Winnipeg vs. Carolina:

Connor Hellebuyck is the heavy favorite to win the Vezina this year but Winnipeg’s offense has struggled. Winnipeg is bottom ten in the league in total goals scored and barely average over three per game. When you have a Vezina calibur goalie putting up a GAA of 2.23 and a .924 Save Percentage, you don’t need to score much. Carolina is averaging over 3.37 goals scored at home this season and Winnipeg is only averaging 2.75 goals on the road. However, Winnipeg has limited the opposition to only 2.41 goals against on the road. I think even with Connor being able to put up a top performance on the road, Winnipeg will struggle to score. I see Carolina winning this game 3-2 or 4-3 so I am going to play their money line for one unit. This is usually a type of matchup I like to avoid, but I am taking my chances on Carolina. 

 

Florida Panthers vs. Detroit Red Wings:

The numbers in this matchup suggest these two play relatively slow low scoring games. The lines opening on this game suggest otherwise. The total opened at 6.5 -110 with 5.5 being -175. Detroit won the last matchup in overtime and I think this game sees some fireworks. Detroit won six in a row before losing to the Isles in a game we had the Isles side. Detroit’s offense has put up three or more in six of their last seven and I expect the same at home against Florida. Florida continues to dominate and have won thirteen of their last fifteen. I am expecting a fast paced back and forth game as Florida fights for the division and Detroit fights to maintain a wild card spot or even catch Toronto. I will be laying the juice to buy this total down and think this game reaches eight or more goals. 

 

Edmonton vs. Seattle:

We want back to this over last matchup on January 18th after we were able to get the line at 5.5 and we hit. We are getting 5.5 again and will be back on it. This matchup has had six or more goals in nine of the ten meetings these two have played in Seattle’s history. Phil Grubauer is coming off a shutout of the Penguins and was 4-0 in five games with a GAA of 1.46 since his February return from injury. Grubauer however, is 3-3 with a 4.97 GAA against the Oilers in his career. This may be a game where we barely get the 5.5 toal in a 4-2 Oilers win, but with the success we have had in this matchup over the past three years, I will continue to go back to it. 

 

Colorado vs. Nashville:

I am going to be laying off this game. We are coming off huge wins with Nashville this past week, and hit the Av’s team total but missed the game total via shutout. This is a game that I feel could be a low scoring trap. Nashville is making a statement in their wild card bid and Colorado is fighting for a division lead. I am expecting this game to be played very tight. Alex Georgiev and Juuse Saros should start today and this is an elite goaltending matchup. Juuse is 4-2-1 against the Avs with a 2.89 GAA in his career against them and Alex Georgiev is 5-3 with a 2.25 GAA against the Preds. It’s very possible there is a lot of scoring in this game, but in terms of playing strategically, this game is a pass for me. Let these two duke it out. 

 

Minnesota vs. St. Louis:

This is another game I plan on laying off. Both teams are too hit or miss right now to expect consistency. Both teams are struggling in the standings and could be sellers at the deadline. Let these two teams struggle against each other and once these teams sell at the deadline we will start attacking them more often. 

 

Vegas vs. Buffalo:

Vegas is coming off a high scoring loss on the road to the Bruins. Buffalo is coming off a great win for them on the road against the Lightning in overtime. Vegas is missing Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, two huge pieces to this team but Vegas continues to get on the board. Like the game against Ottawa, I’m shocked we’re able to get their team total in the 2.5 range. Whether they win or lose, which I think they win, Vegas should be able to reach the three goal mark. Buffalo has managed to play well defensively with less than three goals against per game. Ukko-Pekka-Luukkonen is the reason for that and has really lived up to Buffalo’s expectations with a 2.14GAA and .914 SV%. I will look to hit this line live when 2.5 drops to the -140 range. 

 

Ottawa vs. Philadelphia:

We have cashed on the game total in this matchup the last three times. Both teams are coming off a back to back so I expect this game to be more wide open. 

 

Montreal vs. Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay is coming off a loss to Buffalo in overtime and get a matchup with Montreal who they are 8-2 against in their last 10. Tampa Bay is on the verge of losing their wild card spot and this matchup is a must win. I expect Nikita Kucherov to go off and Tampa to hit four goals without question. I want to be on Kuch’s shot total as well. Tampa has scored four or more in seven of their last eight against Montreal and I see them winning this game by two or more goals. 

 

I will be back for the 7pm games and have plays posted:

 

Official Plays:

• 12:38pm Carolina ML -135: 1u
• 3:08pm Florida/Detroit over 5.5 -175: 2u
• 4:08pm Edmonton/Seattle over 5.5 -165: 3u
• 7:08pm Tampa Bay over 3.5 Team Total -155: 2.5u
• 7:08pm Vegas TT over 2.5 -140 LIVE: 1.5u
• 7:08pm Ottawa/Philadelphia over 5.5 -175: 2u
• 7:38pm Boston ML -135: 1u
• 7:38pm Boston Team Total over 2.5 -140 LIVE: 2u
• 8:08pm Dallas Team Total TBD
• 8:08pm Columbus/Chicago over 5.5 LINE TBD: 3u

Remember, the game times for today are staggered. You can put the plays in in three waves (12pm/3-4pm/7pm).