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Sports: Regals will win when they need to win
Chris Clegg
for South Peace News
The NPHL gets back into full action this week with 11 games after the holiday break. I enjoyed perfect week against the line last week (albeit only three games) and on Pro-Line for a change. Of note, my against the line record is only four games worse than straight-up. David Temple sets this week’s lines.
Valleyview at Lakeland (Tue., Jan. 5)
LINE: Lakeland by 5 1/2
VV has always been a poor road this team but this is their house of horrors where LAKE holds a 32-4 all-time record. LAKE won the first meeting this season 14-2 on home ice, then won in VV 12-8. LAKE has won eight of the last 10 at home over VV with three covering the current line but two straight. Make it three. LAKE to win and cover.
Dawson Creek at Fort St. John (Thu., Jan. 7)
LINE: Fort St. John by 3 1/2
In a scheduling quirk, this is DC’s first of three visits to FSJ. FSJ won both games in DC this year 13-2 and 10-1 so the line is difficult to figure. DC has never won in DC going 0-4-1 from 2004-06 and each of FSJ’s six wins covered the current line. You can’t go against stats like that! FSJ to win and cover.
Hythe at Grande Prairie (Thu., Jan. 7)
LINE: Hythe by 1 1/2
Like DC in FSJ, this is HM’s first of two visits to GP this year. GP won the only meeting this year 6-5 Nov. 19. In a statistical quirk, HM won the first five games of this series in GP from 1998-2000 but last year GP swept HM at home 5-3 and 6-4. GP is the one team in the league that plays to the level of its opponent, good or bad. HM is a good team. Going with past history, GP to win and take the goals.
Valleyview at High Prairie (Thu., Jan. 7)
LINE: High Prairie by 2 1/2
HP has to win this game and at FAIR Saturday to keep dwindling playoff hopes alive. HP won the first game this year in VV 4-3 but VV won in HP 11-5 although the teams haven’t played in over six weeks. VV has now won two straight in HP but lost 13 straight before with 10 covering the current line. HP to win and cover.
Fairview at Peace River (Fri., Jan. 8)
LINE: Peace River by 2 1/2
This is the last of four games this season between the teams and a good thing as far as FAIR is concerned. PR has won the previous three games, all in OT by scores of 8-7 and 8-7 in FAIR and 7-6 at home. Eight of the last nine in PR have been decided by two goals or less with PR winning four of the last five. Going with the stats, PR to win but FAIR with the goals. And I although I did predict the last game to go into OT, this one will not.
Hythe at Fort St. John (Fri., Jan. 8)
LINE: Fort St. John by 1 1/2
The teams played three times in 21 days in November with FSJ losing at home in a shootout 5-4 and splitting in HM (FSJ won 6-3 and HM 9-7). FSJ swept all four games last season including wins at home 9-3 and 5-2. Strangely, the shootout win is the only game between these clubs in seven meetings decided by less than three goals. Therefore, FSJ to win and cover.
Lakeland at Falher (Fri., Jan. 8)
LINE: Lakeland by 4 1/2
First of a home-and-home to conclude the season series. LAKE won at home 8-3 and in FAL 13-5 earlier this year. Blowouts in FAL are not the norm; the previous three games were decided by less than three goals with LAKE winning twice. However, I’ll go with recent history and pick LAKE to win and cover. Kurtis Swanson and Ashley Langdone are both suspended for the games leaving FAL with little physical presence which LAKE will feast on.
Falher at Lakeland (Sat., Jan. 9)
LINE: Lakeland by 6 1/2
And back to LAKE they come! LAKE to win but will they cover? LAKE has won three of the last four at home but only covered the current line once. Before that, LAKE won 11 straight at home with five covering the current line. I think the line is too high. Just a hunch. FAL to cover.
Grande Prairie at Dawson Creek (Sat., Jan. 9)
LINE: Dawson Creek by 1 1/2
Last of four games this season. GP won in DC 2-1 Nov. 12 and split at home winning 5-2 and losing 5-4 in a shootout. Expect a close game between the two long-time rivals. GP has won five straight in DC dating back to 2004 but DC won eight straight before when they were the class of the league. I’ve been relying on stats for most of my picks but not this time. I agree with Temple. DC to win and cover.
High Prairie at Fairview (Sat., Jan. 9)
LINE: Fairview by 2 1/2
FAIR has only won five games this year but three against HP. They won twice in HP 6-4 and 10-9 and at home 5-3 and go for the season sweep. HP won their last trip to FAIR last season 9-5 but lost 13 of 14 before. HP has to win this game of face a big problem in making the playoffs. They will rise to the occasion. HP to win and take the goals.
Peace River at Valleyview (Sat., Jan. 9)
LINE: Valleyview by 2 1/2
PR has won the previous two games this year 10-4 at home and 9-4 in VV but VV did sweep PR at home last year 5-3 and 6-3 and have won three of the last five. VV’s big win in FAL has some reason for optimism, hence the line, but PR tends to defeat the poorer clubs. History has to account for something, however. PR to win but VV with the goals.
LAST WEEK’S RECORD STRAIGHT-UP: 2-1
LAST WEEK’S RECORD AGAINST THE LINE: 3-0
THIS SEASON’S RECORD STRAIGHT-UP: 46-18
THIS SEASON’S RECORD AGAINST THE LINE: 42-22
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