Welcome to Prohibitive Favorite Night in the NY-NJ-PA sector of the National Hockey League . . . You wanna bet a good price on Tuesday, you’ve got lots to choose from . . .
SENATORS (+260) at ISLANDERS (-320), 7 p.m.
Pick: Senators To Win (+260)
Congrats to the Senators (23-38-5), who won Sunday to snap a seven-game losing streak (all in regulation), which had kicked off with that nine-goal first period game they had against the Blackhawks. They lost that game, 8-7, but have just nine goals in the eight games since.
The Isles (37-21-9) have hit a bump in the road, going 2-4-1, falling out of first place and managing but a single goal in three of their last four outings, all at whatever they are calling Nassau Coliseum these days.
We have seen Ottawa as as high as +285 early this afternoon. That line may go down, so if you want this to be your long-shot stab, grab it early. We did.
BLUE JACKETS (-240) at DEVILS (+200), 7 p.m.
Pick: Blue Jackets To Win (-240)
Columbus (36-26-3) had four wins over eight days Feb. 5-12, but have just four wins since (4-6-0). That is no way to steam into the postseason. They went all-in at the trade deadline and then flubbed away a five-game homestand (2-3) and have just two goals in their last two games. That 28-15-3 start seems oh so far away.
This will be the last home game for the Devils (25-33-8) until after a six-game road trip that goes D.C.-N.Y.-Canada and ends in Denver on St. Patrick’s Day. NJ was 0-3 (outscored 9-2) against the pre-trade deadline Jax and no reason to think that will change here.
Hard to play hockey with your bags packed. If CBJ had shown any kind of offense lately, we may have gone for the goal line (-1.5/+108), but even that is hardly worth it.
PANTHERS (+165) at PENGUINS (-185), 7 p.m.
Pick: Penguins To Win (-185)
Florida (28-26-11) ended a string of four straight OT/SO games with a regulation loss to Ottawa Sunday, the last three of which they dropped.
The Penguins (34-22-9) had an eight-game winning streak sandwiched around the New Year, but have gone a very pedestrian 11-10-3 since. They are coming off a pretty good four-game road swing (2-0-2) that could have been disastrous after it started with the late-game Stadium Series comeback by the Flyers. They now have six of their next eight at home and Sidney Crosby appears to be heating up again (goals in four straight games, 22 points in his last 11).
You bet against a hot Crosby in March with your own dime, not mine.
RANGERS (+170) at STARS (-200), 8:35 p.m.
Pick: Stars To Win (-200)
The Rangers (27-27-11) have been Team Blah since the New Year. Throwing aside the overtime losses, they have had records of 20-20, 21-21, 22-22, 23-23, 24-24, 25-25, 26-26 and now 27-27. They are 0-5-1 following their last six victories, but that doesn’t matter here since they are 0-1-3 in their last four.
Dallas (33-27-5) is trying to hold on to a wild-card spot in the West and is coming off a 3-1 road trip. The Stars don’t want to fumble away these points with one of their pursuers (the Avalanche) coming up next on the agenda.