[tinfw17]

Washington +1.27 over NEW JERSEY (REG) Pinnacle
The fact that Alex Ovechkin is out is one of the main reasons for this choice. When a player of his caliber goes down the rest of the team digs down deep for the first game for sure and perhaps a few games after that. These guys have a ton of pride and they want to show everyone they can win without its superstar. Besides, it’s not like the Caps aren’t deep. They’re a top-seeded playoff team with or without OV and tonight you’ll see them play their hearts out. The Devils have struggled miserably at home with just one win in five games. They’re also struggling offensively and in fact, has scored two goals or less in eight of the first 12 games. Don’t get me wrong, the Devils are playing great and they’re one of the hotter teams in the league right now. However, the Caps will treat this one like a playoff game because all they’ve been hearing for three days is questions about how they’re going to get along without AO. We’ll see. Play: Washington +1.27 (Risking 2 units).

FLORIDA -½ +1.30 over Carolina (REG) Pinnacle
The Hurricanes are in a bigger panic than the public at a flu-vaccine clinic. Here’s a team that has dropped Nine in a row and while the team tries to figure it out, someone should tell them it’s not rocket science. I said it all of last year and this year that the Canes are just a bad hockey team with not a lot of talent. The defense stinks, the offense is filled with a bunch of castoffs and aging vets and until they show us something different, why not kick a team when they’re down. Not only are the Canes losing, they’re getting buried. Its last three losses have been by scores of 5-1, 6-1, and 5-2. They also have a 7-2 loss and a 6-2 loss earlier in the year. Meanwhile, the Panthers are coming on with two straight wins over two good teams, Dallas and St. Louis. Both of those were on the road and now they’ll play at home and they’ll play with some momentum. The Panthers remain perhaps the most undervalued team in the business. The kicker here is that these two met once already and that game was the Panthers first back upon its return from overseas to start the year. Florida lost 7-2 and there’s no way they’ve forgotten about it. Well, the tide has turned and it’s not in the Hurricanes favor. Play: Florida -½ +1.30 (Risking 2 units).

COLUMBUS +1.05 over San Jose (REG) Pinnacle
The Sharkies are warming up big time after a shaky start but I’m not convinced they’re as good as advertised. The first line of Thornton, Heatley and Clowe is as good as it gets but after that they take a big drop off and the defense leaves plenty to be desired as well. The Sharks are a team that can be pressured to cough it up in its own end and Ken Hitchcock and the Jackets should be able to exploit that. The Jackets roll out four good lines and two outstanding lines. The first two lines of Nash, Vermette and Huselius and Umberger, Brassard and Voracek just keep getting better and just keep racking up points. R.J. Umberger might be the most underrated player in the game. Anyway, these Blue Jackets are a team on the rise and they’re not rebuilding anymore. The Jackets are built and they’re damn good. They’re not going to be a pooch in its own building much this year but when they are and the circumstances are not unfavorable, I’m on them with no questions asked and absolutely make no exception here. Play: Columbus +1.05 (Risking 2 units).

[tinfw17]

Memphis +2.15 over Golden State Pinnacle
Not all is well in Golden State and regardless of what happens in this game the Grizzlies chances of winning are just as good, if not better than the Warriors chances. Golden State is once again the most dysfunctional family in the NBA. Don Nelson would rather prove a point than win a game. Stephen Jackson wants out and was booed every time he touched the rock in the Warriors last game. They have some very good shooters but they have no defense and no true point-guard. It’s only a matter of time until the Grizzlies start winning consistently because they’re loaded. The defense hasn’t been sharp but they’ll fix that. The Grizz have just one win but watching this team play, with all that talent, you know there onto something good. They also seem determined and they play hard and that is going to pay off. Memphis has to feel that is a winnable game and there is no denying that they’re the better team. There isn’t an easier building in the league to emerge victorious than the one the Grizzlies will visit here. Play: Memphis +2.15 (Risking 2 units).

Indiana +1.90 over NEW YORK Pinnacle
The Pacers are winless and they might remain winless but at this price against this team they’re worth a bet. The problem with the Knicks is that they do not play defense and when you allow the opposition to score with ease you’re in danger of losing every time. The Knickerbockers have allowed an average of an alarming 117 points a game thus far and when that happens it means you have to score a ton to win. They’ve been falling behind by huge margins and although they’ve been able to make some big runs of their own and make it close, those huge comebacks are draining indeed, especially when you’re asked to do it every night. The Pacers have lost to three very good teams in Atlanta, Miami and Denver and will take a big step down in class when facing the Knicks. Again, they may not win but they most definitely have a chance against this defenseless host. Play: Indiana +1.90 (Risking 2 units).