I stayed off last night’s two games completely. Today we have a huge 15 game NHL slate with almost every team in action as the regular season nears its end. Let’s crush it for the second winning day in a row!
Rangers vs. Red Wings (12:30)
Not the best Original Six game here in the East to start off the day. The Rangers are the worst team in the Eastern Conference with a 31-36-9 record and they have just a 12-19-7 record at home in MSG. They’re coming off a 3-2 loss at home to the Habs on Thursday night, ending a three game win streak. The Red Wings are coming off a 4-2 win in Philly on Thursday, in a four way tie with the Sens, Blue Jackets, and Flyers for the second Wild Card spot in the East. They’ve been struggling lately, with just eight wins in their last 22 games to fall to 40-27-8 on the season. These teams split their first two games this year, with the Rags winning 4-1 on the road in November and Detroit answering back the next week with 2-1 win in MSG. I’d lean the Red Wings win here again on the road and I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet either. I’ll start my day with a half unit parlay on Mika Zibanejad and Alex DeBrincat to each get a point, along with half a unit on Lucas Raymond to get a point.
Senators vs. Wild (1:00)
Really fun cross conference matinee here. The Senators are in a four way tie for the second Wild Card in the East, with the Blue Jackets, Red Wings, and Flyers. They ended a three game losing streak on Thursday, dominating the third period against my Sabres to win 4-1 and improve to 39-26-10 on the season. The Wild are comfortably in third place in the Central Division, likely playing the Stars in the first round. They’re 42-21-12 on the season, but have been a bit inconsistent lately, coming off a 5-2 win at home against the Canucks on Thursday. Minnesota won the first game between these teams 3-2 at home in December. I’d slightly lean they win here on the road today, but definitely not enough to bet it. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for a unit. I’ll also take a shot at a half unit parlay on Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Quinn Hughes, Brady Tkachuk, and Tim Stutzle to each get a point.
Stars vs. Avalanche (3:00)
Spectacular game here between the two best teams in the league, in what will more than likely be a preview of the second round series in the Central. All three previous games between these teams went to shootouts, with the Stars winning 5-4 in the first week of the season on the road, the Avs answering with a 5-4 win last month in Dallas, and the Stars answering right back with a 2-1 win in Colorado a couple weeks later. Can’t get closer than that. The Stars have struggled lately, coming off a 3-0 shutout win at home against the Jets on Thursday for just their second win in their last eight games. They’re 45-19-12 on the year, six points behind the Avs and six ahead of the Wild for home ice in the first round. The Avs lead the NHL with a 49-15-10 record. They’re coming off a complete shocker though, losing as -500 favorites to lose me like 5 units on Wednesday as they lost 8-6 at home to the Canucks. That shows the parity in this league with the worst team in the league beating the best one on the road, but god that sucked. I like Colorado to bounce back here on the road to tie up the season series and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’ll get cute with it too and go with half a unit on this game to go to overtime. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it. On my usual player props in this game too, and I’ll parlay Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Mikko Rantanen (against his former team), and Jason Robertson to each get a point for half a unit.
Lightning vs. Bruins (5:00)
Great matchup in the Atlantic and if the playoffs started today this would be one of the first round games. The Lightning are back on fire after a bit of a slump, tied with my Sabres at the top of the Atlantic Division with a 47-22-6 record, coming off a 6-3 win at home against the Penguins on Thursday night. They can clinch a playoff spot with a win today. The Bruins are playing great right now, comfortably in the first Wild Card spot in the East with a 43-25-8 record, six points ahead of the four way tie for the second Wild Card spot and four behind the Habs for third in the Atlantic. They’re coming off a 2-1 loss in Florida on Thursday, ending a four game win streak, just their second loss in their last eight games and just their second regulation loss in their last 16. Tampa won both previous games between these teams, 4-3 on the road in the first week of the season and then 6-5 in a shootout at home in February. I’d think the Bolts win again here at home, but the -185 is too expensive for me. I do like the over though, which I’ll take for a unit. I like some player props here too and I’ll parlay Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, and David Pastrnak to each get a point for half a unit and Nikita Kucherov to get over 1.5 points for half a unit.
Penguins vs. Panthers (5:00)
Not the best matchup in the East here. The Penguins are coming off a 6-3 loss in Tampa on Thursday, but have been good, in second place in the Metro with a 38-22-16 record, three points ahead of the Isles for home ice in the first round. The Panthers have struggled with a ridiculous amount of injuries this year, ending their back to back Cup run, in last place in the Atlantic with a 37-35-3 record. They’ll be back healthy next year though and right back to being a Cup contender. They’re coming off two wins in a row though after a 2-1 win at home against the Bruins on Thursday. Pittsburgh won the first game between these teams 5-3 on the road in October. I like them to win again here at home and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I like the over as well, which I’ll also take for half a unit. Additionally, I’ll parlay Matthew Tkachuk and Sidney Crosby to each get a point for half a unit, and I’ll take Evgeni Malkin to get a point for half a unit.
Capitals vs. Sabres (7:00)
Another big game here for my Sabres looking to clinch a playoff spot for the first time in 15 years with a win tonight in our nation’s capital. The Caps are playing pretty well lately, coming off a 7-3 loss in Jersey on Thursday that ended a three game win streak. They’re still not out of it, three points back from the four way tie for the second Wild Card spot in the East with a 38-29-9 record. My Sabres have the chance to clinch again tonight and end this LONG drought after they couldn’t do it on Thursday, losing 4-1 in Ottawa on Thursday in a very uninspiring third period. Lousy game and we haven’t looked great for the last six games. We’re still tied for first in the Atlantic Division with a 46-22-8 record. Got come out strong here on the road. These teams split their first two games this season in Buffalo, with the Sabres winning 4-3 in a shootout at home in November and the Caps answering back with a 2-1 win on the road last month, with Buffalo falling apart and playing so sloppy to lose late after dominating the first period. I like my boys to end the drought tonight on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it. I’ll also lay the -180 on Tage Thompson to get a point for half a unit.
Devils vs. Canadiens (7:00)
Not the best Eastern Conference matchup. The Devils are playing well since the Olympics break, winning eleven of their last 16 games to improve to 39-34-2, coming off a 7-3 win at home against the Capitals on Thursday, but they’re still missing playoffs for sure. The Habs are on a complete tear right now. Coming off a 3-2 win in MSG against the Rangers on Thursday, they’re on a seven game win streak, in third place in the Atlantic with a 44-21-10 record, just two points back from the Lightning and Sabres for first in the Division. The first game between these teams went to overtime in Jersey back in November, with the Devils winning 4-3 at home. I like Montreal to answer back here and I’ll take them for a unit to keep this streak rolling. I’d lean the over slightly, but not enough to bet it. I’ll also parlay Jack Hughes, Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky to each get a point for half a unit.
Hurricanes vs. Islanders (7:00)
Not the best game here between these two playoff teams in the Metro Division. The Hurricanes lead the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of the Sabres and Lightning, with first in the Metro already locked up. Coming off a 5-1 win at home against the Blue Jackets on Thursday, they’ve won three of their last four games to improve to 48-21-6 on the season. The Islanders are in third place with a 42-30-5 record, in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 4-1 loss at home against the Flyers last night. They’re on a three game losing streak, three points back from the Pens for home ice in the first round, but in danger still of missing the playoffs, just a point ahead of Columbus and Philly, who are both in the four way tie for the second Wild Card spot in the East. Carolina dominated the first game between these teams 6-2 at home in October. Especially with the Isles in the second half of a back to back, I like the Canes to win again here and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I like the over as well, which I’ll take for half a unit, along with a half unit parlay on Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho to each get a point.
Blue Jackets vs. Jets (7:00)
Interesting cross conference matchup as these two teams are battling to get into the playoffs when early in the season it looked like they were both completely dead. The Blue Jackets are in the four way tie in the East for the second Wild Card spot with the Flyers, Senators, and Red Wings. They’re 38-26-12, but have struggled lately, on a five game losing streak coming off a 5-1 loss in Carolina on Thursday. The Jets are now 32-31-12, three points back from the Sharks, Preds, and Kings for the second Wild Card spot in the West. They’re coming off a 3-0 shutout loss in Dallas on Thursday, but have won four of their last six games. Winnipeg won the first game between these teams 5-2 at home in November. I think this game’s a complete toss up. I’d slightly lean the Jets and the under here, but not enough to bet either. I won’t lay off it completely though, and I’ll parlay Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Kirill Marchenko to each get a point for half a unit. I considered throwing Zach Werenski in there, but he’s barely found the score sheet lately, with only one point in his last five games, so I’ll keep him off it.
Canucks vs. Mammoth (7:00)
Terrible matchup here out West. The Canucks are the worst team in the league, eliminated from playoff contention with a terrible 22-45-8 record, coming off a 5-2 loss in Minnesota on Thursday after shocking the hockey world with an 8-6 win on the road in Calgary on Wednesday night. The Mammoth are coming off two wins in a row, coming back to beat the Kraken 6-2 on the road on Thursday. They’re comfortably in the first Wild Card in the West with a 39-30-6 record. Utah won the first two games between these teams pretty easily, 4-1 on the road in December and then 6-2 at home in February. I like them to complete the season sweep here and I’ll parlay the Mammoth moneyline with Clayton Keller to get a point for a unit, along with half a unit on the over.
Kings vs. Maple Leafs (7:00)
Boring cross conference game here. The Kings are in a three way tie with the Sharks and Preds for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, losing 5-4 in a shootout at home to Nashville on Thursday. LA’s defense and goaltending has been good this year, but their offense is pathetic. The Leafs have been playing the complete opposite style of hockey, with a solid offense but terrible play on the back end. They’re in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 32-31-13 record and are coming off a 4-1 loss in San Jose on Thursday, but have won three of their last five games. LA won the first game between these teams 4-3 in overtime on the road back in November. I’d slightly lean the Leafs answer back here on the road, but I’m not touching it. The total’s a complete toss up to me as well. I’ll parlay Adrian Kempe, Artemi Panarin, and William Nylander to each get a point for half a unit.
Oilers vs. Golden Knights (10:00)
Big game here in the weak Pacific Division. The Oilers have been on a tear lately after quite the struggles, now tied at the top of the division with the Ducks, on a five game win streak coming off a 3-1 win at home against the Blackhawks on Thursday to improve to 39-28-9. The Golden Knights are three points behind them, coming off two wins in a row with Torts behind the bench to improve to 34-26-16, beating the Flames 6-3 on Thursday night. Edmonton won all three previous games between these teams, looking to complete the season sweep on home ice, winning 4-3 at home in December, winning 4-2 on the road in March and then 4-3 in overtime in Vegas last week. I’d slightly lean the Knights avoid the season sweep, but I’m not touching the side here. I’d also lean the over, but not enough to bet that either. For my only play on this game, I’ll parlay the top two draft picks from 2015, Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, along with Mitch Marner to each get a point for half a unit.
Ducks vs. Flames (10:00)
This Pacific Division matchup isn’t great. The Ducks are on a four game losing streak, in the second half of a back to back tonight, coming off a 6-2 loss at home to the Blues last night. They’re tied at the top of this weak division with the Oilers with a 41-30-5 record. The Flames have been awful, out of the playoffs with a 31-36-8 record, getting blown out in their last two games on the road, losing 6-3 in Vegas on Thursday after a 9-2 shit kicking by the Avs on Monday. Anaheim’s 3-0 this year against Calgary, winning 4-3 in OT on the road in January, 3-2 in a shoot at home early last month, and then 3-2 in OT again on the road a week ago. I like them to complete the season sweep here and get out of this slump and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it, and I’m staying off player props in this game with Cutter Gauthier still out of the lineup for the Ducks.
Sharks vs. Predators (10:00)
Very important game here in the Western Conference playoff race with these two teams in a three way tie with the Kings for the second Wild Card spot in the West. The Sharks are 36-31-7 on the year, on a four game win streak after a 4-1 win at home against the Leafs on Thursday night. The Preds are 35-31-9, ending a three game losing streak with an important 5-4 shootout win in LA on Thursday. A week and a half ago in the first game between these teams in Smashville, the Predators won 6-3. I’d slightly lean San Jose answers back here at home, but not enough to bet them. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet that either. I’ll parlay Macklin Celebrini and Filip Forsberg to each get a point for half a unit.
Kraken vs. Blackhawks (10:00)
Awful Western Conference matchup to end the night. The Kraken are four points back from the three way tie for the second Wild Card spot in the West and likely out of the playoffs, coming into tonight on a three game losing streak after a 6-2 loss at home to the Mammoth on Thursday. They have struggled big time lately with just one win in their last eight games. The Blackhawks are terrible, in last place in the Central Division with a 37-35-14 record. Coming off a 3-1 loss in Edmonton on Thursday, they’re on a five game losing streak with just six wins in their last 26 games. The Kraken won both prior games between these teams in November, 3-1 at home and 3-2 on the road a few weeks later. I’d lean Seattle completes the season sweep here at home, but they’re not worth betting at the -170. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet that either, so I will lay off this game entirely.
Bets
.5u parlay: Mika Zibanejad/Alex DeBrincat 1+ point each (+108)
.5u Lucas Raymond over 0.5 point (-150)
1u Senators/Wild over 6.5 (+110)
.5u parlay: Kaprizov/Boldy/Hughes/Tkachuk/Stutzle 1+ point each (+445)
.5u Avalanche ML (-115)
.5u Avalanche/Stars to go to overtime (+310)
.5u parlay: MacKinnon/Necas/Rantanen/Robertston 1+ point each (+110)
1u Lightning/Bruins over 6.5 (-110)
.5u parlay: Nikita Kucherov/Jake Guentzel/David Pastrnak 1+ point each (-115)
.5u Nikita Kucherov over 1.5 points (+108)
1u Penguins in regulation (-135)
1u Penguins/Panthers over 6.5 (-110)
.5u parlay: Matthew Tkachuk/Sidney Crosby 1+ point each (-105)
.5u Evgeni Malkin over 0.5 point (-154)
.5u Sabres ML (-115)
.5u Tage Thompson over 0.5 point (-180)
1u Canadiens ML (-130)
.5u parlay: Hughes/Suzuki/Caufield/Slafkovsky 1+ point each (+140)
1u Hurricanes in regulation (-150)
.5u Hurricanes/Islanders over 6.5 (+100)
.5u parlay: Seth Jarvis/Sebastian Aho 1+ point each (-155)
.5u parlay: Kyle Connor/Mark Scheifele/Kirill Marchenko 1+ point each (+150)
1u parlay: Mammoth ML/Clayton Keller over 0.5 point (-130)
.5u Mammoth/Canucks over 6.5 (-105)
.5u parlay: Adrian Kempe/Artemi Panarin/William Nylander 1+ point each (+124)
.5u parlay: Connor McDavid/Jack Eichel/Mitch Marner 1+ point each (+108)
.5u Ducks ML (-155)
.5u parlay: Macklin Celebrini/Filip Forsberg 1+ point each (-125)
Record: 883-974-2 (-91.44 units)
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