Maybe it’s the stars…perhaps biorhythms…but as ordinary as yesterdays card looked to me today’s looks incredible. Every where I see opportunity. I’m like a kid in a candy store on sensory overload. Salivating like Pavlov’s dog, I look at this lineup and tell myself, “I’ll take one of those, two of these, ….oh my gosh give me a dozen of those.”
Control Vic.
So with much restraint and discipline I narrow down this gold rush to a few single nuggets.
[Unit and a half play]
New Jersey/Tampa Bay Over 4.5 -115
Em.pa.thy 1. Identification with and understanding of another’s feelings, situation, and motives.
Put yourself in the shoes of the Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils for a moment. You’ve just had a day off in sunny, warm Florida. You have just captured the hall of fame milestone of 400 victories faster than any person to ever put on the pads. (In fact you are only 151 wins behind the all time leader.) Here you are in Miami with a Pina Colada in your hands, watching the models walk by on South Beach, and you’re only worry is that you believe you should have chosen the SPF 40 sunblock. Yes sir…Life is good!
Okay maybe I’m empathizing too much! But you understand my point. You’ve just spent a winter in New Jersey. Have YOU ever been in New Jersey? In the winter? Now your in Florida for three days. Empathize
Will Brodeur even play this game? Is his hangover hanging over? Are the back of his legs too burnt from the Florida sun to put on those scratchy pads? Did he get lucky with Valentina the Swedish fashion model? Think about the possibilities.
These two teams have met three times this year. Every game there has been five total goals. Brodeur has given up 10 goals in the three. They play this game on a fast surface where the Bolts average 3.11 scores and not on the slow and irregular ice of the Meadowlands.
The Lightning net minders must be having their own rendezvous with sun, drink, and thongs the way they have been playing lately. They have given up 19 goals in the last 6 games.
Four and a half is simply too low for this scenario. Can you empathize?
Boston Bruins PK -127
Battle for king of the hill in Beantown.
Who was it that said, “too many cooks spoil the broth?”
Sometimes too much can be just as bad as not enough. Case in point is the Toronto Maple Leafs. With all the talent this team had all they did was grab more and take away minutes from players who were already producing. Mixed up lines that were already clicking and ruined a team chemistry by addition. I think they were a better team three weeks ago.
Losers of five of their last nine they come to Boston to play a Bruin squad that has been lights out ever since G.M. Mike O’Connell threatened to break them up. Since the first of the year the Bruins have gone 24-9-5. They have won seven of their last nine, (7-1-1). In the last 26 games they have lost only three times in regulation. On top of it all they finally have all their big guns, (Samsonov and Bergeron), back and as a whole the team has never enjoyed more health all year long. Travis Green has scored five goals since he returned from injury three weeks ago. Joe Thornton has fully recovered from his broken cheek at the hand, (fist), of Eric Lindros. And Patrice Bergeron came back last game after missing 11.
The Bruins have a large week in determining where they finish in the scheme of things for the post season. One that the team is not taking lightly. Playing four tough games all at home, Where the Bruins have struggled earlier, they started it off with a huge come from behind win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Trailing 3-0 late in the first they ended up winning in regulation 5-4. Then came the Ottawa Senators who were out hustled through out. The Bruins just wanted the game more and came away with the 4-2 hard fought victory. "I think it's important for these teams to know they're going to be in a battle with us," said Andrew Raycroft.
Tonight the Leafs and finally Saturday against the Canadians will complete Boston‘s mini war..
This team is one that will need to be accounted for come playoff time. Andrew Raycroft has been one of the finest goalies in the league all year long. And the team defense has quietly been second to none since 2004 rolled around. They have size, strength, finesse when it’s called for, and can skate with the best of teams.
Tonight I believe the Bruins will out muscle, out hustle, and out score the Leafs. By the end of tonight they could find themselves in first place.
Montreal Canadians PK +108
The Canadians travel home after losing to the Buffalo Sabres who seem to always have the Canadians number at the HSBC Arena having now won seven straight. The Sabres played desperately trying to keep their dim playoff hopes alive. Tonight Montreal clinches their own playoff birth.
Montreal rested Jose Theodore for tonight’s showdown against Ottawa who have lost four of their last five and five of seven. The Sens have played exactly .500 hockey on the road this year, (16-16-4). They currently have a three game losing streak away from home and have only won twice in their last seven road games. Home or away they have not looked good.
Montreal has enjoyed the home cooking compiling a 22-12-4 home record. They have won seven of their last eight at the Bell Center. After sitting close to the eighth and final spot of the conference all year the Canadians have found their stride and rattled off eleven wins in their last fifteen games, (11-3-1) and now find themselves only three points behind Ottawa and look to move up the standings to gain home ice advantage in the playoffs.
Nashville Predators -.5 -130
If the Nashville Predators can’t win this game than they won’t go to the playoffs. How much more motivation do you need?
They currently sit precariously in the eighth spot of the western conference but with a very hot Edmonton squad who just passed them by last night, a St.Louis team that has a game in hand and playing much better and a L.A. Kings club that cannot be ruled out Nashville needs, has to, MUST win this game over the decimated and lifeless New York Rangers.
The Predators picked up Steve Sullivan and immediately he paid off offensive dividends. He sparked the team to new life and much needed points. But then came a tough portion of the schedule, playing mostly the elite of the NHL, where they suddenly started to lose. They have dropped six of their last eleven but those loses have come to the Flyers, Bruins, Senators, Red Wings, Oilers, and the Ducks. Only Anaheim is a loss that can’t be explained or excused. Let’s make one thing crystal clear. The Rangers do not fall into the class of those teams. The Rangers are presently in a class all to themselves.
New York has lost 7 straight, 12 of their last 14, and 25 of 32. Mark Messier misses his second game of his two game suspension. They have given up in every sense of the word and there is no way I can see them playing with any effort here against a team that they have zero animosity towards. With Nashville they can’t even fall back on the role of spoiler for motivation.
NHL single unit plays………95-60-7.…..+ 35.41
Unit and a half plays………..14-5-1.…… + 12.345
NHL total to Date…………...109-65-8.……+ 47.705
Control Vic.
So with much restraint and discipline I narrow down this gold rush to a few single nuggets.
[Unit and a half play]
New Jersey/Tampa Bay Over 4.5 -115
Em.pa.thy 1. Identification with and understanding of another’s feelings, situation, and motives.
Put yourself in the shoes of the Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils for a moment. You’ve just had a day off in sunny, warm Florida. You have just captured the hall of fame milestone of 400 victories faster than any person to ever put on the pads. (In fact you are only 151 wins behind the all time leader.) Here you are in Miami with a Pina Colada in your hands, watching the models walk by on South Beach, and you’re only worry is that you believe you should have chosen the SPF 40 sunblock. Yes sir…Life is good!
Okay maybe I’m empathizing too much! But you understand my point. You’ve just spent a winter in New Jersey. Have YOU ever been in New Jersey? In the winter? Now your in Florida for three days. Empathize
Will Brodeur even play this game? Is his hangover hanging over? Are the back of his legs too burnt from the Florida sun to put on those scratchy pads? Did he get lucky with Valentina the Swedish fashion model? Think about the possibilities.
These two teams have met three times this year. Every game there has been five total goals. Brodeur has given up 10 goals in the three. They play this game on a fast surface where the Bolts average 3.11 scores and not on the slow and irregular ice of the Meadowlands.
The Lightning net minders must be having their own rendezvous with sun, drink, and thongs the way they have been playing lately. They have given up 19 goals in the last 6 games.
Four and a half is simply too low for this scenario. Can you empathize?
Boston Bruins PK -127
Battle for king of the hill in Beantown.
Who was it that said, “too many cooks spoil the broth?”
Sometimes too much can be just as bad as not enough. Case in point is the Toronto Maple Leafs. With all the talent this team had all they did was grab more and take away minutes from players who were already producing. Mixed up lines that were already clicking and ruined a team chemistry by addition. I think they were a better team three weeks ago.
Losers of five of their last nine they come to Boston to play a Bruin squad that has been lights out ever since G.M. Mike O’Connell threatened to break them up. Since the first of the year the Bruins have gone 24-9-5. They have won seven of their last nine, (7-1-1). In the last 26 games they have lost only three times in regulation. On top of it all they finally have all their big guns, (Samsonov and Bergeron), back and as a whole the team has never enjoyed more health all year long. Travis Green has scored five goals since he returned from injury three weeks ago. Joe Thornton has fully recovered from his broken cheek at the hand, (fist), of Eric Lindros. And Patrice Bergeron came back last game after missing 11.
The Bruins have a large week in determining where they finish in the scheme of things for the post season. One that the team is not taking lightly. Playing four tough games all at home, Where the Bruins have struggled earlier, they started it off with a huge come from behind win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Trailing 3-0 late in the first they ended up winning in regulation 5-4. Then came the Ottawa Senators who were out hustled through out. The Bruins just wanted the game more and came away with the 4-2 hard fought victory. "I think it's important for these teams to know they're going to be in a battle with us," said Andrew Raycroft.
Tonight the Leafs and finally Saturday against the Canadians will complete Boston‘s mini war..
This team is one that will need to be accounted for come playoff time. Andrew Raycroft has been one of the finest goalies in the league all year long. And the team defense has quietly been second to none since 2004 rolled around. They have size, strength, finesse when it’s called for, and can skate with the best of teams.
Tonight I believe the Bruins will out muscle, out hustle, and out score the Leafs. By the end of tonight they could find themselves in first place.
Montreal Canadians PK +108
The Canadians travel home after losing to the Buffalo Sabres who seem to always have the Canadians number at the HSBC Arena having now won seven straight. The Sabres played desperately trying to keep their dim playoff hopes alive. Tonight Montreal clinches their own playoff birth.
Montreal rested Jose Theodore for tonight’s showdown against Ottawa who have lost four of their last five and five of seven. The Sens have played exactly .500 hockey on the road this year, (16-16-4). They currently have a three game losing streak away from home and have only won twice in their last seven road games. Home or away they have not looked good.
Montreal has enjoyed the home cooking compiling a 22-12-4 home record. They have won seven of their last eight at the Bell Center. After sitting close to the eighth and final spot of the conference all year the Canadians have found their stride and rattled off eleven wins in their last fifteen games, (11-3-1) and now find themselves only three points behind Ottawa and look to move up the standings to gain home ice advantage in the playoffs.
Nashville Predators -.5 -130
If the Nashville Predators can’t win this game than they won’t go to the playoffs. How much more motivation do you need?
They currently sit precariously in the eighth spot of the western conference but with a very hot Edmonton squad who just passed them by last night, a St.Louis team that has a game in hand and playing much better and a L.A. Kings club that cannot be ruled out Nashville needs, has to, MUST win this game over the decimated and lifeless New York Rangers.
The Predators picked up Steve Sullivan and immediately he paid off offensive dividends. He sparked the team to new life and much needed points. But then came a tough portion of the schedule, playing mostly the elite of the NHL, where they suddenly started to lose. They have dropped six of their last eleven but those loses have come to the Flyers, Bruins, Senators, Red Wings, Oilers, and the Ducks. Only Anaheim is a loss that can’t be explained or excused. Let’s make one thing crystal clear. The Rangers do not fall into the class of those teams. The Rangers are presently in a class all to themselves.
New York has lost 7 straight, 12 of their last 14, and 25 of 32. Mark Messier misses his second game of his two game suspension. They have given up in every sense of the word and there is no way I can see them playing with any effort here against a team that they have zero animosity towards. With Nashville they can’t even fall back on the role of spoiler for motivation.
NHL single unit plays………95-60-7.…..+ 35.41
Unit and a half plays………..14-5-1.…… + 12.345
NHL total to Date…………...109-65-8.……+ 47.705
