in the East, improving to 23-16-7 on the season with a ten game point streak ending on Tuesday in a 6-1 loss in Utah, going 8-0-2 in the ten games before that one. I think Vegas is the better team here and even in the second half of a back to back, I’d slightly lean they get the win, but not enough to bet it. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet that either. I love player props in this game though. I’ll take quite the shot on this one with a unit on the five leg parlay of Marner, Eichel, Stone, William Nylander, and Auston Matthews to each get a point. I think Mitch has a nice night against his former team too, I considered taking him to get a goal, but instead I’ll take him to have a multi-point night for half a unit.
Bets
1u Canadiens/Sabres over 6.5 (+110)
1u parlay: Nick Suzuki/Cole Caufield/Tage Thompson 1+ point each (+177)
.5u Penguins ML (-175)
1u parlay: Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin 1+ point each (-105)
.5u Sidney Crosby over 1.5 points (+175)
.5u Capitals ML (-170)
.5u Macklin Celebrini over 1.5 points (+145)
.5u parlay: Kirill Marchenko/Zach Werenski 1+ point each (-130)
.5u Zach Werenski over 1.5 points (+190)
.5u parlay: Bruins ML/David Pastrnak over 0.5 point (-130)
.5u David Pastrnak over 1.5 points (+164)
1u Wild ML (-130)
.5u Wild/Jets over 5.5 (-120)
1u parlay: Kaprizov/Boldy/Connor/Scheifele 1+ point each (+229)
.5u parlay: Kaprizov/Boldy/Connor/Scheifele/Hughes 1+ point each (+302)
.5u Blackhawks/Flames under 6.5 (-110)
1u Stars ML (+110)
.5u Stars/Mammoth over 5.5 (-110)
.5u parlay: Johnston/Rantanen/Robertson/Keller 1+ point each (+250)
.5u Mikko Rantanen over 1.5 points (+175)
.5u Oilers/Islanders over 6.5 (-110)
1u parlay: Connor McDavid over 1.5 points/Leon Draisaitl over 0.5 point (+108)
1u parlay: Eichel/Stone/Marner/Matthews/Nylander 1+ point each (+340)
.5u Mitch Marner over 1.5 points (+205)
Record: 465-482-1 (-39.71 units)
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