Free Picks: Service Plays for Friday, December 18,2009

SPORTS WAGERS
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Ottawa +1.70 over NEW JERSEY
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The Devils remain a tough out and likely will be the rest of the way including the playoffs. They’re among the elite teams in the league and you don’t need anyone to tell you that. However, this is another one of those vulnerable spots in which we could catch them off its game. The Devils have been home for 10 days and this will be its fifth consecutive at home. The Devils have played one road game since Nov 28 and that was a short trip to Buffalo. They’ll embark on a three-game trip starting tomorrow in Atlanta and could definitely be looking forward to getting away. Teams are very often flat in the last game of an extended home stand and it’s also worth noting that they’ve beaten the Sens twice already this year in two meetings so they have nothing to prove. Ottawa is coming off a pretty sweet 2-0 win in Buffalo. They’ve now won three of four and they’re almost always ready to play. The tag is also pretty sweet when you consider how tough the Sens have been and that New Jersey is not a team like San Jose, Pittsburgh or Chicago in that they don’t score nearly enough goals to be trusted as this big a favorite over a quality team. Overlay. Play: Ottawa +1.70 (Risking 2 units).
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CHICAGO -½ +1.01 over Boston
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How good are the Blackhawks? This team might be the best the NHL has to offer and they seem to be doing it with ease these days. They’ve shut out its last two opponents and have now allowed just four goals against in its last five games. They’re just two points behind the Sharks for the lead in the West but they’ve also played three less games than San Jose. The Blackhawks are loaded. They play great defense, they roll out three lines that can all score and a fourth line that would be a second or third line anywhere else. In 17 home games this year they’ve won 14. The Blackhawks are rested, soaring with confidence and although they rarely see the Bruins, it’s been six years since they beat them and you can be damn sure the local papers will have already pointed that out to them. The Bruins are good too but they’re the second best team here and it’s not close. Boston also lost two of its starting defenseman in its last game as both Denis Wideman and Mark Stuart will be on the rack for a few games. Oh, the Bruins also have the Leafs on deck tomorrow in Toronto on Hockey Night in Canada. Play: Chicago -½ +1.01 (Risking 2 units).
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ST. LOUIS -½ +1.01 over Tampa Bay
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The Lightning lost again last night in Detroit despite not being outplayed. They played nose to nose with the Red Wings but like they always do recently, they came out on the losing end. The Bolts have now lost six in a row and 10 of its last 11. That’s incredible for a team with the talent they have but the fact is, only a handful of players are giving it all they have and LeCavalier isn’t one of them. The Lightning is also hurting on defense where they don’t know who should play and who should sit anymore. Furthermore, they’ve been shutout in three of its last six games and now have the second least amount of goals in the league with 81. Lastly, the Lightning will play its fifth road game in seven days, its third in four and the tail end of back-to-backs after a very frustrating night in Detroit. No excuses for the Blue Notes here. Play: St. Louis -½ +1.01 (Risking 2 units).