All No. 1 goalies starting tonight except Braithwaite in for STL (Johnson ankle sprain) and Kiprusoff for SJ (Nabokov still unsigned). Chech (Phila) has sore shoulder, but listed as probable. He had a poor preseason, wouldn't be surprised to see Esche tonight.
special emphasis on power play, with all the obstructions penalties it means more than ever.
NJ is 15-7-5 in season openers, third best in NHL. But 5-4-1 in road openers. Ott is 3-0-3 in season openers last 6. Last 6 meetings went under, and NJ won 4 of last 5, and 2-0-1 last 3 at OTT. Last 7 all decided by 1 goal or less.
Chi will have scoring problems with Daze and Fluery out (probably for months). Thibault was poor in goal last season when Chi's scoring dried up, but he usually starts strong..... Under is 7-3 in last 10 meetings with Clbs. Five of last 6 decided by 1 goal or less. Denis is 0-4 vs Chi with 3.42 gga, but wants to show everyone he deserves to be No. 1 guy, I expect him to be sharp tonight....Chi is 6-2-2 overall vs Clbs, and 6th in PP last season.
Buff's Biron is 5-1-1 vs NYI, with 0.99 gga. His team has more defense now....their PK 5th in league last season, PP near last....NYI had worst PP in NHL last season...under is 7-1 in last 8 meetings... Osgood usually starts sharp, and in preseason gave up only 1 goal last 115 mins....I'm taking the under tonight!!
Tampa Bay has more offense now, beat FL twice in preseason and FL will want to payback tonight. TB 2-8-0 on season openers on road, but won last 3 meetings at FL.
Toronto's Belfour had a good preseason game after boos in earlier outings. He usually steps up to big games, like openers....Lemieux played in no preseasons, but had a terrific performance at scrimmage sat, and he is a famous fast starter--and one of the best power players ever. Pitt 19-9-7 in home openers, but lost last three. 1-1-1 vs Leafs last season. Five of last six meetings have gone under. All four meetings last season decided by 1 goal.
Stl is 0-3-2 last five season openers. Anaheim is 1-8-0 on opening nights.
Phila has worked on PP hard, and it shows---they scored 11 in 8 preseason games.
In Van/Calg matchup, the road team has won 6 of last 7.
Detroit 2-1-1 vs SJ last season. Det 4-1-1 last 6 meetings at SJ. SJ 2-7-2 in season openers
good luck!!
special emphasis on power play, with all the obstructions penalties it means more than ever.
NJ is 15-7-5 in season openers, third best in NHL. But 5-4-1 in road openers. Ott is 3-0-3 in season openers last 6. Last 6 meetings went under, and NJ won 4 of last 5, and 2-0-1 last 3 at OTT. Last 7 all decided by 1 goal or less.
Chi will have scoring problems with Daze and Fluery out (probably for months). Thibault was poor in goal last season when Chi's scoring dried up, but he usually starts strong..... Under is 7-3 in last 10 meetings with Clbs. Five of last 6 decided by 1 goal or less. Denis is 0-4 vs Chi with 3.42 gga, but wants to show everyone he deserves to be No. 1 guy, I expect him to be sharp tonight....Chi is 6-2-2 overall vs Clbs, and 6th in PP last season.
Buff's Biron is 5-1-1 vs NYI, with 0.99 gga. His team has more defense now....their PK 5th in league last season, PP near last....NYI had worst PP in NHL last season...under is 7-1 in last 8 meetings... Osgood usually starts sharp, and in preseason gave up only 1 goal last 115 mins....I'm taking the under tonight!!
Tampa Bay has more offense now, beat FL twice in preseason and FL will want to payback tonight. TB 2-8-0 on season openers on road, but won last 3 meetings at FL.
Toronto's Belfour had a good preseason game after boos in earlier outings. He usually steps up to big games, like openers....Lemieux played in no preseasons, but had a terrific performance at scrimmage sat, and he is a famous fast starter--and one of the best power players ever. Pitt 19-9-7 in home openers, but lost last three. 1-1-1 vs Leafs last season. Five of last six meetings have gone under. All four meetings last season decided by 1 goal.
Stl is 0-3-2 last five season openers. Anaheim is 1-8-0 on opening nights.
Phila has worked on PP hard, and it shows---they scored 11 in 8 preseason games.
In Van/Calg matchup, the road team has won 6 of last 7.
Detroit 2-1-1 vs SJ last season. Det 4-1-1 last 6 meetings at SJ. SJ 2-7-2 in season openers
good luck!!
