Randall the Handle
FLORIDA +1.04 over N.Y. Rangers
Based on recent performances the Rangers should not be favored in Florida and that’s all there is to it. Yeah, the Rangers erupted for seven straight goals in its last game against Columbus but that was one of those odd occurrences that sometimes happen in sports. Fact is, they still trailed 2-0 early in that game and they allowed the final two goals as well. The Rangers had been held to two goals or less in eight of its previous 10 games and they have just two wins in its last six and one of those came in OT. This team is not going good at all. Meanwhile, the Panthers have won eight of 12. They have recent wins over Buffalo, Boston, Detroit, and these same Rangers in New York among others. They play tough, they play hard, they play gritty and they’re slowly and quietly moving up the standings. Remember, the Rangers flew out of the gate to a 7-1 start but since then they have one of the NHL’s worst records and they’re favored here because they get a lot more betting support than the Panthers among the betting public. Wrong side favored. Play: Florida +1.04 (Risking 2 units).
NY ISLANDERS +1.24 over Philadelphia
The Flyers will turn to Brian Boucher in goal after Ray Emery was lifted in Colorado in Philly’s last game. Boucher has only started twice this year and this isn’t the greatest spot for a somewhat rusty goalie to pick up his team. The Flyers have dropped three in a row and have been outscored 14-8 over that stretch. This is the final game of a five game trip that has taken them through three time zones in a week, making this game its fifth in seven days. They started out in Los Angeles and subsequently played in San Jose, Phoenix, Colorado and now back close to home for tonight’s game in Long Island. The Flyers are banged up, they have to be exhausted and they’re struggling. The Islanders return home from a grueling seven game trip but they’re a younger team with energy and spirit that loves to play and that comes to play. You might read how the Flyers have owned the Islanders over the years with a 13-3 record over the past 16 and a 20-7-1 record in Long Island. However, every team in the league has owned the Islanders over the past decade or so but this is not the same Islander team that everyone beat up on. Play: NY Islanders +1.24 (Risking 2 units).
Atlanta +1.56 over DETROIT
You simply have to respect the Thrashers 6-2 record away from home and that alone makes them worthy of a serious look here. This is a wickedly good offensive team that rolls out three lines that all can score goals. In fact, the Thrashers are third in the NHL in goals for per game behind only Washington and San Jose and the Red Wings are a team that is suffering defensively. In two less games than Detroit, the Thrashers have scored three more goals. It’s also worth noting that the Thrashers have visited Detroit once in the past six years and this is a team that Detroit will be less fired up for than say a team they rival. On the opposite side of that is the Thrashers, who will be fired up to play in hockey-town USA against a team that everyone gets extra juiced up to play. The Red Wings are banged up and they’ve lost three of its last four. In fact, in all of those three losses they scored just a single goal and its only win over that stretch came in Montreal in OT. Great tag here on a very live road pooch. Play: Atlanta +1.56 (Risking 2 units).
Ottawa +1.26 over NEW JERSEY
It’s pretty hard to ignore a tag on the Sens these days, as this team is feeling it right now. Ottawa has reeled off four straight with wins over Toronto, Pitt, Buffalo and Washington. They’ve scored 15 times over its last three games and that includes five against the Sabres and six against the Pens. The Devils have one of the best records in the NHL thanks to a 9-2 road record but at home they’re just 5-4. Furthermore, they’re probably overvalued because of its great record but looking at this team on paper, one could surmise that they’ve overachieved. They have a slew of significant injuries and based on the total of just five goals it would be very logical to assume this one will be very close indeed. Ottawa has just as good a shot to win and maybe even a better shot than the host and thus, the tag seals the deal. Play: Ottawa +1.26 (Risking 2 units).
PITTSBURGH –1½ +1.25 over Montreal
The Habs have won three of its last four and over that stretch they’ve picked up seven of a possible eight points. Despite that, the oddsmakers have made the Pens a whopping –2.26 to win this game. You see, I’m not the only one that knows these Habs are imposters. They’ve had a horseshoe up their rear ends all year and they’ve gotten some tremendous goaltending from Carey Price along the way. This is a team that can’t score, can’t defend and that gets badly outplayed almost every time out. In a recent game in Nashville, the Habs were outshot 55-20. Against Phoenix they mustered another 20 shots on net. In that OT loss to Detroit they were outshot 34-18. In that 3-2 win in Washington they were outshot 34-22. The Canadiens have 22 shots or less in five of its last seven games and they’re just not going to keep winning averaging about seven shots on net a period. In that 5-3 win over Columbus in its last game, the Habs caught Columbus running on fumes, as the Jackets were playing its third road game in four nights and its fourth road game in six nights, yet the Habs were outshot by them as well, 36-29. Now the Canadiens will travel to Pittsburgh to play the tail end of back-to-back games after a very unlikely run. The Penguins should have no difficulty whatsoever exposing these imposters. The line says so. Play: Pittsburgh –1½ +1.25 (Risking 2 units).