Round 1 Picks

PassTheBuck · Apr 27, 2009

Game Picks

Anaheim -0.5 (+160) -- risking 0.5 to win 0.8: I was impressed with the Sharks last game. They threw everything at the Ducks and Hiller... and what did they get? Overtime. That does not bode well. They may have won the game, but they did not gain more confidence heading into Game 6. The only thing that worries me is the health of Bobby Ryan, which is why this is merely a half unit play. The kid has been dynamite, and anything less than a 100% Bobby Ryan really hurts the top line of Anaheim. Joe Thornton is still a non-factor, and even passed on a partial breakaway last game. If not for Hiller taking one in the mask and being briefly dazed, he doesn't score a goal either.

Record: 6-6-1, +1.12 units

PassTheBuck · Apr 27, 2009

Game Picks

Calgary (-120) -- risking 0.6 to win 0.5: Not overly confident, but it's hard to go against the Flames at home in the playoffs, at this price. They are a different team at home, and let's face it, Phaneuf has not been 100% all series, so putting in a healthy Eriksson makes little difference. With all the chatter about the weak performance in Game 5, I expect them to come out hitting hard and taking it to the Hawks.

Record: 6-6-1, +1.12 units

PassTheBuck · Apr 28, 2009

Game Picks

Washington -0.5 (-130) -- risking 1.3 to win 1: Despite the big series wager I have resting on this game, I can't help but put a bit more down. The first round has been fairly profitable, and thus another unit can be risked here. This is the most lopsided 7-game series in NHL history, I have no clue how the Rangers won 3 games. Varlamov has matched Lundqvist since he was inserted in Game 2, thus negating any advantage New York may have had. On defence, they are fairly evenly matched. On offence, I feel there are several AHL teams that probably boast a better top 12 right now. Will be interesting to see how they use Anisimov in this game. He probably has more offensive ability than anyone other than Gomez and Antropov, but how do you use this kid who is playing his second career NHL game?

Record: 8-8-1, +6.32 units [includes +6 units on Ducks series & -1 unit on Flames series]