Ice Hockey

NHL Picks and Predictions: Can New York Islanders Finish Season, Make Playoffs?

NHL Picks and Predictions: New York Islanders Could Make NHL Playoffs

The Islanders are very close to making it back to the postseason. They’re hot at the right time, and their second line has been incredibly productive since the trade deadline. With two lines of offensive production, a hot goalie, and a solid core group of defensemen, the Isles are on the move.

The Canes haven’t played well since Cam Ward’s injury (and Alexander Semin’s extension for that matter). I think at -140 you have to like the Isles here.

Z-Code is full of trend analysis and predictions here:

Under  ... 

NHL Picks and Predictions: Florida Panthers at New Jersey Devils

NHL Picks and Predictions – Florida Panthers at New Jersey Devils

One of my greatest hockey memories came last season… Game Seven, double overtime, first round of the playoffs. Thousands of dollars on the line, a beautiful girl beside me, in Florida at the game in enemy territory when Adam Henrique buried the game winning goal, pushing the Devils through the first round and ultimately to the Stanley Cup.

Martin Brodeur has 665 wins. This could be historic win number 666 – the Devils’ number, and the Devils’ goalie. I don’t think mere Panthers, struggling this year and banged up considerably,  ... 

NHL Picks and Predictions: Washington Capitals at Winnipeg Jets

NHL Picks and Predictions – Featured Game: Washington Capitals (+125) at Winnipeg Jets

The Jets are great at home, but they’re not a deep team. I don’t think they’re very talented offensively, and their goaltending is extremely streaky. On home ice they play well, but against the perennial playoff team in the south.

If Pavelec comes to play, this is a tough pick. The Jets defense is big and physical and they can wear down the Caps’ awesome top six.

Holtby, however, has been just as hot for the Caps in net. The Capitals are desperate, and they’re playing better since  ... 

NHL Picks and Predictions, New York Rangers at Winnipeg Jets

NHL Featured Game: New York Rangers Vs Winnipeg Jets

The New York Rangers better be pissed off. I’m pissed off at the New York Rangers, so the New York Rangers better be at least half as pissed off about their loss to Buffalo as I am, or I’ll be even more pissed off. The Rangers sucked. Their coach said they sucked. They need to be better… and they will be.

The Winnipeg Jets won’t go down without a fight. This team is heating up, smelling the bottom seed of the playoffs. Their fans are ravenous, they’re great at home, their  ... 

NHL Picks and Predictions: New York Rangers at Buffalo Sabres

NHL Featured Game – New York Rangers at Buffalo Sabres

I’m not sure about the interpretation of the data by the Z-Code recommendation algorithm. My system, fueled by Z-Code parameters, sees value in this game. Z-Code, with four stars and 63% confidence, for some reason recommends avoiding this game. Perhaps it is the result of a late line being posted.

The New York Rangers are the better team, while the Sabres are slumping and likely the worst team in the conference this year. The Sabres are going with their backup goalie coming off injury and another heartbreaking loss. He  ... 

LA Kings Vs Calgary FLames: Free NHL Picks and Predictions

NHL Picks and Predictions: Featured Game – Calgary Flames at LA Kings

It’s an ugly night of hockey with only two games. The Boston Bruins are a 4-star favorite in one game, but that starts in an hour so I didn’t want to feature it. I’m low confidence there. The Kings are another favorite with strong Z-Code support – that’s our featured game tonight.

LA is on fire. After slumping through the first quarter of the season, they’ve finally woken up. The goaltending is there, the defense is there, and the scoring has finally arrived.

I think LA has the  ... 

NHL Picks and Predictions: Edmonton Oilers at Chicago Blackhawks

NHL Featured Game: Chicago Blackhawks Vs Edmonton Oilers

The historic points streak of the Chicago Blackhawks may be over, but they’re still the best team in hockey. They’ve got two goalies playing out of this world right now, the offense is clicking, and the defense is deep and skilled. Against a slumping Oilers team, on home ice no less, they should be able to win.

The one worry in this game is that the Chicago Blackhawks could suffer a let down. Their winning streak is over and so too could be their aura of invincibility. The Oilers aren’t a bad  ... 

NHL Picks and Predictions: Pittsburgh Penguins at Toronto Maple Leafs

NHL Featured Game: Pittsburgh Penguins at Toronto Maple Leafs

I think I received the biggest compliment of my career when someone asked earlier this week “do you guys post your picks before or after the game?”. I guess I’ve been doing pretty well lately.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are without their second best scorer in Evgeni Malkin. THe Toronto Maple Leafs have been without their second best scorer all year in Joffrey Lupul. Both teams are in the playoff hunt – the Pens are underachieving while the Leafs are blowing away lukewarm expectations.

With two skilled goaltenders in the midst of  ... 

NHL Picks and Predictions: Edmonton Oilers at Nashville Predators

NHL Picks and Predictions:

By now you’ve learned my system is anything but conservative. We just won 7 units on the Devils yesterday in the midst of a losing streak that was 2 minutes away from breaking a 27 year old record. I’d like to start this pick by saying I really don’t like many games today. I’ll bet them, but I’m not in love. When in doubt, I bet on Pekka Rinne. If you run a conservative system, stay away.

I am not a conservative bettor. I’ve put money on every hockey game of the season for two consecutive  ... 

Miikka Kiprusoff Returns: Calgary Flames Vs San Jose Sharks – NHL Picks and Predictions

NHL Picks and Predictions: Miikka Kiprusoff Returns to the Calgary Flames Vs San Jose Sharks

THis is a great day for sports bettors to not bet. It’s ugly, there’s no strong read outs, and the line reversals go against every lean I have. This is no exception.

Who knows how Kipper will respond in his return – or if he will even return? Jaro Halak was supposed to come back from a lingering injury for the Blues only to get hurt in warmups. He’s a risk, but he’s also a volatile parameter. Kipper can shut down the Sharks,  ... 

NHL Picks and Predictions: Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers

NHL Featured Game: Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers

When Z-Code and I agree, we are unstoppable this season… but I can’t post games like that every time. It would take the excitement away, right? And we have to leave something for our VIP Club members.

Today is another intense rivalry game between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers that Z-Code and I just don’t see the same way. I see no value in this game, and find parameters within the Z-Code prediction that suggest limited value again. For me, when this happens, you go goaltending and value if  ... 

NHL Featured Picks and Predictions: Canucks Vs Kings

NHL Featured Game – Vancouver Canucks Vs LA Kings

I’d love to feature a very low confidence upset pick on the Nashville Predators, but with goalie confirmation still pending, let’s go with the Canucks game.

The Vancouver Canucks were carried in February by a two-goalie system that really worked. That said, Roberto Luongo allowed 8 goals in a single game, while Cory Schneider has been mediocre. Playing for a chance to take over the top spot again, Schneider needs to be better. Against a middling LA Kings offense, Schneider simply needs to deliver a win.

The LA Kings have turned  ... 

NHL Picks and Predictions: Columbus Blue Jackets at Chicago Blackhawks

NHL Featured Game: Columbus Blue Jackets at Chicago Blackhawks

I’m not going to overthink this one, and I don’t want you to think I’m getting lazy and not analyzing games but this literally comes down to one simple facet of my systems this year.

The Chicago Blackhawks have not lost in regulation this year. Ive been them every game since the first week of the season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are awful on the road. They have yet to win in a featured game either.

This is a perfect storm. Best team in hockey vs the worst and the worst team  ... 

NHL Picks and Predictions: Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars

NHL Picks and Predictions: Featured Hockey Game – Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars

The Stars have their goalie back, and look out.

They have offense with Jamie Benn, Jaromir Jagr, and big name, big role players performing well. They have defense with players like Alex Goligosky. Now, they have Kari Lehtonen back.

The Dallas Stars may be one of the best teams in hockey this year if they can find some consistency. They can beat anyone, and they have no real holes. A solid offense, a good defense, and a great goalie (usually), means big things when they’re healthy.

The  ...