5/3/12

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Flyers vs New Jersey Devils – OVER 5.5 GOALS

Heading back to New Jersey I really like the value on the OVER getting it at +130. These two teams combined for 62 shots in Game 1, and 55 shots in Game 2. This year the Flyers average 3.07 goals per game on the road and 2.70 against. The Devils are averaging 2.75 goals per game at home and 2.45 against. The OVER is 10-4-1 in the Flyers last 15 games overall, and 4-1-1 in their last 6 road games. Both goalies have had their good starts, but overall haven’t done anything special in these playoffs. Bryzgalov has allowed 3 or more goals against in 7 of his last 8 starts, while Brodeur has allowed 19 goals against over 9 games this postseason. Take note Ilya Kovalchuk will be back in the lineup tonight which should help the Devils offensively. He is a beast on the powerplay so expect some goals. With the way the first two of these games have gone and the way the Flyers have played all season I like the value on the OVER here again tonight.

3/12

(Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Anaheim Ducks @ Colorado Avalanche


The Ducks come into tonight’s game losers of two straight road games.  They lost 2-0 to Dallas on Saturday night and 3-1 in St Louis on Thursday.  Their playoff chances are very slim now with their 29-30-10 record.  The Ducks are just 11-16-8 on the road this season.  Colorado is coming off a 3-2 home shootout win on Saturday afternoon, and are winners of 3 of their last 4.  Overall the Avalanche have won 7 of their last 10 games which has kept them in the running for a Western Conference playoff spot.  Colorado is 36-30-4 on the season and 20-15-1 at home. These two teams have met 3 times this season with the Avalanche winning 2 of the 3, including the latest meeting 4-1 in Colorado.  This season the Ducks are averaging less than 2 goals per game on the road, and they are averaging just 2 goals per game over their last 5.  They are also just 8-27 in their last 35 games as an underdog and 6-20 in their last 26 vs a team with a winning record.  The Avalanche are 7-1 in their last 8 games as a favorite, and 6-2 in their last 8 home games.  Take Colorado at home only laying a bit of chalk tonight.

AVALANCHE TO WIN