Well, Kentucky bit us last night as they went down in flames against a strangely motivated South Carolina team in College Hoops. Again, we had serious value on the pick, and that’s what counts. Boy that line gets old, but over time it is true 
.
As I have discussed there is a serious lopsidedness to the talent disbursement when it comes to the pool of NHL players to their respective teams. Sure, the traditionalist will tell you that giving the goals in hockey will bite you in the rear end when all is said and done, but in this day and age when we have select teams that can light the lamp the way they do and so many average to below average teams that can’t score many goals facing them these are going to be a lot of the best spots in the NHL.
Tonight’s contest which has the Washington Capitals hosting the Anaheim Ducks is a perfect example.
Anaheim isn’t even a bad team, and they are 7-3 in their last ten which might scare you. Take a look at their record when they have to leave the comfy confines of Anaheim though and you will find a repulsive road record of 8-14-5 for the rubber duckies.
Washington is well documented as one of the hottest, if not the hottest team in hockey. Go up against them, and you’d better hope the likes of Ovie and Semin are having an off night. If they bring their game, your goal might just have to be not to get embarrassed. Just ask 9 of their last 10 opponents whom have fallen victim to them. Ask the Isles whom they beat 7-2 a few days ago. I know what you are thinking – the Isles?! Take a look – they are actually pretty good this year. Ask Pens whom Ovie and the boys ripped 6-3 earlier in the month or Atlanta who was on the receiving end of an 8-1 thumping.
The Caps have won 10 games in the month of January. 8 of them were by 2 or more goals.
As many of us have found out the hard way, Washington is not a very accommodating place to visit. NHL opponents of the Capitals are certainly finding that to be the case as Washington has one of the best home records in the NHL at a scorching 18-3-3.
One stat that I always look to take a close look at when handicapping NHL games is special teams. Well in this one, we have a serious mismatch as the Capitals feature by far the NHL’s most productive power play lighting the lamp at a rate of 26.3% and the Ducks 20th ranked Penalty Killing team struggles at a rate of just 80.1%
The flip side of that coin isn’t horrid for Anaheim backers as the Ducks have a respectable 11th ranked Power Play versus the Caps subpar 19th ranked Penalty Killing unit, but the fact that Washington’s Power Play unit is just flat out elite and is facing a well below average PK unit takes the cake here.
Throw in the fact that the Caps are so good at home (and you can be sure that the refs will have that top ranked PP unit out early and often) and the Ducks are so anemic on the road and we have a no brainer here.
A price of +130 when giving the goal and a half will make you wince a little bit but put 10 units on it for a nice return that will likely be decided early.
.As I have discussed there is a serious lopsidedness to the talent disbursement when it comes to the pool of NHL players to their respective teams. Sure, the traditionalist will tell you that giving the goals in hockey will bite you in the rear end when all is said and done, but in this day and age when we have select teams that can light the lamp the way they do and so many average to below average teams that can’t score many goals facing them these are going to be a lot of the best spots in the NHL.
Tonight’s contest which has the Washington Capitals hosting the Anaheim Ducks is a perfect example.
Anaheim isn’t even a bad team, and they are 7-3 in their last ten which might scare you. Take a look at their record when they have to leave the comfy confines of Anaheim though and you will find a repulsive road record of 8-14-5 for the rubber duckies.
Washington is well documented as one of the hottest, if not the hottest team in hockey. Go up against them, and you’d better hope the likes of Ovie and Semin are having an off night. If they bring their game, your goal might just have to be not to get embarrassed. Just ask 9 of their last 10 opponents whom have fallen victim to them. Ask the Isles whom they beat 7-2 a few days ago. I know what you are thinking – the Isles?! Take a look – they are actually pretty good this year. Ask Pens whom Ovie and the boys ripped 6-3 earlier in the month or Atlanta who was on the receiving end of an 8-1 thumping.
The Caps have won 10 games in the month of January. 8 of them were by 2 or more goals.
As many of us have found out the hard way, Washington is not a very accommodating place to visit. NHL opponents of the Capitals are certainly finding that to be the case as Washington has one of the best home records in the NHL at a scorching 18-3-3.
One stat that I always look to take a close look at when handicapping NHL games is special teams. Well in this one, we have a serious mismatch as the Capitals feature by far the NHL’s most productive power play lighting the lamp at a rate of 26.3% and the Ducks 20th ranked Penalty Killing team struggles at a rate of just 80.1%
The flip side of that coin isn’t horrid for Anaheim backers as the Ducks have a respectable 11th ranked Power Play versus the Caps subpar 19th ranked Penalty Killing unit, but the fact that Washington’s Power Play unit is just flat out elite and is facing a well below average PK unit takes the cake here.
Throw in the fact that the Caps are so good at home (and you can be sure that the refs will have that top ranked PP unit out early and often) and the Ducks are so anemic on the road and we have a no brainer here.
A price of +130 when giving the goal and a half will make you wince a little bit but put 10 units on it for a nice return that will likely be decided early.
