Da Bum's 2014 NHL Playoff Best Bets- News,Stats-Trends !

[StarDust Bum]

Bruins top the final Power Rankings

Sixteen teams are left to battle it out for the right to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup, so check our pre-playoff rankings! The Flyers get a nice boost after a few big wins to close out the regular season as The Habs drop a few places due to their less than impressive recent form which cost them home-ice in the first round.

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Heading to playoffs, Bruins are faves to lift Stanley Cup

The NHL regular season has come to a close with the playoffs set to get underway Wednesday and it is the Boston Bruins who are favored to be lifting Lord Stanley's Cup over their heads come June.

After the Bruins red-hot run during the latter third of the season helped them claim just their second President's Cup trophy, Boston is now listed as the 7/2 favorite to win the Stanley Cup.

A trio of Western Conference teams have the next best odds to be crowned champions. The Chicago Blackhawks, the St. Louis Blues and the Colorado
Avalanche are all listed at 6/1. Here is a complete list of odds for all the teams who survived the regular season (odds courtesy LVH Superbook):

BRUINS 7/2
BLACKHAWKS 6/1
BLUES 6/1
AVALANCHE 6/1
PENGUINS 7/1
DUCKS 7/1
SHARKS 8/1
KINGS 12/1
RANGERS 20/1
CANADIENS 20/1
LIGHTNING 25/1
RED WINGS 30/1
FLYERS 30/1
BLUE JACKETS 50/1
WILD 50/1
STARS 50/1

[StarDust Bum]

Kings are the top under team this season

The Los Angeles Kings ended the NHL regular season as the league's top under team.

The Kings posted a 22-41-19 over/under record this season, thanks to the league's best defense. Los Angeles had a league best team goals against average of 2.0. They also allowed the second least shots per game at 26.2.

It also helped that the Kings only scored 2.4 goals per game, good for 26th in the league.

The Kings open the playoffs in San Jose against the Sharks Thursday.

[StarDust Bum]

Betting 101: How to safely bet the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs


The NHL playoffs, more so than any other sport’s postseason, are about as different from the regular season as you can get.

Teams that dominated during the regular schedule suddenly find themselves on the brink of elimination, and clubs that squeaked into the playoff picture can catch fire and ride a hot goalie all the way to the Stanley Cup.

In order to help hockey bettors navigate the upside-down world of postseason puck, we asked some of Covers Experts’ top handicappers to share their best tips, tactics, and trends when it comes to successfully wagering on the NHL’s second season.

Hot goaltenders

Like pitching in baseball, goaltending can singlehandedly win a playoff series. Year after year, hockey bettors witness incredible performances between the pipes and make a small mint riding these red-hot keepers.

On the other side of the coin, not having a proven No. 1 goalie can quickly put a wrap on the season – no matter how many goals a team can score. Covers Expert Jesse Schule points to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who were ushered out of the playoffs the past two years thanks to shaky play in the crease.

“When I'm looking to narrow down the field to legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, I always look at the goaltenders first,” agrees Covers Expert Sean Murphy. “Which ones are capable of carrying a team on their shoulders if need be? Who can steal a game, or even a series?”

Covers Expert Bryan Power uses the Los Angeles Kings as a prime example of a team that could ride their goaltender deep into the postseason. Jonathan Quick has proven his playoff mettle and makes the Kings a dangerous team as a No. 5 seed in the West.

“Despite having only the sixth most points in the Western Conference, the Kings are perceived to be a team you don't want to play as they have allowed the fewest goals this season,” notes Power.

Depth and toughness

Ever watch a hockey player get interviewed about his team’s deep postseason run? More often than not, the guy’s face looks like someone dropped a plate of spaghetti on the floor and then tried to sew it back together.

The NHL playoffs are a grueling challenge of teams’ overall talent and toughness. When a series goes six or seven games, the true depth of a roster is drawn to the surface.

Injuries can spoil a NHL bet faster than a Zdeno Chara slapshot and knowing which teams are healthy, getting healthy, and beat up entering the playoffs is a good way to gauge just where you should put your money.

“Some teams that were banged up earlier this season are healthy now and could perform better than expected, while the opposite could be true of teams suffering through multiple injuries at the moment,” says Covers Experts’ Doc’s Sports.

Teams that can get production from their third and fourth lines are the ones who survive, while clubs that rely on a few key players to carry the team often find themselves trading hockey sticks for golf clubs. Opponents draw up schemes to shadow and lock down these stars and force role players to beat them.

“It's important to consider depth,” says Murphy. “Which teams can roll four lines and get steady production from their role players? Unlike other sports, the NHL playoffs aren't all about the superstars. It's the grinders that often decide which team is left standing in June.”

Physicality also plays a major role in the outcome of the playoffs, with every hit looked at as an investment. Finesse teams can get worn down over the course of a series while teams that like to lay the lumber excel in the furious pace of the postseason.

“Some teams might not be the fastest and most skilled, but instead they out-work, out-hit, and physically dominate their opponents,” says Schule. “We've seen the Boston Bruins employ this tactic with great success in recent seasons.”

Road Warriors

Another big difference between the NHL playoffs and other sports’ tournaments is the importance - or lack thereof - when it comes to home ice.

In basketball and football, having the crowd on your side is crucial to a championship run. However, in hockey, bettors get great value with road teams in the postseason. Hot home teams like San Jose or Anaheim may be good fade bait while tough road clubs, like Colorado, can hold added pop on the road.

“Other than getting the final line change, there is really not much of an edge for the home team,” says Covers Expert Steve Merril. “Obviously, the crowd will be supporting them. But unlike the NBA, it does not influence officials as much, as penalties are normally called evenly and on an alternating makeup basis. NHL playoffs is the one sport where I feel home teams are generally overvalued, especially since travel is not a factor and both teams in a best-of-seven series have the same travel schedule.”

Covers Expert Ben Burns believes each NHL postseason game is unique and doesn't carry as much momentum from one contest to the next. Teams quickly make adjustments, line changes and roster moves based on the game before and can have a completely different feel when they face off next. A high-scoring Game 1 can produce a low-scoring Game 2 with teams tightening up on defense.

Special teams

Referees do tend to let a lot more slide in the postseason compared to regular season action, so it makes it even more important for teams to capitalize on those man-advantages when the whistle does blow.

“It is absolutely imperative to score on the power play, in order to discourage opponents from taking cheap shots at your best players,” says Schule.

Entering the postseason, the Penguins boast the top power-play attack in the league with 65 goals with the man advantage and a 23.4 power-play percentage. At the bottom of the scale, the Kings boast the lowest power-play percentage in the playoffs at 15.1 percent.

As for killing off those penalties, the St. Louis Blues didn’t get burned much with a man in the box ranking second in the NHL with an 85.7 penalty-kill percentage. The New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens followed them, killing off over 85 percent of their penalties. The Minnesota Wild, No. 7 in the West, has the worst PK among playoff teams at 78.8 percent.

[StarDust Bum]

2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1 schedule

Sunday, 04.13.2014 / 10:40 PM / Stanley Cup Playoffs


Below are dates, times, national broadcast information and results for the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Information on the U.S. broadcast for games later in the round will be released as it is determined.

All times listed are ET and subject to change.
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS
SERIES A - A1 vs. W2
TIME (ET) vs. NETWORKS
Friday, April 18 7:30 p.m. Detroit at Boston NBCSN, TSN
Sunday, April 20 3 p.m. Detroit at Boston NBC, TSN
Tuesday, April 22 7:30 p.m. Boston at Detroit NBCSN, TSN
Thursday, April 24 8 p.m. Boston at Detroit NBCSN, TSN
*Saturday, April 26 3 p.m. Detroit at Boston NBC, TSN
*Monday, April 28 TBD Boston at Detroit TSN
*Wednesday, April 30 TBD Detroit at Boston TSN

SERIES B - A2 vs. A3
TIME (ET) vs.
NETWORKS
Wednesday, April 16 7 p.m. Montreal at Tampa Bay CBC, RDS, CNBC
Friday, April 18 7 p.m. Montreal at Tampa Bay CBC, RDS, CNBC
Sunday, April 20 7 p.m. Tampa Bay at Montreal CBC, RDS, NBCSN
Tuesday, April 22 7 p.m. Tampa Bay at Montreal CBC, RDS, NHLN U.S.
*Thursday, April 24 7 p.m. Montreal at Tampa Bay CBC, RDS, CNBC
*Sunday, April 27 TBD Tampa Bay at Montreal CBC, RDS, NBCSN
Tuesday, April 29 TBD Montreal at Tampa Bay CBC, RDS

SERIES C - M1 vs. W1
TIME (ET) vs.
NETWORKS
Wednesday, April 16 7:30 p.m. Columbus at Pittsburgh NBCSN, CBC
Saturday, April 19 7 p.m. Columbus at Pittsburgh NBCSN, CBC
Monday, April 21 7 p.m. Pittsburgh at Columbus NBCSN, CBC
Wednesday, April 23 7 p.m. Pittsburgh at Columbus NBCSN, CBC
*Saturday, April 26 TBD Columbus at Pittsburgh CBC
*Monday, April 28 TBD Pittsburgh at Columbus CBC
*Wednesday, April 30 TBD Columbus at Pittsburgh CBC

SERIES D - M2 vs. M3
TIME (ET) vs.
NETWORKS
Thursday, April 17 7 p.m. Philadelphia at NY Rangers CNBC, TSN
Sunday, April 20 Noon Philadelphia at NY Rangers NBC, TSN
Tuesday, April 22 8 p.m. NY Rangers at Philadelphia CNBC, TSN
Friday, April 25 7 p.m. NY Rangers at Philadelphia CNBC, TSN
*Sunday, April 27 Noon Philadelphia at NY Rangers NBC, TSN
*Tuesday, April 29 TBD NY Rangers at Philadelphia TSN
*Wednesday, April 30 TBD Philadelphia at NY Rangers TSN

WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS
SERIES E - C1 vs. W1
TIME (ET) vs. NETWORKS
Thursday, April 17 9:30 p.m. Minnesota at Colorado CNBC, TSN
Saturday, April 19 9:30 p.m. Minnesota at Colorado NBCSN, TSN
Monday, April 21 7 p.m. Colorado at Minnesota NHLN U.S., TSN
Thursday, April 24 9:30 p.m. Colorado at Minnesota CNBC, TSN2
*Saturday, April 26 TBD Minnesota at Colorado TSN
*Monday, April 28 TBD Colorado at Minnesota TSN
*Wednesday, April 30 TBD Minnesota at Colorado TSN

SERIES F - C2 vs. C3
TIME (ET) vs. NETWORKS
Thursday, April 17 8 p.m. Chicago at St. Louis NBCSN, CBC
Saturday, April 19 3 p.m. Chicago at St. Louis NBC, CBC
Monday, April 21 8:30 p.m. St. Louis at Chicago CNBC, CBC
Wednesday, April 23 9:30 p.m. St. Louis at Chicago NBCSN, CBC
*Friday, April 25 8 p.m. Chicago at St. Louis NBCSN, CBC
*Sunday, April 27 3 p.m. St. Louis at Chicago NBC, CBC
*Tuesday, April 29 TBD Chicago at St. Louis CBC

SERIES G - P1 vs. W2
TIME (ET) vs.
NETWORKS
Wednesday, April 16 10 p.m. Dallas at Anaheim NBCSN, TSN
Friday, April 18 10 p.m. Dallas at Anaheim NBCSN, TSN
Monday, April 21 9:30 p.m. Anaheim at Dallas NBCSN, TSN
Wednesday, April 23 8 p.m. Anaheim at Dallas CNBC, TSN
*Friday, April 25 10:30 p.m. Dallas at Anaheim NBCSN, TSN
*Sunday, April 27 TBD Anaheim at Dallas TSN
*Tuesday, April 29 TBD Dallas at Anaheim TSN

SERIES H - P2 vs. P3
TIME (ET) vs. NETWORKS
Thursday, April 17 10:30 p.m. Los Angeles at San Jose NBCSN, CBC
Sunday, April 20 10 p.m. Los Angeles at San Jose NBCSN, CBC
Tuesday, April 22 10 p.m. San Jose at Los Angeles NBCSN, CBC
Thursday, April 24 10:30 p.m. San Jose at Los Angeles NBCSN, CBC
*Saturday, April 26 TBD Los Angeles at San Jose NBCSN, CBC
*Monday, April 28 TBD San Jose at Los Angeles CBC
*Wednesday, April 30 TBD Los Angeles at San Jose CBC

* - if necessary

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Dunkel

Montreal at Tampa Bay
The Canadiens open up their first round series in Tampa Bay on Wednesday and come into the contest with a 9-1 record in their last 10 games versus Atlantic Division opponents. Montreal is the pick (+105) according to Dunkel, which has the Canadiens favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Montreal (+105). Here are all of Wednesday's and Thursday's playoff picks.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16

Game 51-52: Montreal at Tampa Bay (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Montreal 12.200; Tampa Bay 11.293
Dunkel Line & Total: Montreal by 1; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Tampa Bay (-125); 5
Dunkel Pick: Montreal (+105); Over

Game 53-54: Columbus at Pittsburgh (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Columbus 11.439; Pittsburgh 12.866
Dunkel Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Pittsburgh (-175); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-175); Under

Game 55-56: Dallas at Anaheim (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Dallas 11.311; Anaheim 12.792
Dunkel Line & Total: Anaheim by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Anaheim (-185); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Anaheim (-185); Under


THURSDAY, APRIL 17

Game 57-58: Philadelphia at NY Rangers (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia 11.151; NY Rangers 12.598
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Rangers by 1 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: NY Rangers (-150); 5
Dunkel Pick: NY Rangers (-150); Over

Game 59-60: Chicago at St. Louis (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 12.954; St. Louis 11.906
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 1; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: St. Louis (-135); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (+115); Under

Game 61-62: Minnesota at Colorado (9:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 12.239; Colorado 11.323
Dunkel Line & Total: Minnesota by 1; 4
Vegas Line & Total: Colorado (-145); 5
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+125); Under

Game 63-64: Los Angeles at San Jose (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 11.653; San Jose 12.978
Dunkel Line & Total: San Jose by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: San Jose (-145); 4 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Jose (-145); Over




NHL
Long Sheet

Wednesday, April 16

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MONTREAL (46-28-0-8, 100 pts.) at TAMPA BAY (46-27-0-9, 101 pts.) - 4/16/2014, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TAMPA BAY is 164-177 ATS (+427.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1996.
MONTREAL is 18-10 ATS (+6.5 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 5-5-0 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.7 Units)

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COLUMBUS (43-32-0-7, 93 pts.) at PITTSBURGH (51-24-0-7, 109 pts.) - 4/16/2014, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 168-125 ATS (+23.3 Units) when playing with 2 days rest since 1996.
COLUMBUS is 43-39 ATS (+3.5 Units) in all games this season.
COLUMBUS is 26-16 ATS (+8.2 Units) second half of the season this season.
COLUMBUS is 8-4 ATS (+13.5 Units) in road games revenging a home loss versus opponent this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 6-0 (+6.0 Units) against the spread versus COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 6-0-0 straight up against COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.2 Units)

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DALLAS (40-31-0-11, 91 pts.) at ANAHEIM (54-20-0-8, 116 pts.) - 4/16/2014, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ANAHEIM is 54-28 ATS (+85.7 Units) in all games this season.
ANAHEIM is 9-1 ATS (+7.8 Units) revenging a home loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
ANAHEIM is 176-133 ATS (+34.8 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent since 1996.
ANAHEIM is 19-7 ATS (+8.4 Units) after a 3 game unbeaten streak this season.
ANAHEIM is 28-10 ATS (+12.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 9-5 (+5.6 Units) against the spread versus ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 9-5-0 straight up against ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
8 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.1 Units)

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Thursday, April 17

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PHILADELPHIA (42-30-0-10, 94 pts.) at NY RANGERS (45-31-0-6, 96 pts.) - 4/17/2014, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NY RANGERS are 16-8 ATS (+5.7 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
NY RANGERS are 14-17 ATS (-8.2 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
NY RANGERS are 186-188 ATS (-106.1 Units) in home games second half of the season since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 104-109 ATS (-60.7 Units) in home games vs. division opponents since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 12-21 ATS (-9.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
NY RANGERS is 11-3 (+7.8 Units) against the spread versus PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
NY RANGERS is 11-3-0 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 14 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.4 Units)

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CHICAGO (46-21-0-15, 107 pts.) at ST LOUIS (52-23-0-7, 111 pts.) - 4/17/2014, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 18-22 ATS (-16.7 Units) second half of the season this season.
CHICAGO is 13-16 ATS (-12.7 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
CHICAGO is 5-19 ATS (-16.6 Units) in road games after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO is 6-13 ATS (-9.5 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ST LOUIS is 2-6 ATS (-9.8 Units) in April games this season.
ST LOUIS is 9-12 ATS (+9.0 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 9-6 (+2.1 Units) against the spread versus ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 9-6-0 straight up against ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
8 of 15 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.1 Units)

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MINNESOTA (43-27-0-12, 98 pts.) at COLORADO (52-22-0-8, 112 pts.) - 4/17/2014, 9:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 52-30 ATS (+90.1 Units) in all games this season.
COLORADO is 28-15 ATS (+43.1 Units) second half of the season this season.
COLORADO is 19-9 ATS (+7.9 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
MINNESOTA is 23-17 ATS (+5.6 Units) second half of the season this season.
MINNESOTA is 23-12 ATS (+10.7 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
COLORADO is 120-114 ATS (-43.5 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5 or less since 1996.
COLORADO is 95-107 ATS (-63.6 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
COLORADO is 8-7 (+0.1 Units) against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
COLORADO is 8-7-0 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
8 of 13 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.2 Units)

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LOS ANGELES (46-28-0-8, 100 pts.) at SAN JOSE (51-22-0-9, 111 pts.) - 4/17/2014, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 4-13 ATS (+17.1 Units) in road games after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 13-2 ATS (+9.9 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5 or less over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 105-67 ATS (-10.2 Units) in April games since 1996.
SAN JOSE is 30-14 ATS (+30.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
SAN JOSE is 14-4 ATS (+8.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 10-10 (+0.3 Units) against the spread versus SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
SAN JOSE is 10-10-0 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
10 of 17 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.4 Units)

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Friday, April 18

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DETROIT (39-28-0-15, 93 pts.) at BOSTON (54-19-0-9, 117 pts.) - 4/18/2014, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 54-28 ATS (+88.9 Units) in all games this season.
DETROIT is 98-57 ATS (+23.7 Units) in road games after a non-conference game since 1996.
BOSTON is 168-141 ATS (-37.8 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.
BOSTON is 78-72 ATS (-59.7 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 4-1 (+4.0 Units) against the spread versus BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 4-1-0 straight up against BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.9 Units)

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MONTREAL (46-28-0-8, 100 pts.) at TAMPA BAY (46-27-0-9, 101 pts.) - 4/18/2014, 7:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 5-5-0 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.7 Units)

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DALLAS (40-31-0-11, 91 pts.) at ANAHEIM (54-20-0-8, 116 pts.) - 4/18/2014, 10:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 9-5 (+5.6 Units) against the spread versus ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 9-5-0 straight up against ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
8 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.1 Units)

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NHL

Wednesday, April 16

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
MONTREAL vs. TAMPA BAY
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Montreal's last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay
Montreal is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 7 games at home
Tampa Bay is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games at home

7:30 PM
COLUMBUS vs. PITTSBURGH
Columbus is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Columbus's last 17 games when playing Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Columbus
Pittsburgh is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Columbus

10:00 PM
DALLAS vs. ANAHEIM
Dallas is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games on the road
Anaheim is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Anaheim's last 10 games

[StarDust Bum]

Playoff Series Odds posted

April 14, 2014


Playoff Series Prices First Round - Best of 7 Games (2-2-1-1-1)

Eastern Conference

Canadiens -115
Lightning -115

Blue Jackets +210
Penguins -265

Flyers +105
Rangers -135

Red Wings +260
Bruins -340

Western Conference

Stars +170
Ducks -210

Blackhawks -105
Blues -125

Kings +120
Sharks -150

Wild +125
Avalanche -155

Odds to win the 2013-14 Stanley Cup

Boston Bruins 3/1
Colorado Avalanche 6/1
St. Louis Blues 6/1
Chicago Blackhawks 6/1
Anaheim Ducks 7/1
Pittsburgh Penguins 7/1
San Jose Sharks 8/1
Los Angeles Kings 12/1
Montreal Canadiens 20/1
New York Rangers 20/1
Tampa Bay Lightning 25/1
Detroit Red Wings 25/1
Philadelphia Flyers 30/1
Columbus Blue Jackets 50/1
Minnesota Wild 50/1
Dallas Stars 50/1

Odds to win the 2013-14 Eastern Conference

Boston Bruins 11/10
Pittsburgh Penguins 5/2
Montreal Canadiens 8/1
New York Rangers 8/1
Tampa Bay Lightning 11/1
Philadelphia Flyers 13/1
Detroit Red Wings 13/1
Columbus Blue Jackets 20/1

Odds to win the 2013-14 Western Conference

Colorado Avalanche 7/2
St. Louis Blues 7/2
Chicago Blackhawks 7/2
Anaheim Ducks 4/1
San Jose Sharks 5/1
Los Angeles Kings 7/1
Minnesota Wild 30/1
Dallas Stars 30/1

[StarDust Bum]

First Round Cheat Sheet

April 13, 2014


Key:
A – Atlantic
M – Metropolitan
C – Central
P – Pacific
W – Wild Card

Eastern Conference

1A Boston vs. 2W Detroit

Bruins: 54-18-9, 117 points
Red Wings: 38-28-15, 91 points

Season series: The Wings took three of four meetings from the Bruins, including both matchups at Joe Louis Arena. The ‘under’ went 2-1-1 in the four games, as the teams met only once since December.

Previous playoff outcome: Detroit squandered a 3-1 series lead in last season’s second round defeat to Chicago. The Bruins made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals after knocking out the Maple Leafs, Rangers, and Penguins, but Boston fell in six games to Chicago in the final round.

1M Pittsburgh vs. 1W Columbus

Penguins: 51-24-6, 108 points
Blue Jackets: 43-32-7, 93 points

Season series: The Pens swept the five-game series, including three victories at Nationwide Arena. Three time the Jackets were limited to one goal or less, while the ‘under’ went 3-2.

Previous playoff outcome: The Blue Jackets are in the postseason for just the second time in franchise history, as Columbus was swept in the opening round by Detroit in 2009. The Penguins eliminated the Islanders and Senators in the first two rounds of last season’s playoffs, but were swept by the Bruins in the Eastern Conference Finals.

2M N.Y. Rangers vs. 3M Philadelphia

Rangers: 45-31-6, 96 points
Flyers: 42-30-9, 93 points

Season series: The two teams split the four-game set, with the home team winning each time. The ‘under’ went 2-1-1, while the losing team scored two goals or less in the four games.

Previous playoff outcome: The Flyers are back in the postseason for the first time since 2012, when they were knocked out by the Devils in the second round in five games. The Rangers held off the Capitals in seven games of last season’s opening round before getting eliminated by the Bruins. Philadelphia faces New York in the playoffs for the first time since the 1997 Eastern Conference Finals, when the Flyers won in five games.

2A Tampa Bay vs. 3A Montreal

Lightning: 46-27-9, 101 points
Canadiens: 46-28-8, 100 points

Season series: The Bolts won three of four meetings, including both visits to the Bell Center as an underdog. All four matchups finished ‘under’ the total, while three games were decided by a 2-1 score.

Previous playoff outcome: The Lightning returns to the postseason for the first time since advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2012 as the Lightning lost to the Bruins in seven games. The Canadiens were bounced by the Senators in five games of the first round last season, while Montreal was swept by Tampa Bay in the 2004 second round in the only meeting between these two teams in the playoffs.

Western Conference

1C Colorado vs. 1W Minnesota

Avalanche: 52-22-7, 111 points
Wild: 43-26-12, 98 points

Season series: The Avalanche beat the Wild four of five times, with the lone loss coming in the shootout. Three of the five games were decided by one goal, while the final two meetings sailed ‘over’ the total.

Previous playoff outcome: Colorado is back in the playoff for the first time since 2010, when the Avs were bounced in the opening round by San Jose in six games. The Wild is making their fifth playoff appearance in franchise history, as Minnesota lost in five games to eventual champion Chicago last season.

1P Anaheim vs. 2W Dallas

Ducks: 53-20-8, 114 points
Stars: 40-30-11, 91 points

Season series: The top-seeded Ducks lost two of three matchups to the Stars, including a 2-0 home defeat in early February as a -200 favorite. Two of the three games went ‘over’ the total, with finals of 6-3 occurring twice.

Previous playoff outcome: Anaheim blew a 3-2 series lead to Detroit in the first round last season as the Ducks fell in seven games. The Stars qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2008, as Dallas made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals before losing in six games to Detroit. In that same postseason, the Stars eliminated the Ducks in the opening round in six games.

2P San Jose vs. 3P Los Angeles

Sharks: 51-22-9, 111 points
Kings: 46-28-8, 100 points

Season series: The Kings won three of five matchups, while the road team won just once, as Los Angeles grabbed a 1-0 triumph at the SAP Center in late January.

Previous playoff outcome: L.A. eliminated San Jose in seven games of the second round last season as the home team won each time. The Kings fell short to the Blackhawks in five games of the Western Conference Finals.

2C St. Louis vs. 3C Chicago

Blues: 52-23-7, 111 points
Blackhawks: 46-21-15, 107 points

Season series: The Blues grabbed three of five matchups, but the Blackhawks claimed the final two at home by a combined score of 8-2. The first three contests were decided by one goal with the Blues winning in the shootout twice.

Previous playoff outcome: The Blackhawks took home the Stanley Cup last summer by knocking off the Wild, Red Wings, Kings, and Bruins. St. Louis blew a 2-0 lead in last season’s opening round with Los Angeles, falling 4-2. The last time Chicago and St. Louis met up in the postseason, the Blues advanced in five games of the first round in 2002.

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NHL

Wednesday, April 16

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NHL Eastern Conference playoff betting preview: Round 1
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The Boston Bruins are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference after capturing the Presidents' Trophy with 54 wins and 117 points. The 2012 Stanley Cup champions will look to make their third final appearance in four seasons, but could face some stiff competition from the Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens.

Here's our Eastern Conference first-round playoff preview:

Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings

Season series: Red Wings won 3-1 SU, 1-2-1 over/under
Series prices: Bruins -300, Red Wings +240

Why bet the Bruins: Boston was the class of the league at both ends of the ice, finishing third in the NHL with 261 goals for while surrendering the second-fewest goals against (177). That plus-84 differential was 42 better than any other team in the East; Detroit was a -8 by comparison. Add in the Bruins' 31-7-3 home mark and it's clear they're the team to beat in the East.

Why bet the Red Wings: Detroit gave the powerhouse Bruins one of the toughest times of any team in the league, winning three of four regular-season meetings while outscoring Boston 13-10 over that stretch. The Red Wings handed the Bruins one of their seven regulation home losses while posting an admirable 18-13-10 mark at Joe Louis Arena. If Detroit can steal one of the first two games, it may be able to pull off the upset.


Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens

Season series: Lightning won 3-1 SU, 0-4 over/under
Series prices: Lightning -120, Canadiens +100

Why bet the Lightning: Tampa Bay not only dominated the head-to-head series with the Canadiens, it surged past Montreal for home-ice advantage on the strength of a season-ending four-game winning streak. Electrifying forward Steven Stamkos scored 25 goals in 37 regular-season games and appears to have recovered nicely from his broken leg, while rookie Ondrej Palat surprised most with a 59-point freshman campaign.

Why bet the Canadiens: Bet against Carey Price at your peril. Price solidified his place as one of the world's top big-game netminder in leading Canada to gold at the Sochi Olympics in February, and put together a solid regular season (34-20-5, 2.32 GAA, .927 SV%) despite struggling with consistency. Max Pacioretty finished the year with nine goals over his final 11 games, and his 39 on the year ranked him fourth in the NHL.


Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

Season series: Penguins won 5-0 SU, 3-2 over/under
Series prices: Penguins -235, Blue Jackets +195

Why bet the Penguins: Pittsburgh dominated the head-to-head series in 2013-14, winning all five meetings - three by more than one goal. The Penguins have the league's scoring leader in Sidney Crosby and a host of other scoring options at their disposal, while finishing in the top-five league-wide in power-play success (first, 23.4 percent) and penalty-killing efficiency (fifth, 85 percent).

Why bet the Blue Jackets: Marc-Andre Fleury may not wear a Columbus jersey, but he could be the Blue Jackets' biggest asset. The Pittsburgh netminder has a notoriously poor postseason track record - punctuated by a 4.63 goals-against average in 2011-12 and a 3.52 GAA last year - and has been a popular lightning rod for fans who have seen their team go five years without reaching the final.


New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Season series: Tied 2-2 SU, 1-2-1 over/under
Series prices: Rangers -145, Flyers +125

Why bet the Rangers: New York's perennially underrated defense is no longer going unnoticed: the Rangers were one of only two East teams to allow fewer than 200 goals this season, leading to a plus-25 goal differential that tied Tampa Bay for third in the conference. New York also boasted an impressive 25-14-2 mark away from Madison Square Garden, making it a dangerous foe both at home and on the road.

Why bet the Flyers: The Philadelphia offense caught fire at just the right time, finishing second only to the Bruins in goals per game after the Olympic break (3.22) while scoring the sixth-most power-play goals (16) in that span. Superstar forward Claude Giroux finished third in league scoring with 86 points and gives the Flyers a decided edge in scoring; Rangers deadline acquisition Martin St. Louis has just eight points in 19 games with New York.

[StarDust Bum]

NHL

Wednesday, April 16

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NHL Western Conference playoff betting preview: Round 1
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The Anaheim Ducks are the best of a crowded lot atop the Western Conference playoffs. Anaheim wrapped a sensational season with a conference-best 54 victories and 116 points, but face a challenging road to the Stanley Cup final. Colorado, San Jose and St. Louis all finished with more than 110 points while Chicago and Los Angeles rounded out the 100-point club.

Here's our Western Conference playoff preview:

Anaheim Ducks vs. Dallas Stars

Season series: Stars won 2-1 SU, 2-1 over/under
Series prices: Ducks -185, Stars +165

Why bet the Ducks: Anaheim's 1-2 punch of center Ryan Getzlaf (87 points) and winger Corey Perry (82) finished second and fifth, respectively, in league scoring and guided the Ducks to the second-best offense in the NHL (266 goals). The Ducks tied St. Louis for the No. 2 goal differential in the league at plus-57, and finished the season on a high, reeling off four consecutive victories to corral the No. 1 seed in the West.

Why bet the Stars: Dallas gave the Ducks all sorts of problems in the regular season, winning two of three meetings and handing Anaheim one of its worst losses of the season - a 6-3 defeat back on Nov. 26. The Stars were one of the toughest home foes in the entire league, posting a 23-11-7 mark in their own building. Forward Tyler Seguin, who enjoyed a breakout season with 37 goals, could make life miserable for the Ducks defense.


San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings

Season series: Kings won 3-2 SU, 1-2-2 over/under
Series prices: Sharks -145, Kings +125

Why bet the Sharks: No team in the West won more games in their own arena than the Sharks, who tied Anaheim with 29 home victories while earning 63 of a possible 82 points there. Offensive stars Joe Pavelski (41 goals, third-best in NHL) and Joe Thornton (65 assists, second) paced a potent attack that produced the fourth-most goals in the conference, while Antti Niemi (39-17-7, 2.39 GAA, .913 SV%) starred in goal.

Why bet the Kings: Los Angeles had San Jose's number in the regular season, losing just once in regulation while limiting them to just three goals in their final three encounters. The Kings' stout defense and goaltending limited opponents to the fewest goals in the conference (174) by a sizeable margin - and was particularly stingy after the Olympic break, allowing an average of 1.91 goals per contest.


Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild

Season series: Avalanche won 4-1 SU, 2-2-1 over/under
Series prices: Avalanche -135, Wild +115

Why bet the Avalanche: No team in the NHL had a better road mark than Colorado, which went 26-11-4 away from home - mirroring its record at the Pepsi Center. Few clubs in the conference boast the balanced scoring of the Avalanche; five players reached the 20-goal plateau, while another five scored between 10 and 19 goals. Netminder Semyon Varlamov (41-14-6, 2.41 GAA, .927 SV%) emerged as a Vezina Trophy candidate.

Why bet the Wild: Minnesota comes into the post-season with plenty of momentum, having gone 6-1-1 to close out the regular season. Enigmatic goalie Ilya Bryzgalov was sensational down the stretch, allowing two goals or fewer in five straight games bridging March and April - including consecutive shutouts over Pittsburgh and Winnipeg. If he outplays Varlamov, the Wild have a chance at the upset.


St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Season series: Blues win 3-2 SU, 2-3 over/under
Series prices: Blues -115, Blackhawks -105

Why bet the Blues: St. Louis positioned itself as a force throughout the regular season thanks to a well-balanced offense and a stingy defense before collapsing down the stretch to see its chances of the No. 1 seed disappear. Netminder Ryan Miller is better than his 0-5-0 record over the final nine days suggests, and the Blues' special teams (eighth in power-play %, second in penalty-kill %) gives them a big advantage in non-5-on-5 situations.

Why bet the Blackhawks: The defending champions know what is required to succeed over the gruelling Stanley Cup playoff stretch, and were able to allow star forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to recover from injury - and earn some extra rest - heading into the post-season. Chicago boasts one of the league's top offenses (3.2 goals per game), and a rejuvenated Toews and Kane may tilt the series in Chicago's favor.

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NHL

Wednesday, April 16

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Wednesday's NHL playoffs betting news and notes
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Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (-119, 5)

Carey Price tuned up for the playoffs with a 41-save shutout - his sixth of the season - in a 1-0 victory over the New York Rangers in the season finale en route to posting a career-best .927 save percentage, but he'll need help from an offense that received a jolt with the trade-deadline acquisition of Thomas Vanek from the New York Islanders. The Canadiens' top line of Vanek, Max Pacioretty (career-high 39 goals) and David Desharnais combined for 18 tallies and 23 assists in 41 games.

The biggest question mark for the Lightning is the health of starting goaltender Ben Bishop, who missed the final three contests of the regular season and will not be available for at least Game 1. Anders Lindback was magnificent in his place, going 3-0-0 and earning the NHL's First Star of the Week. Lindback allowed only two goals in his last three appearances and registered his only shutout of the campaign by blanking Washington in the regular-season finale.

TRENDS:

* Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
* Road team is 5-2 in the last seven meetings.
* Canadiens are 9-1 in their last 10 games vs. the Atlantic Division.


Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (-174, 5.5)

Columbus' previous playoff experience was over in the blink of an eye as Detroit unceremoniously swept the Blue Jackets in the first round of the 2009 postseason. The 21-year-old Ryan Johansen obviously was not involved in that series, but he would like a longer stay for Columbus this time around as he enters the series with a team-leading 33 goals and 63 points.

Former Hart Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin (foot) joined fellow injured center Joe Vitale (mid-body) on the ice for Tuesday's practice, but Bylsma wasn't making any declarations about either player's availability. Sidney Crosby scored two goals and set up five others in the season series, registering a three-point performance (one tally, two assists) in his team's 5-3 win on Dec. 29.

TRENDS:

* Over is 12-5 in the last 17 meetings.
* Blue Jackets are 1-6 in their last seven meetings in Pittsburgh.
* Blue Jackets are 0-6 in the last six meetings.


Dallas Stars vs. Anaheim Ducks (-163, 5.5)

Check back later for more info.

TRENDS:

* Over is 13-5 in the last 18 meetings in Anaheim.
* Stars are 13-5 in their last 18 games vs. the Pacific.
* Ducks are 5-1 in their last six games vs. the Central.

[StarDust Bum]

NHL

Wednesday, April 16

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Three goalies who could lead their teams to the Stanley Cup
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The quest for the Stanley Cup often comes down to which team has the hottest goaltender - and this year will be no exception.

With several teams sporting sensational netminding, don't be surprised to see a handful of under-the-radar clubs make some noise on the way to the Stanley Cup final. And if past history is any indication, all it takes to swing a series is a goalie on a hot streak.

Here are three teams that could steal a series or two on the strength of their sensational goaltending (Stanley Cup odds courtesy Bet365):

Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings (+1,400)

Quick is no stranger to the Stanley Cup grind, having led the Kings to an unlikely Stanley Cup championship in 2012 on the strength of some eye-popping play (16-4, 1.41 goals-against average, .946 save percentage). The 28 year old was nearly as good last year, posting a 1.86 GAA and a .934 save percentage, but didn't get much help from his offense. Yet, as Quick has proven in the past, he doesn't need much goal-scoring in front of him to steal a win. And that should scare his opponents, starting with the San Jose Sharks in Round 1.


Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens (+2,000)

Price has already faced big-game pressure this year, leading Team Canada to gold at the Sochi Olympics in February. He carried that momentum into the closing weeks of the season, going 8-3-0 with a 2.28 GAA, a .932 save percentage and two shutouts in 11 starts after the tournament. Price faces more pressure than most of his peers thanks to the rabid Montreal fan base, but he has already proven his big-game mettle and has certainly been playing well enough to do it again.


Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets (+5,000)

The Blue Jackets won't be favored in many categories ahead of their first-round matchup with the powerhouse Pittsburgh Penguins, but they should be able to measure up in the goaltending department. Bobrovsky had another terrific season and the defending Vezina Trophy winner, was especially dangerous down the stretch, going 5-1-1 with a 1.82 GAA and a .945 save percentage in April. With the Penguins' Marc-Andre Fleury a notoriously shaky goalie in the postseason, don't be surprised to see Columbus make things interesting thanks to the play between the pipes.

[StarDust Bum]

NHL

Wednesday, April 16


Lightning goalie Ben Bishop, out Wednesday

Bishop left the game on April 8th with an elbow injury and missed the remainder of the regular season. An MRI revealed no structural damage, but he will not play in Game 1 against the Canadiens on Wednesday.


Panthers win NHL draft lottery

The Florida Panthers, who finished with the second-worst record in the NHL this season, won the league's draft lottery Tuesday.

Florida will make the first overall pick in the draft to be held June 27-28 in Philadelphia.

The Panthers owned an 18.8 percent chance of landing the top pick after finishing 29-45-8. The Buffalo Sabres, who had a 25 percent opportunity in the lottery, are coming off a 21-51-10 season. They will select second.

Rounding out the top five will be the Edmonton Oilers (29-44-9), the Calgary Flames (35-40-7) and the New York Islanders (34-37-11).

The other draft selections that were determined Tuesday: No. 6 Vancouver Canucks, No. 7 Carolina Hurricanes, No. 8 Toronto Maple Leafs, No. 9 Winnipeg Jets, No. 10 Anaheim Ducks (from the Ottawa Senators), No. 11 Nashville Predators, No. 12 Phoenix Coyotes and No. 13 Washington Capitals.


Favored Bruins see slight bump in Cup odds

The Boston Bruins' odds to win the Stanley Cup come June have improved slightly since playoff odds were released and are still favored to hoist the coveted trophy above their heads come June.

The Bruins, who were previously 7/2 favorites to win the cup, now sit at 3/1, but they weren't the only team to see movement in their odds.

The Blackhawks went from 6/1 to 7/1, the Blues went from 6/1 to 8/1 and the Avalanche went from 6/1 to 10/1. Meanwhile a couple of dark horse team saw an improvement in their odds. The Wild jumped from 50/1 to 25/1, the Stars went from 50/1 to 30/1 and the Blue Jackets moved from 50/1 to 40/1.


Flyers sign MacDonald to six-year extension

The Philadelphia Flyers signed defenseman Andrew MacDonald to a six-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday.

Financial terms of the contract were not released but multiple media reports placed the total value at $30 million.

"We kind of hashed it out a couple different ways," MacDonald told NHL.com. "Ended up finishing on six (years), and I felt like a good, long-term commitment was great for me and they agreed with it. Obviously it's a big commitment for them, a big commitment for me. It's a good deal."

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound MacDonald was acquired by the Flyers from the New York Islanders on March 4 in exchange for forward Matt Mangene, a third-round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, and a second-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

MacDonald, 27, appeared in 19 games for the Flyers, recording four assists, while averaging 22:00 in ice time per game.

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NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, April 16

Lightning won three of four vs Montreal this season, splitting pair here; Canadiens are 3-1 in last four visits here, with last five series games staying under total. Tampa won its last four games, allowing four goals; this is their second playoff appearance in last seven years-- they lost in 7th game of conference final in '11. Montreal last won playoff series in '10, losing in first round two of last three years- they won seven of last ten games, four of six on road.

Columbus has never won a playoff game, losing 4-0 to Detroit in '09, its only playoff trip; Blue Jackets won four of last five games overall, with seven of their last nine staying under total. Columbus lost its last six games with Pittsburgh, scoring seven goals in five losses this year. Penguins are 2-2 in first round series since winning Cup in '10; they're 3-4 in last seven games but are 29-12 at home this season- their last four games went to OT or SO.

Ducks haven't won playoff series since first round in '09; they're 1-3 in first round since '07, when they won only Cup title. Anaheim won last four games overall; they're 30-10 at home- seven of their last ten games overall went over. Ducks lost three of last four games with the Stars- six of last nine series games stayed under. Dallas is in playoffs for first time in last six years; they won six of last ten games, with six of last seven games staying under the total.

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday, April 16

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Montreal - 7:00 PM ET Montreal +115 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Tampa Bay - Under 5 500

Columbus - 7:30 PM ET Columbus +165 500 *****
Pittsburgh - Over 5.5 500 *****

Dallas - 10:00 PM ET Anaheim -174 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Anaheim - Under 5.5 500