NHL Free Picks – Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Montreal Canadiens

NHL Tuesday Preview

NHL betting is down to one game Tuesday, when the Columbus Blue Jackets visit the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre.

These teams have yet to face each other this season, but last year the Blue Jackets took their lone meeting 4-3 in a shootout. Over the past 10 years Columbus has won four of its eight battles with Montreal, with the Habs taking three of those games and one ending in a 1-1 tie.

Heading into Tuesday, the Blue Jackets will be coming off a game against the New York Rangers. As of Monday, Columbus had won five of its last seven games to jump into second place in the Central Division.

The Blue Jackets have provided some nail bitters for hockey bettors in recent games. Six of their last 10 games have gone into overtime or a shootout, including Saturday’s tilt with the Nashville Predators. Columbus was edged 4-3 in a shootout despite goaltender Steve Mason stopping a season-high 45 shots.

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Mason began this five-game road trip sharp, with a 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars, stopping 25-of-26 shots. The team is hoping he is starting to come around after opening the schedule with a bloated 3.44 GAA.

Montreal has had a couple days off to lick its wounds after losing 3-2 in a shootout to the Detroit Red Wings at home Saturday. The Habs were waiting on a ruling from the NHL following Georges Laraque’s knee-on-knee hit on Detroit’s Niklas Kronwall. Laraque admitted to reporters that the hit was accidental, however, the enforcer’s reputation may proceed him in this situation.

Montreal is still shuffling lines due to numerous injuries, most recently to Brian Gionta, who will miss up to six weeks with a broken foot. Mike Cammalleri, Tomas Plekanec, and Andrei Kostitsyn were tossed together by coach Jacques Martin before Saturday’s game. The trio found success in the third period when Cammalleri netted two goals to force the additional period.

There’s talk flying around the franchise that the Canadiens may make a move to help spark the team’s dismal offense, which ranks 27th in the league. The Kostitsyn brothers, Sergei and Andrei, are rumored to be on the move, with possible suitors in Edmonton.

Champions League Betting Group E: Fiorentina vs. Lyon

Olympique Lyonnais are at the top of Group E and already assured of a spot in the knockout stages. They, however, are not certain of top spot in their section; yet, that is. Meanwhile, a positive outcome for the Italian outfit ACF Fiorentina would see them almost surely clinch advancement as well.

Their upcoming clash is not just about a battle for top finish and advancement where they are concerned. The plight of Liverpool in Group E makes for a compelling back-story: the significance of the outcome between Lyon and Fiorentina to Liverpool’s campaign.

If Lyon take all three points at the expense of Fiorentina, then Liverpool will still be alive in the competition. However, if Fiorentina wins or draws then Liverpool is as good as left for dead in Champions League.

Soccer Betting Line:

Fiorentina -½ +120 +120 2½ O +120 U -140 1 O -130 U +110 Draw +225
Lyon +½ -140 +235 2½ O +120 U -140 1 O +105 U -125 Draw +225

Match Time: 02: 45 PM Eastern Time Tuesday November 24, 2009

Soccer Betting Verdict: Lyon is on ten points in first place while ACF Fiorentina are a point shy in second place. Their upcoming clash, first and foremost, is about positioning to finish at the top of the group and advancement. As to the by-product of their match: Liverpool’s campaign, it will not be as important to them as it will be to the Reds.

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Fiorentina might be somewhat mindful. Should the Italians lose to Lyon they risk jeopardizing their campaign, especially in the face of a Reds’ Champions League renaissance. Rght now it all looks impossible for the Reds and Fiorentina are one foot into the knockout stages. Yet, anything can happen in the beautiful game of football.

Lyon are undefeated in Champions League action thus far and they are the better play in my opinion. They have shown to be solid both at home and in Europe. They know they have advanced but they will not want to let up when their work is not done yet. They will want to seize top spot at the expense of Fiorentina and take the pressure off of themselves ahead of the last match.

Soccer Free Picks: Lyon +235 | Over 2.5 goals +120| Lyon Over 1 +105

Champions League Betting Group F: Barcelona vs. Inter Milan

Defending European Champions Barcelona might not advance into the knockout stages. Consider this fact for a moment. Hands up who saw this coming? Certainly, nobody saw this coming. Don’t dare say otherwise.

The technically brilliant and sublime classy Spanish outfit has no excuse for disappointing furthermore and that is putting it mildly. They have to be the most underachieving side in this season’s Champions League, holding third spot on five points, level with Rubin Kazan who are second and were considered massive underdogs at the start of the tournament.

Inter Milan can also be said to be underachieving in spite of the fact they are currently at the top of Group F. Hauling six points in four matches cannot be considered a successful campaign. They got lucky really, if anything. The underdogs in this section rose to the occasion and the heavyweights came off average. Hence, the section is a tight cluster on points.

Hence, the clash between Barcelona FC and Inter Milan is a must-win match for both sides. Inter will aim to advance their lead while Barcelona will aim to overhaul Inter and reclaim what they must believe is their rightful place at the top of the group. (If they don’t we have a serious problem).

Soccer Betting Line:

Barcelona -½ -135 -135 2½ O +115 U -135 1½ O -105 U -115 Draw +255
Inter Milan +½ +115 +375 2½ O +115 U -135 1 O +105 U -125 Draw +255

Match Time: 02: 45 PM Eastern Time Tuesday November 24, 2009

Online Soccer Betting Verdict: Barcelona enter this match as the strong favourites and most soccer bettors are hoping whatever brain cramp they might have been suffering from up to this point is behind them. It simply cannot happen that the best European club would not advance into the knockout stages and at least try to defend its title. Or can it?

Inter Milan recently snapped a hex in Champions League when they beat Dynamo Kyiv on the away on match day four. Prior to the victory, all the more dramatic as the winning goal came in the dying moments of the match, Inter Milan had not won a European match in over 12 months. The negative trend continued through the first three matches of this season’s European campaign as they drew against Barcelona, Rubin Kazan and Dynamo Kyiv.

Now that Inter have finally won a European match they will be looking to extend that run to two consecutive wins. Asked before the start of the championships what their chances against Barcelona might be, one would have thought slim. Given how Barcelona has been struggling to play convincingly on the European stage, one has to concede the Italians do have a real chance. Hence, I would consider Inter Milan the value play; that and their odds are a damn sight more attractive in my opinion.

Soccer Free Picks: Inter Milan +375 | Inter Over 1 goal +105 | Over 2.5 goals +115

NHL Saturday – Three-Game Eastern Conference Parlay

Game 1 Preview: Washington Capitals at Toronto Maple Leafs

The Alex Ovechkin show is back. The superstar forward missed a couple of weeks with injuries, but returned on Tuesday and scored Washington’s first goal in a 4-2 win over the Rangers. The Caps were 4-2 without Ovie, are definitely happy he’s back. The Washington Capitals’ net minders are still looking for a winning rhythm, which is easier said than done. But as long as Ovechkin’s in the lineup, there’s always a chance for a Washington victory.   

The Leafs blew a 3-0 lead to the Carolina Hurricanes, who own the league’s worst record, on Thursday. They retook the lead, then blew a 5-4 lead with two seconds left. They then lost in a shootout. Toronto Maple Leafs has lost five straight after beating Detroit 5-1. They’re facing a Washington team that just got Alex Ovechkin back. They’re not winning.  

Pick: Washington Capitals 

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Game 2 Preview: Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens  

The Detroit Red Wings are slowly heating up, and that’s bad news for the rest of the league. They had a four-game win streak snapped against Dallas on Wednesday, but that seemed like more of an aberration than a trend. Henrik Zetterberg is one of the hottest players in the league, recording 5 points in a game against Anaheim last week and leads the team with 23. He scored Detroit’s only goal Wednesday against the Stars, giving him 8 on the season. 

The Montreal Canadiens were flying high after their shootout win over Carolina on Tuesday, but is there much to be proud of after barely beating the worst team in the league; a team that is without it’s two top players (Cam Ward and Eric Staal)? Carey Price has definitely played better, but he has to have more than a couple good games in a row to justify putting your entire faith back into him.  

Pick: Detroit Red Wings 

Game 3 Preview: Buffalo Sabres at Ottawa Senators

It was bound to happen eventually to Ryan Miller. Miller was shellacked against Florida on Wednesday, allowing 5 goals on 23 shots in a 6-2 loss. Miller has been arguably the league’s best goalie all season, so a bad game is nothing to be worried about if you’re a Sabres fan. The Buffalo Sabre remain one of the most balanced teams in the league; their leading scorer, Clarke MacArthur, has only six goals, but it seems like everyone is always involved. That’s the sign of a successful team. 

Ottawa’s coming in with a modest two game win streak, a 3-2 win over Toronto on Tuesday and a 6-2 shellacking of Pittsburgh on Thursday. Pascal Leclaire has answered recent critics of his play by stringing together a few good games in a row. Mike Fisher has been smoking hot recently, with 5 points in his last two games. He’s also receiving multiple shout-outs from girlfriend Carrie Underwood, who mentions Fisher on her newest album and has been asked about him a lot during her media tour. Not a bad life for Mr. Fisher.  

Winning Pick: Buffalo Sabres

NHL Saturday Three-Game Parlay – Western Conference Matchups

Game 1 Preview: Calgary Flames at Los Angeles Kings  

The Calgary Flames are limping into this one, coming off an embarrassing 7-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. But the Flames are a professional team, and they know that those are the types of games that aren’t worth remembering.

No need to dwell on why it happened, just move on. The loss won’t be a trend of things to come. Calgary is still one of the best teams in the league.    

Los Angeles Kings were dealt a huge blow earlier in the week when they learned that forward Ryan Smyth may miss a month with an upper-body injury. They followed that news with a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia.

Smyth’s absence cannot be overstated. He is the veteran force that drives that team and has been a great compliment to the rising star that is Anze Kopitar, who leads the league in points. The next month will be a huge test to see how Los Angeles deals with a major injury.    

Winning Pick: Los Angeles Kings  

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Game 2 Preview: Philadelphia Flyers at Phoenix Coyotes  

Philadelphia Flyers remains one of the hottest teams in the league, and much of that success can be attributed to the play of Ray Emery. The once-beleaguered net minder has been playing so well that former hockey bench boss Peter Laviolette believes there should be a spot on Team Canada’s roster for Emery.

Maybe a bit hyperbolic, but it proves that Emery has made a successful return to the NHL, something many people were skeptical to believe early in the season. The Flyers are a much better team because of it.     

The Desert Dogs continue to be one of the top stories in the NHL. Left for dead in the offseason, the Phoenix Coyotes refused to mail in the year, and stand at an impressive 12-10-0 on the season. Whether or not they keep it up is another question, but highly irrelevant at the moment. The mere fact that the Coyotes at this point, have more points than the Detroit Red Wings, is nothing short of a miracle.    

Winning Pick: Philadelphia Flyers  

Game 3 Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets at Nashville Predators  

The Columbus Blue Jackets are coming off a 4-1 win over the Stars on Thursday. Steve Mason played brilliantly, stopping 25 shots. It was a big win for Mason, who in the game before allowed eight goals on 27 shots against Detroit. The fact that Mason was able to bounce back as well as he did shows tremendous poise and talent for a sophomore goaltender. That kind of resiliency seeps into the other players on the team.  

The Nashville Predators are hot. They’ve won four straight, including a shootout win over the Devils and a victory over the Sharks, who lead the NHL in points. They’ve won 9 of 12 overall and look like a completely different team that started the season.

Jason Arnott scored a pair against the Devils, and his success is key for the Predators. They’re still stuck in an incredibly hard division, but have shown they can compete with the big boys.    

Winning Pick: Nashville Predators

NASCAR Preview – Ford 400 Odds

NASCAR betting wraps up with the Ford 400 on Sunday. The final race of the schedule hits the Homestead-Miami Speedway for what should be a anti-climactic finish to the Sprint Cup Chase for the Championship.

Points leader Jimmie Johnson is all but guaranteed his fourth straight Cup title and holds a 108-point lead over the closest driver. Those two men happen to be the race favorites for this weekend’s event.

Johnson tightened his grip on the championship with a win at Phoenix last Sunday. Oddsmakers have priced him at +500 for the schedule finale. Johnson has yet to win in eight career starts at Homestead and finished 15th there last year under similar circumstances. His best showing there was a second-place finish in 2004. Bettors can expect the No. 48 team to finish strong but not take any chances.

On the other hand, Mark Martin will be going all out trying to pull off the impossible. The veteran driver will once again fall short of his first Cup title but did have one of his best years, finishing out front in five races this season. Martin rolled to a fourth-place showing last weekend for his eighth Top 5 performance in the last 12 races. At Homestead, the No. 6 has an average finish of 12th and has yet to win the checkered flag in nine career starts.

Two drivers come in at +700 for the Ford 400. Tony Stewart is currently fifth in the standings and has to be happy with his first season as driver-owner for Stewart-Haas Racing. He’s coming off a disappointing showing at the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, finishing the race in 35th. The No. 14 team has two career victories at Miami – which happened to be their first two races there. Since then, Stewart has only finished inside the Top 10 in three of his last seven race at Homestead.

Kyle Busch is also listed at +700. Busch has been inconsistent since the Chase began. He just missed making the cut and hasn’t finished inside the Top 10 in his last three races. Busch has also struggled at Miami. In just four career starts he boasts an average finish of 29.5 there, with his best showing coming in last year’s finale when he placed 19th after starting in eighth.

NHL Betting – Boston Bruins vs. Atlanta Thrashers (-115)

With eight great games on tap for Thursday evening, there is a lot to choose from on the ice. Below is a selection that has strong potential to build your BetOnline bankroll. Good luck!

Boston (8-8-4) at Atlanta (10-6-1) 7:00pm EST

The Thrashers look for a fifth consecutive victory Thursday night as they host the struggling Bruins, who are hoping to have Milan Lucic and or Marc Savard back on the ice. Lucic is coming off a broken linger, meanwhile, Savard is returning from a broken foot. Boston is hoping to return one or both players to help snap a three-game losing streak.

This season, the Bruins have failed to score more than one goal in nine games. They also rank last in the power play, converting just 12.9%. However, they haven’t fell below .500 because of a strong penalty kill, not allowing a power play goal in six straight games.

Improving on its numbers won’t come easy against a powerful Atlanta team offensively. The Thrashers rank second in the NHL with 3.65 goals per game, racking up 17 goals during its four-game winning streak. They have been great on the power play, going 5-for-11 in the last three games to improve among the league’s best at 26.5%.

The Thrashers now try to snap a six-game losing streak to the Bruins, however, goalie Tim Thomas has not been at his finest at Philips Arena, going 2-2-0 with a 3.45 GAA in five appearances in net. Check out all the BetOnline NHL odds, along with prop sports betting wagers. If you bet on hockey, enjoy a loaded card from top to bottom.

The Skinny: Boston is just 2-6 overall, and own the same number versus Eastern Conference opponents. They are 1-5 in their last six road games and a lousy 0-7 when playing on Thursday. These are key trends and if you wear black and gold you have to be cringing.

Things are much better on the Atlanta bench, including its four-game winning streak, and its 6-1 record after playing on three days rest. They are 10-3 in their last 13 games when playing a club with a record of .500 or less. Even if the Bruins get its two key players back on the ice, you have to expect rusty play from both, and neither will be in game shape in their first contest returning to the ice. Too much firepower from Atlanta for Boston to slow down.

Free NHL Betting Picks: Atlanta SU (-115)

NHL Eastern Conference Picks – Boston Bruins vs. New York Islanders

The Boston Bruins (-170) play host to the much improved New York Islanders (+150) in the second of four meetings between these Eastern Conference.

New York will be looking for some revenge as the last time these two hooked up, the Islanders jumped out to a three goal lead before collapsing, allowing the B’s to come all the way back and eventually take it in a shootout 4-3.

The Islanders are in the middle of a seven-game road trip that will be a real test of this team’s character. Despite only winning one game so far, they have gotten points in all three with a record of 1-0-2. That includes a big comeback against Florida on Saturday that saw them recover from a 4-2 third period deficit to force overtime.

Boston has been a far cry from their league leading performance last year. This season has been chalk full of disappointing performances and last game was a perfect example of this as they allowed Pittsburgh to tie the game with just 0.4 seconds remaining in regulation. The night of letdowns was topped off in overtime as Tim Thomas misplayed a dump in behind the net and Pascal Dupuis jumped all over it, completing the comeback for the Penguins

Trends

• Favorite is 10-1 in the last 11 meetings.
• Home team is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
• Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
• Islanders are 0-6 in the last 6 meetings in Boston.
• Islanders are 0-7 in the last 7 meetings.
• Over is 4-0 in Islanders last 4 overall.
• Over is 4-0 in Islanders last 4 vs. a team with a losing record.
• Over is 4-0 in Islanders last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.

Analysis

New York has been overachieving all year, and sit in a tie for 6th place in the Eastern Conference. Boston sits just one point behind them with 20, but that’s a big disappointment for everyone in Boston. Something has to give, and after blowing a lead in the third period last game, expect the Bruins to come out with a serious chip on their shoulder tonight.

If your laying down a bet on this game, take the Bruins and the puckline -1 ½ (+170) as the Islanders are due for a letdown on the road, especially in a hostile Boston arena.

Monday Night NHL Betting Action – Blue Jackets vs. Oilers

Monday night football will conquer the BetOnline sports betting world this evening when the Ravens fly into Cleveland, but don’t forget about the action on the ice. There’s plenty of value to be found within Monday’s NHL card, which features six great matchups. Lurking below is your winning selection with value to include in your Monday night football parlay ticket, or to wager as a straight play, featuring important game trends.

Edmonton at Columbus

Columbus will give goalie Mathieu Garon a rare start, as the Blue Jackets close out a four-game homestand. Garon made 32 saves in the Blue Jackets last game on Friday to improve to 3-1 with a 2.60 goals-against average in four starts. Coach Ken Hitchcock announced over the weekend that Garon would start again Monday. Steve Mason, last season’s Calder Trophy winner for Columbus, is 7-5-2 with a 3.67 GAA this season.

Columbus is 5-2 in their last seven games after allowing two goals or less in its previous contest, which plays in favor of Buckeye Nation that supports their team. However, they are a dismal 1-4 following a win. They own the same number versus Western Conference teams in its last five contests. Garon is 2-6-1 with a 3.73 GAA in nine starts against the Oilers.

Edmonton will be trying to snap a three-game losing streak, following a loss to Atlanta on the road, 3- 2, on Sunday. The Oilers are a money-dropping 1-6 overall, and have won just once in its last nine road trips. To make matters worse, Edmonton is 0-5 when its opponent allowed two goals or less in the prior contest.

The Blue Jackets will be trying to slow down Edmonton winger Ales Hemsky, who has seven goals and 15 assists in his last 12 games against them, with 12 points in the last four. Hemsky will be tough to stop. In addition to his stellar play, Edmonton owns the better numbers in head-to-head action.

Analysis: The Oilers are 21-7-3 in the last 31 matchups versus Columbus, and when playing at Nationwide Arena, the Oilers have come away with a moneymaking 8-3 mark. Along with solid numbers against the Blue Jackets, there is good value on Edmonton, who are listed as the +150 underdogs in the BetOnline NHL odds. With that being said, the Oilers are the strong play here if you bet on hockey. For those that invest in totals, the over has prevailed in four of the last five meetings. Good luck!

Free NHL Picks: Edmonton +150 — 7:05 PM Eastern

NHL Tuesday Night Preview – Ovechkin Returns against the Rangers

The hockey schedule marches into the middle of November with five games on the ice on Tuesday. NHL BetOnline betting has three of the Original Six in action, with New York, Toronto, and Montreal all available for wagering.

Washington Capitals at New York Rangers

The Rangers have a hard time stringing wins together. They’ve sprinkled victories through a rough start to the season. New York snapped a two-game skid with a 2-1 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night, improving to 11-8-1 on the year.

Much like last season, goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is keeping New York competitive. The offense is giving him just three goals a game this season, but have fallen below that average in six of their last eight contests. Lundqvist is standing on his head, allowing just 2.51 goals against. He’ll have to be at his sharpest Tuesday with Capitals scoring dynamo Alexander Ovechkin expected to return from a strained shoulder.

Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens had their day off taken away from them following a 2-0 loss in Nashville on Saturday night. Head coach Jacques Martin had his team on the ice for a surprise practice Sunday, working on improving shooting and passing after Montreal was blanked in two of its last three games. On the year, the Habs are averaging only 2.3 goals per game, which ranks 27th in the NHL.

Goaltender Carey Price faced 55 shots in the loss to Nashville – 24 of which came in the opening period. Fellow goalie Jaroslav Halak, who leads the team in wins and GAA, was impressive in his last start, allowing just one goal on 31 shots – but a lack of goal support handed him a 1-0 loss to Calgary.

Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators

The Battle of Ontario takes center stage on Tuesday. The Maple Leafs are back to their old selves, losing three straight games after back-to-back wins last weekend. Toronto’s most recent defeat came at the hands of Calgary, which downed the Leafs 5-2 on Saturday. That loss dropped the club to 3-10-5 on the year.

Toronto’s anemic offense has continued to struggle. During this three-game skid the team has totaled just two goals per game. However, the Maple Leafs’ power play unit ranks among the finest in the NHL. Toronto is scoring on 25 percent of their man-advantages, including netting both of their goals against the Flames on the power play.

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