<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=500 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Yesterday</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">1</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">-2.50 Units</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Last 30 Days</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">9</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">11</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">+0.72 Units</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Season To Date (Since October 2008)</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">9</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">11</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">+0.72 Units</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
HOME TEAM IN CAPS
All games include OT unless stated otherwise
COLUMBUS -½ +1.23 over Nashville (REG)
The Blue Jackets will finally open the year at home after beginning the year with three games on the road. The Jackets won their opener in Dallas but then proceeded to lose its next two. Thing is, the Jackets looked pretty good in all three games and in their last game, the 5-2 loss at the Shark Tank is a misleading score, as they were the better team for the most part and led 2-1 late in the second before some shaky goaltending did them in. The Blue Jackets have added some toughness and talent to its roster that include defensemen Mike Commodore, Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman, along with forwards R.J. Umberger, Kristian Huselius and Raffi Torres. Rick Nash is still one of the best players in the league, bar none, and this edition of the Blue Jackets is definitely tougher and grittier then any team they’ve iced before. This is another team that I’m suggesting the books don’t have a true read on and as a result we all can take advantage of some soft lines until they do. The Preds are a hard working team and they can definitely play spoiler against anyone. However, the Jackets have gotten punished by this intruder for years and knowing they’re playing in Nashville tomorrow night should provide plenty of motivation for them to play their hearts out for a full 60 minutes and open the year at home with a win. Two side notes to this game is the Jackets highly touted rookie Nikita Filatov will make his NHL debut and the Preds will start Pekka Rinne in net to play his first game of the year. (Incidentally Rinne has appeared in only three NHL games in his career). Play: Columbus -½ +1.23 (Risking 2 units).
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Edmonton +1.26 over CALGARY
Not a chance in hell am I passing up taking back a tag on the Oilers in this one. Edmonton has played just twice this season and although they weren’t that sharp in their opener, they were a whole lot sharper in their last game in Anaheim on Wednesday night. In fact, by the third period they were dominating most of the play with a relentless fore-check and it’s becoming more apparent with each passing period just how talented this Oiler team is and they’re only going to get better. Edmonton has not come close to playing up to their potential yet. Mathieu Garon has been rock solid in the nets. As for the Flames, well, they got off the mattress with a 5-4 win over the Av’s on Wednesday. However, they got off to a quick 2-0 lead on two power-play goals that put the Av’s in a hole early and Colorado just kept coming back on them. Again, Mikko Kipprusoff was not sharp in net and he’ll go again tonight, which gives us an even better chance of cashing this ticket. The Flames are a talented team for sure but there’s also something not right with them. Call it chemistry or a lack thereof or call it anything you want but from my point of view, the Oilers want it much more and I also believe that Edmonton is just the better team, period. Kiprusoff is fragile as hell and the Oilers are loaded with snipers. Play: Edmonton +1.26 (Risking 2 units).
HOME TEAM IN CAPS
All games include OT unless stated otherwise
COLUMBUS -½ +1.23 over Nashville (REG)
The Blue Jackets will finally open the year at home after beginning the year with three games on the road. The Jackets won their opener in Dallas but then proceeded to lose its next two. Thing is, the Jackets looked pretty good in all three games and in their last game, the 5-2 loss at the Shark Tank is a misleading score, as they were the better team for the most part and led 2-1 late in the second before some shaky goaltending did them in. The Blue Jackets have added some toughness and talent to its roster that include defensemen Mike Commodore, Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman, along with forwards R.J. Umberger, Kristian Huselius and Raffi Torres. Rick Nash is still one of the best players in the league, bar none, and this edition of the Blue Jackets is definitely tougher and grittier then any team they’ve iced before. This is another team that I’m suggesting the books don’t have a true read on and as a result we all can take advantage of some soft lines until they do. The Preds are a hard working team and they can definitely play spoiler against anyone. However, the Jackets have gotten punished by this intruder for years and knowing they’re playing in Nashville tomorrow night should provide plenty of motivation for them to play their hearts out for a full 60 minutes and open the year at home with a win. Two side notes to this game is the Jackets highly touted rookie Nikita Filatov will make his NHL debut and the Preds will start Pekka Rinne in net to play his first game of the year. (Incidentally Rinne has appeared in only three NHL games in his career). Play: Columbus -½ +1.23 (Risking 2 units).
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>Edmonton +1.26 over CALGARY
Not a chance in hell am I passing up taking back a tag on the Oilers in this one. Edmonton has played just twice this season and although they weren’t that sharp in their opener, they were a whole lot sharper in their last game in Anaheim on Wednesday night. In fact, by the third period they were dominating most of the play with a relentless fore-check and it’s becoming more apparent with each passing period just how talented this Oiler team is and they’re only going to get better. Edmonton has not come close to playing up to their potential yet. Mathieu Garon has been rock solid in the nets. As for the Flames, well, they got off the mattress with a 5-4 win over the Av’s on Wednesday. However, they got off to a quick 2-0 lead on two power-play goals that put the Av’s in a hole early and Colorado just kept coming back on them. Again, Mikko Kipprusoff was not sharp in net and he’ll go again tonight, which gives us an even better chance of cashing this ticket. The Flames are a talented team for sure but there’s also something not right with them. Call it chemistry or a lack thereof or call it anything you want but from my point of view, the Oilers want it much more and I also believe that Edmonton is just the better team, period. Kiprusoff is fragile as hell and the Oilers are loaded with snipers. Play: Edmonton +1.26 (Risking 2 units).
