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NHL
Sunday, January 26
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Expect road wins and low scores for outdoor NHL Stadium Series
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The NHL is preparing to invade Yankee Stadium for a pair of outdoor games Sunday and Wednesday, and fans and bettors alike should expect low-scoring affairs.
The NHL's Stadium Series kicks off Saturday with a game at Dodger Stadium between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks. But the focus will quickly shift to the East Coast, where the Rangers face New Jersey and the cross-town Islanders in a four-day span. They mark the second and third game of the series, with the fourth and final edition being played March 1 at Chicago's Soldier Field between the Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Players will notice a few significant differences between playing indoors and plying their trade in an open-air environment. Most notably, temperature fluctuations can play havoc with both the quality of the ice surface and the hardness of the puck.
Rangers forward Carl Hagelin acknowledges this, but isn't concerned.
"It's just like any other game," he told the New York Post last week. "The puck gets a little bit colder, so it bounces around a little bit more, but other than that, you play on your adrenaline and usually you can skate a lot more because it’s fresh air.”
If past history is any indication, the Yankee Stadium double-dip will make for prime Under bets. Temperatures for Sunday's game are expected to be in the mid-20s while Wednesday will see the mercury fall a few degrees colder with wind chill values potentially dipping below zero. Here's a look at the eight previous outdoor games, along with the relevant betting numbers:
November 22, 2003: Montreal 4 at Edmonton 3 (O/U: 5)
The first of two Heritage classics went to the visiting team, while the bone-chilling temperatures at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium didn't deter the teams from easily going Over.
January 1, 2008: Pittsburgh 2 at Buffalo 1 (SO) (O/U:5.5)
The Penguins edged the Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium, with the teams combining for 62 shots but still falling well below the total.
January 1, 2009: Detroit 6 at Chicago 4 (O/U:5.5)
The Red Wings made it three straight outdoor victories for the road team, prevailing in a Wrigley Field slugfest that remains the highest-scoring outdoor game in NHL history.
January 1, 2010: Philadelphia 1 at Boston 2 (OT) (O/U:5.5)
The Bruins provided the Fenway Park faithful with the first home victory at an outdoor contest, shading the Flyers in a thrilling overtime contest that saw the teams combine for just 51 shots.
January 1, 2011: Washington 3 at Pittsburgh 1 (O/U:6)
Despite a premium matchup featuring two of the league's most potent offenses, the Capitals and Penguins played to the Under in the Heinz Field showdown that will be best remembered for Sidney Crosby's career-altering concussion.
February 20, 2011: Montreal 0 at Calgary 4 (O/U:5)
The Flames earned the first shutout in NHL outdoor history, clinching an Under while giving the home side just its second victory in six outdoor games.
January 2, 2012: New York Rangers 3 at Philadelphia 2 (O/U)
Citizens Bank Park was the site of the Rangers' first taste of outdoor action, an entertaining victory over the Flyers. The teams narrowly missed surpassing the total despite combining for 69 shots.
January 1, 2014: Toronto 3 at Detroit 2 (SO) (O/U:5)
The Maple Leafs and Red Wings did battle at the Big House in front of a record crowd of more than 105,000 people; Toronto made it six wins in eight tries for the road team, while the clubs provided the first push in outdoor history.
Total: Road team 6-2-0; O/U 2-5-1
Sunday, January 26
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expect road wins and low scores for outdoor NHL Stadium Series
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The NHL is preparing to invade Yankee Stadium for a pair of outdoor games Sunday and Wednesday, and fans and bettors alike should expect low-scoring affairs.
The NHL's Stadium Series kicks off Saturday with a game at Dodger Stadium between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks. But the focus will quickly shift to the East Coast, where the Rangers face New Jersey and the cross-town Islanders in a four-day span. They mark the second and third game of the series, with the fourth and final edition being played March 1 at Chicago's Soldier Field between the Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Players will notice a few significant differences between playing indoors and plying their trade in an open-air environment. Most notably, temperature fluctuations can play havoc with both the quality of the ice surface and the hardness of the puck.
Rangers forward Carl Hagelin acknowledges this, but isn't concerned.
"It's just like any other game," he told the New York Post last week. "The puck gets a little bit colder, so it bounces around a little bit more, but other than that, you play on your adrenaline and usually you can skate a lot more because it’s fresh air.”
If past history is any indication, the Yankee Stadium double-dip will make for prime Under bets. Temperatures for Sunday's game are expected to be in the mid-20s while Wednesday will see the mercury fall a few degrees colder with wind chill values potentially dipping below zero. Here's a look at the eight previous outdoor games, along with the relevant betting numbers:
November 22, 2003: Montreal 4 at Edmonton 3 (O/U: 5)
The first of two Heritage classics went to the visiting team, while the bone-chilling temperatures at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium didn't deter the teams from easily going Over.
January 1, 2008: Pittsburgh 2 at Buffalo 1 (SO) (O/U:5.5)
The Penguins edged the Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium, with the teams combining for 62 shots but still falling well below the total.
January 1, 2009: Detroit 6 at Chicago 4 (O/U:5.5)
The Red Wings made it three straight outdoor victories for the road team, prevailing in a Wrigley Field slugfest that remains the highest-scoring outdoor game in NHL history.
January 1, 2010: Philadelphia 1 at Boston 2 (OT) (O/U:5.5)
The Bruins provided the Fenway Park faithful with the first home victory at an outdoor contest, shading the Flyers in a thrilling overtime contest that saw the teams combine for just 51 shots.
January 1, 2011: Washington 3 at Pittsburgh 1 (O/U:6)
Despite a premium matchup featuring two of the league's most potent offenses, the Capitals and Penguins played to the Under in the Heinz Field showdown that will be best remembered for Sidney Crosby's career-altering concussion.
February 20, 2011: Montreal 0 at Calgary 4 (O/U:5)
The Flames earned the first shutout in NHL outdoor history, clinching an Under while giving the home side just its second victory in six outdoor games.
January 2, 2012: New York Rangers 3 at Philadelphia 2 (O/U)
Citizens Bank Park was the site of the Rangers' first taste of outdoor action, an entertaining victory over the Flyers. The teams narrowly missed surpassing the total despite combining for 69 shots.
January 1, 2014: Toronto 3 at Detroit 2 (SO) (O/U:5)
The Maple Leafs and Red Wings did battle at the Big House in front of a record crowd of more than 105,000 people; Toronto made it six wins in eight tries for the road team, while the clubs provided the first push in outdoor history.
Total: Road team 6-2-0; O/U 2-5-1
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