Philadelphia Flyers out for Revenge at Pittsburgh
The Pick: Philadelphia +100 over Pittsburgh
Suddenly, the Philadelphia Flyers are in danger of relinquishing the first overall seed in the Eastern Conference and according to their coach they're not playing with enough "desperation". Tonight they travel to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins who are only two points behind them for the Atlantic Division lead. The Flyers could drop down to the fourth seed if they don't pick it up these last seven games. Philadelphia has dropped their last four at home, although three of them were shootout losses. We think going on the road is exactly what they need right now to get back on track.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has been playing tremendous hockey without their top two players Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the lineup. Marc-Andre Fluery has been stellar lately by only giving up only two goals in the last three games. Pittsburgh is winning many low-scoring, tight checking games lately with a make shift lineup that is dealing with many injuries. They have won four games in a row and all of those wins were in a shootout.
Despite the fact that Pittsburgh has played well recently, they're facing an angry Flyers club who had 20 turnovers in their last game against Boston, which is more than double their season average of 8.11 per game. Take the Flyers on a line that is just about even.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Monday Prediction
Desperate Blackhawks Look to Win Fourth Straight Game in Detroit
The Pick: Chicago +110 over Detroit
This is one of only two NHL games on the Monday night slate and more is at stake for the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago is currently in the eighth seed but only one point ahead of ninth place Calgary. Of all the Western teams fighting for the playoffs the Blackhawks have the most difficult schedule and will meet Detroit two more times after tonight. Good news for the Hawks is that they have had recent success winning in Detroit. Chicago posted a 4-1 victory in this building in January and have won three straight overall at Joe Louis arena. The Wings will be without starting goalie, Jimmy Howard, as well as leading scorers Johan Franzen and Pavel Datsyuk. We recommend to go with the more desperate team tonight in the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Pick: Chicago +110 over Detroit
This is one of only two NHL games on the Monday night slate and more is at stake for the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago is currently in the eighth seed but only one point ahead of ninth place Calgary. Of all the Western teams fighting for the playoffs the Blackhawks have the most difficult schedule and will meet Detroit two more times after tonight. Good news for the Hawks is that they have had recent success winning in Detroit. Chicago posted a 4-1 victory in this building in January and have won three straight overall at Joe Louis arena. The Wings will be without starting goalie, Jimmy Howard, as well as leading scorers Johan Franzen and Pavel Datsyuk. We recommend to go with the more desperate team tonight in the Chicago Blackhawks.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Is giving up a goal like this worth being benched for the next game?
Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings has been brilliant most of the year. This was not his highlight moment. Should the Kings play Jonathan Bernier for their huge tilt against Anaheim tomorrow night? View video above:
Monday, March 14, 2011
Monday Prediction
Sharks Look to Sweep Season Series Against Chicago
The Pick: San Jose +105 over Chicago
Last week: 2-0
Sometimes for a team such as the San Jose Sharks that have lost two in a row, the best thing to do is go on the road. That's the situation for the Sharks after dropping two straight shootouts at home. Suddenly, the Kings, Coyotes, and Stars are in the Sharks rear view mirror for the Pacific Division title. The good news for San Jose is that they have beaten tonight's opponent three times this season after the Blackhawks eliminated them from the postseason last year. Antti Niemi has played well against his former team posting a 3-0 record with an astonishing .933 save percentage. Chicago lost in overtime yesterday in Washington but have only lost once in regulation in their last ten. They are a bit thin on defense tonight with the injury to Brain Campbell yesterday. We don't see the Sharks losing three in a row and expect them to relish the possibility of sweeping Chicago.
The Pick: San Jose +105 over Chicago
Last week: 2-0
Sometimes for a team such as the San Jose Sharks that have lost two in a row, the best thing to do is go on the road. That's the situation for the Sharks after dropping two straight shootouts at home. Suddenly, the Kings, Coyotes, and Stars are in the Sharks rear view mirror for the Pacific Division title. The good news for San Jose is that they have beaten tonight's opponent three times this season after the Blackhawks eliminated them from the postseason last year. Antti Niemi has played well against his former team posting a 3-0 record with an astonishing .933 save percentage. Chicago lost in overtime yesterday in Washington but have only lost once in regulation in their last ten. They are a bit thin on defense tonight with the injury to Brain Campbell yesterday. We don't see the Sharks losing three in a row and expect them to relish the possibility of sweeping Chicago.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Saturday Prediction
UPSET ALERT: Expecting the Rangers to shock Sharks at HP Pavilion
The Pick: NY Rangers +150
The San Jose Sharks have been one of the better teams in the NHL for the last month and a half and perhaps played the most entertaining game of the season against Vancouver Thursday night. The Sharks came back twice late in the third period but lost in a shootout. However, we are expecting a letdown for tonight's game against the NY Rangers. The Rangers have had three days to stew over their recent 5-2 loss at Anaheim. New York is playing for their playoff lives as they only hold a slim two point lead over ninth place Carolina. Annti Niemi has been brilliant for the Sharks in goal, but is expected to finally get a night off. That means a rusty Antero Nittymaki will be in goal for the Sharks. We realize that San Jose is a much better team, but on this night take the desperate NY Rangers for the win.
The Pick: NY Rangers +150
The San Jose Sharks have been one of the better teams in the NHL for the last month and a half and perhaps played the most entertaining game of the season against Vancouver Thursday night. The Sharks came back twice late in the third period but lost in a shootout. However, we are expecting a letdown for tonight's game against the NY Rangers. The Rangers have had three days to stew over their recent 5-2 loss at Anaheim. New York is playing for their playoff lives as they only hold a slim two point lead over ninth place Carolina. Annti Niemi has been brilliant for the Sharks in goal, but is expected to finally get a night off. That means a rusty Antero Nittymaki will be in goal for the Sharks. We realize that San Jose is a much better team, but on this night take the desperate NY Rangers for the win.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Tuesday Prediction
NHL Leading Vancouver Canucks look to continue winning ways at Phoenix
The Pick: Vancouver -125 over Phoenix
Vancouver has won two in a row to start a five-game road trip and should be well represented with Canuck fans in Phoenix tonight. Last time the Canucks played the Coyotes they won 6-0 and it sounded like the game was at the Rogers Center. The Canucks have been stingy on defense lately by only yielding one goal in their last two wins over Los Angeles and Anaheim. The Coyotes are struggling to score and are battling recent off the ice rumors that the team may be heading to Winnipeg next season. Phoenix is sitting seventh in the West and only a mere three points from ninth in the competitive Western Conference.
The Pick: Vancouver -125 over Phoenix
Vancouver has won two in a row to start a five-game road trip and should be well represented with Canuck fans in Phoenix tonight. Last time the Canucks played the Coyotes they won 6-0 and it sounded like the game was at the Rogers Center. The Canucks have been stingy on defense lately by only yielding one goal in their last two wins over Los Angeles and Anaheim. The Coyotes are struggling to score and are battling recent off the ice rumors that the team may be heading to Winnipeg next season. Phoenix is sitting seventh in the West and only a mere three points from ninth in the competitive Western Conference.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Kris Versteeg and the Leafs
Last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Philadelphia Flyers played a tough, hard-hitting contest in Philadelphia. It was a very important game for both teams. The Flyers are trying to finish the season in first place in the Eastern Conference so they can have home ice advantage in the playoffs. For Toronto, just getting into the playoffs is the mission. Seeing two teams so apart in the standings play each other is usually an easy game to call, but not with so much at stake.
Despite all of that, the game may have meant more to one player. A player seemingly cast aside for "not fitting in"; a player who was pushed out the door by Brian Burke.
Kris Versteeg was a Maple Leaf for only 53 games. That seems like a short period of time to see if a player is the right fit on a hockey team. It seems even shorter when consider Versteeg's age (24) and experience.
Statistically, it is hard to say that Versteeg was a poor player for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was on pace to score more then 20 goals and 50 points on a team that doesn't have many players capable of putting up those numbers. His plus/minus of -13 wasn't great, but the Maple Leafs were a struggling team before trading away Versteeg.
Still, management decided that Versteeg was expendable and decided to move him. The trade and the return the Leafs received for him have already been debated to death. The major factor was that Versteeg was not a fit with this Toronto team. Could it be that Burke and the Leafs staff wanted Versteeg to play with Kessel? On a team with clearly defined roles, it isn't hard to imagine that Ron Wilson and Brian Burke didn't like Versteeg as a third line player.
For a player who had just won the Stanley Cup, it must seem odd to have two teams in quick succession cast you aside. The Blackhawks, fresh off of their Stanley Cup win, had serious salary cap issues and Versteeg was not the only player moved to fix the problem.
With Toronto, Versteeg had to wonder what was preventing him from working out. He is a quick player with great hands and a solid shot, and can play good defence when he wants to. On a team that lacked obvious offensive talents, you would think that Kris Versteeg would be an important top six forward.
Whatever the reason for his departure, Kris Versteeg has never said a negative thing about his situation or the Toronto Maple Leafs. If he had any feelings of anger at the team, he certainly got his revenge by scoring two goals last night. The Leafs won the game on a late goal by Darryl Boyce, but Versteeg certainly showed off his talent and showed that he was doing what he (according to Burke) failed to do in Toronto - fitting in.
Kris Versteeg was a Maple Leaf for only 53 games. That seems like a short period of time to see if a player is the right fit on a hockey team. It seems even shorter when consider Versteeg's age (24) and experience.
Statistically, it is hard to say that Versteeg was a poor player for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was on pace to score more then 20 goals and 50 points on a team that doesn't have many players capable of putting up those numbers. His plus/minus of -13 wasn't great, but the Maple Leafs were a struggling team before trading away Versteeg.
Still, management decided that Versteeg was expendable and decided to move him. The trade and the return the Leafs received for him have already been debated to death. The major factor was that Versteeg was not a fit with this Toronto team. Could it be that Burke and the Leafs staff wanted Versteeg to play with Kessel? On a team with clearly defined roles, it isn't hard to imagine that Ron Wilson and Brian Burke didn't like Versteeg as a third line player.
For a player who had just won the Stanley Cup, it must seem odd to have two teams in quick succession cast you aside. The Blackhawks, fresh off of their Stanley Cup win, had serious salary cap issues and Versteeg was not the only player moved to fix the problem.
With Toronto, Versteeg had to wonder what was preventing him from working out. He is a quick player with great hands and a solid shot, and can play good defence when he wants to. On a team that lacked obvious offensive talents, you would think that Kris Versteeg would be an important top six forward.
Whatever the reason for his departure, Kris Versteeg has never said a negative thing about his situation or the Toronto Maple Leafs. If he had any feelings of anger at the team, he certainly got his revenge by scoring two goals last night. The Leafs won the game on a late goal by Darryl Boyce, but Versteeg certainly showed off his talent and showed that he was doing what he (according to Burke) failed to do in Toronto - fitting in.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Thursday Prediction
Look for the Columbus Blue Jackets to keep playoff hopes alive in Edmonton
The Pick: Columbus -135 over Edmonton
We really like the way the Blue Jackets are playing recently as it appears that Rick Nash is on a mission to get his team in the playoffs. Columbus has only lost once in regulation since February 10th and is 6-2-2 in their last ten. This is as close to a must-win game as there is for the Jackets, since they sit 5 points out of a playoff spot. Edmonton is playing out the string and is in the final game of a four game homestand in which they have gone 1-2. Perhaps Nashville took the Oilers lightly on Tuesday night and paid for it by losing 3-2. We don't expect Columbus to do the same.
The Pick: Columbus -135 over Edmonton
We really like the way the Blue Jackets are playing recently as it appears that Rick Nash is on a mission to get his team in the playoffs. Columbus has only lost once in regulation since February 10th and is 6-2-2 in their last ten. This is as close to a must-win game as there is for the Jackets, since they sit 5 points out of a playoff spot. Edmonton is playing out the string and is in the final game of a four game homestand in which they have gone 1-2. Perhaps Nashville took the Oilers lightly on Tuesday night and paid for it by losing 3-2. We don't expect Columbus to do the same.
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