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  • Wednesday's Trends and Indexes - 4/13 (NBA, NHL, MLB, Misc.)

    Trends and Indexes

    Wednesday, April 13

    Good Luck on day #103 of 2011!

    At this time, the sports menu in this thread consists of NBA, NHL and MLB until their seasons are played out. Also, general sports news and notes will be posted.

    NOTE:
    As information becomes available, we will attempt to post the trends and indexes as soon as possible.
    Information is posted from what we believe are reliable sources.
    Any opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the posting member or BettorsChat.


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

    Matchup Links

    NBA Hot and Not

    NBA Injuries

    NBA Referees

    NHL Matchups

    NHL Injuries

    NHL Hot and Not

    MLB Matchups

    MLB Previews

    MLB Hot or Not

    MLB Umpires

    MLB Trends

    MLB Weather

    NASCAR Schedules

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

  • #2
    Daily Sports Roundup: April 13

    Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The NBA's regular season comes to a close, the NHL postseason gets underway, and the Phillies send their ace to the hill in Washington.

    Tipping off on the hardwood . . .

    All 30 teams are in action on the final day of the NBA's regular season on Wednesday, with New York at Boston, Miami at Toronto, Denver at Utah, Milwaukee at Oklahoma City, Detroit at Philadelphia, Indiana at Orlando, Houston at Minnesota, Washington at Cleveland, New Jersey at Chicago, Atlanta at Charlotte, Memphis at the Clippers, Portland at Golden State, San Antonio at Phoenix, the Lakers at Sacramento, and New Orleans at Dallas. The Hornets and Mavericks are both headed to the playoffs in the Western Conference, but New Orleans has won two straight games over Dallas. As well, five of the last seven games between the two clubs have turned out to be OVER results.

    Meeting up on the diamond . . .

    The American League schedule for Wednesday has Texas at Detroit, Kansas City at Minnesota, Oakland at the White Sox, Toronto at Seattle, Baltimore at the Yankees, Cleveland at the Angels, and Tampa Bay at Boston. James Shields (0-1, 4.73 ERA) will get the ball for the Rays in that last matchup; righthander Shields was roughed up by the White Sox in his last trip to the mound, surrendering five runs on eight hits over six innings of work. The BoSox will counter with John Lackey (1-1, 15.58 ERA); righthander Lackey has given up 15 runs on 17 hits over his 8 2-3 innings of work so far this season.

    In the NL on Wednesday it's Cincinnati at San Diego, Milwaukee at Pittsburgh, Colorado at the Mets, Florida at Atlanta, the Cubs at Houston, St. Louis at Arizona, the Dodgers at San Francisco, and Philadelphia at Washington. Roy Halladay (1-0, 0.69 ERA) will take the mound for the Phillies on Wednesday; righthander Halladay blanked the Mets on six hits over seven innings of work last time out, fanning seven batters along the way. John Lannan (1-0, 3.60 ERA) gets the ball for Washington; lefthander Lannan picked up a no-decision against the Marlins in his last start, allowing three runs over five innings pitched.

    Taking a trip around the rink . . .

    Finally, the NHL playoffs begin on Wednesday with five games on tap: Tampa Bay (+130) at Pittsburgh (-150), Phoenix (+155) at Detroit (-175), the Rangers (+150) at Washington (-170), Nashville (+125) at Anaheim (-145), and Chicago (+150) at Vancouver (-170). The 54-19-9 Canucks won the Presidents' Trophy and earned the top seed in the Western Conference this season, but they'll face their nemesis in the first round of the playoffs – the 44-29-9 Blackhawks bounced Vancouver in six games in the second round of the postseason last year en route to their Stanley Cup victory. Chicago and Vancouver split their season series this year, with both clubs winning two matchups.

    Comment


    • #3
      Wednesday’s betting tips: Heat's Big Three out vs. Raps?

      Weather to watch

      Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees – 50 percent chance of showers with 11 mph winds blowing in from center field.

      Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox – 100 percent chance of showers as of Tuesday evening.

      Who’s hot

      NHL: Tampa Bay has won seven of its last eight.

      NBA: Denver is 8-1 against the spread in its last nine road games.

      NBA: Houston is 11-2-1 ATS in its last 14 meetings with Minnesota.

      MLB: Texas is 9-2 out of the gate.

      Who’s not

      NHL: Detroit has won just four times over its last 11 contests.

      NBA: Utah is 8-21 against the number in its last 29 home games.

      NBA: Los Angeles Clippers have covered only four times in their last 14 games.

      MLB: Houston is 2-8 heading into Wednesday's date against the Cubs.

      Key stat

      1 – The Washington Capitals have scored just once in their last three games combined against the New York Rangers. New York, which barely slipped into the playoffs in claiming the No. 8 see in the East, won all three meetings while burying 14 goals of its own.

      Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked

      Danilo Gallinari, Denver Nuggets: Gallinari is nursing a sprained ankle and is officially listed as a game-time decision for Wednesday’s game at Utah, though don’t be surprised if takes the night off to get ready for the playoffs.

      Game of the day

      Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks (-170, 5.5)

      Notable quotable

      "We can look at what happened (Sunday) as a sign that it's a second chance. We can go and really play that underdog role in the series and just try to be as tough to play against as we can. There's something that comes from making the playoffs in the last game of the year. We're excited we feel like we have second life. There's no pressure. We're going to go out and take advantage of it." – Jonathan Toews, captain of the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, on qualifying for the playoffs after Dallas blew its shot at the No. 8 seed by losing its final game of the regular season.

      Notes and tips

      There is some talk that LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh may sit out the Miami Heat’s regular season finale against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, though the team has yet to make an announcement. Meanwhile, Toronto’s Reggie Evans, Leandro Barbosa, Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon and Amir Johnson have all been ruled out for Wednesday’s contest, while Sonny Weems is set as a game-time decision with his knee injury.

      The Washington Capitals will finally have their best offensive defenseman back in the lineup when they host the New York Rangers in Game 1 of their series on Wednesday. According to coach Bruce Boudreau, Mike Green will suit up for the first time in 20 games. Meanwhile, the team has also decided on Michal Neuvirth as its starting goaltender.

      Through the first nine games of the season, the Washington Nationals were hitting just .217 as a team and that struggling offense took a huge hit with the news that Ryan Zimmerman will be on the DL for the next two weeks with an abdominal strain. Zimmerman was leading the team with a .357 batting average. Bettors should note that despite Washington’s stagnant offense, the club had played over in seven of its first nine games.

      Comment


      • #4
        Wednesday's six-pack

        -- Red Sox, Tigers, Twins and Astros are only teams that have yet to win consecutive games this season.

        -- Dan Haren tossed a 1-hit shutout at the Indians, ending Cleveland's winning streak at eight games.

        -- Rookie Michael Pineda was tough again, allowing one earned run in seven IP, as the Mariners beat Toronto for the second night in row.

        -- If you look at the top four teams in terms of starters' ERA, all four teams are in the American League. Unusual.

        -- Chumlee from Pawn Stars was a guest on the Tonight Show Tuesday.

        -- If you were smart and took under with Joe West umping the plate in San Diego, you got burned, as Reds scored six in the 11th and beat the Padres 8-2. Lecure allowed one hit in six IP for Cincinnati.


        ************************


        Wednesday's List of 13: Random mid-week thoughts.........

        13) Going to be a sad night in Sacramento Wednesday, the Kings’ last home game before they move to Anaheim; this franchise started as the Rochester Royals, then moved to Cincinnati, then Kansas City (for while, they played a partial home schedule in Omaha) before moving west to Sacramento, where they came very close to making the NBA Finals when Vlade Divac/Chris Webber were on the squad.

        Now the team stinks, crowd support is down, and the Maloof Family is moving the team to greener pastures. Its too bad.

        12) I openly scoff at anyone who writes that Eldrick Woods “is back” because he almost won The Masters. He’s back when he wins a tournament, preferably a major, and not until then.

        11) Juan Pierre is killing the White Sox in leftfield; on both Friday and Monday night, Pierre dropped fairly simple fly balls in the 9th inning, leading directly to the Pale Hose blowing leads and losing both games.

        10) Georgetown signed prize recruit Otto Porter Tuesday; the kid was rumored to be going to Missouri until Mike Anderson left for Arkansas. Good get for the Hoyas.

        9) Rafael Furcal broke his thumb, is out 4-6 weeks; who bats leadoff for the Dodgers now?

        8) Last year, Dustin Moseley made 10 starts for the Bronx Bombers, and got 63 runs of support in those games, not bad. So far in 2011, Moseley has started twice for San Diego, and the Padres got shut out in both games. Not good.

        7) White Sox relief pitcher Sergio Santos once hit 20 homers when he was a shortstop for AA New Hampshire in the Eastern League.

        6) There’s a pretty good chance Billy Donovan might lose all three of his assistant coaches this spring; Larry Shyatt is already off to Wyoming, Rick Pitino Jr is going back to Louisville to work for his dad, and Rob Lanier is rumored to be going back to Texas to replace the guy who got the Fresno State job. Donovan has former Arkansas coach John Pelphrey amd former St John's coach Norm Roberts signed up as new assistants; maybe he should bring in Reggie Theus as a recruiter. .

        5) You mean to tell me someone had to tell Tommy Amaker that Miami is a bad job? Amaker is close to winning an Ivy League title at Harvard; he didn’t do very well at either Michigan or Seton Hall. If NC State isn't a good job in the ACC, Miami is worse. Hard to beat Duke or Carolina.

        4) Ole Miss lost LB DT Shackleford to a knee injury this week, a bad loss for the Rebels. Shackleford is one of their team leaders.

        3) Baylor got good news when Perry Jones announced he’s coming back to school. Not sure why any kid is coming out early this year, since there is the possibility of no NBA at all next season, due to the ongoing labor issues. Some kids are going to ruin their career coming out too early.

        2) Josh Hamilton broke a bone in his arm and is out 6-8 weeks, getting hurt on a bizarre play when he tagged up and tried to score on a foul pop by the third base dugout. If the pitcher covers the plate, Hamilton stays at third base and never gets hurt. Very unusual and costly play.

        1) I’m not terribly patient; my fantasy baseball team has been riddled with injuries the first two weeks this season, to the point where I had Andres Torres penciled in to play in my outfield this week. So I’m watching the Giants Saturday night, and doesn’t Torres strain an Achilles in the outfield and have to be helped off the field.

        By the time he got to the clubhouse, I had already cut him and picked up Travis Hafner. Baseball players are brittle. Patience isn’t my strong suit.

        Comment


        • #5
          How to bet the NHL Playoffs: Handicapper's hockey tips

          The NHL Playoffs are here. That means it’s time to get cozy in front of your favorite big screen and settle in for two months of sheer excitement.

          There’s nothing like the NHL postseason, not only for hardcore puckheads, but also for savvy bettors. This is one of the best times of the year to make money on the ice.

          As is the case in every professional sport, betting the playoffs is a completely different animal compared to the regular season. There are unique edges we can put in play from the opening round all the way to the Stanley Cup final.

          Here are four pointers to help make your playoff journey a profitable one.

          Stay away from big favorites

          It’s not uncommon to see teams priced north of -200, especially in the first round.

          In fact, on the opening night of last year’s playoffs, bettors were served two favorites north of -210. Both lost, as the Senators upset the Penguins and the Avalanche stole one from the Sharks.

          Favorites of -200 or higher ended up going a miserable 7-8 in the first round of the 2010 playoffs, losing their backers a considerable chunk of change.

          There’s a time and place for everything when it comes to sports betting, but it’s rarely a wise decision to get behind these big favorites. There just isn’t much separating a No. 8 seed from a No. 1 seed in the NHL – certainly not when compared to that same matchup in the NBA playoffs, for instance.

          If you must play them, consider doing so in parlays to reduce your juice.

          Home ice disadvantage?

          Home-ice advantage is obviously coveted. It’s what teams play for over the course of the 82-game regular season.

          With that being said, it shouldn’t be the No. 1 factor you consider when handicapping the playoffs. Perhaps in no other sport do we see teams come together and play as well on the road in the postseason as we do in hockey.

          Hockey players are a different breed. They thrive on the camaraderie built on the road and many teams are actually more comfortable starting a series in enemy territory. The “us against the world” mentality can be a driving force from a motivational standpoint.

          Home ice becomes more important as a series progresses. In the first four games, it’s not uncommon to see teams split in each venue. In Games 5 through 7, that’s when you want to put a little more stock in which team has the luxury of playing in front of the home crowd.

          Ride the hot goalie

          Time and time again, we’ve seen teams that underachieved during the regular season, ride a hot goalie deep into the playoffs.

          Last year, the Montreal Canadiens pulled monumental upsets over the Capitals and Penguins with Jaroslav Halak. Two years ago, the Carolina Hurricanes went to the Eastern Conference final thanks to Cam Ward’s heroics.

          It’s not an irregular occurrence. Virtually every year, at least one team will go further than anyone expected riding a hot goalie.

          While capping the goaltending matchups is key during the regular season, it becomes that much more important at this time of year. Consider looking to the net first, and then work your way out when breaking down a series.

          The majority doesn't always win

          The betting public doesn’t have a substantial effect on hockey lines – that is until the playoffs roll around.

          With the handle increasing at sportsbooks at this time of year, we start to see inflated lines on the ice. You can often find additional value backing an underdog if you wait until just before the puck drops.

          A perfect example came in Game 1 of last year’s opening round series between the Red Wings and Coyotes.

          Phoenix opened as a home favorite, but the money flooded in on the Red Wings, shifting the line 15-20 cents. The Coyotes closed as +110 home underdogs and went on to win the game, but ultimately succumbed to the veteran Red Wings in the series.

          As is always the case, having multiple books at your disposal is key to getting the best lines.

          Comment


          • #6
            Eastern Conference playoff preview: Betting cheat sheet

            Best sleeper pick to win the East: Boston Bruins

            OK, so you may not buy the fact that a division winner could classify as a sleeper, but hear us out. Of the East Elite -- the Capitals, Flyers, Penguins, Lightning among them -- no one is more nondescript with fewer name players than the Bruins. And to add to their under-the-radar status is the fact that they blew a 3-0 series lead to the Flyers last season in the second round.

            Sure, Tim Thomas has been superb this season in net, but let’s face it: How many pundits are picking this group to win the East? Not many.

            Well, we will. No team may have more depth, better goaltending and enough incentive to wash away the past with a lengthy postseason run than the Bruins. So, while everyone else falls in love with the superstar teams, do yourself a favor, and consider the supremely solid one from Beantown.

            Best player to pick for your playoff hockey pool: Danny Briere, Philadelphia Flyers

            Briere was hampered by an infamous, anonymous “lower-body” injury toward the end of the regular season, but that might just be a way of getting a little more rest before the postseason marathon begins. Because if he’s healthy -- and we think he is -- Briere can be a playoff machine.

            Last season, in 23 postseason games, Briere had 12 goals and 18 assists as the Flyers advanced to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Plus, he’s coming off a regular season in which he topped 30 goals and 30 assists.

            The Flyers haven’t been the same lately, but they are a bunch of true-tested, playoff veterans. And once the light goes on -- and it might this week -- another quality stretch might be in store on Broad Street. If that happens, Briere will play a big role.

            Goalie who could steal a series: Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins

            They are injured, they are short-handed and they have seen better days. But the Penguins are still to be feared in this conference, and the one that usually gets lost in the mix is their goaltender.

            Keep in mind, without Martin Brodeur in the playoffs for a change, Fleury is the only bona fide East starter who has played in two Stanley Cup Finals. Not many people remember that.

            Remember, Fleury is an unreal 8-2 in his last 10 playoff series. If that’s not a goalie who can swipe a series, we don’t know who is.

            Highest seed that can get bounced in Round 1: Washington Capitals

            There are plenty who say that this is finally the year. This is finally the spring that the Capitals are sprung. But what if they’re wrong? What if there is just a postseason panacea that keeps this franchise frustrated moving forward?

            We think there might be. We think that Alexander Ovechkin and Co. simply get out-toughed at this time of year. Who knows, maybe we’ll be wrong in the end. But for now, you have to look at the body of work. And when you haven’t escaped the second round in the Ovechkin Era, there’s a good chance that there’s something to that.

            Likely series with the most overs: Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins

            Thomas and Carey Price may disagree, but there’s a method to our madness here. Those two goaltenders will be pivotal to this series, but let’s face it: Each team knows just about everything about the other, and with goal scorers on both sides, this may be a little more high-flying than it appears.

            Especially when you consider this: If you bet the over in every game of this regular-season series, you would have went a surprising 3-1-1. Food for thought.

            Comment


            • #7
              NHL Eastern Conference: Series prices and picks

              WASHINGTON CAPITALS (1) vs. NEW YORK RANGERS (8)

              Series odds: Caps -315, Rangers +245

              Season series: 3-1 for the Rangers.

              Call it luck vs. loot. The team that needed everything to break right for them on the season’s final weekend, the Rangers, taking on the money team, the Capitals, who surged in the second half and took what was probably rightfully theirs, all along: the No. 1 seed.

              This is a classic rematch from the 2008-2009 season in which Alexander Ovechkin and Co. overcame a 3-1 series deficit to bury the Broadway Blueshirts, once and for all, in the first round.

              But Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist nearly stole that series by himself. And now, he has a better cast around him. Sure, the Rangers are probably a lucky No. 8 seed, but they are here, take it or leave it, and they know how to beat this team. That’s all that matters.

              Not saying they will complete the deal. But they will make things interesting.

              Pick: Capitals in six games.


              PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (2) vs. BUFFALO SABRES (7)

              Series odds: Flyers -150, Sabres +125

              Season series: Tied, 2-2.

              Sabres netminder Ryan Miller is back, and Buffalo orchestrated a second half that half the league would be jealous of. They acquired some scoring punch -- in the form of forward Brad Boyes from St. Louis -- and really took off when new owner Terry Pegula took over officially.

              But while many are tabbing Buffalo as the chic pick to post a first-round upset, we’re taking the road less traveled here.

              We respect the Sabres and their surge. But the Flyers can still roll four lines. They can still score in bunches. And they can still intimidate an opponent with that second-to-none home-ice advantage in the playoffs.

              Listen, this team is primarily the same as last year’s. And last year’s advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals by defeating teams that were better than this Sabres team.

              Don’t buy the upset talk. No offense, of course, but Philadelphia is just better. And here’s thinking it wakes up in time to realize that.

              Pick: Flyers in five games.


              BOSTON BRUINS (3) vs. MONTREAL CANADIENS (6)


              Series odds: Bruins -210, Habs +170.

              Season series: 4-2 for the Canadiens.

              Subplots abound here, right? The Max Pacioretty-Zdeno Chara incident. The 7-0 win by the Bruins to close out the season series. The four wins in the season series by the Canadiens before that washout. The list goes on.

              But what we keep coming back to with the Bruins, is goalie Tim Thomas, and his remarkable season. Boston also has depth. It’s young, like in the form of rookie Tyler Seguin, and old, like in the form of Mark Recchi.

              But most of all, the Bruins have incentive. After all, everyone remembers their epic collapse vs. the Flyers last season, blowing a 3-0, second-round lead. They’ve been waiting all year to erase that memory.

              And that starts with a convincing win over perhaps their most bitter rivals. Montreal has some firepower -- mighty-mite forwards Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez among them -- but the Canadiens will not be able to match Boston’s balance in a series format.

              Pick: Bruins in five games.


              PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (4) vs. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (5)


              Series odds: Pens -185, TB +155.

              Season series: Tied, 2-2.

              Hats off to the Penguins for battling without their top two stars, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. Jordan Staal and Co. had the Flyers on edge all the way until the final Saturday as to who was going to win the Atlantic Division. The Penguins finally surrendered, and took the No. 4 seed.

              Moving forward, the Lightning, the Penguins’ early opponent, have serious issues in net, with Mike Smith and Dwayne Roloson sharing the load. So, it looks good for Pittsburgh, right?

              Well, Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis are still chugging for Tampa Bay. And that Dynamic Duo helped lead the Lightning to the 2004 Stanley Cup. Not saying they’ll do so again, but they do have enough firepower to get by a team that is missing perhaps the best two players in the game. Tough to overcome that in the postseason.

              Pick: Lightning in seven games.

              Comment


              • #8
                NHL Western Conference playoff betting cheat sheet

                The Western Conference is deep from top to bottom and is home to both the defending Stanley Cup champions (Chicago) and the current Presidents’ Trophy winner (Vancouver).

                Here’s a snapshot look at what to expect from the four Western Conference series that get under way later this week:

                Sleeper pick to win the West: San Jose Sharks

                How can a No. 2 seed be a sleeper you say? The Sharks still enter the post-season slightly under the radar for a couple of reasons.

                For one, they have toiled in the shadow of the Canucks, who outgained them by a dozen points. For another, the hockey world has by now come to expect all sorts of playoff collapses from this team.

                But with a 105-point season and some balance in their attack thanks to the play of rookie Logan Couture, the Sharks could be a big threat to finally go all the way. A veteran group anchored by stellar goaltending down the stretch, they appear to be a team built for post-season success.

                Best player to pick for your playoff pool: Corey Perry

                The Hart Trophy candidate has been on fire down the stretch for the Anaheim Ducks who can do some damage in the West, especially since they secured home ice for their opening series.

                Not only did Perry surpass Tampa’s Steven Stamkos to capture the Maurice Richard Trophy for most goals (50), the man has been a scoring machine in his last 11 games (13 goals and nine assists). With Ryan Getzlaf back and healthy, Perry has become even more dangerous.

                Unlike many of the teams in the East that emphasize defensive play, the Ducks are a free-wheeling group and could face similar foes if they make a sustained run in the West.

                Goalie who could steal a series: Anntti Niemi, San Jose Sharks

                Spurned by the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, Niemi got off to a slow start in his new home but could be a huge factor for the Sharks to finally shake their playoff struggles.

                Niemi was particularly strong down the stretch including a sharp effort in a 3-1 win over Phoenix in the final game of the season. With 35 wins, Niemi had a .920 save percentage and goals-against average of 2.38. Arguably, he had a better regular season than he did last year in the Windy City.

                Best over bet: Nashville Predators vs. Anaheim Ducks

                In four regular-season meetings, the Ducks and Preds never combined for less than five goals. Two of those games ended up being 5-4 final scores.
                The Ducks have gone over the total in eight of their past 11 games with all but one of those having 5.5-goal totals.

                Nashville is generally a tight-checking outfit, but have been involved in four games that had seven goals scored over the club’s last 10.

                Higher seed with worst opening-round matchup: Detroit Red Wings

                Once again, the Red Wings face the Desert Dogs from Phoenix. A year ago, it was the Coyotes that were the higher seed after a surprising season but no one really thought they would knock off the powerhouse Wings.

                Without captain Shane Doan for most of it, the ‘Yotes almost prevailed, however, losing in a tough seven-gamer. Doan is healthy now however and the experience of a year ago will serve them well, especially under the tight-checking style mandated by coach Dave Tippett.

                Comment


                • #9
                  NHL Western Conference series odds and picks

                  Vancouver Canucks (1) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (8)

                  Series odds
                  : Vancouver -265

                  The last time a Stanley Cup champion was the No. 8 seed was in 1995 when the New York Rangers responded by bumping off the No. 1 seed in the opening round. So can the defending Stanley Cup champions knock off the team that had the league's best regular-season record?

                  Well for starters, former Chicago disturber Dustin Byfuglien is no longer there to get in the face of Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo. Chicago struggled just to make the playoffs, but they have had the Canucks’ number the past couple of seasons.

                  What can turn things around this time? Well, the Canucks owned the NHL’s best power play and third-best penalty-killing unit and nobody in the league has found a way to completely and consistently shut down the Sedin twins.

                  “We know Vancouver well and they know us well,” Chicago forward Patrick Sharp said. “There’s a lot of bad blood between the two teams.”

                  Season series: Season series: Chicago 2-2. Vancouver 2-1-1.

                  Pick: Canucks in six games.


                  San Jose Sharks (2) vs. Los Angeles Kings (7)
                  Series odds: -335


                  For the fifth consecutive season, the Sharks topped 100 points in the regular season, but the script is getting tiresome for northern California hockey fans who have yet to enjoy a sustained playoff run in that time.

                  Might this be the year it changes? The Sharks do get a break given that the Kings are without top scorer Anze Kopitar and lacked consistency throughout the regular season. The loss of Justin Williams also compromises Team Hollywood.

                  One key stat to suggest this may be a one-sided series if San Jose can find its stride early: The Sharks were sixth in the league in goals scored while the Kings were way down at No. 25.

                  Season series: Los Angeles 3-3-0. Jose Sharks 3-1-2.

                  Pick: Sharks in five games


                  Detroit Red Wings (3) vs. Phoenix Coyotes (6)
                  Series odds: Detroit -250


                  If the veteran-heavy Red Wings are to make another Stanley Cup push before the retirement home calls, a couple of things need to happen. For starters, Jimmy Howard has to be strong in net and Henrik Zetterberg has to return to the lineup.

                  The Wings had to fight long and hard to dismiss the pesky Coyotes last spring, winning a Game 7 in the desert. Now that playoffs have arrived, fans are returning to the Jobing.com Arena with enthusiasm and captain Shane Doan is healthy.

                  That said, if Phoenix is to pull the minor upset they will need to rely on coach Dave Tippett’s system, the play of Ilya Bryzgalov in net and the leadership of defenceman Keith Yandle, who has been outstanding all season.

                  The Wings scored 26 times in last year’s seven-gamer, including a 6-1 blowout in the deciding game.

                  Season series: Detroit, 2-1-1. Phoenix 2-0-2.

                  Pick: Coyotes in seven.


                  Anaheim Ducks (4) vs. Nashville Predators (5)
                  Series odds: Anaheim -190


                  Certainly an intriguing matchup for the No. 4 vs. No. 5 teams in the West with a fairly simplistic analysis: Can Nashville's shutdown defense handle the powerful Ducks line of Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan?

                  The Predators have a chance of doing so given that they were third in the league in goals against, thanks in a large part to the play of Shea Webber and Ryan Suter on the Nashville blueline.

                  Failing that, Nashville was one of the best in the net with Pekka Rinne, whose .930 save percentage and 2.12 goals-against average is tough to beat. Helped by the marquee trio, the Ducks have the third most effective power play in the league.

                  Season series: Anaheim 2-2-0. Nashville 2-2-0.

                  Pick: Ducks in six.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    NHL
                    Dunkel



                    NY Rangers at Washington
                    The Rangers look to build on their 6-0 record in their last 6 games as a road underdog from +110 to +150. New York is the pick (+150) according to Dunkel, which has the Rangers favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: NY Rangers (+150). Here are all of today's picks.

                    WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13

                    Game 1-2: Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh (7:05 p.m. EST)

                    Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay 11.390; Pittsburgh 12.681
                    Dunkel Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 1 1/2; 6
                    Vegas Line & Total: Pittsburgh (-150); 5 1/2
                    Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-150); Over

                    Game 3-4: Phoenix at Detroit (7:05 p.m. EST)
                    Dunkel Ratings: Phoenix 11.299; Detroit 12.639
                    Dunkel Line & Total: Detroit by 1 1/2; 5
                    Vegas Line & Total: Detroit (-175); 5 1/2
                    Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-175); Under

                    Game 5-6: NY Rangers at Washington (7:35 p.m. EST)
                    Dunkel Ratings: NY Rangers 12.640; Washington 11.568
                    Dunkel Line & Total: NY Rangers by 1; 5 1/2
                    Vegas Line & Total: Washington (-170); 5
                    Dunkel Pick: NY Rangers (+150); Over

                    Game 7-8: Chicago at Vancouver (10:05 p.m. EST)
                    Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 12.776; Vancouver 11.716
                    Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 1; 5
                    Vegas Line & Total: Vancouver (-175); 5 1/2
                    Dunkel Pick: Chicago (+155); Under

                    Game 9-10: Nashville at Anaheim (10:30 p.m. EST)
                    Dunkel Ratings: Nashville 11.666; Anaheim 11.323
                    Dunkel Line & Total: Nashville by 1/2; 6
                    Vegas Line & Total: Anaheim (-145); 5
                    Dunkel Pick: Nashville (+125); Over

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      NHL
                      Long Sheet


                      Wednesday, April 13


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

                      TAMPA BAY (46-25-0-11, 103 pts.) at PITTSBURGH (49-25-0-8, 106 pts.) - 4/13/2011, 7:05 PM
                      Top Trends for this game.
                      TAMPA BAY is 80-158 ATS (+290.3 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 since 1996.
                      PITTSBURGH is 49-33 ATS (+49.0 Units) in all games this season.
                      PITTSBURGH is 22-12 ATS (+0.6 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
                      PITTSBURGH is 12-3 ATS (+7.0 Units) when playing with 2 days rest this season.
                      TAMPA BAY is 46-36 ATS (+4.8 Units) in all games this season.
                      TAMPA BAY is 21-16 ATS (+38.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
                      PITTSBURGH is 6-11 ATS (-14.3 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
                      PITTSBURGH is 5-11 ATS (-12.2 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

                      Head-to-Head Series History
                      TAMPA BAY is 5-7 (+0.4 Units) against the spread versus PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
                      PITTSBURGH is 7-5-0 straight up against TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
                      7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.5 Units)

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

                      PHOENIX (43-26-0-13, 99 pts.) at DETROIT (47-25-0-10, 104 pts.) - 4/13/2011, 7:05 PM
                      Top Trends for this game.
                      PHOENIX is 8-15 ATS (-9.5 Units) after a division game this season.
                      PHOENIX is 96-75 ATS (+176.0 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
                      PHOENIX is 22-13 ATS (+35.7 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
                      PHOENIX is 25-21 ATS (+48.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
                      PHOENIX is 36-34 ATS (+80.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
                      PHOENIX is 17-10 ATS (+29.5 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
                      DETROIT is 6-9 ATS (-9.8 Units) in home games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.
                      DETROIT is 10-13 ATS (-14.3 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
                      DETROIT is 3-9 ATS (-11.9 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.

                      Head-to-Head Series History
                      PHOENIX is 8-11 (+0.3 Units) against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
                      DETROIT is 11-8-0 straight up against PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
                      10 of 15 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+4.1 Units)

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

                      NY RANGERS (44-33-0-5, 93 pts.) at WASHINGTON (48-23-0-11, 107 pts.) - 4/13/2011, 7:35 PM
                      Top Trends for this game.
                      NY RANGERS are 11-3 ATS (+14.5 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
                      WASHINGTON is 6-13 ATS (-12.8 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game this season.
                      WASHINGTON is 8-16 ATS (-17.1 Units) in home games in the first round of the playoffs since 1996.

                      Head-to-Head Series History
                      WASHINGTON is 11-8-0 straight up against NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
                      9 of 18 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.7 Units, Under=-0.8 Units)

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

                      CHICAGO (44-29-0-9, 97 pts.) at VANCOUVER (54-19-0-9, 117 pts.) - 4/13/2011, 10:05 PM
                      Top Trends for this game.
                      CHICAGO is 44-38 ATS (-12.9 Units) in all games this season.
                      VANCOUVER is 54-28 ATS (+54.0 Units) in all games this season.
                      VANCOUVER is 30-13 ATS (+30.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
                      VANCOUVER is 13-2 ATS (+9.4 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
                      VANCOUVER is 29-10 ATS (+13.6 Units) after 3 or more consecutive unders over the last 3 seasons.
                      CHICAGO is 283-308 ATS (+652.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.
                      VANCOUVER is 70-90 ATS (-42.2 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1996.

                      Head-to-Head Series History
                      CHICAGO is 14-10 (+1.4 Units) against the spread versus VANCOUVER over the last 3 seasons
                      CHICAGO is 14-10-0 straight up against VANCOUVER over the last 3 seasons
                      13 of 22 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+3.2 Units)

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

                      NASHVILLE (44-27-0-11, 99 pts.) at ANAHEIM (47-30-0-5, 99 pts.) - 4/13/2011, 10:35 PM
                      Top Trends for this game.
                      ANAHEIM is 47-35 ATS (+47.0 Units) in all games this season.
                      ANAHEIM is 24-15 ATS (+4.5 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
                      ANAHEIM is 21-17 ATS (+39.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
                      ANAHEIM is 38-34 ATS (+79.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
                      ANAHEIM is 15-8 ATS (+25.1 Units) after a division game this season.
                      NASHVILLE is 92-77 ATS (+169.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
                      NASHVILLE is 67-68 ATS (+157.7 Units) in road games after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game since 1996.
                      NASHVILLE is 22-22 ATS (+56.6 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.

                      Head-to-Head Series History
                      NASHVILLE is 7-5 (+2.2 Units) against the spread versus ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
                      NASHVILLE is 7-5-0 straight up against ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
                      6 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.0 Units)

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

                      Thursday, April 14

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

                      MONTREAL (44-30-0-8, 96 pts.) at BOSTON (46-25-0-11, 103 pts.) - 4/14/2011, 7:05 PM
                      Top Trends for this game.
                      BOSTON is 10-1 ATS (+8.3 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest this season.
                      MONTREAL is 92-91 ATS (-4.1 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
                      MONTREAL is 48-38 ATS (+8.4 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
                      MONTREAL is 25-25 ATS (+60.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

                      Head-to-Head Series History
                      BOSTON is 12-10-0 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
                      10 of 17 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.9 Units)

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

                      BUFFALO (43-29-0-10, 96 pts.) at PHILADELPHIA (47-23-0-12, 106 pts.) - 4/14/2011, 7:35 PM
                      Top Trends for this game.
                      BUFFALO is 12-6 ATS (+18.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
                      BUFFALO is 21-14 ATS (+36.3 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
                      BUFFALO is 7-2 ATS (+9.2 Units) in road games after a non-conference game this season.
                      PHILADELPHIA is 18-18 ATS (-9.7 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
                      PHILADELPHIA is 57-69 ATS (-78.8 Units) in home games revenging a loss versus opponent since 1996.
                      PHILADELPHIA is 41-45 ATS (-15.6 Units) after a win by 2 goals or more over the last 3 seasons.
                      PHILADELPHIA is 5-8 ATS (-11.3 Units) in home games after a division game this season.

                      Head-to-Head Series History
                      PHILADELPHIA is 7-5 (+0.5 Units) against the spread versus BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
                      PHILADELPHIA is 7-5-0 straight up against BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
                      9 of 12 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+5.8 Units)

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

                      LOS ANGELES (46-30-0-6, 98 pts.) at SAN JOSE (48-25-0-9, 105 pts.) - 4/14/2011, 10:05 PM
                      Top Trends for this game.
                      LOS ANGELES is 13-5 ATS (+19.6 Units) in road games after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
                      SAN JOSE is 108-101 ATS (-60.8 Units) in home games after a division game since 1996.

                      Head-to-Head Series History
                      SAN JOSE is 11-7 (+0.1 Units) against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
                      SAN JOSE is 11-7-0 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
                      9 of 18 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.1 Units)

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

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        NHL
                        Short Sheet



                        Wednesday, 4/13/2011

                        Eastern Conference Playoffs - Best of 7 - Game 1
                        TAMPA BAY at PITTSBURGH, 7:05 PM ET
                        TAMPA BAY: 9-36 SU Away playing with 3+ days rest
                        PITTSBURGH: 12-3 SU playing with 2 days rest

                        Western Conference Playoffs - Best of 7 - Game 1
                        PHOENIX at DETROIT, 7:05 PM ET VERSUS
                        PHOENIX: 7-2 SU Away after playing a game where 4 or less total goals were scored
                        DETROIT: 4-8 SU at home with same season revenge

                        Eastern Conference Playoffs - Best of 7 - Game 1
                        NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON, 7:35 PM ET VERSUS
                        NY RANGERS: 16-4 Under Away off home win
                        WASHINGTON: 7-0 SU with triple revenge

                        Western Conference Playoffs - Best of 7 - Game 1
                        CHICAGO at VANCOUVER, 10:05 PM ET VERSUS
                        CHICAGO: 5-11 SU Away playing only their 2nd game in 5 days
                        VANCOUVER: 13-2 SU playing with 3+ days rest

                        Western Conference Playoffs - Best of 7 - Game 1
                        NASHVILLE at ANAHEIM, 10:35 PM ET (TC)
                        NASHVILLE: 1-8 SU off road loss by 2+ goals
                        ANAHEIM: 11-2 SU with double revenge


                        Thursday, 4/14/2011

                        Eastern Conference Playoffs - Best of 7 - Game 1
                        MONTREAL at BOSTON, 7:05 PM ET VERSUS
                        MONTREAL: 5-0 SU Away revenging loss by 3+ goals
                        BOSTON: 10-1 SU playing with 3+ days rest

                        Eastern Conference Playoffs - Best of 7 - Game 1
                        BUFFALO at PHILADELPHIA, 7:35 PM ET VERSUS
                        BUFFALO: 7-2 SU Away off non-conf game
                        PHILADELPHIA: 5-8 SU at home off division game

                        Western Conference Playoffs - Best of 7 - Game 1
                        LOS ANGELES at SAN JOSE, 10:05 PM ET VERSUS
                        LOS ANGELES: 16-26 SU revenging road loss
                        SAN JOSE: 28-14 SU at home vs. Los Angeles

                        ** (TC) Denotes Time Change

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          NHL
                          Write-Up


                          Wednesday, April 13


                          Home team won all four Tampa Bay-Pittsburgh games this year; Tampa Bay lost four of last five visits here. Penguins won last four games, with all four going over, scoring 17 goals, but last loss was to Lightning, who won seven of last eight games, allowing 14 goals- they won last game at Carolina, when Hurricanes needed to win to get into playoffs.

                          Rangers backed into playoffs when Carolina lost to Lightning; but New York won its last three games vs Caps by surprising scores: 7-0/2-1/6-0. Washington won four of last five games, eight of last nine at home; under is 14-6 in their last 20 games. Six of last nine Ranger games stayed under total. Over is 6-2 in last eight series games.

                          Red Wings beat Phoenix in seven games in LY's playoffs, winning 6-1 in decisive game on road ice; teams split four games this year, with three of the four games going OT. Coyotes are 4-2 in last six games in this arena. Detroit went 4-7 in last 11 games, losing three of last four at home. Five of last six Detroit games went over total; eight of last ten Phoenix games stayed under. Coyotes lost four of their last six games.

                          Vancouver won President's Cup for first time, draw defending champs in first round; Chicago beat Canucks in six games in last spring's playoffs. Blackhawks were just 7-9 in last 16 games and needed help to even make playoffs, but they did go 4-2 in last six road games. Vancouver is 14-3 in last 17 games; under is 9-0-1 in Canucks' last ten games

                          Anaheim lost four of last five games vs Nashville; teams split last six in this building- seven of last nine series games stayed under total. Anaheim won three in row, 10 of last 13 games- they're 5-1 in last six home tilts. Nashville won nine of last 11 games, but are 3-6 in last nine on the road.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            NHL


                            Wednesday, April 13


                            ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Trend Report
                            ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            7:00 PM
                            PHOENIX vs. DETROIT
                            The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix's last 6 games when playing on the road against Detroit
                            Phoenix is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
                            Detroit is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Phoenix
                            The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games when playing Phoenix

                            7:00 PM
                            TAMPA BAY vs. PITTSBURGH
                            Tampa Bay is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
                            The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Tampa Bay's last 19 games when playing Pittsburgh
                            Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
                            Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home

                            7:30 PM
                            NY RANGERS vs. WASHINGTON
                            The total has gone OVER in 4 of the NY Rangers last 6 games when playing Washington
                            The total has gone UNDER in 18 of the NY Rangers last 25 games on the road
                            The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Washington's last 11 games when playing at home against NY Rangers
                            Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games

                            10:00 PM
                            CHICAGO vs. VANCOUVER
                            Chicago is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Vancouver
                            The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Chicago's last 12 games
                            The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Vancouver's last 5 games
                            Vancouver is 14-3 SU in its last 17 games

                            10:30 PM
                            NASHVILLE vs. ANAHEIM
                            Nashville is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
                            The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Nashville's last 14 games on the road
                            The total has gone OVER in 4 of Anaheim's last 5 games at home
                            Anaheim is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Nashville


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

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              NHL


                              Wednesday, April 13


                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Ice picks: Wednesday's best NHL bets
                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              New York Rangers at Washington Capitals (-170, 5)

                              The Capitals are finally healthy. But it might have come a bit too late.

                              Top defenders Tom Poti and Mike Green each have missed a ton of time with various injuries and are expected to both take the ice for Game 1 without having played in a game for over a month. The duo add depth, punch and experience to the team’s backline, however they will need time to get back into the flow of live action.

                              That’s a luxury teams in the postseason don’t have. One mistake can start a landslide that will send a team home. Washington also has the revolving crease policy with its goaltenders and just recently tabbed Michal Neuvirth for the start.

                              Neuvirth has a 2.45 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage, but hasn’t exactly been a wall lately. Over his past five games he has allowed 14 goals despite picking up four wins during that span. He also must find a way to help Poti and Green ease back into the lineup.

                              On the other bench, the Rangers have been playing playoff hockey the past two weeks and finally have found a way to juggle their lines and overcome the loss of star forward Ryan Callahan.

                              All that is just too tough a task for the Capitals to pick up the victory.

                              Pick: Rangers


                              Tampa Bay Lightning at Pittsburgh Penguins (-150, 5.5)


                              The Pittsburgh Zamboni driver is going to have his work cut out for him between periods of this series.

                              Tampa Bay has rocketed into the postseason thanks to its stellar offense. The Lightning have seen three straight and seven of their past 10 go over the total as the team is using its up-tempo system late in the season to skate teams off the ice. During its hot scoring streak, the Lightning are averaging 3.3 goals per game.

                              But Pittsburgh isn’t exactly lollygagging up the ice either.

                              The Penguins have seen four straight and six of their past 10 go over the number. The team finally has adjusted to life without Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby and has begun to finally properly utilize it’s deep roster. Over its past four outings, Pittsburgh is averaging a phenomenal 4.3 goals per game.

                              "It underlines what our team has been able to do," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "It's undeniable that we won hockey games and that we won them in a lot of different ways."

                              But when these two teams meet, it usually results in one thing: goals.

                              The four meetings this season have resulted in lots of work by the goal judges. The over was 2-1-1 this season between the sides with the only push being a 6 goal total earlier this year.

                              Pick: Over


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

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