The Muskies (-120)
EJ Entertainment (-120)
Over 5.0 (-130)
Under 5.0 (-110)
Notes: It was the matchup that was destined to happen pretty much from the moment that I declared these teams the preseason favorites and especially once purple handed blue their only loss of the season. In fact, it seemed like these teams would meet in the finals for most of the fall until a late losing streak bumped purple from 1st to 4th and a semifinal showdown with the franchise that has eliminated them the past two seasons. Then again, both teams will be missing several key players tonight. Purple will be without Joe, Tony and Jacob which leaves their D somewhat shorthanded. Meanwhile blue’s losses are even worse with rookie of the year Krishan back in Canada for the holidays along with Cutler, Phelps, Will, Jacob and Jake all out as well. Max will sub in goal and blue will certainly be hoping he plays the way he did subbing for orange in the playoffs last season; likely Amanda in for Andrea as well but not 100% confirmed yet. In any case, had this game happened last week blue would have to be favored on the strength of a truly historic regular season where they became the only team in league history to give up less than a goal per game. That task becomes significantly more difficult without Phelps and Cutler. No leans on this game for obvious reasons although the over does look spicy for the two highest scoring teams this season.
BONUS LINES
More Points In Game
Miles + Jack (-130)
Alex + Sam (-110)
More Points In Game
Sam Gelman + Dave Liang (-135)
Annie + Ryann (-105)
Game To Go To OT
Yes (+260)
No (-420)
Shooting Blancs (+105)
Pinky Swear $#*! (-150)
Over 5.0 (-120)
Under 5.0 (-120)
Notes: If blue and purple were the frontrunners since before the season started, pink wasn’t too far behind. They’ve been ranked as such since a dominating 5-3 win over purple on September 30 and ever since then, it’s been blue/pink/purple vs the field for league odds (once as high as -130, that bet would now be somewhere around -500). That said, white looked great down the stretch and pulled out a gusty, come-from-behind playoff OT win in week one of the playoffs to get here. Hogg’s been excellent in net, Simon’s held down the D and while Neil/Cara have done most of the heavy lifting up front, Russo/Adam Herman have been sneaky good all season as they bury the hatchet from Adam’s Selanne Celly and the time he broke Russo’s face in a playoff game. Cue the Festivus airing of the grievances.
In any case, this is a tough game to handicap, as is to be expected when you’re down to the top four teams. Hogg/Jeff Green should be a wash. Wes is the top player in this game but Neil/Simon/Cara may very well be the next three, although Mike Stern did have a career season and finished above all three of them in points. Pretty crazy what quitting the weed will do for your athletic career although there is zero chance I will be doing that anytime soon. Pink has to be favored but I think it will be a tightly contested, super close game. But pink to win.
BONUS LINES
More Points In Game
Neil + Simon (EVEN)
Wes + Sean (-140)
More Points In Game
All Pink Ladies (-135)
Cara (-105)
Game To Go To OT
Yes (+240)
No (-400)
Pinky / Blancs (-130)
EJ / Muskies (-110)
Over 4.5 (-110)
Under 4.5 (-130)
Notes: A week ago the 1/4 side of the bracket would 100% be favored. With both blue and purple violently shorthanded, however, I must give the edge to pink/white although with the participants up in the air, truly anything can happen. As far as totals go – this is probably the only time you’ll ever see a 4.5 over/under in this space because of how low scoring these championships generally are. While last season’s featured a surprising 7 goals, the previous championships were 3, 4 and 5 goals. Tough to say which way this one will go but I would say the odds lean towards low scoring, tight-checking playoff game. Hopefully with less violence than BTSH though. Save that for Dorrian’s.
BONUS LINES
More Points In Championship Game
Neil + Simon + Wes + Sean (EVEN)
Sam + Alex + Jack + Miles (-140)
More Points In Championship Game
All White & Pink Ladies (-130)
All Purple & Blue Ladies (-110)
Game To Go To OT
Yes (+240)
No (-400)
Championship Winning Goal
Player Drafted Rounds 1-5 (-135)
Player Drafted Rounds 6-16 (-105)