Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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08-31-20 | Stars v. Avalanche -133 | Top | 3-6 | Win | 100 | 12 h 2 m | Show |
This is an 8* on COLORADO Back on August 16th, the Stars trailed Calgary 4-3 and were 12 seconds away from falling behind in that series 3-1. But then they tied the game, won it, and what has ensued has been a stunning run of goal scoring by a team not known for having a prolific offense. Dallas has won 6 of its last 7 games, scoring 33 goals in the process, and now can eliminate Colorado with yet another win tonight. The absurdity of this scoring outburst by the Stars has to be read to be believed. In what turned out to be the close out game vs. Calgary, they fell behind 3-0 before even getting a shot on goal. They then scored seven straight goals of their own, marking the first time in NHL Playoff history a team won by 3+ goals in a game in which it trailed by 3+ goals. This series has seen them score 4+ goals in every game, but despite having a 3-1 series lead, they have been outshot by a fairly wide margin. The last five games have seen the Stars score on 17.7% of their shot attempts, which is just crazy. While many will point the finger at Avs goalie Pavel Francouz (starting in place of the injured Philipp Grubauer), the fact is they’ve led by two goals in two of the four games. Dallas goalie Khudobin had never made a playoff start before this year and should still be considered unproven. Colorado has scored 4 or more goals 4 times in the last 6 games, so it should be better than 3-3 in that stretch. Look for them to win this do or die game. Play on COLORADO AAA |
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08-30-20 | Avalanche -130 v. Stars | Top | 4-5 | Loss | -130 | 10 h 58 m | Show |
This is a 10* on COLORADO Down 0-2 to the Stars in this best of seven, the Avalanche desperately needed to win Game 3. We took the Avs on the money line and they did win, 6-4. We'll take them again in Game 4. Colorado entered this series as a decided favorite, but has lost its starting goalie Philipp Grubauer and all of a sudden Dallas has become some sort of offensive juggernaut, scoring 14 goals in the series. That’s a far cry from when these teams faced off in the round robin and the Avs won 4-0. Interestingly enough, that was with backup Francouz between the pipes. While you could argue that win was an anomaly (it’s had been the only time the Avs had beaten the Stars in seven tries this season, prior to Game 3), we still believe Colorado to be the better team. You can’t forget how they closed out the Arizona series with two straight 7-1 victories. Look for Dallas’ offensive surge to eventually slow down as they’ve been outshot in the series and the Avs have scored six or more goals in three of the last five games themselves. Play on COLORADO AAA |
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08-26-20 | Avalanche -138 v. Stars | Top | 6-4 | Win | 100 | 15 h 59 m | Show |
This is a 10* on COLORADO Down 0-2 to the Stars in this best of seven, the Avalanche desperately need to win Game 3 and we think they’ll come through. Colorado entered this series as a decided favorite, but has lost its starting goalie Philipp Grubauer and all of a sudden Dallas has become some sort of offensive juggernaut, scoring five times in both wins. That’s a far cry from when these teams faced off in the round robin and the Avs won 4-0. For the record, that was with backup Francouz between the pipes. Maybe that was an anomaly as it’s the only time the Avs have beaten the Stars in seven meetings this season. But we’re willing to look past that head to head record as we still believe Colorado to be the better team. You can’t forget they closed out the Arizona series with two straight 7-1 victories. Look for Dallas’ sudden offensive surge to slow down as they’ve been outshot in both games (40-27 in Game 2) and the Avs are 6-0 the last six times they’ve been off a loss by 3 goals or more. Play on COLORADO AAA |
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08-24-20 | Stars v. Avalanche -150 | Top | 5-2 | Loss | -150 | 19 h 9 m | Show |
This is a 10* on COLORADO Colorado didn’t see Dallas coming in Game 1. They were blitzed early, as they allowed three goals in the first period, and could never catch up (lost 5-3). Now the favored Avalanche find themselves in a bit of a must win against a team they’ve only beaten once in six tries this season. That one time was 4-0 in the round robin round though and it’s fair to say the Avs are the better team here, despite the recent surge in scoring by the Stars. Colorado has lost goalie Grubauer to a groin injury, but it’s interesting to note that it was his backup (Francouz) that was between the pipes for the aforementioned 4-0 shutout earlier this month. The Avs are 15-6 after allowing 4 or more goals in the previous game and 21-12 in revenge spots this year. They have yet to lose two straight in the bubble where they have outshot opponents by a considerable margin. Play on COLORADO AAA |
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08-23-20 | Canucks v. Golden Knights -172 | Top | 0-5 | Win | 100 | 29 h 18 m | Show |
This is an 8* on VEGAS Vegas earned the top spot in the Western Conference by sweeping through their three round robin games. Then they got here to the conference semifinals by easily dispatching the 12th seeded Chicago Blackhawks in five games. The opponent is the Vancouver Canucks, who eliminated Minnesota in four games in the qualification round then defending Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis in six games in the last round. Both Pacific Division teams are hot entering this series. Vegas is 7-1 SU in the bubble while Vancouver has won 7 of its last 9. But we’ve got to side with the Golden Knights in Game 1 as they’ve played tremendous hockey since the restart. They are dominating possession while averaging 3.7 goals/game. The Canucks are averaging 3.4 goals/game, but on far less shot attempts and it’s going to be difficult to maintain that shot percentage. Vancouver’s possession numbers aren’t as good as they’re being outshot by about 7.0 per game. The Canucks are just 2-8 SU in their 10 games vs. Vegas, both wins coming after regulation.. They are a young team that hasn’t been in the conference semis since 2011. Play on VEGAS AAA |
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08-20-20 | Islanders v. Capitals -110 | Top | 4-0 | Loss | -110 | 22 h 49 m | Show |
This is a 10* on WASHINGTON Back on Tuesday, we projected that the Capitals would stay alive and they did, beating the Islanders 3-2 in Game 4 of this best of seven series. They won despite falling behind 2-0 early. Obviously, down 3-1 in the series, there’s a lot more work to be done. But we again believe this talented team will live to fight another day. This series has seen Washington get outshot by a fairly decent margin. While that’s not something you want to see, they did just score three goals for the first time since the restart and Alex Ovechkin had two of them.That’s enough to convince us that the Caps aren’t going to simply roll over here. Ovechkin and TJ Oshie are the only Caps to have scored in this series, but Backstrom seems ready to return. Washington was the favorite in this series for a reason. The Islanders are just 3-11 their last 14 games as an underdog. Play on WASHINGTON AAA |
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08-19-20 | Hurricanes v. Bruins -149 | Top | 1-2 | Win | 100 | 18 h 59 m | Show |
This is a 10* on BOSTON Boston stormed back to take Game 4 by a count of 4-3 on Monday and now leads Carolina 3-1 in this best of seven series. They go for the “kill” on Wednesday and given how the last game played out, the series is ripe for the taking. The Hurricanes led 2-0 with just under 12 minutes to go. The Bruins then scored four times in the next seven minutes to completely change the direction of the series. Boston finished the game with a 33-19 edge in shots, so they deserved to win. They have just crushed Carolina when it comes to shots in the series, holding a +44 edge. They have outshot them by at least 9 in all four games. In addition, the Bruins have taken 13 of the past 15 matchups head to head. With Tuukka Rask gone, there was concern over whether or not there’d be a drop off in the crease for Boston. There hasn’t been as Jaroslav Halak’s numbers have been every bit as good as Rask’s. It can’t be stressed enough that Boston had the most points in the league when the season was stopped in March. They are 40-16 L56 off a win. Play on BOSTON AAA |
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08-19-20 | Blue Jackets v. Lightning -170 | Top | 4-5 | Win | 100 | 14 h 48 m | Show |
This is an 8* on TAMPA BAY We’ve taken Tampa Bay in each of the last two games and they’ve delivered. Now they have a shot to eliminate Columbus for good and finally erase the painful memory of what happened in the first round of last year’s playoffs. That history-making sweep is the furthest thing from the Blue Jackets’ minds right now as they are just thinking one win at a time. Problem is, they are gassed. This was discussed in our Game 4 analysis. To rehash, Columbus had to play a tough five-game series against Toronto in the qualification round and a 5OT loss in Game 1 of this series was exactly what they DIDN’T need. Now had the Lightning lost that game, this would be a much different series. Columbus did outshoot Tampa Bay for the first time in the series in Game 4 (29-22) but were pretty much doomed once they fell into a two-goal hole. The Blue Jackets have been outshot in all but three games in the bubble and you have to think Tampa feels pretty good about itself being that they’re 5-2 and have yet to score more than three goals in any game here in Toronto. Of course, neither has Columbus. The problem for the Blue Jackets is that the Lightning are 47-9 their L56 after scoring two goals or less the last game. Play on TAMPA BAY AAA |
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08-18-20 | Capitals +100 v. Islanders | Top | 3-2 | Win | 100 | 23 h 32 m | Show |
This is a 10* on WASHINGTON This is it for the Caps, who are down 0-3 in this best of seven series. We did not see them being in this position. Few did. Washington was leading the Metropolitan Division back in March. Upon restarting, they lost two of three games in the round robin. But they still were the 3-seed and facing an Islanders team that had not really been tested in its qualification series vs. Florida. However, it’s the Isles that have looked the part of the better team here. They’ve outshot Washington 75-53 in 5v5 play, allowing just two goals. Still, it would be quite foolish to write off the Capitals at this point. We already saw one (Chicago) facing elimination and a 3-0 series deficit stay alive by winning Game 4. After six straight games of two goals or less, you have to think the Capitals are due for a break out game offensively. This is a team whose season long average is still 3.3 goals/game, one of the best in the league. They’ve gone from a -135 money line favorite in Game 1 to a slight underdog here in Game 4. We’ll grab the value. Play on WASHINGTON AAA |
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08-17-20 | Lightning -153 v. Blue Jackets | Top | 2-1 | Win | 100 | 6 h 45 m | Show |
This is an 8* on TAMPA BAY Tampa Bay got a much needed win in Game 3. They had our endorsement and never trailed en route to their second 3-2 victory of the series. They outshot the Blue Jackets 2:1 (34-17) and concerning for Columbus is whether or not the team may have “run out of gas.” Coach John Tortorella seemed to think so based on his post-game comments. Remember that the Blue Jackets have already gone through a five-game qualification series as well as the 5OT marathon in Game 1. Up 2-1 in the series, the Lightning have confidence against the team that pulled off that shocking sweep in last year’s playoffs. They have outshot Columbus in every game so far. To that point, the Blue Jackets have been outshot in six of their eight games since the restart. They had only eight shots on goal over the last 50 minutes of Game 3. While they had Sunday off, that’s probably not enough to recharge. Undervalued because of what happened in last year’s playoffs, the Lightning win again and take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Play on TAMPA BAY AAA |
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08-15-20 | Lightning -170 v. Blue Jackets | Top | 3-2 | Win | 100 | 20 h 36 m | Show |
This is a 10* on TAMPA BAY Tampa Bay thought it finally had gained the upper hand against arch-nemesis Columbus after a FIVE overtime victory in Game 1. Technically, the had. The win put the Lightning up 1-0 in the series. But then they lost Game 2 by a score of 3-1. The Blue Jackets really neutralized the Lightning’s offense in that one, giving up just the one goal in the first period. Obviously, in the back of Tampa Bay’s head is what happened last year - a shocking first round sweep at the hands of Columbus. Because they won Game 1, it can’t be a repeat, but the goal here is not to get eliminated by the same team two years in a row. The Lightning shouldn’t hang their heads too much though; they outshot the Blue Jackets in Game 2, 37-22. Game 1 it was an 88-63 edge in that regard (remember, 5 OT’s). Since the restart, the pattern for Columbus has been win one, lose one (they have yet to win or lose consecutive games. Tampa Bay also hasn’t lost two in a row. Play on TAMPA BAY AAA |
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08-14-20 | Canucks v. Blues -138 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -138 | 20 h 60 m | Show |
This is an 8* on ST. LOUIS St. Louis, who won the Stanley Cup last June and had the most points in the Western Conference at the time of the stoppage, has not won a game since March. They are 0-3-1 since the restart and this series with Vancouver got off to an auspicious start Wednesday. They were beaten 5-2. It was the Canucks 4th straight win and they’ve scored 17 goals. Certainly, it feels as if the Canucks have the momentum right now. But it would obviously be foolish to write off the Blues. The third period has been the problem thus far. The Cup Champs have been outscored 9-0 in the final 20 minutes of the previous four games. They have a +2 goal differential in the first two periods. In the round robin, they lost in the final second of regulation and another game in a shootout. The other saw them jump out to an early 2-0. In Game 1 vs. Vancouver, they had a 31-22 edge in shots on goal. Look for the Blues to reverse their late game woes in Game 2 and tie this series up. Play on ST LOUIS AAA |
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08-12-20 | Coyotes v. Avalanche -170 | Top | 0-3 | Win | 100 | 31 h 45 m | Show |
This is a 10* on COLORADO They didn’t earn the West’s top seed. But Colorado is a team to watch. Not just in this series, which they figure to dominate. But throughout the entire playoffs as they are very capable of making a deep run. The Avalanche had the West’s #1 goal differential before the stoppage. Here in the Round of 16, they draw an Arizona team that’s off its first playoff series win in eight years. That came on the heels of their GM quitting right before entering the bubble. While the Coyotes may not have had much trouble dispatching Nashville in four games, the Avs are a whole different class of opponent. They had the possession advantage in all three round robin games, averaging 37.7 shots on goal while allowing only 28.3. Arizona’s Darcy Keumper was as good as expected against the Preds, but he faced 163 shots in the qualification round, which was more than any other goaltender. Once again, he figures to be under siege in this series. The only difference being that Colorado has more talented skaters than Nashville. Interesting that the ‘Yotes are just 9-20 the last 29 times playing on three or more days rest. Look for the Avs to roll in Game 1. Play on COLORADO AAA |
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08-12-20 | Hurricanes v. Bruins -127 | Top | 3-4 | Win | 100 | 3 h 12 m | Show |
This is a 10* on BOSTON Boston had the most points in the league (100) when the season stopped in March. Three consecutive losses since the restart have them as the 4-seed in the Eastern Conference. It can be argued that’s unfair, but don’t expect any sympathy from the Carolina Hurricanes, who are thinking about revenge after being swept by the Bruins in last year’s Eastern Conference Final. A lot of momentum is with the ‘Canes right now after they won three straight games over the Rangers, the only sweep of the qualification round. But it would be foolish to discount the defending Eastern Conference Champs. Just go ahead and reread the first sentence of this analysis. There is also the question of “rust” for Carolina as they have not played a game in a full week. The Hurricanes have lost to the Bruins six straight times and have beaten them just once in 10 tries. This is a great “buy low” opportunity on the Bruins. Play on BOSTON AAA |
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08-09-20 | Blue Jackets v. Maple Leafs -146 | Top | 3-0 | Loss | -146 | 23 h 41 m | Show |
This is an 8* on TORONTO It’s come down to one game for all the marbles between Columbus and Toronto. The winner moves on to the Round of 16 while the loser’s season is done. After the Blue Jackets stunned the Maple Leafs in Game 3, rallying back from a three-goal deficit to win 4-3 in overtime, the Leafs did the exact same thing in Game 4. Albeit their rally was much more dramatic with three goals being scored in the last four minutes of regulation. They tied it up with only 23 seconds left. That is a very tough loss to get over if you’re Columbus. They also gave up 53 shots on goal. Though there are no fans, playing on home ice should provide a theoretical boost to Toronto. Momentum is on their side. Play on TORONTO AAA |
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08-08-20 | Flyers v. Lightning -131 | Top | 4-1 | Loss | -131 | 22 h 57 m | Show |
This is a 10* on TAMPA BAY This game will determine who gets the 1-seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. We’re still waiting on an official start time for the game, but that doesn’t impact the play at all. We’re backing the Lightning here as they look to be the 1-seed for the third year in a row. Going back to before the shutdown, Philadelphia was among the hottest teams in the league. They’d won 9 of 10 and came out and beat Boston and Washington by scores of 4-1 and 3-1. Tampa Bay has wins over those same two teams, both by 3-2 margins. A nice little edge here for the Lightning is that they last played on Wednesday while the Flyers last played Thursday. Another edge for the Lightning is that they have owned the Flyers the last couple seasons, taking seven in a row. TB has scored five or more goals in all but one of those seven wins. Still concerning to us is the fact the Flyers gave up more goals than they allowed this year when playing on the road. Play on TAMPA BAY AAA |
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08-07-20 | Penguins -155 v. Canadiens | Top | 0-2 | Loss | -155 | 18 h 10 m | Show |
This is a 10* on PITTSBURGH We’ve backed Montreal in both games that they won in this qualification series. But with their backs against the wall (facing elimination) today, we’ll go with the (still) favored Penguins. Pittsburgh was the 5-seed coming into the NHL’s restart, but has seen its power play really struggle in the series. After going 1 for 12 with the man advantage in the first two games, they did break through with a pair of power play goals Tuesday night. But shockingly, they could not hold a 3-1 lead, instead conceding three unanswered goals to lose 4-3. It is a little shocking to see the Canadiens in this position knowing that they were outscored in the regular season. Both teams have scored eight times in the series. Montreal not only had to fight back from a 2-goal deficit to take Game 3, they also needed OT to win Game 1. So Pittsburgh could have honestly swept the series. Despite how we’ve played the series so far, we know that the Penguins are the better team and they should improve to 9-3 the last 12 meetings with Montreal after tonight. This series is going to a deciding 5th game. Play on PITTSBURGH AAA |
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08-04-20 | Wild v. Canucks +102 | Top | 3-4 | Win | 102 | 13 h 19 m | Show |
This is a 10* on VANCOUVER Must-win here for the Canucks, who are down 0-1 in the series. They were shut out in Game 1, 3-0, and saw little in the way of scoring chances against the Wild. However, we like their chances of bouncing back and taking Game 2. If you look at these other “qualification series,” the team that lost Game 1 has come back to go 3-1 SU in Game 2. Vancouver is the higher seed here, yet not really priced accordingly. Yes it’s a 7-10 matchup. However, the Canucks not only had more regular season points than the Wild, but also a better goal differential. The prospect of falling down 0-2 in a best of five series should have them plenty motivated tonight and it’s definitely worth noting that Minnesota is just 1-5 this season when coming off a shutout victory. Play on VANCOUVER AAA |
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08-03-20 | Stars v. Golden Knights -125 | Top | 3-5 | Win | 100 | 20 h 30 m | Show |
This is a 10* on VEGAS Dallas and Vegas will be the last teams from the Western Conference to restart the season. They are part of the round robin qualifying as they finished in the top four prior to lockdown. Vegas was leading the Pacific with 86 points while Dallas was third in the Pacific with 81 points. The Stars were also ice cold before the season got shut down as they were on a six-game losing streak. So they’re a bit lucky to have made this round robin format. Winner here will tie Colorado, who defeated St. Louis yesterday. While Dallas gave up the fewest number of goals among teams out West, they also had difficulty scoring. During that six-game skid, they were shut out twice and never scored more than three goals in any of the games. Vegas averages 3.15 goals/game. While they’ll miss playing at T-Mobile Arena, the Golden Knights are in good shape in the bubble at Edmonton as Robin Lehner will be in goal. Before shut down, Vegas had won 11 of 13 games overall and eight straight against foes with winning records. Play on VEGAS AAA |
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08-02-20 | Blue Jackets v. Maple Leafs -148 | Top | 2-0 | Loss | -148 | 129 h 7 m | Show |
This is a 10* on TORONTO It wasn’t a sure thing that Toronto would have made the playoffs under “normal circumstances.” But the Leafs were third in the Atlantic when play stopped and were three points clear of fourth place Florida. We imagine they would have gotten in. Columbus also had 81 points (same as Toronto) but was a more precarious fifth in the tougher Metropolitan Division. The Blue Jackets occupied what would have been the last Wild Card spot in the usual playoff format, though the Islanders were just one point back and had two games in hand. For this first game of the qualification round, the Leafs are favored (as they should be), which makes sense since the Eastern Conference “bubble” happens to be Toronto. But it’s more than just the venue. The Leafs scored 52 more goals than the Blue Jackets did. Both played 70 games. The flip side is Columbus gave up a lot fewer. But while the road team won both regular season meetings, the favorite remains on a 5-1 run in this head to head series. Toronto was actually a -153 favorite at Columbus early in the season. 10* on TORONTO AAA |
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08-02-20 | Flyers v. Bruins -125 | Top | 4-1 | Loss | -125 | 124 h 7 m | Show |
This is an 8* on BOSTON So the top four teams in each conference will be engaging in round robin style play, similar to a “Group Stage” in the World Cup, to determine the order of seeding (1-4) in the Round of 16. The Bruins had the most points in the league (100) when play stopped in March and what’s crazy is that they were 0-7 in shootouts, so they probably should have even more. We like them in this first game against Philadelphia. The Flyers were a hot team when lockdown hit. From January 8th on, they were tied with the Bruins for the best record in the league. But goalie Carter Hart is new to the playoffs. Boston’s Tuukka Rask had the best goals against average in the league at 2.12. The Flyers are unproven and we’re skeptical if they can regain the form of the two months that preceded lockdown. It was a shorter time frame of dominance compared to Boston’s season-long dominance. Remember that it was the Bruins that ended the Flyers’ win streak on March 10th with a 2-0 victory. 8* on BOSTON AAA |
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03-11-20 | Senators v. Kings -160 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 15 h 18 m | Show |
This is an 8* on LA The Kings can’t be stopped right now! They’ve won a season-best six games in a row and that streak figures to continue this evening when they host one of the worst teams in the league. Now LA has spent a good chunk of this season in last place. But they are now close to escaping the Pacific Division’s basement. Now you’d be correct in pointing out that as hot as the Kings have been, they still only have the same number of points as the Senators. But this situation is very bad for Ottawa. It’s the end of a three-game trip through Southern California and they lost 5-2 last night in Anaheim. The fact the Kings have allowed just seven goals in their six-game win streak is difficult to ignore. Play on LOS ANGELES AAA |
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03-11-20 | Rangers v. Avalanche -155 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 15 h 48 m | Show |
This is an 8* on COLORADO Colorado just got dealt its third loss in the last four games. Prior to that, the Avalanche had won eight in a row. But after playing the last three games on the road, they go back home tonight to face a Rangers team that was just in action last night. That’s kind of a sensitive subject for us as we had their opponents. But credit New York for winning on the road 4-2. But NY had won only one time in the five games before that and has had an issue with giving up goals lately. They also are missing Chris Krieder, whose absence from ice seemed to begin the current downturn. Colorado hopes the same thing doesn’t happen with Nathan MacKinnon’s injury, though that is a more short-term deal. There are others in the Avs locker room nursing injuries, but this is a much better team than the Rangers and being back home is just what they need right now. The Avalanche have won two-thirds of their non-conference games this year. Play on COLORADO AAA |
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03-10-20 | Rangers v. Stars -164 | Top | 4-2 | Loss | -164 | 12 h 8 m | Show |
This is a 10* on DALLAS Despite a five-game losing streak, Dallas is still in third place in the Central Division. But that lead is shrinking (down to 4 points) and their recent play obviously leaves a lot to be desired. They were just shut out twice in a row by Nashville, a division foe. Scoring shouldn’t be that difficult tonight however as the Stars get to face a Rangers team that has allowed 11 goals in its last two games. The Rangers also seem to have hit a “wall” with losses in four of their past five games. They’ve allowed 5 or more goals in all of those losses. The Stars have averaged more than 35 shots per game during this losing streak. So they are very likely to start converting more of those opportunities into goals. At the same time, they give up only 2.2 goals per game here at home. That’s the best average in the league in home games. Play on DALLAS AAA |
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03-09-20 | Capitals -161 v. Sabres | Top | 2-3 | Loss | -161 | 11 h 11 m | Show |
This is an 8* on WASHINGTON The Capitals got a big win Saturday, beating the Penguins 5-2. But they are still tied with the Flyers for first place in the Metropolitan Division. A favorable matchup on Monday should allow them to break that tie. They face Buffalo, a team that has lost its last six games. The Sabres have only scored 12 goals in the last seven games (while going 0 for 17 on the power play) and that just won’t get it done here as Washington is one of the top scoring teams in the league. Buffalo is 3-10 this year after scoring one goal or less in their last game. Despite playing hard for two periods, the Sabres still lost 3-1 at Philadelphia Saturday night. The Capitals have scored 10 goals in just the last two games and are 14-2-1 vs. the Atlantic Division this season. Easy win for the road team. Play on WASHINGTON AAA |
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03-08-20 | Hurricanes v. Penguins -155 | Top | 6-2 | Loss | -155 | 5 h 9 m | Show |
This is an 8* on PITTSBURGH Carolina and Pittsburgh both played on Saturday but had different results. The Hurricanes were finally able to snap their losing streak (at four games) with an overtime win at the Islanders. The Penguins, who recently ended their own six-game slide, were not successful against Washington. However, the Pens did score 11 goals in their two games (both wins) prior to yesterday’s loss where special teams played a significant role. Not only was Pittsburgh 1 for 5 on the power play, including a failure to convert a 5 on 3 opportunity. They also gave up a short-handed goal. Look for them to get back in the win column today. The Penguins’ home record is 23-7-4 and they have a large edge in scoring over their opponents in those games. Carolina is 0 for 4 off their last four wins while Pittsburgh is 7-2 off their last nine losses that were by 3 or more goals. Play on PITTSBURGH AAA |
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03-07-20 | Wild -137 v. Kings | Top | 3-7 | Loss | -137 | 7 h 41 m | Show |
This is a 10* on MINNESOTA Despite not scoring a goal in regulation (or overtime), the Kings extended their win streak to four games Thursday night as they outlasted Toronto in a shootout. During this win streak, which is a season best for the Kings, they’ve allowed just three goals. Don’t expect these winning ways to continue though. This afternoon Minnesota invades LA. The Wild have won 7 of their last 9 games and scored at least three goals eight times. They’ve scored at least four goals in five of those games. While the Kings season is all but over, Minnesota is fighting for a playoff opportunity. They are one point back of the two Wild Card teams. A win here obviously puts them ahead of both. Incredibly, Thursday was the first shutout win for Los Angeles all season. They are just 6-12 after scoring 1 goal or less the previous game. The Wild have won 8 of their last 10 tries against teams that have losing records. Play on MINNESOTA AAA |
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03-06-20 | Maple Leafs -163 v. Ducks | Top | 1-2 | Loss | -163 | 14 h 8 m | Show |
This is an 8* on TORONTO Toronto let us down big time last night. Getting shut out by the Kings was obviously not in mind. But it’s worth pointing out the Leafs didn’t allow any goals either … at least until a shootout, which they lost. Anaheim, though they pulled off a huge upset in its last game (beat Colorado 4-3 as a +315 dog), isn’t a threat to score many goals tonight. The Ducks are just 6-12 this year if they scored four or more times in their last game. Toronto has beaten Anaheim five straight times including 5-4 at home last month. They had more shots on goal than the Kings last night. Play on TORONTO AAA |
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03-06-20 | Golden Knights -133 v. Jets | Top | 0-4 | Loss | -133 | 12 h 7 m | Show |
This is a 10* on VEGAS Vegas is 9-1 its last 10 games. They’ve been big favorites each of the last four. Tonight they head to Winnipeg. The Jets have lost 4 of 6 but did beat Buffalo Wednesday. Whereas the Jets are in a 4-way tie for the last Wild Card spot, the Golden Knights are in a more comfortable position in first place in the Pacific. But don’t think that means a let up tonight. The Knights’ lead is only two points over Edmonton in the Pacific Division. Three of their last eight wins, the last one included, have been of the shutout variety. We liked them even at -1.5 Tuesday vs. New Jersey. They won 3-0. The Jets have won just 2 of the past 10 times they have been a home dog. Play on VEGAS AAA |
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03-05-20 | Maple Leafs -175 v. Kings | Top | 0-1 | Loss | -175 | 13 h 52 m | Show |
This is a 10* on TORONTO Toronto is starting to feel a bit safer as it pertains to finishing in the top three in the Atlantic. The closest team to them is Florida, who is five points behind and lost three in a row. Just to be clear, a team needs to finish in the top three in its own division to be guaranteed a playoff spot. There are also two Wild Cards per conference. The Maple Leafs have been in third most of the year in the Atlantic Division and have almost no chance of catching second place Tampa Bay. But that has to feel like the Presidents Trophy compared to the Kings, who have spent the year in the basement of the Pacific. The Kings still have the least amount of points (56) in the Western Conference despite winning three straight games. That streak ends here, however. The only other time this season that LA won three in a row, they lost the next game… in shutout fashion. That was all the way back in November. Toronto has won 11 straight against California teams. Play on TORONTO AAA |
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03-04-20 | Blue Jackets v. Flames -165 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 24 h 2 m | Show |
This is an 8* on CALGARY Columbus and Calgary are in similar positions, just different conferences, when it comes to current playoff position. Columbus - despite recently enduring a pretty brutal stretch - is one of the two Wild Cards in the Eastern Conference. Calgary actually moved up to third in its division, meaning it’s safer in the West, but they’ve spent most of the last several weeks as a precarious Wild Card holder themselves. The Flames did just win 3-0 at Florida on Sunday, giving them a boost in the standing. Columbus also won its last game, beating Vancouver. But the Blue Jackets have not won a road game in a LONG time (over a month) and the Flames have won seven straight times when facing an opponent that scored five or more goals in its last game. Columbus beat Vancouver by a score of 5-3. Play on CALGARY AAA |
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02-29-20 | Hurricanes v. Canadiens -123 | Top | 3-4 | Win | 100 | 11 h 19 m | Show |
This is a 10* on MONTREAL Unless they are able to go on some sort of extended run, it’s looking increasingly less likely that Montreal is going to make the playoffs. Seven losses in the past nine games, the last two both at home, have them nine points back of where they need to be right now. But don’t expect the Canadiens to roll over Saturday for the Carolina Hurricanes, who are also coming off two straight home defeats and on the outside of the playoff picture. Having played last night puts the ‘Canes at a clear disadvantage coming into tonight. They fought back from a 2-0 deficit against the Avalanche only to then allow the game-winning goal with 2:37 left in regulation. That’s an incredibly demoralizing way to lose right before having to set out on the road. Injuries at the goalie position continue to haunt this team. It should be pointed out that Montreal has held 2-0 leads in each of its last two games. So it’s not as if they played poorly. Look for them to get up early again and then finish the deal tonight. Play on MONTREAL AAA |
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02-27-20 | Stars v. Bruins -170 | Top | 3-4 | Win | 100 | 12 h 18 m | Show |
This is an 8* on BOSTON Boston desperately needs a win after being humiliated in consecutive losses to Vancouver and Calgary. The loss to Vancouver took place on the road last Saturday, but will take awhile to forget as the Bruins were beaten 9-2, their worst loss of the season. Then on Tuesday Calgary came to town and won 5-2, handing the B’s just their third regulation loss at home all year. This team is too good to lose three in a row, which is something they have done since right after the New Year. The Bruins have the most points in the league and would have even more were it not for an incredibly unfortunate 0-7 record in shootouts. They have won six of the last eight meetings with the Stars including 2-1 in Dallas all the way back in October. Play on BOSTON AAA |
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02-26-20 | Penguins -175 v. Kings | Top | 1-2 | Loss | -175 | 27 h 12 m | Show |
This is an 8* on PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh briefly passed Washington to move into first place in the Metropolitan Division, but three straight losses have them back in the “bridesmaid’s position.” Still they are only two wins away from tying the Capitals and they have two games in hand. We see an easy two points on the table tonight for the Penguins as they visit LA to place the last place Kings. Only one team in the league has fewer points than Los Angeles. That would be Detroit. Pittsburgh has only had one three-game losing streak this season. It was back in October and the next time out they won 3-0 against Tampa Bay. The Pens are 19-9 against teams with losing records. Everything about this spot says Pittsburgh will bounce back, especially the money line. The Kings were sellers at the trade deadline and are weaker than they’ve been all year. Play on PITTSBURGH AAA |
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02-25-20 | Panthers v. Coyotes -121 | Top | 2-1 | Loss | -121 | 14 h 41 m | Show |
This is a 10* on ARIZONA Arizona is getting Florida at the end of a five-game West Coast trip and they have to be liking their chances tonight. On Saturday, the Coyotes put forth one of the most impressive efforts we’ve seen by any team recently as they crushed the Lightning 7-3. Considering how well Tampa Bay had been playing going into that game, it really says something for the ‘Yotes. Meanwhile, the Panthers are reeling a bit. Ten goals allowed in just two games is not how they want to come into tonight, but that’s the reality as they gave up five goals apiece in losses to Los Angeles (Thursday) and Vegas (Saturday). With eight losses over the previous 11 games, Florida has slowed down measurably since the All Star Break. Arizona has won its last three home games and two of them were against Washington and Tampa Bay. Last month saw them go to Miami and beat the Panthers easily, 5-2. Playing with 2 days rest, the Coyotes have gone an impressive 10-1 this season. Everything here points to an easy win by the home team. Play on ARIZONA AAA |
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02-25-20 | Blue Jackets v. Wild -172 | Top | 4-5 | Win | 100 | 13 h 42 m | Show |
This is an 8* on MINNESOTA Columbus FINALLY got back into the win column Monday, picking up two points at the expense of a pretty bad Ottawa team. We went with the Over in last night’s game and didn’t need to sweat it out as it was 3-3 midway through the third period. But for the Blue Jackets, things did get dicey as they needed overtime to prevail 4-3 and they lost goalie Merzlikins to injury. As one of just two teams in the league that played last night, the Blue Jackets seem to be at a severe disadvantage tonight in Minnesota. They had to play an extra five minutes last night and now have issues between the pipes. While they’ve yet to win at home since firing Bruce Boudreau, the Wild remain a solid home team and are motivated post coaching change. You may not be able to tell that by the way they lost to St. Louis on Sunday but the Wild shouldn’t have any issues here in a spot that clearly favors them. Columbus is giving up an average of 4.0 goals per game its last five contests. Play on MINNESOTA AAA |
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02-23-20 | Oilers -137 v. Kings | Top | 4-2 | Win | 100 | 13 h 37 m | Show |
This is an 8* on EDMONTON Edmonton is coming off two straight home losses. The last one was to Minnesota as they gave up five goals. The other was to Boston, the team with the most points in the league. Now in third place in their division, the Oilers are set to embark on a three-game road trip of the West Coast starting in LA tonight. The Kings have the least amount of points in the Conference. They lost 2-1 to Colorado last night, a game that went to a shootout, so they’re at a disadvantage here. This isn’t a team that can overcome any additional disadvantages. Edmonton is 13-5 when off a loss by two or more goals. Play on EDMONTON AAA |
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02-22-20 | Hurricanes v. Maple Leafs -137 | Top | 6-3 | Loss | -137 | 12 h 16 m | Show |
This is a 10* on TORONTO It is an incredibly jam-packed race for the two Wild Card spots in the NHL’s Eastern Conference. Remember that the top three in each division automatically qualify for the playoffs. Right now Toronto occupies third in the Atlantic, but they are just two points up on Florida. Carolina has the same number of points as Toronto (72) but is actually sixth in the Metropolitan, meaning they would not be in the playoffs if they started today. What the Hurricanes are in is the second night of a back to back. They lost at home to the Rangers last night, 5-2, as they continue to struggle to find consistency post-All Star Break. Toronto is off a shutout win over Pittsburgh, 4-0, right here at home on Thursday. These teams played one of the wildest games of the year back in December with the Maple Leafs prevailing 8-6. That was also here in Toronto. The Leafs are better situated to grab the two points tonight seeing as they are rested and 15-8 straight up when off a win by two goals or more. Play on TORONTO AAA |
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02-21-20 | Wild v. Oilers -109 | Top | 5-3 | Loss | -109 | 14 h 39 m | Show |
This is a 10* on EDMONTON Minnesota made a surprise change behind the bench last week, firing coach Bruce Boudreau. After losing their first game under interim Dean Evason (2-0 to San Jose), the Wild were able to outlast Vancouver in a shootout Wednesday night. But the road has generally been less than kind to this team as it still gives up 3.6 goals/contest when not in the XCel Center. So look for Edmonton, who is coming off a home loss, to rebound tonight. Despite being short handed, the Oilers were able to take the Bruins to overtime Wednesday. Boston is arguably the best team in the league and there’s no shame in losing to them. The last time Edmonton lost two straight home games was early December. They have a chance to move into first place in the Pacific Division with a win tonight and come in with a case of double revenge for a pair of losses in the Twin Cities early on in the season. Play on EDMONTON. AAA |
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02-20-20 | Flyers v. Blue Jackets -120 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -120 | 11 h 21 m | Show |
This is a 10* on COLUMBUS This is a very important game within the Metropolitan Division. Third place guarantees you a playoff spot and right now the race for third is four teams separated by a single point. The Flyers are in “pole position” right now with 73 points. Three teams, Columbus among them, have 72 points. The Blue Jackets are absolutely desperate right now as they have lost six in a row, the most recent game coming in Philadelphia Tuesday where they went down by a score of 5-1. But the Nationwide Arena in Columbus has been a house of horrors for the Flyers as they’ve won just three of the past 19 visits. One such win did occur back in November. The Blue Jackets are 0-3 against the Flyers this year. So calling this their most important game of the season (so far) would not be hyperbole. Look for a very inspired effort by the home team tonight. Something worth noting is three of the losses in the six-game losing streak for the Blue Jackets have come past regulation. Also, they lost and gave up five goals Tuesday despite allowing just 15 shots. Play on COLUMBUS AAA |
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02-19-20 | Wild v. Canucks -123 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -123 | 15 h 56 m | Show |
This is a 10* on VANCOUVER Despite taking a 5-1 loss Sunday, the Canucks are still outscoring visiting teams by an average of 0.9 gpg, which is very solid. They average 3.6 gpg in Vancouver and had won their two previous games here by scores of 6-2 and 3-0. Minnesota is not a good road team. They are giving up 3.7 gpg away from home, which is the third worst average in the league (only Detroit & Ottawa are worse). They also just made what was a bit of a head-scratching decision, firing coach Bruce Boudreau. Clearly, the front office saw something wrong with this team that the rest of us were not seeing. That the Wild were shut out at home - 2-0 by a bad San Jose team - in the first game after Boudreau’s firing was not a good sign. Speaking of changes, Vancouver just brought in forward Tyler Toffoli in a trade with the Kings. This is a key acquisition. The Canucks are simply better than the Wild, especially at home. Play on VANCOUVER AAA |
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02-17-20 | Capitals v. Golden Knights -127 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 11 h 36 m | Show |
This is a 10* on VEGAS The Golden Knights have kicked off this homestand with a couple of wins. Both were by one goal, yet also very different. They beat St. Louis 6-5 and the Islanders 1-0. No matter the manner the wins are coming, Vegas will take them as they continue to fight for playoff positioning. They currently are third in the Pacific Division, but just two points out of first. So a win tonight could land them atop the division. That will be easier said than done facing Washington, but at least the Knights are getting the Capitals at the end of a three-game road trip. The Caps just got beat Saturday in Arizona, 3-1, as their lead over in the Metropolitan Division gets even smaller. It’s now down to a single point over Pittsburgh. Note Vegas is 4-0 the last four times they’ve been off a game in which it scored two or less goals. The home team has taken five of six all-time meetings. Play on VEGAS AAA |
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02-16-20 | Ducks v. Canucks -154 | Top | 5-1 | Loss | -154 | 10 h 47 m | Show |
This is a 10* on VANCOUVER Vancouver has been the best team in the Pacific all year and that’s starting to “bear fruit” as the Canucks lead the division with 67 points. But the lead is precarious to say the least with the next four teams all within three points and two teams within a single point. So they can’t afford any kind of “letdown” game. Thankfully, the Canucks are at home tonight where they’ll battle an Anaheim team that simply isn’t very good. Oddsmakers have curiously priced this game as if it might be competitive but we’ve got a different view as the Canucks are 19-6-3 at home and won their last two games by scores of 3-0 and 6-2. Both were on home ice where they are outscoring the opposition by more than a full goal per game this season. Anaheim was shutout 6-0 in its last game and while that was three days ago, the Ducks certainly haven’t gotten any better since that home loss to Calgary. To “sweeten the pot” here for Vancouver, this is a revenge game. Play on VANCOUVER AAA |
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02-16-20 | Oilers v. Hurricanes -205 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -205 | 9 h 48 m | Show |
This is a 6* on CAROLINA If you look at how Carolina is being priced on a game-by-game basis, you’d expect that that they’d be in a lot better position than sixth place in their own division and just fighting to get into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Yet that’s where they are right now. The Hurricanes handled their business on Friday by beating the New Jersey Devils 5-2 here in Raleigh. They were -285 money line favorites for that game. Now it’s obvious that today’s pricing is heavily influenced by the fact Edmonton is without Connor McDavid. But the price isn’t high enough in our opinion as we expect the home team to roll in this one. McDavid had 30 goals and 81 points in 55 games, so that’s a massive piece of the Oilers production missing. Carolina won 6-3 in Edmonton back in December and that was with McDavid on the ice. Furthermore, the Oilers played last night in Florida and while they won 4-1, they are just 35-77 playing without rest. Carolina is 40-18 its last 58 home games. Play on CAROLINA AAA |
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02-15-20 | Islanders v. Golden Knights -173 | Top | 0-1 | Win | 100 | 23 h 14 m | Show |
This is an 8* on VEGAS These are two third place teams that have each produced wildly inconsistent results of late. Both allowed five goals the last time we saw them. But the major difference is Vegas scored six of its own while the Islanders were held scoreless. Those very different results set up a play on the Golden Knights tonight. It was St. Louis that they beat 6-5 on Thursday, a major triumph that should be celebrated. They had 52 shots on goal. The Islanders were blanked in Nashville. It was 3-0 after one period and 5-0 after two. The final result matched their worst loss of the season in terms of deficit. After going a combined 53-22-7 their first two years at home, Vegas is only 15-10-4 at T-Mobile Arena this season. But we expect some of the old Vegas magic to be present here tonight. The Islanders are one of the lowest scoring teams in the league on the road. Play on VEGAS AAA |
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02-12-20 | Blackhawks v. Canucks -139 | Top | 0-3 | Win | 100 | 11 h 28 m | Show |
This is a 9* on VANCOUVER Vancouver treated us nicely Monday when they were our Game of the Week and delivered an impressive 6-2 beatdown of Nashville. We were pretty firm in our belief that there was no real justification for the Canucks to be ML dogs in that game (which was at home). The Pacific Division leaders had lost four in a row prior to that, but three of the losses were on the road. They’re back home this evening to face Chicago, a team that has lost four in a row. Even worse for the Blackhawks is how this will be the third road game in four nights for them. The previous two have seen them give up five goals each time. Last night’s 5-3 loss to the Oilers (who did not have McDavid) leaves them in last place in the Central Division. Vancouver is honoring several key players from the past tonight so expect a fired up home crowd for this one. The Canucks are 14-6 coming off a multi-goal victory. Play on VANCOUVER AAA |
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02-10-20 | Predators v. Canucks +103 | Top | 2-6 | Win | 103 | 30 h 34 m | Show |
This is a 10* on VANCOUVER Vancouver is fighting to hold onto the top spot in the Pacific Division, which they lead by one point over Edmonton and Vegas. Two other teams are within four points. Nashville is just trying to get into playoff position as they are four points back of the Wild Card. While it’s not a huge gap between the teams when it comes to points, there’s no reason Nashville should be favored in this one. The Canucks are a very solid 17-6-3 at home and they’ve already beaten Nashville twice this year. Now the Canucks are on a four-game losing streak and just got blasted by Calgary (6-2!) Saturday night. But the other three losses all came on the road. This is the spot where they rise up. The Predators find themselves playing a fourth straight road game in Western Canada, in a seven-day span. The Canucks score 3.6 goals/game at home while giving up only 2.7. They’d won nine straight home games prior to Saturday’s loss and this four-game losing streak of theirs matches a season-worst. Just can’t see them losing again and this is a great price to back them at. Play on VANCOUVER AAA |
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02-08-20 | Stars v. Blues -155 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -155 | 22 h 40 m | Show |
This is an 8* on ST. LOUIS The last 13 months have been nothing short of incredible for the St. Louis Blues. It was around this time last year that they caught fire and went on to win the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. That “momentum” has clearly carried over into 2019-20 as they lead the Western Conference with 72 points. But they have stumbled a bit recently. Over the last eight games, they are 2-5-1 with just one of those two victories coming in a non-shootout situation. Tonight is a big game against the third place team in the division, Dallas, who has given up the fewest goals of any team in the West. But the Stars have lost two in a row and given up seven goals in doing so. They’ve allowed 30 goals over the last eight games. The Blues have won both times they’ve faced Dallas this season and are 10-1-1 L12 home games. They are allowing just 2.4 goals/game at home this year. Dallas has been outscored on the road. Play on ST LOUIS AAA |
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02-06-20 | Golden Knights v. Panthers +125 | Top | 7-2 | Loss | -100 | 11 h 8 m | Show |
This is a 10* on FLORIDA Though they lost in overtime at Columbus on Tuesday (1-0), the Panthers have been one of the league’s hotter teams over the last month or so. They went into the All Star Break on a six-game win streak. Might the time off have stunted their momentum? They’ve lost two of three since and were shut out in both defeats. But all three games since the All Star Break were on the road. Tonight the Panthers finally return home where they have not played a game since January 16th. While they were shut out in the two losses since the Break, Florida has scored four or more goals in each of its last seven wins. We expect a big offensive night here against a Vegas team that is probably feeling a bit homesick right now. The Panthers average 4.0 goals/game when playing on home ice. The Golden Knights have been on the road since January 14th and couldn’t get the job done Tuesday in Tampa Bay where they lost 4-2. Florida’s record vs. teams that have losing records is 15-7 this year. Play on FLORIDA AAA |
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02-05-20 | Bruins -156 v. Blackhawks | Top | 2-1 | Win | 100 | 11 h 28 m | Show |
This is an 8* on BOSTON If you follow our NHL plays, this pick should not surprise you - at all. Last night’s 2-0 sweep involved us taking Boston (4-0 win) and fading Chicago (3-2 win). With these teams now matched up Wednesday, we’re sticking to the same script. Sure, Boston is now on the road (played at home last night) and Chicago is at home (played at Minnesota last night). But home ice advantage alone cannot save the Blackhawks here. They’re facing the team with the second most points in the league. The Bruins have now won four in a row and have outscored those four opponents 15-4. That includes a couple of road wins over Chicago’s division rivals (Winnipeg, Minnesota). Of course, the Blackhawks just lost in Minnesota last night. While the Bruins rolled to a relatively easy 4-0 win last night (vs. Vancouver), the Blackhawks had to go to overtime. Boston is 4-1 off its previous five shutout victories. They also have revenge for a loss at home last month. Play on BOSTON AAA |
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02-04-20 | Blackhawks v. Wild -125 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 20 h 46 m | Show |
This is a 10* on MINNESOTA Minnesota is in last place in the Central Division with only 52 points. So every game now has an added importance as they try and make up ground in the playoff chase. Taking on Chicago tonight at home feels like a “must-win,” especially on the heels of being embarrassed by Boston on Saturday. That 6-1 defeat was highly unusual for a team that - more often than not - performs quite well in home games. The Wild’s record at home is 14-7-4, which is much better than their 9-15-2 SU road record. It is worth mentioning that the game vs. Boston was the Wild’s first since the All-Star Break, so maybe it can be chalked up to rust. Before the break, they’d won three of four games - all at home - one of them against Tampa Bay and one 7-0 win over Dallas. The Blackhawks remain the portrait of mediocrity, even though they have won six of their last seven games. We don’t think their recent play is an accurate snapshot of where the team is really at. Play on MINNESOTA AAA |
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02-04-20 | Canucks v. Bruins -180 | Top | 0-4 | Win | 100 | 19 h 46 m | Show |
This is a 6* on BOSTON Boston has lost 11 home games so far this season, but only two of those 11 losses have occurred in regulation. With 74 points, second most in the league right now, the Bruins should be feeling pretty good about themselves. If anything, it’s an 0-7 record in shootouts that’s held them back. We fully expect the B’s to have a strong second half of the season, especially at home. Since the All Star Break, they have won games by scores of 2-1 and 6-1 and those were both played on the road. Up next is a visit from Vancouver, who will be playing for a third time in four nights and all three times have come on the road. The Canucks’ five-game win streak came to a halt Sunday as they fell in a shootout at Carolina. Vancouver also happens to be a 1st place team, but has nine fewer points than Boston and plays in a much weaker division. They are a below .500 team on the road where they give up 3.4 goals/game. Play on BOSTON AAA |
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02-01-20 | Blackhawks v. Coyotes -155 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -155 | 12 h 54 m | Show |
This is an 8* on ARIZONA Arizona has lost seven of eight including both games they’ve played since the All Star Break. This has caused them to slide down the Pacific Division standings where they are now in fifth despite having the second best goal differential (+5). The good news for the Coyotes is that they are only two points out of second place and four out of first. We like their chances of picking up two points tonight as they host a Chicago team they’ve already beaten twice this season. The Blackhawks have yet to play a game since the All Star Break, so there’s a good chance they’re rusty. The Break came at somewhat of a bad time for the ‘Hawks as they’d won five of six prior to it. Before losing Thursday to Los Angeles, the Coyotes had been 3-0 when off three straight losses. Look for their longest losing streak of the season to come to an end Saturday. Play on ARIZONA AAA |
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01-31-20 | Flyers v. Penguins -165 | Top | 3-4 | Win | 100 | 10 h 6 m | Show |
This is an 8* on PITTSBURGH This is technically the back half of a home and home between the NHL’s two Keystone State teams. But the first half was played ten days ago, before the All Star Break. The Flyers were 3-0 winners at home, giving them 60 points, but that’s only good enough for sixth place in a tight Metropolitan Division race. The Penguins have 67 points, which has them in second and a safe bet to make the playoffs. To us, Pittsburgh is a clear top four team in the Eastern Conference and they should get payback tonight. After scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game, the Penguins have gone 8-2 SU the next time out. This game being in Pittsburgh really affects how we handicap it. The Pens are 18-5-3 in home games and average 3.5 goals while giving up just 2.5. The Flyers aren’t good road team as they average only 2.8 goals while giving up 3.8, leaving them with a 10-13-2 mark. Honestly, being outscored by a full goal per game, you’d think they’d have a worse road record. This is a game where we expect the home team to dominate. Play on PITTSBURGH AAA |
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01-30-20 | Canadiens v. Sabres -102 | Top | 3-1 | Loss | -102 | 11 h 17 m | Show |
This is a 10* on UNDER Buffalo just gave up five goals in a loss to Ottawa on Tuesday and now must deal with the loss of #1 netminder Linus Ullmark as they are set to host Montreal in a battle of desperate Atlantic Division teams. Both the Sabres and Canadiens have 51 points. They also share the distinction of being 0-1 since the All Star Break. Montreal lost a home game, 4-2 to Washington. No matter who gets the call in goal for tonight, we expect both teams to be stingier than they were last time we saw them. Buffalo had allowed a total of just six goals in its last four games before the break. Interestingly, none of the five goals they allowed to Ottawa were at even strength. Three came when they were a man down, then they allowed one when on the power play themselves and the final tally came on an empty net. The Under is 5-1-1 in Montreal’s last seven games and they are 23-8-2 Under in the month of January the last three seasons. Play UNDER Montreal-Buffalo AAA |
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01-29-20 | Canucks v. Sharks -102 | Top | 5-2 | Loss | -102 | 15 h 10 m | Show |
This is a 10* on SAN JOSE We said San Jose was in quite the hole coming out of the All Star Break as there is a lot of ground to make up if they are to get back into serious playoff contention. But Monday’s 4-2 win against Anaheim was the first step in the right direction. We backed them Monday and will do so again tonight vs. Vancouver. While the Canucks currently lead the Pacific Division, it’s a tenuous lead at best. They have 10 fewer points than every other division leader across the league. Something we mentioned in backing the Sharks Monday is that they haven’t played too many home games recently. But when they have, they’ve made the most of it. They’re a perfect 3-0 at “The Tank” in 2020. Vancouver comes in riding a 3-game win streak, but all three wins were at home. On a recent road trip, they finished just 2-3. They’ve lost six of the last seven times they’ve come to San Jose. Home ice matters! Play on SAN JOSE AAA |
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01-27-20 | Ducks v. Sharks -140 | Top | 2-4 | Win | 100 | 14 h 58 m | Show |
This is a 9* on SAN JOSE It wasn’t a great first half of the season for either of these Pacific Division teams and it’ll take one heck of a run for either to get back into serious playoff contention. Considering what a down year it’s been in the Pacific (no one running away), both teams probably went into the All-Star Break scratching their heads a little bit. Anaheim did win a pair of road games, on back to back nights, against Nashville and Carolina before the Break hit while San Jose has lost three straight. All three Sharks losses were on the road though. Since the calendar turned to 2020, the Sharks have gotten to play only two home games and won them both - beating Columbus and Dallas - both of whom are red hot teams right now. So getting the Ducks at home should lead to a nice start to the second half for San Jose. They are 10-4 vs. Anaheim the last three seasons and we don’t think those two Ducks road victories before the All Star Break should be taken too seriously. This is a team that is 8-15-2 SU on the road and being outscored by a full goal per game. Play on SAN JOSE AAA |
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01-21-20 | Penguins -129 v. Flyers | Top | 0-3 | Loss | -129 | 20 h 26 m | Show |
This is a 10* on PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh has surged into second place in the Metropolitan Division by going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. They are now only four points back of Washington. They just exacted some revenge for one of their few recent losses, beating Boston 4-3 on Saturday. (They had previously lost in Boston on Thursday.) Now the Penguins head to a place where they’ve been pretty successful through the years. They are 6-1 their last seven games here in Philadelphia and also beat the Flyers 7-1 in Pittsburgh in the only prior meeting of this season. The Flyers have fallen into sixth place in the Metro, meaning they would not be a playoff team. While they may be good enough to climb back into the top four, they simply aren’t as good as Pittsburgh is. We will note the Flyers have a 16-4-4 record at home. But Pittsburgh has proven it can win here plus the Flyers are missing top goaltender Carter Hart. Play on PITTSBURGH AAA |
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01-21-20 | Golden Knights v. Bruins -145 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 20 h 57 m | Show |
This is an 8* on BOSTON Boston comes off a home and home split with Pittsburgh, the home team having won each game. It’s been one of the rougher overall stretches for the Bruins of late as they’ve lost six of the last 10, though they still have collected points in seven of the games by going 4-3-3 overall. They remain in 1st place in the Atlantic Division with 68 points. That lead would be even wider were it not for a head-scratching NINE home losses in either OT or a shootout. Incredibly, they are 0-7 in shootouts this season. Meanwhile, they’ve lost only two times at home in regulation all year. We believe this is a team ready to start dominating at home. As for Vegas, they’ve lost five of six and are set to play a fourth consecutive road game out East. The Golden Knights are 0-4 this season after playing their previous three games on the road. The only win they’ve had the last 17 days is over a struggling Ottawa team. After some really poor luck (weird to say about a division frontrunner) in the first half of this season, we don’t think Boston is going to lose many more games at home. They’ll definitely win this one. Play on BOSTON AAA |
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01-19-20 | Islanders v. Hurricanes -170 | Top | 1-2 | Win | 100 | 9 h 21 m | Show |
This is a 7* play on CAROLINA The NHL’s Metropolitan Division has been controlled by Washington and Pittsburgh ever since realignment took place several seasons back. Those two franchises are back on top this year. But right behind them is a crowded field of playoff contenders. Count the Islanders and Hurricanes among them. Even though Carolina is sitting in sixth place with 57 points, that’s just three points back of the third place Islanders. Besides Washington and Pittsburgh, it is the Hurricanes that have the division’s best goal differential at +23. But three straight losses are what has the Canes in the position they are in right now. Two of those were division losses, but both were on the road. Losing 2-1 to Anaheim here at home Friday was not good, but we see Carolina bouncing back here and reasserting itself. Prior to losing to Anaheim, the Hurricanes had won three in a row at home, two of them shutouts. The Islanders lost to Washington yesterday, 6-4, and have now dropped four of their last five games. The only win was over Detroit, the worst team in the league. Carolina has had just one four-game losing streak this season. Won’t happen again. Play on CAROLINA AAA |
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01-18-20 | Blues v. Avalanche -139 | Top | 3-5 | Win | 100 | 7 h 57 m | Show |
This is a 10* on COLORADO While calling this “do or die” for the Avalanche would be overstating things, it’s a game they desperately want to have. Tied for second in the Central Division, the Avs are 10 points back of first place St. Louis, who is the opponent this afternoon. Coming into the New Year, the Avs had lost six straight times to the Blues. But that changed with a commanding 7-3 win on the 2nd of this month, a game that was played right here in Denver. It just so happens that was a Game of the Week play from us. Even though the revenge angle is now technically gone, we feel even more strongly about backing Colorado today. They have the better goal differential compared to St. Louis. Also, each team’s results from its last five games are misleading. St. Louis was a massive favorite in each of its last five games. So the fact they’ve gone 4-1 shouldn’t be that surprising. All five games were also at home. Colorado had dropped a couple decisions in OT before shutting San Jose out, 4-0, on Thursday. We expect the Avs to treat this like their most important game of the year (so far). Play accordingly. Play on COLORADO AAA |
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01-16-20 | Penguins v. Bruins -126 | Top | 1-4 | Win | 100 | 11 h 23 m | Show |
This is an 8* on BOSTON Boston has lost two in a row and was just shut out 3-0 at Columbus on Tuesday. But each of those two losses came on the road. Tuesday was their first time being shut out this season. The Bruins return home Thursday and don’t be fooled by the number of defeats (11) they’ve suffered here in Boston. Nine of those 11 losses have come after regulation. Their two regulation losses are the fewest at home by any team in the league. Now it won’t be easy beating Pittsburgh, even in Beantown. But look for the Bruins to do it. We know the Penguins have won four straight, but they’ve still given up 12 goals in doing so. Three of the four wins came by a score of 4-3, two of them coming beyond regulation. The Penguins record on the road is only 12-7-2. The fact that Pittsburgh scored seven goals on Tuesday (Crosby’s first game back) has a bearing on both teams. The Penguins are 2-6 after scoring five or more times in their last game. The Bruins are 8-1 when facing a team that just scored at least five times. Even without goaltender Tuukka Rask, the hosts win this battle of premier teams. Play on BOSTON AAA |
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01-15-20 | Blackhawks v. Canadiens -175 | Top | 4-1 | Loss | -175 | 11 h 58 m | Show |
This is a 7* on MONTREAL After a horribly unlucky eight-game losing streak, which saw six of the games decided by just one goal, Montreal has finally begun to turn it around. They beat Ottawa in overtime Saturday, then shut out Calgary here at home Monday. We had the Canadiens in both wins. For that win Monday, we pointed out that despite Calgary being a first place team, they actually had the same goal differential as the Habs. Tonight’s opponent is Chicago and not only are they not a first place team, they have been last in the Central Division much of the season. They also have a -15 goal differential even after their own back to back wins. Allowing lots of shots (36.9/game) has naturally led to the Blackhawks giving up lots of goals (3.4/game) in road games. They were in Ottawa last night and had to go to overtime to get the 3-2 win. So fatigue could be a factor tonight. Montreal doesn’t have nearly the same number of injuries as Chicago is dealing with right now. Play on MONTREAL AAA |
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01-14-20 | Golden Knights -152 v. Sabres | Top | 2-4 | Loss | -152 | 10 h 26 m | Show |
This is an 8* on VEGAS In the Atlantic, Metropolitan and Central Divisions, first place is occupied by a team with at least 66 points. In fact, the leaders of those respective divisions (Boston, Washington & St. Louis) happen to have the three highest point totals in the league right now. But in the Pacific, 55 points (Calgary/Arizona) leads the way. Vegas is in the Pacific and just one point out of first place (54 points) despite a pretty mediocre. Three consecutive losses have hurt the Golden Knights, but obviously they remain in the thick of the division race. We like them quite a bit tonight as they should bounce back at Buffalo. The Sabres started their season at 8-1-1 through 10 games. Since then, they’ve gone 12-18-7, meaning they’ve lost two-thirds of their games. They beat the worst team in the league (Detroit) on Sunday, but that hardly convinces us that the Sabres are worth betting in this spot. The entirety of the Vegas three-game losing streak came at home, which is odd, but maybe hitting the road is what they need. This will be their third game in the last four days and they are just 3-9 SU off their previous 12 wins. Play on VEGAS AAA |
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01-13-20 | Flames v. Canadiens -105 | Top | 0-2 | Win | 100 | 10 h 57 m | Show |
This is a 10* on MONTREAL Montreal finally did it, snapping an eight-game losing streak by beating Ottawa 2-1 on Saturday night. It took overtime to do it, which was almost apropos considering the number of one-goal losses than the Canadiens had endured during their slide. While one win is nice, the Habs are not “out of the woods” yet as the suddenly hot Flames come calling here on Monday night. Calgary’s five-game win streak has them in first place in the Pacific Division, a place they’re familiar with as that’s where they finished a season ago. However, we don’t feel this year’s Flames are nearly as good as the 2018-19 edition. This team has a negative goal differential (-8), which is quite odd for a first place team. Furthermore, Montreal actually has a slightly better goal differential (of -5), further proof that the East is by far the stronger conference this season. Don’t be fooled by the point totals or recent streaks. Montreal is the play here. Play on MONTREAL AAA |
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01-12-20 | Canucks v. Wild -150 | Top | 4-1 | Loss | -150 | 8 h 16 m | Show |
This is a 10* on MINNESOTA For much of this year, Minnesota has played considerably better at home. But they’ve dropped three of four at the Xcel Center, the last one coming as part of a home and home sweep they suffered at the hands of the Calgary Flames. Still the Wild boast an 11-4-4 SU home record. They’ve had two days off since losing in Calgary. The situation today is a lot better for them than it is for Vancouver, who was in Buffalo yesterday. The Canucks beat the Sabres 6-3 for their first win on the current road trip, but they aren’t a particularly good team away from home. They’re giving up an average of 3.5 goals in road games, which makes it tough to win as you’re not going to score six times every game. The Canucks and Sabres were actually tied 3-3 in the third period yesterday before the former exploded for three goals over the final 14 minutes. Meanwhile, Minnesota has to feel like it outplayed Calgary Thursday as it had 14 shots on goal in the third period, but couldn’t get any to go in the back of the net. They lost 2-1, but the good news is that the Wild are 6-2 after allowing two goals or less their last game. Vancouver is 7-17 the last 24 times its been in the second leg of a back to back and they are 1-4 when playing a third game in four days. Play on MINNESOTA AAA |
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01-11-20 | Canadiens -126 v. Senators | Top | 2-1 | Win | 100 | 10 h 19 m | Show |
This is a 9* on MONTREAL Something will have to give Saturday night in the capital city of Ottawa as the Senators have lost six in a row while the team they host, Montreal, is on an eight-game losing streak. For many, it’s a struggle to pick a winner when both teams are struggling this badly. But for us, there are a number of reasons we’ll be backing the Canadiens in this one. First off, Ottawa played last night in Detroit. Of course, we already know that they lost, but the fact the game went to a shootout makes the situation even worse. Secondly, Montreal has been much more competitive during its losing streak than Ottawa has been during their own skid. Six of the eight losses for Montreal have been by one goal. The Senators have been outscored 29-14 these last six games. That’s largely in line with what we’ve seen from the teams all season. Montreal has been outscored by just six goals. Ottawa has been outscored by 32. Lastly, while the teams split a pair of games over in the province of Quebec this year, the Canadiens have won 7 of the previous 10 meetings. Play on MONTREAL AAA |
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01-10-20 | Coyotes v. Hurricanes -186 | Top | 0-3 | Win | 100 | 11 h 57 m | Show |
This is a 7* on CAROLINA Of the three games on Friday’s NHL slate, this one figures to be the most one-sided. Yes, we’re very aware that the team we’re playing against (Arizona) is in first place in the Pacific Division. But this is a terrible situation for the Coyotes as they were shut out last night in Tampa Bay 4-0. Host Carolina has been off for two days. What you need to understand here is how much better the Hurricanes division is. Even though they’re fourth in the Metropolitan, they have almost the same number of points as Arizona and they have a better goal differential. The Canes are a strong 11-3-1 SU against the Western Conference this year and an impressive team at home where they outscore opponents 3.7 to 2.9 goals per game with a heavy edge in shots. The Coyotes had won four in a row before getting blanked Thursday. But playing a third road game in four nights and second in two is going to catch up with them here, especially in light of injuries between the pipes. The Hurricanes are 9-4 this year playing with two days rest. Play on CAROLINA AAA |
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01-09-20 | Oilers v. Canadiens -130 | Top | 4-2 | Loss | -130 | 12 h 32 m | Show |
This is a 10* on MONTREAL Montreal is S-T-R-U-G-G-L-I-N-G. Tuesday in Detroit made it a seven-game losing streak. The most embarrassing part of it is that was the third time this year the Canadiens lost to the Red Wings, an 11-win team! Tonight the Habs will try their hand at beating Edmonton. This is a home game and while the team's record is actually WORSE in Montreal, you wouldn't know it simply by looking at how many shots per game they average here (36.6). What's interesting about this matchup is how oddsmakers continue to price these teams. Montreal, despite its losing streak and Edmonton coming off two big wins, is being favored for a fourth straight time. The Oilers two-game win streak has seen them go to Boston and Toronto and come out ahead despite being priced at +190 and +185 respectively. A third straight win as a money line dog seems unlikely. Also worth mentioning are the teams records and their corresponding goal differentials. Montreal is 18-19-7 yet has only been outscored by five goals all season. Six of the losses during this current slide have come by one goal. That's some awful luck. Edmonton is 23-17-5, but has also been outscored by five goals this season! The Oilers had been 0-6 off their previous six wins before Tuesday's 6-4 decision at Toronto. They are still 0-5 after scoring 5 or more goals the previous game. Play on MONTREAL AAA |
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01-07-20 | Islanders -120 v. Devils | Top | 4-3 | Win | 100 | 11 h 26 m | Show |
This is a 10* on the ISLANDERS The Islanders season got off to an excellent start with a 16-3-1 record through the first 20 games. But they are just 10-9-2 since and that's including last night's 1-0 win at home against Colorado. That's a good win considering the Avalanche had been shut out only one time previously and also much needed as the Islanders had lost their last two games. Now, without rest, they head to New Jersey. This should be an easy two points. The Devils are in last place and have been outscored by 38 goals this season. They just lost to Colorado, 5-2, on Saturday. The Islanders shutting out Colorado was even more impressive when you consider the Avs are the highest scoring team in the league. New Jersey has scored the second fewest goals. The Islanders have given up the second fewest. They've been in a scoring drought themselves, but only two teams have allowed more goals than New Jersey. The Devils have some key injuries too. NY is actually 14-3 the last 17 times its taken the ice without rest. New Jersey has lost 17 of the last 21 times it has played with 2 days rest. Play on NY ISLANDERS AAA |
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01-06-20 | Jets v. Canadiens -145 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -145 | 22 h 39 m | Show |
This is an 8* on MONTREAL Montreal has slipped down the Atlantic Division standings, the reason being they've lost five straight games. But their 43 points still has the Canadiens very viable to make a run to the playoffs. But they can't afford too many more slip-ups and tonight almost feels like one of those "must-wins" as they host Winnipeg. The Jets have lost two in a row themselves, not to mention seven of the last nine games as well. So one team's misery is going to continue after tonight. We believe it will be the Jets. They've allowed at least four goals in seven of the last nine games. At the same time, they failed to notch even one goal at even strength in Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss at Minnesota. Montreal is also off an overtime loss and four of their last five losses have been by one goal and they've been facing some pretty strong competition lately. The Jets have won just 4 of their last 17 visits to Quebec and the Canadiens are 14-5 the last 19 times they've been off a game where they scored two or less goals. Play on MONTREAL AAA |
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01-04-20 | Blues v. Golden Knights -135 | Top | 4-5 | Win | 100 | 8 h 25 m | Show |
This is a 9* on VEGAS Each of Vegas last three games were played at home. They've won all of them. St. Louis last two games were both on the road. They lost twice. While an eight-game win streak preceded that for the Blues, unfortunately tonight they are back on the road. Sin City is a place that has been unwelcome to visiting teams ever since the Golden Knights came into existence. This year has been no different as the Golden Knights have gone 13-7-3 at T-Mobile Arena. Making the Knights tough to beat is the fact that they've scored at least three times in each of their last 10 games. They've scored 14 goals during this three-game home win streak, finding the back of the net at least four times in every game. The Blues just gave up seven goals at Colorado on Thursday, a result that we were on the right side of as it was our 10* Game of the Week. We feel just as strong about fading the Blues Saturday afternoon as Vegas is 6-1 its last seven home games. The Knights record since Thanksgiving is 11-4-2 SU. Play on VEGAS AAA |
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01-02-20 | Blues v. Avalanche -125 | Top | 3-7 | Win | 100 | 12 h 37 m | Show |
This is a 10* on COLORADO Very big game for the Avalanche, which is why we're playing them. A series of poor defensive efforts have led to a three-game losing streak. In their last game, they gave up seven goals. They've now lost four in a row at home and surrendered 21 goals during that slide. In comes first place St. Louis, which looks like it could be trouble, as they've beaten the Avs six straight times. But don't be afraid to buck these trends tonight as we're banking on Colorado playing its most inspired game of the year. Both losses to the Blues this year were in St. Louis. Of the four losses to them last season, three came in either overtime or a shootout. Colorado has scored 16 more goals than St. Louis this year despite playing one less game. The Blues had an eight-game win streak snapped on New Year's Eve. As good as they've looked, we don't think they can match Colorado's scoring capabilities. Play on COLORADO AAA |
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12-29-19 | Blackhawks v. Blue Jackets -153 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -153 | 9 h 54 m | Show |
This is an 8* on COLUMBUS Columbus had a five-game win streak stopped on Friday, but they still earned a point by taking Washington to overtime. There's no shame in losing to the Capitals on the road, especially when it takes extra time. Tonight the Blue Jackets face a far less complete team as Chicago makes its yearly visit to Ohio. The Blackhawks injury situation is as dire as any team in the league right now. Defensemen Brent Seabrook and Calvin de Haan were both recently placed on IR. While the team was able to win its first game without them, 5-2 over the Islanders, they actually were lucky to as they gave up 40 shots. Three forwards, one of them Brandon Saad, are also out with injuries. Columbus has earned a point in nine straight games, going 6-0-3, and they are allowing less than 2.0 goals/game during the streak. Their penalty kill is at 85.7% as well. The last three home games have seen the Blue Jackets win by a combined score of 11-3. Play on COLUMBUS AAA |
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12-28-19 | Avalanche v. Stars -121 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 10 h 35 m | Show |
This is a 10* on DALLAS Colorado is in a tough spot here as they just played a hard-fought game last night and lost 6-4 at home to Minnesota. Now they head out to Dallas to face a Stars team that has been off for almost a full week. The last time the Stars played a game was Sunday when they were beaten 5-1 Calgary, also a home game. They've actually lost two in a row and four of six, so you know they've been "chomping at the bit" to get back on the ice. Dallas remains one of the league's stingier team as they give up only 2.1 goals/game at home. So don't read too much into the last two games. Colorado has also lost four of its last six games and has given up a lot of goals along the way. This is a tremendous situation for the home team, that's too good to pass up. One final note - the Stars are 2-0 vs. the Avalanche this year and they've outscored them 6-2. Play on DALLAS AAA |
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12-27-19 | Bruins -156 v. Sabres | Top | 3-0 | Win | 100 | 10 h 59 m | Show |
This is an 8* on BOSTON Boston still has a substantial lead in the Atlantic Division, but it's not like they've been playing all that well lately. They've lost 8 of their last 10 games, four of those defeats coming after regulation. The Bruins have nine overtime or shootout losses this year (0-5 in shootouts). No other team has more than six. Many times, such a lack of fortune can sink a team's season. But not this team. Back on Monday, they showed what they are capable of by delivering a 7-3 win over Washington. Look for more of that in the immediate future. Tonight they're in Buffalo to take on a Sabres team that's lost four of its last five. Boston is 2-0 playing with three or more days rest this season, Buffalo is 0-3. While the Sabres can be a high scoring team, the Bruins have proven they can score in all settings. Any fears over the Bruins recent losing skid were put to rest Monday with the win over the Capitals. If Buffalo elects to go with Carter Hutton in goal, that would be an unwise decision as he's winless his last 10 starts with a 4.19 GAA. Play on BOSTON AAA |
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12-23-19 | Coyotes v. Predators -148 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 9 h 38 m | Show |
This is an 8* play on NASHVILLE We like the spot here for Nashville and on the flip side, it's a tough one for Arizona. The Coyotes played Sunday and while they won 5-2, it was against Detroit, who is the worst team in the league. Two games ago, they lost goalie Darcy Keumper to injury, meaning that Antti Raanta is likely to be called into duty for consecutive nights. Despite getting the win yesterday, Raanta has been far from lights out this season. Following a 3-0-1 road trip, Nashville had Sunday off. Look for the Predators to take full advantage of Keumper's absence here as they are second in the Western Conference in goals scored. While Arizona is in first place of its division and Nashville is fifth in theirs, there isn't a huge difference in points. Play on NASHVILLE AAA |
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12-20-19 | Capitals -183 v. Devils | Top | 6-3 | Win | 100 | 11 h 41 m | Show |
This is a 7* on WASHINGTON Should be an easy two points for the Capitals this evening. They are playing the Devils, who just traded Taylor Hall and are at the opposite end of the division. Washington leads the Metro with 53 points. New Jersey is last with 27. Keep in mind we've only played 30-something games. By the end of the season, the points gap between these teams should be among the largest in the league. Washington isn't going to fool around tonight either. They've had three days off since being blanked by Columbus, 3-0. That was just the second loss in the last 10 games. Both were against the Blue Jackets. New Jersey, which has won back to back games for just the fourth time all season, hasn't won three in a row in almost a full calendar year. The Capitals are 26-10 SU the last three years after getting held to one or zero goals in their last game. Play on WASHINGTON AAA |
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12-19-19 | Canadiens v. Flames -130 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -130 | 22 h 13 m | Show |
This is a 10* on CALGARY Calgary has lost two in a row at the Saddledome and we're willing to bank that streak won't reach three. While the Flames were outscored 8-1 by the Hurricanes and Penguins, let's not lose sight of the fact that they'd won seven in a row before suffering those back to back home losses. Montreal comes in with a solid road record, but you also can't forget that they recently lost at home to Detroit, the worst team in the entire NHL. The level of goaltending the Canadiens are getting from Carey Price lately is pretty remarkable, but the chances of Price keeping it up are small. He's got a .952 save percentage his last five starts, an unsustainable number. The Flames have had lots of scoring chances the last two games, but just haven't been able to cash in. Our guess is they're going to find the back of the net more times than you think tonight. Montreal gives up a lot of shots when they're on the road. Play on CALGARY AAA |
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12-12-19 | Maple Leafs -116 v. Flames | Top | 2-4 | Loss | -116 | 12 h 35 m | Show |
This is a 10* on TORONTO Calgary has won six in a row, but we’re not buying it as they’ve still got a negative goal differential this season. Give them credit for winning at both Colorado and Arizona, but before that it had been some weak competition. Tonight it’s a Toronto team that is also off two impressive road wins. They won at St. Louis and Vancouver, scoring nine goals in the process. Frederik Andersen continues to produce in goal for the Maple Leafs as he made 38 saves against the Coyotes. He has a .941 save percentage in non-conference games. The Leafs average 3.5 goals per game on the road. That’s tied for third best in the league. The Flames have responded well to the coaching change, but it’s just a temporary thing. Play on TORONTO AAA |
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12-09-19 | Islanders v. Lightning -183 | Top | 5-1 | Loss | -183 | 10 h 42 m | Show |
This is a 6* on TAMPA BAY After a record-setting regular season and a shocking first round playoff exit last season, the Lightning made for an interesting team to evaluate coming into 2019-20. Right now, they actually sit in sixth place in the Atlantic, a division they won by 21 points a season ago. However, they actually scored 15 more goals than they've allowed, which tells us that better results could be on the horizon. The Lightning are certainly being price like a real "heavyweight" for tonight's game against the Islanders. Maybe that's because of they beat San Jose 7-1 on Saturday. Or maybe it's just because the linesmakers know that this is still one of the better home teams in the league. Despite being in sixth place, the Lightning lead the league with an average of 4.3 goals/game scored at home. The Islanders aren't a great road team, primarily because they only average 2.3 goals/game there. Too much scoring will be the difference for the hosts in this one. Play on TAMPA BAY AAA |
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12-05-19 | Rangers v. Blue Jackets -135 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -135 | 10 h 6 m | Show |
This is a 9* on COLUMBUS Neither team is playing "well" at the moment. The Rangers are coming off a 4-1 loss to Vegas where it could be argued that the power play was the difference. Vegas scored twice when it had the man advantage. New York was 0 for 6. Columbus has had issues scoring - whether on the power play or at even strength. They've gone 6-9-2 the last 17 games while being held to three goals or fewer 14 times. They lost 4-2 to Arizona Tuesday right here in Ohio. This boils down to the fact the Blue Jackets have had the Rangers number. Columbus is 5-0-1 the past six meetings. We also don't see the Blue Jackets losing two straight at home. It was a similar spot on 11/29 when they were facing Pittsburgh. Two days earlier they'd dropped a home game to the Flyers. They'd go on to beat the Penguins 5-2. The Rangers are allowing far too many shots on goal. The number is 36.5/game on the road. While they often struggle to score, the Blue Jackets are a good defensive team. Play on COLUMBUS AAA |
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12-04-19 | Capitals -128 v. Kings | Top | 3-1 | Win | 100 | 13 h 25 m | Show |
This is a 10* on WASHINGTON This seems like an easy one for the Capitals, no? The leaders in the Metropolitan travel to Los Angeles to take on the last place team in the Pacific. There is a 21-point gap between the Caps and the Kings. Sometimes that can be misleading. Not here. Last night's 5-2 win at San Jose made it four straight for Washington. They've scored at least four goals in each of the four wins. This all makes it seem like a real cheap price on what anyone would feel is the better team tonight. If you were wondering, the Capitals are 3-1 in the second night of a back to back so far this season. The Kings lost Monday in Anaheim by a score of 4-2. They have been a better team at home, but most of the teams that come to Staples Center aren't as good as the one visiting tonight. The Capitals are 12-4 after scoring at least four goals the previous game. They've won three straight in this scenario, obviously. Play on WASHINGTON AAA |
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12-03-19 | Wild v. Panthers -130 | Top | 4-2 | Loss | -130 | 11 h 44 m | Show |
This is an 8* on FLORIDA Minnesota has won three in a row. We took them on Friday when they downed Ottawa 7-2, which was their biggest win to date in terms of margin. But that was at home as was Sunday's 3-1 win over Dallas. The Wild have been a much better team at home so far, going 7-1-2 as opposed to 5-10-2 on the road. They are back on the road tonight, visiting Florida. The Panthers are in second place in the Atlantic Division right now with only the red hot Bruins ahead of them. What's interesting is that the gap between the Panthers and Bruins is almost as large as the gap between the Panthers and the last place team in the division, Detroit. While a division title may not be in the cards for Florida, they still should easily beat this Minnesota team. The Panthers are 7-3-2 SU at home. The favorite has won eight of the last 10 times these teams have played. The home team has won four straight. Minnesota has been without goalie Devan Dubnyk, which will eventually catch up with them. Florida has turned to 25-year old Chris Driedger, who earned a shutout in his first career NHL start on Saturday. The Panthers won 3-0 over Nashville. While the Wild are only averaging 2.4 goals/game on the road, the Panthers average 3.7 here at home. Play FLORIDA AAA |
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12-01-19 | Oilers v. Canucks -123 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -123 | 13 h 39 m | Show |
This is a 10* on VANCOUVER Vancouver goes for a home and home sweep tonight against Edmonton. They won in Alberta 5-2 yesterday. Key to last night's win were a couple of early goals, one on the power play and the other short-handed. The teams were even at even strength, though the Canucks had the edge in shots. Despite being the 1st place team in the Pacific, the Oilers give up a lot of goals. They've allowed 19 in the last five games and 34 in the last nine. Three times in their last five games, Vancouver has scored five or more. The Canucks have won 3 of 5 and one of the losses saw them blow a three-goal lead in the final six minutes. Edmonton has pulled off a lot of come from behind victories this year, which isn't really a viable pathway for success. They are 25th in Corsi For %. Play on VANCOUVER AAA |
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11-29-19 | Senators v. Wild -187 | Top | 2-7 | Win | 100 | 15 h 46 m | Show |
This is a 6* on MINNESOTA Ottawa isn't a good team and they are set to embark on a five-game road trip that will take them all around North America. With only one goal scored in the last two games, we don't like their chances very much today in Minnesota. The Wild aren't exactly tearing it up either as they are the last place team in the Central. But they've shown more life than the Senators have. They just won in New Jersey on Wednesday, which was the fourth time in the last five games they played on the road. The one home game was a 3-2 win against Colorado. Minnesota simply hasn't gotten to play many times at their own rink this season. Of their 25 games played, 17 have been on the road. Only once have the Wild lost a home game in regulation. They are 5-1-2 at the Xcel Center. They also shut out the Senators earlier this year, 2-0 in Ottawa. Play on MINNESOTA AAA |
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11-27-19 | Canucks v. Penguins -165 | Top | 6-8 | Win | 100 | 20 h 48 m | Show |
This is a 7* on PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh came through for us on Monday, winning a shootout against Calgary. The Penguins now look to complete a perfect three-game homestand as they host Vancouver Wednesday night. The Canucks have not played all that well of late, though they did pull a couple upsets on this road trip. Still, despite wins in Nashville and Washington, Vancouver has lost 8 of its last 11 games. They were beaten 2-1 in Philadelphia Monday night as they were limited to just 17 shots on goal. Even the two wins on this road trip were not the most well-played games by the Canucks. They got an unusual five power play goals against Nashville, the kind of edge they may not enjoy again the rest of this season. Against Washington, they pulled off a late rally. It's not been a good November for the team hailing from B.C. Pittsburgh is still trying to work its way through the Sidney Crosby injury, but there's more than enough talent on hand to compensate for his absence. This is Vancouver's fifth straight road game, not a great spot, while the Penguins are playing a third straight at home. Canucks average 2.5 goals on the road. Penguins average 3.4 at home. Play on PITTSBURGH AAA |
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11-25-19 | Flames v. Penguins -150 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 9 h 49 m | Show |
This is a 9* on PITTSBURGH Calgary was able to snap a 6-game losing streak on Saturday as they rallied to beat Philadelphia in a shootout. But look for the joy to be short-lived. Tonight they head to Pittsburgh, a place where most Western Conference teams have not fared well this year. The Penguins are still trying to work their way through the Sidney Crosby injury. But by re-tooling their top line, things look like they'll be just fine without their superstar. Malkin-Guentzel-Rust are playing quite well with each other. Malkin has 20 points in the last six games while his new linemates have combined for six goals. The Flames don't do much scoring on the road where they are averaging a league-low 1.8 goals/game. During their 6-game losing streak, they were shutout three times and all three were away from home. Pittsburgh's goal differential is +18. Calgary is at -15. The Flames have also lost 7 of 11 games to teams that have winning records. Play on PITTSBURGH AAA |
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11-21-19 | Jets v. Stars -154 | Top | 3-5 | Win | 100 | 26 h 0 m | Show |
This is a 10* on DALLAS We took the Stars Tuesday night, a game which they ended up beating Vancouver 6-1. They are now 8-0-1 the last nine games. Tonight, they get a chance to avenge that one loss as they face off with Winnipeg. It was a 3-2 Jets win in overtime the last time these teams met. Winnipeg has now managed to go 10-1-1 in one goal games this year. They just beat Nashville 2-1 on Tuesday. While they were up the whole game, it's still a one-goal win. Our view is that the Jets have been more lucky than good. They were outshot by the Predators 39-25. The Stars started the year 1-7-1. That's now a distant memory as they are 11-1-1 since. The key to the resurgence has been defense/goaltending. In eight of those last 13 games, they've allowed just one goal. That has allowed them to move up to #2 in the league in goals allowed. Only Arizona allows fewer. Dallas is also 64-31 the last 95 times it has been a home favorite of -151 to -200. Winnipeg is 29-65 the last 94 times it has been a road underdog of +151 to +200. So, as you might have guessed from a line such as this, the trends (and odds) are in the Stars favor. Play on DALLAS AAA |
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11-20-19 | Capitals -180 v. Rangers | Top | 1-4 | Loss | -180 | 13 h 47 m | Show |
This is a 7* on WASHINGTON The Rangers look to be in some severe trouble here. They have been giving up a lot of goals lately (including NINE in one game last week) and now must face Washington, who leads the league in goals scored. This likely doesn't end well for the home team. The Capitals have won 13 of their last 16 games with two of the losses coming in overtime. They put up a 5-spot on Anaheim Monday night, a game they led 4-0 five minutes into the third period. The result was never really in doubt there. The result was also never really in doubt when the Capitals beat the Rangers 5-2 last month. They've now beaten NY eight of the last nine times they've played them. The Rangers have given up seven power play goals the last two games. Washington's power play percentage of 24.3 ranks among the five best in the league. The Caps are 10-1-1 on the road this year. The Rangers are just giving up so many shots lately that it's difficult to imagine Washington not scoring a lot of goals here tonight. Play on WASHINGTON AAA |
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11-19-19 | Hurricanes -117 v. Blackhawks | Top | 4-2 | Win | 100 | 10 h 53 m | Show |
This is a 10* on CAROLINA Two hot teams are set to meet in the Windy City. Carolina comes in on a three-game win streak. Chicago has won four in a row. Both teams have scored plenty of goals during the respective win streaks. The Hurricanes have found the back of the net 17 times in the last three games while the Blackhawks have scored 21 goals in four games. This has the makings of another high-scoring affair, but we think only one side is likely to hold up its end of the bargain. There was a meeting in Raleigh earlier this year, which the Canes won 4-0. Since then, a decision was made by Chicago to "go young" i.e. putting several of its prospects in prominent positions. It's worked so far, but it's long-term effect is still unknown. Both teams have given up 59 goals in 20 games. But Carolina has scored nine more times than Chicago this year (70 vs. 61). The Hurricanes also allow far less shots per game. They allow the third fewest number of shots in the league. Chicago allows the most. Carolina is the call here. Play on CAROLINA AAA |
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11-19-19 | Canucks v. Stars -129 | Top | 1-6 | Win | 100 | 10 h 43 m | Show |
This is an 8* on DALLAS Vancouver has cooled off a lot. Their only win in the last seven games came at home. It was a 5-3 decision against Nashville exactly one week ago. As for Dallas, things have swung in a much different direction for them recently. They've gone 7-0-1 the last eight games and 10-1-1 the last 12. These teams just met in Vancouver with the Stars winning 4-2 as +130 underdogs. That was part of a 3-0 sweep through Western Canada for Dallas. They finished things off with a 5-4 overtime win against Edmonton on Saturday. Right now, everything seems to be going their way. Vancouver has actually won three straight times here in Dallas, but that's a streak we don't see continuing. The Canucks are 0-4 this season when seeking revenge for a home loss and 16-34 their last 50 in this situation. Dallas is 5-0 this year when playing on two days rest. Play on DALLAS AAA |
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11-13-19 | Capitals -117 v. Flyers | Top | 2-1 | Win | 100 | 11 h 25 m | Show |
This is a 10* on WASHINGTON The Capitals saw their six-game win streak come to an end Monday night vs. Arizona. It was just their second loss in the last 12 games. We see them getting back in the win column tonight in Philadelphia. Monday's loss to the Coyotes saw the game go to a shootout. Four of Washington's six losses this year have occurred after regulation time has ended. The problem against Arizona was the Capitals fell behind 3-0. That they even got the game to OT is somewhat impressive. Really there's no reason to be concerned with one loss. Philadelphia brings its own four-game win streak into tonight, which is a season-high. But the last three wins have all come in overtime or a shootout. So it's not like the Flyers are dominating. Having gone past regulation in five of the last six games, the Flyers tank may be running close to empty right about now. Washington has picked up a point in 12 straight games (10-0-2) and hasn't lost in regulation in a month (Oct 13). Washington won all four times they faced Philly last season. Three different times, they scored five goals. They led the league in scoring this year. Play on WASHINGTON AAA |
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11-09-19 | Blues v. Flames -145 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -145 | 12 h 1 m | Show |
This is a 9* Play on CALGARY Calgary finished with the most points in the Western Conference last regular season. But they would obviously switch places with St. Louis in a hearbeat as it was the Blues capturing their first ever Stanley Cup last June. These two teams meet Saturday night at the Saddledome. The Blues have won six straight. The Flames have won four of five, the last two coming here on home ice. For the Blues, this is a 4th consecutive game played on the road and the third in a row in Western Canada. They managed to down Vancouver and Edmonton back to back nights. But we think the schedule catches up with them here. Calgary has 22 points. There's only five teams with more, St. Louis being one of them. But the Blues are only +5 in goals scored vs. allowed. We think they're a little lucky to be sitting at 11-3-3 right now. The Flames are averaging 4.0 goals/game at home where they are 6-2. St. Louis has had to come from behind in 8 of its 11 wins. That can't keep happening. Play on CALGARY AAA |
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11-08-19 | Devils v. Oilers -160 | Top | 0-4 | Win | 100 | 14 h 46 m | Show |
This is a 10* on EDMONTON Edmonton comes into tonight tied for first place in the Pacific Division. But while both they and rival Calgary have 22 points, the Oilers have played two fewer games. Tonight should be an easy two points as they host the last place team in the Metropolitan Division, New Jersey. The Devils have just 12 points, though four of their 10 losses have come after regulation. Still this bad start is a real disappointment for a team that had aspirations of making the playoffs. The Devils are the reason that the Oilers are now tied with the Flames for first in the Pacific. They lost 5-2 in Calgary last night. New Jersey had won two in a row prior to last night's defeat. It was the second time this year they'd won consecutive games, only to get blown out their next time hitting the ice. Calgary outshot them 38-23 and really dominated the game in all facets. This will be the Devils third road game in four days. Only three teams have scored fewer goals this season. They have a -16 goal differential. Lack of scoring has been a recent issue for Edmonton as well as they've lost two straight and 7 of 9. But the last two times they've been off consecutive losses, they come back to score 4 goals and win. Play on EDMONTON AAA |
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11-01-19 | Stars v. Avalanche -141 | Top | 2-1 | Loss | -141 | 13 h 9 m | Show |
This is an 8* play on COLORADO Colorado is enjoying a strong start to the season. They are 8-2-2 and lead the Central Division with 18 points. Tonight they will play host to a Dallas team whose nine losses are tied for most in the league. Seems like a mismatch to us.It's fair to call this a mismatch even though the Avalanche have lost two straight games. Both were at home, the last one (Wednesday vs. Anaheim) coming in overtime. They were pretty decent sized favorites for both of those games. It's hard for us to imagine them losing three in a row as home favorites. Dallas has won 4 of 5. But the last four games were all played at home. The Stars have yet to really look good on the road where they are averaging just 24.9 shots per game. Also, before this 4-1 stretch, they hadn't won a single time in regulation all year. We're looking at the big picture here, not falling for recency bias. The big problem for Colorado right now is injuries as two of their top three players (Landeskog and Rantanen) are out. But they still held a two goal lead in the third period against Anaheim. They should have won. The Stars scored a season-high six goals in their most recent game. But they still are averaging just 2.2 goals/game for the year. Colorado averages 3.9. Play on COLORADO AAA |
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10-29-19 | Flyers v. Penguins -150 | Top | 1-7 | Win | 100 | 10 h 26 m | Show |
analysis soon |
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10-25-19 | Sharks v. Maple Leafs -165 | Top | 1-4 | Win | 100 | 11 h 23 m | Show |
This is an 8* play on TORONTO The Leafs are struggling a bit as they've lost two straight games. The first loss took place here at home as they got beat 4-3 by Columbus in overtime on a penalty shot. The following night they had to go to Boston and lost 4-2, which given the circumstance isn't all that worrisome. Having been off for two days, the team should rebound tonight. They face a San Jose team that now finds itself in the second game of a back to back and playing its third road game in four nights, all of which have been out East. The Sharks did win last night in Montreal 4-2. But that was after losing four of their first five road games. Toronto is scoring a lot more than San Jose is right now. There's a 12-goal difference between the teams as the Maple Leafs still remain one of the highest scoring teams in the league. Let's now hope the goaltending starts to improve. The Sharks lost the only other time they've been in a back to back this season, 3-1 to Anaheim back on October 5th. Take the well-rested team that's hungry for a win. Play on TORONTO AAA |
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10-24-19 | Coyotes v. Islanders -117 | Top | 2-4 | Win | 100 | 11 h 53 m | Show |
This is a 10* play on the ISLANDERS Both the Coyotes (5-2-1) and Islanders (5-3) come into tonight on four-game win streaks. Arizona has been getting the job done by scoring plenty of goals (17) while the Islanders haven't been giving many up (7). So something will have to give tonight at the Nassau Coliseum. This being a home game for the Isles is an advantage. So is the schedule, which has given them last four days off. The 'Yotes just played Tuesday here in New York, against the Rangers. They won obviously, but needed overtime to do so. They're likely to struggle to score tonight. The Islanders not giving up many goals is nothing new. They gave up the fewest goals in the league in last year's regular season. Also, the first four games saw Arizona tally just seven goals. So the offensive decline seems all but inevitable this evening. Then you have the fact the Islanders have really had the 'Yotes number the last couple seasons. They swept the pair of matchups last year and are 10-3-2 the L15 times playing host. The Isles are also 16-5 their last 21 non-conference games. Play on NEW YORK AAA |
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10-22-19 | Kings v. Jets -136 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -136 | 12 h 19 m | Show |
We rode Winnipeg to a 1-0 victory over Edmonton on Sunday. That game did happen to go to a shootout, but keep in mind that they beat a team that entered with a record of 7-1. Here the Jets are going to be facing a much weaker foe in the Kings. The Kings are in last place in the Pacific, the same place where they finished last year. LA is off a rare win, 4-1 against Calgary, which snapped a three-game losing streak. But the win came at home. The Kings have won just once on the road so far. Winnipeg also snapped a three-game losing streak with that win over Edmonton, but remember what we said in our writeup. The previous three losses all came at home and that was something we could not see continuing. The Kings had been shutout in two straight games before beating the Flames. Fading them off a win seems like a smart move, especially with this being the second of two straight road games. Play on WINNIPEG |