NHL Knowledge
St Louis-Dallas
Dallas Stars lost four of last five visits to St Louis; series is over if they don't win here. Blues won nine of last 12 games with Dallas overall-- visiting team is 3-2 in this series- Dallas didn't score in last 49:02 of Game 5- over is 3-1-2 in last six series games. Four of last six St Louis wins in series came in OT or SO. Over is 5-1-3 in St Louis' last nine games. Dallas won eight of last 13 games overall; over is 5-1-3 in their last nine. Stars are 1-16 on power play in series, St Louis 5-19. Blues split last four home games; Dallas won three of last four road games.
Nashville-San Jose
Home side won all five series games; Sharks lost four of last five visits here, but can end series with win tonite. San Jose won eight of last 11 games overall, but are 0-2 on road in this series. Over is 4-0-2 in their last six games. Predators lost six of last ten games, but won last three home games; they've won last five times they scored 3+ goals; they're 1-6 in last seven games scoring two or less goals. San Jose is 5-17 on power play in series, Nashville is 3-18. Under is 6-5-2 in last 13 series games. Did Nashville spend all its energy in triple OT Game 4 win?
Playoffs tally: 1st round-- Home: 23-24, Over: 16-17-14
2nd round-- Home: 13-7, Over: 8-5-7
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Stanley Cup Playoffs: Monday's Betting Preview
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Dallas Stars at St. Louis Blues (A: +140, H: -150, O/U: 5)
The St. Louis Blues look to secure their first Western Conference final berth in 15 years on Monday when they attempt to eliminate the Central Division-rival Dallas Stars in Game 6 at Scottrade Center. Although St. Louis inched closer to the Promised Land with a 4-1 triumph in Game 5 on Saturday afternoon, forward Alex Steen cautioned his club that it shouldn't look too far ahead.
"It doesn't really change much," Steen told reporters. "We expect their best and obviously we're going to bring ours and it's going to be a heck of a hockey game again. It's no real different situation. We've got to win another hockey game." Blues goaltender Brian Elliott has been the primary reason the Blues are on the brink of their first conference title appearance since 2001, making 27 saves on Saturday - with two coming from point-bank range on Game 4 overtime hero Cody Eakin. Despite seeing his team pushed to the edge, Dallas coach Lindy Ruff isn't overly concerned as the series shifts back to the Show Me State. "I'm confident. These guys, they've given us everything they've had all year and we've had some tough situations, and they'll pull out of it," Ruff told reporters.
PROBABLE GOALIES:
Stars - Kari Lehtonen (W/L: 5-2, GAA: 2.65, SAVE %: .905)
Blues - Brian Elliott (W/L: 7-5, GAA: 2.20, SAVE %: .930)
ABOUT THE STARS (56-26-11, 50-39 O/U): After going 4-for-19 on the power play in its first-round series, Dallas has converted just once in 16 opportunities the man-advantage versus St. Louis - a far cry from the 22.1 percent efficiency it showed in the regular season. Despite the team's struggles, captain Jamie Benn insists the Stars aren't getting down on themselves. "There's not too much (frustration with the power play)," said Benn, who scored 17 times with the man advantage in the regular season but has yet to do so in the playoffs. "We've just got to go out there as a group of five and try to make a difference."
ABOUT THE BLUES (56-27-11, 37-42 O/U): Veteran forward Troy Brouwer has received his wake-up call with four goals and three assists in the past seven contests after being held off the scoresheet in each of his previous five. Robby Fabbri joined Brouwer in scoring in Game 5 and added an assist for his fourth multi-point performance of the postseason - with his 10 points (two goals, eight assists) leading all rookies. "It's pretty awesome, to think last year I was sitting watching (the playoffs) and a year later, I'm in them," the 20-year-old Fabbri told reporters. "It's been a great ride, just have to keep going here."
TRENDS:
* Stars are 17-4 in their last 21 games following a loss of 3 or more goals.
* Blues are 4-1 in their last five meetings at home.
* Over is 5-0-3 in Stars last 8 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Over is 4-0-2 in Blues last 6 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
San Jose Sharks at Nashville Predators (A: -110, H: -110, O/U: 5)
Although they've held serve at home, the San Jose Sharks can punch their ticket to their fourth Western Conference final appearance should they show the mettle that made them the top road team during the regular season. Boasting an NHL-best 28-10-3 mark away from home, the Sharks look to quiet Music City on Monday when they face off against the host Nashville Predators in Game 6.
"We know it's a tough challenge to win in Nashville. (Monday's) a huge game," San Jose veteran Joe Thornton told reporters. "They're going to play desperate. We got to play just as desperate. I expect their 'A' game and our 'A' game too. Can't wait." Nashville's second line of Mike Fisher, Colin Wilson and James Neal has collected seven goals in the last three contests - including the club's lone tally in a 5-1 setback in Game 5 on Saturday. "We just need to go into Nashville and have a better game," Neal told reporters. "Our team will. I believe in the guys. We'll regroup."
PROBABLE GOALIES:
Sharks - Martin Jones (W/L: 7-3, GAA: 2.20, SAVE %: .917)
Predators - Pekka Rinne (W/L: 6-6, GAA: 2.37, SAVE %: .909)
ABOUT THE SHARKS (53-31-8, 47-35 O/U): Joe Pavelski scored twice in Game 5 to raise his postseason total to a a team-high eight, one shy of the NHL lead held by Tampa Bay's young stud Nikita Kucherov. Logan Couture also tallied on Saturday for his 13th point, joining defenseman Brent Burns for club-best honors while residing just one behind Dallas' Jamie Benn. "That's what we're supposed to do; we're supposed to go out and contribute offensively and score goals and play well," Couture told reporters of the team's veteran leadership. "When we're winning games, most nights the big guys are contributing. That's just expected."
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (47-33-14, 37-36 O/U): After mustering just one point (a goal) in Nashville's seven-game series with Anaheim, Fisher has erupted for four tallies and two assists against San Jose. Speaking of the first round, the Predators must repeat the feat of winning Games 6 and 7 should they wish to reach the conference final for the first time in franchise history. Nashville needs more out of Filip Forsberg, who had 33 goals in the regular season but has mustered just two in the playoffs and is a staggering minus-8 in the series.
TRENDS:
* Sharks are 5-0 in their last 5 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game.
* Predators are 1-5 in their last 6 games following a loss of 3 or more goals.
* Over is 4-0-3 in Sharks last 7 overall.
* Over is 3-0-2 in Predators last 5 overall.
* Sharks are 1-8 in the last 9 meetings in Nashville.
SAN JOSE (53-32-0-7, 113 pts.) at NASHVILLE (47-33-0-14, 108 pts.) - 5/9/2016, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NASHVILLE is 216-174 ATS (+424.8 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent since 1996.
NASHVILLE is 184-163 ATS (+363.0 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game since 1996.
SAN JOSE is 21-7 ATS (+13.6 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
SAN JOSE is 18-7 ATS (+9.7 Units) in road games second half of the season this season.
SAN JOSE is 44-25 ATS (+17.9 Units) in road games after 3 or more consecutive overs since 1996.
NASHVILLE is 47-47 ATS (-24.6 Units) in all games this season.
NASHVILLE is 9-16 ATS (-10.1 Units) after 3 or more consecutive overs over the last 2 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 23-37 ATS (+61.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
NASHVILLE is 8-6 (+3.7 Units) against the spread versus SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
NASHVILLE is 8-6-0 straight up against SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.5 Units)
DALLAS (56-26-0-11, 123 pts.) at ST LOUIS (56-28-0-10, 122 pts.) - 5/9/2016, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 30-37 ATS (-15.5 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 56-38 ATS (+14.9 Units) in all games this season.
ST LOUIS is 33-21 ATS (+0.8 Units) second half of the season this season.
ST LOUIS is 26-15 ATS (+7.3 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
ST LOUIS is 31-20 ATS (+4.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ST LOUIS is 20-11 ATS (+8.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
DALLAS is 56-37 ATS (+4.9 Units) in all games this season.
DALLAS is 24-17 ATS (+43.3 Units) in road games revenging a home loss versus opponent over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 25-17 ATS (+45.4 Units) in road games revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 17-7 ATS (+7.9 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more this season.
DALLAS is 17-3 ATS (+12.6 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game this season.
DALLAS is 16-7 ATS (+8.3 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 49-41 ATS (+94.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 16-8 ATS (+27.1 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 12-8-0 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
10 of 18 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.3 Units)
DALLAS vs. ST. LOUIS
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas's last 6 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
Dallas is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
St. Louis is 15-7 SU in its last 22 games
St. Louis is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games when playing Dallas
SAN JOSE vs. NASHVILLE
San Jose is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Nashville
San Jose is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games on the road
Nashville is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing San Jose
Nashville is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home
Dallas at St Louis
Dallas: 23-16 SU as a road underdog of +100 to +150
St Louis: 10-15 SU off a win against a division rival
San Jose at Nashville
San Jose: 10-2 SU in road games after having lost 2 of their last 3
Nashville: 9-16 SU after 3 or more consecutive overs