The Bum's National Hockey League April's Playoff's Picks - Trends - News - Etc. !!

[StarDust Bum]

Eastern Conference Outlook

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)

[StarDust Bum]

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 - Updated 4.11.16

[StarDust Bum]

Sharks tab Jones as Game 1 starter
April 12, 2016

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Martin Jones spent a Stanley Cup run as Jonathan Quick's backup in Los Angeles learning what it takes to thrive as a starting goaltender in the playoffs.

Jones now gets his own chance to start in the postseason going up against Quick and his former Kings teammates when the San Jose Sharks face their rivals in the first round starting Thursday night.

Jones is taking the same calm approach to the series that he does with just about everything else he does.

''I think that's probably who I am a little bit,'' he said Tuesday. ''I think I'm a pretty calm guy. It's important. Especially over the course of a long season, kind of maintaining your emotion and not getting too high or too low.''

That low-key attitude is appreciated by his teammates, who say they are more likely to see him get mad playing a game of cards than from anything that happens on the ice.

''Nothing gets him really rattled,'' coach Peter DeBoer said. ''He's the same way around the dressing room as he looks on the ice. He's a real calming influence on people around him, which is a great characteristic to have as a starting goalie.''

After spending his first two seasons as the backup in Los Angeles, Jones joined the Sharks this past offseason. He was originally dealt to Boston before the Sharks acquired him last summer in a deal for a first-round pick and a prospect. Jones quickly signed a $9 million, three-year contract and lived up to the lofty expectations in his first season as a starter. Jones went 37-23-4 with a 2.27 goals against average as he proved he could handle the heavy workload of a starter.

''He's a huge reason why we've had success this year,'' teammate Patrick Marleau said. ''He's been great all year for us, making key saves, a lot of big saves throughout the whole season. Very calm, goes about his job. It's comforting to know he's back there and he'll make those key saves at key times.''

Now he tries to carry that success over to the playoffs. Jones played two games as a backup in 2014 - including one against the Sharks - when the Kings won the Stanley Cup. But he also learned plenty just watching how Quick handled the pressures of the playoffs.

''I really think that's why you have a routine and you don't really need to be changing too much,'' Jones said. ''You have 82 games to kind of rehearse for this all season, so nothing really changes in terms of routine and off ice stuff.''

Jones had a heavy workload this season, starting 54 of San Jose's first 63 games. But after the trade deadline acquisition of James Reimer from Toronto, Jones has gotten more time off.

Reimer started eight of the final 19 games, posting three shutouts in that span to give DeBoer another option if he feels the need to make a change at some point in the playoffs.

DeBoer stuck with Martin Brodeur for all four rounds in his only previous trip to the playoffs in 2012 with New Jersey. While he committed Tuesday to Jones as the starter for the opener Thursday night in Los Angeles, he remained open to making a change after that if needed.

''I don't think there's any blueprint for it,'' DeBoer said. ''We're going to do what we've done all year. We're going to take it game to game and we're going to give ourselves the best chance to win games.''

[StarDust Bum]

Key injuries muddle playoff landscape
April 12, 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) The defending Eastern Conference Tampa Bay Lightning are a lot more uneasy going into the playoffs than they were a year ago. Not having Steven Stamkos and Anton Stralman can do that.

''The injuries, that's probably the biggest difference,'' defenseman Matt Carle said. ''We were relatively healthy rolling into the playoffs last year. It's a different feel this time around.''

Tampa Bay is far from the only team feeling the pain. The Pittsburgh Penguins start the playoffs without star center Evgeni Malkin and the New York Rangers won't have defenseman Ryan McDonagh right away. In the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars don't know what they will get from center Tyler Seguin in his return from an Achilles injury and the Chicago Blackhawks are hoping for the best as goaltender Corey Crawford comes back from a concussion.

High-profile injuries to almost every team have muddled the landscape and made the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs even harder to figure out than usual.

''There are so many things that we don't know about,'' former coach and NBC Sports analyst Mike Milbury said Tuesday. ''We really don't know how to measure a lot of what could be serious minuses to certain lineups.''

The New York Islanders are a far more formidable force if defenseman Travis Hamonic is back, even if they are still without goaltender Jaroslav Halak. The Penguins could be Stanley Cup contenders if starting goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is 100 percent after his latest concussion.

Injury questions extend to the Los Angeles Kings with defenseman Alec Martinez and winger Marian Gaborik, and to the Anaheim Ducks with winger David Perron out with a shoulder injury.

''You've got to play hard to get into the playoffs and everything else, but that ability to get hurt, it's always there,'' Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. ''And it seems the harder you play, the more guys that are going to get hurt. But you can't worry about it. It's like crossing the road. You might get hit by a car, but I'm still going to cross the road.''

The final month of the season brought more than a handful of notable maladies, from Stamkos' blood clot and Stralman's broken fibula to Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise's undisclosed injury. Tampa Bay was hit hardest, even though big defenseman Victor Hedman and tough winger Ryan Callahan are expected to be good to go for Game 1 against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.

''You have to rally around it,'' Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. ''We are not the only team that gets hurt. It is magnified because of the star power behind the players and the timing, but if we can win a round, who knows?''

The Penguins rallied around injuries to Malkin, Fleury and defenseman Olli Maatta to win 13 of 15 to finish the regular season. Veteran center Matt Cullen and others have stepped up, something captain Sidney Crosby believes will only make Pittsburgh better in the playoffs.

''You build confidence from that,'' Crosby said. ''As far as understanding roles and that sort of thing, that goes a long way, too. Guys are playing in different positions and they're able to have success in different areas. That's a positive thing, and hopefully that's something that will help us.''

Being healthy should help the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals, who will have their full lineup for Game 1 against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. Versatile defensive center Jay Beagle skated Tuesday and showed no ill effects from taking a puck to the foot Saturday, resolving the Capitals' lone question mark.

Coach Barry Trotz said he probably has never had a team quite this healthy going into the playoffs.

''I'm sure some guys - just like every team going in there - is not 100 percent healthy, but I think (we are) as healthy and ready to go (as possible),'' Trotz said. ''In terms of anticipating the playoffs, this is pretty close to where we want to be.''

Most of the other 15 teams in the playoffs would love to be so fortunate. The next-best option is making the most of the bumps and bruises.

''Every team deals with it,'' the Lightning's Carle said. ''It's how you approach things. Everyone is going to get more minutes. You have to take advantage of it. You'll be put in situations you wouldn't typically be in, you've got try to run with it and enjoy it.''

[StarDust Bum]

Lundqvist over illness, ready for Pens
April 12, 2016

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) The New York Rangers went into the playoffs a year ago with a target on their backs.

They were the Presidents' Trophy winners, the NHL's best team in the regular season.

This year is different. They have been inconsistent and they head into the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the red-hot Pittsburgh Penguins without their captain Ryan McDonagh. He is battling an upper-body injury (right hand).

But the Rangers have the great equalizer - goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.

''Hank is one of the best, if not the best in the world,'' defenseman Kevin Klein said Tuesday after the Rangers practiced. ''Everyone knows that.

''You know you are going to get his best. We have to help him, and it's one of those things where you go out and play your game and if you make a mistake, Hank is there to save you,'' Klein said.

Lundqvist has been unbelievable against the Penguins in the playoffs the past two seasons. He is 7-1 against them since Game 5 in 2014, posting a 1.34 goals against average and .954 save percentage. He is 4-0 in Pittsburgh with a 0.99 GAA, saving 111 of 115 shots.

Lundqvist said it's easy to get ready for the Penguins, knowing they have Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, Phil Kessel, Patric Hornqvist and Evgeni Malkin, who is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury.

''It's always exciting to measure yourself against top players in the league and Pittsburgh has been a team over the last few years that has had a really strong team,'' Lundqvist said. ''They play a fast game, so for a team and especially for a goalie it's always a lot of action, mentally and physically, technically you just have to prepare for that.''

Lundqvist is cramming a little. He left practice Monday because he was not feeling well. He felt better Tuesday and practiced, but he intends to work in the pre-game skate Wednesday to iron out some final details in his game.

The Penguins were 3-1 against the Rangers this season, winning once in overtime.

''He has some really good skill in the nets and I think he can read the game really well, and on top of that he is competing really hard,'' Rangers center Derick Brassard said of Lundqvist. ''If you put everything together it makes a really good goaltender. We are pretty lucky to have him on our side.''

Lundqvist always enjoys this time of year. The pressure picks up and the excitement is greater. It's time to enjoy the moment and the Rangers have done that, reaching the Cup finals two years ago and the conference finals last year, a postseason they beat the Penguins with every game decided by a goal.

''I think it comes down to will,'' Lundqvist said. ''I think the difference between teams is not big anymore.''

McDonagh joined the team on the ice late in practice and worked on some skating drills. On Monday, he had a left-handed stick and carried it in his right hand, the one that was hurt last week against Columbus.

Coach Alain Vigneault said there is a chance he will play in the series.

Fellow defenseman Dan Girardi (upper-body injury) practiced Tuesday after sitting out Monday.

[StarDust Bum]

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

The Capitals need Braden Holtby to keep up his hot play if they hope to take the next step and reach the Stanley Cup this postseason.

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. Covers Expert 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 Covers Expert 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.”

Covers Expert 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.

[StarDust Bum]

NHL

Wednesday, April 13

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Stanley Cup Playoffs: Wednesday's NHL betting previews
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The Blackhawks and Blues will meet in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in what should be an entertaining, hard-hitting battle.

Get your playoff beards ready! The puck drops on the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs Wednesday night with three games. This is the most wide open NHL tournament in recent memory and it should be a fun ride.

No. 5 Detroit Red Wings at No. 4 Tampa Bay Lightning (A:+135, H:-155, O/U: 5)

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, 30-52 ATS, 31-36 O/U): 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, 34-48 ATS, 34-39 O/U): 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.



No. 6 New York Rangers at No. 3 Pittsburgh Penguins (A:+116, H:-154, O/U: 5)

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, 39-43 ATS, 36-28 O/U): 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, 37-45 ATS, 36-32 O/U): 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.



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.

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Long Sheet

Wednesday, April 13

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DETROIT (41-30-0-11, 93 pts.) at TAMPA BAY (46-31-0-5, 97 pts.) - 4/13/2016, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 30-37 ATS (-15.0 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 13-7 (+4.1 Units) against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
TAMPA BAY is 13-7-0 straight up against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
13 of 19 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+6.7 Units)

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NY RANGERS (46-27-0-9, 101 pts.) at PITTSBURGH (48-26-0-8, 104 pts.) - 4/13/2016, 8:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
NY RANGERS is 14-10 (+4.7 Units) against the spread versus PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
NY RANGERS is 14-10-0 straight up against PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
10 of 21 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-1.8 Units, Under=-0.3 Units)

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CHICAGO (47-26-0-9, 103 pts.) at ST LOUIS (49-24-0-9, 107 pts.) - 4/13/2016, 9:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 13-17 ATS (-11.0 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
ST LOUIS is 49-33 ATS (+8.2 Units) in all games this season.
ST LOUIS is 19-10 ATS (+8.0 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
ST LOUIS is 24-15 ATS (+3.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CHICAGO is 25-6 ATS (+16.1 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
CHICAGO is 414-402 ATS (+839.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 11-10 (+0.9 Units) against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
ST LOUIS is 11-10-0 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
9 of 17 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.2 Units)

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NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, April 13

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.




NHL

Wednesday, April 13

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
DETROIT vs. TAMPA BAY
Detroit is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 7 games when playing at home against Detroit

8:00 PM
NY RANGERS vs. PITTSBURGH
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the NY Rangers last 7 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
NY Rangers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games when playing at home against NY Rangers
Pittsburgh is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home

9:30 PM
CHICAGO vs. ST. LOUIS
Chicago is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games
St. Louis is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Chicago
St. Louis is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Chicago

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Dunkel

Wednesday, April 13


Detroit @ Tampa Bay

Game 51-52
April 13, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Detroit
12.809
Tampa Bay
11.717
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Detroit
by 1
4
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Tampa Bay
-160
5
Dunkel Pick:
Detroit
(+140); Under

NY Rangers @ Pittsburgh

Game 53-54
April 13, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NY Rangers
13.177
Pittsburgh
11.774
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NY Rangers
by 1 1/2
4
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Pittsburgh
-140
5
Dunkel Pick:
NY Rangers
(+120); Under

Chicago @ St. Louis

Game 55-56
April 13, 2016 @ 9:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Chicago
11.630
St. Louis
13.019
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
St. Louis
by 1 1/2
5 1/2
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
St. Louis
-120
5
Dunkel Pick:
St. Louis
(-120); Over

[StarDust Bum]

NHL MONEYLINE

NHL > (63) SAN JOSE@ (64) LOS ANGELES | 2016-04-14 22:35:00 - 2016-04-14 22:35:00
Play ON SAN JOSE using money line in All games in a road game where where the total is 5 or less
The record is 18 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+13.95 units)

NHL > (55) CHICAGO@ (56) ST LOUIS | 2016-04-13 21:35:00 - 2016-04-13 21:35:00
Play ON CHICAGO using money line in All games after a non-conference game
The record is 25 Wins and 6 Losses for the this season (+18.6 units)

NHL > (65) NASHVILLE@ (66) ANAHEIM | 2016-04-15 22:35:00 - 2016-04-15 22:35:00
Play AGAINST NASHVILLE using money line in All games
The record is 2 Wins and 14 Losses for the this season (-11.7 units)

NHL > (57) PHILADELPHIA@ (58) WASHINGTON | 2016-04-14 19:05:00 - 2016-04-14 19:05:00
Play ON PHILADELPHIA using money line in Road games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 14 Wins and 7 Losses for the this season (+12.05 units)

NHL > (57) PHILADELPHIA@ (58) WASHINGTON | 2016-04-14 19:05:00 - 2016-04-14 19:05:00
Play ON PHILADELPHIA using money line in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 25 Wins and 16 Losses for the this season (+14.55 units)

NHL > (61) MINNESOTA@ (62) DALLAS | 2016-04-14 21:35:00 - 2016-04-14 21:35:00
Play AGAINST MINNESOTA using money line in All games when playing with 3 or more days rest
The record is 2 Wins and 8 Losses for the this season (-8.95 units)

---------------------

NHL PUCKLINE

NHL > (63) SAN JOSE@ (64) LOS ANGELES | 2016-04-14 22:35:00 - 2016-04-14 22:35:00
Play ON SAN JOSE in All games in a road game where where the total is 5 or less
The record is 18 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+13.95 units)

NHL > (55) CHICAGO@ (56) ST LOUIS | 2016-04-13 21:35:00 - 2016-04-13 21:35:00
Play ON CHICAGO in All games after a non-conference game
The record is 25 Wins and 6 Losses for the this season (+18.6 units)

NHL > (57) PHILADELPHIA@ (58) WASHINGTON | 2016-04-14 19:05:00 - 2016-04-14 19:05:00
Play ON PHILADELPHIA in Road games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 14 Wins and 7 Losses for the this season (+12.05 units)

NHL > (57) PHILADELPHIA@ (58) WASHINGTON | 2016-04-14 19:05:00 - 2016-04-14 19:05:00
Play ON PHILADELPHIA in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 25 Wins and 16 Losses for the this season (+14.55 units)

NHL > (61) MINNESOTA@ (62) DALLAS | 2016-04-14 21:35:00 - 2016-04-14 21:35:00
Play AGAINST MINNESOTA in All games when playing with 3 or more days rest
The record is 2 Wins and 8 Losses for the this season (-8.95 units)

----------------

NHL TOTALS

NHL > (71) CHICAGO@ (72) ST LOUIS | 2016-04-15 20:05:00 - 2016-04-15 20:05:00
Play OVER CHICAGO on the totalin Road games revenging a home loss versus opponent
The record is 7 Overs and 0 Unders for the this season (+7.45 units)

NHL > (55) CHICAGO@ (56) ST LOUIS | 2016-04-13 21:35:00 - 2016-04-13 21:35:00
Play OVER CHICAGO on the totalin Road games revenging a home loss versus opponent
The record is 7 Overs and 0 Unders for the this season (+7.45 units)

[StarDust Bum]

Regular Season Record
April: Overall 17 - 15 + 8.17

All Best Bets are Underdogs and Totals

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

DET at TB 07:00 PM

TB -163

U 5.0

NYR at PIT 08:00 PM

NYR +155

U 5.0

CHI at STL 09:30 PM

STL -138

O 5.0

[StarDust Bum]

Panthers, Isles look to end long droughts
April 13, 2016

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) The days of the Florida Panthers playing before a largely empty arena are not exactly long gone. It was just last season when the franchise was setting attendance futility records, getting attention for plenty of wrong reasons.

The narrative has changed completely since.

No longer hockey's official doormat, the Panthers won the Atlantic Division title, set records for wins and points in a season and now can set their sights on ending the league's second-longest current drought between playoff series wins. They open the Eastern Conference playoffs Thursday at home against the New York Islanders, the team that just happens to have the longest such drought.

Florida hasn't won a series in 20 years. The Islanders haven't won one in 23 years. But both were 100-point clubs this year, and it's not farfetched for either to be thinking that they can win it all.

''If you're going into the playoffs thinking you can't do it, you might as well kick yourself right out of the playoffs,'' Florida defenseman Erik Gudbranson said.

The Panthers are in the playoffs for just the second time since 2000, falling in seven games to eventual finalist New Jersey in 2012. The Islanders have lost their last eight playoff series going back to 1993, and lost to Washington in seven games in last year's opening round.

''It takes a lot of luck, a lot of health, a lot of special teams and great goaltending to get by a round,'' Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. ''If we do those things we have a chance to get by Round 1. I got a lot of confidence in these guys that they're going to compete at a high level. You have to have a short memory. If you have a bad shift, if you lose a hockey game, you better bounce back. Those are the things we're going to concentrate on.''

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Here's some of what to watch going into the series:

BACK TO BACK: The series starts with a rare playoff back-to-back on Thursday and Friday, with the NHL saying it was necessary because of a ''combination of factors'' with other events scheduled at both arenas. The Panthers' BB&T Center couldn't host a potential Game 1 on Wednesday because of a concert; the Islanders' Barclays Center has conflicts on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. According to STATS, the Islanders were 9-3-3 on the second night of back-to-backs this season, the Panthers were 8-4-2.

GOALIE ISSUES: Florida would seem like it rates a serious edge here, at least from an experience factor. The Panthers' Roberto Luongo will be playing in his 65th playoff game Thursday night, his 63rd as a starter. New York - with Jaroslav Halak still injured - will go with Thomas Greiss, whose only Stanley Cup playoff game action was a 40-minute relief stint in 2010.

JAGR FACTOR: No one in NHL history has more goals against the Islanders than Florida's Jaromir Jagr, who has lit the lamp 64 times at their expense (three of those coming in postseason play). Jagr was born before the Islanders' franchise started play, was a two-time Stanley Cup winner before the Florida franchise played its initial game, yet even at 44 has proven that he remains an elite talent.

TIES THAT BIND: The Islanders' last series win came against Jagr and the Pittsburgh Penguins, and if that wasn't enough the architect of that New York team was Bill Torrey - who would soon become the first president of the Panthers. Torrey, one of the most respected executives in NHL history, has a banner retired in his honor by both the Islanders and the Panthers, and still has family living in New York. Torrey is an assistant to Panthers GM Dale Tallon.

SEASON SERIES SUCCESS: Florida's Aleksander Barkov had five points (2-3-5) in the three games against the Islanders this season, while Luongo stopped 81 of 87 shots. For the Islanders against Florida, defenseman Marek Zidlicky (0-3-3) was the leading scorer in the season series. Greiss beat the Panthers in his only appearance against them, stopping 23 of 25 shots.

[StarDust Bum]

Wild playoff matchup for Stars vs Minnesota replacement
April 13, 2016

DALLAS (AP) Patrick Sharp is getting ready to face Minnesota in a playoff series for the fourth year in a row. It will be the first for the Dallas Stars, the franchise with roots in the Twin Cities.

Known as the North Stars before moving south to Dallas in 1993, the Stars are the top seed in the Western Conference. They open their first-round series at home Thursday night against the Wild, the team that eventually replaced them in Minnesota.

''I'm sure it means something to the fans,'' Stars center Jason Spezza said. ''For us as players, it's a little different generation for us, we weren't directly involved in it.''

Spezza and Sharp were acquired in trades the past two offseasons, and with the high-scoring young All-Star duo of Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin helped lead Dallas to its first No. 1 seed since consecutive Stanley Cup appearances in 1999 and 2000.

The Wild, in their 15th season since entering the NHL as an expansion team, are hurting going into their fourth consecutive playoff appearance. Top scorer Zach Parise (25 goals) won't even travel for the first two games because of an upper-body injury that has kept him off the ice for more than a week.

''It changes lines and the combinations we have and special teams. In every area of the game, it will have an effect,'' center Mikko Koivu said. ''But if he's in, if he's not, then we've got to react to that as a team and go from there.''

The Wild will also be without Thomas Vanek (18 goals) while Erik Haula, a solid third-line center who defends well, will likely be a game-time decision.

When the Stars won their only Stanley Cup title in 1999, they beat Buffalo and Lindy Ruff, now their third-year coach. Sharp was part of his third Stanley Cup championship last season with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Stars won four of five meetings this season against Minnesota, three in overtime along with a 6-3 win that included two empty-net goals - among the Stars' NHL-record 24 empty-netters and NHL-best 265 goals overall this season. Minnesota's victory was 2-1.

But the last of those games was Feb. 9, before the Wild fired Mike Yeo and named John Torchetti the interim coach.

''Their defense is involved a little bit more ... Offensively, I think they've got a little bit more giddy-up and go in them,'' Ruff said. ''There's going to be some structure changes for them and there might be personnel that are in or out. The playoffs, I wipe the slate clean and you start from Game 1.''

Some things to know when the Central Division foes meet in the playoffs for the first time:

SEGUIN SKATING: All-Star forward Tyler Seguin was back on the ice this week after missing Dallas' last 10 games because of a small cut of his left Achilles tendon. Seguin had 73 points in 72 games before getting hurt. Ruff said Wednesday that Seguin was available to play, but that a decision for Game 1 wouldn't be made until Thursday. Seguin and Benn (89 points) are the NHL's highest-scoring teammates over the past two seasons.

WILD ENDINGS: Minnesota has finished its last three playoff appearances with losses to Chicago and Sharp. The Wild lost a first-round series in 2013 when the Blackhawks went on to win the Stanley Cup. The two teams met in the second round each of the last two seasons after Minnesota's first-round upsets - over Colorado in 2014 and St. Louis last year.

WHICH FIN IN NET?: Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen have split goaltending duties for the Stars all season, and likely will do so to start the playoffs after both Finnish players recorded 25 wins this season. Ruff said he wouldn't name a starting goalie before Game 1.

DIFFERING FINISHES: Minnesota ended the regular season with five straight losses, after winning six in a row before that. While the Wild were 15-11-1 after Torchetti took over as coach, they had the fewest points (87) by a Western Conference playoff team since San Jose in 1999-2000. Dallas won eight of its last 10 games, including 3-2 over Nashville in the regular season finale when Spezza had a hat trick and the Stars clinched the top seed.

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Sharks have chance to rebound from crushing loss to LA Kings
April 13, 2016

LOS ANGELES (AP) Almost every NHL contender has a few ghosts of past failures that they must exorcise on the path toward the Stanley Cup.

The San Jose Sharks have a monster in their closet, and they've got to face it in the first round.

Just two years ago, the Los Angeles Kings rallied from a 0-3 series deficit in the first round to eliminate San Jose in humiliating fashion at the Shark Tank. The momentum propelled the Kings to their second championship, and it sent the Sharks on a spiral that bottomed out last spring with their first non-playoff season in over a decade.

Although Peter DeBoer wasn't on the Sharks' bench for that collapse, the coach knows all about it, and he hopes his players don't let it linger in their minds.

''Obviously there are a lot of teams left in the wake of the Kings who aren't leaving with good feelings over the last five or six years,'' DeBoer said. ''It's a great test. You have to go through the best to win this trophy, and we're starting from one of the best.''

Few NHL opponents know each other better than these California rivals. They're about to face off in the postseason for the fourth time in six seasons, with several core players on both teams remaining from every series.

The Sharks won the first two meetings in 2011 and 2013, but the Kings made up for it in 2014. Los Angeles rode that momentum past Anaheim, Chicago and the New York Rangers to the franchise's second Stanley Cup championship, but missed the postseason along with San Jose last spring after three years of playoff grind finally caught up.

''It doesn't affect us at all,'' Kings coach Darryl Sutter said of the 2014 series. ''The teams are pretty familiar with each other. We're close in terms of style, standings, all the critical stats, if you take any of that, if it makes any difference at all. I think it doesn't. It starts over. Everybody's at zero. The roster changes. If you're going back to two years ago, then two years ago it didn't affect it when the Sharks beat the Kings. It doesn't. It has no bearing on anything.''

Here are some more things to watch when the series opens at Staples Center on the day after Kobe Bryant's retirement game:

JONER'S TURN: Martin Jones will start the series opener for the Sharks in a familiar building. Jones won a championship ring during two years as Jonathan Quick's backup, appearing in two Kings playoff games in 2014. Realizing that the gifted goalie known in LA as ''Joner'' would never supplant Quick, the Kings traded him to Boston last summer in a deal for Milan Lucic, and the Bruins shipped him to San Jose. ''It's a fun building to play in, (but) I think the novelty of playing the old team has kind of worn off,'' Jones said.

UP THE MIDDLE: The Kings and Sharks have two of the NHL's best collections of playmaking centers. Joe Thornton, Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau center San Jose's top three lines, while Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter and Vincent Lecavalier line up down the middle for Los Angeles. Both teams rely heavily on the skills of their pivots to generate offense. The 36-year-old Thornton is having a renaissance season, while Kopitar and Carter have been outstanding down the stretch.

DEPTH CHARGE: The Sharks realize they can't take a break against the Kings and Sutter, who methodically rolls four lines and grinds away at every opponent. The same strategy led the Kings to two Cups, and Lecavalier's midseason arrival has given a boost to the scoring production on Los Angeles' third line. ''I think LA has really won being a four-line team,'' DeBoer said. ''You can't understate the importance of their third and fourth lines over the past five or six years and their Cup wins. They kind of set the bar, and that's where everyone else is trying to get to.''

MISSING OUT: The roles are reversed in this series from past playoff matchups, with the Kings generally considered the favorite after leading the Pacific Division for most of the season. The Sharks are still regrouping from last season's reset and subsequent revitalization, yet they finished only four points behind the Kings and five behind first-place Anaheim.

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Capitals ready to flip switch against physical Flyers
April 13, 2016

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) When the Washington Capitals were coasting down the stretch, defenseman Matt Niskanen conceded ''it's hard to turn it on'' come playoff time. Capitals players talked about it then, what the intensity level would rise to when the playoffs start.

On the eve of facing the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, the Capitals say they have put concerns about complacency behind them. It's no longer about manufacturing urgency but rather staying on an even-keel in what should be an emotional series.

''It's just making sure it doesn't get too high, making sure we're prepared and level-headed and focused going in instead of just (being) too excited just to be here that we start making mistakes out of excitement and overplaying situations,'' goaltender Braden Holtby said. ''Making sure we're ready, we're prepared to put a full, all-in effort in.''

While the Capitals clinched the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout before another Eastern Conference team clinched a playoff spot, the Flyers have been all-in for months. They needed to go 15-5-3 since Feb. 25 just to get into the playoffs as the second wild card in the East.

''It was tough, I'm not going to lie,'' Flyers forward Jakub Voracek said after clinching Saturday. "A lot of road games, a lot of tough games, a lot of skating, a lot of traveling. But you know, we dig in.''

The Capitals didn't have to dig in, yet they still went 11-6-4 since the trade deadline.

''You get concerned about habits that start to become evident,'' Washington general manager Brian MacLellan said. ''I think the challenge has been for the coaching staff to balance out where we were in the standings and still hold our team accountable to get us ready to be playing the right way at the end.''

The NHL's divisional format allows for plenty of opportunities for familiarity-breeding contempt, but even more so in this series because the Capitals and Flyers met March 30 in Philadelphia.

''Playing the Flyers a couple times in really that last month was very helpful for us just so you got a good feel,'' Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. ''I think it helps the players. It probably helps the Flyers, as well. I don't think there's an advantage one way or the other, but I think there's a comfort knowing what you're getting into.''

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Some things to know about the Capitals-Flyers series:

LET'S GET PHYSICAL: These aren't the Broad Street Bullies, but Wayne Simmonds and the Flyers won't shy away from physical play. Philadelphia has a reputation for running opposing goaltenders, so Holtby understands what's coming his way. Washington isn't as big as it was in the 2015 playoffs without Troy Brouwer and Joel Ward, but forward Tom Wilson should being able to provide the muscle. If he keeps his head on straight, he can play on the same edge as the Flyers.

EXPERIENCE OF THE KINGS: The Capitals added winger Justin Williams and center Mike Richards, who won the Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014, for this time of year. Williams and Richards are also former Flyers players who know all about the playoff intensity in Philadelphia. Williams and Richards have about as much combined playoff experience as Philadelphia's entire Game 1 lineup combined, so the Flyers are hoping to pick up the pace fast.

THE NOT-SO-FRIENDLY GHOST: Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is the quarterback of the power play, and his offensive infusion changed the team's season when he was called up in the fall to replace the injured Mark Streit. Nicknamed ''Ghost,'' Gostisbehere brings a dynamic from the blue line no other player in the series has, and the Capitals' penalty kill will be tested. Washington only gave up multiple power-play goals in a game twice this season.

OVECHKIN THE THREAT: The last time the Capitals and Flyers met in the playoffs back in 2008, Alex Ovechkin had four goals and five assists in the seven-game series. Ovechkin is a more complete player now and coming off his seventh 50-goal season, so he's a threat to score on the power play and at even strength. The Flyers could just try to shut Ovechkin down and let Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov beat them.

SNIDER ON THEIR MINDS: The Flyers learned of the death of founder and owner Ed Snider on Monday morning at the age of 83 following a two-year battle with bladder cancer. Captain Claude Giroux said Snider ''is the Philadelphia Flyers,'' and the team will wear patches on their uniforms to remember him. The Flyers are dedicating the playoffs to Snider's memory.