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Pittsburgh Penguins v. Washington Capitals
Projected Goalies: Tristan Jarry v. Vitek Vanecek
This game will be the battle for top spot in the East Division. Pittsburgh sits in 2nd place right now but they are only 1 point back of Washington. The Penguins lost on Tuesday by a score of 3-1 to Boston, they have only scored 2 total goals in each of their last 2 games against the Bruins. Washington is in 1st place at the moment and they have a game in hand over Pittsburgh. The Capitals are coming off a 3 game miniseries sweep of the Islanders where they won 2 out of the 3 games by a score of 1-0. All indicators point to a close, low scoring affair in DC tonight but so far this season the over has hit in the majority of the 5 games played between these two teams.
The Bet: Over 5.5 Total Goals
Prediction: Penguins 4-3 Capitals
Dallas Stars v. Tampa Bay Lightning
Projected Goalies: Jake Oetinger v. Andrei Vasilevskiy
I have no preview for this game, I spent at least 10 minutes looking at this matchup and couldn’t find a bet one way or the other. Be advised.
New York Islanders v. New York Rangers
Projected Goalies: Semyon Varlamov v. Igor Shesterkin
The battle of New York tonight is critical for both teams. The Islanders enter this game on a 3 game losing streak after dropping each contest consecutively to the Capitals. New York is hanging on to slim playoff hopes and a big reason is their current 3 game winning streak. The Rangers are among the hottest teams in the league at the moment and Igor Shesterkin locking down the cage has been immense for them. Many consider Rangers games to be high scoring but Shesterkin has allowed 3 or less goals in 5 of his past 8 starts.
The Bet: Under 5.5 Total Goals
Prediction: Islanders 2-3 Rangers
Buffalo Sabres v. Boston Bruins
Projected Goalies: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen v. Tuukka Rask
It is a battle of the Finnish netminders tonight in Boston where the Bruins enter as massive -300 favorites. This is one of the most lopsided games Las Vegas has handicaped all year. The Sabres have dropped 2 games in a row but their most recent outing, a 3-1 loss to the Rangers, was much improved from the game before where they lost 6-3. Boston bounced back from being shutout 1-0 by Pittsburgh to win on Tuesday 3-1. Don’t sleep on Luukkonen in goal, as he is a borderline ready made prospect for Buffalo.
The Bet: Under 5.5 Total Goals
Alternate Bet: Sabres to Cover 1.5 Goals
Prediction: Sabres 2-3 Bruins
Philadelphia Flyers v. New Jersey Devils
Projected Goalies: Alex Lyon v. Mackenzie Blackwood
There two teams have played twice in a row and have split the two decisions. The Flyers came away with a 4-3 shootout win in the first meeting while the Devils bounced back with a 6-4 on Tuesday. Both games have hit the over. Philly turns to Alex Lyon for only his 3rd start of the season. Lyon currently averages 4.23 goals against per game. The Flyers also own the worst defensive record in the NHL. This is an easy bet.
The Bet: Over 6.5 Total Goals
Prediction: Flyers 4-3 Devils
Detroit Red Wings v. Carolina Hurricanes
Projected Goalies: Jonathan Bernier v. James Reimer
For the second time this season we get the old Maple Leafs goalie matchup that any hockey from 2012 used to debate about. Jonathan Bernier will face off against his former teammate James Reimer. In the first iteration of this matchup, it was Bernier who came away with the win as the Red Wings upset the Hurricanes by a score of 3-1. Carolina is coming off a commanding win on Tuesday and they have already clinched their division. I think the Hurricanes take the foot of the pedal tonight and get caught sleeping by the lowly Red Wings.
The Bet: Red Wings to Cover 1.5 Goals
Alternate Bet: Red Wings Moneyline
Prediction: Red Wings 2-1 Hurricanes
Vancouver Canucks v. Toronto Maple Leafs
Projected Goalies: Braden Holtby v. David Rittich
This matchup features two teams that both played last night against different competition. The Canucks looked slow against the senators and ultimately paid the price in a 6-3 loss where Thatcher Demko had a game to forget. Toronto jumped on the Canadiens early and never looked back as they won 4-1. In all likelihood, the Maple Leafs repeat a dominant performance, but in back-to-backs you never know. I do not have the confidence to take a Canucks team coming off 2 straight losses to Ottawa but I do have the confidence to take the over whenever David Rittich is in net.
The Bet: Over 6.5 Total Goals
Alternate Bet: Canucks to Cover 1.5 Goals
Prediction: Canucks 4-3 Maple Leafs
St. Louis Blues v. Minnesota Wild
Projected Goalies: Ville Husso v. Cam Talbot
These two teams met last night and it was the Blues who rallied late for a dramatic 4-3 win. Robert Thomas scored a beauty of a late winner to secure two crucial points for St. Louis as they gained more separation from Arizona in the hunt for the playoffs. Tonight, in the back-to-back, the goalies matchup is the most important factor. Cam Talbot has a considerable advantage over Ville Husso and I think that propels the Wild to a victory tonight.
The Bet: Wild Moneyline
Prediction: Blues 2-4 Wild
Florida Panthers v. Chicago Blackhawks
Projected Goalies: Spencer Knight v. Kevin Lankinen
Florida rallied on Tuesday to secure what ended up being a comfortable 7-4 win over Nashville. The offensive explosion was led by, guess who, Aleksandar Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau. Those two are elite playmakers and have absolutely led the Panthers this year as they are officially back into the playoffs for the first time in several years. Chicago is down in the dumps at the moment as they have lost 2 in a row and gave up 7 goals to Tampa on Tuesday in a game they were never truly in. With both teams coming off such high scoring games, I will bank on the continuation of the trend here tonight.
The Bet: Over 5.5 Total Goals
Prediction: Panthers 4-2 Blackhawks
Calgary Flames v. Edmonton Oilers
Projected Goalies: Jacob Markstrom v. Mike Smith
The late game tonight is another chapter in the history books that is the Battle of Alberta. These two teams, although in different positions in the standings, hate each other to the core and we should get an entertaining affair here tonight. Calgary last played on Monday where they lost to Montreal 2-1 despite winning their 2 previous games against the Canadiens. Edmonton played last night and defeated the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 3-1, it was their second straight win against the same opponent. With the tired legs on the Oilers skaters from the game the night before and the plane trip across half of Canada I will take the underdog Flames here tonight.
The Bet: Flames Moneyline
Prediction: Flames 3-2 Oilers
Fancy a Parlay?
I’ve got two parlays tonight but both are long shots worth half a unit and not my normal surefire ones where I put down a full unit.
Sabres, Red Wings, Canucks to Cover 1.5 Goals
Bruins, Hurricanes, Maple Leafs to Win
One of those 2 has to hit...right?
