NHL All Star Game Total My bias is towards betting the under for this game. I need Fezzik or one of the other sharp bettors to claim that are you nuts for a televised all star game in a league with concussion problems it will just be a TV show....
3 of 4 have gone to 21 goals now. 21 last year in the first year of the new format where two players choose a team from the all stars.
Here are the reasons I like the under:
1. Compared to last year, I think the two captains Chara and Alfredsson have a rivalry against each other. They played together and now they play against each other in the same division. And the game is in Ottawa of course where they played together.
2. Alfredsson made no bones about it he wanted his own teammates on his team. Now Staal did that last year too so it isn't new. But Alfie made sure he got all of them on his team, made sure he got all the swedes, avoided Leafs, etc.
3. Alfie didn't draft any Toronto Maple Leafs. Knowing his home town fans and the rivalry between Ottawa and Toronto the 3 Leafs ended up on Chara's team. Maple Leafs players were actually booed in the place they did the drafting this year.
4. Alfie got the Sedin twins who play for Vancouver. Chara avoided Vancouver players since they played in the Stanley Cup last year.
5. Alfie has said ---FWIW---this game might be a little more intense than others. He's played them before. I'll take him for his word. I don't think he's saying there will be full on hitting of course but perhaps just a little more intensity might mean fewer breakaways, a little less desire of D men and goalies to be hung out to dry. Somewhere a dry spot for 10 minutes where there won't be 3 goals scored---at least.
6. The total has to be higher than other years as adjustments are made and this one has been bet over too. You can go under 19 even money at Bet Cris.
Reasons to like the over.
1. All these games go over. It is NBC it is a home run derby, rivalries are forgotten, etc.
Another angle on the game is because of the way Alfie drafted it appears Team Chara is more talented and the better team picking up Datsyuk and Malkin probably the 2 best players. Team Alfie has him and linemates, the Sedin twins who play together and a bias towards other Swedes and guys with an Ottawa connection, avoids Maple Leafs, etc. This brings the crowd into the game who will clearly be cheering for Team Alfie for a number of reasons. They would cheer for Team Alfie if it were just him and the other Ottawa players were on the other team. But the way he's loaded it this is a clear home team so they get that advantage. I'd almost say they were playing with enough emotion in this and interest I expect this side to win and almost game plan a little how to stop the top guys on Chara.
Love to hear other thoughts.
