Wednesday Puck Picks

[Raji]

Nashville at Buffalo (-140, 5 ½)

Sabres management can try to spin the Brian Campbell trade any way they like, but the fact remains that they just traded away what was left of the team’s beating heart after they let Chris Drury and Daniel Briere walk last offseason.

Apart from everything Campbell did on the ice, he was a great team guy in that locker room and the Sabres may miss that more than anything for the next while. Pulling the trigger on the deal was tough enough for GM Darcy Regier and coach Lindy Ruff, let alone the tight-knit Sabres locker room.

Buffalo picks up right winger Steve Bernier and a first-round pick in the deal. Bernier is a 6-foot-2, 225-pound prospect that had 13 goals as a top six forward with the Sharks.

Pick: Nashville +120



San Jose at Columbus (+120, 5)

San Jose has a lot of weapons once it gets the puck deep into its opposition’s end – it’s getting there that’s been an issue. That’s where former Sabres defenseman Brian Campbell is supposed to come in when he makes his San Jose debut tonight.

Campbell is fast and smooth enough to dig the puck out of the corner and get it to Joe Thornton and Co., plus the blue-liner should be a great fit on the power play.

While San Jose was reloading for the stretch run at the deadline, Columbus was in sell mode after failing to acquire Brad Richards. The Blue Jackets shipped captain Adam Foote and veteran forward Sergei Fedorov out of town for draft picks and prospect Ted Ruth.

Pick: San Jose -135



Phoenix at Chicago (-130, 5 ½)

Wayne Gretzky knows exactly what Denis Savard is going through right now. Before the Coyotes picked up goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, play between the pipes was a sore spot for the Desert Dogs. On some days, depending on the Great One’s demeanor, it stilll is.

Savard and the Blackhawks are missing Nikolai Khabibulin in a bad way. The veteran netminder is having back trouble and hasn’t been between the pipes since he blanked the Wild a week ago. Since then, Patrick Lalime and Corey Crawford have allowed a combined 11 regulation goals in just two games.

Phoenix, meanwhile, wants to start this mini two-game road trip off right after shutting out St. Louis 2-0.


Pick: Phoenix +115


Raji