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As always, Ron Raymond presents his free NHL hockey picks and the slate is huge. Be sure to place your bets with Canada's first online sports book - Sports Interaction (Please note that these picks went 13-0 on Saturday October 18. Ron Raymond provides his expert handicapping analysis at www.gambling911.com daily.
Ron's Comment: The Capitals are in a nice letdown spot after their great comeback in Pittsburgh the other night, but the jury is still out on their defensive play. Brodeur is 32-12-4 SU vs. Washington with 6 shutouts. Rolston is a question mark for the Devils, but Ovechkin and Backstrom are still stuck in neutral.
Prediction: New Jersey 3 Washington 2
Phoenix vs. Montreal
Ron's Comment: This is like the Kansas City Royals rolling into Yankee Stadium in their hay days when they were winning World Series. Once the Coyotes realize they are in a hockey game and stop admiring the environment at the Bell Centre, it will be 4-0! Have you've been the Bell Centre of late? This my friends is the Man U of Hockey!
Prediction: Montreal 6 Phoenix 3
NY Rangers vs. Detroit
Ron's Comment: The Rangers played in a tough 1-0 win last night and might be out of gas later in this showdown with the defending Stanley Cup Champions. Zetterberg is a question mark tonight with a sore groin, but Lundqvist has not done well vs. Detroit in 2 starts going 0-2 and the Rangers are 1-6 since '97 in Hockeytown.
Prediction: Detroit 3 NY Rangers 1
Minnesota vs. Tampa Bay
Ron's Comment: Barry Melrose has been outcoached in every game this season, so what do you think a wisely old veteran like Jacques "COCO" Lemaire is going to do against the Lightning? The Wild have half their line up out tonight and I'm still predicting they beat them.
Prediction: Minnesota 2 Tampa 1
Columbus vs. Nashville
Ron's Comment: Law of Average play here on Nashville. The Blue Jackets took it to the Predators last night and now it's Nashville's turn to counter at home. Plus, Nashville is a tough venue on Saturday nights, as the Preds is 30-10 SU the last 2 years at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. The Blue Jackets are 1-9 SU in their last 10 visits in Nashville.
Prediction: Nashville 5 Columbus 1
Chicago vs. St.Louis
Ron's Comment: As much as I would like to use the coaching change and the new energy going on in Chicago, these Blues are on a Rocky Mountain high right now and Paul Kariya is rolling baby! Don't see the Blues winning by 5 tonight, but let's look for a 1 goal game, as the Blackhawks are still showcasing Khabibulin and he's not a fool, he knows if he plays well he could end up in a place like Ottawa.
Prediction: St.Louis 3 Chicago 2
Calgary vs. Edmonton
Ron's Comment: It struck me like a bolt a lightning why the Flames aren't finding success. They have tons of grit, they work hard, goaltending will come around once Keenan gets off Kipper's back, but here's what's missing in Calgary. Don Cherry will not want to here this, but Calgary lacks skilled European players! Period. Calgary has hardly no European talent on its roster and this is exactly what they need right now. You can't score all your goals on rebounds or in low. You need that sniper to take some of the pressure off Iginla and the other forwards. Stop playing this stupid redneck hockey and get some Europeans on this team to find some balance.
Prediction: Edmonton 3 Calgary 2
Philadelphia vs. San Jose
Ron's Comment: If San Jose would have won last night, this would have been a nice underdog spot, but they got shutout in Anaheim and must now use this game as a "let's get back on track" type game. Nabokov is 3-0-2 SU vs. Philly and the Flyers on riding a 4 game losing streak and team confidence is at a all time low.
Prediction: San Jose 4 Philadelphia 2
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Ron Raymond, Gambling911.com
