SPORTS WAGERS
Toronto +161 over MONTREAL
OT included. We 100% respect the Canadiens and believe they are a strong team that had things spin out of control last season once Carey Price was injured. The Habs are not just about Carey Price, as they feature plenty of talented players, not to mention the best goal differential in the league so far. Even without Price for four games already, the Habs went 3-0-1 in those contests. However, this one is still about value and taking back a price like this on the Maple Leafs is something we are not going to pass up on.
Nobody knows how Fredrick Anderson is going to perform. He was good against Florida and the Leafs won so perhaps he has his confidence back. If he’s awful so be it but one thing we know for sure is that the Maple Leafs make teams beat them and they are only getting better. Toronto is a top puck-possession team. Only the Kings have a better Corsi for % during 5-on-5 play than the Leafs. Toronto not only creates several outstanding scoring chances but they are doing so every single game. Toronto has played the seventh toughest schedule to date and while they only have two wins, with better goaltending, they would have six wins in seven games. The Maple Leafs are a great team to get behind because they are grossly undervalued due to their record. Therefore, we must keep playing them until the market adjusts to just how dangerous they are.
Dallas +131 over MINNESOTA
OT included. The Wild are coming off back to back 4-0 shutout victories over Colorado and Buffalo but things aren’t as peachy as they appear. Minnesota is a bottom five puck possession team early in the year and much of that is due partially to its poor performance in the face-off circle, especially in the offensive zone. The Wild are also giving up more chances than they’re creating and have allowed at least 27 shots on net in each of their last six games including 38 in their last game to Buffalo. The Wild are 0-1 against the only top-10 team that they’ve played and 1-2 against top 16 teams.
The big story for the Stars coming into this one is injuries but we are not concerned with that because injuries are factored into the number. Even with some players out, the Stars have plenty of depth and firepower to compensate. The Stars have been getting chances, as they are 8th in the league in Fenwick (shot + shot attempts) with 42.2 chances a game. The Wild rank 25th by comparison. Dallas is a team that one can never sell short. They may have far less appeal as a favorite but as a dog in this range against the overrated Wild, they have plenty of appeal in this 50/50 proposition.
Colorado +108 over ARIZONA
OT included. The Avs were a -150 favorite last night against Winnipeg and now they’re a dog in Arizona. That does not make sense, as Colorado absolutely dominated the final two periods of last night's game and that was after a five-day layoff. Fatigue does not figure to be a factor working against the Avs here. This is a greatly energized team that WAS chomping at the bit to get back on the ice this week. They played a strong game last night and already have some strong wins in the early going against both Washington and Tampa Bay. The Avs have flaws but they can score goals in bunches, they’re winning games and they are playing a team that is still ripe to get beat.
The Coyotes are without a number one goalie right now. They have surrendered 30 goals in seven games, which is more than four a game. The 84 high quality scoring chances against Arizona is the most against any team in the NHL. The Coyotes have the NHL’s worst high danger differential in terms of chances for and against. To make matters worse, the ‘Yotes return home from a six-game East Coast trip here, where they allowed three goals or more in every game and five goals or more in half of them. Louis Dominique brings his .857 save percentage into this start but no matter what angle you approach this game from, Arizona is up against it.
Andy Iskoe
Clemson at Florida St
Play: Florida St +4.5
These are two of the most talented teams in the nation. Clemson is 7-0 with 3 of the wins on the road. But there have been 3 tight wins – the dramatic 42-36 win over then unbeaten Louisville, a 30-24 win over Troy and their fortunate OT win over North Carolina State before last week’s Bye. Interestingly, all 3 games were at home. Florida State was blasted at Louisville and also lost at home to a very good North Carolina. Florida State is a home underdog for just the seventh time since 1990, going 2-4 SU, 3-3 ATS. These foes have split 10 meetings over the past decade with FSU winning 4 of 5 on this field, always as a favorite. The Seminoles are out of the National Title picture so all they can do here is play spoiler. Clemson’s weakness has been a tendency to commit turnovers. Clemson has the better defense but Florida State has an excellent rushing offense. All the pressure is on Clemson which has survived several close calls, 2 of which were against far inferior foes.