HOME TEAM IN CAPS
All games include OT unless stated otherwise
Minnesota +2.86 over DETROIT
The Red Wings are in great form right now with five wins in a row and almost all of those have been dominating performances. They whacked the Oilers 8-3, shut out Pittsburgh 3-0 and then went into Nashville and beat the Preds 5-3 in a 51-shot effort. Now they’re a huge tag over the Wild, a team that’s not easy to beat and absolutely worthy of a play at this big price. In fact, these two have met three times this season and two have gone into OT with Minnesota winning the other one. They play the Red Wings tough and they don’t allow Detroit to run and gun the way they like to. They also get tremendous goaltending and I can’t say the same for the Red Wings. Anyway, the Wild have won four of five and despite playing last night they’ll still come in here and put forth a rock-solid effort like they always do against the Wings. They may not win but they’ll be in this game from start to finish the way they always are against Detroit and it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if they stole another one. This line is simply irresistible. Play: Minnesota +2.86 (Risking 2 units).
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LOS ANGELES -½ +1.52 over Calgary
Playing the Kings at a pick-em is an option worth considering but I’m going to take a chance and lay the half puck with a pretty sweet take-back and here’s why. For one, the Kings are feeling it and suddenly they’ve put themselves in a position to make the playoffs with seven wins in its last eight games. And it’s not like they haven’t beaten anyone. They went into Washington and New Jersey and knocked off both of those teams. To give you an idea of how tough that task is, combined the Caps and Devils are 39-14 at home. The Kings also have recent wins over Chicago, at Minnesota and Colorado and they took the Stars to OT in Dallas. I’m fully aware that the Kings return home from a long trip, however, this season the “return home from a trip” angle has not had the same results as years gone by. Teams are responding so much better upon returning home. Also consider that the Flames played last night in Anaheim and this will be its third game in four days and the tail end of back-to-backs. In the second game of back-to-backs this season, the Flames are a 1-6. The Flames have also dropped five of six with only win over that stretch coming against the dumpster-fire Habs. The Kings are healthy, talented and very dangerous and now they’re getting great goaltending from a guy whose confidence is soaring. Play: Los Angeles -½ +1.52 (Risking 2 units).
All games include OT unless stated otherwise
Minnesota +2.86 over DETROIT
The Red Wings are in great form right now with five wins in a row and almost all of those have been dominating performances. They whacked the Oilers 8-3, shut out Pittsburgh 3-0 and then went into Nashville and beat the Preds 5-3 in a 51-shot effort. Now they’re a huge tag over the Wild, a team that’s not easy to beat and absolutely worthy of a play at this big price. In fact, these two have met three times this season and two have gone into OT with Minnesota winning the other one. They play the Red Wings tough and they don’t allow Detroit to run and gun the way they like to. They also get tremendous goaltending and I can’t say the same for the Red Wings. Anyway, the Wild have won four of five and despite playing last night they’ll still come in here and put forth a rock-solid effort like they always do against the Wings. They may not win but they’ll be in this game from start to finish the way they always are against Detroit and it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if they stole another one. This line is simply irresistible. Play: Minnesota +2.86 (Risking 2 units).
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>LOS ANGELES -½ +1.52 over Calgary
Playing the Kings at a pick-em is an option worth considering but I’m going to take a chance and lay the half puck with a pretty sweet take-back and here’s why. For one, the Kings are feeling it and suddenly they’ve put themselves in a position to make the playoffs with seven wins in its last eight games. And it’s not like they haven’t beaten anyone. They went into Washington and New Jersey and knocked off both of those teams. To give you an idea of how tough that task is, combined the Caps and Devils are 39-14 at home. The Kings also have recent wins over Chicago, at Minnesota and Colorado and they took the Stars to OT in Dallas. I’m fully aware that the Kings return home from a long trip, however, this season the “return home from a trip” angle has not had the same results as years gone by. Teams are responding so much better upon returning home. Also consider that the Flames played last night in Anaheim and this will be its third game in four days and the tail end of back-to-backs. In the second game of back-to-backs this season, the Flames are a 1-6. The Flames have also dropped five of six with only win over that stretch coming against the dumpster-fire Habs. The Kings are healthy, talented and very dangerous and now they’re getting great goaltending from a guy whose confidence is soaring. Play: Los Angeles -½ +1.52 (Risking 2 units).
