NFL
By: Jesse Rosales
Hockey is BACK! And don’t it feel good! I’m going to take this moment to really give a shout-out to ESPN and TNT for bringing more NHL to the masses. Their broadcast teams are well put together and they have done an amazing job. I mean heck, TNT has WAYNE GRETZKY on their payroll. Tip of the hat to them on that and I love seeing it. Let’s give a quick recap to close out week 1 and look forward to what week 2 has in store.
Week 1 had some surprises but overall the number of quality games right out of the gate has been truly impressive. The opening night certainly didn’t disappoint with the Rangers and Lightning game that showcased how good the Rangers really are. I said it in my initial power rankings and I’ll say it again. The Rangers are LEGIT. They have everything a team needs to make a deep playoff run and I absolutely think they will do just that. On the flip side, we saw the Columbus Blue Jackets come out with newly acquired Johnny Gaudreau and lay multiple eggs. They are still looking for their first win, and I’m not too sure it’s going to come in week 2. I have to also give kudos to the Calgary Flames. They start the season 2-0 with wins against the Avs and the Oilers. Very impressive start for that team and I don’t see that train slowing down.
As far as the betting went, we had a really solid first week. We went 12-9 (57.14%) and are up 4.2 units after 1 week. Going 6-3 on the totals, we will try and continue to go after that market in week 2. Betting is all about being disciplined, building your bankroll over time, and limiting losses. We will go over my top 5 plays for week 2 here in a bit but since not all the lines are public at the time of this writing, please remember to follow me on Twitter @5280Jesse for my daily picks and updates throughout the week. Without further ado, here are my top 5 games and bets for the NHL Week 2.
Top 5 Games for NHL Week 2
The Panthers and Bruins are both headed into this game undefeated with quality wins under both of their belts. They are both tough and physical teams. Everyone was curious how Matthew Tkachuk would fit with the Panthers, but through 2 games, I think everyone is liking what they see. He is currently leading the team with 3 points. On the Bruins’ side, they had a great win over the Capitals on the road and then beat up the lowly Coyotes, as they should have. Boston will be without two of their key players in Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy for at least the foreseeable future, so these types of games are even more important to steal a win. This will be a great test for both teams and I expect a quality, close, physical game. I give the slight edge to the Panthers, but this is a true toss-up game.
- 10/18 Flames @ Golden Knights
The Flames arguably look like the best team in the league through 2 games. You can’t ask for better quality wins against the Avalanche and Oilers (on the road). You could argue, and I will, that the Avalanche weren’t at full steam, coming off a banner-raising event night literally less than 24 hours prior to the game. It had “let down” game ALL over it and it was. Props to the Flames though as they came out swinging. The Knights have surprised everyone, and yes I do mean everyone, with a 3-0 start. That being said, two of the wins were against the Kraken and Blackhawks, which if you have playoff aspirations, are two teams that you should beat. Logan Thompson has looked GREAT in goal and Jack Eichel looks to be returning to his previous all-star-level form. This could be a very dangerous team as we move forward. I expect plenty of goals here in this one as both teams look to prove their legitimacy.
Yes, the Avalanche laid an egg in Calgary. This is a great right spot though against a Wild team that has underwhelmed in their first 2 games. Allowing a league-leading 12 goals through two games, there are some real concerns here for this team. The expectation was that they would take a step forward this year, but if they can’t get their defense going and get better goaltending from their keepers, this could be a very long and frustrating season for the Wild. Look to the Avalanche to get back on track on the road in this one.
- 10/22 Maple Leafs @ Jets
As I stated in my initial Power Rankings article to start the season (found here), I had major concerns about the goaltending situation in Toronto, and those concerns are still very real. Matt Murray looks to be injured and now they will have to rely on Ilya Samsonov, which I actually think could be a good thing in the short term. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets are already exceeding expectations coming out with a super impressive win at the Rangers (albeit without their ace goaltender Igor Shesterkin). Winning back-to-back wins against the Rangers and Maple Leafs would be a statement to the rest of the league, that this team is for real. I’m not buying yet though.
It’s a good time to be a sports fan in the city of brotherly love. The Phillies are making a run, the Eagles are undefeated, and the Flyers are 2-0 after 1 week. The question is, are the Flyers that good, or are the Canucks and Devils not as good as everyone thought going into the season? This is the first true test for the Flyers so we will see how they stack up against a “blue chip” team of the league in the Lightning. Tampa also isn’t going to be happy about starting out 1-2 and so you know they are going to come out focused and ready to play. I like Tampa here at home, but maybe whatever is in the water in Philly, they can bottle it and take it on the road.
Here are my top 5 bets for NHL Week 2.
- 10/17 Rangers -1.5 vs Ducks: Very simple…. The Rangers are VERY good, and the Ducks are not. Trevor Zegras is really good, but the team has a lot of holes and are still a few years away from competing with the likes of the Rangers, as they are today.
- 10/17 Jets/Stars Under 6: Two really solid goaltenders here and no the most potent of offensives. I really like a 3-2 game so as long as we can avoid OT, I think we can cash this one.
- 10/18 Oilers -1.5 vs Sabres: McDavid AND Leon Draisaitl already have 5 points this season after 2 games. Absolutely filthy. They look like they are in mid-season form, but it’s only been 2 games! The Sabres don’t stand a chance here. The line might jump up to -2.5, but if it comes in at -1.5, I’m buying hard.
- 10/18 Golden Knights/Flames over 6: High-powered offensives. Two teams trying to prove themselves. 2 non-elite goaltenders. Gimme the over.
- 10/19 Philadelphia/Panthers Under 6: This is definitely a game I want a piece of but the lines won’t come out for a few days at best. This is an example where a half-point would make a huge difference. If the total comes in at 5.5, I’m taking the over, but at 6, I’m strongly considering taking the under. Both these teams are physical, tough, and defensively pretty sound. Goaltending is not a huge concern on either side. I think this game is going to be close but we’ll see how the total comes in.
Use our Promo Code: TEAMNBS with our partners at BetUs
For more NHL updates and picks, be sure to follow me on Twitter @5280Jesse and Nuts and Bolts Sports
