Hockey Today
SCOREBOARD
Tuesday, May 5
Detroit at Anaheim (10:30 p.m. EDT). Anaheim tied the Western Conference semifinal series Sunday, beating the Stanley Cup champion Red Wings 4-3 on Todd Marchant’s goal at 1:15 of the third overtime.
STARS
Monday
— Alex Ovechkin, Capitals, recorded his first NHL playoff hat trick and netted the winning goal in Washington’s 4-3 win over Pittsburgh in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference series.
— Sidney Crosby, Penguins, scored three goals in a losing cause as Pittsburgh was beaten 4-3 by Washington to fall into an 0-2 hole in the series.
SAYING GOODBYE
Markus Naslund wrapped up a 15-year NHL career when he retired Monday after just one season with the New York Rangers. Naslund, who left the Vancouver Canucks last summer as a free agent, signed a two-year deal worth $8 million with the Rangers but decided to skip the final season when he will be 36. Naslund played all 82 games this season, recording 24 goals and 46 points, but he had only one goal and two assists in the Rangers’ seven-game loss to Washington in the first round of the playoffs.
SITTING OUT
Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski didn’t practice with the rest of his Detroit teammates and was ruled out of Tuesday night’s Game 3 at Anaheim due to an upper body injury. Rafalski hasn’t played in the series that is tied 1-1, but Red Wings coach Mike Babcock left open the possibility that he could play in Game 4.
SPEAKING
“Sick game. Sick three goals by me and Crosby. It’s unbelievable to see how fans react, how fans go crazy. The atmosphere right now, it’s unbelievable in town. You see all the red, and—probably I’m afraid to go home right now.”— Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who had a hat trick Monday night in Washington’s 4-3 victory over Pittsburgh. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby also scored three goals in the loss that gave Washington a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks got down by two goals before roaring back to double the Canucks 6-3 on Saturday, as +125 underdogs. That game's nine goals sailed OVER the posted over/under (5).
Patrick Sharp and Dave Bolland scored two goals apiece for the Hawks, while singles came from Bean Eager and Patrick Kane.
Sami Salo, Alexander Edler, and Henrik Sedin scored for the Canucks, who were favored at -145 in Game 2.
Team records:
Vancouver: 45-27-10
Chicago: 46-24-12
Vancouver most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 4-6
Before playing San Jose are 6-4
After playing Chicago are 6-4
After a loss are 7-3
Chicago most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 6-4
Before playing Edmonton are 7-3
After playing Vancouver are 7-3
After a win are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
Vancouver is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
Vancouver is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Vancouver is 18-6 SU in its last 24 games when playing Chicago
Vancouver is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Chicago is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Chicago's last 9 games at home
Chicago is 11-4 SU in its last 15 games
Next up:
Chicago home to Vancouver, Thursday, May 7
Detroit Red Wings vs. Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks defeated Detroit 4-3 in triple overtime as a +180 underdog in Game 2 on Sunday. The seven goals scored went OVER the posted over/under total (5.5).
Todd Marchant scored the game-winner in triple overtime for Anaheim and Ryan Getzlaf had a goal and two assists in the win.
Johan Franzen and Mikael Samuelsson scored for Detroit, and Chris Osgood made 42 saves.
Team records:
Detroit: 51-21-10
Anaheim: 42-33-7
Detroit most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 8-2
Before playing Edmonton are 6-4
After playing Anaheim are 4-6
After a loss are 6-4
Anaheim most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 4-6
Before playing Detroit are 6-4
After playing Detroit are 5-5
After a win are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Detroit's last 7 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
Detroit is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Detroit is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games on the road
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Anaheim
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Anaheim's last 7 games when playing at home against Detroit
Anaheim is 15-6 SU in its last 21 games
Anaheim is 11-4-1 SU in its last 16 games when playing at home against Detroit
Anaheim is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
Next up:
Anaheim home to Detroit, Thursday, May 7
VANCOUVER (50-28-0-10, 110 pts.) at CHICAGO (51-28-0-11, 113 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
VANCOUVER is 10-15 ATS (-10.1 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more this season.
CHICAGO is 27-14 ATS (+44.1 Units) when playing with 2 days rest over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 24-12 ATS (+4.2 Units) after a win by 2 goals or more this season.
CHICAGO is 25-11 ATS (+10.2 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.
CHICAGO is 46-40 ATS (+93.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
VANCOUVER is 138-129 ATS (+279.7 Units) in road games second half of the season since 1996.
VANCOUVER is 13-4 ATS (+17.6 Units) in road games when playing with 2 days rest over the last 3 seasons.
VANCOUVER is 19-14 ATS (+33.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
VANCOUVER is 9-5 (+1.6 Units) against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
VANCOUVER is 9-5-0 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.7 Units)
DETROIT (56-21-0-11, 123 pts.) at ANAHEIM (47-35-0-8, 102 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
ANAHEIM is 10-10 (+0.4 Units) against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
ANAHEIM is 10-10-0 straight up against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
10 of 19 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.3 Units)
VANCOUVER vs. CHICAGO
Vancouver is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Vancouver is 18-6 SU in its last 24 games when playing Chicago
Chicago is 11-4 SU in its last 15 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 6 games
DETROIT vs. ANAHEIM
Detroit is 4-11-1 SU in its last 16 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Detroit's last 7 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
Anaheim is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
Anaheim is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Detroit
NHL Playoffs
Anaheim scored early in third OT Sunday, to tie series as it heads back to left coast for Game 3; Ducks have been outshot 99-70 so far in series, with Detroit putting 62 shots on goal in Game 2 loss, outshooting the Ducks 29-17 in OT's. Both sides scored three power play goals so far in series. Anaheim won two of three series home games against San Jose in first round. Red Wings are 2-0 on road so far in playoffs.
Chicago scored six third period goals on 25 shots in first two series tilts; they're still just 2-11 on power play (Canucks are 4-14), but getting back to Chicago 1-1, after trailing both games in Vancouver after first period is huge for young Blackhawks. Canucks killed 32 of 35 penalties so far in playoffs, they've been outshot in first two series games (31-27/32-21)-- Vancouver was 2-0 on road in its sweep of St Louis.
Vancouver at Chicago
Vancouver:
10-3 SU AWAY after playing a game with 7+ total goals
53-34 SU after one or more consecutive overs
Chicago:
6-13 SU after allowing 2+ goals in the third period
1-6 SU at home after playing a game with 8+ total goals
Detroit at Anaheim
Detroit:
7-25 SU at Detroit
23-14 Over off an Under
Anaheim:
30-5 SU at home off home win
23-12 Over off BB wins