Monday's Betting Tips
By Covers.com
Weather to watch
Fourteen mile-per-hour winds will be blowing out to right-center when the White Sox host the Orioles on Monday night. There will be clear skies, with temperatures in the high 40s.
Who’s hot
NBA: The Suns are 18-8 ATS in their last 26 games.
NBA: The home team is 24-9-1 ATS in the last 34 Dallas-Utah games.
NHL: The Bruins are 5-0 in their last five road games.
NHL: The Rangers are 6-1 in their last seven games in Ottawa.
MLB: The under is 6-2 in Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson’s last eight starts vs. the Mets.
Who’s not
NBA: The T-Wolves are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games.
NBA: Philly is 0-5 ATS in its last five meetings with Orlando.
NHL: The over is 0-4-1 in the last five Blues-Sharks games.
NHL: St. Louis is 5-13 in its last 18 games in San Jose.
MLB: The White Sox are 2-9 in Philip Humber’s last 11 starts.
Key stat
132 – That’s how many penalty minutes San Jose and St. Louis racked up in the Blues’ 3-0 win in Game 2, including 88 minutes and 15 penalties as brawls erupted at the final whistle. With each team accusing the other of cheap shots, officials will do everything they can to avoid a repeat in Game 3 on Monday night.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid, who was a plus-16 in the regular season, missed the first two games of the playoffs with an eye/head injury and did not make the trip to Washington for Game 3 on Monday. "Right now he's not ready to go on the ice and he's going to continue treatment,” coach Claude Julien said. “When he's ready to start working out with the team then we'll bring him with us." McQuaid has not played since April 5.
Game of the day
Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals (110, 5)
Notable quotable
"Are you kidding me? It's going to be tough without him the next couple weeks. A herniated disk? That's crazy. Dwight isn't playing, everybody has to step up. Everybody." – Orlando Magic C Glen Davis, reacting to the Orlando Sentinel about Dwight Howard’s anticipated two-week absence. Howard is trying to treat his back injury with rest and rehabilitation, and will be evaluated in 10 days. The Magic, 2-4 without Howard, hosts Philly on Monday.
Notes and tips
Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw faces a hearing Monday for an incident with Phoenix goaltender Mike Smith in Chicago's 4-3 overtime win Saturday. Shaw was given a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct after making contact with Smith behind the Phoenix net. Smith stayed down for several minutes but was able to finish the game. The NHL is expected to decide Shaw's fate Monday, in advance of Tuesday's Game 3 at the United Center. The series is tied 1-1.
Suns guard Steve Nash, who said his hip was "killing" him before Saturday's game against the Spurs, hopes that treatment and medicine will enable him to play Monday when Phoenix hosts Portland. Nash (12.7 ppg, 10.9 apg) is officially questionable.
Lakers star Kobe Bryant missed his fifth straight game Sunday with inflammation in his left shin. The team is in no hurry to rush the 16-year veteran back into the lineup, as coach Mike Brown wants Bryant healthy for the playoffs. L.A. hosts San Antonio on Tuesday, with Bryant’s status yet to be clarified.