Ben Burns
Minnesota Wild at Edmonton Oilers
Prediction: Edmonton Oilers
While this is a very big game for both teams, the Oilers have the advantage of having had yesterday off and also of playing on home ice. Home ice has been particularly important in this series. Indeed, the Oilers have lost 10 straight at Minnesota but they've won four straight series meetings here at Edmonton. With the Wild at just 5-11 the last 16 times that they played the second of back to back games, consider laying the wood with the home team.
Dennis Macklin
Ottawa Senators at Tampa Bay Lightning
Prediction: Ottawa Senators
Two teams really struggling for a win. The Senators are monsters at home but have lost five of last seven with suitcase including last at Atlanta. The Lightning have lost five of six overall and like Meatloaf said, "are praying for the end of time, so vacation can hurry up and arrive." Teams have split pretty much of late but the Lightning have allowed 39 goals in L10 and lighting the lamp has not been a problem for the more urgent Senators. Take Ottawa.
Greg Shaker
Oklahoma City Thunder at Boston Celtics
Play: Over 190.5
It would be easy to look at this contest and figure that Under is the play. Afterall, the Celtics have one Hell of a D, and lately they have been using that to the tune of allowing just over 83 points per game the last 5 times on the court. With Garnett probably sitting this one out, we have another resason why Under is the play. But we can look at things further and less of the obvious to see that this number might be a little bit understated. Certainly one of those is the fact that Boston's competition level has not been up to snuff with games verses the Clips, Grizzlies, along with lower paced contest with Atlanta, San Antonio and Orlando. This game has totally different dynamics because number one, it is at the garden, and number 2, it is verses the Thunder. Ok City has been up-tempoing in a big way 9 games with 160+ shots or more taken by them and their opponent in each and every contest. The Over/Under numbers don't show up very well with Under being 7-2 in those affairs but the dynamics are there considering the fact that this is the second lowest posted total during this stretch. Because of their inability to stop the opposition, road games have been a chore for the Thunder, allowing well over the century mark over their last 3 of 4 in this situation and 108 ppg all year. That is why they are 20-14 OVER the mark when they venture out of town and let's not forget that Boston is 22-13 OVER when they eat home cooking. That OVER Bonanza here has also been 15-5 last 20 here at the Garden. Boston can score at this court and evidenced by the huge betting line of minus eleven, they should dispose of the Thunder this evening. But what we are likely to see is less than the usual intense D effort by this team as they prepare for Bigger Fish down the road. Going thru the motions is going to be our friend for this one, and I would play it up to 194. although I think there is a chance that this line moves the other way.
Dwayne Bryant
DET -2 vs PHI
The Pistons are sure glad to have Richard Hamilton back in the lineup. In his first game back since missing six with a left groin injury, Hamilton hit a season-high five 3-pointers and scored 31 points in a 98-96 win over the Wizards last night. Detroit was 1-5 without its star guard.The Pistons also do a great job of rebounding. Even without Rasheed Wallace's 7.5 rebounds per game, the Pistons have outrebounded their last 10 opponents by an average of 5.9.Detroit has lost four of five at home since winning three in a row there March 3-9, but I expect Detroit to get the home win today with Hamilton running the show.This is also a revenge game for Detroit, who lost at home to the 76ers, 96-91, back on 12/05/08. The Sixers outscored Detroit 38-24 in the fourth quarter to steal that win. I don't see that happening today with Detroit fighting for their playoff lives.I'll lay the small number with the revenge-minded home team from Detroit.