Winter Classic Pick
The Winter Classic: TORONTO to Win 2.16
*Risk: 2 Units | Win: 2.32 Units*
Note: 1:00 PM START
The big outdoor game is here! We’ll keep this write-up short as the game starts in a few hours. This year the game comes to the big house in Detroit where 100,000+ fans will gather. The Maple Leafs have a good shot at winning this one, and we are getting them at a nice price. Both goaltenders have been confirmed for this afternoon. Jimmy Howard will start for Detroit despite allowing 5 goals on 28 shots (.821 SV%) against the Predators on Dec.30. Overall Howard has a 6-9-7 record, a 2.76 GAA and a .906 SV%. Bernier will step in for the Leafs with his 12-11-4 record, 2.42 GAA and .930 SV%. The Leafs have the edge in goaltending here, which they will need as they allow 36.2 shots against per game. The Leafs defense is allowing 2.78 goals against per game while the Red Wings allow 2.71 GA/G, but note that over their last 10 games the Red Wings defense has gone cold allowing 3.30 goals against per game. The Detroit Offense has also been lacking over their L10 games, scoring a mere 2.10 goals per game). The Leafs have the edge on the offense, scoring 2.66 goals per game overall, while the Red Wings score 2.71 G/G. The Leafs have managed to score 2.70 goals per game over their last 10 games. The Leafs have a better chance at winning this one than the Red Wings do, yet we get the Leafs at a nice price likely due to the game being played in Detroit. We’ll go with the Leafs this afternoon for a plus money price.
