Nhl Playoff Predictions - January 08, 2008

We're off a loss last night. We have five picks tonight...

Today's NHL Hockey Picks:

Game: Tampa Bay at New York Rangers (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on New York Rangers -150 (moneyline) (risk 3 to win 2)

Tampa Bay has scored a total of 35 points which is second worst in the league behind LA's 32. It's no wonder they are 3-17 on the road. Away from home they are losing by 1.7 goals per game on average. New Yrok is 13-8 at home, holding opponents to 2.1 goals per game. Home favorites of -200 or less that lost last game by one goal are 41-7 (85%) vs. teams that are off an overtime loss. The Lighnting are 1-9 this season coming off a close 1-goal loss and they are 4-17 as an underdog.

Buffalo has been struggling but now is the time to back them. Small road underdogs off a blowlout loss win more than they lose in their next game out. Small road dogs that are around .500 on the season coming off three straight losses win at a 59% clip. This Sabres team is 40-33 as an underdog the past three seasons. They are also 27-17 in their last 44 games coming off two straight 2+ goal losses. Buffalo for the upset win here.

Yes, the Kings are bad. But, at home they aren't horrible. They score 3.3 per game here on the season and they are averaging 4.4 per game over their last five games, while holding opponents to 3.0 per game. Nashville is just 8-13 on the season away from home, getting only 2.2 goals per game. The Predators are just 15-38 the past three seasons on the road vs. good offensive teams (those scoring 2.9+ goals per game). They are also just 11-32 on the road off a loss over that span including 7-21 off a road loss. Kings on the puck line here.

Phoenix is scoring 3.6 per game their last five. Calgary is averaging 4.0 per game over their last five. Neither team is great defensively either. The Coyotes are 55-38 OVER the past three seasons vs. teams that average 2.9+ goals per game. Over the past two seasons, they are 10-1 OVER when coming off an overtime win. We like this one to go over the low total. 

Rick DiPietro is back but unfortunately he can't score. New York has been in an offensive drought the past two games. We look for Vancouver to relax enough to get surprised here. New York has scored 4+ goals four times in their last eight games so they are capable of scoring here. And Vancouver's offense is capable of putting up a stinker. Vancouver may look past New York here, and they've had a layoff which won't help. The Canucks are just 2-8 the past two seasons at home when playing with 3+ days rest. Ted Nolan is 10-3 coming off 2+ straight road losses. We'll take New York with the big payoff.

NHL Hockey Picks Resources:

• Read our 2007 hockey prior picks here.
• Here we show our hockey ATS recrds.
• Here we show our sports handicapping NHL picks.
• Don't forget to read our NHL Game Analysis here.
• Take a look at our hockey lines here.
• Take a look at our hockey gambling philosophy here.
• Read our NHL blog here.
• Don't forget to visit our NHL sportsbook reviews.

Check out the last five NHL Hockey Picks Newsletters:

NHL-Hockey-Picks-January-07-2008
Minnesota games have averaged 6.6 goals per game over the last five. Over that same span, the Stars are allowing 3.6 goals per game. Dallas is in a scoring slump but against this Wild defense, they sh...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-January-06-2008
Buffalo has dropped five straight and looks to get healthy against the Thrashers. The Sabres' recent problem has been scoring and Atlanta is a team that gives up points. The Thrashers are allowing...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-January-05-2008
Detroit is kicking butt and taking name sthis season. They are amazingly consistent, scoring in the mid 3's on offense and allowing low 2's on defense both on the road and at home. While bette...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-January-04-2008
Buffalo has lost four straight games so... it's time to back them. Those losses were not easy games, and they allowed just 2 goals in the last three. Compare that to Ottawa's two game losing s...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-January-03-2008
Boston snapped a six-game losing streak by beating Atlanta to close out 2007. We  like them to get their second in a row here. Washington has been on a scoring spree of late but their defense has...