Tuesday Trends and Indexes 5/5 (NBA, MLB, NHL, Misc.)

[pm530]

MLB


Tuesday, May 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Sheet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12:35 PM
HOUSTON vs. WASHINGTON
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games
Houston is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing Houston
Washington is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Houston

12:37 PM
CLEVELAND vs. TORONTO
Cleveland is 5-10 SU in its last 15 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Cleveland's last 8 games on the road
Toronto is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland

2:20 PM
SAN FRANCISCO vs. CHI CUBS
San Francisco is 4-9 SU in their last 13 games when playing Chi Cubs
San Francisco is 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Chi Cubs
Chi Cubs are 9-4 SU in their last 13 games when playing San Francisco
Chi Cubs are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home

4:08 PM
BALTIMORE vs. TAMPA BAY
Baltimore is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Baltimore's last 11 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Baltimore
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing at home against Baltimore

4:40 PM
TEXAS vs. SEATTLE
Texas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Seattle
Texas is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Seattle
Seattle is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Texas
Seattle is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Texas

7:05 PM
BOSTON vs. NY YANKEES
Boston is 14-4 SU in its last 18 games
Boston is 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing NY Yankees
NY Yankees are 3-6 SU in their last 9 games when playing at home against Boston
NY Yankees are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games when playing Boston

7:05 PM
MILWAUKEE vs. PITTSBURGH
Milwaukee is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Milwaukee's last 6 games
Pittsburgh is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Milwaukee
Pittsburgh is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Milwaukee

7:05 PM
MINNESOTA vs. DETROIT
Minnesota is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games when playing Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games when playing Detroit
Detroit is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games

7:10 PM
CINCINNATI vs. FLORIDA
Cincinnati is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games when playing Florida
Cincinnati is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Florida is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games when playing Cincinnati
Florida is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Cincinnati

7:10 PM
NY METS vs. ATLANTA
The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Mets's last 5 games when playing Atlanta
NY Mets are 2-8 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home

8:10 PM
CHI WHITE SOX vs. KANSAS CITY
Chi White Sox are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games
Chi White Sox are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road
Kansas City is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against Chi White Sox
Kansas City is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing Chi White Sox

8:15 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. ST. LOUIS
Philadelphia is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
Philadelphia is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games on the road
St. Louis is 5-13 SU in its last 18 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 6 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

10:05 PM
COLORADO vs. SAN DIEGO
Colorado is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games on the road
Colorado is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing San Diego
San Diego is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Colorado
San Diego is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Colorado

10:05 PM
LA ANGELS vs. OAKLAND
LA Angels are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games
LA Angels are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games on the road
Oakland is 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against LA Angels
Oakland is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games

10:10 PM
ARIZONA vs. LA DODGERS
Arizona is 1-8 SU in their last 9 games when playing LA Dodgers
Arizona is 6-19 SU in its last 25 games on the road
LA Dodgers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against Arizona
LA Dodgers are 8-1 SU in their last 9 games when playing Arizona

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

[pm530]

MLB


Tuesday, May 5

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tips and Trends
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees

Red Sox: Josh Beckett won both of his starts in the Bronx in 2008, posting a 3.86 ERA, and will be trying to help Boston (16-10) improve to 5-0 against New York in 2009. The Red Sox rallied to beat the Yankees 16-11 on April 25 at Fenway Park after Beckett allowed 8 runs and 10 hits over 5 innings. He wasn't much better in his last start, giving up 7 runs and 10 hits while striking out 8 in 4 2-3 innings of a 13-0 loss at Tampa on Thursday. "It's frustrating. It's a lot of things," said Beckett, 7-4 with a 5.90 ERA in 13 regular-season starts against New York (13-12). "(I'll) just have to make adjustments."

The Red Sox are 5-1 in Beckett's last 6 starts vs. the Yankees.
The Red Sox are 14-4 in their last 18 overall.

Key Injuries - 1B Kevin Youkilis (back) is QUESTIONABLE.
SS Julio Lugo (knee) is QUESTIONABLE.
SS Jed Lowrie (wrist) is on the 15-day DL.

PROJECTED SCORE: 6 (Side Play of the Day)

Yankees (-135, O/U 9.5): Joba Chamberlain (1-0, 3.13 allowed 1 run and 3 hits while striking out 6 in 7 innings of an 8-6 victory at Detroit on Wednesday. Chamberlain is 1-0 with a 1.96 ERA in 3 starts versus Boston. He allowed 1 earned run in 5 1-3 innings of the Yankees' 5-4, 11-inning loss to the Red Sox on April 24. New York will be without catcher Jorge Posada after he suffered a hamstring injury Monday. "I'm not sure how bad it's going to be, but he won't be playing (Tuesday), I'll tell you that," manager Joe Girardi said of Posada, who's 7-for-16 with 2 homers and 6 RBIs during a 5-game hitting streak.

The Yankees are 14-5 in their last 19 home games.

Key Injuries - 3B Alex Rodriguez (hip) is on the 15-day DL.
C Jorge Posada (hamstring) is OUT.
OF Xavier Nady (elbow) is on the 15-day DL.

PROJECTED SCORE: 4

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

[pm530]

MLB


Tuesday, May 5

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hot lines: Today’s best MLB bets
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Milwaukee Brewers at Pittsburgh Pirates (+102, 8.5)

In his outing at Milwaukee on Wednesday, Ian Snell gave up one run - a homer to pitcher Yovani Gallardo - and five hits in seven innings in a 1-0 defeat. Snell is 4-2 with a 2.20 ERA in six career starts versus the Brewers.

The right-hander has a 2.16 ERA in his last four starts overall but has gone 1-2. He got nine runs of support in his lone win but received a total of four in his other four starts.

He'll be opposed by Jeff Suppan (1-2, 5.88), who has won his last three starts while posting a 2.95 ERA. The veteran right-hander is 12-3 with a 4.20 ERA versus the Pirates, including 5-0 in his last seven starts against them.

Nate McLouth is 8-for-18 (.444) in four games after missing a week with an oblique injury. He's hit .429 (8-for-14) with two homers against Suppan.

While Pittsburgh has lost six of seven, Milwaukee has won 10 of 13.

Pick: Under 8.5



Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees (-121, 10)

Josh Beckett had success pitching at the old Yankee Stadium. The Boston Red Sox hope the same holds true for him at their archrivals' new home.

The right-hander looks to avoid a third straight rough start Tuesday night while trying to help the Red Sox remain perfect against New York this season in the finale of a two-game set.

Beckett (2-2. 7.22 ERA) was 4-2 despite a 5.66 ERA in seven regular season starts at the old Yankee Stadium, and pitched perhaps the best game of his career there during the 2003 World Series. His five-hitter in Game 6 clinched the championship for Florida.

Beckett won both of his starts in the Bronx in 2008, posting a 3.86 ERA, and will be trying to help Boston (16-10) improve to 5-0 against New York in 2009.

The Red Sox rallied to beat the Yankees 16-11 on April 25 at Fenway Park after Beckett allowed eight runs and 10 hits over five innings.

He wasn't much better in his last start, giving up seven runs and 10 hits while striking out eight in 4 2-3 innings of a 13-0 loss at Tampa on Thursday.

"It's frustrating. It's a lot of things,'' said Beckett, 7-4 with a 5.90 ERA in 13 regular-season starts against New York (13-12). "(I'll) just have to make adjustments."

He'll look to do so against a Yankees team that lost its second straight Monday night, 6-4 to Boston in a game delayed 2 hours, 17 minutes by rain.

Pick: Boston +113

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

[pm530]

MLB


Tuesday, May 5

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Streaking and Slumping Pitchers
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Streaking

Nick Blackburn (Minnesota Twins)

Twins sinkerballer Nick Blackburn (2-1, 4.02 ERA) will try to take advantage of the struggling Tigers and win a third consecutive start. The right-hander posted a 1.93 ERA in his last two outings.

That's a vast improvement for Blackburn after going 0-1 with a 5.71 ERA in his first three starts of the season.

Blackburn is 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA in four games - three starts - against the Tigers. All of those starts came at Comerica Park, where's he's 0-2 with a 6.14 ERA.

Dallas Braden (Oakland Athletics)

Batting .311 as a team on the trip, Los Angeles looks to again get the best of Oakland's scheduled starter Dallas Braden, who is trying to win his third consecutive start.

Braden (3-2, 2.10 ERA) allowed three runs and nine hits in six innings of a 3-0 opening-day loss at Los Angeles on April 6.

"If you're gonna pitch in the No. 1 spot, it's gotta be better than that," Braden told the Athletics' official Web site of his last start against the Angels.

The left-hander, who is 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA in three starts against the Angels, allowed five hits while striking out six and walking four in five scoreless innings of a 4-2 win at Texas on Thursday. He's yielded two runs while walking 10 in his last 18 innings over a three-start span.

Roy Oswalt (Houston Astros)

Though Oswalt is still looking for his first win, the right-hander did his part in a 4-1 victory over Cincinnati last Monday, allowing one run over seven innings.

"I want (my team) to win, like everyone else," said Oswalt, who pitched an inning of relief against Atlanta on Saturday. "I'm not pitching 20 years to go to the Hall of Fame. As long as the team wins, that's what I'm here to do."

Oswalt is 3-1 with a 2.59 ERA in 10 career games - eight starts - against the Nationals franchise. He's 1-0 with a 0.55 ERA in four games - three starts - in Washington, D.C.


Slumping

Josh Beckett (Boston Red Sox)

The Red Sox rallied to beat the Yankees 16-11 on April 25 at Fenway Park after Beckett allowed eight runs and 10 hits over five innings.

He wasn't much better in his last start, giving up seven runs and 10 hits while striking out eight in 4 2-3 innings of a 13-0 loss at Tampa on Thursday.

"It's frustrating. It's a lot of things,'' said Beckett, 7-4 with a 5.90 ERA in 13 regular-season starts against New York (13-12). "(I'll) just have to make adjustments."

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

[pm530]

MLB
Baseball Today


SCOREBOARD

Tuesday, May 5

Cincinnati at Florida (7:10 p.m. EDT). Edinson Volquez pitches for the Reds against Chris Volstad in a matchup of talented young right-handers.

STARS

Monday

— Zack Greinke, Royals, struck out 10 in a six-hitter and became the majors’ first six-game winner with his second shutout in four starts, leading Kansas City to a 3-0 win over the Chicago White Sox.

— Carlos Beltran, Mets, hit a pair of two-run homers to raise his batting average to .400 as New York beat Atlanta 6-4, matching its 2008 total for wins at Turner Field.

— Ryan Howard, Phillies, hit his seventh career grand slam, tying Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt for the franchise record, and his second this season in Philadelphia’s 6-1 victory at St. Louis.

— Francisco Liriano, Twins, struck out nine in 7 1-3 innings as Minnesota beat Detroit 7-2.

— Rickie Weeks, Brewers, hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the ninth inning to help Milwaukee rally for a 7-4 win over Pittsburgh.

— Josh Barfield, Indians, singled home the go-ahead run in the 12th inning of Cleveland’s 9-7 victory over Toronto.

— Chris Iannetta, Rockies, hit a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning of Colorado’s 9-6 win at San Diego.

THEY LOVE L.A.

The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first National League team since 1900 to win their first 11 home games, overcoming an Arizona triple play to beat the Diamondbacks 7-2 with a homer and three RBIs from Manny Ramirez. The major league mark is 12, set in 1911 by the Detroit Tigers. The Dodgers are the first team to start a season 11-0 at home since the 2003 Kansas City Royals.

RIGHT AT HOME

The Boston Red Sox enjoyed their first game at the new Yankee Stadium. Jon Lester matched a career high with 10 strikeouts, Mike Lowell and Jason Bay homered and the Red Sox held off New York 6-4 in a rain-delayed contest that ended at 1:10 a.m. Jonathan Papelbon pitched 1 2-3 innings for his seventh save, striking out Robinson Cano with the bases loaded to finish it.

SCARY MOMENT

Rick Ankiel was carted off the field with his head and neck immobilized after the St. Louis outfielder slammed headfirst into the fence following a running catch against Philadelphia. X-rays and a CT scan of Ankiel’s head, neck and back were all negative and showed no fractures, team spokesman Brian Bartow said. Ankiel remained hospitalized overnight for observation and the team said he was day-to-day. As he was wheeled off the field, Ankiel flashed a thumbs-up sign.

SURPRISE APPEARANCE

Supposedly unavailable, Ryan Braun entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and delivered a tying, two-run double that helped Milwaukee rally for a 7-4 victory at Pittsburgh. The Brewers scored six runs in the final two innings to earn their 16th consecutive victory over the Pirates. It’s the longest winning streak in the majors by one team against another since Arizona took 16 in a row from the Reds from 2001-03. Braun (stiff back) wasn’t in Pittsburgh when the game began. He underwent an MRI exam in Milwaukee earlier in the day, flew to Pittsburgh and was cleared to play.

TOUGH STUFF

Zack Greinke (6-0) didn’t walk a batter in Kansas City’s 3-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox. He lowered his ERA to 0.40 and pushed his major league-leading strikeout total to 54 during his third complete game of the season.

STREAKING

Ryan Zimmerman matched a career high with four hits in Washington’s 9-4 victory over the Houston Astros. Zimmerman’s first-inning single extended his Nationals-record hitting streak to 22 games, longest in the majors this season. … Nick Markakis hit a three-run homer to help the Baltimore Orioles beat Tampa Bay 8-4. Markakis has a hit in 19 of his last 20 games and has reached base safely in 35 straight games, the longest active streak in the majors.

SUDDEN POWER SURGE

Ryan Theriot hit a two-run shot for his third homer in four games, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 4-2 win over San Francisco. Theriot entered the month with seven career homers, never more than three in a season. In Friday’s 8-6 victory over Florida, he ended a streak of 620 at-bats without a homer by hitting his first career grand slam.

SNAPPED

Adrian Gonzalez went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in San Diego’s 9-6 loss to Colorado. It was the first time in 26 games this season that Gonzalez, tied for the NL lead with nine home runs, failed to reach base safely. The Padres have lost six straight and 12 of 14.

SAD REMINDER

The Los Angeles Angels played Oakland for the first time since April 8, when Nick Adenhart pitched six scoreless innings against the Athletics. The rookie right-hander was killed in a car accident hours later. Torii Hunter drove in three runs and Los Angeles beat Oakland 5-2 Monday night for its fifth win in seven games.

SPEAKING

“He’s the best in the league right now.”—White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen after Zack Greinke struck out 10 in a six-hitter and led the Kansas City Royals to a 3-0 victory over Chicago.

SEASONS

May 5

1904—Cy Young of the Red Sox pitched a perfect game against the Philadelphia Athletics, beating Rube Waddell 3-0. Having pitched nine hitless innings in two previous efforts, he ran his string of hitless innings to 18.

1917—Ernie Koob of the St. Louis Browns pitched a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox for a 1-0 win in St. Louis.

1925—Detroit Tigers player/manager Ty Cobb hit three homers, a double and two singles against the St. Louis Browns.

1925—Shortstop Everett Scott of the New York Yankees was benched, ending his streak of 1,307 consecutive games played that started while playing for the Boston Red Sox. Scott, who gave way to Pee Wee Wanninger, had the longest playing streak before Lou Gehrig.

1962—Bo Belinsky of the California Angels beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 with a no-hitter at Dodger Stadium. Belinsky struck out nine and walked four.

1978—Pete Rose became the 14th player with 3,000 hits when he singled against Montreal’s Steve Rogers at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium.

1980—National League president Chub Feeney suspended Pittsburgh’s Bill Madlock for 15 days and fined him $5,000 for shoving his glove in the face of home plate umpire Gerry Crawford.

1999—Colorado became the first team in 35 years and the third this century to score in every inning in a 13-6 win over the Chicago Cubs. The last time a team scored in all nine innings was also at Wrigley Field, when St. Louis beat the Cubs on Sept. 13, 1964.

2001—Sammy Sosa homered and had four RBIs, and Julian Tavarez pitched seven solid innings as the Chicago Cubs beat Los Angeles 20-1 at Wrigley Field. The Cubs scored eight runs in each of the last two innings.

2004—Mike Piazza set a major league mark for homers as a catcher, hitting No. 352, in the New York Mets’ 8-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

2004—Roger Clemens moved past Steve Carlton for second place on the career strikeout list with his 4,137th in Houston’s 6-2 win over Pittsburgh.

Today’s birthdays: Chris Duncan 28; Mike Redmond 38.

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

[pm530]

NHL
Dunkel Index


Vancouver at Chicago
The Canucks try to bounce back from their 6-3 loss in Game Two, but are just 1-7 in their last 8 games after allowing 5 or more goals in their previous game. Chicago is the pick (-145) according to Dunkel, which has the Blackhawks favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-145). Here are all of today's playoff picks.

TUESDAY, MAY 5

Game 17-18: Vancouver at Chicago
Dunkel Ratings: Vancouver 11.499; Chicago 12.758
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 1 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago (-145); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-145); Over

Game 19-20: Detroit at Anaheim
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 11.535; Anaheim 11.779
Dunkel Line & Total: Anaheim by 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Detroit (-150); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Anaheim (+130); Under

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

[pm530]

NHL
Long Sheet


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, May 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VANCOUVER (50-28-0-10, 110 pts.) at CHICAGO (51-28-0-11, 113 pts.) - 5/5/2009, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VANCOUVER is 10-15 ATS (-10.1 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more this season.
CHICAGO is 27-14 ATS (+44.1 Units) when playing with 2 days rest over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 24-12 ATS (+4.2 Units) after a win by 2 goals or more this season.
CHICAGO is 25-11 ATS (+10.2 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.
CHICAGO is 46-40 ATS (+93.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
VANCOUVER is 138-129 ATS (+279.7 Units) in road games second half of the season since 1996.
VANCOUVER is 13-4 ATS (+17.6 Units) in road games when playing with 2 days rest over the last 3 seasons.
VANCOUVER is 19-14 ATS (+33.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
VANCOUVER is 9-5 (+1.6 Units) against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
VANCOUVER is 9-5-0 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.7 Units)

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

DETROIT (56-21-0-11, 123 pts.) at ANAHEIM (47-35-0-8, 102 pts.) - 5/5/2009, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 71-69 ATS (-40.1 Units) on Tuesday nights since 1996.
ANAHEIM is 14-12 ATS (+28.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
ANAHEIM is 5-11 ATS (+5.0 Units) in home games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
ANAHEIM is 10-10 (+0.4 Units) against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
ANAHEIM is 10-10-0 straight up against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
10 of 19 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.3 Units)

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

[pm530]

NHL
Short Sheet


Tuesday, May 5th

Western Conference Playoffs - Semifinals
Game Three
Series Tied, 1-1
Vancouver at Chicago, 8:05 ET

Vancouver:
10-3 SU AWAY after playing a game with 7+ total goals
53-34 SU after one or more consecutive overs

Chicago:
6-13 SU after allowing 2+ goals in the third period
1-6 SU at home after playing a game with 8+ total goals

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

Western Conference Playoffs - Semifinals
Game Two
Series Tied, 1-1
Detroit at Anaheim, 10:35 ET

Detroit:
7-25 SU at Detroit
23-14 Over off an Under

Anaheim:
30-5 SU at home off home win
23-12 Over off BB wins

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

[pm530]

NHL
Write-up


Tuesday, May 5

NHL Playoffs

Anaheim scored early in third OT Sunday, to tie series as it heads back to left coast for Game 3; Ducks have been outshot 99-70 so far in series, with Detroit putting 62 shots on goal in Game 2 loss, outshooting the Ducks 29-17 in OT's. Both sides scored three power play goals so far in series. Anaheim won two of three series home games against San Jose in first round. Red Wings are 2-0 on road so far in playoffs.

Chicago scored six third period goals on 25 shots in first two series tilts; they're still just 2-11 on power play (Canucks are 4-14), but getting back to Chicago 1-1, after trailing both games in Vancouver after first period is huge for young Blackhawks. Canucks killed 32 of 35 penalties so far in playoffs, they've been outshot in first two series games (31-27/32-21)-- Vancouver was 2-0 on road in its sweep of St Louis.

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

[pm530]

NHL


Tuesday, May 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Sheet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8:00 PM
VANCOUVER vs. CHICAGO
Vancouver is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Vancouver is 18-6 SU in its last 24 games when playing Chicago
Chicago is 11-4 SU in its last 15 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 6 games

10:30 PM
DETROIT vs. ANAHEIM
Detroit is 4-11-1 SU in its last 16 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Detroit's last 7 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
Anaheim is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
Anaheim is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Detroit

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

[pm530]

NHL


Tuesday, May 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ice Picks: NHL best bets
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vancouver Canucks at Chicago Blackhawks (-145, 5.5)

The Vancouver Canucks got off to a great start Saturday night scoring two quick power-play goals early in the first period. But the Blackhawks dominated the rest of the way, outshooting Vancouver 18-6 from the second goal to the end of the second period, on their way to a 6-3 win.

The change in momentum occurred when Vancouver defenseman Sami Salo sustained a mysterious lower body injury after scoring the first goal of the game. He didn’t make the trip to Chicago with the team and there is no word on whether he will participate in Game 3.

“Sami’s a big part of our team,” defenseman Shane O’Brien told reporters. “Any time you lose one of your top [defenseman], it doesn’t matter how good you are, it will have the old trickle-down effect.”

The Hawks were clearly the faster and more physical team out there. Their persistence around the net seems to have rattled Roberto Luongo. The All-Star goalie has allowed eight goals in the past two games after giving up only five in Round 1 against the St. Louis Blues.

“That’s the important way to get goals in this league, especially against this goaltender,” said Patrick Sharp who racked up two goals Saturday. “We want to go to the net as hard as we can and do it legally.”

The Hawks hope to take their momentum back to the United Center where they are 3-0 so far in the playoffs.

Pick: Blackhawks



Detroit Red Wings at Anaheim Ducks (+115, 5.5)

The Anaheim Ducks escaped Detroit with a thriller 4-3 triple-overtime win Sunday night to even the series 1-1. Todd Marchant sneaked one past Chris Osgood about a minute into the third overtime after being severely outshot during the last three periods of the game.

“I don’t know about everybody else,” Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf told reporters, “but I was ready for it to end. I’m just happy that it ended the right way for us.”

Jonas Hiller, who is playing in his first NHL postseason, kept the Ducks in the game by stopping a career-high 59 shots.

“I’ve never gone to double overtime before,” the Swiss goalie admitted. “We have shootouts at home.”

Osgood had a good performance as well stopping 42 of the 46 shots fired at him. But the Red Wings need better performances from their top players, notably Pavel Datsyuk and Marian Hossa who were the No. 1 and No. 3 point scorers on the team this season. Neither of them has a point this series and each scored in just one game during the playoffs.

“There’s no question about it,” coach Mike Babcock said after the game, “your best players gotta be your best players.”

Expect them to wake up for Game 3.

Pick: Red Wings

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