Tuesday's NHL playoffs betting news and notes
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens (-175, 5)
Captain Steven Stamkos avoided what appeared to be a serious injury when he took an accidental knee flush to the side of his head moments after Callahan's goal was negated late in the second period, but he returned to start the third period. Stamkos, who already missed more than four months this season due to a broken leg, picked up his second assist of the contest on defenseman Matt Carle's third-period goal and told reporters at Monday's optional skate that he felt good and expects to be in the lineup for Game 4.
P.K. Subban did not finish the regular season on a high note, failing to hit the scoresheet in his final six games, posting a collective minus-5 in that span and having his ice time cut dramatically in half those contests. However, Subban has provided a stark reminder of why he ranks among the league's elite defensemen with a stellar series against Tampa Bay, posting back-to-back games with two assists and playing a leading role during the decisive stretch of Game 3. Subban prevented a tiebreaking tally by swatting a puck out of mid-air seconds before Callahan's goal was waved off and, minutes later, put his team ahead to stay with a brilliant individual rush to set up a goal by Brendan Gallagher.
TRENDS:
* Under is 5-1-2 in the last eight meetings.
* Lightning are 2-5 in the last seven meetings in Montreal.
* Canadiens are 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings (+122, 5)
A stomach bug sidelined defenseman Kevan Miller and Matt Bartkowski in the series opener, but the former quickly made his presence felt in Game 2 by rocking Detroit's Drew Miller and Daniel Aldredsson with big hits in the opening minutes. "Millsy, right from the start, I thought he helped set the tone with a couple of big hits, and I think they were within the first five minutes," veteran forward Jarome Iginla said. "He's a very strong competitor and it was great to have him back on the lineup and set that tone early." Somewhat overlooked thus far in the series has been the play of netminder Tuukka Rask, who has allowed one goal in each contest and beat Detroit on Sunday for only the second time in eight career meetings (2-5-1).
One of the enduring images of Game 2 was a stare-down at the end of the first period between Detroit's Smith and Boston's Zdeno Chara - with the towering Bruins captain laughing at Smith and attempting to goad him into a fight. Smith acknowledged it was not a wise idea to confront the 6-9 Chara, a move backed by Red Wings coach Mike Babcock. "I thought he made a really good decision," Babcock said of taking the high road. "You walk into a bar and there's this beautiful young gal, standing next to this 6-foot-5 monster who you know makes his living fighting for a living and you're the best pool player in the bar. Are you going to play pool? Or are you going to fight. Figure it out, seems pretty simple to me."
TRENDS:
* Under is 4-1-2 in the last seven meetings.
* Bruins are 2-8 in the last 10 meetings.
* Bruins are 0-4 in the last four meetings in Detroit.
New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers (-114, 5)
After struggling to adjust to his new team, Martin St. Louis has hit the ground running in the postseason. The 38-year-old has scored a goal and set up two others in the first two games of the series and has two tallies and eight assists in nine career playoff meetings with the Flyers. St. Louis' three points are tied for the team lead with Brad Richards, who collected a goal and two assists in Game 1.
Philadelphia avenged a series-opening 4-1 setback by rebounding from an early two-goal deficit to post a 4-2 victory on Sunday. Ray Emery will make his third consecutive start in place of the injured Steve Mason, who ruled himself out for Tuesday with an upper-body injury. The Flyers return to the comforts of Wells Fargo Center, where they claimed both regular-season meetings with the Rangers to push their home winning streak in the all-time series to three games.
TRENDS:
* Home team is 6-1 in the last seven meetings.
* Over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings in Philadelphia.
* Rangers are 1-4 in the last five meetings in Philadelphia.
San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings (-125, 5)
Everything is going San Jose's way thus far in the series, as evidenced by its comeback from a 2-0 deficit in Game 2. Known more for their pugilistic skills and questionable hits than their scoring prowess, Mike Brown and Raffi Torres scored less than five minutes apart in the second period to forge a tie and spark the club's run of seven straight tallies. Torres has collected five goals and two assists in seven games this season, including a tally in each of the first two games of the series.
Trevor Lewis is the only Los Angeles forward with a goal in the series. Centers Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter have recorded two assists apiece while right wings Marian Gaborik, Justin Williams and Dustin Brown and centers Mike Richards and Jarret Stoll have yet to notch a point. Richards received a double-minor for spearing Logan Couture late in the third period Sunday but was not suspended by the league. Los Angeles has won eight straight home meetings with San Jose.
TRENDS:
* Sharks are 1-10 in the last 11 meetings in Los Angeles.
* Over is 9-4-2 in the last 15 meetings in Los Angeles.
* Home team is 35-16 in the last 51 meetings.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens (-175, 5)
Captain Steven Stamkos avoided what appeared to be a serious injury when he took an accidental knee flush to the side of his head moments after Callahan's goal was negated late in the second period, but he returned to start the third period. Stamkos, who already missed more than four months this season due to a broken leg, picked up his second assist of the contest on defenseman Matt Carle's third-period goal and told reporters at Monday's optional skate that he felt good and expects to be in the lineup for Game 4.
P.K. Subban did not finish the regular season on a high note, failing to hit the scoresheet in his final six games, posting a collective minus-5 in that span and having his ice time cut dramatically in half those contests. However, Subban has provided a stark reminder of why he ranks among the league's elite defensemen with a stellar series against Tampa Bay, posting back-to-back games with two assists and playing a leading role during the decisive stretch of Game 3. Subban prevented a tiebreaking tally by swatting a puck out of mid-air seconds before Callahan's goal was waved off and, minutes later, put his team ahead to stay with a brilliant individual rush to set up a goal by Brendan Gallagher.
TRENDS:
* Under is 5-1-2 in the last eight meetings.
* Lightning are 2-5 in the last seven meetings in Montreal.
* Canadiens are 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings (+122, 5)
A stomach bug sidelined defenseman Kevan Miller and Matt Bartkowski in the series opener, but the former quickly made his presence felt in Game 2 by rocking Detroit's Drew Miller and Daniel Aldredsson with big hits in the opening minutes. "Millsy, right from the start, I thought he helped set the tone with a couple of big hits, and I think they were within the first five minutes," veteran forward Jarome Iginla said. "He's a very strong competitor and it was great to have him back on the lineup and set that tone early." Somewhat overlooked thus far in the series has been the play of netminder Tuukka Rask, who has allowed one goal in each contest and beat Detroit on Sunday for only the second time in eight career meetings (2-5-1).
One of the enduring images of Game 2 was a stare-down at the end of the first period between Detroit's Smith and Boston's Zdeno Chara - with the towering Bruins captain laughing at Smith and attempting to goad him into a fight. Smith acknowledged it was not a wise idea to confront the 6-9 Chara, a move backed by Red Wings coach Mike Babcock. "I thought he made a really good decision," Babcock said of taking the high road. "You walk into a bar and there's this beautiful young gal, standing next to this 6-foot-5 monster who you know makes his living fighting for a living and you're the best pool player in the bar. Are you going to play pool? Or are you going to fight. Figure it out, seems pretty simple to me."
TRENDS:
* Under is 4-1-2 in the last seven meetings.
* Bruins are 2-8 in the last 10 meetings.
* Bruins are 0-4 in the last four meetings in Detroit.
New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers (-114, 5)
After struggling to adjust to his new team, Martin St. Louis has hit the ground running in the postseason. The 38-year-old has scored a goal and set up two others in the first two games of the series and has two tallies and eight assists in nine career playoff meetings with the Flyers. St. Louis' three points are tied for the team lead with Brad Richards, who collected a goal and two assists in Game 1.
Philadelphia avenged a series-opening 4-1 setback by rebounding from an early two-goal deficit to post a 4-2 victory on Sunday. Ray Emery will make his third consecutive start in place of the injured Steve Mason, who ruled himself out for Tuesday with an upper-body injury. The Flyers return to the comforts of Wells Fargo Center, where they claimed both regular-season meetings with the Rangers to push their home winning streak in the all-time series to three games.
TRENDS:
* Home team is 6-1 in the last seven meetings.
* Over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings in Philadelphia.
* Rangers are 1-4 in the last five meetings in Philadelphia.
San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings (-125, 5)
Everything is going San Jose's way thus far in the series, as evidenced by its comeback from a 2-0 deficit in Game 2. Known more for their pugilistic skills and questionable hits than their scoring prowess, Mike Brown and Raffi Torres scored less than five minutes apart in the second period to forge a tie and spark the club's run of seven straight tallies. Torres has collected five goals and two assists in seven games this season, including a tally in each of the first two games of the series.
Trevor Lewis is the only Los Angeles forward with a goal in the series. Centers Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter have recorded two assists apiece while right wings Marian Gaborik, Justin Williams and Dustin Brown and centers Mike Richards and Jarret Stoll have yet to notch a point. Richards received a double-minor for spearing Logan Couture late in the third period Sunday but was not suspended by the league. Los Angeles has won eight straight home meetings with San Jose.
TRENDS:
* Sharks are 1-10 in the last 11 meetings in Los Angeles.
* Over is 9-4-2 in the last 15 meetings in Los Angeles.
* Home team is 35-16 in the last 51 meetings.
