Premium NHL Picks: Jan 30 Double Pick Pack

We have two picks today:

1- Chicago Blackhawks @ Carolina Hurricanes:

Hawks will be back home next week as they finish their road trip in Carolina. 3 wins out of last 5 games, Hawks are feeling pretty good about their road trip. They have one more task to do, beat the Canes at the RBC Center for the first time 12 years and go back home on a high note.

Carolina Hurricanes are still at the bottom of the league table but they have been playing better. Having played their best of the season this month, Canes have won 4 of their last 5 games before they face the league's top team Chicago Blackhawks tonight.

Erik Staal has been playing excellent for the Canes in recent games and he had three goals in three first period of the last three games. They have started very good in all of those games and goaltender Cam Ward was there to help them protect those leads.

Ward will start again tonight as backup goaltender Legace is still out. Canes are also without Erik Cole, Joe Corvo, Tuomo Ruutu and Scott Walker.

Blackhawks are coming off another win against the Sharks at the HP Pavillion. They had an amazing 3-0 lead in 1st period but Sharks rallied back in the rest of the game to take it into overtime but Brouwer scored his second goal of the match to win the game in overtime for the Blackhawks.

This will be a very interesting game as the Canes will try to keep winning hockey games and keep their weak playoff hopes alive while the Blackhawks will try to win at the RBC Center for the first time since 1998.

Staal, Jokinen and the Canes have impressed me in their latest games and they can keep this against the Blackhawks. Cam Ward has also been really good. It will be more difficult for the Hawks players to score tonight.

I will go with the UNDERDOG. Take Canes to win this one.

PREMIUM NHL PICK: CAROLINA HURRICANES TO WIN [Moneyline]

2.50 @ Bodog.com

2- Edmonton Oilers @ Calgary Flames:

The Battle of Alberta again and both teams are coming to this game with back to back losses felt like forever this time. Edmonton Oilers are without a win in last 12 games while the Flames have not won in nine games.

Oilers lost another game on home ice when they were shocked by the St Lois Blues on Thursday. Oilers had a 1-0 lead thank to a goal by Dustin Penner but then it was all Blues.

Flames have been putting more effort in it but they also have kept losing games. They lost to Dallas Stars and the Phoenix Coyotes in shoot out despite good performance by goaltender Kiprusoff.

When they played at the Pengrowth Saddledome, just like the Edmonton Oilers, it was the same Blues team who beat the Flames 2-0.

Flames have had serious scoring problems, as they have scored only 7 goals in last 5 games. Oilers scored only 1 more in 5 games. So both teams are pretty much doing same things, losing games and scoring fewer goals than any other team in the NHL.

This will be the 6th game between these rivals and the Flames are 5-0 against the Oilers.

Oilers welcomed back Mike Comrie last match but they are still without Ales Hemsky, Khabibulun, Staios and Ryan Stone.

Flames will have to play without forward David Moss while Conroy and Dawes are listed as day to day.

Battle of Alberta will be the survival of one team tonight. Both teams will be extremely happy with a victory over the rival which is going to mean the end of an everlasting losing streak.

Oilers still have bigger lineup problems as several players remain sidelined. Flames have been losing games in shoot outs so their effort was pretty good. I am expecting the home side to beat the Oilers for the 6th time this season.

PREMIUM NHL PICK: CALGARY FLAMES TO WIN [in Regulation]

1.75@ Bodog.com

Outcome: