darrell,

With a little luck, we cashed Philly as the +130 dog last night, pushing us up to 23-9 since the start of the year (113-87 on the season). Three picks tonight.

Keep your head up and stick on the ice, darrell!

**Buffalo -107 over ATLANTA (7:05 Eastern)

Atlanta has lost five straight and are spiraling downward hard. Buffalo comes in with a solid 31-18 record on the season and a winning record thus far on their six game road trip. Atlanta scores but Buffalo is 22-10 this season vs. high scoring teams (2.85+ goals per game). And, they are 21-9 against terrible defensive teams (allowing 3+ goals per game) like the Thrashers. Home teams at 40%-49% on the season coming off a road loss are just 10-41 (20%) when playing a winning team in the second half of the season over the last 5 seasons. Atlanta is allowing 4.4 goals per game over their last five and I like Buffalo to score enough here to take it. Two stas on the Sabres.

**Washington +157 over NY ISLANDERS (7:05 Eastern)

My dog of the day is Washington. They are getting +157 here yet they have won 13 of the last 15 games played here in New York! They simply matchup well against, and own, the Islanders. Olaf Kolzig owns a 23-5-2 mark against the Islanders. New York is having a better season but they are off a win and this season they are just 5-16 following a win. New York won the earlier matchup this season 5-3. But, road underdogs at +100 to +200 having won <40% of their games on the season revenging a loss where opponent scored 4 or more goals are 18-9 (67%) over the last five seasons when their opponent has a losing record. New York's pourus defense, and hopefully them taking the Caps a bit lightly, gives us a decent shot here. Washington for two stars.

***Carolina -128 over MONTREAL (7:35 Eastern)

Carolina goes for five in a row and 13 of 14 in January. They already lead the league with 76 points and they are just getting stronger with the addition of Dough Weight and Erkki Rajamaki from St. Louis. Montreal's defense is weak and Carolina feasts on such teams (21-4 vs. teams that allow 29.5+ shots on goal per game). Carolina is winning by an average of 1.8 goals per game over their last five games. They are converting 14% of SOG and 20% of PP opportunities. Montreal is allowing 14.1% SOG percent and 26% of power plays. Road teams at -100 to -150 off a home win by 2 goals or more are 35-9 (80%) in Januarysince 1996. Three stars on the Hurricanes.