Nhl Picks Free - April 15, 2009

We have our NHL Round 1 Game of the Year Today!  Over the past week and a half we are hitting 60% at 15-10.

WUNDERDOG 2009 RECENT RESULTS ($100/bet)
SPORT	WINS-LOSSES	%	NET
MLB	17-8 Season-to-Date	68%	+$2650
NBA	241-192 last 433 picks	56%	+$8790
NFL	72-44 last 116 picks	62%	+$7320
NHL	15-10 last 25 picks	60%	+$2290
TOTAL			+$21050

Today's NHL Hockey Picks:

Game: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Pittsburgh -155 (moneyline) (risk 3 to win 1.9)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total UNDER 6 -120 (risk 3 to win 2.5)

The Penguins will begin their quest to get back to the Stanley Cup Championship where they lost to the Redwings last season. Their opponent, Philadelphia, started the season winless over their first six games, but regrouped, got hot and went 18-8 over their next 26.  However, reality is over the last 52 games they have barely been better than a breakeven team. The Penguins left many doubts with their lethargic mid-season play, but they finished looking like a team ready to repeat last season's run closing at 16-5. The difference for them was clamping down on defense and strong goaltending on home ice. The Penguins allowed just 11 goals in their last seven home games, just 1.57 a game. Flyers are just 16-40 in their last 56 on the road vs a home team with a greater than .600 winning percentage, while the Penguins sport a stellar 21-5 mark as a home favorite of -151 to -200 in their last 26. Tight defense and excellent goaltending has been the trademark of the Penguins down the stretch, and I'll take them along with the UNDER here, which has gone 6-1 in their last seven quarterfinal games.

The NHL playoffs get underway with a matchup between the Washington Capitals and the NY Rangers. It was not a good year on the road for the Rangers where they finished as a sub-.500 team for the regular season. The Rangers didn't help that cause as they dropped both games played in Washington on the season by counts of 3-1 and 2-1. Washington dominated at home this season beyond their wins against the Rangers. The Caps had one bad stretch on home ice where they went just 2-6. Before and after that streak they were 27-6. The Rangers have been 4-17 as an underdog of +151 to +200 in their last 21 and in their last seven playoff games in this range they have been 0-7! I'll go with the Caps to get it done in game one.

I posted my reasoning for the Caps on the moneyline and I also like them on the puckline in this one. Washington just didn't win games at home this year, they won most of them going away. They finished with a mark of 20-4 in their home wins that did not end in OT or a shootout. That is pretty substantial to be getting the favorable plus odds on the puckline with a team that has dominated as the Caps have in their wins.

The Carolina Hurricanes finished the season with nine wins in their last 11 games and have to be feeling good heading into the opening round vs the New Jersey Devils. This team has come a long way from the one that opened the season with just 13 wins in their first 30 games. They saved their best for last as they outscored their opponents by the score of 70-40 in their last 17 games, that's an offense that is clicking to the tune of over four goals a game for nearly a quarter of the season. The Devils have to feel a bit uncomfortable about their finish that saw them win just five of their last 13. The goals have not come easy as they have averaged just over two a game in the stretch. Lots of pressure for a struggling offense and this Carolina team is in sync right now. I'll back them in game 1.

The Vancouver Canucks hit a mid season slump and it looked like they were falling apart. They dropped eight straight games and 10 out of 11. The stretch found them with 10 wins in 28 games. The good news is they regrouped to close the season 23-9 and, more importantly, dominating at home won 13 of their last 15. The Blues finished the season strong, but remain just a .500 team on the road. The Blues can't shake the fact they are 50-103 in their last 153 games as a road dog. The Canucks have chewed up teams that are .500 or worse on the road going 11-1 in their last 12. Vancouver has too much going for them now, especially at home, and I'll back them in the opener.

Results: 3-3

NHL Hockey Picks Resources:

• Updated today: hockey handicapping philosophy.
• Here we show our hockey predictions.
• Don't forget to visit our NHL against-the-spread records.
• Check out hockey odds lines and spreads here.
• Here we show our sportsbook reviews hockey.
• Updated today: blog hockey.
• Check out 2008 hockey pick season results here.
• Take a look at our hockey Game-of-Day-Preview here.

Check out the last five NHL Hockey Picks Newsletters:

NHL-Hockey-Picks-April-12-2009
St. Louis has surged from last place to a playoff berth. This game is still important as a win would vault the Blues from eight place to sixth place, and a chance to avoid San Jose in the first round ...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-April-11-2009
The Carolina Hurricanes are closing the season very strong. They have now won nine of their last 10 games, and 17 of their last 23, including their last two on the road. They have done it on both ends...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-April-10-2009
The Columbus Blue Jackets have been involved with six shutouts, either for or against in their last 27 games. The St. Louis Blues have only allowed 24 goals in their last 12 home games or just two per...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-April-09-2009
The Lightning is mired in a seven-game losing streak, but getting two to one odds at home is tempting. It is also laden with value as on the season, the Lightning is 4-5 when listed as a moneyline dog...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-April-07-2009
The Ottawa Senators have been pretty much a breakeven team all season, but that certainly hasn't been the case on home ice where they sport a 21-12-6 mark. Overall, they have been a hot team at 12...