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**StarDust Bum** · 04-11-2012, 11:52 AM

MLB Early Games:

04/11/2012 @ 09:35 AM MLB [902] CIN REDS 1.75
( ACTION )

04/11/2012 @ 10:10 AM MLB [904] NY METS 2.01
( ACTION )

04/11/2012 @ 11:20 AM MLB [905] MIL BREWERS -1½ 2.35
( Y GALLARDO-R / R DEMPSTER-R )

04/11/2012 @ 03:35 PM MLB [907] ARI D'BACKS 2.06
( ACTION )

04/11/2012 @ 09:05 AM MLB [917] TOTAL o7 1.95 (CHI W SOX vrs CLE INDIANS)

( J DANKS -L / J MASTERSON-R )

04/11/2012 @ 09:35 AM MLB [919] TOTAL o8 2.00 (BOS RED SOX vrs TOR B-JAYS)
( J LESTER -L / R ROMERO -L )

04/11/2012 @ 10:05 AM MLB [922] DET TIGERS 1.54
( ACTION )

04/11/2012 @ 12:35 PM MLB [924] TOTAL u7 2.05 (KC ROYALS vrs OAK ATHLETICS)
( B CHEN -L / B MCCARTHY-R )

04/11/2012 @ 04:05 PM MLB [925] NY YANKEES -1½ 1.87
( C SABATHIA-L / J ARRIETA -R )

**StarDust Bum** · 04-11-2012, 11:54 AM

Wednesday Matinees

April 10, 2012

For the first time this baseball season, bettors have an opportunity to wager on plenty of games during the day and at night. We'll take a look at the six early afternoon matchups, including several teams throwing out their aces for a second turn in the rotation. Things get going in the state of Ohio with a pair of early contests, starting in Cleveland with two division rivals hooking up.

White Sox at Indians - 12:05 PM EST

Chicago and Cleveland aren't expected to be threats in the AL Central this season, as the two clubs finish a two-game set at Progressive Field. The Sox grabbed the opener of this series, 4-2, thanks to a three-run first inning, but Tuesday's game was rained out. John Danks looks to bounce back from a loss in his first start of the season against the Rangers, in spite of striking out six and allowing three earned runs in six innings of work. The last time Danks faced the Tribe was a little over a year ago, dropping a 7-1 decision as a short road favorite, the fifth loss in his last seven starts against Cleveland.

Justin Masterson turned in an exceptional performance in the opener against the Blue Jays, tossing eight innings of two-hit ball while striking out 10. However, Cleveland's bullpen squandered a 4-1 lead in the ninth inning before losing in a 16-inning marathon, 7-4. Masterson has mastered the White Sox recently by allowing just five earned runs in four outings last season, but Cleveland split the four meetings.

Cardinals at Reds - 12:35 PM EST

St. Louis has barely skipped a beat without Tony LaRussa and Albert Pujols, winning four of its first five games after taking home the World Series trophy last October. The Cards look to close out the Reds at the Great American Ballpark, as the St. Louis offense has plated seven or more runs three times this season. Jaime Garcia overcame an early deficit in his last start, as the St. Louis southpaw scattered five hits and two earned runs in six innings of an 11-5 victory at Milwaukee. The Cardinals are 6-1 in Garcia's seven career starts against the Reds, including a 2-1 mark last season.

The Reds counter with ace Johnny Cueto, who blanked the Marlins in a dynamic opening day performance. Cueto gave up just three hits in seven scoreless innings, as Cincinnati cruised past Miami, 4-0 as $1.30 home favorites. Cincinnati won three of four starts made by Cueto against St. Louis in 2011, including a pair of high-scoring victories at home.

Red Sox at Blue Jays - 12:35 PM EST

Boston avoided an 0-4 start by rallying past Toronto on Monday night, 4-2. The Sox began last season slow out of the gate before going on a tremendous run, as Bobby Valentine's team looks to do the same this time around with Jon Lester on the mound. The Boston southpaw picked up a no-decision in his first start at Detroit, a 3-2 walk-off loss. Despite not receiving a win, Lester pitched much better than he did to wrap up last season with a seven-inning performance, allowing six hits and one earned run.

Ricky Romero didn't put together a solid outing at Cleveland on opening day, but the Toronto lineup bailed him out with a late rally to triumph in extra innings, 7-4. The Blue Jays' southpaw beat the Red Sox in his final two starts last season following a 1-6 run against Boston dating back to 2009. Toronto won his previous seven outings at Rogers Centre since last July, while six of those starts were quality ones.

Rays at Tigers - 1:05 PM EST

A pair of playoff teams from last season plays the middle contest of a three-game series at chilly Comerica Park. Both Tampa Bay and Detroit started the season at 3-0 prior to a Tigers' victory on Tuesday, as Justin Verlander takes the mound on Wednesday. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner and MVP dominated the Red Sox in his opening start, scattering two hits in eight scoreless innings, but picked up a no-decision as the bullpen blew a 2-0 lead. The Tigers own a 6-0 record in Verlander's last six home starts against the Rays, while Detroit is 13-2 in his previous 15 outings at Comerica Park.

James Shields didn't look sharp in his season debut against the Yankees, giving up six earned runs in five innings of work. However, the Rays rallied for a 7-6 victory to get Shields off the hook, the eighth straight home start by the righty that Tampa Bay has won. Shields hasn't faced the Tigers since July 2010, holding Detroit to two earned runs in a 3-2 home victory.

Nationals at Mets - 1:10 PM EST

One of the best pitchers of last decade faces off against potentially one of the best pitchers this decade as Washington and New York conclude its series at Citi Field. The Mets grabbed another victory in Monday's walk-off triumph over the Nationals, 4-3, as New York erased an early 3-0 deficit. The season began with a fantastic effort from former Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana, who tossed five scoreless innings in a 1-0 victory over the Braves on opening day.

The Nationals send out Stephen Strasburg, who received no run support in his seven innings of work against the Cubs, but Washington rallied for a 2-1 win as $1.40 road favorites. Strasburg has been a great play on the highway in his short career, as the Nats are 6-1 in his seven road starts, while the right-hander is making his first appearance at Citi Field.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-11-2012, 11:56 AM

Diamond Trends - Wednesday

April 11, 2012

SU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Twins are 0-14 since May 15, 2011 when they are off a loss in which they had at least three times as many hits as runs in a day game for a net profit of $1405 when playing against.

OU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Royals are 0-11-1 OU since July 06, 2011 when playing a day game as a dog and it is the last game of the series after playing in a night game for a net profit of $1100 when playing the under.

The Phillies are 11-0 since April 16, 2010 when Roy Halladay starts as a favorite after giving up no walks on the road for a net profit of $1100.

MLB BIBLE TREND OF THE DAY:

James Shields has produced a team record of 0-17 (-3.8 rpg) since 2006 as a dog of at least +145 when the total is 10 or less.

TODAY’S TRENDS:

The Tigers are 12-0 since June 28, 2006 when Justin Verlander starts at home after going at least 6 innings and giving up no home runs at home for a net profit of $1200.

The Cubs are 0-10 OU since May 29, 2011 when Ryan Dempster starts when the start time is earlier than 4:00 PM local time for a net profit of $1000 when playing the under.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-11-2012, 11:59 AM

Hoop Trends - Wednesday

April 11, 2012

SU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Grizzlies are 10-0 ATS (7.8 ppg) since March 17, 2006 as a favorite with at least one day of rest off a win in which their leading scorer for that game had fewer than 20 points.

OU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Bucks are 11-0 OU (23.7 ppg) since February 17, 2004 at home after a home loss in which more than 70% of their baskets were assisted.

PLAYER TREND OF THE DAY:

The Hawks are 0-11 OU (-13.7 ppg) since February 28, 2011 after a win on the road in which Josh Smith was not the Hawks’ high scorer.

CHOICE TREND:

The Hornets are 0-10 ATS (-9.2 ppg) since November 23, 2007 after a home loss in which they committed fewer than ten turnovers.

TODAY’S TRENDS:

The Cavaliers are 10-0-1 OU (8.8 ppg) since March 08, 1996 as a dog with no rest after a game in which they scored more than 30% of their points from the three-point line.

The Suns are 0-14 OU (-15.9 ppg) since March 01, 2010 when they shot at least 50% from the field in each of their last two games.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-11-2012, 12:01 PM

Cardinals try to complete sweep of Reds Wednesday

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (5-1)

at CINCINNATI REDS (2-3)

First pitch: Wednesday, 12:35 p.m. EDT
Line: Cincinnati -130, St. Louis +120, Total: 7.5

The Cardinals will look to stay hot and sweep the Reds in this NL Central showdown on Wednesday afternoon.

The Reds have not been able to touch the St. Louis pitching thus far, notching just one run in each of the first two games of the series. Although Jaime Garcia, toeing the rubber for the Cardinals, has a 6-1 career record against the Reds, he also struggles mightily on the road where his ERA (4.27) is nearly a full two points worse than it is at home. Although Johnny Cueto has middling numbers in his career against the Cardinals, he pitched to a 2.60 ERA last season against the Redbirds, allowing just 22 hits in 27.2 innings as a part of his career year. He looked as if he were building off last year’s success in his season-opening gem, a seven-inning, three-hit performance against the Marlins and is in a good position for another strong outing here. Play on CINCINNATI to break out of its hitting slump and coast to victory on the arm of Cueto.

This strong FoxSheets managerial trend also favors the Reds:

DUSTY BAKER is 62-31 (66.7%, +24.7 Units) against the money line in home games vs. an NL team with an on base percentage of .350 or better in all games he has managed since 1997. The average score was BAKER 4.7, OPPONENT 4.1 - (Rating = 1*).

The St. Louis bats remained hot and strong in the second game of the series Tuesday as Carlos Beltran and David Freese each hit home run No. 3 of the season. Beltran has been potent in the two-hole, now sporting a 1.070 OPS and setting fear in to pitchers. With his 2-for-3 performance Tuesday, Freese moved his batting average to .444 and his OPS to a staggering 1.242. As impressive as this duo has been, the Cardinals lineup is bound for an off night—they will not continue to average 5.7 runs per game. Play against the sweep here for this road squad.

While the St. Louis bats are scorching, the Cincinnati ones are asleep at the wheel. Kyle Lohse toyed with the Reds lineup Tuesday, while the team registered just four hits in the contest. Joey Votto picked up an RBI but still has a .188 BA. It doesn’t help him that he lacks proper support in the lineup, with cleanup hitter 3B Scott Rolen batting .125. Jay Bruce went 2-for-4 and now stands at .316 as the beacon of hope in the Cincinnati lineup, but look for his compatriots to break out of their funk to avoid the sweep at home. Take the Reds here.

**Kaptain** · 04-11-2012, 12:03 PM

get em StarDust....gl PODNA

**StarDust Bum** · 04-11-2012, 12:04 PM

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, April 11

Not a lot of relevant info to give out this early in the season, but we'll do what we can for the first week or so, until some trends develop.

Hot pitchers
-- Cueto is 3-0, 2.44 in his last seven starts. JGarcia is 1-0, 2.17 in his last four starts.
-- Strasburg is 1-1, 1.74 in six starts since his operation.. JSantana is 2-0, 0.90 in his last couple starts.
-- Halladay is 3-1, 1.20 in his last four starts.
-- Delgado was 1-1, 3.09 in seven starts LY, but lasted only 35 innings in those seven starts.
-- Guthrie is 4-0, 3.55 in his last five starts.
-- Billingsley is 2-1, 1.96 in his last three starts.

-- Gomez was 4-1, 4.71 in his last five starts LY.
-- Tigers are 15-3 in Verlander's last 18 starts.
-- BChen is 2-1, 1.27 in his last five starts.
-- Lewis is 3-1, 3.53 in his last six starts.
-- Weaver is 3-1, 1.69 in his last five starts.

Cold pitchers
-- Dempster is 0-6, 4.60 in his last nine starts. Gallardo is 1-2, 4.76 in his last four starts.
-- Saunders is 0-1, 5.06 in his last three starts. Luebke is 1-5, 5.00 in his last seven starts.
-- JJohnson is 0-2, 3.33 in his last four starts.
-- WRodriguez is 0-1, 3.55 in his last four starts.
-- Lincecum is 1-4, 4.58 in his last six starts.
-- Bedard is 1-3, 4.60 in his last nine starts.

-- Lester is 0-3, 6.41 in his last five starts. Romero is 0-1, 4.98 in his last three outings.
-- Humber was 0-1, 5.84 in his last four starts LY.
-- Shields is 1-3, 6.27 in his last five starts.
-- McCarthy is 0-2, 3.67 in his last four starts.
-- Sabathia is 0-1, 4.91 in his last seven starts. Arrieta is 2-4, 6.10 in his last seven outings.
-- Millwood was 4-3, 4.31 in nine starts LY, all in the NL.
-- Pavano is 1-3, 4.25 in his last five starts.

Hot teams
-- Los Angeles won four of its first five games.
-- Cardinals won five of their first six games.
-- Mets won four of their first five games. Nationals won three of five.
-- Astros won three of their last four games.
-- Milwaukee won three of its last four games.
-- Arizona won its first four games, scoring 21 runs.

-- Tampa Bay won three of its first four games. Detroit won its first four games, scoring 31 runs.
-- Blue Jays won three of their first five games.
-- Orioles won three of their first five games.
-- Texas won four of its first five games.
-- Royals won three of their first five games.

Cold teams
-- Philly lost its last three games, scoring six runs. Marlins lost three of their first five games.
-- Pirates are 2-2 this season, despite scoring 8 runs in four games.
-- Reds lost three of their last four games.
-- Braves lost four of their first five games.
-- Cubs lost four of their last five games.
-- Colorado lost its last three games, scoring five runs. Giants lost three of their first four games.
-- Padres lost four of their first five games.

-- Red Sox lost four of their first five games.
-- Bronx Bombers are 2-3, but did win last two games.
-- White Sox are 2-2, despite scoring total of only ten runs. Indians lost three of their first four games.
-- Minnesota lost its first four games, scoring six runs.
-- Mariners lost their last two games, scoring five runs.
-- A's lost four of their first six games.

We're going to get into totals and umpires and that good stuff, once we get enough to lnowledge this season to make it all relevant.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-11-2012, 12:17 PM

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, April 11

Hot Teams
-- Pacers won five of their last six games.
-- Boston won nine of its last ten home games (8-0-1 vs spread in last nine). Hawks won four of their last five games.
-- Milwaukee won four of its last five games. Knicks are 11-4 under Woodson but lost three of last four on road.
-- Rockets won/covered five of their last six games.
-- Memphis won six of its last seven games (5-2 vs spread). Suns won/covered five of their last six games.
-- Oklahoma City covered five of its last seven home games. Clippers won eight of their last ten games.
-- San Antonio won its last eight home games (7-0-1 vs spread). Lakers won six of their last eight road games.
-- Nuggets won last three home games, scoring 116-105-123 points.
-- Golden State covered ten of its last 12 road games.

Cold Teams
-- Toronto covered three of its last nine home games. 76ers lost four of their last five games.
-- Cavaliers lost six of last seven home games, but covered last four in a row overall.
-- Jazz lost six of their last eight games.
-- Hornets lost seven of their last ten games. Sacramento lost its last five games (0-4-1 vs spread).
-- Minnesota won/covered once in last seven road games.
-- Portland covered twice in its last seven home games.

Wear-and-Tear
-- 76ers: 4th game/5 nites. Raptors: 6th game/9 nites.
-- Pacers: 8th game/12 nites. Cavaliers: 3rd game/4 nites.
-- Hawks: Last three nites off. Celtics: 6th game/8 nites.
-- Knicks: 3rd game/4 nites. Bucks: 4th game/6 nites.
-- Jazz: 3rd game/4 nites. Rockets: 3rd game/4 nites.
-- Kings: 4th game/5 nites. Hornets: 4th game/6 nites.
-- Suns: 6th game/9 nites. Grizzlies: 4th game/6 nites.
-- Clippers: 3rd game/5 nites. Thunder: 3rd game/4 nites.
-- Lakers: 8th game/12 nites. Spurs: 3rd game/4 nites.
-- T'wolves: 3rd game/5 nites. Nuggets: 4th game/6 nites.
-- Warriors: 6th game/9 nites. Blazers: 4th game/6 nites.

Totals
-- Four of last five Toronto games stayed under the total.
-- Six of last seven Indiana games went over the total.
-- Six of last eight Atlanta road games went over total.
-- Under is 7-4 in New York's last eleven games.
-- 10 of last 13 Utah road games went over the total.
-- Five of Kings' last six road games went over the total.
-- Under is 4-0-1 in last five Memphis home games.
-- Six of last seven Thunder games stayed under the total.
-- Last four Laker games went over the total.
-- Six of last eight Minnesota games stayed under total.
-- Six of last seven Golden State road games stayed under total.

Back-to-Back
-- 76ers are 7-9 vs spread if they played the night before.
-- Cavaliers are 1-3 vs spread if they won the night before.
-- Boston won/covered four of six at home if they played night before.
-- Knicks are 2-4 vs spread playing second night in row on road.
-- Sacramento is 4-3 vs spread on road if it lost the night before.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-11-2012, 12:30 PM

NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, April 11

Flyers @ Penguins-- Philly is 0-6 in Stanley Cup finals since winning titles in both '74/'75; they've won five of last seven first round series. Flyers won four of six vs Pittsburgh this year, with four of last five going over total- they're 5-1 in last six games in Igloo, 47-58 overall. Four of Penguins' last six playoff series went to a 7th game; they're 28-90 lifetime in Philly. Pittsburgh split their last four first round series. Flyers are 3-2 in playoff series against Pittsburgh; they won seven of last nine games overall. Penguins won four of last five.

Red Wings @ Predators-- Nashville got its first playoff series win in franchise history LY, beating Ducks in six games; they've played Detroit two other times in playoffs, losing in six games both times. Detroit won in first round six of last seven years- they're 25-11 at home vs Predators, 18-17 in Music City. Wings lost four of last six games overall; Nashville won four of last five, allowing total of three goals in the four wins. Teams split six meetings this year, with Preds winning last two. Detroit four of last six visits to Nashville.

Kings @ Canucks-- Vancouver won Presidents' Cup last two years; they won last four first round series. These teams split four playoff series over the years, are 4-4 in regular season series last two years, with under 7-0-1 in those eight games; they split last six played here. LA hasn't won playoff series since 2001; they're 1-5 in first round series since losing in '93 Finals. Kings lost five of last eight games overall; Canucks won eight of last nine games, have won seven in a row at home. This has been a very even series over the years.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-11-2012, 12:36 PM

NHL Playoff Preview: Flyers vs. Penguins

2012 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
No. 5 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

vs. No. 4 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Starts: Wednesday in Pittsburgh
Season Series: Flyers won 4-2
Series Price: Pittsburgh -200, Philadelphia +160

Bitter in-state rivals square off in the most anticipated first-round series of the NHL Playoffs as the No. 5 Philadelphia Flyers take on the No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins.

It’s a bit of a shame that these two Atlantic Division rivals have to meet in the first round, considering both have the depth and firepower to make a deep run through the playoffs—the Pens (3.3) and Flyers (3.2) rank first and second, respectively, in the NHL in goals per game. The Flyers won the season series, but that figure is misleading considering the litany of injuries the Penguins suffered throughout the season—none bigger than the concussion to captain Sidney Crosby (8 G, 29 A in 22 games). This will be the third playoff meeting between the two clubs since 2008, with the Penguins both times advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Three Important Things to Watch for in this Series:
1. The Impact of Flyers Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov
When the Flyers signed Bryzgalov to a monster nine-year, $51 million deal back in June, it was done with the expectation that he would be the elite goalie that finally put Philly over the top in the postseason. There will be enormous pressure on the Russian netminder to live up to his contract and be the “missing piece” to supplement Philadelphia’s dangerous offense and stout defense. But the Flyers could not have drawn up a tougher first round opponent than the Penguins—who have scored at will since Crosby returned to the lineup (4+ goals in 11 of 14 games).

2. The Depth of the Penguins
There’s no denying that, when healthy, the Penguins are the deepest and most talented team in the league at the forward position. No squad can compete with Pittsburgh’s depth up the middle, boasting three elite centers in Crosby, Evgeni Malkin (50 G, 59 A) and Jordan Staal (25 G, 25 A). The fact that Malkin, the NHL’s points leader, is the second-line center on the Pens speaks to just how scary this team is. But all three of these players have had their fair share of health problems over the past 18 months, as has sniper James Neal (40 G, 41 A)—currently listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Assuming they all stay healthy, it’s hard to imagine any team beating the Pens in a seven-game series.

3. Enough on the Blueline?
The Flyers blueline will face a ridiculously tough test trying to contain the high-octane Pittsburgh offense—and they might have to do it without some key defenders. Andrej Meszaros (7 G, 18 A) is still recovering from back surgery and trade deadline-acquisition Nicklas Grossman (lower body) is listed as day-to-day—not to mention the fact that team captain and shutdown d-man Chris Pronger is out for the year with severe post-concussion syndrome. Philly also has some injuries up front. LW James van Riemsdyk (7 goals in 11 postseason games in 2011) is still a couple weeks away from fully recovering from a broken foot, and Danny Briere (59 points in 57 playoff games with Philly) is out indefinitely with a back injury suffered at the hands of Penguins’ fourth-liner Joe Vitale. With so many (potential) missing pieces, it remains to be seen whether the Flyers can handle Pittsburgh’s relentless forecheck.

******* Analysis:
To the average fan, these odds might seem steep considering this is a 4-5 matchup, but it shouldn’t be surprising considering how scary this Penguins lineup is when healthy. With a healthy Crosby back in the lineup, Pittsburgh is the clear favorite to the win the Cup. It’s hard to imagine two teams hating each other more than the Penguins and Flyers, though, and that is sure to create a physical and grueling series—which usually works to even out any disparities in talent. If the Penguins stay disciplined and avoid taking retaliatory penalties against the league’s most penalized team, they have a clear advantage in this series—especially on the blue line. Prediction: PENGUINS IN 6.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-11-2012, 12:37 PM

NHL Playoff Preview: Red Wings vs. Predators

2012 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
No. 5 DETROIT RED WINGS

vs. No. 4 NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Starts: Wednesday in Nashville
Season Series: Tied 3-3
Series Price: Nashville -115, Detroit -105

The 4-5 matchup in the Western Conference pits two Central Division rivals against each other as the veteran-laden No. 5 Detroit Red Wings battle the upstart No. 4 Nashville Predators.

Just like the Flyers-Penguins matchup in the East, this series should have no shortage of excitement and tight finishes. Both teams hail from the West’s toughest division—the Central—where, incredibly, four teams eclipsed 100 standings points. For Nashville and Detroit though, the ironic reward of finishing second and third in the division, respectively, is that both must face each other in the first round of the postseason. The Red Wings have no shortage of experience as they prepare to make an unprecedented 21st consecutive playoff appearance. The Predators look to build off the franchise’s first playoff series victory last season, but this time Nashville won’t be under anyone’s radar.

Three Important Things to Watch for in this Series:
1. Between the Pipes
In terms of goaltending, no first round series presents a better matchup than this one with Detroit’s Jimmy Howard (35-17-4, 2.12 GAA, .920 SV Pct.) and Nashville’s Pekka Rinne (43-18-8, 2.39 GAA, .923 SV Pct.). Rinne ranks first in the NHL in wins, and Howard led the league in that category for the first half of the season before injuries limited him to just 13 starts since February 2. Rinne played in a career-high 73 games in the regular season—so the potential for fatigue is there—but he also benefits from playing behind one of the deepest blue lines in the NHL. Detroit will want to push the pace and certainly has enough size to put big bodies in front of the net, but Nashville will cause the Wings fits if it can get on the board first—the Predators were an incredible 35-3-4 when scoring first (2nd in NHL in that situation).

2. Away from The Joe
When analyzing this series, it is very important to put perceptions aside and look strictly at what has transpired this year. Even though the Red Wings are consistently one of the most dominant teams in the league, their road record this year is a serious cause for concern. Detroit stole the headlines this season with its NHL-record 23-game home winning streak at Joe Louis Arena, but the Wings are the only Western Conference playoff team with a sub-.500 road record (17-21-3). No team in the NHL will enjoy a greater home-ice advantage than the Red Wings, but it’s unlikely any team in the playoffs will be as reliant on it either. If this series goes the distance, Nashville will have a decided advantage with Game 7 in its home barn.

3. Defense > Offense?
The Predators have earned a rightful reputation for being one of the best defensive teams in the league thanks to the NHL’s best shutdown pair: Shea Weber (19 G, 30 A) and Ryan Suter (7 G, 39 A). Don’t sleep on Nashville’s offense though—the unit ranks 8th in the NHL in goals per game (2.8) and the Preds boast the best power play in the league, converting at a 21.6 percent clip. Nashville doesn’t have any single offensive superstar, but has seven players who scored 40+ points this season. The X-factor for the Predators will be RW Alexander Radulov, who returned to Nashville three weeks ago after a four-year stint in the Russian KHL. Radulov instantly becomes one of the top scoring threats for the Preds, and adds an interesting wrinkle to an already underrated offense.

******* Analysis:
Betting against the Red Wings in the postseason, in most cases, just isn’t a smart idea. They always seem to find a way to get it done. But it’s time to put reputational fears aside and look at this series objectively. The only advantage the Red Wings have in this series is top-end offense. Detroit boasts an incredible trio of centers with Henrik Zetterberg (22 G, 47 A), Pavel Datsyuk (19 G, 48 A) and Valtteri Filppula (23 G, 46 A) and two other 20+ goal scorers in RW Johan Franzen (29 G, 27 A) and LW Jiri Hudler (25 G, 25 A). Are these offensive weapons enough to win a series? Absolutely. And if the Red Wings had drawn a different opponent, they would likely advance into the second round. But the Predators have more depth on defense, a Vezina Trophy-candidate goaltender who is playing better at the moment, and—believe it or not—more depth overall on offense. And if it comes down to a decisive seventh game, as noted above, that extra two standings points will prove to be the difference as the Predators enjoy the friendly confines of the Music City. Prediction: PREDATORS IN 7.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-11-2012, 12:40 PM

NHL Playoff Preview: Kings vs. Canucks

2012 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
No. 8 LOS ANGELES KINGS

vs. No. 1 VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Starts: Wednesday in Vancouver
Season Series: Tied 2-2
Series Price: Vancouver -225, Los Angeles +185

The Vancouver Canucks’ quest to avenge last season’s loss in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals begins on Wednesday when they take on the eighth-ranked Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

The Canucks find themselves in familiar territory, entering the playoffs as the Presidents’ Trophy winner (most standings points in the regular season) for the second consecutive season. Winning the Presidents’ Trophy does not guarantee postseason success historically though. The previous two winners (Sharks and Capitals) each lost in the first round and the Canucks needed a Game 7 overtime win over Chicago—after blowing a 3-0 series lead—to advance to the second round last year. The eight seed will be no easier this season with an extremely pesky Kings team that missed out on a Pacific Division title, and, consequently, a three seed, by just two points. L.A. wins games one way, and one way only—with defense. The Kings allow just 2.1 goals per game (2nd in NHL), which helps to make up for their anemic offense, which ranks second-to-last in the league with 2.3 goals per game. Despite this glaring weakness, don’t be so quick to assume an easy victory for the Canucks.

Three Important Things to Watch for in this Series:
1. Double Trouble?
There’s no doubt that the biggest question heading into this series will be the health of Canucks’ LW Daniel Sedin (30 G, 37 A). Vancouver’s leading goal-scorer has not played since suffering a concussion on March 21, and did not practice on Tuesday despite skating on Monday. If Daniel can’t play, that also diminishes the effectiveness of his identical twin brother and linemate, C Henrik Sedin (14 G, 67 A). For the third consecutive season, Henrik led the NHL in assists, with a good chunk of those goals scored by Daniel. The Sedin Twins possess an innate chemistry that cannot be replicated or recreated, and if Daniel isn’t ready to play on Wednesday, it will be the first time in 90 career playoff games that the brothers don’t suit up together.

2. Luongo’s Leash
It would be unfair to pin the Canucks’ loss in last year’s Stanley Cup Finals squarely on the shoulders of goaltender Roberto Luongo, but the fact is, the 33-year-old netminder was yanked in two of Vancouver’s first three losses to Bruins, and he posted a woeful .891 SV Pct. in that series—despite two shutout wins. Especially going up against such a poor offensive team, Canucks’ Head Coach Alain Vigneault will have no qualms about keeping Luongo on a short leash should any meltdowns occur. Fortunately, Vancouver has one of the most reliable backups in the league in Cory Schneider (20-8-1, 1.96 GAA, .937 SV Pct.), who played in a career-high 33 games while ranking second and third in the NHL in SV Pct. and GAA, respectively. Luongo might be the bigger name, but the Canucks have shown tremendous confidence in Schneider and he is more than capable of carrying them on a run through the playoffs.

3. Cut to the Quick
It seems like it happens every year. An overmatched underdog steals a playoff series thanks to some stand-on-your-head performances from the starting goaltender. After posting a 1.95 GAA (2nd in NHL) over 69 starts, it’s fair to say that standing on your head is the only way Kings’ goalie Jonathan Quick knows how to play. Quick also led the NHL in shutouts (10) and was able to carry the Kings into the playoffs with vey little help on offense. In 2010, then-Canadiens’ goaltender Jaroslav Halak stole the series for eighth-seeded Montreal against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Capitals. There’s no reason that Quick can’t do the same this year.

******* Analysis:
This series sets up as the classic overvalued versus undervalued scenario. With Vancouver, you have a seemingly dominant team with the best point total in the league. The truth is, the Canucks received a big boost playing in the league’s worst division and are the only team from the Northwest to qualify for the playoffs. Vancouver’s secondary scoring has also lacked this year, with second-line center Ryan Kesler (22 G, 27 A) posting disappointing numbers just one year after scoring a career-high 41 goals. On the flip side, the Canucks will take on a Kings team that has been in desperation mode for most of the season, battling down to the final week just to make the playoffs. The offense has been terrible outside of top C Anze Kopitar (25 G, 51 A), but with the potential firepower in the lineup, it’s easy to get the feeling that we haven’t seen the best of this Kings team. The playoff experience is certainly there with centers Mike Richards (18 G, 26 A) and trade deadline acquisition Jeff Carter—both of whom made a run to the Cup Finals with the Flyers in 2010. Toss in elite defenseman Drew Doughty (10 G, 26 A) to complement a proven, shutdown netminder in Quick, and this series has all the makings of an upset. The Canucks can, and probably should win this series, but they are severely overpriced at -225 and there is simply too much value to pass up on the Kings in this spot. Prediction: KINGS IN 7.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-11-2012, 12:44 PM

NHL Best Bets:

NHL
Wednesday, April 11

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Philadelphia - 7:30 PM ET Philadelphia +156 500
Pittsburgh - Over 5.5 500

Detroit - 8:00 PM ET Nashville -127 500
Nashville - Under 5 500

Los Angeles - 10:30 PM ET Los Angeles +147 500
Vancouver - Under 5 500

**StarDust Bum** · 04-11-2012, 06:13 PM

NBA:

04/11/2012 @ 04:05 PM NBA [502] TOTAL u178 1.91
(PHILADELPHIA vrs TORONTO)

04/11/2012 @ 04:05 PM NBA [503] TOTAL o193 1.91
(INDIANA vrs CLEVELAND)

04/11/2012 @ 04:05 PM NBA [504] CLEVELAND +8½ 1.95

04/11/2012 @ 05:05 PM NBA [505] TOTAL o180½ 1.91
(ATLANTA vrs BOSTON)

04/11/2012 @ 05:05 PM NBA [506] BOSTON -2½ 1.91

04/11/2012 @ 05:05 PM NBA [508] TOTAL u202 1.91
(NEW YORK vrs MILWAUKEE)

04/11/2012 @ 05:05 PM NBA [510] HOUSTON -5 1.91

04/11/2012 @ 05:05 PM NBA [511] TOTAL o197 1.91
(SACRAMENTO vrs NEW ORLEANS)

04/11/2012 @ 05:05 PM NBA [514] MEMPHIS -5½ 1.91

04/11/2012 @ 05:05 PM NBA [514] TOTAL u194 1.91
(PHOENIX vrs MEMPHIS )

04/11/2012 @ 05:05 PM NBA [515] LA CLIPPERS +8 1.91

04/11/2012 @ 05:05 PM NBA [516] TOTAL u197 1.91
(LA CLIPPERS vrs OKLAHOMA CITY)

04/11/2012 @ 05:35 PM NBA [517] TOTAL o202 1.91
(LA LAKERS vrs SAN ANTONIO)

04/11/2012 @ 06:05 PM NBA [519] TOTAL o213½ 1.91
(MINNESOTA vrs DENVER)

04/11/2012 @ 06:05 PM NBA [520] DENVER -8½ 1.91

04/11/2012 @ 07:35 PM NBA [521] GOLDEN STATE +3½ 1.91

04/11/2012 @ 07:35 PM NBA [522] TOTAL u197½ 1.91
(GOLDEN STATE vrs PORTLAND)

------------------------------------------------------------
MLB:

04/11/2012 @ 04:05 PM MLB [910] PHI PHILLIES 1.71
( ACTION )

04/11/2012 @ 05:40 PM MLB [914] TOTAL u9 1.83 (SFO GIANTS vrs COL ROCKIES)
( T LINCECUM-R / J GUTHRIE -R )

04/11/2012 @ 07:10 PM MLB [915] PIT PIRATES 2.25
( ACTION )

04/11/2012 @ 12:35 PM MLB [924] TOTAL u7 2.00 (KC ROYALS vrs OAK ATHLETICS)
( B CHEN -L / B MCCARTHY-R )

04/11/2012 @ 04:05 PM MLB [925] TOTAL o8½ 1.95 (NY YANKEES vrs BAL ORIOLES)
( C SABATHIA-L / J ARRIETA -R )

04/11/2012 @ 05:05 PM MLB [928] TOTAL u9½ 1.91 (SEA MARINERS vrs TEX RANGERS)
( K MILLWOOD-R / C LEWIS -R )

04/11/2012 @ 05:10 PM MLB [929] TOTAL o7½ 2.00 (LA ANGELS vrs MIN TWINS)
( J WEAVER -R / C PAVANO -R )

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