Winning night yesterday for me on my different approach on the NHL, going 4-3 with the Habs and Stars both needing OT when I had them in regulation, winning 0.7 units. Let’s win again on tonight’s small three game slate!
Rangers vs. Sabres (7:00)
This isn’t a great game in the East to get the night started between two New York teams in the opposite ends of the standings. The Rangers are the worst team in the Eastern Conference with a 33-36-9 record, but they’re playing well right now despite being eliminated from playoff contention. Coming off an 8-1 win at home against the Capitals on Sunday, they’ve won five of their last six games. My Sabres are 47-23-8 this year, in a three way tie for the three playoff spots in the Atlantic with the Lightning and Habs, playing for seeding and home ice. We’ve been in a bit of a slump lately, but are coming off a huge 4-2 win at home against Tampa on Monday night. We split the first two games between these two New York teams, with the Rangers winning 4-0 in a shutout in Buffalo in the first game of the season (insane to read my first paragraph of this blog and my expectations for the year and then we answered back with a 5-2 win on the road in MSG in January. I like the Sabres to win here again on the road and I’ll take my boys for a unit at a cheaper price than I expected at -145. The total’s pretty much a coin flip at 6.5, so I’m not touching that. I considered parlaying Tage Thompson and Mika Zibanejad to each get a point, but I’m still laying off the player props and at +114, I’m not missing out on much there, especially with Tage being held off the scoresheet in our last three games.
Maple Leafs vs. Capitals (7:30)
Pretty lousy game here in the Eastern Conference. The Maple Leafs are having a horrendous season, already eliminated from playoff contention, in last place in the Atlantic with a 32-31-14 record. They’re coming off a 7-6 overtime loss in LA on Saturday and have just one win in their last four games. The Capitals are likely missing the playoffs as well with a 39-30-9 record, five points back from the Senators for the second Wild Card spot in the East. They’re coming off an 8-1 blowout loss on the road against the Rangers but haven’t been terrible lately, with a 7-3-1 record in their last eleven games. The Caps won both previous games at home between these teams, winning 4-2 in November and then shutting out Toronto 4-0 in December. I like Washington to complete the season sweep here on the road and I’ll take them for half a unit. I’d lean the over slightly, but not enough to bet the 6.5. The only player prop I’d even consider in this game is William Nylander to get a point, but I’m not touching it.
Sharks vs. Oilers (10:00)
This should be a really fun late game in the Pacific Division. The Sharks are on fire lately, with five wins in their last six games, coming off a 3-2 bounce back win at home against the Blackhawks on Monday night. They’re not out of the playoffs yet, just three points behind the Preds for the second Wild Card spot in the West with a 37-32-7 record. A lot of that success is on the back of Macklin Celebrini’s fantastic 107 points and 41 goals in his sophomore season, while their defense has really struggled this year. The Oilers have played similar hockey, with a great offense led by Connor McDavid, the best player in the world, but their defense and especially goaltending has been awful. Edmonton’s tied with the Golden Knights at the top of the very weak Pacific Division with a 39-29-10 record, coming off two losses in a row. They’re in the second half of a back to back tonight, blowing a 3-1 first period lead in Utah to go on to lose 6-5 in overtime. All three previous games between these teams have been electric, with the Oilers leading the season series 2-1. They won the first game 4-3 at home in overtime in January, then lost 5-4 in San Jose in February, then answered back with a 5-3 win at home three weeks ago. With the Oilers in the second half of a back to back, I’d slightly lean the Sharks tie up the season series at home tonight, but I’m not touching the side. I love the over though, expecting both teams to score, and I’ll take it for a unit. I will get a little cute on this game though and I’ll parlay McDavid and Celebrini to each get a point with the alternate over 5.5 (to bring it down from -220 to -114) for half a unit.
Bets
1u Sabres ML (-145)
.5u Capitals ML (-155)
1u Oilers/Sharks over 6.5 (-110)
.5u parlay: Oilers/Sharks over 5.5/Connor McDavid/Macklin Celebrini point each (-114)
Record: 906-1007-2 (-97.44 units)
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