It was an easy win last night with the Los Angeles Kings taking care of business on home ice as they downed the visiting Senators by a score of 4-1. Contrary to last night’s pick of a home favourite, I am looking at a road underdog tonight as well as a home underdog to try and capitalize on some generous odds.
NHL Picks for January 24th
Toronto @ New York Islanders
The Leafs and Isles will conclude a 48 hour home-and-home series tonight after the Leafs got it started with a 3-0 shutout victory at the Air Canada Center in Toronto last night. Besides the two points, the Leafs biggest accomplishment of the night was shutting down the red-hot John Tavares after the first time All-Star had recorded 8 goals and 13 assists in what was an impressive 12-game point streak. Jonas Gustavsson recorded his 3rd shutout of the month and has been excellent for the Leafs as of late. The Monter is 2-1-0 with a 1.34 goals against average and a .942 save percentage in his last 3 games played. Although unconfirmed, there is a chance James Reimer will get the nod for Toronto tonight on the back end of back-to-back games. Despite the struggles of Reimer and lack of playing time, goaltending is not the reason why I like Toronto as a road underdog tonight. Toronto is the league’s second best scoring team on the road as the Leafs average 3.3 goals for per game away from the ACC, while the Islanders home scoring ranks 26th in the NHL with just 2.5 goals per game on home ice. Toronto’s fifth overall ranked powerplay clicks at over 20% on the road, 9th best in the NHL compared to a 16th ranked Islanders home powerplay of just 16.1%. Toronto’s penalty kill has improved significantly over the last month and change as they have not surrendered a powerplay goal in their last 10 contests. This is in large part to a new found discipline enforced by the coaching staff, along with a high pressure penalty kill that does not give the opposition time to set up. With their win last night, the Leafs pushed themselves into a tie for the 8th and final playoff spot in the East with the Washington Capitals, with both teams in action tonight. The Leafs are 4-1 in their last 5 games against the Islanders and I believe they will ride some momentum for a road victory tonight as an underdog.
My Pick – LEAFS +110 (bet it at www.5dimes.com and get $520 FREE)
Boston @ Washington
A day after visiting the President, the Boston Bruins will conclude a 3 game in 4 nights stretch as they take on the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center. It should be interesting to see who is between the pipes for Boston tonight as Tim Thomas, the only American on the team, snubbed the U.S. President last night by exercising his right not to attend the defending Stanley Cup Champions’ visit to the White House. An interesting choice by Thomas, and it is unclear how this will affect his relationship with his teammates, coaching staff, and fans of the Bruins. However, Thomas did pick up all 3 victories over Washington last year, but is currently on his worst stretch of hockey of the season. He is 2-2-0 with a 3.21 goals against average and a .891 save percentage over his last 4 games played. Tomas Vokoun will start for Washington, and Vokoun has looked better since a mediocre start to the season. He is now 19-12-0 for the Caps with a 2.55 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. Not sky-high number by any stretch, however Washington’s recent play on home ice gives me reason to believe they can pull a victory out of this one. The Caps home powerplay is firing on all cylinders as they are clicking at a 24.1% clip at the Verizon Center, good for 2nd best in the NHL. Also, the Capitals have improved their penalty kill on home ice as well with an 86.8% success rate, to better Boston’s 83..5% penalty kill on the road. Washington holds the league’s 4th best home record at 17-6-1 and have won 7 of their last 8 games at home. They have also beaten boston in 6 of their last 8 games against the Bruins on home ice. Take the significant underdog Capitals to steal a victory from the defending champs.
My Pick – CAPITALS +155 (bet it at www.5dimes.com and get $520 FREE)