NHL Picks 11/9: Chicago Blackhawks at Dallas Stars

This is a dangerous game and I understand the computer output here, but I respectfully disagree. The Dallas Stars are playing very good hockey, but I don’t think they’re as good as they’ve been playing. Challenge accepted!

Z-Code sees +122 as having five-star value with 44% odds for victory. For me that’s a slightly conflicting parameter and a strange signal. Z-Code is certainly on the Stars, but not with full confidence. The odds of victory favor the Blackhawks.

For me, the Blackhawks are the better team. The only reason I have hesitation ...

NHL $100 Facebook Contest: Round Two – Philadelphia Flyers Vs Ottawa Senators

NHL Contest Round Two: $100 Prize to 1st Place, $50 to 2nd!

Tuesday, Nov. 12 – Who will win between the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators?

Normally I wouldn’t pick on the Flyers twice in a row, but they’re again involved in the best matchup on Tuesday so we’ll feature them in our contest. Two struggling teams get together in Ottawa for what looks to be another close game. Should be fun!

Simply like our NHL page comment on our Facebook contest post to be eligible for the contest. It’s only round two, so it’s still very much anybody’s game. Our baseball contest came down to a tiebreaker round that extended to Game Four of the World Series. Anything can happen, so get those votes in!

https://www.facebook.com/ZcodeNHLpicks/posts/549155431835778?notif_t=like

NHL Picks Contest Standings Update: Round One

We had 17 winners in the first round of our $100 dollar contest. Remember, this is a long competition (10 wins) and even second place gets a prize. Keep at it if it didn’t start how you wanted. We had 41 comments, not all of which were game picks, and 17 winners. It was a nearly perfect coin flip game. Those who picked the Flyers were robbed.

Here are our standings:

1 Win:

Dave Dumas

Michal Janachowski

David Salda ...

NHL Picks: Philadelphia Flyers at Carolina Hurricanes ($100 Contest)

NHL Picks and Predictions: Free $100 Contest Game, Round One – Philadelphia Flyers at Carolina Hurricanes

Simply comment on our Facebook post for the contest with who you think will win the game to be eligible. Here is my game preview.

Can we pick ’em or what? When we singled this one out I thought it would be a tough game to pick but I didn’t think it would be this tough. It’s a coin flip game according to the algorithm. Both sides of the line are equally valuable according to the value parameter. Las Vegas says both teams are ...

NHL Picks Contest: Free $100 Facebook Hockey Contest

NHL Picks: Start of Our Free $100 Contest, Round One

— Philadelphia Flyers at Carolina Hurricanes, Tuesday Nov. 5th

The Carolina Hurricanes have been a perfect representation of mediocrity since their Stanley Cup win, but goaltending injuries have them really struggling. The Flyers are in some sort of a half-hearted rebuild effort. A slow start has them at the bottom of one of the weakest divisions in hockey. In a battle of mediocrity, who will win?

Post your money line winner on our Facebook page to be eligible for our free $100 contest. Second place will get $50. First to ten wins takes the prize.

https://www.facebook.com/ZcodeNHLpicks/posts/545468162204505?comment_id=3535836&offset=0&total_comments=29&notif_t=feed_comment

NHL Picks 10/30: Toronto Maple Leafs at Calgary Flames

The Leafs have started the year at a good pace. Even without top free-agent signing David Clarkson, Toronto has been scoring. Their 44 goals lead the East, and they’ve climbed to the top of their division.

Balancing their attack, the goaltending tandem they’ve established has led them to a +14 goal differential. If only Brian Burke could see this team now.

The Calgary Flames have fallen off dramatically. They’ve lost two of three and four of their last six. Back home, they are playing considerably better. They’re also very well rested. ...

NHL Picks: Free $100 Facebook Contest Announced

NHL Picks: Free $100 Contest Announced!

Our highly successful MLB Facebook contest came down to the wire, requiring a tiebreaker round that continued all the way to an incredibly exciting Game Four of the World Series. Now that we’ve finished with our baseball contest, it’s time to announce another round of our free contests, the 2013 NHL edition.

As with our baseball contest, we’ll be posting a featured game just about every week. Simply comment on that game, which will usually be a challenging game to predict, with who you think will win. This is a moneyline only competition. The first contestant to correctly predict the outcome of ten specially selected games will win the $100 prize. You do not need to be a VIP member to participate (though it does seem to help – our winners through the years are very often members)!

Keep your eyes peeled for Facebook posts designated for the competition. We’ll have our first post later ...

NHL Picks 10/25: Vancouver Canucks at St. Louis Blues

NHL Picks and Predictions, 10/25: Vancouver Canucks at St. Louis Blues

Z-Code and I have wildly different lines here. My book has +180, Z-Code has +150 or so. I think that makes some difference.

The Vancouver Canucks are too good a team to be this big of an underdog. I say this aware that they’re on the road and in a back to back. Normally, I would never touch a game like this. At this line, however, I think it’s worth a small wager on the Canucks.

The Blues are a consistent team, but they don’t strike me as dominant. ...

NHL Picks: Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers

NHL Picks and Predictions: Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers

Okay, maybe it’s crazy to follow me when my heart is involved. I don’t know how the Devils won the last game we featured, but I’ll take a 4-0 romp out of those New York jerks any day. Sorry, just had to relish that moment one more time before getting into this pick:

Z-Code and I love the BLackhawks. They’re consistent, they’re fundamentally sound, they’re well coached, they’re deep, and they win.

I do fear the upset on the road against the Florida Panthers. This is a decent team, not far ...

NHL Picks 10/19: New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils

NHL Picks and Predictions: New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils

Have there been two more disappointing teams this season than the Rangers and Devils? The whole Metropolitan Division is a mess, and these teams are no different.

I think it’s hard to deny the value on the Rangers here, even as a die-hard Devils fan. Henrik Lundqvist is a tough guy to bet against, though he seems distracted by his contract issues. The Rangers look like they’re having trouble adjusting to a new system, and they haven’t started well.

The Devils can’t score. They have injuries and lack top-end talent ...