Tuesday?s best NHL bets
Tampa Bay Lightning at Carolina Hurricanes (-150, 6)
The news got worse for Carolina. The Canes are 0-2 and now will be without the services of forward Eric Cole. The winger broke a bone in his leg and won?t be back for at least four to six weeks.
Cole was a big part of the Hurricanes late push last season after being reacquired from the Oilers. Tim Conboy is expected to step into Cole?s spot in the lineup.
The scrappy forward should fit into the direction coach Paul Maurice says he wants his team moving in.
?There?s only one way to get better: You?ve got to grind and fight, and I think we have to get more aggressive in what we?re doing,? Maurice told the Raleigh News & Observer. ?If we?re going to be giving up goals during games, we might as well do it while we?re working.?
Sounds like there could be some fisticuffs in this game. Expect both sides to cash in on the man advantage and the final score to go over the total.
Pick: Over
Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers (-145, 5.5)
Edmonton backers are praying that the team?s first game isn?t a sign of things to come. New goalie Nikolai Khabibulin was front and center in the Oilers? 4-3 loss to the Flames. He let one slip past him on the first Calgary shot and the Flames scored a late goal after Knabibulin whiffed on a clearing attempt.
?The way it happens is not a very nice way to being with a new team,? he told the Edmonton Sun. ?I think it is the sign of a good team the way they supported me after the game and again this morning.?
One bad night can easily be forgotten but patience will evaporate if the high-priced free agent signee can?t deliver the goods.
The Oilers should pick up the win in their building, but the Stars will put up a good fight, especially if they Jere Lehtinen back in the lineup.
Pick: Edmonton
Tampa Bay Lightning at Carolina Hurricanes (-150, 6)
The news got worse for Carolina. The Canes are 0-2 and now will be without the services of forward Eric Cole. The winger broke a bone in his leg and won?t be back for at least four to six weeks.
Cole was a big part of the Hurricanes late push last season after being reacquired from the Oilers. Tim Conboy is expected to step into Cole?s spot in the lineup.
The scrappy forward should fit into the direction coach Paul Maurice says he wants his team moving in.
?There?s only one way to get better: You?ve got to grind and fight, and I think we have to get more aggressive in what we?re doing,? Maurice told the Raleigh News & Observer. ?If we?re going to be giving up goals during games, we might as well do it while we?re working.?
Sounds like there could be some fisticuffs in this game. Expect both sides to cash in on the man advantage and the final score to go over the total.
Pick: Over
Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers (-145, 5.5)
Edmonton backers are praying that the team?s first game isn?t a sign of things to come. New goalie Nikolai Khabibulin was front and center in the Oilers? 4-3 loss to the Flames. He let one slip past him on the first Calgary shot and the Flames scored a late goal after Knabibulin whiffed on a clearing attempt.
?The way it happens is not a very nice way to being with a new team,? he told the Edmonton Sun. ?I think it is the sign of a good team the way they supported me after the game and again this morning.?
One bad night can easily be forgotten but patience will evaporate if the high-priced free agent signee can?t deliver the goods.
The Oilers should pick up the win in their building, but the Stars will put up a good fight, especially if they Jere Lehtinen back in the lineup.
Pick: Edmonton
