NHL Sunday

[VegasVic]

Tampa Bay/New York Islanders Over 5 -145 (Olympic)

A potential first round playoff match up between these two clubs should produce an inspired effort by both and don’t be surprised if there are a few penalties, (and subsequent power plays).

Tampa Bay showed a bit of their old style of play yesterday and if it wasn’t for some over coaching by John Tortorella and constantly changing lines as fast as they could get out there the game could have had even more than the 9 goals that were scored. Instead all he did was take them out of sync and it showed with no scores by Martin St. Louis and a frustrated Vincent Lecavalier, (who has been at odds with his coach all year). I believe he’ll let the players play today and take more of a back seat. At least I hope he does.

In the last four games between these two at New York there have been 27 goals scored. This game looks to be no different. Tampa Bay has been a scoring machine all year and when the Islanders match up against a offensive team such as the Lightning they too tend to put numbers up.



NHL single unit plays………92-57-7.…..+ 35.65
Unit and a half plays………..13-5-1.…… + 10.845

NHL total to Date…………...105-62-8.……+ 46.495

 

[bealive]

Morning Vic,

My books only have 5.5 +105...would you still play it?

Thanks

 

[VegasVic]

Sorry Gab I just got back ...yes take it

 

[bealive]

No Worries Vice,

I just posted it...thanks again.

 

[bealive]

er...Vic

 

[SportSavant]

Vic, how do you feel about the wait the Tampa Coach has been calling out his Players?

I feel he is doing much more harm than good....I just woke up at 4pm est so with a stroke of look I missed this one, but looking at the final score indicates to me that they just did not show up to play today.

Looks like Philly may take over first....

 

[VegasVic]

Sorry boys...there's being wrong and then there's never showing up. I, (and Tampa Bay) was the later. I underestimated the effect of the Lightning playing back to back afternoon road games and DiPietro, who can either look like the best thing since sliced bread or a sieve.

I knew I should have taken the day off!

 

[VegasVic]

You figured right Savant. They looked like they woke up about the same time as you. (just in time to get the plane back home)

Even the announcer said before the game that they looked "quiet" and possibly tired. I could have bailed out but I figured that getting five goals between these two wouldn't be a problem even if they were half asleep. I was wrong. They did have some scoring chances but DiPietro looked on top of his game after his last poor outing and in general the Bolts just didn't look anything like what you'd expect.

 

[VegasVic]

Savant...you think your having a bad day then you read something that tells you it could be worse. Check out "Mavs -5 for 6 and a half dimes" on SWO site.

 

[SportSavant]

But do you think the tampa coach erreed the way he criticizes his players in the media?

 

[VegasVic]

He’s been doing it all year and all it’s done is put them in first place. It doesn’t mean the players like it as Lecavalier has been publicly out spoken about him as well. They both have egos that don’t mesh. I don’t think Tortorella’s comments will have either a negative or positive effect. What’s the difference between what he’s done and what Pat Burns has displayed in public for years? Or Bill Parcell in football? Or the Yankees, A’s hatred for each other in the eighties and seventies respectively? They all want to win and I don’t think that you have to love each other to perform at your best.

That being said…I have watched the Lighting’s last three games and something is missing. I can’t explain it. But I would attribute it more to being burned out than dissension. I think a lot of teams are there right now. They just want the playoffs to start.

 

[VegasVic]

All these players that are in the playoffs look like they just don't want to get hurt. The only place you get a honest effort is the some of the teams that not going to make it but have minor leaguers looking for a spot in the future and teams that are on the cusp of making the post season.


And you know what? I'm tired of the regular season too!

 

[SportSavant]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> That being said…I have watched the Lighting’s last three games and something is missing. I can’t explain it. But I would attribute it more to being burned out than dissension. I think a lot of teams are there right now. They just want the playoffs to start. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

coudnt agree more with that, which is why I am going to be very selective till playoff time...I worry that Tampa Bay may have peaked a bit too early....


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Savant...you think your having a bad day then you read something that tells you it could be worse. Check out "Mavs -5 for 6 and a half dimes" on SWO site. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Funny, I only beleive a small % of what I read on these threads, but as I was looking at today's NBA card this morning at 4am....two games jumped out at Me...Nets + 8 at home (despite their injuries) & Houston + 8.5 in Sacto. Didnt pull the trigger on the Nets but obviously wish I had...now the question remains is wether I will play my other NBA best bet on the rockets. WIll wait to see if 9 points is feasable...Funny as I have had greater success in the NBA since this tracking experiment started even though my knowledge of NHL is much greater...

 

[VegasVic]

I think the Lightning are going to be out of the playoffs in rapid fashion. If they match up with the Islanders, (which at this point looks doubtful), I believe that they would lose in the first round. BUT much of that depends on DiPietro. He’s got the stuff to carry a team.

Then you wonder what happens if the Lightning start to play with their 111% effort that they usually play with? I used to play hockey and we had this one kid who was like 5’ 5” and out hustled and out thought everyone else. He never quit. Whenever there was a loose puck he was there. Whenever you saw someone diving to stop a shot and put himself at risk it was him. He would piss the opposition off like a nat that you couldn’t get out of your ear. They would drop the gloves out of frustration and even though he was half their size he would fight as hard as he played and won more than he lost.

This kid reminds me of St. Louis. Lately St. Louis is not making the plays. All of a sudden you don’t hear his name anymore like you did all year long. I saw a play today with Lecavalier who had a play no more than 15 feet to DiPietro’s right. wide open and he tried a slap shot. A friggin’ slap shot! Not his usual style. Before it would have either been a wrist shot or a deek and slip it in the open side.

You could be right. Maybe they are trying to make a statement to Tortorella.

 

[SportSavant]

Take a look at My Flyers, they have been winning despite:

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS - Centers Radovan Somik (broken cheekbone), Jeremy Roenick (shattered jaw/concussion) and Keith Primeau (concussion), defensemen Eric Desjardins (broken right arm), Vladimir Malakhov (fractured jaw) and Dennis Seidenberg (broken leg) are sidelined indefinitely.

I wonder what will happen if they have their enitre team...Of course it will all be up toi wether or not Eshe can play becauz I do not beleive that Burke can take them to the promise land...When i see the job that Bobby Clarke has done with the Flyers I get so mad that he has been unable, throughout this entire time, to get a money goaltender

 

[Sharp]

Hey Vic, SS,

Have either of you considered Detroit tonight vs. Ana? Det has one loss in their last ten, while Ana has one win (Against Phx in ot) in their last seven.

It seems to me that Detroit is doing what they always seem to do, peak at the right time. They've been in first place in the west for most of the year, but it never seemed that they were trying very hard.

I know Anahiem has a decent record on Sunday games, because they always seem to be playing on a Sunday.

I might pull the trigger; the chalk is reasonable too.

Go Sens.

sharp.

 

[BigGamesOnly]

It seems to me that the Wings went through a similar experience through a 2-game span. It was like they didn't care except to get a tie. In the last game they've rebounded which is why I've picked them over the Ducks today.

I think most teams on top get this way whether it's NBA, MLB or NHL. Maybe it's just Tampa's turn after playing so many games late in the year lately.

I predict they will pick it up just before the playoffs to get back in form.

 

[VegasVic]

Sharp
I was looking at the Wings tonight. But I liked them last night and didn't pull the trigger and you know what happened. I liked the Penguins today and didn't use them and they just won in ot with 7 seconds left on a power play. (they got to OT with another stupid penalty to Jagr and took advantage). My day is a bad one and I'm quiting till tomorrow. Luck runs in streaks and mine is non-existant.

But I'm rooting for you. I do think that the Wings are the side.