Xam’s Daily Gems:
Pelicans Money Line -138
Risk: 6.9 Units
To Win: 5 Units
The Knicks barely squeezed out a win last night at home against the lowly Detroit Pistons. They’ve been really struggling lately, and especially on offense. The losses of Julius Randle and OG Anunoby have hampered the offense a good deal. They’re only scoring about 108 points per game over their last 10 games. Now, they’re on the 2nd night of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 nights. They’re 4-6 in their last 10 games and just haven’t exuded a lot of confidence recently. It’s their 4th game in 6 nights, and that’s a lot for any team to handle. The Pelicans, meanwhile, should be pretty well rested heading into this game. They have only played one game since February 23rd. The Pelicans have lost 2 straight games but are 7-3 overall in their last 10. They’ve found themselves tied for 5th in the Western Conference due to a solid offense and dominant defense. On the year, they’re giving up only 112 points per game. However, over their last 10 games, they’ve turned up the defense even more. They’re surrendering just 108 points per game during this winning stretch, and they’ve had some dominant wins as well. The Pelicans are playing with more confidence, have the rest advantage, and are the healthier team coming into this game. If they can contain Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo, the Pels should be able to score enough to get themselves back on track with a win.
Hurricanes 60 Minute Money Line +100
Risk: 5 Units
To Win: 5 Units
(For this bet to win, the Hurricanes must win in regulation. Bet loses even if the Hurricanes win in OT/Shootout.)
The Hurricanes are coming off 2 straight losses by 1 goal and really need to get themselves back on track. They’re still 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and tied for 4th in the Eastern Conference, however. They have gotten to this point off the back of their dominant offense and dominant defense. They’re giving up just 2.81 goals per game this season! The Minnesota Wild have been on a tear recently, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. However, they’re giving up tons of goals this year. They’re giving up 3.32 goals per game. The 193 they have surrendered are the 4th most in the Western Conference. They’re only ahead of the 3 worst teams in the West: the Ducks, Sharks, and Blackhawks. However, Minnesota does score a lot. They have scored 186 times this year, and 39 times in their last 10 games, albeit with 10 of them coming in 1 game. Both teams are rested coming into the game, so this game will likely come down to the defenses of both teams. The Hurricanes have the edge here. It’s also worth noting the Wild haven’t been as good as you’d expect at home. They’re only 14-11-4 at home, while the Hurricanes have a 15-11-2 record on the road. If the Hurricanes can contain guys like Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Joel Eriksson Ek, the Hurricanes should be able to score. Carolina needs this one tonight. Expect to see Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Martin Necas, and Andrei Svechnikov to play with a heightened sense of urgency and get the Canes back on track.
Avalanche 60 Minute Money Line +115
Risk: 5 Units
To Win: 5.75 Units
This is a tough game for the Stars tonight. This is the 2nd game of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 nights. They’re also coming off an OT game yesterday, so they played even more hockey than usual. Furthermore, it’s their 4th game in 6 nights! The Avs have a tremendous rest advantage coming into this game. They haven’t played since the 24th and have only played once since the 22nd. They’ve also been dominant at home, posting an astounding 22-6 record at Ball Arena. They’ve been great offensively all year, totaling 216 goals. That’s good for 3rd in the Western Conference but just 2 goals behind the Canucks for the most in the conference. Defense has been an issue for the Avs this season. They’ve given up 188 goals on the year, which amounts to 3.18 goals per game. However, they have improved a little in their last 10 games, giving up just 3 goals per game during this stretch. The significant rest advantage can’t be overlooked here. The Avs need a win tonight to get back on track. The Avs are just 3-5-2 in their last 10 games, despite their improved defense. Coming off a couple days off and at home, expect the leaders of the team to step up. Guys like Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Artturi Lehkonen know their team needs a win tonight. The Avs are averaging a whopping 4.21 goals per game at home this year. This is a game where they should come out strong and aggressive. They have all the talent in the world to make a Stanley Cup run, and it has to start tonight.