(NHL) Washington @ Toronto
4* Over 5.5 +100
The Caps have already seen the over in their first two games, and they should easily topple it again tonight. Jagr and company have taken 67 shots in their 1st two games, and have scored on 3 of 14(!) power play chances. With the way the refs watch the Leafs, the Caps will get more than their share of PP chances in this one. Toronto led the league last year, being shorthanded 426 times, and troublemaker Tie Domi's 3200 career penalty minutes ranks 5th all-time. The Leafs went to the box 6 times in their opener. You can be sure Toronto is looking to redeem themselves after the 4-0 loss. The usually fast-paced Leafs should seize the opportunity to take a lot more shots tonight with Caps D-man Brendan Witt on the shelf. He crashed head-first into the boards early in the last game, and that's when Atlanta pounced. John Gruden is also out for at least a week with a badly pulled groin. The Caps have absolutely no depth behind Gonchar at the blueline, and their PK unit ranked 28th last year. It is highly likely that Caps' goalie Kolzig will see more than the 18 and 19 shots he saw in his last 2 games. Toronto goalie Ed Belfour gave up 4 goals to Montreal in the opener, despite not really being tested, and he'll surely see more shots tonight. The over went 3-0-1 in 4 meetings with the Caps last year, and Belfour was in net for all 3 overs, with totals of 7, 8, and 9 goals. The over is 14-4-2 in the last 20 meetings, and 4-0-1 in the last 5. Three of those 4 unders landed on 5 goals, just short of the 5.5 total. The over is 13-4 the last 17 times Toronto has played host in the series. Toronto has scored at least 3 goals in each of the last 10 meetings, and 16 of the last 17 overall. With both teams coming off a loss, expect the Leafs and Caps to come out firing. This one will be a shootout.
(NHL) Vancouver @ Columbus
2* Vancouver -150
The Nucks have looked sharp so far this season, scoring 7 and allowing just 1 in their first two games combined. The scoring is especially impressive considering just 1 of those goals came from the Bertuzzi-Morrison-Naslund line. Who says they have no depth? The Nucks tallied just 11 losses on the road last year, best in the NHL, and shouldn't be threatened by Columbus, who they've always handled well. Vancouver is 8-2-2 all-time against the Jackets, with a 3.92 GFA in those 12 games. They actually score even better (4.25 GFA) against Marc Denis, tonight's starting goalie. The last time Cloutier met Denis, the Nucks won 7-2. Columbus opened this season with a loss to Atlanta, and then was fortunate to catch the Rangers in the vulnerable back-to-back road game spot. However, the Jackets haven't strung two wins together in forever, and while the Rangers probably won't threaten anyone this year, Vancouver is for real.
4* Over 5.5 +100
The Caps have already seen the over in their first two games, and they should easily topple it again tonight. Jagr and company have taken 67 shots in their 1st two games, and have scored on 3 of 14(!) power play chances. With the way the refs watch the Leafs, the Caps will get more than their share of PP chances in this one. Toronto led the league last year, being shorthanded 426 times, and troublemaker Tie Domi's 3200 career penalty minutes ranks 5th all-time. The Leafs went to the box 6 times in their opener. You can be sure Toronto is looking to redeem themselves after the 4-0 loss. The usually fast-paced Leafs should seize the opportunity to take a lot more shots tonight with Caps D-man Brendan Witt on the shelf. He crashed head-first into the boards early in the last game, and that's when Atlanta pounced. John Gruden is also out for at least a week with a badly pulled groin. The Caps have absolutely no depth behind Gonchar at the blueline, and their PK unit ranked 28th last year. It is highly likely that Caps' goalie Kolzig will see more than the 18 and 19 shots he saw in his last 2 games. Toronto goalie Ed Belfour gave up 4 goals to Montreal in the opener, despite not really being tested, and he'll surely see more shots tonight. The over went 3-0-1 in 4 meetings with the Caps last year, and Belfour was in net for all 3 overs, with totals of 7, 8, and 9 goals. The over is 14-4-2 in the last 20 meetings, and 4-0-1 in the last 5. Three of those 4 unders landed on 5 goals, just short of the 5.5 total. The over is 13-4 the last 17 times Toronto has played host in the series. Toronto has scored at least 3 goals in each of the last 10 meetings, and 16 of the last 17 overall. With both teams coming off a loss, expect the Leafs and Caps to come out firing. This one will be a shootout.
(NHL) Vancouver @ Columbus
2* Vancouver -150
The Nucks have looked sharp so far this season, scoring 7 and allowing just 1 in their first two games combined. The scoring is especially impressive considering just 1 of those goals came from the Bertuzzi-Morrison-Naslund line. Who says they have no depth? The Nucks tallied just 11 losses on the road last year, best in the NHL, and shouldn't be threatened by Columbus, who they've always handled well. Vancouver is 8-2-2 all-time against the Jackets, with a 3.92 GFA in those 12 games. They actually score even better (4.25 GFA) against Marc Denis, tonight's starting goalie. The last time Cloutier met Denis, the Nucks won 7-2. Columbus opened this season with a loss to Atlanta, and then was fortunate to catch the Rangers in the vulnerable back-to-back road game spot. However, the Jackets haven't strung two wins together in forever, and while the Rangers probably won't threaten anyone this year, Vancouver is for real.
