Sunday’s Best NHL Bet
By Covers.com
Anaheim Ducks at New York Rangers (-155, 5.5)
It seems like head coach John Tortorella’s decision to only give ice time to those who deserve it is paying off. Tortorella opted to bench struggling defenseman Michal Rozsival for the last half of Thursday’s game against the Washington Capitals leaving only five players on the defensive rotation, including two rookies.
But all five blueliners stepped up their game against the Capitals’ powerhouse offense. Dan Girardi and Marc Staal delivered brilliant performances and Michael Del Zotto found Marian Gaborik for the power-play winner with 9:18 to go in the third.
“What I like about the kids is that I don't think they're afraid,” Tortorella said of defensemen Michael Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy. “They don't want to test the water, they want to make a difference.
“They make mistakes, yes, but they are mistakes of aggression. We want to be aggressive away from the puck as a team where we're not afraid to make mistakes.”
The Rangers are feeling confident after winning three in a row and could take advantage of a tired Ducks team who had to face the Flyers on Saturday night.
Pick: Rangers
Anaheim Ducks vs. New York Rangers
The Anaheim Ducks and the New York Rangers will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at Madison Square Garden.
Teemu Selanne scored twice and added the shootout winner on Saturday, leading the Ducks in a 3-2 win over the Flyers. The Ducks won the game as +130 underdogs, while the combined score went UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Jonas Hiller was outstanding in stopped 33 shots in that win.
The Capitals were defeated 4-3 by the Rangers last time out, as -175 favorites. That game's seven goals made it OVER the posted over/under (6).
Nicklas Backstrom scored twice for the Capitals, and Alexander Semin added the other goal.
Current streak:
Anaheim has won 2 straight games.
New York has won 3 straight games.
Team records:
Anaheim: 2-1-1
New York: 3-1-0
Anaheim most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Minnesota are 3-7
After playing Philadelphia are 4-4-1
After a win are 3-7
New York most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Florida are 6-4
After playing Washington are 3-7
After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
Anaheim is 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing on the road against NY Rangers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Anaheim's last 6 games on the road
Anaheim is 2-5 SU in their last 7 games when playing NY Rangers
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of the NY Rangers last 9 games at home
NY Rangers are 10-3 SU in their last 13 games at home
NY Rangers are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing Anaheim
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of the NY Rangers last 10 games
Next up:
Anaheim home to Minnesota, Wednesday, October 14
NY Rangers home to Toronto, Monday, October 12
Dallas Stars vs. Vancouver Canucks
The Dallas Stars and the Vancouver Canucks will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at General Motors Place.
The Stars picked up their first win of the season by upsetting the previously undefeated Flames 5-2 on Friday, as +135 underdogs. The seven goals made it OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Mike Ribeiro, Brian Sutherby, Tom Wandell, Loui Eriksson, and Brad Richards scored for the Stars.
The Canucks erupted for three goals in the opening period en route to a 7-1 defeat of the Canadiens on Wednesday. The Canucks won the game as -180 favorites, while the eight goals sailed OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Henrik Sedin led the way with a pair of goals, while singles came off the sticks of Mason Raymond, Ryan Kesler, Steve Bernier, Mikael Samuelsson, and Alex Burrows. Roberto Luongo made 27 saves for his first win.
Team records:
Dallas: 1-0-2
Vancouver: 1-3-0
Dallas most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Los Angeles are 2-8
After playing Calgary are 5-5
After a win are 2-8
Vancouver most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 3-7
Before playing San Jose are 6-4
After playing Montreal are 8-2
After a win are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
Dallas is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games on the road
Dallas is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Vancouver's last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Vancouver's last 6 games
Vancouver is 17-5 SU in its last 22 games at home
Vancouver is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
Next up:
Dallas home to Nashville, Wednesday, October 14
Vancouver at Calgary, Friday, October 16
ANAHEIM (2-2-0-0, 4 pts.) at NY RANGERS (3-1-0-0, 6 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
ANAHEIM is 23-17 ATS (+43.1 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 over the last 2 seasons.
ANAHEIM is 36-24 ATS (+64.2 Units) in road games on Sunday games since 1996.
ANAHEIM is 124-106 ATS (+232.5 Units) after a non-conference game since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 50-64 ATS (-48.6 Units) in home games in non-conference games since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 65-84 ATS (-57.4 Units) in home games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 19-33 ATS (-36.1 Units) in home games after a 3 game unbeaten streak since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
NY RANGERS is 2-1 (+1.3 Units) against the spread versus ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
NY RANGERS is 2-1-0 straight up against ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.0 Units)
DALLAS (1-0-0-2, 4 pts.) at VANCOUVER (1-3-0-0, 2 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 17-29 ATS (-21.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 6-15 ATS (-13.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 12-3 ATS (+8.5 Units) on Sunday games over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 18-10 ATS (+29.8 Units) in road games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 3 seasons.
VANCOUVER is 97-105 ATS (-63.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
VANCOUVER is 4-4-0 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.1 Units)
ANAHEIM vs. NY RANGERS
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Anaheim's last 6 games on the road
Anaheim is 2-5 SU in their last 7 games when playing NY Rangers
NY Rangers are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing Anaheim
NY Rangers are 2-5-1 SU in their last 8 games when playing at home against Anaheim
DALLAS vs. VANCOUVER
Dallas is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games on the road
Dallas is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games
Vancouver is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Vancouver's last 6 games
Hot Teams
-- Ducks won their last two games, allowing three goals. Rangers won their last two games, scoring nine goals.
Cold Teams
-- Stars lost two of their first three games, with both losses in SO/OT. Canucks lost three of their first four games.
Series Records
-- Rangers won three of their last four games against Anaheim.
-- Dallas Stars are 6-5 in their last eleven visits to Vancouver.
Totals
-- There are no trend totals worth noting in Duck-Ranger game.
-- Three of first four Vancouver games went over the total.
ANAHEIM at NY RANGERS
ANAHEIM: 5-0 SU AWAY after BB non-conference games
NY RANGERS: 0-5 SU at home off BB road wins
DALLAS at VANCOUVER
DALLAS: 12-3 SU on Sunday
VANCOUVER: 14-24 SU after having lost 3 of their last 4