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NHL
Wednesday, April 1
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Ice Picks: NHL best bets
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Buffalo Sabres at Atlanta Thrashers (+110, 6)
This head-to-head battle has produced three great finishes so far this season with Atlanta edging Buffalo twice in a shootout and once in overtime. The Sabres will be playing for pride in the season series and a couple of key points as they push towards the Montreal Canadiens and the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.
"There's still a lot of hockey left to play. It's a race to 82 games, so there are points to be had and we know we're in a battle. We feel we can compete, even if we're down. Those types of games are going to be good for us,” said Sabres goalie Ryan Miller. Buffalo has won three in a row and both games since Miller returned to the net but the club has given up nine goals over that span.
The Atlanta Thrashers have really turned things around in the past month winning seven of their last 10 despite having really nothing to play for.
"We're playing with a lot of pride and we're sticking up for each other and backing each other up - doing the small things that add up and it proves what a big difference they really do make,” said defenseman Garnet Exelby.
The over is 9-1 in the Sabres’ last 10 games and 8-2 over the same period for the Thrashers. Thrashers No. 1 goaltender, Kari Lehtonen, is sidelined indefinitely, so expect the red lamp to be lit multiple times in this contest.
Pick: Over
New Jersey Devils at Pittsburgh Penguins (-140, 5.5)
A late season slump has an all-too-familiar feeling for the New Jersey Devils. Last year the Devils stumbled into the first round of the postseason and were eliminated in the opening round by the New York Rangers.
"I'm trying to stay positive," head coach Brent Sutter said after Monday night's 3-0 loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, "but at some point when you lose five in a row, you have to recognize there are some problems here. There are some issues.”
"I guess results are speaking right now. Until we do something different, you can't dispute that," captain Jamie Langenbrunner said.
The Penguins are wrapping up an eight-game home stand during which they won five of the first seven. Sidney Crosby is just three points away from 100 and has turned things around with 25 points in 15 games under new coach Dan Bylsma.
"I don't know what it is — if it's the tempo we play at now, if I've been forced to skate a little bit more or if I'm more rested," said Crosby.
The Devils are a desperate team but the Penguins are playing with confidence and are fighting for home ice in the opening round of the playoffs. If this game was in New Jersey we’d like the Devils but it’s hard to snap a slump on the road.
Pick: Pittsburgh
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Wednesday, April 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ice Picks: NHL best bets
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Buffalo Sabres at Atlanta Thrashers (+110, 6)
This head-to-head battle has produced three great finishes so far this season with Atlanta edging Buffalo twice in a shootout and once in overtime. The Sabres will be playing for pride in the season series and a couple of key points as they push towards the Montreal Canadiens and the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.
"There's still a lot of hockey left to play. It's a race to 82 games, so there are points to be had and we know we're in a battle. We feel we can compete, even if we're down. Those types of games are going to be good for us,” said Sabres goalie Ryan Miller. Buffalo has won three in a row and both games since Miller returned to the net but the club has given up nine goals over that span.
The Atlanta Thrashers have really turned things around in the past month winning seven of their last 10 despite having really nothing to play for.
"We're playing with a lot of pride and we're sticking up for each other and backing each other up - doing the small things that add up and it proves what a big difference they really do make,” said defenseman Garnet Exelby.
The over is 9-1 in the Sabres’ last 10 games and 8-2 over the same period for the Thrashers. Thrashers No. 1 goaltender, Kari Lehtonen, is sidelined indefinitely, so expect the red lamp to be lit multiple times in this contest.
Pick: Over
New Jersey Devils at Pittsburgh Penguins (-140, 5.5)
A late season slump has an all-too-familiar feeling for the New Jersey Devils. Last year the Devils stumbled into the first round of the postseason and were eliminated in the opening round by the New York Rangers.
"I'm trying to stay positive," head coach Brent Sutter said after Monday night's 3-0 loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, "but at some point when you lose five in a row, you have to recognize there are some problems here. There are some issues.”
"I guess results are speaking right now. Until we do something different, you can't dispute that," captain Jamie Langenbrunner said.
The Penguins are wrapping up an eight-game home stand during which they won five of the first seven. Sidney Crosby is just three points away from 100 and has turned things around with 25 points in 15 games under new coach Dan Bylsma.
"I don't know what it is — if it's the tempo we play at now, if I've been forced to skate a little bit more or if I'm more rested," said Crosby.
The Devils are a desperate team but the Penguins are playing with confidence and are fighting for home ice in the opening round of the playoffs. If this game was in New Jersey we’d like the Devils but it’s hard to snap a slump on the road.
Pick: Pittsburgh
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