NHL 2009/2010 Season Thread

[Tommy Gold]

2009.11.19 results:

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Carolina Hurricanes: Toronto Maple Leafs 3Way (1X2) +135 (2.35) Bookmaker (6-5 SO: LOSS)
Pittsburgh Penguins @ Ottawa Senators: Pittsburgh Penguins 3Way (1X2) +135 (2.35) Bookmaker (6-2: LOSS)

2009.11.19 finished with a 0-2 and -2 units lost/2 units risked.
NHL 2009-2010 season record: 29-55 (-16.25 units lost/85 units risked)

A late tying goal (2 seconds before buzzer time?) after a 3-0 lead of Toronto costs us a small winning day...


2009.11.19, only 2 picks:

Montreal Canadiens @ Washington Capitals: Washington Capitals PL -1.5 +150 (2.50) The Greek
Florida Panthers @ Detroit Red Wings: Detroit Red Wings PL -1.5 +125 (2.25) The Greek

[Tommy Gold]

Montreal Canadiens @ Washington Capitals


For this game there are many players doubtful. Unfortunately for us Semin might be out for the Capitals; and Gionta for the Canadiens, will be definitely out. These two are among the best players in their respective teams. But tonight, we have two teams in different situations.

Montreal at the beginning of the season was looking like a serious contender, is now struggling in the league. They started with 2 wins on OT and then had 5 straight losses. After that, the only time they get more than 1 win in a row, was after that 5 losses, and that is when the alarm fired. But even there, they needed OT and SO in 3 of those 4 wins.

And since then, they are losing many games, winning one game occasionally. They won last game in SO at home against one of the weakest teams this season. So, they still have a poor moral, still missing a true "momentum" and they are not able to achieve consecutive wins for now. Their main problem is in the offense, where we all expect much more than they have done yet. Their defense after the injury of Markov, was easy to expect problems. Even in their last 5 games, they are only scoring 1.40 goals per game and they will need urgently to turn things around.

Washington in other hand is one of the best teams in the league and an early contender to Stanley Cup. They are managing very well their injuries as they had few games with all their best players playing together. However, Ovchekin returned last game, preventing Capitals to get a letdown spot. He leads the league in goals with Gaborik and is certainly the best player on NHL. He alone can solve one game, he is the one that can score in any position, in any place. At home, the Capitals are amazing, 3 losses on OT, one loss in Regulation Time, and seven wins. They had scored more than 3.8 goals per game and they make a terrible place to play for the opponent's players.

So, today it will be hard for Canadiens to keep this game close. They are struggling at defense as well as in offense. To keep this game close, they will need to score lots of goals, as it is unlikely that Capitals will have pity of them. Montreal will have to use their wits and play the game just for the game, and hold their will and energy for the next day, when they will have to return to home, to host the Detroit Red Wings. So, I expect an easy win for Washington.


Pick: Washington Capitals PL -1.5 +150 (2.50) The Greek

[Tommy Gold]

Florida Panthers @ Detroit Red Wings


We will have a match up here with two hot teams. The difference is that for the Red Wings, we can say "finally!", but for the Panthers, we should be shocked.

They improved so much in their last games, raising almost one goal in their last game, when compared to the rest of the games average. However, this is a case where "the higher they rise, the harder they fall". They will not keep this pace much longer.

Florida is a young team, they doesn't have big names in their first line. They are playing well and that is surprising everybody, as they started the season with a 2-8 record losing.

However in the last games, where they turned things around, those wins were mainly against team with low experience and that are not reliable. Between those wins, for example, they lost 2 games in a row with Capitals, with a 3 difference goals on both matches. For this game they will go with Clemmensen, who is having his worst season so far, with 5.14 goals allowed per game. Thus, he is definitely not reliable despite his experience, he can't feel confident or self-assured at this moment.

Detroit started this season with a slow pace. They struggled a lot until a few games ago and it seemed that finally the "old guys broke". They are a old team truth be told, but they are one of the best teams in the league, talent wise. In their last games they are scoring 4.20 goals per game showing us that they are maybe still alive. They need more games to prove that they are contenders, as they started late their race to the playoffs.

So, this will be a game where probably the Panthers will lose their momentum. They will start with a goaltender who his probably without confidence, due to his woeful exhibitions so far. Their defense is also soft and when they face strong and talent-proved offensive players, they usually breakout. Facing such a talent team like Detroit, with so many strong offensive players, who are finally getting their momentum back and scoring so many goals lately, it is easy to figure that the Red Wings will crush the Panthers.


Pick: Detroit Red Wings PL -1.5 +125 (2.25) The Greek

[Tommy Gold]

Final NHL Pick for 2009.11.20:

Philadelphia Flyers @ San Jose Sharks: San Jose Sharks 3Way (1X2) +105 (2.05) Bookmaker, +120 (2.20) Goalwin