A stellar March didn’t conclude in ideal fashion Saturday as our Best Bet on the Bruins Team Total Over 3.5 lost, dropping us to 8-2 on our top plays for the month and 11-4 in March overall.
However, each of our three opinions for Saturday action cashed relatively easily.
We deliberately went lower volume in March as it has historically been our worst month, but with opinions also performing well of late, it’s encouraged us to get a little bit more aggressive in the final week of the season.
That’s why tonight, we’re rolling with a Best Bet, a pair of other bets and three opinions that almost made the card as well.
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Good luck tonight!
We don’t generally like to back non-playoff teams in the final week of the season because of their lack of motivation and low morale. But Detroit isn’t closing out the year like a team that can’t wait to get out onto the golf course. There’s actually a lot of energy right now in the Motor City, with the Red Wings having won seven of eight (the lone loss coming as +300 underdogs in St. Louis) and the team announcing the contract extension of head coach Jeff Blashill this morning. Detroit’s also won four of five at home, including a come-from-behind win over the Bruins two nights ago.
Pittsburgh’s been on a nice roll lately and has a chance to clinch a postseason berth tonight and is still battling for home ice in the first round of the playoffs. But the Pens aren’t exactly blowing opponents out of the water, either. They’ve scored 3 goals or less in seven of their last eight games, and they’ve won just seven of their last 19 road games in regulation. Detroit’s also been a bit of a thorn in Pittsburgh’s side recently, winning four of the last six meetings and the past three in Detroit. Plus money is a good enough price to ask the Wings to earn a point here, something they’ve done in more than half of their home games this season (21 of 39).
Bet this game at Pinnacle – The best NHL odds online!
• Bruins at Blue Jackets: We don’t see much sense in standing in front of the Blue Jackets train right now, especially in Columbus. They’ve outscored their last five opponents 24-7 at home and are still fighting to get into the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Bruins are essentially locked into second place in the Atlantic (the Leafs could still technically catch them, but it’s unlikely) and might be letting down a bit, losing three of four. The most concerning thing for the Bruins has to be their defensive play, giving up 3+ goals in 5 straight and 8 of their last 11. Columbus dealt the Bruins a 7-4 defeat three weeks ago in Columbus, and we think the Jackets earn another two points here. Rather than lay -135 on the moneyline, we’ll back Columbus -0.5 in regulation time at +120.
• Hurricanes at Maple Leafs: Carolina needs victories to get into the playoffs, while the Leafs have already clinched and appear certain to finish third in the Atlantic. But that apparent difference in motivation is already baked into the price, to the point that we think it opens value on Toronto. Even if a win doesn’t matter in the standings, the Leafs need to turn their play around with the playoffs beginning next week. Last night’s 2-1 win at New York is something to build on, and they’ve now outshot their last two opponents by an 82-50 margin. Yes, the Leafs are on a back-to-back and 3-in-4 situation, but Carolina is playing its 3rd in 4, 4th in 6 and 7th in 11. At this low price, we’ll grab the Toronto moneyline -104.
Leans
• Jets moneyline +114 (Eric Comrie in net for Winnipeg is enough to keep us off, but the Wild has lost 20 of 27 at home and its playoff hopes are basically dead after Sunday’s loss in Arizona)
• Flyers Team Total Under 2.5 -127 (just a bit too pricey for us to pull the trigger)
• Canadiens moneyline -115 (Montreal needs a win, Tampa doesn’t and is starting Eddie Pasquale in net, but we need a better price than this to fade the Bolts)