The Bum's NHL Best Bets-Trends-News Etc. !

[StarDust Bum]

Nhl playoffs record: ( as in baseball dogs and totals only)
All picks for the day:

04/29/2017 3-0-0 100.00% +1625
04/28/2017 2-1-1 66.67% +600
04/27/2017 1-1-0 50.00% -50
04/26/2017 2-1-0 66.67% +525
04/23/2017 2-1-1 66.67% +675
04/22/2017 3-2-0 60.00% +825
04/21/2017 0-2-1 0.00% -1050
04/20/2017 1-4-2 20.00 -1550
04/19/2017 1-5-0 16.67% -1950
04/18/2017 1-4-0 20.00% -1650
04/17/2017 1-3-1 25.00% -1100
4/16/2017 6-1-0 85.71%+2550
4/16/2017 6-1-0 85.71% +2550
04/15/2017 1-2-2 33.33% -250
04/14/2017 1-6-0 14.29% -2325
04/13/2017 2-2-1 50.00% +225
04/12/2017 4-5-1 44.44% -940


Best Bets............ Sides...............................Totals

04/29/2017..........1 - 0............+1.25.............2 - 0...................+2.00
04/28/2017..........1 - 1............+0.20.............1 - 0 - 1..............+1.00
04/27/2017..........0 - 0............. 0.00.............1 - 1....................-0.10
04/26/2017..........1 - 0............+1.15............ 1 - 1....................-0.10
04/23/2017..........1 - 0............+1.35.............1 - 0 - 1...............+1.00
04/22/2017..........2 - 0............+2.85.............0 - 2.....................-2.20
04/21/2017 .........0 - 1.............-1.00.............0 - 1 - 1................-1.10
04/20/2017..........0 - 3.............-3.00.............1 - 1 - 2................-0.10
04/19/2017..........1 - 1............+0.50.............0 - 4....................- 4.40
04/18/2017..........0 - 1.............-1.00.............0 - 3 ....................-3.30
04/17/2017..........1 - 0.............+1.10............0 - 3 - 1................-3.30
04/16/2017..........3 - 0.............+3.20............3 - 1....................+1.90
04/15/2017..........1 - 1.............+0.60............1 - 2....................-1.20
04/14/2017..........1 - 2..............-0.25............0 - 4...................- 4.40
04/13/2017..........1 - 1.............+0.55............1 - 1 - 1..............- 0.10
04/12/2017..........1 - 1 ............+1.00............2 - 2 - 1 .............- 0.20


SUNDAY, APRIL 30

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

STL at NAS 03:00 PM

STL +125

O 5.0

ANA at EDM 07:00 PM

O 5.0

[StarDust Bum]

NHL Playoff Capsules
April 30, 2017

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Jakob Silfverberg scored twice to lead the Anaheim Ducks to a 6-3 victory over Edmonton on Sunday night, cutting the Oilers' series lead to 2-1,

Ryan Getzlaf had a goal and an assist, and Rickard Rakell, Chris Wagner and Ryan Kesler also scored for Anaheim, which lost the first two games at home. John Gibson stopped 24 shots.

Connor McDavid scored his first of the series for Edmonton. Patrick Maroon and Anton Slepychev also scored and Kris Russell had two assists. Cam Talbot finished with 22 saves.

Wagner scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the second period, firing a shot that deflected off Talbot's arm and in.

Silfverberg knocked in a feed from Josh Manson at 4:56 of the third to make it 5-3. The Oilers challenged the play for offside, but the goal stood after a video review. Kesler swept in a rebound with 9 1/2 minutes left to cap the scoring.

Game 4 is Wednesday night.

PREDATORS 3, BLUES 1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Cody McLeod scored the game-winner early in the second period, and Nashville grabbed a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinal.

Defensemen Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi also scored, and Colton Sissons added two assists. The Predators outshot St. Louis 34-23, and they now have won seven straight playoff games on home ice, including all three this postseason.

Alexander Steen scored for the Blues, who lost for the first time on the road this postseason.

Blues goalie Jake Allen kept St. Louis in this game before being pulled by coach Mike Yeo for the extra attacker with more than 4 minutes remaining and took his timeout with 1:25 left.

Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne finished with 22 saves, including a flurry of stops to preserve the win.

Game 3 is Tuesday night.

[StarDust Bum]

Desperate Capitals go back to Holtby for Game 3 vs. Penguins
April 30, 2017

Desperate times called for a players-only meeting in the Washington Capitals' locker room after they fell behind 2-0 in their second-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

What was said? Matt Niskanen called it ''none of your business,'' Alex Ovechkin insisted ''it stays between us,'' and Justin Williams said, ''We'll keep that between us.''

Suffice it to say, when alternate captain Nicklas Backstrom and other leaders spoke up, it wasn't a cheery message.

''It was things that people need to say and things that some people need to hear,'' winger T.J. Oshie said. ''What was said is what needed to be said.''

What's said matters little if the Capitals don't get the job done on the ice in Game 3 on Monday night in Pittsburgh (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports). Already, they face long odds, as just 18 of the previous 87 teams to drop the first two games of a best-of-seven series at home have gone on to win the series, and only four in NHL history have come back from a 3-0 deficit.

Coach Barry Trotz didn't feel he needed to say Braden Holtby would start Game 3 but did so when asked Sunday during a conference call. Trotz pulled Holtby after three goals on 14 shots in two periods on Saturday night and seemed stunned to be asked about his status for Game 3.

''Yes, absolutely, why would you think otherwise?'' Trotz said. ''No question he's our goaltender. Expect him to start tomorrow.''

Trotz praised Holtby's mental toughness and body of work, and said the reigning Vezina Trophy winner will ''be the difference in this series.'' Holtby has responded well in games after being pulled this season, including back-to-back shutouts on one occasion and a string of eight consecutive victories on another.

Holtby, who is 7-4 with a 2.62 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in eight games in these playoffs after putting up far better numbers in previous postseasons, took the blame for not making a save on the Penguins' third goal in Game 2. But he's by far not the only problem for the Capitals, who've had some ill-timed turnovers and mistakes that have led to odd-man rushes.

''Everybody's in the same boat,'' Williams said. ''We're just not doing quite enough. To beat them you have to do everything right. We're not going to shy away from it. We're going to go there and see what we're made of. We're just a hair off. You go to the puck and you're a hair away. There's little ticks here and there, little races, little battles throughout the ice, and we're not quite there.''

The Capitals have outshot the Penguins 71-44 through two games but were outscored 9-4. Niskanen said the Capitals ''can see our path to success,'' and one of Oshie's key points is that he and his teammates must avoid frustration.

There are some tactical adjustments they must make, especially after Sidney Crosby and Co. blocked 62 shots through two games and turned a few of those into goals.

''We've got to get our shots through and around the blocks,'' Trotz said. ''We've got to shoot it quicker before they can get in those lanes.''

For a team with a reputation of early playoff exits and one that hasn't made it past the second round in the Ovechkin era, there's no shortage of urgency.

''No one in here needs a lesson about how to go home early,'' Oshie said. ''We've done that. It's well known. The fans know it. We need to man up here and go into Game 3 and change our attitude and have some fun while we do it.''

HORNQVIST, KUHNHACKL QUESTIONS

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan didn't have an update Sunday on forwards Patric Hornqvist and Tom Kuhnhackl, who left Game 2. Hornqvist blocked a shot by John Carlson in the first period and never returned, leading to a reunion of the ''Sid and the Kids'' line with Crosby, Jake Guentzel and Conor Sheary.

If either forward can't play, Scott Wilson figures to be back in after coming out Saturday night for the return of Carl Hagelin. Carter Rowney would figure to be next on the list.

OMAHA STAR

Guentzel, the kid from Omaha, Nebraska, scored twice in Game 2 and has a playoff-best seven goals.

''I'm playing with great players and I'm just trying to be around the net,'' Guentzel said.

PAGEAU, PAGEAU, PAGEAU, PAGEAU

After Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored four goals for the Ottawa Senators in Game 2 on Saturday including the double-overtime winner that put them up 2-0 in the series against the New York Rangers, it might be time for another defensive strategy.

''Maybe I'm going to put a checker on their checker because he's supposed to be their checker and he got four goals,'' Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said Sunday on a conference call.

RANGERS POSITIVE

Vigneault believes an extra day off before the series shifts to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Tuesday will help the Rangers, even though he believes they've played pretty well after allowing 21 shots in the first period of the first game.

''There are some areas that I feel that we can be a little bit better at,'' Vigneault said. ''It's going to permit us to work on a couple things, it's going to permit us to show maybe a little bit more video and it's going to give our players an extra day.''

[StarDust Bum]

Second Round Series Odds
April 30, 2017

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

Eastern Conference - Second Round

Ottawa vs. N.Y. Rangers (Senators lead 2-0)
Senators (+130) -360
Rangers (-150) +280

Pittsburgh vs. Washington (Penguins lead 2-0)
Penguins (+120) -550
Capitals (-140) +420

Western Conference - Second Round

St. Louis vs. Nashville (Series tied 1-1)
Blues (+110) +130
Predators (-130) -150

Anaheim vs. Edmonton (Oilers lead 2-0)
Ducks (-140) +450
Oilers (+120) -600

Odds Subject to Change - Updated 4.30.17

Exact Game Props - Prior to Series (4/24/17)

Odds per Sportsbook.ag

Senators vs. Rangers
6 Games Rangers Win 3/1
5 Games Rangers Win 9/2
7 Games Rangers Win 9/2
7 Games Senators Win 9/2
6 Games Senators Win 5/1
5 Games Senators Win 8/1
4 Games Rangers Win 17/2
4 Games Senators Win 17/1

Penguins vs. Capitals
6 Games Penguins Win 4/1
7 Games Capitals Win 4/1
6 Games Capitals Win 9/2
7 Games Penguins Win 9/2
5 Games Capitals Win 5/1
5 Games Penguins Win 13/2
4 Games Capitals Win 14/1
4 Games Penguins Win 14/1

Blues vs. Predators
6 Games Predators Win 7/2
7 Games Blues Win 4/1
7 Games Predators Win 4/1
6 Games Blues Win 5/1
5 Games Blues Win 6/1
5 Games Predators Win 13/2
4 Games Predators Win 12/1
4 Games Blues Win 13/1

Ducks vs. Oilers
7 Games Ducks Win 7/2
6 Games Oilers Win 4/1
5 Games Ducks Win 9/2
7 Games Oilers Win 9/2
6 Games Ducks Win 5/1
5 Games Oilers Win 7/1
4 Games Ducks Win 13/1
4 Games Oilers Win 15/1

Odds Subject to Change

[StarDust Bum]

Monday’s six-pack

— Nationals 23, Mets 5— Noah Syndegaard is headed to the DL (lat). No bueno.

— Anthony Rendon was 6-6 with three HR’s, 10 RBI; his 16 total bases is three short of the all-time record (Shawn Green).

— Jazz 104, Clippers 91— People who run the Clippers have some hard decisions to make.

— Diamondbacks 2, Rockies 0 (13)— Weirdly low-scoring game between these division rivals.

— Cold-weather Cleveland Browns traded up to draft a kicker from Arizona State; what could possibly go wrong?

— Buffalo Bills fired their GM the day AFTER the draft, which is very strange.

**********************

Monday’s Den: NFL over/under win totals for 2017…….

South Point Casino’s NFL over/under win totals for 2017:

New England 11, over -$120

Pittsburgh 10.5, over -$120, Seattle 10.5, over/under -$110

Atlanta 10, under -$120, Green Bay 10, under -$120

Dallas 9.5, over -$120, Oakland 9.5, over -$120, Tennessee 9.5, under -$120, Baltimore 9.5, under -$125

Carolina 9, over -$120, Kansas City 9, over -$120, NJ Giants 9, over -$115 Indianapolis 9, under -$115

Cincinnati 8.5, over -$120, Denver 8.5, over -$120, Houston 8.5, over -$120

Minnesota 8.5, over/under -$110, Philadelphia 8.5, over/under -$110, New Orleans 8.5, under -$120

Detroit 8, over/under -$110, Tampa Bay 8, over/under -$110

Washington 7.5, over -$120, Arizona 7.5, over/under -$110, Chargers 7.5, over/under -$110, Miami 7.5, over/under -$110

Buffalo 6, over/under -$110

Jacksonville 5.5, over -$120, LA Rams 5.5, over -$120, NJ Jets 5.5, over -$120

Chicago 5, over/under -$110

San Francisco 4.5, over/under -$110

Cleveland 4, over/under -$110

[StarDust Bum]

Nhl playoffs record: ( as in baseball dogs and totals only)
All picks for the day:
April NHL Playoff Totals

04/30/2017.......... 1-2-0.......... 33.33%.......... -5.50
04/29/2017.......... 3-0-0.......... 100.00%........ +16.25
04/28/2017.......... 2-1-1........... 66.67%......... +6.00
04/27/2017.......... 1-1-0........... 50.00%.......... -0.50
04/26/2017.......... 2-1-0........... 66.67%..........+5.25
04/23/2017.......... 2-1-1........... 66.67% .........+6.75
04/22/2017.......... 3-2-0........... 60.00% ..........+8.25
04/21/2017.......... 0-2-1............00.00%.......... -10.50
04/20/2017...........1-4-2............20.00%...........-15.50
04/19/2017.......... 1-5-0 ...........16.67%.......... -19.50
04/18/2017.......... 1-4-0........... 20.00% ...........-16.50
04/17/2017.......... 1-3-1 ...........25.00%.......... -11.00
4/16/2017 ..........6-1-0............85.71%...........+25.50
4/16/2017 ..........6-1-0............85.71%........... +25.50
04/15/2017 ..........1-2-2 ..........33.33%............ -2.50
04/14/2017 ..........1-6-0 ..........14.29%............ -23.25
04/13/2017 ..........2-2-1 ..........50.00%............ +2.25
04/12/2017 ..........4-5-1...........44.44% .............-9.40

Totals:.................40 - 43..........48.19%.............- 18.40


Best Bets............ Sides...............................Totals

04/30/2017..........0 - 1............- 1.00.............1 - 1....................-0.10
04/29/2017..........1 - 0............+1.25.............2 - 0...................+2.00
04/28/2017..........1 - 1............+0.20.............1 - 0 - 1..............+1.00
04/27/2017..........0 - 0............. 0.00.............1 - 1....................-0.10
04/26/2017..........1 - 0............+1.15............ 1 - 1....................-0.10
04/23/2017..........1 - 0............+1.35.............1 - 0 - 1...............+1.00
04/22/2017..........2 - 0............+2.85.............0 - 2.....................-2.20
04/21/2017 .........0 - 1.............-1.00.............0 - 1 - 1................-1.10
04/20/2017..........0 - 3.............-3.00.............1 - 1 - 2................-0.10
04/19/2017..........1 - 1............+0.50.............0 - 4....................- 4.40
04/18/2017..........0 - 1.............-1.00.............0 - 3 ....................-3.30
04/17/2017..........1 - 0.............+1.10............0 - 3 - 1................-3.30
04/16/2017..........3 - 0.............+3.20............3 - 1....................+1.90
04/15/2017..........1 - 1.............+0.60............1 - 2....................-1.20
04/14/2017..........1 - 2..............-0.25............0 - 4...................- 4.40
04/13/2017..........1 - 1.............+0.55............1 - 1 - 1..............- 0.10
04/12/2017..........1 - 1 ............+1.00............2 - 2 - 1 .............- 0.20

Totals:............15 - 13...53.57%..+6.95..........15 - 27 - 8.............- 14.70

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Dunkel

Monday, May 1


Washington @ Pittsburgh

Game 13-14
May 1, 2017 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Washington
13.476
Pittsburgh
10.879
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 2 1/2
4
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Pittsburgh
-130
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(+110); Under




NHL
Long Sheet

Monday, May 1

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

WASHINGTON (59-22-0-9, 127 pts.) at PITTSBURGH (56-22-0-11, 123 pts.) - 5/1/2017, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 6-11 ATS (-10.3 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
PITTSBURGH is 120-75 ATS (+29.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 23-6 ATS (+13.4 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
PITTSBURGH is 77-43 ATS (-0.3 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 26-11 ATS (+8.7 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
PITTSBURGH is 25-11 ATS (+9.0 Units) after a division game this season.
PITTSBURGH is 40-24 ATS (+10.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 121-63 ATS (+24.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 22-10 ATS (+10.9 Units) in road games revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 12-9 (+3.0 Units) against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 12-9-0 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
9 of 17 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.3 Units)

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




NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Monday, May 1

Home team won nine of last eleven Penguin-Cap games; Washington lost first two series games at home, are now 3-7 in last ten games vs Pittsburgh, losing last five visits here- last one was 8-7 in OT in January. Over is 5-1-1 in last seven series games. Penguins are 6-1 in the playoffs this month. Washington won three of its last four road games; three of last four games overall stayed under total. Penguins won Stanley Cup LY; they’re 5-2 in last seven second round series. Washington is 0-5 in its last five second round series; last time they to past this point was 1998, when they lost Cup final to Detroit.

Second round NHL series
NY Rangers (-$150) vs Ottawa (+$130)
Ottawa 2-1
Ottawa 6-5 OT

Pittsburgh (+$110) vs Washington (-$130)
Penguins 3-2
Penguins 6-2

St Louis (+$110) vs Nashville (-$130)
Nashville 4-3
St Louis 2-1
Nashville 3-1

Anaheim (-$135) vs Edmonton (+$115)
Edmonton 5-3
Edmonton 3-2
Anaheim 6-3

Home: 4-6 (24-28)
Over: 5-5 (18-26-8)

NHL First round series:
East
Washington-Toronto
Wash 3-2 OT
Tor 4-3 2OT
Tor 4-3 OT
Wash 5-4
Wash 2-1 OT
Wash 2-1 OT
Capitals win series, 4-2

Pittsburgh-Columbus
Pitt 3-1
Pitt 4-1
Pitt 5-4 OT
CBJ 5-4
Pitt 5-2
Penguins win series, 4-1

Montreal-NY Rangers
NYR 2-0
Mtl 4-3 OT
Mtl 3-1
NYR 2-1
NYR 3-2 OT
NYR 3-1
Rangers win series 4-2

Ottawa-Boston
Bos 2-1
Ott 4-3 OT
Ott 4-3 OT
Ott 1-0
Bos 3-2 OT
Ott 2-1 OT
Senators win series, 4-2

West
Chicago-Nashville
Nash 1-0
Nash 5-0
Nash 3-2 OT
Nash 4-1
Predators win series, 4-0

Minnesota-St Louis
StL 2-1 ot
StL 2-1
StL 3-1
Minn 2-0
StL 4-2 OT
Blues win series, 4-1

Anaheim-Calgary
Ana, 3-2
Ana 3-2
Ana 5-4 OT
Ana 3-1
Ducks win series, 4-0

Edmonton-San Jose
SJ 3-2 ot
Edmonton 2-0
Edmonton 1-0
SJ 7-0
Edmonton 4-3 OT
Edmonton 3-1
Oilers win series, 4-2

Home teams: 20-22
Over: 13-21-8




NHL

Monday, May 1

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7:30 PM
WASHINGTON vs. PITTSBURGH
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh
Washington is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing Pittsburgh
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing Washington
Pittsburgh is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing Washington

[StarDust Bum]

Monday’s Stanley Cup Playoffs betting preview: Capitals at Penguins

Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins (-135, 5.5)

Penguins lead series 2-0

A high-octane offense has the Pittsburgh Penguins traveling the fast track toward what fans in the Steel City hope is a second consecutive Stanley Cup title and fifth in franchise history. After winning two straight at the Verizon Center, the Penguins aim to send the Washington Capitals down an all-too-familiar path as they bid to push the reigning Presidents' Trophy winners to the brink of elimination in Monday's Game 3 at PPG Paints Arena.

"We're not going to shy away from it. We're going to go there and see what we're made of," veteran forward Justin Williams said on the heels of Saturday's 6-2 setback. The perennially underachieving Capitals face an uphill climb as they head to Pittsburgh, the site of six straight defeats as well as the location of where their season ended a calendar year ago. Penguins forward Jake Guentzel recorded a three-point performance in Saturday's lopsided victory, with his two goals giving him an NHL-best seven in his first seven playoff games - putting the rookie alongside Maurice "Rocket" Richard (10, 1943-44) and Dino Ciccarelli (seven, 1980-81) as the lone players to accomplish the feat. "It feels good (being up 2-0), but we know that they're going to be pushing back, so we have to be really good when we get back there," the 22-year-old Guentzel said.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, CBC, TVAS

LINE HISTORY: The Penguins return home from a pair of wins in D.C. and open as -135 moneyline favorites for Game 3. The total hit the betting board at 5.5. Check out the complete line history here.

INJURY REPORT:

Captials - D K. Alzner (Questionable, upper body).

Penguins - D C. Ruhwedel (Questionable, upper body), G M. Murray (Questionable, lower body), RW P. Hornqvist (Questionable, lower body), D K. Letang (Out For Season, neck).

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (59-21-5-5, 40-35 O/U): Braden Holtby will start Game 3 despite earning an early exit after permitting three goals on 14 shots through two periods on Saturday. "Absolutely. Why would you think otherwise?" coach Barry Trotz said Sunday of the starting status of the 27-year-old Holtby, who is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner and a finalist again this season. "There's no question he's our goaltender. We expect him to start (Monday)." Holtby, who has yielded six goals on 35 shots for a 3.67 goals-against average and .829 save percentage in this series, owns a 3-1-0 mark with one shutout, a 2.27 GAA and .922 save percentage in four games following being pulled this past season.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (56-22-6-5, 51-33 O/U): Phil Kessel led the NHL in points during the playoffs last season and finds himself among the leaders once again in 2017. "Phil has shown an ability to elevate his games at key times and he's been a difference maker for us in my tenure here," coach Mike Sullivan said Sunday of the 29-year-old Kessel, who scored two goals and set up another in Game 2 to increase his point total to 11 - which trails only teammate Evgeni Malkin (13). The 30-year-old Malkin joined fellow former Hart Trophy winner Sidney Crosby in collecting a goal and an assist in Game 2, with the latter recording 11 points (four goals, seven assists) during his six-game point streak and surpassing Jaromir Jagr for second on the Penguins' all-time playoff points list (131).

TRENDS:

* Capitals are 10-1 in their last 11 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
* Penguins are 6-1 in their last 7 Conference Semifinals games.
* Over is 17-4-9 in Capitals last 30 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Over is 6-0 in Penguins last 6 Monday games.
* Capitals are 0-6 in the last 6 meetings in Pittsburgh.

CONSENSUS: 65 percent of the public is siding with the home team Pittsburgh Penguins on the moneyline and 66 percent are on the Over.

[StarDust Bum]

MONDAY, MAY 1

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

WAS at PIT 07:30 PM

WAS +100

U 5.5

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday’s six-pack


— Rockets 126, Spurs 99— Houston wins Game 1 easily on the road.


— Cavaliers 116, Raptors 105— Cleveland wins Game 1 on its home floor.


— Brewers 7, Cardinals 5 (10)— Milwaukee has hit 47 HR’s, most in MLB.


— Caps 3, Penguins 2 OT— Washington holds serve at home, is down 2-1 in series.


— Benches cleared in Houston last nite after Lance McCullers threw behind Mike Napoli, who had HR’d in his previous AB. Two Astros had been hit previously in the game.


— There are 14 guys in the Pro Football Hall of Fame who were the #1 pick in the draft. There are also 16 undrafted free agents.


******************************


Tuesday’s List of 13: Nobody asked me, but……..


13) Buffalo Bills fired their GM the day after the draft; they also fired ALL their scouts, so three years after the new owner bought the team, they’re still starting from scratch.


Weird to realize that the Bills (and our country?) would be better off if the Pagulas hadn’t bought the Bills— their competition for buying the team was a real estate guy named Trump. You may have heard of him.


12) I mean, Saturday the Bills drafted QB Nathan Peterman from Pitt; ESPN guys were quick to point out that Peterman doesn’t have the greatest arm strength, which could be a problem playing in the cold weather of western New York. Oy.


11) 104 undergraduates declared for the draft; 28 of them were not drafted.


10) You don’t think high school football in Florida is better than in other places? Miami Central HS once had a running back named Davonta Freeman, now a star with the Falcons. When he graduated, he was replaced by Dalvin Cook, 2nd round draft pick of the Vikings. Not bad.


9) No one would come right out and say it, but this was a weak draft for offensive linemen. When the Rams, who are desperate for blockers, don’t take any linemen, that tells you what you need to know. Only 33 offensive linemen were drafted, 23 of them on Day 3 of the draft.


First offensive lineman taken was a 25-year old who had been kicked out of five schools and also was booted from his father’s house— no baggage there.


8) More top prospects will skip mid-level bowl games next fall, to protect themselves from injury. Didn’t hurt Fournette or McCaffrey at all this weekend, so it’ll continue next year.


7) You don’t think Nick Saban earns every penny of his ridiculous salary? Ten years ago, in the 2007 Draft, before Saban, Alabama had zero players drafted. None. Bupkus.


6) Joe Ross has a 7.47 RA in his first three starts for Washington this season, not good; Nationals scored 52 runs in those three games, though.


5) Colorado Rockies are 8-0 in one-run games this season; they were 12-20 all of last year.


4) Texas is losing faith in its bullpen; they let Yu Darvish throw 125 pitches Saturday, in an April game against the Angels- he only finished six innings.


3) Scouting is an inexact science; this is an old scouting report on a current NBA player:


“Far below NBA standard in regard to explosiveness and athleticism……extremely small……needs to add some muscle to his upper body, but appears as though he’ll always be skinny……not a natural point guard that an NBA team can rely on to run a team.”


Wonder if that scout still has his job; the player he analyzed here was Stephen Curry.


2) Pirates’ pitching coach Ray Searage is getting tons of praise around baseball, with TV guys openly saying struggling pitchers want to pitch for the Pirates so they can work with Searage, who has turned Ivan Nova into one of the best hurlers in baseball.


1— This weekend, a guy proposed to his girlfriend on the scoreboard at Fenway Park during a Red Sox game; things didn’t go well- the couple was seen arguing after.


The always-sensitive Red Sox fans started chanting: “She said no!!! She said no!!!”

[StarDust Bum]

Nhl playoffs record: ( as in baseball dogs and totals only)
All picks for the day:
April NHL Playoff Totals

Totals:.................40 - 43..........48.19%.............- 18.40

Best Bets............ Sides...............................Totals

Totals:............15 - 13...53.57%..+6.95..........15 - 27 - 8.............- 14.70

********************************

Nhl playoffs record: ( as in baseball dogs and totals only)
All picks for the day:

05/01/2017....................... 2-0-0..................... 100.00%............. +1000


Best Bets............ Sides...............................Totals

05/01/2017...........1 - 0 ..........100%..........+ 1.00........1 - 0 ........100%........+100

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Dunkel

Tuesday, May 2


St. Louis @ Nashville

Game 53-54
May 2, 2017 @ 9:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
St. Louis
12.491
Nashville
11.107
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
St. Louis
by 1 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Nashville
-160
5
Dunkel Pick:
St. Louis
(+140); Over

Ottawa @ NY Rangers

Game 51-52
May 2, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Ottawa
12.709
NY Rangers
11.256
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Ottawa
by 1 1/2
3
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Rangers
-165
5
Dunkel Pick:
Ottawa
(+145); Under




NHL
Long Sheet

Tuesday, May 2

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

OTTAWA (50-30-0-10, 110 pts.) at NY RANGERS (52-31-0-7, 111 pts.) - 5/2/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NY RANGERS are 25-14 ATS (+9.6 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
OTTAWA is 50-40 ATS (+92.7 Units) in all games this season.
OTTAWA is 30-24 ATS (+55.2 Units) second half of the season this season.
OTTAWA is 93-71 ATS (+21.9 Units) in road games on Tuesday nights since 1996.
OTTAWA is 8-4 ATS (+13.5 Units) in road games after allowing 4 goals or more this season.
OTTAWA is 14-8 ATS (+22.8 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.
OTTAWA is 26-15 ATS (+44.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
OTTAWA is 14-8 ATS (+23.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
NY RANGERS are 10-14 ATS (-12.2 Units) in home games second half of the season this season.
NY RANGERS are 60-69 ATS (-44.8 Units) in home games on Tuesday nights since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 98-135 ATS (-102.2 Units) in home games after allowing 4 goals or more since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 129-131 ATS (-66.2 Units) in home games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 192-226 ATS (-181.2 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
OTTAWA is 6-5 (+1.7 Units) against the spread versus NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
OTTAWA is 6-5-0 straight up against NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
7 of 10 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.6 Units)

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

ST LOUIS (51-32-0-7, 109 pts.) at NASHVILLE (47-30-0-12, 106 pts.) - 5/2/2017, 9:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NASHVILLE is 27-16 ATS (+6.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NASHVILLE is 19-9 ATS (+9.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
ST LOUIS is 110-82 ATS (+0.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 43-31 ATS (+11.3 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 32-21 ATS (+7.6 Units) second half of the season this season.
ST LOUIS is 14-5 ATS (+8.9 Units) in road games on Tuesday nights over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 21-14 ATS (+35.6 Units) in road games after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 58-44 ATS (+9.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 14-10 ATS (+26.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
NASHVILLE is 12-17 ATS (+30.7 Units) after a win by 2 goals or more this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
NASHVILLE is 9-9 (+0.4 Units) against the spread versus ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
NASHVILLE is 9-9-0 straight up against ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
8 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.7 Units)

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




NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, May 2

Senators scored twice in last 3:19 of regulation to force OT, then won game 22:54 into OT as Ottawa grabbed 2-0 series lead, their fifth win in last six games with the Rangers. Teams split last four meetings in Manhattan. Under is 7-2 in last nine series games, 7-3-1 in New York’s last 11 games overall. Ottawa won six of its last seven games- five of those games went to OT. Over is 4-3-2 in their last nine games. Both teams are 1-8 on power play in series. Rangers won three of its last four home games. Five of last seven Ottawa games went to overtime.

Nashville is 6-1 in playoffs after 3-2 home win in Game 3; Predators won six of last nine games with St Louis- Blues were outscored 17-5 in losing their last five games in Music City. Predators have allowed only seven goals in seven playoff games. Home side is 9-3 in last 12 St Louis-Nashville games. Blues won five of last six road games overall; with half of those games going to OT. Under is 6-2-1 in last nine St Louis games, 7-3-2 in last 12 series tilts. Nashville is 2-6 on power play in series, St Louis 1-7. Under is 3-1-4 in Predators’ last eight games.

Second round NHL series
NY Rangers (-$150) vs Ottawa (+$130)
Ottawa 2-1
Ottawa 6-5 OT

Pittsburgh (+$110) vs Washington (-$130)
Penguins 3-2
Penguins 6-2
Wash 3-2 OT

St Louis (+$110) vs Nashville (-$130)
Nashville 4-3
St Louis 2-1
Nashville 3-1

Anaheim (-$135) vs Edmonton (+$115)
Edmonton 5-3
Edmonton 3-2
Anaheim 6-3

Home: 4-7 (24-29)
Over: 5-6 (18-27-8)

NHL First round series:
East
Washington-Toronto
Wash 3-2 OT
Tor 4-3 2OT
Tor 4-3 OT
Wash 5-4
Wash 2-1 OT
Wash 2-1 OT
Capitals win series, 4-2

Pittsburgh-Columbus
Pitt 3-1
Pitt 4-1
Pitt 5-4 OT
CBJ 5-4
Pitt 5-2
Penguins win series, 4-1

Montreal-NY Rangers
NYR 2-0
Mtl 4-3 OT
Mtl 3-1
NYR 2-1
NYR 3-2 OT
NYR 3-1
Rangers win series 4-2

Ottawa-Boston
Bos 2-1
Ott 4-3 OT
Ott 4-3 OT
Ott 1-0
Bos 3-2 OT
Ott 2-1 OT
Senators win series, 4-2

West
Chicago-Nashville
Nash 1-0
Nash 5-0
Nash 3-2 OT
Nash 4-1
Predators win series, 4-0

Minnesota-St Louis
StL 2-1 ot
StL 2-1
StL 3-1
Minn 2-0
StL 4-2 OT
Blues win series, 4-1
Anaheim-Calgary
Ana, 3-2
Ana 3-2
Ana 5-4 OT
Ana 3-1
Ducks win series, 4-0

Edmonton-San Jose
SJ 3-2 ot
Edmonton 2-0
Edmonton 1-0
SJ 7-0
Edmonton 4-3 OT
Edmonton 3-1
Oilers win series, 4-2

Home teams: 20-22
Over: 13-21-8




NHL

Tuesday, May 2

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7:00 PM
OTTAWA vs. NY RANGERS
Ottawa is 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing NY Rangers
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Ottawa's last 9 games when playing NY Rangers
NY Rangers are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing Ottawa
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the NY Rangers last 6 games when playing at home against Ottawa

9:30 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. NASHVILLE
St. Louis is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Nashville
St. Louis is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Nashville
Nashville is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against St. Louis
Nashville is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing St. Louis

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday’s NHL Stanley Cup Betting Preview and Odds

The Predators have received seven goals and 14 assists from their blue-liners in the first seven contests of the postseason.

Ottawa Senators at New York Rangers (-165, 5)

Sens lead series 2-0

ABOUT THE SENATORS (50-29-7-4, 35-50 O/U): New York was on its way toward evening the series as it held a two-goal advantage with less than 3 1/2 minutes remaining in Game 2. But Jean-Gabriel Pageau took over, scoring three straight goals - including the winner at 2:54 of the second overtime - to complete a four-goal performance and move Ottawa within two victories of the conference final. Pageau became just the second player in playoff history to cap a four-goal performance with an overtime winner - joining Joffrey Lupul, who accomplished the feat for Anaheim in Game 3 of the 2006 Western Conference semifinals against Colorado. The four-goal effort also was the first in the postseason since Game 4 of the 2010 Western Conference semifinals, when Detroit's Johan Franzen tallied four times against San Jose. Derick Brassard is tied for the team lead in playoff scoring with eight points but has yet to land on the scoresheet against his former club.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (52-30-4-4, 42-41 O/U): While they may have welcomed the rest, the New York Rangers couldn't have been pleased about receiving an extra day off between games after the manner in which they lost their last contest. Michael Grabner and Derek Stepan scored short-handed goals in Game 2, helping New York tie the franchise record for most in a playoff game. The Rangers, who lead the league with three short-handers in the postseason, also scored two in Game 7 of the 1992 Patrick Division semifinals against New Jersey. Brady Skjei became the first New York defenseman to record a multi-goal performance in the playoffs since Brian Leetch registered a hat trick in Game 2 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals against Philadelphia.

LINE HISTORY: The Rangers opened as -165 moneyline favorites for Game 3 and that number has yet to move. The total hit the board at 5.

INJURY REPORT:

Senators - LW C. MacArthur (Probable, shoulder), D M. Borowiecki (Out Indefinitely, leg).

Rangers - No injuries to report.

TRENDS:

* Senators are 6-1 in their last 7 overall.
* Rangers are 4-1 in their last 5 home games.
* Under is 6-1 in Senators last 7 games playing on 2 days rest.
* Under is 8-2-1 in Rangers last 11 overall.
* Senators are 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.




St. Louis Blues at Nashville Predators (-170, 5)

Preds lead series 2-1

ABOUT THE BLUES (51-32-5-2, 36-40 O/U): The Blues will have to find a way to combat the Predators' versatile offense after being outshot 34-23 in Game 3 as Alex Steen scored their only goal in the second period, when they managed just four shots. Vladimir Tarasenko, who scored twice in a Game 2 victory, was limited to three shots on Sunday. Coach Mike Yeo made some line changes at practice Monday after stating his team was not competitive enough in Game 3. “I feel like we’re chasing the game way too much,” defenseman Joel Edmundson told reporters. “We’re waiting for something to happen when we should be dictating it.” Yeo moved center Jori Lehtera between Tarasenko (team-high 32 shots) and Jaden Schwartz (team-best seven points) while Paul Stastny reportedly centered Steen and Vladimir Sobotka at Monday’s skate.

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (47-30-8-4, 42-37 O/U): The Nashville Predators continue to get strong production from their talented defense corps as they plow through the playoffs and can take control of their Western Conference second-round series when they host the St. Louis Blues for Game 4 on Tuesday. The Predators have received seven goals and 14 assists from their blue-liners in the first seven contests of the postseason, with Ryan Ellis riding a six-game point streak. Ellis has tallied in back-to-back games and has three goals in the postseason to go along with five assists, while P.K. Subban (six points) and Roman Josi (three goals, five points) also have made big contributions. “We have great forwards that have the skill level to make a play, make a fake and then find our defensemen when they are open,” Subban told reporters. “We have to continue to do that.” Forwards Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg have added seven points apiece while 13 Predators have recorded a goal in the playoffs.

LINE HISTORY: Nashville opened as -165 favorites at home for game four and by Monday evening that number was bumped to -170. The total hit the betting board at 5 and has not moved off that number.

INJURY REPORT:

Blues - C R. Fabbri (Out For Season, knee).

Predators - RW C. Smith (Questionable, lower body), LW P. Aberg (Questionable, undisclosed), LW V. Fiddler (Questionable, possible suspension), LW K. Fiala (Out For Season, leg).

TRENDS:

* Blues are 5-1 in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Predators are 8-2 in their last 10 home games.
* Under is 17-4-5 in Blues last 26 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Under is 4-0-2 in Predators last 6 home games.
* Blues are 0-4 in the last 4 meetings in Nashville.

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Short Sheet

Tuesday, May 2

Eastern Conference Semifinals – Best of 7 – Game 3 – OTT Leads 2-0

Ottawa at NY Rangers, 7:00 PM ET
Ottawa: 9-5 SU on the road off back to back home games
NY Rangers: 1-6 SU at home after a game where 8 or more total goals were scored

Western Conference Semifinals – Best of 7 – Game 4 – NAS Leads 2-1

St Louis at Nashville, 9:30 PM ET
St Louis: 28-16 SU coming off a road game
Nashville: 12-17 SU off a win by 2 or more goals

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Senators (44-28) at Rangers (48-28)
Date: May 02, 2017 7:00 PM EDT

Ottawa Senators coach Guy Boucher has been playing the underdog card since before the New York Rangers came to town for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference second-round series.

Boucher was just happy the Senators weren't going to get swept after a Game 1 victory and kept the routine going after his club rallied to win Game 2.

Now that Ottawa is up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series with Game 3 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, is it time for Boucher to acknowledge his team might not be as overmatched as he'd like people to believe?

Nope.

"On my God, we have everything to do," Boucher told the Ottawa Sun. "We won at home, games we have to win at home, and now we're going to play in their barn.

"We enjoy playing there, I think we did well there, but at the same time we know the kind of urgency they're going to bring to the next game. I know they talked about reloading because they've got two days off and figuring out what they have to do beat us and I think we have to do the same. We've got to back to the drawing board and make sure we're not surprised by anything they're going throw at us."

The Rangers squandered a two-goal lead late in Game 2 before losing 6-5 in double overtime. Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the final two goals of regulation to tie it, then a third in the second overtime to cap a four-goal afternoon.

New York coach Alain Vigneault shortened his bench, basically using nine forwards toward the end of the third period and in both overtimes.

Is it possible the Rangers insert Tanner Glass, who hasn't played since Game 3 of the first round against the Montreal Canadiens?

"Everything's on the table right now," Vigneault told the New York Daily News. "Whatever we feel is best for the group is what we're gonna do."

The other issue for the Rangers is their defense, which won't get much better no matter who is in the lineup. Defenseman Nick Holden's decision to pinch led to the two-on-one chance resulting in Pageau's game-winning goal while Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi were on the ice for Pageau's other goals in the third period.

Despite their effectiveness, Brady Skjei, who had two goals, and Brendan Smith played the fewest minutes among Rangers defensemen in Game 2.

Holden has struggled throughout the playoffs, but there may not be a better option to replace him.

"I thought he had some good moments," Vigneault told the New York Daily News. "Him and Marc (Staal) got caught there on a couple of goals, but Nick has played some pretty good hockey for us. Nobody's gonna be perfect out there; we're gonna make mistakes.

"When the mistakes end up in the back of your net, obviously people are analyzing them a little bit more in depth, and that's one that because it became the winning goal obviously people have a right to analyze. And we're analyzing it also."

The Senators are analyzing how to be better as well. They won Game 1 when captain Erik Karlsson's bad-angle shot bounced off the head of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and Game 2 was minutes away from being lost until Pageau became a hero.

"We're going into their building and we know that they're going to come (out hard)," Senators defenseman Dion Phaneuf told the Ottawa Sun. "(Saturday) we got lucky in that we were able to find a way, but we can't spot them those leads because when you're chasing a game it's going to eventually catch up to you.

"But we're really happy with finding a way but we know we have to be better."

********************

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rangers at Senators
Thu, Apr 27 Final 1 to 2
Recaps

GAME 2
Rangers at Senators
Sat, Apr 29 Final 5 to 6
Recaps

GAME 3
Senators at Rangers
Tue, May 2 - 7:00PM EDT

GAME 4
Senators at Rangers
Thu, May 4 - 7:30PM EDT

GAME 5
Rangers at Senators
Sat, May 6 - 3:00PM EDT