NHL Playoffs Picks: Second Round Bracket Predictions, Caps Penguins

NHL Playoffs: Round Two Predictions, Caps Penguins, Blues Stars Well, that was the worst first round we have ever had at Z-Code. We went 4-4 in the first round, but 10-0 on our progression wagers. We finished up 3.84 units overall after deciding not to hedge out of our +320 Ducks bet when they were up 3 games to 2. I guess we got greedy. I had the Ducks winning it all this year. Swing and a miss.

Now, we regroup. We’re playing with house money a little bit here. Still, I had my eyes set on a $1,000 ...

NHL Playoffs Picks: LA Kings at San Jose Sharks Game Three

NHL Playoffs Picks: LA Kings at San Jose Sharks

I think the LA Kings are the better team here, and I think that they have enough defense and goaltending to turn this series around on the road. The LA Kings lost two tough games at home, and as the series shifts to San Jose, the desperation will be high. They should be able to finally get things going.

The San Jose Sharks have surprised me in the beginning of this series. They look sharp and have the ability to score clutch goals and muscle out wins. The defensive system of the ...

NHL Picks: Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks

NHL Picks: Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks The Edmonton Oilers are an explosive young team with a lot of holes. The defense is porous, the goaltending is suspect, and the offense is inconsistent. That said, the young talent on the Oilers’ top two lines can compete with just about anyone. The Oilers are dangerous at times, but ultimately they fit the system when they play top NHL teams like the San Jose Sharks.

The San Jose Sharks are a great team at home. The Shark Tank is one of the most intimidating arenas in hockey. They have goaltending and ...

NHL Picks: San Jose Sharks at Ottawa Senators

No team has come on as strong over the second half of the season as the Ottawa Senators. Seemingly out of nowhere, following the discovery of a phenom goaltender, the Sens have caught the stumbling Bruins. With two games in hand and just a point back after winning six in a row, Ottawa seems like a favorite to make the playoffs as a wild card.

The San Jose Sharks – perennial favorites out west – have gone in the opposite direction. They’re eight points out and struggling. They’ve lost three of four ...

NHL Picks: Calgary Flames at San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks have been stumbling through this season. They’ve looked old, sloppy, thin defensively, and you can probably even question their goaltending. The once “sure thing” of a San Jose Sharks home win against weak teams is now squarely in question at just 11-9 against the spread this season. That said, the Sharks have won four of six and finally look sharp again.

The line is a little sharp but there’s value here. The Calgary Flames are just four points behind the Sharks, but they’re the inferior team. This ...

NHL Picks: St. Louis Blues at San Jose Sharks

NHL Picks: St. Louis Blues at San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a tremendous team on home ice. The Shark Tank is intimidating and the high-powered scorers that the roster is built around enjoy the right to last change on face offs.

The St. Louis Blues are on the road, on a back to back, in a long slump, and all parameters of the system fit. The only hesitation here comes from how sloppy the Sharks have been of late, so we temper our wager and expectations accordingly.

The computer sees a 60% chance of victory for the San Jose Sharks with 3.5 stars of value in the line. I think this is a high-value play, and were the Sharks playing better hockey we’d be all over this one. Instead, we go in with caution for a small wager with low confidence here.

Sharks 4 – Blues 2

NHL Picks: Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks

The Vancouver Canucks have been a pleasant surprise this year. The addition of Ryan Miller has them back to a team anchored in goaltending that we’re used to seeing from the days of the Luongo-Schneider platoon. The offense is still fairly mediocre, but the chemistry is undeniably there. The defense has been serviceable, and the Canucks are beating teams they’re supposed to be beating, which isn’t always how NHL hockey goes. It’s been a good run for the Canucks.

The San Jose Sharks are also heating up, winning three of four against ...

2014 NHL Predictions: Ducks, Kings, Sharks in Pacific Division Preview

2014 NHL Predictions: Pacific Division Preview – Ducks, Kings, Sharks

The 2014-15 season starts tomorrow, so we’ll post our final division preview before getting into game picks tomorrow. The Pacific division had three teams with a positive goal differential, which, not so coincidentally, meant three playoff teams last year. The LA Kings, who ultimately won another Stanley Cup, the top-seeded Anaheim Ducks, and the perennial postseason let downs, the San Jose Sharks. Does 2014 have anything new in store, or will this division play out exactly how it did last season? Can the newly renamed “Arizona Coyotes” squeak back into the playoffs?

San Jose Sharks (110 points) – Same team, same results. The San Jose Sharks are the most consistent team in the Pacific, which may be enough for a top seed as the rest of this division tinkers with their rosters. In any event, the mediocrity of this division will see the Sharks to another playoff spot where they ...

NHL Playoffs Picks, Game Seven: Rangers Flyers, Sharks Kings, Avs Wild

NHL Playoffs Picks: Game Seven Predictions – Rangers Flyers, Sharks Kings, Avs Wild

I’m sticking to my bracket and my basic strategy of flat betting, so these picks should come as no surprise. We’re one more night away from a perfect bracket. Let’s hope these guys can close it out at home.

Rangers over Flyers – I think the back to back helps the deeper team and I trust the Rangers here. I think they have an edge in every major category and should win at home.

I’m on New York. 3-1

Sharks over Kings – Can San Jose really blow this lead and continue their playoff struggles? Maybe these guys just aren’t clutch? I mean all they have is Olympic champions and a Stanley Cup winner in net… that must be it! No, I think the Sharks played well, stole one on the road, then had one stolen back. This isn’t as dramatic as people are making it, and ...

NHL Picks Contest ($100 Prize): San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks

NHL Picks Contest Game: San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks

Well, we pick the tough ones for our contest and this is no exception. The second game of a home and home between two elite teams poses a difficult choice. With my money, I will not be touching this game. With my contest pick and my heart, I side with the Anaheim Ducks.

The Ducks are the better team, in my opinion. They’ve won ten of 11 games and they’re cruising. They lost in the Shark Tank in the first of these two, but now they come back home ...