RADIO
Wednesday night brings just four games on the NHL schedule, but includes a classic Original Six matchup, with the Chicago Blackhawks visiting the Detroit Red Wings.
The Blackhawks have shockingly climbed back into the Western Conference playoff race, turning into a team that creates and gives up tons of chances on a nightly basis. That makes for entertaining hockey and might make someone think about the overs.
Chicago’s open style has worked for veterans Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, but also for young players like Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome. That depth could pose problems for the Red Wings tonight.
Here are some angles to consider before the monkeys take to the ice tonight.
Editor's Note: Our friends at Monkey Knife Fight have released the best, most fun, fastest growing DFS props game! It's super simple to play and win real money. Just choose your NHL, NBA or PGA game, and make your picks! Get a 100% instant deposit bonus up to $50 using promo code: BALLER. That's $50 for free - don't miss out!
CHICAGO-DETROIT
OVER/UNDERS
Patrick Kane OVER 0.5 ASSISTS – Not only is the Blackhawks winger on an 18-game point streak, but he has an assist in each of the past 17 games. The Red Wings aren’t awful, maybe better than you think, but there’s no reason to think that they’re the ones to stop Kane.
Andreas Athanasiou OVER 3.5 SHOTS + BLOCKS – The Detroit winger has recorded at least four shots plus blocks in six of the past 10 home games, which doesn’t move the needle a whole lot, but Chicago gives up a lot of chances, which makes it easier to see Athanasiou on the over.
WINNIPEG-COLORADO
OVER/UNDERS
Blake Wheeler OVER 0.5 ASSISTS – This one is going against recent trends, as Wheeler has managed to pick up an assist in three of the past nine road games, but the Avalanche aren’t great defensively and the Jets should get scoring chances and a guy with 22 assists in 27 road games is a fair bet to get on the board.
Gabriel Landeskog UNDER 0.5 GOALS – The Avalanche captain has gone seven straight home games without a goal and Colorado has shaken up its lines so that Landeskog is currently set to skate on the third line with Tyson Jost and Matt Calvert. That’s not quite the same as playing with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.
ISLANDERS-CALGARY
OVER/UNDERS
Ryan Pulock UNDER 4.5 SHOTS + BLOCKS – While Pulock is a legitimate offensive threat on the Islanders blueline, but that’s a big number. He has put up at least five shots plus blocks in 13 of 29 road games. Facing a very good Calgary team, though, seems like a tough matchup.
Mathew Barzal UNDER 0.5 ASSISTS – This is nearly a coin-flip, with Barzal recorded an assist in 14 of 29 road contests this season but, again, this is not an easy matchup and Barzal is likely to see a lot of Mark Giordano in this game. That’s enough to push the needle towards the under.
BOSTON-VEGAS
OVER/UNDER
Brad Marchand UNDER 0.5 ASSISTS – As good as Marchand is, there’s a rather stark difference between his home and road performance this season. At home, he has 30 assists in 31 games. On the road, he has 17 assists in 28 games, and has recorded an assist in just two of the past eight road games, so this night in Vegas doesn’t seem like one that makes sense to gamble on Marchand.
Max Pacioretty UNDER 0.5 GOALS – While Pacioretty is heating up a bit, he has found the net seven times in 21 home games this season. Going up against a strong Boston team doesn’t seem like the ideal time for him to get loose.
Patrice Bergeron OVER 0.5 ASSISTS – Going on a hunch here, because Bergeron has an assist in eight of 20 road games this season but with David Pastrnak out, maybe Marchand is the finisher and Bergeron sets up one goal.
RAPID FIRE
Patrice Bergeron +0.5 POINTS vs. Brad Marchand – Given the home/road splits on Marchand’s production, it doesn’t make sense to take him minus the half point over Bergeron.
