NHL Knowledge
Detroit-Tampa Bay
Home side won last five Detroit-Tampa Bay games; four of last five series games stayed under total. Red Wings lost four of last five visits to Tampa, outscored 16-8. Detroit lost four of its last five away games; over is 5-2-3 in their last ten games. Lightning lost three of last four games, all on road; they are 4-2 in last six home games. Over is 3-0-1 in their last four games. Detroit lost in first round of playoffs last two years; Tampa Bay lost in Cup Finals LY; in their history, they're 4-4 in first round series.
NY Rangers-Pittsburgh
Rangers lost last three games with Pittsburgh in series where road team won six of last eight series tilts. New York won four of last five visits here; they've won three of last four games overall. Over is 6-0-4 in their last ten games. Pittsburgh won eight of its last nine games, winning last three at home; five of its last seven games went over the total. Rangers won their first round series the last four years; their 101 points in first time in 43 years they've had 100+ in consecutive years. Penguins are in playoffs for 10th year in row; they're 2-3 in first round series the last five years.
St Louis-Chicago
Blues won five of last seven games with Chicago, winning three of last five played here; over is 2-1-2 in last five series games played here. Chicago lost its last two games in OT; they're 5-3 in last eight games overall- they won last five times they scored more than two goals. St Louis won eight of last ten games, but lost two of last three at home. Over is 4-1 in last five games for both sides. Blues lost in first round last three years; they have 100+ points for 4th full season in row. Chicago won Stanley Cup three of last six years; they're 5-2 in last seven first round series.
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NHL: Streaks, Tips, Notes
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St Louis at Chicago
This could be the best series in the entire Stanley Cup playoffs. The defending champion Chicago Blackhawks (47-26-9) have drawn the St. Louis Blues (49-24-9) in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Game 1 is Wednesday night at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, starting at 9:30 PM ET on NBCSN.
Although the Blues finished the 2015-2016 regular season with the better record, Chicago skates into the playoffs with shorter odds on the Stanley Cup futures market. The Hawks are the second-favorites at +800 (along with LA, Anaheim, Dallas and Pittsburgh), a step ahead of St. Louis at +1000. These two teams faced each other five times during the regular season; the Blues won three games, with the total split evenly at 2-2-1.
Chicago will be without defenseman Duncan Keith (nine goals, 43 points) for Wednesday's opener. The two-time Norris Trophy winner has one game left to go in his six-game suspension for hitting Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle in the face with his stick. The Hawks also have a number of players listed as questionable for Game 1, including top-line centre Artem Anisimov (20 goals, 42 points) and second-line right wing Marian Hossa (13 goals, 33 points). The Blues will have all their key players available Wednesday.
Wednesday's NHL Betting Previews
By Covers.com
Get your playoff beards ready! The puck drops on the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs Wednesday night with three games. This is the most wide open NHL tournament in recent memory and it should be a fun ride.
No. 5 Detroit Red Wings at No. 4 Tampa Bay Lightning (A:+135, H:-155, O/U: 5)
The Tampa Bay Lightning have traveled a long, bumpy road to arrive back where they stood a year ago as they prepare to host the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday for Game 1 in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The Lightning won last season’s series in seven games and went on to lose in the Stanley Cup finals before hurdling several obstacles to seal a third straight postseason berth in 2016.
“It’s been an eventful season,” Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop told reporters of the injuries and slumps the team endured. “There’s been a lot of ups and downs. It’s kind of nice to accomplish the first goal - to make the playoffs. Now it’s a new season.” The Lightning won’t have captain Steven Stamkos (blood clot) or top-pair defenseman Anton Stralman (broken fibula), but it is possible all their other injured players could be available for the first contest. The Red Wings had to battle their way to a 25th straight playoff appearance, clinching their spot on the second-to-last day of the regular season, and will lean on veteran forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk to show a group of young players the way. Datsyuk, who is contemplating retirement from the NHL after the season, finished with 49 points – one behind Zetterberg for the team lead – and they are expected to play together with Justin Abdelkader on the top line.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (41-30-11, 30-52 ATS, 31-36 O/U): Jimmy Howard, who was relegated to backup duty in mid season, has appeared to regain his No. 1 job from struggling Petr Mrazek after allowing two or fewer goals in seven of his last 11 games (6-5-0). “It’s easy to have great character when things are going well. When things aren’t going well it’s not easy,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill told reporters of Howard. “He didn’t feel sorry for himself, he went to work.” The Wings need a big effort from rookie forward Dylan Larkin, who tired the last few months despite finishing with a team-high 23 goals.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (46-31-5, 34-48 ATS, 34-39 O/U): Top-pair defenseman Victor Hedman, along with forwards Ryan Callahan and Nikita Kucherov, all practiced Monday after missing stretches late in the regular season and center Tyler Johnson (upper body) joined the team on the ice Tuesday. Johnson, who had six goals in last season’s playoff series against Detroit, skated between Kucherov (team-leading 66 points) and Alex Killorn at practice and will be a game-time decision. Bishop, who coach Jon Cooper called a “model of consistency,” led the league in goals-against average (2.06).
TRENDS:
* Red Wings are 0-4 in their last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Lightning are 8-2 in their last 10 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
* Over is 5-0-3 in Red Wings last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 9-1 in Lightning last 10 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
* Red Wings are 2-8 in the last 10 meetings in Tampa Bay.
No. 6 New York Rangers at No. 3 Pittsburgh Penguins (A:+116, H:-154, O/U: 5)
The Pittsburgh Penguins have seen their New York Rangers end their season in the playoffs in each of the last two years, but they will try to turn the tables on their Metropolitan Division rivals this time around. Both teams have myriad injury issues entering Game 1 of the best-of-seven series at Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.
The Penguins begin the postseason as the hottest team in the league, winning eight in a row and 14 of 15 before a meaningless loss in the regular-season finale. They have major concerns in net after goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury suffered his second concussion on March 31 and backup Matt Murray sustained a concussion on Saturday. The news is more positive for the Rangers, who will be without captain Ryan McDonagh (hand) at least for the series opener but saw fellow defenseman Dan Girardi and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist return to practice Tuesday. Although Pittsburgh won the season series 3-1-0, New York has won seven of the last eight meetings in the playoffs.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (46-27-9, 39-43 ATS, 36-28 O/U): Lundqvist left Monday's practice after not feeling well and stumbled down the stretch, giving up at least three goals in nine of his last 13 appearances, but he has been a nemesis for the Penguins. He has surrendered only four goals in winning his last four postseason starts in Pittsburgh and has the full confidence of his teammates, with defenseman Kevin Klein noting that "if you make a mistake, Hank is there to save you." While coach Alain Vigneault said there's a chance McDonagh has a shot to play at some point, Derek Stepan is the team's hottest scorer with 15 points in the last 10 games.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (48-26-8, 37-45 ATS, 36-32 O/U): Fleury returned to practice but has yet to be cleared to play and Murray is day-to-day after the head-scratching decision to start him in the season finale, so Pittsburgh may be forced to go with Jeff Zatkoff, who has not started since Feb. 20. Captain Sidney Crosby overcame a slow start to spark the late-season surge with points in 20 of his last 21, including an eight-game streak entering the postseason. Kris Letang also has scored in his last eight games and hopes for the return of his defensive partner Olli Maatta, who is a game-time decision after missing the last nine contests.
TRENDS:
* Rangers are 0-6 in their last 6 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
* Penguins are 8-0 in their last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 4-0-4 in Rangers last 8 vs. Metropolitan.
* Over is 12-3-4 in Penguins last 19 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
* Rangers are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Pittsburgh.
No. 6 Chicago Blackhawks at No. 3 St. Louis Blues (A:+105, H:-125, O/U: 5)
The Chicago Blackhawks begin the upcoming playoffs in a familiar place, as they defended their 2013 Stanley Cup title the following spring with a spirited opening-round series against the St. Louis Blues. The Blackhawks start their quest for their fourth championship in seven years in the Gateway City on Wednesday against a St. Louis club that has been unceremoniously bounced in the first round in each of the past three seasons.
Blues captain David Backes doesn't have fond memories of that 2014 series, a competitive set that saw his team win the first two contests in overtime before losing four straight - highlighted by a brutal hit he absorbed at the hands of defenseman Brent Seabrook. "We've got a heck of a group in here," Backes said after returning to practice on Tuesday following a three-game absence due to a lower-body injury. "It's our time in here to make a real dent in this tournament." St. Louis skated to a 2-1 overtime victory over Chicago on April 7 to win three of the five meetings in the season series and 14 of its final 17 games overall before a setback to Washington two nights later enabled Dallas to claim the division title. The Blues' consolation prize for finishing second is a date with the now-healthy Blackhawks, who finished the season on a 5-1-2 run.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (47-26-9, 35-47 ATS, 30-32 O/U): Patrick Kane put an exclamation point on becoming the first American-born player to win the Art Ross Trophy by collecting seven goals and five assists during a season-ending five-game point streak. The 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy winner scored two goals and set up another in the finale versus Columbus, with his involvement in an otherwise meaningless game being necessitated as Chicago dealt with a bevy of injuries. Fellow forwards Marian Hossa, Artem Anisimov and Andrew Shaw are expected to return from various ailments and goaltender Corey Crawford had no setbacks after facing the Blue Jackets following a near-month-long absence due to an upper-body injury.
ABOUT THE BLUES (49-24-9, 37-45 ATS, 32-40 O/U): Vladimir Tarasenko continues to get better with age as the 24-year-old Russian scored six of his career-high 40 goals during an eight-game point streak to end the season. Tarasenko, who also posted a personal-best 74 points in 2015-16, recorded seven (five goals, two assists) versus Chicago this campaign - including both tallies in the overtime victory on Thursday. Tarasenko traditionally comes up big in the playoffs even when the rest of his team doesn't, as he scored four times in the 2014 series against the Blackhawks before netting six of his club's 14 goals in a first-round ouster versus Minnesota last spring.
TRENDS:
* Blackhawks are 8-2 in their last 10 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Blackhawks are 2-9 in their last 11 vs. Central.
* Blues are 7-0 in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.
* Blues are 2-8 in their last 10 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Over is 7-1-1 in Blackhawks last 9 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Over is 5-1-3 in the last 9 meetings in St. Louis.
DETROIT (41-30-0-11, 93 pts.) at TAMPA BAY (46-31-0-5, 97 pts.) - 4/13/2016, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 30-37 ATS (-15.0 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 13-7 (+4.1 Units) against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
TAMPA BAY is 13-7-0 straight up against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
13 of 19 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+6.7 Units)
NY RANGERS (46-27-0-9, 101 pts.) at PITTSBURGH (48-26-0-8, 104 pts.) - 4/13/2016, 8:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
NY RANGERS is 14-10 (+4.7 Units) against the spread versus PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
NY RANGERS is 14-10-0 straight up against PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
10 of 21 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-1.8 Units, Under=-0.3 Units)
CHICAGO (47-26-0-9, 103 pts.) at ST LOUIS (49-24-0-9, 107 pts.) - 4/13/2016, 9:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 13-17 ATS (-11.0 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
ST LOUIS is 49-33 ATS (+8.2 Units) in all games this season.
ST LOUIS is 19-10 ATS (+8.0 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
ST LOUIS is 24-15 ATS (+3.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CHICAGO is 25-6 ATS (+16.1 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
CHICAGO is 414-402 ATS (+839.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 11-10 (+0.9 Units) against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
ST LOUIS is 11-10-0 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
9 of 17 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.2 Units)
DETROIT vs. TAMPA BAY
Detroit is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 7 games when playing at home against Detroit
NY RANGERS vs. PITTSBURGH
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the NY Rangers last 7 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
NY Rangers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games when playing at home against NY Rangers
Pittsburgh is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
CHICAGO vs. ST. LOUIS
Chicago is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games
St. Louis is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Chicago
St. Louis is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Chicago
Detroit at Tampa Bay, 7:05 PM ET
Detroit: 24-36 SU when playing only their 2nd game in 5 days
Tampa Bay: 51-27 SU after 1 or more consecutive losses
NY Rangers at Pittsburgh, 8:05 PM ET
New York: 0-5 SU in road games when playing with 3 or more days rest
Pittsburgh: 18-7 SU after having won 5 or 6 of their last 7
Chicago at St Louis, 9:35 PM ET
Chicago: 25-6 SU after a non-conference game
St Louis: 36-50 SU in home games after allowing 5 goals or more