Hockey Betting Picks - Sharks will wake up, Wings won't
NHL Odds: Pick Sharks / Predators |
Most hockey betting picks makers live in colder climates and are braving some pretty miserable December weather right now. What better way for NHL betting players to cheer up than to make some winning wagers this Saturday?
| Hockey betting picks: Road trip will be kind to San Jose but not to Detroit |
| Ilya Bryzgalov carrying the Coyotes |
| Long home stand dulled Sharks’ competitive spirit; hitting the road will help them |
| Slumping Wings have tough matchup against Martin Erat and the streaking Predators |
Sharks vs Coyotes odds
Saturday, December 12, 8:00 p.m. ET
“What to do with the Phoenix Coyotes?” hasn’t been an uncommon question over last few years but, normally, it had to do with the Desert Dogs’ ownership status and future. This year, bettors are asking the questions. The Coyotes are a miraculous 18-11-2 and 11-5-0 at home. The star of the show has been Ilya Bryzgalov, who is Ryan Miller’s top current competition for the Vezina Trophy. In 27 starts, he has 17 wins, four shutouts (one against San Jose), a 1.98 goals against average and .930 save percentage.
So can the first-place San Jose Sharks solve the surging Coyotes? Call it a bias against the fanless Coyotes, but I think they can. Entering Friday night’s action, the Sharks had lost three straight games – all at home. They’re suffering from what I call “home-stand complacency” – a trap in which a team stays home for too long, fails to develop chemistry and gets too relaxed. A road trip is precisely what the Sharks need right now. Look for the Thornton/Marleau/Heatley line to explode as the Sharks wake up.
Sharks vs Coyotes betting edge: Sharks
Red Wings vs Predators odds
Saturday, December 12, 8:00 p.m. ET
At least until their wounded (Johan Franzen, Niklas Kronwall, Valtteri Filppula) return, these are not the Detroit Red Wings of recent years. We thus have to approach them differently in sports betting. Instead of simply viewing them as “the better team than Nashville,” we have to look at other factors – how are the Wings playing lately? Are they good on the road?
The Wings aren’t great hockey betting picks this Saturday. Not only had they lost three of four through Thursday, a Friday night tilt with Anaheim could leave Detroit tired in Nashville on Saturday night. The Preds, meanwhile, have won three of four and their offense is hot in December. Martin Erat in particular is sizzling, potting six goals in his last four games. With the Wings hot and the Preds not, I’d go with Nashville in my hockey betting picks. Ideally, your sportsbook will show bias toward Detroit’s past success and make Nashville an underdog.
Red Wings vs Predators betting edge: Predators
Check the Sports Betting Edge every Tuesday and Friday for hockey betting picks from Don Melrose and visit the BetOnline sportsbook for all your online betting needs.
