Devils/Islanders Tonight

Devils/Islanders Tonight The Devils terminated John Maclean as coach today with their dismal start to the season. A common adage in hockey is that a change in coaches often brings 1st game success. Perhaps someone knows the data. They've brought back Jacques Lemaire who is coaching their for the 3rd time is it I believe. I see the lines at -200 on the moneyline on the Devils for this game--and if you had that number it would be agood one. Kovalchuk will play it appears. Anybody crunching numbers here how in the world can New Jersey be -200 in this game or any other at the moment? They have no chance for the playoffs and I cannot believe this change can be made to try to incite a playoff run. The Islanders stink but they've beaten NJ this year and the game is in Newark and I don't think the Islanders have any great history there recently but this year is an exception already as the Devils are a poor team. I'm here to say it is likely not just a bad start to the year. Even with the coaching change, Islanders on back to back but no travel really, terrible on the road in general, they got to have a 40% chance of winning this meaningless game don't they? I bet the Islanders +1.5-150 on the puckline.

Now there's a strong call. Well done.

Buffalo vs. Toronto tonight Time to bring out an old record here. A few years I remember the Devils brought in Lemaire to coach and the market loved the Devils and they got beaten down by the Islanders. Tonight we have the Sabres coming into this game after firing long term coach Lindy Ruff. It is true that the firing of a coach and then replacing him in the NHL was a good play. I wasn't a bettor but I recall many times the team who had their coach fired would respond. The Leafs opened in this game -145 and have been knocked down to as low as -110 at Matchbook. One factor--I think--is that sharp bettors like to bet against Toronto at home. I have another post on that from a few weeks ago for more information but it seems to occur frequently. The 2nd factor would be the changing of the coach. It is totally different circumstances but I just feel this is another coaching change that doesn't seem to fit the good pattern. The good pattern well is like the Leafs coach Randy Carlyle in his first game last year who won. What makes a good story? I don't know. I think when the firing makes sense and it is done at the right time and everyone comes out a winner. I'm not sure the Ruff one does. He is a players coach and had become woven into the fabric of the team. In fact the GM Regier should have fired him and then resigned himself as the two have been around so long. I think some of the veteran Sabres will be flat. What is odd is that they almost beat Pittsburgh the other day and have beaten Boston twice. Sure, they should have played better vs. Winnipeg but the right time to fire Ruff is after the season IMO. The Leafs look to be a better team than Buffalo as it is even with no drama. The opener was probably too high and playing Sabres at +125 and +130 maybe good play. However, I don't like the coaching change as an edge for Buffalo emotionally here. I think it is their negative. I also think the angle vs. the Leafs at home is an okay angle but actually I always liked that less during the week. I always felt it was more prevalent for a Hockey Night in Canada game on a Saturday. You can't get the Leafs home ice angle confused with a disadvantage for being at home. It is still the Leafs home ice for the game. IMO the Leafs all the value tonight at less than -120.