LT Profits
Chicago Blackhawks +125
The Chicago Blackhawks are very talented and very young, but they have gained some nice experience by winning a couple of one-goal games to start this series, and we now look for them to pass their first road playoff test and effectively end this series vs. the Calgary Flames.
Now Calgary is normally great at home, but Chicago is apparently too young and brash to be intimidated by the Flames. The Hawks swept all four regular season games against Calgary before running that head-to-head winning streak to six this year with the first two games, and two of those wins have come here in Western Canada by scores of 5-2 and 3-2.
In fact, the Blackhawks improved on the road as the season progressed, and they finished with a nice 22-15-4 ledger away from home. They have outscored their road opponents by an average of +0.32 goals per game, and that nice road mark is not a fluke. Chicago is also now 8-1 in their last nine games overall, with the only loss coming in a shootout vs. Columbus.
While the Hawks closed the season strong, the Flames were scuttling a bit and that has shown in this series, as they have been unable to recapture their hot midseason form. The Flames have had trouble scoring goals, scoring two goals or less in seven of their last nine games including the first two games of this series, and that will just not get it done against a potent Chicago offense.
Yes, this is a must game for Calgary, but we do not expect them to rediscover their offense overnight, so we will side with the better Chicago team at a nice underdog price here.
Pick: Blackhawks +125
Tom Freese
Cincinnati at Houston
Houston is 19-7 their last 26 games as favorites and starter Mike Hampton is 13-2 his last 15 starts vs. winning teams and the Astros are an amazing 27-5 the last 32 starts made by Hampton and they are 16-3 in Hampton's last 19 starts as road favorites. Cincinnati is 3-7 their last 10 games as road dogs and they are 11-26 in the last 37 road starts made by Bronson Arroyo. The Reds are 2-6 in Game 4 of a series and they are 23-49 their last 72 games vs. the Astros. PLAY ON HOUSTON - (Hampton vs. Arroyo)
Scott Rickenbach
Chicago Blackhawks Money Line (+)
Funny things can happen in the NHL playoffs and that has been the case in this series. In comparing these two teams, the Flames are the "grizzled playoff veterans" while the Blackhawks are they "young inexperienced playoff club". However, this has actually turned out to work in favor of the Hawks and that's why we mentioned about that funny - or "strange" - things can happen in the post-season. Calgary has had the lead in both games so far in this series - including a 2-0 lead in Game Two at Chicago - and yet the Flames have lost each game.
Part of the problem has been that the Blackhawks seem unphased no matter what the score is while the Flames - despite being the veteran club - tend to tense up and then just try to hang on for dear life. Of course the "tight play" of the Flames with the lead has been their demise and that means that no lead tonight is comfortable for the Flames. That is also why the line value here is with the underdog Blackhawks who continue to have a "nothing to lose" attitude and that makes them a very dangerous dog up in Calgary tonight! Consider a small play on Chicago on the money line on Monday night. Thanks for checking in and don't miss my guaranteed selections as we look for another big week!
Ben Burns
Washington Capitals at New York Rangers
Prediction: Washington Capitals
Up 2-0, history tells us that New York is likely to win the series. After all, teams holding a two-game lead in NHL playoff series have went on to win that series 87.3 percent of the time. Don't expect the Capitals to just roll over and play dead though.
The Caps had an excellent season. They've got one of the best players (Alexander Ovechkin) in the entire world. Having been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round last season, they're determined not to go down quietly here.
Despite dropping Game 2, the Caps are still 21-7 (+7.6) the last 28 times that they faced a team which defeated them in the previous meeting. They're also 4-1 the last five times that they were coming off three consecutive losses. I look for them to play their best game of the series tonight and for Ovechkin to find the back of the net. Consider Washington
LEE KOSTROSKI
Colorado Rockies @ Arizona Diamondbacks
PICK: Colorado Rockies
Arizona has shown no significant home field edge with a 3-6 mark so far this season, already losing two out of three to these Rockies. The Diamondbacks are hitting just .215 as a team and in eight of twelve games this season the Arizona offense has scored two or fewer runs. In the last eight games Arizona has been out-scored 20-38 and Arizona has produced a total of eleven hits in the last three games.
Jason Marquis did not create significant excitement when he signed with the Rockies but he has produced a winning record the last two seasons and is already 2-0 with Colorado. Marquis has allowed only ten hits and three runs in his two outings, beating two of the top offensive teams in the National League in the Cubs and the Phillies. Marquis delivered a quality start in his lone outing against the Diamondbacks last season and the Rockies should be motivated after an embarrassing loss on Sunday.
Arizona is just 2-6 in the last eight games and starter Jon Garland has allowed eight walks, twelve hits, and ten runs through just over ten innings in his first two National League starts. The Arizona bullpen has also failed to help out much this season and Arizona’s pitching staff is significantly depleted due to the unexpected loss of ace Brandon Webb. The Rockies have featured much more consistent offensive production this season and Marquis has been a much stronger pitcher even if he does not feature glamorous numbers. This series has not presented a great home field advantage and Colorado can deliver priced as a small underdog.
STEPHEN NOVER
Atlanta Braves @ Washington Nationals
PICK: Washington Nationals
True, the Washington Nationals are 1-10. But the Nationals are not as bad as their record indicates.
The Nationals have a good offense. They've lost five games when they've scored at least five runs. They have dropped four games when they were either tied or ahead in the ninth inning.
Bad starting pitching and a horrendous bullpen are the major factors why Washington is 1-10. But in this matchup, the Nationals are going with rookie Jordan Zimmerman. He's a future ace and already could be the team's best pitcher. The Nationals also have revamped their bullpen bringing up more experienced relievers and sending down their biggest stiffs.
The Braves have had serious bullpen problems, too. They also are banged-up at shortstop with Yunel Escobar hurt and at catcher with Brian McCann having vision problems and getting just one hit in his last 20 at-bats.
Derek Lowe goes for the Braves. He's a sinkerballer and I see him having problems here because of Atlanta's bad infield defense. Third baseman Chipper Jones and second baseman Kelly Johnson are below average fielders. Jones is especially brutal.
Look for the home 'dog Nationals to finally achieve their second victory of the season.
This is a one-unit play for me.