30/JAN - Thursday's NHL

[donly1ace]

RECORD since 6-day break: 17-1-1 (+18.23 units)

13 games on the sched! Lots of work again tomorrow! Didn't pull the trigger on the Ducks... too much procrastination on my side!

MTL-NYI: Will the Habs continue their flurry of goals against a team who are using two backups right now? :brows:

CAR-TB: Poor Carolina... Tampa Bay looks strong after a nice win using Grahame vs the Flyers. :brows:

PIT-WAS: No comment.

NAS-COB: Hmmm...

FLA-DET: Detroit back at home.

PHI-NJ: Under play? :brows:

TOR-ATL: Atlanta is hot, hot, hot! Kidd in goal. :brows:

CHI-BOS: Struggling Hawks against Hackett and the Bruins.

COL-NYR: Who's the coach? Someone will have to convince me to choose the Rangers...

BUF-STL: Big win for St-Louis in Washington... Gratton out for Buffalo. They played a very poor defensive game against Nashville. :brows:

EDM-VAN: B2B for Oilers with young kids in the lineup. Canucks didn't really impress me in the last game.

OTT-LA: Is LA ever going to win again? WIll Ottawa lose a 3rd in a row and spoil Prusek's perfect record? Looking at some of the comments on the board... let's just say they are not the most loveable team right now!!! :brows:

ANA-SJ: Probably the game I'd watch the most (besides the Habs game, of course)!

Good luck to all tomorrow!

 

[donly1ace]

Early leans...

MTL
TB
ATL
STL
LA

 

[ddubs]

Good luck with your picks, cyra

 

[donly1ace]

Thanks ddubs... One more day before a well deserved break! I'm getting kind of tired myself!:yawn:

 

[donly1ace]

Early play...

ST-LOUIS -.5 (-165)
If Jacques Lemaire would of watched the last Sabres game, he would of been swearing all night! Very bad defensive coverage. The Blues are coming off nice win against a good Caps team. They should be able to finish off with a win. But every time I take the Blues, I'm always scared of one thing: Brent Johnson! Forgot to add that Biron will probably keep teh Sabres in the game but eventually will crap out.

 

[donly1ace]

Another early play addition...

TAMPA BAY -.5 (-130)
The Lightning know where they are in the standings. They definitely want to make the playoffs. They probably know that the Habs and Islanders are clashing tomorrow and, with a win against the Canes, would leap frog over the loser in Long Island. I think it's just great motivation! They are also coming off a big win in Philly in which they played a good game and had superb goaltending. I just hope that Khabibulin is in nets; it would be the logical choice. Grahame's performance will remain with him during the all-star break. It always sweet to enjoy your vacation then to think about what you gotta do to improve. The Canes are going nowhere and I wouldn't be surprised to see the NHL's 8th coaching casualty in Paul Maurice very soon. Will it be his last game? If the Avs can fire Hartley, the canes can definitely fire Maurice. They also played last night but did show some signs of fighting in them.

 

[donly1ace]

Early play addition...

MONTREAL +.5 (-120)
This will be a great game to watch for one simple reason: standings. Both teams are coming off wins and will be prepared for this important matchup. As far as I'm concerned, the Habs and Islanders will be fighting each other for the better playoff spot :nutkick until the wire. What I like going in this game for the Habs is that they finally had a great offensive performace where they scored lots of goals. Luongo made some great saves and they also had a goal disallowed in the 1st. I also liked the fact that Ribeiro got a chance to play on the 3rd line, it gave him confidence and he played a great game, except for one mistake on the Panthers' third goal. But as soon as he got to the bench he looked at Julien and, before Julien said anything, explained him what he did wrong. A sign that he is finally getting it: to be an NHLer, you need to know how to play defensively. Some will say they beat a struggling Panthers team and I would agree but the fact still remains that they're offensive awareness has increased to a new level, a level that they showed in the pre-season. They will have to play simple-solid defense in their zone if they want to pull this one off. Czerkawski is also playing a much better game since being recalled and we finally see the true player he has been over the years. Very exciting to watch! A game against his old mates will certainly be fun. As for the Islanders, they beat the Pens thanks to DiPietro's accrobatics in the 1st half of the game. The absence of Aucoin and Cairns showed. Aucoin might be back on Thursday and this will certainly help them out. Who will be in nets? I would guess they would come back with DiPietro as he has the hot hand now. DiPietro will definitely fight for the #2 job during his stint and could be a threat to this play, which is the reason why I'm taking the half goal. The fact remains is that they beat the Penguins who are not a very threatening team withough Mario and Caron's brilliance. I'm very anxious to watch this game! :yup

 

[donly1ace]

Another early play addition...

COLUMBUS -.5 (+100)
Columbus is coming off a 2-2 tie against the Avs, who have improved their play lately. Denis was sharp, as he needs to be, if Columbus wants to have a chance for anything. They were outshot but did manage to break Roy's shutout streak with 2 quick goals in the 2nd. They have welcomed back some regulars last game, as Lachance, Knutsen and Klesla all came back after long absences. Let's just hope that they did not forget how to play defense. Important game for Jackets if they want to continue fighting in the 2nd half for a spot in the Elite-8 that continue playing in the latter parts of April... But where's Geoff Sanderson? Looks like he has disappeared last 4 games (no points). As for Nashville, they are playing their 11th game in the last 19 days. Lots of games, a tired team well-deserving of an all-star break. This is an important game for them as well. They need all the points they can get to make a run at the playoffs. I do think they will come out gunning but don't think they will have enough left in the tank in the end although, I must say, I was surprised of the tight score in their last game against the Bruins.

 

[donly1ace]

Sather will be the coach tonight... boy are they going to hear from him if they don't play a solid game...

It looks like things will get done. Rangers are an appealing play.

 

[donly1ace]

Addition...

OTT - LA OVER 5 GOALS (-110)
LA will fight hard in this one to get a win before the break. I think Prusek's run will end tonight while Storr has had an inflating GAA in the last couple of games he has played. Like the chances of this one coming through.

 

[CaPPiNg TiGeRz]

Good Luck tonight man , so solid write-ups there. keep em coming ! ! !

 

[donly1ace]

Thanks Tigerz!

 

[Chenker]

I really like TBAY in this spot- Grahme has been playing well of late and Tbay looks to be playing a lot better. And the Canes have been playing very poorly for the last couple of weeks. Not to mention a back to back for them tonight.

Also probably going to add the Over in the Kings/Sens tonight.

good luck buddy

 

[donly1ace]

Thanks Chenks!

 

[ddubs]

Great write-ups, cyra. I'm gonna jump on the Habaneros with you. But I'll be taking the ML instead of PL. I hate the idea of turning +return and have to give juice instead for that half a puck.

GOOD LUCK!! Go HABS!!

 

[donly1ace]

Thanks ddubs! I definitely agree with you with regards to missing out on return. But I have a strange feeling that this will be an extremely tight game... In that regards, I wouldn't want to give in my return for that half puck that I ommitted to take. I want the Habs to win it outright though, then we both win!!!

 

[cooz3]

good luck tonight...



now i agree with you ..on why play a line just for value....but i do think pitt has a chance to win or else i wouldnt have played it


good luck tonight...cooz (except on columbus )..lol

ignore my prior statement...brain freeze...that happens when you party too much..lol

 

[Aces High]

gl 2 nite

 

[trademaster]

i am with u on tha HABS again

 

[donly1ace]

Late addition...

NY ISLANDERS UNDER 3 GOALS (-120)
See Spock's thread.