12/18 NHL Play

[Nick Douglas]

St. Louis +1/2 -130 over ANAHEIM 2*

Brathwaite should start tonight for the Blues and he was playing great before Johnson?s return. I would think Gerber would go for the Ducks since they are playing the Kings tomorrow, which would be huge since Giguiere has been so hot. Ducks have played absolutely terrible competition over their last several games so facing a better team should give them problems. Blues struggled in their first game with Demitra back but generally in the second game with a star back, especially after a loss, the team excels. Blues have been very strong this season in back to back situations.

 

[ND2002HORNS]

Nick,

GL with your play!
Quickly though, the Ducks have played 6 solid teams over their last 8 games in the month December. Sure Nash. & Buf. are terrible but who doesn't have a few lame teams to play each month. On the other hand, the Ducks played LA, Det. and Chicago twice, all teams well above .500. Wash. & Pitt. are hovering around the .500 mark. STL played terribly along the boards in the neutral zone last night which allowed LA to use their speed and skill. STL will need to make a 360 tonight in that dept. if they are to come away with the win. Ducks are solid at rolling 3-4 lines that can control the boards. It is a no play for me.
You make a good point with the Giguere not playing tonight.
All the best!

HORNS

 

[Nick Douglas]

Thanks for the comments, Horns. One thing I like to look at is their last 5 opponents. The Ducks' last five have about 134 points while the Blues' last five have about 156. I forget the exact numbers. I agree that the Blues need to make a *180* (reminds me of Last Action Hero ) in their boards and neutral zone play and I think they will do just that.

 

[ddubs]

The clincher for me is the way the Ducks' PK unit has played lately. The Ducks have not allowed a PP goal in four straight games (16 straight kills) and 8 of the last 9 games, killing 33 of 34 opponent power plays. The club has also killed 78 of the last 87 over the past 21 games and 107 of the last 120 penalties over the past 28 games.

About whether Giguere or Gerber is starting, this is just speculation on my part. He has already played 2 B2B games this season, and as hot as he is, I don't see any reason for him to sit, seeing this is only their 2nd game in 7 days.

Good luck, guys.:thumb:

 

[Nick Douglas]

This is probably my worst play of the year. Not only are the Blues out of it one period in, but they have completely lost their composure and professionalism. I am out to see Lord of the Rings tonight. Hopefully that will take my mind off this terrible play.

 

[saint]

I agreed with and played this pick as well. No way to cap the fact that Brathwaite has been a human sieve!

 

[Nick Douglas]

I guess when your side outshoots the opposition 46 to 17 it is hard to feel too terrible about the way you handicapped the game. Of course those shot totals are misleading but at least I feel a little bit better at the way I handicapped the game. I am going to wait for the Ducks to lose a game and then start fading them because Gigiuere is a streaky goaltender.