Some days I look at the card and nothing looks clear. Others and I want to bet every game from every angle. Today was one of those from the latter. After much narrowing down I offer the following…..
New York Islanders PK -105
(This is a 1 1/2 unit play for me).
I’m a believer. I’ve watched this team play for the last two weeks and they could be the most underrated team in the league. At least they were by me.
Goalie Rick DiPietro is simply in one of those stretches. At present DiPietro is what, (his opponent tonight), Boucher was a month ago. Hot as a pistol and able to (A) carry a team and (B) inspire the mates around him to raise their game to a higher level. He has lost only one game of his last 8 starts while playing in spectacular fashion, giving up a paltry 15 goals for a 1.88 GAA. He should get his regular turn tonight.
The Islanders look to finish their four game road trip tonight with a 2-1-1 mark and head back home securely in the 8th and last play off spot of the east. However with the Canadian loss last night they come into this game only three points out of seventh and could be one slim point away from that before they head to the airport. The Islanders have lost only three of their last 13, and two of those loses were when Garth Snow was between the pipes. Additionally that streak wasn’t made against the bottom feeders of the NHL. They beat and/or tied powerhouses like Ottawa, Boston, Vancouver, Colorado, and Dallas.
Phoenix on the other hand is still within sight of a post season birth but the dim light at the end of their tunnel appears to be a train.
Phoenix’s and Brian Boucher’s seasons have unraveled in parallel fashion. In the Coyotes last 12 games they have won once, (1-9-2). Boucher was in net for 8 of those games and the team surrendered 30 goals for a 3.75 GAA. His backup Sean Burke didn’t fare much better and now he looks for greener pastures in Philadelphia.
Phoenix has numerous injuries with right wing particularly vulnerable.
Washington/Nashville Over 5 -115
Nashville looks to get back in the win column and no better place for them to do so than at home and against the Washington Capitals. I would take them as prohibitive favorites but really the best value here is the total. (although the side is no bad thing to consider here and that was one of those “narrowing down“ propositions)
Their All-Star goalie Tomas Vokoun has been struggling allowing 27 goals in his last 7 games with 5 of those games going over the total, 5-1-1. It’s possible seldom used back up Chris Mason could get the start but either way you have to figure that the Capitals will find the back of the net at least twice in this game.
The real key to this total is Washington’s inability to keep the biscuit out of their own basket and a Predator squad that will take out three weeks of frustration on them. Washington has a GAA on the road of 3.29 and you can bet that number will suffer a bit of inflation after their trip to Music City.
Calgary Flames -.5 -120
Anaheim/Calgary Over 5 +127
Miikka Kiprusoff is back, Jarome Iginla is on one of his patented scoring streaks, and the Saddledome will be rocking tonight.
The Ducks have gone over the total 7 of their last 8 while losing 4 of those games. Anaheim has lost all confidence in last season’s miracle man Jean-Sebastien Giguere and any chance of making the play offs while handing the reigns over to Martin Gerber. Hard to say which is the lesser of evils here.
Calgary has gone over their total 5 of their last 7, (5-1-1). And have won 4 of their last 5.
Twelve days ago Anaheim came into Calgary and lost 6-4. The Gerber/Giguere tag team combined to allow almost as many goals as saves. (6 goals/16 saves)
Look for a similar sequel tonight.
Atlanta/Vancouver Over 5.5 -130
Atlanta averages 2.64 goals scored on the road and gives up 3.57. They are 18-8-2 O/U/P on the road this year. And unfortunately for them this game marks their third of seven straight on the road.
Atlanta’s last five have all gone over the number. Having Heatley back to compliment superstar Ilya Kovalchuk and getting his game speed back only helps their commitment and game plan of winning by out scoring the opposition. Although so far they seem much more adept at charity. They say it is better to give than to receive and if so the Thrashers are at their very best. They have given up 5 goals in each of the last 5 games and four the game before that.
Vancouver at home scores 3.04 and allows 2.52. They have gone 6-2-2 O/U/P in their last 10 with a average of 6.2 goals scored.
This game will be a shootout and if they put up a number of six on this I’d still be confident of the play. By the way….last year in the only meeting of these two at Vancouver the Canucks walked away with a 8-0 whitewash.
RX NHL to Date.....8-0-0
NHL to Date 52-33-3 + 19.19
1 ½ Unit Plays 2-0-0 + 3.0
