ML: 7-1 +7.20u
PL: 4-2-2 +2.77u
Totals: 9-5 +2.03u
TT: 12-6 +5.34u
Parlays: 1-0 +1.81u
2u Plays: 2-1 +1.60u
Leans: 4-1
Yesterday: 2-2 +0.13u
Had yet another day full of treading water where I finished 2-2 picking up 0.13 units. Need to put together a solid night and I feel really good about this one. Here's yesterday's thread.
Today:
Nashville (-133) 1u
Locked this play in earlier but didn't have any chances to post until now as I have been extremely busy at school and finally got home. I really wanted to make this a 2 unit play, as I feel the situation is beautiful. Catching Nashville on the road here gives us a great line, especially considering they are a pretty good road team.
Nashville comes into this game as an all around solid team. They may not fire home 5 every night, and Rinne may not get a shutout all the time, but they are one of the most consistent and disciplined teams in the league. Barry Trotz is the one to thank for the constant over achieving in Nashville. They rank #13 in the league scoring an average of 2.65 goals per game. On the road things stay pretty consistent where they sit #13 again avergaing 2.55 goals per game. Their Power Play has been lights out again this year where they sit #3 overall in PK% at 21.0% and #4 having scored 33 PP goals so far. On the road, they stay pretty consistent where they rank #9 in PP% at 20.0% and #10 having scored 15 PP goals so far this season. Their defensive performance thus far has been solid like years past. They rank #13 allowing an average of 2.65 goals against per game. On the road, they are solid as well where they rank #20 allowing only 2.68 goals against per game. Their Penatly Kill remains above average again this year where they rank #13 in PK% at 82.7% and #19 having allowed 27 PP goals against this year. On the road we see a positive improvement where they sit #7 in PK% at 86.5% and #21 having allowed only 12 PP goals against.
Columbus is a team in shambles, and although they have won a few games lately, I feel that people are putting too much faith in a team that really just doesn't buy into the coaches system. Columbus finds themselves ranked #26 averaging 2.38 goals per game. At home, it's the same old song and dance where they rank #28 averaging only 2.39 goals per game. The Power Play like everything else with the Blue Jackets has been pretty terrible as well where they rank #23 in PP% at 14.9% and #19 having scored 26 PP goals so far this season. At home, the brutal PP stays consistently brutal where they rank #22 in PP% at 15.1% and #21 having scored 13 PP goals thus far this season. Are we surprised to find out that their defense has been equally horrible where they rank #2 allowing their opponents to score an average of 3.22 goals against them per game. At home, we finally see a nice improvement where they rank #14 allowing opponents to score 2.57 goals against them per game. I bet you wouldn't be surprised for me to tell you that the Jackets Penalty Kill is horrible where they sit #29 in PK% at 77.2% and #13 having allowed 34 PP goals against. At home, we see a slight improvement where they sit #21 in PK% at 80.8% and #13 having allowed 14 PP goals against thus far.
Pekka Rinne is having another solid season, his stats are: 24-11-4 record, 2.50 GAA, .922 SV%. He is a huge part of Nashville's success both defensively and overall. On the other hand, Steve Mason gets the nod for Columbus. He has had a rough season so far, which is expected considering what team he is playing for. His stats are: 5-16-2 record, 3.46 GAA, .882 SV%. Clearly we must give Nashville the advantage in net by a long shot.
Overall, Nashville is a good disciplined team, and Columbus is just the complete oppoiste. Nashville has won 3 of their last 4 road games. On top of this, they have won 5 of their last 8 games against teams currently sitting in a playoff spot. Columbus on the other hand has lost 8 of their last 9 games against teams currently sitting in a playoff spot. The only team they managed to beat was the offensively challenged LA Kings who they only beat 1-0. Columbus has been feeding off the weak teams lately and I just don't see this happening against Nashville. Columbus isn't any better at home where they have lost 8 of their past 11 games.
Will probably have another play after. As always, Good luck everyone.