Announcement

**Udog** · 05-04-2018, 08:53 AM

Armadillo: Friday's six-pack

Highest-paid college football coaches:

1. Urban Meyer, Ohio State $8,485,559

2. Nick Saban, Alabama $8,275,000

3. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan $7,728,571

4. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M $7,500,000

T5. Gus Malzahn, Auburn $7,000,000

T5. Kirby Smart, Georgia $7,000,000

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Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Questions, questions, always questions……..

13) Why do baseball teams in New York City, Boston, Philly and Washington all have new managers this year, none of whom ever managed in the majors before?

Its like all of a sudden the over-educated geniuses in the front office decided that a manager is an overrated thing. There is a human element in sports that should never be discounted, even though it can’t really be quantified.

12) Why does an NFL prospect jump up the draft charts so far, from the time the college season ends to the draft? Games should count more than workouts.

If the NFL Draft had been held on February 1st, I don’t think Baker Mayfield is the #1 pick.

11) Why didn’t the Twins put a retractable dome on their ballpark? If you look at attendance in Milwaukee, Twins are losing out on 300-400,000 paid admissions a year by not having a roof.

10) Shouldn’t high school basketball players be able to go pro right from high school, the way baseball players can?

9) If baseball expands to 32 teams, would they dare expand to Montreal and Monterrey, MX in the same year. Seems like Portland, OR wants a team; wonder if the A’s would go there?

8) Why are the NHL’s Las Vegas Golden Knights so good? They’re the most successful expansion team in the history of the four major sports.

7) Why do some teams bat their pitchers 8th? It makes no sense. No one has done it in a playoff game, which tells me it is a gimmick no one truly believes in.

6) Should a convicted felon be allowed to hold political office in this country?

5) Shouldn’t baseball writers be able to come up with more interesting stories on April 30 than their annual speculation on which big-money teams will poach good players from small market teams at the trade deadline, which is July 31?

4) Shouldn’t the NBA move its draft around the country, like the NHL and NFL do? Seems to generate lot of interest in the host city.

3) Why does only one league have the DH? Who thought that was a good idea?

2) Why doesn’t every college student take a money management course? Wouldn’t that be a good thing to be well-versed in when you get out in the real world? Managing your time and your money are very important.

1) Why did the Red Sox fire Terry Francona as their manager? Guy won them two World Series after a drought of almost 100 years, and they get rid of the guy after 89-73/90-72 seasons.

**Udog** · 05-04-2018, 09:21 AM

Friday's NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs betting preview and odds

Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs continues Friday night with Game 4 between the Lightning and Bruins in Boston and a critical Game 5 in Las Vegas between the Sharks and the Golden Knights.

Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins (-150, 6)

Lightning lead series 2-1.

The Tampa Bay Lightning may have produced their most complete performance of the season last time out and look to take a stranglehold of the Eastern Conference semifinal series when they visit the Boston Bruins for Game 4 on Friday night. Ondrej Palat scored twice in the first 3:19 of the contest and the Lightning limited the Bruins to 15 shots without a goal over the final two periods for a 4-1 victory Wednesday to take a 2-1 series lead.

"We have to expect that we're going to get their best game," Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos, who scored an empty-net goal for his first of the series in Game 3, told reporters Thursday. "They're a very good team for a reason. They've responded to these situations all year and we just have to elevate our game." Patrice Bergeron scored the only goal on the power play for Boston in the first period of Game 3, giving him three tallies in the series and four in the last four playoff games, but the Bruins struggled to get quality chances 5-on-5 for the second straight contest. “The last two games, we didn’t play enough of our game,” Boston coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters. “They’ve played their game better than we’ve played ours, and they’ve won both games. We were slow at times, and stubborn.” Bruins right wing David Pastrnak, who was tied for the league lead with 19 points in the playoffs entering Thursday, has six assists in the series but registered only one shot on goal in the past two games.

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

SERIES PRICE (PER WESTGATE LV SUPERBOOK):

LINE MOVES AND BETTING ACTION: The Bruins opened as -150 home favorites for Game 4 and as of Thursday night that moneyline has been steady. 56 percent of wagers have come in on the favored Bruins. The total hit betting boards at 6 and has yet to move.

INJURY REPORT:

Lightning - LW Adam Erne (Questionable, Lower Body).

Bruins - D Brandon Carlo (Out For Season, Ankle), LW Anders Bjork (Out For Season, Shoulder).

GOALIE SHOWDOWN:
W L OTL GAA Save % SO
Andrei Vasilevskiy 44 17 3 2.62 .920 8
Tuukka Rask 34 14 5 2.36 .917 3

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (60-25-3-2, 53-34 O/U): Palat recorded two points in each of the last two games, helping to occupy the puck along with linemates Tyler Johnson and Brayden Point, and has been a consistent performer in his 54 playoff games (plus-6 rating, 37 points). “He’s a beast,” coach Jon Cooper said of Palat. “You probably get spoiled a little bit because I’ve watched that act before happening in playoff series in 2015 and 2016. Those guys that kind of go under the radar and don’t get the credit they deserve but they never seek it and they don’t care, that’s what you have in (Palat).” Versatile forward Yanni Gourde registered an assist in Game 3 after returning to the team Wednesday after witnessing the birth of his first child.

ABOUT THE BRUINS (55-25-9-3, 41-45 O/U): Cassidy is contemplating some lineup changes for Game 4 to add a spark as Boston has been outshot 104-73 in the series without much punch from the bottom two forward lines and rookie forward Ryan Donato could get a chance. “We’ve got some guys that weren’t dressed (for Game 3) that have played well for this team,” Cassidy told reporters. “. … Some guys (among the forwards) have had a tough time. … If they stay in, obviously, they need to be better.” Veteran left wing Rick Nash had an assist Wednesday and led the team with six shots on net, giving him 11 in the series, while rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy logged a game-high 27:09 of ice time without a shot, but recorded five hits.

MATCHUP CHART:

TRENDS:

* Lightning are 19-7 in their last 26 Conference Semifinals games.
* Bruins are 22-7 in their last 29 home games.
* Over is 11-4-2 in Lightning's last 17 road games.
* Under is 15-4-2 in Bruins' last 21 vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Lightning are 8-33-4 in the last 45 meetings in Boston.

San Jose Sharks at Vegas Golden Knights (-150, 5.5)

Series tied 2-2.

While their Western Conference semifinal is tied at two games apiece, the San Jose Sharks have slowly been imposing their will on the Vegas Golden Knights since absorbing a 7-0 drubbing in the series opener. The Sharks posted a decisive 4-0 victory Wednesday and have won two of three as the best-of-seven set shifts to Las Vegas for Game 5 on Friday night.

San Jose coach Peter DeBoer lamented the fact that his team had been continually playing from behind and "chasing the game the whole series," but the Sharks struck twice in the opening period of Game 4 and never looked back. "I know we're getting better every game," DeBoer said. "So I know we're going to get off the plane in Vegas and we're going to play a good game, and it's going to take a real good game to win in there. We're going to have to win a game in there in order to win the series." The Golden Knights lost for only the second time in eight postseason games and were blanked for the first time since Feb. 19, but they head back to Las Vegas with the series narrowed to a best-of-three -- and two of those (if necessary) to be held at raucous T-Mobile Arena. "Nobody thought it was going to be an easy series either," Vegas netminder Marc-Andre Fleury said. "We're in good shape 2-2, going home and obviously it (stinks) to lose this one. ... Put it behind and get ready for the next one."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, CBC, TVAS

SERIES PRICE (PER LV SUPERBOOK):

LINE MOVES AND BETTING ACTION: Vegas opened as -150 home favorites for Game 5 and as of Thursday night that moneyline has been steady. 68 percent of wagers have come in on the favored Knights. The total hit betting boards at 5.5 and has yet to move.

INJURY REPORT:

Sharks - C Joe Thornton (Questionable, Knee).

Golden Knights - D Clayton Stoner (Out Indefinitely, Abdominal).

GOALIE SHOWDOWN:
W L OTL GAA Save % SO
Martin Jones 30 22 6 2.55 .915 4
Marc-Andre Fleury 29 13 4 2.24 .927 4

ABOUT THE SHARKS (51-28-8-3, 41-46 O/U): There had been speculation that veteran center Joe Thornton would play for the first time since Jan. 23 due to the uncertain status of Joonas Donskoi, who returned from a one-game absence and supplied a back-breaking goal in the final seconds of the opening period. Fourth-line forward Marcus Sorensen, who registered only five goals in 32 regular-season games, opened the scoring Wednesday and is tied for second on the team with four tallies in eight playoff contests. "All four lines played really good,” said Tomas Hertl, who netted his team-leading fifth goal of the postseason. “Everyone is scoring, not just one line."

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (57-25-5-3, 45-42 O/U): Vegas' No. 1 line of William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith was finally shut down in Game 4, combining for 11 shots on net after amassing 19 points through the first three meetings. Even though San Jose has pierced the Golden Knights for 11 goals in the last three games, the team has no concerns over the play of Fleury, who notched three shutouts in the first five games of the playoffs. "Amazing goalie, amazing person," defenseman Brayden McNabb said. "We're very fortunate to have him. Maybe we rely on him too much, but he's our backbone, and we're 100 percent confident in him back there."

MATCHUP CHART:

TRENDS:

* Sharks are 22-5 in their last 27 vs. Pacific.
* Golden Knights are 13-1 in their last 14 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Over is 7-1-3 in Sharks' last 11 Conference Semifinals games.
* Over is 13-1 in Golden Knights' last 14 Friday games.

**Udog** · 05-04-2018, 10:13 AM

NHL
Dunkel

Friday, May 4

Tampa Bay @ Boston

Game 23-24
May 4, 2018 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Tampa Bay
12.295
Boston
10.394
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Tampa Bay
by 2
4
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston
-155
6
Dunkel Pick:
Tampa Bay
(+135); Under

San Jose @ Vegas

Game 25-26
May 4, 2018 @ 10:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
San Jose
12.674
Vegas
10.925
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
San Jose
by 1 1/2
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Vegas
-150
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
San Jose
(+130); Under

NHL
Long Sheet

Friday, May 4

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TAMPA BAY (60-25-0-5, 125 pts.) at BOSTON (55-25-0-12, 122 pts.) - 5/4/2018, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TAMPA BAY is 61-30 ATS (+9.7 Units) in all games this season.
TAMPA BAY is 21-6 ATS (+13.5 Units) in the second round of the playoffs since 1996.
TAMPA BAY is 230-234 ATS (+494.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1996.
BOSTON is 274-236 ATS (-104.9 Units) in home games second half of the season since 1996.
BOSTON is 25-29 ATS (-28.5 Units) in home games after a division game over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 5-9 ATS (-9.2 Units) in home games revenging a home loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 38-43 ATS (-15.9 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 42-48 ATS (-19.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 10-6 (+4.1 Units) against the spread versus TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 10-6-0 straight up against TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
7 of 12 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.2 Units)

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SAN JOSE (51-28-0-11, 113 pts.) at VEGAS (57-26-0-7, 121 pts.) - 5/4/2018, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VEGAS is 58-33 ATS (+20.7 Units) in all games this season.
VEGAS is 26-11 ATS (+12.9 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
VEGAS is 11-3 ATS (+7.4 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game this season.
VEGAS is 31-17 ATS (+8.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
SAN JOSE is 27-10 ATS (+13.7 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
SAN JOSE is 24-12 ATS (+8.0 Units) after a division game this season.
SAN JOSE is 12-5 ATS (+6.6 Units) in road games after a win by 2 goals or more this season.
SAN JOSE is 11-5 ATS (+5.9 Units) in road games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.
SAN JOSE is 217-228 ATS (+486.5 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
VEGAS is 5-3 (+1.3 Units) against the spread versus SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
VEGAS is 5-3-0 straight up against SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.0 Units)

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NHL

Friday, May 4

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Trend Report
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Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Tampa Bay is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Tampa Bay is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 16 of Tampa Bay's last 24 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games when playing Boston
Tampa Bay is 4-15 SU in its last 19 games when playing on the road against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Tampa Bay's last 18 games when playing on the road against Boston
Boston Bruins
Boston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Boston is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Boston is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Boston is 13-4 SU in its last 17 games at home
Boston is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games when playing Tampa Bay
Boston is 15-4 SU in its last 19 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Boston's last 18 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay

San Jose Sharks
San Jose is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 15 of San Jose's last 22 games
San Jose is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Vegas is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games
Vegas is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Vegas is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Vegas is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Vegas's last 10 games at home

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Announcement

Friday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 5/4

Friday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 5/4

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