Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Friday 4/19/19
With two series already completed in the Stanley Cup playoffs that means that there are only two games scheduled for Friday night. That includes the Calgary Flames returning home hoping to stave off elimination when they take on the Colorado Avalanche as well as the Boston Bruins hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs in a series that is tied 2-2.
Featured Games
Toronto Maple Leafs (+130) vs. Boston Bruins (-144)
The Boston Bruins needed a victory to even their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs and got their wish thanks to two goals by David Pastrnak on their way to a 6-4 victory. Brad Marchand added a goal and two assists as Boston broke a 2-2 tie with three unanswered goals.
Goaltending Matchup:
Frederik Andersen will be in goal for Toronto. He gave up five goals on 30 shots in his last start and has been quite inconsistent in the series. In the two victories for Toronto, he has allowed a combined total of three goals while allowing nine total in the two losses. Andersen finished the regular season 36-16-5 with a 2.77 goals-against average.
Tuukka Rask Has been a little more steady for Boston. He has allowed at least three goals in three of the four contests in the series but has allowed one less goal than Andersen overall. Rask finished the regular season 27-13-4 with a 2.4 a goals-against average.
Trends to Watch:
The Toronto Maple Leafs are…
2-5 in their last seven games on the road.
2-5 in their last seven games.
3-7 in their last 10 conference quarterfinals games.
The Boston Bruins are…
22-10 in their last 32 games.
2-4 in their last six games against Eastern Conference opponents.
52-21 in their last 73 games at home.
Stat Pack:
Maple Leafs:
Goals For: 3.49
Goals Against: 3.04
Power-Play: 21.8%
Penalty Killing: 79.9%
Bruins:
Goals For: 3.13
Goals Against: 2.59
Power-Play: 25.9%
Penalty Killing: 79.9%
Prediction
The Boston Bruins have never lead in the series, as Toronto won Games 1 and 3. This is the chance for the Bruins to maintain home ice advantage, something it looks like they are going to need if they are going to win this series. The Toronto Maple Leafs have shown that they can dominate the Bruins, but not in this game, however.
The total is set at 6.0 for this contest, and the total has gone under in each of the first three games to the series, but not in Game 4. The total was five through each of the first three games but jumped to a total of 10 in Game 4. Maybe Boston discovered something about Andersen, but we call that a fluke. Take the Boston Bruins to win 3-2.
Colorado Avalanche (+155) vs. Calgary Flames (-175)
The Calgary Flames finished with the top record in the Western Conference, but now they find themselves facing the same plight as the No. 1 team in the East, the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Colorado Avalanche took a 3-1 lead in this series thanks to a 3-2 overtime victory in Game 4. The Flames jumped out to a 2-0 lead with 13 minutes left in the contest and looked like they were about to roll onto tying the series heading home to Calgary. However, J.T. Compher’s goal a little over eight minutes into the third and Mikko Rantanen’s second goal of the series with a little less than three minutes left in the contest tied the score, forcing overtime. At the 10:23 mark, Rantanen would add his second goal of the game to give Colorado the victory.
Goaltending Matchup:
Philipp Grubauer has been the man of the hour in this series, allowing two goals in each of the last three games, all Colorado victories. He has allowed nine total goals in the series and has posted a save percentage of at least .931 in each of the last three games. Grubauer finished the regular season 18-9-4 with a 2.64 goals-against average.
After shutting out the Avalanche in Game 1, Mike Smith has struggled. He has allowed 12 total goals over the last three games, but can’t be faulted by the fact that he has faced 108 total shots in the last two games. Smith finished the regular season 23-16-0 with a 2.72 goals-against average.
Trends to Watch:
The Colorado Avalanche are…
11-4 in their last 15 games.
3-7 in their last 10 conference quarterfinals games.
6-2 in their last eight games against teams from the Pacific.
The Calgary Flames are…
7-3 in their last 10 games at home.
1-5 in their last six games.
1-6 in their last seven games against teams from the Central Division.
Stat Pack:
Avalanche:
Goals For: 3.15
Goals Against: 2.96
Power-Play: 22.0%
Penalty Killing: 78.7%
Flames:
Goals For: 3.29
Goals Against: 2.72
Power-Play: 19.3%
Penalty Killing: 79.7%
Prediction
Calgary has been dominating at home this season and one cannot forget that they have the best record in the Western Conference. However, if they are not going to play better defensively in front of Smith they are not can when this game. Allowing nearly 50 shots per game on average over the last three contests is ridiculous. Colorado is peppering the Calgary goaltender, and that will lead them to win Game 5 and advance to the next round.
The total is set at 6.0 for this contest and the total has gone over in only one game, Game 3 when Colorado one 6-2. Despite being battered Smith has looked solid, and Grubauer has been absolutely dominant. The Flames are not going to figure him out in this game as Colorado wins 5-2.
63Toronto -64 Boston
TORONTO is 19-21 ATS (-17.4 Units) against poor defensive teams - opponents average 29.5+ shots on goal in the 2nd half of the year in the current season.
65Colorado -66 Calgary
COLORADO is 3-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) in road games when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 60%) in the current season.
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NHL
Long Sheet
Friday, April 19
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TORONTO (48-30-0-8, 104 pts.) at BOSTON (51-26-0-9, 111 pts.) - 4/19/2019, 7:08 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 22-25 ATS (-20.8 Units) second half of the season this season.
BOSTON is 14-2 ATS (+10.0 Units) in home games after a division game this season.
TORONTO is 14-8 ATS (+22.1 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
BOSTON is 291-245 ATS (-154.3 Units) in home games second half of the season since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 13-10 (+4.3 Units) against the spread versus BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 13-10-0 straight up against BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
11 of 21 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.4 Units)
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COLORADO (41-31-0-14, 96 pts.) at CALGARY (51-26-0-9, 111 pts.) - 4/19/2019, 10:08 PM
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 41-45 ATS (-12.1 Units) in all games this season.
COLORADO is 17-53 ATS (+103.2 Units) in road games second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO is 95-85 ATS (+188.5 Units) in a road game where where the total is 6 or more since 1996.
CALGARY is 4-14 ATS (-18.2 Units) in April games over the last 3 seasons.
CALGARY is 22-21 ATS (-10.3 Units) in home games second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
CALGARY is 1-7 ATS (-9.5 Units) in the first round of the playoffs over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 9-4 (+3.9 Units) against the spread versus COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 9-4-0 straight up against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
6 of 12 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.3 Units, Under=-1.2 Units)
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NHL
Friday, April 19
Trend Report
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games
Toronto is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Toronto's last 9 games
Toronto is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games on the road
Toronto is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games on the road
Toronto is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Boston
Toronto is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing Boston
Toronto is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Boston
Toronto is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Boston
Boston Bruins
Boston is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games
Boston is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games at home
Boston is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 7 games at home
Boston is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Toronto
Boston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games when playing Toronto
Boston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 games
Colorado is 11-4 SU in its last 15 games
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Colorado's last 19 games
Colorado is 12-4 ATS in its last 16 games on the road
Colorado is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Colorado's last 9 games on the road
Colorado is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Calgary
Colorado is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games when playing Calgary
Colorado is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Calgary
Colorado is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Calgary
Calgary Flames
Calgary is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Calgary is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Calgary's last 6 games
Calgary is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Calgary is 16-8 SU in its last 24 games at home
Calgary is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Calgary's last 8 games at home
Calgary is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Colorado
Calgary is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games when playing Colorado
Calgary is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Colorado
Calgary is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Colorado
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Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins Preview and Predictions 04-19-2019 in NHL
The Toronto Maple Leafs were foiled in their bid to take control of their Eastern Conference first-round series, although whether it was the Boston Bruins' doing or the effects of the dreaded "Drake Curse" is open for debate on social media. The Maple Leafs aim to change the narrative on the first topic Friday when they play Game 5 in Boston.
While it's not public knowledge if the Canadian rapper will be cheering on his hometown Maple Leafs in Boston, Toronto coach Mike Babcock knows his team must perform better on the penalty kill if it wishes to emerge victorious in what has now become a best-of-three series. "The bottom line is you can't keep giving power-play goals up, those are just freebies those two," Babcock said following Wednesday's 6-4 setback. "In the end, you've got to do what you're supposed to do and if their scheme is better, their player executes, then so be it. But, you've got to do what you're supposed to." Boston improved to a staggering 5-for-11 on the power play after Brad Marchand set up David Pastrnak's goal early in the second period to give the club a 4-2 lead. "Those guys were dialed in. They're pros. They're top-end players. They're Stanley Cup champions. So those are not guys you worry about very often," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said of Marchand and Pastrnak.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, CBC, Sportsnet, TVAS (Toronto), NESN (Boston)
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS: Auston Matthews capped his two-goal performance by converting on the power play Wednesday, giving the 21-year-old his first career multi-goal performance in the playoffs and second straight multi-point effort in the series. Fellow forward John Tavares, who has a club high-tying three assists in this series, expressed confidence in his teammates heading into the best-of-three scenario. "We feel great about our team and our game. Obviously, you always want to clean things up and be better," the 28-year-old Tavares said. "... These games, this time of year it's very small differences so just stay with it and build off the good things. Just be ready to bounce back."
ABOUT THE BRUINS: Marchand continues to torment Toronto in 2018-19, as the pesky forward followed up his seven-assist performance in the regular season by doubling his team-leading series point total after he scored a goal and set up two others on Wednesday. Four-time Selke Trophy recipient Patrice Bergeron, who was named as a finalist for the eighth straight year, set up a goal in Game 4 and tallied in each home contest of the series. Danton Heinen had an assist on Wednesday to extend his point streak to three games after notching just one point in his previous seven.
OVERTIME
1. Boston C Charlie Coyle has recorded a point in three straight games (two goals, one assist) after posting just one in his previous six.
2. Maple Leafs C Mitch Marner recorded an assist on Matthews' power-play goal in the third period on Wednesday, giving him four points in the series and 13 (four goals, nine assists) in 11 career playoff games against the Bruins.
3. Boston fourth-line C Sean Kuraly, who has been sidelined since March with a broken hand, will be a game-time decision on Friday.
PREDICTION: Bruins 5, Maple Leafs 3
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Colorado Avalanche vs. Calgary Flames Preview and Predictions 04-19-2019 in NHL
The Calgary Flames are on the ropes, losing three consecutive games to the Colorado Avalanche after winning the opener of the Western Conference first-round series at home. On the brink of elimination, the top-seeded Flames look to avoid becoming the second No. 1 seed to be ousted when they return home to face the Avalanche in Game 5 on Friday night.
Colorado erased a two-goal lead by scoring twice in the third period before Mikko Rantanen scored his second goal of the game by converting in overtime for a 3-2 victory that put the Avalanche in command of the series. "It's huge to go up 3-1, but we're not done yet," goaltender Philipp Grubauer said. "They're probably going to come even harder in Calgary and we got to win the next one." The Flames need to figure out how to slow down the Avalanche, who have poured a staggering 108 shots on goal in the past two games to push the Flames into a must-win situation the rest of the way. "We've got to go home and play our best game in Game 5," Calgary coach Bill Peters said. "That's what we have to do; we have to win one game and take it from there."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, Altitude (Colorado), CBC, TVAS, Sportsnet (Calgary)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE: Rantanen finished second in points to Nathan MacKinnon in the regular season despite missing the final eight games due to an upper-body injury and he has provided an offensive jolt in the playoffs, leading Colorado with six points on three goals and three assists. "I think it's important, when you're one of the leaders of the team. You want to step up," said Rantanen, who sent the game to overtime with a power-play goal with just under three minutes to play. MacKinnon assisted on the tying goal to give him five points in four games.
ABOUT THE FLAMES: Veteran Mike Smith posted a 1.94 goals-against average over his last 11 regular-season appearances to earn the starting job for the playoffs and has responded by making 161 saves -- 28 more than any other netminder through four games. "It's about winning, the team winning," Smith said. "I'm just one little cog. It's nice to have personal success, but when you don't get the results, it doesn't matter. You need to do more." Among those who need to do more is leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau, who has been limited to one assist in the series.
OVERTIME
1. Calgary has allowed at least 50 shots in back-to-back games for the first time in franchise history.
2. Grubauer has turned aside 97 of 103 shots in the last three games.
3. Flames C Sean Monahan is a finalist for the Lady Byng along with Florida's Aleksander Barkov and St. Louis' Ryan O'Reilly.
PREDICTION: Flames 3, Avalanche 2
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