03-21-17 |
Blues -1.5 v. Avalanche |
|
4-2 |
Win
|
168 |
8 h 9 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the St. Louis Blues.
Colorado is by far the worst team in the league, and the Avs have lost seven of 10 games in the month of March. Five of those seven losses have come in games decided by at least two goals. They host the St. Louis Blues tonight, and the Blues come in as winners of seven of their last eight overall. Their last three wins were all decided by more than one goal. Starting goalie Jake Allen is 5-1 with a 1.17 GAA in his last six starts, and he's 2-0 with a 0.50 GAA against the Avs this season. Colorado ranks dead last in the league in both goals scored and goals allowed. The Blues rank among the NHL's best on special teams, and they should pick up an easy win here in Denver tonight.
Take STL.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
03-18-17 |
Canucks v. Oilers -1.5 |
Top |
0-2 |
Win
|
113 |
9 h 46 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers have won their last two games by a combined score of 14-5. They will host a struggling Canucks team tonight that has conceded a whopping 19 goals while losing five straight. Vancouver's last three losses were in games decided by more than one goal, and with their backup goalie going tonight, another lopsided loss seems likely. Richard Bachman will get the start in Edmonton tonight, and it's just his second appearance this season. "If we had Markstrom here, (Miller) wouldn't be playing as much, for sure," said Desjardins. "But he's played good, we've had time between games. I think a lot of starters would go through with that schedule ... you look at (Montreal starter Carey) Price, you look at those guys, they play that all the time." The Canucks could have trouble getting up for a game like this late in the year when they know they will be golfing in a few weeks. Take EDM. GL, Jesse Schule
|
03-17-17 |
Stars v. Flames -1.5 |
|
1-3 |
Win
|
150 |
11 h 36 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Calgary Flames. The Dallas Stars played last night in Vancouver, defeating the Canucks by a score of 4-2. That snapped a three game losing streak, and one of those losses was a 7-1 defeat in Edmonton. They are back in Alberta tonight to face the Flames, and I think a similar result awaits. Here is what I said prior to their game versus the Oilers: "The Dallas Stars, who are one of the league's worst defensive teams. In fact, only Colorado has allowed more goals than Dallas this season. The Stars have given up a whopping 10 goals while losing their last two games. Matters have only gotten worse for Dallas after trading a pair of veteran defensemen at the deadline" They lost forward Jaime Benn to an upper body injury last night, and he will not play in Calgary. The Flames have won 10 of their last 11 overall, and three of their last four wins came by more than one goal. Take CAL. GL, Jesse Schule
|
03-04-17 |
Canucks v. Kings -1.5 |
Top |
4-3 |
Loss |
-100 |
19 h 2 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the LAK.
The Vancouver Canucks and the LA Kings are teams heading in the opposite direction. The Canucks have started to dismantle the core of this team, trading veterans Alex Burrows and Janik Hansen at the traded deadline. Vancouver has lost 11 of it's last 14 overall. Eight of those losses came by more than one goal, most recently a 3-1 defeat at San Jose on Thursday. The Kings are sitting in the eighth and final playoff spot in the West, just one point up on ninth place St. Louis. LA traded for Ben Bishop and Jarome Iginla at the trade deadline, an indication that they intend on making another deep playoff run. Vancouver's locker room is in rough shape, with a flu bug going around, as well as several players suffering from the mumps virus. The home team has won four straight in this series, and the Canucks have lost seven of their last nine visits to the Staples Center. This looks like a tough spot for the visitors, facing a team with a lot more to play for.
Take LAK.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-07-17 |
Canucks +1.5 v. Predators |
|
2-4 |
Loss |
-170 |
14 h 51 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Vancouver Canucks +1.5. The Nashville Predators have won eight of their last 12 games, but six of those eight wins came in games decided by just one goal. They host the Vancouver Canucks tonight, and five of the last six meetings between these two teams have been decided by only one goal, with each team winning 3-of-6 games. Three of those six games required overtime. The Canucks have a history of success in Nashville, winning 14 of their last 20 at the Music City. Both these teams are fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, and we should see a strong effort from both sides. I like Vancouver's chances of snapping a three game losing streak here against a familiar opponent. Take VAN. GL, Jesse Schule
|
02-02-17 |
Sharks v. Canucks +1.5 |
|
4-1 |
Loss |
-225 |
11 h 4 m |
Show
|
|
01-10-17 |
Canucks +1.5 v. Predators |
Top |
1-2 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 48 m |
Show
|
This is a 6* play on the Vancouver Canucks +1.5.
Vancouver had a six game winning streak snapped on the road in Calgary on Saturday, playing their second game in a back to back with their backup goaltender between the pipes. Starting netminder Ryan Miller is expected to return to action in Nashville tonight, and he's won five straight starts, allowing just seven goals and posting a .955 save percentage in those games. The Predators are struggling, coming into tonight's game as losers of six of their last eight. Pekka Rinne is 1-4 in his last five starts, and has conceded 12 goals in those games. These two teams have split the last four meetings, and three of those four games were decided by just one goal. Vancouver has won outright in nine of their last 12 visits to the Music City.
Take VAN.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
12-31-16 |
Canucks v. Oilers -1.5 |
Top |
3-2 |
Loss |
-100 |
14 h 44 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers. The Canucks have won back to back home games, but they play their second game in as many nights on the road in Edmonton on New Years Eve. This is a tough spot for Vancouver, and they face an Oilers team that has won four of it's last five. Edmonton has struggled to find consistent goaltending in previous seasons, but Cam Talbot has been sensational in 2016. The former New York Ranger has been particularly good against the Canucks, going 3-0-2 in five starts against them over the last two seasons. He stopped all 26 shots he faced in a shutout win over Vancouver earlier this season. The Canucks have dropped five of their last seven when playing the second game of a back-to-back, and they have last four of their last five when playing a third game in four nights. Take EDM. GL, Jesse Schule
|
12-20-16 |
Sabres +1.5 v. Panthers |
Top |
3-4 |
Win
|
100 |
20 h 19 m |
Show
|
This is a 5* play on the Buffalo Sabres +1.5.
The Sabres are six points back of eighth place Boston, who occupy the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Buffalo though does have a couple of games in hand, with a record of 12-11-7 through 30 games. Florida sits to points ahead of the Sabres, but has played one more game. The Panthers have lost eight of their last 11 overall, and six of those games were decided by just one goal. The Sabres have played more than their fair share of one-goal games, with seven of their last nine being decided by a single score. Buffalo owns the league's 4th best power-play, converting on 22.9 percent of it's man-advantage opportunities. The Sabres should give Florida a run for it's money here at the BB&T Center.
Take BUF +1.5.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
04-20-16 |
Capitals -1.5 v. Flyers |
Top |
1-2 |
Loss |
-100 |
18 h 35 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Washington Capitals -1.5.
The Capitals were the best team in the NHL this season, and so far in the post-season it's been more of the same. They've out-scored Philly 12-2 while winning the first three games of this series, with the most lopsided game coming in Game 3 here in Philadelphia. The Flyers deserve credit for battling hard in the second half of the season, sneaking into the playoffs, but it's clear that they are over-matched here in this series.
"It's a huge opportunity for us to come back home with the win and see what's going to happen and who's going to be next," - said Alex Ovechkin. The Caps NHL best power-play was firing on all cylinders in Game 3, with five goals on the man advantage. Braden Holtby has stopped 72-of-74 shots so far in this series, while Steve Mason has been torched for 10 goals in the last two games.
I think this Flyers team is completely demoralized, and has little desire to prolong the inevitable by forcing a Game 5 in Washington. I'll take the Caps to complete the sweep here at the Wells Fargo Center.
Take WAS.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
04-07-16 |
Maple Leafs v. Flyers -1.5 |
Top |
4-3 |
Loss |
-100 |
10 h 0 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Philadelphia Flyers -1.5.
The Flyers have been one of the league's hottest teams in recent weeks, and their strong play has them in position to make the playoffs. A 3-0 loss to the Red Wings last nigh is a serious setback, but they have the good fortune to be hosting Toronto tonight. The Leafs were blown out 5-1 by Columbus on home ice, and there's not much for Toronto to prove with just a few games left in the season. The Leafs should come with a half-hearted effort here on the road in the second game of a back to back. Philly on the other hand has to treat this game as a "must win", and we should see the Flyers really take it to the Leafs tonight.
Take PHI.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
03-31-16 |
Flames v. Kings -1.5 |
|
0-3 |
Win
|
130 |
14 h 31 m |
Show
|
This is a Free #NHL play on the #LAK -1.5 Ladies and gentlemen.. it's DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAINthis March. If anyone thinks for even a second that The Iceman's recent success is the product of "luck", "chance" or "coincidence"... THINK AGAIN! - March 2013: 89-60 +$10,549 - March 2014: 72-48 +$6,058 - March 2015: 97-58 +$13,219 - March 2016: 69-38 +$16,611 The Flames are coming off a demoralizing 8-3 loss at the Duck Pond last night, their 23rd consecutive loss in Anaheim. They are in another tough spot here tonight, playing the Kings in the second game of a back to back. The Ducks just passed the Kings to take over the top spot in the Pacific Division, and we'll see a team highly motivated to take back the division lead.
The Flames are 1-6 in their last seven when playing on back to back nights. They rank dead last in the NHL in goals against, and own the league's most futile penalty killing unit. Goaltending certainly isn't a strength, and last night we saw Jonas Hiller pulled after surrendering three goals on five shots. Niklas Backstrom didn't do any better, as he was torched for five goals on 22 shots. We could see Joni Ortio tonight, who is 5-8-4 with a 2.76 GAA this season. He's lost two of his last three starts, surrendering seven goals in those games.
The Kings have won nine of their last 11 at Staples Center, and I expect to see a convincing win for the home team here tonight.
Take LAK.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
03-30-16 |
Flames v. Ducks -1.5 |
|
3-8 |
Win
|
122 |
21 h 36 m |
Show
|
This is a Free #NHL play on the Anaheim #Ducks -1.5. Ladies and gentlemen.. it's DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAINthis March. If anyone thinks for even a second that The Iceman's recent success is the product of "luck", "chance" or "coincidence"... THINK AGAIN! - March 2013: 89-60 +$10,549 - March 2014: 72-48 +$6,058 - March 2015: 97-58 +$13,219 - March 2016: 65-38 +$13,911 We've all heard the expression: "In this world, nothing can be certain except for death and taxes". Well since 2004, the Calgary Flames can add to that list, as losing to the Ducks at the Duck Pond has been as sure as the fishes swim and birds do fly. Their historic losing streak at Anaheim has reached 22 consecutive losses spanning 12 seasons. This looks like a tough spot for the slumping Flames break that trend, as they play their first game of a back to back in California, before facing rivals Edmonton in the final edition of the Battle of Alberta in a nationally televised game on Saturday night.
The Ducks are fighting for the top spot in the Pacific Division, currently just one point back of the Los Angeles Kings. Anaheim has scored 17 goals while winning all four meetings with the Flames this season, outscoring Calgary 10-5 in two meetings at the Duck Pond. The Flames rank dead last in the NHL in goals against, while the Ducks have allowed the fewest goals of any NHL team. Anaheim is also 1st in the league on the power-play (23.3 percent conversion rate), as well as penalty killing (86.8 percent kill rate). Calgary's leading scorer Johnny "Hockey" Gaudreau did not play in Arizona on Monday, and he's questionable to return here in Anaheim. Take ANA.
GL, Jesse Schule
|
02-09-16 |
Lightning v. Canadiens |
|
2-4 |
Win
|
115 |
14 h 39 m |
Show
|
This is a 5* play on the Montreal Canadiens +1.5.
The Habs have finally stopped the bleeding, winning back to back games after dropping nine of 10 previously. They face an uphill battle if they want to get back in position for a playoff spot, but this team has the talent to be one of the best in the East, and they proved that early on this year. They host Tampa Bay tonight, and these two teams have a bit of a rivalry brewing. Tampa will be playing it's second game in as many nights, coming off a 5-1 loss at Ottawa last night. The Habs have won three of the last four in this series, and five of the last 10 meetings have been decided by a single goal. Three of those games went to overtime. Ben Scrivens has stopped 59-of-61 shots, registering back to back win impressive fashion. He made 35 saves in Sunday's win over Carolina.
Take MTL.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
01-01-16 |
Canadiens +1.5 v. Bruins |
|
5-1 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 41 m |
Show
|
This is a 5* play on the Montreal Canadiens Puckline.
The Montreal Canadiens will take on the Boston Bruins at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro Massachusetts in the NHL's annual Winter Class Friday afternoon. This is actually a big game between division rivals, with only one point separating the two teams in the Atlantic Division standings. This will be the eighth edition of hockey's outdoor game, and six of the previous seven have failed to reach the total (5.5).
Often the conditions are less than ideal in these outdoor games, with poor ice conditions combined with glare from the midday sun reflecting off the ice surface. It was a major issue in the 2014 Winter Classic in Michigan, and similar conditions are expected here in New England.
Montreal has failed to reach the total in nine of their last 13 overall, and four of their last five versus division rivals. The Habs have won four straight in Boston, and three of those four games went under. I expect another close, low scoring game here, and I really see no reason for the Bruins to be such a big favorite at a neutral site.
Take MTL +1.5.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
12-16-15 |
Penguins +1.5 v. Bruins |
|
0-3 |
Loss |
-215 |
18 h 9 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Pittsburgh Penguins +1.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins dropped their first game with Mike Sullivan in charge as they lost 4-1 to the Capitals Monday. The Pens actually out-shot the Caps 45-34 though, and they've now won the shots in three straight contests. They're likely to be even better tonight in their second game under the new head coach. No one can deny the fact that Pittsburgh has some amazing offensive talent at its disposal, and a new voice on the bench could be all the players need to start performing up to par again. Evgeni Malkin has recorded 30 points in 26 career meetings with the Bruins and has scored in each of his last two games.The Bruins have been far from stellar this month with only three wins in seven games and a 1-1-1 record at home. They've struggled to cover the puckline home at TD Garden all season long, going 5-10 against the PL over 15 games in front of the home-town crowd. Take PIT. GL, Jesse Schule
|
11-07-15 |
Ducks +1.5 v. Sharks |
|
1-0 |
Win
|
100 |
16 h 32 m |
Show
|
This is a 5* play on the Anaheim Ducks +1.5.
The Ducks are starting to spread their wings after a sluggish start to the season. They come into tonight's game versus rivals San Jose as winners of three straight. Ryan Getzlaf returned to the lineup last night, and made a big impact with three points. The Sharks have cooled off after starting the season with four straight wins, and have since lost six of nine. I think having Getzlaf back is going to make a world of difference for the Ducks, and it sounds like I am not the only one who feels that way: "He didn't look like he missed a beat out there," defenseman Cam Fowler said. "He gave the team a spark, so we were happy to have him back in. He's the straw that stirs the drink around here. Guys feed off his energy and his playmaking ability." The Sharks are 0-for-15 on the power play at home, and just 2-for-24 over their last 10 games. I think the Ducks will give San Jose a real run for their money here tonight.
Take ANA.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
10-30-15 |
Blue Jackets +1.5 v. Capitals |
|
1-2 |
Win
|
100 |
17 h 10 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Columbus Blue Jackets have recorded back-to-back wins at Colorado and New Jersey and they're eyeing yet anther win at Washington Friday night. You could say they're due for an upswing after starting the season with eight consecutive losses, and I think they'll keep this a close game at the very minimum. The Capitals had a five-game winning streak ended when they lost 3-1 to Pittsburgh Wednesday. Alex Ovechkin has gone two straight games without a goal and will face a red hot Sergei Bobrovsky who stopped 39 shots in a 3-2 overtime win at Washington last December. The Caps power play have gone stale after showing an incredible effiency over the first few games, and they're just 2-for-12 on the man advantage over their last four. Columbus has been without its All-Star forward Ryan Johansen in its last two games, but he returned to practice Thursday and is likely to take the ice with the rest of the Blue Jackets tonight. The Blue Jackets are good at building on the momentum from a win and they're 13-3 in their last 16 games following a win. The Caps are likely to be in for a much tougher game than they expect here. Take CBJ. GL, Jesse Schule
|
10-29-15 |
Ducks +1.5 v. Blues |
Top |
1-2 |
Win
|
100 |
16 h 9 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Anaheim Ducks +1.5. The Anaheim Ducks will hope to wrap up their five-game road trip on a positive note after losing each of the first four. They have just one win for the season but this should be a good time to face the St. Louis Blues. St. Louis has plenty of injuries with Patrik Berglund (shoulder), Jaden Schwartz (ankle), Kevin Shattenkirk (lower body) and Paul Stastny (foot) all set to miss the game. It ended a two-game skid with a 2-0 win against Tampa Bay Tuesday but lost the shots 24-26. An underperming power play unit that has gone 0-for-11 over the last three games must be a concern for coach Ken Hitchcock. Goals on the man advantage won't come easy tonight either as they'll face an Anaheim penalty kill that has a 88.9% success rate this season. The Ducks struggles have come on the other end of the ice, both on the power play and 5v5. Each of the two last defeats have been one-goal losses though, to Chicago and Dallas, and they actually out-shot the Blackhawks 39-24 in the 1-0 overtime loss on Oct.24. The Ducks have won five of the last six head-to-head meetings, and they have way too good of a team to struggle for much longer. My money is on the Ducks to kickstart their season this very evening. Take ANA. GL, Jesse Schule
|
05-03-15 |
Calgary Flames v. Anaheim Ducks -1.5 |
|
0-3 |
Win
|
160 |
21 h 44 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Anaheim Ducks -1.5.
The Ducks finished with the best record in the Western Conference, and they swept the Winnipeg Jets in the first round. The Flames were overwhelmed in Game 1 of this series, losing by a score of 6-1. The Ducks dynamic duo of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry ran wild in the series opener, and Perry scored a pair of goals and added a pair of assists. After a poor showing from former Anaheim goaltender Jonas Hiller in Game 1, the Flames will turn to backup Kari Ramo in Game 2. That's a move that could backfire in a hurry. This Flames team has really had troubles at the Duck Pond in the past, winning just twice in their last 32 visits. Another blowout seems like the most likely result here.
Take ANA.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
04-07-15 |
Arizona Coyotes v. Calgary Flames -1.5 |
|
2-3 |
Loss |
-102 |
21 h 30 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Calgary Flames -1.5.
The Buffalo Sabres dropped the ball last night, defeating the Carolina Hurricanes on home ice last night. The victory puts them just two points back of Arizona in the draft lottery sweepstakes. If the Coyotes hope to take advantage and try to slip into the league's last spot, they'll need to make sure they don't pick up any points in Calgary tonight.
The Flames will be more than happy to oblige, as they are in desperate need of a win in order to keep pace with the Kings and the Jets in the battle for the final playoff spot in the West. Flames netminder Jonas Hiller has owned the Coyotes, going 7-0 with a 1.97 GAA in his last seven versus Arizona. A loss tonight would see Milke Smith tie a decade old goaltending futility record, becoming the first goalie to lose 40 games since Marc Denis. Smith has lost all three of his starts versus the Flames this season, posting a 4.05 GAA in those games.
Take CAL -1.5.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
04-04-15 |
Buffalo Sabres v. NY Islanders -1.5 |
|
0-3 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 12 m |
Show
|
This is a 5* play on the NYI -1.5. The Sabres narrowly escaped disaster at home against Chicago last night, as they scored a pair of third period goals putting them ahead 3-2. It's no secret that it's in Buffalo's best interest to finish last in the NHL standings, securing one of the top two draft picks. The fact that Chicago scored twice in less than a minute, scoring the game winner with just 56 seconds remaining is more than just a little suspicious.
It wasn't the first time that Sabres fans cheered wildly when the opposition scored the winning goal. They were equally as jubilant when Arizona won in overtime by a score of 4-3 last Thursday. In fact four of the Sabres last six games have finished with a 4-3 final score, and five of those games have gone over the total.
As obvious as it is that the Sabres are tanking games, it's also obvious that there are players in the locker room that are still coming to the rink to play every night. They'll be up against it at Nassau Coliseum tonight though, as the Isles are hungry for a statement win on home ice. They own one of the league's most potent offenses, averaging over three goals per game.
The Isles might get a crack at Buffalo's backup goaltender Matt Hackett who is 0-4-1 with a 4.34 GAA in five appearances this season.
Take NYI.
GL,
Jesse Schule.
|
04-03-15 |
Chicago Blackhawks -1.5 v. Buffalo Sabres |
Top |
4-3 |
Loss |
-100 |
17 h 29 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Chicago Blackhawks. The Buffalo Sabres have won back to back games, which would sound like a good thing for most teams. It might not be the best news for Sabres fans though, as they now trail Arizona by just two points in the standings. The Sabres and the Coyotes are the two worst teams in the league, and they are both looking at rebuilding through the draft. When the Coyotes played at Buffalo last week, fans cheered the visitors, and celebrated when Arizona scored the winning goal in overtime. There is no question that the #1 priority for Buffalo is securing the top pick in this year's draft, and that goal could be in serious jeopardy if they were to win at home versus Chicago tonight. The Hawks meanwhile are battling Nashville for the top spot in the Central Division. Take CHI. GL, Jesse Schule
|
03-30-15 |
Calgary Flames +1.5 v. Dallas Stars |
|
5-3 |
Win
|
100 |
20 h 45 m |
Show
|
This is a 5* play on the Calgary Flames +1.5.
The Flames just won't go away in the race for the final playoff spot in the West. They went into Nashville on Sunday and lit up the Preds in a 5-2 win that puts them back in the eighth spot just one point ahead of the Kings. Los Angeles has a game in hand though, so you can bet this is going to be a dog fight that goes right up until the final day of the regular season. The Stars are five points back, and they are still talking like they have a chance: "(The hope) is still there," said Jamie Benn. "A lot of people are saying this, but you just take it a game at a time. We are going to need some help, and we just need to keep winning these games and we'll see what happens." The reality is that even a win over the Flames tonight might not gain them any ground if Los Angeles wins. The way both (Calgary and Los Angeles) have been playing, it would be impossible for Dallas to make up the difference with just seven games remaining. Especially with the two teams playing each other next week, that's a guaranteed two points for at least one them. We should see the Flames play a more desperate brand of hockey, and I like their chances of keeping it close at the very least.
Take CAL +1.5.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
03-28-15 |
Buffalo Sabres v. Colorado Avalanche -1.5 |
|
3-5 |
Win
|
100 |
20 h 51 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Colorado Avalanche -1.5.
The fans in Buffalo were cheering wildly on Thursday night, and they got the result they were looking for. No, it wasn't a Sabres win, but an overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes. The addition point for Arizona gives the Sabres a leg up in the Connor McDavid sweepstakes. That's right, it appears that this is a team that's doing it's best to lose hockey games. If there was ever any doubt, you just have to look at the fact that they elected to go with their backup goaltender against the Coyotes, and Matthew Hackett might not be good enough to be a backup on most minor league teams. He's 0-3 with a 4.24 GAA this season, but they will turn to their #1 goaltender tonight. It seems a little bit of a stretch to refer to Andres Lindback as a #1 though, he's 1-5 with a 2.67 GAA in nine starts. He was lit up in a 5-2 loss while playing for the Stars in his only previous meeting with Colorado this season. It's fair to say that the Avs have a different mentality than the Sabres: "This team has shown enough character and perseverance that we are not going to quit," forward Gabriel Landeskog said. "It doesn't matter where we are in the standings. We play for pride and we play for each other and we play for the crest on our jersey."
Take COL -1.5
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
03-28-15 |
Ottawa Senators v. Toronto Maple Leafs +1.5 |
|
3-4 |
Win
|
100 |
18 h 50 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Toronto Maple Leafs +1.5. This is not a fun time to be a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team is under heavy scrutiny from fans and media as they face the prospect of rebuilding a team that was expected to compete with start players like Phil Kessel and James Van-Riemsdyk. It wasn’t so long ago that the Senators appeared to be in exactly the same situation, but then stepped in Andrew Hammond. When Ottawa promoted their third string goaltender after injuries to #1 Anderson and #2 Lehner, they went on a 14-1-1 run that has put them back in the playoff picture. Stellar goaltending from Hammond appears to be the main reason for their success, as he was 14-0-1 with a 1.91 GAA during that run. The only loss came when Craig Anderson allowed three goals on 22 shots in a 3-1 home defeat to Boston. Hammond was injured in a win over the Sharks on Monday, and he then surrendered five goals on 22 shots in a loss to the Rangers on Thursday. His status is unclear heading into this marquee match-up versus the Leafs, and we could see Anderson back between the pipes. Don’t expect this game to be a cakewalk for the Sens, no matter who is in goal. The Leafs aren’t going to roll out the red carpet and then lay down in a nationally televised game (Hockey Night in Canada). The only thing more satisfying to the Maple Leafs than a win over the Sens, would be a win over Montreal. Toronto actually has a winning record at home, yet they are an enormous underdog here. I’ll take the home dog on the puckline in a game that is sure to be close. Take TOR. GL, Jesse Schule
|
03-27-15 |
Calgary Flames +1.5 v. Minnesota Wild |
|
2-4 |
Loss |
-193 |
19 h 11 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Calgary Flames +1.5.
As well as the Calgary Flames have played lately, they now sit ninth in the West, one point out of a playoff spot. They are 7-2-3 in their last 12 overall, and one of those two regulation losses came by a score of 3-2 to Colorado. The Wild have been on a tear since acquiring Devan Dubnyk, and they've now given themselves some breathing room, sitting four points clear of Calgary. Minnesota has won 10 of it's last 13 overall, and of those 13 games, eight were decided by just one goal. These two teams also have a history of playing close games, as seven of the last 10 meetings in this series have been decided by just one goal. Four of those required overtime. So much at stake for the Flames here, I gotta think they keep it close.
Take CAL +1.5.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
03-26-15 |
Florida Panthers v. Toronto Maple Leafs +1.5 |
|
4-1 |
Loss |
-215 |
18 h 29 m |
Show
|
This is a 5* play on the Toronto Maple Leafs +1.5.
Any talk of Florida making the playoffs is just wishful thinking, surely the Panthers don't think they will make up five points on the Senators, especially given that Ottawa has a game in hand. Then there is Boston, who they trail by four points, and they face them twice in their final nine games. Still.. Florida comes into Toronto tonight as a heavy road favorite against a Leafs team that actually has a pretty good record at home. The Leafs aren't a great team, and in Toronto (unlike Florida), that's just not acceptable. This team is under heavy pressure, constantly ridiculed and scrutinized by fans and media. If you thought they were going to just pack it in, keep in mind they out-shot Minnesota 36-32 in a tight 2-1 loss on Monday. That game holds a certain significance, as their home sellout streak dating back to 2002 came to an end. It's those fans that pay their salaries, so when people stop coming to games, it's a real wakeup call for all involved. You can expect this to be a highly motivated Toronto team that takes the ice tonight, and the fact that they are an underdog in a game where they should be a favorite, makes this play too tempting to pass up.
Take TOR +1.5.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
03-23-15 |
Buffalo Sabres v. Dallas Stars -1.5 |
|
3-4 |
Loss |
-135 |
11 h 58 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Dallas Stars -1.5.
They might as well start printing (Connor) "McDavid" jerseys in Buffalo, because the Sabres have a stranglehold on the league's futility record. They three points less than Arizona, so you can bet they have not intention to pick up any points on the road in Dallas tonight. Now the management can't force the players to lose, but by trading away BOTH their Top 2 goaltenders, they are left with a couple of guys that belong in the minors (Lindback and Hackett). Between the two of them they have just one win over the last 11 games. The Stars are a team that hasn't had any trouble scoring goals, and they are coming off a 4-0 shutout win over the Hawks on Saturday. It's a going to be too little too late for Dallas, but this is a team with a lot more talent, and a little more pride than Buffalo. I expect to see the Stars come out flying tonight, and lay a whuppin' on the lowly Sabres.
Take DAL -1.5.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
03-16-15 |
Arizona Coyotes v. Los Angeles Kings -1.5 |
Top |
0-1 |
Loss |
-110 |
21 h 27 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the LAK. The Kings appeared to be in line for another win on Saturday, but they couldn't hold on to a third period lead, surrendering two goals in 66 seconds in a 2-1 loss to Nashville. The loss was a costly one, as they've slipped into the ninth spot in the Western Conference, just one point back of eighth place Winnipeg. The Kings simply can not afford to come away with anything less than two points tonight as they host one of the bottom feeders of the league. The Coyotes have lost 14 of their last 15 overall, and 10 of those losses came by two or more goals. Goaltending has been a real sore spot for Arizona, as Mike Smith is just 11-34-5 with a 3.24 GAA this season. He was lit up for four goals on 29 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Devils in his most recent outing. Arizona has lost four straight trips to the Staples Center, and they've surrendered 18 goals in those four games. Take LAK -1.5. GL, Jesse Schule
|
03-11-15 |
Buffalo Sabres v. Toronto Maple Leafs -1.5 |
|
3-4 |
Loss |
-100 |
16 h 42 m |
Show
|
This is a 5* play on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Sabres come into Toronto tonight with the league's worst road record (7-24-2), and they've lost four in a row. They were out-scored 17-6 in those games, getting some pretty poor play from their goaltenders. When asked who would start tonight, Sabres coach Ted Nolan said: "The hot hand goes," which is quite laughable when you think about it.
Surely he can't be referring to Matt Hackett, who was pulled after allowing four goals on 19 shots in a loss to Washington on Saturday. So we will have to assume he's talking about Anders Lindback, who allowed two more goals on 22 shots after the game was already out of hand. With a record of 2-10 with a 3.63 GAA, I wouldn't think "hot hand" would be an accurate description of Lindback's play at any point this season. Those numbers are just a small sample size, but a career GAA of 2.85 offers no more reason for optimism.
The Leafs actually have a pretty solid record at Air Canada Centre, and should be motivated to pick up token win for the fans tonight. Toronto has won 10 of it's last 11 home games versus these Sabres, and that's a trend unlikely to be broken tonight.
Take TOR.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
03-09-15 |
Edmonton Oilers v. Detroit Red Wings -1.5 |
|
2-5 |
Win
|
100 |
7 h 16 m |
Show
|
This is a 5* play on the Detroit Red Wings -1.5.
The Oilers were hammered by the Hurricanes in Carolina last night, losing by a score of 7-4. They are right back on the ice in Detroit tonight, and the cellar dwelling Oilers can't be too excited about this one. The Wings also played yesterday, losing to the Bruins at the Garden. They had backup netminder Jonas Gustavsson in the net in Boston, but we should see Jimmy Howard back between the pipes tonight.
Howard owns the Oilers, with a record of 11-0 with a 1.47 GAA during an 11 game win streak in the series. He isn't likely to be tested by an Edmonton offense that ranks 28th in the NHL averaging just 2.2 goals per game.
The Oilers are also one of the worst in the league on special teams, and they conceded three power-play goals in the loss to the Canes yesterday. Tonight's game sees the Oilers 27th ranked penalty killing unit matched up against Detroit's #1 ranked power-play. The Wings are converting on better than 25% of their man-advantage opportunities.
Take DET -1.5.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
03-06-15 |
Calgary Flames +1.5 v. Detroit Red Wings |
|
5-2 |
Win
|
100 |
15 h 38 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Calgary Flames +1.5.
The Flames are on a mission to make the playoffs, and they aren't letting anyone stand in their way. They out-lasted the Bruins in a 4-3 in a shootout. Calgary is no stranger to post-regulation games, as four of their last eight overall have required an extra period. They won three of those games, and six of the eight were decided by just a single goal. Detroit on the other hand has played seven consecutive games decided by just one goal, and four of those contests went to overtime. When these teams have played each other, we see the same trend of close games, as each of the last four in this series were decided by one goal. I expect to see another tight one here at the Joe tonight.
Take CAL +1.5.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
03-05-15 |
Toronto Maple Leafs v. Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 |
Top |
2-4 |
Win
|
115 |
20 h 40 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5. The Maple Leafs defeated the Panthers 3-2 two days ago, but I think they're up for a tougher challenge tonight as they're staying in Florida for a game against the Lightning. The hosts have won four of the last five meetings in Tampa, and I think they're in big performance tonight. The Lightning have won four of their last six games, covering the puckline in each win. They have shut out their opponent in both their last two games at Amalie Arena and are a dominant 24-6-1 there for the season. Andrei Vasilevskiy was in net against the Sabres Tuesday but we're likely to see Ben Bishop back between the pipes for this match-up. Toronto has won three of its last five games but has struggled on the penalty kill for quite some time now. It has allowed a goal on 10 of its last 32 shorthanded situations, and that could spell trouble against the Lighting who have gone 6-for-19 on the man advantage over their last five games. The Maple Leafs have lost 12 of their last 13 visiting a team with a winning record while the Lighting are 6-1 in their last seven at home versus a team with a road winning % of less than .400. Take TB -1.5. GL, Jesse Schule
|
03-05-15 |
Calgary Flames +1.5 v. Boston Bruins |
|
4-3 |
Win
|
100 |
19 h 11 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Calgary Flames +1.5. The Flames ended Boston's five game dominance in this series with a 4-3 win on home ice earlier in the season. We should be in for another close contest tonight as the teams are taking the ice at TD Garden. The visitors are 3-3-1 over their last seven games with all but two being decided by one single goal. This will be the fifth stop on a seven game road trip and they played some excellent D over the first four, allowing only six goals total. Karri Ramo has been in net for all of those games and is confirmed to get the start tonight as well. Boston has followed a six game skid up by winning three of their last four. It is off a 4-1 win against the lowly Arizona Coyotes but had lost three straight at home prior and has lost five of its last six against teams with a winning record. Points are crucial for both teams, but particularly for the Flames who are tied on points for third in the Pacific Division with the Kings and the Sharks. Don't be worried if the they leave it late, the Flames are leading the NHL with their 1.22 goals in third periods and this is a team that never say die. Take CGY. GL, Jesse Schule
|
03-03-15 |
Buffalo Sabres v. Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 |
Top |
0-3 |
Win
|
100 |
19 h 24 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on TB -1.5.
The Sabres were expected to move players at the trade deadline, but sending their top goaltender to the Islanders appears to be a rather curious move. Buffalo had already moved Jhonas Enroth to Dallas in exchange for Anders Lindback, who began his career with the lightning.
Lindback has been brutal this season, posting a record of 0-7-0 with a 3.95 GAA in seven starts with the Stars. He seems to be the most likely candidate to start tonight in Tampa. In the event that the Sabres choose to press Johnson into action, he's not been that sharp either, coming off a loss to Carolina that saw him surrender five goals on 41 shots.
Tampa owns the NHL's most potent offense, averaging over 3.3 goals per game. That could spell disaster for the Sabres who own the league's worst defense, surrendering more than 3.3 goals per game.
Tampa has won it's last three versus the Sabres, totaling a dozen goals in those three games. We should expect Lightning to strike in Tampa tonight.
Take TB -1.5.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
03-01-15 |
Columbus Blue Jackets v. Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5 |
Top |
3-5 |
Win
|
115 |
7 h 23 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5. The Blue Jackets are off five consecutive losses over which they've covered the puckline only once. Tonight's match-up won't be an easy one either as they visit the Pens who have won three straight, outscoring their opponents 13-6. The Pens are also coming in here with revenge on their mind after losing the first two meetings of the season. They've won eight of the last 13 match-ups at the CONSOL Energy Center though and can turn to their star netminder Marc-Andre Fleury to tend the net. The Blue Jackets are not quite as lucky as Sergei Bobrovsky has missed 16 straight games due to a groin injury. He could be back in net here, but might need a couple of games to get back at his best again. Whoever is between the sticks for the visitors will have his work cut out for him. The Pens offense ranks among the best in the NHL and averages 2.97 goals per game on home ice. They've scored a goal on the man advantage in three straight games while Columbus has failed to convert on any of its last 20 power-play opportunities. Evegni Malkin is off a three assist performance in the 4-3 win at Washington Wednesday and has eight points over his last four games. Take PIT -1.5. GL, Jesse Schule
|
02-27-15 |
Calgary Flames +1.5 v. NY Islanders |
Top |
1-2 |
Win
|
100 |
13 h 13 m |
Show
|
This is a 5* play on the Caglary Flames +1.5
The Flames are still in the hunt for the post-season, currently tied with the Kings for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They will need to approach every game from here on out as if it is do or die, and you can expect them to come into New York tonight ready to play. Playing on the road hasn't been a problem for Calgary, as it has won seven of it's last 10 away from the Saddledome. The Flames have a history of playing close games versus New York, with six of the last 10 in this series being decided by a single goal. I like the Flames as a puckline dog in a must win game tonight.
Take CAL +1.5.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-24-15 |
Colorado Avalanche +1.5 v. Nashville Predators |
Top |
2-5 |
Loss |
-169 |
14 h 30 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Colorado Avalanche +1.5.
The Avs are surging, coming into Nashville as winners of four of their last five. They are desperate to make a push for the post-season, sitting just five points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. The Preds lead the league with 87 points, putting them in a pretty comfortable spot, with a seven point lead on second place St. Louis in the Central Division.
Nashville needed overtime to sneak past the Sabres by a score of 2-1 on Sunday, and lost back-to-back games to Philly and NYI before that. The Preds are 8-3 in their last 11, but five of those eight wins came in games decided by just one goal.
The Avs have been backed by some great goaltending lately, with Semyon Varlamov going 4-1 with a 2.00 GAA in his last five starts. Pekka Rinne has looked pretty shaky for the Preds, losing back to back starts and surrendering seven goals in those games.
The Avs have won twice in their last three trips to the Music City, and the lone loss in that span came by a score of 4-3 in overtime.
Take COL +1.5.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-24-15 |
Calgary Flames +1.5 v. NY Rangers |
Top |
0-1 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 45 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Calgary Flames +1.5.
The Flames are still fighting for their playoff lives, currently sitting in a three way tie with L.A. and San Jose for the final playoff spot in the West. They will be on the road at New York tonight, and they desperately need to come away with points from this game. The Rangers don't have the same sense of urgency, comfortably in a playoff spot in the East. These two teams have a history of playing close games, as four of the last five head to head meetings have been decided by just one goal. The Rangers are still without star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, and backup Cam Talbot has struggled in recent outings.
Take CAL.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-19-15 |
Columbus Blue Jackets v. Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5 |
Top |
2-1 |
Loss |
-100 |
11 h 16 m |
Show
|
This is a 5* play on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"Pittsburgh has been one of the most dominant home teams in the league over the last few seasons, and it's 18-8-3 at home so far this season. Marc-Andre Fleury comes into tonight's game red hot, only allowing a pair of goals while going 3-0-1 in his last four starts. He's having a career year, and could be in contention for the Vezina."
That's what I said about the Penguins when I bet on them to beat the Caps on Tuesday. They played as well as I could have expected, but they ran into a red hot caps team that played just as well, and ended up getting the bounces on that night.
Tonight the Penguins host a Columbus team that really doesn't have much shot to make the playoffs, and is without it's #1 goaltender. Fleury has owned the Jackets, going 6-1-1 with a 2.10 GAA in his last eight starts against them.
Take PIT.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-15-15 |
Philadelphia Flyers -1.5 v. Buffalo Sabres |
Top |
2-1 |
Loss |
-100 |
16 h 10 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Buffalo Sabres are the worst team in the National Hockey league with a record of 16-36-3. As bad as the Sabres have been so far this season, you can probably expect them to even worse from here on out.
The have traded away #1 goaltender Jhonas Enroth, who had directly responsible for 13 of their 16 wins this season. In return they received Anders Lindback from Dallas, but he's 2-8 with a 3.71 GAA in 10 appearances this season. He's likely to backup Michal Neuvirth, who has lost five straight starts, allowing 16 goals in those games.
In addition to having by far the weakest goaltending in the league, the Sabres also made a trade with Winnipeg to acquire star forward Evander Kane. They gave up a lot of talent to get Kane, who is injured and will miss the remainder of the season.
The Flyers sit seven points back of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, but they aren't out of the race yet. Tonight's game in Buffalo presents them with a golden opportunity to pick up an easy two points.
Philly has won four straight in this series, and three of those four games went over the total.
Take Philly.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-14-15 |
Columbus Blue Jackets v. NY Islanders -1.5 |
Top |
3-6 |
Win
|
140 |
15 h 24 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the New York Islanders.
The Isles will host the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight, and the visitors are coming off a home win over the Flyers. Columbus had no business winning that game, as it trailed 3-1 in the third period before rallying to force overtime and eventually won 4-3. Playing a second game in as many nights on the road at Long Island is gonna be tough.
Curtis McElhinney has given the Jackets solid play while filling in for the injured Sergei Bobrovsky, but he's not anywhere near the same caliber. He's surrendered seven goals over his last two starts, and may get a rest in the back end of a back to back tonight.
Third string netminder Anton Forsberg is 0-2 with a 4.24 GAA in his four career starts. Whoever starts between the pipes for the visitors, they face a well rested Islanders team that ranks among the top scoring offenses in the NHL averaging three goals per game.
There isn't much to motivate the Jackets, who likely have come to terms with the fact that they aren't going to make the playoffs. That's not the case for the Isles, and we could see a one-sided game here tonight.
Take NYI.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-10-15 |
Ottawa Senators v. Buffalo Sabres +1.5 |
Top |
2-1 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 29 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Buffalo Sabres +1.5.
The Sabres aren't a great hockey team by any stretch of the imagination, but getting them as a puckline dog at home against a pretty average Ottawa outfit sure seems like a bargain. Buffalo has only won twice over it's last six games, but four of those six games were decided by just one goal.
Sabres goaltender Jhonas Enroth has not looked good for most of the season, but he's hot all of a sudden posting a 2.00 GAA over his last three starts.
The Sens goaltending situation is hardly favorable, as starter Craig Anderson is sidelined with a hand injury. Backup Robin Lerner has lost four of his last five starts posting a 2.62 GAA. He's posted a 2.88 GAA failing to win any of his three career starts versus Buffalo.
Take BUF.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-09-15 |
Arizona Coyotes v. Chicago Blackhawks -1.5 |
Top |
3-2 |
Loss |
-100 |
21 h 24 m |
Show
|
This is an 8* play on the Chicago Blackhawks -1.5.
The Hawks closed out a seven game road trip with back to back wins over Winnipeg and St. Louis. They return home tonight to host the woeful Arizona Coyotes, who have lost 10 of their last 13 overall.
Chicago is sitting eight points out of first place in the Central Division, and it's games like this that they'll need to win if they hope to close that gap. Arizona has already played itself out of playoff contention, and is a team just going through the motions. A complete roster overhaul is all but inevitable, and nobody knows who will be on their way out of town.
This will be Chicago's first home game since January 20th, and ironically that was a 6-1 win over this very same Arizona team. The Coyote's starting netminder Mike Smith is having the worst season of his career, and he's struggled in past meetings with the Hawks, posting a 4.16 GAA in his last seven starts against them.
Take CHI -1.5.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-07-15 |
Edmonton Oilers v. Toronto Maple Leafs -1.5 |
Top |
1-5 |
Win
|
183 |
18 h 53 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Toronto Maples Leafs -1.5.
The Leafs current slump has reached epic proportions, coming into tonight's home game versus Edmonton as losers of 11 in a row. The season is over, and there isn't a lot left to play for, but you would expect this team to show a little character at home tonight. The Oilers are one of the league's worst teams, and only Buffalo has surrendered more goals.
Goaltending has been a sore spot for Edmonton for quite some time now, and the duo of Victor Fasth and Ben Scrivens haven't solved any of those issues. Fasth has started the last two games, going 1-1 and allowing six goals against. He's 5-12-2 with a 3.25 GAA overall this season.
The Oilers have lost five straight in this series, and they were out-scored 24-12 in those games. Three of the five went over the total. I expect to see a game of pond hockey here in Toronto tonight, with the Leafs winning in a rout.
Take TOR.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
01-30-15 |
Buffalo Sabres v. Vancouver Canucks -1.5 |
Top |
2-5 |
Win
|
100 |
22 h 39 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Vancouver Canucks -1.5. The Canucks will look to bounce back from consecutive losses at home tonight against the cellar dwelling Sabres. Buffalo is playing on back to back nights, and it's third game in four nights. They've lost 13 straight and they've been shutout eight times so far this season. Miller is 23-11-1 with a 2.33 GAA on the season, and as far as matchups go, it doesn't get any better than this. At the other end we have Jhonas Enroth, who has posted a 4.66 GAA losing eight straight starts. "I think we need to stay positive and just keep approaching every game like we're going to win the game," said Enroth. "We can't go into every game thinking we're going to lose the game. We have to stay positive and still believe that we can win games." The Sabres own the worst record in the league with only 14 wins, and 10 of those wins have come at home. Buffalo has lost six of it's last eight road games by two or more goals. Take VAN -1.5 GL, Jesse Schule
|
01-20-15 |
Arizona Coyotes v. Chicago Blackhawks -1.5 |
Top |
1-6 |
Win
|
104 |
20 h 36 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Chicago Blackhawks -1.5.
The Coyotes have won just 16 games this season, and the majority of those victories came with Devan Dubknyk between the pipes. He's since been traded to Minnesota, leaving the Yotes with a struggling veteran netminder in Mike Smith. It's been a terrible year for Smith, as he's posted a 3.43 GAA and a career low .887 save percentage. He's surrendered 13 goals while going 0-4 in his last four starts.
The Blackhawks are likely to be playing with a burr in their saddle after losing 6-3 to the Stars at home on Sunday. Home losses have been few and far between for the Hawks, who boast a 15-7-1.
Arizona will be playing it's fourth game in five nights, and they've dropped six straight in such situations. While Chicago has been sloppy defensively in recent games, it still owns the league's best penalty kill. I think Chicago will right the ship with a blowout win at home over an inferior opponent tonight.
Take CHI.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
01-18-15 |
Dallas Stars +1.5 v. Chicago Blackhawks |
Top |
6-3 |
Win
|
100 |
17 h 3 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Dallas Stars +1.5
The Stars had a slow start to the season, but they've turned it around lately, earning at least a point in 12 of their last 16 games. They are on the road at Chicago tonight, and they are a massive underdog here playing in a back to back situation.
The Stars have lost all three of their previous meetings with Chicago this season, but two of those three games were decided after regulation time.
The Hawks have alternated wins and losses so far in the New Year, and they are just 7-7 over their last 14 games. Corey Crawford was lit up on Friday in a 3-2 loss to Winnipeg, allowing three goals on 34 shots. He surrendered four goals on 34 shots against Dallas two weeks ago, but the Hawks rallied to win in OT in a game that they were badly outplayed.
There isn't a huge gap in talent between these two teams, and getting the visitors at a decent price on the puckline feels like a bargain.
Take DAL +1.5
GL, Jesse Schule
|
12-21-14 |
Buffalo Sabres v. Boston Bruins -1.5 |
Top |
3-4 |
Loss |
-108 |
11 h 9 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Boston Bruins -1.5. The Sabres showed a flash of competitiveness winning four in a row at home between December 9-15. They're now coming off backto- 5-1 losses though and the TD Garden is not the ideal place to visit if you want to snap a losing streak. Especially not considering how the Sabres have been doing on the road lately. They've dropped three straight away from home getting outscored 13-3. They've won only four of 14 road games all season, which is also the amount of wins they've amassed over the last 14 meetings in Boston. The Bruins offense has been slumping lately but this should be a great spot to get the goalscoring back on track. Jhonas Enroth conceded four goals on 22 shots last night and the visitors might be inclined to give Michal Neuvirth his third start this month. He has allowed eight goals over the previous two, and is 1-5 with a 3.68 GAA over six starts on the road this season. The Bruins have won both meetings so far this season by a combined goal differential of 7-2. Take BOS. GL, Jesse Schule
|
12-16-14 |
Columbus Blue Jackets +1.5 v. Detroit Red Wings |
Top |
1-0 |
Win
|
100 |
7 h 9 m |
Show
|
This is a Free #NHL play the Columbus Blue Jackets +1.5.
Columbus is on a roll, coming into Detroit as winners of six straight. There is no margin for error though, as this is a team still sitting six points back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Red Wings had won seven of eight before dropping their last three games.
Detroit sits in third place in the East, just three points back of the first place Penguins. It's not going to be easy to break out of a slump against one of the league's elite netminders, as Sergei Bobrovsky looks to be in the hunt for another Vezina Trophy. He's undefeated in his six starts in December so far, boasting a phenomenal .943 save percentage in those games.
The Wings have a history of struggling against the Jackets, as Columbus has won six of the last eight head to head meetings. During that span they have taken 2-of-3 in Detroit, and the lone loss came in a game decided by just one goal.
I like the Jackets to keep things close in the Motor City tonight.
Take CBJ +1.5 GL,
Jesse Schule
|
10-23-14 |
Vancouver Canucks +1.5 v. St Louis Blues |
Top |
4-1 |
Win
|
100 |
19 h 23 m |
Show
|
This is a 7* play on the Vancouver Canucks +1.5. The Canucks are looking to bounce back from a 6-3 loss to the Stars in Dallas on Tuesday, as they head to St. Louis to take on the Blues tonight. This is a good spot for the visitors, as the Blues have several players sidelined with a flu virus. "Our health is not great right now," Ken Hitchcock said. "We're just seeing who can play and who can't play, and seeing what we can get out of the next two games. Five or six guys on the team, they have a bacterial ailment and we're seeing who it pops up with. We are in a very fluid situation right now." The Blues were shutout in a 3-0 loss at Anaheim on Sunday, with two of the Ducks three goals coming on the power-play. Vancouver took all three meetings in this series last year, and Eddie Lack posted a 0.97 GAA in those games. He played well in relief of Miller in the loss to Dallas, sparking a rally that saw the Canucks get the better of the stars in the final two periods of that game. The top line continued to produce points, with Radim Vrbata scoring his fourth goal of the season assisted by Henrik and Daniel. They've been hot since coming together in the pre-season, and they get a crack at the Blues backup goalie Jake Allen tonight. The 24 year old is making just his second starts of the season. He's allowed six goals on 50 shots while going 1-1 versus the Canucks in his career. Take VAN. GL, Jesse Schule
|