NHL Playoff Picks: Anaheim Ducks Vs LA Kings

This has been a truly phenomenal series, and my advice here continues to be to avoid these teams. The Ducks are hot, the Kings are experienced, and both are playoff winners. The Ducks were the better team all year, but when you get into the playoffs, you can’t mess around with the Kings. They’re too deep, too defensively talented, and too experienced.

I think the Ducks will win, and I think they have the talent to control this game and keep the momentum going. I just don’t really like the way these teams matchup. The computer leans to the Ducks ...

NHL Playoffs Bracket Round Two: Penguins, Bruins, Blackhawks, Ducks

NHL Playoffs Picks, Round Two: Penguins, Bruins, Ducks, Blackhawks

Most of our bracket is still alive, and both Game Seven losses were destined to fall in the next round anyway so we’re in great shape if anyone followed for their office pools. We also hit three series lengths exactly, and would have had four if the Sharks pulled through. All in all we nailed the first round, but it only gets harder from here.

New York Rangers Vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh reminds me a lot of a cat playing with a mouse. Sure, they could kill it rather easily, but it’s more fun to come out of your net with a one-goal lead in the final 20 seconds, misplay the puck, go to overtime and lose on the first shot from the blue line. The cat often lets the mouse get away and rarely seems to care, but I’d rather be the cat than the mouse here. Pittsburgh has ...

NHL Playoffs: Penguins, Ducks, and Habs on Day One

NHL Playoffs: Penguins, Ducks, and Habs

My strategy in the NHL playoffs is an interesting one, but it’s led to successful predictions each year I’ve been a published handicapper. While NHL playoff match ups lend to progression-style chase betting, I choose my series winners and bet the series line as well as flat betting on every game across the entire series. We do this, of course, with varying levels of confidence.

The first installment of this strategy opens tonight. With low confidence we’re on the Habs to upset the Lightning in the first round. With medium confidence, limited by a lack of value in the lines, we’re on the Penguins and Ducks to win as well. The Ducks are my favorite series of the first round in the west.

Habs Lightning

I think the Canadiens have a defensive edge and more stability than the Lightning. Tampa has a solid offense, but I look for Montreal’s depth to shut them down. ...

NHL Picks: Colorado Avalanche at New York Islanders, Ducks over Preds

NHL Picks: Colorado Avalanche at New York Islanders AND Anaheim Ducks at Nashville Predators

Two picks for you guys today. Hopefully everyone else is having as good a week as we are.

First, the Ducks and Preds. This is a tricky game, but I think it’s the most lucrative on the board for Thursday. The Anaheim Ducks have been one of the best teams in the NHL this year, surprising many. Unfortunately, however, they’re on a bit of a downswing and this game is dangerous as a result.

The Preds have had excellent goaltending this month and it has led ...

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 ...

NHL Picks and Predictions: Phoenix Coyotes at Anaheim Ducks

I don’t usually toot my own horn, but I’m going to take a moment to brag. My forum in the Z-Code membership VIP Club is up nearly 2,000 dollars with an average bet size of just under 100 bucks. We’re killing it this season and on pace to match our nearly 4,000 dollars of profit this past MLB season. This consistent new approach is a combination of Z-Code algorithms, personal analysis, and a less aggressive system than in years past. We’re on fire.

Today, I feature one of the picks from my ...

NHL Picks Contest Round Eight: San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks

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

Tuesday, December 31st

Christmas break is over and hockey is finally back. Another battle between California rivals gives us our eighth round of the contest. I think the Sharks are the better team, but they lack consistency on the road. The Ducks have been excellent this season, but they can be streaky. I think Anaheim versus San Jose is going to be a great one.

Who will win this game?

I know I say this every week, but it’s still anyone’s game. You can conceivably enter the competition right now and still win the whole thing. Not a single competitor has gotten past the four-win plateau. With a $50 prize for second place, this is going to be a fun run.

Good luck guys! It’s good to be back. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and let’s keep winning together.

As always, to participate, simply go to our Facebook ...

NHL Picks Contest Standings Update Round Five ($100 Prize): Ducks Kings

NHL Picks Contest Standings Update (Round Five): Kings Ducks

I was a little disappointed this round, folks. Not only did we have one of our worst predictive performances of the year, but we also didn’t have much of a turnout. It’s certainly anyone’s game – as evidenced by the fact that nobody really moved around much in the standings this round. WE ONLY HAD SEVEN CORRECT GUESSES IN ROUND FIVE and our leaders failed to pad their leads.

The Anaheim Ducks blew it late, but they really didn’t deserve that one either. It was certainly an exciting game.

Here is what we’ve got after five rounds… and again, please keep participating! This gets a lot more fun for me when we have a larger pool to watch! We’ll have a contest post for every Tuesday until someone reaches 10 wins. $100 to the winner, $50 to second place:

3 Wins:

Elias Anderson ...

NHL Picks Contest ($100 Prize): LA Kings at Anaheim Ducks

NHL Picks Competition Round Five: LA Kings at Anaheim Ducks

The LA Kings are an excellent defensive team, but they’ve struggled offensively and remain maddeningly inconsistent. They can steal a win from anyone, but they can also lose to just about anyone as well. Without Quick, they’re a tough team to trust.

In our contest pick, the Kings play the second game in a back to back against a slumping Ducks team. Things simply haven’t clicked for Anaheim in the last few weeks, and most of it has been on the offensive end.

I expect a battle, which is why we’ve ...

NHL Picks Contest Round Five ($100 Prize): LA Kings at Anaheim Ducks

NHL Picks Contest Game, Round Five: Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks, Tuesday 12/3

The LA Kings have one of the league’s best and most consistent defenses, anchored by one of the best goalies in hockey. When they’re on, the Ducks have one of the most explosive offenses in hockey. They don’t allow goals too easily either. This is a battle between two elite NHL teams in the west.

Who ya got? Simply comment on our Facebook page to participate. The contest is still young, and anyone can enter. A three-game lead is far from insurmountable.

https://www.facebook.com/ZcodeNHLpicks