NHL Predictions
Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5 +105
The Buffalo Sabres brokw up a 5 game losing streak with a 5-2 win in Columbus Saturday night. They were out shot 38-22 but managed to pull out a vcitory against a hot Blue Jackets team. Tonight will be a different story with the Eastern Conference's top team in the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins are coming off a bad effort in a 3-0 road loss in Dallas, and will look to return to form tonight vs the Sabres. Pittsburgh has won 4 of their last 6 overall and are 36-14-2 on the season and 21-4-0 at home. The Sabres are just 14-29-7 on the year and 5-14-3 on the road. These two teams have met once this season in Pittsburgh with the Penguins winning that game 4-1 as they out shot the Sabres 35-21 and dominated start to finish. The Penguins rank 4th in the NHL scoring 3.15 goals per game, while Buffalo is last scoring 1.82 goals per game. The Sabres are just 1-5 in their lat 6 vs Eastern Conference opponents and 0-5 in their last 5 following a win. The Penguins are 42-10 in their last 52 home games, and 42-12 in their last 54 home games vs a team with a road winning % of less than .400. Pittsburgh responds well after a bad loss going 51-25 in their last 76 games following a loss of 3+ goals. Pittsburgh has won 10 of these two teams last 14 meetings and 9 of 13 in Pittsburgh. I'm on the Penguins to win by at least a couple of goals here tonight at plus money.
Colorado Avalanche +111
Wow, the Winnipeg Jets do the improbable and knock the Blackhawks off 3-1. Chicago got on the board early within two minutes and it seemed like we were going to be able to cruise along last night. It wasn't to be, as the Jets are officially on fire under Paul Maurice. I am not sure they will be able to keep it up, but it is one big transition since earlier in the season. It was a wacky day all around, as the Devils and Rangers, yes the Devils and Rangers combined for 10 goals.
I had to scratch my head when taking a look at this line. I thought this line would have been of the -105 variety, but the Stars are posted as -120 favorites and the Avalanche are decent dogs at +111. The Avs can be a little erratic at times, but I think they are being short changed in this game. It is not like they are an awful road team or anything, coming in at 15-7-0-2 on the road. In fact, their road mark is a tad better than the Stars are at home, 13-8-2-3. Colorado also has an overall record of 31-14-2-3 compared to the Stars' 24-20-4-4 tally. I would consider the Stars of the average variety, with the Avs as a solid, good squad. The Avalanche should go on to make the playoffs and while I think they'll falter, they should be a quality team for years to come. Statistically, the Avs edge the Stars out as well, averaging 2.86 goals per game and 2.57 against. Dallas scores 2.85 a game and lets in an average of 2.87 goals. The Avalanche are 5-2 in their last seven games, while the Stars have been quite good as well, winning their last three games in convincing fashion. Prior to that, though, the Stars were stumbling, losing 9 of their last 10 games. I like the value with the Avalanche in this game, as they continue their turnaround season under head coach Patrick Roy.
OC Dooley
Timberwolves -3.5
At most offshore locations Minnesota opened as a one-and-a-half point road favorite and that figure has since risen even though statistically tonight’s game favors Chicago who is having an outstanding month of January winning 10 of 13 chances overall. In addition the Bulls have owned the T-Wolves in this series winning SEVEN consecutive meetings by a whopping average of 13 points per contest. To add even more fuel to the fire Minnesota for the entire season to date in ROAD game when scoring less than 109 points has been a disaster (1-11) and tonight they face an excellent Bulls defense that is permitting on average below 93 points per contest. In a game where the oddsmakers have made a major statement I am siding with favored Minnesota