Nhl Hockey Predictions - February 19, 2008

Another winning day as we went 1-0 with a push for +2.9 units. Since mid January we are up 42.1 units. That's $4,210 for $100 players in just over a month!

WUNDERDOG 2008 RECENT RESULTS ($100/bet)
SPORT	WINS-LOSSES	%	NET
CBB	162-118 last 280 picks	58%	+$3150
NBA	5-3 last 8 picks	63%	+$360
NHL	45-37 last 82 picks	55%	+$4210
TOTAL			+$7720

Today's NHL Hockey Picks:

Game: Boston at Carolina (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on Game Total OVER 5.5 -115 (risk 4 to win 3.5)

Both of these defenses have taken the week off. Over their last five gams Boston has allowed 3.2 goals per game while Carolina has given up 3.8 per game. Neither defense was good to start with but they've gotten worse. At home Carolina averages 3.1 goals per game so they should easily get to 3 here and will likely score more than that. Boston scores more on the road (2.8 per game) than at home (2.4 per game) so against this weak Hurricanes defense, they should also get to 3 or more. Over the past three seasons, Carolina is 25-10 OVER after allowing 4+ goals in two straight games. We see the scoring spree continuing.

Columbus has only won twice in their last ten games. They are off an embarrassing 1-5 loss at St. Louis. Yet, they are a relatively small road dog here. Seems like the books are trying to get us to bite on Toronto but we're not taking the bait. Sergei Fedorov has been out for 13 games but is now back. Toronto has a losing home record and they give up a ridiculous 3.5 goals per game at home. Over the past two seasons, the Leafs are just 24-37 vs. losing teams. This season they are 3-14 vs. poor defensive teams (those scoring under 2.6 goals per game). The past two seasons they are 11-23 off a home win. The Blue Jackets are 7-2 the past three seasons coming off a blowout loss by 4+ goals to a division rival. Jackets for the upset here.

Pittsburgh has performed admirably without Sidney Crosby (7-6) but we are going to fade them here vs. Florida. The Panthers are a very solid road team and their offense is clicking right now. While Pittsburgh's home defense is very good, we expect Florida to get enough for the win here. They are .500 this season in the underdog role including 14-9 as a road dog of +100 to +150. They are coming off a road loss and are 11-5 in that situation this season! That includes a near-perfect 6-1 mark off a road loss by 1 goal. This season Pittsburgh is 10-3 UNDER vs. good offensive teams and 20-12 coming off an UNDER. They are 13-5 UNDER the past two seasons off two straight UNDERs. Finally, the Penguins are 7-1 UNDER this season coming off a blowout win by 3+ goals. Florida is 26-13 UNDER the past three seasons coming off two straight hard-fought division games. We like Florida and the UNDER here.

The Rangers have played great defense all season but right now it's nearly impenatrable. They have held three of their last four opponents to 1 goal or less. Montreal's strength has been their offense but right now it's slumping (just 2.2 goals per game over their last five). The Rangers are 19-8 UNDER this season vs. winning opponents. They are 56-38 UNDER the past two seasons on the road vs. good offensive teams (those averaging 2.9+ goals per game). Montreal is 32-18 UNDER off a road win the past three seasons and 19-11 UNDER off all road games this season. They are also 18-3 UNDER at home the past three seasons coming off two straight wins.

Versus division opponents Vancouver has gone 11-6 OVER while Minnesota has gone 11-5 OVER. Over the last five games, Vancouver games are averaging 6.2 goals per game while Minnesota games are averaging 6.8 goals per game. Vancouver has gone 6-0 OVER in their last six games vs. winning teams. The Canucks were beaten by the Wild 5-4 at home just five days ago and Vancouver is 14-4 OVER revenging an a loss this year.

Gretzky now has 100 career playoff coaching wins and Phoenix has playoff aspirations. Their offense is averaging 3.4 goals per game over their last five games. Things are feeling good and that often parlays into big wins. They get a Calgary team that gives up 3.3 goals per game on the road and is just 8-26 on the road the past two seasons vs. winning teams. Phoenix is 12-5 this season vs. poor defensive opponents (those allowing 2.9+ goals per game). With Calgary sitting at 1-8 the past two seasons in February games, we like Phoenix's chances here for a 2+ goal victory and as such we'll back them on the puck line.

Results: 1-5

NHL Hockey Picks Resources:

• Don't forget to read our 2007 NHL hockey pick season results here.
• Updated today: hockey against-the-spread records.
• Updated today: free hockey pick.
• View our updated NHL hockey Game-of-Day-Preview.
• Don't forget to read our hockey odds lines and spreads here.
• View NHL sports handicapping philosophy here.
• Here we show our NHL picks blog.
• View our updated hockey sportsbook.

Check out the last five NHL Hockey Picks Newsletters:

NHL-Hockey-Picks-February-18-2008
Yes, San Jose's scoring has fallen off of late. But, their defense has fallen off in lock-step. The Islanders have found some offense and their defense has suffered concurrently. Islanders games a...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-February-17-2008
San Jose is great on the road but they are facing a great defense this afternoon. The Rangers who have really struggled offensively have found ways to win games, especially at home thanks to allowing ...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-February-16-2008
Both of these teams can score but neither is doing a whole lot of that lately. Philadelphia is slumping, averaging 2.4 per game over their last five while Montreal is getting 2.2 per game over their l...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-February-14-2008
Tonight we like the live dog in Pittsburgh as the Penguins roll into Hurricanes country. Pittsburgh comes into this game rolling at 15-7 SU over their last 22 games. The Penguins have had their strugg...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-February-13-2008
Good value on the Sabres tonight at a good price. Buffalo is 7-3 when hosting the Maple Leafs while Toronto comes into tonight's contest limping along at 2-9 in their last 11 road games. Buffalo i...