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

[StarDust Bum]

2014 Playoff Results

May 27, 2014

Betting Results

Conference Finals
Wager Results
Favorites-Underdogs 6-3
Home-Away 5-4
Puck-Line Favorites 4-2
Over-Under 5-2-2


Eastern Conference Finals

Key: A (Atlantic) M (Metropolitan) W (Wild Card)

(M2) N.Y. Rangers vs. (A3) Montreal
Game Matchup Score Favorite-Underdog Over-Under
1 N.Y. Rangers (+105) at Montreal 7-2 Underdog Over (5)
2 N.Y. Rangers (-110) at Montreal 3-1 Favorite Under (5)
3 Montreal (+150) at N.Y. Rangers 3-2 (OT) Underdog Push (5)
4 Montreal at N.Y. Rangers (-175) 3-2 (OT) Favorite Push (5)
5 N.Y. Rangers at Montreal (-110) 7-4 Favorite Over (5)
6 Montreal at N.Y. Rangers - - -
7 N.Y. Rangers at Montreal - - -


Western Conference Finals

Key: C (Central) P (Pacific) W (Wild Card)

(C3) Chicago vs. (P3) Los Angeles
Game Matchup Score Favorite-Underdog Over-Under
1 Los Angeles at Chicago (-160) 3-1 Favorite Under (5)
2 Los Angeles (+135) at Chicago 6-2 Underdog Over (5)
3 Chicago at Los Angeles (-125) 4-3 Favorite Over (5)
4 Chicago at Los Angeles (-125) 5-2 Favorite Over (5)
5 Los Angeles at Chicago - - -
6 Chicago at Los Angeles - - -
7 Los Angeles at Chicago - - -

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Dunkel

Los Angeles at Chicago
The Blackhawks look to stay alive in the series tonight and come into the contest with a 6-1 record in their last 7 home games versus the Kings. Chicago is the pick (-140) according to Dunkel, which has the Blackhawks favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-140). Here are all of today's playoff picks.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28

Game 19-20: Los Angeles at Chicago (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 11.804; Chicago 13.335
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 1 1/2; 4
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago (-140); 5
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-140); Under




NHL
Long Sheet

Wednesday, May 28

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LOS ANGELES (57-34-0-9, 123 pts.) at CHICAGO (55-26-0-17, 127 pts.) - 5/28/2014, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 19-4 ATS (+12.9 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5 or less over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 21-7 ATS (+6.0 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CHICAGO is 25-5 ATS (+16.9 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 26-18 ATS (+6.6 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
LOS ANGELES is 11-2 ATS (+8.7 Units) in road games after a 3 game unbeaten streak this season.
CHICAGO is 55-43 ATS (+6.6 Units) in all games this season.
CHICAGO is 27-29 ATS (-27.1 Units) second half of the season this season.
CHICAGO is 21-29 ATS (-17.6 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 11-8 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 11-8-0 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
9 of 17 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.2 Units)

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NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, May 28

Kings scored 14 goals in last seven periods, with five power play goals, to take 3-1 lead and can end series here; LA won five of last six games overall, is 6-4 on road in playoffs Chicago . had won ten of last 12 games vs Kings before losing last three games- they're 7-1 at home in playoffs, with only loss in Game 2 of this series. LA is 29-22 on road this season. Chicago was down 2-0 in first round to St Louis; they're 36-13 overall at home this year, they've given up 15 goals in last three games- they need to tighten up here, or season is over. Over is 10-5-4 in Los Angeles playoff games this spring,




NHL

Wednesday, May 28

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Trend Report
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8:00 PM
LOS ANGELES vs. CHICAGO
Los Angeles is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Los Angeles is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Chicago is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Chicago's last 24 games when playing at home against Los Angeles

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Short Sheet

Wednesday, May 28

Los Angeles Kings at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:05 ET
Los Angeles: 10-3 SU in road games off a home win
Chicago: 21-29 SU after allowing 4 goals or more

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday, May 28

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Los Angeles - 8:00 PM ET Chicago -142 500 *****

Chicago - Over 5 500 TRIPLE PLAY

[Go Bears!]

Wish I would have followed you on the over in this game. Wow, great call. Go Hawks!

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Canadiens (46-28) at Rangers (45-31)

Date: May 29, 2014 8:00 PM EDT


NEW YORK (AP) - The last time the New York Rangers had a game to forget, they responded with five straight wins that put them on the cusp of the Stanley Cup finals.

They are still there, and the Montreal Canadiens aren't going away without a fight.

New York needs one more victory to reach the championship round for the first time in 20 years. The Rangers know that Game 6 at home on Thursday is their best chance to get it.

They returned home from Montreal on Wednesday, one day after a wild 7-4 loss cut their series lead to 3-2. If New York doesn't end it Thursday, the Rangers will have to go back to Montreal for a deciding Game 7.

New York, which went the full seven games in each of the first two rounds of this year's playoffs, will be playing its 20th postseason game. No team that played a pair of seven-game series before the conference finals has reached the Stanley Cup finals.

'It's an opportunity to win the game to go to the Stanley Cup final,' Rangers forward Brad Richards said. 'I think everybody is alert and ready that way. We were talking about it all (Tuesday) how excited we were to get on the ice and start playing.

'We had some mental breakdowns, but I don't think it had anything to do with (fatigue). We've had a lot of rest this series. The opportunity that faces us right now, we're pretty excited about it. I don't think there is too much letdown.'

In the second round, a poor performance at home in Game 4 against Pittsburgh dropped the Rangers into a 3-1 series hole. But New York won Game 5 on the road, took Game 6 at home, and won the clincher back in Pittsburgh to set up the matchup with Montreal.

Now that the Canadiens have staved off elimination once, the Rangers are wary of giving them any more hope they can turn the tables.

'You learn a lot from it. That's why experience is experience,' Richards said. 'You go through many situations. (Tuesday) night was a bad feeling, but today we're getting on a plane to go back to our city, and we get to play in front of our fans.

'It's always, forget as quick as possible and try to remember the good things that we're doing. It was one bad night, but we've been doing a lot of good things in this series.'

The Rangers won the opening two games in Montreal and then split a pair of overtime decisions at home. Even though they have had success on the road and in recent Game 7s, they know that going the distance again works against them.

'It's a desperate time,' Richards said. 'You don't want to go back to a Game 7 where anything can happen. We want to get this done. They're a good team anywhere.

'We're going to have to be a lot better, and we will be.'

This is as far as New York has advanced since captain Mark Messier led the club to the 1994 Stanley Cup title - breaking the Rangers' 54-year drought.

The Garden will be ready to celebrate again Thursday. After the Rangers lost Game 4 to Pittsburgh, the loyal fans thought they might not see their team again until next season. That will be the situation again if the Canadiens pull off another victory.

'You win a game, and things change in your locker room and you start feeling better about yourselves,' Rangers defenseman Marc Staal said. 'We know how it feels coming back in a series, but it doesn't change anything in our room. We are as confident as ever going into our building, and looking forward to it.'

So are the Canadiens.

They know that if they would've scored in overtime of Game 4 as they did in Game 3, they would've had a two-game sweep at the Garden and would be the ones looking to advance Thursday.

'We'll be ready for one of those tight-checking games,' defenseman Josh Gorges said Wednesday after an optional practice in Montreal. 'I'm sure it will be again one of those hard-fought games that we'll have to make sure that we're even better than we were last game.'

Montreal will have rugged forward Brandon Prust back in the lineup after he served a two-game suspension for a late hit on Derek Stepan in Game 3 that broke the Rangers forward's jaw. Stepan returned Tuesday and scored two goals while wearing a full faceguard.

The Rangers will be without defenseman John Moore. He was suspended for two games Wednesday after receiving a match penalty Tuesday night for a hit to Montreal forward Dale Weise's head.

Moore will miss the remaining two games in this series if it goes the distance, or will sit out Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals if the Rangers advance with a win Thursday.

'It's kind of what I would've thought would've happened,' Canadiens captain Brian Gionta said Wednesday night after the team arrived at their New York hotel. 'They were very similar plays, and I guess the precedent was set on Prust's hit.'

Henrik Lundqvist will be back in goal for the Rangers after he was pulled in Game 5 on a rare off night in which he allowed four goals on 19 shots in less than two periods. He avoided the loss when New York rallied from a 4-1 deficit to get even. Backup goalie Cam Talbot gave up two goals in relief.

'(Tuesday) night was probably the best game we've played in this series,' Canadiens forward Lars Eller said. 'If we keep doing a lot of those things, I think the end result will be good.'

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Dunkel

Montreal at NY Rangers
The Canadiens stayed alive in the series with a 7-4 win in Game 5 and come into tonight's contest carrying a 6-2 record in their last 8 games after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game. Montreal is the pick (+160) according to Dunkel, which has the Canadiens favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Montreal (+160). Here are all of today's playoff picks.

THURSDAY, MAY 29

Game 21-22: Montreal at NY Rangers (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Montreal 13.239; NY Rangers 12.134
Dunkel Line & Total: Montreal by 1; 6
Vegas Line & Total: NY Rangers (-180); 5
Dunkel Pick: Montreal (+160); Over




NHL
Long Sheet

Thursday, May 29

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MONTREAL (56-32-0-10, 122 pts.) at NY RANGERS (56-38-0-7, 119 pts.) - 5/29/2014, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MONTREAL is 56-42 ATS (+7.2 Units) in all games this season.
MONTREAL is 17-12 ATS (+30.2 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
MONTREAL is 33-24 ATS (+7.7 Units) second half of the season this season.
MONTREAL is 12-7 ATS (+19.7 Units) in road games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.
MONTREAL is 29-21 ATS (+52.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
MONTREAL is 19-15 ATS (+37.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
NY RANGERS are 19-21 ATS (-7.9 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
NY RANGERS are 191-192 ATS (-101.6 Units) in home games second half of the season since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 2-13 ATS (-14.8 Units) when leading in a playoff series over the last 3 seasons.
NY RANGERS are 3-8 ATS (-9.5 Units) in home games after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
NY RANGERS are 7-13 ATS (-14.4 Units) in home games after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game over the last 3 seasons.
NY RANGERS are 101-107 ATS (-49.8 Units) in home games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 11-15 ATS (-13.8 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
MONTREAL is 9-6 (+3.6 Units) against the spread versus NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
MONTREAL is 9-6-0 straight up against NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
8 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+5.0 Units)

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NHL
Short Sheet

Thursday, May 29

Montreal Canadiens at NY Rangers, 8:05 ET
Montreal: 15-12 SU as a road underdog
New York: 3-8 SU in home games after allowing 4 goals or more




NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, May 28

Rangers had allowed 11 goals in previous seven games before 7-4 loss in Game 5 debacle that resembled pond hockey; NY won six of last eight games overall, but is just 5-4 at home so far in playoffs. Montreal is 9-5 in last 14 series games, but needs win here to keep series alive; they're 2-3 in last five road games- five of their 16 playoff games went OT. Habs are 10-6 in the playoffs, 5-3 on road. Over is 45-26-14 in playoffs, 6-2-2 this round. Rangers tied Game 5 with three goals in 4:24 span of second period after they pulled Lundqvist; Bourque scored twice after that to get hat trick, keep Montreal alive in series.




NHL

Thursday, May 29

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Trend Report
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8:00 PM
MONTREAL vs. NY RANGERS
Montreal is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games on the road
Montreal is 14-7 SU in their last 21 games when playing NY Rangers
NY Rangers are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games
NY Rangers are 7-14 SU in their last 21 games when playing Montreal


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NHL

Thursday, May 29

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Canadiens at Rangers: What bettors need to know
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Montreal Canadiens at New York Rangers (-172, 5)

Rangers lead series 3-2.

Although he recorded his first career postseason hat trick on Tuesday, Rene Bourque wasn't done taking shots at the New York Rangers. "Everybody talks about how he's a great goalie," Bourque said of Henrik Lundqvist following the Montreal Canadiens' 7-4 triumph in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final. "Has he been better than (Montreal's Dustin Tokarski) this series? I don't think so." Lundqvist looks to silence Bourque and the Canadiens in Game 6 on Thursday as New York attempts to end the chippy series and advance to its first Stanley Cup final in 20 years.

Derek Stepan scored two goals in his return from a one-game absence due to surgery for a broken jaw. Stepan received his injury following a brutal hit from former Ranger Brandon Prust, who served his two-game suspension and is eligible to return on Thursday. Speaking of suspensions, John Moore received a two-game ban on Wednesday for his blindside open-ice hit on Montreal's Dale Weise midway through the third period of Game 5.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC, RDS

ABOUT THE CANADIENS: Bourque has provided quite the boost with his unexpected offense, scoring a team-leading eight goals in the playoffs after mustering just nine in 63 games during the regular season. Lars Eller is also raising some eyebrows as his two assists in Game 5 increased his point total to 13 - most among Montreal forwards. Eller struggled mightily during the end of the regular season, notching just six points in his last 35 contests.

ABOUT THE RANGERS: Ryan McDonagh continues to haunt the Canadiens by adding two assists in Game 5 to increase his point total to nine in five games in the series. McDonagh, who was acquired from Montreal as part of a seven-player deal that included Scott Gomez in 2009, recorded just three points in the previous 14 contests of the playoffs. With Moore sidelined, blue-liner Raphael Diaz is expected to be inserted into the lineup for the first time since playing two games during the second-round series versus Pittsburgh.

TRENDS:

* Under is 8-2-4 in the last 14 meetings.
* Canadiens are 1-4 in their last five games following a win.
* Over is 4-1-3 in Canadiens last eight road games.
* Under is 11-4-3 in Rangers last 18 vs. a team with a winning record.

OVERTIME:

1. Montreal G Carey Price spent time on the ice for the third straight day on Wednesday. He worked on lateral pushes with his skates and butterfly drops.

2. Lundqvist answered being pulled in Game 6 of the first-round set versus Philadelphia by stopping 26-of-27 shots in New York's series-clinching victory.

3. The Rangers have not won a playoff series in fewer than seven games since the 2008 Eastern Conference first-round series against New Jersey.

[StarDust Bum]

2014 Playoff Results

May 29, 2014

Betting Results

Conference Finals
Wager Results
Favorites-Underdogs 7-3
Home-Away 6-4
Puck-Line Favorites 4-3
Over-Under 6-2-2


Eastern Conference Finals

Key: A (Atlantic) M (Metropolitan) W (Wild Card)

(M2) N.Y. Rangers vs. (A3) Montreal
Game Matchup Score Favorite-Underdog Over-Under
1 N.Y. Rangers (+105) at Montreal 7-2 Underdog Over (5)
2 N.Y. Rangers (-110) at Montreal 3-1 Favorite Under (5)
3 Montreal (+150) at N.Y. Rangers 3-2 (OT) Underdog Push (5)
4 Montreal at N.Y. Rangers (-175) 3-2 (OT) Favorite Push (5)
5 N.Y. Rangers at Montreal (-110) 7-4 Favorite Over (5)
6 Montreal at N.Y. Rangers - - -
7 N.Y. Rangers at Montreal - - -



Western Conference Finals

Key: C (Central) P (Pacific) W (Wild Card)

(C3) Chicago vs. (P3) Los Angeles
Game Matchup Score Favorite-Underdog Over-Under
1 Los Angeles at Chicago (-160) 3-1 Favorite Under (5)
2 Los Angeles (+135) at Chicago 6-2 Underdog Over (5)
3 Chicago at Los Angeles (-125) 4-3 Favorite Over (5)
4 Chicago at Los Angeles (-125) 5-2 Favorite Over (5)
5 Los Angeles at Chicago (-150) 5-4 (2OT) Favorite Over (5)
6 Chicago at Los Angeles - - -
7 Los Angeles at Chicago - - -

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday, May 29

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Montreal - 8:00 PM ET Montreal +155 500 *****

NY Rangers - Over 5 500 DOUBLE PLAY

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Long Sheet

Friday, May 30

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CHICAGO (56-26-0-17, 129 pts.) at LOS ANGELES (57-34-0-10, 124 pts.) - 5/30/2014, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 82-143 ATS (+251.4 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less since 1996.
CHICAGO is 28-29 ATS (-16.4 Units) second half of the season this season.
CHICAGO is 4-10 ATS (-8.8 Units) in road games after allowing 4 goals or more this season.
CHICAGO is 8-19 ATS (-14.3 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CHICAGO is 6-14 ATS (-10.3 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 12-8 (+2.0 Units) against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 12-8-0 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
10 of 18 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.2 Units)

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NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Friday, May 30

Kings didn't score for last 48:46 of Game 5, after scoring 18 goals in previous nine periods, with five power play goals; they're 5-3 at home in playoffs, winning last three, can end series here; LA won five of last seven games overall. Chicago is just 2-6 on road in playoffs; four of the eight games went to OT- they're 11-5 in last 16 games vs Kings but lost three of last four games. Kings are 30-19 overall at home this year; over is 11-5-4 in Los Angeles playoff games this spring. Chicago is 26-23 on road overall this season.




NHL

Friday, May 30

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Trend Report
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9:00 PM
CHICAGO vs. LOS ANGELES
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 6 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 6 games when playing Los Angeles
Los Angeles is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 6 games


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NHL

Friday, May 30

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Blackhawks at Kings: What bettors need to know
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Chicago Blackhawks at Los Angeles Kings (-127, 5)

After traveling a long and windy road to stave off elimination, the Chicago Blackhawks need to repeat the feat in Game 6 of the Western Conference final on Friday to keep alive their quest for back-to-back Stanley Cup titles. Veteran Michal Handzus burned his former team by scoring 2:04 into double overtime as Chicago snapped a three-game losing skid with a 5-4 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. "You see the momentum in this series, how it can shift," Patrick Kane said following his mammoth four-assist performance. "L.A.'s had a lot of it. I think it's our turn now to hold on to it and keep that momentum."

Chicago has struggled with packing momentum into a suitcase, winning just two of eight road games in the postseason. The Blackhawks dropped both contests at Staples Center in the series, losing a 4-3 decision in Game 3 before suffering a 5-2 setback two days later. "They're still do-or-die; we're still one win away from moving on," Los Angeles rookie Tanner Pearson said. "So I think it's going to be the same attitude going in. Hopefully, we come out with a victory."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC, RDS

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS: After securing just one point in the first four contests, Kane adapted well as coach Joel Quenneville shuffled up his line with his team facing elimination. The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner was paired with Brandon Saad and Andrew Shaw in Game 5, and trio combined for nine points (one goal, eight assists). "I thought Saad and Shaw were effective (in Game 4) - Kane can add to the mix," Quenneville said. "They had a good couple of periods there, generated some zone time and chances and scored a nice goal."

ABOUT THE KINGS: Anze Kopitar recorded his league-leading 23rd point by notching an assist on Marian Gaborik's NHL-best 11th goal during the first period on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Slovenian has recorded at least one point in 16 of 19 games in the playoffs. As for Gaborik, his goal total trails only Hall-of-Famers Wayne Gretzky (15, 1993) and Luc Robitaille (12, 1991) for the most in franchise postseason history.

TRENDS:

* Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
* Home team is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Over is 6-2-1 in Blackhawks last nine road games.

OVERTIME:

1. Chicago has scored just one power-play goal on the road in 24 opportunities during the postseason.

2. Kings C Jeff Carter notched an assist on Pearson's goal midway through the second period on Wednesday. Both players are riding six-game point streaks.

3. Kane's four-assist effort was the team's first in a playoff contest since Steve Larmer in 1990.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Blackhawks (46-21) at Kings (46-28)

Date: May 30, 2014 9:00 PM EDT


EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) - Drew Doughty had just played more than 39 minutes in a double-overtime playoff game, and he still couldn't sleep on the Kings' flight back to Los Angeles.

The Western Conference finals have ascended to a new level of tension after the Blackhawks dodged Los Angeles' first attempt to eliminate them. Chicago trimmed its series deficit to 3-2 in an extra-time thriller in Game 5, while the Kings got a sleepless trip home.

Los Angeles gets another chance to advance in Game 6 on Friday night. While the Kings have been incredible in elimination games this spring, Doughty realizes they can't sleep on the opportunity before them at Staples Center.

'We know we can't let it go to a Game 7,' Doughty said Thursday at the Kings' training complex. 'No matter what, this game has to be ours. It's so important for us to advance to the Stanley Cup Final that we win this game. If we give them this game, they're going to have so much more life, and they're going to be a different team. We need to take that and deal with it.'

Doughty's fellow Kings largely agreed with the star defenseman's pointed declarations as they recovered from their worst defensive performance in 16 games. Jonathan Quick and the NHL's best defensive team gave up five goals to the Blackhawks, who survived despite Corey Crawford's fourth straight unimpressive effort in Chicago's net.

Los Angeles, which blew a lead heading to the third period for the first time this spring, has mostly downplayed the notion of payback for last season's conference finals loss to Chicago. But Doughty thinks it should be on the Kings' minds before what might be the defining game of their season.

'They know how to win,' Doughty said. 'We also know that they took our Cup back from us last year, so now it's our turn. We want to eliminate this team. They eliminated us last year, and it's our turn to return the favor. We need to go into Staples believing that we can eliminate this team, and do just that.'

While Doughty attempts to keep the Kings focused on Game 6, the Blackhawks intend to remember what got them off the canvas in Game 5 after the previous seven periods of the series were largely dominated by Los Angeles.

Before Game 5, the Blackhawks curiously insisted all the pressure in the series rested on the Kings, not the team facing three straight elimination games. Whether the facile psychological ploy helped or not, the champions still seem to think Los Angeles is the team in trouble.

'We want to stay with the mentality that we're putting all the pressure on them,' Chicago captain Jonathan Toews said before the club's flight to the West Coast. 'It's going to be tough for them to close it out and win that fourth game against us.'

But the road has been tough on the Blackhawks, who are just 2-6 away from home in the postseason. Chicago was outscored 9-5 and beaten convincingly twice at Staples Center in this series, showing little of the offensive potency that got them to this point.

Coach Joel Quenneville made another round of lineup adjustments to spark his team, and the Blackhawks had immediate success teaming Brandon Saad, Patrick Kane and Andrew Shaw on a new line for Game 5. Kane, a ghost for much of the series, contributed four assists.

'We have our backs against the wall here and face elimination, but we're staying relaxed,' said Saad, who had three points. 'We've been through it before, and it definitely helps. We've had success on the road before, and L.A. is definitely tough, but we're not going to let that end the season. We can't make any excuses whether we're playing at home or away.'

The Kings spent much of the past month avoiding playoff elimination, already winning six games with their season in the balance, so they can appreciate the Blackhawks' resilience. Chicago produced a three-goal first period and a third-period tying goal before Michal Handzus' overtime winner capped one of the most entertaining NHL postseason games in recent history.

Back home for Game 6, the Kings want their own defining victory.

'I think for the fans, it was unbelievable to watch,' said Marian Gaborik, who scored his 11th goal of a spectacular postseason. 'But for us, it wasn't the type of game we want to play. You know, trade chances, trade odd-man rushes.

'I think we're going to have a lot of energy (in Game 6). If we win, we can be in the Stanley Cup Final. That itself should give you plenty of energy.'

[StarDust Bum]

2014 Playoff Results

May 30, 2014

Betting Results

Conference Finals
Wager Results
Favorites-Underdogs 8-3
Home-Away 7-4
Puck-Line Favorites 4-4
Over-Under 6-3-2


Eastern Conference Finals

Key: A (Atlantic) M (Metropolitan) W (Wild Card)

(M2) N.Y. Rangers vs. (A3) Montreal (Rangers win 4-2)
Game Matchup Score Favorite-Underdog Over-Under
1 N.Y. Rangers (+105) at Montreal 7-2 Underdog Over (5)
2 N.Y. Rangers (-110) at Montreal 3-1 Favorite Under (5)
3 Montreal (+150) at N.Y. Rangers 3-2 (OT) Underdog Push (5)
4 Montreal at N.Y. Rangers (-175) 3-2 (OT) Favorite Push (5)
5 N.Y. Rangers at Montreal (-110) 7-4 Favorite Over (5)
6 Montreal at N.Y. Rangers (-165) 1-0 Favorite Under (5)


Western Conference Finals

Key: C (Central) P (Pacific) W (Wild Card)

(C3) Chicago vs. (P3) Los Angeles
Game Matchup Score Favorite-Underdog Over-Under
1 Los Angeles at Chicago (-160) 3-1 Favorite Under (5)
2 Los Angeles (+135) at Chicago 6-2 Underdog Over (5)
3 Chicago at Los Angeles (-125) 4-3 Favorite Over (5)
4 Chicago at Los Angeles (-125) 5-2 Favorite Over (5)
5 Los Angeles at Chicago (-150) 5-4 (2OT) Favorite Over (5)
6 Chicago at Los Angeles - - -
7 Los Angeles at Chicago - - -

[StarDust Bum]

NHL

Friday, May 30


Rangers +110 to win Cup after eliminating Habs

The New York Rangers are now listed at +120 to hoist the Stanley Cup above their heads for the first time since 1994 after their 1-0 Game 6 victory that sent the Montreal Canadiens home for the season Thursday night.

The Rangers were the first team to book their ticket to the Cup Finals, but still aren't the favorite according to Sportsbook.ag.

The Los Angeles Kings are still listed as the favorites at win the Stanley Cup at +110. The Kings lead the Western Conference Final 3 games to 2 over the Chicago Blackhawks (+475 to win the Cup), with Game 6 to be played in Los Angeles Friday night.

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Dunkel

Chicago at Los Angeles
The Blackhawks look to follow up their 5-4 win in Game 5 as they face a Kings team that is 1-5 in its last 6 games when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in the previous game. Chicago is the pick (+115) according to Dunkel, which has the Blackhawks favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Chicago (+115). Here are all of today's playoff picks.

FRIDAY, MAY 30

Game 23-24: Chicago at Los Angeles (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 13.559; Los Angeles 12.138
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 1 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Los Angeles (-135); 5
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (+115); Over

[StarDust Bum]

NHL

Friday, May 30

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Chicago - 9:00 PM ET Los Angeles -127 500 DOUBLE PLAY

Los Angeles - Over 5 500 TRIPLE PLAY