Toronto Maple Leafs at New Jersey Devils (-215, 5.5)
Martin Brodeur is a savvy veteran who has been through some tough times in his NHL career. But with the Devils’ lack of goal support in recent losses, Brodeur is probably close to boiling over and giving his teammates a good tongue lashing.
Brodeur stuffed 30 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres Wednesday night, marking the seventh time in the past 10 games the final score has fallen under the total. New Jersey is 17-32 over/under this year – the most profitable under play in hockey.
“We got a point. The way we’ve been playing, to score one goal and get a point, we’ll take it,” a dejected Brodeur told the New Jersey Star-Ledger following Wednesday’s loss.
New Jersey has dropped seven of its last 10 games, scoring an average of just 1.5 goals during this slump including getting shutout twice. Brodeur has done his best to keep the Devils competitive in recent starts. He’s allowed just over two goals per game in this span and posted two clean sheets of his own.
New Jersey faces Toronto Friday night. The Maple Leafs boast an even 26-26 over/under count but have also struggled to light the lamp in recent games. They have scored just eight total goals in their last four games – all of which were losses and three of those played under the number.
Pick: Under
Nashville Predators at Detroit Red Wings (-150, 5.5)
These aren’t your father’s Detroit Red Wings. Hell, they’re not even your Detroit Red Wings.
The perennial powerhouse Wings are stumbling in 2010, losing three straight games and posting just eight wins in 13 contests since the New Year. Detroit’s most recent defeat was at the hands of the Minnesota Wild, who took a 5-2 victory at home Wednesday night.
"You know, we were right there," captain Nick Lidstrom told the Detroit News. "But lately we are finding ways to lose instead of finding ways to win."
Detroit has hemorrhaged goals during this three game funk, giving up a total of 13. Veteran goaltender Chris Osgood made just his second start in five games Wednesday, allowing five goals on 25 shots. Jimmy Howard hasn’t fared much better, allowing five goals in his most recent trip between the pipes.
Adding to the defensive woes is an injury to defenseman Brad Stuart, who sprained his shoulder in the first period but played through the pain until early in the third when the Wild put the game out of reach. His status for Friday’s game is still up in the air.
Nashville lost 3-2 in overtime against Detroit back in December but has won four of the last five meetings with the Red Wings, outscoring them 21-10 in that span.
Pick: Nashville
