Posted on
2/22/2008 4:40:26 PM
NHL Betting Furious Free Picks - Saturday Quick Hits
By Tim Furious
Without the NHL betting lines up and running yet, it’s hard to make heads or tails of the Saturday matchups in the NHL. Here are some BetUS.com quick hits for all those planning to pad their bank roll this weekend with some smart hockey betting!
Ottawa Senators (35-20-6) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (35-21-5)
Saturday, February 23rd --- Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh --- 3:00pm EST
Ottawa will have to deal with a Pittsburgh team that seems invincible lately. They came from behind to dismantle Montreal in the Bell Centre on Thursday, crushing a team that had all the swagger in the world. Now they return home to face a team that they were crushed by 4-1 in December. Pittsburgh is averaging 3.0 goals per game over their last five games, and the recent goalie woes for Ottawa will lead to their fifth loss in six games.
NHL Free Pick: Pittsburgh
Washington Capitals (28-26-7) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (31-28-5)
Saturday, February 23rd --- RBC Arena, Raleigh --- 5:00pm EST
Washington continues to a be a surprise story in the East, where they average 2.84 goals per game. They’re winning despite allowing 3.08 goals per. Carolina has seemingly decided to phone in their season by dishing away Stillman, one of their stealthy scoring threats. The Canes are 3-1 SU in the four meetings with the Caps, which is a trend you can expect to continue. Ovechkin or not, the Caps struggle against their Southeast division rivals.
NHL Free Pick: Carolina
NY Rangers (30-24-8) vs. Buffalo Sabres (20-23-8)
Saturday, February 23rd --- HSBC Arena, Buffalo --- 7:00pm EST
The Rangers collapsed in the third in a monumental loss to Montreal. Meanwhile, the Sabres power play decimated Toronto in a 5-1 blowout. Chris Drury will face his old squad for the third time this season, but the Rangers have won the last two meeting decisively, outscoring the Sabres 7-2 in their two meetings this season. The NYR are 3-2 SU in their past five games, and will take down Buffalo despite having a tough time on the road.
NHL Free Pick: New York Rangers
Atlanta Thrashers (28-28-4) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (25-28-9)
Saturday, February 23rd --- Air Canada Centre, Toronto --- 7:00pm EST
Trade rumors abound Marion Hossa and Mats Sundin. Despite Toronto’s recent woes, the Leafs have always played well against Atlanta. They have beaten them twice this year already, outscoring them 8-2, including a shutout victory in December. With trade rumors disrupting chemistry for the Thrashers, expect the Leafs to take the win at home.
NHL Free Pick: Toronto
Dallas Stars (37-22-5) vs. Nashville Predators (32-23-8)
Saturday, February 23rd --- Sommet Arena, Nashville --- 8:00pm EST
Dallas is averaging 2.91 goals per game, while allowing only 2.47 goals. The latter is expected from Marty Turco and the defensively stout Stars. But the former is astounding. Nashville let a similar team, the Vancouver Canucks, just upset them at home on Thursday. If they can’t stop Vancouver, they certainly can’t handle the Stars who are establishing themselves as a favorite in the betting community with a 22-16 record as favorites and a 15-11 record as dogs. Either way the oddsmakers label them, you should be betting on them.
NHL Free Pick: Dallas
Detroit Red Wings (42-15-5) vs. Vancouver Canucks (31-22-8)
Saturday, February 23rd --- GM Place, Vancouver --- 10:00pm EST
A lot of my readers tell me I don’t give the Canucks credit. But why should I? They’re a half way decent team, but the seventh or ninth range in the West is about what they deserve. Detroit has won three straight against Vancouver, back have to play Friday night against a physical Flames team. Without Lidstrom, the Wings are a tough bet. But Vancouver is atrocious, so they’re even worse.
NHL Free Pick: Detroit
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