Tonight is a huge night in the NHL in terms of playoff positioning for next week. 28 of the 30 teams are in action tonight so when midnight hits we should have a very good idea about what the first round playoff matchups should look like. Last night the Blues dropped a tough one for me to swallow in a shootout after allowing Datsyuk to hook up with Franzen for two late goals in the third period to tie the game. Tonight I have three plays and I expect to finish the season strong heading into the playoffs.
Florida Panthers @ Washington Capitals
The Panthers haven’t been able to get wins recently. Don’t get me wrong they’ve been getting points, which have almost guaranteed a playoff spot, but most of these points have come from shootout or overtime losses. The Panthers have only won 1 of their last 8 games and are currently on a 4 game losing skid heading into the playoffs. They have managed to get a point from 4 of those 7 losses, so they aren’t playing horribly, but it’s still not what a team wants heading into the postseason. I expect their losing streak to continue tonight as they face a desperate Capitals team. The Caps have been good at home all season and now, when it matters most they have to pull out a win.
Play: Capitals -140 (5Dimes.com)
New York Rangers @ Pittsburgh Penguins
The Rangers are big dogs in this game, possibly because the Penguins have won their last 3 meetings convincingly. That being said the Rangers have been playing great of late winning 5 of their last 6, including their last 4 road games. The Penguins on the other hand have faultered slightly having won only 2 of their last 5 games. They’ve also lost their last 2 home games. Both teams will be ready to play in this one looking at the game as a test for the post season, but as such big underdogs the smart money is on the Rangers.
Play: Rangers +155 (SportsInteraction.com)
Columbus Blue Jackets @ Colorado Avalanche
The Blue Jackets lost their last game after putting up 3 wins in a row, but I still like to back them at this point in the season because they are big dogs no matter who they are playing. The Avalanche are in a must win situation, but they simply aren’t that good of a team and I could see this game going either way. The Avs finally won their last game, but that followed a four game losing streak that really killed their playoff hopes. I expect them to be mathematically eliminated tonight one way or another.
Play: Blue Jackets +166 (5Dimes.com)
Written by: Niko de Jonge
Last night I went one for two once again, but because I was on two big dogs I still ended the night up 0.50 units. That brings my season record to (137-152-1) for -10.70 units. Tonight there are only two games on tap in the NHL and I only like one play.
Detroit Red Wings @ St. Louis Blues
The Red Wings and Blues are very similar teams in that they have each been amazing at home throughout the season and sub par on the road. The Blues have faultered a bit of late having won only 3 of their last 9 games, but they haven’t been playing horrible hockey. Their losses have mainly come in close games (3 shootouts) against quality teams and the majority of that span was on the road where the Blues haven’t been good all year. I expect the Blues to bounce back tonight at home against a team that they will take very seriously. The Red Wings haven’t been at their best for a while now having won only 6 of their last 19 games. Detroit has lost their last 7 road games and have struggled offensively scoring only 11 goals over the course of those games. When you look at their road and home records the Blues should be bigger favourites in this one and I expect them to bounce back after one of their few home losses of the year (loss to Blue Jackets 5-2).
Play: Blues -142 (5Dimes.com)
Written by: Niko de Jonge
Last night I had two big dogs chosen and one of the two came through with the Lightning staving off their division rival Capitals. The season record now sits at (136-151-1) for -11.20 units. Tonight there are plenty of games on the docket, but I’m only taking two winners.
Winnipeg Jets @ Florida Panthers
The Jets and Panthers both haven’t been playing very well of late with the Jets having lost 4 of their last 5 and the Panthers having lost their last 3 game and 6 of their last 7. The Panthers have still been picking up points so it looks like they will still be in the postseason even after all of the losses, but they still haven’t been playing the brand of hockey that go them there. The Panthers have won 3 of the 5 games these teams have played this season, but I expect the Jets to even that out tonight. Division rivalries always have a lot on the line even when one team no longer has a shot at the playoffs. Near the end of the season I like taking the nonplayoff team because I find the general public feels these teams don’t have much to play for so they may have a uninspired performance and this reasoning causes the lines to shift making the underdog plays sharp. This game is no different and I expect the Jets to come out fired up against a Panthers team that has been far from good over their past several games.
Play: Jets +150 (5Dimes.com)
Columbus Blue Jackets @ Phoenix Coyotes
The Coyotes have everything to lose in this game. Everyone has the Coyotes slotted into the playoffs because of their easy year end schedule (Blue Jackets, Blues (which is hard), Wild), but the fact is that no game is easy at the end of the season. The teams with nothing to lose go out and play for pride and for their jobs in the upcoming season. The Blue Jackets have shown they are ready to win having won their last 3 games, all against playoff teams. The Blue Jackets should have just as good a chance against the Coyotes tonight so I really like the odds of getting more than 2/1 on my money.
Play: Blue Jackets +205 (SportsInteraction.com)
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Written by: Niko de Jonge
The playoff races are really heating up and both games tonight feature a team that is battling for a spot in their respective Conference. The Capitals are looking good in the 8th spot in the East as they head to Tampa Bay tonight and the Kings host the Oilers in a game they really should win. My season record to date now sits at (135-150-1) for -11.45 units.
Washington Capitals @ Tampa Bay Lightning
The Capitals have won two games in a row (both in shootouts) and are still battling with Buffalo for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference as they head into Tampa Bay tonight. That being said the Capitals haven’t been a great road team all season and this includes lately as they’ve won only 2 of their last 6 road games. Tampa Bay on the other hand has been stellar at home (24-14-2) all season and I don’t expect them to lie down against the Capitals, who are their division rivals. The home team has won each of the previous five games between these two teams this season and I expect the same tonight. The line isn’t quite accurate because many bettors will assume that the Lightning won’t have their A game against a desperate Capitals team, but the rivalry between these squads will mean that Tampa will do everything they can to win tonight.
Play: Lightning +123 (5Dimes.com)
Edmonton Oilers @ Los Angeles Kings
The Oilers and Kings have both been playing great hockey of late. The Oilers have won 6 of their last 10 games, including their last 3 on the road. They head into LA to play a desperate Kings team that needs to get some more points before having to play their last two games of the season against the Sharks. I find the odds once again being swayed by the fact that the Kings will be desperate to win this game, but the Oilers have played their best hockey of the season of late and I don’t expect them to be outmatched intensity wise by the Kings tonight so I see the game going either way.
Play: Oilers +225 (5Dimes.com)
Written by: Niko de Jonge
I’m back from a solid vacation and ready to win some money in this last week of the NHL season. The playoff races are at their peak with plenty of spots up for grabs. Two games have already started today, but there are another ten important games in the NHL tonight.
Buffalo Sabres @ Toronto Maple Leafs
The Sabres did play last night in a loss to the Penguins, but they have been on fire of late and still played a solid game in the losing effort last night. The Sabres will have their legs in this extremely important game for them and playing against an awful Leafs team should be enough to get them two easy points to keep them in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Play: Sabres -145 (5Dimes.com)
Los Angeles Kings @ Minnesota Wild
The Kings have turned it up of late having won 8 of their last ten games and playing a team that has been horrible for the second half of the season. The Wild have picked it up a little bit of late, but I still like the Kings on the road in this one even though they played last night.
Play: Kings -142 (5Dimes.com)
Chicago Blackhawks @ Nashville Predators
Both of these teams have been getting hot at the right time heading into the playoffs, but the Blackhawks have been the better team of late and they did not play last night. I think this game could really go either way, but I like the Blackhawks at +116 because they have been on their A game and have the skill level to be the best team in the NHL if they are on their game.
Play: Blackhawks +116 (5Dimes.com)
Written by: Niko de Jonge
I’m getting this post up a little bit early because I’m heading out tonight for a weeks vacation. This means I won’t be posting any predictions until next Friday at the earliest when the playoff hunts are in their last few games. Tonight the Lightning pulled out the win for me in a shootout, but the Flames gave that money back when they couldn’t find the back of the net in their shootout. That brings the season record to (134-147-1) for -8.10 units. This Friday evening has six games on tap, many of which are very important in the playoff picture, especially in the Eastern Conference.
Edmonton Oilers @ Florida Panthers
The Oilers played tonight in a hard fought battle with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Panthers have also been playing very well before losing to the Hurricanes on Wednesday night. I expect the Panthers to come out and just be too much for a tired Oilers team that isn’t very good to begin with. The Panthers need to continue getting points with the Capitals on their tails for the division lead and I expect them to do just that.
Play: Panthers -164 (BetOnline.com)
The Panthers bet is my only one for this evening. I wish everyone the best for their NHL picks during the next week. I’m going to be following the games, but won’t have time to write posts. Pick winners everyone!
Written by: Niko de Jonge
Last night I went 1 for 2 after the Blues gave up their lead in the third period. That brings the season record to (133-146-1) for -7.89 units. It’s a little quiet for a Thursday night in the NHL tonight, but there are still 8 games being played and I have found two plays that I consider to be positive ROI.
Edmonton Oilers @ Tampa Bay Lightning
The Oilers head into Tampa to play a Lightning team that has dropped out of the playoff race with three straight losses. These losses have come at home as well, where the Lightning have been good all season with a (21-14-2) record. The Oilers have been playing fairly well of late having won 3 of their last 4 including a road win over the formidable Nashville Predators on Tuesday. I still believe that the Lightning should be bigger favourites in this one considering the Oilers 11-21-3 road record and the overall depth of each team.
Play: Lightning -115 (5Dimes.com)
Calgary Flames @ Minnesota Wild
I took the Wild to lose by 2 or more to the Canucks on Monday, but a big shutout by Josh Harding earned the Wild a 2-0 win. The truth is though that the only way the Wild have won this year is from amazing goaltending and that simply cannot happen every game. I still consider the Wild to be the worst team in the NHL at this time and I will fade them until they prove me otherwise. I’m not a huge supporter of the Flames, but even on the road the Flames are the lesser of two evils in this one so the smart money is on Calgary to win this game and stay in the playoff hunt in the West.
Play: Flames -121 (BetOnline.com)
Written by: Niko de Jonge
The Avs pulled through for us last night, but the Kings looked sharp in their game against the Sharks and I’m starting to think they could be a threat in the playoffs this season. The Sharks really need to pick it up to in these next two weeks to continue playing into April.
St. Louis Blues @ Anaheim Ducks
The Blues don’t look to be slowing down now that they have clinched the playoffs. They have won 7 of their last 9 and although they haven’t been a great road team this season (17-15-4) they are a talented team that should be able to handle the Ducks who have slowed down considerably and are now no longer in the playoff hunt. The Blues are only slight favourites in this one because they are on the road, but their talent should prevail over a Ducks team without much to play for.
Play: Blues -110 (5Dimes.com)
Florida Panthers @ Carolina Hurricanes
The Panthers won a big game last night over the hot Philadelphia Flyers and have now won 5 in a row, but the tightness of the game last night could cause some fatigue for today’s road game in Carolina. The Hurricanes have also been very solid of late winning their last 3 games refusing to give up on that last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Carolina also hasn’t played since last Sunday which should give them fresh legs heading into this one, and I expect that to be the difference in tonight’s game.
Play: Hurricanes -122 (5Dimes.com)
Written by: Niko de Jonge
Last night didn’t go as planned as the Canucks couldn’t even score a goal against the lowly Minnesota Wild and the Devils lost a hard fought battle with the rangers that saw a line brawl break out off the opening faceoff. Tonight there are plenty of games to choose from once again and I’ve found two plays that I feel confident about. The season record now sits at (131-144-1) for -7.79 units
Calgary Flames @ Colorado Avalanche
The Flames who have been playing well of late head into Colorado to play an equally hot Avs team in an extremely important game with playoff implications. The Flames have lost their last two games, which happen to have been to the two lowest ranked teams in the league. They have also not been good on the road this season (14-16-7). The Avs on the other hand are coming off a big road win over the Rangers and have won 4 of their last 5, with the only loss coming in a shootout in New Jersey. Colorado has been playing their best hockey of the season and I expect them to continue with another win tonight. Also look for Landeskog to continue to cement his place as the obvious choice for rookie of the year.
Play: Avalanche -135 (5Dimes.com)
San Jose Sharks @ Los Angeles Kings
The Sharks lost a tough one last night in Anaheim, but they get right back at it tonight in LA. The Sharks picked up two quick wins with Martin Havlat back in the lineup, but faltered last night even though Havlat again picked up two points. The Kings have finally shown they can score and have won 4 straight to move into an absolute deadlock with the Sharks in 9th in the West, but each team has two games in hand on the Avs and one on the Coyotes while being only 1 point back of both teams. I expect a bounce back performance from the Sharks tonight and although they haven’t been great on the road this season and this is their second game in as many nights, in these must win type of games I have to give the edge to the better team. And if both teams play to their potential the Sharks should win tonight.
Play: Sharks +128 (5Dimes.com)
Written by: Niko de Jonge
There are 6 games on tap this Monday evening and I like plays for two of them. My season record currently sits at (131-142-1) for -5.79 units.
New Jersey Devils @ New York Rangers
The Devils head to New York tonight to play a Rangers team that has been looking very average of late. The Rangers have lost their last 2 games and 5 of their last 7, which includes a 4-1 loss in New Jersey. The Devils on the other hand have been solidifying their playoff position in the East, but they did lose their last game, albeit to a very strong Penguins club. The Devils have been good on the road this season though so they should be able to match the Rangers intensity in front of their home crowd. I could see this one going either way very easily so I like the +125 odds on the Devils.
Play: Devils +125 (5Dimes.com)
Vancouver Canucks @ Minnesota Wild
The Canucks won their last game, a tight one over the Blue Jackets, but they only won 3 games on their recent 7 game home stand. Perhaps taking to the road to play who I consider the worst team in the NHL at this point in the season is a good thing. The Canucks haven’t really been having trouble scoring goals and playing an offensively challenged team like the Wild should allow them to easily win this game, likely by several goals. I really like the Canucks puckline in this one (they must win by 2 or more goals for this bet to pay out).
Play: Canucks (-1.5) +155 (5Dimes.com)
Written by: Niko de Jonge
