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Hi all,

I no longer and am into sports betting, for a variety of reasons, but I still love my Hockey.
I am a proud Canadian, for a lot of reasons, and also have a chip on my shoulder when people chirp my beloved Canucks. I see it as they are part of my dysfunctional family, those relatives or kids, who sometimes do stupid things but don't reflect on the rest of the family.

With all that being said, I didn't always bet based on analytics, I bet with my heart and my gut, the sports books love me.
I also find it hard to find time to commit to the forum, but have been a member for a long time, just not recently and want to try and contribute something.

So I want to contribute again with my HNIC posts. Saturday games involving Canadian teams. Just some random thoughts and my prediction for the score. I won't use lines or whatever, just have my say and that's it.


Ottawa @ Montreal

I like Ottawa in this one. Not a big sample size as it is early in the season but I see them being entertaining and competitive this season. If Laine was not injured, I'd give more of a chance for the habs. I like the goaltending for both teams, don't think eier will steal the game tonight. Again, it's early in the season so not going to throw stats etc around yet.

Ottawa 3 Montreal 2



Pittsburgh @ Toronto

Well, those leafs fans... They will be salivating tonight. The GM they loved to hate when he was in Toronto, and blamed him for everything wrong with the team and the city it seemed, is back in town. So more reasons for fans to beak off about things. Both teams 1-1 this season, loved the leafs effort in the season opening loss to the habs. I am not a leafs fan, partly because of the leafs fans, but they have a very good team. The Penguins, well, they lose one night 6-0 and then win 6-3. I see a pattern here :). I admire Sidney Crosby, how can he still look like a kid? On paper, or whatever you say nowadays that refers to writing stuff down, Leafs are the favorites here and they will win this one. I like the 6 theme...band it's the Leafs on a Saturday night, it will be dramatic in some way!

Toronto 6 Pittsburgh 4



Philadelphia @ Cakgary


The Flames get no love from the ret of Canada. I always detested them when they played my Canucks, but I really like them the last 4 or 5 years as a dark horse . Lots has changed there though. Not sure what to make of them this year but will be pulling for them and finding reasons to bet with them, not against them. Flyers played last night, went into overtime, beat my Canucks. Can't see the reasons to find positives with the Flyers right now, so sticking with the favorite tonight and taking the Flames.

Calgary 5 Philadelphia 2



Chicago @ Edmonton


Well, this should be a wipeout. Yeah, I am NOT a fan of the Oilers, lived in that city for 10 years, and being a Canucks fan there, ugh. 4 years of first pick overall or whatever it was, fans saying how great they are, still trying to relive the old days when they were great. But let's get back to reality. Oilers are stacked, yes, defense is questionable,yes, I loved the Oilers losing season opener, but it's Chicago, another team I am not a fan of. Appears I have issues with teams that have beat my Canucks in the past. Too much fire power on the Edmonton side, and not enough on the Chicago side.

Edmonton 7 Chicago 3


Let's see how this all works out!

Vancouver @ Philadelphia

Canucks are favored in this one, but they seem to be struggling to find last seasons form. There's a variety of reasons and I am not concerned yet. This road trip which started in Florida, like last year which kind of sparked their early run, might do it again. 3 of their 4 games have went past regulation time. The one they lost outright was the first game of the road trip. If I were not a Canucks fan, I'd say bet against them as favorite, as they are not gelling yet.
As a Canuck fan though, they are playing the Flyers, who are not lighting it up either. I have to hope/believe they will continue on the momentum they built against the Panthers, and win this one in regulation!

Vancouver 5 Philadelphia 2


Tampa Bay @ Ottawa

Tampa is the better team here, they are unbeaten this year so far. Senators have been.500, they are my guilty pleasure this season, a team I would not normally be a fan of, but they have some very good players and should not be counted out.
I am going with the fact it's an early game, and this will work against the Lightning, so based on this guy feeling, I like the Sens!

Ottawa 4 Tampa Bay 2


Edmonton @ Dallas

Dallas is favoured here, they are at home, and are 4-1 this year. Those annoying Oilers are 2-3, and I love seeing them lose. It's a rivalry thing for me being a Canucks fan, and I lived in Edmonton for 12 years, and it was insufferable listening to the talk about the oilers.

However, my 'gut' is telling me don't ignore the oilers here, and they just might string a few wins together, and what a great place to continue with the run theya re on at 2 in a row after 3 losses to start the season, and they are the underdog. McDavis wakes up with a hat trick!

Edmonton 5 Dallas 2


Montreal @ NY Islanders

Riddle me this.. Habs are 2-3, Islanders are 1-1-2 so why are Islands pretty big favorites?

Yeah, I know Montreal has injuries, are a young team, give up more goals than they should, but I think the line is disrespectful , making them look very attractive to me as an underdog.
Go Habs!

Montreal 4 NY Islanders 3


Calgary @ Seattle

Another game with a team I had feelings for in the past.

Calgary 4-0, Seattle 3-2

My gut is telling me to stay with the Flames, the surprise team start, despite the fact they were looked down upon. I can't in good concious bet against them here.

Calgary 6 Seattle 3


Remember, I just do this to have fun, I don't rely on a lot of stats, so in the long run, I may not be portable, but I have fun and enjoy writing out what my gut is telling my brain sometimes.

Ok, hang onto your hats, we have a great HNIC tonight! If you read the cpmments on the Canadian based teams stories in their home town papers type of thing, the sky is falling eveywhere it seems except Winnipeg. Its what I love and hate about hockey, the passionate fan base. Probably true of all teams, I just feel it more as I try and see what people are thinking about their own teams and there are always people who say a complete house cleaning/rebuild is needed, as well as the others who say they are one piece away from the Stanley Cup, I love it.

Anyhow, I was told by coworkers (3 of them!) this week, I talk a lot... So you have been warned!




Toronto 4-4 @ Boston 3-4-1

Leafs have 2 wins in the last 5, Bruins have 1.

Leafs have just not impressed in their last couple games. That loss to Columbus... is that the sign of a team a little over confident going in and thinking they were going to win esily, so at some level the extra efforlt and attention to detail wasnt there, i dont know. Then they lost at home to the Blues.

Which team shows up tonight? I think the more disciplined one.

Bruins, a little controversary there as well, as they are just not winning either but then again, are people expecting too much from this team? I think so. I am NOT a Bruins fan at all, and will Never forget the finls where they broke my heart. They are smug, cocky, arrogant... but that is also what made them such a great team in the past. Problem now though, is this is not the past. The team they have now is older amd has some different parts now, and I sound like I am talking about an old car.

Soooo, I think the new Leafs show up again tonight and will be firing on all cylenders. Bruins will feel the pressure more being at home and there is enough history between these teams to motivate eveyone. Leafs are just the better team this season and that will show in the end.

Toronto 5 Boston 3


Winnipeg 7-0 @ Calgary 5-1-1

The Jets are on fire this seaons, playing very well. Flames are over acheiving this season so far and their record is not a true reflection of who they should be. I read an agrument like that being made, and I laughed.

Both teams records are exactly what they are, whether people like it or not. It's why they play the games, anything can happen on any given day.

I love that 2 Canadian teams like this are leading their respective divisions.

Winnipeg is probably the better team for sure, and will be favoured in this one. But I love the teams that are counted out. Give me the little train that could type of thing every time. Anyone can jump on bandwagons and cheer the favorites but I like the underdog stories, teams that may not always have all the stars, just hard workers.

Since the Jets are undefeated, obviously they have won 5 out of their last 5. The Flames have lost 2 of the last 5 which to some is a sign of their impending doom.

I am hoping for a tight game, and one that goes to overtime, because I like both these teams.

Calgary 3 Winnipeg 2, in OT!



St Louis 5-3 @ Montreal 2-4-1

I am digging deep to try and spin this the Canadians way. Great young players, exciting team. Just not quite there yet and obviously there were high hopes with Laine but you can only play the players you have.

The Blues 3 losses are in tbe last 4 games. Montreal has lost the last 4 games. Not a game I am goiog to watch at all but I am committed to commenting on what I think will happen, so the Blues roll easily in this one is how I figure it will shake out.

St Louis 4 Montreal 2


Pittsburgh 3-5- 1 at Vancouver 3-1-2

The Pens played last night in Edmonton, did not score a goal. Ok, enough about them, lets talk my Canucks! :)

Apparently, they are one of the worst teams in the league according to some fans. Petterson is killing the team from within, as he is such a soft player and a cry baby and his teammates are tired of him. So much so that in last couple of practices, he has been shoved and hit and in scuffles. Thats those comments I referred to earlier

I think at least one of the reasons is teams know how to play against him, as with a lot of other players of his stature, they lean on him and give him.extra shots and attention. The kids in a no win situation there, with the recentley signed new contract, making the money he will be making, brand new pressure.

For me, seen this before with every swedish player coming through Vancouver, seems there is a bit of a displeasure based on that. People still comments about the Sedin's and their softness. Fact they lasted years a d always under that pressure and scrutiny, and they excelled, yet never given a lot of creidt , rather excuses as to why they won awards or trophies or scoring races.
That the great thing about living in a free country, right for people to say what their opinions are.

So i roll with it. Yes, I am concerned about how he is playing, but feel things will be just fine as the season goes one.

Good thing there are actually other players on the team everyone!!!!

I know they are not going to win every game, but I like the effort and system they are trying to play. Its not their yet compared to last season, but it will get there, remember, i am a die hard fan and can put my blinders on with the best of them!

Oh yeah, you might have heard of this guy called Demko. He is a goalie, who despite carrying the team, or maybe should say giving them a chance to win most night the last couple seasosn, is also someone who they should get rid of. Lol, thats the passion again.

I love the guy, but he has been injured a lot, from the beggining of the playoffs last year, to potentially being able to come back in the playoffs last year, to not being able to play in preseason to now with no clesr time table on a return.

They have had some solid guys fill in, Silvos in the playoffs last year, and people said get rid of Demko, Silvos is the guy. He was amazing and did a stellar job. Then he gave up a lot of goals on opening night and a guy named Lankinen, who was signed in Septmber, probabky more as insurance for Demko and maybe as a backup/partnet to spell off Silvos, got his chance and has been amazing.

Goaltening is not the Canucks problem most of the time, they have a great system being played in front of them, so I think that helps give them the confidence to play as well as they do, which is aweome because they need to be relied on a lot of tines to help steal wins in games they have no reason to win based on how the team may have played in front of them.

Anyhow, this one is not even close tonight.

Vancouver 6 Pittsburgh 2


Sorry, a lot of rambling today, but i feel better now!

Well, missed a couple weeks... And just had a 4 day drive back from Vegas, where I had my first experience in large poker tournament. It was awesome, but I did not follow hockey, except the occasional score, for 10 days! I have not been doing great this year anyways.

So today is really based on my perceptions and gut feel but will be parlaying my picks none the less!

Edmonton 9-7-1 at Toronto 10-6-2

Well, this is quite the matchup. A lot of people love and hate each team, fans old and you all have an opinion!
All that aside, I like the Oilers here and I like the Leafs in this one😀. McDavid/Draisaitl vs a Mathews less team who still have Marner, Tavares, Nylander. Goaltending similar at least based on records, Saturday night game, should be a lot of fun! Oilers are favored here and fot that reason, ill take the Leafs!

Toronto 5 Edmonton 4


Chicago 6-10-1 at Vancouver 8-4-3

Well, my Canucks have struggled on home ice this year. I still have a feeling they are going to go on a tear, but it just hasn't happened, and this season will probably be like that all the way through, but maybe they need that to then shock all in the playoffs 😂

Canucks are the better team here and should easily win this one.

Vancouver 6 Chicago 2



Winnipeg 15-2-0 at Florida 11-5-1

The Jets have had an amazing start to the season.Florida is no slouch either and this is another great matchup IMHO.
Looks like Panthers are favoured here, and I guess I get it, as the setting of the lines really has to try and balance the risk here. Some are waiting for the Jets to falter so they can rub their nose in it. Not me, I say Go Jets Go, great for their fans and for Canada!

Winnipeg 3 Florida 2


Columbus 6-8-2 at Montreal 5-10-2

Columbus 4 Montreal 2


Ottawa 8-7-1 at Carolina 11-4

Carolina 5 Ottawa 2