Announcement

**Udog** · 04-18-2016, 07:54 AM

Armadillo: Monday's six-pack

Week 1 NFL pointspreads

Carolina @ Denver (-1)...........................Chicago @ Houston (-4.5)

Tampa Bay @ Atlanta (-3.5)..................Green Bay @ Jacksonville (+3.5)

Minnesota @ Tennessee (+3).................Miami @ Seattle (-7.5)

Cleveland @ Philadelphia (-7.5)..............NJ Giants @ Dallas (-5.5)

NJ Jets @ Cincinnati (even)....................Detroit @ Indianapolis (-5.5)

Oakland @ New Orleans (-1.5)...............New England @ Arizona (even)

San Diego @ Kansas City (-7.5).............Pittsburgh @ Washington (+3)

Buffalo @ Baltimore (-3).........................Los Angeles @ San Francisco (+2.5)

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Armadillo: Monday's List of 13: Wrapping up a sports weekend.........

13) So which QB do the Rams take with the first pick in the draft? Spent an hour this morning watching Jon Gruden's TV shows with Goff/Wentz, trying to learn about both guys, while seeing if Gruden preferred either guy. Hard to tell.

One thing: Goff is a huge SF Giants baseball fan; you wonder if he's a 49er fan too; if he is, kind of awkward to make him the cornerstone of the Rams' franchise.

12) 18 years ago, Colts/Chargers had #1, #2 picks in the draft; there was a standoff in the media which QB rpsopect was the better one, no one seemed to know. Turns out that Peyton Manning was the right choice and Ryan Leaf wasn't. But make no mistake about it, at the time a lot of smart people thought Leaf was the better choice.

11) Apparently, Tennessee is using the extra picks it got from the Rams to try and get back in the top 10 of the first round.

10) Since 1999 in the NBA playoffs, #7 seeds are 1-33 in first round series against the #2 seeds. I've long believed that best-of-7 series are too long in these first round series. It just gets boring watching the #1, #2 seeds pummel inferior teams.

9) In 1981, Mike Schmidt was baseball's highest paid player; he made $2,130,000.

8) Disney has six Star Wars movies planned, all the way thru 2020; its like having this out-of-control printing press in your cellar that just constantly churns out money.

7) On July 2, 2013, the Orioles traded Jake Arrieta, Pedro Strop and cash to the Cubs, for Scott Feldman, Steve Clevenger. Oy. Arrieta hasn't allowed a run at Wrigley Field since last July, thats six scoreless home starts in a row.

6) Couple years ago, Steve Kerr turned down the Knicks' coaching job and went to the Warriors; now his assistant Luke Walton is doing the same thing.

5) Brooklyn Nets hired Hawks' assistant Kenny Atkinson as their new coach; he is said to be a very strong player development coach.

4) On Opening Day, there were 82 Dominican-born major leaguers, an average of three per team. You wonder how the language barrier affects players who weren't born in this country. If I owned a big league team, all my coaches would have to know how to speak Spanish. Communication is very important.

3) Former Iona star AJ English was VP of the Portsmouth tournament this weekend; we'll see if that helps him get drafted in June.

2) Dodgers started Howie Kendrick at 3B this week, first time he's started there since 2006; they also started him in LF, first time he's started there since 2011.

1) Florida State has played in 34 consecutive bowls, the longest current streak in college football; Virginia Tech is next at 23, then Georgia at 19. Funny that all three schools have changed coaches in the last six years, Va Tech and Georgia this year.

**Udog** · 04-18-2016, 08:01 AM

NHL
Dunkel

Monday, April 18

Washington @ Philadelphia

Game 1-2
April 18, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Washington
10.571
Philadelphia
14.027
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Philadelphia
by 3 1/2
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
-155
5
Dunkel Pick:
Philadelphia
(+135); Over

Dallas @ Minnesota

Game 3-4
April 18, 2016 @ 8:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Dallas
10.282
Minnesota
12.831
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Minnesota
by 2 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Dallas
-130
5
Dunkel Pick:
Minnesota
(+110); Over

Los Angeles @ San Jose

Game 5-6
April 18, 2016 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Los Angeles
11.325
San Jose
12.831
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
San Jose
by 1 1/2
4
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
San Jose
-125
5
Dunkel Pick:
San Jose
(-125); Under

NHL
Short Sheet

Monday, April 18

Washington at Philadelphia, 7:05 PM ET
Washington: 27-14 SU in road games
Philadelphia: 0-7 SU off 2 consecutive road losses by 2 goals or more

Dallas at Minnesota, 8:35 PM ET
Dallas: 16-4 SU off a close home win by 1 goal
Minnesota: 1-8 SU off a road loss against a division rival

Los Angeles at San Jose, 10:35 PM ET
Los Angeles: 9-1 SU in road games after a division game
San Jose: 8-16 SU after playing 2 consecutive road games

NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Monday, April 18

Philadelphia-Washington (W 2-0)
Flyers scored total of one goal in losing both games at Washington; they outshot Caps 19-5 in the first period of Game 2, but didn't score- they outshot Washington 42-23 for game. Philly is 0-8 on power play in series, Washington is 3-8, scoring half its series goals with man advantage. Washington lost three of last four visits here- home side won last four series games. Under is 6-2-2 in the last ten series games, 3-1 in last four played here.

Minnesota-Dallas (D 2-0)
Minnesota Wild lost six of last seven games against Dallas- Stars won last three visits to Twin Cities. Minnesota lost last seven games overall, outscored 22-7; under is 5-1-3 in their last nine. Dallas won eight of last nine games; six of their last seven stayed under. Wild was outshot 28-9 in the first period of the two games by Dallas, which was 1-11 on power play (Minnesota was 1-7). Wild has yet to score even strength goal in series.

San Jose-Los Angeles (SJ 2-0)
Sharks scored GW goal 0:17 into third period of Game 1, then held Kings off in third period, when LA outshot them 13-7 (23-10 in third period shots for series). San Jose is 7-5 in last 12 series games; road team went 8-4 in those games- Kings won three of last four visits here. Over is 4-1-2 in last seven tilts in series. San Jose won seven of last nine games; four of last six stayed under. Kings are 4-8 in last 12 games. Sharks are 2-9 on power play in series, Kings 2-8.

Playoffs tally: Home: 11-8, Over; 6-6-7

NHL

Monday, April 18

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
WASHINGTON vs. PHILADELPHIA
The total has gone OVER in 18 of Washington's last 25 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington's last 9 games on the road
Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 18 of Philadelphia's last 25 games when playing at home against Washington

8:30 PM
DALLAS vs. MINNESOTA
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Dallas is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Minnesota
Minnesota is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
Minnesota is 7-14 SU in its last 21 games at home

10:30 PM
LOS ANGELES vs. SAN JOSE
Los Angeles is 6-14 SU in its last 20 games when playing on the road against San Jose
Los Angeles is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against San Jose
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Jose's last 6 games
San Jose is 14-6 SU in its last 20 games when playing at home against Los Angeles

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**Udog** · 04-18-2016, 08:40 AM

NHL
Long Sheet

Monday, April 18

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WASHINGTON (58-18-0-8, 124 pts.) at PHILADELPHIA (41-29-0-14, 96 pts.) - 4/18/2016, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 25-18 ATS (+5.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 24-19 ATS (+47.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 58-26 ATS (+16.5 Units) in all games this season.
WASHINGTON is 19-9 ATS (+7.8 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
WASHINGTON is 42-34 ATS (+83.4 Units) in road games in April games since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 23-8 ATS (+10.0 Units) after a division game this season.
WASHINGTON is 30-10 ATS (+11.5 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 35-55 ATS (+107.2 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 8-7 (+2.2 Units) against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
PHILADELPHIA is 8-7-0 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
7 of 13 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.7 Units)

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DALLAS (52-23-0-9, 113 pts.) at MINNESOTA (38-35-0-11, 87 pts.) - 4/18/2016, 8:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 26-32 ATS (-13.5 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 11-20 ATS (-14.9 Units) after a 3 game unbeaten streak over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 14-1 ATS (+12.6 Units) in home games after 3 or more consecutive unders over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 91-58 ATS (+12.4 Units) in home games after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game since 1996.
DALLAS is 52-32 ATS (+7.2 Units) in all games this season.
DALLAS is 21-10 ATS (+7.8 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
DALLAS is 9-2 ATS (+6.5 Units) after playing 3 consecutive home games this season.
MINNESOTA is 38-46 ATS (-38.2 Units) in all games this season.
MINNESOTA is 0-6 ATS (-9.1 Units) in April games this season.
MINNESOTA is 18-30 ATS (+48.8 Units) second half of the season this season.
MINNESOTA is 11-19 ATS (-10.5 Units) after a division game this season.
MINNESOTA is 18-24 ATS (+60.0 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
MINNESOTA is 3-9 ATS (-9.8 Units) in home games after 3 or more consecutive losses over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 9-7 (+1.3 Units) against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 9-7-0 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
8 of 15 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.3 Units)

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LOS ANGELES (48-30-0-6, 102 pts.) at SAN JOSE (48-30-0-6, 102 pts.) - 4/18/2016, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 88-78 ATS (-28.3 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 31-41 ATS (-16.3 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 24-23 ATS (-13.4 Units) second half of the season this season.
LOS ANGELES is 17-20 ATS (-13.1 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 18-9 ATS (+5.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
SAN JOSE is 13-3 ATS (+9.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
LOS ANGELES is 9-1 ATS (+7.7 Units) in road games after a division game this season.
SAN JOSE is 7-15 ATS (-13.7 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
SAN JOSE is 22-27 ATS (-32.2 Units) in home games second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 13-15 ATS (-13.8 Units) in home games vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 152-134 ATS (-78.3 Units) in home games after a division game since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN JOSE is 12-12-0 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
11 of 18 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.8 Units)

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**Udog** · 04-18-2016, 10:15 AM

NHL

Monday, April 18

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Stanley Cup Playoffs: Monday's NHL betting preview
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Entering the playoffs the Kings were one of the favorites to hoist the cup (6/1), but if they can't figure out a way to solve their former teammate Martin Jones they could be heading home early.

Eliminations from the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs are going to begin this week. Three teams hit the ice Monday night facing 2-0 series deficits but none are in a more dire situation than the Los Angeles Kings.

Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers (A: -150, H: +130, O/U: 5)

Capitals lead series 2-0

The Washington Capitals have benefited from stellar special teams play and a 101-foot goal to win the initial two contests of their first-round series with the Philadelphia Flyers. The Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals look to push their Metropolitan Division rivals to the brink of elimination on Monday when the series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3.

Defenseman John Carlson scored a power-play goal in each contest for the Capitals, who are 3-for-8 with the man advantage and thwarted all eight short-handed situations. Jason Chimera was credited with the game-winning tally in Saturday's 4-1 victory, albeit with a tip-in from center ice that somehow saw the puck squeeze between the pads of Steve Mason. The humiliating gaffe was so unfathomable that Washington's Braden Holtby admittedly felt for his fellow goaltender. "I couldn't even watch the replay of it," said Holtby, who has looked every bit the front-runner for the Vezina Trophy by stopping 60-of-61 shots in the series. "Even as an opposing team, you want to earn your goals and what-not (instead of) weird bounces like that. I feel for him."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC, TVAS, CSN-DC (Washington), CSN Philadelphia

MATCHUP CHART:

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (58-16-8, 38-45 ATS, 33-34 O/U): Captain Alex Ovechkin traditionally has tormented the Flyers with his scoring, but the 240-pound Russian has also lowered the boom with his physical play (11 hits). Ovechkin sidelined Sean Couturier for the rest of the series with a crushing hit in Game 1 and deposited Brayden Schenn over the boards and into the laps of his teammates on Saturday, signaling a shift in the momentum of Game 2. "Sometimes you just have to play physical," Ovechkin told the Washington Post. "If you don't have an opportunity to do something else, you play physical. You play simple and the other guys are going to follow you."

ABOUT THE FLYERS (41-29-14, 46-38 ATS, 32-31 O/U): Although held without a point in the first two games, captain Claude Giroux was encouraged by Philadelphia's 42-23 edge in shots Saturday and expressed optimism that the series shifts to the Wells Fargo Center. "We've been playing well at home this year," Giroux told Philly.com of the Flyers, who posted a 23-10-8 mark in the City of Brotherly Love - including a 2-1 shootout victory over visiting Washington on March 30. Jakub Voracek has scored the lone goal for the Flyers, who were unable to grab their first lead of the series after failing to convert during 67 seconds of a 5-on-3 power play late in the opening period of Game 2.

TRENDS:

* Capitals are 11-0 in their last 11 Monday games.
* Home team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
* Under is 5-0-1 in Capitals last 6 games following a win.
* Under is 3-0-2 in Flyers last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.

Dallas Stars at Minnesota Wild (A: -130, H: +110, O/U: 5)

Stars lead series 2-0

The Minnesota Wild already face an uphill climb against the Dallas Stars and it's becoming even more of a struggle when the bounces are not going their way. The Wild will be hoping to reverse the momentum when the first-round series shifts to Minnesota on Monday night after the Stars won Games 1 and 2 in Dallas.

A stunning goal that ricocheted off the skates of two players and caromed off the back of the head of Wild netminder Devan Dubnyk provided the impetus for the Stars in Saturday's 2-1 victory - the seven straight defeat overall for Minnesota and sixth in a row in the postseason. “The puck is kicked and somehow they have enough to overturn the ref’s call,” Dubnyk said of the opening goal by Antoine Roussel. “It’s mind-blowing that that’s the outcome of that play in the playoffs.” Minnesota scored its first goal of the series in the third period Saturday night and was buzzing for the equalizer in the waning moments, displaying an offensive spark that it hopes to carry over into Game 3. The Wild will need a huge effort against the top-seeded Stars, who have won 11 of 13 dating to the regular season and outscored Minnesota 6-1 in the first two games.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET; CNBC, Sportsnet, TVAS 2, FSN Southwest (Dallas), FSN North/Wisconsin (Minnesota)

MATCHUP CHART:

ABOUT THE STARS (52-23-9, 42-42 ATS, 45-38 O/U): While Roussel's bizarre tally was the main talking point of Game 2, Dallas captain Jamie Benn continued to torment Minnesota by providing the dagger with a third-period goal - his second of the series and ninth point in five meetings with the Wild this season. “Best scorer in the league,” Wild coach John Torchetti told the media after the game. “Can’t be letting him get a breakaway.” Stars coach Lindy Ruff said at Sunday's practice that Mattias Janmark will return to the lineup Monday while taking a wait-and-see approach on fellow forward Tyler Seguin, who played Saturday after missing 11 games due to an Achilles tendon injury.

ABOUT THE WILD (38-35-11, 40-44 ATS, 29-37 O/U): Minnesota needs to find a way to manufacture more offense during the continued absence of leading goal scorer Zach Parise, who is no closer to returning from a back injury that has sidelined him since the next-to-last game of the regular season, as well as that of 18-goal scorer Thomas Vanek. Captain Mikko Koivu, who topped the team with 56 points during the regular season, is mired in a 10-game goal drought, while forward Mikael Granlund did register a game-high seven shots on goal Saturday after he was shifted from center to wing. "I've got to put the puck in the net with those chances," Granlund said. "That's the bottom line."

TRENDS:

* Stars are 6-0 in their last 6 vs. Central.
* Wild are 0-7 in their last 7 overall.
* Under is 6-0 in Stars last 6 games following a win.
* Under is 4-0 in Wild last 4 vs. Western Conference.
* Stars are 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.

Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks (A: +100, H: -120, O/U: 5)

Sharks lead series 2-0

The Los Angeles Kings find themselves in an unenviable position in their first-round series against the San Jose Sharks, but it's nothing they haven't experienced before. The Kings look to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole versus San Jose for the second time in three years when they visit the Sharks in Game 3 on Monday.

Los Angeles was in that situation in 2014 and went on to become the fourth team in Stanley Cup playoff history to rally from the deficit and win the series, but the club knows how difficult the task was and does not want to be forced to repeat it. "It’s a completely different situation," Kings center Anze Kopitar told reporters after Saturday's 2-1 loss. "Our mind set’s got to be to go out there and win the next game and just build off that. That’s where we’re putting in our heads tonight, we’re going to prepare tomorrow and we’re going to go up there and be better." The fact the Kings dropped the first two contests at home - both one-goal decisions - should come as no surprise as the Sharks recorded a franchise-record 28 victories on the road during the regular season for the second-most in NHL history. San Jose captain Joe Pavelski continues to be a thorn in Los Angeles' side, recording three goals and an assist over the first two games after registering four tallies and 10 points in five regular-season meetings.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports, CBC, TVA, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), CSN California (San Jose)

MATCHUP CHART:

ABOUT THE KINGS (48-30-6, 28-56 ATS, 29-33 O/U): Marian Gaborik returned to the lineup Saturday after missing the team's final 28 regular-season games with a sprained knee and had a solid game, recording four shots in 14 minutes, 32 seconds of ice time en route to being named the Third Star of the Game. "I thought after being off nine weeks, nine and a half weeks, I thought he played really well," coach Darryl Sutter told reporters. "I thought Gabby was our best winger." Defenseman Jamie McBain replaced the injured Alec Martinez in the lineup in Game 2 and blocked three shots in 16:14 of ice time in his first career playoff game.

ABOUT THE SHARKS (48-30-6, 40-44 ATS, 43-34 O/U): Joe Thornton notched his first point of the series Saturday as he helped set up Pavelski's game-opening goal. It was the veteran center's 77th career postseason assist, tying him with Claude Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, Bobby Clarke and Ken Linseman for 41st place on the all-time list. Martin Jones is 5-1-1 against his former team but credits his defensemen for his playoff success. "We’ve done a great job both games keeping them to the outside," he told reporters. "They’re a team that likes to crash the net and take pucks to the net, and we’ve done a really good job. The other thing is just shot-blocking. Throughout the year, it’s been great."

TRENDS:

* Kings are 1-5 in their last 6 road games.
* Sharks are 11-2 in their last 13 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 6-1-3 in Kings last 10 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
* Over is 5-1 in Sharks last 6 home games.
* Road team is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.

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Announcement

Monday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 4/18

Monday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 4/18

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