TOP 5 NHL SEASON TAKE AWAYS FROM SUGAR

NHL - TOP 5 THINGS WE LEARNED THIS YEAR

#5  Connor McDavid Can’t Resurrect The Oilers Alone

This is easy pickings, I know.  The Oilers are a disaster of an organization and no, one single, player is going to change that.  The sad fact of the matter is that Oilers’ fans far and wide genuinely thought McDavid was going to ride in on a golden horse and bring them back into the world of NHL relevancy.  The Oilers are so far off from being a complete team it’s mind boggling.  Any team that gets the first overall pick in the NHL draft 4 out of 6 years should be finely tuned, stocked and ready to begin a decade or more of NHL dominance filled with Stanley Cups and President’s Trophies coming abundantly.  The Oilers are still somehow bottom feeders in a league with more parity today than any other time in its history.  It’s been over ten years since the salary cap was instituted in the NHL and the product they are giving us today is the text book model of what they hoped it would be.  Talent is spread across the league evenly, any team can beat any team on any given night, and speed and talent have prevailed over the old school ways of intimidation, clutching and grabbing.  This all leads me to conclude that the Oilers’ issues are rooted in the organization itself and their front office’s fundamental approach to running an NHL club.  It’s easy for a hockey blogger to sit back and pick apart the draft choices the Oilers have made but I’m not going to do that.  The bottom line is the Oilers undoubtedly drafted a generational talent when they selected Connor McDavid.  The kid’s raw talent jumps off the tv screen.  The fact that he is only 18 years old is scary.  If the Oilers player their cards right McDavid could convert his raw talent into one of the best hockey players we’ve ever seen.  The Oilers need to take a HUGE step back and reassess their roster and organization.  They are loaded with trade assets right now.  They need to put McDavid at the focal point and view absolutely everyone else in the whole organization as expendable and create a team that will play to Connor’s strengths.

#4  This Has To Be The Caps Last Stand With Ovi

It’s no secret that I’ve been fairly critical of Ovechkin’s ability to lead a team to a Stanley Cup.  Don’t get me wrong, I would be completely fine with Detroit giving up some really good players to bring Ovi to Hockeytown.  The guy is a pure bread goal scorer, the likes of which I’ve never seen before in my 26 years of being alive.  But flashy goals, perfect one timers, and an overwhelming offense do not traditionally bring home the Cup.  As cliche as it sounds, the Stanley Cup is won by warriors.  Holding that 35 lb Cup above your head is a right of passage into hockey eternity that only a chosen few get to experience.  It’s been over ten years since Ovi’s rookie season and I stand here today still questioning Ovi’s ability to adapt, sacrifice, suffer, and lead a team out of chaos when everything is on the line.  Repeatedly, Ovechkin has faced tremendous adversity and accepted his fate and settled on the prospect of “there’s always next year”.  No one gets to feel the cool, polished, silver of an earned Stanley Cup in their hands after considering any other possible outcome.  There is no argument coming from me against Ovechkin’s ability to score incredible goals at a high volume.  My issue is with Alex Ovechkin’s willingness to sacrifice what is necessary as a captain of an NHL team.  He has spent a decade on a team that has been entirely focused around him and he hasn’t even been to a conference finals.  The regular season is a grind, no doubt about it.  But the playoffs are the only thing that matter and Alex Ovechkin has a decade long resume of failing miserably when things get serious.  The Caps are locked and loaded this year with Alex The Great playing the lead role as usual.  If Washington doesn’t make a deep run in these playoffs and come within arms reach of a Stanley Cup why the fuck should they keep going down this road?  Ten years with one guy as the focal point of your team is more than enough time to tell if he has what it takes to be the leader you need or not.

#3  Jaromir Jagr Could Be The GOAT

Before you get your panties in a bunch and google Gretzky’s stats to copy and paste in the comments hear me out. Jagr’s NHL debut was 26 years ago in 1990.  Since then he has played in 22 NHL seasons, missing 4 NHL seasons after temporarily departing from the NHL to play in Europe.  In 2008 Jagr left the NHL for 3 seasons after putting up 25 goals and 71 points for the New York Rangers. He has consistently, throughout his career been a goal scoring and point producing machine. At the age of 44 he has 23 goals through 67 games.  Wayne Gretzky’s last year featured The Great One finding the back of the net a mere 9 times in 70 games.  Age is inescapable for all hockey players, and Gretzky was no exception.  Jagr is leading his division leading team in scoring and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.  If this scientific anomaly of a hockey player hadn’t left the NHL behind for half a decade it’s not a leap to argue he could have been the greatest goal scorer the game has ever seen.  What makes someone the greatest player of all time? Is it what they do in their prime? Or is it the body of work they put in over their entire career?  Logic tells me the answer lies in the latter and Jagr excels in that regard.  His ability to adapt to a drastically changing style of play while playing on numerous NHL teams and maintain an above average level of scoring output has to land him in the conversation of the greatest ever.  The fact that he is leading the Florida Panthers comfortably to a nice playoff spot at the age or 44 speaks volumes to his immense talent and goal scoring ability no matter what style of play goalies approach him with.  He has to be considered as one of the best players of all time, if not the best.  Gretzky dropped off long before his mid 40’s, Jagr is still going steady.

#2 We Know Nothing About Goalies

What makes a goalie great? Save percentage is archaic as bringing a long bow to war.  Goals against average says more about a team as a whole than anything else.  So what makes a goalie great?  It’s arguably the most important position in hockey and in 2016 we still know little to nothing about scouting and identifying a great goaltender.  Sure, as fans, coaches, and players we can point out a great goalie after they have an established resume of dominance in the position but how the fuck do we not have any real way of identifying the next Patrick Roy before it’s already upon us?  NHL scouts can tell us who the next great defensemen and the next great goal scorers are with some degree of precision.  But when it comes to goalies we are stuck in the middle ages.  Goalies are drafted, tested, and tossed away at a staggering rate in today’s NHL.  Somehow the ability to pick out who the future great goalies are going to be has completely escaped the NHL scouting core.  Maybe it’s the uniqueness of the position.  Being an NHL goalie might be the loneliest job in the world.  It requires an incredible amount of self reliance and an uncanny ability to get over devastating failures in a matter of seconds.  Maybe these intangible aspects of the position are too much for stats and metrics to accurately read.  Maybe we just haven’t paid enough attention to the position. Who knows for sure.  The one thing I do know is that we don’t know who the 18 year old goalies are right now that will be the future all stars of their position in 5-10 years.

#1  West Is Still Best.

The Western Conference still dominates this league.  Chicago, Saint Louis, Anaheim, Nashville, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Dallas.  The list can go on if you want.  The bottom line is the level of play and competitiveness in the West far surpasses the East and it’s nothing new.  It’s going to be a blood bath in the Western Conference Playoffs this year; no different than any of the recent years prior.  I don’t know why the balance of power is so heavily tilted to the West in the NHL but it undeniably is.  The East has it’s teams; the Caps, Lightning, Panthers, Wings, Islanders, Rangers, and Penguins are all extremely solid organizations.  Outside of that group? The drop off is substantial and noticeable.  Not only that, if you put Dallas, Chicago, Anaheim, LA, Minnesota or several other Western Conference teams in the East it would be devastating to the hierarchy of power.  I would take Dallas, Chicago, Anaheim, or Minnesota in a series against any Eastern Conference team every single time.  Just look at the Stanley Cup Finals last year.  The East put forth their best, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and it wasn’t even close when it came down to it.  The Blackhawks had a harder time getting through almost every series in conference play than they did in the Stanley Cup Finals.  Overall, it is undeniable that the West is a superior conference.  That’s coming from a die hard Detroit Red Wings fan.

Thursday Night NHL LOCKS!

Detroit @ Pittsburgh

Pick: Red Wings +105

I gotta roll with Hockeytown on this one.  Pittsburgh is having a really weird season if you ask me. They seem to be struggling way too much for a team with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the line up every night.  The weather reports in Pittsburgh aren’t good for tonight; A category 9 Larknado is coming thru and it ain’t gonna be pretty.

Washington @ NY Islanders

Pick: Capitals -125

The Caps are that super hot girl in high school who ends up with 3 kids from 3 different dudes and lives in the trailer park by age 25.  They got all the flash in the regular season. Everyone forgets that Ovi hasn’t even been past the second round of the playoffs in his entire career despite winning a Presidents’ Trophy and making the playoffs like every damn year. The regular season is like high school; it’s cool and if you do things right it can set you up real nice for real life but it doesn't matter.  Playoffs are what matter.  Anyways, the Caps will probably roll all over the Islanders tonight.

New York Rangers @ Toronto

Pick: Rangers -150

No reason to make this complicated.  Don’t be that guy.

San Jose @ Florida

Pick: Panthers +115

I don’t know why the Panthers are the dogz here but I like it.  Jagr and his boyz bout to fuck some shit up down in South Beach.

Winnipeg @ Tampa

Pick: Jets +135

I’m rolling with the Jets of Winnipeg for no real reason other than I think things aren’t good in Tampa.

Carolina @ Ottawa

Pick: Senators -120

I don’t think the Hurricanes have Phaneuf to stop the Sens tonight.

Boston @ Nashville

Pick: Predators -130

Dallas @ Arizona

Pick: Stars -150

Friday Night NHL Fever: Hockey picks are back!

New York Rangers @ Carolina

Pick: Hurricanes +135

The Rangers have been on a win - loss roller coaster for a little while now.  They haven’t won 2 straight games since the middle of November.  I’m not sure what’s going on behind the scenes in NYC but the Rangers are not playing up to their potential.  They’re coming off a win at home against Vancouver on Tuesday.  Like I said, they haven’t won 2 straight games since November and I don’t think they will break the streak tonight.

Detroit @ Buffalo

Pick: Red Wings -1.5 (+210)

Detroit has been one of the only consistent teams in the Atlantic Division this season.  They haven’t exploded for a huge winning streak and they haven’t slumped for 8-9 games;  They’ve just quietly remained in the hunt within a couple points of first place.  Detroit is however coming off a loss and sits 3 points out of first place, 2 points out of second place, and 1 point ahead of fourth place in the Atlantic.  I expect Mrazek will be in net tonight as he is becoming the go to tender in Hockeytown. 

Chicago @ Florida

Pick: Blackhawks -120

From December 15th to January 10th the Florida Panthers won 12 straight games and took the NHL by storm.  The 12 consecutive wins was more than enough to solidify first place in a division containing Montreal, Detroit, Tampa, and Boston.  Ironically enough, the other team in tonight’s match up, the Chicago Blackhawks, just wrapped up a 12 game win streak of their own.  The Hawks won every single game from December 29th to January 19th.  The Hawks are coming off their first loss in almost a month, handed to them by Tampa last night.  The Panthers come into tonight riding the 4 game losing streak that put an end to their unprecedented month of winning.  I could get into all sorts of analytics and metrics and schematics on why the Hawks are going to put on a clinic tonight, but, the only metric you need to know about is a man known as Kane; Patrick Kane.

New York Islanders @ Ottawa

Pick: Senators +120

This pick came down to nothing more than a glance at the schedule and results on ESPN’s website for each respective team.  The Islanders have been struggling to string together multiple wins while regularly finding themselves in 2-3 game losing streaks.  Ottawa on the other hand seems to be finding themselves in 2-3 game winning streaks more frequently with losses coming in-between those spurts.  I like the Sens to roll at home tonight.

Saint Louis @ Colorado

Pick: Blues -125

I simply cannot defend any argument for betting against Vladimir Tarasenko.  The Avs are one of the most intriguing teams in the league right now in my opinion.  I can’t tell if they are a cesspool of mediocrity lacking identity or if they’re still just a young team loaded with potential lacking a coach that can mold them into an NHL super power.  Regardless, I’m going with the Blues tonight.

NHL Saturday: Quick Picks!

There’s a full slate of NHL games tonight.  Here’s some quick picks that I like.  I’m rolling with more goal line picks than usual tonight.  I like a lot of these match ups; there should be some high scoring games tonight.

Nashville @ Detroit

Pick: Red Wings -110

Montreal @ Carolina

Pick: Canadiens -1.5 (+230)

Toronto @ Saint Louis

Pick: Blues -1.5 (+145)

New York Islanders @ Ottawa

Pick: Islanders (EVEN)

Columbus @ Philadelphia

Pick: Blue Jackets +110

Colorado @ Minnesota

Pick: Wild -1.5 (+180)

Boston @ Vancouver

Pick: Canucks -115

Thursday NHL Full Slate!

Minnesota @ Boston

Pick: Wild +105

Minnesota has lost 2 games in a row heading into tonight; a 3-2 OT loss in Dallas and a 4-3 loss in Pittsburgh.  The Wild have yet to lose 3 games in a row this season. Three times this season they have lost consecutive games.  The previous two times they responded by winning the next game.  Tonight’s game is also the final game in a 4 game road trip for Minnesota over the past 7 days.  They started off with a win in Carolina last Thursday, lost in Dallas in OT on Saturday, then headed up to Pittsburgh for a 1 goal loss to the Penguins.  After tonight’s game the Wild head home for a couple days of rest.  This is a classic scenario for Parise and his squad to buckle down and grind out a tough win to wrap up a road trip.  A win gives the Wild a 2-1-1 record on their trip; a success.

Colorado @ Pittsburgh

Pick: Penguins -1.5 (+175)

This is the kind of pick analytics won’t help you with.  Last Saturday the Penguins were embarrassed 4-0 by the New Jersey Devils on the road.  It was their 3rd loss in 4 games.  As can be expected, the Penguins were not happy.  These are the moments when teams look to their leadership.  Assistant captain, Evgeni Malkin, stepped up on Saturday night vocally and more importantly, followed through on the ice three days later on Tuesday.   On Saturday, Malkin called out the entire locker room for the poor work ethic.  On Tuesday, the Penguins defeated a very good Minnesota team 4-3; Malkin had 2 goals and 2 assists.  Whatever issues the Penguins were having have absolutely nothing to do with talent.  If the team responds to Malkin’s call to arms, Colorado doesn’t have a chance.

San Jose @ Philadelphia

Pick: Sharks -135

This pick isn’t complicated.  These have to be dark days for the Flyers’ fans.  They’re bad.  Really bad.  San Jose should win tonight without a doubt.  

Dallas @ Washington

Pick: Stars -105

The Stars are killing it this year.  They’re 15-4 overall, 6-1 in their last 7, and are on a 3 game win streak.  The Caps aren’t exactly a walk in the park but they did play in Detroit just last night.  I like a more rested Dallas team to come in and take care of business.

NY Rangers @ Tampa Bay

Pick: Rangers -130

New York is riding a 9 game win streak.  Only 3 of those games have been decided by 1 goal.  The Rangers are dismantling teams every time they take the ice right now.  Meanwhile, the Lightning have dropped 4 of their last 5 games including 2 straight losses to the Florida Panthers.

Arizona @ Montreal

Pick: Arizona +1.5 (-170)

This is a shitty line but it’s less shitty than the Habs money line (-200).  Montreal isn’t dominating teams like they were the first 10 games of the season.  Arizona has been beating teams they have no business beating.  The Coyotes could win this game but I think they will keep it close at least.  

Anaheim @ Florida

Pick: Florida -115

Six months ago if you had told me that on November 19th the Florida Panthers would be favored against the Anaheim Ducks, I would have laughed in your face.  Yet, here we are.  The ML for the Ducks and Panthers, respectively, is -115 and -105.  For the sake of hockey history I have to roll with the Panthers.  If you need more substance to trust your money on this pick, Florida is coming off 2 straight wins against Tampa Bay.

Columbus @ Ottawa

Pick: Blue Jackets +120

The Jackets’ coaching change just might have saved their season.  Since replacing Todd Richards with John Tortorella the Blue Jackets are 7-4; before that they were 0-8.  It’s not crazy to think if Torts had been at the helm since day 1, the Blue Jackets would be favored in this game.  

Buffalo @ Saint Louis

Pick: Sabres +175

Buffalo hasn’t lost 3 games in a row all year.  They head into tonight on a 2 game losing streak.  The Blues very well could stomp the Sabres out.  That actually will probably be the case.  But I’m feeling myself tonight and I’m rolling with Cap’n Jack.

Monday NHL Picks!

Anaheim @ Carolina
Pick: Hurricanes -120
I don’t know what’s going on with the Ducks this season but something definitely isn't right. Maybe it’s coaching; maybe it’s chemistry; regardless of what the issue is, all I know is that there is an issue and the issue hasn’t been fixed. Taking on the Canes on the road just feels like a game the Ducks will drop.


Arizona @ NY Islanders
Pick: Islanders -1.5 (+135)
This pick could definitely back fire but who cares. A wise man once said: “Let ‘er buck!”. I have no idea what that means but I like it. Islanders minus the points. Let ‘er buck.


Vancouver @ Montreal
Pick: Canadiens -165
I can’t bring myself to pick against the Habs at home. Especially when they’re taking on a team who’s best players are two 35 year old Swedes. A long road trip and a time change can wear these older guys out.


Detroit @ Ottawa
Pick: Red Wings +115
The Red Wings are 0-2 since Datsyuk returned to the lineup. Do you think they will go 0-3? I don’t. The Atlantic Division standings are extremely tight outside of Montreal. One point can carry a team from 5th or 6th to 2nd or 3rd and vise versa. Detroit’s experience at every position makes them the pick here.


Tampa @ Florida
Pick: Lightning -120
I flipped flopped on this pick all morning. Ultimately I decided on the Bolts based on their offensive skill. This Tampa team has grossly underperformed so far this season in terms of offensive production. Nevertheless, I don’t see Florida having counter parts to the triplets line and Captain Stamkos.


Winnipeg @ Saint Louis
Pick: Blues -1.5 (+175)
Tarasenko is on fire this season if you haven’t heard. Have faith in the Russian sniper and rest easy.

Saturday Night NHL Super Slam

Detroit @ Boston
Pick: Red Wings +135
I haven’t said much about the Bruins this year. With each passing day it becomes harder for me to believe Boston willingly parted ways with Tyler Seguin. I look at their roster and I can’t help but think they made one of the biggest mistakes in the history of their storied franchise. Let’s get down to this game though; Datsyuk is back, he looked great last night, and the Wings are going to roll.


Colorado @ Montreal
Pick: Canadiens -190
I really wanted to roll the goal line pick for the Habs but I just don’t have the balls when Carey Price is sitting out. Montreal should take care of bidness at home tonight but this Avs team has been finding ways to hang around in games.


Pittsburgh @ New Jersey
Pick: Penguins -115
Im just going to keep rolling with the penguins until they hit.


Philadelphia @ Carolina
Pick: Hurricanes -155
Philly has won 1 of their last 9 games. Honestly, don’t even watch this game.


Vancouver @ Toronto
Pick: Maple Leafs +110
I am rolling with the LEAFS!! Toronto heads into this Saturday Night Soooopppeerrrr Slammm riding a hot 2 game win streak! Wins over Dallas and Nashville ON THE ROAD make them the pick of the night! As the sayin’ goes, LET ‘ER BUCK!


Florida @ Tampa Bay
Pick: Panthers +140
I don’t know why but, I’m feeling the Panthers tonight. Jagr and his mullet will get the job done.


San Jose @ Buffalo
Pick: Sabres +105
Roll the home dog! Jack Eichel, or as he’s known around here, Cap’n Jack is going to lead the way tonight. San Jose played last night in Detroit so they’re definitely tired.


Arizona @ Columbus
Pick: Coyotes (EVEN)
The Blue Jackets’ little streak is bound to come to an end sooner or later. I’m putting my money on tonight.


Chicago @ Saint Louis
Pick: Chicago +110
Now, here is the game to watch tonight. Toews and Kane look to take it to the Blues on the road. I couldn’t decide which way to go on this game so I rolled the under dog defending Stanley Cup Champs.

Friday Night NHL Action

Columbus @ Pittsburgh
Pick: Penguins -1.5 (+160)
The heater I’m on right now (16-5 in my last 21 picks) is starting to get to my head I think. I’m looking at this game and all I see is a blow out coming the Blue Jackets way. As expected, the Penguins offense took some time and some tuning to figure out how to utilize Crosby, Kessel, and Malkin in the most effective way. All the signs say they’ve got it figured out now. Good luck Columbus.


Calgary @ Washington
Pick: -1.5 (+155)
Another game, another ATS pick. Fuck it, Roll it! The Flames played on the road in Tampa just last night. The Caps played on the road last night as well except just over in Philly. Once again, the NHL schedule makes no sense. Caps at home coming off a win and Ovi has a chance to make history. I’ll take it.


San Jose @ Detroit
Pick: Red Wings -110
Datsyuk’s back in the line up.


NY Islanders @ Anaheim
Pick: Islanders +115
Ducks are coming off a home loss to Edmonton. Isles are coming off a loss on the road to the Kings last night. I’m going with my gut here. New York wins and the Ducks start thinking about parting ways with some people.

Tuesday NHL Full Slate

Colorado @ Philadelphia
Pick: Avalanche (+105)
There’s a full slate of NHL games tonight. If you’re wondering which game you should spend your time watching, look elsewhere. The Avs have won 2 of their last 10 games and the Flyers have won 1 in their last 7. This isn’t going to be what you might call “a barn burner”. However, I like the Avs to roll on the road here for the sake of making money. Duchene, MacKinnon, and Landeskog are all world class offensive threats and I don’t see any equal parts on the Flyers’ roster.



Saint Louis @ New Jersey
Pick: Blues (-135)
If you haven’t sat down and watched Vladimir Tarasenko play a game of hockey you haven’t lived. This Russian snipe show and his team head into the bowels of America (also known as New Jersey) to take on a hot Devils squad. The Devils are 8-2 in their last 10 after starting the season off 0-3-1. The Blues are 10-3-1 on the season and are consistently defeating good hockey clubs. I’m talking about a 6-5 win over Chicago, a 4-0 win over Nashville, a 3-2 win against Minnesota, and a 2-0 win versus Tampa. The Blues have been defeated in regulation 3 times and once in overtime. Those losses were against the Wild, the Habs, the Islanders, and the Kings. That tells me it takes a damn good hockey team to beat this Blues squad. The Devils are not that team.



Vancouver @ Columbus
Pick: Canucks (EVEN)
Vancouver’s record is 6-4-5 right now. Six of their games have gone beyond 60 minutes of play. One could argue the Canucks are merely a couple shots away from being a 9-10 win team right now. The Blue Jackets on the other hand are 4-11-0 through their first 15. Their roster, on paper, should yield much better results. We live in the real world though and for the sake of making money the ‘Nucks are the pick in this match up.



Buffalo @ Tampa Bay
Pick: Buffalo +1.5 (-170)
Captain Jack and the Sabres head on down to the warm state of Florida to take on the Lightning in what is a closer game than most people think. Buffalo is 6-8-0 right now. More importantly, 50% of their losses have been by 1 goal. Basically, the Sabres have a 50/50 chance of covering this spread. I think Buffalo is a solid team that can win on any given night right now. They could win this game; most likely they will not but there is a decent chance they will cover the spread.




Calgary @ Florida
Pick: Panthers (-140)
The Panthers are 3 days removed from a West Coast trip which featured them losing 3 straight games to Anaheim, San Jose, and LA. Despite their 5 game losing streak, I think Florida is the team to roll with here. The Panthers have shown they can play some damn good hockey so far this season. Maybe they are not a team to take on the road? Time will tell on that but, tonight they are at home taking on a Calgary Flames team who’s best players are Jiri Hudler and Johnny Gaudreau (more commonly known as Johnny Hockey). The Panthers have Jaromir Jagr for God’s sake. Jiri Hudler was a 2nd and 3rd line player on the Wings. If you put a decent player on a terrible team he’s going to have better stats. Someone has to score the goals. That doesn’t make him a great player though. I got nothing against Johnny Hockey. His enthusiasm and obvious love for what he gets to do for a living are palpable. That’s great for hockey. The Panthers have Jaromir Jagr though… and his Mullet.



Ottawa @ Nashville
Pick: Predators -1.5 (+165)
The Blues and the Penguins are the only 2 teams who have beaten the Predators at home this season. I don’t think the Senators amount to anything near either of those clubs. Basically, the only teams beating Smashville at home right now are teams that have plans to contend for a Stanley Cup; not teams hoping to make the playoffs.



Arizona @ Los Angeles
Pick: Kings -1.5 (+130)
The Kings are 9-2 after losing the first 3 games of the season. More importantly, probably, is the fact that the Coyotes finished a game in Anaheim (they won 4-3) around 1am EST and have to suit up and play again in Los Angeles in about 18 hours. The NHL schedule ROCKS!! Kings roll at home against a tired and injury prone Coyotes team. Side note: why is the NHL suddenly obsessed with back to back games?



NY Islanders @ San Jose
Pick: Islanders (EVEN)
The Islanders haven't lost 3 games in a row yet this season. They head into this game riding a 2 game losing streak and I think it ends here. The Sharks are going to have a tough time containing Tavares and Okposo, I believe.

Nutz's Bonus Picks

TOR @ DAL 

Pick: Stars (-1.5) (+130)

This might be the sucker bet of the week, but you have to lay the points with a team as hot as the Stars right now.  Though Toronto's lone victory came against Dallas earlier this year, the Leafs can expect an amped up Stars squad to come out determined to show that their early season matchup was a fluke. With Tyler Seguin leading the way I expect a 5-1 blowout to continue the Stars' dominance of the goal line spread. 

Winnipeg @ Minnesota 

Pick: Jets (+120)

I flip flopped on this pick all morning. One one hand you have the Wild who have morphed into a solid contender, but lost Zach Parise for a few games. On the other you have the Jets who are a bit of a surprise this season and are a solid bet for a wild card this season. I'm going Jets because you get better odds and I think the Wild are going to struggle to put teams away without Parise (7 goals, no one else on the team has more than 4). If you're looking for an easy win, add Jets +1.5 in a parlay tonight. 

NHL Quick Pick!

Arizona (+165) @ Anaheim The Ducks have turned their season around by winning their last 4 games. The Coyotes have started off better than expected this season. I like the ‘Yotes to pull off the road upset and end the little streak the Ducks have going. OVER/UNDER: OVER 5 (-115)

The Spread & NFL

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NFL Picks

Tuesday Night NHL Picks

NHL Slate

Montreal @ Pittsburgh

Pick: Penguins -135

If there’s a team in the NHL equipped to go up against Carey Price it’s the Pittsburgh Penguins.  With the addition of Phil Kessel, this offense is shaping up to be a goalies worst nightmare.  The biggest problem the Pens have faced through 2 games is fitting all these pieces they have together in the best way.  They head into their home opener tonight 0-2 after dropping games on the road to Dallas and Arizona and scoring 1 goal between the two games.  The fact of the matter is this low of a production level isn’t going to last, or at least there’s no reason it should.  Tonight is Pittsburgh’s home opener and a great opportunity to get the offense going against a great goaltender on the other end.

San Jose @ Washington

Pick: Sharks +105

I have to admit, I did not think San Jose was going to be anything special this year.  They were disappointing last year and they didn’t make any notable roster moves this offseason.  It’s only 2 games I know, but it appears I was wrong about the Sharks.  Through the first 2 games of their season the Sharks have found the back of the net 7 times while giving up just 1 goal.  Those wins came against LA (5-1) and Anaheim (2-0).  The Capitals big offseason move was picking up TJ Oshie.  I’m going to try to tip toe on this issue and try not to offend anyone, but how good is Oshie really?  Along with millions of USA hockey fans, I will NEVER forget TJ Oshie single handedly defeating Team Russia in that shootout.  That was some shit you only expect to see in a Disney movie, not real life in the Winter Olympics IN Russia.  But on the NHL front, Oshie has never really put up the numbers to deserve the hype he gets.  He is a good player but it’s tough to make a case for him being anything but that.  He is in his 8th season in the NHL and he has had just 1 season in which he crossed the 20 goal mark; 13-14 season when he scored 21 goals.  He has put up 50+ points just 3 times in his career.  I conclude by stating that TJ Oshie is a solid pick up for the Caps but he is not a super star.  He should fit in nicely with the Caps run and gun offense but he isn’t some great player that puts Washington over the top.  Sharks keep it rolling on the road with the vets leading the charge.

OVER/UNDER: OVER 5.5 (+110)

Nashville @ New Jersey

Pick: Predators -1.5 (+175)

Nashville is 2-0 with wins over Carolina and Edmonton.  They’ve covered the spread in one of those games.  On the other side, the Devils are 0-2 with losses to the Jets and the Caps, both games they lost by 2 goals.  Nashville has a lot of work to do before I’m willing to start calling them Smashville again but they’re off to a decent start.  New Jersey is still working with the same roster that won 67 games from 2013-2015.  That’s just 5 more games than the ’95-’96 Wings won in just 1 season.  Nashville is better and deeper at every positon and they have one of the best goaltenders in the league.  Look for Filip Forsberg to get things going against a much weaker opponent.

Florida @ Carolina

Pick: Panthers +120

Florida exploded offensively in their first game of the season with 7 goals at home against the Flyers.  They followed that up with a goose egg, losing 1-0 on the road in Philly. I really just don’t think Carolina has anything special going on.  On the other side, Florida has an interesting team to say the least. The big news coming out of the Panthers locker room is the return of Jagr’s mullet. Jaromir Jagr can really only be described as an ageless wonder at this point. The guy was literally drafted before the last EIGHT draft classes were even born. (1990 5th overall pick). The (now) 43 year old put up 17 goals and 47 points last season in 77 games.  In the ’13-’14 season he went off for 24 goals and 67 points in 82 games at the age of 41.  If you consider the amount of injuries NHL teams face every year, it is impressive on it’s own that Jagr has managed to play consecutive full seasons in his 40’s but what makes him remarkable is the stats he has put up in his 40’s on the NHL level: 41G, 73A, for 114 points.  Most NHL players will never have 2 seasons combined with those numbers and Jagr did it between the ages of 41 - 43.  Respect.  

Winnipeg @ NY Rangers

Pick: Rangers -175

I bounced back and forth between the Jets +1.5 and the Rangers ML.  I settled on the ML pick because the odds are better (-190 vs -175) and I think the Rangers definitely win this game.  As usual, Lundqvist (33 years old) is playing like he’s 25 and in his prime.  The super human Swedish goaltender simply doesn’t seem to age.  The Rangers have a lot to prove before they need to worry about winning Lundqvist a Stanley Cup but the first steps of this season have all been in the right direction. I also like the over in this game based on the scoring ability on the Rangers and the Jets knack for finding the net when they have no business doing so.

OVER/UNDER: OVER 5.5 (+115)

Tampa @ Detroit 

Pick: Red Wings -110

The reality here is I’m only about 65% confident in this pick.  Both teams head into tonight undefeated; Tampa 3-0 and Detroit 2-0.  The Red Wings began their season with a 4-0 dismantling of Toronto and followed that up the very next night by squeaking out a 4-3 win on the road in Carolina in which they were out shot 19-47.  In reality, the reason for the Wings’ poor performance, to some extent, lies on their schedule.  It’s not fun and it doesn’t make sense (looking at you NHL) to play at home and have to play on the road 700 miles away 24 hours later.  If anything, the game in Carolina gives me more confidence in the Wings because they found a way to win a game they didn’t deserve to win.  After a couple days off Detroit’s legs will be back and ready to go tonight.  This game could go either way.  The last time these teams met was Game 7 of round 1 in last years playoffs.  Tampa won 2-0.  This is a new Detroit team though; a Babcock-less Detroit team.  The game tonight against Tampa will be a great marker for Wings’ fans as to where this team stands.

Edmonton @ Dallas

Pick: Dallas -170

The Oilers have only scored 1 goal this season and head into tonight 0-2.  McDavid has yet to register a point and has just 4 shots on goal through 2 games.  The 2015 first overall draft pick is in a tough situation for an 18 year old.  The entire hockey world has their eyes on him right now.  Edmonton has put their hopes and dreams on his shoulders.  That’s a lot for an 18 year old; then again most 18 year olds aren’t talked about as a hockey prodigy from the time they are 15.  McDeezy needs to put up some points and he has to find the back of the net before things get to his head.  He might score his first goal tonight but the Stars are a much better team than Edmonton.  Dallas picked up Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya in the offseason to compliment their already talented roster.  Tyler Sequin has yet to find the back of the net this season, a home game against a bad team is the perfect opportunity for him to put an end to that.

OVER/UNDER: OVER 5.5 (-105)

Saint Louis @ Calgary 

Pick: Blues -130

The Blues are 2 games into their season and Vladimir Tarasenko has 2 goals.  The super star Russian goal scorer said several weeks ago his goal is to score 50 goals this season.  He’s off to a good start.  Both teams are 1-1 heading into tonight.  Calgary split games with Vancouver and Saint Louis beat Edmonton then lost to Minnesota.  Calgary is definitely a team to keep an eye on this year.  They have a nice combination of young guys led by some experienced but still productive veterans.  Johnny Hockey picked up where he left off last season, recording 1 goal and 3 assists in the Flames’ first two games.  I like the Blues on the road here though largely because I think the Blues are still one of the best teams in the West.

Vancouver @ Los Angeles

Pick: Canucks +165

The Kings may be playing at home but, that doesn’t change the fact that they have been outscored 9-2 through their first 2 games of the season.  The Canucks head into tonight 2-1 after a shootout victory on the road in Anaheim last night.  It is Vancouver’s second game in as many days but I still like the ‘Nucks to roll on a struggling Kings team.

Thursday NHL Picks

Sugar’s Thirsty Thursday NHL Picks

NY Islanders @ Columbus (+105)

Now that the Jackets are statistically eliminated from playoffs they are tearing shit up.  They head into tonight boasting a 7 game win streak and a 11-2 record in their last 13.  The streak becomes even more impressive upon a closer look;  What do Detroit, Chicago, Saint Louis, Calgary, and Vancouver have in common?  They’re all playoff bound teams that have lost at home to the Blue Jackets in the past two and a half weeks.  Bottom line, the Blue Jackets are on a mission to completely screw up the desired playoff seed of a handful of teams.  One of those teams happens to be the Islanders.  The New York Islanders head to Columbus with a lot on their plate to say the least.  They’ve won 3 out of their past 11 games and can’t seem to keep the puck out of their net, giving up 2.73 goals/game over that stretch.  I smell trouble for the Islanders heading into the playoffs and for the NHL sports better I love the Blue Jackets to pull off another upset tonight.

Tampa (-115) @ Ottawa 

This game features a lot on the line for both teams.  Tampa sits 1 point behind Montreal in the division standings.  Winning the division would give the Lightning crucial home ice advantage in the playoffs.  No one wants to play game 7 on the road.  Ottawa sits 3 points behind Boston for the last Wild Card playoff spot.  The Senators are fighting every game from here on out to extend their season and grab a playoff spot.  The Lightning beat Montreal in their last head to head match up and followed it up with a pitiful loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.  After the game, Captain Steven Stamkos issued a call to arms to his team.  Stamkos typically motivates his troops through his incredible on-ice demonstrations and by scoring huge seemingly impossible goals.  His public criticism of his team will not fall on deaf ears, this I can guarantee.  It takes a lot for a soft spoken elite goal scorer to feel the need to call his team out and that’s exactly what he did.  Look for Tampa to come ready to play one of their best games of the season tonight.

Carolina @ Florida (-175)

With the season quickly winding down, both these teams don’t have much to play for.  Florida has a hail mary chance at making the playoffs, but it’s a long shot.  However, with Luongo in net for the Panthers I do expect the team in South Beach to take care of business and come away 2 points closer to a Wild Card spot.

Washington @ Montreal (-135)

Montreal has dropped 3 of their last 5 including a loss to Tampa which puts them just 1 point ahead of the Bolts for the division lead.  Ovi and the Caps head into tonight with a firm grasp on a Wild Card spot and opportunity to move up.  They sit 4th in the Metropolitan Division with 94 points and 1 point separating them from a 3 way tie for 2nd place.  The Capitals will be looking to win and move up to that 2nd place spot to get a better playoff draw.  The deciding factor in this game will be Carey Price.  The allstar goaltender has logged his best season yet and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.  If Price shuts the door on the Caps tonight, and I think he will, the Habs win at home.

Bonus Pick: UNDER 5 (-115)

NY Rangers @ Minnesota 

OVER 5 (-115)

The Wild have been ON FIRE lately, going 8-2 in their last 10, and have saved their season.  They are sitting on a Wild Card spot and, like the Caps, have all the opportunity in the world to move up to 2nd or 3rd in their division.  The Rangers are as solid a team as any though and will surely “bring it” tonight in Minneapolis.  Personally, I think the Rangers’ offense will overwhelm the Wild but it will be a great game.  Take the over because it’s going to take 3-4 goals to win this game.

Vancouver @ Chicago (-165)

Despite the loss of their leading scorer Patrick Kane, the Hawks have pushed forward.  They sit right in the thick of things with regards to the playoff seeds in the Central Division.  A win will move them up from 3rd place to 2nd place in the division.  Chicago is almost certain to face Saint Louis in the first round but locking down 2nd place would give them home ice advantage in the series.  Vancouver is sitting in 2nd place in the Pacific Division with Anaheim 12 points ahead of them and Calgary 4 points behind.  The Hawks should be in playoff mode by now and a playoff Blackhawks team doesn’t lose very often and almost never at home. 

Edmonton @ Los Angeles (-340)

LA is (and has been for sometime) in desperation mode.  They sit on the fringe of a playoff seed and a game against the Oilers is nothing short of a must win.  The Kings like to play physical.  That is the understatement of the year.  LA bangs bodies better than any team in the league probably.  Edmonton is young and small finess team that plays a fancy game full of mistakes.  Expect the Kings to come out shooting, crashing the net, and to make the game extremely physical.

Bonus Pick: OVER 5.5 (+105)