NHL
Sunday, April 17
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Ice picks: Sunday's best NHL bets
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Washington Capitals at New York Rangers (-123, 5)
The Capitals won four of their last five outings going into the playoffs and they kept that momentum in Games 1 and 2 against New York. Washington prevailed 2-1 in overtime on Wednesday, then blanked New York 2-0 on Friday.
Part of the Rangers’ problem is that their power play is abysmal right now. They are 0-for-4 in this series and have failed to score in 30 of their last 31 attempts. New York’s one conversion in this futile stretch came on a 5-on-3 against Florida on March 22.
“We can't get nervous out there, we have to have confidence in each other,” Brian Boyle told the New York Post on Friday. Boyle did not do much in 2:01 of power-play time in Game 2. “It's the playoffs. We want to make an impact. I'm pretty disappointed in myself. When I get a chance like I had at the end of the first period, I need to score.”
Of course, the Capitals also have not exactly lit up the scoreboard. But they do think they know how to solve Rangers’ goalie Henrik Lundqvist, by crashing the net.
“I think that’s the whole thing we have to do more of starting now,” Nicklas Backstrom told the Washington Post. “We have to move in front of him a little more so he can’t see the puck. Otherwise, if he sees the shot he’s going to stop most of them.”
Pick: Capitals
Anaheim Ducks at Nashville Predators (-140, 5)
Nashville took Game 1 on the road 4-1, but Anaheim’s offense came to life in a 5-3 win on Friday that leveled the series.
It was only a matter of time considering how prolific the Ducks were during the regular season. Corey Perry led the NHL in scoring with 98 points, including 50 goals; Teemu Selanne tallied 80 points; Ryan Getzlaf notched 76 points; and Bobby Ryan was not far behind with 71 points.
Those four led the way in Game 2, combining for all five goals. Perry, Selanne, and Getzlaf scored once while Ryan lit the lamp twice.
Anaheim and Nashville have now faced each other six times this season, and only the first contest went under the total. Even that was a five-goal night (a 4-1 Nashville victory). Two of the regular-season clashes produced nine goals, both 5-4 wins for the Predators.
Pick: Over
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Sunday, April 17
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ice picks: Sunday's best NHL bets
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Washington Capitals at New York Rangers (-123, 5)
The Capitals won four of their last five outings going into the playoffs and they kept that momentum in Games 1 and 2 against New York. Washington prevailed 2-1 in overtime on Wednesday, then blanked New York 2-0 on Friday.
Part of the Rangers’ problem is that their power play is abysmal right now. They are 0-for-4 in this series and have failed to score in 30 of their last 31 attempts. New York’s one conversion in this futile stretch came on a 5-on-3 against Florida on March 22.
“We can't get nervous out there, we have to have confidence in each other,” Brian Boyle told the New York Post on Friday. Boyle did not do much in 2:01 of power-play time in Game 2. “It's the playoffs. We want to make an impact. I'm pretty disappointed in myself. When I get a chance like I had at the end of the first period, I need to score.”
Of course, the Capitals also have not exactly lit up the scoreboard. But they do think they know how to solve Rangers’ goalie Henrik Lundqvist, by crashing the net.
“I think that’s the whole thing we have to do more of starting now,” Nicklas Backstrom told the Washington Post. “We have to move in front of him a little more so he can’t see the puck. Otherwise, if he sees the shot he’s going to stop most of them.”
Pick: Capitals
Anaheim Ducks at Nashville Predators (-140, 5)
Nashville took Game 1 on the road 4-1, but Anaheim’s offense came to life in a 5-3 win on Friday that leveled the series.
It was only a matter of time considering how prolific the Ducks were during the regular season. Corey Perry led the NHL in scoring with 98 points, including 50 goals; Teemu Selanne tallied 80 points; Ryan Getzlaf notched 76 points; and Bobby Ryan was not far behind with 71 points.
Those four led the way in Game 2, combining for all five goals. Perry, Selanne, and Getzlaf scored once while Ryan lit the lamp twice.
Anaheim and Nashville have now faced each other six times this season, and only the first contest went under the total. Even that was a five-goal night (a 4-1 Nashville victory). Two of the regular-season clashes produced nine goals, both 5-4 wins for the Predators.
Pick: Over
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