Picks: Sens Hit the West Coast for the First Time
A perfect 5-0 last night and we’re looking to build off of that again tonight. We’re looking at 3 of the 4 games but there really isn’t anything exciting going on in a rare slow NHL Tuesday.
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Toronto Maple Leafs +125 at Montreal Canadiens -145
They’ve gone over in 8 straight meetings. Going over is something the Leafs are used to but the Canadiens tend to sway towards the under so long as they have the game in control from the beginning. Toronto has also outshot Montreal in 6 of the last 8 meetings, meaning Carey Price should be very busy. Price has allowed 3 goals in each of his last 3 starts while Gustavsson has allowed at least 3 in each of his last 6 starts. That bodes very well for Montreal scorers who haven’t faced him yet on the year. Toronto has the 4th-best road offense and 2nd-best road powerplay combined with the second worst away defense, 4.0 goals per game. I like the over here but my concern lies with Montreal’s ability to put the puck in the net, not keep Toronto out of it. They’ve scored 4 and 5 goals against Toronto in previous two meetings so it looks good tonight.
Pick: Over 6.0 goals -105
Columbus Blue Jackets +210 at Chicago Blackhawks -250
You thought Chicago was good when they won 4 in a row on the road? Well, they have won their last 7 home games. Over that span they’ve beaten the puck line only 3 times, allowing surprisingly close scores to Toronto and Montreal. Columbus typically plays Chicago fairly close in Chicago and has beaten the puck line 3 of the last 4 times. Chicago has scored 1 goal or less in 3 of their last 4 games, surely a trend that won’t continue but it’s still an alarming stat considering the offensive potential they hold. Columbus has the worst road defense, 4.1 goals per game, and second best road offense, 3.5 goals per game. The Hawks’ defense hasn’t been that good at home, 2.5 goals against per game, but their offense matches what Columbus will dish, 3.4 goals per game. Neither team has played well against division opponents this year and Chicago has beaten the puck line only 1 time in their 4 games where they were massive favourites. I don’t usually give teams goals in the puck line but Chicago’s recent offense, including 2 of the 3 games with Hossa in the lineup, should concern.
Pick: Jackets +1.5 -150
Ottawa Senators +175 at San Jose Sharks -210
Ottawa has kept it close the last two meetings but they haven’t beaten San Jose since 2003 (3 meetings since). It’s the Sens’ first trip to a West Coast team but San Jose has easily dismissed the two Eastern opponents they’ve hosted this season. San Jose has won 4 of their last 5, with the only loss being the embarrassing loss to Chicago. Ottawa has won 5 of their last 7 but every win was at home. The Sens haven’t had much exposure on the road yet and only gone 3-4-1 on the year. They’ve been even worse as an underdog, 3-6, while San Jose is 7-2 against Eastern teams on the year. The Sharks still have a solid home D, 2.4 goals against and 3.4 goals for, while the Sens struggle on the road with 2.3 goals for and 3.4 goals against. Sharks all day.
Pick: Sharks -1.5 +150
Fan Favourite Record: 10-11, -3.42
Betting results by category so far this season:
- Money Line 57-62, -13.91
- Puck Line 10-18, -2.5
- Game Totals 47-38-1, +2.96