Lock of the Day

Tampa Bay Lightning (+110) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (-130)


Here it is; another game seven.  In my pre-playoff picks, I had the Penguins advancing in this one, but I'm going in the other direction here.  I like the way the Lightning are playing.  The Penguins are showing signs of missing the best player in the NHL, Sidney Crosby.  Decimated with injuries all year, the Penguins have had a tremendous year, but I think it comes to an end here.  I expect the Lightning to come out fired up and take down the mighty Penguins.

Lock of the Day - Tampa Bay Lightning (+110)

Game 7 in Beantown

Photo Credit Google Images daysofyorr.com

Game Seven.  The two greatest words in sports.  Boston Montreal, the two biggest rivals in hockey.  This is it.  This is what they play the season for.  It's do or die.  Win or go home.  Game seven!

The Montreal Canadiens forced a game seven by beating the Boston Bruins 2-1 last night at the sold-out Bell Center.  The two teams will face off tonight to decide who goes home, and who moves on.  This is the eighth game seven between the two teams, with the Habs taking five out of the seven.  

The Habs scored twice last night, both on a two-man-advantage.  Once again, the special teams had a huge impact on a game this series.  The Bruins could barely get a shot on net on their ample power play opportunities, while the Habs grabbed both their tallies on the man-advantage.  The B's are still sporting a goose egg in the PPG column.  The last team to win a playoff series without scoring a power play goal was the Anaheim Ducks in 2001.  You see how rare it is to win with such a terrible power play, and that is exactly what Boston's man-advantage is...terrible.  

The Bruins played better last night in 5-on-5 situations.  Tonight, they will need to be physical, yet discipline, to win this game.  The Montreal power play is deadly, with the likes of Brian Gionta and Mike Cammalleri.  Tim Thomas has bounced back from a shaky first couple of games, playing up to his potential the previous four games.  

The Bruins need to score first.  They need to lay some big hits, and get on the score-board first.  Doing this will get the crowd in the game, and when the Garden is rockin', it's unlike any other arena.

With all that being said, I still like the Bruins to prevail.  I think they have the better goalie and are just a better team.  But do not expect this to be an easy game.  This game will be a classic.  You do NOT want to miss it.

Lets go B's WOOOOO

Lock of the Day

First day of the NBA playoffs, and I've got three locks for tonights games.

Atlanta Hawks/Orlando Magic O/U 181

Portland Trailblazers/Dallas Mavericks O/U 186

Portland Trailblazers +5 @ Dallas Mavericks

The Hawks and Magic face off tonight in game one of their best of seven series.  I like the Magic to win this game, and more importantly, I look for some scoring.  I do not see this game reaching the 100's, but anything in the 90's will get us over the number here.  Look for a game in the 90's and the total to go over.

The Mavs host the Blazers in game one of their series tonight as well.  I picked the Blazers to win the series and I think it starts with game one.  The Mavs drew a tough matchup here.  The Blazers have an abundance of talent, with probably their best player, Brandon Roy, coming off the bench.  The addition of Gerald Wallace was huge for Portland, and all-star snub, Lamarcus Aldridge is having a phenominal season.  It will be tough to slow down Dirk, but I like the young guns of Portland.  I expect this one to come down to the last possession, so take the Blazers with the points.  Again, I expect another game in the 90's and I'd roll with the over here also.

Lock of the Day - Atlanta Hawks/Orlando Magic OVER 181

                                  Portland Trailblazers/Dallas Mavericks OVER 186

                                  Portland Trailbazers +5 @ Dallas Mavericks

Lock of the Day

St. Louis Cardinals (-105) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (-105)

Jon Garland will be making his first start of the season for the Dodgers.  The Cardinals have registered at least 16 hits in three straight games.  They will have Kyle Lohse on the bump tonight.  Lohse has been solid for the red birds this year logging a 1-1 record so far.  Lance Berkman seems to be resurecting his career in St. Louis behind Pujols and Holliday.  I like the Cards here.

Lock of the Day - St. Louis Cardinals (-105)

B's Fall in Game One

Photo Credit Google Images slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com

Thomas Kaberle flipped the puck over to Dennis Seidenberg and headed up the ice, leaving his man behind.  Brian Gionta took a cross-ice feed from Scott Gomez and buried it top shelf to put the Habs up 1-0.

This is how the game started for the Bruins.  After that, the B's seemed to dominate the flow of play but could not create any solid scoring chances.  It seemed as if the Bruins had control of the puck in the Montreal zone almost the entire second period, but resorted to slap shots from the blue line. 

I think the Bruins came out with plenty of effort, but just couldn't create the scoring chances they needed.  Brad Marchand had plenty of opportunities to knot the game at one, but couldn't come through. 

Once again, the Bruins power-play looked awful.  They continue float around and go D to D until Chara is open and then he lets it rip.  That Canadiens know exactly what the Bruins are doing on the power play, the whole world knows.  You've got to get more creative.

Carey Price pitched a shutout for the Habs, stopping all 31 Bruin shots.  I'm not going to sit here and praise Price for his play, because frankly, he didn't do much.  Yeah, the B's had 31 shots, but how many of them were actual scoring chances.  I think it'd be safe to say that at least 25 of the 31 shots hit Price right in the chest.

All in all, a disappointing first game.  I'm not worried yet, I think the B's are still the better team, but if they don't start being more efficient and creative with the puck, they'll be going home earlier than expected.



Game two is tomorrow night at 7 pm in Boston.

Lock of the Day

Milwaukee Brewers (-112) vs Pittsburg Pirates (+102)

The Brewers were my preseason pick to win the NL Central, and after an 0-4 start, they are playing great baseball.  The Pirates are just bad.  They have been bad, they are bad, and they will be bad.  They can't hit.  Randy Wolf is going for the Brew Crew.  He has gotten off to a rough start, but look for him to have a solid outing against a terrible offensive team.  Go with Milwaukee tonight.

Lock of the Day - Milwaukee Brewers (-112)

Bruins Habs Preview

The moment we've all been waiting for ladies and gentlemen.  The biggest rivalry in hockey, the B's and Habs.  The two teams will face off for the 33rd time in the playoffs.  More than any two teams in any of the professional sports.  The Habs have been on the victorious side 24 times.  Think about that, in 24 seasons, the Canadiens have celebrated in the face of the Bruins as the B's buried their heads in their hands.  This is a new year though.

Montreal has taken four out of six games from the rival Bruins this season.  

The last time these two teams met in the playoffs, the B's swept the Canadiens in 2009.  Don't expect this series to be as easy as the last.

Playoff hockey is unlike anything else.  Every face-off matters, every save, every shift.  It all means more.  

The Bruins need to dominate the physical game.  They are bigger and stronger.  They need to assert themselves along the boards and in the forecheck.  On the other hand, the Canadiens want to skate.  They want to get out in transition and use their speed and offensive talent, which they have a lot of.

Much is being made about the "criminal charges" being brought on by Montreal Police on Bruins' Captain Zdeno Chara.  Honestly, don't pay attention to this.  This will not interfere with Chara bullying the smaller forwards of Montreal.  He will play his game and put people on their wallets.  

With new faces in the locker room, the Bruins are poised to make a deep playoff run this year.  Mainstays such as Chara, David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, and Mark Recchi, are ready to carry this team.  Milan Lucic bounced back from and injury filled season in a thunderous way.  Rookie Brad Marchand became our little spark-plug.  He gets under the skin of every single person on the opposing team.  Nathan Horton found his scoring touch again which is a tremendous sign for B's fans.  Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton have provided a solid fourth unit, one of the best if not the best in the league.  New-comers Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly provide solid forward depth that the B's desperately needed.  I haven't even mentioned likely Vezena Trophy winner, Tim Thomas.  Timmy has been a rock all season for the B's, having an even better season than he did in '09 when he won the Vezena Trophy.

With all that being said, it is still going to be a good series.  It's never easy for either team when these two meet.  I expect the black and gold to prevail and advance.

Bruins in 6.