NHL Hockey Best Bets for March 21, 2016
Only four games on the NHL board for Monday but three have playoff implications and the fourth at least as some motivation among the teams involved to not finish in last place. Here are our best bets:
FLORIDA PANTHERS AT NEW YORK RANGERS:
Handicapping 101 dictates that when you get a team in a ‘must win’ game you bet the other side. Handicapping 102 dictates that when you get two teams that are both in ‘must win’ situations you take the one with the best price. That’s the Florida Panthers who are still where they were at the end of their franchise record winning streak–atop the Atlantic Division. More significantly, they’ve lost the lead and regained it which defies all of the haters that said they’d fold like a rag after their streak ended. Not so much. They’ve got a two point lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning and a three point lead over the Boston Bruins. Both teams have challenging games on deck–Tampa play the Detroit Red Wings at home tomorrow night while the Bruins play here at MSG against the Rangers on Wednesday night.
The Rangers have been caught and for all intents and purposes (thanks to the tiebreaker) passed by the red hot Pittsburgh Penguins. New York is in their first game back after a nasty three game West Coast road trip with stops in all of the most inhospitable destinations (Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Jose). The Rangers beat Anaheim and lost to Los Angeles and San Jose. Ranger fans are hysterical, saying that the team was ‘exposed’ during the trip. I’m the furthest thing from a Rangers fan but in reality that didn’t play that badly. The beat the Anaheim Ducks who are just the sort of team that the Rangers *should* have trouble with and lost to the downright formidable Los Angeles Kings by one goal the following night. After those two tough games they were easy pickings for the Sharks. Of course Rangers fans run hot and cold with no middle ground–either the Rangers are certain Stanley Cup finalists or they’re a disgrace to the city of New York with no middle ground.
The Panthers are underrated despite their success this year. Just because they’re not an ‘original six’ team doesn’t mean that they’re going anywhere. They’ve got the Kevin Spacey factor working for them but more importantly this is a solid, balanced team with a great mix of young studs and veterans. It’s not getting coverage because ESPN doesn’t have a financial stake in the NHL but the Jaromir Jagr story is in my opinion the best thing in sports this year. What’s not to like? At an age when most hockey players are long retired or going through the motions to collect a paycheck Jagr is still as dangerous as ever. At 44 years old, he doesn’t need the money (he’s got a nine figure bank account balance) plus he’s already done everything in the game. If he hung up his skates today he’d be #3 in career points and #3 in career goals–staring up at only Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe. He’s won a Stanley Cup. But he puts himself through the grueling life of a pro hockey player because he loves the game. That’s a serious role model for the Panthers’ talented young stars.
New York has dominated in head to head play (7-1 overall L3 years, 3-0 at MSG) but once again, we’ll take the price. We haven’t been sold on the Rangers all year and there could be some fatigue factor with the team having just returned from that nasty California trip and having just one day of rest before this game.
BET FLORIDA PANTHERS +135 OVER NEW YORK RANGERS
CALGARY FLAMES AT TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS:
Although the Calgary Flames are neck and neck with the Winnipeg Jets for the ‘most disappointing team in the NHL’ award they’ve decided to do something that the Jets aren’t–finish the year by exerting a good effort and not playing out the string. Calgary won’t make the playoffs but all of a sudden they look determined to not finish near the bottom of the Western Conference table. They’re now 4 points clear of the aforementioned Winnipeg Jets for the West basement and are now just one point back of the 10th place Arizona Coyotes. They ripped the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre last night and tonight’s matchup should be even easier.
Toronto has played fairly well of late and especially so for a team trying to ‘tank games’ to get the top draft pick and the right to select forward Auston Matthews. The Leafs have shocked Detroit at Joe Louis Arena and picked up wins at home against the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning. But at 61 points they’re getting dangerously close to ‘falling out’ of last place as they lead…er…trail…the Winnipeg Jets by only three points. Flames are getting ‘plus money’ here but they’re the (marginally) better overall team at this point. More significantly, they’ve got much more potent individual weapons including NHL Three Star of the Week winner Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau.
BET CALGARY FLAMES +125 OVER TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS