Saturday’s Picks – December 27, 2014

Anthony Lancione

2014-12-28

Scott Stevens & Adam Oates

 

Read on to see which teams are the best bets to win on Saturday.

 

 

 

Winning % on the season= 67%
Record of previous Week: 4
-2

 

Last column's six pack saw me continue to hit at my exact same 67% winning clip, correctly nabbing four of my six winners; while also nailing a couple juicy 'plus' (runline) picks on top of simply nailing the victors, for extra play.

This week is the most anticipated Saturday night of NHL action this entire season as far as I'm concerned, given the near half week long Christmas schedule freeze granted by the new collective bargaining agreement. We haven't seen action since Tuesday night. So for those of you in weekly head-to-head leagues, this week may turn out to be quite the blip on your radar, especially given the weak Sunday night schedule to close out your week, with only two games.

 

 

New Jersey @ NY Rangers (7:00pm ET)
By the Numbers – Frozen Pools

 

New tides have crashed into the New York City Harbour via the Hudson River all the way from the jersey Shore, as the raft headed by Peter DeBoer is no more. Captain Lou has taken the helm alongside long time Deputy Scott Stevens and former Devils Assistant coach, Adam Oates. Take the Devils I tell you! If history is any lesson, I've learned that the coaching change effect almost always produces a temporary rise in production. Granted, the Rangers have been exceptional of late, riding a seven game winning streak. However, any momentum has been mitigated by the NHL-imposed mini-layoff, while the coaching ripples will dictate the storyline back in New Jersey's favour here.

 

Pick
New Jersey – Visiting Team Win– V(ProLine)

Carolina @ Tampa Bay (7:00pm ET)
By the Numbers – Frozen Pools

 

Even though Tampa Bay has allowed three more goals than the lowly Carolina Hurricanes thus far this season (granted they have played two more games), the Goal Differential between the two clubs in 2014-15 is a 44 goal swing. Yes the Lightning have some excellent offensive mustard. In fact nobody in the league has scored more than what I deem to be the deepest arsenal in the league (Although Toronto has scored more GPG).  The fact remains that the Hurricanes are my favourite to finish with the best odds-on chance to land Connor McDavid in this summer's super draft,

 

Pick
Tampa Bay – Home Team Win – H(ProLine)

 

Boston @ Columbus (7:00pm ET)
By the Numbers -Frozen Pools

The soldiers have returned to Beantown. The Bruins certainly haven't seemed the dominant version of themselves we've become accustomed to for the past half-decade to date this year. However, with Zdeno Chara & Dacid Krejci having returned, and now had an opportunity to shake off the rust, especially given the break in play this week, we can expect a return to some semblance of normality. The Blue Jackets won't make it easy though, having only lost once in regulation over their past outings. They also been a surprisingly resilient group of late, taking their opponents past 60 minutes six straight nights before their last outing, a resounding 5-1 loss at the hands of Nashville.


Pick
Boston – Visiting Team Win– V(ProLine)

Anaheim @ Arizona (8:00pm ET)
By the Numbers – Frozen Pools

 

The Ducks remain the hunted, pacing the league with 51 points and have won eight of their past 10 contests. However their have been some brow-raising outliers mixed in to that mix, whereby the two losses of record in this recent hot streak, were anything but, with twin 6-2 demolitions at the hands of both Ontario-based teams. The Coyotes have been equally yo-yo-ing recently having pumped or been pumped in their last couple outings on their Western Canadian roadtrip. Take the Ducks for extra juice runline.

 

Pick

Anaheim – Visiting Team Win Plus– V+(ProLine)

 

Dallas @ St.Louis (8:00pm ET)
By the Numbers – Frozen Pools

Tale of the Tape

2014-12-27 CT

DALLAS STARS

NHL
Rank

Stat

Category

Stat

NHL
Rank

4

33

Games Played

34

3

10

14

Wins

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21

3

8

14

Losses

10

4

11

93

Goals

97

8

24

112

Goals Against

84

8

21

-19

Goal Differential

+13

8

18

997

Shots On Net

1060

7

16

1032

Shots Against

943

5

ST. LOUIS BLUES

14-14-5

REGULAR SEASON RECORD

21-10-3

2-1-0

REGULAR SEASON LAST 3 GAMES

0-2-1

The Stars have really become a one-line team this season, leaning heavily on the top heavy duo of Tyler Seguin(who's exploded into superstardom) and Jamie Benn, who's actually not even been at his best levels this season. Meanwhile the Blues, despite riding a three game slide, due mostly to terrible goaltending, have still been a generally increasingly dependable winner. Take the Blues to get back in the right swing of things following the break.

 

Pick
St.Louis – Home Team Win – H(ProLine)

 

Edmonton @ Calgary (10:00pm ET)
By the Numbers – Frozen Pools
The Oilers may well be the NHL's worst team, but I have a hunch the Battle of Alberta may be the key to kickstar a stronger push in the new year. Conversely, I feel the Flames success this season has been to an extent a nice little mirage, with their bubble due to burst anytime now. Although the records and recent results would dictate a different story, I opine a changing of directions for both teams in the very near future. Tonight? Perhaps.

 

Pick
Edmonton – Visiting Team Win – V(ProLine)

 

Best of luck everyone!

 

(~~ Follow Anthony Lancione on Twitter @Anthisdaman)

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UPCOMING GAMES

Mar 28 - 19:03 OTT vs CHI
Mar 28 - 19:03 TOR vs WSH
Mar 28 - 19:03 MTL vs PHI
Mar 28 - 19:03 PIT vs CBJ
Mar 28 - 19:03 FLA vs NYI
Mar 28 - 19:03 CAR vs DET
Mar 28 - 20:03 MIN vs S.J
Mar 28 - 20:03 STL vs CGY
Mar 28 - 20:03 WPG vs VGK
Mar 28 - 21:03 EDM vs L.A
Mar 28 - 21:03 COL vs NYR
Mar 28 - 22:03 SEA vs ANA
Mar 28 - 22:03 VAN vs DAL
Mar 28 - 22:03 ARI vs NSH

Starting Goalies

Top Skater Views

  Players Team
TAGE THOMPSON BUF
JJ PETERKA BUF
ANTHONY DUCLAIR T.B
JORDAN GREENWAY BUF
JURAJ SLAFKOVSKY MTL

Top Goalie Profile Views

  Players Team
ALEKSEI KOLOSOV PHI
JOONAS KORPISALO OTT
UKKO-PEKKA LUUKKONEN BUF
KAREL VEJMELKA ARI
JUSTUS ANNUNEN COL

LINE COMBOS

  Frequency ANA Players
37.6 TROY TERRY ALEX KILLORN LEO CARLSSON
30.5 TREVOR ZEGRAS FRANK VATRANO RYAN STROME
23.8 JAKOB SILFVERBERG MASON MCTAVISH ROSS JOHNSTON

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