Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals (-140, 6.5)
Philadelphia goalie Brian Boucher had a number of reasons to want to win Sunday’s matchup against the San Jose Sharks. He was making his first start this season, facing his former team and playing in front of his dad.
But Boucher crumbled under the pressure, letting in four questionable goals in a 4-1 loss to the Sharks.
“All four of them, they were awful goals to give up,” Boucher told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “They were backbreakers. You can’t expect to win when the goalie gives up four goals like that.”
Ray Emery has done a good job in net for the Flyers so far this season and may get the nod on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals in place of Boucher. Whoever’s between the pipes will have his work cut out for him against the Caps, who own the fourth best scoring offense in the league.
Pick: Capitals
Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers (-125, 5.5)
The Edmonton Oilers would like to forget their latest road trip which started with a 5-2 thumping in Calgary Saturday night and ended with a 2-0 loss to the Canucks Sunday.
The Oilers were forced to play three games in four nights in three different cities during that stretch and had a number of players battling the effects of the flu. But the team isn’t willing to blame Sunday’s lethargic performance on illness or fatigue.
“There was a lot missing,” Patrick O'Sullivan told the Edmonton Sun. “They played yesterday too. Yeah, our team is sick, so what? We couldn't get any rhythm and we needed to score on our power play, which we didn't do."
Edmonton’s offensive woes should continue against Colorado Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson. Anderson stopped 48 of 49 shots fired at him during Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings and has been instrumental in getting his team to the top seed of the Western Conference.
The under is 5-1 in the last six meetings between these two teams.
Ice picks 10/27
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