Written by Scott on Tuesday, April 4th, 2023
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Only 3 games last night.
I had mentioned that the Knights vs Wild could go either way so it was nice to see it go to overtime. The Knights won 4-3 in a shootout. With the point gained in the loss by the Wild they clinched a spot.
The Stars beat the Preds 5-1 which clinched a spot. Robertson had a goal and 3 assists to give him 101 points on the season. He is the first Dallas Stars player to hit 100 points ever.
The final game saw the Kraken pound the Coyotes 8-1.
11 games tonight.
Note: On days with no tips (which will be a lot down the stretch) we won’t send any e-mails out so that Graeme can work on the mailing list issues
Wings vs Canadiens
The Wings are 9 points back with 6 games left.
The Canadiens have lost 3 straight and will be starting Primeau here.
Would say the Wings should win but it’s so hard to bet on “should” and find it easier to just avoid altogether.
Looking at the records for where they are playing and the Wings are 15-18-5 on the road and the Habs are 16-19-3 at home.
Would lean towards a Red Wings win but both teams are 4-6 over last 10 so hard to tell.
Sens vs Hurricanes
The Sens are 6 points out of the playoff picture with only 5 games left.
The Canes are in 1st in the Metro and have a 3 point lead over the Devils and have a game in hand too.
Would need to take the Canes -1.5 and with the way the Sens are playing it’s not a bad play. But I can’t with the Canes going 2-2-1 over last 5 and they covered the spread just once during.
Sabres vs Panthers
9th and 10th in the Eastern Conference here. Both teams are so tough to try and predict.
The Panthers need to win to get back into the 8th and final spot in the East. The Sabres are 5 points out but have 2 games in hand over the Penguins.
Similar records for their road and home play with the Sabres going 22-11-3 on the road and the Panthers 21-12-4 at home. I would lean towards the Panthers to win but it would need to be in regulation. With Lyon getting the start I’m going to pass.
Penguins vs Devils
The Pens are in the playoffs but just barely with the Panthers one point behind them.
The Devils are in 2nd in the Metro, 3 behind the Hurricanes and 3 ahead of the Rangers.
Would think the Pens would win this one based on how close the standings are but it is a tough game to predict. The Devils have won the last 4 vs the Pens including the 3 this season. But they have gone 4-4-2 over last 10 and the Pens aren’t any better going 4-6.
Jackets vs Leafs
The Leafs should win this game. But they did give some players a game off in the last game against the Wings, Marner, McCabe and Giordano so who knows how important this game is for them.
The Jackets are at the bottom of the league in the standings. 4 of their last 7 games went to overtime so they are at least trying.
Would need to take the Leafs to win by 3 goals so it’s an easy skip here for me.
Knights vs Predators
With the Preds playing here it’s a quick and easy pass for me.
Flyers vs Blues
Both teams have been eliminated from the playoffs.
The Flyers have lost their last 3 and the Blues the last 2.
Easy pass for me.
Blackhawks vs Flames
The Hawks are in last place in the league. They have lost their last 8 in a row.
The Flames have won the last 4 games and are in 9th in the West, 2 points behind the Kraken.
The Hawks have won both games against the Flames this season.
I would lean towards a Flames win but with Chicago having already beat them twice I have to skip.
Kraken vs Canucks
The Canucks are playing better but are riding a 3 game losing skid into this one so I can’t take them.
The Kraken played last night so I’m not tipping them.
Would lean towards a Kraken win but don’t have enough confidence in them after playing yesterday.
Oilers vs Kings
Big game here between the 2nd and 3rd place teams in the Pacific.
The Kings are in 2nd with 100 points and the Oilers 3rd with 99.
I really have no idea who wins this. The Oilers have gone 23-11-3 on the road and the Kings 25-9-4 when playing at home.
Avalanche vs Sharks
The Avalanche have a great shot at winning the Central. They are 2 points back of the Stars and Wild and have 2 games in hand.
The Sharks have won their last 3 games but are way out of the playoffs and playing for pride at this point.
If I was to have a tip for tonight’s action it would be the Avalanche in regulation. The odds for that are around 1.76. They have gone 8-2 over last 10 and 24-11-1 on the road. I personally will be betting that but with only 10 days left in the regular season I’m a little put off of making it a tip.
To WIN moneyline: Flames, Avs, Knights, Canes
Lean: to WIN maybe and who cares: Leafs
Lean: to WIN moneyline: Detroit
Lean: full game OVER 6.0: Oilers/Kings
Lean: full game OVER 5.5: Blues/Flyers
Puckline option (and other options) I’m looking at for the moneyline picks, but that’s going to take a while. Lots to consider there. These teams can’t slip up and have good reasons to be stoked for a win tonight; their playoff position opportunities are peaking and the competition is still fierce.
Can’t go for the favored Kraken to win, because they’re looking at three easy games up next and they will want those 6 points to seize their Wild Card spot for certain. They won’t want to burn themselves out on this back-to-back against fast-skating cross-pond rival Vancouver. I’d expect them to show up, but not sweat it too much.
Flames to their credit have been talking about not looking ahead and putting 100% into each of their remaining games, so they should give this game a slam dunk effort. Tanev is a game-time decision, and they’re otherwise healthy and rested enough, with the mission clearly understood for this week.
I consider the OVER in the Oilers game very risky, it could as easily go 3-2. Much more likely the Blues game gravitates to 5 and higher.
I got 4 games tonight.
First off I got Canes -1.5. It’s a home game against a mediocre Senators team who just lost to the Jackets. Canes are great at home, Sens not so much away.
I got over 7 incl OT in two games, Sabres – Panthers and Jackets – Leafs. Sabres and Panthers are good for a lot of goals, and I hope we’ll see this tonight.
Jackets away, Leafs at home. Should be a dominant home win, but I think the Jackets are capable of a goal or two.
Lastly I got Avs -1.5. I think they’re hungry for the top of central, and I think they’re gonna be a dangerous team for the playoffs, once again. I don’t think any team can handle them in a series, including the Bruins.
There’s one thing that’s stuck in my head, and I find it incredibly weird. In the NHL final I think we’re gonna see Avs v Bruins, and in the NBA final I think we’re gonna see Warriors v Celtics. And I think the Boston teams will lose both.