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NHL
Sunday, April 26
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Ice Picks: NHL best bets
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Washington Capitals at New York Rangers (+120, 5)
A tossed bottle and a squirt of liquid by Rangers coach John Tortorella landed New York's bench boss in hot water and on the sidelines for Game 6 against the Washington Capitals.
Tortorella received a one-game ban from the NHL on Saturday night for squirting water into the crowd and then tossing the bottle over the glass at Washington during New York's 4-0 loss Friday night in Game 5 of the first-round playoff series.
The hard-edged coach who preaches discipline will sit out on Sunday when the Rangers try for a second time to eliminate the Capitals. New York took a 3-2 lead into Game 6 on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
''While it is a difficult decision to suspend a coach at this point in a playoff series, it has been made clear to all of our players, coaches and other bench personnel that the National Hockey League cannot - and will not - tolerate any physical contact with fans,'' league disciplinarian Colin Campbell said in a statement.
Tortorella declined to comment on the incident Saturday after practice but seemed to think he would be coaching on Sunday.
''As far as that situation, I've been asked not to comment on that by my boss,'' Tortorella said.
The Rangers voiced their displeasure in a brief statement issued by team spokesman John Rosasco.
''We disagree with the suspension and will have no further comment,'' the club said.
Assistant coach Jim Schoenfeld will likely lead the Rangers on Sunday and could be helped behind the bench by members of the Hartford Wolf Pack coaching staff. The Wolf Pack, the Rangers' top affiliate, were eliminated from the AHL playoffs Saturday.
Pick: Washington -140
New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes (-145, 5)
The Hurricanes also have injury concerns with forwards Sergei Samsonov and Matt Cullen being held out of practice. Coach Paul Maurice said the availability of Samsonov, who missed Game 5 with a lower body injury, would be determined on game day, but that Cullen was expected to play and that both players were taking advantage of the extra day off between games.
Carolina certainly could use contributions from both players - and everyone else wearing red - if they're going to foil Martin Brodeur and avoid losing a series for the first time since the 2002 Stanley Cup finals. Their only postseason appearance between now and then came in 2006, when they won the Cup.
The winningest goaltender in NHL history is coming off his record-tying 23rd career playoff shutout, a 1-0 victory that was dominated by offense - or, more accurately, the offensive chances both teams missed.
The Hurricanes peppered Brodeur with 44 shots while New Jersey put 42 shots on equally sharp Carolina goalie Cam Ward, but the only puck to get past either one of them came on David Clarkson's second-period deflection.
''If (Brodeur) is going to see it, he's going to stop it,'' Carolina forward Ray Whitney said. ''There's a reason he's got 550 wins or whatever the hell he's got (actually 557). There's a reason he's the all-time best. So, getting in front of him, obviously, without bumping him, and trying to take a little bit of his line of sight away is important.''
Brodeur's brilliance has put the Devils in some welcome, familiar territory.
When New Jersey wins three games in a series, the fourth usually is little more than a formality: They haven't been eliminated after three victories since the 2001 Cup final against Colorado, when they lost Game 7 after leading 3-2 through five games.
Pick: +125
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Sunday, April 26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ice Picks: NHL best bets
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Washington Capitals at New York Rangers (+120, 5)
A tossed bottle and a squirt of liquid by Rangers coach John Tortorella landed New York's bench boss in hot water and on the sidelines for Game 6 against the Washington Capitals.
Tortorella received a one-game ban from the NHL on Saturday night for squirting water into the crowd and then tossing the bottle over the glass at Washington during New York's 4-0 loss Friday night in Game 5 of the first-round playoff series.
The hard-edged coach who preaches discipline will sit out on Sunday when the Rangers try for a second time to eliminate the Capitals. New York took a 3-2 lead into Game 6 on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
''While it is a difficult decision to suspend a coach at this point in a playoff series, it has been made clear to all of our players, coaches and other bench personnel that the National Hockey League cannot - and will not - tolerate any physical contact with fans,'' league disciplinarian Colin Campbell said in a statement.
Tortorella declined to comment on the incident Saturday after practice but seemed to think he would be coaching on Sunday.
''As far as that situation, I've been asked not to comment on that by my boss,'' Tortorella said.
The Rangers voiced their displeasure in a brief statement issued by team spokesman John Rosasco.
''We disagree with the suspension and will have no further comment,'' the club said.
Assistant coach Jim Schoenfeld will likely lead the Rangers on Sunday and could be helped behind the bench by members of the Hartford Wolf Pack coaching staff. The Wolf Pack, the Rangers' top affiliate, were eliminated from the AHL playoffs Saturday.
Pick: Washington -140
New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes (-145, 5)
The Hurricanes also have injury concerns with forwards Sergei Samsonov and Matt Cullen being held out of practice. Coach Paul Maurice said the availability of Samsonov, who missed Game 5 with a lower body injury, would be determined on game day, but that Cullen was expected to play and that both players were taking advantage of the extra day off between games.
Carolina certainly could use contributions from both players - and everyone else wearing red - if they're going to foil Martin Brodeur and avoid losing a series for the first time since the 2002 Stanley Cup finals. Their only postseason appearance between now and then came in 2006, when they won the Cup.
The winningest goaltender in NHL history is coming off his record-tying 23rd career playoff shutout, a 1-0 victory that was dominated by offense - or, more accurately, the offensive chances both teams missed.
The Hurricanes peppered Brodeur with 44 shots while New Jersey put 42 shots on equally sharp Carolina goalie Cam Ward, but the only puck to get past either one of them came on David Clarkson's second-period deflection.
''If (Brodeur) is going to see it, he's going to stop it,'' Carolina forward Ray Whitney said. ''There's a reason he's got 550 wins or whatever the hell he's got (actually 557). There's a reason he's the all-time best. So, getting in front of him, obviously, without bumping him, and trying to take a little bit of his line of sight away is important.''
Brodeur's brilliance has put the Devils in some welcome, familiar territory.
When New Jersey wins three games in a series, the fourth usually is little more than a formality: They haven't been eliminated after three victories since the 2001 Cup final against Colorado, when they lost Game 7 after leading 3-2 through five games.
Pick: +125
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