Nhl Picks Handicapping - March 18, 2010

We got back to our winning ways last night, hitting both of our plays. Our NHL picks are 271-205 (57%) for +115 units over the last four and a half months.

Today we hit the ice with eight premium picks including a pair of 5-unit plays.

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
NBA	14-2 last 16 picks	88%	+$3780
NHL	271-205 last 476 picks	57%	+$11530
WNBA	121-90 last 211 picks	57%	+$5490
TOTAL			+$39270

Today's NHL Hockey Picks:

Game: Washington at Carolina (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Washington -150 (moneyline) (risk 3 to win 2)

The Capitals are setting up as the team to beat as we wind up the NHL season. They have sandwiched eight straight road wins around a three-game road losing streak, and have run the road win streak to three where they have doubled-up opponents on the scoreboard 14-7. The Hurricanes have been an up and down team this season, and they are down now after going through an 11-2 stretch, they have since been 2-4. They have allowed an average of 4 goals per game in their last four, and that is no way to beat a Caps team that is scoring almost 5 per game over their last three. Washington comes in here with a stellar 40-11 mark in their last 51 vs. the Southeast, so I'll go with the Caps here.

The Blues did a great job early in the season on the road, but over their last 18 they show 9 up and 9 down, so the overall road mark is a bit deceptive. The Rangers dropped 4 straight shortly after the break but have taken 2 of their last 3, and of late have been an excellent choice in the low chalk range from -110 to -150 where they have turned up winners in five of their last six. The Blues gave up 5 goals in their last game, and that has been bad news for this team, as they have followed up a game allowing 5 or more by going just 17-35 in their last 52. I'll ride with the Rangers in this one.

The Devils have regrouped to take four of their last five, catching fire offensively, tallying 19 goals in the five games, or just about 4 per contest. That is bad news for a Maple Leafs team that has allowed 4 or more 27 times already this season. The Maple Leafs have also allowed 5 or more on 17 occasions, so a hot offense is not what the doctor ordered here. The Devils are playing their third game in four nights, where they are the best in the NHL at 22-6 in that situation. The Maple Leafs are not building off a good defensive performance as they are 1-9 after allowing 2 or fewer, and 7-21 vs. a team that is .600+ I'll go with New Jersey here.

I sense a great opportunity to hop on the puckline here. Toronto has won just one of their last 10 after allowing 2 goals or less, and has struggled defensively all season allowing 4+ goals 27 times, and 5+ on 17 occasions. The Devils are hot offensively right now and playing their third in four nights where they are an NHL best 22-6. The Maple Leafs are caving in vs. top teams with a 7-21 mark in their last 28 vs. teams over .600. I'll go with New Jersey on the puckline here.

The Lightning have short circuited down the stretch, coming up on the wrong side in nine of their last 11 games, including a dismal one of five at home. They have allowed a total of 44 goals in the 11 game slide or 4 per game on average, and a bigger problem is they have tallied just 2 total goals in their last two games. The Sabres haven't exactly been on fire, but the Lightning’s streak of ineptness vs. the Northeast, where they are now 32-69 in their last 101, looks bleak for the home side. When you consider that Buffalo is 22-7-3 against Tampa over their last 32, and have won eight of the last nine in Tampa, there is only one way to go here, Buffalo gets the call.

The Lightning suddenly have issues on both ends of the ice, allowing 4 per game in their last 11, and now scoring a total of 2 in their last two games. That doesn't bode well, and has led to nine losses in their last 11 games. Meanwhile, they face the Sabres who have owned them for a long time running at 22-7-3 in the last 32 meetings, but more importantly have come down to Tampa and taken eight of the last nine. This is a good spot for the puckline on Buffalo at -1.5, which is the call here.

The Dallas Stars have really come up short over their last 38 games coming out on the right side of just 16 of them. The Flyers should be able to take advantage as they are 17-7 in their last 24 vs. a team with a losing record, and have made off with the cash in six of their last eight as a favorite. The Stars’ inconsistency basically says fade them after a win, where they are a pathetic 16-50! The Stars are also 2-8 in their last 10 vs. the East, converting just seven of their last 25 as an underdog. I'll go with the Flyers here.

The Stars are a mess and when you have a team that has gone 16-50 after a win you have to value the puckline here. The Stars’ last six losses show an average loss by just shy of 3 goals per game, and five of the six by 2 or more, opening the door to some great value on the puckline here. I'll go with the Flyers on the puckline.

Results: 3-5

NHL Hockey Picks Resources:

• View our hockey predictions here.
• View our updated hockey handicapping philosophy.
• Don't forget to visit our hockey Game-of-Day Analysis.
• Hop over to our NHL sportsbook reviews here.
• Check out our updated hockey odds and lines.
• Check out NHL against-the-spread records here.
• Hop over to our hockey picks blog here.
• Take a look at our 2009 NHL hockey pick results here.

Check out the last five NHL Hockey Picks Newsletters:

NHL-Hockey-Picks-March-17-2010
The Calgary Flames have played good hockey all season long and have the same number of road losses as the Avalanche have home loses. The Flames aren't giving up much right now as only one team has...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-March-16-2010
The Coyotes are making a statement down the stretch, taking their last five and their 42 wins are just two shy of Chicago for the most in the West. The Coyotes’ five-game toot has seen them outs...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-March-15-2010
The good news for the New Jersey Devils is that they have scored 25 goals over their last eight games good for over 3 goals per game on average. The bad news for the Devils - they have allowed 25 goal...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-March-14-2010
Chicago is heading towards their first division title in 17 years. The Capitals are having an outstanding year as well, but they are slumping right now having lost three in a row on the road and five ...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-March-13-2010
The Blackhawks have had one bad stretch this season, but that has come and gone. When this team is playing well, and they are right now, they are tough to beat anywhere. They have come out on the righ...