I started off hot yesterday and finished cold on the NHL, going 4-9 to lose 3.66 units. Tonight we have just four games, gotta win!
Sabres vs. Lightning (7:00)
Huge game here in the Atlantic Division for seeding in the playoffs as these teams both clinched their spots in the playoffs on Saturday afternoon with the Red Wings losing to the Rangers. Anti-climactic way to break our 15 year playoff drought in Buffalo. The Sabres are limping into the playoffs right now, playing like crap these last seven games, with just two wins in that span, coming off a 6-2 loss on the road to the Caps on Saturday. We’re 46-23-8 on the year, tied with the Habs as we’re playing for home ice in the first round, but just two points back from the Lightning for first place in the Atlantic. The Bolts have picked it up big time lately, with an 8-1-2 record in their last eleven games, two points back from the Hurricanes for first overall in the Eastern Conference as they come off a 3-1 win at home against the Bruins on Saturday. Buffalo is 2-0-1 against Tampa this season, coming back late to tie it then losing in overtime 4-3 on the road in February, then dominating with a 6-2 win on the road late in February, leading up to the best game of the whole NHL season, where we blew a 4-0 lead then came back from a 5-7 deficit in the third to win 8-7 in an ELECTRIC game at home that saw a ton of fights to go with all those goals. With the way these teams are coming in right now, I like the Lightning to even the season series on the road, and I’ll take them for half a unit as a bit of an emotional hedge. I love the over, which I’ll take for a unit. I also like a handful of player props here. I’ll parlay Tage Thompson, Nikita Kucherov, and Jake Guentzel to each get a point for half a unit, and I’ll take Kucherov to get over 1.5 points for half a unit.
Jets vs. Kraken (7:30)
Boring game here out West. The Jets still aren’t out of the playoff race, just three points back from the Preds and the Kings for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. After a horrible start to the season, they’re playing pretty well right now, with six wins in their last eight games to improve to 33-31-12, coming off a 2-1 win in Columbus on Saturday. The Kraken may be a little too far out now, six points back from that playoff spot with a 32-32-11 record. They’re playing quite poorly lately, on a four game losing streak coming off a 4-2 loss at home to the Blackhawks on Saturday with just one win in their last nine games. Seattle won both previous games between these teams with a 3-0 shutout win on the road in October and then a 5-3 win at home in November. I like the Jets to avoid the season sweep here and I’ll parlay their moneyline with Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele to each get a point for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Sharks vs. Blackhawks (10:00)
This Western Conference matchup isn’t great. The Sharks are only two points behind the Kings and Predators for the second Wild Card in the West, playing quite well right now with a 36-32-7 record. They’re coming off a 6-3 loss at home to the Preds on Saturday to end a four game win streak. The Blackhawks have been horrendous, in last place in the Central Division with a 28-25-14 record. They ended a five game losing streak on Saturday in Seattle, beating the Kraken 4-2. Chicago won the first game between these teams 6-3 at home in February. I like San Jose to answer back here and I’ll parlay their moneyline with Macklin Celebrini to get a point for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it at 6.5.
Kings vs. Predators (10:30)
Very important game here as the winner of this game will sit alone in the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference after this one. These teams are tied for that last playoff spot, with several teams hot on their tail. They just played on Thursday last week for the second time this season, with the Preds winning 5-4 in a shootout on the road in LA after they also won 5-4 in a shootout back in October at home in Smashville the first time they played. The Kings are playing pretty well right now, with a 31-26-19 record, picking up at least a point in eleven of their last 14 games, winning three of their last five, coming off a 7-6 overtime win at home against the Leafs on Saturday. The Preds are coming off two wins in a row, beating the Sharks 6-3 on the road on Saturday to improve to 36-31-9 on the year. I’d slightly lean the Kings avoid the season sweep here and wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if this game goes to overtime again, but I’m not touching the side here. With the total at 5.5, I do like the over here, which I’ll take for half a unit. I’ll also parlay Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, and Filip Forsberg to each get a point for half a unit.
Bets
.5u Lightning ML (-120)
1u Lightning/Sabres over 6.5 (-110)
.5u parlay: Tage Thompson/Nikita Kucherov/Jake Guentzel 1+ point each (+124)
.5u Nikita Kucherov over 1.5 points (+114)
.5u parlay: Jets ML/Kyle Connor/Mark Scheifele 1+ point each (+104)
1u parlay: Sharks ML/Macklin Celebrini over 0.5 point (-125)
.5u Kings/Predators over 5.5 (-110)
.5u parlay: Adrian Kempe/Artemi Panarin/Filip Forsberg 1+ point each (+108)
Record: 900-998-2 (-95.9 units)
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A Town's Zone 