The March madness odds have hit full stride in Buffalo, NY as the first round of the NCAA tournament was played in Buffalo’s HSBC Arena. Now that the March madness picks have moved to the next round, the Buffalo Sabres can go back to their home and try and lock up the Northeast Division before the playoffs start.
The sportsbook reviews have the Buffalo Sabres’ odds at winning the Stanley Cup at 10 to 1 and the Montreal Canadiens at 50 to 1. The Canadiens and their early season indecision in goal cost them ground in the standings and spots in the Stanley Cup odds. The Sabres have been chugging along winning more than they have been losing since the Olympic break and winning their last three games in a row.
Right now the Sabres stand nine points ahead of the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens in the Northeast Division. More importantly, the Canadiens are fighting with the Boston Bruins and the Atlanta Thrashers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
When you bet March madness you sometimes look for that team with something to prove. The team that seems most desperate, with the talent to back it up, can be an appealing pick. In the NHL playoff run you can use many of the same betting rules in picking individual game winners. The Montreal Canadiens will be a very desperate team coming into this game. They need the points much more than the Sabres do. However, the Sabres just beat two very desperate teams in the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes. The Sabres beat the Hurricanes only 22 hours after beating the Panthers.
The Canadiens could be coming into a buzz saw when they take the ice in Buffalo for this game. Players who have laid dormant such as Jochen Hecht and Adam Mair are suddenly offensive machines. Patrick Kaleta is an expert NHL pest, and Ryan Miller is a wall in net.
The Canadiens put up very similar offensive numbers to the Sabres, but what the Canadiens have now is a solid goaltender in Jaroslav Halak. The last time these two teams played on January 3, 2010 the Canadiens were still clinging to Carey Price. The Sabres won that game 1-0 with Price in net for the Canadiens. This game will be different with Halak between the pipes.
The Canadiens have been getting steady offense from scorers like Michael Cammalleri and Brian Gionta all season long. The problem for the Canadiens is that Cammalleri is hurt and they do not have his offense. Gionta scored twice in the Canadiens’ game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Canadiens will lean a lot on Gionta until Cammalleri comes back.
If the Sabres give Ryan Miller a rest for this game, which they may do because they have a cushion in their division, then the Canadiens may be able to get to Patrick Lalime with pressure. But with Ryan Miller in net, the Canadiens will have to crash the net from the point and that leaves the Sabres free to run towards Halak all alone in the Canadiens’ goal.
Pick: Buffalo Sabres 3-1
Original Story:
http://www.theonetimer.com/2010/03/22...
