In today’s SportSense Entertainment Newsletter…

There were no model predictions yesterday, February 18, 2024.

10 NHL games are scheduled to take place today. Our model’s predictions for all 10 matchups can be found below.

Detroit Red Wings @ Seattle Kraken

Model Predicts- Red Wings ML, OVER 6, Red Wings +1.5

The Detroit Red Wings will end a four-game road trip on Monday, with the final stop coming in Seattle, Washington to take on the Kraken.

Detroit enters tonight’s battle fresh off a 5-0 win over the Flames, but dropped both games against the Oilers and Canucks to begin the road trip. Meanwhile, Seattle enters tonight on a two-game win streak, recently beating the Islanders and Bruins.

Both the Red Wings and Kraken are coming off impressive performances, but our model gives Detroit and edge today despite being the underdog in this matchup. Let’s dive into why that is.

Detroit Red Wings

• Coming off win over Flames

  • Won 5-0. Ended two-game losing streak

  • Defense was still vulnerable- outshot 38-21 by Calgary

• Defense on road trip has been bad, but is due to improve

  • Own 5.05 GA/60 in 5-on-5 situations in last three games- 31st in NHL

  • xGA/60 in that time is at 3.05- not great, but hints at positive regression in future

• Expected goalie- Alex Lyon

  • .917 Save % in 5-on-5 situations. Ranks 35th in Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx) with +2.3

Seattle Kraken

• Enter this game on two-game win streak

  • Beast Islander and Bruins

  • Own +4 goal differential in that stretch

• Defense has been great, but is over-performing

  • Own 0.57 GA/60 in 5-on-5 situations in last two games- 1st in NHL

  • However, xGA/60 in that time sits much higher at 2.44

• Expected goalie- Joey Daccord

  • .939 Save % in 5-on-5. Ranks 10th in GSAx (+11.0)

What’s the Play?

Our model thinks the Red Wings should be the favorite in this game, and we think backing that prediction is a solid play.

Despite winning two straight games and scoring six goals in that span, Seattle’s scoring attack has been sub-par. Per Natural Stat Trick, the Kraken own a 2.20 xGF/60 in 5-on-5 situations over the last two games, ranking in the bottom-10 of the NHL. That, combined with unsustainable defensive numbers and Detroit’s looming defensive improvement’s, give the Red Wings plenty of value in this game.

The Play: Red Wings ML (+110)

Money Line Trends 💰

• Boston Bruins- 32-12-11 overall this season, 17-7-5 as the home team

• Winnipeg Jets- 33-14-5 overall this season, 15-7-3 as the away team

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• Dallas Stars- Over is 34-20-1 this season with average total of with 6.82

• Winnipeg Jets- Under is 29-16-7 this season with average total of 5.29

Puck Line Trends ➕➖

• St. Louis Blues- Puck line is 31-23 this season

• Arizona Coyotes- Puck line is 28-25 this season

💪 Rangers take down Islanders in Stadium Series. The Rangers came back from a three-goal deficit against the Islanders, winning 6-5 in an outdoor game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Artemi Panarin scored the overtime winner 10 seconds in, benefiting from a turnover by Noah Dobson, which was reviewed but allowed due to the Islanders dislodging the net. Despite trailing 4-1 and 5-3 at different points, the Rangers tied the game late in the third period with goals from Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, both on power plays with their goalie pulled.

🐧 Penguins retire Jaromir Jagr’s number. The Pittsburgh Penguins honored the legendary Jaromir Jagr by retiring his No. 68 jersey on Sunday, with Jagr even participating in the pregame warmup alongside the team, who wore mullet wigs in tribute to his iconic hairstyle. Jagr posed for a memorable photo with Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and gave his trademark salute to the crowd. Drafted fifth overall by the Penguins in 1990, Jagr spent 11 years in Pittsburgh, amassing 1,079 points in 806 games and earning five Art Ross Trophies, a Hart Trophy, and two Stanley Cups.

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- What team did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander play for from 2018-19 prior to being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder?

Question #2- The Cleveland Browns selected what Notre Dame quarterback with the 22nd pick in the 2007 NFL Draft?

Question #3- Who was named the MVP of the 2000-01 NBA season?

Anyone know what has happened on February 19th throughout history? We didn’t have a clue either, but it appears that it has been a busy day.

On February 19th…

1981- Edmonton Oilers center Wayne Gretzky scores five goals and adds two assists in a 9-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. The performance was the fifth hat trick of Gretzky’s career, making him the first player in NHL history to score five hat tricks before the age of 21. Gretzky would end his career with 50 hat tricks, which is still the most in NHL history.

1986- San Antonio Spurs guard Alvin Robertson records a quadruple-double in a 120-114 win over the Phoenix Suns. Robertson posted 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals in the game, which was the second quadruple-double in NBA history. As of today, only four players have recorded a quadruple-double.

2004- MLB pitcher Greg Maddux signs with the Chicago Cubs. The signing came after Maddux spent 11 seasonss with the Atlanta Braves, and it marked his second stint with the franchise after beginning his career with the Cubs in 1986. He would post a 29-26 record in two seasons with Chicago from 2004-05.

1. Los Angeles Clippers

2. Brady Quinn

3. Allen Iverson