randall the handle
Buffalo +1.04 over NEW JERSEY (REG) Pinnacle
The Sabres are playing too good to ignore as a pooch and it’s not a fluke either. They’re getting tremendous contributions from everywhere. Ryan Miller is at the top of his game and when he’s on he’s one of the best. The defense, led by veteran Craig Rivet and youngsters Chris Butler and Tyler Myers gives the Sabres one of the best groups of top-3 d-men in the league. Up front, the Sabres are balanced and they’re scoring plenty. Buffalo has played just eight games, the least in the league, thus, they’re rested, healthy, confident and hungry. Incidentally, they also have the best winning percentage in the league. The Devils were just 3-3 before they went on an impressive three-game winning streak that included wins at the Rangers and Penguins. However, they’ve won just once in four home games and that was a hard-fought 2-0 win over Carolina. The Devils scored an empty-netter in that one. Bottom line is they’re struggling miserably at home and will come into this contest minus two more key players in Paul Martin and Jay Pandolfo. The Devils are always tough but again, the Sabres are about as sweet a dog as any on the board and are most certainly worthy of a wager. Play: Buffalo +1.04 (Risking 2 units).
FLORIDA +1.14 over Ottawa (REG) Pinnacle
The Panthers are about the least recognizable team on ice, as nobody cares, not even the locals, whether the Panthers win, lose or even play. However, this is a very decent hockey team that is very capable of winning on almost any night with a slew of good young talent (Horton, Frolik, Kulimov, Weiss, and Olesz to name a few). They’re also experienced and well represented on the blue-line. Yeah, they’re 2-6 but they started the year in Europe by splitting two games with Chicago and its last four games came against the Flyers twice, the Sabres and the Penguins. They beat the Flyers in Florida 4-2 and they lost 3-2 in OT in Pittsburgh. Now they’ll take a step down in class when facing the Sens. Ottawa is playing tough, make no mistake about that. However, politics has come into play, as the Sens sent down its prized rookie, Erik Karlsson, because if a junior plays 10 games his contract kicks in and he also becomes a free agent a year earlier. Yes, it’s a business but this move cannot be sitting well with the rest of the team, as they’ve played their hearts out thus far and this is a bit of a slap in the face. The Sens may respond well but we’ll have to wait and see. Furthermore, it appears as though Brian Elliot will make his first start of the year in net while Pascal Leclaire recovers from the flu. In the best of circumstances the Sens would be in tough here but this is anything but that. Give the Panthers a great chance to pick up its third win of the year. Play: Florida +1.14 (Risking 2 units).
Toronto +1.80 over DALLAS (REG) Pinnacle
The Leafs finally got off the mattress with a very nice win in Anaheim. Toronto deserved the win, as they outplayed the Ducks in the final 50 minutes. Perhaps more important than that was the goaltending of rookie Jonas Gustavsson, who came up with some outstanding saves early in the game and the Leafs responded. That’s key, as the Leafs have been desperate for somebody to step it up in net for about five years. Despite losing two of its last three, Toronto has played extremely well over that stretch, as they deserved better against both Vancouver and the Rangers. Meanwhile, the Stars return home from a three-game trip to L.A, Anaheim and St. Louis. The Stars have performed a whole lot better on the road than at home where they have just one win in four tries. We get some good value on this guest, as Dallas is not in a favorable spot here, that being returning home from a trip and not playing well at home. The Leafs have strung together three strong games in a row and finally were able to savior the sweet taste of victory. Chances are good they’ll play another strong game tonight. Play: Toronto +1.80 (Risking 2 units).