Cnotes NHL April's Picks Thru the Playoffs - Trends - News - Etc. !!

[CNOTES]

Dunkel


Wednesday, May 4




Washington @ Pittsburgh


Game 25-26
May 4, 2016 @ 8:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Washington
13.484
Pittsburgh
11.975
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 1 1/2
4
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
-115
5
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(-115); Under








NHL
Long Sheet


Wednesday, May 4


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


WASHINGTON (61-22-0-8, 130 pts.) at PITTSBURGH (54-27-0-9, 117 pts.) - 5/4/2016, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 54-36 ATS (+8.5 Units) in all games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 36-17 ATS (+8.3 Units) second half of the season this season.
PITTSBURGH is 25-13 ATS (+7.1 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
WASHINGTON is 61-30 ATS (+13.3 Units) in all games this season.
WASHINGTON is 21-11 ATS (+7.1 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
WASHINGTON is 14-4 ATS (+9.0 Units) in road games after a division game this season.
WASHINGTON is 48-26 ATS (+15.8 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 92-105 ATS (-33.8 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5 or less since 1996.
PITTSBURGH is 13-18 ATS (-18.7 Units) in home games when leading in a playoff series since 1996.


Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 10-6 (+3.3 Units) against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 10-6-0 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
9 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.7 Units)

 

[CNOTES]

NHL MONEYLINE


NHL > (25) WASHINGTON@ (26) PITTSBURGH | 2016-05-04 20:05:00 - 2016-05-04 20:05:00
Play ON WASHINGTON using money line in Road games revenging a loss versus opponent
The record is 27 Wins and 12 Losses for the last two seasons (+17.1 units)


----------------

NHL PUCKLINE


NHL > (25) WASHINGTON@ (26) PITTSBURGH | 2016-05-04 20:05:00 - 2016-05-04 20:05:00
Play ON WASHINGTON in Road games revenging a loss versus opponent
The record is 27 Wins and 12 Losses for the last two seasons (+17.1 units)


--------------------


NHL TOTALS


NHL > (25) WASHINGTON@ (26) PITTSBURGH | 2016-05-04 20:05:00 - 2016-05-04 20:05:00
Play OVER PITTSBURGH on the totalin Home games second half of the season
The record is 17 Overs and 5 Unders for the this season (+12 units)

NHL > (25) WASHINGTON@ (26) PITTSBURGH | 2016-05-04 20:05:00 - 2016-05-04 20:05:00
Play OVER PITTSBURGH on the totalin Home games after a division game
The record is 13 Overs and 3 Unders for the this season (+10.4 units)

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Capitals (56-18) at Penguins (48-26)
Date: May 04, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

PITTSBURGH (AP) Matt Murray isn't in the mood to think about what it all means, this ride that he's on. The NHL's best team on the other side of the ice. His mentor watching from bench. An arena chanting his name.


For the moment, there is only the next game, the next shot. That's all that concerns the Pittsburgh Penguins rookie goaltender. Not the ripple effects his playoff run will have on his career, the franchise he plays for or the long-term future of Marc-Andre Fleury, whose guidance is one of the reasons Murray has become so good, so fast.


'I want to win,' Murray said. 'On a personal level, I think it really doesn't matter. Everything else is noise to me.'


And just like everything else thrown at Murray these days, he's blocking it out.


The 21-year-old with the thatchy beard and the waistline that looks like it could use a good meal or two is perhaps the biggest reason the Penguins take a 2-1 lead into Game 4 of their contentious Eastern Conference semifinal against Washington on Wednesday night.


Murray stopped 47 shots in a 3-2 victory in Game 3 on Monday, keeping his head - not to mention his well-padded arms and legs - during three periods of duress in which the Capitals appeared to put an invisible fence at the Pittsburgh blue line, hemming the Penguins in their end for 60 minutes of hockey that appeared one-sided everywhere but the scoreboard.


And Murray did it with Fleury at the ready in case his protege's seemingly imperturbable veneer started to show signs of weakness. Active for the first time since sustaining a concussion on March 31, the winningest goaltender in Penguins' history skated onto the ice at Consol Energy Center for warmups with his teammates before Game 2 then traded his helmet for a baseball cap while getting an eyeful of Murray's spectacular performance.


'It's more stressful when you don't play than when you play,' Fleury said. 'You just sit there and keep on cheering the guys.


Fleury might want to get used to the view. Barring a meltdown, coach Mike Sullivan has no plans - at least in this round - from making any sort of switch.


'We feel as though right now we have two guys in Marc and Matt that we think are terrific goaltenders,' Sullivan said Tuesday. 'When we have healthy people at that position, that's a good thing for our team.'


Sullivan coached Murray briefly early in the season when both were at Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and was well aware of what he had on his hands. Murray set an AHL record for longest shutout streak in 2014-15 and supplanted Jeff Zatkoff as Fleury's primary backup in March.


If Murray is intimidated by the stage, it doesn't show. At 6-foot-3 and 178 pounds, he looks like an unwieldly collection of limbs with his gear off. Yet he seems much larger with his No. 30 jersey pulled over his thin shoulders and is just as comfortable stepping out to cut down shooting angles from the point or creep deeper into the crease to allow himself a split-second longer to react.


He's made a believer out of the Capitals, holding Alexander Ovechkin and the rest of the President's Trophy winners to seven goals in nearly 190 minutes, including a relentless barrage near the end of Game 3.


'He's very talented,' Washington coach Barry Trotz said. 'We knew that going in. It's not a surprise to us. He's looking like a franchise goaltender.'


Which is where the picture down the road starts to get blurry.


Fleury has three years left on a deal that pays him about $5.75 million annually, a contract that includes a limited no-trade clause. While Fleury remains a vital part of the club - his stellar play early in the season almost singlehandedly kept the Penguins afloat before Sullivan's arrival in mid-December - he also understands the business side of things. The longer Murray - making $640,000 this season - stays in net, the more tenuous Fleury's prospects of getting his old job back becomes, at least in Pittsburgh.


'I'm not there yet,' Fleury said. 'I think focus is still on winning this year. That's where it has to be then when that's done, we'll see.'


So Fleury will continue to serve as Murray's sounding board, offering advice when needed or cracking a joke to break the tension.


'Maybe if I didn't play (a puck) quite as well as I could have, I can come over and ask Flower what he thought about it, if he thought I could have done it better or whatever it may be,' Murray said. 'I always bounce ideas off of basically anybody who's around.'


Not that there's much to work on at the moment. Murray is thriving. The Penguins are winning. The rest can wait.

 

[CNOTES]

SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Penguins at Capitals
Thu, Apr 28 Final 3 to 4
Recaps


GAME 2
Penguins at Capitals
Sat, Apr 30 Final 2 to 1
Recaps


GAME 3
Capitals at Penguins
Mon, May 2 Final 2 to 3
Recaps


GAME 4
Capitals at Penguins
Wed, May 4 - 8:00PM EDT


GAME 5
Penguins at Capitals
Sat, May 7 - 7:15PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

5/3 - Results: 1 - 2 - 1 - 1.00
Overall : + 3.07


WEDNESDAY, MAY 4


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


WAS at PIT 08:00 PM

WAS -117


O 5.0

 

[CNOTES]

Armadillo: Thursday's six-pack


-- A's were 256-175 in the regular season when they had Yoenis Cespedes. They are 103-143 since they traded him.


-- Cubs are 13-2 against their NL Central rivals this season.


-- Mo Tom and Tom's Ready are running in Kentucky Derby; they're both owned by the owner of the New Orleans Saints/Pelicans, Tom Benson.


-- Rory McIlroy has played one round of golf since the Masters. 18 holes.


-- Arizona Coyotes are going to hire a 27-year old as their new GM; at least he did not go to an Ivy League school-- he went to U of Western Ontario.


-- JT Realmuto led off for Marlins last two nights; not often a catcher leads off.


**********


Armadillo: Thursday's List of 13: Early season trends for NFC teams......


Cardinals-- Arizona won its last six home openers, covering four of last five; they are 8-0 vs spread in last eight road openers. Under is 7-3 in last ten road openers.


Falcons-- Atlanta won/covered its last eight home openers; they're 14-3 vs spread in last 17 home openers. They're 3-9 vs spread in last 12 road openers (under 10-2)


Panthers-- Last 13 Super Bowl losers are 2-11 vs spread in their opener the following season. Carolina is 10-5 as an underdog in road openers (under 3-1 last four).


Bears-- Chicago is opening on road for first time since '09; under is 10-2 in their last 12 road openers. Bears covered eight of last eleven home openers.


Cowboys-- Dallas covered one of last eight home openers; since '93, they're 7-13 vs spread as a favorite in home openers, 18-8 in last 26 road openers.


Lions-- Detroit is 4-8 as underdog in road openers; over is 7-3-1 in their last 11 road openers. Lions are 8-1-1 as a favorite in home openers (over 5-1 last 6).


Packers-- Green Bay lost three of last four home openers, covered one of its last five. Packeras are 6-2 vs spread as favorite in home openers (over 4-1 last five).


Rams-- Rams are 3-13 vs spread in last 16 openers, 1-13 SU in last 14 road openers, with only win 19-17 in Tampa. Under is 7-3 in their last ten road openers.


Vikings-- Minnesota is 4-11 in last 15 road openers, 3-5 in last eight season openers. Vikings covered once in last eight home openers; they've got a new dome this year.


Saints-- NO is 13-5 in last 18 home openers, 5-2-1 vs spread as favorite. under is 9-3 in their last 12 home openers. Saints covered once in last eight road openers.


Giants-- Big Blue started last five years 0-1; they've lost five of last six road openers. Over is 14-2 in their last 16 road openers. Giants lost last four home openers.


Eagles-- Philly is 2-8 vs spread in last 10 home openers; they're 0-7 as favorite of less than 8 points in HO's. Iggles won six of their last seven road openers.


49ers-- Niners won last five season openers, are 10-1-1 vs spread in last dozen home openers. Under is 9-5-1 in last 15 home openers, 4-2-1 in last seven road openers.


Seahawks-- Seattle won/covered 12 of last 13 home openers; under is 12-2-1 in their last 15 HO's. Seahawks covered once in their last 11 road openers (1-8 last 9 SU).


Bucs-- Tampa Bay covered four of last five as an underdog in road openers; under is 16-7 in their last 23 AO's. Buccaneers lost four of their last five home openers.


Redskins-- Washington lost three of last four home openers; four of their last five went over total. Redskins lost seven of last eight road openers (over 5-2 last seven).

 

[CNOTES]

NHL
Short Sheet

Thursday, May 5

Dallas at St Louis, 8:05 PM ET
Dallas: 51-23 SU off a blowout loss by 3 goals or more to a division rival
St Louis: 1-6 SU in home games off a home win by 2 goals or more

San Jose at Nashville, 9:05 PM ET
San Jose: 21-6 SU in a road game where where the total is 5 or less
Nashville: 3-7 SU off a home blowout win by 3 goals or more




NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, May 5

St Louis-Dallas (S 2-1)
St Louis won eight of last ten games with Dallas overall-- home team won six of last eight series games, with seven of last 11 staying under total. Four of last five St Louis wins in series came in OT or SO. Blues won three of last four games overall; over is 5-1-1 in their last seven. Dallas won seven of last 11 games overall; over is 5-1-1 in their last seven games, 3-0-1 in last four on road. Stars are 0-11 on power play in series, St Louis 4-14.

Nashville-San Jose (SJ 2-1)
Home side won all three series games; Sharks lost four of last five visits here; they've won seven of last nine games overall. San Jose won seven of last nine games overall; over is 2-0-2 in their last four games. Predators lost five of last eight games; under is 2-0-2 in their last four home games. Nashville won last four times they scored 3+ goals; they're 1-5 in last six games scoring two or less goals. San Jose is 3-9 on power play in series, Nashville is 3-10. Under is 6-3-2 in last 11 series games. Most of scoring this series has come in third period.

Playoffs tally: 1st round-- Home: 23-24, Over: 16-17-14
2nd round-- Home: 9-4, Over: 6-2-5




NHL

Thursday, May 5

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8:00 PM
DALLAS vs. ST. LOUIS
The total has gone OVER in 17 of Dallas's last 25 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
St. Louis is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 5 games when playing at home against Dallas

9:00 PM
SAN JOSE vs. NASHVILLE
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of San Jose's last 12 games on the road
San Jose is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Nashville is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
Nashville is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against San Jose

 

[CNOTES]

NHL
Dunkel

Thursday, May 5


Dallas @ St. Louis

Game 55-56
May 5, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Dallas
12.388
St. Louis
10.960
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Dallas
by 1 1/2
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
St. Louis
-145
5
Dunkel Pick:
Dallas
(+125); Over

San Jose @ Nashville

Game 57-58
May 5, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
San Jose
13.309
Nashville
11.931
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
San Jose
by 1 1/2
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Nashville
-115
5
Dunkel Pick:
San Jose
(-105); Over




NHL
Long Sheet

Thursday, May 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DALLAS (55-25-0-11, 121 pts.) at ST LOUIS (55-28-0-9, 119 pts.) - 5/5/2016, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 29-36 ATS (-15.5 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 55-37 ATS (+14.6 Units) in all games this season.
ST LOUIS is 32-20 ATS (+1.3 Units) second half of the season this season.
ST LOUIS is 25-14 ATS (+7.5 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
ST LOUIS is 20-9 ATS (+8.4 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.
ST LOUIS is 30-19 ATS (+5.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ST LOUIS is 19-10 ATS (+8.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
DALLAS is 55-36 ATS (+5.0 Units) in all games this season.
DALLAS is 24-17 ATS (+44.3 Units) in road games revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 107-94 ATS (+206.4 Units) in road games after allowing 4 goals or more since 1996.
DALLAS is 16-3 ATS (+11.4 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game this season.
DALLAS is 192-129 ATS (+30.8 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game since 1996.
DALLAS is 48-40 ATS (+92.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 15-8 ATS (+26.1 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 11-7-0 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
10 of 18 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.3 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SAN JOSE (52-31-0-7, 111 pts.) at NASHVILLE (46-32-0-14, 106 pts.) - 5/5/2016, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAN JOSE is 21-6 ATS (+14.7 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
SAN JOSE is 18-6 ATS (+10.9 Units) in road games second half of the season this season.
SAN JOSE is 29-13 ATS (+12.6 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
SAN JOSE is 12-4 ATS (+7.5 Units) in road games after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 46-46 ATS (-11.6 Units) in all games this season.
NASHVILLE is 9-15 ATS (+24.8 Units) after a win by 2 goals or more this season.
NASHVILLE is 18-30 ATS (-17.5 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 22-36 ATS (+59.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
NASHVILLE is 7-5 (+3.7 Units) against the spread versus SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
NASHVILLE is 7-5-0 straight up against SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.8 Units)

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Stars (50-23) at Blues (49-24)
Date: May 05, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

It's not clear which goalie will start for the Dallas Stars in a pivotal Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series.


It's also not clear if it will matter the way the St. Louis Blues are playing.


The Blues have been tough to handle for Antii Niemi and Kari Lehtonen, and one of those players will be in the crosshairs Thursday night in St. Louis.


The Blues took a 2-1 series lead with Tuesday's 6-1 rout in their first home game in this series. Niemi got his first start of the series after he was effective in Game 2 by stopping 19 of 20 shots in relief of Lehtonen.


He wasn't up to snuff in Game 3, yielding three goals on 12 shots before Lehtonen entered and allowed three more.


"It hasn't been a goalie issue, really," said defenseman Alex Goligoski, who was beaten on one goal and had a second go in off his skate. "We're giving up some big chances, at bad times, early in games.


"Lost confidence in our goalies is not an issue. It's our game."


Alexander Steen and David Backes had two goals apiece for St. Louis. Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and two assists after going three straight games without a point, and Troy Brouwer had a goal and an assist in the Blues' first win this postseason by more than one goal.


"Credit everybody in the room that they bought in," said Backes, who scored in overtime to win Game 2. "We had probably our most complete effort of the postseason, and a good time to have it."


Dallas has scored first in every game, but St. Louis has turned in huge responses within the opening period of the last two. The Blues held a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes in Game 2, and Steen and Backes gave them a 2-1 lead after one period Tuesday.


"We should be better as a group, that's the bottom line," Stars captain Jamie Benn said.


Cody Eakin is the only Dallas skater with more than two points in the series thanks to his three-assist effort in Game 2. No one has scored more than once for the Stars, the league's highest-scoring team in the regular season with an average of 3.2 goals.


Dallas badly needs to move on after unraveling at the end of Game 3. Curtis McKenzie fought the Blues' Ryan Reaves in the closing minutes after defenseman Stephen Johns was penalized for boarding for a hit on Alex Pietrangelo with a check from behind.


"You gotta put that behind you, you gotta look forward," coach Lindy Ruff said. "I think the team got frustrated with some of the calls. I know I got frustrated they may have taken on my personality."


Ruff said forward Patrick Eaves could return Thursday after missing the last two games with a lower body injury.


Brian Elliott was sharp Tuesday for St. Louis with 25 saves. The Blues have killed off all 11 Dallas power plays in the series while scoring four times in the last two games with the man advantage.


"We're a team that it's really everybody that it takes to win and not one guy's going to do it, but guys (are) stepping up in every role," Elliott said.




SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Blues at Stars
Fri, Apr 29 Final 1 to 2
Recaps


GAME 2
Blues at Stars
Sun, May 1 Final 4 to 3
Recaps


GAME 3
Stars at Blues
Tue, May 3 Final 1 to 6
Recaps


GAME 4
Stars at Blues
Thu, May 5 - 8:00PM EDT


GAME 5
Blues at Stars
Sat, May 7 - 1:00PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Sharks (46-30) at Predators (41-27)
Date: May 05, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

The Nashville Predators have a chance to return to San Jose with their Western Conference semifinal series all tied up. Another standout performance by their special teams could go a long way toward getting them to that goal.


The Predators try for that pivotal win over the Sharks - the league's best road team - in Thursday night's Game 4.


Nashville went 2 for 5 on the power play while killing off all four San Jose chances in a 4-1 victory Tuesday. The Predators had allowed six goals in their previous 18 short-handed situations and were 2 for 31 with the man advantage to start this postseason.


James Neal, who scored the tying goal in the second period, and Filip Forsberg allowed the Predators to match that power play output in Game 3. Shea Weber also tallied his 13th career postseason goal, tying him with David Legwand for the most in Nashville history.


"(Special teams are) something we definitely need to be better at," Neal said. "I thought we had some decent looks, but ultimately it changes games when you score on the PP and you get big kills. We did that tonight and got a big win."


The Predators dealt the Sharks their first loss in four road games in these playoffs and just their second in 12 contests since Feb. 27. San Jose was 28-10-3 away from home in the regular season and 18-20-3 on its own ice.


"You're not going to win every game," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. "It's the Stanley Cup playoffs. This might take seven games. It's that time of year. They're a good team. You have to give them credit.


"I thought we came out and played a pretty good game. They won the special teams battle tonight. We won it the other night. That's how this works this time of year."


San Jose reeled off four consecutive wins after its only other defeat in the playoffs but has gone 1-6-1 in its last eight in Nashville, including postseason. The lone victory was 3-2 in a shootout April 2.


"It's a different series, but any time you can be up in a series it's a good thing," San Jose goaltender Martin Jones told the league's official website. "We want to make sure we come with a better mindset next game and a better effort. This isn't a team you want to let back in the series."


The Predators are hoping to keep their depth intact by having Colton Sissons available. The forward hit his left knee while sliding into the goal post in the third period Tuesday and required assistance to get off the ice.


He returned to skate a late shift.


"It was just in a lot of pain right away. It kind of wrapped around the post a little bit," Sissons said. "It didn't feel good right away, but it settled down and I was able to get back out there."


It's unclear if Pontus Aberg will play in his second NHL game for Nashville. The forward made his debut Tuesday when Peter Laviolette made struggling veteran Mike Ribeiro a healthy scratch.


Ribeiro has one assist and a minus-3 rating in nine games this postseason.


"(Aberg), I thought, came in and gave us some good speed," coach Peter Laviolette said. "He was a good player for (AHL affiliate) Milwaukee down the stretch. He brings speed and skill, and this is a fast game right now against San Jose.


"I thought he did a really good job just using his speed and playing a good game, a smart game."


Nashville is 1-6 in its last seven Game 4s and has lost its past five of those at home. San Jose has won three of its last four Game 4s but has dropped four of the last five such road contests.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Predators at Sharks
Fri, Apr 29 Final 2 to 5
Recaps


GAME 2
Predators at Sharks
Sun, May 1 Final 2 to 3
Recaps


GAME 3
Sharks at Predators
Tue, May 3 Final 1 to 4
Recaps


GAME 4
Sharks at Predators
Thu, May 5 - 9:00PM EDT


GAME 5
Predators at Sharks
Sat, May 7 - 10:00PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

5/4 - RESULTS : 0 - 0 - 1 + 0 .00
OVERALL : + 3.07


THURSDAY, MAY 5


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


DAL at STL 08:00 PM


DAL +127


U 5.0




SJ at NAS 09:00 PM


SJ -101


O 5.0

 

[CNOTES]

Armadillo: Friday's six-pack


Notes from VegasInsider.com on the Kentucky Derby.......


1) Trojan Nation (50-1)-- Its been 80+ years since a maiden won this race.


3) Creator (10-1)-- One of many closers; has navigated thru traffic before.


4) Mo Tom (20-1)-- Got a lousy ride in the Louisiana Derby.


8) Exaggerator (8-1)-- Ran well in Santa Anita Derby, but on a wet track.


13) Nyquist (3-1)-- Favorite is undefeated in his seven-race career.


17) Mor Spirit (12-1)-- His jockey (Gary Stevens) has won Derby three times.


**********


Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Random stuff with weekend here.......


13) Playoff hockey is tremendously tremendous; Nashville scored a goal at 2:05am ET to beat San Jose 4-3 in triple OT and even their series 2-2. Great fun; the effort these players put out is just very impressive. Outstanding entertainment.


12) Houston Astros didn't win consecutive games in April; they're first team in 34 years to make the playoffs one year, then not win consecutive games the next April.


11) Indiana Pacers fired Frank Vogel Thursday; Vogel was 250-181 in the regular season, 31-30 in playoff games, and he gets fired? Not unlike Anaheim Ducks firing their coach last week, after an early playoff ouster. It seems terribly unfair.


10) So far in interleague baseball games this season, over is 25-12.


9) Scott Kerkin pointed this out on Twitter: over the last 22 years, the AL team that had the best April record made the playoffs 18 of those 22 years. That team this year is the Chicago White Sox.


8) The outfield at Marlins Park is a little messed up; they had a Beyonce concert there last weekend and re-sodded the outfield afterwards, but there were complaints about the soft dirt on the warning track. Last night was only fourth time the roof was open at Marlins Park-- it rains a lot in the early evening in south Florida.


7) One more Marlins note; Miami opponents are 0-9 this year when they challenge calls via replay; you wonder what umpires hear from the league office when their calls get overturned. Some umpires have to get overturned more than others.


6) Houston Astros starting pitchers have finished six innings in only six of their last 18 games; they need to improve that, or the bullpen will implode. Teams that win are teams whose bullpens need to get less than nine outs per game.


Wednesday night, Astros are up 9-4 in 5th inning with two outs. Seattle has a couple guys on base and AJ Hinch takes Mike Fiers out, not a great show of faith. Maybe it was the right move, but making the bullpen get 13 outs in that game was curious.


5) Bartolo Colon is older than 14 of the 30 major league managers.


4) Rockies 17, Giants 7-- SF gave up 12+ runs in an inning for second time in last six days. Tim Lincecum has a showcase today; will the Giants be interested?


3) Derek Law is a reliever for the Giants; his dad Joe Law pitched in minors for nine years he was in major leagues for four days, but never got into a game, which seems kind of sad. Even if he only got in once, like Moonlight Graham in the movies.


2) My best friend in first grade was a huge hockey fan; he had one of those rod hockey games in his house, the first one I ever saw. After that year, his parents put him in another school and we went our separate ways. Years later, I found out that he became a state trooper and his son was playing as a defenseman in the AHL.


Looked it up on the Internet; his son got to the NHL briefly and played one game for the Sharks. Must be pretty cool to see your name on hockey-reference.com.


1) Judging from what I heard on TV today, Donald Trump is basically a third-party candidate, and the Republicans are sitting the election out. Lot of these Republicans seem like spoiled rich kids who take their ball and go home if they don't get their way.

 

[CNOTES]

NHL


Friday, May 6


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday's Stanley Cup Playoffs NHL betting preview: Lightning at Islanders
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The New York Islanders coughed up three leads before losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 in overtime Tuesday.


The New York Islanders get a spotlight home game for, probably, the first time since the 1980's as they play host to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Barclays Center for Game 4.


Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Islanders (A: -115, H: -105, O/U: 5)


Lightning lead series 2-1


Captain John Tavares and Kyle Okposo look to get back on the scoresheet as their New York Islanders try to avoid a deeper hole in the second-round series when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 on Friday. Tavares and Okposo, the team's top two scorers who accounted for 55 goals in the regular season, have gone without a point the last two games as the Islanders dropped both to fall behind 2-1 in the series.


New York coughed up three leads before losing 5-4 in overtime Tuesday while Okposo and Tavares each finished with a minus-2 rating, getting blanked on eight total shots by Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop. “It’s all part of the playoffs,” Islanders forward Josh Bailey, who scored twice Tuesday, told reporters. “You’re going to have these swings, and these ups and downs. It’s all part of the ride.” The Lightning have been successful getting top defenseman Victor Hedman (six points, plus-3 in series) out against Okposo and Tavares as much as possible. Tampa Bay right wing Nikita Kucherov scored the tying goal with less than a minute left in regulation – his seventh of the playoffs – and Brian Boyle won it in overtime Tuesday after Islanders coach Jack Capuano said he unleashed an illegal check on New York defenseman Thomas Hickey.


TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, CBC, TVAS


PROBABLE GOALIES:


Lightning - Ben Bishop (W/L 6-2, GAA: 2.27, SAVE %: 0.926)


Islanders - Thomas Greiss (W/L 5-4, GAA: 2.34, SAVE %: 0.926)


INJURY REPORT:


Lightning - RW E. Condra (Questionable Friday, upper body), D M. Carle (Questionable Friday, undisclosed), RW J. Brown (Out Indefinitely, upper body), C S. Stamkos (Early June, arm), D A. Stralman (Out Indefinitely, leg).


Islanders - D T. Hickey (Questionable Friday, head), D B. Strait (Questionable Friday, upper body), D R. Pulock (Questionable Friday, upper body).


ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (52-33-5, 38-52 ATS, 37-41 O/U): The script for right wing Jonathan Drouin’s season continues to add twists and turns after he came back from a devastating hit by Hickey early in Game 3 to set up the tying goal -- his sixth assist and seventh point of the playoffs. “He’s a warrior,” Bishop told reporters of Drouin, who was suspended by the Lightning for six weeks early in 2016 and appeared done with them. “. … He’s a big reason why we are where we are right now.” Defenseman Matt Carle (undisclosed) and forward Erik Condra (upper body) could be ready to return after practicing Thursday.


ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (50-30-11, 38-53 ATS, 38-44 O/U): Capuano said Game 3 was one of the team’s best performances of the season and there were reportedly no changes to his forward lines at practice while defenseman Ryan Pulock (upper body) is still day-to-day. Former first-round pick Ryan Strome was scratched in Game 3 after the return of Bailey, who had one point in seven playoff games before suffering an injury in Game 1. “He’s was flying,” Tavares told reporters of Bailey’s effort in Game 3. “You could see some of those days off helped. … Probably was our best forward out there. Really made a lot happen.”

TRENDS:


* Lightning are 14-3 in their last 17 Conference Semifinals games.
* Islanders are 5-0 in their last 5 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
* Over is 8-2-4 in Lightning last 14 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 5-1-1 in Islanders last 7 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
* Lightning are 2-8 in the last 10 meetings in New York.

 

[CNOTES]

NHL
Long Sheet


Friday, May 6


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TAMPA BAY (52-33-0-5, 109 pts.) at NY ISLANDERS (50-30-0-11, 111 pts.) - 5/6/2016, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TAMPA BAY is 15-26 ATS (-13.9 Units) in road games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 16-22 ATS (-11.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NY ISLANDERS are 21-6 ATS (+13.2 Units) in home games after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
NY ISLANDERS are 24-17 ATS (+2.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
TAMPA BAY is 34-18 ATS (+7.6 Units) second half of the season this season.
TAMPA BAY is 17-5 ATS (+10.8 Units) in the second round of the playoffs since 1996.
TAMPA BAY is 32-14 ATS (+12.8 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
NY ISLANDERS are 10-14 ATS (-8.7 Units) in home games when playing with 2 days rest over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
NY ISLANDERS is 6-6 (+0.6 Units) against the spread versus TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
NY ISLANDERS is 6-6-0 straight up against TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.6 Units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------








NHL
Short Sheet


Friday, May 6


Tampa Bay at NY Islanders, 7:05 PM ET
Tampa Bay: 7-17 SU in road games off a road win scoring 4 or more goals
New York: 25-15 SU after 1 or more consecutive losses








NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up


Friday, May 6


NY Islanders-Tampa Bay (1-1)
Lightning tied Game 3 with 0:39 left to play, won it at 2:48 of OT to grab series lead; Islanders are 5-3 in last eight games with Tampa Bay, winning three of last four played here-- over is 6-1-2 in last nine series games. Islanders lost four of last six games in Brooklyn- under is 3-2-1 in last six games overall. Tampa Bay won six of its last eight games, splitting last six road games. NY is 3-13 on power play in series, Lightning 2-11. Tampa Bay outshot NY 86-40 in periods 2-3 and OT first three games in series. So far in this round, an average of 5.87 goals/game have been scored (5.02 in first round).


Playoffs tally: 1st round-- Home: 23-24, Over: 16-17-14
2nd round-- Home: 10-5, Over: 7-2-6








NHL


Friday, May 6


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


7:05
TAMPA BAY vs. NY ISLANDERS
Tampa Bay is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing NY Islanders
NY Islanders are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the NY Islanders last 7 games at home

 

[CNOTES]

NHL
Dunkel


Friday, May 6




Tampa Bay @ NY Islanders


Game 59-60
May 6, 2016 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Tampa Bay
9.871
NY Islanders
12.645
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NY Islanders
by 3
4
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Islanders
-110
5
Dunkel Pick:
NY Islanders
(-110); Under

 

[CNOTES]

Isles look for win amid improved Lightning
May 5, 2016


NEW YORK (AP) Despite a disappointing overtime loss in their last game, the New York Islanders were pleased with their improved play.


Now, after falling behind in their second-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Islanders know they'll have to keep it up to have a chance to advance to the conference finals.


''It was our best game so far,'' center Frans Nielsen said. ''Just have to come out and try to be even better next game.''


After a bad loss in Game 2 in Tampa, the Islanders came out with the increased aggressive play coach Jack Capuano was looking for back in front of the raucous home crowd in Brooklyn. New York was 39 seconds from taking a 2-1 series lead, but the Lightning's Nikita Kucherov gave the seesaw game its fourth tie, and then Brian Boyle won it less than three minutes into the extra period.


That gave the Lightning the series lead with Game 4 on Friday (7 p.m. EDT, NBCSN) back at Barclays Center before shifting to Tampa for Game 5 on Sunday.


Capuano said the players need to forget the loss and just focus on the things they did well.


''It's a short memory,'' Capuano said. ''It was probably one the best games we played all year so there's a lot of positives you can take. We finally got our D activating more than we want in the offense. ... Hopefully, we can build on some of those things. That was Islander hockey, we played to our identity. And that's the way that we're going to have to play if we're going to have success in this series.''


One of the things they did better was get more shots on goal, finishing with 39 in Game 3 after totaling 42 in the first two games.


The Islanders also were more physical with 44 hits, compared to 34 for the Lightning. Those included several punishing jolts, including the two that gained national attention. The first by New York's Thomas Hickey on Jonathan Drouin, who was knocked out of the game in the second period before returning in the third and assisting on the tying score in the final minute of regulation. The other was by Tampa's Brian Boyle on Hickey in the OT just before Boyle went down the ice and scored.


Capuano believed Boyle's hit was too high and thought he could be suspended a game by the NHL. However, the defenseman was not sanctioned and the Lightning expect the physical play to continue. Tampa Bay, which reached the Stanley Cup Finals last year, isn't taking anything for granted.


''This series has so much more, so long to go,'' Cooper said. ''Everybody that's watching this series is looking forward to Game 4.''


Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman added: ''We're going to have to play at the same level the next game on Friday. It's going to be a tough game again so we have to be ready.''


The Islanders are trailing in a series for the first time this postseason. They alternated wins with Florida in the first five games of the first round before closing it out in Game 6 at home for their first playoff series win in 23 years. Then, they won the opener against the Lightning, but have lost two straight since.


''We just got to keep pushing,'' said forward Josh Bailey, who scored twice in Game 3. ''I think we'll tweak some things, refocus. ... The next game is the most important now and our focus won't change.''


New York needs a win to avoid going back to Tampa in a 3-1 hole.


''It's for sure a must-win for us, it feels like now,'' Nielsen said. ''We just got to come out and play the way we did (Tuesday) and give ourselves a chance to win.''

 

[CNOTES]

Blues' Upshall, Hitchcock keep eye on fire
May 4, 2016


ST. LOUIS (AP) St. Louis Blues forward Scottie Upshall has numerous family members who live in Fort McMurray, Alberta, including a brother and his fiancee, plus aunts, uncles and nieces.


Playing Game 3 against the Dallas Stars in the second round of the playoffs was a welcome diversion from thoughts about the devastation wrought by a raging wildfire that has forced the evacuation of about 88,000 residents from the city surrounded by wilderness in the heart of Canada's oil sands region.


''Most of my family was trying not to overplay it at all, but there was nothing to really overplay when something like that happens,'' Upshall said.


Upshall's nieces were among those evacuated, although his brother and fiancee were in St. Louis to watch the game. Officials said the fire had destroyed or damaged an estimated 1,600 structures and that efforts to suppress the blaze had failed.


''It's been a great city, a city that's survived for many years through some tough times and for me, growing up there doesn't seem too long ago,'' said Upshall, who is 32. ''Places that probably aren't standing anymore will be really, really tough to take. But as long as everyone's OK, that's the main thing.''


Blues coach Ken Hitchcock is from Edmonton, about a four-hour drive from Fort McMurray. He interrupted his postgame news conference after Tuesday night's 6-1 victory by issuing condolences to those affected by the fire. Rookie defenseman Colton Parayko played two seasons of junior hockey at Fort McMurray.


Stars coach Lindy Ruff is from a small town near Edmonton.


''That's tragic, close to home for me,'' Ruff said. ''Makes losing the game irrelevant. It's heartbreaking.''


After Tuesday night's game, Hitchcock said he and Upshall were both able to make contact with friends and acquaintances in the city. Hitchcock said he probably knows about 100 people in the city, including close to a dozen former players from the Western Hockey League.


Unseasonably hot temperatures combined with dry conditions are blamed for feeding the wildfire.


''It's tough when it becomes national and global news for a city of 80,000 people,'' Upshall said. ''It's pretty upsetting.''


Upshall said he's gotten several encouraging texts to ''go out and win the game for the city.'' It's been uplifting, juxtaposed with images from a city in flames.


''Yeah, a movie that I don't really want to watch,'' Upshall said. ''I saw the freeway that I used to usually drive in from the airport, and both sides of the roads were kind of just 100-foot flames.''


The Blues and team alumni will donate proceeds from a 50-50 raffle and silent auction by telephone during Game 4 on Thursday night to benefit families displayed by the fires. The silent auction will include game-used items and playoff goal pucks.


Fans can register for the auction at blues.myab.com using a computer or tablet or text ''blues'' to 52182 using a mobile device with bidding starting at 10 a.m. CDT Thursday and closing at the end of the second intermission.

 

[CNOTES]

NHL, Oilers, Flames each donating $100,000 to Fort McMurray
May 5, 2016


NEW YORK (AP) The National Hockey League and the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames are each donating $100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross relief efforts in fire-ravaged Fort McMurray, Alberta.


Wildfires have forced the evacuation of more than 80,000 residents. The Canadian Red Cross will facilitate care by providing shelter, food, accommodation and comfort.


''The National Hockey League family stands with all who have been affected by the devastating fires in Fort McMurray,'' NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday. ''We send thoughts of support and encouragement to our neighbors as they confront the physical and emotional impacts of this disaster.''


The NHL's charitable arm, the NHL Foundation, is providing the donation. The NHL also encouraged fans to visit www.redcross.ca to make a contribution.


The Edmonton Eskimos are leading a Canadian Football League initiative that includes a combined $50,000 donation to the Red Cross from all nine teams.


Help is coming from outside the province as well, with the St. Louis Blues donating the proceeds of their 50/50 raffle at their Stanley Cup playoff game Thursday night toward relief efforts. Blues forward Scottie Upshall is from Fort McMurray.


Canadian golfer Graham DeLaet pledged $500 for every birdie he makes this week to the Canadian Red Cross. He is playing in the PGA's Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Lightning (46-31) at Islanders (45-27)
Date: May 06, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) - Despite a disappointing overtime loss in their last game, the New York Islanders were pleased with their improved play.


Now, after falling behind in their second-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Islanders know they'll have to keep it up to have a chance to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.


'It was our best game so far,' center Frans Nielsen said. 'Just have to come out and try to be even better next game.'


After a bad loss in Game 2 in Tampa, the Islanders came out with the increased aggressive play coach Jack Capuano was looking for back in front of the raucous home crowd in Brooklyn. New York was 39 seconds from taking a 2-1 series lead, but the Lightning's Nikita Kucherov gave the seesaw game its fourth tie, and then Brian Boyle won it less than three minutes into the extra period.


That gave the Lightning the series lead with Game 4 on Friday night back at Barclays Center before shifting to Tampa for Game 5 on Sunday.


Capuano said the players need to forget the loss and just focus on the things they did well.


'It's a short memory,' Capuano said. 'It was probably one of the best games we played all year so there's a lot of positives you can take. We finally got our D activating more than we want in the offense. ... Hopefully, we can build on some of those things. That was Islander hockey, we played to our identity. And that's the way that we're going to have to play if we're going to have success in this series.'


One of the things they did better was get more shots on goal, finishing with 39 in Game 3 after totaling 42 in the first two games.


The Islanders also were more physical with 44 hits, compared to 34 for the Lightning. Those included several punishing jolts, including the two that gained national attention. The first by New York's Thomas Hickey on Jonathan Drouin, who was knocked out of the game in the second period before returning in the third and assisting on the tying score in the final minute of regulation. The other was by Boyle on Hickey in the OT just before Boyle went down the ice and scored.


Capuano believed Boyle's hit was too high and thought he could be suspended a game by the NHL. However, the defenseman was not sanctioned and the Lightning expect the physical play to continue. Tampa Bay, which reached the Stanley Cup Final last year, isn't taking anything for granted.


'This series has so much more, so long to go,' coach Jon Cooper said. 'Everybody that's watching this series is looking forward to Game 4.'


Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman added: 'We're going to have to play at the same level the next game on Friday. It's going to be a tough game again so we have to be ready.'


The Islanders are trailing in a series for the first time this postseason. They alternated wins with Florida in the first five games of the first round before closing it out in Game 6 at home for their first playoff series win in 23 years. Then, they won the opener against the Lightning, but have lost two straight since.


'We just got to keep pushing,' said forward Josh Bailey, who scored twice in Game 3. 'I think we'll tweak some things, refocus. ... The next game is the most important now and our focus won't change.'


New York needs a win to avoid going back to Tampa in a 3-1 hole.


'It's for sure a must-win for us, it feels like now,' Nielsen said. 'We just got to come out and play the way we did (Tuesday) and give ourselves a chance to win.'




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Islanders at Lightning
Wed, Apr 27 Final 5 to 3
Recaps


GAME 2
Islanders at Lightning
Sat, Apr 30 Final 1 to 4
Recaps


GAME 3
Lightning at Islanders
Tue, May 3 Final 5 to 4
Recaps


GAME 4
Lightning at Islanders
Fri, May 6 - 7:00PM EDT


GAME 5
Islanders at Lightning
Sun, May 8 - 3:00PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

5/5 - Results: 2 - 1 + 1.27
Overall : + 4.14

FRIDAY, MAY 6


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


TB at NYI 07:00 PM


NYI -105


U 5.0