Boston Bruins vs. Carolina Hurricanes
NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes -115 odds – February 1st 2011
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These teams played a “home and home” series against each other a couple of weeks ago. The Bruins “crushed” the Canes in the opening game, a 7-0 victory at Boston, on 1/17.

The Canes played much better when the teams faced each other the following day. In fact, they held a 45-28 edge in shots on goal. However, they still came up short, falling 4-3. Those results should ensure a highly motivated effort here.

Captain Eric Staal said this of the last meeting here at Raleigh: “We didn’t get the results that we wanted, but our compete level was there and we … couldn’t find a way to get the puck to the back of the net.”

Note that Carolina went 6-1-1 at home in January; the lone regulation loss was the one vs. the Bruins.

While Boston is admittedly a solid team, the Canes are a profitable 31-25 (+13.4) the past few years, when facing a team with a winning record, during the second half of the season.

During that stretch, they’ve also gone a respectable 44-34 (+2.9) when playing a home game, with an O/U line of 5.5. With the home fans still “buzzing” from the All Star festivities, consider backing revenge-minded Carolina.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers
NHL Pick: Under 5.5 goals -110 odds – January 25th 2011
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These teams played a high-scoring game against each other in mid-December. The Flyers won that 12/15 meeting by a score of 5-3. Tonight’s “rematch” is likely to be considerably lower-scoring.

Note that this season’s two earlier meetings averaged only four goals. They had scores of 3-0 and 3-2.

The Canadiens exploded for seven goals in their most recent road game, a 7-1 destruction of the Senators. However, even with that result, they’re still averaging only 2.2 goals per game on the road. Prior to that game, they’d averaged only two goals per game, when playing away from Montreal.

Even including the result at Ottawa, the “under” is still a lucrative 17-4-2 in Montreal’s road games. Those games have averaged only 4.5 combined goals. When playing a road game with an O/U line of 5.5, the Habs have seen the “under” go 12-2.

The Flyers are off a 4-1 win at Chicago on Sunday. They’ve now allowed three or fewer goals in six straight games, two or less in five of those. The Flyers have seen the “under” go 16-6 after scoring four or more goals in their previous game and 14-4 when coming off a win by two or more goals. Consider the Under.

Dallas Stars vs. Calgary Flames
NHL Pick: Calgary Flames -115 odds – January 21st 2011
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Really like the Flames tonight playing at home coming off a BLOWOUT loss last game out 6-0. Iginla will have the troops motivated trust me on this one. He’s collected three goals and four assists in his last six games. Last time these 2 teams played the Flames won posting a 3-2 shootout victory on the road on Dec. 23. Dallas comes into this one off a win last night in Edmonton so they’re legs won’t be at 100%. Calgary’s will, they aren’t playing on back to back nights. CAL are 10-4 in their last 14 Fri. games. While its true the Stars aren’t doing anything spectacular to win on the road except playing good, simple road hockey, getting good goaltending and making the most of their scoring chances it won’t be enough tonight. The line is great for this one. Calgary is the favorite for a reason folks. Jump on it with my Free Friday NHL play.

Phoenix Coyotes vs. Los Angeles Kings
NHL Pick: Los Angeles Kings -140 odds – January 20th 2011
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This is the first game of a home-and-home series between the Coyotes (23-15-9) and the Kings (24-21-1). Three of Los Angeles’ next four games are at home before the team sets out on a 10-game road trip. Both clubs lost consecutive games on Monday and Tuesday and each team is having trouble scoring goals. Phoenix has won the first 2 meetings between the 2 teams so far, most recently winning 6-3 at home on Dec. 29. While it is true that LA has been struggling of late I like their home record, as they are one of those teams that are tough to beat on home ice. (15-8-1). Jonathan Quick will get a chance to redeem himself after that last game where a game-winning goal trickled past him vs. St. Louis. Until the late gaffe, Quick was having one of his strongest games of the last month or so, and coach Terry Murray said he will give Quick a chance to build off that. The Coyotes will be without defenseman Ed Jovanovski and Vernon Fiddler. I like LA in a close game here and one area which the Coyotes are not to good is in games that go past regulation. Phoenix has won just two of the 11 games that were tied after 60 minutes this season. Bet on LA, and Jonathan Quick getting the victory Thursday night.

Nashville Predators vs. Phoenix Coyotes
Hockey Pick: Phoenix Coyotes -120 odds
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Nashville is 1-8 this year after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game. Phoenix is 4-1 SU and ATS at home vs Nashville the past 3 years. Predators are 6-20 in their last 26 games following a loss of 3 or more goals. Coyotes are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record. Coyotes are 5-1 in their last 6 games playing on 0 days rest. Coyotes are 5-1 in their last 6 in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation. Coyotes are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Western Conference. Coyotes are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game. Coyotes are 4-1 in their last 5 overall. Coyotes are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Coyotes are 26-8 in their last 34 games as a favorite of -110 to -150. Coyotes are 5-2 in their last 7 vs. Central. Coyotes are 10-4 in their last 14 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game. Coyotes are 20-8 in their last 28 games as a home favorite of -110 to -150. Coyotes are 32-15 in their last 47 games as a favorite. Favorite is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings. Home team is 21-7-1 in the last 29 meetings. Predators are 2-8 in the last 10 meetings in Phoenix. We’ll recommend a small play on Phoenix tonight! Thanks and good luck, Rocky

Vancouver Canucks vs. Colorado Avalanche
NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche +110 odds
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I successfully played against the Canucks in their last game, releasing a “free play” on the Minnesota Wild. The Canucks were fairly decent sized favorites. However, the Wild won by a score of 4-0.

The Canucks are road favorites again tonight, albeit considerably smaller ones. Once again, I won’t be surprised if they suffer an “upset” loss.

The Canucks are now 1-2 their last three games. They were blanked in both losses.

The Avalanche, on the other hand, have won two of three. They scored four or more in each victory. Their last game here at Colorado resulted in a 5-4 victory over the Red Wings.

The Canucks, who are dealing with a few injuries, are playing the final leg of a 5-game road trip here. They haven’t been home in more than a week. Having already gone 4-0 in this series so far this season, it may be easy to overlook the Avs and to get caught thinking ahead to the return trip to Vancouver.

Conversely, the Avs should be extremely motivated. The Canucks are the division leaders and they’d desperately like to beat them, if only once.

Despite their struggles against the Canucks, the Avs are still a lucrative 47-42 (+20) against winning teams, the past few seasons. That includes a 15-8 (+9.2) mark this year. Really, they’ve been able to beat practically every other “good” team – just not Vancouver.

The Avs are 10-6 (+5.7) the last 16 times that they were playing with “revenge,” going a profitable 32-20 (+21.4) in that role the past few seasons.

If the Avs are ever going to beat their “nemesis,” now should be as good a time as any. Consider Colorado

Ottawa Senators vs. New York Islanders
NHL Pick: New York Islanders -105 odds – January 13th 2011
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Love the line we get here tonight in the battle of the bottom-feeders on Long Island. The Home team is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings between these two clubs and I don’t see this trend swinging the other way tonight. After getting bombed 5-0 in Chicago, the Islanders rebounded with a strong effort against the Canucks, dropping a 4-3 decision Tuesday. The Senators reached a new low by suffering a 6-0 loss to Boston, their worst loss of the season last game out. The Islanders have managed to win seven of their last 11 games. Ottawa is on a 0-4-2 slump. These teams are both brutal, but the NYI are prooving to me that they’re the lesser of two evils here. NY Islanders are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games at home, and are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against Ottawa. 5* Free Play

On tap for tonight, Razor’s 10* Thursday TNT Battle On The Plains! (ORL/OKC), and Razor’s 9* TNT Winning Side Smackdown! (MIA/DVR). All Sports Top Plays (+670) 20-12 L32 63%! THE NFL Playoffs are here folks! Two NBA Plays today. Grab yourself a 1 Day pass $49.95, 3 Day pass $89.95! Hop on board the $ train.

Washington Capitals vs. Florida Panthers
NHL Pick: Washington Capitals -135 odds – January 11th 2011
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Washington has won 4 of their last 5 games and 6 of their last 8 games overall. Florida, on the other hand, has lost 3 in a row and 5 of their last 7 games overall. Washington is 5-1 at Florida the past 3 years. Capitals are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a losing record. Capitals are 4-1 in their last 5 overall. Capitals are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference. Capitals are 12-4 in their last 16 Tuesday games. Capitals are 52-18 in their last 70 vs. Southeast. Capitals are 39-14 in their last 53 games following a win. Capitals are 49-19 in their last 68 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. Capitals are 5-2 in their last 7 games as a favorite. Capitals are 5-2 in their last 7 in the second game of a home-and-home situation. Capitals are 19-8 in their last 27 games as a road favorite of -110 to -150. Capitals are 45-19 in their last 64 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game. Panthers are 23-48 in their last 71 games as an underdog. Panthers are 17-38 in their last 55 vs. a team with a winning record. Panthers are 2-5 in their last 7 overall. Panthers are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. Eastern Conference. Panthers are 15-38 in their last 53 games as an underdog of +110 to +150. Panthers are 15-38 in their last 53 games as a home underdog. Panthers are 6-20 in their last 26 games as a home underdog of +110 to +150. Panthers are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. Southeast. Panthers are 1-4 in their last 5 home games. Capitals are 7-1 in the last 8 meetings. Capitals are 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Florida. We’ll recommend a small play on Washington tonight! Thanks and good luck, Rocky

San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings
NHL Pick: Under 5.5 -110 odds
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What’s up with the Kings? From 12/21 through 12/27 they played four games. During that stretch, they gave up a grand total of only three goals. Yet, in their last two games they’ve given up a whopping 13. Those results should have the Kings determined to ring in the new year with a much better defensive effort.

Defenseman Rob Scuderi was quoted as saying: “Certainly two of our ugliest of the year. We’re not making excuses for ourselves, but it does happen. We have to scrape them under the rug and move on.”

Another LA defenseman (Matt Greene) noted: “If we want to win games, we can’t give up six and seven on back-to-back nights and expect to win any games … We’ve got to play the game, think the game and right now we’re not doing either one on defense.”

Clearly, this team wants to improve its defensive play. Note that the Kings recorded a shutout when they faced these same Sharks less than a week ago.

Also, note that the Kings are still only allowing an average of two goals per game here at home. Their home games are now averaging 5.1 goals, on the season. The UNDER is 12-4-1 here, 10-4 when the Kings have played here with an O/U line of 5.5.

Including last week’s result, the Sharks have seen the UNDER go 35-19-8 (65%) the past few seasons, when facing divisional opponents. Even with a high-scoring game vs. the Hawks on 12/30, the Sharks have also still seen seven of their last 10 games stay below the number. Consider Under 5.5 goals.

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Vancouver Canucks
NHL Pick: Vancouver Canucks -145 odds
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Two of the top teams in the NHL meet Tuesday night in Vancouver when the Canucks entertain the Philadelphia Flyers. Going out on a MAJOR limb here. It’s been 22 years since the Canucks have defeated the Flyers in Vancouver. The date was Jan. 17, 1989, a 5-3 Canucks win at the Pacific Coliseum. You could look it up. Bob McCammon behind the Canucks’ bench, Trevor Linden’s rookie season. Paul Holmgren was coaching the Flyers, Ron Hextall in the nets, Tim Kerr their leading scorer. The Flyers might have been wearing the “Cooperalls” though I’m not 100% positive. It’s about time this streak ends isn’t it? Vancouver is one of the hottest teams going, having earned points in nine of its last 10 contests. The Canucks bring a formidable power play into Tuesday’s game, ranked second in the NHL in efficiency at 23.9 percent. They’re also strong at killing penalties, sitting fifth overall at 85.5 percent. They last met on Dec. 3, 2009 in Philadelphia, where Roberto Luongo turned aside 38 shots in a 3-0 Vancouver victory. The Flyers were a 5-0 loser in their most recent outing at home against the Panthers, are 3-7 in their last 10 vs. Northwest division teams. Vancouver is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games, and are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home. The Canucks finally get it done tonight on home ice.