Saturday Trends and Indexes 10/20

[Udog]

NHL
Hot Lines


Ice picks: Saturday’s best NHL bets


Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers (-150, 5 ½)

The Hurricanes have been impressive this season en route to a 4-2 record. They face an equally sharp Flyers club that is scoring an average 4.17 goals per contest this season – the second-best rate in the league.

Flyers goaltender Martin Biron is among the league’s top five netminders in wins (5), goals against average (1.50), save percentage (.951) and shutouts (2). Philadelphia is also holding opponents to a meager 1.67 goals per game this season. Most impressively, the Flyers have given up just one goal at the Wachovia Center this season.

The Flyers are 14-5-4 in their last 23 meetings with the Hurricanes. They are 9-2-2 in their last 13 meetings at the Wachovia Center.

Pick: Flyers -150


New Jersey Devils at New York Islanders (-110, 5 ½)

The Devils, forced to play their first nine games on the road, are 3-4 so far this season. They battle a struggling Islanders team on Saturday at Nassau Memorial Coliseum.

Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur has limped to a 2-4 start with a 3.55 GAA and a .856 save percentage this season. Brodeur will be in tough against the Islanders’ second-ranked power play Saturday. The Islanders have scored nine power-play goals in 32 opportunities this season, for a 28.2 percent success ratio. New York is also the fifth-ranked penalty killing team (89.2 percent) in the league.

New Jersey is winless in its last five games against teams with winning records. New York, conversely, is 7-1 in its last eight outings against teams with losing records.

Pick: Islanders -110


Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames (-208, 5 ½)

The Oilers have lost four of their last five outings and are near the bottom of the league in almost every offensive category. They are averaging a meager 2.3 goals per game this season. At the other end of the rink, Edmonton goaltender Dwayne Roloson is struggling with a 2.66 GAA and .907 save percentage.

Calgary, on the other hand, has won three of its last four contests. The Flames are averaging 3.6 goals per game this season. Star forward Jarome Iginla is leading the way with at least one goal in three of his last four outings.

The Oilers are 2-8-1 in their last 11 meetings at the Pengrowth Saddledome and 1-4 in their last five games overall against the Flames.

That trend should continue. Provincial bragging rights should stay with the home team on Saturday.

Pick: Flames - 208


Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues (+115, 5)

Two of the league’s top defenses go head-to-head Saturday night at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Minnesota ranks first in the NHL with a 1.2 goals-against average this season. The Blues rank third at 1.8.

Minnesota is also one of the worst offensive teams in the league right now, scoring 2.3 goals per game. Minnesota’s power play (4.9 percent) ranks 30th in the league. The Blues, on the other hand, rank third in the NHL at killing penalties (92.8 percent) this season.

The under has cashed in four of the Blues’ last five outings. It has also cashed in eight of the Blues’ last eight contests against Minnesota at the Scottrade Center.

Pick: Under

[Udog]

NHL
Dunkel


Minnesota at St. Louis
After missing the playoffs the last two seasons, the Blues added Paul Kariya in the hopes of returning this year. The result has St. Louis looking for its fifth straight win for the first time since December, 2003. By contrast, last year the Blues didn't pick up their fifth win overall until their 16th game. Kariya has served as the offensive sparkplug by collecting a point in all five games this season while veteran Manny Legace's play in goal (stopping 71 of 74 shots over last three games) has been solid of late. St. Louis will get a real test tonight against another solid defensive team in Minnesota. But the Blues look to be playing well enough at home to be a good underdog pick (+110) according to Dunkel, which has St. Louis favored straight up by 1/2 a goal Here are all of today's games.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20

Game 51-52: Chicago at Toronto
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 11.764; Toronto 10.776
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 1; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Toronto (-200); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (+190); Over

Game 53-54: NY Rangers at Boston
Dunkel Ratings: NY Rangers 11.146; Boston 11.448
Dunkel Line & Total: Boston by 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: NY Rangers (-120); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Boston (+110); Under

Game 55-56: Florida at Ottawa
Dunkel Ratings: Florida 10.885; Ottawa 12.346
Dunkel Line & Total: Ottawa by 1 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Ottawa (-200); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Ottawa (-200); Under

Game 57-58: Buffalo at Montreal
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 11.619; Montreal 11.141
Dunkel Line & Total: Buffalo by 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Montreal (-115); 6
Dunkel Pick: Buffalo (+105); Under

Game 59-60: New Jersey at NY Islanders
Dunkel Ratings: New Jersey 11.176; NY Islanders 11.041
Dunkel Line & Total: New Jersey by 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: NY Islanders (-125); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New Jersey (+115); Under

Game 61-62: Carolina at Philadelphia
Dunkel Ratings: Carolina 12.180; Philadelphia 12.080
Dunkel Line & Total: Carolina by 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Philadelphia (-160); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Carolina (+150); Under

Game 63-64: Pittsburgh at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh 11.307; Washington 10.357
Dunkel Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 1; 5 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Washington (-115); 6
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (+105); Under

Game 65-66: Atlanta at Tampa Bay
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta 9.953; Tampa Bay 11.575
Dunkel Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Tampa Bay (-170); 6
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-170); Under

Game 67-68: Anaheim at Dallas
Dunkel Ratings: Anaheim 11.635; Dallas 11.390
Dunkel Line & Total: Anaheim by 1/2; 5 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Dallas (-130); 5
Dunkel Pick: Anaheim (+120); Over

Game 69-70: Minnesota at St. Louis
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 11.768; St. Louis 12.253
Dunkel Line & Total: St. Louis by 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota (-120); 5
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (+110); Under

Game 71-72: Detroit at Phoenix
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 12.077; Phoenix 10.533
Dunkel Line & Total: Detroit by 1 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Detroit (-185); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-185); Over

Game 73-74: Edmonton at Calgary
Dunkel Ratings: Edmonton 10.383; Calgary 11.751
Dunkel Line & Total: Calgary by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Calgary (-210); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Calgary (-210); Under

Game 75-76: Nashville at San Jose
Dunkel Ratings: Nashville 10.623; San Jose 11.197
Dunkel Line & Total: San Jose by 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: San Jose (-210); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Jose (-210); Under

[Udog]

I'm losing my mind with so much stuff to keep track of! I duplicated the NHL Long in here.

[Udog]

NHL
Short Sheet


Saturday, October 20th


Chicago at Toronto, 7:05 EST CBC
Chicago: 12-3 Over on Saturdays
Toronto: 2-9 SU off a home win by 1 goal

NY Rangers at Boston, 7:05 EST
NY Rangers: 9-1 SU after winning 4 of their last 5 games
Boston: 0-8 SU vs. NY Rangers

Florida at Ottawa, 7:05 EST
Florida: 3-18 SU away on Saturdays
Ottawa: 34-11 SU after winning 2 of their last 3 games

Buffalo at Montreal, 7:05 EST
Buffalo: 3-7 SU off a non-conference game
Montreal: 9-3 SU off a division loss by 1 goal

New Jersey at NY Islanders, 7:05 EST
New Jersey: 9-0 SU off a division loss
NY Islanders: 1-9 SU off a road win by 3+ goals

Carolina at Philadelphia, 7:05 EST CBC
Carolina: 7-16 SU after winning 3 of their last 4 games
Philadelphia: 12-4 SU at home vs. Carolina

Pittsburgh at Washington, 7:05 EST
Pittsburgh: 13-6 SU away after scoring 4+ goals
Washington: 6-15 SU as a home favorite of -150 or less

Atlanta at Tampa Bay, 7:35 EST
Atlanta: 3-15 SU off a combined score of 8+ goals
Tampa Bay: 19-8 SU after scoring 1 or 0 goals

Anaheim at Dallas, 8:05 EST
Anaheim: 8-22 SU at Dallas
Dallas: 25-8 SU vs. division opponents

Minnesota at St. Louis, 8:35 EST
Minnesota: 23-9 Under off an overtime loss
St. Louis: 7-1 SU off a road win by 2+ goals

Detroit at Phoenix, 10:05 EST
Detroit: 26-7 SU away playing their second game in five days
Phoenix: 5-20 SU on Saturdays

Edmonton at Calgary, 10:05 EST CBC
Edmonton: 11-3 Under away vs. division opponents
Calgary: 27-7 SU at home after winning 2 of their last 3 games

Nashville at San Jose, 10:35 EST
Nashville: 6-17 SU away off a road loss
San Jose: 7-1 SU at home vs. Nashville

** (TC) Denotes Time Change

[Udog]

MLB
Write-Up


League Championship Series

Neither Carmona, Schilling finished fifth inning in Game 2 week ago, a game Tribe later won in extra innings, Red Sox are 2-5 in last seven Schilling starts- he gave up six runs in 11.2 IP against Indians this season. Indians won Carmona's last nine starts; in his last 32 starts, Cleveland is 24-8 (9-6 on the road). He gave up four runs in his 12 IP against Boston this season. Indians can advance to first World Series in ten years with win here.

[Kaptain]

10/20/07
11:15 AM Lineups
CFB
Kentucky WR Keenan Burton (flu) will play tonight.

[Udog]

NHL
Write-Up


Saturday, October 20


Hot Teams
-- Blackhawks won three of their last four games.
-- Bruins won last three games, scoring fifteen goals.
-- Panthers won three of their last four games. Senators are 7-1 in their first eight games this season.
-- Sabres won three of their last four games.
-- Islanders won both their home games, allowing three goals.
-- Flyers won last four games, allowing three goals, none in last two games. Carolina won three of its last four games.
-- Lightning is 3-0 at home (3-1/4-2/2-1); home side won all five of their games.
-- Anaheim won three of its last four games.
-- Blues won last four games, allowing six goals. Minnesota won five of its first six games.
-- Red Wings are 5-3 (2-2 on road), but just 1-3 after a win.
-- Calgary won three of its last four games.

Cold Teams
-- Toronto is 3-5 this season, 0-2 in game after a win.
-- Rangers lost four of their last five games.
-- Canadiens lost last three games, scoring five goals.
-- Devils are 3-4 so far, playing eighth road game in row.
-- Penguins are 3-3 this month, 0-2 after a win. Capitols lost last three games, allowing fifteen goals.
-- Atlanta won last game under new coach, after an 0-6 start that got the old coach fired.
-- Dallas is off to 3-4 start; their last three games went OT.
-- Coyotes lost four of their last five games.
-- Edmonton lost four of its last five games.
-- Nashville lost last four games, allowing 20 goals. San Jose is 3-4 this season, but 3-0 after a loss.

Series Records
-- Leafs lost 3-1 at Chicago in their only meeting last two years
-- Rangers are 8-0 against Boston the last two seasons.
-- Panthers were 0-4 vs Ottawa LY, getting shut out in both of their visits here, 6-0/4-0.
-- Canadiens won three of last four games vs Buffalo.
-- Devils won five of last seven games vs Islanders.
-- Carolina, Philadelphia split their last eight games.
-- Penguins won seven of last eight games vs Washington.
-- Thrashers lost last four visits to Tampa: 5-3/3-2OT/8-0/4-2
-- Home side won last five Anaheim-Dallas games, with Ducks losing last last three visits here, 1-0/4-1/2-1OT.
-- Minnesota won four of last five games against the Blues.
-- Detroit won last four games vs Coyotes: 9-2/5-1/4-2/4-1.
-- Calgary won four of its last five games vs Edmonton.
-- San Jose KO'd Nashville from playoffs last two years; Preds lost seven of their last eight visits here.

Totals
-- Five of last six Toronto games went over the total.
-- Four of last five Ranger games stayed under the total.
-- Five of last six Florida games stayed under the total.
-- Three of last four Montreal games stayed under.
-- Last five Devil-Islander games stayed under the total.
-- Three of last four Carolina games went over the total.
-- Four of last five Penguin games went over the total.
-- Under is 2-0-1 in Tampa Bay home games.
-- Under is 7-2 in Anaheim games this season.
-- Under is 4-1-1 in Minnesota games this season.
-- Over is 5-1-1 in Detroit's last seven games.
-- Over is 5-0-1 in Calgary's last six games.
-- Under is 6-2 in Predators' last eight visits to San Jose.