NHL
Friday, April 21
Friday's NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Preview and Odds
The Senators have won three in a row since a Game 1 loss -- all by one goal -- and can close out Boston in Thursday's Game 5 on home ice.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals (-210, 5.5)
Series tied 2-2
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (42-28-8-8, 40-44 O/U): Despite tumbling back to Square One, coach Mike Babcock feels his upstart Maple Leafs should be optimistic heading into Friday's Game 5 against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals at the Verizon Center. William Nylander has collected a goal and an assist in consecutive games and fellow rookie Auston Matthews joined Tyler Bozak in scoring in back-to-back contests. Zach Hyman also tallied to give Toronto five rookie goal-scorers to join the 2007-08 New York Rangers as the only teams over the last 25 years of the playoffs to accomplish that feat. Mitch Marner, also a rookie, set up a pair of goals to share top honors in points (four) with Bozak and defenseman Morgan Rielly.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (57-19-5-5, 39-32 O/U): Washington's T.J. Oshie has been providing back-breaking moments for Babcock throughout the series, highlighted by recording his third career postseason multi-goal performance on Wednesday Tom Wilson continued to torment his hometown team by tallying twice on Wednesday to increase his goal total to three in the series after mustering just seven in 82 regular-season games. "When you're a kid, you always have big dreams. I was lucky enough to fulfill them," the 23-year-old Wilson said. "It's a huge privilege." Nate Schmidt has provided a bit of offense with an assist in back-to-back contests in the absence of fellow defenseman Karl Alzner (upper body), who was listed as day-to-day by coach Barry Trotz on Thursday.
LINE HISTORY: The Capitals opened as -210 moneyline home favorites in this pivitol Game 5 matchup. The total opened at 5.5.
INJURY REPORT:
Maple Leafs - D R. Polak (Out For Season, leg), LW J. Leivo (Out Indefinitely, undisclosed), RW N. Soshnikov (Out Indefinitely, undisclosed), C E. Fehr (Out Indefinitely, hand), LW J. Lupul (I-R, conditioning), D S. Robidas (Out For Season, knee), RW N. Horton (Out For Season, spine).
Capitals - D K. Alzner (Questionable, upper body).
TRENDS:
* Maple Leafs are 4-0 in their last 4 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
* Capitals are 17-5 in their last 22 Friday games.
* Over is 4-0 in Maple Leafs last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Under is 5-1 in Capitals last 6 home games.
* Maple Leafs are 5-16 in the last 21 meetings in Washington.
Boston Bruins at Ottawa Senators (-105, 5)
Sens lead series 3-1
ABOUT THE BRUINS (45-32-6-3, 39-39 O/U): Although Colin Miller returned for Game 4, Boston's blue-line corps remain decimated with Torey Krug, Adam McQuaid and Brandon Carlo expected to sit out Game 5. “There are guys progressing certainly, but to say in 24 hours that you could have some people available? I would say no,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Guys realize (Game 4) was another game that could have gone either way, and they just made one more play than us." Rookie Charlie McAvoy, who made his NHL debut in Game 1, has played at least 24 minutes in each contest, including a team-high 25:03 Wednesday.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (47-29-6-4, 34-49 O/U): The Senators have won three in a row since a Game 1 loss -- all by one goal -- and can close out Boston in Thursday's Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round series at Canadian Tire Centre. While Boston mustered a total of 10 shots over the final two periods, Ottawa netminder set the tone in the opening 20 minutes by denying Bruins leading scorer Brad Marchand on a pair of breakaways en route to his fourth playoff shutout. “We made the plays when we needed to, and we stuck with it, and obviously Andy played huge for us in net, he really kept us in it going into the third,” captain Erik Karlsson said. “Andy was a rock for us, and probably stole this one for us.” Resurgent Bobby Ryan delivered the game-winner with his third goal of the series.
LINE HISTORY: The Bruins opened as -115 road favorites with their backs against the wall and that moneyline has yet to move. The total opened at 5.
INJURY REPORT:
Bruins - D B. Carlo (Doubtful, upper body), D A. McQuaid (Out Indefinitely, upper body), D T. Krug (Out Indefinitely, lower body).
Senators - LW T. Pyatt (Questionable, upper body), D M. Borowiecki (Questionable, lower body).
TRENDS:
* Bruins are 1-5 in their last 6 overall.
* Senators are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 8-2 in Bruins last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 6-2 in Senators last 8 games following a win.
* Bruins are 3-13 in the last 16 meetings.
Friday, April 21
Friday's NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Preview and Odds
The Senators have won three in a row since a Game 1 loss -- all by one goal -- and can close out Boston in Thursday's Game 5 on home ice.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals (-210, 5.5)
Series tied 2-2
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (42-28-8-8, 40-44 O/U): Despite tumbling back to Square One, coach Mike Babcock feels his upstart Maple Leafs should be optimistic heading into Friday's Game 5 against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals at the Verizon Center. William Nylander has collected a goal and an assist in consecutive games and fellow rookie Auston Matthews joined Tyler Bozak in scoring in back-to-back contests. Zach Hyman also tallied to give Toronto five rookie goal-scorers to join the 2007-08 New York Rangers as the only teams over the last 25 years of the playoffs to accomplish that feat. Mitch Marner, also a rookie, set up a pair of goals to share top honors in points (four) with Bozak and defenseman Morgan Rielly.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (57-19-5-5, 39-32 O/U): Washington's T.J. Oshie has been providing back-breaking moments for Babcock throughout the series, highlighted by recording his third career postseason multi-goal performance on Wednesday Tom Wilson continued to torment his hometown team by tallying twice on Wednesday to increase his goal total to three in the series after mustering just seven in 82 regular-season games. "When you're a kid, you always have big dreams. I was lucky enough to fulfill them," the 23-year-old Wilson said. "It's a huge privilege." Nate Schmidt has provided a bit of offense with an assist in back-to-back contests in the absence of fellow defenseman Karl Alzner (upper body), who was listed as day-to-day by coach Barry Trotz on Thursday.
LINE HISTORY: The Capitals opened as -210 moneyline home favorites in this pivitol Game 5 matchup. The total opened at 5.5.
INJURY REPORT:
Maple Leafs - D R. Polak (Out For Season, leg), LW J. Leivo (Out Indefinitely, undisclosed), RW N. Soshnikov (Out Indefinitely, undisclosed), C E. Fehr (Out Indefinitely, hand), LW J. Lupul (I-R, conditioning), D S. Robidas (Out For Season, knee), RW N. Horton (Out For Season, spine).
Capitals - D K. Alzner (Questionable, upper body).
TRENDS:
* Maple Leafs are 4-0 in their last 4 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
* Capitals are 17-5 in their last 22 Friday games.
* Over is 4-0 in Maple Leafs last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Under is 5-1 in Capitals last 6 home games.
* Maple Leafs are 5-16 in the last 21 meetings in Washington.
Boston Bruins at Ottawa Senators (-105, 5)
Sens lead series 3-1
ABOUT THE BRUINS (45-32-6-3, 39-39 O/U): Although Colin Miller returned for Game 4, Boston's blue-line corps remain decimated with Torey Krug, Adam McQuaid and Brandon Carlo expected to sit out Game 5. “There are guys progressing certainly, but to say in 24 hours that you could have some people available? I would say no,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Guys realize (Game 4) was another game that could have gone either way, and they just made one more play than us." Rookie Charlie McAvoy, who made his NHL debut in Game 1, has played at least 24 minutes in each contest, including a team-high 25:03 Wednesday.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (47-29-6-4, 34-49 O/U): The Senators have won three in a row since a Game 1 loss -- all by one goal -- and can close out Boston in Thursday's Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round series at Canadian Tire Centre. While Boston mustered a total of 10 shots over the final two periods, Ottawa netminder set the tone in the opening 20 minutes by denying Bruins leading scorer Brad Marchand on a pair of breakaways en route to his fourth playoff shutout. “We made the plays when we needed to, and we stuck with it, and obviously Andy played huge for us in net, he really kept us in it going into the third,” captain Erik Karlsson said. “Andy was a rock for us, and probably stole this one for us.” Resurgent Bobby Ryan delivered the game-winner with his third goal of the series.
LINE HISTORY: The Bruins opened as -115 road favorites with their backs against the wall and that moneyline has yet to move. The total opened at 5.
INJURY REPORT:
Bruins - D B. Carlo (Doubtful, upper body), D A. McQuaid (Out Indefinitely, upper body), D T. Krug (Out Indefinitely, lower body).
Senators - LW T. Pyatt (Questionable, upper body), D M. Borowiecki (Questionable, lower body).
TRENDS:
* Bruins are 1-5 in their last 6 overall.
* Senators are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 8-2 in Bruins last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 6-2 in Senators last 8 games following a win.
* Bruins are 3-13 in the last 16 meetings.
