Are you a betting man? #2

November 20, 2009 carp

Last week I started my picks with a mediocre 2-2 record.  Let’s see if this time around I can better that mark.

Saturday, November 21

Pittsburgh @ Atlanta, 7 pm (all time eastern)- Try and figure out these two seasons so far.  If you would have predicted that the Pens and the Thrashers, one-quarter of the way through the season, would both have seven double-digit point scorers, would both have at least 10 wins, and that Atlanta actually has allowed fewer goals than the Pens, you’d be riding high on a massive amount of winnings from whatever “expert” spotted you some crazy odds.  The reality is that to this point the Thrashers may be overachievers and the Pens have had some tough injuries to fight through.  That being said, I think Atlanta has a point to make to the rest of the league.  Atlanta 4, Pittsburgh 3.

Detroit @ Montreal, 7 pm – Many Red Wings fans long for the days when they saw some of the Original Six teams come to the JLA and later in the season, the Wings would return the favor (I fall in this category).  Those days are long gone and all we have to look forward to are these special meetings where there is still something big at stake during a regular season game.  Flash back just two weeks ago when Detroit made another of these monumental trips to lowly Toronto and got there hides handed to them on a silver platter.  I realize that Montreal is somewhat better than the Leafs, but I also realize that Detroit doesn’t roll over and die too often.  Detroit 3, Montreal 2.

San Jose @ Anaheim, 10 pm – Quite possibly two of the most exciting teams to watch, regardless of who they are playing.  The fact that they are meeting on the same ice just adds to the anticipation.  All the way back on October 3, the Sharks came in to the Honda Center and beat Anaheim 4-1.  I don’t feel like all that much has changed since then… the Sharks are still one of the best teams in all of hockey and the Ducks are searching for something resembling a defense.  San Jose 5, Anaheim 3.

Sunday, November 22

Chicago @ Vancouver, 10 pm- Nobody likes the long, draining trips out to the west coast, especially if you are as far east as Detroit, Chicago, or Nashville and have to do it rather frequently.  What makes matters worse is that this game will be the third one in four days for the Blackhawks and Vancouver has enough fire power to match Chicago on normal rest.  I did like how well the Hawks played in Calgary on Thursday, but that was arguably the worst game of the year for the Flames.  Vancouver 4, Chicago 1.

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