Game: New York Rangers at Boston (1:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on New York Rangers +110 (moneyline) (risk 3 to win 3.3)
Aside from a disasterous performance at home vs. the Flyers, the Rangers have played excellent hockey in their last 11 games. All three games they dropped were decided by either overtime or a shootout, so they have won every game or been in it down to the last minute. Boston is by far not as strong as they were a year ago, especially at home where they were almost an automatic winner. The Bruins in early January have already surpassed the losses they suffered at home last season. New York has done their best work against the Northeast where they are 8-2 in their last 10. Meanwhile the Bruins nemesis has been the Atlantic where they are just 1-6 in their last seven. The Rangers have controlled this series at 13-5 in the last 18 meetings, and I'll ride with New York here.
Game: New Jersey at Montreal (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on New Jersey -140 (moneyline) (risk 4 to win 2.9)
The Devils have been playing lights-out hockey all season, and have really kept that up on the road as well. They have now come out on the right side of 16 of their last 20, or 80%. As a slight favorite here, certainly can claim value, especially with five of the last seven roadies showing up on the right side. The Canadiens are not taking advantage of home ice, where they have been a breakeven team on the season, and recently worse as they are just 1-4 in their last five in Montreal, having scored just 3 times in their last three here. The Devils racking up the cash vs. losing teams, now at 41-12 in their last 53 vs. such teams. New Jersey gets the win here.
Game: Washington at Atlanta (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 5 units on Washington -170 (moneyline) (risk 5 to win 2.9)
Pick: 5 units on Game Total UNDER 6.5 -110 (risk 5 to win 4.6)
The Caps are getting back on track after three consecutive losses, have now taken their last two. They have shored up some defensive leaks that made themselves known on the road early on, but have allowed just 2.6 a game over their last 10 travelling. The Thrashers went through a bad stretch of allowing 4 goals or more in 10 of 11 games, but were air-tight last time out allowing just 1 goal. Washington off a single day of rest has been at their best posting a 61-29 mark, and 4-1-1 to the UNDER as a heavy road chalk in their last six. The Thrashers really biting the bullet vs. the big-time teams, at just 26-62-4 vs. teams at .600+. I think the Caps score plenty here, but expect them to shutdown the Leafs, and I like this one to go to Washington, and to go UNDER.
Game: Tampa Bay at Philadelphia (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on Tampa Bay +1.5 goals -170 (puckline) (risk 4 to win 2.4)The Lightning are not opening too many eyes on the road where they have been pretty bad, but looking over their last 11 opens a window of opportunity on the puckline. They are 7-4 in their last 11 ventures outside of Tampa to a would be +1.5 puckline. The Flyers are far from a layup at home, as they are playing breakeven hockey here. Those numbers are skewed from a superior home start, but their last nine played on home ice has seen them drop seven. They have also had problems trying to win games by the margin needed here, as they would be 2-9 at home to a -1.5 puckline. Tampa Bay could win this game but I really like them on the puckline here.
Game: Chicago at Minnesota (8:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on Game Total UNDER 5.5 -130 (risk 4 to win 3.1)
The Blackhawks sure have a Stanley Cup look to them this season, and the march continues. They are tough to score on as witnessed by 11 of their last 17 games holding their opponents to 1 goal or less - pretty amazing. The Wild has taken notice of opponents that have been scoring, and have delivered results. The last 70 times they have faced-off with an opponent that scored 5 or more times in their last game, they have turned in a 41-19-10 mark to the UNDER. Chicago has done a good job shutting down bad teams, resulting in 15 of the last 21 vs. losing teams resulting in unders, and none of the last 6 in this series have topped the total. I'll play this one under.
Game: Calgary at Vancouver (10:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total OVER 5 -140 (risk 3 to win 2.1)The Canucks have put together a very good season, and have been especially tough at home. Teams go through modes during the course of a long season, and right now this is an offense that is hot and clicking. The Canucks have tallied 19 goals in their last four home games, good for an average of almost 5 per game, just about good enough to send this one over itself. The Flames have been quite productive on the road themselves, where they have netted the puck 41 times in their last 14, good for 3 per game. They are not only hot at the right time from the offensive end, but these teams are 13-4-4 to the over in their last 21. Low total, high output, and history says OVER for this one.
Game: St. Louis at Los Angeles (10:35 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total UNDER 5.5 -130 (risk 3 to win 2.3)
The Kings have been hot behind the net with Jonathon Quick. Even Erik Ersberg has pitched in. They have allowed just 9 goals in their past five games, or under 2 per contest. Unfortunately, they have had a lot of offensive inconsistencies that have seen them at 1 goal or less four times in their last 10 games. Pencil in the Blues mark of 8-3-1 UNDER in their last 12 vs. the Pacific and we have the makings of a low scoring game here. The Kings have gone UNDER in five of their last six at home, and nine of 12 overall. This one certainly has the right signatures for a low scoring affair, and I'll back the UNDER in this one.
Game: Detroit at San Jose (10:35 PM Eastern)
Pick: 5 units on Game Total UNDER 5.5 -140 (risk 5 to win 3.6)The Sharks have proven they can score at the Tank, but may have their hands full with an ever-confident Jimmy Howard behind the net for the Wings. Howard has taken over for the most part for Chris Osgood, and the results bear out the reasoning. Howard has allowed just 23 goals in his last 13 behind the net, so this one is likely to play lower than expected. The Wings are now 33-15-3 to the UNDER in their last 51 overall. The Sharks have also played low in the range of a -151 to -200 favorite with seven of the last nine UNDER tickets cashing.
Anyone Have Wunderdog???
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