Kick-Behind PIcks [8 JAN]

Though the Bolts did sneak three past the Mighty Ryan Miller, NJD's blueline is more defensively sound than is BUF's - Tampa sent 39 shots Miller's way.  With a game upcoming in PHI tomorrow, TBL's shot total from a game ago will likely be halved.

Mike Smith has shown improvement, but his allowing for 5 goals is proof that he is not quite back to form; and not quite as good against the upper-echelon goal-scorers.  This is a 3-game road trip which, when it is completed, will have taken TBL through BUF, NJD, and PHI.  Three cities in four days . . . in the dead of Winter.  Do they themselves honestly expect to do much winning?

The answer is so big and obvious and the odds laid as such, that many are gravitating towards the Bolts scoring an upset (rather than risk another close game with pops any NJD PL play).  Sorry, Charlie . . . Understandable as your rational is, it just isn't going to happen.  Smith is still the brash newcomer in the East.  His abilities may eclipse Brodeur's in another 2-3 years; but it is precisely for that reason Marty and his mates will be on task tonight.

It's been very close between these two teams.  Tonight looks like it will be the exception.  Either the Bolts get over the hump, or they lose this game somewhere in the neighborhood of 1-5.

(H)  DEVILS  (-1.5)  +152



Though they allowed for a volley of nearly 40 shots to get through to their n... [More]

Kick-Behind Picks [7 JAN]

It's been half a dozen years since the last time CHI won on BOS ice.  The Hawks have not shown the same dominance not he road as they have done at home.  A forgettable truth for those blind to the fact, that more recently CHI hasn't played very many away games.

Boston, on the other hand, has been playing a lot contests away from their home building.  Tonight will afford them a second chance at beating the same CHI team, whom they nearly beat back in CHI a number of weeks ago.  OTT was next to unbeatable in their home house . . . then the B's came to town and pounded them flat (4-1) - OTT's No. 2 was in net for them that night as well.

It's a shame the Bruins are picked as the underdogs in the match, 'cause I'd drop a PL on 'em in a heartbeat.

(H)  BRUINS  (ML)  +118



Theodore finally gets his chance to play.  Usually I'd expect to see a bit of rust in his game, but OTT is no difficult assignment for Theo.  The CAPS just ended a unusually extended slide.  They are not about to be knocked back into the loss column, by a club whom they likely look upon as being very beatable.  Given the previous match-up between them, WSH ought to be keen on scoring some revenge.

Like CHI, OTT has neither been particularly good nor put-to-the-test while inhabiting the visitors locker-room.

(H)  CAPITALS  (-1.5)  +152



Ownage is ownage is ownage.&n... [More]