Nice bounce back night on the NHL yesterday to start off the week, going 8-5 to win 3.38 units. I’ll take it. Tonight we have a solid ten game slate, let’s get rolling again and win!
Maple Leafs vs. Sabres (7:00)
Always a fun QEW rivalry matchup here in the Atlantic Division. The Leafs are struggling, six points back from a Wild Card spot in the East with a 24-19-9 record. Coming off a 4-1 loss at home to the Avs on Sunday, they’re on a four game losing streak with just one win in their last seven games after an 8-0-2 stretch. My Sabres on the other hand are in a three way tie with the Habs and Bruins for the third place spot in the division and the two Wild Card spots in the East. We’re 29-17-5 on the season, on a three game win streak after a 5-0 shutout on Long Island on Saturday afternoon and have been the hottest team in the NHL since mid-December with an 18-3-1 record in our last 22 games. For as much as the Bills have let this city down the last two weeks, the Sabres are bringing us joy. These teams split their first two games back in October in a back to back home and home, with the Sabres winning 5-3 at home and the Leafs answering back with a 4-3 overtime win at home the following night. I like Buffalo to win here on the road, and I’ll take them for half a unit. I like the over as well, which I’ll also take for half a unit, and I’ll parlay Tage Thompson and Auston Matthews to each get a point for half a unit.
Bruins vs. Predators (7:00)
Not the best cross conference matchup here, but I could see this being a pretty fun game. The Bruins have been way better than anyone would have expected this year, in a three way tie for the two Wild Card spots in the East and third place in the Atlantic with the Sabres and Habs with a 30-20-3 record. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, losing 4-3 on the road to the Rangers in overtime last night, but they have been playing great lately with an 12-2-1 record in their last 15 games. The Preds got hot for a bit after their awful start to the year, but with just one win in their last four games after a pretty solid stretch of hockey, they’re now three points back from the second Wild Card in the West with a 24-23-4 record. At a pick’em price at home, even in the second half of a back to back, I like Boston to win tonight and I’ll take them for half a unit. I like the over way better though, which I’ll take for a unit. I’ll also parlay David Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie, and Ryan O’Reilly to each get a point for half a unit, and I’ll take Pasta to get over 1.5 points for half a unit.
Canadiens vs. Golden Knights (7:00)
This should be a great cross conference game. The Habs are having a good year, with a 28-17-7 record, in a three way tie with the Bruins and Sabres for the third place spot in the Atlantic and the two Wild Card spots in the East. They’re coming off losses to both of those teams though after a 4-3 loss in Boston on Saturday. The Golden Knights are tied at the top of the weak Pacific Division with a 25-14-12 record, but haven’t played their best lately, with just one win in their last four games after a seven game win streak, coming off a terrible blowout on Sunday in Ottawa where they lost 7-1. Montreal won the first game between these teams in Vegas in November, 4-1 on the road. The side’s a complete toss up to me, and I’ll stay off it. I like the over which I’ll take for a unit, and I like a ton of player props. I’ll parlay Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Mitch Marner to each get a point for half a unit, and I’ll take Suzuki and Eichel to each get over 1.5 points, both individually for a half unit each and parlayed together for half a unit.
Red Wings vs. Kings (7:00)
Pretty big mismatch between these cross conference teams. The Red Wings have been great this year, a point the Lightning at the top of the Atlantic Division with a 23-16-5 record. Coming off a 5-1 win in Winnipeg on Saturday, they’ve gone 8-1-1 in their last ten games, playing really well on both ends of the ice. The Kings have been good defensively this year, but have struggled offensively with a 21-16-13 record going into tonight. They’re coming off two wins in a row with a 5-4 shootout win in St. Louis on Saturday after a four game losing streak. The first game between these teams back in October went to a shootout in LA, with Detroit winning 4-3 on the road. I like the Red Wings to win here again and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it at 5.5. I’ll also parlay Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, and Lucas Raymond to each get a point for half a unit, and since the books still keep pricing him too low (although it has gotten higher tonight), I’ll also take Raymond individually for half a unit.
Panthers vs. Mammoth (7:00)
This should be a really fun cross conference game. The Panthers are playing well, desperate to get in the playoff mix as they’re four points back from the three way tie between the Sabres, Habs, and Bruins for those last three playoff spots. They’re playing well right now as they continue to get healthier, on a three game win streak coming off a 5-1 win in Chicago on Sunday, with six wins in their last eight games. The Mammoth are playing well right now too, in the first Wild Card spot in the West with a 27-21-4 record. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a real tight 2-0 loss in Tampa last night, unable to tie it up in a heated game before the Bolts cashed in on the empty net. That ended a five game win streak and an 8-0-1 run for Utah. In Utah last month when these teams played the first time, the Panthers won 4-3 on the road. With Florida playing desperate hockey and the Mammoth in the second half of a back to back, I’d lean the Panthers win here at home, but note enough to bet them. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet it at 6.5. I won’t stay off this game entirely though, and I’ll parlay Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, and Clayton Keller to each get a point for half a unit. I’ll also take Marchy to get a point individually for half a unit since the price isn’t bad at all.
Devils vs. Jets (7:00)
What a boring cross conference matchup between two lousy teams. The Devils haven’t been great this year, on the outside looking in on the playoffs with a 27-23-2 record. They seemed to have figured something out with five wins in the span of six games, but are coming off a 4-2 loss in Seattle on Sunday. The Jets have been awful all year, a huge drop off from winning the President’s Trophy last year. They’re coming off a 5-1 loss at home to the Red Wings on Saturday and have just one win in their last five games after they had won four in a row. Winnipeg won the first game between these teams 4-3 at home a few weeks ago. I’d slightly lean they win again here on the road, but not a chance in hell I’m touching the side on this game. I’d also lean the under, but not enough to bet that either at 5.5. I will take a small shot on a half unit parlay of Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor to each get a point for half a unit.
Blues vs. Stars (8:00)
Not a great game here in the Central, and although the Stars are struggling right now, this is still a pretty big mismatch in my eyes. These teams just played for the second time this season on Friday, with the Stars winning 3-2 at home, answering back from a surprising 3-1 Blues win at home in October. St. Louis is one of the worst teams in the league this year. They’re on a four game losing streak, coming off a 5-4 shootout loss at home to the Kings on Saturday to fall to 19-24-9 on the year, with just two wins in their last nine games. The Stars are a very good team, comfortably in third place in the Central with a 29-14-9 record, but they’re having issues right now, with just four wins in their last 15 games. I like Dallas to win here on the road and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it at 5.5. I’ll also parlay Mikko Rantanen, Jason Robertson, and Wyatt Johnston to each get a point for half a unit.
Wild vs. Blackhawks (8:00)
Big mismatch in the Central Division. The Wild have been fantastic this year with a 29-14-10 record, pretty much already locked in for a first round matchup against the Stars. After a bit of a slump, they’ve gone 3-1-1 in their last five games, coming off a 4-3 overtime loss at home to the Panthers on Saturday night. The Blackhawks haven’t been great with a 21-23-8 record, struggling to put the puck in the back of the net. They’re coming off getting shelled 5-1 at home against the Panthers on Sunday and have just two wins in their last seven games. The first game between these teams in Chicago in November went to overtime, with Minnesota getting the 4-3 win. I like them to win pretty easily tonight and I’ll parlay the moneyline with Kirill Kaprizov to get a point for a unit. The total’s a toss up at 6.5, and although I’d slightly lean the over, I’ll stay off it. I’ll also parlay Kirill with Matt Boldy, Mats Zuccarello, and Quinn Hughes to each get a point for half a unit, and I’ll take Kirill the Thrill to get over 1.5 points for half a unit as well.
Canucks vs. Sharks (10:00)
Lousy game in the Pacific. The Canucks are the worst team in the NHL with a pathetic 17-30-5 record, and they have been awful on both ends of the ice, with the worst defense in the league. Coming off a 3-2 loss at home against the Penguins on Sunday, where they came dangerously close to tying it up in the dying seconds, they have just one win in their last 14 games. The Sharks have been surprisingly decent this year, with Macklin Celebrini absolutely being a Hart Trophy candidate this year with 74 points and 26 goals in this sophomore season, sitting in a three way tie for the second Wild Card in the West with a 26-21-3 record despite a terrible defense. San Jose won both prior games between these teams, 3-2 at home in November and 6-3 on the road in December. I like them to win again and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the over since neither of these teams can keep the puck out of their own net, but I’m not touching it. I’ll also take Celebrini to get over 1.5 points for half a unit.
Kraken vs. Capitals (10:00)
Quite the boring cross conference matchup to end the night. The Kraken are coming off a 4-2 win at home against the Devils on Sunday, just their second in in their all seven games, but they’re still hanging on in a three way tie for the second Wild Card in the West with a 23-19-9 record. Their offense has been lousy all year, but their defense has been pretty good. The Capitals have been good statistically on both ends of the ice on the year, but they’re playing terrible lately. Coming off a 6-5 overtime loss in Edmonton in a great game on Saturday, they have just one win in their last six games. They’re six points back from the Wild Card in the East as they’ve come tanking down with a 25-21-7 record. Washington won the first game between these teams 4-1 at home in October. I’d lean they win again tonight on the road, but there’s zero value in betting them as a favorite tonight. I’d also lean the over, but don’t think it’s worth betting either, so I’ll lay off this game completely.
Bets
.5u Sabres ML (-102)
.5u Maple Leafs/Sabres over 6.5 (-118)
.5u parlay: Tage Thompson/Auston Matthews 1+ point each (-105)
.5u Bruins ML (-110)
1u Bruins/Predators over 6.5 (+100)
.5u parlay: David Pastrnak/Morgan Geekie/Ryan O’Reilly 1+ point each (+191)
.5u David Pastrnak over 1.5 points (+145)
1u Golden Knights/Canadiens over 6.5 (-110)
.5u parlay: Suzuki/Caufield/Eichel/Stone/Marner 1+ point each (+266)
.5u Jack Eichel over 1.5 points (+200)
.5u Nick Suzuki over 1.5 points (+186)
.5u parlay: Jack Eichel/Nick Suzuki 2+ points each (+495)
1u Red Wings ML (-125)
.5u parlay: Dylan Larkin/Alex DeBrincat/Lucas Raymond 1+ point each (+168)
.5u Lucas Raymond over 0.5 point (-186)
.5u parlay: Reinhart/Tkachuk/Marchand/Keller 1+ point each (+330)
.5u Brad Marchand over 0.5 point (-150)
.5u parlay: Mark Scheifele/Kyle Connor 1+ point each (-137)
1u Stars ML (-162)
.5u parlay: Mikko Rantanen/Jason Robertson/Wyatt Johnston 1+ point each (+126)
1u parlay: Wild ML/Kirill Kaprizov over 0.5 point (-155)
.5u parlay: Kaprizov/Boldy/Zuccarello/Hughes 1+ point each (+173)
.5u Kirill Kaprizov over 1.5 points (+115)
.5u Sharks ML (-125)
.5u Macklin Celebrini over 1.5 points (+110)
Record: 569-593-1 (-39.92 units)
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