Free Hockey Pick - March 11, 2010

We missed on our pick last night. Today we look to bounce back with four more premium NHL picks including a 5-unit play.

Over the last four months, we are 265-190 (58%) for +142 units.

WUNDERDOG 2010 RECENT RESULTS ($100/bet)
SPORT	WINS-LOSSES	%	NET
NFL	46-29 last 75 picks	61%	+$4060
CFB	25-10 last 35 picks	71%	+$6040
MLB	265-219 last 484 picks	55%	+$8370
CBB	205-185 last 390 picks	53%	+$1290
NBA	4-0 last 4 picks	100%	+$1370
NHL	265-190 last 455 picks	58%	+$14210
WNBA	121-90 last 211 picks	57%	+$5490
TOTAL			+$40830

Today's NHL Hockey Picks:

Game: St. Louis at New York Islanders (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on New York Islanders +110 (moneyline) (risk 3 to win 3.3)

Considering the Islanders dropped their first three games at home on the season, they have played remarkably well here since. They have a poor recent record, but subtracting the eight straight losses on the road, they have done well at home. The Blues had won five straight before imploding their last time out, allowing seven goals against them. That has been a very bad omen for this club as they have followed an opponent’s onslaught of 5 goals or more by going just 16-35 in their next game. The Islanders have stepped-up vs. good road teams, logging eight wins in their last 10 at home vs. a road team with a winning record. I'll go with the Islanders here.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are a poor hockey team. Anytime they are posted as a favorite, you have to look for reasons to play against them. The Maple Leafs have surprisingly been a favorite 19 times on the season and are just 5-14 in those games. Recently, they have been an even worse 1-7, so the plus odds here with the Lightning certainly show some immediate value, especially when you factor in that they have won six of the last eight meetings between these two clubs. The Maple Leafs are also just 1-8 in their last nine games when playing a team with a losing record. I'll go with a live dog here, and back Tampa Bay.

The Avalanche closed the season last year coming out on the right side of just one of their last 13. They have made a dramatic turnaround this season, but their recent play is more in tuned to last year than what they did earlier. The Avalanche have a losing record over their last 15 games - a stretch that has seen them score 2 or fewer goals in seven of the 15. That is significant, since they have allowed three or more in each of their last six! The Panthers went into the Olympic break losers of their last six, but have come back to now having won three straight. They have scored 14 goals in the three games. The Avalanche are struggling coming back after allowing 5 goals or more in their last game at just 6-15. I'll go with Florida here.

The Avalanche have been struggling on both sides of the ice. Having scored 2 goals or fewer in seven of their last 15, they are now leaking oil behind the net, allowing 3+ in each of their last 6. That opens the door for a suddenly hot panther team scoring 14 in their last three, winning them all. Giving 1.5 goals and struggling to score, or stop an opponent, and facing one that is hot on the offensive end, doesn't bode well for the Avalanche here. I'll go with the Panthers on the puckline here.

NHL Hockey Picks Resources:

• Don't forget to visit our free NHL hockey picks.
• Check out our updated hockey sports handicapping philosophy.
• Don't forget to visit our NHL Game-of-Day-Preview.
• View our updated hockey sportsbook.
• View our hockey lines and odds here.
• Check out our updated NHL ATS records.
• Read our NHL picks blog here.
• View our updated 2009 NHL season prior picks.

Check out the last five NHL Hockey Picks Newsletters:

NHL-Hockey-Picks-March-10-2010
The Vancouver Canucks are in the final game of a marathon 14 game road trip due to the Olympics being held in Vancouver. They have held up well coming out on the right side of eight of the 13 so far. ...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-March-09-2010
The Nashville Predators have had one hiccup on the road, where they went winless on a four-game trip. They have surrounded that 0-4 with a 15-8 mark on the road. The Thrashers came out of the break ve...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-March-07-2010
Detroit is 37-24 UNDER on the season and they are facing an excellent defense here. Chicago has allowed just 2.2 goals per game in home games this season (2.1 in division games overall going 11-6 to t...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-March-06-2010
Do the Toronto Maple Leafs have something on the Ottawa Senators? The last meeting saw the Maple Leafs absolutely abuse the Senators in a 5-0 shutout win, a game they dominated in every facet. They ce...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-March-05-2010
The Chicago Blackhawks have been a very difficult team to beat in Chicago, where they have suffered just six losses on the season. They have really gotten it done on the defensive end, and in front of...