Tuesday's best NHL bets
Boston Bruins at Ottawa Senators (-120, 5.5)
Alex Kovalev responded to the news that he wouldn?t be a part of the Russian hockey team in the upcoming Winter Olympics by netting four goals in Ottawa?s 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Sunday night.
The Senators are hoping this is a sign of things to come in the New Year for the Russian winger who hadn?t scored in 11 games since getting a hat trick at home against the Carolina Hurricanes on Dec. 12.
?All I can say is it?s a good way to start 2010,? Kovalev told the Ottawa Sun. ?Hopefully, that?s the way it?s going to go for me the rest of the season.?
Kovalev has been nothing if not inconsistent this year, but he has performed at a much higher level at home, scoring nine of his 11 goals there. The Senators have also been successful at Scotiabank Place winning five of their last seven home games.
Conversely, Boston has lost five of its last seven on the road.
Pick: Ottawa
Columbus Blue Jackets at Vancouver Canucks (-220, 5.5)
The Vancouver Canucks seem to have finally turned things around. The team that had won only three road games in the first six weeks of the season just earned a 3-0-1 record on its latest four-game road swing through Calgary, Phoenix, St. Louis and Dallas.
Goalie Roberto Luongo has been impressive, most recently stopping 31 of the Stars? 32 shots on goal, including 13 straight in the third period in a 3-1 win Saturday night. And even the lesser-know players have been coming up big.
?I think everybody is contributing to the team?s success: all four lines, all six Ds,? winger Alex Burrows told the Vancouver Sun. ?Special teams are a big part of the game, too. Our PK has improved a lot.?
The Columbus Blue Jackets, on the other hand, have struggled lately, losing nine of their last 10 games. The Blue Jackets offense has had trouble putting up points with eight of their last 10 outings going under the posted total.
Pick: Under
Boston Bruins at Ottawa Senators (-120, 5.5)
Alex Kovalev responded to the news that he wouldn?t be a part of the Russian hockey team in the upcoming Winter Olympics by netting four goals in Ottawa?s 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Sunday night.
The Senators are hoping this is a sign of things to come in the New Year for the Russian winger who hadn?t scored in 11 games since getting a hat trick at home against the Carolina Hurricanes on Dec. 12.
?All I can say is it?s a good way to start 2010,? Kovalev told the Ottawa Sun. ?Hopefully, that?s the way it?s going to go for me the rest of the season.?
Kovalev has been nothing if not inconsistent this year, but he has performed at a much higher level at home, scoring nine of his 11 goals there. The Senators have also been successful at Scotiabank Place winning five of their last seven home games.
Conversely, Boston has lost five of its last seven on the road.
Pick: Ottawa
Columbus Blue Jackets at Vancouver Canucks (-220, 5.5)
The Vancouver Canucks seem to have finally turned things around. The team that had won only three road games in the first six weeks of the season just earned a 3-0-1 record on its latest four-game road swing through Calgary, Phoenix, St. Louis and Dallas.
Goalie Roberto Luongo has been impressive, most recently stopping 31 of the Stars? 32 shots on goal, including 13 straight in the third period in a 3-1 win Saturday night. And even the lesser-know players have been coming up big.
?I think everybody is contributing to the team?s success: all four lines, all six Ds,? winger Alex Burrows told the Vancouver Sun. ?Special teams are a big part of the game, too. Our PK has improved a lot.?
The Columbus Blue Jackets, on the other hand, have struggled lately, losing nine of their last 10 games. The Blue Jackets offense has had trouble putting up points with eight of their last 10 outings going under the posted total.
Pick: Under
