NHL Eastern Conference – Bruins and Thrashers In Deep Trouble, Leafs Not

Boston Bruins (2-1-2) vs. Buffalo Sabres (4-0-1)

The Bruins are scoring 3.20 goals per game, which is great. But they’re allowing 3.20 goals against too, which is not so great. While Boston tries to figure out its real identity, Buffalo is not having the same problem. The Sabres are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games and are 17-7 SU in their last 24 games against the Bruins.

Goalie Ryan Miller is amongst the league’s best and will not be outdone by a team that does not boast a bonafide superstar. The Sabres, though depleted in ranks after the departure of Chris Drury and Daniel Briere, play solid team defense and offense. That’s the kind of coaching that you can rely on in a straight-up victory. Boston’s road record is abysmal, winning only 3-of-12 games when playing on the road at HSBC Arena.

NHL Free Pick: Buffalo (OVER)

Anaheim Ducks (1-5-0) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (1-2-2)

Everyone expected Toronto to be this bad. Nobody expected the Ducks to be caught in a rut like this. The Leafs have gone 1-7 SU in their last 8 games and Anaheim’s lone victory this season was a weird 4-0 shutout over San Jose. Everyone thought the Ducks were back, until they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 in their own building. The Leafs are 7-3 SU in their last 10 meetings with Anaheim.

Now they have to hit the road and are set to make an example of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Air Canada Centre. Or are they? While the Ducks are clearly the better team, Toronto has been hanging in there against teams that don’t have their stuff together. They took the Islanders to overtime, though the loss to Pittsburgh was to be expected. With Anaheim dogging it in the first half, Toronto could surprise the nation again with a stunning upset. Hell, I’d rather bet on a profitable underdog then bash my fist in the wall when the Ducks get shot down north of the border.

NHL Free Pick: Toronto +105 (UNDER)

Atlanta Thrashers (2-2-1) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (0-2-3)

The Lightning are still meandering through the season looking for their first win. The strangest thing about this whole season for them has been the use of Steven Stamkos, the standout rookie who was chosen first overall. Barry Melrose, formerly of ESPN’s NHL coverage, has taken the reigns of the Bolts but has used Stamkos all over the map. He’s played anywhere between four and fourteen minutes a game. With everyone scratching their heads in Tampa, they’ve managed only 1.60 goals per game and given up 2.60 against.

However, tonight could be their chance. Ilya Kovaluchuk and the Thrashers are only 2-12 SU in their last 14 games on the road. Though they are undefeated in their last 5 meetings, the road to Tampa treats them unkindly. The Bolts have snapped the Thrashers 5-of-7 times when they’ve visited the St. Pete Times forum. I’ll willing to wager that Tampa finds a way to win against an Atlanta team that has no business of succeeding on the road.

NHL Free Pick: Tampa -135 (OVER)