Thursday's best NHL bets
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals (-275, 6)
The Montreal Canadiens are clear underdogs in their first round matchup against the Washington Capitals, but you wouldn?t know it by listening to what Thomas Plekanec has to say about Washington?s goaltending situation.
?It?s not as though we are facing (Martin) Brodeur or (Ryan Miller)?, Plekanec told La Presse. ?They don?t have a dominant goaltender. When you look at the goaltending matchup in this series it favors our team. I just believe that our goaltending is more solid than theirs.
?I?m not saying their goalies are bad. I?m just saying our goalies are better.?
Statistically speaking, Plekanec does have a point. The Canadiens? likely starter, Jaroslav Halak (.924 save percentage, 2.40 goals against average), performed better than Capitals starter Jose Theodore (.911 save percentage, 2.82 goals against average) during the regular season.
And who can forget Theodore?s lackluster performance in the first game of the playoffs last year, surrendering four goals on 21 shots to the New York Rangers and getting bench for the next 13 playoff games.
But Halak clearly lacks postseason experience. His three career playoff outings pale in comparison to Theodore?s 49, which includes a series win over the top-seeded Boston Bruins while he was still with the Habs.
To make matters worse, the Capitals and the Canadiens boast the two best power plays in the NHL. In the four meeting between these two teams this season, a total of 28 goals were scored, eight of those coming on the man advantage.
Pick: Over
Los Angeles Kings at Vancouver Canucks (-200, 5.5)
The Vancouver Canucks may have the most prolific offense in the Western Conference, but their back end has been a source of concern for some time.
The defense should welcome Shane O?Brien back from a mild shoulder injury, but will be without Willie Mitchell and Brad Lukowich. Aaron Rome and Sami Salo are both listed as questionable for Thursday?s game, although the always enigmatic Salo claims he?s doing just fine.
?Was there something wrong with me?? Salo told reporters when asked about the undisclosed injury that kept him out of the last two games of the regular season. ?That was you guys who made it up. Personal reasons. Everything?s good. Something came up. I couldn?t play against Calgary (on Saturday), but everything has all settled down. There wasn?t an injury if you guys want to know that.?
This wouldn?t be the first time Salo has tried to dupe reporters. During the 2007 playoffs, he told the media he had the flu even though head coach Alain Vigneault admitted he was suffering from a torso injury.
With or without Salo in the lineup Thursday, the Kings will look to take advantage of Vancouver?s depleted defensive unit. They did just that the last time the two teams met, earning an 8-3 win at the Staples Center.
Los Angeles might be a little nervous early in its first postseason appearance since 2002, but should still be able to stick with the Canucks.
Pick: Kings
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals (-275, 6)
The Montreal Canadiens are clear underdogs in their first round matchup against the Washington Capitals, but you wouldn?t know it by listening to what Thomas Plekanec has to say about Washington?s goaltending situation.
?It?s not as though we are facing (Martin) Brodeur or (Ryan Miller)?, Plekanec told La Presse. ?They don?t have a dominant goaltender. When you look at the goaltending matchup in this series it favors our team. I just believe that our goaltending is more solid than theirs.
?I?m not saying their goalies are bad. I?m just saying our goalies are better.?
Statistically speaking, Plekanec does have a point. The Canadiens? likely starter, Jaroslav Halak (.924 save percentage, 2.40 goals against average), performed better than Capitals starter Jose Theodore (.911 save percentage, 2.82 goals against average) during the regular season.
And who can forget Theodore?s lackluster performance in the first game of the playoffs last year, surrendering four goals on 21 shots to the New York Rangers and getting bench for the next 13 playoff games.
But Halak clearly lacks postseason experience. His three career playoff outings pale in comparison to Theodore?s 49, which includes a series win over the top-seeded Boston Bruins while he was still with the Habs.
To make matters worse, the Capitals and the Canadiens boast the two best power plays in the NHL. In the four meeting between these two teams this season, a total of 28 goals were scored, eight of those coming on the man advantage.
Pick: Over
Los Angeles Kings at Vancouver Canucks (-200, 5.5)
The Vancouver Canucks may have the most prolific offense in the Western Conference, but their back end has been a source of concern for some time.
The defense should welcome Shane O?Brien back from a mild shoulder injury, but will be without Willie Mitchell and Brad Lukowich. Aaron Rome and Sami Salo are both listed as questionable for Thursday?s game, although the always enigmatic Salo claims he?s doing just fine.
?Was there something wrong with me?? Salo told reporters when asked about the undisclosed injury that kept him out of the last two games of the regular season. ?That was you guys who made it up. Personal reasons. Everything?s good. Something came up. I couldn?t play against Calgary (on Saturday), but everything has all settled down. There wasn?t an injury if you guys want to know that.?
This wouldn?t be the first time Salo has tried to dupe reporters. During the 2007 playoffs, he told the media he had the flu even though head coach Alain Vigneault admitted he was suffering from a torso injury.
With or without Salo in the lineup Thursday, the Kings will look to take advantage of Vancouver?s depleted defensive unit. They did just that the last time the two teams met, earning an 8-3 win at the Staples Center.
Los Angeles might be a little nervous early in its first postseason appearance since 2002, but should still be able to stick with the Canucks.
Pick: Kings
