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Our last day of November here, the holidays are right around the corner, and I'm trying to help net you some funds in order to get that special person a little something extra this year. Or I'll help tank you and you could be the villain in your family this holiday season. Who knows.
Game 1: Buffalo Sabres @ Detroit Red Wings
The last time the Buffalo Sabres were included in one of these betting guides, they were among the hottest teams in the league. They've since cooled off, a lot, and unfortunately look more like the Sabres teams that we thought they'd be this year. However, I do love when Buffalo appears on primetime, because they have one stud who hasn't failed me yet this year and is an absolute workhorse. Gun to your head? Need a goal? See below.
The Red Wings, on the other hand, are really good this year. They're an incredible defensive team, and they have an exciting young core that features stars who will dominate the league for years to come. Detroit has the ingredients to be a powerhouse in the Western Conference for a while yet.
I'll take:
Tage Thompson anytime goal scorer
DET ML
Game 2: Edmonton Oilers @ Chicago Blackhawks
This is, as I've said before, a matchup of stink, but one team smells way worse than the other. Edmonton has their fair share of woes. From their seemingly unfixable goaltending issues, to the fact that they get accused of wasting Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's career day in and day out, it's no doubt they have glaring holes that need plugging. However, as I stated the other day, Edmonton was in a very similar predicament right around this same time last year, and they then went on to make an appearance in the Western Conference Final. So I'm not counting them out yet! They currently hold onto the first wild card spot in the West, although, it is a putrid Western Conference with the exception of Vegas, Colorado and Dallas.
The Blackhawks are... well... the Blackhawks. Their dynasty days are well behind them, and while trying to hold on to any shred of relevancy by staying tight lipped as to what they plan to do with Patrick Kane, Seth Jones and Jonathan Toews, they can't hide from the truth too much longer. The rebuild is coming, and honestly, management probably should've started it a while ago. They're delaying the inevitable. With a record of 6-11-4, completely dead in the water only two months into the season, it's time to call it quits, Chicago. The glory days are over... for now.
I'll take:
EDM -1.5
O 6.5