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**StarDust Bum** · 04-21-2011, 01:14 PM

King Felix looks to retain dominance over Oakland

OAKLAND ATHLETICS (9-9)

at SEATTLE MARINERS (6-13)

First pitch: Thursday, 10:10 p.m. EDT
Line: Seattle -135, Oakland +125, Total: 6.5

Felix Hernandez hasn’t quite recaptured his Cy Young form this April, but a visit from the A’s might be exactly what he needs to get back on track.

Hernandez has always had success against Oakland, especially at Safeco Field. Since 2006, he’s made seven home starts against the A’s, going 5-2 with a 2.03 ERA. Last August, he threw eight shutout innings at home against Oakland, and in Seattle’s 2011 season opener he threw a complete game five-hitter, allowing two runs, in a 6-2 road win over the A’s.

Hernandez has allowed four runs or more in each of his past three starts. Part of it has been weak defense. He’s allowed five unearned runs, and opponents are hitting .338 when they put the ball in play against him as opposed to .263 last year, a sign of weak defense. But his strikeout rate is down slightly (7.7 K per 9 innings, as opposed to 8.4 a year ago) and he’s giving up more line drives (on 20.7% of batted balls, as opposed to 16.3% last year).

Oakland will counter King Felix with Brandon McCarthy, one of the early season’s most unlikely success stories. Once a top prospect with a power arsenal in the White Sox system, a series of injuries, including shoulder surgery that forced him to miss all of 2010, forced the right-hander to reinvent himself. He’s now a control artist serving up a steady diet of sinkers and cutters, forcing a lot of groundballs and making few mistakes. Through three starts, McCarthy is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA, issuing just two walks over 22 innings, though Oakland is 1-2 in his starts because of poor run support.

Run support will likely be an issue again for both pitchers. Seattle is 23rd in the majors in runs per game (3.68) and Oakland is slightly worse (3.67). The Mariners will continue to be without promising second-year 1B Justin Smoak (.291 BA with 11 walks and seven extra-base hits), who is on the bereavement list.

The fact that this game features two anemic offenses make this a tough call, but it’s rare for the Mariners to face a team that scores even less often than they do. With Hernandez on the mound, my pick is Seattle.

The FoxSheets have some trends going against the A’s, including this highly-rated one based on McCarthy’s strong control thus far:

Play Against - Road teams (OAKLAND) - with a starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.20 or better on the season (AL), starting a pitcher who walked <=1 hitters each of his last 2 outings. (103-58 over the last 5 seasons, 64%, +49.5 units. Rating = 3*).

**StarDust Bum** · 04-21-2011, 01:15 PM

Bruins try to even series with Montreal

BOSTON BRUINS

at MONTREAL CANADIENS

Eastern Conference Playoffs – First Round
Game 4 – Montreal leads series 2-1
Puck drops: Thursday, 7:05 p.m. EDT
Line: Boston -115, Montreal -105, Total: 5

Trailing two games to none, Boston and Tim Thomas came to play on Monday and skated away with a 4-2 victory. With the teams getting two full off days, both teams should be well-rested for Thursday’s Game 4.

The Bruins have scored only five goals in this series and are the only team in playoffs without a single player with more than one goal. But despite its lack of offense, Boston has a chance to tie this series at two on Thursday. Having Zdeno Chara back at full strength for Game 4 should help the power-play, which has been non-existent (0-for-11), as the Bruins are the only team in the postseason to not have a power-play goal. Chara missed Game 2 due to dehydration, and was not 100 percent recovered for Game 3. Patrice Bergeron (goal, two assists) is the only Bruins player to have both a goal and an assist in this series.

Canadiens goalie Carey Price has been excellent so far in this series, allowing just five goals with a save percentage of .956. But Price has now lost six straight decisions at home in the playoffs. Montreal needs to get off to a better start in Game 4 if it wants to retake control of this series. David Krejci scored 3:11 into Game 3 and before Montreal could get a feel for the game they were down 3-0. They managed to cut the deficit to 3-2, but allowed an empty-net goal to end their comeback bid. Michael Cammalleri has been outstanding again for Montreal this postseason, recording a goal and three assists in the first three games.

The Bruins have never won a playoff series when trailing 2-0 (they are 0-for-26 in their history), and need to get more offense out of their key players if they want to tie this series. Leading goal scorer during regular season Milan Lucic has yet to record a point this postseason, while Nathan Horton only has one goal. While Montreal won the first two games in Boston, that has not equaled success for the Canadiens in playoff seasons past. The only other two times Montreal won the first two games of a best-of-seven on the road (1996 vs. N.Y. Rangers, 2006 vs. Carolina) it lost the series. I’m taking Boston to win again in Game 4 and head back to Boston with the series tied at 2-2.

The FoxSheets show two more trends siding with the Bruins:

BOSTON is 52-30 ATS (63.4%, +17.2 Units) in road games against poor defensive teams - opponents average 29.5+ shots on goal over the last 3 seasons. The average score was BOSTON 2.9, OPPONENT 2.4 - (Rating = 1*).

BOSTON is 20-10 ATS (66.7%, +30.8 Units) in road games off a road win against a division rival since 1996. The average score was BOSTON 3.5, OPPONENT 2.5 - (Rating = 1*).

**StarDust Bum** · 04-21-2011, 01:21 PM

NHL Odds: Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens

Boston and Montreal continue their first-round series where the home ice has been a disadvantage.

The sixth-seeded Canadiens quickly took a 2-0 series lead on enemy ice, and figured on having a stranglehold against their Northeast Division rivals. However, the Bruins fought back with a Game 3 road triumph and can even this series at two with a victory in this spot.

Boston finished seven points ahead of Montreal in the regular-season standings, and grabbed the third seed in the Eastern Conference.

Don Best's Real-Time Odds show the Bruins as slight 120-road ‘chalk’ over the Canadiens, with the total set at five. Versus will provide coverage of Thursday’s Game 4 beginning at 4:00 p.m. (PT) from Montreal’s Bell Centre.

Boston got back on the winning track with Monday’s victory as a 118-road favorite, 4-2, avoiding a possible playoff sweep. The combined six goals went ‘over’ the five-goal closing total, ending a string of back-to-back ‘under’ outings.

The Bruins jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period when David Drejci and Nathan Horton lit the lamp. Rich Peverley scored in the second period, while Chris Kelly iced the game by scoring an empty-net goal with 25.6 seconds remaining in the game. Goaltender Tim Thomas stonewalled 34 shots between the pipes.

Montreal chipped away at the 3-0 deficit when Andrei Kostitsyn scored in the second period, and got to within a goal when Tomas Plekanec scored early in the third. Goalie Carey Price recorded 21 saves in the setback after stopping 65 of 66 shots the first two wins in this series. The Habs finished the contest with an advantage in shots on goal, 36-25, but trailed the Bruins in faceoffs won, 27-22.

The road team has won all three games in this series, but the home team won the previous five meetings in this rivalry. The Canadiens are now 11-4 their past 15 games against Boston, and 21-8 when playing in Montreal.

The Habs stunned the Bruins with a Game 1 victory last Thursday as a 172 road underdog, 2-0. Montreal followed that effort with Saturday’s Game 2 triumph as a 173 road ‘dog, 3-1. Both of those matchups failed to eclipse the five-goal closing total.

Boston defenseman Steven Kampfer (knee injury) is expected to miss the entire first-round series versus the Habs. Montreal left wing Max Pacioretty is also expected to miss the entire first-round series due to a concussion, while center Jeff Halpern (lower body) is ‘doubtful’ for Thursday’s matchup.

Boston was mired in a six-game playoff losing streak before recording Monday’s victory. The Bruins had a 3-0 series lead over Philadelphia last year before dropping the next four games.

Montreal has lost its previous two playoff series when winning the first two games on the road. The Habs fell to Carolina in six games back in the 2006 playoffs, and also lost to the New York Rangers in six games back in 1996.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-21-2011, 01:22 PM

NHL Betting Preview: LA Kings host San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks will look to take a commanding 3-1 lead in Game 4 of their first round, best-of-seven Western Conference playoff matchup with the Los Angeles Kings this Thursday night at Staples Center. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. (PT) and it will be broadcast nationally on TSN.

San Jose started things off with a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory in Game 1 as a 198 home favorite, but suffered a 4-0 shutout at the hands of the Kings last Saturday as 187 chalk.

The Sharks were able to regain their home-ice advantage with another overtime victory in Tuesday night’s Game 3. This time they came away with a 6-5 win as a 121 road favorite after rallying from a four-goal deficit.

The 11 combined goals went well ‘over’ the NHL odds.

Patrick Marleau, who led San Jose with 37 goals and 73 points in the regular season, picked the perfect time to end his playoff scoring drought with a goal and an assist in Tuesday’s win. He got the Sharks on the board early in the second period, after they had fallen behind 4-0.

The improbable comeback continued as they outscored the Kings 5-1 from that point on, including the game winner by Devin Setoquchi a little over three minutes into overtime.

This was only the fourth time in NHL playoff history that a team overcame a four-goal deficit to win the game.

San Jose pulled goalie Antti Niemi early in the second period after giving up four goals in the first 10 shots he faced. Antero Nittymaki came in to stop 11 of 12 shots, but it was the Sharks’ defense that put the clamps on the Kings who were basically shutdown from that point on.

Los Angeles is now left to pick up the pieces after blowing a golden opportunity to gain the edge in this series. You can hardly blame the offense after three-goal first period put the Kings squarely in control of Game 3. Brad Richardson did his part with a goal and an assist and Ryan Smyth’s first goal of these playoffs put them up 5-3 midway in the second, but they had no answer for San Jose’s relentless attack.

Jonathan Quick lasted the whole game in net for Los Angeles but was less than stellar with a .833 save percentage. He basically collapsed under the pressure in the second period; giving up five goals on 18 shots. He went on stop all nine shots he faced in the third, but the damage was done.

It appears that Niemi and Quick will both be back in goal for Thursday night’s game, but this has yet to be confirmed. Both teams came out of Game 3 injury free with the exception of a few minor bumps and bruises that will not keep anyone out of the lineup.

San Jose is 36-22 as a favorite this season and 13-12 as an underdog. Los Angeles is 29-22 as a favorite and 17-15 as an underdog this year. Head-to-head, these teams split their six regular season games in the regular season, each winning two of three at home. The total is 5-3-1 'over' in the last nine meetings and 1-1-1 in this series.

The Sharks opened as a slight 125 road favorite and remain a solid pick in this game after all the momentum in this series has now swung back into their favor.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-21-2011, 01:23 PM

MLB Odds: Philadelphia Phillies at San Diego Padres

Roy Oswalt is 10-2 lifetime vs. the San Diego Padres with a 2.45 ERA.
Worried about Mat Latos? Don’t be.

True, the 23-year-old righty is 0-2 with a 5.84 ERA in two starts this season. But Latos hasn’t suddenly forgot how to pitch after emerging as one of the best young pitchers last season when he went 14-10 with a 2.92 ERA.

Latos is slated to get the start when San Diego returns home after being on the road since April 14 to host Philadelphia Thursday at 7:05 p.m. PT. It’s the first of a four-game series.

Roy Oswalt, a Hall of Fame candidate when he retires, is expected to oppose Latos for Philadelphia. Oswalt is 152-83 lifetime with a 3.17 ERA.

The thing to keep in mind about Latos is the possibility that he’s still regaining arm strength after opening the season on the 15-day disabled list due to a muscle strain in his right shoulder.

Latos has only thrown 12 1/3 innings this season. He’s had some bad luck with five of six inherited base runners scoring after a reliever replaced him.

The Houston Astros roughed up Latos this past Saturday getting to him for five runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. Latos lost, 5-3, as a 145 road favorite against Nelson Figueroa. The combined eight runs went ‘over’ the 7 ½-run total.

After finishing a surprising 90-72 last year, two games in back of the world champion San Francisco Giants in the National League West Division, the Padres have lost nine of their first 16 games in 2011. They are 3-5 at Petco Park.

Philadelphia has won four of its first six road contests. This is the Phillies’ first games versus an NL West foe. The Phillies dominated NL West competition last season going 22-10. They also were 45-36 on the road last year.

The Padres dropped five of seven to the Phillies last year, including getting swept in a three-game home series.

Latos and Oswalt hooked up in one of those games at Petco Park last season. Oswalt went eight strong innings holding San Diego to one run on five hits with six strikeouts and no walks.

Oswalt didn’t get the decision in a 3-2, 10-inning victory. Latos, who was a 125 favorite, nearly matched Oswalt holding the Phillies to one run in seven innings on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks. The combined five runs dipped ‘under’ the 6 ½-run total.

Oswalt is 10-2 lifetime against the Padres with a 2.45 ERA in 113 2/3 innings. The 33-year-old right-hander is off to fast start with a 2-0 mark, 2.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. Oswalt did have to leave his last start, this past Friday against Florida, after suffering back spasms. He didn’t get a decision in that outing, a 4-3 loss as 170 home favorite against Javier Vazquez.

The Marlins managed two runs off Oswalt in six innings on four hits. Oswalt, who departed after throwing 89 pitches, struck out six and walked one. The combined seven runs fell ‘under’ the eight-run total.

While Oswalt should be OK to start, the Phillies lost another relief pitcher. Left-handed setup man J.C. Romero was put on the DL with a strained right calf. The Phillies already are without injured closer Brad Lidge.

The Padres have been getting outstanding relief pitching from closer Heath Bell and Mike Adams. Bell has four saves and a 1.29 ERA through 16 games, while Adams had retired 26 straight batters through this past Tuesday.

Following this series, the Padres host Atlanta Monday through Wednesday. The Phillies travel to Arizona after this series to play three games against the Diamondbacks also Monday through Wednesday.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-21-2011, 01:23 PM

LA Dodgers, Braves finish MLB betting series

The Dodgers opened as 145 favorites in Thursday’s matinee with Atlanta.
The Los Angeles Dodgers conclude their eight-game homestand Thursday with a matinee contest against an Atlanta Braves squad that is in the midst of a 10-game West Coast excursion. The first pitch from Dodger Stadium will be thrown at 12:10 p.m. (PT).

The final game of this four-game series will pit Braves right-hander Jair Jurrjens (1-0, 0.00 ERA) against Dodgers southpaw Clayton Kershaw (2-2, 2.96 ERA).

Sports Club owner Pete Korner, who distributes the betting line to the majority of Nevada sports books monitored by Don Best Sports' Real-Time Odds, has made the Dodgers a 145 home favorite in his overnight line. The total is set at seven ‘under’ (minus 110).

The Dodgers and Braves split the first two contests of this four-game series, with the ‘over/under’ also split.

Monday’s opener saw the Dodgers nip the Braves as 115 home favorites, 4-2. The combined six runs ducked ‘under’ the seven-run closing total.

Ted Lilly led the Dodgers by hurling seven shutout innings to pick up his first win of the season. The veteran southpaw allowed four hits, two walks and struck out six, and didn't allow a runner past second base.

The Dodgers jumped on Atlanta starter Tim Hudson early when they pushed across three runs in the first on singles by Matt Kemp and James Loney. Loney finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and snapped a 0-for-11 streak that had spanned three games.

Atlanta scored twice in the ninth, but reliever Jonathan Broxton eventually shut the door after tossing 25 pitches.

Atlanta evened the series with Tuesday’s 10-1 trouncing of the Dodgers as 115 road favorites. The combined 11 runs catapulted ‘over’ the seven-run closing total.

The game wasn’t as one-sided as the final score might indicate, as the Braves entered the ninth inning with a 2-1 lead. Atlanta batted around in the ninth and got a two-run homer by Eric Hinske and a three-run shot from Dan Uggla to snap a two-game losing streak.

The win lifted the Braves' road ledger to 4-5, with the Dodgers falling to 5-5 at home. The ‘under’ was 11-6-1 in Atlanta’s first 18 overall outings, while the ‘over’ was 10-6-2 in the Dodgers’ first 18 efforts.

Wednesday's contest pitting veteran right-handers Derek Lowe and Jon Garland was still pending. Atlanta was 130 road chalk with seven for the total.

Jurrjens will be making just his second start of the season for the Braves in Thursday’s finale. His season got started late when he was placed on the disabled list because of an oblique strain.

The 25-year-old right-hander had a very successful season debut last Saturday by defeating the Mets as a 170 home favorite, 4-0. Jurrjens blanked the Mets on two hits through seven innings spanning 100 pitches. He fanned four and walked just one.

Jurrjens captured his lone start against the Dodgers last season by allowing just one run on six hits through seven innings en route to an easy 13-1 victory. Jurrjens closed as a 135 home favorite, while the combined 14 runs soared ‘over’ the seven-run closing total.

The Dodgers will counter with Kershaw, who is coming off his poorest performance of the young season. Kershaw lasted just 4 2/3 innings last Saturday against St. Louis, allowing five runs on six hits en route to suffering a 9-2 setback as a 150 home favorite. He walked five, fanned five and tossed 111 pitches before being removed in the fifth inning.

Kershaw was not involved in the decision during his lone start against the Braves last season. He yielded four runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings as the Dodgers went on to register a 5-4 victory as 165 home favorites. Kershaw fanned eight and walked five and needed 110 pitches to finish his work.

Wally Bell is scheduled to call his fourth game behind home plate this season. The veteran arbiter has seen the ‘under’ go 2-1 in his first three assignments, with an average of 8.0 runs per game. The ‘under’ was 17-16-2 in his 35 efforts last season.

The weather forecast for Thursday’s afternoon tilt calls for partly cloudy skies and a 10 percent chance of showers. The high will be 65 degrees, with the wind from the southwest at 10 miles per hour.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-21-2011, 01:26 PM

Thursday Late

April 20, 2011

The Thursday night baseball card involves several teams sending out their aces in long favorite roles. The Red Sox continue their nine-game road trip as they travel to Southern California to begin a four-game set with the red-hot Angels, while the A's and Mariners hook up in an AL West battle in Seattle. We'll begin at Petco Park as the Phillies head out west to start a seven-game swing against the upstart Padres.

Phillies at Padres - 10:05 PM EST

The top pitching matchup on Thursday's card comes from San Diego as Roy Oswalt and Mat Latos take the mound in what looks to be a low-scoring affair. The Phillies avoided a sweep with Wednesday's comeback victory over the Brewers, while the Padres return home after playing a doubleheader on the North Side against the Cubs. San Diego looks to improve on a 3-5 record at Petco Park, as their ace attempts to get in the win column.

Latos (0-2, 5.84 ERA) last won a start on September 7, 2010 against the Dodgers, as the tall Padres' right-hander has dropped seven straight decisions. Since coming off the DL on April 11, Latos has been unable to cash in a victory with losses to the Reds and Astros. Latos allowed four hits in each outing, while pitching at least six innings, but the offense has supplied him with an average of 2.5 runs/start. In two career outings against the Phillies, Latos is winless, while losing a 3-2 decision as $1.20 favorites to his counterpart on Thursday.

Oswalt (2-0, 2.50 ERA) shut down the Padres' offense in that victory last August at Petco Park, tossing eight innings and giving up just one run. The former Astros' righty has delivered three quality starts this season, while coming off a no-decision in a 4-3 home loss to the Marlins his last time out. Since getting acquired from Houston last July, the Phillies are 5-2 in Oswalt's seven road starts, but both losses came as a favorite.

The Phillies won five of seven meetings against the Padres last season, including a three-game sweep in Southern California. Runs will be at a premium at spacious Petco Park as all three meetings in San Diego last season resulted in 'unders.'

Red Sox at Angels - 10:05 PM EST

Boston's swing through the Golden State continues in Orange County as the Red Sox and Angels start a four-game set. Los Angeles was expected to improve after a disappointing 2010 campaign, as the Halos have played well out of the gate with an 11-6 record. The Angels begin a seven-game homestand against their old playoff nemesis who L.A. finally eliminated in the ALDS of the 2009 postseason.

The Halos and Red Sox have a playoff history that has been pretty much one-sided with Boston knocking out Los Angeles four times in franchise history, including three times since 2004. L.A. hopes to get some revenge on Boston after the Sox beat the Halos nine of 10 times last season. The task isn't easy in the series opener against Josh Beckett (2-1, 1.80 ERA), who is coming off a pair of terrific home outings against the Blue Jays and Yankees. Beckett allowed just one earned run combined, while striking out 19 in the two victories over Boston's division rivals. However, the Sox are 1-7 in Beckett's last eight starts against the Angels since 2008.

Tyler Chatwood (1-1, 3.75 ERA) is making his third career start for the Angels, as the righty shut down the White Sox, 7-2, while cashing as a $1.60 road underdog. Chatwood scattered five hits and one earned run in seven innings, bouncing back from a subpar performance in his debut against Cleveland as he allowed four runs in a 4-0 defeat.

The Sox plated at least five runs in seven of the nine meetings last season, while going 6-1 as a favorite in the series. The Angels are 4-2 at home this season, but both losses have come in the series opener.

Athletics at Mariners - 10:10 PM EST

These two AL West rivals meet at Safeco Field after Seattle grabbed two of three games in the opening weekend of the season. The Mariners have struggled since that series by going 4-12, while losing four of five series. Seattle will try to bounce back as it sends out the reigning Cy Young Award winner to stop the bleeding against a feisty Oakland lineup.

Felix Hernandez (1-2, 4.33 ERA) was knocked around in each of his last two starts, allowing 18 hits and 12 runs (nine earned) as the Mariners split against the Blue Jays and Royals. Seattle used a massive rally to stun Toronto, 8-7 and get Hernandez off the hook as the Jays blew a 7-0 lead. King Felix couldn't bounce back as a $1.40 road favorite at Kansas City by giving up five runs in five innings of a 7-0 setback. Hernandez has been successful against the A's in his career, as the M's are 5-1 in his last six starts in the series. The season started on a solid note thanks to Hernandez tossing a complete-game gem to beat Oakland, 6-2 as short road underdogs.

The A's counter with Brandon McCarthy (1-0, 2.45 ERA), who is coming off consecutive quality starts against the Twins and Tigers. McCarthy grabbed a road 'dog victory at Minnesota on April 10, turning in one of the best starts of his career by going 7.1 innings and allowing two earned runs in a 5-3 win. The righty has compiled just one quality start in five career outings against Seattle, while putting together a no-decision in his last trip to Safeco Field in 2009.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-21-2011, 01:27 PM

Diamond Trends - Thursday

April 21, 2011

SU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Phillies are 0-7 since April 08, 2010 as a road favorite after a win in which they had fewer team-left-on-base than their opponent for a net profit of $820 when playing against.
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OU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Indians are 0-9 OU since June 05, 2010 after a win in which they allowed 5+ walks and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $900 when playing the under.

STARTER TREND OF THE DAY:

The Diamondbacks are 0-7 OU since August 17, 2010 when Daniel Hudson starts vs a team that has averaged 7+ strikeouts per game for a net profit of $700 when playing the under.

MLB BIBLE TREND OF THE DAY:

The Diamondbacks are 0-20 (-3.3 rpg) since May 2008 as a road dog off a non-shutout win in which they never trailed, and it is not the first game of a series.

TODAY’S TRENDS:

The Padres are 6-0 since April 20, 2010 at home within 20 cents of pickem after a one run win for a net profit of $625.
The Reds are 6-0 since April 11, 2010 as a favorite after a loss in which they allowed 6 or fewer hits for a net profit of $600.
The Indians are 7-0 since May 12, 2010 as a favorite after scoring 6+ runs win for a net profit of $700

**StarDust Bum** · 04-21-2011, 01:29 PM

Thursday's Playoff Action

April 20, 2011

The Stanley Cup Playoffs will literally be coast to coast on Thursday night. It all starts off in Montreal as the Habs and Bruins try not to kill each other on the ice. Vancouver will try to snuff out the Blackhawks on home ice, while the Kings try to bounce back from one damn fine choke job at home against San Jose.

Bruins at Canadiens – 7:30 p.m. EDT, Versus

You know you have a great rivalry when one team’s play-by-play man is giving the other team hell during the game. That’s just the nature of the beast when the Canadiens and Bruins face off with one another in the playoffs.

Boston had plenty of fire in its belly as they took down the Habs on Monday night for a 4-2 in the Bell Centre. The Bruins appeared to get into the head of Carey Price, who gave up two goals off of the nine shots he saw in the opening period of Game 3. And it doesn’t hurt that Tim Thomas played his best in a must-win spot for the B’s by stopping 34 of Montreal’s 36 shots on goal.

It was a bit of a surprise that Canadiens’ winger Benoit Pouliot didn’t get suspended after leaving his feet to check Johnny Boychuk. I’ll grant you that Pouliot offered a piss poor attempt on the check, but NHL should have sent him packing for at least one game. The Habs only used him for just over three minutes in this game, so I wouldn’t see him being more of a factor in this game…well, he could have a target on his back for Zdeno Chara.

The Bruins are once again listed as $1.20 road favorites (risk $120 to win $100) for this matchup with a total of five. Boston has gone 4-2 straight up in its last six games as a road “chalk” against Northeast Division foes. However, the B’s went 2-4 on the puck line in those tests.

Blackhawks at Canucks – 10:05 p.m. EDT, Versus

It was nice to see the Blackhawks finally decided to show up in Game 4 for a 7-2 win against Vancouver to avoid the sweep on home ice. It turns out that all Chicago needed was Dave Bolland to come back from a concussion. The Blackhawks’ pivot scored a goal and assisted on three others to help them stave off elimination.

I’m sure there are people out there that believe Chicago is about to do like the Flyers did last year against Boston with the ultimate 0-3 comeback. But it was fairly apparent that the Canucks didn’t have their heads in this game the moment they were down 3-1 in the second period. The only surprise for Vancouver in that contest was that Roberto Luongo actually started in goal in the third period.

The oddsmakers weren’t worried about the Canucks, installing them as heavy $2.10 home favorites with a total of 5 ½. And Vancouver has recently obliged the big chalk eaters out there by winning seven of its last 10 home games SU as a favorite of at least -200.The ‘under’ is just 5-4-1 in those tests.

Sharks at Kings – 10:35 p.m. EDT

The final game of the night won’t be on national television, which is probably a good thing for the Kings. Los Angeles had the second-biggest collapse in Stanley Cup Playoff history on Tuesday night in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Sharks. The second OT win for San Jose in this series, taking the 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven war.

Los Angeles definitely had a soul crushing defeat, but can pick itself up. The Kings will have to make a concerted effort to keep tight on Patrick Marleau to even this series. Marleau was the catalyst for the comeback by scoring the first goal for the Sharks and helped create the next two lamp lighters for them as well. However, I can easily make a case for the Kings’ defense to get back into gear after letting San Jose drop 18 shots on goal in that second period from hell.

Most sportsbooks have listed the Sharks as $1.20 road faves with a total of five. San Jose has only been a road “chalk” nine times since the New Year. In those games, they are 5-4 SU and 1-8 PL. The ‘over’ is on a four-game winning streak in that situation. Those aren’t the best numbers to drop money on. The Kings, however, are 6-1 SU and 5-2 PL when coming off an overtime loss this season. They’ve already cashed in that role during this series. Also, the ‘under’ is a pristine 7-0 in those games as well.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-21-2011, 01:36 PM

Playoff Results - First Round

April 21, 2011

Home teams have gone 14-16
Favorites have gone 17-13
Favorites that won have gone 7-10 on the puck line
The 'under' has gone 9-15-6

First Round Results

Visitor Home Final Score ATS OVER/UNDER

Wednesday Apr. 13, 2011
Lightning Penguins 3-0 FAVORITE (-145) UNDER 5.5
Coyotes Red Wings 4-2 FAVORITE (-170) OVER 5.5
Rangers Capitals 2-1 (OT) FAVORITE (-165) UNDER 5
Blackhawks Canucks 2-0 FAVORITE (-180) UNDER 5
Predators Ducks 4-1 UNDERDOG (+120) PUSH 5

Thursday Apr. 14, 2011
Canadiens Bruins 2-0 UNDERDOG (+160) UNDER 5
Sabres Flyers 1-0 UNDERDOG (+135) UNDER 5.5
Kings Sharks 3-2 (OT) FAVORITE (-220) PUSH 5

Friday Apr. 15, 2011
Lightning Penguins 5-1 UNDERDOG (+110) OVER 5
Rangers Capitals 2-0 FAVORITE (-170) UNDER 5
Blackhawks Canucks 4-3 FAVORITE (-180) OVER 5
Predators Ducks 5-3 FAVORITE (-150) OVER 5

Saturday Apr. 16, 2011
Coyotes Red Wings 4-3 FAVORITE (-165) OVER 5
Sabres Flyers 5-4 FAVORITE (-175) OVER 5
Canadiens Bruins 3-1 UNDERDOG (+170) UNDER 5
Kings Sharks 4-0 UNDERDOG (+175) UNDER 5

Sunday Apr. 17, 2011
Capitals Rangers 3-2 FAVORITE (-120) PUSH 5
Ducks Predators 4-3 FAVORITE (-145) OVER 5
Canucks Blackhawks 3-2 UNDERDOG (+100) PUSH 5

Monday Apr. 18, 2011
Flyers Sabres 4-2 UNDERDOG (+105) OVER 5.5
Bruins Canadiens 4-2 FAVORITE (-115) OVER 5
Penguins Lightning 3-2 UNDERDOG (+135) PUSH 5
Red Wings Coyotes 4-2 UNDERDOG (+105) OVER 5.5

Tuesday Apr. 19, 2011
Canucks Blackhawks 7-2 UNDERDOG (+105) OVER 5
Sharks Kings 6-5 (OT) FAVORITE (-120) OVER 5

Wednesday Apr. 20, 2011
Capitals Rangers 4-3 (2OT) FAVORITE (-110) OVER 5
Penguins Lightning 3-2 (2OT) UNDERDOG (+125) PUSH 5
Flyers Sabres 1-0 FAVORITE (-115) UNDER 5.5
Ducks Predators 6-3 UNDERDOG (+130) OVER 5
Red Wings Coyotes 6-3 FAVORITE (-125) OVER 5.5

Thursday Apr. 21, 2011
Bruins Canadiens
Blackhawks Canucks
Sharks Kings

Friday Apr. 22, 2011
Sabres Flyers
Predators Ducks

Saturday Apr. 23, 2011
Lightning Penguins
Rangers Capitals
Canadiens Bruins
Kings Sharks

Sunday Apr. 24, 2011
Ducks Predators
Flyers Sabres
Canucks Blackhawks

Monday Apr. 25, 2011
Capitals Rangers
Penguins Lightning
Sharks Kings

Tuesday Apr. 26, 2011
Sabres Flyers
Bruins Canadiens
Blackhawks Canucks
Predators Ducks

Wednesday Apr. 27, 2011
Rangers Capitals
Canadiens Bruins
Lightning Penguins
Kings Sharks

Winners in BOLD

**StarDust Bum** · 04-21-2011, 01:46 PM

MLB

Thursday, April 21

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Washington 0 Bot 0 St. Louis -155 500
St. Louis 0 Over 8.5 500

Atlanta - 3:10 PM ET LA Dodgers -138 500
LA Dodgers - Under 6.5 500

Chi. White Sox - 6:40 PM ET Tampa Bay -105 500
Tampa Bay - Over 8 500

Minnesota - 7:05 PM ET Baltimore -131 500
Baltimore - Under 8 500

Pittsburgh - 7:10 PM ET Pittsburgh +130 500
Florida - Over 9 500

Houston - 7:10 PM ET NY Mets -135 500
NY Mets - Over 7.5 500

Cleveland - 8:10 PM ET Kansas City +101 500
Kansas City - Over 9 500

Boston - 10:05 PM ET LA Angels +142 500
LA Angels - Over 8 500

Philadelphia - 10:05 PM ET San Diego +102 500
San Diego - Over 6.5 500

Oakland - 10:10 PM ET Seattle -145 500
Seattle - Under 6.5 500

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

NHL

Thursday, April 21

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Boston - 7:00 PM ET Montreal +104 500
Montreal - Under 5 500

Chicago - 10:00 PM ET Chicago +172 500
Vancouver - Over 5.5 500

San Jose - 10:30 PM ET Los Angeles +115 500
Los Angeles - Under 5 500

Announcement

The Bum's Thursday's Best Bets MLB-NHL !

The Bum's Thursday's Best Bets MLB-NHL !

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