New-look Blue Jackets host Preds in season opener
Hockey Betting Lines
10/07/2011 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Changes came in bunches this past summer for the Blue Jackets, but they will have only one of their two big offseason acquisitions on the ice this evening against the Predators.
Forward Jeff Carter will make his Columbus debut Friday night at Nationwide Arena, but defenseman James Wisniewski will miss this meeting with rival Nashville as he continues to serve an 11-game suspension that was handed down during the preseason.
It could be worse. The Blue Jackets at least won't be opening the season in Nashville, where they have lost 17 straight.
After missing the postseason for the ninth time in 10 seasons as an NHL franchise, Columbus general manager Scott Howson abandoned his philosophy of waiting for home-grown talent to develop and gave up picks and players to bring in the likes of Carter, Wisniewski, forward Vaclav Prospal and defenseman Radek Martinek.
Carter is a former 40-goal scorer with the Flyers whose price was high to acquire -- Jakub Voracek and a pair of 2011 draft picks that included the eighth overall pick -- but Howson and head coach Scott Arniel are hoping that Carter can team with franchise cornerstone Rick Nash to give Columbus a top- notch first line.
"They've come a long way from that first exhibition game," Arniel said of the new linemates, who will likely be joined by Prospal to round out the unit. "I think they really have a feel, you can see them talking lots on the bench in the course of games and practice. They're two players that play the game at a high level and they do a lot of things similar."
Howson also made a splash by signing Wisniewski, a point-producer from the blue line, but he will miss the first eight games of the regular season due to a hit to the head of Minnesota's Cal Clutterbuck on Sept. 23. He won't be eligible to make his season debut until Oct. 25 versus Detroit.
Forward Kristian Huselius will also begin the season on the sidelines due to surgery on his right pectoral muscle, prompting the addition of Prospal.
Martinek also represents an underrated signing at the back end and the Blue Jackets will also look for a number of younger players to contribute.
"There's a little bit of freshness. I think the fact that I think there's close to 10 new players here," said Arniel. "I think that everybody's excited about some of the changes that have happened."
No change took place in net, where the Blue Jackets hope that Steve Mason can find his Calder Trophy-winning form after seeing his numbers slip over the previous two seasons. In 54 games last year, he went 24-21-7 with a 3.03 goals-against average and .901 save percentage, but should still get the bulk of the work this year.
Nashville opens the season with two straight road games, but won't have forward Mike Fisher (shoulder surgery) or defenseman Francis Bouillon (concussion) on the mini-swing due to injury.
After ranking third in the league last year in goals against -- behind only Vancouver and Boston, the two Stanley Cup Final participants -- Nashville was hoping that Fisher could help the offense as he begins his first full season with the club after being acquired from Ottawa during the 2009-10 campaign.
Still, Nashville was able to reach the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons and finally broke through with its first postseason series victory, besting the Ducks in six games before getting eliminated by the Canucks.
Nashville, which went 7-1-0 in the preseason, opted not to re-sign Joel Ward, Steve Sullivan or Marcel Goc, and the only noted addition was forward Niclas Bergfors, so defense again figures to be the Preds' strength.
The club is set between the pipes with Pekka Rinne, who was 33-22-9 with six shutouts, a 2.12 GAA and .930 save percentage in 64 games last year, earning a Vezina Trophy nomination.
Defenseman Shea Weber was also up for some hardware following a 16-goal, 32- assist last year, earning a Norris Trophy nomination. Weber is one of the top blueliners in the league and contributes mightily to the offense, while pairing partner Ryan Suter shuts things down in his own end.
Nashville's lengthy home winning streak over the Columbus has helped it win 10 of the last 13 meetings overall, including four of six a season ago.
The Blue Jackets are 4-4-2 all-time in season openers, while the Predators are 6-6-0 with victories in five of the past seven openers since 2003.
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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends
We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS. Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned. For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go. As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190). Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”. By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet. For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction. On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later. Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick. Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com
New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors
Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season.
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls
Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times.
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons
Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season.
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers
In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS.
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”. With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit. Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.
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