NHL betting trends, odds and predictions for Thursday, May 4th, 2017 from various handicappers and websites
NHL Knowledge
Home side won seven of last eight Ottawa-Ranger games, all three in this series; Ottawa is 5-2 in its last seven games with the Rangers- they’re 2-3 in last five games in MSG. Under is 7-2-1 in last ten series games, 7-3-2 in Rangers’ last 12 games. Senators won six of last eight games overall; four of their last six wins came in OT. Ottawa was held to 2 or fewer goals in nine of their last 10 losses- they won last six times they scored 3+ goals. Rangers held 7 of last 10 foes under three goals. New York won four of its last five home games. Both teams are 1-11 on power play in series.
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Thursday’s Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Preview
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Ottawa Senators at New York Rangers (-170, 5)
The New York Rangers were a pedestrian team on home ice for much of the regular season but they have reversed their fortunes in the playoffs. New York will look to build upon its most lopsided victory of the postseason and even the Eastern Conference semifinal series when it hosts the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night in Game 4.
The league's best road team during the regular season, the Rangers rebounded from a pair of losses in Ottawa with a 4-1 victory in Game 3 - seizing control by scoring the first four goals. "We were behind on our thinking, behind on our execution, behind on our physicality," Ottawa coach Guy Boucher told reporters of New York's domination. "We got a slap in the face and we've got to get up." The Senators had played eight straight one-goal decisions to open the postseason and erased a two-goal deficit on three occasions before prevailing in double overtime in Game 2, making Tuesday's matchup a must-win for New York. “It says that we can erase an emotional loss,” Rangers forward Rick Nash told reporters. “We’re still down, so the next game is that much of a bigger deal.”
LINE HISTORY: The Rangers opened as big -175 home favorites for Game 3 and that moneyline came down slightly to -170. The total hit the board at 5 and will likely remain on that number.
INJURY REPORT:
Senators - RW B. Ryan (Probable, leg), C Z. Smith (Doubful, upper body), D M. Borowiecki (Out Indefinitely, leg).
Rangers - No injuries to report.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (50-30-7-4, 35-50 O/U): Ottawa has some injury concerns as forwards Bobby Ryan and Zack Smith each were knocked out of Game 3, although Boucher said Ryan is likely to play Thursday while Smith's status will be determined at the morning skate. If Smith is unable to go, he will be replaced by forward Tom Pyatt, who has been sidelined since he was hurt in Game 4 of the first-round series against Boston and was called "one of our most trusted guys" by Boucher. Netminder Craig Anderson has permitted nine goals in the past two games and committed another puck-handling gaffe that led to a gimme tally in Game 3.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (53-30-4-4, 42-41 O/U): Mats Zuccarello, the leading scorer during the regular season, had a goal and an assist Tuesday to give him five points in his last four games. Mika Zibanejad, acquired from Ottawa in the offseason in exchange for Derick Brassard, also is raising his level of play with six points over the past five games to take over the team lead with seven in the postseason. “The first few games in the Montreal series, I wasn’t too happy with it, but I knew what I had to do,” Zibanejad told reporters. "When I try to play on my instincts more than trying to think out there, it works better for me."
TRENDS:
* Senators are 6-1 in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Rangers are 5-1 in their last 6 home games.
* Over is 2-0-2 in Senators last 4 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
* Under is 8-2-2 in Rangers last 12 overall.
* Home team is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
OTTAWA (50-31-0-10, 110 pts.) at NY RANGERS (53-31-0-7, 113 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
NY RANGERS are 53-38 ATS (+98.4 Units) in all games this season.
OTTAWA is 50-41 ATS (+93.9 Units) in all games this season.
OTTAWA is 30-25 ATS (+56.4 Units) second half of the season this season.
OTTAWA is 24-19 ATS (+43.8 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
OTTAWA is 16-11 ATS (+30.0 Units) in road games after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
OTTAWA is 28-18 ATS (+47.3 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
OTTAWA is 26-16 ATS (+45.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
OTTAWA is 14-9 ATS (+24.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
NY RANGERS are 236-230 ATS (-117.4 Units) in home games second half of the season since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 118-119 ATS (-32.0 Units) in home games after a win by 2 goals or more since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 130-131 ATS (-84.7 Units) in home games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 193-226 ATS (-180.2 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
OTTAWA is 6-6 (+0.7 Units) against the spread versus NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
NY RANGERS is 6-6-0 straight up against OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 10 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.6 Units)
OTTAWA vs. NY RANGERS
Ottawa is 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against NY Rangers
Ottawa is 17-8 SU in their last 25 games when playing on the road against NY Rangers
NY Rangers are 8-17 SU in their last 25 games when playing at home against Ottawa
NY Rangers are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against Ottawa
Ottawa at NY Rangers
Ottawa: 6-2 in road games after a blowout loss by 3 goals or more
NY Rangers: 37-45 in home games after scoring 4 goals or more in BB games