Arizona vs Florida:

Florida has three wins in their last eleven games and have lost five of their last six. Since Thanksgiving week, Florida has played 20 games winning 7 of them. Those 7 wins came against Boston, Vancouver, Seattle, Detroit, Columbus, New Jersey, and Montreal. They went on to lose to Seattle in a rematch a week later with the same happening against the Devils. Matthew Tkachuk is the only bright spot for Florida right now, but Matthew Tkachuk is the reason why this team is struggling and will continue to struggle. Florida has two favorable matchups coming up against Arizona and Detroit and these are two matchups Florida needs to win. At -335 Florida is nothing more than a parlay piece but I’m not touching it. Arizona has already beaten Florida at home this season and Florida’s offense has not been potent enough for me to tie them to any plays. It’s a game that Florida should win and put up 3+ goals but unless they are putting up 7 tonight, it won’t be pretty. 

Sabres vs Capitals

It’s time to sell on the Buffalo Sabres for the time being. Buffalo is a team of streaks, and after winning six in a row, they lost to Ottawa 3-1. This is their time to lose a few in a row and it should continue tonight in Washington. I projected Washington to finish second in the Metro this year, against most others beliefs, and I said if they can maintain .500 play until they get healthy, they will be a powerful regular season team. They come in winning 8 of their last 10 and sit third in the Metro right now. THe line is only -162 to win but their team total is 3.5 pre-game. I’m not trusting these 3.5 team totals right now because scoring is down regardless of what the leagues and books want you to think. The key for me here is Darcy Keumper. I do not believe Buffalo’s offense will be able to get to Keumper as easily as the goalies they did during their six game winning streak and would be surprised if they put up 3 goals tonight. Washington’s team total is being offered on the alt lines at 2 and I will be using that in my alt line parlay tonight from the total’s perspective. Washington should win this game anywhere from 3-2 to 5-2. 

Carolina vs New York Rangers:

This is personal preference but this is a game I will be avoiding. These two have seen a lot of each other over recent years, especially in the playoffs and it doesn’t go well for the Rangers. This series has gone from being heavily Rangers low scoring wins to Carolina having the edge then to high scoring games in the Rangers favor. There is not enough consistency in these matchups for me to gauge what I expect to see tonight. Carolina has won 11 in a row and have been the hottest team in the East reclaiming the Metro division lead from the Devils like we projected them to win before the season. Even with Freddy Andersen out, Carolina’s goaltending has been phenomenal. Over those 11 wins they have pitched 4 shutouts. With a total of 5.5 if I HAD to make a play on the game I’d like to see some goals scored, but I don’t see any significant edge to ride a team on an 11 game win streak on the road in the Garden where they’ve struggled in the recent years, or play a Rangers team who’s struggled like the Panthers against a division leading team on an 11 game win streak. 

Blue Jackets vs Ottawa

Barf. Two bad offenses, two bad defenses, line up for two goalies to be made to look good because both teams suck as a whole. No thanks. 

Blues vs Toronto

I’m putting my eggs in this basket tonight. Ryan O’Reilly and Vlad Tarasenko are now on the IR for St. Louis and this team has already been struggling. St. Louis, like Buffalo, has been an extremely streaky team this year and hard times are about to be upon them again. Toronto should be able to wipe the floor with them tonight putting up 4+ goals and winning. Toronto will be included in everything for me from their ML in parlays, their team total of 3.5 straight, and their alt line team totals in my parlays. Everyone was worried about Toronto in the beginning of the year and i’ll say it again, there’s a reason why I told you not to panic with them. This is a play strictly based on their skill and offense against a .500 road team that now is missing their two best players. 

Calgary vs Winnipeg

This will come down to goaltending. My guy tells me tonight will be a higher scoring game even though history tells us otherwise between these two. Calgary’s offense is in the same boat as Florida’s as neither team has played well since the Tkachuk/ Huberdeau-Weegar trade and Connor Hellebuyck is playing for a Vezina trophy. Winnipeg is without Nikolai Ehlers, Blake Wheeler, and possibly Cole Perfetti again. As good as this slate looked tonight on paper, there are a lot of contributing factors keeping me off certain games and these injuries are keeping me off Winnipeg for the time being. 

Montreal vs Nashville 

Nashville will score tonight, what matters is who will be in net for them. I will have more confidence in the Preds tonight if Saros is in net but Montreal is a team that will give Nashville a bit of a fit. Nashville is a team I would consider parlaying with Toronto but there is a significant gap in confidence between the two. Right now, my plan is to use Nashville’s alt team total in my alt line parlay or to use Nashville’s ML in a round robin. There’s another game on the board next that I feel more confident playing Toronto’s ML with in a two team parlay but Nashville should have some action on it tonight. Once I know who is in net I will be able to make a better determination on the play. 

Tampa Bay vs Chicago

With a healthy Tampa Bay lineup and a struggling Chicago team who has lost 4 in a row, and won only 4 of their last 30 games, I’m loading up on Tampa Bay here. Tonight is a full out Tampa Bay / Toronto pairing. Tampa Bay has scored 3 goals or more in their last 10 matchups and I’m confident playing them again tonight. I will be parlaying the ML, their ALT team total,and their pre game team total and letting Voldy update us for each and every goal the Lightning score tonight.