I broke even though I just went 1-2 on last night’s limited slate. Tonight’s the last night of the regular season, let’s go out hot on the couple games that matter in the West to head into the playoffs on Saturday!
I’ll have full series previews of each round of the playoffs up on the blog before they start this weekend!
Mammoth vs. Blues (7:30)
Meaningless game here. The Mammoth already have their matchup set against the Golden Knights in the first round as the first Wild Card. I’d assume they’re resting guys tonight. The Blues have played well lately, and with Utah likely with a skeleton of a team, I’ll take St. Louis for half a unit.
Predators vs. Ducks (8:00)
This is one of the three games that matter tonight. The Ducks can either finish second or third in the Pacific or in the second Wild Card spot, which they’ll want to avoid so they don’t have to get swept by the Avs in the first round. The scenario for them to get second in the Pacific is a win and an Oilers loss to the Canucks (not happening). For them to finish in the Wild Card, they’d have to lose this game and have the Kings beat the Flames tonight. I like Anaheim to win here, but the Preds have played pretty good lately while they made their push for a playoff spot, while the Ducks have struggled. This game is meaningless to the Preds, who were the last team in the league to be eliminated from playoff contention. I’ll take a shot on the Ducks for half a unit. I’d lean the under, but not enough to bet it. I also considered point props on Filip Forsberg, but he’s too expensive, and Cutter Gauthier, but he’s just coming off an injury so I’ll lay off the props in this game.
Jets vs. Sharks (8:00)
Completely meaningless game here, with both of these teams eliminated from the playoffs. I’d lean the Jets win at home to close out their season with the Sharks in the second half of a back to back (after letting me down last night), but not enough to bet it. I’d slightly lean the under, but not enough to bet it. I won’t stay off it completely and I’ll parlay Macklin Celebrini (who should be the Hart Trophy winner by the definition of “most valuable to their team”), Kyle Connor, and Mark Scheifele to each get a point.
Flames vs. Kings (9:00)
Although this game’s completely meaningless to the garbage Flames, this game matters quite a bit for the Kings if they can get some help. They’re in the second Wild Card spot in the West and to avoid playing the Avalanche in the first round and getting swept, they need to win and get some help with an unlikely regulation loss for the Oilers, and a Ducks loss. I don’t see that happening, but I do like them to win tonight on the road. I’ll take LA for a unit. I’d lean the over, but not enough to bet it. I was going to parlay Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe to each get a point, but it isn’t worth the -170 (I also thought about adding Kings moneyline to that, but even that at just -120 makes me better off just taking the moneyline).
Oilers vs. Canucks (9:00)
The Oilers control their own destiny here against the worst team in the league. With a point tonight, they click second place in the Pacific and home ice in the first round, regardless of what the Ducks or Kings do tonight, having the tiebreaker over both of those teams. I expect an easy win for McDavid and Edmonton here at home, but the price is way too expensive at -330. Even the regulation line is expensive at -195. I thought about getting cute and parlaying the regulation line with McDavid to get 2 points. Instead I’ll take the Oilers puck line for a unit. I’ll also take McDavid to get a goal (his over 1.5 points is nuts at -195 too) for half a unit. I’d slightly lean the over, but not enough to bet it.
Avalanche vs. Kraken (10:00)
Completely meaningless game to end the night with the Avs winning the President’s Trophy and the Kraken out of the playoffs and playing awful hockey. I’ll lay off this game entirely since I don’t expect most of the Colorado lineup to even play tonight.
Bets
.5u Blues ML (-130)
.5u Ducks ML (-130)
.5u parlay: Macklin Celebrini/Kyle Connor/Mark Scheifele 1+ point each (-115)
1u Kings ML (-165)
1u Oilers -1.5 (-130)
.5u Connor McDavid over 0.5 goal (-145)
Record: 932-1038-2 (-105.26 units)
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A Town's Zone 