NHL Predictions
Columbus Blue Jackets +140
The Coyotes are coming off of a 2-1 loss in Pittsburgh last night, and have now lost three straight games. During those three losses the Coyotes were outscored 11-5. Phoenix is scoring just 1.80 goals per game over their last 5. The Blue Jackets have won two straight, both on the road, which includes a 5-2 win in Phoenix in their latest game on Saturday night. Steve Mason has looked good in his last two games allowing just 2 goals on over 60 shots against, which includes a shutout in Colorado. These two teams have met twice this season with Columbus winning both (5-2 on Saturday and 4-3 at home back on January 13th). Losers of three straight and playing their 2nd of back to back road games the Coyotes can be upset tonight against the Blue Jackets.
Blackhawks / Blues Under 5
These two teams will meet for their 4th time this season. The Blackhawks have taken 2 of the first 3, with 2 of those games going UNDER the posted total. We have seen totals of 3, 7, and most recently 4 on February 19th. The St Louis Blues are averaging just 1.62 goals against on home ice, while the Blackhawks score a considerably less amount on the road this season at 2.59 goals per game. Over their last 5 the Blackhawks are averaging just 2 goals per game, even with a game that they scored 5 goals. The Blues are averaging 2.60 goals per game over their last 5 and 1.60 against. For the Blues Halak has been spectacular, winning 5 straight and allowing just 8 goals against during that span. Ray Emery has stepped in allowing just 1 goals against in each of his last two starts since his relief appearance against the Maple Leafs where we rewarded with the win. Take the UNDER here.
Colorado Avalanche -109
The Avalanche look to even the season series with the Wild, as they Wild have the 3-2 advantage coming into their 6th and final meeting of the season. The Avs beat the Wild 2-0 in Minnesota on Sunday night and have been playing much better hockey than the Wild. Minnesota has won just 8 of their last 36 games overall, and 4 of their last 21 road games. The Avalanche are 18-15-1 on home ice this season and find themselves in a Western Conference playoff hunt with their 34-29-4 overall record. Colorado has won 5 of their last 7 games overall. Semyon Varlamov has been stellar lately, allowing just 4 goals against in his last 5 starts. Being shutout in 3 of their last 4 games the Wild continue their scoring troubles that have them averaging just 2.08 goal per game and 1.80 goals per game on the road. Take the Avs to get things done in regulation time.
Canadiens / Flames Under 5
Both teams have won just once in their last 7 games. The Canadiens have scored 2 or less goals in 4 of their last 5 and they have managed less than 30 shots on goal in 4 of those 5 games. The Flames are coming off a 3-2 shootout loss at home against Dallas, and they have had troubles scoring as well. Both teams rank in the bottom 10 in overall scoring. Canadiens forward Michael Cammalleri is day to day with an upper body injury and will be out of action tonight, while the Canadiens have a handful of injuries themselves. The Flames are still hoping for a shot at the playoffs and will need to play a shut down game tonight. I expect this one to be a low scoring game. Take the UNDER.
Oilers / Sharks Under 5.5
The Oilers have lost three straight games, in which they have managed just 5 goals. In fact the Oilers have only managed more than 2 goals in a game twice in their last 8 games. The Sharks are having major struggles themselves, especially with putting the puck in the net. Losers or two straight home games and 8 of their last 10 the Sharks have dropped in the Western Conference standings. San Jose has scored just 2 goals in their last 3 games (all three which have gone UNDER the posted total). Note that the UNDER is 4-1 in the Sharks last 5 games as a big favorite of -201 or more. The UNDER is also 5-2 in their last 7 vs a team with a winning % below .400. The UNDER is 35-16-2 in the Oilers last 53 vs a team with a winning record. In these two teams last 11 meetings in San Jose the UNDER is 7-3-1. The Oilers have seen their offense struggles all season, while the Sharks are having major troubles as of late. I like the value we have on the UNDER 5.5 tonight between these two teams.
Jeff Scott Sports
4 UNIT PLAY
POWER ANGLE PLAY
Eastern Washington/ Montana Over 133.5: The Grizzlies do not get involved in many high scoring games because of their tough defensive play, but i feel that the Eagles have more than enough offense to crack that defense. Eastern Washington comes in averaging 72.9 ppg over and 76 ppg in their last 5 games, plus in conference play they have averaged 73.2 ppg. The Eagles are not a great shooting team overall (41 %), burt they are 96th in the country in draining the three (36%) and they are also solid from the FT line (70.6%), so this team does have a way to manufacture points. Oh and by the way the Eagles are also 23rd in the nation in shots per game (59.6). Boy do they love to run and that has also led to them giving up a bunch of points as well. Overall the Eagles are 277th in points allowed (71.3 ppg), 251st in FG% defense (44.70 and 300th in 3-point defense (37%), while on the road they have allowed 74.2 ppg on 46.4% shooting. The Grizzlies should really be able to put some points on the board vs this team as they are 122nd in scoring (70.0 ppg), 53rd in shooting (46.3%) and 62nd from long range (36.9%), while at home they have put up 71.9 ppg on 47.9% shooting overall and 38% from long range. This is a very good long range team and should get plenty of points from beyond the arc vs this bad Eagles perimeter defense. The Grizzlies do play great defense, but I have to believe that in the pace that will be played tonight the Eagles should be able to hit at least 63 points, while the Grizzlies should be good for no less than 71 points. Still, i will call for this one to be played in the 140's. POWER ANGLE FOR THIS PLAY--- Play Over in all games where the total is between 130 and 139.5 points and a poor shooting team (E. WASHINGTON)- shooting <=42% on the season vs an opponents that has allowed a shooting pct. of 37% or less for 3 straight games. This play is 35-12 since 1997.
3 UNIT PLAYS
Detroit/ Valparaiso Over 136.5: (Added) Google News Play. 7 of the last 8 in this series has gone Over the total and both meetings this year hit at least 144 points. Detroit played a low scoring game vs Cleveland State, but at least 141 points have been scored in their previous 5 games, with an average of 152.6 ppg being scored in those games. Detroit comes in averaging 77 ppg in their last 8 games and while Valpo has allowed 58.6 ppg in their last 5 games, none of those games were vs a team that can score like the Titans, plus Valpo has allowed 65.6 ppg at home on the year and 72 ppg in the two games vs Detroit. Detroit is normally a solid defensive squad, but this year they have allowed 68.5 ppg overall and 71 ppg in their last 6 games overall, while Valpo has averaged 72.7 ppg on their home floor this year. Both teams can certainly put points on the board, while both defenses are shaky at best. This should be afaced paced game that should easily end up in the 140's.
North Texas -2.5 over Western Kentucky: (Added) Google News Play. To lose two DD scorers since January and still get this far is pretty amazing. Despite lose those two scorers North Texas has still been able to put up 71.7 ppg in conference play, which is up from their seasonal average of 70.3, so they have done better since the two suspensions. WKU is not great on defense as they have allowed 67.9 ppg overall (207th) and 68.4 ppg in conference play. North Texas has really played well on defense this year as they have allowed just 64.7 ppg (110th) on 40.5% shooting (43rd) overall while in conference play they have allowed 66.3 ppg on just 38.9% shooting. WKU has been better on offense of last (70.8 ppg in last 5), burt still they have averaged just 64.7 ppg overall, but they have still averaged just 62 ppg in their 6 neutral site games this year and 66.8 ppg on the road on a mery 39.3% shooting away from home overall. North Texas has a solid defensive edge and slight offensive edge in this one. WKU has 7 conference tournament titles, while North Texas has just two and they would like to close the gap a bit by winning this one. Look for a close one that but the Eagles will pull away late.
Richmond/ Lasalle Over 136: (Added) The only meeting this year put up 154 points, while 8 of the last 10 in the series has gone Over. Richmond is off a game, in which 152 poinjts were scored and that is off 4 straight games in which no more than 122 points were scored, which was off a stretch of 3 games in which 136 points were scored. Got all that? I think I confused my self. LOL Anyway Richmond has the ability7 to play some high scoring games and they will need to in this one as the Explorers like to push the ball and play uptempo, especially at home. In Lasalle home games this year they have averaged a healthy 76.1 ppg on 48.65 shooting, while they have allowed 63.8 ppg and that puts their home games at 139.9 ppg. Richmond does average just 63.2 ppg on the road, but Lasalle comes in having allowed 67 ppg in their last 5 games overall, so I expect Richmond to get a few more than their season average, especially at tonight's pace. The Lasalle offense should certainly score plenty vs a Richmond team that has allowed 68 ppg on the road this year. This should be a faced paced game. Lasalle can put a bunch of points on the board at home, while Richmond should be able to get their vs a Lasalle team that has struggled some on defense of late.
2 UNIT PLAYS
Pittsburgh/ St John's Over 134.5: Despite the fact that Pitt plays a lot of low scoring games they are still 119th in the nation in shots per game (55.8), while St Johns is 111th (56th), so both teams are not exactly slow down teams. I feel this will be a wide open game. Pitt hasn't scored a ton this year by the Redmen allow over 70 ppg and 68.6 ppg in their last 5 games overall. Pitt has been much weaker on defense this year as they have allowed 66.5 ppg overall and 66.9 ppg when they take to the road. This should also be a close game and that will bring thoise late FT's into the mix as well. Im looking at a game in the 140's here.
Villanova/ Rutgers Over 136.5: (Added) Google News Play. The last meeting, 6 days ago, the teams put up 148 points and and I expect we could see a game in the mid 140's in this one as well. Rutgers has really struggled at the defensive end of late as they have allowed 72.1 ppg in their last 9 games and Villanova can take advantage as they have averaged 71.6 ppg overall and 68.5 ppg on neutral floors. Rutgers has not been that strong on offense this year, but they have been better of late (67.6 ppg in their last 5 games0 and they should nbe able to continue putting up number like that vs a Villanova team that has allowed 71.8 ppg and 73.2 ppg in their last 10 games. Villanova was able to speed Rutgers up in the last game and I see them doing it again here. Rutgers can score on this team, but will also give up plenty vs a good Wildcat offense.
1 UNIT PLAY
Penn +4.5 over PRINCETON: (Added) Play on Underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points after beating the spread by 18 or more points total in their last three games against opponent after beating the spread by 48 or more points total in their last ten games. This play is 31-12 the last 5 seasons.