Cappers Sports Picks

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NHL Game #72 Wednesday Free Pick Calgary Flames Money Line (-) vs New York Islanders @ 9:35 ET - Certainly I respect the Islanders and the job Barry Trotz has done there this season after the head coach led the Capitals to the Stanley Cup Championship last season. However, the Isles have lost 3 of their last 5 road games and scored an average of only 1.8 goals per game in those 5 away from home. As strong as New York is, they just don't have nearly the goal-scoring prowess of the Flames. That said, Calgary on home ice at a manageable price is the play here. The Flames are back on track after back to back wins and scoring 5 goals in each victory. Though Calgary had endured some recent struggles, most of that occurred on the road. Note that the Flames have won 7 of their last 9 home games. Also, Calgary averaged scoring a stellar 4.8 goals per game in those 9 contests on home ice. More of the same here. Free Pick CALGARY

Game of the Month - Rickenbach NHL Game #73 Wednesday 10* Top Play Boston Bruins Money Line (+) @ Vegas Golden Knights @ 10:05 ET - The magic of the Golden Knights first season is long gone. Vegas is basically a lock to make the playoffs but also has nearly no chance of winning the division. Their playoff positioning is almost locked up and that means it is even more difficult for Vegas to stay motivated. They've also seen Marc Andre-Fleury struggle between the pipes for an extended stretch and that is why Malcolm Subban is off back to back starts. The fact is that this is simply not the same Knights team it was last season and they enter this game having lost 9 of their last 13 games. Though Vegas won their most recent game on home ice, that was preceded by 5 straight HOME losses! Now the Golden Knights have to host one of the best teams in the league. The Bruins already beat the Knights in Boston earlier this season and they come into this game red hot. Boston has won 6 straight games and 8 of their last 9. Also, the Bruins are 7 for 25 on the power play their last 7 games. Boston has killed off 15 of 17 power play opportunities for their opponents in their last 5 games. The Bruins will take advantage of a struggling Golden Knights special teams. Vegas is just 2 for 18 on the power play in their last 8 games. Also, the Golden Knights penalty kill has surrendered 4 power play goals in 14 chances for their opponents in their last 4 home games. Tons of value here with the road dog and the Bruins are highly motivated as the Maple Leafs are right behind them for the #2 spot in the Atlantic Division. 10* BOSTON 

Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach NHL Game #70 Wednesday 8* Colorado Avalanche Money Line (-) vs Winnipeg Jets @ 8:35 ET - On the surface this looks like a great spot for the Jets since they have home loss revenge here and the Avalanche are off a big shutout win over the Golden Knights. However, this is the time of the season where you really have to scratch beneath the surface to get the true value in games and, the fact is, Colorado holds a couple of key edges here. For one thing, the Avs are fighting for a playoff spot and have made some adjustments defensively that are paying dividends plus they're getting great goal-tending from Semyon Varlamov of late. Conversely, Winnipeg is in a slump and they are squeezing the sticks too tight as a result. Yesterday I had a free pick on Anaheim over Minnesota and it worked out with a 4-0 win. Truly it was a similar situation to this one. The Wild are pressing too much and feeling the pressure while the Ducks are very much alive in the playoff race and starting to believe. Same story-line here with the Jets-Avs match-up. Colorado has won 2 of their last 3 games and has allowed a total of just 4 goals in those 3 games. Winnipeg has lost 5 of their last 7 games and the Jets have allowed an average of 4.2 goals per game in those 5 defeats. The Jets have lost 6 of their last 9 road games. The Avalanche get the job done on home ice. 8* COLORADO

Total Annihilation - Rickenbach CBB Game #801 Wednesday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Massachusetts Minutemen vs George Washington Colonials @ 7 ET - This is a type of late-season match-up that I look for when looking for games that should turn into a shootout. Here you have two teams both have disappointing seasons, with a history of high-scoring games when they meet, both shooting the ball well of late, and both struggling on the defensive end of late. Seriously, who is really to going to play intense defense here? There is just no high motivation for defense in this match-up and the 'kicker' for me was confirming that UMass guard Luwane Pipkins (hamstring) did upgraded from questionable to probable. I do expect him to be good to go here. The over is a perfect 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these teams and all 5 games totaled at least 150 points. The Minutemen have shot over 40% from three point land in their last 3 games combined. However, Massachusetts has allowed 80 points or more in 2 of their last 3 games and they have allowed red hot hot shooting for their opponents in each of their last 3 games (despite the Davidson game being an ugly score, the shooting was there). As for George Washington, they've shot 40% or better from three point land in 3 straight games and all 3 went over the total. The Colonials, however, have allowed 82.3 points per game in their last 3 games as they surrendered hot shooting over this 3-game stretch. The over is 15-8 when UMass is off a game in which they allowed 80 or more points. Also, February games for the Minutemen are on a 15-3 run to the over. The over is 9-3 this season in George Washington games with a posted total in the 130s. Also, the Colonials are 10-2 to the over when they enter a game on a losing streak of 3 or more games. Ideal set-up here for a shootout. 10* OVER the total in George Washington

PA Insider - Rickenbach CBB Game #781 Wednesday 8* Villanova Wildcats (-) @ Georgetown Hoyas @ 6:30 ET - The Wildcats are off a loss at St John's Sunday where they blew a huge first half lead. The Red Storm, in my opinion, are well-coached and they are also very physical and tough. That was the difference in the 2nd half of that game (I had St John's as a premium pick in that one). This match-up is completely different and the results show it. Villanova has thoroughly dominated Georgetown time and time again in recent years. The Wildcats have a huge coaching edge with Jay Wright over the Hoyas Patrick Ewing. Also, Georgetown has the misfortune of facing Nova when they are angry off a loss. The Wildcats are 7-1 ATS this season when off an ATS loss and only lost back to back games ATS once this season and that was three months ago! The Hoyas could be rusty here as they haven't played in a week while the Wildcats are going to hit the floor running and should be firing on all cylinders from the opening tip. Villanova can't wait to get back on the floor after what happened at St John's. The Wildcats are 30-16 ATS in games with a posted total in the 140s and 53-30 ATS in games against teams with a winning record. Georgetown is playing this game with road loss revenge but that is a situation that has seen them go 6-14 ATS. Also, the Hoyas are on a horrific 13-31 ATS run in home games. Road rout expected here. 8* VILLANOVA