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  • NHL Betting Info. 4/12

    First Round Cheat Sheet


    Key:
    A – Atlantic
    M – Metropolitan
    C – Central
    P – Pacific
    W – Wild Card


    Eastern Conference


    1M Washington vs. 2W Philadelphia


    Capitals: 56-17-8, 120 points
    Flyers: 40-27-14, 94 points


    Season series: The Capitals and Flyers each won two meetings this season in four matchups with the final three games decided by one goal each. Philadelphia edged Washington in the shootout on March 30 in a 2-1 home victory, while the Flyers shocked the Capitals as +200 road underdogs in overtime, 4-3 on January 27.


    Previous playoff outcome: The Capitals reached the second round of the playoffs last season before bowing out to the Rangers in seven games. Washington knocked out the other New York squad in the first round by edging the Islanders in seven games, as each of their last five playoff series since 2012 have gone the distance. The Flyers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2014, as Philadelphia fell in seven games to the Rangers.


    1A Florida vs. 1W N.Y. Islanders


    Panthers: 47-26-9, 103 points
    Islanders: 45-27-10, 100 points


    Season series: The Panthers beat the Islanders in the first two matchups early in the season, but New York rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the third period of their last meeting to win, 3-2 in mid-March. In the only contest in South Florida, the Panthers edged the Islanders, 3-2 in the shootout on the night after Thanksgiving to begin a five-game winning streak.


    Previous playoff outcome: Florida hasn’t won a playoff series since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 1996, as the Panthers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2012. The Panthers stretched the Devils to the limit, but lost Game 7 at home in the opening round in double-overtime. The Islanders fell in seven games to the Capitals in the first round of last season’s playoffs, while scoring one goal each in three of the losses.


    2A Tampa Bay vs. 3A Detroit


    Lightning: 46-31-5, 97 points
    Red Wings: 41-30-11, 93 points


    Season series: These two teams split four matchups this season with the home team winning each time. Detroit held Tampa Bay to one goal apiece in the two victories at Joe Louis Arena early in the season, while the Lightning scored six goals in their final meeting at Amalie Arena in late March. Three of the four meetings finished ‘under’ the total.


    Previous playoff outcome: The Lightning and Red Wings are hooking up in the opening round for the second straight season, as Tampa Bay held off Detroit in seven games. Tampa Bay won three of four games at Amalie Arena, while the Bolts overcame a 3-2 deficit to win the final two games en route to capturing the Eastern Conference championship.


    2M Pittsburgh vs. 3M N.Y. Rangers


    Penguins: 48-26-8, 104 points
    Rangers: 46-27-9, 101 points


    Season series: The Penguins caught fire at the end of the season to win 14 of 16 games to finish in second place of the Metropolitan division. Pittsburgh grabbed three of four meetings from New York, including the last two matchups at Madison Square Garden. There weren’t any clear trends on the total between these teams with one ‘over,’ one ‘under,’ and a pair of ‘pushes.’


    Previous playoff outcome: New York and Pittsburgh are locking horns for the second straight postseason in the first round, as the Rangers made quick work of the Penguins in five games. All four losses by the Penguins came in exact 2-1 scores, including a pair of losses at home. Pittsburgh has been bounced by New York in each of the last two postseasons, as the Rangers overcame a 3-1 deficit to stun the Pens in the 2014 second round in seven games.


    Western Conference


    1C Dallas vs. 2W Minnesota


    Stars: 50-23-9, 109 points
    Wild: 38-33-11, 87 points


    Season series: The Stars captured four victories in five games against the Wild this season, including three wins in overtime. Dallas won all three games at Xcel Energy Center, as all three road victories eclipsed the ‘over.’ The only win for Minnesota came at Dallas on January 9 in a 2-1 triumph, while the Wild blew a 3-0 third period lead in a 4-3 home overtime setback to the Stars in late November.


    Previous playoff outcome: Minnesota advanced to the second round last season before getting bounced by eventual champion Chicago in four games. The Wild eliminated St. Louis in six games, while yielding two goals or less in all four victories. The Stars are back in the postseason following a one-year absence, as Dallas lost in six games to Anaheim in the opening round of the 2014 playoffs. The last time Dallas advanced past the first round, it reached the conference finals in 2008 as the Stars lost to the Red Wings in six games.


    1P Anaheim vs. 1W Nashville


    Ducks: 46-25-11, 103 points
    Predators: 41-27-14, 96 points


    Season series: These teams haven’t met since November 17, as the home squad won all three matchups. Nashville ripped Anaheim at home on October 22 by a 5-1 count, as the Ducks finished that early-season road trip at 0-5. The Ducks picked up revenge in the next meeting at the Honda Center on November 1 in a 4-2 victory before dropping a 3-2 decision in Nashville 16 days later.


    Previous playoff outcome: Anaheim rolled past Winnipeg and Calgary in the first two rounds of last season’s playoff before losing in seven games to Chicago. Nashville is making its fourth playoff appearance since 2011, while looking to advance to the second round for the first time since 2012. The Predators fell to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks in six games of the opening round of the 2015 playoffs.


    2C St. Louis vs. 3C Chicago


    Blues: 49-24-9, 107 points
    Blackhawks: 47-26-9, 103 points


    Season series: The Blues won three of five matchups this season with the Blackhawks, including a comeback 2-1 victory at the United Center in overtime on April 7. All three losses by Chicago to St. Louis came past regulation, including two overtime defeats at home. After the first two meetings eclipsed the ‘over,’ the ‘under’ rebounded and went 2-0-1 in the final three matchups.


    Previous playoff outcome: Chicago claimed its third Stanley Cup title since 2010 when the Blackhawks knocked out the Lightning in six games last June. The Blackhawks last met the Blues in the playoffs back in 2014 in the opening round, as Chicago rallied from a 2-0 series deficit to eliminate St. Louis in six games. The Blues have been bounced in the first round in each of the last three postseasons, as they last escaped past the opening round in 2012 before bowing out to the Kings in the conference semifinals.


    2P Los Angeles vs. 3P San Jose


    Kings: 48-28-6, 102 points
    Sharks: 46-30-6, 98 points


    Season series: The Sharks won three of five meetings against the Kings, including a pair of victories at Staples Center. This series was dominated for a long time by the home team, but the road team went 4-1 in the five matchups, while four contests were decided by at least two goals.


    Previous playoff outcome: Two seasons ago, San Jose built a commanding 3-0 advantage over Los Angeles in the opening round, but ended up losing the final four games. The Kings wound up winning the Stanley Cup that season, as Los Angeles is back in the playoffs after missing out last season. The Sharks also return to the postseason following a one-year absence, as the Kings knocked out San Jose in both 2013 and 2014 in seven games apiece.

  • #2
    Re: NHL Betting Info. 4/12

    1st Round Series Odds


    Home Team listed first - Best of 7 Games (2-2-1-1-1)
    (Opening Odds in parentheses)


    Eastern Conference - First Round


    Washington vs. Philadelphia
    Capitals (-280)
    Flyers (+230)


    Florida vs. N.Y. Islanders
    Panthers (-155)
    Islanders (+135)


    Pittsburgh vs. N.Y. Rangers
    Penguins (-150)
    Rangers (+130)


    Tampa Bay vs. Detroit
    Lightning (-150)
    Red Wings (+130)


    Western Conference - First Round


    Dallas vs. Minnesota
    Stars (-200)
    Wild (+165)


    Anaheims vs. Nashville
    Ducks (-165)
    Predators (+145)


    Los Angeles vs. San Jose
    Kings (-150)
    Sharks (+130)


    St. Louis vs. Chicago
    Blues (-110)
    Blackhawks (-110)


    Odds Subject to Change

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: NHL Betting Info. 4/12

      Eastern Conference Outlook
      By Alex Smith


      Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers
      2015-16 Head-to-Head Record: Tied 2-2 SU, 1-1-2 O/U
      Home team has won 6 of the Last 9 Meetings
      Flyers: 7 of the Last 10 Meetings
      Capitals: Lost 12 of Last 17 Road Playoff Games


      Two clubs who's playoff history dates back to the vicious Patrick Division battles during the 1980s, The Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers are set to clash once again in the first round of this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs.


      The Capitals have had a monstrous campaign, dominating for well over 3/4ths of the season. Washington set a new record for most wins (56/57), most points (120/121/122) and they captured their second President's Trophy in franchise history. Led by their superstar captain Alexander Ovechkin, who notched his 3rd consecutive 50-goal season and goaltender Braden Holtby, who ended the season tied with Martin Brodeur for most wins by a goaltender in a season with 47, the Caps have been the odds-on favorite to win the Stanley Cup since after the New Year.


      However, we have seen President's Trophy-winning clubs fall short of the grand prize time and time again. The 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks are the last club to win both the President's Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same year, and that was a shortened season due to a lockout. You have to go back to the 2001-02 Detroit Red Wings to find a club that won both trophies in a full 82-game season year. Philadelphia returns to the postseason after a down year in 2015-16.


      The Flyers, led by first year coach Dave Hakstol, played simple, stripped-down hockey this year, focusing on puck possession, clean neutral-zone play and balanced lines that provided a good wealth of scoring all season. Forwards Wayne Simmonds & Claude Giroux along with rookie D-man Shayne Gostisbehere have been the 3 key pieces for this club's success offensively, while goaltender Steve Mason has turned in a decent ledger this season for the Flyers, but he has yet to prove his worth in a postseason series. With a 2-6 career playoff record, he will the biggest piece of the puzzle in order for them to pull what would be a big upset.


      The Flyers haven't fully returned to the "Broad Street Bullies" just yet, but they play a strong, physical brand of hockey that is a contrast from the fast, offensive possession style that the Capitals have made an art form of this season. While these two teams have a built-up rivalry and some tight contests between each other, this Washington team is on a mission to get over their recent playoff struggles. This team will turn on an extra gear in this series and advance to the 2nd Round in what should be a deep postseason run.


      Prediction: Capitals in 6


      Washington Capitals
      (Record: 56-17-8; 120 Points - Presidents' Trophy Winners)
      O/U Record: (21-12-19 at 5 / 12-17 at 5.5)
      Power Play: (#5: 21.9%)
      Penalty Kill: (#2: 85.2%)
      # of OT/SO Games: 19


      Last Playoff Appearance: 2015
      (Beat NY Islanders in 7, Lost to NY Rangers in 7)
      (7-7 SU, 3-9-2 O/U & 7-7 ATS Last Postseason)


      14-14, 6-17-5, 18-10 ATS Last 5 Series
      5-12 Last 17 Playoff Road Games


      Current Form: On a 3-6 SU Run Last 9 Games
      PK Unit: 20 Kills/22 Chances Last 9 Games


      Leading Scorers: Evgeny Kuznetsov (20g, 77pts)
      Alex Ovechkin (50g, 71pts), Nicklas Backstrom (20g, 70pts)
      Justin Williams (22g, 52pts), T.J. Oshie (26g, 50pts)


      #1 Goalie: Braden Holtby (48-9-7, 2.20 G.A.A; .923 Sv% with 3 SO in 65 GS)
      (Career Playoff Record: 16-18, 1.92 G.A.A; .936 Sv%)


      Philadelphia Flyers
      (Record: 41-27-14; 96 Points)
      O/U Record: (23-11-20 at 5 / 8-18 at 5.5)
      Power Play: (#11: 18.9%)
      Penalty Kill: (#20: 80.5%)
      # of OT/SO Games: 27


      Last Playoff Appearance: 2014 (Lost to NY Rangers in 7)
      (3-4 SU, 3-2-2 O/U & 3-4 ATS in that Series)
      8-10 SU, 10-6-2 O/U & 8-10 ATS Last 3 Playoff Series


      Current Form: On a 15-8 SU Run
      On a 6-3 SU Run Last 9 Games as a Favorite


      Leading Scorers: Claude Giroux (22g, 67pts)
      Wayne Simmonds (32g, 60pts), Brayden Schenn (26g, 58pts)
      Jakub Voracek (11g, 55pts), Shayne Gostisbehere (17g, 46pts)


      #1 Goalie: Steve Mason (23-19-10, 2.51 G.A.A; .918 Sv% w/ 4 SO in 53 GS)
      (Career Playoff Record: 2-6, 3.11 G.A.A; .907 Sv% in 8 GS)


      Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings
      2015-16 Head-to-Head Record: Tied 2-2, 1-3 O/U
      Home team has won 10 of last 14 meetings
      Lightning: Beat Red Wings in 1st Round Last Year in 7 Gms
      Red Wings: 25 Straight Postseason Appearances (Longest Streak in North American Sports)


      This rematch from last year's opening round series will have a much different feel this time around. The Tampa Bay Lightning enter this series as defending Eastern Conference Champions after beating the Red Wings in a thrilling seven-game series that was very physical and showcased the defensive prowess from both clubs that hadn't been their mantra during the season prior.


      One major change in this match-up will be the absence of Bolts star winger Steven Stamkos, who is out indefinitely after surgery to correct a blood clot in his arm. Stamkos was 2nd in points scored for this Tampa club that has had trouble off and on all season finding consistent secondary scoring, a trait that carried them deep into the playoffs just a season ago. Detroit fought off Boston to grab the 3rd spot in the Atlantic Division on the final weekend of the season to extend their postseason record to 25 consecutive seasons.


      Kudos to 1st year coach Jeff Blashill for handling the pressure of dealing with rotating injuries, shaky goaltending and maintaining a record that the Motor City faithful take great pride in. With that said, this series will be a test of which club's offense can heat up at the right time. The Wings will be looking for a boost from rookie sensation Dylan Larkin and veteran mainstay Pavel Datsyuk, who has announced this will be his last NHL season at the conclusion of the playoffs. The oft-injured winger is one of the last members from the Detroit clubs that won Stanley Cups in 2002 & 2008.


      The goaltending tandem of Jimmy Howard & Petr Mrazek were the glaring weakness in this series last year, and it seems like not much has changed in that time. Jimmy Howard has been solid as of late, winning 6 of his last 9 starts, but Petr Mrazek, who started all 7 games in the 2015 series, has lost 4 of his last 5 starts. For the Bolts, it's Ben Bishop who has been turning in yet another solid season between the pipes. The 6'7" netminder has won 6 of his last 8 starts and held opponents to 2 or fewer goals in 6 of his last 9 appearances overall. This will be another tightly contested series where goals will be at a premium, and small mistakes will be critical.


      Prediction: Lightning in 6


      Tampa Bay Lightning
      (Record: 46-31-5; 97 Points)
      O/U Record: (23-25-10 at 5 / 11-16 at 5.5)
      Power Play: (#28: 15.8%)
      Penalty Kill: (#7: 84%)
      # of OT/SO Games:


      Last Playoff Appearance: 2015
      (Beat Detroit in 7, Beat Montreal in 6, Beat NY Rangers in 7, Lost to Chicago in 6)
      (14-16, 12-17-1 and 16-14 ATS Last 5 Series dating back to 2014)


      Current Form: 0-4 SU Last 4 as an Underdog, 3-6 Last 9 Road Games,
      PK has allowed 1 Goal in 5 of Last 8 Games


      Leading Scorers: Nikita Kucherov (30g, 66pts)
      Steven Stamkos (36g, 64pts - Injured), Victor Hedman (10g, 47pts)
      Alex Killorn (14g, 40pts), Ondrej Palat (16g, 40pts)


      #1 Goalie: Ben Bishop: (35-21-4, 2.06 G.A.A; .926 Sv% with 6 SO in 60 GS)
      (Career Playofff Record: 13-11, 2.18 G.A.A; .921 Sv%)


      Detroit Red Wings
      (Record:41-30-11; 93 Points)
      O/U Record: (25-28-16 at 5 / 6-14 at 5.5)
      Power Play: (#13: 18.8%)
      Penalty Kill: (#14: 81.5%)
      # of OT/SO Games: 22


      Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 (Lost to Tampa Bay in 7)
      (3-4 SU, 2-4-1 O/U & 3-4 ATS in that Series)
      19-23 SU, 13-17-12 O/U & 23-18 ATS Last 5 Postseasons


      Current Form: 5-13 SU Last 18 Road Games
      Power-Play has scored at least 1 Goal in 9 of Last 11 Games
      Howard: 6-3 SU Last 9 Starts
      Mrazek: 1-4 SU Last 5 Starts


      Leading Scorers: Henrik Zetterberg (13g, 50pts)
      Pavel Datsyuk (16g, 49pts), Tomas Tatar (21g, 45pts)
      Dylan Larkin (23g, 45pts), Gustav Nyquist (17g, 43pts)


      Goalies:
      Jimmy Howard (14-14-5, 2.80 G.A.A; .906 Sv% in 33 GS)
      (Career Playoff Record: 21-24, 2.53 G.A.A; .919 Sv%)


      Petr Mrazek (27-16-6, 2.33 G.A.A; .921 Sv% w/4 SO in 49 GS)
      (Career Playoff Record: 3-4, 2.11 G.A.A; .925 Sv%)


      Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers
      2015-16 Head-to-Head Series: Pens lead 3-1 SU, 1-1-2 O/U
      Road Team has won 7 of Last 10 Meetings
      Under is 5-2-2 Last 9 Meetings
      Rangers: Beat Penguins in 5 Games of first round in 2015
      Penguins: Lost 6 of Last 10 meetings vs. Rangers


      Another first round re-match from last postseason takes place as the scorching hot Pittsburgh Penguins take on the New York Rangers.


      It was the Blueshirts who made short work of Sidney Crosby and company last April as the Rangers won the series 4 games to 1, but this season, the Penguins have picked up 3 wins in their 4 meetings. Earlier in the year it was the Rangers that were the all the rage in the Eastern Conference, starting off on a 18-7-3 run, but then cooling off once the injury bug started to hit and affect key guys like goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, and defensemen Kevin Klein & Dan Girardi.


      Now it's Pittsburgh that has been one of the best teams in the NHL down the stretch, winning 16 of their last 20 contests to bounce from a fringe team on the bubble of reaching a Wild Card berth to firmly planting themselves into 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division. The mid-season coaching change, hiring Mike Sullivan to replace Mike Johnston, worked out very well, as this dynamic offense, led by Crosby, Evgeni Malkin & newly acquired Phil Kessel finally woke up and took charge, scoring goals in bunches for most of the 2nd half of the season.


      Pittsburgh's only major concern has to be their current situation in net. Marc-Andre Fleury has missed time this season on two separate occasions with concussion issues, and while rookie Matt Murray looked stellar in goal during Fleury's recent absence, he too was injured in their season finale, suffering a blow to his head and is now listed as questionable for the start of this series.


      As of now, should Fleury & Murray both be ruled out, the goaltending duties would be on Jeff Zatkoff & Tristan Jarry, the latter of which has never even appeared in an NHL contest. This will be an all-out battle, given these two clubs' history with one another. And while the offense for Pittsburgh has been electric, the question mark between the pipes is just big enough to cause some serious concern. I'll give the edge to King Henrik's club to edge out a close series victory.


      Prediction: Rangers in 7


      Pittsburgh Penguins
      (Record: 48-26-8; 104 Points)
      O/U Record: (26-16-12 at 5 / 10-17 at 5.5)
      Power Play: (#16: 18.4%)
      Penalty Kill: (#5: 84.4%)
      # of OT/SO Games: 18


      Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 (Lost to NY Rangers in 5)
      (1-4 SU, 1-4 O/U & 5-0 ATS in that Series)
      16-17 SU, 16-16-1 O/U & 16-17 ATS Last 6 Series


      Current Form: On a 16-4 SU Run Last 20 Games
      Scored 4+ Goals in 11 of Last 14 Games
      PK Unit: 41 Kills / 45 Chances over Last 14 Games


      Leading Scorers: Sidney Crosby (36g, 85pts)
      Kris Letang (16g, 67pts), Phil Kessel (26g, 59pts)
      Evgeni Malkin (27g, 58pts) Patric Hornqvist (22g, 51pts)


      Goalies:
      Marc-Andre Fleury (35-17-6, 2.29 G.A.A; .921 Sv% w/5 SO in 58 GP)
      (Career Playoff Record: 53-44, 2.65 G.A.A; .906 Sv%)
      (Last 5 Years Postseason: 15-20, 2.86 G.A.A; .905 Sv%)


      Matt Murray (9-2-1, 2.00 G.A.A; .930 Sv% in 13 GS)
      Rookie Was Starting in Place of Fleury, who was out with a concussion, but he suffered a head injury in the Season Finale and is questionable as well.


      Jeff Zatkoff (4-7-1, 2.79 G.A.A; .917 Sv% in 11 GS)
      (No NHL Playoff Experience)


      New York Rangers
      (Record: 46-27-9; 101 Points )
      O/U Record: (20-29-16 at 5 / 8-9 at 5.5)
      Power Play: (#14: 18.6%)
      Penalty Kill: (#26: 78.2%)
      # of OT/SO Games: 16


      Last Playoff Appearance: 2015
      (Beat Pittsburgh in 5, Beat Washington in 7, Lost to Tampa Bay in 7)


      11-8 SU, 6-12-1 O/U, 5-14 ATS Last Postseason
      40-41 SU, 24-40-17 O/U & 31-50 ATS Last 5 Postseasons
      4-5 in 1st Home Game of Series since 2013


      Current Form:On a 7-4 SU & 6-0-5 O/U Run Last 11 Games
      Allowed 2+ Goals in 18 of Last 19 Games
      Lundqvist: 4-8 SU Last 12 Starts


      Leading Scorers: Mats Zuccarello (26g, 61pts0
      Derick Brassard (27g, 58pts), Derek Stepan (22g, 53pts)
      Keith Yandle (5g, 47pts), J.T. Miller (22g, 43pts), Chris Kreider (21g, 43pts)


      #1 Goalie:
      Henrik Lundqvist (35-21-7, 2.48 G.A.A; .920 Sv% with 4 SO in 64 GS)
      (Career Playoff Record: 54-56, 2.22 G.A.A; .923 Sv% with 9 SO)


      Florida Panthers vs. New York Islanders
      2015-16 Head-to-Head Series: Panthers lead 2-1 SU, 1-0-2 O/U
      Home Team has won 6 of the Last 10 Meetings
      Underdogs have won 6 of the Last 10 Meetings
      Over is 8-0-2 Last 10 Meetings
      Panthers: 18-8 SU Last 26 Home Games
      Islanders: On a 7-4 SU Run Last 11 Games Overall


      It's a Cross-Divisional clash as the Atlantic Division Champion Florida Panthers open the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Islanders.


      This has been a miraculous season for the 'Cats, as many people picked this club to fall somewhere between a Wild Card entry and a Top 5 Lottery Pick for the next Draft. However, with a solid blend of youthful talent and some crafty veterans, the Panthers not only reached the playoffs for the 2nd time in this decade, but with 103 points, the team set a new record for most points in franchise history, en route to winning their 2nd ever division title.


      The "Ageless Wonder," 46-year old Jaromir Jagr is not only still skating on an NHL roster, but he leads this club in points and has really set an example for the younger guys on this hockey team with his tireless work ethic and love for this game. He's a perfect locker room guy to have around up-and-coming stars like Vincent Trocheck, Jonathan Huberdeau, Aaron Ekblad & Nick Bjugstad.


      The New York Islanders had a nice honeymoon season in their new digs at the Barclays Center over in Brooklyn, reaching the playoffs for the 3rd time in 4 seasons. The core of this club remains intact from last year, with star winger john Tavares leading the way, along with contributions from Forwards Kyle Okposo & Brock Nielson. This club is tough & gritty and will bang the boards with anyone in the league.


      Their one weakness heading into the postseason is their defense, and that's as a result of injuries sweeping through their blue line and goaltenders as of late. D-men Travis Hamonic & Calvin de Haan both missed time late in the season with ailments, the former has yet to return to the line-up. In net, Starter Jaroslav Halak has been out for over a month with a groin issue, and Thomas Greiss has been moved to the #1 role, but his new back-up, Jean-Francois Berube, went down a week ago with a lower body issue, and he's questionable for Game 1.


      Should something happen to Greiss, who virtually has no NHL playoff experience, the task of tending net would go to either Berube or Christopher Gibson, who barely even have a week's worth of NHL season time on their pads.


      This will be a fun series to watch, as we get to see Florida in the playoffs, which is a rare treat, and we also get to see a great fan base in Brooklyn cheer on their squad. Both teams have made great strides over the last couple of seasons to reach this point and we will see a pair of hungry hockey clubs battle it out in this one. I like the Panthers here to win their first playoff series in over 20 years.


      Prediction: Panthers in 6


      Florida Panthers
      (Record: 47-26-9; 103 Points, Atlantic Division Champions)
      O/U Record: (25-18-18 at 5 / 8-13 at 5.5)
      Power Play: (#23: 16.9%)
      Penalty Kill: (#24: 79.5%)
      # of OT/SO Games: 17


      Last Playoff Appearance: 2012 (Lost to New Jersey in 7)
      (3-4 SU, 2-2-3 O/U & 5-2 ATS in that series)


      Current Form: On an 11-5 SU Run Last 16 Games Overall
      PK Unit has allowed 1+ Goals in 9 of Last 11 Games
      Offense has scored 3+ Goals in 13 of Last 17 Games


      Leading Scorers: Jaromir Jagr (27g, 65pts)
      Jussi Jokinen (18g, 60pts), Aleksander Barkov (28g, 59pts)
      Jonathan Huberdeau (20g, 59pts), Vincent Trocheck (25g, 53pts - Injured)


      #1 Goalie: Roberto Luongo (34-19-6, 2.35 G.A.A; .922 Sv% w/4 SO in 59 GS)
      (Career Playoff Record: 32-31, 2.54 G.A.A; .916 Sv% with 5 Shutouts)


      New York Islanders
      (Record: 45-27-10; 100 Points)
      O/U Record: (11-9-8 at 5 / 22-32 at 5.5)
      Power Play: (#17: 18.3%)
      Penalty Kill: (#4: 84.5%)
      # of OT/SO Games: 21


      Last Playoff Appearance:2015 (Lost to Washington in 7)
      (5-10 SU, 6-7-1 O/U & 8-5 ATS Last 2 Postseasons)


      Current Form: Over is 8-2-1 Last 11 Games
      On a 4-1 SU run Last 5 Games as a Favorite


      Leading Scorers:
      John Tavares (33g, 70pts), Kyle Okposo (22g, 64pts)
      Frans Nielsen (20g, 52pts), Brock Nelson (26g, 40pts)


      Goalies:
      Jaroslav Halak (18-13-4, 2.30 G.A.A; .919 Sv% w/3 SO in 36 GS)
      (Career Playoff Record: 13-15, 2.39 G.A.A; .924 Sv%) (Injured-Groin)


      Thomas Greiss (23-12-4, 2.36 G.A.A; .924 Sv% in 38 GS)
      (No NHL Playoff Experience)

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: NHL Betting Info. 4/12

        Western Conference Outlook
        By Alex Smith


        Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild
        2015-16 Head-to-Head Series: Stars lead 4-1 SU, 3-2 O/U
        Road Team has won 6 of the Last 9 Meetings
        Favorite has won 5 of the Last 8 Meetings
        Over is 6-2 Last 8 Meetings
        Stars: On a 13-5 SU Run Last 18 Games Overall
        Wild: 2-5 SU Last 7 Playoff Games


        With a dramatic 3-2 victory in their regular season finale at home, the Dallas Stars clinched both the Central Division crown and the top seed in the Western Conference, and will now open the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Minnesota Wild in the first round.


        Dallas has been one of the best teams in the league all season from an offensive standpoint, with one of the best power-play units converting at a 22% clip, led by the duo of forwards Jamie Benn & Tyler Seguin, the two combined for 74 Goals & 87 Assists during the season.


        Minnesota comes into this series on a 5-game losing streak, after previously winning 6 in a row. Their schizophrenic offensive attack has been the primary cause for their roller-coaster season, which saw a bit more stability once John Torchetti was brought in as new Head Coach late into the season. The Wild went 15-11-1 down the stretch with the former Chicago assistant at the helm. Injuries have bit this club as of late, as two key forwards Thomas Vanek & Zach Parise, could miss the start of this series. That duo combined for 43 goals during the season.


        The keys to this series will undoubtedly come down to Goaltending & Special Teams. Dallas has been platooning between the Finnish duo of Antti Niemi & Kari Lehtonen all season. While both netminders have turned in respectable records this year, the 32-year old Niemi holds a 10-4-2 career record versus the Wild, which could give him the starting edge, despite Lehtonen winning 6 of his last 7 starts.


        Devan Dubnyk will start between the pipes for Minnesota, and he will have to shake off his recent struggles if the Wild stand a chance of advancing out of the first round for the 3rd consecutive year. Dallas' PP shouldn't have too much of a struggle against the Wild's penalty-killing units.


        Minnesota is ranked 4th-worst in the league in PK% at just under 78%. The Wild are a disciplined team, that stresses puck possession, but if they can't find the back of the net, they do get frustrated easily, which can turn into penalties.


        If the Stars' blue-line corps can do enough to keep quality shots away from either netminder, this could be a very quick series for the club that once called the Twin Cities home over 2 decades ago.


        Prediction: Stars in 5


        Dallas Stars
        (Record: 50-23-9; 109 Points - Central Division Champions)
        O/U Record: (2-1-1 at 5 / 43-33 at 5.5 / 0-2 at 6)
        Power Play: (#4: 22.1%)
        Penalty Kill: (#10: 82.3%)
        # of OT/SO Games: 17


        Last Playoff Appearance: 2014 (Lost to Anaheim in 6)
        (2-4 SU, 4-2 O/U & 4-2 ATS in that series)


        Current Form: On a 9-2 SU run Overall and 6-0 Run at home.
        5-1 SU Last 6 as a Favorite
        PP has scored at least 1 Goal in 6 of Last 9 Games
        PK Unit 50 Kills/53 Chances in the Last 15 Games
        Lehtonen: 6-1 SU in his Last 7 Starts


        Leading Scorers: Jamie Benn (41g, 88pts)
        Tyler Seguin (33g, 73pts), Jason Spezza (33g, 63pts)
        John Klingberg (10g, 57pts), Patrick Sharp (20g, 54pts)


        Goalies:
        Kari Lehtonen (25-10-2, 2.76 G.A.A; .906 Sv% in 39 GS)
        (Career Playoff Record: 2-6, 3.88 G.A.A; .874 Sv%)


        Antti Niemi (25-13-7, 2.68 G.A.A; .905 Sv% in 43 GS)
        (Career Playoff Record: 35-26, 2.74 G.A.A; .907 Sv%


        Minnesota Wild
        (Record: 38-33-11; 87 Points)
        O/U Record: (21-25-20 at 5 / 8-8 at 5.5)
        Power Play: (#15: 18.5%)
        Penalty Kill: (#27: 77.9%)
        # of OT/SO Games: 15


        Last Playoff Appearance: 2015
        (Beat St. Louis in 7, Lost to Chicago in 4)
        10-18 SU, 14-9-6 O/U & 14-15 ATS Last 5 Series
        0-5 in Game 1's Last 5 Series


        Current Form: On an 0-5 SU run
        Offense held to 30< SOG in 7 of Last 9 Games


        Leading Scorers: Mikko Koivu (17g, 56pts)
        Zach Parise (25g, 53pts), Ryan Suter (8g, 51pts)
        Mikael Grandlund (13g, 44pts), Nino Niederreiter (20g, 43pts)


        #1 Goalie: Devan Dubnyk (32-27-6, 2.33 G.A.A; .918 Sv% with 5 SO in 65 GS) (Career Playoff Record: 4-7, 2.53 G.A.A; .908 Sv%)


        St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks
        2015-16 Head-to-Head Series: Blues lead 3-2 SU, 2-1-2 O/U
        Road Team has won 5 of the Last 7 Meetings
        Underdog has won 4 of the Last 6 Meetings
        Blackhawks: 3-10 in Game 1 of Playoff Series since 2011
        Blues: Lost to Chicago in 6 Games in 2014 first round


        A historic division rivalry is renewed once again in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks look to officially begin their quest for a repeat, start off battling against the St. Louis Blues.


        The Hawks & Blues face-off in an opening round series just 2 postseasons ago, where the Blues held a 2-0 series lead and dropped 4 straight, leading to the 2nd of what became 3 consecutive first round exits, while Chicago went all the way to Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, losing in Overtime to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion LA Kings.


        This year's series has a similar setup, with St. Louis clinching home-ice less than a week ago after picking up a 2-1 OT win against these Hawks, in a game where they trailed for virtually the entire game, and tied up the contest with under a minute left and picking up the 2nd point early in the extra frame.


        Both teams have superb offenses and talented defenders, but some hot & cold spells with goaltending. Chicago's top netminder Corey Crawford has returned after missing 11 starts with concussion-like symptoms, but he showed a bit of rust in his last start, a 5-4 OT loss at Columbus to conclude the regular season. The 2-time Cup Winner was looking like a Vezina Trophy Finalist during the 1st Half of the Season, going 28-12-2 with 7 shutouts before the All-Star Break, but faltering down the stretch with a 7-6-3 record.


        The Blues are riding the hot pads of Brian Elliott, who suffered a mid-season injury, only to return and dominate between the pipes with a 12-1-1 record in his last 14 starts. Jake Allen was also very strong in net during Elliott's absence, but he is now out with his 2nd significant injury of the season and is questionable to even back-up his 31-year old counterpart.


        The hottest offensive line in all of hockey has been the trio of Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin & Artem Anisimov. The 2013 Conn Smythe Winner will be adding to his trophy room collection this Summer regardless of how the Playoffs fare, as Kane becomes the 1st ever American-born player to win the Art Ross Trophy for most points scored during the regular season with 106. In addition, the 25-year old rookie Panarin led all first-year players with 76 points and is a shoe-in for the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year.


        With all of this being said, the Hawks will need this line to produce as well as major contributions from Captain Jonathan Toews and veteran Marian Hossa, who is slated to return from a minor leg injury in time for this series. St. Louis has been a very tough team and they will be playing with a chip on their shoulder knowing that they have done well against Chicago during the season and will look to avenge their playoff defeat from 2 years ago. This club has just enough talent to pull off their first series win since 2012.


        Prediction: Blues in 7


        St. Louis Blues
        (Record: 49-24-9; 107 Points)
        O/U Record: (29-31-10 at 5 / 3-9 at 5.5)
        Power Play: (#6: 21.5%)
        Penalty Kill: (#3: 85.1%)
        # of OT/SO Games: 22


        Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 (Lost to Minnesota in 7)
        11-17 SU, 12-12-4 O/U & 10-18 ATS Last 4 years


        Current Form: On a 14-4 SU run Last 18 Games.
        Brian Elliott: 12-1-1 Last 14 Starts
        Under is 6-4 Last 10 Games
        PK Unit: 24 Kills/26 Chances over Last 10 Games


        Leading Scorers:
        Vladimir Tarasenko (40g, 74pts), Alex Steen (17g, 52pts)
        Paul Stastny (10g, 48pts), David Backes (21g, 45pts),
        Kevin Shattenkirk (14g, 44pts)


        Goaltenders:
        Brian Elliott (23-8-6, 2.01 G.A.A; .931 Sv% with 4 Shutouts in 37 GS)
        (Career Playoff Record:6-10, 2.55 G.A.A; .898 Sv%)


        Jake Allen (26-15-3, 2.35 G.A.A; .920 Sv% with 6 Shutouts in 44 GS)
        (Career Playoff Record: 2-4, 2.20 G.A.A; .904 Sv%)


        Chicago Blackhawks
        (Record: 46-27-9; 103 Points)
        O/U Record: (11-16-22 at 5 / 12-14 at 5.5)
        Power Play: (#2: 22.6%)
        Penalty Kill: (#22: 80.3%)
        # of OT/SO Games: 20


        Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 (Beat Nashville in 6,
        Beat Minnesota in 4, Beat Anaheim in 7, Beat Tampa Bay in 6)
        45-26 SU, 34-27-10 O/U & 36-35 ATS Last 5 Years
        3-10 SU in 1st Road Game of a Series since 2010 Cup Final


        Current Form: On a 5-3 SU run Last 8 Games Overall
        Offense has scored 3+ Goals in 6 of Last 8 Games.
        PK Unit: 32 Kills / 35 Chances over the Last 13 Games
        7/19 on the Power-Play over the Last 5 Games


        Leading Scorers:
        Patrick Kane (46g, 106pts - Art Ross Trophy Winner)
        Artemi Panarin (30g, 77pts - Leads All Rookies)
        Jonathan Toews (28g, 58pts), Brent Seabrook (14g, 49pts)


        #1 Goalie: Corey Crawford (35-18-5, 2.34 G.A.A; .924 Sv% in 58 GS)
        (Career Playoff Record: 45-29, 2.23 G.A.A; .921 Sv% with 5 SO's)


        Anaheim Ducks vs. Nashville Predators
        2015-16 Head-to-Head Series: Predators lead 2-1 SU, 2-0-1 O/U
        Over is 9-0-1 Last 10 Meetings
        Ducks: 7-3 SU Last 10 Meetings
        Predators: 7-9 SU Last 16 Playoff Games


        One of the biggest comeback stories in this NHL season will be taking part in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Anaheim Ducks take on the Nashville Predators in a first round series.


        The Ducks got off to a 5-12 SU start to the season and looked like they would be a lottery pick contender, but they were able to muster through the storm and finished the 2nd half of the season with a 25-11 run over the last 3 months to climb all the way back and win the Pacific Division on the very last day of the regular season.


        The longtime duo of Corey Perry & Ryan Getzlaf, along with a ton of young core players like Hampus Lindholm & Josh Manson, and the goaltending of Frederik Andersen & John Gibson all contributed to what was a magical run after a disastrous start.


        For Nashville, the Predators were looking to expand on what had been a nice 2015-16 campaign, ended abruptly by the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks. The club had a bit of a roller-coaster season and eventually made the playoffs with a late push in, clinching the top Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.


        Wingers James Neal & Filip Forsberg hold down the offense for the Preds while veteran goalie Pekka Rinne leads a slightly-above average defense. Once considered one of the top goaltenders in the world, the 33-year old starter has logged a lot of ice time and has shown signs of fatigue in the last couple of seasons.


        Both of these clubs possess solid Special Teams units, with Anaheim leading the league in both Power-Play & Penalty Kiliing percentage. Nashville's numbers rank within the middle of the league, but this time of year is all about momentum, which is certainly on the side of the Ducks. This will be an interesting series to watch, but I don't expect any shocking finishes here.


        Prediction: Ducks in 5


        Anaheim Ducks
        (Record:47-25-11; 103 Points - Pacific Division Champions)
        O/U Record: (21-24-16 at 5 / 11-10 at 5.5)
        Power Play: (#1: 23.1%)
        Penalty Kill: (#1: 87.2%)
        # of OT/SO Games: 18


        Last Playoff Appearance: 2015
        (Beat Winnipeg in 4, Beat Calgary in 5, Lost to Chicago in 7)
        21-15 SU, 17-12-7 O/U & 16-18 ATS Last 6 series


        Current Form: On a 5-3 SU Run Last 8 Games
        On a 6-4 SU Run Last 10 Games as a Favorite
        6-14 SU This Season as an Underdog


        Leading Scorers:
        Ryan Getzlaf (13g, 63pts), Corey Perry (34g, 62pts)
        Ryan Kesler (21g, 53pts), Richard Rakell (20g, 43pts)


        Goalies:
        John Gibson (21-13-4, 2.07 G.A.A; .920 Sv% w/4 SO in 37 GS)
        (Career Playoff Record: 2-2, 2.70 G.A.A; .919 Sv% in 4 Starts


        Frederik Andersen (21-9-7, 2.36 G.A.A; .917 Sv% w/ 2 SO in 36 GS)
        (Career Playoff Record: 14-7, 2.54 G.A.A; .913 Sv%)


        Nashville Predators
        (Record: 41-27-14; 96 Points)
        O/U Record: (19-15-18 at 5 / 14-16 at 5.5)
        Power Play: (#10: 19.7%)
        Penalty Kill: (#16: 81.2%)
        # of OT/SO Games: 20


        Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 (Lost to Chicago in 6)
        2-4 SU, 5-1 O/U and 4-2 ATS in 2015 Playoffs


        Current Form:
        1-6 Last 7 Road Games, 5-2 Last 7 Home Games
        5-1 Last 6 as a Favorite, 5-16 Last 21 as an Underdog


        Leading Scorers:
        Filip Forsberg (33g, 63pts), Roman Josi (14g, 61pts)
        James Neal (31g, 57pts), Shea Weber (20g, 51pts)


        #1 Goalie: Pekka Rinne (34-21-10, 2.48 G.A.A; .908 Sv% w/4 SO in 66 GS)
        (Career Playoff Record:15-19, 2.48 G.A.A; .914 Sv%)


        Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks
        2015-16 Head-to-Head Series: Sharks lead 3-2 SU, 3-0-2 O/U
        Road Team is 7-4 SU Last 11 Meetings
        Over is 4-2-1 Last 7 Meetings
        Kings: 3rd-Fewest Goals Allowed in NHL (192)
        Sharks: Blew 3-0 Lead to Kings in 2014 first round


        Two hated Pacific Division rivals clash in this opening round series between the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks.


        These two squads faced off just 2 postseasons ago, with the Sharks suffering a historic collapse after taking a 3-0 series lead, allowing the Kings to come back and win 4 straight en route to their 2nd Stanley Cup in 3 years. That series loss was the catalyst for San Jose to fire coach Todd McLellan and a shake up of leadership and infusion of youth within the Sharks locker room.


        Now this team is hungry again and ready to make another run into the playoffs after a one-year rebuild. The Kings also look primed and ready to make a deep postseason push after missing out on the playoffs last year, becoming the first team since the 2007-08 Carolina Hurricanes to miss the postseason a year after winning the Stanley Cup.


        Both of these teams are built in similar fashion, with big, strong forwards up front who have the skills to score but also the toughness to bang bodies along the boards. They each have very dangerous Power-Play attacks and neither club takes a ton of dumb penalties. However, given the nature and history of this rivalry, we will definitely see our fair share of hits, collisions, extra-curriculars after the whistles, and maybe even a fight or two break out. The one glaring edge in this match-up is goaltending.


        Jonathan Quick is one of the best goalies in the world when he's hot and with his deep playoff experience, he is always a guy the Kings can rely on to steal a game within a series. He'll either face off against his old back-up in Martin Jones, who has done a stellar job this season for SJ, but doesn't have any postseason experience, or James Reimer, who was acquired from Toronto near the Trade Deadline. The 28-year old backstop has played in one postseason series a few years ago, and has looked good since joining the club with a 6-2 record.


        I expect this to be one of the roughest and toughest series of all of the first round match-ups, and with the past events looming in the heads of those veteran Sharks players like Joe Thornton & Patrick Marleau, I expect the San Jose club to see "Red" whenever the Silver & Black hit the ice, and I look for them to get past LA in this opening round.


        Prediction: Sharks in 7


        Los Angeles Kings
        (Record:48-28-6; 102 Points)
        O/U Record: (24-27-23 at 5 / 4-5 at 5.5)
        Power Play: (#8: 20%)
        Penalty Kill: (#15: 81.4%)
        # of OT/SO Games: 18


        Last Playoff Appearance: 2014
        (Beat San Jose in 7, Beat Anaheim in 7, Beat Chicago in 7, Beat NY Rangers in 5)
        16-7 SU, 14-8-4 O/U and 15-11 ATS in 2014 Playoffs


        Current Form:
        On a 4-7 SU Run Last 11 Games Overall
        1-5 SU Last 6 Road Games
        Allowed 3+ Goals in 8 of Last 11 Games


        Leading Scorers:
        Anze Kopitar (25g, 73pts), Jeff Carter (24g, 61pts)
        Tyler Toffoli (30g, 57pts), Milan Lucic (20g, 54pts)


        #1 Goalie: Jonathan Quick (40-23-5, 2.22 G.A.A; .919 Sv% w/ 5 SO in 68 GS)
        (Career Playoff Record: 45-31, 2.22 G.A.A; .923 Sv% with 9 Shutouts)


        San Jose Sharks
        (Record: 46-30-6; 98 Points)
        O/U Record: (19-18-8 at 5 / 23-14 at 5.5)
        Power Play: (#3: 22.5%)
        Penalty Kill: (#21: 80.5%)
        # of OT/SO Games: 15


        Last Playoff Appearance: 2014 (Lost to Los Angeles in 7)
        (3-4 SU, 5-1-1 O/U & 3-4 ATS in that series)
        58-56 SU in Playoffs from 2004-2014 (10 Appearances)


        (Note: 2013 Sharks became the 4th team in Stanley Cup Playoff History to blow a 3-0 Series lead with 1942 Red Wings, 1975 Penguins, 2010 Bruins)


        Current Form: On a 5-2 SU Run Last 7 Games overall
        10-3 SU Last 13 Road Games
        Power-Play has scored at least 1 Goal in 12 of Last 15 Games


        Leading Scorers:
        Joe Thornton (19g, 82pts), Joe Pavelski (38g, 78pts)
        Brent Burns (27g, 75pts), Patrick Marleau (25g, 48pts)


        Goalies:
        Martin Jones (37-23-4, 2.27 G.A.A; .918 Sv% w/6 SO in 65 GS)
        (Only NHL Playoff experience: 56 Minutes of Relief in 2 GP)


        James Reimer (6-2, 1.62 G.A.A; .938 Sv% with 3 Shutouts in 8 GS for SJ)
        (Career Playoff Record: 3-4, 2.88 G.A.A; .923 Sv%)

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: NHL Betting Info. 4/12

          NHL Hockey Odds and Picks: Scouting the Week Ahead
          by Alan Matthews


          I love the NHL but honestly don't watch much hockey during the regular season. But I would argue that the Stanley Cup playoffs are the best postseason of any major American sport, and the pucks drops on them starting Wednesday.


          Certainly the top storyline has to involve the Chicago Blackhawks, the team of the decade. Chicago has won three Stanley Cups in the past six seasons but has yet to repeat. The last team to go back-to-back was the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 & '98. These Hawks don't look as good as last year's club, but if any team knows how to flip a switch, it's this one. Patrick Kane finished with an NHL-high and career-best 106 points to become the first American-born player to win the Art Ross Trophy as top scorer. Kane, who had 27 multipoint games, has to be the NHL MVP, which will be announced later this summer. And the Hawks should have the Calder Trophy winner as Rookie of the Year in Kane's linemate Artemi Panarin, who led all rookies with 77 points. The last Hawk to win that award? Kane in 2007-08.


          Chicago is +450 to win the Western Conference and +750 to win the Cup. The Hawks open at St. Louis on Wednesday night. A reminder that Chicago will be without top defenseman Duncan Keith, the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP, for that game as he finishes a suspension. The Hawks and Blues are both -110 on the series line.


          St. Louis will get back captain David Backes after he missed the final week or so with an injury. The Blues won three of the five regular-season meetings, with three of the five games decided after regulation. The Blues took a 2-0 lead in the first round of the playoffs two years ago against Chicago and then proceeded to lose the next four games. This franchise hasn't won a playoff series since the 2011-12 season, and I highly doubt Coach Ken Hitchcock is brought back if it happens again.


          The other main story is that of the Presidents' Cup-winning Washington Capitals. Alex Ovechkin won yet another Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL's top goal-scorer with 50. It's the fourth straight season and sixth time overall he has done that. But Ovechkin's teams have flamed out in the postseason, failing to reach the conference finals with him. The Capitals have not played past the second round since they reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998.


          The Caps are +400 favorites to win the Cup and +150 to win the East. It's actually pretty rare for a team to win the Presidents' Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same season, doing so just eight times. Chicago was the last in 2012-13. Washington opens against Philadelphia, a team I didn't think would make the playoffs and which has a negative goals differential (minus-4). Washington is -265 on the series line with Philadelphia at +225. The teams split four regular-season meetings.


          Probably the marquee playoff matchup is Pittsburgh against the New York Rangers. The Pens won three of the four meetings and are -155 series favorites. Back in 2014, the Penguins won Game 4 of the conference semifinals against the Blueshirts at Madison Square Garden to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. However, the Rangers won the next three and also ousted Pittsburgh last year in five games.


          Both teams have injury questions. New York captain Ryan McDonagh is dealing with an upper-body injury, reportedly a broken hand, and won't start Game 1. It's not clear if he will play at all. Fellow defenseman Dan Girardi is questionable, as is center Eric Staal, who was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in a trade on Feb. 28.


          Pittsburgh remains without Evgeni Malkin, who has been sidelined since March 11 due to a suspected wrist/hand injury. He's not likely to play in the opener at least. Who will be in net for the Pens? Marc-Andre Fleury hasn't played since March 31 due to a concussion but was at practice on Monday. Youngster Matt Murray was great in Fleury's place but he was injured on Saturday -- a possible concussion -- and being called day-to-day. Why was he playing in a meaningless game?


          The other significant injury to watch around the league is to the Stars' Tyler Seguin. He has been out since March 17 with an Achilles injury but was at practice on Monday. Coach Lindy Ruff wouldn't say if Seguin could play in Game 1 against Minnesota on Thursday. Seguin had 33 goals and 40 assists in 72 games for the NHL's highest-scoring team. The Stars probably don't need him to beat Minnesota, which enters the playoffs on a five-game losing streak. Dallas, the West's top seed, is -175 on the series line.


          My Western Conference picks to advance are: Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles (over San Jose) and Anaheim (over Nashville), so chalk there. In the East: Washington, NY Rangers, NY Islanders (over Florida) and Detroit (over Steven Stamkos-less Tampa Bay).

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