Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Saturday 4/20/19
There are three games scheduled in the Stanley Cup playoffs on Saturday, April 20. This includes the Winnipeg Jets visiting the St. Louis Blues as Winnipeg looks to try to stay alive in their series. The other two series are tied at two as the Carolina Hurricanes visit the Washington Capitals and the Dallas Stars travel to take on the Nashville Predators.
Featured Games
For the fifth time in this series, the visiting team earned the victory, this time the St. Louis Blues defeating the Jets in Winnipeg, 3-2. The Jets looked like they were going to skate away with a big victory as they scored two first period goals and held that lead through the first two frames of the game. However, a power-play goal by Ryan O’Reilly 90 seconds into the third got St. Louis on the board and Brayden Schenn tied the score which just over six minutes left in the contest. That set up the dramatic finish where Jaden Schwartz batted the puck out of the air and into the net with 15 seconds left in the game to give St. Louis the victory.
Goaltending Matchup:
Winnipeg will continue with Connor Hellebuyck in goal. He allowed three goals on 29 shots in the last contest. Hellebucyk has allowed 13 total goals through the first five games and allowed seven goals in the two games in St. Louis. He finished the regular season 34-23-3 with a 2.90 goals-against average.
Jordan Binnington continues in net for St. Louis. Binnington allowed to goals on 31 shots in Game 5 and has allowed 14 total goals in the series. He allowed eight total goals in Games 3 and 4 in St. Louis, but six of those came in one game. Binnington finished the regular season an impressive 24-5-1 with a 1.89 goals-against average.
Trends to Watch:
The Winnipeg Jets are…
3-7 in their last 10 games.
7-3 in their last 10 games when playing on one day’s rest.
5-11 in their last 16 conference quarterfinals games.
The St. Louis Blues are…
14-4 in their last 18 home games.
11-4 in their last 15 games.
8-3 in their last 11 conference quarterfinals games
Stat Pack:
Jets:
Goals For: 3.29
Goals Against: 2.96
Power-Play: 24.8%
Penalty Killing: 79.2%
Blues:
Goals For: 2.98
Goals Against: 2.68
Power-Play: 21.1%
Penalty Killing: 81.5%
Prediction
It is interesting that oddsmakers have the St. Louis Blues favored in this contest considering that the visiting team has won every game and this series. It is true that St. Louis has played well at home of late, but the Jets are 13-6 in the last 19 meetings between these two teams and have won the last five in St. Louis. There is very little reason to go against the Winnipeg Jets in this game, and so we don’t either.
The total is set at 5.5 in this contest, and three of the five games in this series have gone under the total. That includes Game 4, which Winnipeg won, 2-1, however, Game 3 was an offensive showcase as the Jets won 6-3. With Winnipeg desperate to earn a victory here, we expect this to be a bit of a high-scoring affair in comparison to most games in the series, so take the Winnipeg Jets to win, 4-2.
Dallas Stars (+130) vs. Nashville Predators (-149)
After the first three games were decided by one goal, the Dallas Stars absolutely obliterated the Nashville Predators in Game 4, 5-1. The Stars scored for first-period goals, three on the power play and would take a five-goal lead before Nashville was finally able to get a goal with a little under 12 minutes left in the contest. Roope Hintz scored two goals in the game and Ben Bishop made 34 saves to help Dallas even the series at two.
Why Dallas Wins:
Stars are 6-2 in their last eight games.
Stars are 8-3 in their last 11 games on the road.
Predators are 2-4 in their last six games against teams with a winning record.
Ben Bishop gave up one goal on 35 shots in Game 4.
Pekka Rinne gave up four goals on just eight shots in his last outing.
Road team has won five of the last seven meetings between these two teams.
Why Nashville Wins:
Predators are 12-4 in their last 16 conference quarterfinals games.
Predators are 5-2 in their last seven games.
Predators are 9-4 in the last 13 meetings between these two teams.
What About the Total?
Go under5.0, because…
Total has gone under in six of the last seven meetings in Nashville.
Total has gone under in four of the last six meetings overall.
Dallas has gone under in 17 of their last 26 on the road.
Nashville has gone under in 11 of their last 16.
Carolina Hurricanes (+117) vs. Washington Capitals (-141)
After losing the first two games in Washington, the Carolina Hurricanes have stormed back to win the last two games, including a 2-1 victory in Game 4, to send the series back to Washington tied with the Capitals at two. This was a great defensive battle, as Warren Foegele scored his third goal of the series just 17 seconds into the game. Alex Ovechkin tied it a little over 10 minutes in the second, but TeuvoTeravainen gave Carolina back the lead with 28 seconds left in the second frame. Petr Mrazek made that lead hold, stopping 30 Capitals shots.
Why Carolina Wins:
Hurricanes are 5-2 in their last seven games.
Hurricanes are 8-3 in their last 11 conference quarterfinals games.
Capitals are 2-5 in their last seven games on Saturday.
Petr Mrazek has allowed one total goal in his last two starts.
Why Washington Wins:
Capitals are 7-2 in their last nine games.
Capitals are 6-2 in their last eight conference quarterfinals games.
Hurricanes are 2-5 in the last seven games on the road.
Hurricanes are 1-5 in their last six games against teams with a winning record.
Capitals are 6-2 in the last eight meetings between these two teams.
Capitals have won the last four games against the Hurricanes in Washington.
What About the Total?
Go over 5.5, because…
Total has been at least six in both games in Washington in this series.
Mrazek allowed seven total goals in the two games in Washington.
Braden Holtby has allowed seven total goals in the last two games.
71Carolina -72 Washington
WASHINGTON is 14-2 ATS (11.8 Units) in home games after 2 or more consecutive unders over the last 2 seasons.
75Winnipeg -76 St Louis
ST LOUIS are 18-4 ATS (14.3 Units) against good passing teams - averaging 5 or more assists per game in the 2nd half of the year in the current season.
77Dallas -78 Nashville
DALLAS are 8-3 ATS (4.7 Units) in road games after allowing 1 goal or less in their previous game in the current season.
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NHL
Long Sheet
Saturday, April 20
CAROLINA (48-30-0-8, 104 pts.) at WASHINGTON (50-28-0-8, 108 pts.) - 4/20/2019, 8:08 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CAROLINA is 25-35 ATS (-14.5 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CAROLINA is 16-46 ATS (+76.7 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 116-77 ATS (+197.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 25-12 ATS (+7.8 Units) on Saturday games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 46-26 ATS (+8.6 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 46-25 ATS (+9.9 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 24-9 ATS (+11.8 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 63-44 ATS (+1.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 39-28 ATS (+6.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
CAROLINA is 32-16 ATS (+10.5 Units) second half of the season this season.
CAROLINA is 21-10 ATS (+7.5 Units) after a division game this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 11-5 (+4.4 Units) against the spread versus CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 11-5-0 straight up against CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
8 of 16 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.6 Units, Under=-0.4 Units)
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WINNIPEG (49-33-0-5, 103 pts.) at ST LOUIS (48-29-0-10, 106 pts.) - 4/20/2019, 7:08 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ST LOUIS is 33-17 ATS (+6.2 Units) second half of the season this season.
ST LOUIS is 27-18 ATS (+3.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ST LOUIS is 15-6 ATS (+21.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
WINNIPEG is 19-8 ATS (+28.5 Units) in road games in April games since 1996.
WINNIPEG is 17-11 ATS (+31.4 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
WINNIPEG is 12-6 (+5.5 Units) against the spread versus ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
WINNIPEG is 12-6-0 straight up against ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
8 of 17 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-1.1 Units, Under=-0.4 Units)
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DALLAS (45-33-0-8, 98 pts.) at NASHVILLE (49-31-0-6, 104 pts.) - 4/20/2019, 3:08 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 26-42 ATS (-25.3 Units) after a win by 2 goals or more over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 31-45 ATS (-23.4 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 3 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 287-222 ATS (+576.1 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent since 1996.
NASHVILLE is 217-182 ATS (+400.3 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game since 1996.
NASHVILLE is 61-35 ATS (+11.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
NASHVILLE is 11-7 (+1.7 Units) against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
NASHVILLE is 11-7-0 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
9 of 16 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.0 Units)
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NHL
Saturday, April 20
Trend Report
Dallas Stars
Dallas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Dallas is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games on the road
Dallas is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas's last 6 games on the road
Dallas is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Nashville
Dallas is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Nashville
Dallas is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Nashville
Dallas is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Nashville
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Dallas's last 7 games when playing on the road against Nashville
Nashville Predators
Nashville is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
Nashville is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Nashville's last 16 games
Nashville is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Dallas
Nashville is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Dallas
Nashville is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Dallas
Nashville is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Nashville's last 7 games when playing at home against Dallas
Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg is 6-14 ATS in its last 20 games
Winnipeg is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games
Winnipeg is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Winnipeg is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Winnipeg's last 6 games on the road
Winnipeg is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing St. Louis
Winnipeg is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games when playing St. Louis
Winnipeg is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing St. Louis
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Winnipeg's last 6 games when playing St. Louis
Winnipeg is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
Winnipeg is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
St. Louis Blues
St. Louis is 11-4 SU in its last 15 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 6 games
St. Louis is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
St. Louis is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of St. Louis's last 19 games at home
St. Louis is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Winnipeg
St. Louis is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Winnipeg
St. Louis is 6-13 SU in its last 19 games when playing Winnipeg
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 6 games when playing Winnipeg
St. Louis is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Winnipeg
St. Louis is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Winnipeg
Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Carolina's last 12 games
Carolina is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Carolina is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Carolina is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Washington
Carolina is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Carolina's last 7 games when playing Washington
Carolina is 2-10 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Carolina's last 6 games when playing on the road against Washington
Washington Capitals
Washington is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Washington is 16-8 SU in its last 24 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games
Washington is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games at home
Washington is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Carolina
Washington is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Carolina
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games when playing Carolina
Washington is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Carolina
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games when playing at home against Carolina
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Dallas Stars vs. Nashville Predators Preview and Predictions 04-20-2019 in NHL
The Nashville Predators hardly have looked like the favorite in their Western Conference first-round playoff series, getting their heads handed to them in Wednesday's Game 4 in Dallas. Still, despite the 5-1 drubbing, the second-seeded Predators return home to host the Stars in Game 5 on Saturday afternoon in what is bascially a best-of-three series.
Nashville had won all three meetings in Dallas this season before surrendering four first-period goals on Wednesday to level the series at two games apiece. "We would've loved to go up 3-1, didn't happen," Predators forward Nick Bonino said. "Everyone on this team has been in a 2-2 series before. We'll go home and try to get Game 5." No. 7 seed Dallas had converted on just 1 of 13 power-play chances in the first three games before scoring three times in the man advantage in the first-period outburst to heighten its chances of an upset. "We've got to keep getting better," coach Jim Montgomery warned. "They're going to be better so we've got to be better. It's two out of three now and it's probably the closest series that's out there in the first round."
TV: 3 p.m. ET, NBC, TVAS, Sportsnet
ABOUT THE STARS: While Dallas typically rides its top line, the second unit led the way in Game 4 as rookie Roope Hintz scored twice and linemate Mats Zuccarello continued his strong postseason with a power-play tally. While Hintz ended a 14-game goal drought, Zuccarello netted his third goal of the series after appearing in only two games since he was acquired at the trade deadline. "I think there's another level in him," Montgomerie said of Zuccarello. "We're talking about a guy that's basically done nothing for two months and now he's already producing like this."
ABOUT THE PREDATORS: Dallas' power-play success in Game 4 magnified the shortcomings of Nashville, which had a league-worst success rate of 12.9 percent with the man advantage during the regular season and is 0-for-10 in the series. The Predators' No. 1 line of 34-goal scorer Viktor Arvidsson, Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen also has failing to produce, combining for one goal and two points. Nashville could be getting some reinforcements back in the lineup as forwards Brian Boyle and Wayne Simmonds -- both listed as week-to-week -- practiced Friday.
OVERTIME
1. Stars D John Klingberg had one assist in four games versus Nashville during the regular season but has five in the series.
2. Predators G Pekka Rinne was yanked in the opening period Wednesday in what was his 87th straight playoff start.
3. Stars G Ben Bishop has turned aside 129 of 137 shots in the series.
PREDICTION: Predators 3, Stars 2
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Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues Preview and Predictions 04-20-2019 in NHL
The St. Louis Blues can advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs Saturday night at home against the Winnipeg Jets, after a furious third-period rally netted their third road victory of the series and a 3-2 series lead. Down 2-0 entering the final period in Game 5 on Thursday, the Blues stunned Winnipeg on Jaden Schwartz's goal with 15 seconds to play for a 3-2 victory, and now the Blues look to become the first home team to win a game in the series.
"We've still got one more job to do on Saturday," Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo told the media after St. Louis survived allowing a goal 12 seconds into the game and a four-minute Jets power play midway through the second period, drawing even on Brayden Schenn's goal with 6:08 to play. Winnipeg has made a habit of blowing third-period leads all season - nine in the regular season and two in the series - and this one was the most costly as Adam Lowry's opening goal and a Kevin Hayes tally 13:35 into the contest staked the Jets a 2-0 lead. Winnipeg finished 0-for-3 on the power play and is 1-for-9 in the past three games. "If we lose, we're done," Hayes told reporters afterward. "That's enough motivation. Game 6 will be our best game."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, CBC, Sportsnet; FS Midwest (St. Louis)
ABOUT THE JETS: Winnipeg's top line of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler were pointless in Game 5 after combining for 10 points in the Jets road victories in Games 3 and 4. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 26-of-29 shots, giving up Schenn's goal that was upheld after video review as the goal came off its moorings, and the game-winner after Jacob Trouba failed to clear the defensive zone with time running down. "Tough to eat that one, but I thought we were the better team," Hellebuyck told reporters postgame. "If we keep fighting here, it's not over."
ABOUT THE BLUES: Center Ryan O'Reilly started the St. Louis comeback with his second goal of the series on a power-play marker 1:29 into the third, and Schenn - dropped to the second line - redirected Tyler Bozak's pass out of the air and by Hellebuyck for the stunning game winner. Rookie Jordan Binnington, coming off back-to-back losses for the first time in his career, steadied himself after the two early goals to finish with 29 saves. "We need to find our game at home, play the same way as playing here," Blues forward Oscar Sundqvist told the media afterward. "Play tight, play fast. That's what we need to do at home."
OVERTIME
1. Winnipeg lost F Nikolaj Ehlers to an undisclosed injury after he blocked a shot in the third period of Game 5 and will be a game-time decision Saturday, Jets coach Paul Maurice told the media Friday.
2. St. Louis made the most of its chances in the final period of Game 5, scoring three times on eight shots.
3. The series marks the fourth time the road team has won the opening five games of an NHL best-of-seven series, and the first since the 2004 Western Conference finals between Calgary and San Jose.
PREDICTION: Blues 4, Jets 2
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Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals Preview and Predictions 04-20-2019 in NHL
The Washington Capitals look to get back on their feet after sustaining consecutive losses and gain the upper hand in their Eastern Conference first-round series against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 on Saturday. The Capitals will be without T.J. Oshie, who is sidelined indefinitely after he was sent shoulder-first into the boards during Thursday's 2-1 setback in Raleigh, N.C.
Washington coach Todd Reirden told reporters on Friday that Oshie was visiting doctors and did not wish to elaborate on his status until more was known in the coming days. The former United States Olympic hero was the Capitals' second-leading goal scorer (25) during the regular season despite missing 12 games with concussion-like symptoms. Rookie Warren Foegele, who was whistled for a two-minute minor for boarding after shoving Oshie from behind, did not receive any additional discipline from the NHL on Friday. The 23-year-old Foegele opened the scoring 17 seconds into Thursday's contest and has four points (three goals, one assist) in the past two games.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet 1, TVAS
ABOUT THE HURRICANES: Rookie Andrei Svechnikov is expected to miss his second consecutive contest on Saturday after he was injured in a fight with Washington captain Alex Ovechkin in Game 3. "We're going to go skate right now, and we will see how that goes, but I would doubt it," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said of the 19-year-old, who skated with a full face shield on Friday. Brind'Amour noted that Jordan Martinook is "pretty banged up" after exiting Game 4 in the first period with a lower-body injury, and the team recalled fellow forward Aleksi Saarela from Charlotte of the American Hockey League on Friday.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS: Washington reached out to Hershey of the AHL on Friday to recall forward Devante Smith-Pelly, who matched his regular-season total by scoring seven goals in the playoffs in 2018 to help the Capitals capture their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. The 26-year-old collected 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 20 games with the Bears, highlighted by recording a hat trick against Hartford on March 10. Ovechkin scored on the power play midway into the second period of Game 4, with that tally serving as the lone one in 13 chances since Washington scored twice on its first two opportunities of the series with the man advantage.
OVERTIME
1. Carolina LW Sebastian Aho has one goal and two assists during his three-game point streak.
2. Washington C Nicklas Backstrom has been held off the scoresheet in consecutive contests after collecting three goals and an assist in the first two home games of the series.
3. Hurricanes G Petr Mrazek has turned aside 48 of 49 shots in the last two games.
PREDICTION: Hurricanes 3, Capitals 2
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