Ducks (20-19-9) +115 @ DEVILS -140 (18-22-7) 1 pm
Pick: Devils money line
The Ducks have been on a downward spiral since the start of the New Year. They had lost 12 games prior to Thursday evenings win against the Wild. They’ve also shaken up their roster a little bit due to their recent failures, sending veteran F Andrew Cogliano to Dallas for F Devin Shore. They also sent F Pontus Aberg to the Wild for F Justin Kloos as well as F Luke Schenn to Vancouver for D Michael Del Zotto (former Flyer) and Joseph Blandisi (former NJ Devil) to Pittsburgh for F Derek Grant. A lot of these moves were made to help with cap space next year but they are moves nonetheless, shaking up the Ducks locker room. Even though they finally snapped their losing streak, we think the Devils will take it to them at the Rock this afternoon.
The Devils play an entire different game when they are at Prudential Center.
Their record away from their home ice is 5-17-3 which is atrocious. However, with home ice advantage the Devils are 13-5-4. F Miles Wood and F Taylor Hall (Hall will not return until after the All Star Break, F Kyle Palmieri, NJ’s leading goal scorer, will take his spot this year in San Jose) are still out so that definitely weakens their already thin roster, but we think that they will bring the grit necessary to beat the Ducks today especially after that embarrassing loss to the Islanders on Thursday.
Rangers (20-20-7) +210 @ Bruins -250 (27-16-5) 7 pm
Pick: Over 6 -120
The Rangers have been filling the net with consistency recently. In their past three games they haven’t put up less than four goals. The Bruins on their other hand are also an offensive juggernaut. That coupled with the fact that the Bruins goaltending is suspect to criticism recently and has been underperforming, Halak in particular, look for this one to be a high scoring matchup. There’s honestly no telling who will win this one because the Bruins either show up to play or they are non existent, like in the game versus the Flyers earlier this week.
We think the over is very promising. It also couldn’t hurt to throw some extra cash if you have it and that’s your sort of thing, on a Pastrnak goal tonight. The kid can’t be stopped.
Flyers (18-23-6) +105 @ Canadiens (27-17-5) -125 7 pm
Pick: Canadiens money line
At the start of the season, everyone predicted that the Habs were going to be one of the leagues worst teams. Now, they are in the fight for a top three spot in the Atlantic Division. Their youth movement and new core group of guys have been over performing this year much to the chagrin of their naysayers. The Max Domi acquisition looks better every day as he continues to flourish on his new team. Their third overall pick in the 2018 draft Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who. many scoffed at for being a reach, is turning out nicely and in 3-4 years should be their No. 1 center. All in all they look like a team who is turning it around quickly after one off year. Their GM Marc Bergevin looks like a GM of the year candidate as well. Good things are happening in Montreal.
On the other end of the (former) spectrum we have the flailing Flyers. They are still rocking a horrid goal differential of -33. F Nolan Patrick was recently on a 24-game goalless streak up until his filthy between the legs goal earlier this week. Yes, they’ve won their last two games by wide margins but that is too small of a sample size for us to believe they have turned it around. Prior to these last two games they had been struggling to find a third goal. They couldn’t pay someone for that third goal. We think tonight is going to be one of those nights in Montreal. Stick with the Habs who actually still have something to play for this season.
Penguins (26-15-6) +120 @ Golden Knights (28-17-4) -140 10 pm
No Pick
We learned our lesson last night and are going to take the night off with betting on or against the Penguins, especially against a tough opponent like Vegas. Both of these teams are playing very well of late. VGK is 8-2-0 in their last 10 and Pittsburgh is 7-3-0. Vegas however is extremely rested having not played since Tuesday against Winnipeg while Pittsburgh is coming off of a win last night in Phoenix. If you really feel the urge to bet on the Penguins tonight, take Vegas solely on the fact that they are rested and itching to play, but we don’t feel confident in anything, especially considering last night’s outcome in picking against the Pens.