The Wager Wire: Week 6

Gambling can be a funny thing. Case in point: last week saw a few bad beats, one of which came on a meaningless goal (well, meaningless in terms of the game’s outcome) with almost no time left on the clock.

Sebastian Aho poked a goal into an empty net with two seconds left to seal a victory for the Hurricanes. That one action cost two of our bettors: Cody took under 5.5 in the game, and Andrew had the Jackets +1.5. Both were two seconds away from their bets paying off, and both got nothing but an empty bag to hold.

And that’s to say nothing of the Winnipeg Jets somehow allowing themselves to be shut out by Matt Murray and the Penguins, which cost Brian more than forty bucks on a parlay that otherwise came through.

Yet despite this all, we’re still at it, so let’s see if we can’t win some money this week! First up: the standings, which don’t look real pretty. (Although kudos to Jake who went two-for-two on his bets last week, taking the Canes +1.5 over Columbus and the Avalanche and Rangers going over 6.5 goals.)

All odds are from Bovada and were accurate at the time the bet was recorded.

Banker’s Bonus!

The banker sweated it out last week, nearly having to pay out a free $50 parlay — but Aho only went for two points in each of the weekend’s games, and couldn’t get a third, so our bettors don’t get any freebies this week. This time, the banker is going to go all Scrooge McDuck on the phenomenon that is the Greg McKegg Experience: he’s got $25 in free bets on the line that says McKegg won’t score in his third straight game tonight against the Lightning. If McKegg scores, the banker gives everyone a free $25 three-team parlay.

This Week’s Bets

Brian

• CAR/TBL first period over 1.5: I’m too chicken to take an actual score (if I did, I’d take Lightning 2-1 after one; now watch that actually happen) but I feel pretty confident that there will be goals in the first period. Here’s hoping most of them are scored by the team in white. -160 odds, $12 pays $7.50.
• Parlay: Stars to win, under 6 goals. There’s not much tempting on the schedule tonight, so I’ll play it safe with a two-headed parlay on the same game. Do I feel great about it? Not really, but this seems logical. Going low on the wager, though, because of that proverb about stopping digging when you’re in a hole. $5 pays $11.62.

Zeke

• Parlay: Islanders, Capitals, Lightning to win. $10 pays $47.85.
• Stars to win -1.5: The Flyers are just terrible. +225 odds, $15 pays $33.75.

Jake

• CAR/TBL first period over 1.5: The Lightning obviously have no deficiencies in scoring early, and the Hurricanes have Greg McKegg, so pretty easy, right? -160 odds, $10 pays $6.25.
• Coyotes to win: Arizona will beat the Elias Petterssen-less Canucks with All-Star Clayton Keller (facts only) in a battle that none of us will likely watch. +110 odds, $8 pays $8.80.

Cody

• CAR/TBL team scoring first will not win: Tampa scores first but Carolina brings home the win. +170 odds, $5 pays $8.50.
• Stars to win -1.5: It’ll be a load of horse[bleep] if the Stars can’t beat the lowly Flyers. +230 odds, $8 pays $18.40.

Kevin

• CAR/TBL over 1.5 PPGs: +115 odds, $5 pays $5.75.
• Parlay: Sharks, Oilers, Canadiens to win. $7.50 pays $50.

Andrew

Didn’t get his bets in on time, so the banker’s fining him $15 for unsportsmanlike conduct.