Matt's Picks (5 Live)
Second of a back-to-back for the Leafs, who remain without top blueliner Morgan Rielly (31 points). That also means backup Anthony Stolarz in net and he's having an awful season with a 3.67 GAA and .876 SV. In two starts since returning from injury, Stolarz lost both and allowed a combined nine goals. Last game for Toronto ahead of the break so the guys. The Oilers are rested, healthy and probably motivated after being embarrassed 7-3 at home on Saturday to snap a three-game winning streak. They won easily in Toronto earlier this season.
Washington is 6-2 ATS in its past eight and pretty healthy other than Trae Young. Feels like Trap City for the Knicks off a marquee home game Sunday vs. the Lakers and another one back at MSG tomorrow night vs. Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets in a possible Finals preview. So easy to overlook the Wiz. The New York bench is thin with Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson sitting in the front of the B2B. This is the Knicks' only visit to D.C. this season so it should mean even a bit more perhaps to the Wiz guys (and a full house) as it's clearly a marquee game on the slate.
Ottawa is playing some good hockey right now but is on the second of a road back-to-back and thus starts journeyman James Reimer in net and he's really the fade reason (sorry a bit late, the Sens waited forever to confirm him). Reimer allowed four goals in a home loss to the Canes on Jan. 24. Carolina has won six of eight and plays its final home game for more than three weeks due to the break. In the New Year, the Canes are 7-0-1 at the Lenovo Center. Brandon Bussi has been lights out everywhere at 21-3-1 with a 2.21 GAA. His 14 wins on home ice are tied for the second-most among NHL goalies.
Very good Detroit absolutely could win in Denver and will be duly motivated after getting smashed in Motown by the Avs 5-0 on Saturday, but it's just so rare to even get Colorado -1 on home ice this dominant season that we have to. Think I've seen more -2s than -1s on the Avalanche, who are often -300 or higher in Denver. Granted, they have lost four of five there but still just 2 regulation home defeats. Do be aware we might see some really crazy results this week ahead of the Olympic break with guys worn down and/or looking forward to Italy.
Fun matchup here as Connor Bedard of Chicago faces Macklin Celebrini of San Jose. The two are friends, B.C., natives and recent No. 1 overall draft picks. They have faced off only once in their NHL careers with Celebrini and the Sharks winning last season; Celbrini had a helper and Bedard was blanked. You know he will want some personal payback and to find the net here against struggling Sharks netminder Yaroslav Askarov (3.65 GAA in past five, 3.43 on season).
The Blues have dropped six of seven and will be selling ahead of the trade deadline. They are eight under .500 away. Star Robert Thomas is on IR and fellow forward Jake Neighbours (22 points) is iffy. Should be Joel Hofer's turn in, net and he has allowed four goals in back-to-back outings. The Predators are 19-6-1 when scoring three or more goals.
The best college hoops matchup Monday around the nation isn't from the ACC or Big 12 on ESPN Big Monday but instead this one between the top two teams in the Southland who have combined to go 23-3 against league foes this season. They played at McNeese State on Jan. 5 and the hosts won 66-64, the only conference loss for SFA. It is unbeaten at home -- winning 11 in a row in Nacogdoches, coming by an average of 19 points -- so a bit surprised this isn't maybe a pick'em or even Lumberjacks slight favorites; they are a stellar 16-4 ATS. Opponents have averaged just six made three-pointers against SFA over the last nine games.
No Kevin Durant tonight, the Rockets (4-12 ATS in past 16 overall) are 2-0 without him but averaged just 109.0 PPG in those two, well down from their season average. Also a one-game trip that NBA players despise and with a much bigger game next back home vs. Boston. Indiana is getting healthy and has won two in a row at home and three of four overall. And obviously I don't need anything near a win, even though our model has Indiana doing just that. The Pacers lost by seven in Houston in late December when they were playing horribly and Durant had 30 points.
Be aware this is outdoors at Raymond James Stadium as part of the NHL's Stadium Series. And seriously it's so unreal cold down here in Florida it might work out well in terms of ice quality, etc.. Just hope no half-frozen iguanas laying comatose at center ice. That's not an urban legend, it's 100% true. We already resuscitated a frog with warm water and I'm not even kidding. The Bolts will get back future Hall of Fame blueliner Victor Hedman from IR, while Boston will be missing two of its top scorers in Elias Lindholm (37 points) and Pavel Zacha (also 37). I went and looked at Bruins TT Under 3.5 but it's crazy high priced. Maybe an add-on.
Coby White should get a few more shot attempts with both Josh Giddey and Tre Jones out and fellow guard Kevin Huerter iffy. White is in a bit of a shooting slump, but he didn't play last night in Miami and Ayo Dosunmu did, so that's why I am playing a White points prop instead of a Dosunmu one as I worry a bit about his tired legs after 37 minutes. White had five straight games of at least 22 points before being held to 14 in each of the past two.