[tinfw17]

NHL

Los Angeles -½ +1.08 over CAROLINA
At some point the Canes are going to win a game but as long as these opportunities are available, there’s no reason not to try and cash in. The best part about this game is that the Kings are coming off back-to-back losses and they won’t be in a sympathetic mood. Prior to those two losses they won six of eight and scored four or more goals in each of those six wins. The Kings have scored 58 goals, which is third in the league behind only the Caps and Sharks. They’ll be hungry for a win tonight after those back-to-back losses, as they continue its five-game road trip. Meanwhile, the Canes are without Staal and now Ward, its two best players or for sure its two most important players. Carolina has gone seven straight games without scoring more than twice. The front office and coaches have no confidence in Michael Leighton so they went out and signed Manny Legace. Legace will be in net tonight making his season debut. Here’s a guy that hasn’t played this year and played just 29 games last season. His save percentage a year ago was just .885 and the chances of him being sharp tonight are slim and none and slim left town. The Canes motivation level has to be sinking, as its fan base is dwindling quickly and they’ll play to a tiny crowd tonight and that can’t help. Jump on this one early for the best line possible. Play: Los Angeles -½ +1.08 (Risking 2 units).

Colorado +1.57 over CHICAGO
There’s a great chance the Av’s will get back a few healthy bodies for this one. It appears as though Milan Hejduk, Darcy Tucker and perhaps even Tom Preissing will all be in the line-up tonight. Pressing hasn’t played a game this year but he’s a valuable and skilled back-liner and he’s the guy the Av’s picked up in the Ryan Smyth deal. The Av’s are coming off a 5-3 loss to the Oilers but don’t put too much weight on that. It was one game and they were missing some key players. They’ll be back playing their hearts out again tonight and when they do they’re very difficult to beat, as their 12-4-0-2 record will attest to. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks are off to a good start, however, a close look at its schedule reveals a team that has had it fairly soft thus far. The Blackhawks last six wins have come against Nashville (twice), Edmonton, Minnesota, Montreal and L.A. Chicago is just 4-5 over its last Nine games and the two times they’ve face the Av’s this year, both have gone to OT. The bottom line is that the Av’s have as good a chance to win as the Blackhawks and as far as value goes, this one has it written all over it. Definite overlay. Play: Colorado +1.57 (Risking 2 units).

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NBA

Chicago +1.80 over TORONTO Pinnacle
The Raps are loaded with shooters but they’re not without some serious flaws and it’s becoming a big issue with this team. The Raps defense is a complete and utter grease-fire and until they do something about it, they’re in danger of losing every time out. Without Parker and Duncan the Spurs hung a 131 on them. In its previous game in Dallas, the Mav’s scored 129. Orlando put up 125 on them and the Grizzlies scored 115. That’s just not going to get it done in this league and now the Raps will return home after a three-game trip to face the defensive minded Bulls. Chicago has won three of four with only loss over that stretch coming last night by a single point to the Nuggets. Incidentally, they held the Nuggets to 90 points and have now held its last four opponents to 90 or less. If the Raps are cold they virtually have no shot because of a defense that allows the opposition a ton of easy looks and easy buckets. After a short but tough three game trip to Dallas, New Orleans and San An, the Raps could be flat tonight and even if they play well and shoot well, they’re still a team that is too highly flawed to be trusted in this spot against one of the better defensive teams in the league. Play: Chicago +1.80 (Risking 2 units).

Oklahoma City/L.A. CLIPPERS under 185½ Pinnacle
The fact of the matter is that there are just not that many scorers on the floor for this one other than the Thunder’s Kevin Durant. However, the Thunder will play its third game in four nights and the tail end of back-to-backs after a game in Sacramento last night. The Thunder lost 101-98 but the two teams combined for 71 free throws taken and that’s a ton of free throws. Had that not occurred this game would have gone way, way under the total. Anyway, the Thunder crawl up the court and are never in a hurry to score and the Clip Joint is without its starting guard, Eric Gordon, who is good for at least 15 a game. When playing Minnesota the Clippers scored just 93, they scored 84 against Dallas and they scored just 84 against New Orleans on Monday, its first game without Gordon. Again, the pace should be slow and both these teams just don’t have the scorers. Play: Ok City/LAC under 185½ (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).