Brutal Sunday for me on the NHL, going a horrible 1-7 to lose 6.84 units and add to my worst year in hockey. Let’s cap off the last few days of this regular season with wins starting on tonight’s ten game slate.
Lightning vs. Red Wings (7:00)
I wouldn’t say this game in the Atlantic’s great tonight. The Lightning are playing for seeding, two points behind the Sabres and Habs (with a game in hand over Montreal) for first place in the Atlantic. They’re 49-25-6 on the season, ending a three game losing streak on Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 win in a matinee in Boston. The Red Wings were eliminated from playoff contention and now have the longest drought in the NHL with the Sabres making the playoffs this year. They’re struggling, falling to 41-30-9 on the season, with just three wins in their last eleven games, coming off a 5-3 loss at home to the Devils on Saturday. Tampa’s 2-0-1 against Detroit this year, losing 2-1 in overtime on the road in October, then winning 6-3 on the road in November, and 4-1 at home in March. I like the Bolts to win here at home again and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Panthers vs. Rangers (7:00)
Horrible game here between two of the worst teams in the East this year. The Panthers had way too many injuries this year to end their back to back Cup run, missing the playoffs with a 38-38-4 record. They’re coming off a 6-2 win in Toronto on Saturday that ended a four game losing streak. This was just a throwaway season with all those injuries for Florida and I fully expect them to come back healthy next year and be a Cup contender once again. The Rangers are the worst team in the Eastern Conference with a 33-38-9 record, coming off two losses in a row after a hot little run of five wins in their previous six games, getting shut out 2-0 in Dallas on Saturday. This will be the final game of goaltender Jonathan Quick’s fantastic career as the best American born goalie of all time with the most wins, 3 Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe, and two Jennings Trophies. That does give a little bit of fun to this game, but it’s still meaningless. New York won both previous games between these teams, winning 5-1 on the road in January and then 3-1 at home a couple weeks ago. I’d slightly lean the Rags win here on the road in Quick’s last start, but I’m not touching it. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet that either. The only player prop I like in this one is Mika Zibanejad to get a point, but he’s too expensive to take on his own and there’s no one I’d even consider parlaying him with, so I’ll lay off this game entirely.
Flyers vs. Hurricanes (7:00)
Pretty solid game here that actually means something to both of these teams. The Flyers are 41-27-12, currently holding a point lead over the Capitals and two point lead over the Blue Jackets with a game in hand on both of these teams for third place in the Metro, the only remaining playoff spot in the East. They can clinch their spot in the playoffs with a win at home tonight and lock in third place to go to Pittsburgh for a Battle of Pennsylvania in the first round of the playoffs. Philly’s been hot lately, blowing out the Jets 7-1 on the road on Saturday and they’ve won 16 of their last 23 games. The Hurricanes have first place in the Metro locked up with a 52-22-6 record and can lock up first overall in the Eastern Conference with a point tonight. Coming off a 4-1 win in Utah on Saturday, they’re on a three game win streak with six wins in their last seven games. Tonight they’ll be resting a ton of key players, including Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Jordan Staal, Andrei Svechnikov, Jaccob Slavin, and Shayne Gostisbehere. Carolina’s 3-0 this year against the Flyers with all three games going to overtime, winning 4-3 in OT in the first week of the season, then 4-3 on a shootout on the road in December and 3-2 in yet another shootout the next night at home. I’d lean the the Flyers win here at home to avoid the season sweep and clinch, but don’t like it enough to bet on, so I’ll stay off the side. I do like the over at 5.5 though, which I’ll take for half a unit.
Maple Leafs vs. Stars (7:30)
Big mismatch in this cross conference game. The Leafs had a horrendous season, in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 32-34-14 record. They’re coming into tonight on a five game losing streak after a 6-2 loss at home to the Panthers on Saturday. The Stars have second place in the Central locked up with a 48-20-12 record and they’ll host the Wild in the first round. Coming off a 2-0 shutout win at home against the Rangers on Saturday, they’re on a three game win streak but have nothing to play for tonight. Dallas won the first game between these teams easily at home in December, crushing the Leafs 5-1. I’m a bit hesitant here as even though all their key players are in the lineup, it wouldn’t surprise me if they get limited minutes, but I’ll still take the Stars in regulation for half a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it. I did consider parlaying Jason Robertson, Mikko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston, and William Nylander to each get a point, but that’s not worth the +184.
Blues vs. Wild (8:00)
Another meaningless game here in the Central. The Blues are eliminated from playoff contention, with their hot run going 13-4-3 in their last 20 games not being enough to get them past their horrendous start to the year. They’re 34-33-12, coming off a 5-3 win in Chicago on Saturday. The Wild have third place locked up and are getting ready to play the Stars in the first round, with a 45-23-12 record, coming off two losses in a row. With these last two games today and tomorrow being completely meaningless, Minnesota will be resting most of their lineup with Quinn Hughes, Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Marcus Foligno, Ryan Hartman, Joel Eriksson Ek, Brock Faber, and Mats Zuccarello watching from the press box tonight. These teams split their first two games, both winning on the road, with a 5-0 shutout win for the Wild in the first game of the season and the Blues answering with a 3-1 win last month. With everyone out for Minnesota, I’d expect St. Louis to win tonight at home and I’ll take them in regulation for a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it.
Predators vs. Sharks (8:00)
Big game here in the Western Conference playoff race for the second Wild Card spot. The Preds are just a point outside of the Kings for the second Wild Card in the West. They’re 38-32-10 this season, coming off a 2-1 win at home against the Wild on Saturday. The Sharks are technically still alive, with three games to play, but they need some help to get in, still five points back from the Kings. They’re on a three game losing streak, losing 4-3 in a shootout at home against the Canucks on Saturday. The Smashville won both previous games between these teams, winning 6-3 at home three weeks ago, and then 6-3 again on the road last week. I’d lean Nashville wins again here, staying alive and eliminating the Sharks, but not enough to bet it. I like the over on this game, which I’ll take for half a unit. I’ll also parlay Macklin Celebrini and Filip Forsberg to each get a point for half a unit.
Blackhawks vs. Sabres (8:30)
Huge mismatch for this cross conference game. The Blackhawks are horrendous, in last place in the Central Division with a pathetic 28-38-14 record. They’re on a three game losing streak, coming off a 5-3 loss at home to the Blues on Saturday, and they have just one win in their last nine games. My Sabres were the only team in the NHL to get the weekend off. We’re on a three game win streak, coming off a 5-0 win at home against the Blue Jackets on Thursday night with a big four goal third period in Colton Ellis’ first career shutout. Buffalo’s at the top of the Atlantic Division, tied with the Habs with a 49-23-8 record, and two points ahead of the Lightning. We can technically clinch first place tonight depending on the results of the Lightning vs. Red Wings game tonight and a win tonight for us. The first game between these teams was a complete blowout, with the Sabres winning 9-3 at home in November. I like them to win again here tonight on the road and I’ll take Buffalo in regulation for a unit. I’ll also take the Sabres team total over 3.5 for half a unit. I’d lean the over on the game, but don’t like it enough to bet it.
Oilers vs. Avalanche (9:30)
I wouldn’t say this Western Conference matchup is all that great. The Oilers are tied with the Ducks for home ice in the first round with a 40-30-10 record, a point behind Vegas for first place in the Pacific Division. Edmonton’s coming off getting shut out 1-0 in LA on Saturday and have just one win in their last four games. The Avalanche have the President’s Trophy locked up, with the best record in the NHL at 52-16-11. They’re coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at home to the Golden Knights on Saturday and have gone 8-3-1 in their last twelve games. I’d expect the Avs to rest some key players tonight. These teams split their first two games, each winning on the road, with Colorado embarrassing Edmonton in a 9-1 win on the road in November, and the Oilers answering back with a 4-3 win last month in Colorado. I’d slightly lean the Avs win here on the road, but don’t like it enough to bet on, not knowing who will actually get ice time tonight. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it. I will take a slight shot on Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Necas to each get a point for half a unit.
Kraken vs. Kings (9:30)
Not a great game here, but it’s an important one for LA. The Kraken are coming off two wins in a row after beating the Flames 4-1 at home on Saturday, but have been eliminated from playoff contention with a 34-34-11 record. They’ll also be without Jared McCann, one of their best players who is out with a lower body injury for these last three games. The Kings have been hot, and hold a point lead over the Predators for the second Wild Card spot in the West, and could technically get into third in the Pacific, three points back from the Oilers and Ducks. Coming off a 1-0 shutout win at home against the Oilers on Saturday, they’re on a four game win streak. Seattle’s won all three previous games between these teams, 3-2 in overtime at home in December, 3-2 on the road to go into the Christmas break, then 4-2 on the road in February. I like LA to stay hot in their playoff push and avoid the season sweep on the road tonight. The price is a little bit expensive at -175, so I’ll get a little bit cute here and parlay the moneyline with Adrian Kempe and Artemi Panarin to each get a point for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the under, but with both teams trending over lately, I’ll stay off the total.
Golden Knights vs. Jets (10:00)
This should actually be a decent game out West to end the night. The Golden Knights have been on fire since their coaching change with a 5-0-1 record under John Tortorella, clinching their spot in the playoffs on Saturday on Jack Eichel’s overtime goal to be a the Avs 3-2 on the road on Saturday. They have a point lead over the Oilers and Ducks in first place in the Pacific with a 37-26-17 record. The Jets are coming off getting blown out 7-1 at home by the Flyers on Saturday, ending a three game win streak. They’re 35-32-12 and eliminated from playoff contention, not able to crawl out of their horrendous first half of the year, even though they have played decent lately. These teams split their first two games in Winnipeg, with Vegas winning 4-3 in overtime on the road in January and the Jets answering a few weeks ago with a 4-1 win at home. I like the Knights to stay hot here at home and I’ll take them for a unit. The total’s a toss up to me. I’ll also take probably my last long shot parlay of the year here on Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Mark Stone to each get a point for half a unit.
Bets
1u Lightning in regulation (-125)
.5u Flyers/Hurricanes over 5.5 (-130)
.5u Stars in regulation (-115)
1u Blues in regulation (-105)
.5u Predators/Sharks over 6.5 (-110)
.5u parlay: Macklin Celebrini/Filip Forsberg 1+ point each (-125)
1u Sabres in regulation (-125)
.5u Sabres TT over 3.5 (-130)
.5u parlay: Connor McDavid/Nathan MacKinnon/Martin Necas 1+ point each (-140)
.5u parlay: Kings ML/Adrian Kempe/Artemi Panarin 1+ point each (+122)
1u Golden Knights ML (-185)
.5u parlay: Connor/Scheifele/Eichel/Marner/Stone 1+ point each (+222)
Record: 924-1026-2 (-102.66 units)
Please follow me:
Instagram: @atownszone
Twitter: @atownszone
If you like the site and my work, share it with your friends!
… and tell Dave Portnoy to hire me at Barstool…
A Town's Zone 