The Bum's NHL Regular and Stanley Cup Playoff's Best Bets !

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NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Sunday, April 28

Hot teams
-- None.

Cold teams
-- Bruins lost six of their last eight games. Ottawa lost three of last four.

Totals
-- Under is 15-5-3 in last 23 Boston games.

Series records
-- Bruins won 13 of last 14 games against Ottawa.

Back-to-backs
-- Bruins are 3-4 if they played night before, 2-0 if they lost. Ottawa is 3-3 if they played the night before, 0-3 on the road.




NHL

Sunday, April 28

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
OTTAWA vs. BOSTON
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Ottawa's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Ottawa's last 6 games when playing Boston
Boston is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games

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NHL
Long Sheet

Sunday, April 28

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OTTAWA (24-17-0-6, 54 pts.) at BOSTON (28-13-0-6, 62 pts.) - 4/28/2013, 7:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 14-2 (+10.6 Units) against the spread versus OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 14-2-0 straight up against OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
8 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.3 Units)

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Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

04/27/13 17-*8-*1 68.00% +*3620 Detail
04/26/13 6-*2-*0 75.00% +*2735 Detail
04/25/13 10-*10-*1 50.00% +*60 Detail
04/24/13 6-*2-*0 75.00% +*1995 Detail
04/23/13 4-*13-*3 23.53% -*6440 Detail
04/22/13 4-*6-*0 40.00% -*1220 Detail
04/21/13 6-*8-*2 42.86% -*1430 Detail
04/20/13 6-*7-*1 46.15% -*1090 Detail
04/19/13 1-*6-*1 14.29% -*2980 Detail
04/18/13 11-*9-*0 55.00% +*930 Detail
04/17/13 3-*3-*2 50.00% +*385 Detail
04/16/13 10-*5-*1 66.67% +*2590 Detail
04/15/13 10-*4-*0 71.43% +*3245 Detail
04/14/13 3-*3-*0 50.00% -*15 Detail
04/13/13 10-*11-*1 47.62% -*750 Detail
04/11/13 8-*8-*2 50.00% +*65 Detail
04/10/13 7-*2-*1 77.78% +*1940 Detail
04/09/13 8-*10-*0 44.44% -*1570 Detail
04/08/13 6-*4-*0 60.00% +*760 Detail
04/07/13 9-*6-*1 60.00% +*915 Detail
04/06/13 9-*8-*1 52.94% +*350 Detail
04/05/13 8-*4-*0 66.67% +*2270 Detail
04/04/13 11-*9-*0 55.00% +*975 Detail
04/03/13 7-*3-*0 70.00% +*1975 Detail
04/02/13 8-*5-*1 61.54% +*940 Detail
04/01/13 7-*8-*3 46.67% -*685 Detail

Totals 195-*164-*22 54.32% +9570



Sunday, April 28


Game Score Status Pick Amount

Ottawa - 7:00 PM ET Ottawa +165 500 POD # 1


Boston - Under 5 500

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First Round Cheat Sheet

April 28, 2013


Western Conference Matchups

(1) Chicago vs. (8) Minnesota

-- Blackhawks 36-7-5, 77 points, 1st in Central
-- Wild 26-19-3, 55 points, 2nd in Northwest
-- Blackhawks won two of three meetings, only loss in SO
-- 'Under' cashed in two of three matchups
-- First ever meeting between teams in playoffs

(2) Anaheim vs. (7) Detroit

-- Ducks 30-12-6, 66 points, 1st in Pacific
-- Red Wings 24-16-8, 56 points, 3rd in Central
-- Red Wings won two of three meetings, road team won each time
-- 'Over' cashed in two of three matchups
-- Last met in '09 conference semifinals (Wings won 4-3)

(3) Vancouver vs. (6) San Jose

-- Canucks 26-15-7, 59 points, 1st in Northwest
-- Sharks 25-16-7, 57 points, 3rd in Pacific
-- Sharks swept season series, 3-0, including two wins by one goal
-- Total pushed twice, other meeting finished 'under'
-- Last met in '11 conference finals (Canucks won 4-1)

(4) St. Louis vs. (5) Los Angeles

-- Blues 29-17-2, 60 points, 2nd in Central
-- Kings 27-16-5, 59 points, 2nd in Pacific
-- Kings swept season series, 3-0, outscoring Blues, 14-7
-- 'Over' finished 2-0-1 in season series
-- Last met in '12 conference semifinals (Kings won 4-0)

Eastern Conference Matchups

(1) Pittsburgh vs. (8) N.Y. Islanders

-- Penguins 36-12-0, 72 points, 1st in Atlantic
-- Islanders 24-17-7, 55 points, 3rd in Atlantic
-- Penguins won four of five meetings
-- 'Over' cashed twice in five matchups (one 'push')
-- Last met in '93 division finals (Isles won 4-3)

(2) Montreal vs. (7) Ottawa

-- Canadiens 29-14-5, 63 points, 2nd in Northeast
-- Senators 25-17-6, 56 points, 4th in Northeast
-- Season series tied at 2-2, home team won each game
-- 'Over' cashed twice in four meetings
-- First ever meeting between teams in playoffs

(3) Washington vs. (6) N.Y. Rangers

-- Capitals 27-18-3, 57 points, 1st in Southeast
-- Rangers 26-18-4, 56 points, 2nd in Atlantic
-- Rangers won two of three meetings
-- Total pushed twice, while other matchup went 'under'
-- Last met in '12 conference semifinals (Rangers won 4-3)

(4) Boston vs. (5) Toronto

-- Bruins 28-14-6, 62 points, 1st in Northeast
-- Maple Leafs 26-17-5, 57 points, 3rd in Northeast
-- Bruins won season series, 3-1, three games decided by one goal
-- 'Under' finished 2-1-1 in four matchups
-- Last met in '74 quarterfinals (Bruins won 4-0)

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NHL

Monday, April 29

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NHL Western Conference playoff preview: Round 1
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The NHL’s Western Conference playoffs are seemingly always a crapshoot because very little separates all eight teams that qualify for the playoffs.

The Los Angeles Kings were the darlings of last year’s playoffs and are back to defend their Stanley Cup title as the No. 5 seed, but everyone is talking about the Chicago Blackhawks and their dominance on ice this season.

Here is our Western Conference playoff preview:

No. 1 Chicago Blackhawks vs. No. 8 Minnesota Wild

Season series: Blackhawks won 3-2 SU, 1-4 over/under

Series prices: TBA

Why bet the Blackhawks: The Blackhawks are the Presidents’ Trophy winners for establishing the league’s best regular-season record. Chicago allowed a league-low two goals per game while netting 3.1 markers – the second-highest output in the NHL.

Why bet the Wild: The Wild haven't appeared in the playoffs since the 2007-08 season so their faithful are starved for playoff hockey. The frenzied Minnesota crowd is sure to make life difficult for Chicago at the Xcel Energy Center. The Wild outhit the Blackhawks in all three meetings (66-38 overall) and could wear down Chicago in a long series. The Blackhawks have lost in the first round of the playoffs the last two seasons after winning the Stanley Cup in 2010.



No. 2 Anaheim Ducks vs. No. 7 Detroit Red Wings

Season series: Red Wings won 2-1 SU, 2-1 over/under

Series prices: TBA

Why bet the Ducks: The Ducks are the Pacific Division champs and boast a two-headed monster in goal. Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth form a formidable one-two punch and coach Bruce Boudreau won’t hesitate to pull the trigger on a goaltender switch at any point in the series.

Why bet the Red Wings: The Wings have already been playing playoff-style hockey down the stretch in order to qualify for their 22nd consecutive postseason. Goaltender Jimmy Howard has posted two shutouts during Detroit’s current four-game win streak.



No. 3 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 6 San Jose Sharks

Season series: Sharks won 3-0 SU, 0-1-2 over/under

Series prices: TBA

Why bet the Canucks: When these squads last squared off in a playoff series two years ago during Vancouver's run to the Stanley Cup final, the Sharks had a significantly higher physical component going for them, with the likes of Ryane Clowe, Douglas Murray and Jamie McGinn. Vancouver has struggled against physical opponents at times throughout the regular season, but shouldn't be pushed around by San Jose. The Canucks have been cup contenders for the past few seasons, and boast a roster loaded with plenty of playoff experience.

Why bet the Sharks: The Sharks have one distinct advantage over the Canucks - a goaltender that boasts a Stanley Cup ring. Antti Niemi has been carrying the team all season long and has been there and done that in the NHL postseason. The Sharks also have an experienced core of forwards such as Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Joe Pavelski that will be out to change their reputations as chokers in the postseason.



No. 4 St. Louis Blues vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Kings

Season series: Kings won 3-0 SU, 2-0-1 over/under

Series prices: TBA

Why bet the Blues: The Blues fought hard down the stretch and won 12 of their final 15 contests to earn home-ice in the first round. They also have a hot goalie. Brian Elliott has returned to form, allowing just 16 goals in April on 305 shots (.948 save percentage). He also led the NHL in April with 11 wins and a 1.28 goals-against average.

Why bet the Kings: The Kings are the defending Stanley Cup champs. Los Angeles made history as the No. 8 seed last season and not having home-ice in any of the four rounds didn’t matter. The Kings will also welcome back captain Dustin Brown for Game 1 after he served a two-game suspension for an elbow on Minnesota’s Jason Pominville.

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NHL

Monday, April 29

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NHL betting review: Best bets of 2013 season
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The lockout-shortened NHL regular season has provided bettors with plenty of action for the last few months and that action will undoubtedly heat up with the playoffs just around the corner.

Here’s a look back at some of the best bets of the 2013 season:

Best moneyline bet

Anaheim Ducks (+22.01 units)

The Ducks’ 30-12-6 straight up record was the third-best in the NHL and good enough to clinch the Pacific Division.

Best puckline bet

Columbus Blue Jackets (36-12 ATS)

The Blue Jackets came up just short in their playoff drive, but their puckline bettors are rolling around in mounds of cash. Columbus had an uncanny ability to keep games close all season long.

Best over bet

Tampa Bay Lightning (25-19-4 over/under)

The Lightning had no issues lighting the lamp in 2013. Martin St. Louis captured the Art Ross Trophy thanks to his 60-point campaign and playing on a line with sniper Steven Stamkos (57 points) didn’t hurt his cause. Tampa’s horrendous goaltending also contributed to its stellar over record.

Best under bet

Ottawa Senators (10-30-7 over/under)

The Senators have gone low in 10 straight contests heading into Sunday’s finale with the Boston Bruins. Goaltender Craig Anderson leads the league with a sparkling 1.69 GAA and .941 save percentage.

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NHL

Monday, April 29

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Pucking the trends: This week's best NHL bets
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For the week of April 21-28

Hot team

Detroit Red Wings (4-0 SU)

The Red Wings took care of business down the stretch, posting four straight wins to qualify for the playoffs for the 22nd consecutive season. Jimmy Howard is already in postseason form, posting two shutouts during the run. Detroit’s focus now turns to its best-of-seven series with the Anaheim Ducks in the opening round.

Cold team

San Jose Sharks (1-3 SU)

The Sharks squandered an opportunity to earn home advantage in the playoffs in the final week of season and are skidding into their best-of-seven series with the Vancouver Canucks. San Jose was just 8-14-2 away from home during the regular season.

Best over play

Winnipeg Jets (3-1 over/under)

The Jets came up short of the playoffs, but over bettors profited big time during their stretch run. Winnipeg played over in six of its final seven games.

Best under play

Ottawa Senators (0-3 over/under)

The Senators have played under the total in 10 consecutive games heading into Sunday’s finale with the Boston Bruins. Ottawa has failed to score more than two goals in each of its last four games and has dropped its last five to Boston.

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NHL Western Conference playoff preview: Round 1


The NHL’s Western Conference playoffs are seemingly always a crapshoot because very little separates all eight teams that qualify for the playoffs.

The Los Angeles Kings were the darlings of last year’s playoffs and are back to defend their Stanley Cup title as the No. 5 seed, but everyone is talking about the Chicago Blackhawks and their dominance on ice this season.

Here is our Western Conference playoff preview:

(All series prices courtesy of CarbonSports.ag)

No. 1 Chicago Blackhawks vs. No. 8 Minnesota Wild

Season series: Blackhawks won 3-2 SU, 1-4 over/under

Series prices: Wild +325, Blackhawks -450

Why bet the Blackhawks: The Blackhawks are the Presidents’ Trophy winners for establishing the league’s best regular-season record. Chicago allowed a league-low two goals per game while netting 3.1 markers – the second-highest output in the NHL.

Why bet the Wild: The Wild haven't appeared in the playoffs since the 2007-08 season so their faithful are starved for playoff hockey. The frenzied Minnesota crowd is sure to make life difficult for Chicago at the Xcel Energy Center. The Wild outhit the Blackhawks in all three meetings (66-38 overall) and could wear down Chicago in a long series. The Blackhawks have lost in the first round of the playoffs the last two seasons after winning the Stanley Cup in 2010.

No. 2 Anaheim Ducks vs. No. 7 Detroit Red Wings

Season series: Red Wings won 2-1 SU, 2-1 over/under

Series prices: Red Wings +110, Ducks -140

Why bet the Ducks: The Ducks are the Pacific Division champs and boast a two-headed monster in goal. Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth form a formidable one-two punch and coach Bruce Boudreau won’t hesitate to pull the trigger on a goaltender switch at any point in the series.

Why bet the Red Wings: The Wings have already been playing playoff-style hockey down the stretch in order to qualify for their 22nd consecutive postseason. Goaltender Jimmy Howard has posted two shutouts during Detroit’s current four-game win streak.

No. 3 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 6 San Jose Sharks

Season series: Sharks won 3-0 SU, 0-1-2 over/under

Series prices: Sharks +110, Canucks -140

Why bet the Canucks: When these squads last squared off in a playoff series two years ago during Vancouver's run to the Stanley Cup final, the Sharks had a significantly higher physical component going for them, with the likes of Ryane Clowe, Douglas Murray and Jamie McGinn. Vancouver has struggled against physical opponents at times throughout the regular season, but shouldn't be pushed around by San Jose. The Canucks have been cup contenders for the past few seasons, and boast a roster loaded with plenty of playoff experience.

Why bet the Sharks: The Sharks have one distinct advantage over the Canucks - a goaltender that boasts a Stanley Cup ring. Antti Niemi has been carrying the team all season long and has been there and done that in the NHL postseason. The Sharks also have an experienced core of forwards such as Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Joe Pavelski that will be out to change their reputations as chokers in the postseason.

No. 4 St. Louis Blues vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Kings

Season series: Kings won 3-0 SU, 2-0-1 over/under

Series prices: Kings -120, Blues -110

Why bet the Blues: The Blues fought hard down the stretch and won 12 of their final 15 contests to earn home-ice in the first round. They also have a hot goalie. Brian Elliott has returned to form, allowing just 16 goals in April on 305 shots (.948 save percentage). He also led the NHL in April with 11 wins and a 1.28 goals-against average.

Why bet the Kings: The Kings are the defending Stanley Cup champs. Los Angeles made history as the No. 8 seed last season and not having home-ice in any of the four rounds didn’t matter. The Kings will also welcome back captain Dustin Brown for Game 1 after he served a two-game suspension for an elbow on Minnesota’s Jason Pominville.

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Preview: Wild (0-0) at Blackhawks (0-0)

Date: April 30, 2013 8:00 PM EDT


CHICAGO (AP) - For all their accomplishments so far - the record-breaking start, the Presidents' Trophy, the individual honors - the Chicago Blackhawks know this is the time of year that will define their season. They said the same thing all along.

Jonathan Toews and Co. also know all the reasons for concern heading into their playoff series against the Minnesota Wild.

The Blackhawks are favored to make it to the Stanley Cup for the second time in four seasons, but the Wild bring plenty of talent into Game 1 on Tuesday night. Then there is Chicago's recent postseason history, and the checkered performance for past winners of the Presidents' Trophy, adding to the intrigue.

``Everyone knows, if you look at how the playoffs have gone the past couple years, if you're the first or the eighth seed, it doesn't really matter,' Toews said after the Blackhawks practiced at the United Center on Monday. ``So as soon as Game 1 starts tomorrow, everything that happened before that is pretty meaningless and we know that.'

Minnesota was thought to be a Stanley Cup contender after it gave free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter identical 13-year, $98 million contracts last summer. But the Wild struggled when they finally got on the ice following the lockout, managing just 22 goals while sputtering to a 4-5-1 start.

They got hot in the middle of the season, winning seven in a row and 17 of 24 over one stretch, then slumped a bit at the end. With a chance to clinch a postseason spot, they lost 6-1 at home to Edmonton on Friday.

Minnesota finally secured its first playoff appearance in five years when Niklas Backstrom stopped 29 shots in a 3-1 win at Colorado on Saturday night.

``I think we expected ourselves to be in the playoffs, and I don't think you're going to find a lot of guys who are relaxing now and exhaling and just being satisfied that we're here,' Parise said. ``We want to win. We're not just happy that we made it. We want to keep playing, and we think that we're capable of it.'

The Wild could get a boost in Game 1 from the return of Jason Pominville, who missed the last two games after taking an elbow to the chin against the Los Angeles Kings. The right wing practiced on Monday, but coach Mike Yeo was tight-lipped about his status for the opener at Chicago.

Blackhawks goalie Ray Emery and center Dave Bolland have been ruled out with lower-body injuries, but they could return for Game 2 on Friday night. Emery teamed with Corey Crawford to form the league's best goalie tandem this season, making his absence of particular note heading into the matchup with Mikko Koivu and Minnesota.

``They're a scary team,' forward Patrick Kane said. ``You look at the talent they have, guys like Parise, Suter, Koivu, you could go on and on naming players. They got a great goaltender in Backstrom, who's proven that he can steal games. I think we just got to worry about ourselves first and foremost, but when you're facing a team like this, you know that they can win any game they play in.'

Kane had the winning goal in Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup finals, lifting Chicago to its first championship since 1961. But it's been nothing but playoff heartbreak for the Blackhawks since the celebration in Philadelphia.

They were eliminated by Vancouver in seven games in the first round in 2011. They lost to Phoenix in six games in last year's quarterfinals, when each of the first five games went to overtime.

``Even the Vancouver series two years ago, we were frustrated with the way things ended up,' defenseman Duncan Keith said. ``Now two years removed now, I don't think we can be any hungrier to have success.'

That frustration from the loss to the Coyotes turned into motivation for the Blackhawks, who set an NHL record by recording at least one point in the first 24 games of the season. They also finished strong, going 11-2-2 in their final 15 games to secure the Presidents' Trophy awarded to the team with the most points.

``Obviously we know how good they are, and we know the season that they've had and we know the challenge that it is,' Yeo said. ``We just have to make sure that we're focused on ourselves.'

And about that Presidents' Trophy.

The team with the most regular-season points has been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in three of the past four years. San Jose was bounced by Anaheim in 2009, and Washington lost to Montreal three years ago. Vancouver lost to Boston in the finals in 2011, then was eliminated by Los Angeles in the first round last season.

The Kings were the eighth seed in the West when they stormed to the Cup last year, and now the Wild are hoping for a repeat performance.

``I think we should be going into these playoffs knowing that anything can happen,' Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. ``We're very respectful for our opponent. When we look at their lines and look at their lineup, it's a dangerous team. But I'm going to be concentrating on what we have to do.'

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Preview: Kings (0-0) at Blues (0-0)

Date: April 30, 2013 8:00 PM EDT


ST. LOUIS (AP) - This time around, the St. Louis Blues are determined not to be a mere speed bump for the Los Angeles Kings.

Coach Ken Hitchcock likes his team's chances of making a deep playoff run, but scoffed away a suggestion that the Blues and Kings have a lot of similarities. After sweeping the Blues in the second round last spring en route to the franchise's first Stanley Cup, Los Angeles won all three games this season, too, and have taken eight in a row overall.

``Look, we haven't beaten them in two years,' Hitchcock said Monday. ``I think we're really hungry for this series. It's a matchup that quite frankly if we're going to go far, the confidence if we could win this series would be astronomical.'

The Blues have won 12 of their last 15 with a mix of stingy goaltending, tight checking and just enough offense. They won their last six at home to claim the fourth seed in the Western Conference after finishing one point ahead of the Kings.

Forward T.J Oshie, expected back from ankle surgery for Game 1 Tuesday night, believes the key to the series is ``probably not let them push us around and intimidate us.'

``I think last year, not everyone, but we had some guys that just didn't really want to go into the hard areas,' Oshie said. ``They're going to come hard and we're going to do the same.'

Hitchcock said the Kings' pace was a bigger factor last spring and added ``physical play is the most over-rated thing in playoffs.'

Yet the Kings didn't downplay expectations it'll be a physical series.

``Big bodies on each side, I don't anticipate anything else,' forward Justin Williams said. ``If you're a slow team, you're going to get hit.

``If you skate the puck quick, get out of your zone quick, you're not going to be hit.'

The Kings were the first No. 8 seed to win the Cup last year, bumping off the No. 2-seeded Blues, and begin their bid for a repeat as a well-respected No. 5.

``Los Angeles is the only team that has the knowledge of what it takes to win,' Hitchcock said. ``Everybody else can talk about it, but they have it, they know how deep you have to go.'

Captain Dustin Brown, who scored twice in the Kings' clinching victory over St. Louis last season, said it's important to remember how grueling the playoffs can be.

``We went through it just last year,' Brown said. ``But sometimes you've got to really focus on how hard it is, how much work you have to put in to be successful this time of the year. Shift by shift, literally taking it one period at a time.'

Part of that mind-set means not taking their recent dominance in the series for granted. The Blues made significant moves on defense for the stretch and after the final meeting against the Kings, picking up Jay Bouwmeester and Jordan Leopold.

Jeff Carter had 26 goals and Anze Kopitar had a team-leading 42 points for the Kings.

``The playoffs are about players stepping up,' Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. ``Experience has got to help. It's not necessarily winning, it's understanding how long the haul is. We didn't play St. Louis until the second round last year, so St. Louis knows how to win, too.

The goalies figure to be in the spotlight, especially with neither team generating much offense. The Kings totaled two or fewer goals in five of their last seven and the Blues scored two or fewer goals in eight consecutive games this month.

Jonathan Quick was ready for it last year, allowing five goals against the Blues and taking the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP with a 1.41 goals-against average.

Brian Elliott gets the Game 1 start for St. Louis ahead of Jaroslav Halak, recovered from a groin injury, off a spectacular rebound from early-season difficulties that included a benching and conditioning stint in the minors. He won nine games in April with three straight shutouts on the road.

Hitchcock said there was a good reason Elliott struggled in the Kings series last year. He was treated for an inner-ear infection throughout the series, and Hitchcock said ``I wasn't in the medical thing, all I knew was he had no balance.'

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Preview: Red Wings (0-0) at Ducks (0-0)

Date: April 30, 2013 10:30 PM EDT


ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - A day after the Anaheim Ducks wrapped up the most impressive regular season in franchise history, they were eager to forget all about it.

The Ducks realize their impressive record and Pacific Division title won't matter much to the Detroit Red Wings, who had to scramble just to make the postseason while Anaheim only needed to coast. That's why Detroit is a fashionable pick for a first-round upset - and why the Ducks are eager to prove they belong in their spot atop the standings.

``We can use it as fuel,' Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf said after practice Monday. ``It's something that you've got to go out and prove and earn, and winning in the playoffs is how you earn everything in this league. Anyone can win during the regular season. It's this time of year that you've got to prove yourself.

Game 1 is Tuesday night at Honda Center.

Second-seeded Anaheim realizes it drew a daunting first-round matchup with postseason-tested Detroit, which has given trouble to Teemu Selanne and his teammates for years.

They franchises are meeting in the playoffs for the sixth time in 16 years. The Ducks beat Detroit along the way to both of the club's two Stanley Cup finals appearances in 2003 and 2007, but the Red Wings won the most recent meeting, knocking off the Ducks in 2009 in a series featuring several current players on both teams.

``We all know this is going to be a hard series, but it's time to enjoy this ride,' the 42-year-old Selanne said.

After missing the playoffs in two of the past three seasons, the Ducks roared out of the gate in this lockout-shortened year and surged to the Western Conference's second seed and the NHL's third-best record at 30-12-6, the best season in franchise history by winning percentage - even better than the 2007 Stanley Cup champion juggernaut.

So why aren't the Ducks expected to roll over Detroit, which barely squeaked into the postseason on the final day of the regular season?

Because that's not how hockey usually works - and even the Ducks acknowledge that despite their talent, they've got more to prove in their return to the playoffs.

``This team here, we've got the opportunity to do something special,' said Ducks defenseman Sheldon Souray, who hasn't been in the NHL postseason since 2006 with Montreal. ``That hasn't been done here for a while. It's fun to get to this point. Everything picks up, and we can feel it in here.'

The Red Wings begin their final postseason way out West before moving to the cozy Eastern Conference next season, but much about the matchup seems favorable to Detroit, which won two of three against Anaheim in the regular season. The Red Wings took back-to-back games at Honda Center immediately after the Ducks' cathartic, come-from-behind win over NHL-best Chicago on March 20.

``It's good to see that we're playing our best hockey when we have to, and hopefully it keeps going,' Detroit defenseman Kyle Quincey said. ``It's good to see the boys scoring and the defense coming together, and Jimmy (Howard) is playing great. I think everything is firing at the same time.'

Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau isn't flinching in his return to the postseason spotlight, which hasn't always treated him well. The respected coach led the Washington Capitals to four straight Southeast Division titles and a Presidents' Trophy from 2008-11, but won just two playoff series in four years, never getting out of the second round.

Boudreau has transformed the Ducks into an NHL power in just two truncated seasons since late November 2011, but he realizes it won't mean as much without a good bit of postseason success. He's also wary of the challenges posed by the veteran Red Wings.

``They're the hottest team coming in,' Boudreau said. ``I think it's very similar to what L.A. was doing last year. They're the guys with experience. They're the guys that have been there before. Of course I would think that people are going to think (the Red Wings) are going to win.'

Quincey echoed Boudreau's comparison of Detroit to last season's Kings, who steamrolled from the eighth seed to the title.

The Ducks have been essentially preparing for the playoffs ever since their spectacular 22-3-4 start to the year pretty much guaranteed a spot. Anaheim went just 7-5-1 in April, resting some regulars and getting almost everybody healthy, including defenseman Luca Sbisa, who practiced at full speed Monday.

Yet the Ducks' boundless ability has been obvious all season while they finally achieved the success long expected from their talented roster.

``I think it was actually good timing,' Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller said. ``You can't have a high all the way through. If you've got to have a few bad games, you don't want to have them in the playoffs. We got them out of the way, and I think we're playing better now.'

Boudreau hasn't revealed whether Hiller or Viktor Fasth will start Game 1 for the Ducks, only saying: ``They know.'

Anaheim used both goalies interchangeably all season, with Hiller getting much-needed relief from Fasth, the first-year NHL pro who won his first eight decisions. Both goalies won 15 games apiece, with nearly identical statistics and playing time.

The Red Wings have no such choice to make. Howard had another standout season, winning 21 games while leading the NHL with five shutouts and finishing ninth in goals-against average (2.13) and save percentage (.923).

``They're big, they're physical, they play hard, and they're really deep at the forward position,' said Howard, who has never led Detroit past the second round. ``We're going to have our work cut out for us, but at the same time, it's going to be a lot of fun to go out there in sort of a different role than just getting to the playoffs.'

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2013 NHL Playoff Results

April 29, 2013


NHL First Round

Away Home Score ATS Result Total Result

Tuesday, Apr. 30, 2013
Minnesota Chicago - - -
Los Angeles St. Louis - - -
Detroit Anaheim - - -

Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Toronto Boston - - -
NY Islanders Pittsburgh - - -
San Jose Vancouver - - -

Thursday, May 2, 2013
Ottawa Montreal - - -
NY Rangers Washington - - -
Los Angeles St. Louis - - -
Detroit Anaheim - - -

Friday, May 3, 2013
NY Islanders Pittsburgh - - -
Ottawa Montreal - - -
Minnesota Chicago - - -
San Jose Vancouver - - -

Saturday, May 4, 2013
NY Rangers Washington - - -
Toronto Boston - - -
Anaheim Detroit - - -
St. Louis Los Angeles - - -

Sunday, May 5, 2013
Pittsburgh NY Islanders - - -
Chicago Minnesota - - -
Montreal Ottawa - - -
Vancouver San Jose - - -

Monday, May 6, 2013
Boston Toronto - - -
Washington NY Rangers - - -
Anaheim Detroit - - -
St. Louis Los Angeles - - -

Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Pittsburgh NY Islanders - - -
Montreal Ottawa - - -
Chicago Minnesota - - -
Vancouver San Jose - - -

Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Boston Toronto - - -
Washington NY Rangers - - -
Los Angeles St. Louis - - -
Detroit Anaheim - - -

Thursday, May 9, 2013
NY Islanders Pittsburgh - - -
Ottawa Montreal - - -
Minnesota Chicago - - -
San Jose Vancouver - - -

Friday, May 10, 2013
Toronto Boston - - -
NY Rangers Washington - - -
Anaheim Detroit - - -
St. Louis Los Angeles - - -

Saturday, May 11, 2013
Pittsburgh NY Islanders - - -
Montreal Ottawa - - -
Chicago Minnesota - - -
Vancouver San Jose - - -

Sunday, May 12, 2013
NY Islanders Pittsburgh - - -
Ottawa Montreal - - -
Washington NY Rangers - - -
Boston Toronto - - -
Minnesota Chicago - - -
Detroit Anaheim - - -

Monday, May 13, 2013
NY Rangers Washington - - -
Toronto Boston - - -
San Jose Vancouver - - -
Los Angeles St. Louis - - -

*If Neccessary

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday, April 30

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Minnesota - 8:00 PM ET Chicago -235 500

Chicago - Under 5 500

Los Angeles - 8:00 PM ET Los Angeles +107 500 POD # 2

St. Louis - Under 5 500

Detroit - 10:30 PM ET Detroit +125 500 POD # 1

Anaheim - Over 5 500

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Dunkel

Los Angeles at St. Louis
The Kings look to open up the series and build on their 10-1 record in their last 11 games versus the Blues. Los Angeles is the pick (+110) according to Dunkel, which has the Kings favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (+110). Here are all of today's picks.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30

Game 51-52: Minnesota at Chicago (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 10.642; Chicago 11.458
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 1; 4
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago (-230); 5
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-230); Under

Game 53-54: Los Angeles at St. Louis (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 12.521; St. Louis 11.558
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 1; 5 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: St. Louis (-130); 5
Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (+110); Over

Game 55-56: Detroit at Anaheim (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 11.005; Anaheim 12.093
Dunkel Line & Total: Anaheim by 1; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Anaheim (-150); 5
Dunkel Pick: Anaheim (-150); Under




NHL
Long Sheet

Tuesday, April 30

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MINNESOTA (26-19-0-3, 55 pts.) at CHICAGO (36-7-0-5, 77 pts.) - 4/30/2013, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 4-13 ATS (+19.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CHICAGO is 36-12 ATS (+36.0 Units) in all games this season.
CHICAGO is 323-340 ATS (+708.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.
CHICAGO is 36-12 ATS (+16.4 Units) second half of the season this season.
MINNESOTA is 16-8 ATS (+24.6 Units) after a win by 2 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 7-16 ATS (-19.8 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 7-4-0 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.6 Units)

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LOS ANGELES (27-16-0-5, 59 pts.) at ST LOUIS (29-17-0-2, 60 pts.) - 4/30/2013, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 5-16 ATS (-12.2 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
LOS ANGELES is 0-6 ATS (-6.8 Units) in road games in April games this season.
LOS ANGELES is 8-16 ATS (-9.5 Units) in road games second half of the season this season.
LOS ANGELES is 26-14 ATS (+10.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 58-51 ATS (+119.4 Units) in road games when playing with 2 days rest since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 10-5 (+4.0 Units) against the spread versus ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 10-5-0 straight up against ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
8 of 13 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.7 Units)

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DETROIT (24-16-0-8, 56 pts.) at ANAHEIM (30-12-0-6, 66 pts.) - 4/30/2013, 10:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 91-96 ATS (-60.4 Units) on Tuesday nights since 1996.
DETROIT is 2-10 ATS (-9.2 Units) when playing with 2 days rest this season.
ANAHEIM is 30-18 ATS (+30.0 Units) in all games this season.
ANAHEIM is 165-129 ATS (+31.9 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent since 1996.
ANAHEIM is 30-18 ATS (+4.2 Units) second half of the season this season.
ANAHEIM is 23-15 ATS (+41.2 Units) when playing with 2 days rest over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 8-3 (+5.4 Units) against the spread versus ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 8-3-0 straight up against ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.6 Units)

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NHL
Short Sheet

Tuesday, April 30

Quarterfinals, Game One (Series Tied, 0-0)
Minnesota at Chicago, 8:05 ET NBCSN
Minnesota: 16-8 SU off a win by 2+ goals
Chicago: 5-11 SU off a road loss by 3+ goals

Quarterfinals, Game One (Series Tied, 0-0)
Los Angeles at St. Louis, 8:05 ET CNBC
Los Angeles: 1-8 SU away off a home game
St. Louis: 10-0 SU at home off BB home wins

Quarterfinals, Game One (Series Tied, 0-0)
Detroit at Anaheim, 10:35 ET NBCSN
Detroit: 2-10 SU playing with two days rest
Anaheim: 20-8 SU at home playing with double-revenge




NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, April 30

First time in playoffs in five years for Minnesota; they haven't won playoff series in a decade; Wild won three of last four road games but are 4-6 in last ten overall- they lost five of last seven visits to Chicago, are 1-2 vs Blackhawks this season. Chicago won nine of last eleven games; they're 5-1 in last six at home. Over is 4-1-1 in last six Minnesota games; four of their last five visits here also went over. Chicago lost in first round last two years, after winning Stanley Cup in 2010.

Defending champ Kings lost last six road games; their last road win is March 31. LA had not won playoff series in 11 years before LY- they swept Blues 4-0 in LY's playoffs, as #8 seed in West. Kings are 9-3 last 12 series games, winning four of last five in St Louis; under is 3-1-1 in their last five games. St Louis won three in row, 12 of its last 15 games; they allowed one goal in each of last three games. LY was first time Blues had won series in decade, before getting swept by LA in second round. Under is 6-1-1 in Blues' last eight games.

Last year was first time in 11 years Detroit got KO'd in first round of playoffs; they won last four games this season to squeeze in playoffs, allowing three goals- six of last seven games stayed under total. Red Wings are 8-3 in last 11 games vs Anaheim, which won one playoff series in five years since winning Stanley Cup. Ducks won three of last four, with under 7-1-1 in their last nine games, but they've lost last three home games. Red Wings are 3-2 in last five visits here.




NHL

Tuesday, April 30

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Trend Report
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8:00 PM
LOS ANGELES vs. ST. LOUIS
Los Angeles is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Los Angeles is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of St. Louis's last 8 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of St. Louis's last 13 games

8:00 PM
MINNESOTA vs. CHICAGO
Minnesota is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Chicago is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing Minnesota
Chicago is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home

10:30 PM
DETROIT vs. ANAHEIM
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Detroit's last 9 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Anaheim's last 9 games when playing at home against Detroit
Anaheim is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Detroit

[StarDust Bum]

NHL

Tuesday, April 30

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NHL Eastern Conference playoff preview: Round 1
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The Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins were the runaway favorites to come out of the East and compete for Lord Stanley's mug a little over a month ago, but the balance of power evened out a bit in the NHL’s Eastern Conference during the final month of the shortened campaign.

Here's our Eastern Conference playoff preview:

No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 8 New York Islanders

Season series: Penguins won 4-1 SU, 2-2-1 over/under

Season prices: Penguins -600, Islanders +400

Why bet the Penguins: The Penguins have been the Stanley Cup favorites since odds were released and appear to be the beasts in the East. Even injuries to key cogs Evgeni Malkin, James Neal and captain Sidney Crosby didn’t slow the Pittsburgh attack down the stretch. The Pens have taken the last four meetings with the Islanders by a combined score of 16-5 and Crosby is on the mend.

Why bet the Islanders: The Islanders are huge underdogs in the series and have nothing to lose. John Tavares will be considered for the Hart Trophy after accumulating 47 points in 48 games and they can lean on the playoff experience of veteran goaltender Evgeni Nabokov.



No. 2 Montreal Canadiens vs. No. 7 Ottawa Senators

Season series: Tied 2-2 SU, 2-2 over/under

Season prices: Canadiens -200, Senators +160

Why bet the Canadiens: The Canadiens can rely on three lines to produce offense. Eight of Montreal’s nine forwards that make up those lines tallied at least 25 points during the regular season. The Habs will also feel like they have home advantage in every game of the series, as their raucous supporters will surely make the short trip to Ottawa to drown out Ottawa’s notoriously weak fan base.

Why bet the Senators: Craig Anderson. The Ottawa netminder led the league with a 1.69 GAA and .941 save percentage. Also, the return of reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson (Achilles) to the lineup has given the squad a huge morale boost heading into the playoffs.



No. 3 Washington Capitals vs. No. 6 New York Rangers

Season series: Tied 1-1 SU , 0-1-1 over/under

Season prices: Capitals -115, Rangers -115

Why bet the Capitals: The Caps aren’t getting much respect for prevailing out of the weak Southeast Division, but that could work to their advantage. Washington has failed miserably in past seasons in the role of the favorite and has been building some serious momentum down the stretch. The Capitals picked up wins in 11 of their final 13 games and Alex Ovechkin seems to have his head back in the game after a slow start.

Why bet the Rangers: The Rangers also thrived down the stretch, snatching wins in 10 of their final 14 contests (10-3-1). New York has a distinct advantage in goal with Henrik Lundqvist, who finished the season with a 2.05 GAA and .926 save percentage. These squads played an unforgettable second-round series in last year’s playoffs where every game but the first was decided by a single goal.



No. 4 Boston Bruins vs. No. 5 Toronto Maple Leafs

Season series: Bruins won 3-1 SU, 1-2-1 over/under

Season prices: Bruins -280, Maple Leafs +210

Why bet the Bruins: The Bruins took all six meetings with Toronto last season, outscoring the Leafs 36-10. And Boston took three of four from Toronto this year. The Bruins struggled down the stretch, but this physical team is built for the playoffs and has the ability to wear down any opponent.

Why bet the Maple Leafs: The Bruins are losers of seven of their last nine and have had very little rest down the stretch. Sunday’s finale with the Senators was their sixth game in eight days, which could work to the Maple Leafs' advantage. Toronto is playoff-bound for the first time since 2004 and has nearly 10 years’ worth of frustrations to take out on its opponents.


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NHL

Tuesday, April 30

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NHL Western Conference playoff preview: Round 1
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The NHL’s Western Conference playoffs are seemingly always a crapshoot because very little separates all eight teams that qualify for the playoffs.

The Los Angeles Kings were the darlings of last year’s playoffs and are back to defend their Stanley Cup title as the No. 5 seed, but everyone is talking about the Chicago Blackhawks and their dominance on ice this season.

Here is our Western Conference playoff preview:

No. 1 Chicago Blackhawks vs. No. 8 Minnesota Wild

Season series: Blackhawks won 3-2 SU, 1-4 over/under

Series prices: TBA

Why bet the Blackhawks: The Blackhawks are the Presidents’ Trophy winners for establishing the league’s best regular-season record. Chicago allowed a league-low two goals per game while netting 3.1 markers – the second-highest output in the NHL.

Why bet the Wild: The Wild haven't appeared in the playoffs since the 2007-08 season so their faithful are starved for playoff hockey. The frenzied Minnesota crowd is sure to make life difficult for Chicago at the Xcel Energy Center. The Wild outhit the Blackhawks in all three meetings (66-38 overall) and could wear down Chicago in a long series. The Blackhawks have lost in the first round of the playoffs the last two seasons after winning the Stanley Cup in 2010.


No. 2 Anaheim Ducks vs. No. 7 Detroit Red Wings

Season series: Red Wings won 2-1 SU, 2-1 over/under

Series prices: TBA

Why bet the Ducks: The Ducks are the Pacific Division champs and boast a two-headed monster in goal. Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth form a formidable one-two punch and coach Bruce Boudreau won’t hesitate to pull the trigger on a goaltender switch at any point in the series.

Why bet the Red Wings: The Wings have already been playing playoff-style hockey down the stretch in order to qualify for their 22nd consecutive postseason. Goaltender Jimmy Howard has posted two shutouts during Detroit’s current four-game win streak.


No. 3 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 6 San Jose Sharks

Season series: Sharks won 3-0 SU, 0-1-2 over/under

Series prices: TBA

Why bet the Canucks: When these squads last squared off in a playoff series two years ago during Vancouver's run to the Stanley Cup final, the Sharks had a significantly higher physical component going for them, with the likes of Ryane Clowe, Douglas Murray and Jamie McGinn. Vancouver has struggled against physical opponents at times throughout the regular season, but shouldn't be pushed around by San Jose. The Canucks have been cup contenders for the past few seasons, and boast a roster loaded with plenty of playoff experience.

Why bet the Sharks: The Sharks have one distinct advantage over the Canucks - a goaltender that boasts a Stanley Cup ring. Antti Niemi has been carrying the team all season long and has been there and done that in the NHL postseason. The Sharks also have an experienced core of forwards such as Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Joe Pavelski that will be out to change their reputations as chokers in the postseason.


No. 4 St. Louis Blues vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Kings

Season series: Kings won 3-0 SU, 2-0-1 over/under

Series prices: TBA

Why bet the Blues: The Blues fought hard down the stretch and won 12 of their final 15 contests to earn home-ice in the first round. They also have a hot goalie. Brian Elliott has returned to form, allowing just 16 goals in April on 305 shots (.948 save percentage). He also led the NHL in April with 11 wins and a 1.28 goals-against average.

Why bet the Kings: The Kings are the defending Stanley Cup champs. Los Angeles made history as the No. 8 seed last season and not having home-ice in any of the four rounds didn’t matter. The Kings will also welcome back captain Dustin Brown for Game 1 after he served a two-game suspension for an elbow on Minnesota’s Jason Pominville.


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NHL

Tuesday, April 30

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NHL futures review: Pens enter playoffs as slight faves
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Oddsmakers set their NHL futures odds way back in January and have now set lines for the final 16 teams vying for Lord Stanley’s mug.

Let’s take a look at look at some of the NHL’s biggest futures adjustments from the start of the season:

Pittsburgh Penguins – Opened: 8/1, Now: 3/1

The Penguins were temporarily bumped as the Stanley Cup frontrunners by the Chicago Blackhawks early in the season, but took back their position on top halfway through the campaign and haven’t looked back.

Chicago Blackhawks – Opened: 10/1, Now: 7/2

The Blackhawks’ ridiculous 24-game points streak to begin the shortened campaign put their futures odds on the move. The Presidents’ Trophy winners closed the campaign with wins in nine of their final 12 contests and are the clear-cut favorites to represent the West in the Stanley Cup Final.

Montreal Canadiens – Opened: 40/1, Now: 8/1

Oddsmakers had the Habs pegged as a bubble team to make the playoffs in January and certainly didn’t consider them Stanley Cup contenders. Just over three months later, Montreal has a Northeast Division title under its belt and will compete in the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the East.

Anaheim Ducks – Opened: 30/1, Now: 10/1

The Ducks found a gem in Viktor Fasth and now have another option in goal besides Jonas Hiller. The goaltending duo helped Anaheim coast to a Pacific Division title, contrary to what oddsmakers projected.

New York Islanders – Opened: 100/1, Now: 50/1

The Islanders showed signs at the end of the last season that they were ready to compete for a playoff spot, but that didn’t stop oddsmakers from opening them at 100/1 to win it all. Their odds would be much better if they didn’t draw the heavily-favored Penguins in the first round.


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NHL

Tuesday, April 30

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Blackhawks' Bolland, Emery out for Game 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chicago Blackhawks forward Dave Bolland and goaltender Ray Emery will not suit up against the Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Tuesday.

Both players are suffering from lower-body injuries and are considered day-to-day, according to Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville.

Bolland, who is a key two-way forward for the Hawks, has missed three consecutive games since sustaining the injury against the Vancouver Canucks on April 22. He has seven goals and seven helpers in 35 contests.

Emery has missed two straight games and Quenneville has announced that Henrik Karlsson will serve as backup to first-string goaltender Corey Crawford for Game 1. Emery has a 17-1-0 record with a 1.94 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage this campaign.

The Hawks opened as high as -250 favorites on the moneyline at some books and that number has been bet down to -220 as of Monday evening.

The total is set at 5.