10-08-15 |
Philadelphia Flyers v. Tampa Bay Lightning -185 |
|
2-3 |
Win
|
100 |
21 h 31 m |
Show
|
I am playing on TAMPA BAY (vs Philadelphia) as a *6 Blue Marlin Thursday @ 7:35 ET - Big revenge spot for the Lightning here. Tampa Bay went 5-1 against the Flyers the past two seasons but that lone loss was in the most recent meeting. In January at Philadelphia the Lightning lost 7 to 3 to the Flyers. Needless to say that was one of the uglier losses that Tampa had last season and they'll look to get some payback tonight. The Lightning are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender this season and the Flyers are still a team struggling through transitional issues. Philadelphia has gone 18-41 the past two seasons in road games with a total of 5.5 goals. The Lightning 38-22 the past two seasons in home games with a total of 5.5 goals. Tampa Bay is well worth the price here...especially when you factor in the added value of the revenge angle.
|
10-07-15 |
NY Rangers v. Chicago Blackhawks UNDER 5 |
|
3-2 |
Push |
0 |
23 h 34 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the UNDER in Chicago vs NY Rangers as a *9 Customer Appreciation Best Bet on Wednesday @ 8:05 PM ET - The two meetings between these clubs last season both took place in March. Both were 1-0 finals with the road team winning each time. These types of low-scoring results in this series are nothing new. The Rangers and Blackhawks have combined to stay under the total in 15 of their last 21 meetings. Looking specifically at match-ups in Chicago, 8 of the last 11 meetings have stayed under the total. This type of a trend for Chicago is nothing new as the under is 44-21 in Blackhawks non-conference games in recent seasons. Last year's match-ups between these clubs were exceptionally low-scoring but, even in the prior year, it was also two unders that resulted in their meetings. With two great goalies here, Crawford and Lundqvist, look for a 5th straight under between these clubs on the opening night of the new season. *9 Customer Appreciation Best Bet on the UNDER in Chicago Wednesday.
|
06-15-15 |
Tampa Bay Lightning v. Chicago Blackhawks -164 |
Top |
0-2 |
Win
|
100 |
24 h 30 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Chicago Blackhawks as a 10*.
Chicago took control of the Stanley Cup final with a 2-1 victory in Tampa Bay Saturday night. And while the score was once again tight and the stats for the series appear to be even, the Blackhawks set the pace for Game 5 early and dominated play for most of the contest. Plenty of fingers were pointing to hobbled Lightning goalie Ben Bishop and his decision to leave his net on Chicago’s first goal, however, the Blackhawks would still have likely won the game behind their best two-way performance of the series. Tampa Bay may have outshot the Blackhawks 32-29 Saturday night but the quality of those scoring chances were limited and goaltender Corey Crawford didn’t have to go too far to keep those shots out of the net. Lightning star scorer Steven Stamkos has been held in check for the series and not given the space or angles to fire quality shots on goal. The series swinging back to the Windy City gives Chicago a major boost for Game 6, with the Blackhawks boasting an 8-2 record inside the United Center this postseason. Chicago’s big-game experience knows how to get the job done and those savvy veterans won’t let this series swing back to Tampa Bay for the Game 7.
I’m playing on Chicago as a 10* Monday.
|
06-13-15 |
Chicago Blackhawks v. Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
2-1 |
Win
|
100 |
49 h 15 m |
Show
|
CHICAGO at TAMPA BAY I am playing on the UNDER. I was very surprised to oddsmakers continue to open this total at 5.5 goals, which makes it three games in a row for this series. Three of the four games in this series have skated below the posted total and five of the six meetings this season have all gone under. I realize Tampa Bay games are trending over at home in these playoffs but the way this series is going, I believe Game 5 will play under once again. We have two teams with great speed and tough forechecks who are selling out in their own ends to block shots and protect their nets. We've also had limited scoring on special teams and both goalies seem to be making saves at the right times. Tampa Bay is just 1-for-11 on the power play while Chicago is just 2-for-11. That typically won't help games go over and I don't see things changing much for Game 5. Chicago coach Joel Quenneville altered his lines in Game 4 and although it helped his team get the win, it didn't help production much in the 2-1 win. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have just three points between them in this series and the teams are combining for just 4.5 goals per game in the Cup finals. With all of that in mind, I'll happily take the under for Game 5 with a line I feel has been set too high. 10* Main Event
|
06-10-15 |
Tampa Bay Lightning v. Chicago Blackhawks -155 |
Top |
1-2 |
Win
|
100 |
22 h 60 m |
Show
|
TAMPA BAY at CHICAGO I am playing on CHICAGO. For the first time these playoffs, the Blackhawks have lost two games in a row and as strange as it may sound, that's exactly where they seem to like it. "For whatever reason, we play our best games when our backs are against the wall," defenseman Brent Seabrook said Tuesday. Chicago won the last two games of the Western finals against the Ducks to pull out the series win and they responded strong with big wins after each loss against Nashville in the first round. This experienced team just keeps coming at you just when you think you have the upper hand and I like the Blackhawks to even up the series tonight. Patrick Kane has been kept off the score sheet through the first three games of the Cup finals and Jonathan Toews has just one assist. I really don't see that pattern continuing and I think one or both of these guys are going to break out for big games tonight. Chicago ripped 38 shots at Tampa Bay in Game 3 - the most from either team in the series - and Ben Bishop had an incredible performance in nets. I'm expecting another barrage like that tonight and more pucks to go in for the home side. Chicago is 7-2 at home in these playoffs and I'll be a little stunned if the Hawks lose two in a row on home ice. 10* Main Event
|
06-08-15 |
Tampa Bay Lightning v. Chicago Blackhawks -150 |
Top |
3-2 |
Loss |
-150 |
35 h 53 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Chicago Blackhawks as a 10* MAIN EVENT. The Blackhawks stole Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final in Tampa Bay but allowed the Lightning to even the final with a 4-3 win in Game 2 before swinging the series to Chicago for Game 3 Monday. The Blackhawks took a careless high sticking call midway through the third period of Game 2 that opened the door for the Bolts to score the go-ahead goal on the power play. We expect Chicago to play a much tighter and disciplined game, especially goaltender Corey Crawford, who allowed a couple soft goals in the loss. The Blackhawks can’t afford to allow the Lightning to get their offense rolling in this pivotal Game 3, most notable limiting their power-play chances. Tampa Bay has goaltending issues of their own with Ben Bishop forced out of the third period of Game 2 for undisclosed reasons. That leaves Tampa Bay perhaps turning to rookie netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy if Bishop can’t play. Whoever is between the pipes for the Lightning, Chicago will press early and test. The Blackhawks have won eight of the past 11 meetings with the Bolts inside the United Center and are 7-1 at home in the playoffs heading into Monday’s matchup. I’m playing on Chicago as a 10* Monday.
|
06-08-15 |
Tampa Bay Lightning v. Chicago Blackhawks UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
3-2 |
Win
|
100 |
23 h 50 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Under in Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Blackhawks as my 10* Blue Chip.
Tampa Bay was able to even this series by opening up Game 2 to fit its style of play, taking a 4-3 victory. Now, with the series swinging back to the Windy City, the Blackhawks know if they want to hold home ice they’ll need to limit the Bolts’ scoring chances and cut back on costly penalties. Chicago did a good job tightening up with just 24 shots against in Game 2, especially in the third period in which it only allowed two. But Tampa Bay was able to sneak the go-ahead goal past Corey Crawford thanks to a power-play opportunity on a high sticking call. The Lightning may have to change their approach if goaltender Ben Bishop is injured. Bishop left Game 2 for an undisclosed reason and if he is unable to play, Tampa Bay will be left with Andrei Vasilevskiy between the pipes. If that’s the case, expect the Bolts to be most concerned with giving the rookie goalie added support than pressing on offense. And if Bishop is playing through his ailment, the Lightning will want to limit the amount of shots he has to face. The Lighting have gone Under in four of their last five road games and have stayed below the number in their last four visits to the United Center.
I’m playing the Under in Tampa Bay at Chicago as my 10* Blue Chip Monday.
|
06-06-15 |
Chicago Blackhawks v. Tampa Bay Lightning -124 |
Top |
3-4 |
Win
|
100 |
55 h 48 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Tampa Bay Lightning as a 10* Finals GAME OF THE YEAR.
The Lightning had their hearts ripped out in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final, collapsing in the dying moments of the third period and allowing Chicago to steal with win with two late goals. Tampa Bay will be sure not to let that happen again in Game 2 and we expect the Bolts to press on offense after a low-scoring series opener. The Lighting can’t be happy with their offensive effort in Game 1, scoring an early first period goal and totaling just 23 shots for the game. That conservative style and protecting a lead may have worked against the Rangers but the Blackhawks have too many weapons to give them extra chances with the puck. As we’ve seen throughout the season, that isn’t the Bolts style. With those Game 1 jitters gone for both sides, we expect this series to open up and an increase in the pace – a style of play Tampa Bay is very comfortable with. The Lightning will come out and play possessive hockey, rather than just defend their blueline, and still keep pressure on the Chicago defense. Tampa Bay has won six of its last eight meeting with the Blackhawks and own a 4-1 record versus Chicago in their last five games inside Amalie Arena.
I’m playing on Tampa Bay as a 10* Saturday.
|
06-03-15 |
Chicago Blackhawks +105 v. Tampa Bay Lightning |
Top |
2-1 |
Win
|
105 |
80 h 15 m |
Show
|
CHICAGO at TAMPA BAY I am playing on CHICAGO. When the Blackhawks needed to find a way to win last series, they simply exploded with scoring and claimed three of the last four games against Anaheim to move on to the NHL finals. I just don't feel Tampa Bay can compete with the kind of depth and experience that the Blackhawks bring to this series and I love Chicago getting underdog money in Game 1. The Hawks blasted 19 goals over their final four games against the Ducks and captain Jonathan Toews unleashed five goals alone during that stretch. When you also have Patrick Kane (2nd in playoff points), Duncan Keith (leading defenseman in playoff points) and hoards of talent that goes lines deep beyond that, this makes for a tough team to beat. It seems Chicago just consistently finds a way to rise to the occasion with different players, which is why they have two Cups since 2010. I believe Chicago is going to make this a series about scoring, plus they have the experience advantage, and I just don't think the Lightning can hang with that. I'll happily grab Chicago at this price in Game 1. 10* MAINT EVENT
|
05-30-15 |
Chicago Blackhawks v. Anaheim Ducks UNDER 5 |
Top |
5-3 |
Loss |
-100 |
58 h 19 m |
Show
|
CHICAGO at ANAHEIM I am playing on the UNDER. Generally speaking, the under tends to be the more logical play in Game 7s. Players squeeze their sticks a little bit tighter under the pressure of the situation and teams play with more desperation, blocking more shots and risking more to make plays, especially in the defensive zone. These playoffs have been no different and I don't believe Saturday's Western Finals Game 7 will be any different either. There have been three Game 7s so far in these Stanley Cup playoffs and they've seen a combined total of eight goals with none of those games seeing more than three goals scored. That's an average of just 2.66 goals per game in this year's Game 7's, which is about half the posted total in those games - and Saturday night. That's a big reason why oddsmakers won't budge on this total and move it higher than five goals, even though the last three games in this series have seen an explosion of 25 goals scored combined. I'm expecting a much different outcome Saturday night and I expect both goaltenders to be at their best while their skaters in front of them lay it all out on defense. 10* Blue Chip
|
05-29-15 |
Tampa Bay Lightning v. NY Rangers UNDER 5 |
Top |
2-0 |
Win
|
100 |
56 h 20 m |
Show
|
LIGHTNING at NEW YORK RANGERS I am playing on the UNDER. If history is any indicator, this is one of the best bets of the season. Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and Game 7's were made for each other - and for under bettors. Lundqvist's numbers are quickly becoming entrenched in NHL folklore considering he has won six straight Game 7's and stopped 179 of 184 shots in those games. He didn't allow more than one goal in any of those contests for an average of 0.84 goals against. He is also 10-0 in his last 10 elimination games with an average of less than a goal per game in those ones too. We already saw the magic of King Henrik in a Game 7 these playoffs when he stopped 25 shots en route to a 2-1 win over the Capitals last round. The 'over' never stood a chance in that game when the game needed overtime to decide a 1-1 lock. 10* Blue Chip
|
05-27-15 |
Anaheim Ducks v. Chicago Blackhawks -138 |
Top |
2-5 |
Win
|
100 |
22 h 30 m |
Show
|
ANAHEIM at CHICAGO I am playing on CHICAGO. This series has gone back and forth where both teams have traded wins and there’s no logic to bet against that pattern now – especially with the series headed back to Chicago. The last two games have gone to overtime and it’s not much surprise the home side managed to squeeze out the victory with the home crowd giving the extra boost. Chicago is now 6-1 on home ice in these playoffs with Anaheim being the lone team to upset the Windy City faithful. The bad news for the Ducks is that Chicago captain Jonathan Toews has caught fire with four points in his last two games after going three games with just one point. Usually when Toews is playing that well, the Blackhawks are almost unbeatable but Patrick Sharp has also finally come alive with three points in his last two games. Sharp had failed to notch a point in four straight games prior to that That’s what makes the Blackhawks so tough to beat – they just keep oozing talent as their lines pour over the boards and they eventually overcome you with depth. Throw in home ice and I really feel this series is headed back to California for a Game 7 after tonight. 10* Main Event
|
05-26-15 |
NY Rangers v. Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER 5 |
Top |
7-3 |
Loss |
-110 |
23 h 33 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Under in New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning as my 10* Blue Chip.
After some high-scoring showdowns in this this Eastern Conference final we’ve seen a return of hard-nosed defensive hockey. However, the fact that it was the Lightning slamming the door is a bit of a surprise. Tampa Bay jumped out to a 2-0 lead in Game 5 then took a page from the Rangers’ playbook and locked down the blueline, limiting New York to 26 shots Sunday. The Bolts have the Blueshirts on the ropes heading home and we expect a similar game plan for Game 6. The Rangers will be playing desperate hockey and can’t afford to give up anything to Tampa Bay, down 3-2 in the series. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is playing much better than he did in Games 2 and 3, allowing only three goals in the past two contests. His counterpart Ben Bishop showed tremendous focus and confidence, shutting out the Rangers a game removed from a 5-goal blunder. With both netminders on top of their games and both teams looking to protect an early lead, we see solid value with the Under in Game 6.
I’m playing on the Under in New York at Tampa Bay as my 10* Blue Chip Tuesday.
|
05-24-15 |
Tampa Bay Lightning v. NY Rangers -133 |
|
2-0 |
Loss |
-133 |
24 h 1 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the New York Rangers as a 9*.
The Rangers took Tampa Bay’s best shot – 39 of them actually – a stood their ground with a 5-2 victory in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final. New York now returns home with the series locked at 2-2 and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist appears to have found his form after a shaky two-game slide. Lundqvist gave up two goals on 39 shots in Game 4 and has a 2.11 GAA at home in the postseason. The same can’t be said for his counterpart Ben Bishop, who has allowed 10 total goals on 52 shots the past two contests. We see Tampa Bay having to change its plan of attack and spend more energy helping out Bishop on defense than pressing on offense. New York is just fine with that type of game. The Rangers love to strike early then sit on the puck and pack the blueline, not allowing their opponents clean looks at Lundqvist. New York’s offense has been equally as impressive as Tampa Bay’s the last two games and with the series swinging to MSG, we see the Blue Shirts taking the edge in this conference final.
I’m playing on New York as a 9* Sunday.
|
05-24-15 |
Tampa Bay Lightning v. NY Rangers UNDER 5 |
Top |
2-0 |
Win
|
100 |
24 h 2 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Under in Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers as a 10*. The Rangers return to Madison Square Garden for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final Sunday. New York, which was blasted for 12 goals in Games 2 and 3, limited the Bolts to just two goals on 39 shots in Game 4. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist stood on his head after a pair of weak performances and we expect that strong play to carry over to this home game. New York is giving up just 2.11 goals against per home game this postseason and is 2-6-1 Over/Under as hosts in the playoffs. Tampa Bay is getting more concerned with the performance of its goaltender, Ben Bishop, after he allowed 10 goals the past two contests. The Lightning have been pressing hard on offense, with 79 shots the last two games, but we expect a much more conservative approach to Game 5. Tampa Bay is going to have to backup Bishop with a more defensive-minded game plan if it wants to keep the puck out of the net. I’m playing on the Under in Tampa Bay at New York as a 10* Sunday.
|
05-23-15 |
Anaheim Ducks v. Chicago Blackhawks -145 |
Top |
4-5 |
Win
|
100 |
22 h 46 m |
Show
|
DUCKS at BLACKHAWKS I am playing on CHICAGO. The Blackhawks were 5-0 at home in the playoffs entering Game 3 where the Ducks pulled out a gritty 2-1 win. I really can't see Chicago losing two in a row at home and I believe the Blackhawks will be heading back to California with this series tied up. Corey Crawford has played like his pads are on fire in the net for Chicago and I think he'll continue to provide the stability Chicago needs to get the job done. The Blackhawks always seem to get different players to step up when they need them most and I won't be surprised if we see that happen tonight. Chicago could use some points from Patrick Sharp, who has been kept off the score sheet in four straight games and I'm expecting him to contribute tonight in what's as close to a must-win situation as you can get. Jonathan Toews also only has one point through three games in this series, which isn't the norm we see from him come playoff time. We always seem to see him elevate when it's needed most. I think we'll see a little more desperation on the Blackhawks side tonight and I believe they'll scrape out a win while throwing everything they have at the Ducks. 10* Main Event
|
05-22-15 |
NY Rangers v. Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER 5 |
Top |
5-1 |
Loss |
-100 |
31 h 40 m |
Show
|
NEW YORK RANGERS at TAMPA BAY I am playing on the UNDER. These two teams have played a pair of whacky games that saw a combined 19 goals scored. That's a big departure from what we've seen from both of these squads throughout the playoffs, who have relied on tough goaltending and stingy team defense to pull out wins. I think these teams return to normalcy in Game 4 in Tampa Bay and they slide under the number. Let's not forget the under is 10-4-1 in Rangers games these playoffs and 8-6-2 in Lightning games. Special teams have been a big factor in the boost in scoring recently with a total of eight power play goals scored in the past two games. I believe we'll see a lot more discipline in Game 4 with both teams aware of how much trips to the box can sting them. Other than that, there have just been some uncharacteristic breakdowns on defense for both of these teams. Both teams are well coached and I'll be surprised if they don't clean this up after some film time on Thursday between games. 10*
|
05-21-15 |
Anaheim Ducks v. Chicago Blackhawks -130 |
Top |
2-1 |
Loss |
-130 |
24 h 17 m |
Show
|
ANAHEIM at CHICAGO I am playing on CHICAGO. I see home ice being a huge factor in Game 3 after these teams went toe to toe in a triple overtime marathon in Game 2, which the Blackhawks pulled out 3-2. They will need every ounce of energy they can muster and I think the fans in Chicago will give their team that edge with the conference finals heading back to the Windy City. I also feel that Chicago has more depth overall in this series when it comes to high end talent. This is the kind of game where teams really need their best players to be their best players. I think that will be Chicago in Game 3 and I am expecting their top end talent like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith to shine through. Chicago is 5-0 at home in these playoffs and I think they get their sixth win on Thursday. 10* Main Event
|
05-20-15 |
NY Rangers v. Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER 5 |
Top |
5-6 |
Loss |
-135 |
26 h 4 m |
Show
|
NEW YORK RANGERS at TAMPA BAY I am playing on the UNDER. If I were oddsmakers, I’d be putting totals for Rangers games at 4.5 goals. I won’t complain as long as they are putting them at 5 goals though and that means the under is definitely the play here. The under is now 10-3-1 in New York games these playoffs and I expect this series to get back on a low scoring track tonight. Henrik Lundqvist and Ben Bishop have been two of the top goalies of the postseason with goals against averages of lower than 1.85 and save percentages both higher than .930. That’s a recipe for the under on its own but I also fully expect the Rangers to be much tougher defensively in Game 3. New York was out of sorts for some reason in Game 2, taking silly penalties that led to three power play goals. The Bolts also gave up two power play goals to the Rangers also and I’m expecting both teams to be much more disciplined tonight. I’ll be surprised if this series doesn’t return to a tight-checking, disciplined one tonight ,which I'm expecting to lead to fewer than five goals being scored. 10*
|
05-18-15 |
Tampa Bay Lightning v. NY Rangers OVER 4.5 |
|
6-2 |
Win
|
100 |
26 h 16 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Over in Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers as a 9*.
Hockey bettors saw New York impose its defensive-minded brand of hockey in Game 1 on the Eastern Conference final. But, we expect the Lightning to find their stride and turn up the tempo in Game 2 Monday. Tampa Bay was limited to single-digit shots in the first and third periods of Saturday’s series opener and plenty of those weren’t quality attempts to begin with. The NHL’s highest-scoring squad, which netted 3.2 goals a night in the regular season, will increase those chances and make sure they count, not wanting to head home down 0-2 in the series. For New York, it missed out on plenty of good scoring chances in Game 1 as well. A couple shots were saved by the post, and that could have led to a much higher-scoring contests in the opener. We don’t see the Rangers passing on those easy opportunities again in this one. New York actually outshot the Lightning and can return fire with a deep offensive corps.
I’m playing on the Over in Tampa Bay at N.Y. Rangers as a 9* Monday.
|
05-13-15 |
Washington Capitals v. NY Rangers -165 |
|
1-2 |
Win
|
100 |
35 h 54 m |
Show
|
WASHINGTON at NEW YORK RANGERS I am playing on the RANGERS. I am siding with history in this one and taking New York to complete the comeback in this series and advance to the Eastern Conference finals. New York has won six straight Game 7s at Madison Square Garden and and is 9-0 in elimination games in Manhattan going back to 2008. This also just happens to have turned into a home series with the home side winning four of the last five meetings.
That didn't stop Caps forward Alex Ovechkin from guaranteeing that Washington would win Game 7 but I think that just puts more pressure on his team where they otherwise would have been nothing more than the improbable road underdog. I'm going to fade Ovechkin's prediction and feel the man in the crease at the other end will prevail. Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist has won an NHL record five straight Game 7s and he has an incredible 1.00 GAA and a .965 save percentage in six Game 7s overall. 8*
|
05-12-15 |
Tampa Bay Lightning -154 v. Montreal Canadiens |
Top |
4-1 |
Win
|
100 |
34 h 27 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Tampa Bay Lightning as a 10* East-Conf. 2nd Rnd GAME OF THE YEAR.
The Lightning have watched two opportunities to end this Eastern Conference semifinal pass them by after winning the first three games of this series with the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs have hung tough but now the Bolts have home ice and can’t allow any more momentum to build behind Montreal. Tampa Bay did a much better job keeping shots off the net in Game 5 but couldn’t solve Canadiens netminder Carey Price, who has turned away 46 of 49 shots in the past two contests. The Lightning will look to test Price early and often in Game 6 Tuesday. They found the back of the net 10 times in the first three games, including a 6-2 victory inside the Bell Centre in Game 2. Tampa Bay has won eight of its last 10 meetings with the Habs inside Amalie Arena, and the pressure of a return trip to Montreal for Game 7 is more than enough motivation to give the home side some added moneyline value.
I’m playing on Tampa Bay as a 10* Tuesday.
|
05-10-15 |
Calgary Flames v. Anaheim Ducks -230 |
|
2-3 |
Win
|
100 |
24 h 52 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Anaheim Ducks as a 6*.
Anaheim has the Calgary Flames wobbling after taking a 4-2 victory in Game 4 of this Western Conference playoff series and can deliver the knockout punch at home, where they’ve dominated the Flames since 2006. The Ducks have gone 16-0-5 versus Calgary inside the Honda Center, including a pair of wins in this series – 6-1 in Game 1 and 3-0 in Game 2. Anaheim hasn’t given Calgary many opportunities to find the back of the net and when they aren’t shutting the door on the blueline, they’re blasting the Flames with 16 goals through the first four games. The Ducks can get a good break by snuffing out the Flames early and we expect this veteran squad to close out this series Sunday.
I’m playing on the Anaheim Ducks as a 6* Sunday.
|
05-10-15 |
Calgary Flames v. Anaheim Ducks UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
2-3 |
Win
|
100 |
24 h 50 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Under in Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks as my 10* Blue Chip.
The Ducks have an opportunity to close the door on this series, holding a 3-1 series lead over the Flames Sunday. We expect this do-or-die game to up the defensive intensity of the previous four contests, with Calgary on the ropes and Anaheim not wanting to swing this series back to Western Canada. The Ducks have been dominant on defense in their three wins, allowing a combined three goals in those games. They locked down Calgary to just eight shots in each of the final two periods of Game 4 and whatever did get through, goaltender Frederik Andersen has turned away. The Flames can’t afford to give up as many goals as they have been through the first four games. The blueline needs to step up if Calgary is going to do something they haven’t since 2006, which is win a game in Anaheim. We expect a desperate defensive push from the Flames.
I’m playing on the Under in Calgary at Anaheim as my 10* Blue Chip Sunday.
|
05-10-15 |
NY Rangers v. Washington Capitals OVER 4.5 |
|
4-3 |
Win
|
100 |
21 h 56 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Over in New York Rangers at Washington Capitals as a 9*.
This has been a relatively low-scoring series through the first five games, with four of those contests staying Under the number and Game 2 finishing as a push with the 5-goal total. But with this series swinging back to DC and the Capitals trying to finish off the President Trophy winners, we expect an offensive surge from Washington and New York to counter that with a scoring push of its own. Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has been holding down the fort and is coming off an exhausting 29-save overtime effort with New York staving off elimination with a 2-1 victory. His counterpart, Washington netminder Branden Holtby is standing on his head, but is also ripe for a letdown after facing 44 shots in Game 6. The two top snipers in this series – Rick Nash and Alex Ovechkin – have been held in check but scorers of this caliber won’t stay quiet for long and we expect both offensive attacks to breakout in this Game 6 situation.
I’m playing on Over in New York at Washington as a 9* Sunday.
|
05-09-15 |
Tampa Bay Lightning v. Montreal Canadiens UNDER 5 |
Top |
1-2 |
Win
|
100 |
20 h 57 m |
Show
|
TAMPA BAY at MONTREAL I am playing on the UNDER. I believe Game 4's 6-2 final score is a misleading and that's a good thing because it gives us a bit more value in taking the under in Game 5. It was a similar story earlier in the series when Tampa Bay beat Montreal 6-2 on home ice and an out-of-sync Canadiens team let emotions get the better of them while the Lightning scored with ease. Game 3 back in Florida was a much tighter game that fell below the total easily (2-1) and I fully expect the same thing to happen here as the game changes scenery back to Montreal. I think we'll see a much sharper Ben Bishop in nets for Tampa Bay and a tough Carey Price in nets for Montreal as the Habs play for their lives. 10* Main Event
|
05-08-15 |
Anaheim Ducks v. Calgary Flames UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
4-2 |
Loss |
-125 |
24 h 14 m |
Show
|
ANAHEIM at CALGARY I am playing on the UNDER. I think we're seeing excellent value on the 5.5-goal total in a game that I think will be a little tighter checking and lower scoring than what we saw in Game 3. The first period got a little out of hand last game when the Flames scored just two minutes into the game and three goals were on the scoreboard by the end of the first frame. I think the emotions of having the series return to Calgary played a factor in that and I think we'll see two much more settled teams in Game 4. I think having two days off between games also helps the under here with both teams having the ability to regroup and examine their game plans. The under is 4-0 in Calgary's last four games on two days of rest and the goaltenders are playing solid between the pipes for both teams. 10* Under
|
05-07-15 |
Chicago Blackhawks v. Minnesota Wild UNDER 5 |
Top |
4-3 |
Loss |
-118 |
24 h 9 m |
Show
|
CHICAGO at MINNESOTA I am playing on the UNDER. Bad news for the Minnesota Wild means good news for taking the under in this game: Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford is back to the kind of Stanley Cup playoff form that has earned him two championship rings. Crawford was certainly the star in Game 3 when he kicked aside 30 shots, several in goal-saving fashion. He has now given up just one goal over the past two games and he has the Wild throwing their hands up in the air. "Crawford, he's a star against us," Wild coach Mike Yeo said after Game 3. "He's [Martin] Brodeur. He's [Patrick] Roy. He's everybody against us, so we've got to find a way to solve that." Minnesota has a pretty solid goalie itself in Devan Dubnyk has a .932 save percentage this season and his incredible play backstopped Minnesota into the playoffs. The Wild would prefer to win in a low-scoring, tight checking style of game and I think we'll see them keep this one below the total once again. After a 1-0 result last time, I'm pleased oddsmakers didn't decide to lower this total for Game 4 and I'm taking the under. 10* Main Event
|
05-06-15 |
Montreal Canadiens v. Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER 5 |
Top |
1-2 |
Win
|
100 |
20 h 58 m |
Show
|
MONTREAL at TAMPA BAY I am playing on the UNDER. This game isn’t quite do-or-die for the Canadiens, but it mightas well be. Only four teams have ever come back from a 3-0 deficit and they head into Tampa Bay down two games to none. I think Montreal goaltender Carey Price is going to stand on his head and force a goaltending duel in Game 3. Price and the rest of the hockey world know that Montreal isn’t going to beat anyone by scoring goals so it’s going to have to come down to Price to be the star. The Habs are shuffling their forward lines again for Game 3 after they’ve scored just six goals in their last five games. They are in tough against a Lightning team that has allowed only five goals in its last four games. 10* Best Bet
|
05-03-15 |
Calgary Flames v. Anaheim Ducks UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
0-3 |
Win
|
100 |
27 h 47 m |
Show
|
CALGARY at ANAHEIM I am playing on the UNDER. After the Flames allowed six goals in the first game of this series, I expect them to be much better in Game 2 which gives us some great value on the under. “I thought they were able to walk in, even in the slot, and had quite a few good scoring chances. We definitely got to work harder there," said Calgary goaltender Jonas Hiller after the loss. It wasn't the norm to hear that coming out of Calgary's locker room after the Flames were so sharp in Round 1 against Vancouver. I think the Flames got thrown off their game a bit because they were able to control the series against the Canucks with physical play. It's tough to do that against a big, fast Ducks team that doesn't mind throwing bodies around. I think Calgary learned its lesson after the first game and won't be keen on getting served up another drubbing. I think we'll see Hiller be sharper and the Flames throwing themselves in front of pucks and bodies in a much better effort on Sunday. 10* NHL Blue Chip
|
05-03-15 |
Tampa Bay Lightning v. Montreal Canadiens -123 |
Top |
6-2 |
Loss |
-123 |
23 h 43 m |
Show
|
I am playing on MONTREAL. I just can’t see the Lightning coming in and taking the first two games of this series in Montreal after coming off an exhausting 7-game series against the Red Wings in Round 1. Tampa Bay needed double overtime to take Game 1 – a 2-1 squeaker in which Montreal goaltender Carey Price was at his normal ungenerous self. Price made 42 saves and continued to show why he’s the top netminder in world right now. I think the Habs have Tampa Bay playing exactly the kind of game they want them to – a low-scoring, dump-and-chase contest where the team that outlasts the other and has the better goaltender will ultimately win the series. That’s the kind of game that plays into Montreal’s favor and I think we’ll see this series head back to Tampa all tied up Montreal has lost two in a row at home now following the loss to Tampa Bay but the Habs haven’t lost three in a row at home all season. I think the crowd will be another factor that helps to lift them to victory in Game 2.
|
05-02-15 |
Washington Capitals v. NY Rangers -163 |
Top |
2-3 |
Win
|
100 |
18 h 22 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the New York Rangers as a 10*.
The Rangers have a bad taste in their mouths after a disastrous letup in Game 1 of this Round 2 Eastern Conference series. New York watched Washington find the back of the net with two seconds remaining in the third period, stealing a 2-1 win. The Blueshirts will be careful not to let home ice slip away entirely in Game 2, but the Rangers know they must be more aggressive on the offensive end. New York has played in six straight one-goal games to open this postseason which might not cut it against an offense like the Capitals. We expect New York to try and build a two-goal buffer and avoid another heart-wrenching finish to Game 2 of this series.
I’m playing on the New York Rangers as a 10* Saturday.
|
05-01-15 |
Minnesota Wild v. Chicago Blackhawks -135 |
|
3-4 |
Win
|
100 |
24 h 44 m |
Show
|
MINNESOTA at CHICAGO I am playing on CHICAGO. The Wild have to be groaning coming into this series and thinking "not again" when it comes to playing the Blackhawks. Minnesota has been ousted by Chicago in each of the last two playoffs and now they must try to convince themselves they can pull off what they haven't been able to in the last two seasons. The United Center was especially unkind to the Wild in the last two postseasons, where they went a combined 0-6. Knowing that, I am actually a little surprised Chicago wasn't laying a higher number here. The Blackhawks also happen to have started this year's playoffs 3-0 on home ice and I like the trend to continue tonight. I could go on for days about the Blackhawks' talent but you probably already know about it. Notably, Patrick Kane is getting stronger all the time in his return from a shoulder injury and he racked up seven points in first round against Nashville. 9* Personal Favorite
|
05-01-15 |
Tampa Bay Lightning v. Montreal Canadiens UNDER 5 |
Top |
2-1 |
Win
|
100 |
21 h 8 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the UNDER. If you've been following the NHL at all this year, you know Montreal’s Carey Price has widely been regarded as the best goaltender in the world this season. He lived up to that hype with a .939 save percentage and a 1.94 goals against average in Round 1. Tampa Bay's Ben Bishop was no slouch either in the Bolts' series against the Wings when he earned a .922 save percentage and a 1.87 goals against average. He's coming off a 2-0 Game 7 shutout win where head coach Jon Cooper credited him for being the biggest difference maker in the game. So both goaltenders are on their game, which is a major reason I like the under in Game 1 of this series. But both teams are also a little on the snake bitten side and neither has exactly been generating tons of scoring opportunities. The 'under' is 3-1-1 for both teams in each of their last four games and neither one's top gunner is playing great right now. The Lightning's Steve Stamkos scored no goals and just three points in Round 1 while Max Pacioretty's only points were two goals in five games against the Sens and he largely looked invisible in the other three games. 10* Blue Chip
|
04-30-15 |
Calgary Flames v. Anaheim Ducks UNDER 5.5 |
|
1-6 |
Loss |
-130 |
21 h 3 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the UNDER. When you put the goals against averages from the first round of these two teams together - 2.20 for each team - we are looking at a combined total that would fall more than a goal below the 5.5-goal over/under set for Game 1 of this series. I think most bettors will be looking for this one to go over considering the high scoring recent meetings between these teams but I think goaltending will play an even bigger factor. Calgary's Jonas Hiller was the best goaltender of the first round, in my opinion. His goals against average of 2.20 wasn't among the league leaders but I think his .931 save percentage tells a more accurate story. Hiller stood on his head at times against the Canucks and was a huge reason the under went 3-2-1 - all against five-goal totals - in the first round. I won't be surprised if Anaheim comes out with a little rust also after having eight days to rest since the last game against Winnipeg. When a team is scoring, that's often the last thing a coach wants so I won't be surprised if we see a bit of a sluggish start to this game. Frederik Anderson was also solid for Anaheim in the first round in nets, earning a .931 save percentage while coming up with key saves at the right times. He held the Jets to two goals or fewer in three of the four games in Round 1 and I think oddsmakers are slightly overlooking that with the total they've set for the opening game of the series. 8*
|
04-30-15 |
Calgary Flames v. Anaheim Ducks -189 |
|
1-6 |
Win
|
100 |
21 h 56 m |
Show
|
I am playing on ANAHEIM. There are a couple of stats that you just can't ignore as this series gets under way and for me, they are way too strong not to take the Ducks here. The Flames enter this series on a 20-game losing streak in Anaheim going back to 2004 - twenty games!! - which works out to 0-15-5. The Flames are also 2-26-3 in their last 31 games in Anaheim and trends in sports betting just don't get a whole lot stronger than that. The Ducks are coming off a four-game sweep of the Winnipeg Jets during which they blistered their way to a playoff-leading 4.00 goals per game, which is about a goal and a half more than the league average. Anaheim just kept sending its waves of talent on the ice, getting goals when it needed them most. The Ducks had eight players who tallied at least three points in the first round, which is a little stunning considering the series only went four games. I don't think Calgary can skate with that kind of depth and I think the Ducks jump out to an early series lead here Thursday night. The Flames had to rely on some incredible goaltending in Round 1 during which the Flames outshot Vancouver in just two of the six games. 7*
|
04-30-15 |
Washington Capitals v. NY Rangers -160 |
|
2-1 |
Loss |
-160 |
19 h 31 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the RANGERS. New York has the enviable position of facing a Capitals team coming off a physical, emotional series that went seven grueling games while being fully rested after dumping the Penguins in five games. The Capitals and Islanders just pulverized each other in a gritty series that featured a frantic pace and hard hits - they racked up 98 hits in one game alone. We often see letdowns after a team wins a Game 7 and I think that will especially be the case after Washington played in what could be the best series we see all playoffs. The Rangers, on the other hand, looked very comfortable playing a practically impenetrable defensive system where they held Sidney Crosby and the Pens to just one goal in four of the five games in the series. And it wasn't just that Pittsburgh couldn't score. New York was barely giving the Penguins a sniff by blocking shots and clogging the neutral zone. I think it's exactly the kind of game Washington would prefer not to play and it's not a huge surprise the Rangers have won four of the last five meetings. Washington may bounce back and give New York some trouble as this series wears on but I don't see the Caps winning Game 1. The Rangers don't mind playing with gaps between games and they are 6-1 playing on at least three days of rest this campaign. 7*
|
04-29-15 |
Detroit Red Wings v. Tampa Bay Lightning -178 |
|
0-2 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 10 m |
Show
|
I am playing on TAMPA BAY. You always have to take a hard look first at the home team when it comes to Game 7’s in the NHL. The home side historically wins at a 57.6 percent clip and we already saw the Capitals take advantage of home ice in a Game 7 in these playoffs. Tampa Bay was also the toughest team in the NHL to beat on home ice this season, where the Bolts lost just eight times in the regular season. I think we’ll see them come out flying behind an ear-splitting crowd after the Lightning fell 2-0 on home ice in Game 5. Detroit will be without its top defenseman, Niklas Kronwall, who was given a 1-game suspension after for a hit on Nikita Kucherov in Game 6. It’s a loss that’s tough to put into words for Detroit and I feel it will be the biggest factor in this game. I think the Red Wings are a different team without Kronwall, who provides an intimidating presence on the blue line that can change the whole context of a game – both in the offensive and in the defensive ends. I think Tampa Bay will be a little bolder on the breakout and in the corners knowing they don’t have to deal with the Wings’ top blueliner. Tyler Johnson has also been the star who has stepped up for the Lightning with five points over the last three games. I expect him to shine again in Game 7 and lift Tampa Bay to the big series-clinching win. 7* Game 7 Main Event
|
04-27-15 |
NY Islanders v. Washington Capitals -134 |
|
1-2 |
Win
|
100 |
22 h 7 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Washington Capitals as my 10* Game 7 Main Event. Washington battles the New York Islanders in a Game 7 showdown at home Monday. The Capitals missed an opportunity to end this series in Game 6 after looking dominant in Games 4 and 5. With the series swinging back to DC, we see solid value with the home side Monday. In the two previous home games, the Capitals netted a total nine goals and outshot New York 76-44 – almost doubling their offensive activity. In Game 6, Washington edged the Isles 39-38 in shots. We expect another one sided tally from the Caps, as they press to avoid a Game 7 collapse on home ice. Washington goalie Braden Holtby has been excellent in goal. He has allowed only five goals on 139 shots faced in the past four games. Holtby was battling an illness earlier in the series but now that he’s over it, he looks like the kind of goaltender who could carry this team deep into the postseason if he keeps up his hot play. Holtby owns a 2.08 GAA and a .926 save percentage at home. The Capitals’ offensive activity at home and Holtby holding down the crease are why I’m playing on Washington as my 10* Game 7 Main Event Monday.
|
04-27-15 |
NY Islanders v. Washington Capitals UNDER 5 |
Top |
1-2 |
Win
|
114 |
21 h 11 m |
Show
|
do not make this selection. Wrong selection.
|
04-26-15 |
St Louis Blues v. Minnesota Wild UNDER 5 |
Top |
1-4 |
Push |
0 |
18 h 34 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Under in St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild as my 10* Blue Chip. These first-round opponents have traded dominating defensive performances through the first five games of this series, with one team being limited to two or fewer goals in each of those contests. Game 5 finished with a 4-1 Wild victory that pushed with the 5-goal total. We expect things to get even tighter in Game 6 and see value with the Under Sunday afternoon. St. Louis is fighting for its playoff life after falling behind 3-2 in the series and limited Minnesota to only one goal on 18 shots in Game 4. The Wild aren’t an explosive offensive team, ranking near the middle of the league in offense this season. And both teams rank near the bottom of the NHL playoff contenders in shots, combining for just a total of 48.6 shots per game in this series. For the first four games of this series, the team that has scored first has won the game. While that trend ended in Game 5, we expect it to hold true – especially with neither team wanting to make that lethal mistake. Whoever does net the opening goal will attempt to lock it down on defense and hold the fort for the remainder of the night, not risking a mistake on the offensive end to compromise that lead. With the series tightening up in Game 6 and both teams looking to strike first before locking down the blueline we are playing on the Under in St. Louis at Minnesota as my 10* Blue Chip Sunday.
|
04-25-15 |
Nashville Predators v. Chicago Blackhawks -165 |
|
3-4 |
Win
|
100 |
19 h 38 m |
Show
|
I am playing on CHICAGO. Home ice has obviously been a major factor in this series with the home team winning the last four games and I see no reason for the trend to stop in Game 6 Saturday night. Chicago has won the last four meetings on home ice against Nashville and I can't fathom the Preds are feeling good about returning to the arena where they last lost their longest game in franchise history, a 3-2 triple overtime thriller in Game 4. This has been a fast, hard hitting, fun series to watch and I think the longer it goes, the more it plays into Chicago's favor. The Blackhawks have more depth and talent than just about anybody in the league and if you're going to beat them, you're better off not stretching it into a seven-game affair. Brad Richards, former Conn Smythe winner, was among the latest to come alive for Chicago in Game 5 when he had a goal and an assist. That was Richards' first multi-point game since January and now the Predators suddenly have one more player to worry about on the depth chart. The Predators' biggest handicap is they'll be without super-defenseman Shea Weber for the remainder of the series with a lower body injury. That's a blow that's hard to put into words and the Predators are 2-7-1 with him out of the lineup over the last two seasons. I think the Blackhawks get it done Saturday night with a little desperation in their step as they aim to avoid heading back to the Music City for a Game 7. 8*
|
04-25-15 |
Detroit Red Wings v. Tampa Bay Lightning -180 |
|
4-0 |
Loss |
-180 |
17 h 39 m |
Show
|
I am playing on TAMPA BAY. The Lightning are heading back to Tampa Bay with this series tied 2-2 but in terms of momentum, the Bolts have to be feeling a little like they are leading the series. It looked to be the complete opposite with less than seven minutes to go in Game 4 and the Red Wings leading by two goals. Even though the Red Wings were out-shot in the game, they completely dominated the play and you had to think hard to remember the Lightning even getting a scoring chance all game. A few defensive breakdowns later and two goals and an assist from Tyler Johnson and the Bolts were skating off the ice in celebration while Detroit looked like they'd just heard the octopus species had become extinct. It's that kind of momentum that changes a whole series and I think we'll see a rejuvenated Tampa Bay squad in Game 5 back in Florida. Johnson has emerged as the team's leader while Steve Stamkos still searches for his game and maybe that's just what the sniper needs to get some confidence back. Tampa Bay is tough to beat on home ice at the best of times - no team had fewer home losses than the Lightning's eight this season. But it just got that much tougher with the wind knocked out of Detroit's sails. Pavel Datsyuk was a crushing minus-3 in Game 4 while Tomas Tatar was minus-2. You just can't have two of your top three players letting you down like that in crucial situations and I don't like how things are lining up for Detroit in Game 5. 8*
|
04-24-15 |
Minnesota Wild v. St. Louis Blues UNDER 5 |
Top |
4-1 |
Push |
0 |
24 h 35 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the UNDER. The seven goals we saw in Game 4 in the Blues’ 6-1 win were not what most expected to see between these two defensive-minded clubs. The six goals were the most the normally stellar goaltender Devan Dubnyk has allowed since joining the Wild and they all came before the second period was over, when he was yanked. I think it was a bit of a case of Minnesota coming into the game feeling a little too good about itself after winning Game 3 3-0 in front of the home crowd. "We may have been a little cocky. We felt really good and rightfully so," left wing Zach Parise said. "We felt good about the way we played the last game. I don't know if we thought it was going to be an easy game or if we thought they were going to pack it in, but that wasn't the case at all." I expect Game 5 to be a tight-checking game with fewer scoring chances and as a result, a better performance from Dubnyk. Jake Allen has been solid in St. Louis net, meanwhile, and owns a .935 save percentage so I think we can count on him to remain steady. I think the Blues have woken up after some inconsistent play throughout the first few games of the series and for them, that means a defense-first approach that begins with an unrelenting forecheck. The Blues ranked in the top five in goals against this season and they allowed a mere 2.30 against at home. I also like the under because there have only been 10 power plays in this series so far and just two goals on those extra man attacks. Another reason I like the under is that St. Louis had just one giveaway in Game 4. That’s impressive for a high-speed playoff hockey game and shows they are playing a much more responsible puck possession game, which is also a hint that tonight’s game is leaning toward going under. 10* Blue Chip
|
04-23-15 |
Calgary Flames v. Vancouver Canucks -147 |
Top |
1-2 |
Win
|
100 |
18 h 19 m |
Show
|
I am playing on VANCOUVER. After getting badly out-hit and handily out-played in Calgary, the Canucks couldn't be happier to be heading home and I think we'll see a much different Canucks squad tonight. It was almost as if the Canucks sent a different team to Calgary than the one we saw through the first two games in Vancouver. Oddsmakers seem to agree because they have set the Canucks as bigger favorites than many would have predicted for Game 5. After finishing pretty closely in the categories of blocked shots and hits in Vancouver, Calgary out-hit the Canucks 62-36 on home ice and out-scored them in blocked shots 59-28. Those two stats point to Vancouver withering away a little bit in their road jerseys. I think we'll see a completely different effort with the Canucks back on home ice. They are well coached by Willie Dejardins even though he doesn’t have the NHL playoff experience of Scotty Bowman, but I fully expect him to have his team refocused and ready to roll for Game 5. I'll also be shocked if he doesn't start goaltender Ryan Miller in place of Eddie Lack. Lack was a big letdown in Game 4 when he allowed three goals on seven shots in the first period and Miller came in to stop all 15 shots he faced. It's always easier for a team to play with confidence when your goaltender is feeling confident and I think that's what we'll see tonight. 10* Personal Favorite
|
04-22-15 |
Anaheim Ducks v. Winnipeg Jets -123 |
|
5-2 |
Loss |
-123 |
28 h 45 m |
Show
|
I am playing on WINNIPEG. Despite the fact the Jets are down 3-0 in their series with Anaheim, they remain small favorites to win Game 4 and I think they’ll get the 'W'. The reason is the incredible home crowd that will be in full 'whiteout' mode once again on Wednesday after nearly taking the building down with bone-rattling cheering in Game 3 on Monday. I think the Jets will give everything they have in hopes of giving their loyal home fans their first home playoff win in 19 years. “Right at the start, I personally have never had anything like that before and we certainly fed off the energy,” said Jets winger Lee Stempniak about Monday's game. “We had a great start. We were all over them, forced some turnovers and icings. Yeah, it’s disappointing on a couple of levels to go down 3-0 in the series, and also not to deliver for our fans.” You could argue that Winnipeg could be just as easily up 3-0 in this series as it is down 3-0. The Jets took third period leads into all three games, only to them slip away and lose in heart-breaking fashion. Winnipeg outplayed the Ducks in every facet except the 5-4 score on Monday with more hits (61-44), more shots on net (35-31), more faceoffs won (43-41), fewer giveaways (11 vs. 13) and more blocked shots (17-15). Another reason I think the Jets will pull out Game 4 is the Ducks just aren’t as sharp defensively on the road, where they allowed a generous 2.79 goals against this season. They allowed four goals in Winnipeg, their most of the series, and also allowed the Jets to score their first power play goal of the series. You just can’t cross your fingers and hope to win like that consistently on the road in the playoffs and I think Winnipeg gets a big win for their fans on Wednesday. 9* NHL Personal Favorite
|
04-21-15 |
Tampa Bay Lightning v. Detroit Red Wings UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
0-3 |
Win
|
100 |
53 h 8 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the UNDER. Game 2 in Tampa Bay just slipped over the closing total by a half goal, which ended a three-game under streak in meetings between the Red Wings and Lightning. I think we'll see the under trend get back on track as the series switches back to Detroit while the number from oddsmakers remains the same. Detroit allows fewer goals at Joe Louis Arena than it does on the road and Tampa Bay scores fewer goals on the road than it does at home. The under is also 28-21 for the Red Wings when the total is set at 5.5 goals this season. I expect Detroit to bounce back with a tough defensive effort in Game 3 and I expect the Lightning to be a little less fortunate than they were at home at the offensive end. One of the big reasons for that is Detroit is a big line matching team and they run into trouble when they have the last change against explosive teams like the Lightning. That's driven home by the fact that four of the last five meetings in the Motor City have played under the total - including the last one, a 4-0 Detroit win on March 28. Ten of the last 11 Bolts games have also played under when Tampa Bay is on the road against winning teams. So all the trends are pointing to the under in this one but I also like the fact that last game's 5-1 score is a little misleading and gives us more value on the under than we should be getting. Detroit coach Mike Babcock and forward Henrik Zetterberg both said Game 2 was a great game for the Wings despite the score and when you look at the in-depth stats, they are right. The Wings had more scoring chances (21 vs. 18) and they blocked twice as many shots (16 vs. 8) as the Bolts. When Detroit is outplaying the opposition - even when the scoreboard lies - for me that means value on the under and home ice will go a long way in helping this game slide beneath the total. 10* Blue Chip
|
04-20-15 |
Anaheim Ducks v. Winnipeg Jets -125 |
|
5-4 |
Loss |
-125 |
31 h 54 m |
Show
|
I am playing on WINNIPEG. Home ice looks like it could be the biggest determining element in this series, which is why I like the Jets in Game 3 and why oddsmakers have them set as slight favorites. Anaheim took the first two games in California and I believe home ice played a huge role in helping to propel them to both wins. The Ducks trailed heading into the third period in both games but there was just a feeling to both games that suggested the lead was never safe. The Jets should now get that same benefit on home ice in front of what should be a completely insane atmosphere in Winnipeg. It's been 19 years since the Jets hosted a playoff game - known as a 'whiteout' for the crowd donned in all-white - and their loyal fan base should provide support that's loud enough to shake the building in the Game 3. “The playoffs with every team I was at were a tremendous experience, but that whiteout environment in Winnipeg was so unique that it was probably the one thing that would set it apart from all the others. It just created an unbelievable environment in that rink,” said former Jet Mike Eagles this week. I think Winnipeg gets out to lead and holds it this time with home support. I also love that goalie Ondrej Pavelec is coming off a fantastic game in Anaheim where he made 37 saves. I think it will be a big confidence boost for him and we'll see more strong play in the Jets' net. 9* Personal Favorite
|
04-20-15 |
St Louis Blues v. Minnesota Wild UNDER 5 |
|
0-3 |
Win
|
100 |
30 h 1 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the UNDER. The first two games of this series resulted in an 'over' and a push against the closing total but I think we'll see the first game go under in Game 3 at Xcel Energy Center on Monday. I think oddsmakers are leaning that way also after they refused to move this total off the number 5 – same line we saw in the first two games. These two clubs tied for fifth in the league in goals against this season, allowing 2.40 per game and both are great at playing tight defensive hockey. Devan Dubnyk has continued to be strong in nets for the Wild despite the fact the Wild gave up four goals in Game 2. Dubnyk made several great saves and the final goal of the night came with an empty Wild net and it was that goal that caused a 'push' against the 5-goal total. The Xcel Energy Center proved to be a stingy place for opposition in last year's playoffs also and I think we'll see the low-scoring trend continue. The Wild went 5-1 on home ice in last year's playoffs with the lone loss coming in overtime and the 'under' also went 3-2-1 in those games. Those games averaged just four goals per game combined and I think we'll see a similar story this year. Jake Allen is also looking great for the Blues, another reason I like the under in Game 3. Allen has a .942 save percentage through the first two games and he knows he'll need to be sharp on Monday as the series turns to the road for St. Louis. 9* Best Bet
|
04-19-15 |
Washington Capitals v. NY Islanders UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
1-2 |
Win
|
100 |
15 h 12 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the UNDER. After a Game 2 that saw seven goals scored, I think both teams in this series will be thinking about responsible defense when the series shifts back to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Sunday. There were signs from the Isles that they were committed to their own end despite the loss in Game 2 - namely they blocked 27 shots and were flailing all over the ice to jump in front of pucks. Washington also played a far better puck possession game than we saw from the Caps in Game 1 when costly turnovers led to goals. The Caps also surprisingly named AHL call up Philipp Grubauer as their Game 2 starter in nets after Braden Holtby was taken out of the lineup due to an undisclosed illness. Holtby was shaky in the 4-1 loss in Game 1 but Grubauer filled in respectably with 18 saves on 21 shots, and it helped that he faced six fewer shots than Washington allowed in Game 1. No matter who starts for Washington in Game 2, I still think we'll see this one go under the number. One of the other reasons I think so is I think these teams could be a little sluggish. This has been a hard-hitting series so far with an incredible 97 hits delivered combined in Game 2 and I won't be surprised if both teams are missing a little jump in their step at times on Sunday. 10* Breakfast Club
|
04-18-15 |
Detroit Red Wings v. Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER 5.5 |
|
1-5 |
Loss |
-133 |
6 h 16 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Under in Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning as my 9* Early Best Bet. The Red Wings did a great job limiting the Lighting to only two goals in Game 1 of this Round 1 NHL playoff series. Detroit was outshot 46-14 for the game but still managed to turn out a 3-2 victory. The Red Wings took advantage of a shaky Ben Bishop in the postseason opener but goals won’t be that easy to come by in Game 2, now that those nerves have settled down. The Red Wings were able to lock up Tampa Bay sniper Steve Stamkos, keeping him off the scoresheet and holding him to eight shots on the night, each turned away by goaltender Petr Mrazek. Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are two of the best defensive forwards in the game and will continue to be Stamkos’ shadow in the defensive end. We expect a much sharper game from Bishop in Game 2. The pressure of his first playoff start obviously got to the young goaltender, who was sharp down the stretch of the regular season. Bishop did get two top blueliners back in Game 1, with Braydon Coburn and Andrej Sustr returning from injury, and with those defensemen shaking off the rust, the Bolts will be a much tougher team on that end of the ice Saturday. The Red Wings’ solid defense and hot goaltender and Bishop’s return to form are why I’m playing on the Under in Detroit at Tampa Bay as my 9* Early Best Bet.
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04-18-15 |
Minnesota Wild v. St Louis Blues -140 |
Top |
1-4 |
Win
|
100 |
6 h 2 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the St. Louis Blues as my 9* Personal Favorite.
The Blues took one on the chin in Game 1 of this first-round series against the Minnesota Wild, losing 4-2 in front of the home faithful Thursday night. That loss will light a fire under St. Louis for Game 2, with memories of the last two postseasons getting drummed up. The Blues have exited in the first round of the playoffs the last two years and will be playing with added desperation Saturday.
Thursday’s result was much closer than the final score would indicate, with the Wild adding two empty net goals in the dying minutes of the third period. St. Louis fell behind quickly in Game 1 and knows it must get off to a better start Saturday to avoid having its back against the wall.
The Blues faced Minnesota in the regular season finale, winning 4-2, and got out to a 2-0 lead in the second period of that game. The Wild are just too good of a defensive team to let take a lead and then lock down the defensive end of the ice. We expect St. Louis to press early and often, hoping to get up on the scoreboard and force the Wild out of their comfort zone.
The Blues' postseason desperation and their early offensive attack are why I’m playing St. Louis as my 9* Personal Favorite.
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04-17-15 |
Calgary Flames v. Vancouver Canucks -145 |
Top |
1-4 |
Win
|
100 |
29 h 47 m |
Show
|
I am playing on VANCOUVER. I felt the Canucks outplayed Calgary for most of Game 1 and were a little unlucky to come away with a loss. I don't see them dropping their first two games at home and I'm thankful oddsmakers aren't making them lay more chalk in Game 2. Jonas Hiller stood on his head a little for Calgary and was awarded the first star after giving up just one goal in the 2-1 win. I'm not sure how long he can keep that up against a Canucks team that ranks much higher than the Flames on shooting percentage this season. Vancouver ranked seventh in the league in that category this year compared to 27th for the Flames. Calgary scored the winning goal while Canucks goalie Eddie Lack was screened after Lack played a great game and was named as second star of the game. Another sign that the Canucks outplayed the Flames was they drew three penalties to Calgary's one. Vancouver went 0-for-3 on the power play but I don't expect that to continue. The Canucks had a blistering power play over the final three weeks of the season going 11-for-33 during that span and I think we'll see them find a way to score on the extra man attack in Game 2. All that said, I think home ice will still play the biggest factor in the second game of this series. I expect a very loud crowd in Vancouver and Calgary was wasn’t nearly as good on the road as it was at home this season. 10* Personal Favorite
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04-17-15 |
NY Islanders v. Washington Capitals -140 |
|
3-4 |
Win
|
100 |
25 h 25 m |
Show
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I am playing on WASHINGTON. The Capitals looked a little like they forgot the playoffs had started from the drop of the first puck in Game 1 and I expect to see a much different team in Game 2. Nobody likes getting embarrassed like that on home ice, especially in the postseaon and I think Washington will play much smarter in Game 2. The home team won every game in the regular season series between these two and I think that trend gets back on track here. The Caps out-hit the Isles (46-36), were almost even in shots (27-25) and destroyed New York in faceoffs won (39-23). The one thing they forgot to do was take care of the puck and that sloppy play resulted in most of the damage the Islanders did. Washington committed 11 giveaways to the Isles' five and that was really the difference in the game. "I think the whole game was pretty sloppy," Capitals forward Curtis Glencross said. "That can happen with it being the playoffs. We'll definitely try to [be better] as the series going on." I'm counting on it. I think the errors were mostly mental and the Capitals somehow just didn't come into this game completely focused. I don't expect that to happen two games in a row. The Capitals were far better than the Isles in goals against this season (7th vs. 23rd in the league) and I think we’ll see a completely different Washington team in Game 2, one that’s much more careful with the puck. 8* Annihilator
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04-17-15 |
Ottawa Senators v. Montreal Canadiens UNDER 5 |
Top |
2-3 |
Push |
0 |
25 h 17 m |
Show
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I am playing on the UNDER. I think Game 1, which the Canadiens won 4-3, was out of character for what’s to come in this series and I think Game 2 will be a low scoring affair. A number of weird circumstances arose in Game 1 that caused the two arguably best goaltenders in the league to not quite look themselves. Sens rookie sensation Andrew Hammond owns a .938 save percentage while likely Vezina winner Carey Price owns a .933 save percentage, yet somehow these two combined to allow seven goals in Game 1. The leakiness started on a strange bounce in the first period that popped onto Andrei Markov’s stick and dripped past Price. If this were soccer, we’d call it an own goal. Then there was the major penalty to Habs defenseman P.K. Subban, who was slapped with a five minute major and a game misconduct for a two-hander on Senators goal scorer Marc Stone. The slash resulted in a fracture of Stone’s wrist. Three goals – two for the Sens and one for Montreal – were scored on the ensuing five-minute power play. If you take away the four goals that happened under unusual circumstances, Game 1 is looking more like the low scoring affair I expect to see in Game 2. Subban could be suspended and Stone could miss some time but even if they both play, we may see Ottawa dress a lineup that has a little tougher look to it and is focused more on winning with grit than finesse. Keep an eye on any player news leading up to game time and either way, I still like this game to fall below the total. 10* Blue Chip
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04-16-15 |
Minnesota Wild v. St Louis Blues -142 |
Top |
4-2 |
Loss |
-142 |
78 h 3 m |
Show
|
I am playing on ST. LOUIS. The Blues enter the postseason as one of the league's hottest teams while the Wild come into Game 1 against St. Louis as one of the league's coldest. St. Louis has won five of its last six games - which includes a 4-2 win over Minnesota to end the season - while the Wild have lost four of their last six. It may be that Minnesota simply sputtered out of gas as the regular season came to a close. The Wild needed to have the best record in the NHL since Jan. 15 just to qualify for the playoffs. That's when they acquired goaltender Devan Dubnyk, who started 38 straight games for Minnesota. Perhaps the magic and the energy have run out for Dubnyk though after St. Louis chased him out of the next on Saturday with three goals on 14 shots. That's nothing to be ashamed of against this St. Louis squad. The Blues might have the best combination of talent and depth when it comes to their forwards where five players have at least 19 goals and 55 points for St. Louis. The Blues are just plain scary and there's almost no point in matching lines against them. Every one of their lines has speed and can score with the sickly talented Vladimir Tarasenko leading the way with 73 points and a +27 rating. The Blues are pretty deep on the blueline too and are the only team other than the President's Trophy-winning New York Rangers to rank in the top five in the NHL in goals for and goals against this season. They have a significantly better power play than the Wild too - fourth best in the NHL compared to fourth worst - and I think Minnesota is in big trouble starting in Game 1 of this series. 10* Personal Favorite
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04-16-15 |
Detroit Red Wings v. Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
3-2 |
Win
|
100 |
76 h 54 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the UNDER. This matchup between the Red Wings and Lightning is the only series that opened with a Game 1 total of 5.5 goals. The other seven Game 1s begin with a total of five goals and I feel like bettors can take advantage of the offering we're seeing from the sportsbooks. Most hockey fans know the Red Wings clamp down come playoff time and we've seen that from Detroit lately as it was forced to go into full playoff mode to ensure making the postseason. The Wings allowed more than two goals just once over its final five games including a 2-0 shutout to end the year in Carolina. Goaltender Peter Mrazek made 35 saves to earn the shutout and he'll get the start in Game 1 with some added confidence on his side after that performance. The Lightning have also held opponents to two goals or fewer in three of their last four games and you know general manager Steve Yzerman will make sure he has his coaches thinking defense coming into this series against his former team. The Lightning are the league's top scoring team with 3.2 goals per game this season but most overlook that they also ranked a respectable 12th in goals against and fifth in shots against. The Bolts only allowed 2.15 goals against at home this season and the over/under was 19-20-2 there for them compared to 24-17 on the road. The last two meetings between these clubs both played under the total and I expect the same result in Game 1. Detroit is expected to have Pavel Datsyuk, Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm back in the lineup, who are all forwards who are key to the Wings’ sound defensive system that begins with a tough forecheck. The last four Red Wings games have played under the total when they have the luxury of playing on three days rest or more and I think we'll be able to take advantage of the extra half goal here in Game 1. 10* Blue Chip
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04-15-15 |
Calgary Flames v. Vancouver Canucks -141 |
|
2-1 |
Loss |
-141 |
55 h 47 m |
Show
|
I am playing on VANCOUVER. The Canucks have home ice on their side in their opening round matchup against the Flames and I think a combination of home ice, special teams and puck possession will help them take Game 1. The Flames have only won seven of the last 27 meetings in Vancouver, so it's not exactly Calgary's favorite place to play. Vancouver also comes into the playoffs on a three-game winning streak and had the comfort of playing all those games at home, so I think we’ll see them coming into Game 1 well rested and at full speed. The Canucks have 11 forwards who have scored at least 10 goals this season and they tend to keep coming at you in waves. I think that will be a bit of a problem for a Calgary squad that ranked 28th in puck possession this season where they controlled the puck just 44 percent of the time. Those numbers defy modern analytics where puck possession has become a huge part of NHL success and I feel the Flames' luck will run out here. Vancouver has more star power than Calgary with the Sedin twins in its lineup, who both finished with over 70 points this year and I feel they'll make Calgary pay throughout the run of this series. The Canucks own the second best power play in the league and haven't allowed a goal while shorthanded in the month of April. Calgary ranks 20th in that category and I think special teams is a spot we'll see the Flames get into trouble against Vancouver. 9*
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04-15-15 |
NY Islanders v. Washington Capitals -140 |
|
4-1 |
Loss |
-140 |
52 h 48 m |
Show
|
I am playing on WASHINGTON. Home ice proved to be the biggest factor in this closely contested series this season and I think it will be key in Game 1 once again when the Islanders visit the Caps. The home team won all four meetings this campaign and I fully expect the crowd at the Verizon Center to make things uncomfortable for the Islanders over the first two games. Both teams match up pretty well when it comes to forwards with opposing stars Alex Ovechkin and John Tavares leading each squad. But I feel the Capitals have key advantages at two other spots which will help them win this series opener: defense and special teams. Defense matters most when it comes to the NHL playoffs and not only do I feel the Caps match up better on the blueline man-for-man, but statistically they are much better also. The Islanders are easily the worst defensive team that has qualified for the playoffs, allowing 2.73 goals per game, which ranks 23rd in the NHL this season. The Caps ranked seventh in that category this season with 2.43 goals against. That generosity on defense extended to the penalty kill for the Isles, where they ranked 26th in the league. That will be a key decider in this series in my opinion where Washington owns the most lethal power play in the NHL with a terrifying scoring percentage of 26.8.
I think the Caps, like all home teams, will tend to get the whistles in Game 1 and that’s something you can’t afford to do against this Washington team. I believe we’ll see the home winning streak in this series continues. 9*
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04-15-15 |
Ottawa Senators v. Montreal Canadiens -140 |
|
3-4 |
Win
|
100 |
52 h 48 m |
Show
|
I am playing on MONTREAL. The discussion about Montreal's success will always begin with Carey Price and it's no wonder. He owned the best goals against average (1.96), save percentage (.933) and wins (44) in the NHL this season. He set a new Canadiens record with those victories and I think he'll help the Habs get out to an early lead in the series Wednesday. Price is probably the one goalie that actually may be able to out-duel the Senators in the crease after the way the red-hot Andrew Hammond has played for them and I think Price will elevate his game to prove he's the premier goalie in the league these days. Home ice should definitely help Montreal. The Bell Center might just be the loudest arena in the NHL come playoff time and it won't be a friendly place for Ottawa to play. Only the Tampa Bay Lightning had fewer losses on home ice this season (eight to Montreal's nine) and the ear-splitting volume goes to a new level during the postseason. I also expect the Habs to use team speed and a versatile group of defenseman who can hurt you in transition to get the job done in Game 1. With top defenseman of P.K. Subban, Andrei Markov, Jeff Petry, Tom Gilbert and Nathan Beaulie, Montreal loves to turn the puck up ice and I think the Canadiens will be able to keep Ottawa on its heels. Special teams might be the area that's of most concern for Montreal here but I like the fact the Habs have scored on the power play in each of their last three home meetings with Ottawa. I think we'll see the Habs find a way to score on the extra man attack now that the playoffs are here. 9*
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04-11-15 |
Chicago Blackhawks -135 v. Colorado Avalanche |
Top |
2-3 |
Loss |
-135 |
21 h 8 m |
Show
|
I am playing on CHICAGO. The Blackhawks haven't lost four games in a row all season and I don't believe it will happen on the last day of the regular campaign. Chicago needs a win to secure third place in the Central Division heading into the playoffs with the Minnesota Wild chasing them just two points behind. Goaltender Corey Crawford is also just one victory away from his career best 33, so there are a couple of motivational factors for Chicago. The Blackhawks have only managed one goal in each of their last three but Crawford has given them a chance to win all three with some incredible play and the Hawks only lost each of those games 2-1. I believe we'll see Chicago snap out of the offensive funk tonight against a Colorado squad that isn't playing very well defensively lately. The Avs have been out-shot in their last six games and horribly out-shot by double digits in each of their last five games. They were blasted by at least 16 more shots for the opposition in each of their last three games and only by the grace of some amazing goaltending have they managed to scrape out three wins in their last four. I think the luck runs out tonight for the Avs. The road team has won all four meetings this season in this series and Colorado has absolutely nothing left to play for. A plethora of injuries are the biggest reason why Colorado is playing such poor team defense lately and defenseman Brad Stuart was the latest victim after hurting his leg last game. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Avs play a conservative game tonight in hopes of ending the year without any more casualties. 10* Personal Favorite
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04-09-15 |
Minnesota Wild v. Nashville Predators -125 |
Top |
4-2 |
Loss |
-125 |
20 h 16 m |
Show
|
I am playing on NASHVILLE. I think we’ll see Nashville snap out of its four-game funk tonight and pull out a win against visiting Minnesota. The Predators haven’t won in four straight games but it’s not like they’re playing bad hockey. They’ve fired at last 36 shots at the net in each of their last three games, outshooting their opponents each time. They’ve also managed to get their power play going with three goals over their last three games and I think we’ll see that play a factor tonight. Nashville has plenty of incentive to come out with a big effort tonight also. The Preds sit just one point behind St. Louis for top spot in the Central Division and I’m sure they’d also take a little pride in stopping the Wild’s current road winning streak that has the NHL abuzz. The Wild need just one more win to tie Detroit’s record from 2005-06 of 12 straight road wins and after Minnesota won the last two meetings in Nashville, I’m sure the Preds would take pleasure in crushing that streak. Nashville owns the best home record in the Western Conference at 28-8-4 and I expect the Predators to play with a little more grit tonight after losing their last two games at home despite being tied at the end of regulation. 10* Personal Favorite
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04-07-15 |
Carolina Hurricanes v. Detroit Red Wings -230 |
|
2-3 |
Win
|
100 |
22 h 52 m |
Show
|
I am playing on DETROIT. The Red Wings can clinch a playoff spot Tuesday night with a win over Carolina and some help from the Penguins, whom Detroit also needs to beat Ottawa. I think Detroit will take care of its part with a home win over the third-worst team in the East. The Red Wings haven't been playing their best hockey lately with just two wins in their last six games. But all of those games came against squads that would currently qualify for the playoffs with the exception of Ottawa, who remains on the bubble. The Wings know the importance of this game I think the desperation and intensity levels will be at their highest Tuesday night with the Wings only having three games left to keep their 23-season playoff streak alive. This is Detroit's last home game of the year with the final two games coming at Montreal and at Carolina and I think the home crowd will play a big, big factor here. The Hurricanes have only won four of their last 14 games and the road hasn't been their friend recently. They've given up at least four goals in each of their last three road outings, which the Canes lost by a combined 11 goals. Now they'll face a hot Red Wings power play that ranks second in the league and has scored in its last three games. I think we'll see big games from veteran leaders Henrik Zetterberg, who has been too quiet lately, and Pavel Datsyuk, who has been in and out of the lineup lately due to injuries. I also like that Carolina has lost four of the last five meetings and are 1-6-1 in the last eight meetings in Detroit. 7* Blue Marlin
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04-05-15 |
Ottawa Senators v. Toronto Maple Leafs UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
2-3 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 18 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Under in Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs as my 10* Blue Chip Sunday.
These two rivals produced a 4-3 overtime victory for the Maple Leafs in late March which easily went Over the 5.5-goal total. And a quick glance at this rematch would suggest another high-scoring affair.
However, looking back at that March 28 matchup, the Senators were without standout rookie goaltender Andrew Hammond, who sat out due to injury, leaving backup Craig Anderson in net. He stopped just 27 of 31 shots.
This time around, Hammond is expected to be between the pipes for Ottawa. The first-year puck stopper has a 1.86 GAA and has allowed one or fewer goals in six of his total nine road starts on the season. The Senators are 2-6-1 Over/Under in those games.
Toronto is coming off an Under winner with a 2-1 shootout loss to Boston Saturday. The Maple Leafs have gone 3-7 Over/Under in their last 10 contests, including a 1-4 O/U count inside the Air Canada Centre.
Goaltender James Reimer has been on fire in his last two starts, stopping 89 of 91 shots faced. The team could ride him out or go back to Jonathan Bernier, who is well rested heading into Sunday.
Hammond in goal on the road and the Maple Leafs’ Under trend are why I’m playing on Under in Ottawa at Toronto as my 10* Blue Chip Sunday.
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04-04-15 |
Vancouver Canucks v. Winnipeg Jets -125 |
Top |
4-5 |
Win
|
100 |
6 h 24 m |
Show
|
I am playing on WINNIPEG. The Jets will play four of their last five games without a big part of their lineup, Dustin Byfuglien, who was suspended for a cross check that will be shown on highlight reels for some time. Often the public looks to fade teams in spots like this but I think this actually gives the Jets more value as they continue to battle for a playoff spot. “It’s something we’ve dealt with the entire year,” Jets captain Andrew Ladd said. “I think we’re comfortable having a few guys out the lineup at this point, knowing we have (people) to step up and fill that void somehow. Sometimes it makes us play a closer team game and good things come of that.” Winnipeg will have home ice and a little revenge motivation playing a factor Saturday night when they host Vancouver. The Jets lost the last two meetings with the Canucks this year but both of those games came on the last night of a three-games-in-four-nights stretch and I believe fatigue played a factor. Winnipeg is playing solid hockey right now despite losing the last two games. Those losses were against the Rangers, the top team in the NHL standings, and a very strong Blackhawks squad, both of which were by just one goal. Prior to those two losses, the Jets won six of seven games. Vancouver enters this game playing its fourth road contest in six days and I think fatigue will be on the other skate this time around. The Canucks have given up at least three goals in four of their last five games and I don't think that kind of play is going to be good enough to beat Winnipeg. 10* Personal Favorite
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04-03-15 |
Chicago Blackhawks v. Buffalo Sabres UNDER 5.5 |
|
4-3 |
Loss |
-115 |
10 h 39 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the UNDER. I successfully took the Blackhawks last night in their home win over the Vancouver Canucks and I like tonight's game to fall under the number. I wrote yesterday about how Chicago has gone into full playoff mode as the club chases down top spot in the Central Division, just two points behind Nashville with a game at hand. For the Blackhawks, playoff mode means tenacious and smart defensive hockey at both ends of the rink and it's translated to them allowing just one goal in each of their past two games. I think Buffalo will have a very difficult time getting the red cherry at Chicago's end to light up much tonight. Buffalo has been scoring lately - at least three goals in each of its last five games - but don't be fooled too much by that. All five of those games came against teams that currently sit outside playoff contention and the Blackhawks will be a different game tonight. The Blackhawks rank second in the NHL with a mere 2.26 goals against while Buffalo ranks dead last in the NHL in scoring with just 1.87 goals scored per game. I like that the Sabres are still showing some fight in their season and haven't taken kindly in their locker room to a smattering of fan hopes that they'll tank games to close out the year in order to get the top pick in the upcoming draft. I think they may give Chicago a surprisingly tough game and will make the Blackhawks earn their goals. Two more quick trends I love for the 'under' in this game: The under is 11-1-2 in Chicago's last 14 games playing on zero rest and the under is 6-0-1 in the last seven games when Buffalo plays a team with a winning percentage above .600. 10* Blue Chip
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04-02-15 |
Edmonton Oilers v. Los Angeles Kings UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
2-8 |
Loss |
-125 |
23 h 47 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the UNDER. These two teams tend to play under when they've gotten together over the past couple of seasons and I think we'll see more of the same when the Oilers visit L.A. Thursday night. The Kings need to go into hardcore playoff mode over their last five games if they hope to squeak into the playoffs. For the Kings, who've won two Cups in the last three seasons, that means gritty defensive hockey and tough play at both ends. They trail Winnipeg by two points for the second wild card spot in the West and they trail Calgary by three points for the third spot in the Pacific Division. I think we'll see the Kings put the clamps on tonight - especially after they allowed four goals each in a pair of losses to Minnesota and Chicago in their last two games. Both of those games resulted in a 'push' for over/under bettors because the Kings managed just one goal, but that's not the sort of style we're used to seeing from L.A. The 'over' has only appeared once in the last 10 Kings games for an 'under' record of 4-1-5 during that span. Only one of those games had a total of 5.5 goals though so the extra half-goal on the 5.5-goal total should go a long way tonight. The 'under' is an incredibly profitable 9-3 in Kings games where the total is set at 5.5 goals this season. The 'under' is 5-3-1 in the last 10 meetings and the extra half-goal has been meaningful here also. Both meetings went under in the only two instances the total was set at 5.5 in the last 10 meetings. 10* Blue Chip
|
04-02-15 |
Vancouver Canucks v. Chicago Blackhawks -158 |
|
1-3 |
Win
|
100 |
21 h 44 m |
Show
|
I am playing on CHICAGO. I like the Blackhawks here tonight for three main reasons: they are still trying to win the Central Division, they are trying to avoid a season sweep from rival Vancouver and their power play is hot. The Blackhawks are five points behind Nashville for top spot in the division but the good news for the Hawks is they have two games at hand. They haven't lost sight of that and have bounced back with two solid wins over Winnipeg and L.A. after suffering a pair of ugly losses to Columbus and Philly last week. Chicago should be extra motivated to avoid letting the Canucks sweep them this season so I like the revenge factor here also. Vancouver won both meetings this year and is a surprising 4-0-3 in the last seven meetings in Chicago. These two teams don't like each other a whole lot and I expect the Blackhawks to play with playoff intensity tonight. I expect the power play to help them earn the victory. Chicago has ripped off a power play goal in three of its last four games including one each in the two recent wins. The Canucks are coming off a game against Nashville where they allowed two power play goals, the second time in their last four games they've allowed multiple power play goals in a game. Jonathan Toews enters this game on a three-game point streak and that's always scary for opponents. Toews is one of the best in the league and hen he's playing well, it usually means Chicago is winning. 9* Personal Favorite
|
04-01-15 |
Philadelphia Flyers v. Pittsburgh Penguins -210 |
|
4-1 |
Loss |
-210 |
22 h 33 m |
Show
|
I am playing on PITTSBURGH. The Penguins enter this game coming off two straight wins and I think they've turned things around after a rough patch where they won just one of seven games. The Penguins were having trouble finding the back of the net but have managed three goals in each of their last two games, including a shootout tally in a win over San Jose on Sunday. The Pens scored three power play goals combined in those games, which should be a big help tonight. The Flyers and Pens usually don't like each other much when they get together and the penalty box can be a bit of a revolving door at times. Penguins center and NHL leading scorer Sidney Crosby has 30 goals and 75 points in 50 games against the Flyers and I think he'll have a big night tonight. Pittsburgh hasn't had much luck against the Flyers lately after losing the last six meetings and I think Crosby will be motivated to turn that trend around. Pittsburgh is also trying to hold onto second place in the Metropolitan Division with one game at hand over the Islanders. Both teams are tied with 95 points and a win over the Flyers will help the Pens' cause tonight. The Penguins tend to be winning with solid defensive efforts this season, another reason I like them tonight. They sport a 2.42 goals against average, which ranks in a respectable tie for fifth in the NHL this year. They also own the second best penalty kill this season. Philly, meanwhile, has struggled on defense lately with a pile of injuries on defense and forward. The Flyers have allowed 17 goals in their last four games and I think Pittsburgh will be too much for them tonight. 6* Blue Marlin
|
03-31-15 |
NY Rangers v. Winnipeg Jets UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
3-2 |
Win
|
100 |
21 h 24 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Under in New York Rangers at Winnipeg Jets as my 10* Blue Chip Tuesday.
Both teams have been blowing past the NHL totals in recent games, but we’re going against that trend and snatching up some solid value with the Under in this matchup. The Rangers enter this contest having gone Under in five of their last eight road games and have struggled to score in recent outings.
New York has been terribly inconsistent in the past few weeks, netting two or fewer goals in six of their last 10 games. That includes back-to-back two-goal efforts in losses to Washington and Boston. The Blue Shirts rank dead last in the NHL in road scoring, averaging just 2.27 goals per game away from Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers returned star goalie Henrik Lundqvist this past Saturday and the former Vezina winner showed some rust after missing time with a vascular injury in that game. Lundqvist will be much sharper now that he has some ice time under his belt and owns a career 1.30 GAA in three starts versus Winnipeg, including a 1-0 shootout loss to the Jets in which he made 25 saves back on November 1.
The Rangers' scoring woes on the road and Lundqvist’s return to form are why I’m playing Under in New York at Winnipeg as my 10* Blue Chip Tuesday.
|
03-31-15 |
Ottawa Senators v. Detroit Red Wings -145 |
|
2-1 |
Loss |
-145 |
21 h 55 m |
Show
|
I am playing on DETROIT. The Senators haven't exactly enjoyed playing the Red Wings lately and I think they might be running out of gas toward the tail end of their exhaustive run to make the playoffs. The Wings have won four of the last five meetings against the Sens and Ottawa enters this game on a three-game losing streak. The Senators have pulled to within six points of Detroit in the push for an automatic playoff berth after trailing by more than 15 points at the start of the month, but the Sens are starting to wear. "You can feel it in the room," said forward Clarke MacArthur, who just returned to the lineup three games ago. "These guys have been battling for their life for the last 15 games, so it's draining. You're watching the standings and seeing what's going on. It's hard." The Senators have given up 13 goals over their last three games and they gave up three goals in the third period to the Leafs Saturday night, which led to a 4-3 overtime loss. I think they are going to run into a very tough defensive Detroit team that will be committed to puck possession and taking care of its own end after allowing too many goals itself lately. The Red Wings are much better on home ice this season with just eight losses in regulation there. They have also looked much better their last two games since getting top centerman Pavel Datsyuk back from injury. They beat the Lighting 4-0 in their last home game on Saturday and suffered a tough 5-4 loss at the Islanders on Sunday afternoon after a quick turnaround. I expect the Red Wings to continue to play tough and I believe Jimmy Howard will be much sharper in goal tonight than we've seen from Detroit goalies lately. He stopped 15 of 16 shots in relief against the Islanders and said he is starting to see the puck much better than he has lately. 9* Personal Favorite
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03-31-15 |
Ottawa Senators v. Detroit Red Wings UNDER 5.5 |
|
2-1 |
Win
|
100 |
21 h 53 m |
Show
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I am playing on the UNDER. The Red Wings are suddenly battling to hang on to third place and a guaranteed spot in the playoffs and I fully expect their next two games to have a playoff edge to them against the two teams chasing them in the division. Up first is the Sens Tuesday night (six points behind Detroit for third place in the Atlantic Division) followed by the Boston Bruins on Thursday night (three points behind Detroit). The Red Wings led both teams by double digits in points at the start of the month but I think we'll see both of these games take on a new urgency. Playoff style hockey usually means goals get much tougher to come by and it also means totals are often set lower. Oddsmakers have the number set at 5.5 for this one so I think we have a little extra value here. You know the Red Wings aren't happy after allowing 16 goals over their last four games. That's not their style of hockey and I believe we'll see a much tougher team commitment to defense tonight and a renewed effort on puck possession. Home ice should help also where they managed to shut out a high flying Tampa Bay Lightning squad Saturday night, 4-0. For some reason, the Senators also seem to play much better defensive hockey on American ice these days. Seven of their last eight games in U.S. arenas have seen five goals or fewer and the under is 6-1-1 in those games. 9* Super Total
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03-30-15 |
Edmonton Oilers v. Colorado Avalanche -200 |
|
4-1 |
Loss |
-200 |
12 h 57 m |
Show
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I am playing on COLORADO. With the Avs in a revenge spot and their faint playoff fire still flickering, I think they'll be the far more motivated spot to take down the Oilers Monday night. Edmonton won 4-3 last Wednesday in a tough matchup where Colorado tied things up in the third period, only to falter in the end. The Avalanche didn't seem to like that loss too much because they ripped off two convincing wins in their subsequent games - one at Vancouver as a heavier underdog and one on home ice against the Sabres. Colorado remains eight points out of a wild card spot to make the playoffs, so they are essentially playing for pride. But this is a young team that's still trying to improve and coach Patrick Roy won't accept anything but a top effort from his players. The Avs have some players who are flying right now and I think they'll simply score too often for the Oilers to keep up. Ryan O'Reilly sails into this game on a seven-game point streak during which he has fired off four goals and racked up eight assists. Matt Duchene and Jarome Iginla are coming off three-point nights and defenseman Tyson Barrie has points in three straight games. Barrie is having a fantastic season with 49 points and is beginning to establish himself as one of the top offensive defenseman in the NHL. The Avs have scored three or more goals in five of their last seven games and I think they'll be able to take advantage of a putrid Oilers penalty kill. The Oilers have allowed 11 power play goals in their last 10 games and they allowed at least one power play goal in eight of those. The Avs are also 4-1 in their last five games and the home team has won the last five games in this series - a couple more reasons I like Colorado tonight. 6* Blue Marlin
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03-30-15 |
Calgary Flames v. Dallas Stars UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
5-3 |
Loss |
-102 |
11 h 28 m |
Show
|
I’m playing Under in Calgary Flames at Dallas Stars as my 10* Blue Chip Monday.
The Flames enter this game off a 5-2 victory against the Nashville Predators on the road Sunday, and traveled overnight to Dallas to play the Stars on short rest. Calgary has been terribly inconsistent on offense, splitting tremendous offensive efforts – like Sunday – with mediocre showings.
We expect the Flames to fall back into this trend Monday, especially since they’ve gone Under the total in seven of their last eight games with zero rest in between.
Dallas is fighting for a postseason wild card spot in the Western Conference and knows it must tighten up on defense if it wants to sneak into the playoffs. The Stars were getting sound defensive work two weeks ago but have let up in the past four games, allowing a total of 13 goals in that stretch.
Dallas returns home, where it has been much more stingy, playing Under the number in five of its last six games inside the American Airlines Center. These two teams have been big producers for the Over in recent meetings but we see solid value going against that trend.
The Flames' inconsistent offense playing back-to-back nights and the Stars returning home in hunt of a playoff spot are why I’m playing the Under in Calgary at Dallas as my 10* Blue Chip Monday.
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03-29-15 |
San Jose Sharks v. Pittsburgh Penguins -145 |
|
2-3 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 5 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Pittsburgh Penguins as my 9* Personal Favorite Sunday.
The Penguins are playing hosts to the San Jose Sharks, who are a long way from home at the end of a seven-game Eastern Conference road trip. San Jose has split the first six games of this stretch and will be looking forward to getting back to sunny California Sunday night. We see great letdown value going against the Sharks, especially with Pittsburgh desperate for wins.
The Penguins have just three victories in their last 10 games and two of those have come to the lowly Arizona Coyotes. The other win came courtesy of the Edmonton Oilers, so needless to say Pittsburgh is desperate for a resume win to turn its fortunes around before the playoffs begin. In their last meeting with the Sharks, the Pens were edged 2-1 in a shootout in San Jose back on March 9, so Pittsburgh does have a strong revenge angle here as well.
Penguins star forward Sidney Crosby got his game going with a goal and two assists in Saturday’s win over Arizona. In those last seven losses, Pittsburgh has scored two or fewer goals but have picked up the win when netting three or more. San Jose’s defense has been shaky during this road trip, allowing a total of 19 goals in the first six stops – an average of 3.16 goals per game.
The Sharks looking forward to getting back home and the Penguins desperate for a win are why I’m playing Pittsburgh as my 9* Personal Favorite Sunday.
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03-28-15 |
Tampa Bay Lightning v. Detroit Red Wings -115 |
Top |
0-4 |
Win
|
100 |
7 h 41 m |
Show
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I am playing on DETROIT. Franchise pride and playoff contention are on the line for the Red Wings Saturday night and I believe they'll pull out a big effort and beat the Lightning. The Lightning have won all three meetings against Detroit this season and the veteran Red Wings aren't going to take being swept in a season series lightly. After allowing 11 goals in their past two games, I think we'll see a new level of intensity in the defensive end for Detroit and they are starting Petr Mrazek in goal ahead of Jimmy Howard. Mrazek has an impressive .936 save percentage in his three outings this month and to put that in perspective, Montreal's Carey Price leads the NHL with a .937 save percentage this season. As Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg said after losing to the Sharks the other night, this isn't just on the goalies. The Wings have been losing battles at both ends of the rink and I think it will help having Niklas Kronwall back in the lineup for his second game after being out due to an injury. He's the Wings' anchor on defense and is a physical presence for Detroit. The power play could be big for Detroit here also as they chase down a playoff spot, just five points ahead of the chasers in the Atlantic Division. The Red Wings own the best PP in the NHL and they've tallied a power play marker in 14 of their last 17 games so I think that will be a big key to a win for Detroit. Tampa Bay has given up a power play goal in four of its last six games heading into this one. 10* Personal Favorite
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03-27-15 |
Columbus Blue Jackets v. Chicago Blackhawks -210 |
|
5-2 |
Loss |
-210 |
27 h 40 m |
Show
|
I am playing on CHICAGO. The Blackhawks are comfortably back at home after a four-game road trip and I think home ice will get them back to their top level. The Hawks went an atypical 2-2 on the trip and managed just four goals. Home ice has been much kinder lately where they have won four of their last five. The lone loss was an overtime defeat to the New York Rangers, the best team in the NHL right now. Chicago has actually won nine of its last 13 games (9-3-1) and like the other top teams in the NHL, the Blackhawks have moved into playoff mode. They are clamping down on defense and goals are not easy to come by against the Blackhawks these days. Only two of their last 10 opponents have managed more than two goals against Chicago and I think that continues against the Blue Jackets tonight. I expect Chicago to be playing with a bit of an edge tonight also. Not just because the playoffs loom and the Blackhawks aim to climb up the standings in hopes of home ice in the first round - but also because they likely want to avenge the last meeting with Columbus. The Blue Jackets beat the Blackhawks 3-2 back on Dec. 20 in a nine-round shootout, which ended a nine-game winning streak in the series for Chicago. I think the Blackhawks can beat up on a Columbus penalty kill that's been simply horrendous lately with 13 goals against over their last 10 games. The Blue Jackets allowed at least one PP goal against in nine of those outings and multiple PP goals against in three of those games. 6* Blue Marlin
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03-26-15 |
San Jose Sharks v. Detroit Red Wings -155 |
|
6-4 |
Loss |
-155 |
12 h 14 m |
Show
|
I am playing on DETROIT. I believe the Red Wings should cruise past the Sharks Thursday night, but don't just take my word for it. "We're not good enough right now to compete against good teams in the NHL. It's disappointing," said Sharks center Logan Couture this week. The Sharks have lost four of their last five games in lackluster fashion and it's not even that they're losing as much as how they are losing. San Jose just looks awful - like a team playing without heart. They're regularly losing puck battles in the defensive zone as we saw in a 5-2 loss to the Sens Monday night and this team, though not shy on offensive talent, just can't seem to score much lately. The Sharks have scored more than two goals just once in their last eight games and it almost feels like they are waiting for this season to be over. The Sharks are all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and now they must try to muster something against a Detroit squad that is tied for the fewest regulation losses on home ice in the NHL this season (7) along with Nashville and Tampa Bay. The Red Wings have suffered some injuries lately, though they hope to have second leading scorer Pavel Datsyuk and top defenseman Niklas Kronwall back tonight (both listed as questionable). Another good sign is that the team's top goal scorer Tomas Tatar has three points in four games after slumping for four straight games with no points. Detroit still owns the top power play in the NHL at 24.9 percent and I think that could be a key element in this game against an unmotivated Sharks team that's on Game 5 of a grueling 7-game Eastern road swing. 8* Personal Favorite
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03-26-15 |
San Jose Sharks v. Detroit Red Wings UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
6-4 |
Loss |
-108 |
12 h 13 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the UNDER. Both of these teams have been a little snakebitten lately, although for different reasons, and I think that will help the under cash in tonight. San Jose hasn't managed to score more than two goals in seven of its last eight games and now that the playoffs look like a pipe dream, I don't expect motivation to be a factor to help change that. Joe Thornton has no points in his last two games and Logan Couture, the team's third leading scorer, hasn't managed a point in six of his last eight games. The last two contests were particular ugly for San Jose, when they were shut out by the Canadiens and then scored just two goals while getting clobbered 5-2 by the Senators. I don't expect goals to start coming in droves against the Red Wings. Detroit likes to play a puck possession game and my guess is they'll focus on that on Thursday to suck the life out of a San Jose team that's on Game 5 of an Eastern road trip and likely just wants to get home to get the season over with. Detroit has suffered some injuries lately and the Wings have had some scoring troubles of their own as a result. The team's second-leading scorer Pavel Datsyuk has missed the last four games and Detroit managed just four goals in the first three games he sat out before scoring four against Arizona Tuesday night. Under bettors collected their winnings in those first three games and the four goals can be taken with a grain of salt because they came against the worst team in the West. Detroit hasn't had much luck scoring against Antti Niemi, if that's who gets the start for San Jose tonight. Niemi has a 1.72 goals-against average in 17 games versus Detroit. 10* Best Bet
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03-25-15 |
Colorado Avalanche v. Edmonton Oilers UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
3-4 |
Loss |
-115 |
13 h 22 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the UNDER. These two teams have played under the total in their last two meetings, including the most recent in January, and I feel it will be the same case again Wednesday. These are two teams with a lot of young talent, both of which sit outside playoff contention and I feel like they have something to prove to one another as Western Conference foes when they square off. It leads to a tougher checking game and lower scoring than we're used to seeing in other games from these teams, like the 2-1 Colorado win back in January. The under is 9-3-1 in the last 12 meetings. The Oilers are coming off scoring just one goal in a 4-1 loss to Winnipeg and the Jets beat up on them in a spot where a lot of teams have recently - on the power play. Edmonton gave up two goals while shorthanded against the Jets, which was the seventh time in eight games opponents have scored while on the man advantage against the Oilers. Why that's a good thing for under bettors here is that the Avs' power play has been stinking it up lately. They have just one power play goal in their last six games and none in their last three and I don't believe we'll see much special teams scoring in this game. The under is 5-2-1 in the last eight meetings in Edmonton and the under is also 6-0 in the last six for Edmonton following a home loss by three goals or more. 10* Best Bet
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03-24-15 |
Montreal Canadiens v. Nashville Predators -123 |
Top |
2-3 |
Win
|
100 |
22 h 34 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Nashville Predators as my 10* Personal Favorite Tuesday.
Nashville plays host to the Montreal Canadiens in a non-conference showdown between hockey heavyweights. The Predators, who sit second in the Central Division, need a big win to get back on track after some stale play in recent weeks and a challenge like the Habs is just what the doctor ordered to snap out of this funk.
Nashville picked up a bit of momentum with a win over the Buffalo Sabres Saturday, kick starting an offense that has had the plug pulled. The Predators netted three goals in the shutout win, just the second time they’ve scored more than twice in the past 10 contests, and carry that turnaround into Tuesday’s marquee matchup.
Goaltender Pekka Rinne stopped 24 shots in that clean sheet and has kept Nashville competitive during this slide. The Predators netminder has allowed just over two goals per game on the season, and missed the last meeting with Montreal – a 2-1 overtime loss with backup Carter Hutton between the pipes. Rinne is 3-1-1 with a 1.20 GAA in five career starts against the Habs.
With Montreal on a three-game tear and goalie Carey Price playing at such a high level, oddsmakers have no choice but to pump up the Canadiens' moneyline, opening up terrific value on the Predators at home. Rinne will give this hungry Nashville team a chance to pick up a big-name win and build momentum before the postseason.
The Predators finding their form on offense and Rinne’s solid work in the crease are why I’m playing on Nashville as my 10* Personal Favorite Tuesday.
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03-23-15 |
Winnipeg Jets v. Edmonton Oilers +1.5 |
|
4-1 |
Loss |
-214 |
24 h 11 m |
Show
|
I am playing on EDMONTON on the puckline (+1.5 goals). The Oilers are riding a four-game point streak and it appears they've decided to play their best hockey as the season comes into its final stretch. They are coming off a 5-4 win over the Flyers as they continue a six-game home stand and they appear determined to at least give their fans a few home wins before the season is out. It's no surprise that the Oil are doing it with scoring with 16 goals over their past four games. Taylor Hall bolsters the offense even more with his return from an ankle injury on Saturday after missing 20 games and he contributed an assist on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' game winner. Jordan Eberle is leading the way with an incredible seven-game point streak that has seen him tally 14 points during that span. Nugent-Hopkins and Benoit Pouliot are both on five-game point streaks of their own and it seems like if you're going to beat the Oilers right now, you're going to have to score. The Jets can be hot and cold with goals and they always seem to play barn-burners against Edmonton. The last three meetings have been decided by overtime or a shootout and six of the last nine meetings have been decided by one goal. With that kind of history and the way the Oilers are scoring, I love their chances of at least keeping this one close, if not winning outright. 6* Blue Marlin
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03-23-15 |
Buffalo Sabres v. Dallas Stars UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
3-4 |
Loss |
-116 |
23 h 10 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the UNDER. Both the Sabres and the Stars ride three-game under streaks into this game and I don't see much reason to bet against that trend, especially seeing that oddsmakers continue to set their totals at 5.5 goals. Dallas is playing great defensive hockey in a determined effort to make the playoffs as they trail Winnipeg by eight points for the final playoff spot. The Stars have given up just 10 goals over their last six games. “We put ourselves in a tough spot,” Dallas coach Lindy Ruff said recently. “It’s going to be agonizing, but we just have to keep taking care of our end.” That shouldn't be too difficult against the lowest scoring team in the league. Buffalo has scored just two goals in its last three games and have a meager 11 goals in its last nine games. The Sabres' leading scorer, Tyler Ennis, has only 39 points this season to paint a picture of how bleak production is in Buffalo. To make the under even more enticing, both goaltenders are playing well right now. Kari Lehtonen has given up two or fewer goals in six of his last eight outings and he just picked up his fifth shutout on Saturday. Buffalo's Anders Lindback, who actually started the season with Dallas, sports an impressive .930 save percentage in his eight games with the Sabres. 10* Blue Chip
|
03-21-15 |
San Jose Sharks v. Montreal Canadiens -153 |
|
0-2 |
Win
|
100 |
26 h 43 m |
Show
|
I am playing on MONTREAL. The Canadiens are back on the rails after going through a rough stretch that saw them win just one of six games. Since then, they have won three of their last four and I believe they'll make it four of five when they take on the Sharks Saturday night. The rough stretch actually started with a 4-0 loss to San Jose back on March 2. Normally, that may not be enough on its own to spark a 'revenge' situation, but this time is a little different. The Sharks have actually shut out the Canadiens the last three times they've clashed in 4-0, 4-0 and 2-0 wins. I think there will be a bit of a redemption factor at play here when Montreal meets the Sharks on home ice. A big part of the turnaround in play is the Habs are scoring again with 12 goals over their past four games. They scored just eight goals during the six-game futility slide and I think they'll come out hungry to get a goal on the board early. Of course, you can't talk about Montreal without talking about Carey Price. He is simply the best goaltender in the world right now and he leads the league in goals against average (1.90) and save percentage (.937). Price is coming off a 4-0 shutout over the Carolina Hurricanes in which he made 31 saves and I think we'll see another strong performance with him tonight in hopes of earning a revenge win against the Sharks. 8* Personal Favorite
|
03-20-15 |
Detroit Red Wings v. Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER 5.5 |
|
1-3 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 40 m |
Show
|
I’m playing on the Under in Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning as my 9* Best Bet Friday.
Tampa Bay is the most powerful offensive clubs in the NHL, averaging more than three goals per game, however, the Bolts are beginning to round into playoff form with some impressive defensive efforts in recent weeks. The Lightning have given up two or fewer goals in six of their last nine games and come into Friday’s home stand with the Red Wings on a 1-3 Over/Under run in their previous four contests.
Goaltender Ben Bishop is stellar between the pipes for Tampa Bay, turning away 64 shots in his last two games and giving up just four goals in those efforts. Bishop should be well rested following those busy nights, with the Lightning having been off since Monday’s win over Montreal.
Detroit, which is also among the top offensive teams in the league, has hit a snag when it comes to lighting the lamp. The Red Wings have been terribly inconsistent with the puck, being limited to two or fewer goals in five of their last eight outings.
Detroit showed fatigue from its current road trip with a 3-1 loss in Florida Thursday and takes the ice on short rest, traveling to Tampa Bay to play Friday. It also doesn’t help that second-leading scorer Pavel Datsyuk - 58 points - remains out with a lower-body injury.
The Lightning well rested and shutting the door on defense and the Red Wings struggling to find the net on short rest are why I’m playing on the Under in Detroit at Tampa Bay as my 9* Best Bet Friday.
|
03-19-15 |
Philadelphia Flyers v. Calgary Flames UNDER 5.5 |
|
1-4 |
Win
|
100 |
21 h 7 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the UNDER. I believe oddsmakers have made a mistake here in setting this total at 5.5 goals. The Flyers and Flames love going under the number when they meet and both teams have been bitten by a goal scoring shortage lately. The last three meetings have all ducked under the total along with seven of the last nine meetings. I don't see a sudden outbreak of goals coming tonight with all but two of Philly's last nine games playing under and the Flames' last two games also going under. The Flyers are about the coldest team in the NHL right now when it comes to putting the puck in the net. Save for one 7-goal performance against Detroit, Philadelphia hasn't managed to score more than two goals in six of their last seven games. Four of those games saw just one Philly goal or less and Philly has scored only two goals so far in the first two games of its current road trip. Things don't typically get any better on the road for the Flyers, where they simply stink this year. They are scoring just 2.24 goals away from home this season compared to 2.89 on home ice. The Flames have suddenly suffered some scoring yips themselves. After firing off at least four goals in five straight games, they suddenly have managed to produce only two goals in their last two games. I think we'll see more scoring difficulties in tonight's matchup and if I were an oddsmaker I would've set this total a half-goal lower. That's an advantage for us in taking the under. 9* Best Bet
|
03-18-15 |
Chicago Blackhawks v. NY Rangers -145 |
Top |
1-0 |
Loss |
-145 |
22 h 51 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the NEW YORK RANGERS. The Blueshirts are smoking hot right now after reeling off five straight wins and the streak started with a win over the Blackhawks. That was a 1-0 overtime victory on March 8 and the Rangers have been winning by squeezing the offense out of teams ever since. New York has surrendered only three goals during the winning tear. Goaltender Cam Talbot has been an incredible surprise for the Rangers, posting a 13-2-3 record in the absence of the injured Henrik Lundqvist. He's expected to play again tonight and there's no reason to think his remarkable play won't continue. The Blackhawks are playing great hockey right now with seven wins in their last nine games but MSG is not their favorite place to play. The Rangers have won four of the last five meetings there and New York has also won the last three meetings overall. This is one of those matchups where the Rangers just seem to have the Blackhawks' number and it doesn't help Chicago any in a matchup like this that they won't have Patrick Kane in the lineup to provide a spark and break through the defense. I also can't say enough about what a huge addition Keith Yandle has been for the Rangers. Though he doesn't have a pile of points to show for it, New York is 6-1 since he was traded from Arizona and having one of the top handful of defenseman in the league has vaulted the Rangers to the top of the NHL standings. 10* Personal Favorite
|
03-17-15 |
Philadelphia Flyers v. Vancouver Canucks OVER 5 |
Top |
1-4 |
Push |
0 |
24 h 12 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the OVER. The over has come through for bettors at a 3-1-1 clip in the last five meetings and I think we'll see the total topped again Wednesday. I believe Vancouver is going to come out flying with a loud home crowd on what will be Pat Quinn night at Rogers Arena. The Canucks will honour their former beloved coach in a ceremony before the game. I feel that could lead to some early and frequent scoring for Vancouver, who also needs wins against sub-500 teams like the Flyers in order to make the playoffs. The Flyers come into this one in a disappointing road rut where they are 0-3-3 in their last six road games. The Flyers are now unlikely to make the playoffs and I have to wonder about their motivation in this one. Defense and discipline often suffer in these cases and I expect there to be some power play opportunities. Vancouver has averaged 3.3 goals in its last eight home games, another good sign that points to the over here. 10* Blue Chip
|
03-14-15 |
Calgary Flames v. Colorado Avalanche -145 |
Top |
2-3 |
Win
|
100 |
27 h 45 m |
Show
|
I am playing on COLORADO. The Avs are a team that nobody wants to have to face right now. They are playing desperate hockey and despite a pile of injuries, they're one of the hottest clubs in the league right now.
The Avs have won nine of their last 14 games and I think they're set up well to keep their winning ways going against Calgary. After tonight, Colorado doesn't play a game for five more days so there's no reason we shouldn't see them pour everything they have into this game in front of a loud Saturday night home crowd with a nice rest period waiting for them afterwards.
The Avs are getting key contributions from a few players lately like Jarome Iginla, Matt Duschene, Brad Stuart and Semyon Varlamov. Iginla has five points in his last five games and now has 22 goals on the season. Duchene isn't always showing up in the box score but don't let that confuse you with him not playing well. Stuart is logging big minutes and anchoring the defense and Varlomov isn't always perfect, but he seems to be making a lot of saves at the right time and that's what you want out of your goaltender.
The Flames are playing well right now but what they're not doing is playing great defensive hockey. They've allowed 10 goals in their last three games and sooner or later that kind of sloppiness catches up to you in the NHL. I think it will tonight against the Avs.
The Flames penalty kill hasn't been the greatest lately either, giving up three goals over their last four games. The Avs have scored four power play goals over their last four games and they've only allowed one goal on the penalty kill, so I give them the special teams edge here too.
The Avs lost the first meeting of the season against Calgary but I think they get their revenge tonight. 10* Personal Favorite
|
03-14-15 |
Montreal Canadiens v. NY Islanders OVER 5 |
Top |
3-1 |
Loss |
-130 |
24 h 44 m |
Show
|
I am playing on the OVER. Carey Price gets so much attention that most bettors automatically assume the under is a good bet when the Canadiens take the ice. But I think there are some things being overlooked here and I think oddsmakers have set this total too low at five goals.
There's no debating Price is fantastic and probably the best goaltender in the NHL this season. But he can have a stinker from time to time, as we saw in the Habs' last game, though his rough games are rarely solely his fault.
The Habs blew a 2-0 lead against Ottawa last game and ended up getting pounded 5-2. That's the fourth time in Montreal's last six games the club has allowed at least three goals in a game. I don't like the lulls in effort the Habs have had lately and it shows, not just in their goals against, but in their 1-5 record over their past six games.
You can't get away with that kind of play against the Islanders. The Isles, in second place in the Metropolitan division, beat teams up with depth and can score in bunches. They have six players who are threatening 20 goal seasons, not to mention John Tavares, who happens to lead the NHL in scoring right now with 72 points.
I think Tavares should have some fun against a Habs team that averages 30.4 shots against per game, which is the highest of any team that would currently qualify for the playoffs. Montreal also gives up the ninth most scoring chances in the league this season.
The last meeting was a 6-4 Montreal win in January and that game sailed over the total by 4.5 goals. I believe Saturday night's game could go the same kind of way with the Isles also playing poor defensive hockey lately. They've allowed at least two goals each of their last seven games and at least three goals in five of those games. 10* Blue Chip
|
03-13-15 |
Toronto Maple Leafs +1.5 v. Calgary Flames |
|
3-6 |
Loss |
-175 |
28 h 40 m |
Show
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I am playing on TORONTO +1.5 goals on the puckline. I think the Leafs have finally found a little spark and they enter Friday’s game in Calgary with a jolt of much needed confidence. I successfully offered a play on Toronto Wednesday night when the Leafs managed a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. We saw some much needed fight and pride in the Buds when they overcame a 3-2 deficit to win in a shootout. It shows the Leafs aren’t ready to quit just yet and I like the 1 ½ goal cushion here when they lace up again on Friday. The Flames aren’t exactly a defensive team these days - a matchup the Leafs need because they’re not known to fill the net. Calgary has generously given up 12 goals (not including a shootout) over its last four games and I think they Leafs will get their goals in this game. David Booth is a player who has quietly picked up his game lately and is providing a boost for the Maple Leafs. He enters Friday on a five-game scoring streak and has been the pace setter for Toronto lately. He should enjoy playing against a Calgary team that gives up one pile of shots and I expect the Leafs to get their chances here. The Flames have allowed at least 35 shots against in all but one of their past six games and it’s a big reason why so many pucks are getting past them lately. I think this makes for a great matchup for a Toronto team that should be playing with a little added confidence. 7* Friday Feast
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03-13-15 |
Dallas Stars v. Washington Capitals -180 |
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4-2 |
Loss |
-180 |
27 h 41 m |
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I am playing on WASHINGTON. The Capitals face the Stars in a tough spot here Friday night and I feel they're worth laying the juice. An injury-riddled Stars squad takes the ice against Washington in the second night of a back-to-back situation which will also be the Stars' third game in four nights. That's a tough spot at any time but with seven players jotted on the injury report for Dallas, it makes it even worse. The Stars are a horrible 2-6-1 playing on no rest this season and throw in the fact this will be the final game of a five-game Eastern road trip and I'm really liking the Caps here. Washington is about the last team you want to face when you're tired and in need of some wins. The Caps are the biggest team in the NHL at an average of 209.9 pounds and they love to get physical. "It's not the Washington Capitals high-flying team that I was used to playing against all those years in the East," Minnesota's Zach Parise said after facing the Caps last week. "They play a really structured game, they know where to be defensively, they don't give you a lot of room in the neutral zone. They made us fight for all our chances and made us fight for zone time. They're a big team, they're physical." On top of all that, Washington has the hottest power play in the NHL right now. The Capitals have six PP goals in their last five games for an out-of-this world percentage of 54. I'll take the Caps all day here. 8* Personal Favorite
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03-12-15 |
Ottawa Senators v. Montreal Canadiens -167 |
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5-2 |
Loss |
-167 |
10 h 28 m |
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I am playing on MONTREAL. I love this bet on Carey Price and the Habs tonight and I think oddsmakers have set this juice way too low. For some reason the Senators sat their best goaltender on the bench the last two games after Andrew Hammond went on a 7-0-1 tear. It’s probably because Craig Anderson is their big-contract puck stopper and most owners aren’t fond of sitting their biggest money on the bench. I think that’s a mistake and we’ve seen Anderson give up seven goals in his first two games back between the pipes since January. Even if Hammond did suit up tonight, I’m not sure if anyone is going to out-duel Montreal’s Price in nets. He is simply the best netminder in hockey right now when he’s fresh and he’s allowed just three goals in his last two games and just two in regulation time. I like that the home team has also won the last three meetings in this series and I really like the fact that Ottawa has won the last two meetings in convincing fashion. I think the Canadiens come back with a little salt in their play with revenge on their minds – especially on home ice against a division rival. Montreal may also have a chance to get its power play rolling again versus the Sens. Ottawa has allowed a power play goal in each of its last two games. 8* Personal Favorite
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03-11-15 |
Anaheim Ducks -125 v. Calgary Flames |
Top |
3-6 |
Loss |
-125 |
23 h 19 m |
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I am playing on ANAHEIM. There is an old adage in hockey betting that suggests you should play against a team in its first game back at home after coming off a tough road trip. I don’t have any mind-blowing statistics to back it up but the theory goes that the players take their foot off the gas for a little while and are faced with all the distractions of home after enjoying freedom on the road. I don’t always subscribe to this theory but I think there might be something to it here. That’s because the Flames are coming off not just their most grueling road trek of the season but one of the most grueling road treks of any team in the NHL this season. The Flames play their first game back home Wednesday following a seven-game, two-week Eastern road swing that featured some gritty battles against some stiff competition. They ended it with a heartbreaking 5-4 shootout loss in Ottawa after trailing 4-0 heading into the third period. I think Calgary is in for a prime letdown effort on Wednesday against the Ducks, who are actually the best road team in the NHL this season. Anaheim has won three of four meetings against Calgary this campaign and I think we are looking at an even stronger squad than the Flames saw the last time they faced the Ducks. That’s because the Ducks added defenseman James Wisniewski, who played his first outing with his new team last game. I think Wisniewski will help shore up Anaheim’s stalled power play and that’s bad news for the Flames on top of all the other factors working against them. 10* Personal Favorite
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03-11-15 |
Buffalo Sabres v. Toronto Maple Leafs -225 |
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3-4 |
Win
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100 |
21 h 49 m |
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I am playing on TORONTO. These meetings aren’t the most difficult in the NHL to handicap. Unlike a lot of rivalries in the NHL, you don’t need to pick apart the numbers a whole lot deeper than to look at who the home team is. The home squad has won the last nine meetings in this series, which includes both meetings this season - both of which were four-goal victories by either squad. The numbers get even crazier when it comes to the home edge here where the home team is 22-5 in the last 27 meetings and the Sabres are 1-10 in their last 11 meetings in Toronto. So we love the home team when these fledgling squads suit up against one another. But I also like the fact that Buffalo’s injury list stretches longer than the red carpet that is brought out for the national anthems right now. The Sabres have lost four straight and 14 of their last 17 with a patchwork squad and they’ve been set as underdogs of higher plus-400 recently. They’re not quite as big dogs as that on Wednesday in Toronto, but I don’t think they’re going to fare much better. Though Toronto stinks, the Leafs could desperately use a win for the home crowd after dropping their last two at the ACC. And opportunities don’t come much better than hosting the worst team in the NHL. 6* Blue Marlin
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03-10-15 |
Dallas Stars v. Philadelphia Flyers -135 |
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2-1 |
Loss |
-135 |
20 h 5 m |
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I am playing on PHILADELPHIA. The Flyers couldn’t be facing a better opponent right now when they desperately need a win. The Stars have been the Flyers’ favorite punching bag in recent seasons, as the Bullies have won eight of the last night meetings. I think we’ll see more of the same here with Philly on home ice against a Dallas squad that is stinking it up in dead last in the Central Division while Philadelphia sits seven points out of a playoff spot. The Flyers have lost two in a row but I think all they need is a little home cooking. Philly has actually won four of its last five on home ice and they scored an average of three goals in those five outings. I think they’ll outscore the Stars tonight, who are giving away goals like they’re a tax write-off lately. Dallas, in the midst of an Eastern road trip, has given up eight goals in its last two games and the club is giving up an average of 4.44 goals over its last nine. That’s just not good enough to win you too many in the NHL and it’s no surprise the Stars are just 2-7 in those nine games. Oh yeah - and they needed at least overtime to claim the two games they did win. I don’t see the Stars bouncing back with a sudden showing of defensive prowess tonight against the Flyers and I think Philly picks up a much needed victory as it pushes for a playoff berth. 9* Personal Favorite
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03-09-15 |
Edmonton Oilers v. Detroit Red Wings UNDER 5.5 |
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2-5 |
Loss |
-125 |
8 h 31 m |
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I am playing on the UNDER. Believe it or not, these two teams that are a little more known for filling up nets actually tend to play under when they meet up recently. Even more unbelievable might be the fact that the Oilers are suddenly an ‘under’ team themselves and oddsmakers aren’t quite buying it yet. The ‘under’ is 4-1-1 the last six times these two squads have laced up against one another and the one push actually came in a game where the total was set at just 5 goals in a March meeting two years ago. The under is also 5-2 in the last seven Edmonton games, a showing that the team is finally playing tougher in its own end. This one is set at 5.5 and I think most bettors will pounce on the over considering both teams played on Sunday and the over opened with plus money here. The Red Wings saw eight goals in their game and the Oilers saw 11 goals on theirs, which doesn’t exactly encourage under money from the public. What should be noted though – and is probably most important for this game - is that neither team started its No. 1 goalie on Sunday. The Red Wings gave Jonas Gustavsson the nod while the Oilers gave Richard Bachman his first start ever with the club. Both netminders looked like they were swatting flies in defeat and I expect both teams to be stingier on Monday with their top puck stoppers back in nets. Several trends seem to support the under here too: The under is 5-1 in the last six meetings in Detroit. The under has cashed in the Oilers’ last five games against winning teams. The under is 4-1 in the last five Red Wings games when they play on no rest. 10* Blue Chip
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03-08-15 |
NY Rangers v. Chicago Blackhawks UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
1-0 |
Win
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100 |
24 h 52 m |
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I am playing on the UNDER. For some reason oddsmakers continue to set the total too high when these two Original Six foes meet and we are seeing the same thing again Sunday after they opened with a 5.5-goal number. That’s likely because they don’t meet up a whole lot where they don’t skate in the same conference. But they did play twice last year and for anyone paying attention, the ‘under’ has prevailed in four of the last five meetings when oddsmakers set the total at 5.5 (rather than 5). Both meetings last season played under the number of 5.5 and I think things are set up to follow that trend again this year. Actually, whenever the total is set at 5.5 this season in Chicago games it’s been a pretty sharp idea to play the ‘under’ because the over/under is a ridiculous 14-31 in that spot for the Hawks. Chicago sniper Patrick Kane is out with a shoulder injury, another reason I like the under here. And Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford is coming off arguably his best game of the year, a 2-1 shootout victory over the Oilers. Crawford was sensational in making 46 of 47 saves for a Chicago squad that came out flat-footed against the lowly Oilers and there’s no way the B-hawks come away with a win if he doesn’t stand on his head there. The Rangers enter this game with the under prevailing in two straight games and I think both these teams will be playing tough in their own ends with playoff time quickly approaching. 10* Blue Chip
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03-08-15 |
Calgary Flames v. Ottawa Senators -135 |
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4-5 |
Win
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100 |
23 h 23 m |
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I am playing on the SENATORS. Don’t look now but the Senators are suddenly the hottest team in the NHL and you don’t have to look too far to see the biggest reason why. Andrew ‘The Hamburglar” Hammond is the latest goalie to stun the hockey world in a late-season display of unforgiving stonewalling. The Sens are 6-0-1 over their last seven games, which just so happen to be Hammond’s first seven starts in the NHL. The B.C. native isn’t showing any signs of wanting to head back to the minors and I can’t help but really like Ottawa here. Hammond sports a .957 save percentage through those seven games and he has yet to give up more than two goals in a game in regulation or overtime. That works out to a measly 1.14 goals against average, which makes it pretty tough to beat the Sens these days. Opponents are just 1-for-18 on the power play since the Hamburglar donned his mask and started terrorizing the league, which gives the Senators a huge edge on special teams. I love the fact that Ottawa also catches a Flames squad that should be running out of gas right about now. The Flames are playing their seventh and final game of an Eastern road trip on Sunday. When goals are this hard to come by, I don’t like the team that’s playing on tired legs. I’m surprised oddsmakers aren’t making the Sens lay more chalk here. 9* NHL Personal Favorite
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03-07-15 |
Winnipeg Jets v. Nashville Predators -160 |
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3-1 |
Loss |
-160 |
21 h 7 m |
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I’m playing on the Nashville Predators as my 9* Personal Favorite Saturday.
The Predators are desperate for a victory after hitting the wall with a five-game losing skid heading into Saturday’s home date with the Winnipeg Jets. Nashville, which is still in first in the Central Division, lost a 4-3 heartbreak against the New York Islanders Thursday, but did snap its offense out of a slumber.
The Preds had netted just seven goals in the previous four games before that three-goal effort against the Isles. They look to build on that improvement against a Jets squad that has some serious issues keeping the puck out of the net.
Winnipeg has given up 29 total goals in its last nine outings – an average of 3.2 goals against per contest. On top of those woes, the Jets are without standout defenseman Dustin Byfuglien for a few weeks after he suffered an upper-body injury this week.
Slow starts have haunted Nashville during this skid, getting outscored 7-1 in the opening frame. However, Winnipeg has had similar issues keeping foes off the scoreboard in the first period this season. The Jets have allowed a total of 70 first-period goals – seventh most in the league.
Nashville took a 3-1 win against Winnipeg back on February 12 and has gone 8-3 in their last 11 matchups. The Predators have also won six of their last seven versus the Jets inside Bridgestone Arena.
A desperate Predators team and the Jets' defense reeling on the road are why I’m playing on Nashville as my 9* Personal Favorite Saturday.
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