24
OCT
2017

NHL October 24th

comment : Off

NHL Yesterday: 0-0, (0.00%) +0.00 Units
NHL Season: 3-6, (0.00%) -3.55 Units

Have only made 9 plays so far this season and none since last Wednesday but I’ve got some that I’ll get in there with tonight. Here we go….

Hurricanes (-115): Yes the Lightning have the best record in the NHL but I think this is a nice spot for the Canes tonight. So far this season the Canes have only played 6 games which is fewest in the NHL and therefore I’m expecting fresh legs tonight. It’s also worth noting that despite that 7-1-1 record the Lightning actually have a -4.9 shots on goal differential per game. They only average 30.2 shots on goal which is 24th in the league and allow 35.1 per game which is 26th. In short there’s some unsustainabilty on both their goals and goals allowed based on the number of shots per game. Carolina on the other hand has a differential of +4.0 per game and rank in the top 10 in both shots on goal per game and shots allowed per game. Throw in the fact they are at home and as I mentioned already very well rested there’s plenty to like here with them as the small favorite.

Canadiens (-135): The Canadiens have had some awful luck so far this season and I believe them to be a much better team than their current record indicates. Montreal checks in at 1-6-1 after 8 games. Some crazy bad luck has occurred for them with their shots on goal. As a team they are averaging 38.4 shots on goal per game which is 2nd best in the league yet somehow they’ve only turned that into 1.5 goals per game. On the other end Carey Price who is arguably the best goalie in the league is allowing 3.94 goals per game and only has an .881 save percentage. I’m very optimistic that some of these many shots the Canadiens are throwing on goal will start finding the back of the net, and that Price will revert back to his typically excellent form.

Sabres (-125): This play falls into the same category as the other two, I’m taking the team I feel to be better overall despite the worse record. The Red Wings come into this one at 4-4-1 while the Sabres are only 2-5-2. The records say one thing but I believe the Sabres to be the better team and feel -125 at home is cheap enough to get involved in this one. Detroit is towards the bottom of the league in both shots on goal and allowed per game while Buffalo is near the middle of the pack in each. The Wings had a hot start and were playing way over their heads and now have quickly come back to earth. They’ve lost 4 straight and are really struggling. I still look at them as one of the worst teams in the East and will have no problem fading them on the road at this cheap price.

Oilers (+130): The Oilers have probably been the most unlucky team in the league so far this season. I don’t think anyone will deny this young roster is loaded with talent, yet they’ve only started 2-5 in their first 7 games. A deeper look however shows plenty of reason to be optimistic about them. On the year they are first in the league with 38.9 shots on goal per game and also far and away first in the league with a +9.9 shots on goal differential per game. There’s just no way a team 1st in shots on goal, 4th in shots on goal allowed, and 1st in differential can keep losing games at this rate. This is still an excellent Hockey team and I won’t pass on a chance to get them at +130 even if it is on the road in Pittsburgh.

About the Author