Hockey Today
SCOREBOARD
Sunday, May 3
Anaheim at Detroit (2 p.m. EDT). The defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings look to take a 2-0 lead over the Ducks—the 2007 winners—in their Western Conference semifinal series.
STARS
— Nicklas Lidstrom, Red Wings, scored two goals—including the winner with 49.1 seconds left—and added an assist in Detroit’s series-opening 3-2 victory over Anaheim.
— Marc Savard, Bruins, scored twice to lift Boston to a 4-1 win against Carolina in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
SENT AWAY
Anaheim Ducks forward Mike Brown was ejected from the team’s 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night for a hit that bloodied Jiri Hudler. Hudler passed the puck and was defenseless when Brown hit him, appearing to land an elbow to the head during the first period. Hudler returned in the second period, but Brown was given a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct.
SELECTED
San Jose’s Todd McLellan was named Friday as a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach, joining Boston’s Claude Julien and St. Louis’ Andy Murray. The winner will be announced at the NHL’s postseason awards ceremony in Las Vegas next month. McLellan, in his first season as San Jose coach, led the Sharks to the Presidents’ Trophy but they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Anaheim.
STEPPING IN
The Red Wings were without standout defenseman Brian Rafalski for Game 1 against the Anaheim Ducks. He was replaced in the lineup by 47-year-old Chris Chelios. Chelios, who got into 28 regular-season games, made his playoff debut after being out of the lineup since April 12. After being a healthy scratch in Detroit’s first-round sweep of Columbus, Chelios extended his NHL record by playing in his 261st postseason game.
SPEAKING
“I just get so amazed how he performs out there in a big game like this, in the last minute like that. He’s so calm out there. I guess the experience speaks for itself. I get goose bumps.”—Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson on Detroit teammate Nicklas Lidstrom, who scored two goals—including the winner with 49.1 seconds remaining—and added an assist in a 3-2 win over Anaheim in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal series
Sunday's Quick Hits
By Judd Hall
We’re only in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but you wouldn’t know it from a betting aspect. The favorites have won all four games played in the conference semifinals. And the ‘under’ continues to be a gambler’s best friend with a 3-1 mark.
Sunday’s slate has two games on it: one could see an all-out war start, while the other has a club trying to stay relevant in its series.
Anaheim Ducks at Detroit Red Wings
We learned something that we should have already known about the Red Wings on Friday night: you can hit them hard, but they will hit harder.
Anaheim’s Mike Brown levied a punishing hit on the Wings' Jiri Hudler in the first period. The blow left Hudler with a bloody forehead and left the Ducks without Brown’s services for the remainder of the game. It also gave Detroit a power play that Johan Franzen capitalized on to tie the score at one apiece.
Detroit wound up putting in another two goals with on the power play as they survived the Ducks in Game 1 as a heavy $2.40 home favorite, 3-2. The combined five goals just fell short of the closing number of 5 ½. It’s the fifth straight win for the Winged Wheels in the 2009 playoffs with the ‘under’ going 3-1-1
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The betting shops certainly expect the Wings to take Game 2 after installing them as $2.40 home faves (risk $240 to win $100) once again. For those not willing to risk what a three-night cruise costs on one game, you can back Detroit to cover the puck line at a favorable plus-135.
It’s hard not to bet Detroit in some way as they’re 4-1 in its last five home games against the Ducks. And the Red Wings are 12-2 in their past 14 postseason matches at Joe Louis Arena. Plus, they’re 18-7 when having a day off following a victory.
The puck drops in the Motor City at 2:05 p.m. EDT on NBC.
Carolina Hurricanes at Boston Bruins
Something tells me the Bruins weren’t as rusty as many first thought.
Boston shook off a 1-1 time after the first act to dominate the Hurricanes in the last 40 minutes to win as a 2/1 home “chalk,” 4-1. The victory isn’t surprising for the B’s, but the fact that they covered the puck line in all five of their playoff games is.
Tim Thomas showed exactly why he’s a Vezina Trophy finalist as he stopped 27 shots on goal. Michael Ryder continues to be hot on the attack after scoring his fifth goal in the last four tilts of the playoffs. Marc Savard also found the back of the net twice in the winning effort.
If there is anything that Carolina needs to do better it’s finding a way to score on special teams…or at least get more advantages. The ‘Canes failed to convert their only power play opportunity in Game 1 and are just 2-for-30 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s going to be difficult to do as the Bruins took the puck away seven times on Friday night and blocked a total of 16 shots without Thomas’ help.
Most sportsbooks have posted the Bruins as $2.00 home favorites once again with the total holding steady at five. You can take Boston to win by at least two goals for a plus-160 (risk $100 to win $160) return.
The odds are extremely good that the B’s will cash in on Sunday as they’re now 5-0 against Carolina, covering the puck line in each game. Boston is also 20-11 in games with a day off after a win. On the other side, the Hurricanes are just 12-10 when taking a day off after a setback.
You can catch this game on Versus at 7:35 p.m. EDT.
vegasinsider.com
Anaheim Ducks vs. Detroit Red Wings
Nicklas Lidstrom scored his second goal of the game as the Red Wings got past the Ducks 3-2 in the opener of their second-round series. The Red Wings won the game as -230 favorites, while the five goal went UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Johan Franazen potted the other marker for the Red Wings. Chris Osgood stopped 23 shots in the win.
Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne scored for the Ducks, and Jonas Hiller made 34 saves in the loss.
Team records:
Anaheim: 42-33-7
Detroit: 51-21-10
Anaheim most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Detroit are 7-3
After playing Detroit are 5-5
After a loss are 8-2
Detroit most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Edmonton are 6-4
After playing Anaheim are 4-6
After a win are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Anaheim's last 13 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Anaheim is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games on the road
Anaheim is 14-6 SU in its last 20 games
Anaheim is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Detroit is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Anaheim
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Anaheim
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Detroit's last 13 games when playing at home against Anaheim
Next up:
Detroit at Anaheim, Tuesday, May 5
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Boston Bruins
Marc Savard scored twice to help the Bruins defeat the Hurricanes 4-1 on Friday, as -200 favorites. That game's five runs went UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Michael Ryder netted a goal and an assist, and David Krejci potted the other marker for the Bruins. Tim Thomas stopped 26 shots in the Game 1 win.
Jussi Jokinen scored for the Hurricanes, and Cam Ward made 20 saves in a losing effort.
Team records:
Carolina: 45-30-7
Boston: 53-19-10
Carolina most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Boston are 5-5
After playing Boston are 6-4
After a loss are 6-4
Boston most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Ottawa are 5-5
After playing Carolina are 7-3
After a win are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Carolina's last 5 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Carolina's last 8 games on the road
Carolina is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games
Carolina is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games when playing on the road against Boston
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Carolina
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games when playing Carolina
Next up:
Boston at Carolina, Wednesday, May 6
ANAHEIM (46-35-0-8, 100 pts.) at DETROIT (56-21-0-10, 122 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 10-9 (+0.0 Units) against the spread versus ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 10-9-0 straight up against ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
9 of 18 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.1 Units)
CAROLINA (49-33-0-8, 106 pts.) at BOSTON (58-18-0-11, 127 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 7-6 (+1.2 Units) against the spread versus CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 7-6-0 straight up against CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
8 of 13 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.6 Units)
ANAHEIM vs. DETROIT
Anaheim is 14-6 SU in its last 20 games
Anaheim is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games on the road
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Anaheim
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Anaheim
CAROLINA vs. BOSTON
Carolina is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games when playing on the road against Boston
Carolina is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Boston
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Boston's last 10 games at home
Anaheim at Detroit
Anaheim:
7-25 SU at Detroit
23-14 Over off an Under
Detroit:
30-5 SU at home off home win
23-12 Over off BB wins
Carolina at Boston
Carolina:
28-14 SU Away off Away loss
10-3 Under Away revenging loss by 2+ goals
Boston:
20-3 SU off BB wins by 2+ goals
41-16 SU off a win