HNIC
Date---------record------units
10/11 -------- 2-0 ------ +2.68
10/18---------2-2------- -0.20
10/25----------1-2------ -1.10
11/1------------1-3------ -1.60
11/8------------1-2-1---- -1.00
11/15----------0-4------- -4.10
11/22----------3-3-------- +1.75
11/29-----------1-2-------- -.90
12/6------------1-2-------- -1.90
YTD----------12-20-1---- -6.37
Columbus -1 -112
Although the gap has narrowed a touch from last season the West is still the best when we compare conferences. Only a third of all Western Conference teams have a losing record versus their Eastern compatriots. The Blue Jackets are not one of them owning a 4-1-1 record against the East.
We are past the 1/3 mark of the regular season and teams like Columbus are in essence already playing for the post season. Sitting on the outside looking in they need every point they can muster and tonight are the type of games they absolutely must, without a shadow of a doubt, have to win. With a game at Chicago tomorrow and back home versus San Jose on Wednesday this game has increased urgency.
Word out of Long Island is that Joey MacDonald has had too much of a workload and is burnt out. He has allowed 4 goals in 6 of his last 7 starts and owns a .822 save percentage in his last 3 games. In comparison Cbus’ Steve Mason has limited his opposition to 2 goals or less in 6 of his last 8 starts. If for some strange reason, MacDonald doesn’t get the nod and they give the start to Yann Danis, even better.
Islanders have lost 7 of their last 8 while being outscored 41-19. Of the Islanders 19 loses this year, 12 have been by two or more goals.
This one should get ugly.
Washington +125 (Matchbook)
Washington TT Over 2.5 -125 (BetVegasVic)
Yes I know Caps are playing their 3<SUP>rd</SUP> in 4 after last night’s game in Washington. Montreal has had a day to lick their wounds after a embarrassing loss to Tampa Bay at the Bell Centre. They figure to be in a fowl mood, looking to save face, and you know what? It won’t make any difference.
Washington is healthy, Montreal is not. No Koivu, Komisarek, Dandenault, Higgins, and a flu ridden Price. The Caps have Green, Semin, and Fedorov back and what a difference it makes.
The only concern for me in this game is Brent Johnson’s status. He has admitted to having some hip pains and it’s doubtful he’ll play his 3rd game in 4 nights. Enter 20 year old Simeon Varlamov, (2006 1<SUP>st</SUP> round pick). He has posted useful numbers in Heresy. 10-3-0, 2.34 GAA, and .909 save #. How those AHL numbers translate to the spot light of the most boisterous arena in all of hockey is questionable. Without a doubt it’s hard to imagine him pitching a shutout. Then again it’s hard to imagine Washington not having a few scoring chances against the Habs either.
From my thoroughly useless stats drawer:
Caps love hockey night in Quebec.....
Since 1996 Washington have scored 3 goals or more in 8 of 13 games at Montreal on Hockey Night.
They are also 9-3-1 in those meetings.
San Jose -1.5 -115 (Matchbook)
San Jose 1<SUP>st</SUP> Period / -.5 -110 (5dimes)
In St Louis’ 9 road loses this year, 7 have been by more than one goal.
In San Jose’s 15 home wins, 9 have covered the spread.
St Louis Blues are 1-10 in their last eleven meetings against San Jose.
Blues are a banged up lot and finish their three game west coast trip, where they have historically struggled. This is such a solid angle that I have a customer who flew into Vegas last week just to unload on these three games. He’s a life long Blues fan, who knows his hockey and so far has hit on the first two games, (both on the puck line), and figures to get the hat trick tonight. I’m tailing him.
San Jose leads the league for quick starts scoring 37 goals in the first period, (1.32 avg.) and average a half goal better than what they allow, (23 goals allowed, .82 avg.). In fact they dominate the first two periods, (70 goals scored to 39 allowed).
I went a little deeper into this first period dichotomy and looked at how the Sharks came out of the gate at home. In their last 9 home dates they have outscored their opponent 16-2. Only twice have they failed to cover the -.5. One of those games was a week ago today. You may remember that game. Dwayne Roloson stood on his head and kept Edmonton in the game despite being out shot 16-1 by San Jose.
Date---------record------units
10/11 -------- 2-0 ------ +2.68
10/18---------2-2------- -0.20
10/25----------1-2------ -1.10
11/1------------1-3------ -1.60
11/8------------1-2-1---- -1.00
11/15----------0-4------- -4.10
11/22----------3-3-------- +1.75
11/29-----------1-2-------- -.90
12/6------------1-2-------- -1.90
YTD----------12-20-1---- -6.37
Columbus -1 -112
Although the gap has narrowed a touch from last season the West is still the best when we compare conferences. Only a third of all Western Conference teams have a losing record versus their Eastern compatriots. The Blue Jackets are not one of them owning a 4-1-1 record against the East.
We are past the 1/3 mark of the regular season and teams like Columbus are in essence already playing for the post season. Sitting on the outside looking in they need every point they can muster and tonight are the type of games they absolutely must, without a shadow of a doubt, have to win. With a game at Chicago tomorrow and back home versus San Jose on Wednesday this game has increased urgency.
Word out of Long Island is that Joey MacDonald has had too much of a workload and is burnt out. He has allowed 4 goals in 6 of his last 7 starts and owns a .822 save percentage in his last 3 games. In comparison Cbus’ Steve Mason has limited his opposition to 2 goals or less in 6 of his last 8 starts. If for some strange reason, MacDonald doesn’t get the nod and they give the start to Yann Danis, even better.
Islanders have lost 7 of their last 8 while being outscored 41-19. Of the Islanders 19 loses this year, 12 have been by two or more goals.
This one should get ugly.
Washington +125 (Matchbook)
Washington TT Over 2.5 -125 (BetVegasVic)
Yes I know Caps are playing their 3<SUP>rd</SUP> in 4 after last night’s game in Washington. Montreal has had a day to lick their wounds after a embarrassing loss to Tampa Bay at the Bell Centre. They figure to be in a fowl mood, looking to save face, and you know what? It won’t make any difference.
Washington is healthy, Montreal is not. No Koivu, Komisarek, Dandenault, Higgins, and a flu ridden Price. The Caps have Green, Semin, and Fedorov back and what a difference it makes.
The only concern for me in this game is Brent Johnson’s status. He has admitted to having some hip pains and it’s doubtful he’ll play his 3rd game in 4 nights. Enter 20 year old Simeon Varlamov, (2006 1<SUP>st</SUP> round pick). He has posted useful numbers in Heresy. 10-3-0, 2.34 GAA, and .909 save #. How those AHL numbers translate to the spot light of the most boisterous arena in all of hockey is questionable. Without a doubt it’s hard to imagine him pitching a shutout. Then again it’s hard to imagine Washington not having a few scoring chances against the Habs either.
From my thoroughly useless stats drawer:
Caps love hockey night in Quebec.....
Since 1996 Washington have scored 3 goals or more in 8 of 13 games at Montreal on Hockey Night.
They are also 9-3-1 in those meetings.
San Jose -1.5 -115 (Matchbook)
San Jose 1<SUP>st</SUP> Period / -.5 -110 (5dimes)
In St Louis’ 9 road loses this year, 7 have been by more than one goal.
In San Jose’s 15 home wins, 9 have covered the spread.
St Louis Blues are 1-10 in their last eleven meetings against San Jose.
Blues are a banged up lot and finish their three game west coast trip, where they have historically struggled. This is such a solid angle that I have a customer who flew into Vegas last week just to unload on these three games. He’s a life long Blues fan, who knows his hockey and so far has hit on the first two games, (both on the puck line), and figures to get the hat trick tonight. I’m tailing him.
San Jose leads the league for quick starts scoring 37 goals in the first period, (1.32 avg.) and average a half goal better than what they allow, (23 goals allowed, .82 avg.). In fact they dominate the first two periods, (70 goals scored to 39 allowed).
I went a little deeper into this first period dichotomy and looked at how the Sharks came out of the gate at home. In their last 9 home dates they have outscored their opponent 16-2. Only twice have they failed to cover the -.5. One of those games was a week ago today. You may remember that game. Dwayne Roloson stood on his head and kept Edmonton in the game despite being out shot 16-1 by San Jose.
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