Slightly profitable night for me on the NHL yesterday, going 9-9 to win 0.24 units. Tonight we have a six game slate of mainly late games, let’s keep rolling!
Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings (7:00)
Fun game in the Atlantic to get the night start with the only 7:00 game on the board. The Leafs were playing well, getting back in the Wild Card mix in the East with a 9-2-3 record in their last 14 games to improve to 24-17-8 on the season, but they’ve lost three of their last four games, coming off a 6-3 loss at home to the Wild on Monday. Their offense has been solid all season, but their defense and goaltending has been a struggle. The Red Wings have been very good all year, two points back from the Lightning at the top of the division. They’re on a great run right now, with six wins in their last seven games, coming off a 4-3 overtime win in Ottawa on Sunday. Detroit is looking to sweep their season series against the Leafs tonight, having won the first three games with a 6-3 win at home and 3-2 on the road in October, then 3-2 in overtime at home in December. I’d lean Toronto wins tonight at home to avoid that season sweep, but not enough to bet it. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for half a unit. I also like a handful of player props in this game. I’ll parlay Auston Matthews, Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat, and Dylan Larkin to each get a point for half a unit, and I’ll take Matthews to get over 1.5 points and Raymond over 0.5 point for half a unit each.
Avalanche vs. Ducks (9:00)
Huge mismatch out West to get the 9:00 slate started. The Avalanche are far and away the best team in the NHL this year with a 34-5-8 record, bouncing back from two straight home losses, and their first in regulation, with a 5-2 win at home against the Capitals on Monday night. They lead the league statistically by a significant margin on both ends of the ice. The Ducks have struggled, with a very good, young offense but an awful defense and bad goaltending. They’ve had their fair share of bad injury luck too, and now are without both Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry. Anaheim has played well lately, on a four game win streak, coming off a 5-3 win at home on Monday against the Rangers to improve to 25-21-3 on the season. The first game between these teams, the Avs won 4-1 at home. I fully expect another similar result here tonight. The moneyline at -320 completely makes sense to me. I’ll parlay them in regulation with Nathan MacKinnon to get a point for 1.5 units. I’d slightly lean the under, but I’m not touching the total. I’m back on my usual player props too. I’ll parlay MacKinnon, Martin Necas, and Cale Makar to each get a point for a unit, I’ll take Nate to get over 1.5 points for a unit, and I’ll take Nate to score for half a unit.
Mammoth vs. Flyers (9:00)
Pretty boring cross conference game. The Mammoth are playing well right now, currently in the first Wild Card in the West with a 25-20-4 record. Coming off a 6-3 win at home against the Kraken on Saturday, they’re on a three game win streak with a 6-0-1 record i their last seven games. Although Utah’s offense hasn’t been all that impressive, their defense and goaltending has been very good all year. The Flyers were a big surprise in their hot start to the season, but the defense that got them there has taken a downturn, and their offense has struggled all year. Philly’s now 23-17-8 on the season, ending a six game losing streak with a 2-1 win in Vegas on Monday. I like the Mammoth to win here, and I’ll lay the PRICE for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it with these teams both trending over recently.
Flames vs. Penguins (9:30)
Not the best cross conference game here. The Flames haven’t been great this year, with a good defense but an awful offense. They’re playing pretty well right now, improving to 21-23-5, with three wins in their last five games coming off a 2-1 overtime loss at home to the Devils on Monday after they had gone on a four game losing streak before then. The Penguins have been a bit inconsistent, hanging on to third place in the Metro with a 23-14-11 record. They’re coming off a 6-3 win in Seattle on Monday and have an 8-2-2 record in their last twelve games. Pittsburgh’s been more well rounded and playing well on both ends of the ice. Calgary won the first game between these teams 2-1 on the road a couple weeks ago, and I like the Pens to answer back here. I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over with the total at 5.5, but don’t like it enough to bet on. I’ll also parlay Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to each get a point for half a unit, and I’ll take Sid to get over 1.5 points for half a unit.
Kraken vs. Islanders (9:30)
Such a boring cross conference game. The Kraken have come crashing down again after a bit of a hot run of going 8-0-1. Coming off a 6-3 loss at home to the Penguins on Monday, they’re now on a four game losing streak with just one win in their last seven games.The Islanders are having a good year, in second place in the Metro with a 27-17-5 record, going 8-4-1 in their last in their last 13 games, coming off a 4-3 win in Vancouver on Monday. Both of these teams have been good defensively this season, but their offenses have both sucked. The first game between these teams on Long Island in November was a double shutout, with the Isles winning 1-0 in a shootout at home. I like New York to win again tonight, and I’ll take them for half a unit. I like the under here, but at 5.5, I just can’t bet it with both teams seemingly trending over lately.
Canucks vs. Capitals (10:00)
Awful mismatch to end the night, but that’s par for the course for anyone the Canucks play. Vancouver’s the worst team in the league with a 16-28-5 record and have been horrendous on both ends of the ice. They’re on an eleven game losing streak coming off a 4-3 loss at home to the Isles on Monday, falling short of their comeback effort. The Caps aren’t playing great, falling to the outside looking in on a Wild Card spot wit ha 24-20-6 record. They’ve been good statistically on both ends of the ice, but have struggled recently. Coming off a 5-2 loss in Colorado on Monday, they’re on a three game losing streak with just six wins in their last 20 games. The Canucks actually won the first game between these teams back in October with a 4-3 win in DC. The price on this one is cheaper than I expected and I really like the Caps to answer back here, and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it at 6.5.
Bets
.5u Maple Leafs/Red Wings over 6.5 (+105)
.5u parlay: Matthews/Raymond/DeBrincat/Larkin 1+ point each (+300)
.5u Lucas Raymond over 0.5 point (-140)
.5u Auston Matthews over 1.5 points (+172)
1.5u parlay: Avalanche in regulation/Nathan MacKinnon over 0.5 point (-180)
1u parlay: Nathan MacKinnon/Martin Necas/Cale Makar 1+ point each (-139)
1u Nathan MacKinnon over 1.5 points (-150)
.5u Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (-120)
.5u Mammoth ML (-180)
.5u Penguins ML (-120)
.5u parlay: Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin 1+ point each (+119)
.5u Sidney Crosby over 1.5 points (+215)
.5u Islanders ML (-110)
1u Capitals ML (-172)
Record: 523-535-1 (-25.99 units)
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