In today’s SportSense Entertainment Newsletter…

Additional Model Predictions ⬇️

NBA Model Predictions- Click Here

NCAAB Model Predictions- Click Here

There were plenty of model predictions to go around yesterday across the NHL, with our model focusing in on one of those predictions in our Featured Matchups. Those predictions went 1-0 overall, and you can see how the rest of the model’s performed below.

Money Line Predictions: 4-6

Over/Under Predictions: 7-2-1

Puck Line Predictions: 4-6

Featured Matchup: 1-0

Eight NHL games are scheduled to take place today. Our model’s predictions for all eight matchups can be found below.

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Edmonton Oilers

Model Predicts- Oilers ML, UNDER 7, Maple Leafs +1.5

The Toronto Maple Leafs will kick off a four-game road trip on Monday, with the first stop coming in Edmonton to face the Oilers.

Toronto enters tonight’s matchup fresh off a loss to the Detroit Red Wings, pushing their season record to 21-12-8, good enough for third place in the Atlantic division. Meanwhile, Edmonton is beginning to surge in the standings, posting a 10-0 record over the last ten games.

The Oilers have been unstoppable over the last few weeks, and our model expects their hot streak to continue today. Let’s take a look at why that is.

Toronto Maple Leafs

• Enter tonight on three-game losing streak

  • Losses to Islanders, Avalanche, and Red Wings

  • Outscored 13-8 in that time

• Defense has been issue for most of season

  • GA/60 in 5-on-5 situations is 2.50, but xGA/60 is up at 2.68

  • Allow too much pressure on net- Rank 21st in shots on goal allowed and HDCA/60 in 5-on-5

• Expected goalie- Martin Jones

  • .948 Save % in 5-on-5. Ranks 10th in Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx) with +9.6

Edmonton Oilers

• 10-0 in last ten games

  • Have not lost since December 19th

  • Outscoring opponents 40-17 in that stretch

• Great balance on both ends of ice

  • Rank 1st in xGF/60 (3.32) and 7th in xGA/60 (2.39) in 5-on-5 situations

  • Lead NHL in high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes in 5-on-5

• Expected goalie- Stuart Skinner

  • .915 Save % in 5-on-5. Ranks 65th in GSAx (-3.5)

What’s the Play?

Toronto has the advantage in net tonight, but we agree with our model that the Oilers can extend their win streak to 11 games.

Toronto lags behind significantly on both ends of the ice when compared to Edmonton, sitting at least 0.30 goals behind in the Oilers in both xGF/60 and xGA/60 in 5-on-5 situations this season. The Oilers should have no problems sneaking the puck past a weak defense and Martin Jones, who has surrendered four goals in each of his last two appearances.

The Oilers’ win streak will likely end soon, but we don’t see it happening against a slumping Maple Leafs team.

The Play: Oilers ML (-150)

Money Line Trends 💰

• Washington Capitals- 20-15-6 this season, 11-7-4 as the home team

• Edmonton Oilers- 23-15-1 this season, 10-0 in last ten games

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• Ottawa Senators- Over is 21-14-3 this season with average total of 7.03

• New York Islanders- Over is 25-15-2 this season with average of 6.40

Puck Line Trends ➕➖

• Seattle Kraken- Puck line is 24-19 this season

🤝 Nichushkin enters player assistance program. Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin has entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, taking an indefinite leave to receive care. He expressed his decision to seek help and emphasized his goal to address personal issues and prevent any negative outcomes. While Nichushkin's absence affects the team's cap due to his $6.125-million cap hit, he hopes to return to the ice as soon as possible, thanking his wife, family, friends, the Avalanche organization, and fans for their support.

❌ Swayman, Bruins shutout Devils. Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, filling in for the injured Linus Ullmark, secured his third shutout of the season by stopping 31 shots in a 3-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Swayman, recently named to the NHL All-Star roster, has taken advantage of the opportunity to be the full-time goalie in Ullmark's absence, displaying a competitive mindset. The Bruins, led by goals from David Pastrnak and Charlie Coyle, also earned their first regulation victory in five games.

Today’s trivia requires you to dig into multiple pockets of your brain, testing your knowledge of recent events as well as those that happened decades ago.

See how many of the below questions you can get correct. Answers are provided at the end of the newsletter.

Question #1- Who was the first point guard selected in the 2005 NBA Draft?

Question #2- What current NHL team used to be known as the Quebec Nordiques?

Question #3- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander currently leads the NBA in what stat category on a per-game basis?

Anyone know what has happened on January 16th throughout history? We didn’t have a clue either, but it appears that it has been a busy day.

On January 16th…

1966- Chicago Blackhawks star Bobby Hull scores four goals in a 6-5 loss to the New York Rangers. The performance was the 17th hat trick of Hull’s career, and he became the first player in Blackhawks history to score 300 goals. Hull would finish his career with 610 goals, the 18th most in NHL history.

1966- The NBA awards Chicago, Illinois with an NBA franchise. The team would become known as the Bulls, making it the third NBA franchise to represent the city. Prior to the Bulls, the Stags (1946-50) and the Packers/Zephyrs (now the Washington Wizards) called Chicago home.

2019- Stephen Curry becomes first player in NBA history to make at least eight three-point fields goals in three straight games. Curry shot 9-for-17 from three in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans, one in which the Warriors would win 147-140. The teams combined for 43 three-pointers, which was an NBA record.

1. Deron Williams

2. Colorado Avalanche

3. Steals