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Welcome to December, my fellow gambling degenerates. Sports are about as unpredictable as they can get right now. The World Cup has been upset-central, the NFL has been completely flipped on it's head, MLB free-agency has been wild, and the NHL is no exception, as many teams that we thought would be sure-fire powerhouses have been struggling to find their footing. All of this has a direct effect on our ability to make money.
Let's continue to try and keep our heads above water here.
(Ben Jackson/NHLI via Getty Images)
Game 1: Buffalo Sabres @ Columbus Blue Jackets
Buffalo, again?! This is the third time in just about one month that the Sabres will be playing on primetime. I think I've managed to get my point across with this group. Young, stingy, full of future stars, and home to Tage Thompson, one of the most talented young goal scorers in the NHL.
On the other side of the ice stands the Columbus Blue Jackets. Columbus sits in dead last in the Eastern Conference with 18 points, and are on pace to post their third straight losing season. Columbus has the worst power play in the NHL, ranking 32nd with a 14.3 PP%, and 31st in the league in shots against per game with 36.2, only ahead of the Anaheim Ducks' 37.9
I'll Take:
BUF -1.5 (+160)
Tage Thompson anytime goalscorer (+100)
Patrik Laine O 0.5 points (-210)
Game 2: New York Rangers @ Vegas Golden Knights
I counted the Rangers as part of my biggest disappointments in the NHL this year in my quarter season review. They haven't proven me wrong yet, I'm still waiting. They have an extremely tall task ahead of them, as they take on the Golden Knights tonight in Vegas, followed by a trip to Colorado, and then meetup with the New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs at home. That's four straight games against serious Stanley Cup contenders. I mentioned earlier yesterday that these next four games is a make-or-break stretch for the 2022-23 New York Rangers.
The Vegas Golden Knights hold the third best record in the league, with 39 points on a 19-7-1 record, and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Despite missing Robin Lehner for the season due to injury, Logan Thompson has been able to hold it down between the pipes, really giving Vegas that edge, as goaltending was their biggest question mark coming into the season after the Lehner injury news.
Vegas also handed the Boston Bruins their first loss on home ice this season on Monday night in a shootout thriller, giving hockey fans a taste of what could very well be a 2023 Stanley Cup matchup.
I'll Take:
O 6 (-115)
Vincent Trocheck anytime goalscorer (+295)
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