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**Udog** · 04-23-2011, 07:58 AM

Daily Sports Roundup: April 23

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: Derrick Rose and the Bulls look to close out their first-round series with the Pacers, while the Canadiens battle with the rival Bruins at TD Garden.

Tipping off on the hardwood . . .

The NBA has four playoff games on tap for Saturday, with Dallas at Portland, Oklahoma City at Denver, San Antonio at Memphis, and Chicago at Indiana. The Mavs are up 2-1 in their best-of-seven first-round series, while the Thunder hold a 2-0 lead, the Spurs and Grizzlies are tied 1-1, and the Bulls sit on the verge of a sweep at 3-0. Chicago won Game 3 of their series by a score of 88-84 in Indiana on Thursday night. Rose tossed in a team-high 23 points for Chicago in that win, while Luol Deng was good for 21 points, and Joakim Noah picked up 11 points and 10 rebounds. Danny Granger poured in 21 points in the loss for the Pacers, and Paul George hauled in 12 rebounds that day.

Meeting up on the diamond . . .

On the American League schedule for Saturday it's Tampa Bay at Toronto, the Yankees at Baltimore, Kansas City at Texas, Boston at the Angels, Oakland at Seattle, Cleveland at Minnesota, and the White Sox at Detroit. Over in the NL it's then the Dodgers at the Cubs, Arizona at the Mets, Atlanta at San Francisco, Washington at Pittsburgh, Houston at Milwaukee, Colorado at Florida, Philadelphia at San Diego, and Cincinnati at St. Louis. Tim Wood (1-2, 5.73 ERA) will take the mound for the Reds on Saturday; lefthander Wood was knocked around by the Pirates in his last start, allowing six runs over 3 1-3 innings. Chris Carpenter (0-2, 4.12 ERA) will get the ball for the Cards; righthander Carpenter threw seven scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers last game.

Taking a trip around the rink . . .

Finally, there are four games on the NHL's playoff schedule for Saturday, with Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh, the Rangers at Washington, Los Angeles at San Jose, and Montreal at Boston. The Penguins, Capitals, and Sharks all hold 3-1 leads in their respective best-of-seven first-round series and will be looking to close out the sets at home on Saturday. The Canadiens and Bruins, meanwhile, are all tied up at two games apiece, with Boston winning Game 4 by a score of 5-4 in overtime at the Bell Centre on Thursday night. Michael Ryder had a pair of goals including the OT winner for the Bruins on Thursday, while Tim Thomas made 34 saves. Mike Cammalleri had a three-point night for Montreal.

**Udog** · 04-23-2011, 08:01 AM

Saturday's betting tips: Wrigley weather a factor again

Weather to watch

A 19-mph will be blowing out to right-center field at Wrigley Field Saturday, as the Cubs host the Dodgers.

Who’s Hot

NBA: The Memphis Grizzlies are a sizzling 45-19 ATS (70.3%) in their last 64 games.

MLB: The Cleveland Indians are 15-4 on the run line this season, producing a profit of $1,281 at a $100 per unit.

NHL: The Pittsburgh Penguins are 115-54 (68%) in their last 169 games as a home favorite.

Who’s Not

NBA: The Nuggets have covered the spread in only four of their last 11 meetings with the Thunder.

MLB: Braves are 1-6 in Tim Hudson’s last seven starts as a road underdog. Hudson and the Braves face Tim Lincecum and the Giants today.

NHL: Canadians are 16-36 in their last 52 games as an underdog of +151 to +200. Montreal are +165 dogs for Game 5 at Boston.

Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked

The Denver Nuggets, down 0-2 to Oklahoma City, are expected to have defensive-stopper Arron Affalo back for today’s Game 3 in Denver. Affalo practiced with the starters Friday and likely will be matched up on Kevin Durant.

Key Stat

2-17 -- That's the Mavericks' record in their last 19 postseason road games. Dallas was has the best road record in the western Conference this season.

Betting tips and notes

Check your starting pitchers carefully. Weather postponed at least three games Friday—Yankees at Orioles, Indians at Twins and Nationals at Pirate—and shuffled up pitching rotations. Updated starters with odds and totals can be found here.

The Bulls are 30-7 straight-up and 25-12 ATS on one day’s rest.

Nuggets are 19-6-1 ATS in their last 26 games as a favorite.

**Udog** · 04-23-2011, 08:08 AM

NBA
Long Sheet

Saturday, April 23

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CHICAGO (65 - 20) at INDIANA (37 - 48) - 4/23/2011, 2:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 50-34 ATS (+12.6 Units) in all games this season.
CHICAGO is 26-16 ATS (+8.4 Units) in road games this season.
CHICAGO is 19-8 ATS (+10.2 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 25-14 ATS (+9.6 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.
CHICAGO is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) revenging a home loss vs opponent this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 9-6 against the spread versus INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 11-4 straight up against INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
8 of 15 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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DALLAS (59 - 26) at PORTLAND (49 - 36) - 4/23/2011, 5:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PORTLAND is 91-68 ATS (+16.2 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 47-36 ATS (+7.4 Units) in all games this season.
DALLAS is 242-197 ATS (+25.3 Units) as an underdog since 1996.
DALLAS is 26-16 ATS (+8.4 Units) in road games this season.
DALLAS is 27-16 ATS (+9.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PORTLAND is 47-78 ATS (-38.8 Units) as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 8-6 against the spread versus PORTLAND over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 8-6 straight up against PORTLAND over the last 3 seasons
8 of 14 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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SAN ANTONIO (62 - 22) at MEMPHIS (47 - 37) - 4/23/2011, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MEMPHIS is 54-29 ATS (+22.1 Units) in all games this season.
MEMPHIS is 26-14 ATS (+10.6 Units) in home games this season.
MEMPHIS is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
MEMPHIS is 28-12 ATS (+14.8 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
MEMPHIS is 8-0 ATS (+8.0 Units) after playing 3 consecutive road games this season.
MEMPHIS is 30-14 ATS (+14.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
MEMPHIS is 15-7 ATS (+7.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.
MEMPHIS is 33-14 ATS (+17.6 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game this season.
MEMPHIS is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 45-37 ATS (+4.3 Units) in all games this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 26-14 ATS (+10.6 Units) in road games this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in a road game where where the total is between 190 and 194.5 points this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 19-7 ATS (+11.3 Units) when tied in a playoff series since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
MEMPHIS is 9-5 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 9-5 straight up against MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
8 of 14 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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OKLAHOMA CITY (57 - 27) at DENVER (50 - 34) - 4/23/2011, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DENVER is 46-36 ATS (+6.4 Units) in all games this season.
DENVER is 24-13 ATS (+9.7 Units) in home games after allowing 105 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
DENVER is 12-2 ATS (+9.8 Units) in home games after a loss by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
DENVER is 52-32 ATS (+16.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 95-75 ATS (+12.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 75-52 ATS (+17.8 Units) as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 50-35 ATS (+11.5 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 53-38 ATS (+11.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
DENVER is 36-50 ATS (-19.0 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA CITY is 9-5 against the spread versus DENVER over the last 3 seasons
DENVER is 8-6 straight up against OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
7 of 14 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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**Udog** · 04-23-2011, 08:14 AM

NBA
Short Sheet

Saturday, April 23

Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round - Best of 7 - Game 4 - CHI 3-0
CHICAGO at INDIANA, 2:35 PM ET TNT
CHICAGO: 21-8 Under after allowing 85 points or less
INDIANA: 2-10 ATS revenging home loss

Western Conference Playoffs - First Round - Best of 7 - Game 4 - DAL 2-1
DALLAS at PORTLAND, 5:05 PM ET TNT
DALLAS: 5-0 Over off 7+ ATS wins
PORTLAND: 14-4 Over off BB ATS losses

Western Conference Playoffs - First Round - Best of 7 - Game 3 - TIED 1-1
SAN ANTONIO at MEMPHIS, 7:35 PM ET ESPN
SAN ANTONIO: 14-4 Over as road underdog
MEMPHIS: 31-9 ATS off a road game

Western Conference Playoffs - First Round - Best of 7 - Game 3 - OKC 2-0
OKLAHOMA CITY at DENVER, 10:05 PM ET ESPN
OKLAHOMA CITY: 33-19 ATS as road underdog
DENVER: 12-2 ATS at home off loss by 10 or more

** (TC) Denotes Time Change

**Udog** · 04-23-2011, 08:19 AM

NBA

Saturday, April 23

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Trend Report
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2:30 PM
CHICAGO vs. INDIANA
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Chicago's last 9 games on the road
Chicago is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Indiana
Indiana is 19-6 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Chicago
Indiana is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Chicago

5:00 PM
DALLAS vs. PORTLAND
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games when playing Portland
Dallas is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Portland's last 5 games when playing Dallas
Portland is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games when playing Dallas

7:30 PM
SAN ANTONIO vs. MEMPHIS
San Antonio is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games when playing Memphis
The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Antonio's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Memphis's last 5 games
Memphis is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games when playing San Antonio

10:00 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY vs. DENVER
Oklahoma City is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oklahoma City's last 5 games when playing Denver
Denver is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Oklahoma City
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Denver's last 16 games when playing at home against Oklahoma City

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**Udog** · 04-23-2011, 08:24 AM

NBA

Saturday, April 23

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What bettors need to know: Saturday's NBA playoff action
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Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers (-5, 187.5)

Chicago leads series 3-0

THE STORY: The Indiana Pacers looked as though they had Derrick Rose contained in Game 3 - until the final minute rolled around. Staring at elimination, the Pacers will need to come up with another plan to stop the star point guard if they hope to keep playing. With the exception of Rose’s heroics, the Chicago Bulls have not looked invincible in the first three games of the best-of-seven set but they have shown a great ability to close. The Bulls will be looking to close out the entire series when they face the Pacers in Game 4 at Conseco Field House on Saturday.

TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, TNT, CSCH

ABOUT THE PACERS: Indiana has held a lead in the fourth quarter in each of the first three games but just does not seem to have the personnel available offensively or defensively to close out Chicago. After fighting back to tie the game, 84-84, with 1:42 left on Thursday, Indiana missed its final four shots and had to settle for an off-balance, contested 3-point attempt by Danny Granger despite calling a timeout and drawing up a play with 17 seconds left. Granger scored the last four field goals for the Pacers in the contest and finished with a team-high 21 points. Only two other players - Dahntay Jones with 11 and Tyler HanXXXough with 10 - reached double figures for the Pacers in Game 3.

ABOUT THE BULLS: The defense that held Indiana at bay down the stretch is easy to overlook because of the continued highlight show from Rose. But it is that strong team defense that has kept Chicago in the games until Rose has been able to take over. The Bulls held the Pacers to 38 percent shooting in Game 3, including 1 of 10 from beyond the arc. Rose had easily his worst game of the series, shooting 4 of 18 from the field and recording more turnovers (five) than assists (two). But the superstar stepped up when it counted, taking the ball after a timeout and driving the lane for his lone field goal of the second half, putting the Bulls up for good with 17 seconds left in the 88-84 victory. He shot 13 of 15 from the free throw line to finish with a game-high 23 points.

WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Rookie guard Paul George continues to struggle for Indiana, shooting 4 of 18 through the first three games. Kyle Korver is 7 of 8 from 3-point range in the series for the Bulls.

KEY STATISTIC: Chicago buried 9 of 20 attempts from beyond the arc in Game 3 while the Pacers struggled to 1 of 10 from the perimeter.

TRENDS:

* Under is 5-2 in the last seven meetings in Indiana.
* Bulls are 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight playoff games as favorites.
* Pacers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a S.U. loss.

LAST WORD: Indiana interim coach Frank Vogel gave Korver credit after Thursday’s game. “Korver killed us in the fourth,” Vogel said. “He even killed us on the last play when we couldn’t leave him to help. That allowed Rose to get to the bucket.”

Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers (-4.5, 187.5)

Dallas leads series 2-1

THE STORY: Portland used a 12-2 run to start the fourth quarter and that proved key in Thursday’s 97-92 Game 3 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, who had 16 turnovers. The Trail Blazers will now try to even the series in Game 4 Saturday at the Rose Garden. Dallas still must prove it can win on the road, having lost 17 of its last 19 playoff road games.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, TNT, KGW, KTXA

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS: Dallas got a better-than-expected effort from Jason Terry, who had 29 points on 10-for-13 shooting and seven rebounds, and the continued steady play of Dirk Nowitzki, who had 25 points and nine rebounds. But the Mavericks got just two points from Tyson Chandler before he fouled out with 7:24 remaining. The Mavericks need more from their best interior defender. Nowitzki, who had made 28 of 30 free throws entering Game 3, was just 4 of 7. “We gave away way too many points,” Terry said. “Free throws, turnovers and early on in the first quarter, we gave them too much confidence.”

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS: Portland got exactly what it needed Thursday with breakout games from Wesley Matthews and Brandon Roy. Matthews scored 22 of his 25 points in the first half, making four 3-pointers in the first six minutes. Roy shook off two bad games, along with his criticism for lack of playing time, and scored 16 points while being effective on both ends of the court. “Coming home, it was a combination of must-win, our home crowd,” Matthews said. “They took care of their home court. Now it's time for us to take care of ours.” The Trail Blazers even got six key minutes from Chris Johnson. The rookie center had three rebounds and two blocked shots in his first taste of playoff action. “Role players play a lot better when they’re at home,” Nowitzki said.

WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Jason Kidd’s game cooled off Thursday. He was averaging 21 points in the first two games, but had just eight in Game 3 and went just 2 of 8 from 3-point range. Roy made six of his first seven shots, and added four assists and no turnovers in 24 minutes.

KEY STATISTIC: Dallas was uncharacteristically shaky from the free-throw line in Game 3, making just 13 of 23 attempts.

TRENDS:

* Favorite is 3-0-1 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Home team is 5-0-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Mavericks are 1-3-1 ATS in the last five meetings in Portland.

LAST WORD: “We continue to game-plan for Roy as an All-Star player because he’s capable of doing that on any night. He’s done it to us, so I’m not surprised.” - Dallas coach Rick Carlisle on a strategy for Roy.

San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies (-2, 192)

Series tied 1-1

THE STORY: An unexpected split in San Antonio has the Memphis Grizzlies thinking upset as they welcome the Spurs to town Saturday night in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series. The top-seeded Spurs took charge late in a defensive battle in Game 2, prevailing 93-87 behind 17 points from returning star Manu Ginobili.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, FSTN

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES: Returning home with a 2-0 lead would have made the Grizzlies much happier, but they'll gladly take a split in Texas against the powerhouse Spurs. Memphis stuck around until the final minute of Game 2 but fell just short, as George Hill buried four free throws in the final moments to put the game away. Sam Young led the way with 17 points, but the Grizzlies needed more from stars Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. The frontcourt duo managed just 23 points on a combined 7-of-23 shooting performance. Still, with home-court advantage now on the Grizzlies' side, Memphis comes into Game 3 with plenty of confidence after beating San Antonio twice at home in the regular season.

ABOUT THE SPURS: Ginobili clawed his way into the lineup despite a nagging elbow injury that required a heavy black brace. The speedy swingman didn't disappoint, playing his trademark solid defense while making some key shots down the stretch as the Spurs eked out the victory. Tim Duncan, George Hill and Richard Jefferson each added 16 points apiece as San Antonio employed a balanced attack while holding Memphis under 40 percent shooting for the game. The Spurs' next hurdle will be winning a game in Tennessee, where they were outscored by 23 points in two regular-season encounters. Parker missed the 109-93 loss on March 1 with a calf strain; Duncan sat out the March 27 defeat while Ginobili left halfway through.

WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Gasol has done a little bit of everything so far, averaging 18 points, 13 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and a steal in the series. Jefferson is 9 of 14 from the field, including 5 of 9 from beyond the arc. Look for him to be more active in the offense if the Spurs sputter in Game 3.

KEY STATISTIC: 0 - The number of free throws Parker attempted in Game 2. He went 14 for 16 from the line in Game 1, helping him score 20 points despite shooting just 4 for 16 from the field.

TRENDS:

* Under is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings in Memphis.
* Over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings.
* Underdog is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings.
* Road team is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings.
* Spurs are 0-7 ATS in the last seven meetings.

LAST WORD: "As bad as we were (Wednesday), it was still close at the end." - Gasol

Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets (-5.5, 204.5)

Oklahoma City leads series 2-0

THE STORY: A two-game lead has the Oklahoma City Thunder flying high as they visit the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series Saturday. The fourth-seeded Thunder did what they needed to do, winning the first two games in Oklahoma City behind strong performances from Kevin Durant and Kevin Westbrook. As the scene shifts to Colorado, the Nuggets will undoubtedly look to use their home-court advantage to get back into the series.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, ESPN, ALT

ABOUT THE NUGGETS: Denver did a better job of containing the Thunder's dynamic duo on Wednesday, but the Nuggets' offense fizzled from the outset as Oklahoma City opened up a 16-point first-quarter lead and cruised to a 106-89 victory. Ty Lawson led the way with 20 points while Nene overcame a 2-for-8 shooting performance to add 16 points. Thanks in large part to the presence of since-departed Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets were the highest-scoring team in the NBA during the regular season. Denver hasn't shown the same chops since Anthony was dealt to New York and is averaging just 96 points in the playoffs. The Nuggets have also beaten up on the boards, outrebounded by a 91-65 margin through the first two games.

ABOUT THE THUNDER: After combining for 72 points in Game 1, Durant and Westbrook were thrilled to get some support on Wednesday. Durant had 23 points and Westbrook added 21, but three other Thunder players finished in double figures. Oklahoma used a 19-3 first-quarter run to jump out early, and Durant and WeXXXook combined for eight straight points in the fourth after the Nuggets closed the deficit to 10. The Thunder big men showed plenty of tenacity, snagging 17 offensive rebounds in Game 2. Kendrick Perkins had a game-high six offensive boards, more than the entire Denver roster. If the Thunder continue to dominate on the glass to this extent, this series may not make it back to Oklahoma City.

WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Durant (32 points per game) and Westbrook (26 ppg) outscored Denver's starting five in Game 1, and likely would have done the same in Game 2 had the game not been decided so early. Nuggets G J.R. Smith is shooting just 28.6 percent (4 for 14) in the series and has missed all four of his 3-point attempts.

KEY STATISTIC: 7 - Westbrook's turnover total in Game 2. No other player from either team had more than two. Westbrook has 12 turnovers in two games so far, and will need to be more careful with the ball going forward.

TRENDS:

* Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Thunder are 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings.
* Over is 11-5 in the last 16 meetings in Denver.

LAST WORD: Denver was one of the best teams in the NBA in its own arena, going 33-8 in the regular season. Only the San Antonio Spurs (36-5) and Chicago Bulls (36-5) had better home marks.

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**Udog** · 04-23-2011, 08:27 AM

NBA

Saturday, April 23

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Pick 'n Roll: Saturday's best NBA bets
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San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies (-2, 191.5)

Manu Ginobili makes all the difference in the world for the San Antonio Spurs.

Ginobili missed Game 1’s defeat to the upstart Grizzles but returned to provide a key spark in Game 2’s six-point win. In the victory, he had 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists, despite wearing a huge brace on his injured arm.

"It was uncomfortable," Ginobili said of the brace, which he will wear indefinitely. "But I felt I did OK. I took some risk. I went for some steals and rebounds and it wasn't that I played worried about getting hit or something."

And that’s just the way the Spurs need him to play.

Ginobili has an even split of his minutes against Memphis this season, getting on the floor for 148 minutes and sitting out for 145. When he’s on the court, the team shoots 52.1 percent from the field, averages 106 points per game over 48 minutes and is plus-42 in points overall.

However, when he is off the floor, San Antonio shoots just 39.6 percent from the field, averages a mere 88.3 points per game over 48 minutes and the team is minus-49 in points.

"Manu's Manu, come on," Grizzlies forward Shane Battier said. "I don't care if he's in a body cast, he's going to be out there and he's going to be a handful to deal with. That's why he's a great player."

And that’s why San Antonio is going to win.

Pick: San Antonio

Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets (-5.5, 205)

Nuggets coach George Karl is searching for answers.

After watching his team get smacked in a Game 2 loss in Oklahoma City, he must find a way to provide a spark as the teams head to Colorado. But not much may help at this point.

The Thunder have beaten the Nuggets 4 times in the past 16 days and appear to have psychologically cracked them as well.

Mercurial Denver swingman J.R. Smith questioned his team’s heart and his desire to return to the team next season, and Karl didn’t deny the fact that Smith could be in his doghouse. In fact, he basically said his player that averages 12.3 points per game this season – fifth most on the team – might not even see much of the floor the rest of the series.

“He gives us minus-17 in six minutes,” Karl said. “Those guys shouldn’t get second chances. I’m not saying it was all his fault, I’m just saying – when that happens, I got to make a change.”

Karl also must find a way to juggle his lineup. Guard Aaron Afflalo is expected to return from a hamstring injury to make his series debut, but he likely will be limited in his minutes and play. The coach also said he is leaning toward starting Ray Felton over swingman Wilson Chandler.

The moves may work – but it likely is too little, too late.

Pick: Oklahoma City

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**Udog** · 04-23-2011, 08:30 AM

NBA
Dunkel

Oklahoma City at Denver
The Nuggets look to build on their 9-2 ATS record in their last 11 playoff games as a favorite of 5 to 10 1/2 points. Denver is the pick (-5) according to Dunkel, which has the Nuggets favored by 8. Dunkel Pick: Denver (-5). Here are all of today's picks.

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

Game 745-746: Chicago at Indiana (2:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 123.516; Indiana 119.561
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 4; 184
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 5; 187 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Indiana (+5); Under

Game 747-748: Dallas at Portland (5:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Dallas 120.517; Portland 125.062
Dunkel Line & Total: Portland by 4 1/2; 189
Vegas Line & Total: Portland by 4; 186 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Portland (-4); Over

Game 749-750: San Antonio at Memphis (7:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Antonio 121.952; Memphis 122.443
Dunkel Line & Total: Memphis by 1; 185
Vegas Line & Total: Memphis by 2; 191 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Antonio (+2); Under

Game 751-752: Oklahoma City at Denver (10:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oklahoma City 119.873; Denver 128.075
Dunkel Line & Total: Denver by 8; 211
Vegas Line & Total: Denver by 5; 205
Dunkel Pick: Denver (-5); Over

**Udog** · 04-23-2011, 08:32 AM

NHL
Dunkel

NY Rangers at Washington
The Capitals look to close out the series and take advantage of a New York team that is 2-9 in its last 11 playoff games as an underdog from +150 to +200. Washington is the pick (-200) according to Dunkel, which has the Capitals favored by 1/2 a goal. Dunkel Pick: Washington (-200). Here are all of today's picks.

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

Game 73-74: NY Rangers at Washington (3:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Rangers 11.434; Washington 11.774
Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Washington (-200); 5
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-200); Under

Game 75-76: Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh (12:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay 12.355; Pittsburgh 10.716
Dunkel Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 1 1/2; 5 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Pittsburgh (-145); 5
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (+125); Over

Game 77-78: Montreal at Boston (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Montreal 11.193; Boston 11.775
Dunkel Line & Total: Boston by 1/2; 5 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Boston (-185); 5
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-185); Over

Game 79-80: Los Angeles at San Jose (10:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 11.971; San Jose 11.280
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: San Jose (-220); 5
Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (+180); Under

**Udog** · 04-23-2011, 08:38 AM

NHL
Long Sheet

Saturday, April 23

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NY RANGERS (45-34-0-7, 97 pts.) at WASHINGTON (51-24-0-11, 113 pts.) - 4/23/2011, 3:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NY RANGERS are 11-5 ATS (+17.0 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
NY RANGERS are 27-20 ATS (+5.5 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
NY RANGERS are 8-0 ATS (+8.0 Units) in road games after allowing 4 goals or more this season.
WASHINGTON is 10-16 ATS (-13.5 Units) in home games in the first round of the playoffs since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 14-9 (+0.4 Units) against the spread versus NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 14-9-0 straight up against NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
11 of 21 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.1 Units)

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TAMPA BAY (47-27-0-12, 106 pts.) at PITTSBURGH (52-26-0-8, 112 pts.) - 4/23/2011, 12:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 52-34 ATS (+15.5 Units) in all games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 14-3 ATS (+9.1 Units) when playing with 2 days rest this season.
TAMPA BAY is 9-1 ATS (+10.3 Units) in road games when trailing in a playoff series since 1996.
PITTSBURGH is 56-78 ATS (-30.1 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5 or less since 1996.
PITTSBURGH is 7-12 ATS (-8.6 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PITTSBURGH is 6-12 ATS (-12.7 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
PITTSBURGH is 10-6 (+0.8 Units) against the spread versus TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 10-6-0 straight up against TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
8 of 13 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.5 Units)

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MONTREAL (46-31-0-9, 101 pts.) at BOSTON (48-27-0-11, 107 pts.) - 4/23/2011, 7:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
MONTREAL is 12-14 (+0.5 Units) against the spread versus BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 14-12-0 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
12 of 21 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.6 Units)

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LOS ANGELES (47-31-0-8, 102 pts.) at SAN JOSE (51-26-0-9, 111 pts.) - 4/23/2011, 10:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN JOSE is 14-8 (+1.1 Units) against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
SAN JOSE is 14-8-0 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
11 of 21 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.8 Units)

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**Udog** · 04-23-2011, 08:41 AM

NHL
Short Sheet

Saturday, April 23

Eastern Conference Playoffs - Best of 7 - Game 5 - WAS leads 3-1
NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON, 3:05 PM ET VERSUS
NY RANGERS: 8-0 SU Away after allowing 4+ goals
WASHINGTON: 10-16 SU at home in 1st Rd playoff games

Eastern Conference Playoffs - Best of 7 - Game 5 - PIT Leads 3-1
TAMPA BAY at PITTSBURGH, 12:05 PM ET (TC) | NBC
TAMPA BAY: 11-3 SU with double revenge
PITTSBURGH: 0-4 SU at home when closing out playoff series

Eastern Conference Playoffs - Best of 7 - Game 5 - Tied 2-2
MONTREAL at BOSTON, 7:05 PM ET VERSUS
MONTREAL: 5-1 SU Away in 1st Rd of playoffs
BOSTON: 2-10 SU when tied in playoff series

Western Conference Playoffs - Best of 7 - Game 5 - SJ Leads 3-1
LOS ANGELES at SAN JOSE, 10:35 PM ET VERSUS
LOS ANGELES: 2-10 SU after scoring 3+ goals in 3 straight games
SAN JOSE: 10-0 SU at home off road win by 3+ goals

** (TC) Denotes Time Change

**Udog** · 04-23-2011, 08:46 AM

NHL

Saturday, April 23

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Trend Report
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12:00 PM
TAMPA BAY vs. PITTSBURGH
Tampa Bay is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Pittsburgh
Tampa Bay is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Pittsburgh's last 19 games at home
Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home

3:00 PM
NY RANGERS vs. WASHINGTON
NY Rangers are 8-17 SU in their last 25 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the NY Rangers last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
Washington is 17-8 SU in their last 25 games when playing at home against NY Rangers
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing at home against NY Rangers

7:00 PM
MONTREAL vs. BOSTON
Montreal is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Montreal is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games when playing Boston
Boston is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games when playing Montreal
Boston is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Montreal

10:30 PM
LOS ANGELES vs. SAN JOSE
Los Angeles is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against San Jose
Los Angeles is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
San Jose is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Los Angeles
The total has gone OVER in 10 of San Jose's last 14 games

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**Udog** · 04-23-2011, 08:51 AM

NHL

Saturday, April 23

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What bettors need to know: Saturday's NHL playoff action
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Tampa Bay Lightning at Pittsburgh Penguins (-145, 5)

Pittsburgh leads series 3-1

THE STORY: The Tampa Bay Lightning fizzled at home after stealing home-ice advantage from the fourth-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. Now they must pull out a victory on the road in Game 5 on Saturday afternoon if they want to extend their season. Tampa Bay posted a convincing 5-1 win in Game 2 at the Consol Energy Center to even the series but lost a pair of one-goal decisions in its own building. The losses dropped it to 1-6 in the postseason at the St. Pete Times Forum since its Game 7 triumph over the Calgary Flames in the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. Pittsburgh's 3-2 win in double overtime on Wednesday put it one victory away from advancing to the second round for the fourth consecutive year.

TV: Noon ET, Versus, CBC, Sun Sports, Root

ABOUT THE PENGUINS: James Neal was the hero Wednesday, scoring his first career playoff goal at 3:38 of the second overtime. Neal netted just one goal in 20 regular-season games with Pittsburgh after being acquired from the Dallas Stars in late February. The Penguins' fourth line has been a major contributor as the unit of Arron Asham, Craig Adams and Mike Rupp has produced a goal in each game of the series thus far. Chris Kunitz will return to the lineup after serving his one-game suspension for elbowing Simon Gagne in Game 3.

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING: Tampa Bay rallied from a 2-0 deficit Wednesday but was unable to complete the comeback. Martin St. Louis recorded his third straight two-point performance with a goal and an assist while Sean Bergenheim tied the contest with 3:17 remaining in the third period with his first career playoff tally. The Lightning registered only 31 shots in more than 83 minutes of action while allowing a whopping 53. Steve Downie will be back in the lineup following his one-game ban for a high hit on defenseman Ben Lovejoy in Game 3.

WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: St. Louis has been a powerhouse for the Lightning, recording four goals and two assists. Steven Stamkos has been invisible, however, notching just one assist in the series and failing to register a shot in over 30 1/2 minutes in Wednesday's marathon. Asham leads Pittsburgh with three goals and four points while Tyler Kennedy has tallied twice. Defenseman Brooks Orpik was one of two Penguins without a shot on goal in Game 4 but received an astounding 40 1/2 minutes of ice time.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Tampa Bay, which had the best power-play unit in the East during the regular season, is 4-for-15 (26.7 percent) in the series but failed to convert on four attempts in Game 4. Pittsburgh is just 1-for-18 with the man advantage but finally broke through Wednesday, going 1-for-3 after being 0-for-15 over the first three contests.

TRENDS:

* Under is 14-6-3 in the last 23 meetings.
* Lightning are 2-5 in the last seven meetings in Pittsburgh.
* Lightning are 2-5 in the last seven meetings.

LAST WORD: "I’m one of those guys who believes it’s possible until there’s absolutely no time left. I’ve seen it before and I’ve done it before. These series are never about momentum, they’re about desperation." - Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher on his team's dire situation.

New York Rangers at Washington Capitals (-193, 5)

Washington leads series 3-1

THE STORY: The Washington Capitals were in this exact same situation last postseason against the Montreal Canadiens. They're hoping for a different result this time around as they host the New York Rangers in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series Saturday afternoon at the Verizon Center. Washington built a 3-1 series lead against Montreal last year before dropping the final three games of the first-round matchup, scoring just one goal in each loss. The Rangers know first-hand about rallying from a 3-1 series deficit as the Capitals accomplished the feat against them in the conference quarterfinals in 2009, the last time New York appeared in the postseason. New York never has overcome such an obstacle in its history.

TV: 3 p.m. ET, NBC, TSN, RDS

ABOUT THE CAPITALS: Just 20 minutes away from returning home with the series even, Washington rallied for three goals in the third period of Game 4 on Wednesday to forge a tie before Jason Chimera gave the Capitals a 4-3 victory by scoring at 12:36 of the second overtime. Alexander Semin ignited the comeback at 2:47 of the third and Marcus Johansson scored his first two career playoff goals to knot the contest. Captain Alex Ovechkin, who was kept off the scoresheet for the first time in the series, could have ended the game with nine minutes remaining in the first overtime but was stopped by Henrik Lundqvist on a breakaway. Mike Knuble missed Game 4 with a hand injury and also will sit out Saturday's contest.

ABOUT THE RANGERS: New York was in the driver's seat after Marian Gaborik and Brandon Dubinsky scored seven seconds apart in the second period to build a 3-0 lead. The quick burst fell two seconds shy of the fastest two goals in NHL playoff history and one short of the team record set by Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert in 1968 against Chicago. Gaborik became the goat, however, as his poking away of a loose puck as Lundqvist was about to cover it led to Chimera's winning tally. Lundqvist finished with a playoff career-high 49 saves.

WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Defenseman Dan Girardi was a beast for the Rangers in Game 4, registering 39:45 of ice time and nine blocked shots - both game highs. Gaborik's goal was his first since March 20 and ended his 10-game postseason drought. Ovechkin, Semin, Johansson and Chimera each have two of Washington's 10 goals in the series. Nicklas Backstrom, who was second on the team in scoring during the regular season, has notched just one assist.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The Rangers went 0-for-7 on the power play in Game 4 and are just 1-for-18 in the series with a mere 17 shots on goal. The Capitals, who went 1-for-33 against Montreal in last year's conference quarterfinals, have converted two of their 12 man advantages.

TRENDS:

* Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Washington.
* Rangers are 8-17 in the last 25 meetings in Washington.

LAST WORD: "There's no doubt in my mind with two days off, (the Rangers) are going to regroup, and if we think we've got this won by any stretch of the imagination, we're in deep trouble. I think we were in this situation a little while ago." - Washington coach Bruce Boudreau on guarding against being overconfident.

Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins (-180, 5)

Series tied 2-2

THE STORY: The Montreal Canadiens are learning that no lead is safe against the Boston Bruins. After winning the first two games at TD Garden, the sixth-seeded Canadiens skated up to the Bell Centre with all the confidence in the world. Claude Julien's club responded with a pair of spirited efforts to level their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. In Thursday's 5-4 overtime win in Game 4, Northeast Division champion Boston rallied from deficits of 1-0, 3-1 and 4-3 to eventually pull out the victory. Now, the Original Six rivals skate back down to Beantown for a pivotal Game 5 on Saturday night.

TV: 7 ET, VERSUS, NESN, CBC

ABOUT THE BRUINS: Boston is 0-for-26 in franchise history after dropping the first two contests of a best-of-seven series, but it's making some noise against its Original Six rival in this set. Michael Ryder burned his former team by scoring twice - including the winner 1:59 into overtime - on Thursday. Ryder had two goals and an assist and Chris Kelly - who was wearing a shield to protect his face - also had a three-point night for the Bruins. Defenseman Andrew Ference scored his first postseason goal since 2001 in Game 4. Tim Thomas overcame a shaky start to turn aside 34 shots to preserve the win.

ABOUT THE CANADIENS: Although P.K. Subban scored a goal to give the Canadiens a 4-3 lead in the third period, the Bell Centre faithful may remember the All-Star defenseman for something else that happened in Game 4. Subban elected to make a curious line change as the Bruins skated up the ice on a 3-on-1 advantage in overtime. The decision proved costly as Ryder netted the game-winning goal. Captain Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez were on the ice for four Boston goals. Center Jeff Halpern returned to the lineup after missing 11 of 15 games due to a lower-body injury and provided a presence on faceoffs. He won four of his six opportunities.

WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Has anyone seen Milan Lucic ... you know, the Bruins' leading goal-scorer in the regular season? Lucic did not record a shot in Game 4 and has not collected a point in the series. Furthermore, Lucic has failed to score a goal in his last 14 games. Cammalleri has collected two goals and five assists in his last three contests.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Both clubs aren't lighting up the scoreboard with their respective power plays. Boston did not score on its lone opportunity with the man-advantage in Game 4. The Bruins are 0-for-12 on the power play in this series and have converted just five of their last 45 chances with the man-advantage. For its part, Montreal scored on one of its two opportunities in Game 4 and is now 2-for-14 on the power play in the series.

TRENDS:

* Canadiens are 6-2 in the last eight meetings in Boston.
* Over is 5-2-2 in the last nine meetings.
* Canadiens are 11-5 in the last 16 meetings.
* Road team is 4-0 in the last four meetings.

LAST WORD: "I just saw it (on video) and I know it looks really bad, but I can assure you that is not part of who I am. I apologize. That is not part of my repertoire. My glove got caught up there." - Ference, on raising his middle finger to the Montreal fans at the Bell Centre on Thursday.

Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks (-209, 5)

San Jose leads series 3-1

THE STORY: One team seemed to have recovered from Tuesday's wild Game 3 result - and one team clearly did not. Two days after rallying from a four-goal deficit for a 6-5 overtime win, the San Jose Sharks breezed to a 6-3 road triumph on Thursday to take a commanding 3-1 edge in their Western Conference quarterfinal series against the Los Angeles Kings. The Pacific Division champion Sharks will look to close out the seventh-seeded Kings on Saturday at HP Pavilion.

TV: 10:30 ET, VERSUS, TSN

ABOUT THE SHARKS: Not to get ahead of ourselves, but should San Jose advance - and the Presidents' Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks finally eliminate the eighth-seeded Chicago Blackhawks, the Sharks would face the well-rested Detroit Red Wings in the conference semifinals. In short, it would behoove coach Todd McLellan's club to close out this series as quick as possible. After being pulled in Game 3, Antti Niemi returned to form on Thursday and stopped 35 shots. Ryane Clowe tallied twice for the second straight game, Joe Pavelski collected his second goal in as many games and captain Joe Thornton, Torrey Mitchell and defenseman Jason Demers also tallied.

ABOUT THE KINGS: Falling behind 3-1 does not bode well for Los Angeles. The Kings have only won one of 10 such occurrences. Injured All-Star Anze Kopitar is expected to join the team on the flight to San Jose to hopefully lift his team's spirits. Jonathan Quick struggled in his second straight game and finished with 21 saves. The 25-year-old Connecticut native fared well in the first period, but was undone by an "own goal" early in the second period after defenseman Alec Martinez saw the puck carom off his stick and into the net. Brad Richardson scored for the second straight game and is tied for the team lead with four points. Justin Williams and Alexei Ponikarovsky also tallied on Thursday.

WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Calder Trophy finalist Logan Couture notched two assists in Game 4 and now has one goal and three helpers in his last two contests. Los Angeles' Ryan Smyth has collected a point in all four games of the series.

SPECIAL TEAMS: After scoring three power-play goals in their first two contests, the Kings have not converted with the man-advantage in either game at the Staples Center. For their part, San Jose has scored a power-play goal in both Games 3 and 4. The Sharks owned the third-best percentage (23.5) with the man-advantage in the regular season.

TRENDS:

* Favorite is 6-1 in the last seven meetings.
* Over is 4-1-1 in the last six meetings.
* Kings are 16-35-1 in the last 52 meetings.
* Kings are 9-20 in the last 29 meetings in San Jose.

LAST WORD: "We were one of the best defensive teams in the league this year. This is totally unacceptable, and we're letting ourselves down. This is crunch time. A lot of work went into this, to get to the playoffs." - Williams, after the Kings permitted six goals for the second straight game.

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**Udog** · 04-23-2011, 08:53 AM

NHL

Saturday, April 23

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Ice Picks: Saturday's best NHL bets
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New York Rangers at Washington Capitals (-193, 5)

The Rangers must find a way to rally after blowing a three-goal lead in Game 4 and losing the game in double overtime on an atrocious miscommunication on defense that allowed Jason Chimera to chip the winner into a wide open net.

If you listened to some of the quotes after the game, you would believe most Rangers players are packing two bags for this game: one for travel to The District, and the other one for when they head to the golf course on Sunday morning.

"They have been tight, they've been close," Rangers captain Chris Drury said. "I don't think it matters much. A loss is a loss. We know we played well for 40 minutes (in Game 4), and the other losses, we've had good spurts, but just haven't been able to put it together for 60.”

Not exactly a lot of rah-rah from one of the top playoff performers of our generation.

And don’t expect the Capitals to let off the gas with the Rangers backs against the wall.

“Obviously, we have to prove it on the ice, that we learned our lesson,” Capitals forward Eric Fehr said. “We had a real tough summer, and I think a lot of guys are bringing different stuff to the table this year.”

If the team needs any extra motivation, it can remember losing the final three games of the opening round to Montreal last year after taking a 3-1 lead in the series. Not that they will need it.

Pick: Washington

Tampa Bay Lightning at Pittsburgh Penguins (-145, 5)

The Penguins are simply finding ways to score goals despite numerous injuries to their top four forwards.

Pittsburgh can thank its suddenly dynamic third line of Mike Rupp, Craig Adams and Aaron Asham for a 3-1 lead in the series and for constantly finding the back of the net. The line has combined for four goals in the four games so far. That’s only one fewer than Tampa Bay’s Vincent Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos, Simone Gagne, Ryan Malone and Martin St. Louis combined.

And thanks to the domination of that trio, the Penguins are averaging more than eight shots per game better than they did during the regular season. During 5-on-5 play, Pittsburgh has an 8-3 edge in goals scored.

"That's where our best structure is, five-on-five," Rupp said. "The details of our game have allowed us to not give up too many goals this year. We feel coming into this series -- coming into any series, really -- that that's an advantage for us, to play five-on-five."

It’s a huge advantage for the Penguins when they can jump out to a lead with strong even strength play.

When trailing, Tampa Bay is forced to scrap its favored 1-3-1 zone trap and can no longer dictate the flow of play.

"We know how good we are when everybody is going," Penguins defender Paul Martin said.

Pick: Pittsburgh

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Announcement

Saturday's Trends and Indexes - 4/23 (NBA, NHL, MLB, Misc.)

Saturday's Trends and Indexes - 4/23 (NBA, NHL, MLB, Misc.)

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