Pink Panthers
Attack Of The Pie Pie
Notes: Another week, another gameday where I have no idea what the goalie situation is for the early game. Apparently the recent defections out of New York of goalie subs like APK and Ridzik plus fatherhood situations of Zisser, soon-to-be Max, some goalies getting tougher work schedules and Cam’s phone being a day-to-day proposition has absolutely wreaked havoc on early goalie subs. Thankfully for orange, this game is starting 15 minutes later than originally planned and Doug may be able to get in by the time only a few minutes passes. Unfortunately for orange, however, it’s still not ideal particularly considering they’re still missing Bedsy for this one. I was going to put up a line of pink -3 but considering I have no idea when a goalie will show up for orange, if at all, this is the second game of the season with no line to release at time of publication. Update is possible around 6ish although I may be toweling off the rink around that time. TBD.
Attack Of The Pie Pie (+2.0 Goals) (EVEN)
Hootie & The Doug Fish (-2.0 Goals) (-145)
Over 7.5 Goals (-200)
Under 7.5 Goals (+140)
Notes: Both teams look to be playing this one with seven guys, the bare minimum, but they do both have goalies and the stakes are pretty high for both. As mentioned in Mondays previews, Pie Pie has outscored opponents 21-7 in their last 135 minutes of hockey and have gotten out of what looked to be sure play-in danger and into the mix for a 5th or 6th seed which seemed almost unthinkable back when they were 0-3 to start the season. Camo, meanwhile, pretty much clinches a top two seed with a regulation win but will have to do so without Lucas, Mason, Sorice and a host of others and with Ken as a GTD. It’s not an ideal situation for either squad but considering the body of work I’ve seen from Doug Fish this season, I still have to give them the edge as their only loss was a shootout to Glatt’s. There’s always a chance Sophia steals the game for her rookie team Pie Pie but I’ve got camo 5-2.
Merry Pranksters (+150)
Sexual Misconduct (-230)
Over 7.5 Goals (EVEN)
Under 7.5 Goals (-145)
Notes: The Pranksters are missing a bunch of players apparently including co-captain Satok, Scott, Merkin, blue team champion and alumnus Carson Wine and Mike Agaby who is missing the chance to play against his Montreal friends. Blue is also missing some top players including Shane and Ryan but are generally champing at the bit to play tonight. Yes, that is the correct way to spell it despite what Larry David might tell you.
With full rosters, this game would have to be close to a toss-up with the Pranksters on their second straight season of proving preseason doubters wrong as they currently sit in 2nd place in the league standings. And they’ve won multiple games this season that no one picked them in where they didn’t even have a goalie lined up until like 20 minutes before the opening faceoff so no one should be surprised if they find a way here too. But with Chad finally making his return for blue and a revitalized Dave Nahon coming in after a midseason trade, I think this night is about to get sexual, and not in the way that Gelman had hoped. 4-2 blue.
The Royal Sampler (-2.0 Goals) (-120)
Show Bobs (+2.0 Goals) (-120)
Over 8.5 Goals (EVEN)
Under 8.5 Goals (-145)
Notes: Purple is missing a bunch of players including Carl, Karly, Sanchick and Luc and apparently were denied subs by opponents. Honestly, tough to blame black as they’ve dropped six in a row and need a win here to build some momentum heading into their play-in game. Purple will still have Tyler and Maeve subbing in plus they still have Jo Robin, Oskar and Pigozzi so the roster remains very solid and certainly capable of a win here. For black, it really comes down to motivation. They cannot move out of the play-in game at this point so they are strictly playing for pride tonight. Can they end their season on a high note? I know what most of you are thinking: no. And based on what’s been put in tape in recent weeks, I can’t blame you. But sometimes teams with nothing to lose play their best hockey in games exactly like this, with the pressure off and no one believing in them. I think there’s a good chance of that here. I don’t know if I’m brave enough to bet it, but if black can play a decent game on defense don’t be surprised to see them cover the spread here.
The Royal Sampler (+2.0 Goals) (-120)
Hockey At Glatt’s (-2.0 Goals) (-120)
Over 8.5 Goals (EVEN)
Under 8.5 Goals (-145)
Notes: Both teams are violently shorthanded for this one and the lineup card I’ve received from Glatt’s is not that much better than the one I received from purple. But there is one major difference, of course: the Glatt’s lineup card features the 2nd and 3rd leading scorers this season and of the past two seasons. And man, are they going to have to eat minutes tonight. The non-top-line minutes have, of course, been brutal for Glatt’s so far this season which is why despite a preseason #1 power ranking, they’re somehow currently in 10th place overall and in actual play-in danger, something that appeared unthinkable at the start of the season. But after tonight I don’t think that’s going to be an issue. Pending further freak rainstorms (pls no), and despite the cowardice of team leader Tony skipping this crucial late season contest, the defending champs should have enough to take this one rather comfortably. 7-4 Glatt’s. See ya tonight (HOPEFULLY).