Montreal Canadians -.5 -105
[Unit and a half play]
Quick who’s the worst team in the NHL? Wrong! It’s the Phoenix Coyotes. Just because there are no less than six teams in the league that have a lesser point total doesn’t excuse them of that honor. Well at least not in my power ratings.
In their last 24 games they have won a total of three. In their last 18 they are 2-14-2 with the two wins by a one goal margin and the loses by a average of 2.6 goals, (2.3-4.9). In other words when they do win it’s with great fortune and when they lose they are never in the game. Their confidence level is at a all time low and you could see it in their posture when they skated off the ice in Edmonton after their overtime loss wasting a tough physical and emotional effort. These guys are beaten men in every possible way.
The Canadians are skating with renewed enthusiasm and with Jose Theodore playing well again the victories are starting to roll in. They had won five in a row and with Theodore only allowing six goals started their four game road trip with a tough loss at San Jose on Tuesday. They will take advantage of the schedule and make up for the loss and get their two points here at the Coyote’s expense.
Additionally: The Coyotes traded their penalty killing forward Mike Sillinger to St. Louis for a back up goalie Thursday night. Think they are second guessing the Burke trade to Philly?
Carolina/Atlanta Over 5 -125
The last time a Atlanta Thrashers game had less than 5 goals scored was 15 games ago on 1/28. That was well before Dany Heatley joined the team and helped to kick start their offense into a higher gear. This team is playing like the playoffs are within their grasp despite being 11 points behind 8th place Islanders. They have won three straight and six of nine. Atlanta is either getting goals in bunches (like lately), or giving them up as often, (like earlier). Either way their style of play equates to high scoring games.
Carolina is usually at the other end of the spectrum from the Thrashers in scoring output. However the exception for them is when they meet Atlanta. In the last eight games between the two seven have gone over and the one that didn’t still had 5 goals scored. In those eight games 53 goals were scored for a 6.6 average.
New Jersey/Tampa Bay Over 4.5 -120
Another low total posted by the linesmaker only because of a Devil reputation for low scores. However if you look at the Devils in their last 18 games you’ll find ten of them went over the number, (10-7-1). Suddenly the Devils are scoring 5, 8, and 7goals in a game??!! And giving up three and four goals more often than their historical ones or twos? I would assume this is a reflection on their attitude that the real season doesn’t start until the playoffs and at that point they will tighten up their trapping defense to the caliber that brought them those three Stanley Cups. Until then they just try to keep it close and out score the opponent.
Meanwhile you have the wide open whirling tornado offense in Tampa Bay posting scores so high that it would make Lou Pinella salivate. All this team has done in their last 22 games is go 18-3-1 over the number. With 146 goals scored in those games for a 6.6 average.
Four and a half is entirely too low for these two teams playing they way they have lately. Grab this number at Olympic. (at 6:30 pm PST it’s now at -130 so don’t wait long)
NHL single unit plays………74-53-6.…..+ 20.92
Unit and a half plays………..11-2-1.…… + 13.695
NHL total to Date…………...85-55-7.……+ 34.615
[Unit and a half play]
Quick who’s the worst team in the NHL? Wrong! It’s the Phoenix Coyotes. Just because there are no less than six teams in the league that have a lesser point total doesn’t excuse them of that honor. Well at least not in my power ratings.
In their last 24 games they have won a total of three. In their last 18 they are 2-14-2 with the two wins by a one goal margin and the loses by a average of 2.6 goals, (2.3-4.9). In other words when they do win it’s with great fortune and when they lose they are never in the game. Their confidence level is at a all time low and you could see it in their posture when they skated off the ice in Edmonton after their overtime loss wasting a tough physical and emotional effort. These guys are beaten men in every possible way.
The Canadians are skating with renewed enthusiasm and with Jose Theodore playing well again the victories are starting to roll in. They had won five in a row and with Theodore only allowing six goals started their four game road trip with a tough loss at San Jose on Tuesday. They will take advantage of the schedule and make up for the loss and get their two points here at the Coyote’s expense.
Additionally: The Coyotes traded their penalty killing forward Mike Sillinger to St. Louis for a back up goalie Thursday night. Think they are second guessing the Burke trade to Philly?
Carolina/Atlanta Over 5 -125
The last time a Atlanta Thrashers game had less than 5 goals scored was 15 games ago on 1/28. That was well before Dany Heatley joined the team and helped to kick start their offense into a higher gear. This team is playing like the playoffs are within their grasp despite being 11 points behind 8th place Islanders. They have won three straight and six of nine. Atlanta is either getting goals in bunches (like lately), or giving them up as often, (like earlier). Either way their style of play equates to high scoring games.
Carolina is usually at the other end of the spectrum from the Thrashers in scoring output. However the exception for them is when they meet Atlanta. In the last eight games between the two seven have gone over and the one that didn’t still had 5 goals scored. In those eight games 53 goals were scored for a 6.6 average.
New Jersey/Tampa Bay Over 4.5 -120
Another low total posted by the linesmaker only because of a Devil reputation for low scores. However if you look at the Devils in their last 18 games you’ll find ten of them went over the number, (10-7-1). Suddenly the Devils are scoring 5, 8, and 7goals in a game??!! And giving up three and four goals more often than their historical ones or twos? I would assume this is a reflection on their attitude that the real season doesn’t start until the playoffs and at that point they will tighten up their trapping defense to the caliber that brought them those three Stanley Cups. Until then they just try to keep it close and out score the opponent.
Meanwhile you have the wide open whirling tornado offense in Tampa Bay posting scores so high that it would make Lou Pinella salivate. All this team has done in their last 22 games is go 18-3-1 over the number. With 146 goals scored in those games for a 6.6 average.
Four and a half is entirely too low for these two teams playing they way they have lately. Grab this number at Olympic. (at 6:30 pm PST it’s now at -130 so don’t wait long)
NHL single unit plays………74-53-6.…..+ 20.92
Unit and a half plays………..11-2-1.…… + 13.695
NHL total to Date…………...85-55-7.……+ 34.615
