AAA's 10* O/U WEST-COAST EXPRESS (+$30,277 NHL RUN CONT!)
(NHL) Anaheim vs. Nashville,
Total: 5.50 | 123.00 Over
Result: Loss
This is a 10* O/U WEST-COAST EXPRESS on the UNDER between the Anaheim Ducks and the Nashville Predators.

These teams are normally known for tough defensive play, but each has been pretty proficient in putting the biscuit in the basket of late. However, for a number of different reasons I think the conditions are finally right for a classic hard-hitting, grind it out defensive battle and expect this total to stay below the posted number once the final horn blares. Goaltender Pekka Rinne returns to the ice after injuring himself three weeks ago, his 1.96 GAA and .931 save percentage both rank second in the NHL: "I feel really good," Rinne said. "I feel 100 percent and feel ready to go. It's never a good time to be injured, but I'm feeling good." Rinne will have to be sharp to help his team avoid a fourth straight home loss in this series. In fact, the Ducks have won six of the last seven in the series, including a high-scoring 4-3 shootout win at home back on January 4th. Anaheim would rally from a two-goal deficit late in the third period and end up beating Carolina 5-4 on Tuesday and in my opinion this sets up as a classic letdown spot for the visitors after that emotional come from behind victory. Ducks' head coach Bruce Boudreau knows he'll be in for a battle: "Athletes are always excited about a real tough test," Boudreau said. "You're going in against a team (that has won) a franchise-record nine in a row at home, two teams with the top points in the league. If you can't get excited about that, why are we playing?" Anaheim goaltender Frederik Andersen has uncharacteristically given up four goals in each of his last two starts, but note that he'd won each of his previous seven starts while posting a very respectable 2.07 GAA in the process. And note that Anaheim has seen the total go UNDER the number in 11 of 18 this year after scoring four goals or more in its previous contest, while Nashville has seen the total dip below the posted number in 12 of 15 this year in revenging a loss vs. an opponent. In my opinion, all signs do indeed point to the UNDER as the savvy move in this one.

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