I crushed yesterday’s NHL slate for a great day, going 13-7 to win 5.36 units. Much needed last two days. Let’s keep rolling and make it three in a row on today’s big nine game slate!
Rangers vs. Jets (12:00)
Kind of a lousy cross conference matchup for this early start of a matinee in MSG. The Rangers are the worst team in the East with a 28-33-8 record and they’ve been even more pathetic at home where they’re just 9-17-6. Coming off a 6-3 loss in Columbus on Thursday, they’re on a three game losing streak. The Jets have been terrible too, yet are still just five points back from Nashville for the second Wild Card spot in the West with their 28-29-12 record, on a three game losing streak as well and in the second half of a back to back today after a 5-4 shootout loss in Pittsburgh to start the day yesterday. The Rags won the first game between these teams ten days ago, 6-3 on the road. I’d lean the Jets answer back here on the road, and I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet either. I’ll parlay Mika Zibanejad, Kyle Connor, and Mark Scheifele to each get a point as my only play on this game.
Capitals vs. Avalanche (12:30)
Not the best cross conference matchup here. The Capitals are playing well right now, with a 3-0-1 record in their last four games, coming off a 2-1 win at home against the Devils on Friday to improve to 35-27-8 on the season, still six points out of a playoff spot. The Avalanche ended a three game losing streak on Friday with a much needed 4-1 win in Chicago. Colorado’s the best team in the NHL, the first team to hit the 100 point mark and clinch a playoff spot this year with a 45-13-10 record, three points ahead of the chasing Stars, playing elite hockey on both ends of the ice. The Avs won the first game between these teams 5-2 at home in January. I like them to win again here on the road and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it. I’ll also parlay Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas to each get a point for a unit, and I’ll take Nate to get over 1.5 points for half a unit.
Penguins vs. Hurricanes (3:00)
Solid game here between the top two teams in the Metro Division for the second time in five days. These teams just played for the third time this season on Wednesday, with the Hurricanes winning 6-5 in overtime at home, their second win against Pittsburgh this month after a 5-4 shootout win at home a couple weeks ago, answering back from a 5-1 Penguins win at home late in December. The Penguins have been good lately, on a 3-0-1 run to improve to 35-18-16, in second place in the division with a point lead over the Blue Jackets, bouncing back from that loss in Carolina with a 5-4 shootout win at home against the Jets yesterday afternoon. The Hurricanes are tied for first place in the Eastern Conference with my Sabres, comfortably in first in the Metro with a 44-19-6 record, coming off a 4-3 overtime win in Toronto on Friday night. Especially with the Pens in the second half of a back to back, I like the Canes to win here on the road and I’ll take them for a unit. I also like the over, which I’ll take for half a unit, and I’ll parlay Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Seth Jarvis, and Sebastian Aho to each get a point for half a unit.
Blackhawks vs. Predators (3:00)
Lousy game here in the Central. The Blackhawks have been awful this year, in last place in the division with a 26-31-12 record, with just one surprising win in their last four games, coming off a 4-1 loss at home to the Avs on Friday (nice triple winner for me on that one). The Predators are on a three game win streak, in the second half of a back to back today after a 4-1 win at home against the Golden Knights last night and despite just being 32-28-9 on the season, they’re now somehow in the second Wild Card spot in the West, a point ahead of the Kings and two ahead of the Kraken. Smashville’s 2-1 this season against Chicago, winning 4-3 on the road in November, getting shut out for a 3-0 loss at home in January, and then answering back with a 4-2 win at home in February. I’d lean the Preds win here on the road again, but I don’t trust them enough to bet on them in the second half of a back to back. I’d also lean the under, but not enough to bet that either, so I’ll lay off this game entirely.
Islanders vs. Blue Jackets (7:00)
Very important game in the playoff race in the Metro Division to get into the 7:00 games, with the Islanders two points back from the Blue Jackets for third place in the Metro and a point behind the Red Wings for the second Wild Card spot in the East. The Isles are coming off two big Eastern Conference losses in a row, in the second half of a back to back tonight, losing 7-3 in Montreal last night. Their defense and goaltending for the most part has been very good this year, but their offense hasn’t been great. The Blue Jackets have been on a tear to get to third in the Metro, a point back from the Penguins for home ice in the first round. They’re on a four game win streak, coming off a 5-2 win at home against the Kraken last night and have gone 19-2-4 in their last 25 games to improve to 37-21-11 on the season. Columbus is 1-1-1 this season against the Isles, losing 3-2 on the road in November, winning 4-2 at home in December, and losing 4-3 in overtime at home last month. I’d lean the Jackets win here on the road but not enough to bet it. The total’s a complete toss up to me, so I’ll stay off that as well. I will take a parlay though on Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko to each get a point for half a unit.
Stars vs. Golden Knights (7:00)
This Western Conference matchup isn’t great with the way that these teams have played lately. The Stars have been elite, one of the hottest teams in the NHL with a 43-15-11 record, going 15-1-2 in their last 18 games. They’re in second place in the league, three points back from the Avs, in the second half of a back to back tonight coming off a 2-1 overtime loss in Minnesota yesterday. The Golden Knights are struggling in their weak Pacific Division, on a three game losing streak and also in the second half of a back to back coming off a 4-1 loss in Nashville last night, a point back form the Oilers for home ice in the first round. Dallas won both previous games between these teams, winning 5-4 in a shootout on the road in January and then 2-1 at home earlier this month. I like the Stars to complete the season sweep here at home and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it. I’ll also parlay Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, and Jack Eichel to each get a point for half a unit.
Ducks vs. Sabres (8:00)
Kind of a fun game here between these two division leaders as my Sabres look to keep rolling on their West Coast road trip. The Ducks have a three point lead over the Oilers for first place in the very weak Pacific Division with 38-27-4 record, coming off a 4-1 win in Utah on Friday. Although their young offense has been solid, their defense and goaltending sucks. My Sabres have been incredible, the hottest team in hockey. We lead the the Atlantic with a 44-20-6 record, four points ahead of the Lightning and tied with the Canes for first place in the East. Coming off a big third period in LA yesterday to win 4-1 and extend their win steak to four in a row, they’ve gone 12-1 since the Olympics break. In the first game between these teams in January in Buffalo, the sabres won 5-3 at home. I like my boys to win again here on the road, even in the second half of a back to back and I’ll take them for a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet it. I’ll also parlay Tage Thompson and Cutter Gauthier to each get a point for half a unit.
Flames vs. Lightning (8:00)
Pretty huge mismatch for this cross conference game. The Flames are coming off two wins in a row, beating the Panthers 4-1 at home on Friday, but have been awful this season. They’re 28-34-7, only better than the Canucks in the weak Pacific Division, struggling on both ends of the ice, especially offensively. The Lightning have been fantastic, four point back from my Sabres for first in the Atlantic with a 43-21-4 record. After a bit of a slump, they’re on a three game win streak on this West Coast road trip, coming off a 5-2 win in Edmonton last night on a two goal and two assist night for Nikita Kucherov. Tampa dominated the first game between these teams back in November, blowing out the Flames 5-1. I like another big win for them tonight, even in the second half of a back to back, and I’ll take them for 1.5 units. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet them. I’ll also take Nikita Kucherov to keep rolling and get over 1.5 points for a unit.
Mammoth vs. Kings (9:00)
Not the best matchup to end the night here in the West. The Mammoth have been pretty good, comfortably in the first Wild Card spot in the West with a 36-28-6 record. They’re coming off a 4-1 loss at home to the Ducks on Friday night after two wins in a row on the road and they’ve been solid on both ends of the ice. The Kings aren’t all that great, a point back from the Preds for the second Wild Card spot in the West with a 28-25-16 record. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off giving up three goals in the third period to lose 4-1 at home to my Sabres yesterday. LA won the first game between these teams 4-2 on the road in December. I like Utah to answer back here and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it. I’ll also parlay Clayton Keller, Artemi Panarin, and Adrian Kempe to each get a point for half a unit.
Bets
.5u parlay: Mika Zibanejad/Kyle Connor/Mark Scheifele 1+ point each (+134)
1u Avalanche ML (-162)
1u parlay: Nathan MacKinnon/Cale Makar/Martin Necas 1+ point each (+112)
.5u Nathan MacKinnon over 1.5 points (-115)
1u Hurricanes ML (-145)
.5u Hurricanes/Penguins over 6.5 (-110)
.5u parlay: Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin/Seth Jarvis/Sebastian Aho point each (+320)
.5u parlay: Zach Werenski/Kirill Marchenko 1+ point each (-110)
1u Stars ML (-142)
.5u parlay: Jason Robertson/Wyatt Johnston/Jack Eichel 1+ point each (+144)
1u Sabres ML (-112)
.5u parlay: Tage Thompson/Cutter Gauthier 1+ point each (+152)
1.5u Lightning ML (-175)
1u Nikita Kucherov over 1.5 points (-120)
.5u Mammoth ML (-175)
.5u parlay: Clayton Keller/Artemi Panarin/Adrian Kempe 1+ point each (+138)
Record: 816-885-2 (-63.75 units)
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