Thursday's Front Page NHL Picks (Oct 18)

[Willie Bee]

Boston Bruins -120 vs. Lightning

Game Time: 10/18/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Scott Rickenbach | playbook.com

After five games on the road, Boston finally gets their first game at home tonight. Back the Bruins on the moneyline in this one when the Tampa Bay Lightning come to Beantown.

The Bruins finally get their long awaited home opener and they certainly bring some momentum into this game.

Boston started off their season with a solid road trip, and they have had plenty of time off since coming back east so they will be well prepared for this matchup with Tampa Bay. Manny Fernandez has been a disappointment in goal for the Bruins but Tim Thomas has been on top of his game. This should be a key advantage for the Bruins because Boston has allowed two goals or less in three of their last four games.

Tampa Bay has been getting solid goaltending from Johan Holmqvist but the team's overall poor play at Florida on Saturday (six goals allowed) could easily carry into this game. Keep in mind that the Lightning are coming off a divisional game and have another divisional opponent on deck. That said, this is a definite tough spot for them as the Bruins look to start the home portion of their schedule on a winning note. Play Boston on the moneyline.

Free Pick: Bruins -120

[Willie Bee]

New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers Under 5½ (-115)

Game Time: 10/18/2007 07:05 PM -
By: LT Profits Sports Group | who2beton.com

The Flyers are actually playing defense this year, allowing two goals per game, and they have allowed a total of one goal in two home contests. Take the Under tonight.

The Philadelphia Flyers are much improved defensively this season, and while the New Jersey Devils defense has been disappointing, they are a candidate to bust out their infamous neutral zone trap at any time.

The Flyers finished dead last in the NHL in goals allowed last season, but they actually did improve quite a bit in the latter part of the year. Well, that momentum has carried into this year, as Philadelphia is allowing just 2.00 goals per game to this point, and they have allowed a grand total of one goal in two home games! As a result, the Under is now 14-5-2 in the last 21 Flyers games stretching back to last season.

Now, the Devils are allowing a very un-Devil-like 3.33 goals per contest to this point, which cannot make upper management too happy. Also, when New Jersey won 5-4 at Pittsburgh last night, it snapped a 29-game streak where the Devils did not score more than four goals in a game.

We do not expect a second explosion by the New Jersey offense in as many nights, and we would not be surprised to see the Devils revert to their tight defensive ways facing a Philadelphia team that has now incorporated that style. Thus, we do not expect to see more than five goals scored.

Free Pick: Devils, Flyers Under 5½ (-115)

[Willie Bee]

Play Panthers +115 at Maple Leafs

Game Time: 10/18/2007 07:35 PM -
By: Dave Cokin | playbook.com

Florida is playing better defense than Toronto right now, especially in the net. Take the Panthers as road dogs in tonight's contest against the Leafs at the Air Canada Centre.

The Florida Panthers stole one Tuesday at Montreal. They were completely outplayed all night by the Habs, but tied the contest in the waning seconds of regulation and then won the shootout.

Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun was the main reason why Florida notched these two points, and it looks to me like the edge in the nets is big tonight. The Toronto Maple Leafs are shaky in goal and their painfully slow defensemen have been a real issue so far. I like the Panthers at the price.

Free Pick: Panthers +115

[Willie Bee]

Cash Capitals -145 vs. Islanders

Game Time: 10/18/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com

Washington has the home ice edge and a 27-9-3 record in the last 39 games against New York's other hockey team. Play the Capitals to skate past the Islanders on Thursday.

The New York Islanders are 3-3 on the season, but two of their three losses have come on the road. In three road games the Islanders are allowing an average of 5.00 goals per game. In their last 11 games played vs. Southeast Opponents, New York is 3-8.

The Washington Capitals are a lot more talented this season than they have been over the last few years. Washington has only played one home game this season, a 2-0 victory. The Capitals are 27-9-3 in the last 39 meetings between the clubs. Play on the Capitals.

Free Pick: Capitals -145