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NHL Picks – Eastern Conference Contenders and Pretenders

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NHL Picks – Eastern Conference Contenders and Pretenders

The Eastern Conference playoff race is down to a sprint. While some teams are going strong, others are stumbling at precisely the wrong time.

Boston Bruins (29-24-12) @ Philadelphi Flyers (35-26-4)

7:00 PM ET, Thursday, March 11, 2010

Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

On:XM Satellite Radio Channel 206

  • The Philadelphia Flyers rank 6 th on offense, and average 3.0 goals per game. The Flyers are 22.8% on the power play and have 61 power play goals.
  • The Boston Bruins rank 30th on offense, and average 2.3 goals per game. The Bruins are 18.7% on the power play and have 40 power play goals.
  • The Flyers average 3.1 goals per game at home, and give up 2.5 goals against on defense.
  • The Bruins average 2.2 goals per game on the road, and give up 2.4 goals against on defense.

Boston Bruins: +145

The NHL and their inability to obtain a scorer at the trade deadline really puts this team behind the eightball.

Now comes word that one of their offensive threats, Marc Savard is probably gone for the season with a concussion after taking an elbow from Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke. Zdeno Chara is questionable for a return to Thurday’s game as well. Chara and Savard are Boston’s second and fourth highest point getters this season abd without them, the outlook looks bleak at best.

Philadelphia Flyers: -165

The Philadelphia Flyers have been playing well since they returned from the Olympic break. They only have one regualtion loss in five games since the break and have climbed up into sixth place in the Eastern Conference because of their success. The Flyers are 7-2 in their last 9 games overall.

Philadelphia’s strong play has coincided with the return on Danny Briere to respecability. Mike Richards and Jeff Carter have also been playing well for the Flyers. Philadelphia’s inability, or unwillingness to deal for a goaltender at the trade deadline proves that they ar confident in Micheal Leighton’s abilities – a move that appears to be paying off for the time being at least.

The road team in this series has gone 8-3 in their last 11 games, but the home Philadelphia team figures co come out on top in Thurdsay’s matchup. The bruins are too banged up and too thin on offense to keep up with the league’s sixth ranked offense

Pick: Philadelphia Flyers -165

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Pittsburgh Penguins (40-22-4) @ Carolina Hurricanes (27-31-8)

7:00 PM ET, Thursday, March 11, 2010

RBC Center, Raleigh, North Carolina

On:XM Satellite Radio Channel 207

  • The Carolina Hurricanes rank 10th on offense, and average 2.8 goals per game. The Hurricanes are 17.7% on the power play and have48 power play goals.
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 5th on offense, and average 3.1 goals per game. The Penguins are 17.3% on the power play and have 45 power play goals.
  • The Hurricanes average 3.1 goals per game at home, and give up 2.8 goals against on defense.
  • The Penguins average 2.8 goals per game on the road, and give up 3.0 goals against on defense.

Pittsburgh Penguins: -140

The Pittsburgh Penguins are 4-0 since the Olympic break and look to be playing some of the best hockey that they’ve played this season. The acquisition on Alexi Ponikarovski has allowed the coaching staff to tinker with the lines in Pittsburgh, reuniting Sidney Crosby with Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz with whom Crosby had a ton of success with in the playoffs last year. Ponikarovski is on a line with Malkin and Fedotenko – a line that has gelled quickly and has the potential to become the best second line in hockey. The Penguins are stacked and a game against Carolina seems unfair.

Carolina Hurricanes: +120

The are finally making some noise – too bad that it is likely too late. Their record is an impressive 8-1-1 over their last 10 games. They played the Capitals tough last night as they have been playing every team during their recent stretch. What is most impressive about this team is the fact that they have been getting it done without their Stud goaltender Cam Ward who is injured. Manny Legace has been getting it done in goal for the suddenly stellar Canes.

Offensively, names like Jussi Jokinen and Brandon Sutter have emerged and along with Eric Staal and Ray Whitney, Carolina is suddenly formidable in the offensive zone.

The Hurricane will likely lose this game, but not by the blowout that many would have thought only one month ago. The Pens should win in a close low scoring game. The Under is 6-2 in the teams’ last 8 meetings.