Horrible night on the NHL yesterday, as I gave back my wins, going 7-14 to lose 5.7 units. No good. Tonight we have a late start on this three game slate before another loaded slate tomorrow. Let’s start April with a much needed bounce back!
Avalanche vs. Canucks (8:30)
Biggest mismatch you could get out West here for the first game to start tonight’s late slate between the best and worst teams in the league. It makes sense that the line on this game is -500, the highest we’ve seen all season. The Avalanche lead the NHL with a 49-14-10 record and they’re 24-7-5 at home this year, the best team in the league on both ends of the ice. They just shit all over the Flames on Monday, dominating their way to a 9-2 win for their fourth win in their last five games. Colorado will be without their best defenseman in the world though with Cale Makar out for a few games. The Canucks on the other hand are the worst team in the league. They’re on a six game losing streak with only five games in their last 35 games to be eliminated from playoff contention with a 21-44-8 record, coming off a 4-2 loss in Vegas on Monday. The Avs won both previous games between these teams, with a 5-4 overtime win on the road in November and then a 3-1 win at home in December. They should obviously win again here at home. I’ll lay the -180 on their puck line for 2 units. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it since I don’t really see Vancouver scoring much. I’ll also take Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas to each get over 1.5 points, both individually and parlayed for half a unit each.
Kings vs. Blues (9:00)
Not the best matchup here in the West, but it’s an important game with both of these teams not too far out from the second Wild Card spot. The Kings are struggling right now, with just one win in their last six games, and they have just six in their last 19 games. They’re just a point back though from the Predators for the second Wild Card spot in the West. LA’s defense has been good this year but their offense is brutal. The Blues are still just four points back from Nashville for that Wild Card spot after their brutal first half of the season. They’ve been on a tear since the Olympics break, going 11-3-2 in their last 16 games, having a four game win streak end on Monday with a 5-4 loss in San Jose. The Kings won both previous games between these teams, needing more than regulation both times on the road, winning 2-1 in OT in October and then 5-4 in a shootout in January. I like St. Louis to bounce back here on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the under here since neither of these teams are great offensively, but don’t like it enough to bet it. On the Kings side, I’ll parlay Adrian Kempe and Artemi Panarin to each get a point for half a unit.
Sharks vs. Ducks (9:00)
Fun Pacific Division matchup between these two California rivals. The Sharks are coming off two wins in a row, beating the Blues 5-4 on Monday night to get just two points back from Nashville for the second Wild Card spot in the West. The Ducks lead the weak Pacific Division, two points ahead of the Oilers with a 41-28-5 record, and are coming off two losses in a row, losing 5-4 in OT to the Leafs on Monday. Both of the previous games between these teams were pretty high scoring as they split them, each winning on the road, a 7-6 Ducks win in overtime in the first week of the season and San Jose answering back with a 5-4 win in December. I like Anaheim to win here at home and I’ll take them for half a unit. I really like the over here and I’ll take it for a unit, with two solid offenses and a lousy defense for both of these teams with bad goaltending. I’ll also parlay Macklin Celebrini and Leo Carlsson to each get a point for half a unit. I considered taking Macklin to get over 1.5 points too, but don’t like it enough to bet it.
Bets
2u Avalanche -1.5 (-180)
.5u Nathan MacKinnon over 1.5 points (-148)
.5u Martin Necas over 1.5 points (+115)
.5u parlay: Nathan MacKinnon/Martin Necas 2+ points each (+124)
.5u Blues ML (+125)
.5u parlay: Adrian Kempe/Artemi Panarin 1+ point each (-160)
.5u Ducks ML (-110)
1u Sharks/Ducks over 6.5 (-130)
.5u parlay: Macklin Celebrini/Leo Carlsson 1+ point each (-125)
Record: 868-956-2 (-88.34 units)
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