NHL
Wednesday, April 26
Wednesday's NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Preview and Odds
Nashville Predators at St. Louis Blues (-120, 5)
Series tied 0-0
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (45-29-8-4, 41-36 O/U): Nashville finished as the eighth seed in the West but turned up its game in the postseason with a stunning four-game sweep of the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks. Pekka Rinne posted his fewest wins (31) in a full season since 2008-09 but the veteran netminder turned back the clock against the Blackhawks, stopping 123 of 126 shots and coming within 5 1/2 minutes of posting three shutouts in the series. Nashville's No. 1 line features 31-goal scorers Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson flanking center Ryan Johansen, who tied for the team lead in scoring during the regular season and torched Chicago with a goal and five assists. The Predators also feature an elite blue-line corps headed by the pairings of Roman Josi-Ryan Ellis and P.K. Subban-Mattias Ekholm, who each logged at least 20 minutes in all four games versus the Blackhawks.
ABOUT THE BLUES (50-30-5-2, 35-39 O/U): The Blues were not as dominant in the opening round as the Predators, but they continued their stellar play since Yeo replaced Ken Hitchcock behind the bench and needed only five games to dispatch the Minnesota Wild, which finished seven points above St. Louis in the Central. Like Rinne, Jake Allen had his share of rocky moments in net during the regular season - to the point where he was left home during a road trip just prior to the All-Star break. Allen set the tone against the Wild with a 51-save performance on the road in Game 1 and turned aside 174 of 182 shots in the series, boosting his save percentage to .942 since Yeo took over for Hitchcock. While St. Louis forward Vladimir Tarasenko is the most dangerous offensive player on the ice for either side with 116 goals over the past three seasons, the return of linemate Paul Stastny from a month-long injury absence and the late-season addition of Vladimir Sobotka from the Kontinental Hockey League bolsters the team's balance.
LINE HISTORY: The Blues opened as -135 home favorites for Game 1 but that moneyline was quickly bet down to -120. The total opened at 5 and has not moved.
INJURY REPORT:
Predators - LW C. Wilson (Questionable, lower body), RW C. Smith (Questionable, undisclosed), LW V. Fiddler (Out Indefinitely, upper body).
Blues - C R. Fabbri (Out For Season, knee).
TRENDS:
* Predators are 1-6 in their last 7 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
* Blues are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Central.
* Over is 4-0-3 in Predators last 7 Conference Semifinals games.
* Under is 5-1 in Blues last 6 overall.
* Predators are 1-6 in the last 7 meetings in St. Louis.
Edmonton Oilers at Anaheim Ducks (-130, 5)
Series tied 0-0
ABOUT THE OILERS (51-27-5-5, 34-45 O/U): Coach Todd McLellan took issue with the notion that Art Ross Trophy winner Connor McDavid was seemingly held in check with just four points (two goals, two assists) versus the Sharks. "It's not about winning a scoring title in the playoffs," McLellan told reporters. "Connor was tremendous. His line was excellent. They played with tenacity and wore the other team down so the other lines could go out and create some offense." McDavid collected two goals, five assists and a plus-4 rating versus the Ducks this season, and that's with five-time Selke Trophy finalist Ryan Kesler shadowing his every move.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (50-23-10-3, 29-37 O/U): After making short work of one Alberta representative, the Pacific Division champion Anaheim Ducks would love to take the first step in repeating the feat against the other on Wednesday as they begin their second-round series against the visiting Edmonton Oilers. Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf has been blistering hot with 32 points (seven goals, 25 assists) in his last 22 games overall. Although Anaheim's defense received a jolt from the offensive contributions of rookie Shea Theodore (two goals, three assists) in the first round, the back line is expected to be strengthened all the more by the potential returns of All-Star Cam Fowler and top-four Sami Vatanen. "They should be made available to us if they continue to heal the way they are. We're happy to have them back in the fold," coach Randy Carlyle told reporters. Fowler, who has been sidelined since April 4 with a knee injury, admitted to "no restrictions" following his second straight day of skating on Tuesday and Vatanen is ready to go after playing in just one game versus the Flames due to an upper-body injury.
LINE HISTORY: The Ducks opened as -135 favorites for Game 1 but that number was bet down slightly to -130. The total hit the betting board at 5 and has not moved.
INJURY REPORT:
Oilers - D O. Klefbom (Probable, flu), D A. Ference (Out For Season, hip), RW T. Pitlick (Out For Season, knee).
Ducks - D C. Fowler (Probable, knee), D H. Lindholm (Probable, undisclosed), C N. Thompson (Probable, upper body), D S. Vatanen (Probable, upper body), D C. Stoner (Out Indefinitely, abdominal), D S. Despres (I-R, concussion).
TRENDS:
* Oilers are 4-0 in their last 4 Conference Semifinals games.
* Ducks are 15-2 in their last 17 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 9-2 in Oilers last 11 Conference Semifinals games.
* Over is 3-0-2 in Ducks last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
* Oilers are 2-9 in the last 11 meetings in Anaheim.
