Tommy Gold's NHL 2009/2010 2009.10.21 Picks

[TommyGold]

Nashville Predators @ Boston Bruins

Predators and Bruins are two teams that we expected more than they had show so far. Nashville has came from a hard game and lost in SO against the Capitals in Washington. Can this game mark the turn?

The Bruins, with Lucic and Savard out, comes from a loss in Phoenix against the Coyotes. "Let's explore that spot! Bruins with 2 men out, Predators starting to improve!". I think that this can be so wrong, but so wrong, that i will bet against this thought. The Bruins are the better team. They are returning home, and they don't have a choice... They have to start to please their supporters. If the team can't play well today, against one team that has been lousy in this start of the season, Bruins will lose to much credit in their fans eyes.

The experience and depth in Bruins roster can make some difference today. I don't have time today to explain in detail my opinion, I'm with a bloody headache now that I've to take some time off right now, however, I expect a scenario similar to Dallas vs Nashville game, where Nashville lost 6-0.

Pick: Boston Bruins PL -1.5 +150 (2.50) 5Dimes, BOS PL -1.5 +145 (2.45) The Greek


I also like Vancouver Canucks @ Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago Blackhawks 3Way (1X2) -105 (1,95) Bookmaker & Over 5.5 -120 (1.83) 5 Dimes, Centrebet, Pinnacle, but I need to take a rest now, so please excuse me for not delivering a justification right now.

[TommyGold]

Vancouver Canucks @ Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago will host the Canucks today. For me, it will be the best game of the day. This is game that promises goals and good offensive plays for both teams. However, i will go against the Canucks again. 4 losses in 4 games on the road, is not a record to give confidence. And with Salo and D. Sedin missing, it can be a hard game for Vancouver. However, I believe that the Canucks can fight back on this game and this thinking makes me believe that a PL is to risky for this game, but the Over is also a valuable play. Vancouver is a team with good offensive moves. They try a lot to score, shooting at least 33 shots per game. They have proved this year that they can score when they want, and if defense gives a little bit more space, they will not forgive.

Chicago is a team that I enjoy to see. I think they have a great first line and I confess that I enjoy they way to play: their games are always frenetic. A week ago, they won a game in OT after being losing 5-1 in the first period. They like to fight their games, specially at home. They enjoy to give a tremendous show to their supporters, make every fan watch every second of the games without moving out from their seats.

So, with two very offensive teams, we will have an easy over in my opinion. After all, both goaltenders are not making a good season so far. With Salo and D. Sedin out, without winning any game yet on the road and visiting a team that has a fantastic first line, and that scores a lot, I guess they will not keep the scoreboard even for long time.

The Blackhawks have clearly the edge for this game, so I will take them on 3Way. Don't forget that Chicago usually doesn't crush their opponents at home, they score a lot, but they conceed a lot of goals too. They are "pro-show" right now and there is no value to take them on PL, as they are no reliable for building up a nice lead on the game.


Picks: Chicago Blackhawks 3Way (1X2) -105 (1,95) Bookmaker & Over 5.5 -120 (1.83) 5 Dimes, Centrebet, Pinnacle

[TommyGold]

Buffalo Sabres @ Florida Panthers

I know that the Sabres had made a great start, scoring 6 goals against Detroit, and then they defeated the Islanders. This happened after they appeared to struggle in their offensive game. So, everybody thinked: they are a good team. Line makers even favour them. But i can't understand it. Why is Buffalo favourite? Sabres just played one game on the road. Against Nashville, winning by 1-0. That prove anything? NO! Buffalo still has to show that they know how to play on the road. I admit that Sabres is not a team that I enjoy. It's true that they sometimes play well. But as soon as they do it, they play bad as well.

Florida, won their first game in the season, but then they struggled hard. However, in the last games they tried to bounce back. And in the last game, they won 4-2 at home against the Philadelphia Flyers, a hot team. So, on this game i will take Florida and I will risk a 3WAY line. Florida can do pretty things at home, specially against teams like Sabres, teams that are not reliable on their performances. I think that the bookies are wrong, remembering too much 2 straight games where they scored 6 goals. Are they accounting for public perception? Maybe. The truth is that the Sabres are not a good offensive team and in the end of the season the stats will show it. Florida is getting their confidence back and their game is showing up in the last few games.

Playing at home against a team that only visited a "to much easy prey" (another reason to take them as favourites?), if I have to see advantage somewhere, it will be with the home team. After all, if they won 4-2 against Philadelphia, why not an easy win over Sabres, which are coming from a defeat at home?


Pick: Florida Panthers 3Way (1X2) +140 (2,40) Bookmaker, FLA 3Way (1X2) +160 (2,60) bet365, Centrebet

FLA ML +105 (2.05) is available on Bookmaker

Wrongly posted here: Tommy Gold's NHL 2009/2010 2009.10.20 Picks

[TommyGold]

Colorado Avalanche @ Minnesota Wild

Colorado Avalanche after two home wins went on a successful road trip (4-2, 1-1 on SO) that ends now on Xcel Energy Center, were they face the Minnesota Wild, which had a road trip of their won, but not as successful as the one of the Avalanche team, because they lost SU all their last 5 matchs, showing a dismal performance on the defense and a weak offense (an average 2.00 goals scored per game).

Minnesota has only won 1 game, at home against the Anaheim Ducks, by 4-3 on SO, and we don't know much more about them on their home field, because they spent the entire season so far on the road, ending with a 0-6 record. What we've seen so far of the Wild doesn't inspire much trust, we have a team that has the pressure to win, but that will also play on a known and confy environment.

On the other hand, we have a Colorado team that will finish their road trip, having won their last 4 games, with their last win against the Detroit Red Wings on SO giving us some signs that they can be trusted, if they have tonight the same commitment displayed on their last games.

So, I'm going to take my chances and support the road dog on their last game, believing that they have the ability to give 60 minutes of effort, since they have shown having much better qualities so far than this Wild team and for this game I give both teams 50-50, as we can't deny the value of Wild's roster on the other side. Take the Colorado Avalanche ML.

Pick: Colorado Avalanche ML +120 (2.20) 5Dimes, The Greek


Wrongly posted here: Tommy Gold's NHL 2009/2010 2009.10.20 Picks

[TommyGold]

2009.10.21 results:

Nashville Predators @ Boston Bruins: Boston Bruins PL -1.5 +150 (2.50) 5Dimes (3-2: LOSS)
Buffalo Sabres @ Florida Panthers: Florida Panthers 3Way (1X2) +140 (2,40) Bookmaker (2-5: LOSS)
Colorado Avalanche @ Minnesota Wild: Colorado Avalanche ML +120 (2.20) 5Dimes, The Greek (3-2: LOSS)
Vancouver Canucks @ Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago Blackhawks 3Way (1X2) -105 (1,95) Bookmaker (2-3: LOSS)
Vancouver Canucks @ Chicago Blackhawks: Over 5.5 -120 (1.83) 5 Dimes, Centrebet, Pinnacle (2-3: LOSS)

2009.10.21 finished with a 0-5 and -5 units lost/5 units risked.
NHL 2009-2010 season results: 11-20 (-4,23 units lost/31 units risked)