Colorado +1.68 over DETROIT

The Red Wings have been shutout in three of its last four games and that alone makes them a huge risk at this price. The team is simply not generating enough offense. They were shutout by the Jackets last game, a team that has had more defensive breakdowns than just about anyone. Yeah, the Joe will be electric on New Year’s Eve but so what. The AV’s have been terrific on the road and they’ve also been great against the Northeast, going a perfect 4-0-0 thus far. Oh, against the East overall, Colorado has gone 8-2-1. It’s also worth noting that the Av’s have been staying out of the box and in fact, has taken just one minor penalty in its last two games. Keep the Red Wings off the power-play and their chances of scoring are even worse. Anyway, no matter how you break it down, this one is an overlay for sure and that makes the Avalanche a good wager. Play: Colorado +1.68 (Risking 2 units).


FLORIDA -½ +1.27 over Montreal

The Habs are looking much better these days for sure but damn, this is a tough spot. Montreal will be playing its third game in four days and its seventh straight on the road. They played last night in Tampa Bay and this one starts at 5:00 PM EST, which means they’ll be back on the ice after finishing a game last night about 10:00 PM. That in itself is a quirk in the schedule and it’s not like the Habs are in a desperate situation, as they’ve won five of its last six games. The Panthers are rested and will be raring to go after three losses in its last four. The Panthers will also get Cory Stillman back tonight and that gives them another scoring forward that will bring a ton of energy to the team. One has to figure the Habs to be running strictly on fumes here after that physical and intense OT win last night. Play: Florida -½ +1.27 (Risking 2 units).


CHICAGO -½ -1.05 over New Jersey

The Blackhawks catch the Devils at precisely the right time here, as New Jersey beat the hated Penguins last night, 2-0. Now the Devils will travel to play a team they rarely see for its third game in four days. The Devils are an established power in this league and have been for years so for them this is just another game. The Blackhawks on the other hand will get a chance to play against one of the best in ideal circumstances in what should feature one of the rowdiest crowds in years. Chicago is rested, they’re playing great hockey, they’re absolutely loaded and they might just hand this tired intruder a beating. This wager looks so good. Play: Chicago -½ -1.05 (Risking 3.15 units to win 3).


DETROIT –4½ over Chicago

The Pistons have dropped an incredible eight straight games but this is where it ends. Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Ben Gordon are all back in the lineup following lengthy absences and this will be the third game back for all three. The good news is that this assignment couldn’t be any easier. The Bulls are a bad team and you can triple that on the road where they’ve won just twice in 13 tries. They beat the Pacers in its last game but allowed that team an eye-opening 38 points in the second quarter to get back into it. So, not only have the Pistons lost eight in a row but they’ve also dropped four straight to the Bulls and both those sets of results will have them extra jacked up here. The Pistons have to win this game and frankly, it’s just so highly unlikely that they won’t come out firing on all cylinders and perhaps put together its best game of the year on New Year’s Eve (well sort of, the game Tips off at 3:00 PM). Play: Detroit –4½ (Risking 2.08 units to win 2).