The Islanders are absolutely untouchable right now. The best way to play them is to hit the ML against them if they have a third period line. You cannot play or rely on a team no matter how good a team may be playing or their offense is playing if they cannot hold a third period lead. The Islanders lead the league with 7 third period leads this season and the next closest team is the Oilers with three.
Carolina is coming off two bad losses against the Panthers in a a home and home series. Seattle is a game that they should rebound in. Their team total is 3.5 so I will play it for two units at only a -145 cost. The 3.5 team totals for Carolina are 17-7 this season and Carolina has scored three or more goals in 20 of 24. In the three games the Hurricanes scored three they lost twice and won once in overtime. That’s important here because this is a game I expect Carolina to be winning and have an empty net situation at worst if they don’t hit four before that. Seattle has lost four of five going 1-3 against Anaheim and San Jose in back to back home and home series. Seattle is not playing good hockey and are averaging less than three goals per game. If Seattle gets an outlier win here against the Hurricanes they will need a gem out of Joey Daccord. If the game is a high scoring win then it bodes even better for us.
Washington’s history against San Jose has been atrocious over the past three years losing three of five. The issue is they’ve been struggling to score outside of an 8-4 win against Kappo Kahkonen. Alex Ovechkin had three points in that game but the Caps are still without him. Their offense has been on fire without him averaging five goals per game over their last four games. Those games have been impressive getting wins over the Islanders in a come from behind win, the Lightning, Devils, and Panthers. This game lines up to be a trap. Washington will either blow them out or lose. I don’t want to lay the -160 on the team total of 3.5 so I am laying off.
I’m taking a chance here in Boston. Boston has been one of the most underperforming teams in the league and have already fired a coach who led them to a record setting year. Detroit (25th) and Boston (30th) are two of the lower performing offenses in the league but give up over 3 goals per game. The under should be the expected play tonight but with Joonas Korpisalo in net for the Bruins (9-4 3.17 GAA career vs Detroit) and Ville Husso in net for Detroit (4-2-1 3.16 GAA career vs Boston) I am playing the over. This game could surprise with an abundance of back and forth scoring.
We all know how I feel about the Penguins and their defense. I am splitting this up with half on 3 and half on 3.5 for the Panthers. After winning seven in a row, which included a trip to Finland, the Panthers lost six of seven. They’re back on track offensively winning their last three averaging close to six goals per game over that span. A matchup against the leagues second worst defense should help continue that. Jarry is 3-4 in his career against the Panthers with a 3.2 GAA.
Official Plays:
- 7 pm Colorado Team Total over 3 -165: 10u
- 7 pm Boston/Florida over 5.5 -140: 3u
- 7 pm Carolina Team Total over 3.5 -140: 2u
- 7 pm Florida Team Total over 3 -190: 2u
- 7 pm Florida Team Total over 3.5 -125: 3u
