Hockey Today
SCOREBOARD
Tuesday, April 7
Montreal at New York Rangers (7 p.m. EDT). The Rangers are trying to hold off Florida for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
STARS
Sunday
— Kris Versteeg and Nikolai Khabibulin, Blackhawks. Versteeg beat fellow rookie star Steve Mason on a breakaway at 3:10 of overtime, and Khabibulin made 20 saves for his second shutout of the season, 1-0 in Columbus.
— Bryan McCabe, Rostislav Olesz and Tomas Vokoun, Panthers. McCabe and Olesz each had a goal and an assist, and Vokoun made 41 saves in a 4-2 home victory over Pittsburgh.
— Joe Pavelski and Jonathan Cheechoo, Sharks. Pavelski scored the tying goal and Cheechoo the winner, both on power plays, to help the visitors beat Anaheim 3-2 for their franchise-record 52nd victory.
— Marian Hossa, Red Wings, scored with 55 seconds left in a 3-2 home victory over Minnesota.
— T.J Galiardi and Peter Budaj, Avalanche. Galiardi scored twice, Budaj made 20 saves and Colorado snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 4-1 win in Vancouver.
SWINGS
Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby fought Keith Ballard after the Florida defenseman upended Evgeni Malkin with a low check in the Panthers’ 4-2 victory Sunday night. Crosby also fought Florida’s Brett McLean during a Jan. 3 game.
SCOUTING
Andrew Clark scored three goals to help the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings beat the Medicine Hat Tigers 8-6 on Sunday in the Western Hockey League playoffs. Brandon leads the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-0. … Jeremy Smith made 50 saves, and Chris DeSousa scored twice in the Niagara IceDogs’ 2-0 victory in Belleville in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs. Belleville leads the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-1.
SPEAKING
“I went over not sure if he was going to fight. I don’t go into games looking to fight, that’s for sure. It just kind of happens. It’s just a coincidence. I don’t fight that much. To get two against one team is kind of weird, but it’s part of the game.”—Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby after fighting Florida defenseman Keith Ballard in the Panthers’ 4-2 victory Sunday night. Crosby also fought Florida’s Brett McLean during a Jan. 3 game.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Buffalo Sabres
Marian Hossa had the game-winning goal on Sunday afternoon as the Red Wings got past the Wild by a final score of 3-2.
The Red Wings were winners as -240 home favorites in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the day's posted total (5.5).
The Sabres were defeated 3-2 by the Devils last time out, as -130 favorites. That game's five goals fell UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Jochen Hecht and Clarke MacArthur scored in that loss.
Team records:
Detroit: 50-19-9
Buffalo: 38-31-9
Detroit most recently:
When playing on Monday are 8-2
Before playing Edmonton are 6-4
After playing Minnesota are 6-4
After a win are 5-5
Buffalo most recently:
When playing on Monday are 7-3
Before playing Colorado are 7-3
After playing New Jersey are 3-7
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit's last 5 games when playing on the road against Buffalo
Detroit is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Detroit is 14-2-1 SU in its last 17 games when playing Buffalo
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Detroit's last 9 games when playing Buffalo
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Buffalo's last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Buffalo's last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Buffalo's last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Buffalo's last 9 games when playing Detroit
Next up:
Detroit home to Nashville, Thursday, April 9
Buffalo at Toronto, Wednesday, April 8
Ottawa Senators vs. Montreal Canadiens
Mike Fisher scored the shootout winner to give the Senators a 4-3 victory over the Flyers on Saturday, as a -110 pick'em. The combined score made it OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Nick Foligno, Chris Kelly, and Jason Spezza scored in regulation in that win.
Alexei Kovalev scored once and added three assists to lead the Canadiens in a 6-2 victory over the Maple Leafs last time out, as -160 favorites. The eight goals made it OVER the posted over/under (6).
Guillaume Latendresse, Alex Tanguay, Christopher Higgins, Maxim Lapierre, and Josh Georges scored in that win.
Current streak:
Montreal has won 3 straight games.
Team records:
Ottawa: 34-34-10
Montreal: 41-27-10
Ottawa most recently:
When playing on Monday are 4-6
Before playing Boston are 5-5
After playing Philadelphia are 4-6
After a win are 7-3
Montreal most recently:
When playing on Monday are 2-8
Before playing NY Rangers are 5-5
After playing Toronto are 6-4
After a win are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Ottawa's last 7 games when playing on the road against Montreal
Ottawa is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Ottawa's last 22 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Ottawa's last 6 games on the road
Montreal is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Ottawa
Montreal is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Montreal is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Ottawa
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Montreal's last 7 games when playing at home against Ottawa
Next up:
Ottawa home to Boston, Tuesday, April 7
Montreal at NY Rangers, Tuesday, April 7
Los Angeles Kings vs. Calgary Flames
Brian Boyle and Alexander Frolov each scored twice as the Kings cruised past the Coyotes 6-1 on Saturday. The Kings won the game as -140 favorites, and the seven goals made it OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams added singles in the win.
The Flames were shut down 4-0 by the Wild last time out, as +105 underdogs. The four goals went UNDER the posted over/under (5).
Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 24 shots in a losing effort.
Team records:
Los Angeles: 32-35-11
Calgary: 44-28-6
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Monday are 5-5
Before playing Dallas are 5-5
After playing Phoenix are 6-4
After a win are 4-6
Calgary most recently:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing Los Angeles are 4-6
After playing Minnesota are 5-5
After a loss are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Los Angeles's last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 5 games when playing on the road against Calgary
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Los Angeles's last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 7 games when playing Calgary
Calgary is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Los Angeles
Calgary is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games when playing Los Angeles
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Calgary's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Calgary's last 5 games when playing at home against Los Angeles
Next up:
Los Angeles at Edmonton, Tuesday, April 7
Calgary at Vancouver, Tuesday, April 7
DETROIT (49-19-0-9, 107 pts.) at BUFFALO (38-31-0-9, 85 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 26-21 ATS (-23.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
BUFFALO is 38-40 ATS (-59.5 Units) in all games this season.
BUFFALO is 6-9 ATS (-5.2 Units) in a home game where where the total is 6 or more this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 2-1 (+0.5 Units) against the spread versus BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 2-1-0 straight up against BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.2 Units)
OTTAWA (34-34-0-10, 78 pts.) at MONTREAL (41-27-0-10, 92 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
OTTAWA is 77-87 ATS (-48.2 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
OTTAWA is 39-52 ATS (-33.4 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
MONTREAL is 36-41 ATS (-20.4 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
MONTREAL is 45-43 ATS (-16.1 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
OTTAWA is 11-10-0 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
12 of 20 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+3.5 Units)
LOS ANGELES (32-35-0-11, 75 pts.) at CALGARY (44-28-0-6, 94 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 10-25 ATS (+42.2 Units) after a win by 2 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
CALGARY is 24-24 ATS (-7.7 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 over the last 2 seasons.
CALGARY is 35-34 ATS (-4.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
CALGARY is 8-12 ATS (-12.7 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 9-2 (+5.8 Units) against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 9-2-0 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.3 Units)
DETROIT vs. BUFFALO
Detroit is 14-2-1 SU in its last 17 games when playing Buffalo
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Detroit's last 9 games when playing Buffalo
Buffalo is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Buffalo's last 10 games
OTTAWA vs. MONTREAL
Ottawa is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Ottawa's last 15 games when playing Montreal
Montreal is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Ottawa
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Montreal's last 7 games when playing at home against Ottawa
LOS ANGELES vs. CALGARY
Los Angeles is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games when playing Calgary
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 7 games when playing Calgary
Calgary is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Calgary's last 6 games
Hot teams
-- Canadiens won five of their last six games.
Cold teams
-- Sabres lost six of their last ten games. Red Wings lost three of their last four games.
-- Senators lost four of their last five road games.
-- Flames lost four of last six games, but are 5-1 in game following their last six losses. Kings lost nine of their last twelve games.
Totals
-- Eight of last ten Buffalo games went over the total.
-- Over is 6-2-1 in last nine Montreal games.
-- Under is 7-1-1 in last nine Calgary games.
Back-to-Back
-- Red Wings are 5-1 if they won the day/night before.
-- Montreal is 3-7 if it plays again the next night.
-- Calgary is 5-7 if it plays again the next night.
Series Records
-- Red Wings won last two games against Buffalo, 4-2/3-1.
-- Canadiens won six of last seven games against Ottawa.
-- Flames won nine of last ten games against Los Angeles.