Our pick on the Oilers/Coyotes over 5.5 goals was an easy WINNER with 9 goals scored. The Bruins completely gave their game away by racking up 14 penalty minutes, and they should be ashamed of themselves. They had a 3-1 lead at the end of the 1st period, and allowed the Devils to out-shoot them in the 2nd and 3rd periods (15-11, 11-7). The Bruins gave the Devils 7 powerplay opportunities and the Devils scored all 4 goals on a power play (4/7). The Bruins had the game in the bag and they gave it away by playing undisciplined hockey.
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Florida Panthers : Over 5.5 Goals 1.86
The Lightning are scoring more than 3 goals per game, at 3.40 G/G. The Panthers defense allows almost the same amount of goals, at 3.36 GA/G. The last time these two teams met, the Lightning won by a score of 7-2. The Panthers met Buffalo on Friday where they lost 3-1. The Panthers more than double the Sabres shots on goal that game, at 45 -21. Jonas Enroth kept the Sabres in the game as he saved 44 of 45 shots for a .978 SV%. The Lightning will go with Anders Lindback in goal tonight (confirmed). He is 0-2-0 with a 3.80 GAA and a .914 SV%. The probable starter for Florida is Jacob Markstrom, he is 1-4-0 with a 3.27 GAA and a .886 SV%. The Lightning are going 23.3% on the powerplay, and face a Florida Penalty Kill unit who is only successful 79.4% of the time. There should be plenty of goals racked up in this game as long as both teams get lots of shots on goal.
Anaheim Ducks @ Columbus Blue Jackets : Over 5 Goals 1.81
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a team average of 2.70 Goals/Game but in the last three games they have scored 12 goals (average of 4 per game). On the powerplay the Blue Jackets are 20.5% (12th in league) and they face the Ducks penalty kill unit that is a mere 75.6% (28th in league). The Ducks also average 12.3 PIM/G. We have seen what a lot of penalties will do to a team last night when the Bruins took 7 penalties and the Devils scored on 4 of them, so this situation should allow for a few goals. The Ducks offense manages 3.09 G/G and they face the Blue Jackets defense that allows 2.50 GA/G. The Ducks goals against/game average is slightly higher than the Blue Jackets at 2.54 GA/G. All of the games for the Ducks this season, except one game, have tied 5 goals or have gone over 5 goals. Seven of ten Columbus games have tied at least 5 goals or have gone over. We will look for this one to at least tie 5 goals tonight for a “push”, or to hopefully go over the total for a winner.
(4 Units) Winnipeg Jets @ Colorado Avalanche : Avalanche in Regulation 1.86
The Colorado Avalanche have gone 9-1-0 this season, and 4-1 at home. The Jets are 5-5-2, 2-1-1 away. The Avalanche are averaging 3.20 G/G and the Jets are averaging 2.33 G/G. The Avalanche defense has been doing exceptional, allowing only 1.40 GA/G, compare this to the Jets defense that allows 2.75 GA/G. The Jets are a low 11.4% on the powerplay, and must face an Avalanche PK unit that is 91.2% on the Penalty Kill (1st in league for PK%). The Avalanche are 22.9% on the Powerplay and face the Jets PK that is 82.7%. Semyon Varlamov is confirmed in goal for the Avalanche and is 6-1-0 with a 1.73 GAA and a .948 SV%. Al Montoya is probable for the Jets, he has played 1 game this season against New Jersey and made 24 saves on 24 shots for a 1.000 SV%. He will face a more difficult challenge tonight against Colorado. We will stick with a very impressive Avalanche team to get the win tonight at home in 60 minutes.
