Saturday's Best NHL Bets
Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators (+140, 5.5)
The Sens and Pens are running on empty after a thrilling triple-overtime contest Thursday night. Ottawa got the game-winning goal from Matt Carkner, sending the series back to Scotiabank Place with the Senators trailing 3-2.
“Definitely the biggest goal of my career,” Carkner told the media. “An unbelievable feeling after we battled hard all night. Three overtimes and we new it wasn’t going to be a pretty goal. I don’t even know how it went in.”
With just a day to recover from Thursday’s marathon and make the trip to Ottawa, both squads will be a little worse for the wear when the puck drops Saturday night. And making life tougher for goal scorers is the momentum both goalies carry over into Game 6.
Senators goaltender Pascal Leclaire played the game of his life, turning away 53 shots and keeping his cool against of the league’s top offensive attacks. Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was also terrific, making 40 saves in the loss.
“It’s huge for us. It’s a great feeling right now. The guys worked so hard. It was a fun night. It could have gone either way but we’ll take it,” Leclaire told reporters. “I tried to do my part and it worked out. But it’s over and we’ve got a big challenge in a couple of days.”
Pick: Under
San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche (+160, 5.5)
There’s blood in the water and the San Jose Sharks can taste it.
The Sharks showed why they’re the top team in the West with a dominating 5-0 victory over the Avalanche in Game 5 Thursday night. San Jose scored three goals in the second period and never looked back, sending the series back to Colorado with a 3-2 lead.
The barrage of goals is a weight off the team’s back after needing overtime in two of its wins and getting shutout by Avs goaltender Craig Anderson despite firing 51 shots in Game 3. The Sharks were averaging just 2.25 goals in the first four games of the series – after scoring more than three goals a night during the regular season.
"Finally tonight, the puck went over the goal-line when we needed it to," Sharks coach Todd McLellan told CBC Sports. "I think we were probably better offensively in Game 3, and maybe even in Game 4 than we were tonight but finally got rewarded with five goals."
Breaking the backs of the Avalanche wasn’t easy, however, San Jose will continue to pound their opponent with offense Saturday night.
Pick: San Jose
Hockey Night In Canada Betting Preview
By JON KUIPERIJ
Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators (+140, 5.5)
The Senators hope to stave off elimination once again when they host Pittsburgh in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference quarter-final series Saturday.
Ottawa cut the Penguins' series lead to 3-2 with a 4-3 triple-overtime victory in Pittsburgh Thursday.
Leclaire sailing
Defenseman Matt Carkner notched the overtime winner, but goalie Pascal Leclaire was the real hero for the Senators in Game 5.
Getting his first-ever playoff start in place of struggling No. 1 netminder Brian Elliott, Leclaire made 56 saves Thursday. That's not bad for someone who has only one other victory to his credit in 2010.
Expect Leclaire to be between the pipes again Saturday.
"He played outstanding," said Senators coach Cory Clouston. "He was confident, comfortable. I thought he was very square and poised. Boy, did he come through for us."
Time to regroup
The Penguins probably deserved a better fate in Game 5.
Pittsburgh outshot the Senators 59-44 on the night, including 27-9 from late in the first period until Sidney Crosby put the Pens ahead 3-2 midway through the third frame.
Evgeni Malkin nearly won the game for Pittsburgh in the second overtime, firing a shot off the post.
"A lot happened with penalties and chances and posts, but that's just the way it works out," Crosby said. "Unfortunately, we didn't get it done here, but we've got to find a way to regroup and be ready to go to Ottawa."
Infirmary report
Pittsburgh has lost two players to injury during the series and both are questionable for Saturday. Defenseman Jordan Leopold has missed three straight games with concussion-like symptoms after being hammered by Ottawa's Andy Sutton in Game 2.
Centre Tyler Kennedy missed Thursday's contest as he deals with a lower body injury suffered after falling awkwardly in Game 4.
Trends
The Penguins have won six of their last eight trips to Ottawa, including their past four playoff games there. The road team is 5-1 in the last six meetings between the clubs overall.
Four of the five games in this year's series have gone over the total.
Ottawa has gone over the total in seven of its last eight.
San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche (+158, 5.5)
San Jose has an opportunity to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the fourth time in five years when it visits Colorado Saturday.
The Sharks took a 3-2 lead in the quarter-final series with a 5-0 rout of the Avalanche Thursday.
The breakup
After watching his top line of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley struggle in the first four games of the series, San Jose coach Todd McLellan broke up the trio in Game 5.
McLellan inserted Torrey Mitchell into Heatley's place on the top line and had Logan Couture and Manny Malhotra play with Heatley on the third line.
The move paid off. Couture scored twice, the first goal coming on a pass by Heatley and the Sharks exploded for five goals after managing only two in their previous two games.
"Dany is unbelievable," said Couture. "He makes a lot of things happen."
Thornton remains quiet in the series, registering only two assists in the first five games.
Losing his mojo?
Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson seemed to be in the Sharks' heads earlier in the series, making 51 saves to blank San Jose in Game 3 and adding another 43 saves in a 2-1 overtime loss in Game 4.
But the Sharks figured him out Thursday, beating him four times before Anderson was hooked in the third period.
"They won, we lost. Any time you lose is a tough night," said Anderson. "Bottom line, we need to do better. As a goalie, you can only do so much. I have to find a way to stop the puck."
Anderson bounced back well the last time the Sharks lit him up. His Herculean effort in Game 3 came two days after San Jose pumped six past him in Game 2.
Nabby in a zone
Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov is quietly having an excellent series himself.
Outside of a five-goal hiccup in Game 2, Nabokov has held the Avalanche to two goals or less in the other four games. Two of the nine goals he's allowed in the series have been thanks to his defensemen - a deflection off Rob Blake in Game 1 and the infamous bad pass by Dan Boyle in overtime of Game 3.
Nabokov's shutout Thursday was the seventh postseason shutout of his career.
Paying the penalty
Colorado isn't getting much help from the zebras in its upset quest.
San Jose has had 23 power plays through five games, while the Avalanche has only had 13.
Then again, when the play is in the Colorado end most of the time, such disparity can be expected. San Jose has outshot Colorado 211-131 in the series.
"Obviously, they've had more power plays than us, but if you look at the majority of the calls, they're being made in our defensive zone," Avs winger Matt Hendricks told reporters. "We're not getting the calls for obvious reasons. I think we as a team should try to get the puck down into their zone a little bit more. That's where the hard work comes in and they end up taking the penalties."
The Sharks have scored six power-play goals in the series.
Trends
The home team has won 9 of the last 11 meetings between the teams, but Colorado is 2-5 in its last seven at home.
Four of the five games in this year's series have gone under the total.
Nashville Predators vs. Chicago Blackhawks
The fans at United Center will be treated to a game between the Nashville Predators and the Chicago Blackhawks when they take their seats on Saturday.
Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
Patrick Sharp scored twice as the Blackhawks defeated the Predators 3-0 on Thursday and evened the best-of-seven Western Conference series at two games apiece. The Blackhawks won the game as -155 favorites, while the teams played UNDER the posted over/under (5).
Jonathan Toews potted the other goal in the loss for the Blackhawks. Pekka Rinne stopped 27-of-30 shots in the loss.
Team records:
Nashville: 47-29-6
Chicago: 52-22-8
Nashville most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 5-5
Before playing Minnesota are 8-2
After playing Chicago are 5-5
After a loss are 9-1
Chicago most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 1-9
Before playing Edmonton are 5-5
After playing Nashville are 6-4
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Nashville's last 9 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Nashville is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Nashville's last 16 games
Nashville is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Chicago's last 9 games when playing at home against Nashville
Chicago is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games
Chicago is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Nashville
Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Nashville
Next up:
Chicago at Nashville, Monday, April 26
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators
The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Scotiabank Place.
Matt Carkner scored at 7:06 of the third overtime on Thursday, lifting the Senators to a 4-3 win over the Penguins in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. The Senators won the game as +270 underdogs, while the combined score made it OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Mike Fisher, Jarkko Ruutu, and Peter Regin tallied for the Senators. Kris Letang, Chris Kunitz, and Sidney Crosby scored for the Penguins.
Team records:
Pittsburgh: 47-28-7
Ottawa: 44-32-6
Pittsburgh most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 3-7
Before playing Ottawa are 7-3
After playing Ottawa are 7-3
After a loss are 7-3
Ottawa most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing Boston are 7-3
After playing Pittsburgh are 6-4
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing Ottawa
Pittsburgh is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Ottawa
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Ottawa's last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Ottawa's last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Ottawa's last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Ottawa's last 6 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
Next up:
Ottawa at Pittsburgh, Tuesday, April 27
San Jose Sharks vs. Colorado Avalanche
The fans at Pepsi Center will be treated to a game between the San Jose Sharks and the Colorado Avalanche when they take their seats on Saturday.
Logan Couture scored twice to lead the Sharks to a 5-0 win over the Avalanche in Game 5 of their Western Conference opening round series on Thursday. The Sharks won the game as -240 favorites, while the five goals went UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Joe Pavelski, Dwight Helminen, and Patrick Marleau answered for the Sharks. Craig Anderson made 29 saves in a losing effort.
Team records:
San Jose: 51-20-11
Colorado: 43-30-9
San Jose most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 5-5
Before playing Toronto are 4-4-1
After playing Colorado are 6-4
After a win are 6-4
Colorado most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing Buffalo are 7-7-1
After playing San Jose are 3-7
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Jose's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Jose's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Jose's last 5 games when playing Colorado
San Jose is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Colorado's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado's last 5 games when playing San Jose
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado's last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Colorado's last 23 games
Next up:
Colorado at San Jose, Monday, April 26
NASHVILLE (49-31-0-6, 104 pts.) at CHICAGO (54-24-0-8, 116 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 246-284 ATS (-41.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.
NASHVILLE is 48-37 ATS (+86.5 Units) in all games this season.
NASHVILLE is 13-7 ATS (+21.9 Units) revenging a home loss versus opponent this season.
NASHVILLE is 27-12 ATS (+40.0 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
NASHVILLE is 26-20 ATS (+47.8 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 130-121 ATS (+264.1 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game since 1996.
NASHVILLE is 22-20 ATS (+47.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NASHVILLE is 48-43 ATS (+92.6 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 26-14 ATS (+10.2 Units) on Saturday games over the last 2 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 16-12 ATS (+30.0 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
NASHVILLE is 17-10 ATS (+27.8 Units) after a division game this season.
CHICAGO is 28-29 ATS (-4.6 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 14-10-0 straight up against NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
13 of 21 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.7 Units)
PITTSBURGH (50-29-0-8, 108 pts.) at OTTAWA (46-35-0-6, 98 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 15-20 ATS (-12.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
OTTAWA is 46-41 ATS (-44.2 Units) in all games this season.
OTTAWA is 11-6 ATS (+18.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
OTTAWA is 32-36 ATS (-37.2 Units) in home games in April games since 1996.
OTTAWA is 20-30 ATS (-13.0 Units) on Saturday games over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
OTTAWA is 10-11 (+1.4 Units) against the spread versus PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 11-10-0 straight up against OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
12 of 21 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.4 Units)
SAN JOSE (54-21-0-12, 120 pts.) at COLORADO (45-31-0-11, 101 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN JOSE is 55-42 ATS (-20.5 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 45-42 ATS (-46.1 Units) in all games this season.
COLORADO is 32-33 ATS (+65.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 11-5 ATS (+5.9 Units) on Saturday games this season.
SAN JOSE is 12-4 ATS (+7.1 Units) in road games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.
SAN JOSE is 30-14 ATS (+8.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
SAN JOSE is 41-32 ATS (+79.7 Units) in road games in April games since 1996.
COLORADO is 79-80 ATS (-25.1 Units) in home games after allowing 4 goals or more since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
SAN JOSE is 11-6 (+1.6 Units) against the spread versus COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
SAN JOSE is 11-6-0 straight up against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
11 of 17 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+4.3 Units)
NASHVILLE vs. CHICAGO
Nashville is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Nashville's last 18 games when playing Chicago
Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Nashville
Chicago is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games
PITTSBURGH vs. OTTAWA
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games on the road
Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Ottawa is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Ottawa's last 6 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
SAN JOSE vs. COLORADO
San Jose is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Jose's last 5 games on the road
Colorado is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Colorado's last 6 games
Western Conference Playoffs - First Round - Best of 7 - Game 5 - Tied 2-2
NASHVILLE at CHICAGO
NASHVILLE: 9-0 SU revenging a shutout loss
CHICAGO: 0-2 SU as a # 2 seed in the playoffs
Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round - Best of 7 - Game 6 - PIT 3-2
PITTSBURGH at OTTAWA
PITTSBURGH: 22-9 SU on Saturday
OTTAWA: 20-30 SU on Saturday
Western Conference Playoffs - First Round - Best of 7 - Game 6 - SJ 3-2
SAN JOSE at COLORADO
SAN JOSE: 17-4 SU 17-4 after allowing 2 or less in 3 straight
COLORADO: 9-21 SU after allowing 5+ goals