NHL
Wednesday, April 19
Wednesday's NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Preview and Odds
The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue with four games on Wednesday's slate. The top seeded Washington Capitals are nearing "must win" territory in their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Game 4 will be crucial.
Washington Capitals at Toronto Maple Leafs (+125, 5.5)
Maple Leafs lead series 2-1
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (56-19-5-5, 38-32 O/U): The Washington Capitals find themselves losing ground as they fight an uphill battle against both the upstart Toronto Maple Leafs as well as their own postseason demons. Alex Ovechkin's resume certainly is impressive with three Hart Trophies and six Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies among his many honors, but the captain refuses to fret despite having yet to find his way out of the second round since joining Washington in 2005-06. "It's a situation when you have to fight through it," said Ovechkin, who scored in his second consecutive game to increase his franchise-best playoff totals in goals (43) and points (84). "Obviously we don't have to panic or do some crazy stuff out there. We just have to play our game. I think we're experienced enough and old enough to manage it and just forget about it and move forward."
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (42-27-8-8, 39-44 O/U): The Maple Leafs are playing with an air of freedom that is being spurred on by a hockey-mad metropolis that relishes each passing moment. Toronto is receiving dividends from its rookies as Mitch Marner scored in the series opener, Kasperi Kapanen capped a two-goal performance in double overtime of Game 2 and top overall pick Auston Matthews and William Nylander chimed in with a tally apiece in Game 3. The rookie quartet is the Maple Leafs' first since Vic Lynn, Howie Meeker, Joe Klukay and Gus Mortson each scored their respective first goals during the 1947 playoffs. Matthews had entered the playoffs with a flourish, recording 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in the last 13 games of the regular season before being held off the scoresheet in Games 1 and 2 in Washington.
LINE HISTORY: The Maple Leafs opened as +125 underdogs on home ice, despite leading the series 2-1. The total opened at 5.5.
INJURY REPORT:
Capitals - D K. Alzner (Out, upper body).
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).
TRENDS:
* Capitals are 5-1 in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Maple Leafs are 1-7 in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Over is 8-2-1 in Capitals last 11 road games.
* Over is 5-1 in Maple Leafs last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Toronto.
Ottawa Senators at Boston Bruins (-165, 5)
Sens lead series 2-1
ABOUT THE SENATORS (46-29-6-4, 34-48 O/U): The Ottawa Senators surrendered home-ice advantage by dropping the opener of their Eastern Conference first-round series, but they seized it back by winning consecutive overtime games for the first time in franchise history. Forward Bobby Ryan slumbered through a mediocre regular season in which he lost nearly a month to injury and scored only 13 times -- a precipitous drop for a player who once put together four consecutive 30-goal campaigns. Ryan, however, ended a drought with a goal in the season finale and has netted a pair of tallies against Boston, including the game-winner in overtime Monday. "You always say that you make your money during the season, but you make your reputation in the playoffs and right now he's showing everybody that he's a gamer," Senators coach Guy Boucher said of Ryan.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (45-31-6-3, 39-38 O/U): Boston has yet to score in the first period and fell into a three-goal hole in the opening period Monday, prompting coach Bruce Cassidy to change his routine and run a full practice Tuesday. Boston again was without four injured defensemen in Game 3 and at least three of them will be sidelined in Game 4, although Colin Miller skated at Tuesday's practice and will be evaluated at Wednesday's morning skate. Bruins leading scorer Brad Marchand delivered the game-winning goal in the series opener but has been quieted in the past two games, managing a combined four shots. "That’s what happens when you’re an elite player," Cassidy said. "You’re going to get marked, and you’ve got to find your way through the checking part of the game, because they’ve got a number of guys."
LINE HISTORY: The Bruins opened as -160 moneyline faves for Game 4 on home ice and the total opened at 4.5 but was quickly bumped to 5.
INJURY REPORT:
Senators - D M. Borowiecki (Questionable, lower body).
Bruins - D C. Miller (Questionable, knee), RW J. Hayes (Questionable, lower body), D B. Carlo (Doubtful, upper body), D A. McQuaid (Doubtful, upper body), D T. Krug (Out Indefinitely, lower body).
TRENDS:
* Senators are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Bruins are 0-5 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Over is 5-1 in Senators last 6 road games.
* Under is 8-2-1 in Bruins last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Senators are 8-1 in the last 9 meetings.
Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues (-105, 5)
Blues lead series 3-0
ABOUT THE WILD (49-27-7-2, 42-34 O/U): The Wild, who were second in the league in scoring during the regular season (3.21 goals per game), have managed to get just three of their 117 shots past Jake Allen in three straight losses. Minnesota outshot the Blues 117-79 in the first three games but has gone 1-for-10 on the power play, and its top four goal scorers in the regular season have yet to tally in the series. “We’re not playing bad,” defenseman Ryan Suter told reporters. “We just can’t score. If we can find a way to score a goal, it’s a different game.” Coach Bruce Boudreau reportedly made changes to his forward lines at practice Tuesday, moving Eric Staal between Coyle and leading scorer Mikael Granlund while captain Mikko Koivu centered Nino Niederreiter and Zach Parise.
ABOUT THE BLUES (49-29-5-2, 34-38 O/U): Jaden Schwartz has recorded a goal in each of the last two games and a point in all three contests while Patrik Berglund has registered three assists along with a plus-3 rating. Alex Steen also has produced three points after netting an empty-net tally to clinch Game 3 and leading scorer Vladimir Tarasenko (two assists) has unleashed 12 shots in the series - one behind Schwartz for the team lead. Veteran center Paul Stastny (foot), who last played on March 21 against Colorado, skated with the team at practice Tuesday and is day-to-day, according to coach Mike Yeo.
LINE HISTORY: The Blues opened as -115 favorites but the moneyline flipped to Minnesota -115 as bettors unloaded on the desperate Wild. The total hit the betting board at 5
INJURY REPORT:
Wild - C E. Haula (Questionable, undisclosed), D V. Bartley (Questionable, tricep).
Blues - C P. Stastny (Questionable, foot), C R. Fabbri (Out For Season, knee).
TRENDS:
* Wild are 0-7 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Blues are 4-0 in their last 4 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Under is 4-0 in Wild last 4 overall.
* Under is 5-0-2 in Blues last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Wild are 0-4 in the last 4 meetings in St. Louis.
Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames (-110, 5)
Ducks lead series 3-0
ABOUT THE DUCKS (49-23-10-3, 29-36 O/U): Anaheim overcame a three-goal deficit in Monday's 5-4 overtime victory to claim a 3-0 series advantage for the sixth time in club history, with the brooms being brought out the last time it did so in 2015 against Winnipeg. Coach Randy Carlyle did little to quell the uncertainty surrounding the identity of his team's starting goaltender for Game 4, telling the Orange County Register that he's "going to pick one goalie." John Gibson's tenuous hold on the starter's position was loosened all the more after permitting four goals on 16 shots Monday while Jonathan Bernier came on in relief and turned aside all 16 attempts that came his way. While there's a question in net, rookie defenseman Shea Theodore has made his presence felt on the back end by tallying twice in Game 3 to push his point total to a team-best five (two goals, three assists).
ABOUT THE FLAMES (45-35-3-2, 35-37 O/U): Anaheim isn't the only team with questions in net -- Calgary's once-continuous goaltender carousel could be making another turn as coach Glen Gulutzan reportedly is mulling his options for Game 4. Brian Elliott, who was acquired in a draft-day deal with St. Louis, yielded five goals on 27 shots on Monday and owns a 3.67 goals-against average and .887 save percentage in the series. Capable backup Chad Johnson, whose last start was against Nashville on March 23, posted a respectable 18-15-1 mark with a 2.59 GAA and .910 save percentage this season.
LINE HISTORY: The Flames, for some reason, opened as -120 favorites but that was quickly bet down to a Pick 'Em. The total opened at 5 and will likely not move off that number.
INJURY REPORT:
Ducks - D S. Vatanen (Questionable, upper body), D C. Fowler (Out Indefinitely, knee), D C. Stoner (Questionable, abdominal), D S. Despres (I-R, concussion).
Flames - D L. Smid (Out For Season, neck).
TRENDS:
* Ducks are 10-1 in their last 11 games following a win.
* Flames are 0-6 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 3-0-2 in Ducks last 5 road games.
* Over is 8-1-3 in Flames last 12 home games.
* Ducks are 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Calgary.
