The Capitals and Kings were both able to handle their slightly favoured opponents last night. The Islanders, who were our big dog selection, ended up getting lit up by the Rangers, but all-in-all it was a decent night with a 2-1 all-dog record for +1.00 units.
Tonight there are only four games on tap in the NHL and looking at the lines I can’t find anything I feel really good about, so I’m going to take the night off from NHL betting. I don’t want to force bets on games where I don’t see value. It’s much more advantageous to wager more on games where you see a lot of value than wager smaller amounts on a lot of games where you think there might be a slight edge.
Our Game of the Week pick should be coming up soon. There’s a good chance it will happen tomorrow because there are 22 teams in action and I can already imagine what the bookies will be setting the lines at. Sign up for the newsletter below to receive our Game of the Week picks directly to your email inbox!
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The Blackhawks offense was just too strong last night and the Sharks were not able to hold onto their lead. Hopefully I can turn it around tonight with these three plays I feel very strongly about. Three underdog picks, so if we can hit at least two it will be a good night!
Washington Capitals @ Montreal Canadiens
The loss of Jason Arnott up the middle could be a problem for the Capitals, especially if Nicklas Backstrom (who is a game time decision) remains on the sidelines nursing an fractured thumb. That being said the Caps are on an 8 game winning streak and other players such as Marcus Johansson have stepped up and played very well over the past few games. Wideman has also proved to be a solid pickup near the deadline and goaltender Braden Holtby has played terrific and has captured the starting role, at least for the time being. Montreal has won 6 of their last 7 games, coming on strong in a bid to overtake the Bruins for first place in the Northeast. Even without Arnott, the Capitals have come together as a team lately and are finally adapting nicely to the new “playoff style” of play that Boudreau has preached this season.
New York Islanders @ New York Rangers
I’m not sure why the Islanders are such big dogs in this game. They have won 4 of their last 6 games, with the only two losses coming in either extra time or a shootout against the Devils who are the hottest team in the league. Montoya gets the start again tonight and he has been very strong for the Isles since he was acquired, posting a 7-2-3 record, a .926 save percentage and a 2.09 GAA. The Rangers have found their game of late with their playoff lives on the line winning 3 of their last 4. That being said they have lost 4 of their last 5 home games and have not been good as hosts this year posting a subpar 15-16-3 home record on the season.
Los Angeles Kings @ Nashville Predators
The Kings have won 3 straight and the Preds have won 2 in a row. Each team is still battling for one of the remaining playoff spots in the Western Conference. Bernier gets the nod for the Kings tonight. He has won 4 of his last 6 games, which each loss still earning the Kings a point. Each of the Kings last three W’s have come on the road and I expect them to make it four tonight.
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Tonight is a slow one in the NHL with just three games scheduled. That being said each game is very important to at least one team in the game, so we should be set for some interesting hockey tonight.
San Jose Sharks @ Chicago Blackhawks
The Sharks lost their last two games, each in overtime at home. Tonight they get a change of scenary as they head to Chicago for the first of a quick back to back game road trip. The Blackhawks have lost their last 3 games, but have still been playing very good hockey, losing their last two games in a shootout or overtime. Last night they played a rolling Capitals team that was able to come out on top in overtime thanks to Mike Knuble’s OT winner. These are both top teams in the league and one of their losing streaks will end tonight. The Sharks are slight underdogs, but they have just as strong a road record as the ‘Hawks do home record (21 wins, 14 losses) and are rested and ready to play.
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Two for three again last night. I was really busy today so this post is going to be short and sweet. I’ve checked out the lines and done my research and have found a couple great plays for tonight.
Buffalo Sabres @ Toronto Maple Leafs – Sabres -105
Vancouver Canucks @ Calgary Flames – Canucks -125
That’s it for todays post. Tomorrow I should have more time to write something more legit. Enter your own predictions in the comments.
Two of our three underdog picks came through last night for a 2-1 record, but +1.75 units thanks to the dogs! Let’s ride this success into another busy night in the NHL.
New Jersey Devils @ Atlanta Thrashers
The Devils are back after their tough last minute loss to the Senators the other night, where they were not able to salvage even a point. That loss makes this pretty much a must win game for them and it’s one they should win against a struggling Thrashers team. Atlanta has won their last two games, but they needed extra time to win each of them and they were not against grade A clubs (Panthers, Hurricanes). Before that the Thrashers had won just 2 of the previous 13 games and I am not convinced that they are a better team than this, especially with Byfuglien possibly (game-time decision) out of the lineup tonight. The Devils aren’t just going to roll over and die after a tough loss to one of the worst teams in the league. This team should still believe they have a shot at the playoffs and that shot starts by defeating the Thrashers tonight.
Minnesota Wild @ Dallas Stars
The Wild got lit up last night in Nashville, which dropped them to 11th in the West, but still just 2 points back of 8th and more importantly 3 points back of the Stars. The Wild were in a similar situation a week ago when they lost to the Islanders, but bounced back the next night to beat the Rangers and stay in the playoff hunt. I expect nothing less from them tonight. This is likely one of the last games they will have to play without their captain and each player will dig deep to get the win for him so they are still in the running when he returns. The Wild are heading to Vancouver and San Jose next, so they should know that points here are crucial. The Stars have found their game of late obtaining 12 of a possible 14 points in their last 7 games to erase their previous slump. The Wild are fairly big dogs tonight and I think there is value taking them in this one because I feel it could go either way. The Wild have been solid in the road this season, while the Stars have also won 3 more home games than they have lost.
Anaheim Ducks @ Colorado Avalanche
The Ducks get to head into Colorado at the perfect time of year to take on the lowly, struggling Avalanche. The Avs have won only once in their last 17 games and are making a push for the bottom of the standings. I do not expect tonight to be any different than 16 of their previous 17 games as the Avs should be able to add another loss to their record. Anaheim has won 4 of their last 5 games and are directly in the playoff hunt only two points out of 8th. They can not afford to take the Avs lightly tonight and I don’t expect they will.
Leave your own picks in the comments!
Fan Duel Tips
Holtby is the confirmed starter for the Capitals tonight and he is a great goaltender choice in FanDuel Fantasy Hockey. He only costs $3800 and should get the W tonight.
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Written by: Niko
The Kings were able to comeback last night to get us our underdog W. Tonight I’ve found three more underdog’s that I really like and expect to win, so I can’t pass up the return on investment. These are all away dogs with each of them having more success on the road this season. That is one area where bookmakers seem to slack. It seems to me like they just set the lines with the home team as the favourite even if the road team has a great road record throughout the season, while the home team has not been great in their own building.
Buffalo Sabres @ Boston Bruins
Here is a prime example of what I was talking about above. The Sabres are 18-11-5 on the road this season, while the Bruins are just 16-12-4 at home. Each team has been much better on the road than playing in front of their own fans, but the bookie’s still give the advantage to the home team. Combine this with the fact that the Bruins have lost two straight and the Sabres are 2-1 in their last 3 and battling for a playoff spot. I very much like the line on the Sabres tonight.
Ottawa Senators @ Florida Panthers
The Senators have been playing with much more desire and confidence since they made the trade for Craig Anderson (5-3 with Anderson in net). The AHL players lucky enough to get a chance are doing their best to impress the coaching staff and hopefully make the team next year with a chance at a full season. The Panthers are coming off a big win over the Blackhawks, which put a halt to their losing skid, but we shouldn’t read too much into that because the ‘Hawks outplayed them drastically and outshot them 39-14. The Sens are (12-16-4) on the road, which is slightly better than the home record this season, while the Panthers are (13-13-7) at home, which is worse than their home record.
Minnesota Wild @ Nashville Predators
This game doesn’t fit the example perfectly because the Predators are ok at home (15-7-7), but the Wild are also strong on the road (18-12-3), so it should really be a wash. But lucky for us it isn’t. The Wild are still very big dogs mainly because they are on the road. The Wild have won 2 of their last 3, while the Preds have lost their last 2 and 7 of their last 9. In my opinion the Wild should be the favourites in this game so when I see a line like this I jump on it.
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Written by: Niko de Jonge
**Comments are welcome!
I sent out my game of the week pick today to everyone who has subscribed to the newsletter. If you have yet to sign up for the newsletter you can do so in the form at the bottom of this post. The only other game I like tonight is the LA Kings and Detroit Red Wings.
Los Angeles Kings @ Detroit Red Wings
The Kings are battling for the last playoff spot in the West and although they have lost their last two games, they have been playing better of late and are not in one of their big slumps that seem to happen every season for them. This game is huge for the Kings and they would also like to avenge their 7-4 loss at the hands of the Red Wings just four short games ago. Quick is the confirmed starter for the Kings and he should be extremely focussed on Detroit after they lit him up for 6 goals in that loss. Detroit has lost 3 straight and 5 of their last 7, including their last 2 home games. Howard is the confirmed starter for the Wings and he has not been at his best of late. The Kings are pretty big dogs in this one, but I think this game could go either way seeing how Detroit has not played well of late.
FanDuel Predictions
Holtby is the perfect goaltender for tonights games. He costs only $3800 and the Caps are playing the Oilers, which is a game they should surely win. Voracek has had a couple good games as well and is a fairly cheap RW option in a game between Columbus and St. Louis that I expect to be another high scoring affair.
**Comments are now enabled so let me know what you think about the predictions!
Select your NHL fantasy squad for tonight at FanDuel.
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Written by: Niko de Jonge
Both of our underdogs went to a shootout last night and one of them came through, which was all we needed for a positive return on the night. It would have been nice if the Blue Jackets had also been able to find a way to get the W, but we can’t complain too much because Washington had to comeback (which they haven’t done well this season) to even get into overtime. Tonight there are a lot more games on tap, 9 to be exact, and you can see which picks I feel are sharp below:
Buffalo Sabres @ Pittsburgh Penguins
The Sabres have been playing well of late and have clawed their way into 8th in the Eastern Conference. Pittsburgh on the other hand has won 2 of their last 8 games and have not looked great without their stars Crosby and Malkin. Other players, such as Jordan Staal, have been stepping up, but without these top two centers in the league winning has become much more difficult for Pittsburgh. The playoff race in the East is heating up and you can expect it to get even hotter because the Sabres will win this game.
My Pick: Buffalo Sabres -105 (Bookmaker.com)
Chicago Blackhawks @ Florida Panthers
The Blackhawks are rolling and the Panthers are struggling. The Blackhawks have won 9 in a row to move into 4th in a West and actually start to set their sights on Detroit who is leading the Central division. Jonathan Toews has played amazing and has continued to add to his reputation as “captain clutch” by winning games and playing his best when it is most necessary. At the other end of the spectrum, the Panthers have struggled of late and have fallen out of the playoff race in the East by losing their last 5 games and winning only once in their last 8. I expect Chicago to light up the Panthers so I like the puckline tonight.
My Pick: Chicago Blackhawks (-1.5) +140 (Sportsbook.com)
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FanDuel Predictions
Tonight I like Corey Crawford in net for the Blackhawks for only $6500 at FanDuel Fantasy Hockey. I also like the Toews, Sharp, Kane connection to keep on rolling.
Written by: Niko de Jonge
There are only three games on tap tonight, but they are each very important in the playoff races and I like two of the minor underdogs. Check out the predictions below:
Washington Capitals @ Tampa Bay Lightning
The Capitals just passed Tampa Bay for the top spot in the Southeast Division after an overtime win last night against the Panthers. The Caps will now try to continue their 4 game winning streak. The Lightning have lost 3 games in a row and even with these streaks on the go the Lightning are still favourites in this one. This must be due to the back-to-back game possible fatigue and the fact that Washington is 17-12-3 on the road this season while the Lightning are 21-8-4 at home. I think the Caps will continue to play like we all expect them to and win this game to add some points to their division lead.
My Pick: Washington Capitals +105 (Bookmaker.com)
Columbus Blue Jackets @ St. Louis Blues
The Blue Jackets have lost two straight and are quickly slipping out of the playoff race. They need a win over a struggling Blues team (4 losses in a row) tonight in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Blues are starting Conklin who is 7-7-3 this season, which should tilt the odds slightly more in Columbus’ favour. He has lost his last 5 starts and has a .885 SV% and 3.11 GAA this season. The Blue Jackets are slight dogs in this one, but I expect them to get the win.
My Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets +115 (Bookmaker.com)
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Written by: Niko de Jonge
The Senators came through for us as big dogs last night. Anderson has looked amazing only allowing 7 goals in his first 6 games for the Senators, going 4-2 in that span. More wagers on the Sens may be coming as they are playing better with him in net and will likely be dogs in the vast majority of games through the end of the season. Five more games on tap this evening so lets keep our strong streak alive.
New York Rangers @ Ottawa Senators
Just got confirmation that Craig Anderson will be starting in goal again for the Senators tonight. This fact (Senators are 4-2 with Anderson in goal) combined with the Rangers 3 game losing streak leads me to think the Sens have a slight upperhand tonight at the Scotia Bank Place. The Rangers who are fighting to stay in the top 8 in the Eastern Conference will likely give Lundqvist the nod, especially now that Biron is injured for the remainder of the season. I expect the Rangers to come out with jump, especially after seeing the Hurricanes and Leafs win last night, while the Sabres still pulled out a point. That being said the Senators have looked good and their AHL players are contributing with the hopes of making the team for next season.
My Pick: Ottawa Senators +110 (Bookmaker.com)
Carolina Hurricanes @ Chicago Blackhawks
The Hurricanes got a huge W last night with an overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres. This puts the ‘Canes into 7th in the East, but they know they can’t let their foot of the pedal with the Sabres and Leafs nipping at their heels in the East. Speaking of keeping the foot on the pedal, the Blackhawks have won 6 games in a row, but are still only 2 points ahead of the 10th place team in the Western Conference. Toews has been dynamic of late and you can expect him to rally the troops and get them ready for this one at the United Center. The Blackhawks should be able to take advantage of the Hurricanes back to back game fatigue and I expect the ‘Hawks to pick up right where they left off offensively and score plenty of goals tonight. For this reason I like the puckline on the Blackhawks again tonight.
My Pick: Chicago Blackhawks (-1.5) +145 (Sportsbook.com)
FanDuel Predictions
I have to go with the Toews, Sharp and Kane connection again for my FanDuel team. These three combined cost $2260, but if they combine for another solid night you are almost guaranteed to win.
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Written by: Niko de Jonge
