NHL Knowledge
NY Islanders-Tampa Bay
Islanders won five of last seven games with Tampa Bay, winning last three played here, in series where over is 5-1-2 in last eight games. Islanders won three of last four games but are 2-3 in last five games in Brooklyn- under is 3-1-1 in their last five games overall. Tampa Bay won five of its last seven games, going 2-3 in last five road games. NY is 2-9 on power play in series, Lightning 1-7. Tampa Bay outshot NY 54-18 in periods 2-3 first two games of series
St Louis-Dallas
Blues scored PP goal 10:58 into OT to even series after they blew 3-1 third period lead; St Louis won seven of last nine games with Dallas overall-- home team won five of last seven series games, with seven of last ten staying under total. Last four St Louis series wins all came in OT or SO. Dallas won seven of last ten games overall; over is 4-1-1 in their last six games. Stars outshot St Louis 76-57 in first two games; Stars are 0-7 on power play in series, St Louis 2-7.
Nashville-San Jose
Sharks scored seven third period goals to win first two games; Pavelski scored GW goal with 2:40 left to snap 1-1 tie in Game 2. Both games were 1-0 after two periods, then opened up in third period. San Jose is 3-5 on power play in series, Nashville is 1-5. Sharks lost three of last four visits here; they've won seven of last eight games overall. Predators lost five of last seven games. Sharks won nine of last 11 games overall- they've won last three games with Nashville. Under is 6-3-1 in last 10 series games.
Playoffs tally: 1st round-- Home: 23-24, Over: 16-17-14
2nd round-- Home: 6-3, Over: 4-2-3
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NHL: Streaks, Tips, Notes
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Dallas at St. Louis
When the playoffs begin, every fan has a match-up that they would love to see in the Stanley Cup Final. There is nothing better for the average fan than a series match-up that promises to be one worth watching. It may only be Round 2 of the NHL playoffs, but we already have a great one on our hands.
The Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues series is one that would have made a perfect Western Conference Final, but we are unfortunately going to have to see one of these two very good teams bow out early. Through the opening two games of the series, it’s already impossible to tell who might prevail, as these are two teams that appear to be incredibly well matched.
The advantage goes to St. Louis right now, as they came away from Dallas with the split, but we all know how quickly the momentum can shift when two great teams go head to head. You can bet on game 3 of this series at our MyBookie.ag NHL betting odds page.
Why bet on the Dallas Stars
The Stars could just as easily be sitting at 2-0 in the series where it not for an OT loss in Game 2 of the series. They will feel as though they let a very good opportunity slip away, especially after coming back from 3-1 down in that game. While the Stars did not perform particularly well versus the Blues in the regular season, losing 4 of 5, they did look like the better of the two teams heading into the postseason. These two teams have played all of their games close, and a lucky bounce here or there could shift the momentum once more. The Stars are a team that can seemingly score at will, so they always have a shot at winning, even when it looks as though the chips are down.
Why bet on the St. Louis Blues
The Blues have to be feeling good about going home with the split, especially since they won all 3 regular season home games versus the Stars this season. That said, since they play in the same division, the Blues will also be acutely aware of just how dangerous this Stars team can be. Dallas took 2 games on the road against Minnesota in the opening round, while the Blues lost 2 of their home games versus the Blackhawks in Round 1. The reality is that home ice somewhat goes out the window when you have 2 teams playing that know each other as well as these two do. It’s advantage Blues for now, but a Game 3 loss could change all that.
Pick and Final Score Prediction
Every game in this series is going to be too close to call, which often means going with your gut. Even though the trends suggest a Blues dominance over the Stars on home ice, I just feel that Dallas are going to find a way to win this one.
Dallas Stars 4 St. Louis Blues 3
Tuesday's NHL Betting Preview
By Covers.com
It's a very busy Tuesday in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with three great conference semifinal games on the board. We break down all the action on the ice in our betting preview.
Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Islanders (A: -105, H: -105, O/U: 5)
The New York Islanders look to hold on to home-ice advantage in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 3 at the Barclays Center on Tuesday night. The Islanders captured the first of two contests in Tampa 5-3 before being outshot 26-8 in the final two periods of a 4-1 defeat in Game 2 on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s disappointing when you get that first one that you can’t go out and do it again,” New York center Frans Nielsen told reporters. “But I think going (to Tampa), we would have taken it coming back 1-1. Going home to our building, it’s going to be a different story.” Islanders captain John Tavares said his team needs to find a way to get second and third opportunities on Lightning goalie Ben Bishop, who was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy. Tampa Bay was much sharper defensively in Game 2 and got two goals from Tyler Johnson, who took over the team lead with 10 points. “That’s one game. We need three more,” Johnson told reporters. “It’s gonna be loud, going to be hard to play in, but we know what we need to do.”
PROBABLE GOALIES:
Lightning - Ben Bishop (W/L: 5-2, GAA: 2.01, SAVE %: .927)
Islanders - Thomas Greiss (W/L: 5-3, GAA: 2.06, SAVE %: .927)
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (51-33-5, 37-52 ATS, 36-41 O/U): Right wing Nikita Kucherov (six playoff goals) did not have a point in Game 2, but was a factor with a plus-2 rating while being reunited with linemates Ondrej Palat and Johnson. Jonathan Drouin, who looked as though he would never play with Tampa Bay again after a trade request and team suspension in midseason, boasts a goal and six assists to go along with 19 shots – third on the team -- in the postseason. Forwards Erik Condra (upper body) and Mike Blunden (upper body) practiced Monday and defenseman Matt Carle (undisclosed) skated on his own.
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (50-30-10, 38-52 ATS, 37-44 O/U): Tavares had a team-high three shots on goal in Game 2, but the Islanders did not get enough production throughout the forward corps and the line of Shane Prince-Brock Nelson-Ryan Strome was limited to one shot combined. Defenseman Ryan Pulock practiced on Monday and could return to the lineup in place of veteran blue-liner Marek Zidlicky while forward Josh Bailey (upper body) may draw back in as well. Defensemen Nick Leddy (28:31) and Travis Hamonic (27:03) lead the team in average ice time and have a combined plus-1 rating.
TRENDS:
* Lightning are 13-3 in their last 16 Conference Semifinals games.
* Islanders are 13-3 in their last 16 Tuesday games.
* Over is 3-0-1 in Lightning last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Lightning are 3-13 in the last 16 meetings in New York.
San Jose Sharks at Nashville Predators (A: +100, H: -120, O/U: 5)
Trailing 2-0 in their second-round playoff series against the San Jose Sharks, heading home for Tuesday night's Game 3 might not prove to be that much of an advantage for the Nashville Predators. Not only did the Predators lose twice at home in their first-round series versus Anaheim, but they are facing an opponent that posted the league's best road record.
Not only did the Sharks go 28-10-3 away from home during the regular season, but they also won all three games in Los Angeles in their first-round series. San Jose has scored seven of its eight goals against Nashville in the third period, including three empty-netters, fueling the Predators' optimism that the series is far from over. "No one's hitting the panic button in here or anything," Nashville center Ryan Johansen said. "There's still a lot of hockey to be played. We know it's going to be challenging and they know it's going to be challenging." Nashville did stave off elimination in the opening round with a big victory in Game 6 at Bridgestone Arena before ousting the Ducks in Anaheim.
PROBABLE GOALIES:
Sharks - Martin Jones (W/L: 6-1, GAA: 2.13, SAVE %: .918)
Predators - Pekka Rinne (W/L: 4-5, GAA: 2.48, SAVE % .909)
ABOUT THE SHARKS (52-30-7, 42-47 ATS, 45-35 O/U): San Jose goaltender Martin Jones had been flying under the radar in the postseason, but he outplayed former mentor Jonathan Quick in the opening round and is coming off a 37-save performance in Game 2 against Nashville. "I thought they were better than us for the majority of that game," said Sharks center Logan Couture, who has three goals in the first two games. "A lot of guys didn't bring their best effort tonight, and we got bailed out by Jonesy making some big saves." The power play continues to thrive for San Jose, converting on 3-of-5 chances against Nashville and producing eight man-advantage tallies in seven postseason games.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (45-32-14, 39-52 ATS, 35-36 O/U): With the tandem of captain Shea Weber and Roman Josi leading the way, Nashville's defensemen led the NHL by posting the most points (203) and goals (55) during the regular season. Fellow blue-liner Mattias Ekholm has been the most clutch performer in the playoffs, tying for the league lead among defensemen with three tallies and either tying the game or putting his team ahead with each of his goals. "It's just the evolution of his game," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. "I don't think it should surprise anybody that he's got points or goals in the postseason. He's a terrific defenseman that thinks the game offensively."
TRENDS:
* Sharks are 5-1 in their last 6 games following a win.
* Predators are 0-4 in their last 4 Conference Semifinals games.
* Under is 5-1-1 in Sharks last 7 Conference Semifinals games.
* Sharks are 1-6 in the last 7 meetings in Nashville.
Dallas Stars at St. Louis Blues (A: +115, H: -135, O/U: 5)
The St. Louis Blues have benefited from working overtime against the Dallas Stars, venturing past regulation to earn three of their four wins in the regular-season series before drawing a split of the Western Conference second-round set in the same manner. After wresting away home-ice advantage, St. Louis looks to gain the upper hand in the series when it hosts Game 3 on Tuesday.
Captain David Backes celebrated his 32nd birthday in style on Sunday, scoring 10:58 into the extra session of the 4-3 triumph for his second overtime goal of the playoffs. "Jaromir Jagr in all his wisdom at 44 said, 'Who cares who scores,' and that's the way we feel in this room," Backes told reporters. "... We did our job, got one in their building, and now need to go home and play solid hockey for 60 minutes and start to establish our game." Dallas coach Lindy Ruff refused to reveal if his goaltender carousel would take another turn for Game 3, as Kari Lehtonen yielded three goals on five shots before being replaced by Antti Niemi (19 saves). Ruff has consistently shuffled netminders following a difficult start, as Lehtonen won Games 1 and 2 in the first-round series versus Minnesota before faltering in the following contest - only to get the call after Niemi sputtered in Game 5.
PROBABLE GOALIES:
Stars - Kari Lehtonen (W/L: 4-1, GAA: 2.45, SAVE %: .906)
Blues - Brian Elliott (W/L: 5-4, GAA: 2.38, SAVE % .930)
ABOUT THE STARS (55-24-11, 42-48 ATS, 49-39 O/U): Captain Jamie Benn is enjoying quite the postseason, assisting on one goal and scoring another with 2:36 remaining in the third period of Game 2 to extend his team-leading point total to 12 (five goals, seven assists). Cody Eakin set up all three of Dallas' goals on Sunday to match Benn with seven assists in the playoffs, much to the pleasure of Ruff. "Really it's the Cody Eakin I was looking for all year long," Ruff told the team's website on Monday. "His puck possession has been way up. What he's done defensively while playing against top lines has been very good. He's a step above where I had him in the regular season and he's right where we need him to be to be effective as a team."
ABOUT THE BLUES (54-27-10, 41-50 ATS, 36-42 O/U): Two-goal leads are proving to be anything but safe for St. Louis, which squandered that advantage for the second time in the playoffs on Sunday. The Blues jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first period of their Game 6 tilt versus Chicago in the first round, only to see the Blackhawks storm back with a vengeance and extend the series. "The worst lead in hockey is a two-goal lead," coach Ken Hitchcock told reporters. "But it's natural; you play the score. You don't want to get caught, so you put a safety net up."
TRENDS:
* Stars are 8-2 in their last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Blues are 1-7 in their last 8 Conference Semifinals games.
* Over is 4-0-1 in Stars last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Under is 6-1-1 in Blues last 8 vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in St. Louis.
TAMPA BAY (51-33-0-5, 107 pts.) at NY ISLANDERS (50-30-0-10, 110 pts.) - 5/3/2016, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TAMPA BAY is 6-12 ATS (-11.0 Units) on Tuesday nights this season.
TAMPA BAY is 11-22 ATS (-14.9 Units) in road games after a win by 2 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 14-26 ATS (-14.9 Units) in road games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 37-73 ATS (+122.4 Units) in road games after playing 3 consecutive home games since 1996.
TAMPA BAY is 15-22 ATS (-12.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NY ISLANDERS are 13-2 ATS (+10.7 Units) on Tuesday nights this season.
NY ISLANDERS are 21-5 ATS (+14.5 Units) in home games after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
NY ISLANDERS are 16-6 ATS (+8.9 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game this season.
NY ISLANDERS are 16-6 ATS (+8.4 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game this season.
NY ISLANDERS are 24-16 ATS (+3.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NY ISLANDERS are 12-20 ATS (-17.9 Units) in home games when playing with 2 days rest over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
NY ISLANDERS is 6-5 (+1.8 Units) against the spread versus TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
NY ISLANDERS is 6-5-0 straight up against TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.5 Units)
DALLAS (55-24-0-11, 121 pts.) at ST LOUIS (54-28-0-9, 117 pts.) - 5/3/2016, 9:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 29-35 ATS (-14.4 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 54-37 ATS (+13.1 Units) in all games this season.
ST LOUIS is 14-5 ATS (+7.8 Units) on Tuesday nights this season.
ST LOUIS is 24-14 ATS (+5.5 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
ST LOUIS is 19-9 ATS (+28.9 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.
ST LOUIS is 29-19 ATS (+4.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ST LOUIS is 18-10 ATS (+7.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
DALLAS is 55-35 ATS (+6.1 Units) in all games this season.
DALLAS is 18-11 ATS (+30.5 Units) in road games revenging a home loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 24-16 ATS (+43.1 Units) in road games revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 16-6 ATS (+7.9 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more this season.
DALLAS is 24-16 ATS (+6.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
DALLAS is 15-7 ATS (+24.7 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 10-7-0 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
10 of 17 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.3 Units)
SAN JOSE (52-30-0-7, 111 pts.) at NASHVILLE (45-32-0-14, 104 pts.) - 5/3/2016, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAN JOSE is 41-41 ATS (-30.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 20-21 ATS (-18.4 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 215-174 ATS (+427.7 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent since 1996.
SAN JOSE is 21-5 ATS (+15.7 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
SAN JOSE is 18-5 ATS (+12.0 Units) in road games second half of the season this season.
SAN JOSE is 10-2 ATS (+12.0 Units) in road games on Tuesday nights this season.
NASHVILLE is 45-46 ATS (-39.0 Units) in all games this season.
NASHVILLE is 21-36 ATS (+58.8 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 6-5 (+2.7 Units) against the spread versus SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
NASHVILLE is 6-5-0 straight up against SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.8 Units)
TAMPA BAY vs. NY ISLANDERS
Tampa Bay is 2-5 SU in their last 7 games when playing NY Islanders
Tampa Bay is 1-8 SU in their last 9 games when playing on the road against NY Islanders
NY Islanders are 8-1 SU in their last 9 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 6 of the NY Islanders last 8 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
SAN JOSE vs. NASHVILLE
San Jose is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of San Jose's last 15 games when playing Nashville
Nashville is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Nashville's last 6 games at home
DALLAS vs. ST. LOUIS
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 7 games when playing St. Louis
Dallas is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of St. Louis's last 7 games when playing Dallas
St. Louis is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing Dallas
Tampa Bay at NY Islanders
Tampa Bay: 2-7 SU off a home blowout win by 3 goals or more
NY Islanders: 16-5 SU after playing 2 consecutive road games
Dallas at St Louis
Dallas: 33-17 SU after one or more consecutive overs
St Louis: 9-14 SU off a win against a division rival
San Jose at Nashville
San Jose: 21-5 SU in a road game where where the total is 5 or less
Nashville: 36-49 SU after one or more consecutive overs