32-28-1: Last night we had the biggest money earner yet this year with the big money being won courtesy of the Canucks getting some sweet +150 revenge on the Hawks. Last night also saw a 2/2 night on the game totals, upping my game totals winning percentage to 72% on the season. I can’t believe it either. On to the picks!
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Boston Bruins +160 at Philadelphia Flyers -180
Boston has been incredibly inconsistent so far this season, amassing a 4-4 record and has failed to generate any momentum whatsoever. Unfortunately for them, they get to travel to Philly to play a Flyers team that has lost three straight, including a dismal effort last game in Florida. The Bruins could normally put up a good fight against the Flyers but they are dealing with long term injuries to both Milan Lucic and Marc Savard. In what should have been a cakewalk for the Bruins last night, they instead barely squeaked out a victory against the offense-less Predators. Boston is playing back-to-back tonight and is going to have to match Philly’s toughness in order to get by and I can’t see that happening. Philly holds the advantage in nearly every stat category and will be sure to score goals no matter which Bruins goalie is in net. Go for the smart pick here and keep away from a battered Boston team.
Pick: Flyers -180
Nashville Predators +170 at Ottawa Senators -200
You have to feel bad for the Preds. Their powerplay is so awful, after going 0-3 on the PP last night, it dropped to 3.70% on the year. Their penalty kill isn’t much better, sitting at 69%. They have only averaged 1.50 goals per game but their goalies have still allowed 3.25 goals per game. While Pekka Rinne appears to have settled down a bit from his early season collapse, he is still extremely vulnerable facing a hot Ottawa team. The Sens have lost only 1 in their last 6 games and are steamrolling opponents. The Sens should have no problem wrapping up the win here and I’m going to continue on their puck line winning trend and take them -1.5.
Pick: Sens -1.5 +160
San Jose Sharks -155 at Tampa Bay Lightning +135
It’s not looking good for Bolts’ goalie Mike Smith who is ready to rebound after allowing 7 goals on 35 shots to Ottawa a week ago. The Sharks seemed to regain their scoring stride Monday vs. the Rangers after they lit up Valiquette and Lundqvist for 7 goals. Tampa Bay is playing like a lost soul right now, scoring only once in each of their last two games, both on the road. To expect them to beat a team they haven’t beat in their last 5 meetings (dating back to 2003) is a bit of a stretch, even at home. The Sharks are a better team than they have looked in the beginning of the season and a sweep of the New York teams is helping them regain Presidents’ Trophy form. The Sharks have averaged 3.7 goals per game on the road, while the Bolts have matched that, scoring 3.7 goals per game at home. Despite Nabokov getting all of the starts, the Sharks average 3.3 goals allowed on the road. The Lightning can score at home, and usually do, going over in 8 of their last 12 at home and going over in 2 of 3 at home this season.
Pick: Sharks -155 and Over 5.5 goals -130
Detroit Red Wings -135 at Phoenix Coyotes +115
C’mon Detroit, get it together. They’re off to maybe their worst start in recent memory and the injury bug hasn’t helped them. Pavel Datsyk is questionable to suit up tonight and his status will be re-evaluated during the day but he’ll need to shake his slow start to the season as well. Phoenix, riding a 3-game win streak, has done an excellent job shutting down opponents to a league-best 1.43 goals per game. The Wings have only mustered up an average of 2.5 goals for on the road and should find it tough to put up a decent scoring attack against the Coyotes tonight. Fortunately for the Wings, the Coyotes also hardly score at home, averaging a mere 2.3 goals per game. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Wings’ coach Mike Babcock to resort to a shut ‘em down defensive scheme tonight to try and prevent the costly turnovers that have plagued them so far in the season. The Wings are kicking off a 10-day, 5-game road trip and they have all expressed the need to come out of it above-.500.
Pick: Under 5.5 goals -105
Betting results by category so far this season:
- Money Line 16-17
- Puck Line 3-6
- Totals 13-5-1
