Gut (Ice) Picks - Thursday ~ Feb. 7th

Covers was to pre-occupied in their vain attempt to locate their own micro-scopic penises . . . AGAIN.  Thusly I've started this forum to fascilitate todays NHL plays.

So discuss, debate, let's help each other pick winner ppl.  Cheers and Welcome.

ANA v NYR - Teemu is back and all the Ducks fans can finally exhale.  The Rangers looked to be back as well, until there most recent loss TO THE KINGS.  So what's happening here.
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After looking over their record, it seems the thing that most gets the Rangers motor going is being the underdog.  Which is keeping w/ the idea that, before Las Vegas became the gambling mecca of the U.S.A., the Big Apple was where The Mob ran it's numbers and provided for America's gambling needs.

It could be coincidence, or it could be the Rangers are 'Kookoo for Cocoa Puffs' ("Cocoa Puffs" meaning "crack", *ahem*, I mean "gambling" in this instance).  Or perhaps neither.  For myself, this much is certain; as long as the Rangers remain the favorite, I'm all about betting on the Ducks to keep the good times rolling tonight (if only, for at least, one more game).

Oh and NYR being riddled w/ injuries doesn't make this pick very much of 'a riddle' here either.
ANA (ML)

VAN v ATL - The Thrashers have been dominant since the All Star break.  Did the mid-season showcase bring a lil' luck to their home ice?  There is no definitive way of making such a judgment just yet.  However, they have a great chance to keep putting up the W's, as Vancouver skates into town tonight.

If a goal-tender is the hockey equivalent to a football quarterback; then certainly a hockey teams defense is the akin to a football teams offensive line.

"With Kevin Bieksa, Willie Mitchell, and Lukas Krajicek already out of the lineup, the inexperienced D in front of Roberto Luongo could force Lu's numbers to continue to take a hit." - fantasyhockey.com

The Canucks might be desperate for a win, but their desperation may soon turn into more *frustration*, as this near defenseless squad attempts to best one of the league's better offenses in that team's house.  The "days of rest ATS/SUP" record of both clubs are near identical (after a loss).  Still, I think that VAN is in the sort of trouble that not even the hockey gods can save them from tonight.  ATL (PL)

TOR v MON - It's a good thing that the Leafs and Mats Sundin have not parted ways, as he's just about their only star player left.  Due to injury and suspension Toronto enters tonight's rivalry match-up at a severe disadvantage.

Vesa Toskala is still a talented goal-keep (by my view), but he just doesn't have the talent, nor players he needs around him this season.  It will take a miniature miracle for him to carry this game thru to a Leafs victory.  When last these two hockey clubs met, the Habs notched a home ice triumph at a score of 1-4.  I anticipate a similar outcome in tonight's face-off. MON (PL)

FLA v OTT - The Panthers are coming off of an explosive 8 goal shutout of Toronto.  Even with their many injuries, FLA has won three games on the row.  Meanwhile, the Senators have lost three on the row, while compiling a 3-7 record since January 15th.

Both these teams have fallen on difficult times.  One has risen to the challenge, while the other has scuffled for answers.  Tonight Alfredsson will be out of the line-up once again. However, Dany Heatley is expected to make a triumphant return in front of the hometown faithful.

Tonight the Sens defense and offense shows up, and tonight they turn the tide, in this, the first game of their current home-stand.  OTT (ML)

P.S. -240?!?!?  JESUS CHRIST, HOW CAN THESE *IDIOTS* BE LISTED AT "-240" (opening ML)?!?!?   *sigh* . . . alright . . . OTT (PL) . . . I guess . . . (**rolling my eyes**)

P.P.S. Right, okay, OTT owns FLA, but upon their most recent meeting (in FLA), the Panthers beat them up but good (injuries 'n' all).

P.P.P.S. On second thought . . . F_CK OTT!!!  The time has come to stop losing money on these chumps and start stacking chips against them.
FLA (ML)  And I shall be much more obliged losing that bet, than making a possible $40 for a $400 bet on the home side of this line.  DANCE MOTHERF_CKERS!! DANCE!!!  I'm getting 'jerked around' by the oddsmakers on this one . . . that makes me a saaad panda . . .
Emery confirmed for the Sens. Faster Pussycats Faster KILL KILL!!!

Over (5.5) deserves consideration here too (for those whom would just as soon stay off either side).

NYI v PIT - Since their Captain went down w/ an ankle sprain, the Pens have played .500 hockey.  And having lost their most recent game, they are due for a win.  And there are few teams better suited to get said win against, then the lowly New York Islanders (I feel a jinx coming on).

Ty Conklin has been nothing short of brilliant since joining the Pens ranks.  I expect that neither he nor his teammates, will allow the music to stop playing for them any time soon.  Meanwhile the Isles are busy singing the blues.  It is true that both teams are plagued w/ injuries, however, the Pens have shown that they simply have more raw talent than  (at least) half their competitors.

Tonight's match will prove no differently.  The Isles win in OTT is looking less impressive by the day.  Their defense is lacking, their offense has been lacking; they are quite plainly & honestly, overmatched.  PIT (PL)

LAK v DET - So David comes knocking on Goliath's door yet again.  What will they do?  Of their past 10 meetings (over the past 3 years) the Kings have beaten the Wings . . . once . . . in L.A., albeit, a little over a year from today.  So what of "today", and what of "tonight"?  The juice makes the Wings side untouchable for me.

Can Cammalleri's return help the Kings swing that sling?  Thereby securing the improbably/unthinkable upset?  I don't know.  However unlikely it may sound, I won't rule that notion out completely.

While the Ranges are not the Wings (which team is?), they are a strongly defensive minded team, w/ a quality net-minder keeping goal.  As poorly as the Kings have played, they have played better lately.  However, Rob Blake's injury comes at exactly the wrong time, for them to have much of a chance here.

Since their most recent meeting, the Red Wings have gotten healthier.  The Wings PL looks tempting, but they just barely squeaked by the PL in their game against a injury ladened Avs team (whom certainly have yet to find Patrick Roy's heir apparent).

I think the key here is defense.  Do the Kings have enough left in the tank for their defense to stop the Wings victory parade?  I doubt it.  DET (PL) or LAK (ML) . . . *if* you're feeling lucky . . . Are you feelin' lucky . . . punk? 

TBL v NSH - Both these teams have been playing well.  My advice?  Flip a coin.  I'm likely to take the Bolts.  TBL is vying to extend their string of road wins to "+1" tonight, while the Country Cats are set on pushing their own string of home wins.

You want a SO tonight?  This is the game.  Flip a coin, draw straws, get your dart board out, do whichever you'd like.  There will be a loser and there will be a winner.  For me?  Gimme dem guns.  TBL (ML)

DAL v MIN - The home team has won five of their previous head-to-head's on the row.  Nothing changes this trend tonight.  Zubov is missing from the Stars blue-line, and he will be missed.  The Stars have been semi-fortunate to run their current win streak to four . . . that number ends this evening in Minnesota.  There are some stats that aren't exactly "with me" on this one, but f_ck it.  MIN (ML) hehehe "butt-f_ck it" lol . . . gross  lol

CHI v CAL - You know . . . Calgary has been "hit 'n' miss" at home (they lost to NYI earlier last month).  And much like CH-I, I'll just bet the Isles were fighting to end a losing streak, while (at the same time) dealing w/ injuries.  I could be wrong.  I could look that up, but I'm not going to.

If PHX had not imploded in the 3rd period, the Flames would be coming off of a loss, rather than a win.  Khabby should be tending net tonight for the Blackhawks, and I'm sure they are a lil' tired, but I think they are more hungry than they are fatigued.

Injuries?  Sure, ya they got plenty of fellas that will be M.I.A. for this one.  So what.  After that whooping they took in EDM, the next team they face (Calgary) has got their work cut out for them.  Chi-town is due for a jail break.  The trends are against me here, which I love.  CHI (ML)
CALLING ALL CARS!!! CALLING *ALL* CARS!!

CBJ v PHX - Despite their choke job (in the third period) at the Saddledome.  Despite their only tallying one win out of their past 4 contest, the Coyotes are a team that is playing very competitive hockey lately.  Due to their misses, I believe Gretzky gets his troops to buckle down tonight in front of the home crowd.

At the visitors end of the ice, the Blue Jackets have been losing more than winning lately.  Columbus had their home game against the CAPS all but won, and then disaster strikes:  Pascal gets injured, and Norrena gives up three goals.  Perhaps the Yotes don't have the same offensive abilities as the CAPS, but they are, none-the-less, very dangerous offensively.  And have proven as much in their recent games (if not overall this season).

I love me some Blue Jacks, but I won't be looking for them to turn things around just yet.  Not until Leclaire rejoins his "indigo jacketed mates". PHX (ML)

**deep breath**  Whoa, looks like that was a ten game write-up.  Was it as good for you as it was for me?  :-P  Cheers ppl.  And BOL to my friends (you fellas know who you are - Clutch, where you at G-Money?).

Found it!

I'm with bear guts - I went to covers consistently for your picks ... let's roll!

dude............think about it!

one has points and one has odds to win. pl..........ml............

Thanks fellas, I appreciate your approval.

Gbear, by my understanding a "moneyline" bet is one picked "on the line".  = just a straight wager on which team will win.  Plain 'n' simply.

A "puckline" bet is a bet against the spread.  So it can either give your team 1.5 points or it can subtract 1.5 points from your team, which (of course) effects the payout.

I trust this answers you questions  BOL today.

Allow me to rephrase, the PL is a bet against "A spread" of 1.5 points one way of the other.

When MLB starts you'll be able to make that same kind of bet on baseball games.  Except it's called "the RL" or "runline". 

Wow, that's some funny shit.  After doing nothing *but* hitting th "copy" and "paste" commands, the Covers gang actually tried to compose a write up of sorts on today's Ice Picks.  It isn't much, and I suspect that they are attempting to ride my coattails . . . AGAIN, but still I think my calling them out finally got to somebody . . . lol  and they actually wrote something out.

I encourage any and all to take a look.  It's really "cute" more anything else 

You're quite welcome gBear.  My SN is a from a Q 'n' A that Kevin Smith (the "Clerks" guy) did in London.

They asked Jason Mews (his little sidekick) 'what are some of the lines he uses to pick up on girls" . . . to which he replied . . . "Yo, lemme get up 'n' them guts"

So, as you may or may not have guessed, it's a reference to (among other things) box. 

Sup Scooter and Cujo, it's good to see you guys.  I'm thinking I've made some bold plays in my predictions, and it's either going to be a good night or a bad night for me, and if it turns out to be 50/50, then WTF was I think?

Either way I look forward to your's and other's feedback/additional info. 

Crazy shit Scooter, thanks for sharing.  As far as what got me into gambling, it was always something I'd thought about, and then Super Bowl XL rolled around.  Stellars v THE SEASUCKS?  I made a nifty profit that day and ever since I've been hooked in.

I love betting on Baseball as it's my favorite sport, but it can definitely blind-side a person and really make or break their wallet.  I bet all of last season from the All Star break, and it wasn't until the playoffs that I really started making serious money (lol . . . Cubs . . . thanks again lol)

This season will be a memorable one I think.  Glavine is going back to pitch in ATL, if only Maddux would sign up w/ Glav and Smoltzy, that would be entertaining as shit . . . especially when the play the Giants and our trio of young guns (that the rest of the league want but they can't have 'em     )

Anyway, there's a lil' more about me, and Ya I will definitely be around in April.

I wish I had more to say about tonight's hockey card, but . . . lol shit, how much more could I say?  I'm likely to stick w/ my picks, I just have smarten up and resist the temptation to parlay (as that has been my downfall lately).  BOL 

good calls........

im on atl..pitt...minn....mtl..pl....atl under.

nice to see you guys agian....ice picks on and off WTF up with that?