Wanna Bet-Daily Hockey Picks-November 19th

The NHL definitely has parity, and on any given night any team can win. But there are indeed trends and stats and other variables that make picking a winner less of a gamble.

I will try and give you a few of the reasons in a short analysis on the games that I feel are worth looking at. This is the first article of its kind because I like to get a feel for what is going on in the NHL over the first quarter or so before I start riding teams, and get a feel for which direction a team is going and which teams they can beat while finding some value out there.

Toronto -115 @ Carolina -105

Carolina and Toronto are both basement dwellers at this point, but Carolina is one of the teams Toronto has beaten this year. Jonas Gustavsson is starting tonight for the Leafs, and with the battle between the two goalies for the starting job, will bring his best game.

The teams have split the last four games. In the last five games, Toronto has given up 16 goals while the Canes have given up 19. After the injury to Cam Ward, The Canes went out and picked up veteran net-minder Manny Legace who should get the start tonight.

Toronto’s power play has been one of the only high points for this team, and as Carolina has the worst goals against in the league and gives up the most power play opportunities, I would expect Toronto to be able to capitalize in this situation. Carolina also scores the fewest goals per game averaging a mere 2.2.

Take Toronto -115

New Jersey -120 @ Nashville +100

New Jersey has been outstanding on the road this year, losing only once, and holds a record of 9-1; one game short of tying the best road record to start a season. This record is held by Buffalo, having lost their first road game at Philly on Monday and is 8-2 over their last ten games.

Martin Brodeur is tied for the league lead in wins with 12, has a 2.21 goals against average, and .920 save percentage, making his case for his place as the starting goalie for team Canada’s Olympic team. Predator's goalie Pekka Rinne has a 2.40 goals against average, a 9.14 save percentage, and is the reason Nashville is 7-3 in their last ten.

These teams meet quite infrequently, so really the only meeting that is relevant is the last one, being that it was last year in which New Jersey won 3-1.

New Jersey gives up the league best 2.1 goals, the fewest power plays of 3.2 per game, and allows only 0.5 power play goals. Nashville is the second lowest scoring team in the league, scoring on average 2.3 goals per game along with being third last in the league on the power play scoring 0.5 per game at 13.7 percent. I have to lean towards New Jersey in this game.

Take New Jersey -120

Tampa Bay +120 @ Anaheim -140

Tampa Bay is on the rise and the Ducks seem to be drowning, two teams going in opposite directions. Mike Smith will get the start for the Bolts as he had a good showing in his last game in a 4-1 win in Phoenix.

Jonus Hiller should get the start for the Ducks, unless they decide to put in Pogge due to the all around poor play of this team, which I doubt. Tampa is second in the league in power play chances at 4.6 per game, and young sniper Steven Stamkos with the new coaching staff in Tampa has blossomed as most thought he would and leads the team in power play goals.

Anaheim gives up the most power plays in the league at 4.9 per game on average and allows the most power play goals per game at 1.3, ranking them third worst in the league percentage wise in penalty killing at 74.2 percent.

This is the first game back at home for the Ducks after dropping four straight on the road, and the first game back home after a road trip has been a good spot to bet on the visiting team. There is some value here with the Lightening at plus odds.

Take Tampa +120

Ship it, send it, chalk it, and lock it, from The King of Roncesvalles to your sports books good luck boys. All the Best!