So last night was not exactly the hottest start for either of us.  I talked myself out of picking the Habs because backup Peter Budaj was starting, so naturally he comes out and shuts out Carolina. Not to mention a blown offsides call in the Colorado/Nashville game led to Matt Duchene’s winner.  Weird stuff, man.

Gene’s Picks:

Winnipeg at Buffalo
Starting goalies:
Ondrej Pavalec - 3-8-1, 3.15, .889, 0
Ryan Miller - 6-7-1, 2.91, .914, 0

Jets have lost 7 of their last 10 and are 2-3-1 on the road. The Sabres are not doing any better but they do have Vanek and Miller.  In order for the Sabres to take this, secondary role players will have to step up.  Regardless, Sabres are still the better team. Pick: Sabres

Montreal at New York Rangers
Starting goalies:
Carey Price - 8-3-0, 2.06, .922, 1
Henrik Lundqvist - 7-5-0, 2.35, .917, 0 (https://twitter.com/AGrossRecord/status/303901501401751552)

Fresh from his trip to the hospital to treat a case of dehydration caused by the stomach flu, the Habs will likely start Carey Price after Budaj helped them snap the Hurricanes’ 3 game winning streak last night.  Not sure how he will do but I like King Henrik’s chances. He’s so dreamy. Pick: Rangers

New York Islanders at Ottawa
Starting goalies:
Rick DiPietro - 0-2-0, 4.60, .842, 0 (https://twitter.com/JoeYerdonPHT/statuses/303601590978375681)
Craig Anderson - 7-4-2, 1.61, .948, 2 (https://twitter.com/SunGarrioch/statuses/303891037385027584)

 The Islanders are, well the Islanders. The Sens are coming off a shootout win against the Devils. Pick: Senators

Toronto at Tampa 
Starting goalies:
Ben Scrivens - 4-3-0, 1.93, .939, 2 (https://twitter.com/jonasTSN1050/status/303912122331582466)
Anders Lindback - 6-3-1, 3.13, .897, 0 (https://twitter.com/erlendssonTBO/statuses/303574895906930689)

 Two shut-outs in two games, Scrivens is quickly helping fans forget about Reimer. The Leafs offense is getting contribution from all four lines. Kadri is playing well, Kessel is scoring. The Leafs are 7-2-0 on the road, winning more games than they are at home. Pick: Leafs

 San Jose at St. Louis
Starting goalies:
Antti Niemi - 6-2-3, 1.94, .930, 1
Jake Allen - 3-0-0, 2.77, .888, 0 (https://twitter.com/jprutherford/status/303625271653851136)

 Don’t let Jake Allen’s #s fool you. 3 wins in 3 starts, I think St. Louis might actually take this one. Sharks are 3-4-3 in their last 10 and are 2-3-1 on the road. Pick: Blues

 Detroit at Nashville
Starting goalies:
Jimmy Howard - 6-5-2, 2.97, .900, 0 (http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2013/02/red_wings_recall_goalie_jonas.html)
Pekka Rinne - 6-3-4, 1.58, .938, 3

 Granted, the Preds might have won last night’s game against the Avs had it not been for that missed off-side call, but they still let up 5 goals (not counting Duchene’s) to the Avs. Pick: Wings

 Vancouver at Chicago
Starting goalies:
Corey Schneider – 4-3-0, 2.62, .912
Ray Emery - 5-0-0, 2.17, .929, 0 (https://twitter.com/ChrisKuc/status/303910739347927042)

 With Crawford still listed at DTD, the Hawks will probably go with Emery who has been playing pretty well. Chicago is off to a pretty great start and I don’t see the Canucks being able to walk away with one in Chicago where the Hawks are 4-0-1. Pick: Hawks

 

Los Angeles at Edmonton
Starting goalies:
Jonathan Quick - 3-5-2, 2.74, .895, 0
Nikolai Khabibulin – 1-1-0, 1.84, .936

 The Kings have been horrible this season. Stanley Cup hangover? Look for the Oilers to take advantage and extend their winning streak to 2 games tonight. Pick: Oilers.

Season: 4-3

 

My Picks (in bold):

 Winnipeg Jets (+120) @ Buffalo Sabres

 I have a steadfast rule against betting on my teams.  I’m either rooting for them to lose, which is just wrong, or doubly disappointed when I take them and they lose. Still, I’ve watched enough of them to know that their recent strong efforts against Boston and Pittsburgh will almost certainly lead to a disappointing night at home.

 Montreal Canadiens @ New York Rangers (-155)

 I know, I know. It didn’t work out well for me the last time I picked against the Habs but they were at home and not playing the Rangers.  Lundqvist and the Rags are just better, pure and simple.

 Toronto Maple Leafs @ Tampa Bay Lightning (-155)

 No, I won’t pick against the Leafs EVERY game but Toronto can’t stay hot forever (7-3-0) in their last ten. Expect Tampa, the league leader in goals for, to cool them down.

 New York Islanders @ Ottawa Senators (-130)

 The Sens might not be able to overcome the loss of Spezza and Karlsson but they are a better team than the Islanders. The Sens are as stingy a team as they come and Craig Anderson will stay hot at home.

 Detroit Red Wings (-110) @ Nashville Predators

 These two play each other so tight it was a crapshoot for me. The Preds struggle to score goals overall (yesterday’s 6-5 loss was an anomaly) and the Wings are struggling overall and doing only okay against their Central Division opponents so now is the time to right the ship.

 San Jose Sharks (+110) @ St.Louis Blues

 The wheels have fallen off a bit for the Sharks, going 3-4-3 after their torrid start.  The Blues, meanwhile, have turned into the skid and won their last three.  Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton have been far to quiet for far too long; that changes tonight.

 Vancouver Canucks @ Chicago Blackhawks (-130)

 I almost went with the Canucks but the Hawks are just too good from top to bottom.  Vancouver is almost equally as hot over their last 10 games (6-2-2) but the Hawks have had their number of late.

 Los Angeles Kings (-125) @ Edmonton Oilers

I have no faith in the Kings offense at this point. No one should but the Oilers are struggling to score goals themselves which is a bit startling considering the young talent on the team. The Kings have been veering towards the good side of the ledger of late, going 5-4-1 in their last 10.  Quick steals them a road win tonight.

Season: 3-4

 

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