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Detroit @ OTTAWA
Detroit +132 over OTTAWA
Regulation only. No question that there were some teams that looked a little flat in the first couple of days back since the break. The Canadiens looked completely out of sorts last night while the Bruins were sloppy versus the Sabres. On Tuesday, Buffalo looked like they were killing a power-play for 60 minutes, despite defeating the Hurricanes. In that regard, we definitely like the fact that the Red Wings have a game under their belt after the break while the Senators do not. Last night against Montreal, Detroit was dominating for 2½ periods, especially on the defensive end. We’re guessing that Tom Babcock brought in the Team Canada films from the Olympics and said to his players, “Play defense like those guys”. The Red Wings created a ton of scoring chances last night too. Even without Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit is still loaded with more young talent than any team in the NHL. Whether it’s Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyqvist, Riley Sheahan, Tomas Jurco, Darren Helm or someone else, shift after shift, someone jumps over that Red Wing bench and dazzles. Detroit has now picked up points in nine of their past 12 games and its determination to get into the playoffs is a good bet to continue here.
Ottawa won two of three prior to the break but one of those victories occurred against the Sabres and the other one occurred against St. Louis in OT in a game the Sens allowed 50 shots on net against. The game before they break, Ottawa was buried by Boston 7-2. Ottawa went 4-5 in nine games before the Olympics but deserved to win none. In their last four games, Ottawa has allowed 42, 32, 50 and 48 shots on net respectively (the 32 was by the Sabres). All year the Senators have been erratic, disinterested or both and a two-week break surely isn’t going to change that. This is a Senators team that’s been in trouble the entire year and now we get to take back a tag against them with the superior and much more determined club. That works.
Our Pick
Detroit +132 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.64)
Tampa Bay @ NASHVILLE
Tampa Bay +101 over NASHVILLE
Regulation only. The Predators have a lot of nice parts but what they don’t have is adequate goaltending and that’s been a problem the entire season since they lost Pekka Rinne nine games in. The Preds have one regulation win over their past seven games. In three straight losses prior to the break, Nashville surrendered 12 goals. Prior to that, the Preds played back-to-back games against Edmonton and Calgary and allowed that pair to score five goals each. It’s a rare night when the Preds don’t allow three goals or more and if the Lightning score three or more here, we’re very likely going to get to the cashier’s window.
The Lightning may have needed the Olympic break more than any team in the league and will be healthier as they start a four-game trip here. Outstanding goaltender Ben Bishop is ready to go and so is Valtteri Filppula, who suffered an injury prior to the break. Steven Stamkos is due back next week and the Lightning should be primed and ready to get back to work. Tampa Bay is a deep team whose only funk this season occurred just prior to the break when they lost four of six games. That’s not too serious at all. The Bolts opened the year by winning 13 of their first 16 games. That’s something to consider because this situation is very similar to the start of the season, as all teams are rested and ready to get back to work. Incidentally, the Preds opened the year by losing three of four and that was with Pekka Rinne in goal. In any event, what we know for sure is we’re getting the superior goaltending by a wide margin with a small tag added in a game in which the Bolts chances of winning are greater than 50%.
Our Pick
Tampa Bay +101 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.02)
Chicago @ N.Y. RANGERS
N.Y. RANGERS +115 over Chicago
Regulation only. Great team the Blackhawks are but all of their best players have not had much rest at all. In fact, the Blackhawks sent 10 players to the Olympics, the most of any NHL team. Before the break the Blackhawks played eight of nine games and six straight on the road, meaning a ton of travel over the past month for all of its best players. Chicago is flawed in net and it’s worth noting that they have the Penguins on deck at home on Saturday, which will be its first home game since January 26, more than a month ago. Chicago has nothing to prove and just might be a lot more focused for Saturday’s game.
The Rangers are a Stanley Cup threat and this is a great way for them to resume work, facing the champs. New York is playing outstanding hockey and have been for the better part of the past two months. Prior to the break, the Rangers won five of six games and deserved to win the game they lost. They outscored the opposition over that stretch 23-11. Since December 22, the Rangers have won 17 of 23 games and have picked up the most points over that stretch in the NHL. Henrik Lundqvist will get the night off in favor of Cam Talbot but frankly, we like Talbot more anyway. Again, the Blackhawks are truly a great team but with the way the Rangers have played over the past couple of months, they should not be a pooch in their own barn against anyone and that includes the Blackhawks.
Our Pick
N.Y. RANGERS +115 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.30)
Detroit @ OTTAWA
Detroit +132 over OTTAWA
Regulation only. No question that there were some teams that looked a little flat in the first couple of days back since the break. The Canadiens looked completely out of sorts last night while the Bruins were sloppy versus the Sabres. On Tuesday, Buffalo looked like they were killing a power-play for 60 minutes, despite defeating the Hurricanes. In that regard, we definitely like the fact that the Red Wings have a game under their belt after the break while the Senators do not. Last night against Montreal, Detroit was dominating for 2½ periods, especially on the defensive end. We’re guessing that Tom Babcock brought in the Team Canada films from the Olympics and said to his players, “Play defense like those guys”. The Red Wings created a ton of scoring chances last night too. Even without Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit is still loaded with more young talent than any team in the NHL. Whether it’s Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyqvist, Riley Sheahan, Tomas Jurco, Darren Helm or someone else, shift after shift, someone jumps over that Red Wing bench and dazzles. Detroit has now picked up points in nine of their past 12 games and its determination to get into the playoffs is a good bet to continue here.
Ottawa won two of three prior to the break but one of those victories occurred against the Sabres and the other one occurred against St. Louis in OT in a game the Sens allowed 50 shots on net against. The game before they break, Ottawa was buried by Boston 7-2. Ottawa went 4-5 in nine games before the Olympics but deserved to win none. In their last four games, Ottawa has allowed 42, 32, 50 and 48 shots on net respectively (the 32 was by the Sabres). All year the Senators have been erratic, disinterested or both and a two-week break surely isn’t going to change that. This is a Senators team that’s been in trouble the entire year and now we get to take back a tag against them with the superior and much more determined club. That works.
Our Pick
Detroit +132 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.64)
Tampa Bay @ NASHVILLE
Tampa Bay +101 over NASHVILLE
Regulation only. The Predators have a lot of nice parts but what they don’t have is adequate goaltending and that’s been a problem the entire season since they lost Pekka Rinne nine games in. The Preds have one regulation win over their past seven games. In three straight losses prior to the break, Nashville surrendered 12 goals. Prior to that, the Preds played back-to-back games against Edmonton and Calgary and allowed that pair to score five goals each. It’s a rare night when the Preds don’t allow three goals or more and if the Lightning score three or more here, we’re very likely going to get to the cashier’s window.
The Lightning may have needed the Olympic break more than any team in the league and will be healthier as they start a four-game trip here. Outstanding goaltender Ben Bishop is ready to go and so is Valtteri Filppula, who suffered an injury prior to the break. Steven Stamkos is due back next week and the Lightning should be primed and ready to get back to work. Tampa Bay is a deep team whose only funk this season occurred just prior to the break when they lost four of six games. That’s not too serious at all. The Bolts opened the year by winning 13 of their first 16 games. That’s something to consider because this situation is very similar to the start of the season, as all teams are rested and ready to get back to work. Incidentally, the Preds opened the year by losing three of four and that was with Pekka Rinne in goal. In any event, what we know for sure is we’re getting the superior goaltending by a wide margin with a small tag added in a game in which the Bolts chances of winning are greater than 50%.
Our Pick
Tampa Bay +101 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.02)
Chicago @ N.Y. RANGERS
N.Y. RANGERS +115 over Chicago
Regulation only. Great team the Blackhawks are but all of their best players have not had much rest at all. In fact, the Blackhawks sent 10 players to the Olympics, the most of any NHL team. Before the break the Blackhawks played eight of nine games and six straight on the road, meaning a ton of travel over the past month for all of its best players. Chicago is flawed in net and it’s worth noting that they have the Penguins on deck at home on Saturday, which will be its first home game since January 26, more than a month ago. Chicago has nothing to prove and just might be a lot more focused for Saturday’s game.
The Rangers are a Stanley Cup threat and this is a great way for them to resume work, facing the champs. New York is playing outstanding hockey and have been for the better part of the past two months. Prior to the break, the Rangers won five of six games and deserved to win the game they lost. They outscored the opposition over that stretch 23-11. Since December 22, the Rangers have won 17 of 23 games and have picked up the most points over that stretch in the NHL. Henrik Lundqvist will get the night off in favor of Cam Talbot but frankly, we like Talbot more anyway. Again, the Blackhawks are truly a great team but with the way the Rangers have played over the past couple of months, they should not be a pooch in their own barn against anyone and that includes the Blackhawks.
Our Pick
N.Y. RANGERS +115 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.30)
| Yesterday | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | +2.10 |
| Last 30 Days | 13 | 24 | 0.00 | -15.62 |
| Season to Date | 116 | 149 | 0.00 | -9.49 |
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