* Results *
I'd normally get a little into depth with the games but I'll make it brief tonight. The only true upset of the night went to the Oilers snapping their awful run by surprising the Canucks with a 4-1 victory. I'm sure Vancouver is resting and gearing up for their run, but you can't take a huge win away from Edmonton. It was an awful night to be a fan of the Philadelphia Flyers (as I am) despite the fact the team didn't play. The Pittsburgh Penguins closed in on the Atlantic Division by beating the Florida Panthers (no shock there). Worst of all, the Washington Capitals pulled ahead of them in the Eastern Conference by beating the Buffalo Sabres in overtime. With Washington playing an extra game, Philadelphia has an opportunity to take that lead back with a victory against New York on Sunday. Whether they do that is another thing. Otherwise, I had a very decent night going 8-3. Results for Saturday below!
4/2/2011 - Saturday
Thrashers at Bruins : Pick - Bruins : Result -- 3-2 Bruins : Correct : 209-160
Lightning at Wild : Pick - Lightning : Result -- 3-1 Lightning : Correct : 210-160
Red Wings at Predators : Pick - Red Wings : Result -- 4-3 Red Wings : Correct (OT/W) : 211-160
Stars at Kings : Pick - Stars : Result -- 2-1 Kings : Wrong : 211-161
Canadiens at Devils : Pick - Devils : Result -- 3-1 Canadiens : Wrong : 211-162
Hurricanes at Islanders : Pick - Hurricanes : Result -- 4-2 Hurricanes : Correct : 212-162
Maple Leafs at Senators : Pick - Maple Leafs : Result -- 4-2 Maple Leafs : Correct : 213-162
Sabres at Capitals : Pick - Capitals : Result -- 5-4 Capitals : Correct (OT/W) : 214-162
Penguins at Panthers : Pick - Penguins : Result -- 4-2 Penguins : Correct : 215-162
Oilers at Canucks : Pick - Canucks : Result -- 4-1 Oilers : Wrong : 215-163
Ducks at Sharks : Pick - Sharks : Result -- 4-2 Sharks : Correct : 216-163
-Results Format-
Game : Pick : Result : Pick Result (OT or SO W or L based on my pick) : My Season Record
OT/W or OT/L - My pick won or lost in OT.
SO/W or SO/L - My pick won or lost in a shootout.
=Dumbest Pick of the Night=
Stars at Kings : I figured Dallas would snap out of their funk and get serious about trying to make the playoffs. I counted Los Angeles out based on the fact that Anze Kopitar is out. I completely discounted Los Angeles when they have a really good team. Doing so led to a really stupid pick. Los Angeles is the better team and the better pick. Dallas is slowly waving goodbye to the playoffs.
=Hardest Pick of the Night=
Ducks at Sharks : Really good divisional game here with a hot team in the Anaheim Ducks playing against the divisional leading San Jose Sharks. It was a tough call as to whether the Ducks would continue to find ways to win. That alone placed doubt in my mind that San Jose would run away with this one. Tough call, I'm just lucky I leaned the right direction.
=Easiest Pick of the Night=
Penguins at Panthers : As it usually goes, I went with the game that featured a far better team over a team that is out of the playoffs and pretty awful lately. Out of all the games tonight, this one was the easiest to make. Had Vancouver beat the Oilers, that game had first dibs on this one.
=Shoulda, Coulda, Didn't Game of the Night=
Oilers at Canucks : I give Vancouver a pass because they've already clinched as much as they really need. Playoff spot? Check. Division? Check. Conference? Check. Best team in the league? Check. By not resting players, they actually have more to lose with the chance of injury. Despite all of this, I would still expect Vancouver to beat up on Edmonton just the same. Props to Edmonton with their huge win in Vancouver.
* Picks *
Sunday features some potentially pretty big games. The Rangers visiting Philadelphia is huge because Philadelphia risks losing the Eastern Conference lead for sure by not making up their game in hand over the Capitals. I expect a good effort, but I get the feeling that such confidence could lead to terrible things. Over in Anaheim we have another big game. The Dallas Stars are alive in the playoff race, but just barely. They'll need to end their six game win less streak to even breathe. They'll be hoping Chicago loses in Tampa Bay and that they can beat Anaheim in regulation. With Anaheim in seventh (93 points) and Chicago in eighth (92 points), Dallas needs both of those things to happen to not be backed against a wall. Another interesting game is the Buffalo Sabres visiting the Carolina Hurricanes. If Carolina wins, they'll be tied with Buffalo for the seventh and eighth spots IF Philadelphia beats New York in regulation. If New York gains a point while losing, it further complicates things. Two huge games in the Eastern Conference. You can also bet the Toronto Maple Leafs will be watching both games as they sit at 84 points in tenth place, still technically alive. Should be a good day/night of hockey. Here are my picks for Sunday.
4/3/2011 - Sunday
Rangers at Flyers ==> Flyers
Wild at Red Wings ==> Red Wings
Sabres at Hurricanes ==> Hurricanes
Blues at Blue Jackets ==> Blues
Lightning at Blackhawks ==> Blackhawks
Flames at Avalanche ==> Flames
Stars at Ducks ==> Ducks
Night!
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