Here are todays picks

I will update my record I promise.

Washington Capitals -1 at 2.15 vs Vancouver Canucks

I look for the Capitals to get a desperate win and Ovechkin will likely see the scoreboard at least a couple times as they cruise past a beat up Canucks team that has not played well either. Ryan Kesler will be a big energy loss and they won't be able to match Washington's on home ice needing a win.

Dallas Stars to win in regulation vs Calgary Flames and Over 5 goals parlay for 2.56 odds

Dallas needs to win this game, plain and simple, if they deserve to be in the playoffs which I believe they do they will win and rather easily I might add, Calgary somehow puts up some goals though and with Thomas as the starter I look for it to easily reach 5 goals and likely cash at 6.

New York Rangers 1.91 at Winnipeg Jets

I am not a huge fan of this pick and I argued for a moment whether to include it or not but here we are taking the Rangers, I think they are the better team, although both goalies can play at a high level I have more faith in Lundquist. As the Rangers search for another win and as Winnipeg continues to struggle I have to lean off Winnipeg even at home.

Value Picks

Edmonton Oilers 2.95 at Detroit Red Wings

Are you kidding me, I know the Oilers are bad but the Red Wings are missing half their roster and I love Edmonton to take a win on the road here. Tonight will prove me right or wrong but I have no clue why the public would jump on Detroit.

Florida Panthers 2.40 vs New Jersey Devils

Luongo vs Schnieder is the bigger headline, both the former Vancouver Canucks are likely glad to be fitting into their new jerseys. I see Luongo proving once again that he is the better goalie and besides that I like Florida's offense compared to New Jersey and getting such a dog at home is a steal, take it.

I am in a bit of a rush today but made time for the picks.

Here they are

Minnesota Wild 1.91 vs New York Rangers

Both teams have struggled a bit of late and with two fairly even teams and Lundquist will not be starting I will side with the home team to take a close one.

Boston Bruins vs Phoenix Coyotes and Under 5.5 for 1.74

I see the Bruins to continue winning especially back at home but I think coming back from Montreal will result in a defensive game which is exactly the style suited to Mike Smith and the Coyotes and the under is much more valuable than buying the Bruins for 1.51 as in a low scoring game I am not confident enough to pick a side with these two teams playing so well.

Carolina Hurricanes -1 at 1.83 vs Buffalo Sabres

I see Carolina getting another win here at home against a lost Sabres club that will need years before they will compete again. Carolina is not great, but are much better off than Buffalo especially given the home ice advantage. Lets go Canes.

Value Picks


Florida Panthers 3.15 at Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay has just been a mess, and they should get a win tonight, but in a rivalry game the odds have ran with the public and the value is certainly with Florida with five straight losses by Tampa Bay. Maybe the impact of St. Louis leaving was a little more devastating than management thought it would be.

Edmonton Oilers +1.5 at 1.91 at St Louis Blues

The Blues are very good but this is the NHL and any team can win of a given night and to get a chance to lose by a goal for almost even odds is far to good to give up in my mind. St Louis has dominated this series but Edmonton is used to being at the bottom without playoff hope so look for them to compete and upsets like this are just what they want to build on. St Louis in general plays fairly close games while still winning so although I still give the odds to win, I will take the chance plus a goal that it will be more competitive than the public thinks.

Nothing to write home about last night as we broke relatively even as the picks went 2-1-0 and the value picks were 0-1-1. Lets try and find some profits tonight so here is what I am looking at for picks.

Record 2-2-1

Boston Bruins 1.74 at Montreal Canadiens 

This always makes for a good match up but on the road or at home Boston is playing much to well to pass up at really great odds in my opinion. I like them on the money line as it could very well be close but I look for the Bruins to once again gain the edge on offense and if that fails, they can always rely on the big edge they have in goal assuming it will be Rask vs Budaj. Go with the Bruins.

Winnipeg Jets 1.71 vs Vancouver Canucks

These teams are both stinking and Vancouver actually looked good... until the third. A seven goal period could very well wake the Canucks up but the Jets are in the same position and Winnipeg is no easy city to play in so ill take Winnipeg at good odds and get the home crowd a much deserved win.

Anaheim Ducks -1 at 1.87 at Calgary Flames

The Ducks are not playing at their best losing their last three games at home but being a good road team as well this should be a great spot for them to get a little pressure off from the home crowd and play a solid game against not only a bad Calgary Flames team but one that is also very banged up. Anaheim should win relatively easy even though Calgary usually does play well at home the Ducks are just much better overall. 

Value Picks

Record 2-1-1

Colorado Avalanche 2.10 vs Chicago Blackhawks

I have three main thoughts into this pick. First is that Colorado has owned Chicago in recent history even while Chicago was playing so hot it was Colorado who would solve them. Secondly I believe that Colorado is currently in a better form than Chicago. Lastly Colorado is at home where they play very well and I am sure they have all been at home waiting for this game. I am definitely siding with Colorado in this one however if you are looking at Chicago take the -1 at 2.65 as they are a 1.77 favourite in the game yet Colorado only pays 2.35 which is a bit odd so jump on that advantage if you take Chicago. 

A great night, our picks of the night went 0-1-1 but the value picks went 2-0 cashing at great odds of roughly 3.7 on each ticket with the Islanders scoring 7 goals in the third... I didn't know that was still possible in the NHL and Toronto controlling a lead all game to win 3-1 in Anaheim. Great picks and if you took all four picks you made a nice profit last night.


On to Tonight's Picks         Record  0-1-1


Columbus 1.69 vs Detroit

They got off early last night and as goes for Dallas I am sure they got a wake up call as is human nature when something such as last night happens. I see Columbus taking care of the beat up Red Wings at home and they will lead off with the first goal as they did the night before. Both teams are in the hunt but home ice should be enough of an edge to get the win.

Nashville 1.83 at Buffalo

Odds like this I will fade Buffalo easily, Nashville is by no means great but got back in the win column against Ottawa and had played some difficult close losses prior to that against top teams (St Louis, Pittsburgh). I look for them to come out and finally be on the winning side of one of those low scoring games they have been playing.

New York Rangers 1.71 or -1 at 2.45 at Carolina

This is one of those games. New York is 10-0-0 against Carolina. I am not going against that especially given the positions of these teams. The over is also worth a look a 7-1-2 and pays a very good 2.30 at over 5.5. I am certainly hoping for a 4-2 Rangers victory!

Value Bets            Record 2-0-0

Dallas -1 at 4.00 at St Louis

I am sorry, St Louis is a very good team and not often do I bet against them however Dallas is in need of every win possible and they could come out flying after last night. Lets look for a big outing from the Stars to get a road win knowing their teammate is okay.

Toronto -1 at 4.15 at San Jose

It won't be easy but they played well last night and may have enough in them to get another win to the streak so at such inflated odds I will side with the value of Toronto.

Well our picks once again went well depending how you played them. As the Boston game pushed at -1, Carolina lost by one so if you played the +1 you also pushed or lost playing the -1. St Louis once again got us a win and was the lone profit for us but as I said before a push is a win as its as if you never bet on the game and I am fine taking my money back as long as I am not losing it.

Lets get into todays picks


New York Rangers 1.61 vs Detroit Red Wings

Detroit has done a pretty good job, better than I thought considering the injuries to the team but I think the nationally televised game will provide enough excitement in the New York locker room to get a win. I really want to play the regulation win at 2.00 however with these teams playing close low scorings games in the past I am going to proceed with a bit of caution and buy the money line although I am quite confident in the pick of the Rangers.

Chicago Blackhawks -1 at 1.83 at Buffalo Sabres

These teams ought to be in different leagues as this game should not be close. Although goaltending has stood tall for the Sabres I don't think they will keep tonights shooting gallery within a goal.

Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers - Under 5 at 1.91

These two teams are 0-8-2 in the over/under so it is likely we will see this continue especially with Scrivens looking to prove himself that he can be a starting goaltender against his former team. Edmonton has also played a reasonable defensive game of late but need to do a better job scoring. As long as J. Quick starts for LA this will not be the game to set the offensive into motion so look for Edmonton to compete in a defensive game that Scrivens shines but still is likely to lose.

Well, with a few ups and downs the past few days we are still over one thousand dollars, which I am completely satisfied with as this is a marathon and in no way a sprint. Although we all wish it could happen fast the truth is the faster it happens the greater risk you are likely taking that you may end up bankrupt.

Although I will admit I do play a considerable amount of parlays (multiple game bet, which all must win), some say it is better to just lay a single team, and usually it is in the long term. As long as I continue on the winning side I am comfortable expanding my betting profile to include parlays that  although add considerable risk to a bet, can be help introduce profits to your bankroll, but only if you bet within the risk. That means if I am willing to place $50 on a straight bet, do not play $50 on a four team parlay bet just because it pays big, the odds of winning are greatly reduced as multiple outcomes must occur however if you manage your bets and make smaller investments at the greater risk you can make some smart parlay picks.

At the end of the day most games are more equal than assumed and if each team stands a roughly 50% of winning, it is likely that out of two picks one may very well lose based on odds of the event occurring. That means the chance of winning your four or eight team parlay does not stand up very well. If you are playing parlays I would recommend a three team parlay betting strategy of about 20% of the amount you would on a single game pick.

Now with all that said here are some picks.

Colorado 1.91 at Detroit

Detroit has taken care of Colorado in its last four meetings however in each game they were outshot by Colorado. Once again with a banged up lineup I see Detroit suffering from the loss of a couple leaders and finally giving in to a Colorado team that just came off a regulation win in Chicago. At toss up odds take the better team even if both clubs were at full health.

Chicago -1 at 1.87 vs Columbus

Chicago is 10-0-0 vs Columbus. Although Columbus has been playing better and should not be underrated especially with strong goaltending on any given night. These past numbers can not be passed up and although I will take the chance of a two goal win by Chicago I will do so cautiously as the last four games Chicago has only won by a goal.

St Louis 1.65 at Nashville

I am not going too look much into this but I expect this line to keep falling as bets are made on St Louis. You can also try the -1 odds at 2.10 on St Louis.

As you will come to see I am a fan of -1 odds. They were recently not offered but appear to have made there way back. I am a believer that in terms of betting, a push is a win, it is as if the bet was never made. Now on teams such as Chicago or St Louis who are expected to win on most given nights especially at home the money line offers little value at times, while the -1.5 spread means a game must end in regulation by two goals. What a -1 spread means in a NHL game is that as long as your team wins, you win. You win by it either being a push saving you in case of a win in extra time or by greater odds if the team does win in regulation and like I said, empty net goals are huge in NHL Betting, they lead to 4-2 scores over 5.5 and they lead to two goal victories in otherwise one goal games.

That is all for now, many lines have not yet been announced and Stamkos return at home vs Buffalo may be something you want to bet as soon as the line is announced as I don't see the line moving much in Buffalos favor when it is.

Montreal 2.50 vs Los Angeles and Under 5 at 1.87

As the lines have dropped on both the other picks I am going to offer another pick. This is more of a value pick but I am taking Montreal at a 2.50 money line. They have absolutely dominated Los Angeles in past history besides the last game being embarrassed 6-0 on home ice. I look for them to have revenge in mind and pay LA back the favor as they have won the previous seven meetings between the teams. Also I am taking the chance that Price may play having travelled with the team and no starting goaltender being announced as of yet. That also makes me look towards the under 5.0 at 1.87 with two olympic starting goalies going head to head. Take Montreal for the pick at a good value even on the road in California.

**Update**
It looks like Budaj will indeed get the start again so I am going to back off the over/under bet but still support Montreal to win. They play well on the road and as a dog and although I believe LA is getting back to its ways I look for a small set back with a cohesive Montreal team. I believe this is also a game where the public heavily favors LA which is giving us value in the line and smart bettors are taking the plus money rather than buying the LA ML.