NHL Free-Picks – Opening Day Is Here!
by Tim Furious
Washington Capitals To Upset Boston Bruins At Home
This is a huge game for two of the top-three teams in the Eastern Conference. Alexander Ovechkin is coming off another MVP season, and looks to improve his staggering numbers against the Boston Bruins, who will be led by the immense Zdeno Chara. The big question mark here is Semyon Varlamov, the rookie backstop for the Caps who will try to assert the faith Washington has given him after a great playoff run.
Boston is 1-4 SU in their last 5 meeting with the Capitals, and will be adjusting to an offense without the young Phil Kessel, who is now in Toronto. The total has gone UNDER, and Washington Capitals looks to star the season with a bang and an upset win over Boston to kick off the 2009 NHL betting season.
Furious Free Pick: Washington +115 (OVER)
Rebuilding Leafs To Throttle Rebuilding Canadiens
One of the best rivalries in hockey is reborn when the Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens to open the season. Both teams are completely different than last year, and that’s a good thing for both. The Habs finished eighth in the East last year, and were handed an early playoff exit by the Bruins. Toronto, meanwhile, stands to be the most improved team in the entire conference with a stiffer blue-line and some deeper goalie prospects.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without their biggest scoring acquisition, Phil Kessel, but the corps of the scoring front remains the same. For all their failures last season, the Leafs could still score, averaging 3.05 goals per game. I’m not convinced that the brand new roster in Montreal has gelled yet, so I’m siding with the home favorites in this one.
Furious Free Pick: Toronto -115 (UNDER)
San Jose, Heatley To Decimate Colorado
The Avs are in a rebuilding phase, and while the Colorado Avalanche, and acquired the services of Dany Heatley to add some scoring punch (and cancer to the locker room). Things are always rosy for San Jose in the regular season, so side with them against the Avs who lack a true scorer and were winless in their last five home games.
Furious Free Pick: San Jose -170 (UNDER)
Vancouver Canucks To Start By Dousing Calgary Flames
The Flames have cherry picked the Panthers for all they were worth, acquiring Jay Bouwmeester to anchor the line. Yet the Calgary Flames are still just one of those cursed franchises that can’t get it right no matter how strong their roster is. They’re 4-1 SU in their last 5 at home, but just 8-15-2 SU when hosting the Canucks at the Saddledome.
Vancouver will shake the pain in the ass of Mats Sundin from last year and become the team they’re supposed to be. This team is not just about the Sedin twins, and Ryan Kessler is about to prove just that. Look for a hard fought match that retains the UNDER with the road warrior Vancouver Canucks (7-3 SU on the road) getting the win in the UNDER.
Furious Free Pick: Vancouver +120 (UNDER)
