Nhl Pick - March 17, 2009

We took the night off form the NHL ice last night, but today we are back in a big way with six plays including a 5-unit pick. Over the last month our NHL picks are +17.1 units.

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Today's NHL Hockey Picks:

Game: Chicago at New Jersey (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total UNDER 5.5 -120 (risk 3 to win 2.5)

The New Jersey Devils are hot. In their last eight games, they have been devastating both behind the net and on defense. They threw up one lemon - the only loss in those last eight games. The other seven have seen them allow just seven goals scored or just one per game. When a team is playing that well on the defensive end and behind the net, it is tough to push games over the total. The Devils’ netminders have now recorded four shutouts in their last nine home games. The Blackhawks aren't exactly sizzling on offense either with just 12 goals in their last five games, or just 2.4 per contest. The Devils are now at 21-8-2 to the UNDER off two day’s rest. Also, five of the last seven in this series have gone to the UNDER which is my call for this one.

The Rangers are in a nose dive as they have won just seven of their last 21 games, and there has been a power outage on offense, that has led to their fate. They have had 18 of their last 28 games produce two or less goals, and averaging just 2.4 a game over their last 28. The Canadiens aren't getting it done offensively either as they are beginning to feel the wrath of the long season. They have netted just 11 pucks over their last six games, for less than two per contest. The Rangers are now in game four in six nights, a situation that has produced under to a mark of 20-8-2 in their last 30. Two sleepy offenses, I’m going UNDER in this one.

The Flyers have played well enough on the road to merit more respect from the oddsmakers. They are five games over .500, and their recent play shows them winning five of their last seven road tilts. Detroit is tough at home, but seems to have a bad stretch or two each season where they can be had and this might be it, as they have dropped two of their last three here. The Flyers are in a dangerous spot as they are great at coming back off a bad game. The Flyers are 18-6 in their last 24 when coming back off a game where they lost by three or more. The Redwings are playing in their third game in four nights, where they are 1-4 in their last five in this situation. We have a live dog, so I’m going with the Flyers.

The Washington Capitals looked like a Stanley Cup Finals team a couple months ago, but the long season has dragged this team down. They are basically a .500 team over their last 30 games and are limping down the stretch. The Panthers have been on the road a lot, as they have played seven of their last 10 away. Finally after one at home, they should be ready to do some damage here, where they have now won eight of their last 12. The Caps confidence is shot, and have been a poor choice after a big loss by three goals or more where they have followed by going 8-23 in their next game. The Panthers are rested with two days off, where they are 9-3. Throw in home ice and the Panthers get this one.

The Avalanche has had their streaks early in the year, but this bad team has apparently thrown in the towel as those small good stretches have even disappeared. They have just nine wins in their last 28 games and just four in their last 15 on the road. The Wild has looked bad in their last 10 with just two wins, but must note that eight of those were on the road, and they are a far better team at home where they are +7 wins over losses. The Avalanche is springing few surprises as they are just 2-11 as a dog from +110 to +150 in their last 13. The Wild’s home rampage is now at 43-15-1 against road teams with a road winning percentage of .400 or less. The Wild gets this one.

The Sharks were unbeatable at home for most of the season, but have dropped two of their last three. Now they take to the road and their defensive deficiencies were made up by their ability to score. That advantage has left the building as they have now gone into an offensive slump. The Sharks have found the net just 20 times over their last 11 games - less than twice per contest. The Coyotes are just slumping period, with just one win in their last nine, and they have been lucky to find the net at all. They have not produced over two goals in a single game in each of these last nine, and averaging an anemic 1.25 goals a game. I just don't see where the scoring is coming from here as this has the look of a 2-1 game and I'll play UNDER in this one.

Results: 2-4

NHL Hockey Picks Resources:

• Here we show our NHL odds lines and spreads.
• View our NHL hockey gambling philosophy here.
• View our updated free NHL hockey predictions.
• View our updated hockey against-the-spread standings.
• Read our NHL sports book here.
• Don't forget to visit our hockey Game Preview.
• View our blog NHL here.
• Take a look at our 2008 hockey picks here.

Check out the last five NHL Hockey Picks Newsletters:

NHL-Hockey-Picks-March-15-2009
Both of these teams are fighting for a playoffs spot, and both are morphing lately from their standard play. While Minnesota has been all about defense and a lack of offense most of the season, they h...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-March-14-2009
The Flyers have had one solid stretch the entire season, and it isn't happening now. They went 13-4 over a 17-game stretch, but have surrounded that with a 19-23 mark. The Rangers have emerged fro...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-March-13-2009
The Kings have been poor offensively for most of the season and have already been shutout nine times. However, there have been some very noticeable changes over their last 22 games. The Kings scored o...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-March-12-2009
The New Jersey Devils have won five of their last six games, and have now also won eight straight at home. The Coyotes are meeting the opposite fate as they have dropped six of their last seven, and a...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-March-10-2009
Pittsburgh has strung together six straight wins. Maybe it has done some good getting out of town as their last five wins were on the road. The Penguins have not nearly been the same team they were la...