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**TheGame** · 04-13-2016, 07:33 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 4/13

Betting 101: How to safely bet the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs

The NHL playoffs, more so than any other sport’s postseason, are about as different from the regular season as you can get.

Teams that dominated during the regular schedule suddenly find themselves on the brink of elimination, and clubs that squeaked into the playoff picture can catch fire and ride a hot goalie all the way to the Stanley Cup.

In order to help hockey bettors navigate the upside-down world of postseason puck, we asked some top handicappers to share their best tips, tactics, and trends when it comes to successfully wagering on the NHL’s second season.

Hot goaltenders

Like pitching in baseball, goaltending can singlehandedly win a playoff series. Year after year, hockey bettors witness incredible performances between the pipes and make a small mint riding these red-hot keepers.

On the other side of the coin, not having a proven No. 1 goalie can quickly put a wrap on the season – no matter how many goals a team can score. Jesse Schule points to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have been ushered out of the playoffs the past four years thanks to shaky play in the crease.

When looking to narrow down the field to legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, its always good look at the goaltenders first. Which ones are capable of carrying a team on their shoulders if need be? Who can steal a game, or even a series?

The Washington Capitals are hoping the sensational campaign by Braden Holtby can finally get them over their playoff woes and deliver a Stanley Cup. Holtby finished the season with a 48-9-7 record, just one win short of Martin Brodeur's record for wins in a single season. He also owns a 2.20 goals against average and .922 save percentage heading into the playoffs.

Depth and toughness

Ever watch a hockey player get interviewed about his team’s deep postseason run? More often than not, the guy’s face looks like someone dropped a plate of spaghetti on the floor and then tried to sew it back together.

The NHL playoffs are a grueling challenge of teams’ overall talent and toughness. When a series goes six or seven games, the true depth of a roster is drawn to the surface.

Injuries can spoil an NHL bet faster than a Shea Weber slapshot and knowing which teams are healthy, getting healthy, and beat up entering the playoffs is a good way to gauge just where you should put your money.

Some teams that were banged up earlier this season are healthy now and could perform better than expected, while the opposite could be true of teams suffering through multiple injuries at the moment.

Teams that can get production from their third and fourth lines are the ones who survive, while clubs that rely on a few key players to carry the team often find themselves trading hockey sticks for golf clubs. Opponents draw up schemes to shadow and lock down these stars and force role players to beat them.

It's important to consider depth. Which teams can roll four lines and get steady production from their role players? Unlike other sports, the NHL playoffs aren't all about the superstars. It's the grinders that often decide which team is left standing in June.

Physicality also plays a major role in the outcome of the playoffs, with every hit looked at as an investment. Finesse teams can get worn down over the course of a series while teams that like to lay the lumber excel in the furious pace of the postseason.

“Some teams might not be the fastest and most skilled, but instead they out-work, out-hit, and physically dominate their opponents,” says Schule.

Road Warriors

Another big difference between the NHL playoffs and other sports’ tournaments is the importance - or lack thereof - when it comes to home ice.

In basketball and football, having the crowd on your side is crucial to a championship run. However, in hockey, bettors get great value with road teams in the postseason. Hot home teams like Dallas or the New York Rangers may be good fade bait while tough road clubs, like San Jose, can hold added pop on the road.

“Other than getting the final line change, there is really not much of an edge for the home team,” says Steve Merril. “Obviously, the crowd will be supporting them. But unlike the NBA, it does not influence officials as much, as penalties are normally called evenly and on an alternating makeup basis. NHL playoffs is the one sport where I feel home teams are generally overvalued, especially since travel is not a factor and both teams in a best-of-seven series have the same travel schedule.”

Ben Burns believes each NHL postseason game is unique and doesn't carry as much momentum from one contest to the next. Teams quickly make adjustments, line changes and roster moves based on the game before and can have a completely different feel when they face off next. A high-scoring Game 1 can produce a low-scoring Game 2 with teams tightening up on defense.

Special teams

Referees do tend to let a lot more slide in the postseason compared to regular season action, so it makes it even more important for teams to capitalize on those man-advantages when the whistle does blow.

“It is absolutely imperative to score on the power play, in order to discourage opponents from taking cheap shots at your best players,” says Schule.

Entering the postseason, the Anaheim Ducks boast the top power-play attack in the league with 56 goals with the man advantage and a 23.0 power-play percentage. At the bottom of the scale, the Tampa Bay Lightning boast the lowest power-play percentage in the playoffs at 15.8 percent.

When it comes to playing a man down, the Ducks are just as good at killing those penalties off, as they are at scoring with the man advantage. They rarely got burned with a man in the box ranking first in the NHL with an 87.2 penalty-kill percentage. The Blues and Capitals followed them, each killing off 85.1 percent of their penalties. The Minnesota Wild have the worst penalty kill among playoff teams at 77.9 percent.

Editor's note: This article was originally published in April 2014. Stats and info have been updated to reflect this NHL season.

**TheGame** · 04-13-2016, 07:33 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 4/13

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).

**TheGame** · 04-13-2016, 07:33 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 4/13

NHL

Wednesday's games

Detroit-Tampa Bay (0-0)
Home side won last five Detroit-Tampa Bay games; four of last five series games stayed under total. Red Wings lost four of last five visits to Tampa, outscored 16-8. Detroit lost four of its last five away games; over is 5-2-3 in their last ten games. Lightning lost three of last four games, all on road; they are 4-2 in last six home games. Over is 3-0-1 in their last four games. Detroit lost in first round of playoffs last two years; Tampa Bay lost in Cup Finals LY; in their history, they're 4-4 in first round series.

NY Rangers-Pittsburgh (0-0)
Rangers lost last three games with Pittsburgh in series where road team won six of last eight series tilts. New York won four of last five visits here; they've won three of last four games overall. Over is 6-0-4 in their last ten games. Pittsburgh won eight of its last nine games, winning last three at home; five of its last seven games went over the total. Rangers won their first round series the last four years; their 101 points in first time in 43 years they've had 100+ in consecutive years. Penguins are in playoffs for 10th year in row; they're 2-3 in first round series the last five years.

St Louis-Chicago (0-0)
Blues won five of last seven games with Chicago, winning three of last five played here; over is 2-1-2 in last five series games played here. Chicago lost its last two games in OT; they're 5-3 in last eight games overall- they won last five times they scored more than two goals. St Louis won eight of last ten games, but lost two of last three at home. Over is 4-1 in last five games for both sides. Blues lost in first round last three years; they have 100+ points for 4th full season in row. Chicago won Stanley Cup three of last six years; they're 5-2 in last seven first round series.

**TheGame** · 04-13-2016, 07:33 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 4/13

Previews, Streaks, Tips, Notes

Hawks Begin Cup Defense Versus Blues

This could be the best series in the entire Stanley Cup playoffs. The defending champion Chicago Blackhawks (47-26-9) have drawn the St. Louis Blues (49-24-9) in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Game 1 is Wednesday night at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, starting at 9:30 PM ET on NBCSN.

Although the Blues finished the 2015-2016 regular season with the better record, Chicago skates into the playoffs with shorter odds on the Stanley Cup futures market. The Hawks are the second-favorites at +800 (along with LA, Anaheim, Dallas and Pittsburgh), a step ahead of St. Louis at +1000. These two teams faced each other five times during the regular season; the Blues won three games, with the total split evenly at 2-2-1.

Chicago will be without defenseman Duncan Keith (nine goals, 43 points) for Wednesday's opener. The two-time Norris Trophy winner has one game left to go in his six-game suspension for hitting Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle in the face with his stick. The Hawks also have a number of players listed as questionable for Game 1, including top-line centre Artem Anisimov (20 goals, 42 points) and second-line right wing Marian Hossa (13 goals, 33 points). The Blues will have all their key players available Wednesday.

**Satch** · 04-13-2016, 09:42 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 4/13

♦Stanley Cup Playoffs♦
Wednesday’s NHL betting previews
No. 5 Detroit Red Wings at No. 4 Tampa Bay Lightning (A:+135, H:-155, O/U: 5)
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
The Tampa Bay Lightning have traveled a long, bumpy road to arrive back where they stood a year ago as they prepare to host the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday for Game 1 in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The Lightning won last season’s series in seven games and went on to lose in the Stanley Cup finals before hurdling several obstacles to seal a third straight postseason berth in 2016.
“It’s been an eventful season,” Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop told reporters of the injuries and slumps the team endured. “There’s been a lot of ups and downs. It’s kind of nice to accomplish the first goal – to make the playoffs. Now it’s a new season.” The Lightning won’t have captain Steven Stamkos (blood clot) or top-pair defenseman Anton Stralman (broken fibula), but it is possible all their other injured players could be available for the first contest. The Red Wings had to battle their way to a 25th straight playoff appearance, clinching their spot on the second-to-last day of the regular season, and will lean on veteran forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk to show a group of young players the way. Datsyuk, who is contemplating retirement from the NHL after the season, finished with 49 points – one behind Zetterberg for the team lead – and they are expected to play together with Justin Abdelkader on the top line.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, CBC, TVAS, FSN Detroit, FSN Florida (Tampa Bay)
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (41-30-11):
Jimmy Howard, who was relegated to backup duty in mid season, has appeared to regain his No. 1 job from struggling Petr Mrazek after allowing two or fewer goals in seven of his last 11 games (6-5-0). “It’s easy to have great character when things are going well. When things aren’t going well it’s not easy,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill told reporters of Howard. “He didn’t feel sorry for himself, he went to work.” The Wings need a big effort from rookie forward Dylan Larkin, who tired the last few months despite finishing with a team-high 23 goals.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (46-31-5):
Top-pair defenseman Victor Hedman, along with forwards Ryan Callahan and Nikita Kucherov, all practiced Monday after missing stretches late in the regular season and center Tyler Johnson (upper body) joined the team on the ice Tuesday. Johnson, who had six goals in last season’s playoff series against Detroit, skated between Kucherov (team-leading 66 points) and Alex Killorn at practice and will be a game-time decision. Bishop, who coach Jon Cooper called a “model of consistency,” led the league in goals-against average (2.06).
TRENDS:
* Red Wings are 0-4 in their last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Lightning are 8-2 in their last 10 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
* Over is 5-0-3 in Red Wings last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 9-1 in Lightning last 10 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
* Red Wings are 2-8 in the last 10 meetings in Tampa Bay.
OVERTIME
1. The Red Wings could use a revival from F Gustav Nyquist, who has two goals against the Lightning this season but scored only once in his last 17 contests.
2. Tampa Bay F Jonathan Drouin was suspended for almost two months by the team in midseason, but has scored in both games since being recalled.
3. The teams split four games during this regular season with each team winning twice on home ice, but both won twice on the road in last year’s playoff series.
PREDICTION: Lightning 3, Red Wings 2

**Satch** · 04-13-2016, 09:42 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 4/13

No. 6 New York Rangers at No. 3 Pittsburgh Penguins (A:+116, H:-154, O/U: 5)
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Where: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Pittsburgh Penguins have seen their New York Rangers end their season in the playoffs in each of the last two years, but they will try to turn the tables on their Metropolitan Division rivals this time around. Both teams have myriad injury issues entering Game 1 of the best-of-seven series at Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.
The Penguins begin the postseason as the hottest team in the league, winning eight in a row and 14 of 15 before a meaningless loss in the regular-season finale. They have major concerns in net after goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury suffered his second concussion on March 31 and backup Matt Murray sustained a concussion on Saturday. The news is more positive for the Rangers, who will be without captain Ryan McDonagh (hand) at least for the series opener but saw fellow defenseman Dan Girardi and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist return to practice Tuesday. Although Pittsburgh won the season series 3-1-0, New York has won seven of the last eight meetings in the playoffs.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, USA, Sportsnet, TVAS2, MSG (New York), ROOT (Pittsburgh)
ABOUT THE RANGERS (46-27-9):
Lundqvist left Monday’s practice after not feeling well and stumbled down the stretch, giving up at least three goals in nine of his last 13 appearances, but he has been a nemesis for the Penguins. He has surrendered only four goals in winning his last four postseason starts in Pittsburgh and has the full confidence of his teammates, with defenseman Kevin Klein noting that “if you make a mistake, Hank is there to save you.” While coach Alain Vigneault said there’s a chance McDonagh has a shot to play at some point, Derek Stepan is the team’s hottest scorer with 15 points in the last 10 games.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (48-26-8):
Fleury returned to practice but has yet to be cleared to play and Murray is day-to-day after the head-scratching decision to start him in the season finale, so Pittsburgh may be forced to go with Jeff Zatkoff, who has not started since Feb. 20. Captain Sidney Crosby overcame a slow start to spark the late-season surge with points in 20 of his last 21, including an eight-game streak entering the postseason. Kris Letang also has scored in his last eight games and hopes for the return of his defensive partner Olli Maatta, who is a game-time decision after missing the last nine contests.
TRENDS:
* Rangers are 0-6 in their last 6 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
* Penguins are 8-0 in their last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 4-0-4 in Rangers last 8 vs. Metropolitan.
* Over is 12-3-4 in Penguins last 19 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
* Rangers are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Pittsburgh.
OVERTIME
1. Crosby had three goals and an assist in four games versus the Rangers this season to give him 71 points in 55 games against them.
2. New York overcame a 3-1 series deficit to beat Pittsburgh in 2014 and ousted the Penguins in five games last year.
3. Pittsburgh killed off 22 straight power plays over its past six games.
PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Penguins 2

**Satch** · 04-13-2016, 09:43 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 4/13

No. 6 Chicago Blackhawks at No. 3 St. Louis Blues (A:+105, H:-125, O/U: 5)
The Chicago Blackhawks begin the upcoming playoffs in a familiar place, as they defended their 2013 Stanley Cup title the following spring with a spirited opening-round series against the St. Louis Blues. The Blackhawks start their quest for their fourth championship in seven years in the Gateway City on Wednesday against a St. Louis club that has been unceremoniously bounced in the first round in each of the past three seasons.
Blues captain David Backes doesn’t have fond memories of that 2014 series, a competitive set that saw his team win the first two contests in overtime before losing four straight – highlighted by a brutal hit he absorbed at the hands of defenseman Brent Seabrook. “We’ve got a heck of a group in here,” Backes said after returning to practice on Tuesday following a three-game absence due to a lower-body injury. “It’s our time in here to make a real dent in this tournament.” St. Louis skated to a 2-1 overtime victory over Chicago on April 7 to win three of the five meetings in the season series and 14 of its final 17 games overall before a setback to Washington two nights later enabled Dallas to claim the division title. The Blues’ consolation prize for finishing second is a date with the now-healthy Blackhawks, who finished the season on a 5-1-2 run.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TVAS, SN360, CSN Chicago, FSN Midwest (St. Louis)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (47-26-9, 35-47 ATS, 30-32 O/U):
Patrick Kane put an exclamation point on becoming the first American-born player to win the Art Ross Trophy by collecting seven goals and five assists during a season-ending five-game point streak. The 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy winner scored two goals and set up another in the finale versus Columbus, with his involvement in an otherwise meaningless game being necessitated as Chicago dealt with a bevy of injuries. Fellow forwards Marian Hossa, Artem Anisimov and Andrew Shaw are expected to return from various ailments and goaltender Corey Crawford had no setbacks after facing the Blue Jackets following a near-month-long absence due to an upper-body injury.
ABOUT THE BLUES (49-24-9, 37-45 ATS, 32-40 O/U):
Vladimir Tarasenko continues to get better with age as the 24-year-old Russian scored six of his career-high 40 goals during an eight-game point streak to end the season. Tarasenko, who also posted a personal-best 74 points in 2015-16, recorded seven (five goals, two assists) versus Chicago this campaign – including both tallies in the overtime victory on Thursday. Tarasenko traditionally comes up big in the playoffs even when the rest of his team doesn’t, as he scored four times in the 2014 series against the Blackhawks before netting six of his club’s 14 goals in a first-round ouster versus Minnesota last spring.
TRENDS:
* Blackhawks are 8-2 in their last 10 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Blackhawks are 2-9 in their last 11 vs. Central.
* Blues are 7-0 in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.
* Blues are 2-8 in their last 10 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Over is 7-1-1 in Blackhawks last 9 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Over is 5-1-3 in the last 9 meetings in St. Louis.
OVERTIME
1. Chicago killed off 29-of-31 short-handed situations in the final 11 contests of the season, but yielded four power-play goals against St. Louis in 2015-16.
2. Blues G Brian Elliott capped an 11-game winning streak by turning aside 24 shots versus the Blackhawks on April 7.
3. Chicago D Duncan Keith will miss Wednesday’s contests to complete his six-game suspension for high-sticking Minnesota’s Charlie Coyle.
PREDICTION: Blues 4, Blackhawks 2

**Satch** · 04-13-2016, 09:44 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 4/13

2016 Stanley Cup Preview
By Zach Cohen
The NHL regular season has finally ended and it’s now time to take a look at who might win the 2016 Stanley Cup. The Capitals were the most dominant team all year, but there are plenty of teams that will be gunning for that trophy. Here’s a look at some of the better picks one can make before the madness begins:
Washington Capitals 7-to-2
Chicago Blackhawks 13-to-2
Dallas Stars 7-to-1
Pittsburgh Penguins 15-to-2
Anaheim Ducks 8-to-1
Los Angeles Kings 8-to-1
St. Louis Blues 9-to-1
New York Rangers 15-to-1
San Jose Sharks 15-to-1
Tampa Bay Lightning 18-to-1
Florida Panthers 20-to-1
New York Islanders 20-to-1
Nashville Predators 25-to-1
Minnesota Wild 35-to-1
Detroit Red Wings 40-to-1
Philadelphia Flyers 40-to-1
Pittsburgh Penguins – The Penguins are entering the postseason in fantastic form, as they have now won 14 of their past 16 games. This is a team that has been extremely impressive on the season and actually has the highest power rating (4.9) in the NHL. Pittsburgh gets it done on both ends of the ice, as the team is scoring 2.9 goals per game (3rd in NHL) and allowing just 2.4 (6th in NHL). C Sidney Crosby (36 G, 49 A, 85 PTS) is still one of the best players in the entire league and he’s been on a mission since getting snubbed out of this year’s All-Star Game. He’ll look to get hot in the opening series against New York and he should be able to do that. The Rangers struggled down the stretch and are very vulnerable along the blue line. The return of C Evgeni Malkin (27 G, 31 A, 58 PTS) will also give this team a huge boost. He is expected back at some point in the first round and this Penguins offense was dangerous enough without him in the lineup. Pittsburgh will, however, need G Marc-Andre Fleury (35-17-6, 2.29 GAA, 92.1% SV%) back as soon as possible. Fleury is a rock in the net for this team and the Penguins will have trouble making it out of the first round if he does not return soon. That isn’t expected to be the case, though. He should be back at some point in the first round and that makes this team an easy one to back at 15-to-2.
Anaheim Ducks – The Ducks started the season with just one victory in their first 10 games, but they really caught fire in the second half of the year. Anaheim won 31 games from Jan. 1 up until the end of the regular season and is now a true threat to win the Stanley Cup. The Ducks finished the season with a power rating of 3.8 (t-3rd in NHL) and that’s quite impressive considering the way they started the year. The real reason this team is going to be a factor in the postseason is because of its defense and goaltending. Anaheim allowed just 2.3 goals per game (1st in NHL) during the regular season and will be confident that it can shut down its opponents in any seven-game series. It also doesn’t hurt that the Ducks have C Ryan Getzlaf (13 G, 50 A, 63 PTS) and RW Corey Perry (34 G, 28 A, 62 PTS) to rely on offensively. Both of them have plenty of playoff experience and Perry is a guy that could change a series if he catches fire. They’re getting great odds and are a wise team to put a few units on.
St. Louis Blues – The Blues are an odd team, but they are loaded with talent and know what it takes to win games. The reason St. Louis is not your average playoff team is because it isn’t currently relying on one goalie. The Blues would be more than happy to roll out either G Brian Elliot (23-8-6, 2.07 GAA, 93.0% SV%) or G Jake Allen (26-15-3, 2.35 GAA, 92.0%) on any given night, but it does seem that Elliot is going to be their guy in the postseason. Regardless, the Blues have a very good defense and allowed just 2.4 goals per game (4th in NHL) during the regular season. This team is also tremendous on special teams, as they scored on 21.5% of their power plays (6th in NHL) during the regular season and killed off 85.1% (2nd in NHL) as well. St. Louis also happens to have guys like RW Vladimir Tarasenko (40 G, 34 A, 74 PTS) and C Paul Stastny (10 G, 39 A, 49 PTS). Tarasenko is one of the most talented players in hockey and is a threat to score every time he touches the puck. Stastny, meanwhile, has been a bit of a disappointment in St. Louis, but this is when the team is hoping he’ll shine. He knows how to create for his teammates and is capable of having a big postseason. The Blues are a very good team to take with their current odds.
Philadelphia Flyers – The Flyers are one team to keep an eye on if you’re looking for a dark horse play in this postseason. Philadelphia may be going up against the team that won the President’s Trophy, but that same Capitals team has some real playoff demons. The Capitals have been talented before, but they have never been able to do any serious damage in the postseason. Philadelphia also happens to be a lot better than its final record indicated. The Flyers are a very tough team and could have folded when their season didn’t start the way they hoped. They were, however, able to rally and get the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia will now be hoping that guys like C Claude Giroux (22 G, 45 A, 67 PTS) and RW Wayne Simmonds (32 G, 28 A, 60 PTS) can lead them to the Stanley Cup. Giroux is a fantastic offensive player and will make sure that the Flyers don’t go down easy. Simmonds, meanwhile, is extremely tough and will rough up whoever gets in his way. He also happens to be a great scorer around the net. This is a good team to put a unit or two on, as it wouldn’t be crazy if the Flyers were to make a deep run.

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NHL Betting Info. 4/13

NHL Betting Info. 4/13

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