I went 8-8 on the NHL last night for a slightly profitable day, winning 0.56 units. Let’s make it three winning days in a row on today’s seven game slate!
Avalanche vs. Wild (2:00)
Phenomenal matchup to start off the day in the Central Division. The Avalanche lead the NHL with a 42-10-9 record, seven points ahead of the Stars in the division. They’re on a four game win streak after coming from behind to beat Dallas 5-4 in a shootout on the road on Friday night with six wins in their last seven games. They lead the league statistically on both ends of the ice and have been even more impressive at home where they’re 22-4-4. The Wild have been fantastic as well, two points back from the Stars for home ice in the first round, with a 37-16-10 record. Coming off a 4-2 win in Vegas on Friday, they have an 11-3-1 record in their last 15 games. Minnesota’s 2-1 this season against the Avs, winning 3-2 in a shootout at home in November, losing 4-1 at home in December and then winning 5-2 on the road two weeks ago. I’d lean Colorado wins here at home, but not enough to bet them. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet it at 6.5. I do like some player props here though. I’ll parlay all my usual guys with a six leg parlay on Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Cale Makar, Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Quinn Hughes to each get a point for half a unit, and I’ll take MacKinnon to get over 1.5 points for half a unit.
Penguins vs. Bruins (4:30)
Solid game here in the Eastern Conference playoff race with both of these teams, who are both way overachieving from my preseason expectations, both in the second half of back to backs. The Penguins are on a three game losing streak, losing 4-3 in a shootout to the Flyers yesterday. They’re in third place in the Metro with a 31-17-14 record, a point back from the Islanders, just three points ahead of the chasing Blue Jackets. They’re without their two best players, with Sidney Crosby injured and Evgeni Malkin suspended. The Bruins are in the second Wild Card in the East with a 35-22-5 record and have been a bit inconsistent lately, coming off a 3-1 win at home against the Capitals in a matinee yesterday afternoon. Boston won both previous games between these teams at home, winning 1-0 in a shutout in January and then 2-1 last Tuesday. This game’s a complete toss up to me on the side, so I’ll stay off that. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it. I’ll take David Pastrnak to get over 1.5 points for half a unit as my only play on this game.
Sabres vs. Lightning (6:00)
Huge game for first place in the Atlantic Division with both of these teams coming off wins last night. My Sabres are the hottest team in hockey, with a 27-5-2 record in our last 34 games, coming off a 3-2 win at home against the Predators after a slow start yesterday evening to make it six wins in a row out of the Olympics break to improve to 38-19-6 on the season. The Lightning ended a four game losing streak last night in Toronto, beating the Leafs 5-2 to improve to 39-18-4 on the year. Both of these teams have been very good, making this a phenomenal game. Who would’ve thought that for the Buffalo Sabres going into this season. We split the first two games between these teams in Tampa, with the Lightning winning 4-3 in a shootout in February after the Sabres tied it up late to force OT and then Buffalo answered back last Saturday with a dominant 6-2 win on the road. The side’s a complete toss up to me. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet that either at 6.5. I’ll parlay Tage Thompson and Nikita Kucherov to each get a point for a unit, and I’ll take Kucherov to get over 1.5 points for half a unit.
Stars vs. Blackhawks (6:00)
Huge mismatch in this Central Division game. The Stars have been fantastic, in second place in the division, two points ahead of the Wild for home ice in the first round with a 38-14-10 record. They had a ten game win streak come to an end on Friday, losing 5-4 in a shootout at home to the Avalanche in a huge game. They’ve been great on both ends of the ice. The Blackhawks on the other hand are in last place in the division with a 23-29-10 record. Coming off a pathetic 6-3 loss at home to the Canucks on Friday that I’m glad I stayed off, they have just two wins in their last twelve games. Team stinks. Chicago shockingly won both previous games between these teams, both 4-3, on the road in a shootout in December and then at home four days later on New Year’s Day. Dallas should absolutely avoid the season sweep here, but at -300, can’t bet it straight up, so I’ll parlay the moneyline with Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston to each get a point for a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Devils vs. Red Wings (7:00)
This Eastern Conference matchup isn’t great. The Devils have struggled this season, with a 32-29-2 record, but come into tonight on a four game win streak, in the second half of a back to back after a 6-3 win at home against the Rangers yesterday afternoon. Although their defense has been pretty good, their offense has been pretty bad this year. The Red Wings are struggling a bit as of late with just three wins in their last ten games, dropping to 35-21-7 on the season, in the first Wild Card spot in the East, a point back from the Habs for third place in the Atlantic. They’ll be without one of their best players with Dylan Larkin getting injured in yesterday’s 3-1 loss at home to the Panthers. Jersey won the first game between these teams 4-3 at home in November. I’d lean the Red Wings answer back with a win here on the road, but not enough to bet them. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet that either. I’ll parlay Jack Hughes, Alex DeBrincat, and Lucas Raymond to each get a point for half a unit.
Ducks vs. Blues (9:00)
Pretty big mismatch in the West, although both of these teams have played pretty well lately. The Ducks moved a point ahead of the Golden Knights for first place in the weak Pacific Division with a 6-5 shootout win at home against the Habs on Friday night and come into tonight on a hell of a run with 14 wins in their last 17 games to improve to 34-24-3 on the season. Their young offense has been very good this year, but they’re struggling on the back end. The Blues have been horrible this year, coming into tonight with a 24-29-9 record, struggling on both ends of the ice, but they’re on a three game win streak coming off a 3-2 overtime win in San Jose on Friday night with four wins in their last five games. Anaheim won the first game between these teams in December pretty easily, with a 4-1 win on the road. I like them to win again here and I’ll take them for a unit. The total’s a toss up to me. I’ll also parlay Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson to each get a point for half a unit.
Golden Knights vs. Oilers (9:30)
Solid game here in the Pacific to end the night. The Golden Knights are struggling right now, falling to second place in the division with just one win in their last five games, coming off a 4-2 loss at home to the Wild on Friday to drop to 29-20-14 on the season, a point back from the Ducks. The Oilers have been very inconsistent this year, with a 30-25-8 record, four points back from Vegas in third place, with a bunch of teams hot on their tail, only in a playoff position by two points. They’re coming off a 6-3 loss at home to the Hurricanes on Friday and have just two wins in their last eight games, playing well offensively, but struggling on the back end. The Oilers won the first game between these teams 4-3 at home in December. I’d slightly lean the Knights answer back here at home, but didn’t even consider betting a side on this one. I like the over though, which I’ll take for a unit. I’ll also parlay Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Jack Eichel, and Mitch Marner to each get a point for a unit, expecting plenty of goals, and I’ll take McDavid over 1.5 points for half a unit.
Bets
.5u parlay: MacKinnon/Makar/Necas/Kaprizov/Boldy/Hughes 1+ point each (+306)
.5u Nathan MacKinnon over 1.5 points (-125)
.5u David Pastrnak over 1.5 points (+155)
1u parlay: Tage Thompson/Nikita Kucherov 1+ point each (-140)
.5u Nikita Kucherov over 1.5 points (+110)
1u parlay: Stars ML/Jason Robertson/Wyatt Johnston 1+ point each (-115)
.5u parlay: Jack Hughes/Alex DeBrincat/Lucas Raymond 1+ point each (+196)
1u Ducks ML (-175)
.5u parlay: Cutter Gauthier/Leo Carlsson 1+ point each (-115)
1u Golden Knights/Oilers over 6.5 (-110)
1u parlay: Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl/Jack Eichel/Mitch Marner point each (+158)
.5u Connor McDavid over 1.5 points (-110)
Record: 734-773-2 (-35.85 units)
Please follow me:
Instagram: @atownszone
Twitter: @atownszone
If you like the site and my work, share it with your friends!
… and tell Dave Portnoy to hire me at Barstool…
A Town's Zone 