Trusting your gut when you’re losing is often a difficult task. It’s understandable to think that changing things up will offer better results, and easy to to make rash decisions. That’s where experience and data comes in to act as your rock. How many GM’s have you seen thus far cut loose of players like Cam Atkinson, Jeff Skinner or the like? I guarantee you, those GM’s are often newer than most, and that they’ll be regretting those decisions come year’s end.

My turn around has been slow thus far, but it has been steady. Each week my percentage has improved, and as with the players mentioned above, I expect to be right where i should when it’s all said and done. If you’d like to play along, I highly recommend OfficePool’s Saturday Pick’em. Challenge your friends and see what kind of numbers you can put up.

Moving on, we’re starting to see some trends emerging, and with that, consistency also rises. Granted, I’m still not believing Las Vegas is going to win the cup, or that Vancouver is going to regularly beat Washington, but teams like Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Arizona and Colorado are starting to settle in (or settle down). Let’s get to the good stuff:

Personal Record: 21-22 (49%)

Dobber Record: 9-9 (50%)

Anaheim @ Tampa Bay (7:00 PM EST)

Pick: Tampa Bay – Home Team Victory – H

Confidence Level: 4.5/5

Detroit @ Florida (7:00 PM EST)

Pick: Florida – Home Team Victory – H

Confidence Level: 5/5

Arizona @ New Jersey (7:00 PM EST)

Pick: New Jersey – Home Team Victory – H

Confidence Level: 4/5

Columbus @ St. Louis (8:00 PM EST)

Pick: St. Louis – Home Team Victory – H

Confidence Level: 3.5/5

New York @ Nashville (8:00 PM EST)

Pick: New York – Visitor Team Victory – V

Confidence Level: 3.5/5

Chicago @ Colorado (9:00 PM EST)

Pick: Chicago – Visitor Team Victory – V

Confidence Level: 4/5