Profitable night yesterday for me on the NHL, going 8-8 to win 0.79 units. I’ll take it. Tonight we have another big ten game slate, let’s crush it with just two days left before the Olympics break!
Panthers vs. Bruins (7:00)
Solid matchup in the Atlantic Division to start off the night. The Panthers have been struggling, in real danger of missing the playoffs, in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 28-24-3 record, nine points back from the Bruins for the second Wild Card in the East. It isn’t looking good for the back to back Cup Champs. They’re on a four game losing streak, coming off a 5-3 loss at home to my Sabres on Monday. The Bruins are playing great right now, in the second Wild Card in the East, two points back from the Sabres and Habs for third place in the Atlantic and first Wild Card spot. On the season Boston’s now 32-20-4, with a 12-2-2 record in their last 16 games.They’re coming off losing that fantastic outdoor game in Tampa 6-5 in a shootout after blowing a 5-1 lead with a controversial penalty on Pasta’s would be game winner in overtime. Florida won the first game between these teams 4-3 on the road, and I like the B’s to answer back here. I’ll take the Bruins for half a unit. I like the over better though, which I’ll take for a unit. I’ll also parlay David Pastrnak, Sam Reinhart, and Matthew Tkachuk to each get a point for half a unit, and I’ll take Pasta to get over 1.5 points for half a unit.
Blue Jackets vs. Blackhawks (7:00)
Pretty boring cross conference game here. The Blue Jackets are playing great since making their coaching change a few weeks ago, with a 10-1 record in their last eleven games under Rick Bowness to improve to 28-20-7 on the season, in the second half of a back to back tonight after shutting out the Devils on the road last night. The Blackhawks are 22-25-9 on the year, and they’ve been horrible. They’re coming off a 6-3 win at home against the Sharks on Monday, ending a five game losing streak, just their third win in their last eleven games. Columbus won the first game between these teams 4-2 on the road last week and I like them to win again here at home, even in the second half of a back to back and I’ll parlay the moneyline with Zach Werenski to get a point for half a unit. With the total at 5.5, I like the over too, which I’ll take for half a unit. I considered taking Werenski to get over 1.5 points too, but don’t think its worth it in the second half of a back to back at just +170ish.
Jets vs. Canadiens (7:00)
This isn’t a great cross conference matchup up in Canada, but I love the value we’re getting on this game. The Jets have been horrible, with just a 22-25-8 record, a far drop off from last year when they won the President’s Trophy. Coming off a 4-3 overtime loss in Dallas on Monday, they have just three wins in their last nine games. Montreal’s been great this year. They’re tied with the Sabres for the second Wild Card in the East and third place in the Atlantic with a 31-17-8 record. They had a three game win streak end on Monday, losing 4-3 in overtime in Minnesota. The first game between these teams went to a shootout in December in Montreal, with the Habs winning 3-2 at home. I don’t understand why the Jets are favored in this game, and I’ll take the Canadiens for a unit, along with half a unit on the alternate -1.5 puck line. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it at 6.5. I’ll also parlay Kyle Connor, Mark Schiefele, Nick Suzuki, and Cole Caufield to each get a point for half a unit.
Predators vs. Wild (8:00)
Big mismatch here in the Central. The Predators have been pretty bad this year, with a 26-23-6 record. They are on a four game point streak though with two wins in a row, coming back from a 5-1 deficit on Monday night to win 6-5 against the Blues. The Wild have been the second best team in the league this year behind the Avs, with a 33-14-10 record. They’re unstoppable, and come into tonight with a 7-1-1 record in their last nine games, coming off a 4-3 overtime win at home against the Habs on Monday. Both previous games between these teams did go to overtime in Minnesota, with the Wild winning 3-2 at home in November, and the Preds answering with a 3-2 win on the road in December. I love the Wild to win here and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it. I like a few player props here and I’ll parlay Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Quinn Hughes, and Ryan O’Reilly 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.
Avalanche vs. Sharks (9:00)
Big mismatch out West, but it could end up being a bit interesting. The Avalanche are struggling right now, falling to a still very impressive 36-9-9 record, but with just three wins in their last ten games, coming off a 2-0 shutout loss at home against the Red Wings in the second half of a home and home against them after winning with a 5-0 shutout in Detroit on Saturday. This team’s elite on both ends of the ice, which makes this slump even more confusing to me. The Sharks have been better than expectations with a 27-23-4 record, but are on a three game losing streak after a pathetic 6-3 loss in Chicago on Monday. These teams split their first two games in November, with the Sharks winning 3-2 in overtime at home and Colorado answering back in impressive fashion, blowing them out with a 6-0 shutout at home. I can’t stay off the Avs and this feels like a great get-right spot for them. I’ll take them in regulation for a unit, even though there’s definitely value on San Jose at +225. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it. I’ll also parlay Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Macklin Celebrini to each get a point for a unit, and I’ll take the Nate Dogg to get over 1.5 points for a unit, and take him to score for half a unit.
Mammoth vs. Red Wings (9:00)
Really solid cross conference matchup. The Mammoth have been good, in the first Wild Card in the West with a 29-23-4 record. After two losses in a row, they’re coming off a bounce back 6-2 win at home against the Canucks on Monday night (easy winner for me). The Red Wings are in second place in the Atlantic, two points ahead of the Sabres and Habs with a 33-18-6 record. They ended a three game losing streak with a 2-0 shutout win on the road in Colorado in the second half of a home and home against them, bouncing back after getting shut out 5-0 at home against them on Saturday. Utah won the first game between these teams 4-1 on the road in December. I’d slightly lean Detroit answers back here on the road, but not enough to bet it. I’d also lean the under, but not enough to bet it at 5.5. I won’t stay off this game entirely. Anytime the books price Lucas Raymond under -180, that’s a mis-price and I’ll take him to get a point for half a unit.
Stars vs. Blues (9:30)
Huge mismatch in the Central Division. The Stars have been fantastic, on a five game win streak to improve to 33-14-9 on the season, coming off a 4-3 overtime win at home against the Jets on Monday. They’ve been great on both ends of the ice. The Blues are one of the worst teams in the league, with a 20-27-9 record with just one win in their last eight games, blowing a 5-1 lead to lose 6-5 in Nashville on Monday. They’ve been awful on both ends of the ice. Dallas is 2-1 this year against the Blues, losing 3-1 back in October in St. Louis, then winning 3-2 at home and 4-3 on the road last month. I like the Stars to win again here and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the over at 5.5, but not enough to bet it. I’ll also parlay Mikko Rantanen, Jason Robertson, and Wyatt Johnston to each get a point for a unit.
Flames vs. Oilers (10:00)
Even though the Flames blow, the Battle of Alberta’s always spectacular when the two biggest rivals in the NHL face off. Calgary’s been terrible, with a 22-27-6 record and just one win in their last seven games (against the Sharks at home), coming off a 4-2 loss at home to the Leafs on Monday night. Their defense and goaltending has been alright, but their offense is putrid. The Oilers have been very good offensively, but have struggled on the back end. They’re coming off two losses in a row, in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 5-2 loss at home to the Leafs last night. The Flames are 2-1 in this rivalry this year, winning 4-3 in a shootout in the first game of the season on the road, losing 5-1 in Edmonton in December, and then answering back with a 3-2 win at home four days later after the Christmas break. I like the Oilers to tie up the season series, and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’ll also take Connor McDavid to get over 1.5 points for a unit, Leon Draisaitl to get over 1.5 points for half a unit, and the two of them parlayed for half a unit. I’ll take McDavid to get a goal too for half a unit. The total’s a complete toss up to me.
Golden Knights vs. Canucks (10:00)
Terrible matchup in the Pacific Division. The Golden Knights are struggling big time right now, on a five game losing streak with just one win in their last eight games to drop to 25-16-14 on the season, coming off a 4-3 loss in Anaheim on Sunday. They’re still tied for first in the division though with the Oilers with how weak that division is. The Canucks are the worst team in the league with an 18-32-6 record. They’re coming off a 6-2 loss in Utah on Saturday with just two wins in their last 18 games. Team’s completely pathetic. This is a big get-right spot for Vegas at home, and the price shows that at -300. I’ll lay the -180 on them for a unit in regulation. The total’s a toss up to me. I’ll also parlay Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Mitch Marner to each get a point for a unit.
Kings vs. Kraken (10:00)
Such a boring Pacific Division matchup to close out the night between two of the biggest snooze fest teams in the league, separated by just a point in the standings for the second Wild Card in the West. They’re both playing well right now though. He won’t be available tonight obviously, but a few hours ago the Kings made a huge splash, acquiring and re-signing Artemi Panarin. That should bolster their pathetic offense. LA’s coming off a 3-2 overtime loss in Carolina on Sunday, and have a 4-1-1 record in their last six games after three OT losses in a row before that stretch. The Kraken are in the second half of a back to back tonight, having a four game win streak end on Tuesday with a 4-2 loss in Anaheim. Seattle won both previous games between these teams 3-2 in December, in overtime at home and then in regulation on the road. I’d slightly lean the Kings win tonight with the Kraken in the second half of a back to back, but not enough to bet it, especially not at -175. I do like the under though, with two bad offenses and two good defenses in this game, and I’ll take it for half a unit.
Bets
.5u Bruins ML (+136)
1u Panthers/Bruins over 6.5 (-108)
.5u parlay: David Pastrnak/Sam Reinhart/Matthew Tkachuk 1+ point each (+142)
.5u David Pastrnak over 1.5 points (+122)
.5u parlay: Blue Jackets ML/Zach Werenski over 0.5 point (-120)
.5u Blue Jackets/Blackhawks over 5.5 (-120)
1u Canadiens (+105)
.5u Canadiens -1.5 (+225)
.5u parlay: Kyle Connor/Mark Schiefele/Nick Suzuki/Cole Caufield 1+ point each (+176)
1u Wild ML (-130)
.5u parlay: Kirill Kaprizov/Matt Boldy/Quinn Hughes/Ryan O’Reilly 1+ point each (+240)
.5u Kirill Kaprizov over 1.5 points (+145)
1u Avalanche in regulation (-180)
1u parlay: Nathan MacKinnon/Cale Makar/Macklin Celebrini 1+ point each (+101)
1u Nathan MacKinnon over 1.5 points (-156)
.5u Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (-135)
.5u Lucas Raymond over 0.5 point (-165)
1u Stars in regulation (-130)
1u parlay: Mikko Rantanen/Jason Robertson/Wyatt Johnston 1+ point each (+102)
.5u Oilers ML (-135)
1u Connor McDavid over 1.5 points (-135)
.5u Connor McDavid anytime goal (+120)
.5u Leon Draisaitl over 1.5 points (+100)
.5u parlay: Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl 2+ points each (+155)
1u Golden Knights in regulation (-180)
1u parlay: Jack Eichel/Mark Stone/Mitch Marner 1+ point each (-132)
.5u Kings/Kraken under 5.5 (-110)
Record: 640-681-1 (-45.24 units)
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