Sunday's Best NHL Bets
Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators (+110, 5.5)
Great players do great things. Like Sidney Crosby putting the Pittsburgh Penguins on his back in the third period of Game 2 Friday night.
With under five minutes remaining in the game, Crosby danced through the Senators defense, keeping the offensive push alive, before finding point man Kristopher Letang for the go-ahead goal in Pittsburgh’s 2-1 win at Mellon Arena.
Crosby may be able to carry the offensive load for the defending Cup champs, but the issues on the blueline are out of his reach.
Pittsburgh’s defense is wearing thin heading into Sunday’s Game 3. With just five healthy bodies, the physical play in the first two games of this series has taken a lot out of the Pens. They managed to hold Ottawa to just seven shots in the third period (20 on the game) but will head to Scotiabank Place, where the Senators went 26-11-1-3 and averaged almost three goals per home game in the regular season.
Expect Crosby and the offense to do what they do best and try to end up on the right side of a goal-filled gunfight Sunday.
Pick: Over
San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche (+130, 5.5)
The Sharks held on to some of their bite with a 6-5 overtime win against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 Friday night. But, while the win is welcome, the Western Conference’s top team has some problems to solve before Sunday.
One glaring issue is the play of goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, who allowed five goals on just 22 shots and was caught out of position on a couple of the Avs’ scores.
“I wasn’t able to make any key saves,” Nabokov admitted to the media following Friday’s win.
His playoff resume isn’t all that impressive, going just 33-32 with a 2.26 GAA in 67 postseason appearances. In the past two seasons, Nabokov is 3-5 and has a goals against average of 3.10 in these games.
“I guess before you get up you have to come down,” Nabokov told reporters. “I hope this gives us some momentum.”
Nabokov will need every bit of momentum in Colorado Sunday. In his two starts at the Pepsi Center this season, he gave up a total of 10 goals on 60 shots.
Pick: Colorado
Phoenix Coyotes vs. Detroit Red Wings
The Phoenix Coyotes and the Detroit Red Wings will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at Joe Louis Arena.
The Red Wings scored four goals in the third period to earn a 7-4 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series. The Red Wings won that game as -135 favorites, while the 11 goals sailed OVER the posted over/under (5) set by sportsbooks.
Henrik Zetterberg potted a hat trick for the Red Wings, while Valtteri Filppula added a pair. Singles came off the sticks of Justin Abdelkader and Pavel Datsyuk.
Keith Yandle, Wojtek Wolski, Matthew Lombardi, and Shane Doan tallied for the Coyotes.
Team records:
Phoenix: 50-25-7
Detroit: 44-24-14
Phoenix most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Chicago are 5-5
After playing Detroit are 3-7
After a loss are 6-4
Detroit most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 8-2
Before playing Edmonton are 8-2
After playing Phoenix are 4-6
After a win are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Phoenix's last 16 games on the road
Phoenix is 14-6 SU in its last 20 games
Phoenix is 4-14 SU in its last 18 games when playing Detroit
Phoenix is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Detroit is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
Detroit is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit's last 6 games at home
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Next up:
Detroit home to Phoenix, Tuesday, April 20
New Jersey Devils vs. Philadelphia Flyers
The New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at Wachovia Center.
Team records:
New Jersey: 48-27-7
Philadelphia: 41-35-6
New Jersey most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 3-7
Before playing Buffalo are 8-2
After playing Philadelphia are 4-6
After a win are 4-6
Philadelphia most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 4-6
Before playing Tampa Bay are 6-4
After playing New Jersey are 7-3
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
New Jersey is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Jersey's last 7 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Jersey's last 7 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New Jersey's last 9 games
Philadelphia is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against New Jersey
Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing New Jersey
Philadelphia is 15-6 SU in its last 21 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 7 games when playing New Jersey
Next up:
Philadelphia home to New Jersey, Tuesday, April 20
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators
The fans at Scotiabank Place will be treated to a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators when they take their seats on Sunday.
Team records:
Pittsburgh: 47-28-7
Ottawa: 44-32-6
Pittsburgh most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Ottawa are 7-3
After playing Ottawa are 6-4
After a win are 3-7
Ottawa most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Boston are 7-3
After playing Pittsburgh are 6-4
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games
Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Ottawa
Pittsburgh is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Pittsburgh is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Ottawa
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Ottawa's last 5 games
Ottawa is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games at home
Ottawa is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games
Ottawa is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing Pittsburgh
Next up:
Ottawa home to Pittsburgh, Tuesday, April 20
Nashville Predators vs. Chicago Blackhawks
The Nashville Predators and the Chicago Blackhawks will meet on the ice at United Center on Sunday in a battle of division rivals.
J.P. Dumont potted two goals to help the Predators defeat the Blackhawks 4-1 in the opener of their first-round playoff series on Friday. The Predators won the game as +220 underdogs, while the five goals went as a PUSH against the posted over/under (5).
Jerred Smithson and Martin Erat added the other markers for the Predators. Patrick Kane had the lone goal for the Blackhawks.
Team records:
Nashville: 47-29-6
Chicago: 52-22-8
Nashville most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 2-8
Before playing Minnesota are 8-2
After playing Chicago are 7-3
After a win are 6-4
Chicago most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 7-3
Before playing Edmonton are 5-5
After playing Nashville are 6-4
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
Nashville is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Nashville is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Nashville's last 8 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Nashville's last 13 games
Chicago is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chicago's last 8 games when playing at home against Nashville
Chicago is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Nashville
Chicago is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing Nashville
Next up:
Chicago at Nashville, Tuesday, April 20
San Jose Sharks vs. Colorado Avalanche
The San Jose Sharks and the Colorado Avalanche will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at Pepsi Center.
Joe Pavelski scored with 30 seconds remaining and Devin Setoguchi potted the overtime winner as the Sharks defeated the Avalanche 6-5 on Friday and evened their best-of-seven first-round series at a game apiece. The Sharks won that game as -280 favorites, while the 11 goals sailed OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Setoguchi, Manny Malhotra, Rob Blake, and Scott Nichol scored in regulation for the Sharks.
Chris Stewart scored twice for the Avalanche, while Kyle Cumiskey, Milan Hejduk, and Brandon Yip also answered for the Avalanche. Craig Anderson stopped 46 shots in a losing effort.
Team records:
San Jose: 51-20-11
Colorado: 43-30-9
San Jose most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 4-6
Before playing Toronto are 4-4-1
After playing Colorado are 7-3
After a win are 6-4
Colorado most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Buffalo are 7-7-1
After playing San Jose are 3-7
After a loss are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
San Jose is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Jose's last 8 games when playing on the road against Colorado
San Jose is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing Colorado
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Jose's last 6 games when playing Colorado
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Colorado's last 14 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Colorado's last 8 games when playing at home against San Jose
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Colorado's last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Colorado's last 6 games when playing San Jose
Next up:
Colorado home to San Jose, Tuesday, April 20
PHOENIX (51-26-0-7, 109 pts.) at DETROIT (45-25-0-14, 104 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 10-4 (+3.7 Units) against the spread versus PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 10-4-0 straight up against PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.8 Units)
NEW JERSEY (49-28-0-7, 105 pts.) at PHILADELPHIA (42-36-0-6, 90 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 11-11 (+0.0 Units) against the spread versus NEW JERSEY over the last 3 seasons
PHILADELPHIA is 11-11-0 straight up against NEW JERSEY over the last 3 seasons
12 of 21 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.4 Units)
PITTSBURGH (48-29-0-7, 103 pts.) at OTTAWA (45-33-0-6, 96 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
OTTAWA is 9-9 (+0.9 Units) against the spread versus PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
OTTAWA is 9-9-0 straight up against PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
9 of 18 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.7 Units, Under=-1.0 Units)
NASHVILLE (48-29-0-6, 102 pts.) at CHICAGO (52-23-0-8, 112 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 12-9-0 straight up against NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
11 of 19 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.4 Units)
SAN JOSE (52-21-0-11, 115 pts.) at COLORADO (44-30-0-10, 98 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
SAN JOSE is 9-5 (+0.9 Units) against the spread versus COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
SAN JOSE is 9-5-0 straight up against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
8 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.3 Units)
PHOENIX vs. DETROIT
Phoenix is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Phoenix's last 16 games on the road
Detroit is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit's last 6 games at home
NEW JERSEY vs. PHILADELPHIA
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Jersey's last 7 games when playing Philadelphia
New Jersey is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 7 games when playing at home against New Jersey
Philadelphia is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against New Jersey
PITTSBURGH vs. OTTAWA
Pittsburgh is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Ottawa
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games
Ottawa is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Ottawa's last 5 games
NASHVILLE vs. CHICAGO
Nashville is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Nashville's last 15 games when playing Chicago
Chicago is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Chicago's last 15 games when playing Nashville
SAN JOSE vs. COLORADO
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Jose's last 8 games when playing on the road against Colorado
San Jose is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing Colorado
Colorado is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing San Jose
Colorado is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Western Conference Playoffs
First Round, Game Three (Series Tied, 1-1)
PHOENIX at DETROIT
PHOENIX: 15-4 Under away off a home loss by 2+ goals
DETROIT: 24-4 SU at home off a win by 3+ goals
Eastern Conference Playoffs
First Round, Game Three (Series Tied, 1-1)
NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA
NEW JERSEY: 7-0 SU off 3+ home games
PHILADELPHIA: 2-8 SU revenging a loss where they allowed 5+ goals
Eastern Conference Playoffs
First Round, Game Three (Series Tied, 1-1)
PITTSBURGH at OTTAWA
PITTSBURGH: 18-4 Over off a home win by 1 goal
OTTAWA: 28-14 SU off an Under
Western Conference Playoffs
First Round, Game Two (Nashville Leads, 1-0)
NASHVILLE at CHICAGO
NASHVILLE: 19-11 Over after winning 2 of their last 3 games
CHICAGO: 16-4 SU off BB home games
Western Conference Playoffs
First Round, Game Three (Series Tied, 1-1)
SAN JOSE at COLORADO
SAN JOSE: 12-3 SU away after scoring 4+ goals
COLORADO: 8-21 SU after allowing 5+ goals