Daily tips for December 18

What’s on today

It’s amazing what a day’s break will do – back and ready to find some winners! NHL takes centre stage today with the card comprising an even dozen games. The pick of them is the Western Conference showdown between the San Jose Sharks and the St Louis Blues. The Thunder head into Denver for the most anticipated game on the five-games NBA slate while there’s thoroughbred racing around the country today including a night meeting in Launceston; GL punters!

Racing for December 18

Horse racing: Mornington (Vic – dead 4), Canterbury (NSW – good 3), Doomben (Qld – good 3), Gawler (SA – dead 4), Ascot (WA – good 3), Launceston (Tas – night). Harness racing: Maryborough (Vic), Parkes (NSW), Redcliffe (Qld), Geelong (Vic). Greyhound racing: The Meadows (Vic), Angle Park (SA), Bendigo (Vic), Richmond (NSW), Albion Park (Qld), Sale (Vic), Cranbourne (Vic), Maitland (NSW), Rockhampton (Qld), Cannington (WA).

Confirmed bets

Mornington R2 #6 Cobblestones (win)

Mornington R4 #2 Different Drummer (win)

Canterbury R1 #1 Laidback Larry (win)

Ascot R1 #3 Bells Tower (win)

Leans

Mornington R5 #5 Mariner E/W (1x2)

Canterbury R3 #4 Tamariz (win)

Canterbury R5 #1 Inside Job (E/W)

Canterbury R7 #8 Roll The Bones (E/W)

Doomben R7 #1 Buakaw (win)

Gawler R3 #5 The Concorde (win)

Launceston R5 #5 Our Mummy’s Boy (win)

Launceston R8 #1 Laharun (E/W 1x3)

Ascot R4 #8 Satan's Dancer (win)

Ascot R7 #4 Pop Culture (win)

NHL for December 18

San Jose Sharks (20-7-6, 46 pts) @ St Louis Blues (22-6-4, 48 pts), Scottrade Center, St Louis, MS, Wednesday, December 18, 12.10pm

Already without forwards Vladimir Sobotka and Jaden Schwartz, the St Louis Blues will be without captain David Backes (pictured in typical battle pose) for the visit of the San Jose Sharks in marquee match-up on today’s NHL card. The Sharks are out to end a four-game skid as the visitors by sweeping the season series from the Blues here. San Jose (20-7-6) has dropped five of six on the road, with the power play coming up empty on 13 chances in those defeats. Special teams proved to be vital again Saturday as the Sharks failed to convert on two power plays while losing 3-2 at Nashville, which went 1 for 2 with the man advantage. That came two days after San Jose did all of its scoring on the power play to beat Minnesota 3-1. But the Sharks are 5 for 14 on the power play while holding St Louis to 1 for 11 in winning both meetings. San Jose won in St Louis on October 15 in a match that was marred by 89 combined penalty minutes after the Blues' Maxim Lapierre checked Dan Boyle from behind early in the first period.

Patrick Marleau has also put together a strong stretch, scoring three goals and assisting on three more over the past five games. The left wing has been key to San Jose’s success against the Blues. Sharks captain Joe Thornton has seven points against the Blues this season, and three have come on the power play. Goalie Brian Elliott may return to the bench in favor of Jaroslav Halak, who is 9-2-2 with a 2.27 goals-against average and two shutouts at home. However, one of those defeats came against the Sharks. Halak stopped 18 of 19 shots at San Jose last month after Elliott was lifted for allowing four goals on eight shots in the opening period. Chris Stewart did all of the Blues’ scoring in the 3-2 loss to the Senators, giving him four goals in the last three games to match his total from the previous 18. The right wing, though, hasn’t managed a point against the Sharks this season, while Alexander Steen has one and is a minus-5. Steen leads the Western Conference with 22 goals and tops St. Louis with 35 points. 

Confirmed bets

San Jose Sharks WIN @ St Louis Blues (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (4-2)

Anaheim Ducks WIN @ Detroit Red Wings (one unit @ $1.83) WIN (5-2)

Phoenix Coyotes @ Montreal Canadiens -5.5 (one unit @ $1.72) WIN (1-3)

Edmonton Oilers @ Los Angeles Kings WIN (one unit @ $1.72)

Calgary Flames @ Boston Bruins -5.5 (one unit @ $1.67) WIN (0-2)

Leans

Winnipeg Jets @ Buffalo Sabres WIN $1.91 WIN (2-4)

Tampa Bay Lightning WIN $1.91 @ New York Islanders WIN (3-2) 

Washington Capitals @ Philadelphia Flyers NO LEAN 

Vancouver Canucks @ Minnesota Wild WIN $1.91 WIN (2-3) 

Chicago Blackhawks @ Nashville Predators -5.5 $1.87 WIN (3-1) 

Colorado Avalanche WIN $1.91 @ Dallas Stars LOSE (2-3) 

Florida Panthers WIN $2.15 @ Toronto Maple Leafs WIN (3-1)Edmonton Oilers @ Los Angeles Kings -5.5 $1.77
Grand Salami -65.5

NBA for December 18

Oklahoma City Thunder (19-4, 7-4 away) @ Denver Nuggets (14-9, 7-3 home), Pepsi Center, Denver, CO, Wednesday, December 18, 1.10pm

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the hottest team in the NBA and seek a seventh consecutive victory when they visit the Denver Nuggets on here. Oklahoma City has won a staggering 14 of its past 15 games and their 19-4 start ties for second-best in franchise history, topped only by the 1993-94 Seattle SuperSonics’ 20-3 run. Denver is also compiling a respectable record, winning 10 of its last 13 games and seven of its last eight home games. Last time they met, Oklahoma City captured a 115-113 home victory over the Nuggets on November 18. The Nuggets missed 18 free throws and allowed the Thunder to collect 19 rebounds while five Denver players scored in double figures, led by Ty Lawson’s 29. The Nuggets allowed the Thunder to shoot 13 for 27 from 3-point range. Lawson misses here. Thunder forward Kevin Durant (pictured) scored 38 points in that contest. Denver is five games above. 500 in the tough Western Conference but there are still a lot of people unsure how to measure the club. The team has received a spark from Nate Robinson, who is averaging 14.7 points since Nov. 25 despite not starting a single game.

Against the Magic on Sunday, the Thunder ran out to 27 fast-break points and scored 50 in the paint. They were a bit sluggish in the fourth quarter, however, allowing Orlando to rally from a 16-point deficit before holding on to win 101-98. Durant was 11-of-18 shooting for 28 points against Orlando but his high standards – and even loftier expectations – didn’t allow him to feel satisfied. Durant has made over 60 per cent of his shots in four of the last six games – shooting a torrid 58.7 during the stretch – and has scored below 20 points just three times in 23 games. There’s also plenty of productivity coming off the Thunder bench. Reggie Jackson is chipping in 12.2 points per game while Jeremy Lamb is average 10.7 points per game in December. Also, Serge Ibaka is on pace for career highs in points (14.5) and rebounds (9.4). Despite the likelihood of a high scoring match here, the ‘under’ is 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings in Denver while Oklahoma City is 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings. I’m happy to take on both of those numbers here.

Confirmed bets

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Denver Nuggets +207.5 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (105-93)

Sacramento Kings @ Charlotte Bobcats -196 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (87-95)
New Orleans Pelicans @ Golden State Warriors -207.5 (one unit @ $1.91)

Leans

Portland Trail Blazers @ Cleveland Cavaliers +5 $1.93 WIN (119-116)

Los Angeles Lakers @ Memphis Grizzlies -193 $1.91 WIN (96-92)
Oklahoma City Thunder -3 $1.91 @ Denver Nuggets WIN (105-93)
New Orleans Pelicans +8.5 $1.93 @ Golden State Warriors -207.5 $1.91

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