Tonight’s Picks: Goalie Woes in Nashville
22-22: Back up to .500 again! Nothing like the Pens nearly blowing a lead and two convincing wins from the Rangers and Ducks give me a solid 3-0 night. In case you didn’t notice, the favourites were a rare 5-0 last night with the home teams going 4-1. Six games on the ticket tonight but I won’t be going anywhere near trying to predict the early games!
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Chicago Blackhawks -135 at Nashville Predators +115
To put any money on the Preds right now would seem incredibly unjustified. Nashville has been outscored 13-1 in their past 3 games and has allowed 6 goals in each of their last two games, to teams far less talented than Chicago. Chicago is coming off of 3 big home wins against Colorado, Calgary (after being down by 5) and Edmonton. The only issue for Chicago right now is the putrid play of Cristobal Huet (1-1 -1 3.69 GAA and .831SV%) but fortunately it matches up well against Nashville’s goalie tandem of Dan Ellis and Pekka Rinne. Each goalie has been chased out of the net in the first period of their last respective starts. Chicago is the hotter scoring team right now and looks ready to out-duel anybody who wants to shell their goaltender (3.80 goals per game to 3.00 goals against). I’m going with the offensive firepower here.
Pick: Hawks -135
St. Louis Blues -110 at Phoenix Coyotes -110
Phoenix’s defense is taking the forefront in their early season resurgence, averaging 1.4 goals against per game. The only problem with this is their offense is also taking a hit, averaging 2.20 goals for. The Coyotes are playing their second game at home, after getting shutout in their home opener. The Blues have lost two straight since winning their first two games against Detroit in Stockholm, scoring 9 goals total in those contests. Since returning to the States, however, the Blues have mustered up only 3 goals in 2 games against the Kings and the Thrashers. The Blues also average 3.00 goals against per game. Add the Blues’ latest offensive woes with the Coyotes’ stellar defense, and it look like a solid under play. The game total has gone under in 6 of their last 8 meetings, and twice in 3 meetings in Phoenix.
Pick: Under 5.5 goals -135