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NHL
Saturday, April 18
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Saturday's NHL Playoffs cheat sheet
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Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning (-175, 5.5)
Red Wings lead series 1-0
After posting franchise bests with 50 wins and 108 points this season, the Tampa Bay Lightning continued their run of misfortune in the playoffs by falling in the opener of their Eastern Conference first-round series. The Lightning look to snap a six-game postseason skid and even their set at one victory apiece when they host the Atlantic Division rival Detroit Red Wings on Saturday afternoon.
"We'll be ready," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "We'll be swinging for the fences (Saturday), and we'll see what happens." The Lightning pretty much did exactly that in Game 1, unleashing a staggering 46 shots only to be thwarted by a goaltender that was making his postseason debut. Petr Mrazek stopped a career-high 44 of those in Detroit's 3-2 triumph on Thursday, becoming the fifth netminder in franchise history to win his first career appearance - joining Johnny Mowers (1941), Glenn Hall (1956), Bob Champoux (1964) and Chris Osgood (1994). Pavel Datsyuk recorded his sixth career multi-goal postseason performance on Thursday - and first since April 27, 2010 - while Luke Glendening also tallied in the win.
TRENDS:
*Red Wings are 1-7 in their last 8 games following a win.
*Under is 4-1-3 in Red Wings last 8 overall.
*Lightning are 40-15 in their last 55 home games.
*Under is 4-1-1 in Lightning last 6 overall.
Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues (-140, 5)
Wild lead series 1-0
The St. Louis Blues will need to find a way to cool off the league's hottest road team when they host the Minnesota Wild in Saturday's Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series. The Wild tied an NHL record by winning 12 straight away from home before dropping the regular-season finale in St. Louis, but they continued their road prowess with a 4-2 victory over the Blues in the series opener.
"We've got to play better," St. Louis captain David Backes said. "They came out and played a solid road game. We needed to capitalize on a few more chances." The final score was not indicative of the tight battle, with Minnesota sandwiching a pair of empty-net goals around a short-handed tally by the Blues' Alexander Steen in the final 73 seconds. It marked the first Game 1 victory in a postseason series in 12 years for the Wild, who expect a stong effort from the Central Division champions on Saturday. "We know the further it's going to go, the tougher it's going to get," Minnesota captain Mikko Koivu said.
TRENDS:
*Wild are 17-4 in their last 21 road games.
*Blues are 0-5 in their last 5 Conference Quarterfinals games.
*Over is 5-1-2 in the last 8 meetings.
*Over is 5-2-2 in Wild last 9 vs. Western Conference.
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers (-185, 5)
Rangers lead series 1-0
The New York Rangers are known for their defensive hockey and the Presidents' Trophy-winning club didn't disappoint by keeping the Pittsburgh Penguins in check in the opener of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. The Rangers look to claim a 2-0 lead in the set when they host their Metropolitan Division rivals on Saturday night.
While pleased with his team's 2-1 victory on Thursday, New York coach Alain Vigneault was rather adamant both after the game and following Friday's practice with his perceived view of the Penguins interfering with goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. Pittsburgh coach Mike Johnston also had the referees on his mind after seeing his team whistled for five penalties - including four in the first period. "You have to know to take a hit, a punch, or a hit with the stick at times because we know what the referees will call," Johnston said. "Key players couldn't get on the ice, so that was a key factor. Our game started to come as we played them 5-on-5. We need more of that in Game 2."
TRENDS:
*Penguins are 1-10 in their last 11 vs. Eastern Conference.
*Over is 5-1-1 in Rangers last 7 vs. Metropolitan.
*Under is 4-1 in Penguins last 5 overall.
*Penguins are 1-7 in the last 8 meetings.
Winnipeg Jets at Anaheim Ducks (-140, 5)
Ducks lead series 1-0
The Winnipeg Jets' inability to contain the Anaheim Ducks' top line proved to be their downfall in their postseason debut. Winnipeg looks to improve in that department and even its Western Conference first-round series at one win apiece when they visit Anaheim for Game 2 on Saturday.
Participating in their first playoff game since the franchise relocated from Atlanta, the Jets carried a one-goal lead into the third period before Corey Perry tallied twice and set up captain Ryan Getzlaf's score as the Ducks opened the matchup with a 4-2 triumph on Thursday. Winnipeg proved to be a worthy opponent early on, answering Anaheim defenseman Sami Vatanen's goal 1:57 into the contest with one by Adam Lowry 49 seconds later and moving ahead on Drew Stafford's tally five minutes into the second period. But the Ducks' dynamic duo of Perry and Getzlaf, which assisted on Vatanen's goal, dominated the final 20 minutes to take the early series lead. Anaheim went 2-for-3 on the power play, marking the first time it scored more than once with the man advantage since Jan. 11 - also against Winnipeg.
TRENDS:
*Jets are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings.
*Ducks are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
*Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Anaheim.
*Over is 12-3-2 in Jets last 17 vs. Pacific.
Saturday, April 18
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday's NHL Playoffs cheat sheet
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning (-175, 5.5)
Red Wings lead series 1-0
After posting franchise bests with 50 wins and 108 points this season, the Tampa Bay Lightning continued their run of misfortune in the playoffs by falling in the opener of their Eastern Conference first-round series. The Lightning look to snap a six-game postseason skid and even their set at one victory apiece when they host the Atlantic Division rival Detroit Red Wings on Saturday afternoon.
"We'll be ready," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "We'll be swinging for the fences (Saturday), and we'll see what happens." The Lightning pretty much did exactly that in Game 1, unleashing a staggering 46 shots only to be thwarted by a goaltender that was making his postseason debut. Petr Mrazek stopped a career-high 44 of those in Detroit's 3-2 triumph on Thursday, becoming the fifth netminder in franchise history to win his first career appearance - joining Johnny Mowers (1941), Glenn Hall (1956), Bob Champoux (1964) and Chris Osgood (1994). Pavel Datsyuk recorded his sixth career multi-goal postseason performance on Thursday - and first since April 27, 2010 - while Luke Glendening also tallied in the win.
TRENDS:
*Red Wings are 1-7 in their last 8 games following a win.
*Under is 4-1-3 in Red Wings last 8 overall.
*Lightning are 40-15 in their last 55 home games.
*Under is 4-1-1 in Lightning last 6 overall.
Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues (-140, 5)
Wild lead series 1-0
The St. Louis Blues will need to find a way to cool off the league's hottest road team when they host the Minnesota Wild in Saturday's Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series. The Wild tied an NHL record by winning 12 straight away from home before dropping the regular-season finale in St. Louis, but they continued their road prowess with a 4-2 victory over the Blues in the series opener.
"We've got to play better," St. Louis captain David Backes said. "They came out and played a solid road game. We needed to capitalize on a few more chances." The final score was not indicative of the tight battle, with Minnesota sandwiching a pair of empty-net goals around a short-handed tally by the Blues' Alexander Steen in the final 73 seconds. It marked the first Game 1 victory in a postseason series in 12 years for the Wild, who expect a stong effort from the Central Division champions on Saturday. "We know the further it's going to go, the tougher it's going to get," Minnesota captain Mikko Koivu said.
TRENDS:
*Wild are 17-4 in their last 21 road games.
*Blues are 0-5 in their last 5 Conference Quarterfinals games.
*Over is 5-1-2 in the last 8 meetings.
*Over is 5-2-2 in Wild last 9 vs. Western Conference.
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers (-185, 5)
Rangers lead series 1-0
The New York Rangers are known for their defensive hockey and the Presidents' Trophy-winning club didn't disappoint by keeping the Pittsburgh Penguins in check in the opener of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. The Rangers look to claim a 2-0 lead in the set when they host their Metropolitan Division rivals on Saturday night.
While pleased with his team's 2-1 victory on Thursday, New York coach Alain Vigneault was rather adamant both after the game and following Friday's practice with his perceived view of the Penguins interfering with goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. Pittsburgh coach Mike Johnston also had the referees on his mind after seeing his team whistled for five penalties - including four in the first period. "You have to know to take a hit, a punch, or a hit with the stick at times because we know what the referees will call," Johnston said. "Key players couldn't get on the ice, so that was a key factor. Our game started to come as we played them 5-on-5. We need more of that in Game 2."
TRENDS:
*Penguins are 1-10 in their last 11 vs. Eastern Conference.
*Over is 5-1-1 in Rangers last 7 vs. Metropolitan.
*Under is 4-1 in Penguins last 5 overall.
*Penguins are 1-7 in the last 8 meetings.
Winnipeg Jets at Anaheim Ducks (-140, 5)
Ducks lead series 1-0
The Winnipeg Jets' inability to contain the Anaheim Ducks' top line proved to be their downfall in their postseason debut. Winnipeg looks to improve in that department and even its Western Conference first-round series at one win apiece when they visit Anaheim for Game 2 on Saturday.
Participating in their first playoff game since the franchise relocated from Atlanta, the Jets carried a one-goal lead into the third period before Corey Perry tallied twice and set up captain Ryan Getzlaf's score as the Ducks opened the matchup with a 4-2 triumph on Thursday. Winnipeg proved to be a worthy opponent early on, answering Anaheim defenseman Sami Vatanen's goal 1:57 into the contest with one by Adam Lowry 49 seconds later and moving ahead on Drew Stafford's tally five minutes into the second period. But the Ducks' dynamic duo of Perry and Getzlaf, which assisted on Vatanen's goal, dominated the final 20 minutes to take the early series lead. Anaheim went 2-for-3 on the power play, marking the first time it scored more than once with the man advantage since Jan. 11 - also against Winnipeg.
TRENDS:
*Jets are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings.
*Ducks are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
*Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Anaheim.
*Over is 12-3-2 in Jets last 17 vs. Pacific.
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