NHL
Thursday, April 13
Thursday's NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Preview and Odds
The Flames have not won a game in Anaheim since Jan. 19, 2004. They'll need one in this series if they have any hope of moving on.
The puck drops on the three remaining first round series in the NHL playoffs Thursday, with two 1-vs-8 matchups and one team looking to win in a city for the first time in over 13 years. We break down all the matchups to help you 'cap the Stanley Cup Playoffs like a pro.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals (-240, 5.5)
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (40-27-15, 37-43-2 O/U): Auston Matthews, who became the first NHL rookie to score 40 goals in a season since, well, Alex Ovechkin, didn't go it alone on Toronto's fifth-ranked offense as William Nylander (22 goals, 39 assists) and Mitch Marner (19 goals, 42 assists) finished tied for third in points among rookies with 61. While the kids are alright, veteran goaltender Frederik Andersen is expected to return to the crease for the playoff opener after being scratched from the regular-season finale following a bump in the head by Pittsburgh's Tom Sestito. Tyler Bozak and defenseman Roman Polak (lower body) returned to practice on Wednesday but rookie blue-liner Nikita Zaitsev (upper body) was ruled out of the series opener, leading to Martin Marincin likely being inserted into the lineup.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (55-19-8, 36-31-15 O/U): For all of the publicity received by its high-octane offense, Washington features arguably the best defensive corps in the league that has surrendered the league's fewest goals (177) and fourth-fewest shots (2,282). Trade deadline acquisition Kevin Shattenkirk has meshed nicely with John Carlson, Matt Niskanen, Karl Alzner and Dmitry Orlov in front of reigning Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby. "The playoffs to me is more blocking things out as opposed to trying to be a hero," said Holtby, who became the third netminder in NHL history to record three consecutive seasons of at least 40 wins. "You work on your game throughout the year so that you are at your top coming into the playoffs."
LINE HISTORY: Despite the fact the Captials opened this game as big -210 favorites, bettors didn't think that was enough and have pushed the line to -240. Oddsmakers pegged the total for Game 1 at 5.5.
INJURY REPORT:
Maple Leafs - D R. Polak (Probable Thursday), G F. Andersen (Probable Thursday, head), D N. Zaitsev (Out Thursday, upper body).
Capitals - D J. Carlson (Probable Thursday, lower body), RW B. Connolly (Probable Thursday, illness).
TRENDS:
* Maple Leafs are 1-7 in the last eight meetings.
* Capitals are 0-7 in their last seven games playing on three or more days rest.
* Over is 4-1 in Maple Leafs last five road games.
* Under is 4-0-1 in Capitals last five games overall.
Nashville Predators vs. Chicago Blackhawks (-170, 5.5)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (41-29-12, 41-35-6 O/U): Although Pekka Rinne has not enjoyed his best season, he needs to be on top of his game for this series and showed he's on the right track by allowing a combined 14 goals over his last nine starts. Viktor Arvidsson had a breakout season with 31 goals (three against Chicago) and his total was matched by Filip Forsberg, who ratched up his game in the second half of the campaign but scored only twice in last year's postseason and has three goals in 16 career games against the Blackhawks. Center Ryan Johansen has seven assists in the five matchups versus Chicago.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (50-23-9, 37-32-13 O/U): Chicago already features plenty of offensive firepower and will get another boost with the return of 22-goal scorer Artem Anisimov, who returns to the lineup after a one-month absence and will center Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin, who combined for 65 goals this season. Kane finished tied with Sidney Crosby for second in the league with 89 points and inflicted plenty of damage against the Predators this season with three goals and six assists over the past four meetings. Richard Panik and rookie Ryan Hartman each had hat tricks against Nashville this season.
LINE HISTORY: The Blackhawks hit the board as moderate -163 home favorites for Game 1 and have been bet up slightly to the current number of -170. The total is on the board at 5.5.
INJURY REPORT:
Predators - D Y. Weber (Questionable Thursday, upper body), C M. Fisher (Questionable Thursday, lower body), LW C. Wilson (Questionable Thursday, lower body), LW V. Fiddler (Questionable Thursday, upper body), C C. Jarnkrok (Questionable Thursday, lower body), D R. Josi (Questionable Thursday, lower body).
Blackhawks - D N. Hjalmarsson (Probable Thursday, personal), C A. Anisimov (Probable Thursday, leg), LW A. Desjardins (Questionable Thursday, lower body), D M. Rozsival (Out indefinitely, face).
TRENDS:
* Predators are 0-6 in their last six games playinng on three or more days rest.
* Blackhawks are 9-1 in their last 10 games vs. Central Division opponents.
* Under is 6-1-1 in the Predators last eight games overall.
* Over is 10-2-5 in the last 17 meetings.
Calgary Flames vs. Anaheim Ducks (-155, 5)
ABOUT THE FLAMES (45-33-4, 34-37-11 O/U): Calgary swapped two picks at the 2016 NHL draft with St. Louis in order to acquire Brian Elliott, who answered a sluggish beginning by winning a franchise high-tying 11 consecutive starts from Feb. 21-March 19. "He's been really dialed in here, really this second half," Treliving said of the 32-year-old Elliott, who struggled to find the frequency with an 0-2-0 mark and an .868 save percentage in three meetings with Anaheim. Johnny Gaudreau (team-leading 43 assists, 61 points) recorded four points against the Ducks this season and joined defenseman Dennis Wideman with three (two goals, one assist) in the 2015 series versus Anaheim.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (46-23-13, 28-36-18 O/U): Anaheim is riding a 27-game home winning streak against Calgary, while captain Ryan Getzlaf (NHL third-best 58 assists, team-leading 73 points) heads into the playoffs on a roll after setting up 10 tallies and recording 11 points in his final seven games of the season. The former Calgary Hitmen star joined Corey Perry in making their playoff debuts against the Flames in 2006, with the former recording 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 12 postseason contests versus Calgary while the latter has 11 (four goals, seven assists). Perry, who ended the 2015 series by scoring the overtime goal in Game 5, has five tallies and two assists in his last nine games.
LINE HISTORY: The Ducks opened this game as -155 home favorites and the line has yet to move off that number. Oddsmakers pegged the total for Game 1 at 5.
INJURY REPORT:
Flames - G C. Johnson (Questionable Thursday, leg).
Ducks - RW P. Eaves (Proabble Thursday, upper body), D K. Holzer (Questionable Thursday, personal), LW N. Ritchie (Eligible Saturday, suspension), D C. Fowler (Mid May, knee).
TRENDS:
* Flames are 0-27 in the last 27 meetings in Anaheim.
* We'll say that one again in case you missed it... Flames are 0-27 in the last 27 meetings in Anaheim.
* Ducks are 8-1 in their last nine games vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 11-2-2 in Flames last 15 games playing on three or more days rest.
* Over is 3-0-1 in Ducks last four games playing on three or more days rest.