Thursday 4/14/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

Europa League TODAY 20:05

Liverpool

v

B Dortmund

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		2	13/5	7/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT LIVERPOOL	RECENT FORM
HWADALHDADHW​ Most recent​	2 - 0	HWAWAWHWHDAD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Liverpool are unbeaten in this season’s Europa League

EXPERT VERDICT: Liverpool put up a determined performance against Dortmund on Thursday and a 1-1 draw has given them every chance of claiming a place in a Europa League semi-final at the expense of Jurgen Klopp’s former club. For all their quality, Dortmund could not win in Germany and they might struggle at Liverpool, who were excellent when beating Stoke 4-1 at the weekend.

RECOMMENDATION: Liverpool
1


REFEREE: Cuneyt Cakir STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

French Ligue 1 Fr 15Apr 19:30

Lyon

v

Nice

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		4/9	7/2	11/2	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT LYON	RECENT FORM
HWHWADHWAWAW​ Most recent​	1 - 2 4 - 0 3 - 0 3 - 4	HLHWAWHWALHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Lyon have won seven of their last eight home matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Champions League is the target for these two teams and Lyon are looking in outstanding shape having dropped points in only two of their last ten Ligue 1 matches. That is reflected in the prices and, while the hosts should win, Nice have produced enough this term to suggest it will be tight.

RECOMMENDATION: Lyon to win 2-1
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[superbeets]

Spanish La Liga Fr 15Apr 19:30

Levante

v

Espanyol

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS3		11/8	9/4	2	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT LEVANTE	RECENT FORM
HLADHWALHDAL​ Most recent​	1 - 1 2 - 2 3 - 0 3 - 2	HLHWADHWADHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Both teams have scored in nine of the last 11 meetings

EXPERT VERDICT: This is a massive match for lowly Levante who are desperate for the points in their fight against relegation and a visit of Espanyol gives them a fair chance. Espanyol have not kept an away clean sheet in La Liga this season but the Budgies have scored in seven of their last eight road trips.

RECOMMENDATION: Both teams to score
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[superbeets]

German Bundesliga Fr 15Apr 19:30

Hannover

v

Mgladbach

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		4	11/4	4/6	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT HANNOVER	RECENT FORM
HLALHLALHLAD​ Most recent​	0 - 3 3 - 1 2 - 3 2 - 1	HWALHWALHWAL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Gladbach have won six of their last seven games against Hannover

EXPERT VERDICT: Monchengladbach’s away form seemingly makes them vulnerable at odds-on with the Champions League chasers collecting only two points from their last eight Bundesliga road fixtures. However, rock-bottom Hannover will soon be relegated and have conceded a first-half goal in 12 of their last 14 matches.

RECOMMENDATION: Gladback-Gladbach double result
1

 

[superbeets]

Italian Serie A Sa 16Apr 17:00

Carpi

v

Genoa

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		8/5	21/10	9/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT CARPI	RECENT FORM
HDADHWAWHLAL​ Most recent​	Unknown	ALHWHWALHWAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Genoa have picked up ten points away from home – only Frosinone have managed fewer

EXPERT VERDICT: Relegation-threatened Carpi were unfortunate to lose to Chievo last time out and they look value to boost their survival hopes at home to travel-sick Genoa, who have won a miserable two away games in Serie A this season. The hosts could edge a tight game.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Golfers to Bet - RBC Heritage

Tournament: RBC Heritage
Date: Thursday, April 14th
Venue: Harbour Town GL
Location: Hilton Head, SC

After an exciting Masters Tournament, the PGA TOUR now heads to South Carolina for the RBC Heritage.

Danny Willett was the one who emerged as the Masters champion on Sunday, as Jordan Spieth was unable to hold on to what was once a commanding lead. Now these golfers will look forward to another opportunity to pick up a victory.

This field will be headlined by Jason Day, who will be a bit disappointed after a t-10th finish at the Masters last week. Day is, however, the top ranked player in the OWGR and he should be fun to watch in this one. Other big names that will be in this field are Paul Casey, Brandt Snedeker, Matt Kuchar, Kevin Kisner and Zach Johnson.

Brian Gay will also be playing in this tournament on Thursday. He’s a name that is worth noting because he won this event back in 2009 (when it was known as Verizon Heritage), setting a record for best score ever shot on this 7,101-yard course.

He shot a 20-under that year, but that record just may be broken soon. Jim Furyk was able to shoot an 18-under in 2015 and guys like Day will be out to prove that they can top Gay’s outstanding score.

With that out of the way, let’s now take a look at who could be winning this thing on Sunday:

Golfers to Watch

Jason Day (11/2) - As previously mentioned, Jason Day did not have the outing he was hoping for at the Masters. He finished tied for 10th and definitely let a few holes really get away from him. He will, however, be looking to rebound with a big victory this weekend. Day has never won the RBC Heritage, but he is by far the most talented golfer in the field this week. Before the Masters, Day had won two straight tournaments and he’s always a guy to keep an eye on when he is on the course. He’s receiving some solid odds at 11/2 and putting a few units on him could pay off huge on Sunday.

Zach Johnson (25/1) - Johnson had a Masters Tournament to forget, as he shot an eight-over and was ultimately cut from the field. Johnson does, however, have a short memory and should be able to rebound with an excellent performance in South Carolina. Johnson was the runner-up at this event back in 2012 and will be hoping to earn his first ever victory at the RBC Heritage this week. He’s had a decent season and is currently 17th in the OWGR. Johnson is getting some absurd odds at 25/1 and is extremely hard to ignore in this one. He’s worth putting a few units on, as he doesn’t get odds like these often.

Bryson DeChambeau (60/1) - DeChambeau is a name that people are going to need to get used to moving forward. The 22-year-old is the reigning US Amateur champion and he has already made quite a splash in the PGA this season. DeChambeau played in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and was able to shoot a six-under to come in t-27th in that tournament. He followed it up by shooting a five-over to finish t-21st at the Masters a week ago. DeChambeau has a lot of poise and should be able to win a tournament or so this year. It’s better to start picking him now, as his odds are only going to become less favorable in the future.

Tony Finau (75/1) - Finau has been extremely inconsistent this season, but he’s a very talented player and is capable of winning tournaments when he gets it going with the putter. Finau won the Puerto Rico Open two weeks ago and one area that he has an advantage over all of his opponents in is off of the tee. Finau averages 314.9 yards per drive (1st in PGA) and that gives him a little room for error on a weekly basis. He has been erratic with his irons and putter, though. That makes him a bit of a wild card, but he is worth putting a unit on at 75/1. All it will take is a few made putts for him to gain some confidence.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

10 Players to Watch: RBC Heritage
By Tom LaMarre, The Sports Xchange

1. Brandt Snedeker, United States -- Fighting back from injuries, Snedeker is third in the FedEx Cup standings thanks to five top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this season. After he tied for third in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and lost to Fabian Gomez of Argentina in a playoff at the Sony Open in Hawaii, he won the Farmers Insurance Open, tied for ninth in the WGC-Dell Match Play and tied for 10th last week in the Masters. He is making his 11th appearance in the RBC Heritage, which he won in 2011 for one of his eight victories on the PGA Tour. Snedeker closed with a 7-under-par 64 and beat Luke Donald of England with a par on the third playoff hole. His next-best result at Harbour Town was a tie for 16th in 2009.

2. Jason Day, Australia -- Following a tie for 10th as the favorite in the Masters, when he was steady but not spectacular, the No. 1 player in the World Golf Rankings has finished in the top 10 four times this year. He failed to break 70 at Augusta National after claiming back-to-back victories in his previous two starts at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the WGC-Dell Match Play. Day hopes to challenge for a third victory this year when he plays for the fourth time at Harbour Town this week. Day's best result on Hilton Head Island was a tie for ninth in 2009, when he was in the hunt after starting with 69-65 but slid back by playing the weekend in 71-72.

3. Paul Casey, England -- One of several Englishmen who challenged at the Masters before countryman Danny Willett claimed the title, Casey tied for fourth at Augusta after overcoming a stomach virus. He has three top-10 results in his past four starts on the PGA Tour. Casey is playing well after giving up his membership on the European Tour this season to concentrate on playing in the United States, having finished seventh in the WGC-Cadillac Championship and tied for ninth in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Casey is making his fourth start at Harbour Town, having finished in the top 25 each previous time, posting a tie for 11th in 2009, a tie for 22nd in 2010 and a tie for 18th in 2014.

4. Zach Johnson, United States -- Johnson, who captured the Open Championship last year at St. Andrews, will try to bounce back from a missed cut in the Masters when he plays in the RBC Heritage for the 12th time. He came close to winning at Harbour Town on 2012, when he moved into contention by shooting 68-66 in the middle rounds before closing with a 1-under-par 70 to finish solo second, five strokes behind runaway winner Carl Pettersson of Sweden, who went to North Carolina State and still lives in the Carolinas. Johnson seemed to be heating up before the first major of the year with by finishing solo fifth in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and tying for ninth in the WGC-Dell Match Play before he shot 72-80--152 at Augusta.

5. Matt Kuchar, United States -- Kuchar is making his 13th appearances at Harbour Town. After mostly so-so results in the first 10, he shot 7-under-par 64 in the final round two years ago to win by one stroke over Luke Donald by holing a dramatic a bunker shot on the 18th hole in front of the iconic candy-striped lighthouse. That was the last of his seven victories on the PGA Tour. He finished fifth in his title defense last year, posting four scores in the 60s to wind up four shots out of the playoff in which Jim Furyk beat Kevin Kisner. Kuchar's best result this year was a tie for eighth in the Northern Trust Open. He also tied for ninth in the WGC-Dell Match play before tying for 24th in the Masters.

6. Matthew Fitzpatrick, England -- The 21-year-old Fitzpatrick, who won the British Masters last year after winning the 2013 U.S. Amateur, was another of the Brits who played well in the Masters last week, recording a tie for seventh at Augusta National, his first top-10 finish in a major championship. He has shown an ability to stand out on the big stage, also tying for seventh in the WGC-HSBC Champions last November in China. Fitzpatrick, who had a short stint at Northwestern before deciding to turn pro, is playing in the RBC Heritage for the second time. Two years ago while still an amateur, he shot par or better in all four rounds and wound up in a tie for 23rd.

7. Kevin Kisner, United States -- Kisner lost three times in playoffs last year, including to Jim Furyk on the second extra hole in the RBC Heritage, before finally breaking through for his first victory on the PGA Tour in the RSM Classic last November in the early stages of the 2015-16 season. He has recorded three other top-10 finishes on the circuit this season, including second in the WGC-HSBC Champions in China, solo ninth in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and a tie for fifth at the Sony Open in Hawaii, before managing a tie for 37th in his first Masters. Last year at Harbour Town, he posted four scores in the 60s, including 7-under-par 64 in the final round, to get into the playoff with Furyk.

8. Graeme McDowell, Northern Ireland -- McDowell will try to bounce back from three missed cuts in his last four outings, including the Masters, when he plays in the RBC Heritage for the sixth time. He claimed one of his three PGA Tour victories when he won at Harbour Town three years ago, opening with an even-par 71 before reeling off scores of 67-68-69, and then beat Webb Simpson with a par on the first playoff hole. McDowell, who won the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, needs to regain his form from early this season, when he won the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in a playoff over Russell Knox of Scotland and Jason Bohn, finished third in the RSM Classic and finished solo fifth in the Honda Classic.

9. Billy Horschel, United States -- Coming off a tie for 17th in the Masters, in which a second-round 77 took him out of contention, Horschel still is trying to regain the form that took him to victories in the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship in 2014 to wrap up the FedEx Cup. He also won the 2013 Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the first of his three PGA Tour victories, but he hasn't won since claiming the finale two years ago at East Lake in Atlanta. His best finishes this season were ties for eighth in both the Farmers Insurance Open and the Honda Classic. Horschel is playing in the RBC Heritage for the fourth time, with his best result a tie for ninth in 2013, when he shot 68-68 in the middle rounds.

10. Bryson DeChambeau, United States -- After a strong showing in the Masters, where he finished in a tie for 21st as low amateur, DeChambeau makes his pro debut this week in the RBC Heritage. He was only one stroke out of the lead at Augusta National before making a triple-bogey 7 on the last hole of the second round to finish the second of his three 72s, but his 77 the next day took him out of contention in his second major championship. He missed the cut in the U.S. Open last year. DeChambeau joined Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Ryan Moore as the only players to win the NCAA Championship and the U.S. Amateur in the same year, accomplishing the feat in 2015, and he tied for second last November in the Australian Masters as an amateur behind Peter Senior.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

PGA Tour Picks: RBC Heritage Odds and Expert Betting Predictions
by Alan Matthews

It's really hard not to root for Jordan Spieth. Everything you hear and read is that he's a great young guy with his head on his shoulders and not some pompous ass like Tiger Woods often was at the height of his fame. So it was doubly crushing to watch Spieth melt down Sunday on the par-3 155-yard 12th hole at the Masters, the shortest hole at Augusta National. He hit two in the water at that hole -- I can't even explain what happened on the second one from the drop area -- to put up a quadruple-bogey seven. Spieth had taken just eight total shots on No. 12 over the first three rounds.

And that mistake, perhaps the biggest choke job in Masters history, cost Spieth a second straight green jacket (second straight going wire-to-wire as well; he had led a Masters record seven straight round) and handed the tournament to England's Danny Willett. How painful was it to then watch an obviously devastated Spieth have to put the green jacket on Willett in the ceremony? Agonizing, but what compelling TV. Spieth was up five shots when he made the turn on Sunday but also bogeyed Nos. 10 & 11.

I'm quite confident that Spieth won't let this ruin his career or even this season, although he said after: "Big picture, this one will hurt. It will take a while." Spieth still opened as the betting favorite for the U.S. Open at Oakmont this June.

It's not that Willett isn't deserving. The new father, who was the last player to officially arrive at the tournament because of that baby (his wife's original due date was April 10), shot a final-round 67 that tied for the best in the field.

Needless to say, I didn't have Willett as winning his first major, but I did hit on him at +350 as the top Englishman. So he was on my radar. A lot of people have called him the best European player most casual fans haven't heard of. I thought either Bubba Watson or Rory McIlroy would win. Watson opened 75-75-76 and wasn't a factor. McIlroy was done in by a third-round 77, but I did get him for a Top 10 at -162. Thought Phil Mickelson would contend as well but Lefty missed the cut. Did get Bernhard Langer as top senior at +225 as well as a handful of head-to-heads.

The tour heads up the East Coast to Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage this week, a very family-friendly and low-stress event after the grind that is the Masters. Most top players naturally take the week off. No Willett or Spieth or McIlroy or Mickelson. But No. 1 Day is playing. Bryson DeChambeau is making his pro debut a week after making his Masters debut. He was a big story last week.

I can't guarantee much when previewing these tournaments, but I can tell you that Jim Furyk won't repeat because he's still recovering from wrist surgery. Last year he shot a final-round 63 to get into a playoff with Kevin Kisner and then birdied the first two extra holes for his first win in nearly five years. He also won this event in 2010. Furyk said Monday at the tournament's opening ceremonies that is "starting to get some of (his) strength back" and he would love to be back playing tournaments by "sometime in May."

PGA Tour Golf Odds: RBC Heritage Favorites

Naturally, Day is the +550 heavy favorite. He could never quite get it going last week, not breaking 70. But he finished T10 for his third straight Top 10 after wins at the Match Play and at Bay Hill. Day hasn't played here since a 30th in 2013.

Paul Casey and Brandt Snedeker are +1600. Casey also shot a final-round 67 at Augusta to finish fourth. He last played here in 2014 and was 18th. Snedeker was T10 at the Masters and won here in 2011 but hasn't had a Top 10 since despite playing every year.

Kisner (+2000) rounds out the favorites. He made a birdie on the 72nd hole last year to force the playoff in his final-round 64. He is struggling right now without a Top 20 since the Sony Open in Hawaii.

PGA Tour Picks: RBC Heritage Expert Betting Predictions

While Day is clearly the best player in the field, I'm not seeing how he will be real focused here. So I don't even like him for a Top 10. I do like Casey (+175), Matt Kuchar (+200) and Luke Donald (+400). Why Donald? Four Top-3 finishes in this event in the past six.

Head-to-head, take Casey (+135) over Day (-175), Kuchar (-110) over Snedeker (-120), Zach Johnson (-125) over Kisner (-105), Justin Thomas (-115) over Branden Grace (-115), Kevin Na (-115) over Billy Horschel (-115), and Donald (-115) over Graeme McDowell (-115).

Furyk was asked Monday who he thought would win. His answer: Snedeker, McDowell or Kuchar. I'll agree and take Kuchar at +2200. He won here two years ago and was fifth last year.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

First Round Cheat Sheet

Key:
A – Atlantic
M – Metropolitan
C – Central
P – Pacific
W – Wild Card

Eastern Conference

1M Washington vs. 2W Philadelphia

Capitals: 56-17-8, 120 points
Flyers: 40-27-14, 94 points

Season series: The Capitals and Flyers each won two meetings this season in four matchups with the final three games decided by one goal each. Philadelphia edged Washington in the shootout on March 30 in a 2-1 home victory, while the Flyers shocked the Capitals as +200 road underdogs in overtime, 4-3 on January 27.

Previous playoff outcome: The Capitals reached the second round of the playoffs last season before bowing out to the Rangers in seven games. Washington knocked out the other New York squad in the first round by edging the Islanders in seven games, as each of their last five playoff series since 2012 have gone the distance. The Flyers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2014, as Philadelphia fell in seven games to the Rangers.

1A Florida vs. 1W N.Y. Islanders

Panthers: 47-26-9, 103 points
Islanders: 45-27-10, 100 points

Season series: The Panthers beat the Islanders in the first two matchups early in the season, but New York rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the third period of their last meeting to win, 3-2 in mid-March. In the only contest in South Florida, the Panthers edged the Islanders, 3-2 in the shootout on the night after Thanksgiving to begin a five-game winning streak.

Previous playoff outcome: Florida hasn’t won a playoff series since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 1996, as the Panthers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2012. The Panthers stretched the Devils to the limit, but lost Game 7 at home in the opening round in double-overtime. The Islanders fell in seven games to the Capitals in the first round of last season’s playoffs, while scoring one goal each in three of the losses.

2A Tampa Bay vs. 3A Detroit

Lightning: 46-31-5, 97 points
Red Wings: 41-30-11, 93 points

Season series: These two teams split four matchups this season with the home team winning each time. Detroit held Tampa Bay to one goal apiece in the two victories at Joe Louis Arena early in the season, while the Lightning scored six goals in their final meeting at Amalie Arena in late March. Three of the four meetings finished ‘under’ the total.

Previous playoff outcome: The Lightning and Red Wings are hooking up in the opening round for the second straight season, as Tampa Bay held off Detroit in seven games. Tampa Bay won three of four games at Amalie Arena, while the Bolts overcame a 3-2 deficit to win the final two games en route to capturing the Eastern Conference championship.

2M Pittsburgh vs. 3M N.Y. Rangers

Penguins: 48-26-8, 104 points
Rangers: 46-27-9, 101 points

Season series: The Penguins caught fire at the end of the season to win 14 of 16 games to finish in second place of the Metropolitan division. Pittsburgh grabbed three of four meetings from New York, including the last two matchups at Madison Square Garden. There weren’t any clear trends on the total between these teams with one ‘over,’ one ‘under,’ and a pair of ‘pushes.’

Previous playoff outcome: New York and Pittsburgh are locking horns for the second straight postseason in the first round, as the Rangers made quick work of the Penguins in five games. All four losses by the Penguins came in exact 2-1 scores, including a pair of losses at home. Pittsburgh has been bounced by New York in each of the last two postseasons, as the Rangers overcame a 3-1 deficit to stun the Pens in the 2014 second round in seven games.

Western Conference

1C Dallas vs. 2W Minnesota

Stars: 50-23-9, 109 points
Wild: 38-33-11, 87 points

Season series: The Stars captured four victories in five games against the Wild this season, including three wins in overtime. Dallas won all three games at Xcel Energy Center, as all three road victories eclipsed the ‘over.’ The only win for Minnesota came at Dallas on January 9 in a 2-1 triumph, while the Wild blew a 3-0 third period lead in a 4-3 home overtime setback to the Stars in late November.

Previous playoff outcome: Minnesota advanced to the second round last season before getting bounced by eventual champion Chicago in four games. The Wild eliminated St. Louis in six games, while yielding two goals or less in all four victories. The Stars are back in the postseason following a one-year absence, as Dallas lost in six games to Anaheim in the opening round of the 2014 playoffs. The last time Dallas advanced past the first round, it reached the conference finals in 2008 as the Stars lost to the Red Wings in six games.

1P Anaheim vs. 1W Nashville

Ducks: 46-25-11, 103 points
Predators: 41-27-14, 96 points

Season series: These teams haven’t met since November 17, as the home squad won all three matchups. Nashville ripped Anaheim at home on October 22 by a 5-1 count, as the Ducks finished that early-season road trip at 0-5. The Ducks picked up revenge in the next meeting at the Honda Center on November 1 in a 4-2 victory before dropping a 3-2 decision in Nashville 16 days later.

Previous playoff outcome: Anaheim rolled past Winnipeg and Calgary in the first two rounds of last season’s playoff before losing in seven games to Chicago. Nashville is making its fourth playoff appearance since 2011, while looking to advance to the second round for the first time since 2012. The Predators fell to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks in six games of the opening round of the 2015 playoffs.

2C St. Louis vs. 3C Chicago

Blues: 49-24-9, 107 points
Blackhawks: 47-26-9, 103 points

Season series: The Blues won three of five matchups this season with the Blackhawks, including a comeback 2-1 victory at the United Center in overtime on April 7. All three losses by Chicago to St. Louis came past regulation, including two overtime defeats at home. After the first two meetings eclipsed the ‘over,’ the ‘under’ rebounded and went 2-0-1 in the final three matchups.

Previous playoff outcome: Chicago claimed its third Stanley Cup title since 2010 when the Blackhawks knocked out the Lightning in six games last June. The Blackhawks last met the Blues in the playoffs back in 2014 in the opening round, as Chicago rallied from a 2-0 series deficit to eliminate St. Louis in six games. The Blues have been bounced in the first round in each of the last three postseasons, as they last escaped past the opening round in 2012 before bowing out to the Kings in the conference semifinals.

2P Los Angeles vs. 3P San Jose

Kings: 48-28-6, 102 points
Sharks: 46-30-6, 98 points

Season series: The Sharks won three of five meetings against the Kings, including a pair of victories at Staples Center. This series was dominated for a long time by the home team, but the road team went 4-1 in the five matchups, while four contests were decided by at least two goals.

Previous playoff outcome: Two seasons ago, San Jose built a commanding 3-0 advantage over Los Angeles in the opening round, but ended up losing the final four games. The Kings wound up winning the Stanley Cup that season, as Los Angeles is back in the playoffs after missing out last season. The Sharks also return to the postseason following a one-year absence, as the Kings knocked out San Jose in both 2013 and 2014 in seven games apiece.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Eastern Conference Outlook
By Alex Smith

Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers
2015-16 Head-to-Head Record: Tied 2-2 SU, 1-1-2 O/U
Home team has won 6 of the Last 9 Meetings
Flyers: 7 of the Last 10 Meetings
Capitals: Lost 12 of Last 17 Road Playoff Games

Two clubs who's playoff history dates back to the vicious Patrick Division battles during the 1980s, The Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers are set to clash once again in the first round of this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Capitals have had a monstrous campaign, dominating for well over 3/4ths of the season. Washington set a new record for most wins (56/57), most points (120/121/122) and they captured their second President's Trophy in franchise history. Led by their superstar captain Alexander Ovechkin, who notched his 3rd consecutive 50-goal season and goaltender Braden Holtby, who ended the season tied with Martin Brodeur for most wins by a goaltender in a season with 47, the Caps have been the odds-on favorite to win the Stanley Cup since after the New Year.

However, we have seen President's Trophy-winning clubs fall short of the grand prize time and time again. The 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks are the last club to win both the President's Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same year, and that was a shortened season due to a lockout. You have to go back to the 2001-02 Detroit Red Wings to find a club that won both trophies in a full 82-game season year. Philadelphia returns to the postseason after a down year in 2015-16.

The Flyers, led by first year coach Dave Hakstol, played simple, stripped-down hockey this year, focusing on puck possession, clean neutral-zone play and balanced lines that provided a good wealth of scoring all season. Forwards Wayne Simmonds & Claude Giroux along with rookie D-man Shayne Gostisbehere have been the 3 key pieces for this club's success offensively, while goaltender Steve Mason has turned in a decent ledger this season for the Flyers, but he has yet to prove his worth in a postseason series. With a 2-6 career playoff record, he will the biggest piece of the puzzle in order for them to pull what would be a big upset.

The Flyers haven't fully returned to the "Broad Street Bullies" just yet, but they play a strong, physical brand of hockey that is a contrast from the fast, offensive possession style that the Capitals have made an art form of this season. While these two teams have a built-up rivalry and some tight contests between each other, this Washington team is on a mission to get over their recent playoff struggles. This team will turn on an extra gear in this series and advance to the 2nd Round in what should be a deep postseason run.

Prediction: Capitals in 6

Washington Capitals
(Record: 56-17-8; 120 Points - Presidents' Trophy Winners)
O/U Record: (21-12-19 at 5 / 12-17 at 5.5)
Power Play: (#5: 21.9%)
Penalty Kill: (#2: 85.2%)
# of OT/SO Games: 19

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015
(Beat NY Islanders in 7, Lost to NY Rangers in 7)
(7-7 SU, 3-9-2 O/U & 7-7 ATS Last Postseason)

14-14, 6-17-5, 18-10 ATS Last 5 Series
5-12 Last 17 Playoff Road Games

Current Form: On a 3-6 SU Run Last 9 Games
PK Unit: 20 Kills/22 Chances Last 9 Games

Leading Scorers: Evgeny Kuznetsov (20g, 77pts)
Alex Ovechkin (50g, 71pts), Nicklas Backstrom (20g, 70pts)
Justin Williams (22g, 52pts), T.J. Oshie (26g, 50pts)

#1 Goalie: Braden Holtby (48-9-7, 2.20 G.A.A; .923 Sv% with 3 SO in 65 GS)
(Career Playoff Record: 16-18, 1.92 G.A.A; .936 Sv%)

Philadelphia Flyers
(Record: 41-27-14; 96 Points)
O/U Record: (23-11-20 at 5 / 8-18 at 5.5)
Power Play: (#11: 18.9%)
Penalty Kill: (#20: 80.5%)
# of OT/SO Games: 27

Last Playoff Appearance: 2014 (Lost to NY Rangers in 7)
(3-4 SU, 3-2-2 O/U & 3-4 ATS in that Series)
8-10 SU, 10-6-2 O/U & 8-10 ATS Last 3 Playoff Series

Current Form: On a 15-8 SU Run
On a 6-3 SU Run Last 9 Games as a Favorite

Leading Scorers: Claude Giroux (22g, 67pts)
Wayne Simmonds (32g, 60pts), Brayden Schenn (26g, 58pts)
Jakub Voracek (11g, 55pts), Shayne Gostisbehere (17g, 46pts)

#1 Goalie: Steve Mason (23-19-10, 2.51 G.A.A; .918 Sv% w/ 4 SO in 53 GS)
(Career Playoff Record: 2-6, 3.11 G.A.A; .907 Sv% in 8 GS)

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings
2015-16 Head-to-Head Record: Tied 2-2, 1-3 O/U
Home team has won 10 of last 14 meetings
Lightning: Beat Red Wings in 1st Round Last Year in 7 Gms
Red Wings: 25 Straight Postseason Appearances (Longest Streak in North American Sports)

This rematch from last year's opening round series will have a much different feel this time around. The Tampa Bay Lightning enter this series as defending Eastern Conference Champions after beating the Red Wings in a thrilling seven-game series that was very physical and showcased the defensive prowess from both clubs that hadn't been their mantra during the season prior.

One major change in this match-up will be the absence of Bolts star winger Steven Stamkos, who is out indefinitely after surgery to correct a blood clot in his arm. Stamkos was 2nd in points scored for this Tampa club that has had trouble off and on all season finding consistent secondary scoring, a trait that carried them deep into the playoffs just a season ago. Detroit fought off Boston to grab the 3rd spot in the Atlantic Division on the final weekend of the season to extend their postseason record to 25 consecutive seasons.

Kudos to 1st year coach Jeff Blashill for handling the pressure of dealing with rotating injuries, shaky goaltending and maintaining a record that the Motor City faithful take great pride in. With that said, this series will be a test of which club's offense can heat up at the right time. The Wings will be looking for a boost from rookie sensation Dylan Larkin and veteran mainstay Pavel Datsyuk, who has announced this will be his last NHL season at the conclusion of the playoffs. The oft-injured winger is one of the last members from the Detroit clubs that won Stanley Cups in 2002 & 2008.

The goaltending tandem of Jimmy Howard & Petr Mrazek were the glaring weakness in this series last year, and it seems like not much has changed in that time. Jimmy Howard has been solid as of late, winning 6 of his last 9 starts, but Petr Mrazek, who started all 7 games in the 2015 series, has lost 4 of his last 5 starts. For the Bolts, it's Ben Bishop who has been turning in yet another solid season between the pipes. The 6'7" netminder has won 6 of his last 8 starts and held opponents to 2 or fewer goals in 6 of his last 9 appearances overall. This will be another tightly contested series where goals will be at a premium, and small mistakes will be critical.

Prediction: Lightning in 6

Tampa Bay Lightning
(Record: 46-31-5; 97 Points)
O/U Record: (23-25-10 at 5 / 11-16 at 5.5)
Power Play: (#28: 15.8%)
Penalty Kill: (#7: 84%)
# of OT/SO Games:

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015
(Beat Detroit in 7, Beat Montreal in 6, Beat NY Rangers in 7, Lost to Chicago in 6)
(14-16, 12-17-1 and 16-14 ATS Last 5 Series dating back to 2014)

Current Form: 0-4 SU Last 4 as an Underdog, 3-6 Last 9 Road Games,
PK has allowed 1 Goal in 5 of Last 8 Games

Leading Scorers: Nikita Kucherov (30g, 66pts)
Steven Stamkos (36g, 64pts - Injured), Victor Hedman (10g, 47pts)
Alex Killorn (14g, 40pts), Ondrej Palat (16g, 40pts)

#1 Goalie: Ben Bishop: (35-21-4, 2.06 G.A.A; .926 Sv% with 6 SO in 60 GS)
(Career Playofff Record: 13-11, 2.18 G.A.A; .921 Sv%)

Detroit Red Wings
(Record:41-30-11; 93 Points)
O/U Record: (25-28-16 at 5 / 6-14 at 5.5)
Power Play: (#13: 18.8%)
Penalty Kill: (#14: 81.5%)
# of OT/SO Games: 22

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 (Lost to Tampa Bay in 7)
(3-4 SU, 2-4-1 O/U & 3-4 ATS in that Series)
19-23 SU, 13-17-12 O/U & 23-18 ATS Last 5 Postseasons

Current Form: 5-13 SU Last 18 Road Games
Power-Play has scored at least 1 Goal in 9 of Last 11 Games
Howard: 6-3 SU Last 9 Starts
Mrazek: 1-4 SU Last 5 Starts

Leading Scorers: Henrik Zetterberg (13g, 50pts)
Pavel Datsyuk (16g, 49pts), Tomas Tatar (21g, 45pts)
Dylan Larkin (23g, 45pts), Gustav Nyquist (17g, 43pts)

Goalies:
Jimmy Howard (14-14-5, 2.80 G.A.A; .906 Sv% in 33 GS)
(Career Playoff Record: 21-24, 2.53 G.A.A; .919 Sv%)

Petr Mrazek (27-16-6, 2.33 G.A.A; .921 Sv% w/4 SO in 49 GS)
(Career Playoff Record: 3-4, 2.11 G.A.A; .925 Sv%)

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers
2015-16 Head-to-Head Series: Pens lead 3-1 SU, 1-1-2 O/U
Road Team has won 7 of Last 10 Meetings
Under is 5-2-2 Last 9 Meetings
Rangers: Beat Penguins in 5 Games of first round in 2015
Penguins: Lost 6 of Last 10 meetings vs. Rangers

Another first round re-match from last postseason takes place as the scorching hot Pittsburgh Penguins take on the New York Rangers.

It was the Blueshirts who made short work of Sidney Crosby and company last April as the Rangers won the series 4 games to 1, but this season, the Penguins have picked up 3 wins in their 4 meetings. Earlier in the year it was the Rangers that were the all the rage in the Eastern Conference, starting off on a 18-7-3 run, but then cooling off once the injury bug started to hit and affect key guys like goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, and defensemen Kevin Klein & Dan Girardi.

Now it's Pittsburgh that has been one of the best teams in the NHL down the stretch, winning 16 of their last 20 contests to bounce from a fringe team on the bubble of reaching a Wild Card berth to firmly planting themselves into 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division. The mid-season coaching change, hiring Mike Sullivan to replace Mike Johnston, worked out very well, as this dynamic offense, led by Crosby, Evgeni Malkin & newly acquired Phil Kessel finally woke up and took charge, scoring goals in bunches for most of the 2nd half of the season.

Pittsburgh's only major concern has to be their current situation in net. Marc-Andre Fleury has missed time this season on two separate occasions with concussion issues, and while rookie Matt Murray looked stellar in goal during Fleury's recent absence, he too was injured in their season finale, suffering a blow to his head and is now listed as questionable for the start of this series.

As of now, should Fleury & Murray both be ruled out, the goaltending duties would be on Jeff Zatkoff & Tristan Jarry, the latter of which has never even appeared in an NHL contest. This will be an all-out battle, given these two clubs' history with one another. And while the offense for Pittsburgh has been electric, the question mark between the pipes is just big enough to cause some serious concern. I'll give the edge to King Henrik's club to edge out a close series victory.

Prediction: Rangers in 7

Pittsburgh Penguins
(Record: 48-26-8; 104 Points)
O/U Record: (26-16-12 at 5 / 10-17 at 5.5)
Power Play: (#16: 18.4%)
Penalty Kill: (#5: 84.4%)
# of OT/SO Games: 18

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 (Lost to NY Rangers in 5)
(1-4 SU, 1-4 O/U & 5-0 ATS in that Series)
16-17 SU, 16-16-1 O/U & 16-17 ATS Last 6 Series

Current Form: On a 16-4 SU Run Last 20 Games
Scored 4+ Goals in 11 of Last 14 Games
PK Unit: 41 Kills / 45 Chances over Last 14 Games

Leading Scorers: Sidney Crosby (36g, 85pts)
Kris Letang (16g, 67pts), Phil Kessel (26g, 59pts)
Evgeni Malkin (27g, 58pts) Patric Hornqvist (22g, 51pts)

Goalies:
Marc-Andre Fleury (35-17-6, 2.29 G.A.A; .921 Sv% w/5 SO in 58 GP)
(Career Playoff Record: 53-44, 2.65 G.A.A; .906 Sv%)
(Last 5 Years Postseason: 15-20, 2.86 G.A.A; .905 Sv%)

Matt Murray (9-2-1, 2.00 G.A.A; .930 Sv% in 13 GS)
Rookie Was Starting in Place of Fleury, who was out with a concussion, but he suffered a head injury in the Season Finale and is questionable as well.

Jeff Zatkoff (4-7-1, 2.79 G.A.A; .917 Sv% in 11 GS)
(No NHL Playoff Experience)

New York Rangers
(Record: 46-27-9; 101 Points )
O/U Record: (20-29-16 at 5 / 8-9 at 5.5)
Power Play: (#14: 18.6%)
Penalty Kill: (#26: 78.2%)
# of OT/SO Games: 16

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015
(Beat Pittsburgh in 5, Beat Washington in 7, Lost to Tampa Bay in 7)

11-8 SU, 6-12-1 O/U, 5-14 ATS Last Postseason
40-41 SU, 24-40-17 O/U & 31-50 ATS Last 5 Postseasons
4-5 in 1st Home Game of Series since 2013

Current Form:On a 7-4 SU & 6-0-5 O/U Run Last 11 Games
Allowed 2+ Goals in 18 of Last 19 Games
Lundqvist: 4-8 SU Last 12 Starts

Leading Scorers: Mats Zuccarello (26g, 61pts0
Derick Brassard (27g, 58pts), Derek Stepan (22g, 53pts)
Keith Yandle (5g, 47pts), J.T. Miller (22g, 43pts), Chris Kreider (21g, 43pts)

#1 Goalie:
Henrik Lundqvist (35-21-7, 2.48 G.A.A; .920 Sv% with 4 SO in 64 GS)
(Career Playoff Record: 54-56, 2.22 G.A.A; .923 Sv% with 9 SO)

Florida Panthers vs. New York Islanders
2015-16 Head-to-Head Series: Panthers lead 2-1 SU, 1-0-2 O/U
Home Team has won 6 of the Last 10 Meetings
Underdogs have won 6 of the Last 10 Meetings
Over is 8-0-2 Last 10 Meetings
Panthers: 18-8 SU Last 26 Home Games
Islanders: On a 7-4 SU Run Last 11 Games Overall

It's a Cross-Divisional clash as the Atlantic Division Champion Florida Panthers open the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Islanders.

This has been a miraculous season for the 'Cats, as many people picked this club to fall somewhere between a Wild Card entry and a Top 5 Lottery Pick for the next Draft. However, with a solid blend of youthful talent and some crafty veterans, the Panthers not only reached the playoffs for the 2nd time in this decade, but with 103 points, the team set a new record for most points in franchise history, en route to winning their 2nd ever division title.

The "Ageless Wonder," 46-year old Jaromir Jagr is not only still skating on an NHL roster, but he leads this club in points and has really set an example for the younger guys on this hockey team with his tireless work ethic and love for this game. He's a perfect locker room guy to have around up-and-coming stars like Vincent Trocheck, Jonathan Huberdeau, Aaron Ekblad & Nick Bjugstad.

The New York Islanders had a nice honeymoon season in their new digs at the Barclays Center over in Brooklyn, reaching the playoffs for the 3rd time in 4 seasons. The core of this club remains intact from last year, with star winger john Tavares leading the way, along with contributions from Forwards Kyle Okposo & Brock Nielson. This club is tough & gritty and will bang the boards with anyone in the league.

Their one weakness heading into the postseason is their defense, and that's as a result of injuries sweeping through their blue line and goaltenders as of late. D-men Travis Hamonic & Calvin de Haan both missed time late in the season with ailments, the former has yet to return to the line-up. In net, Starter Jaroslav Halak has been out for over a month with a groin issue, and Thomas Greiss has been moved to the #1 role, but his new back-up, Jean-Francois Berube, went down a week ago with a lower body issue, and he's questionable for Game 1.

Should something happen to Greiss, who virtually has no NHL playoff experience, the task of tending net would go to either Berube or Christopher Gibson, who barely even have a week's worth of NHL season time on their pads.

This will be a fun series to watch, as we get to see Florida in the playoffs, which is a rare treat, and we also get to see a great fan base in Brooklyn cheer on their squad. Both teams have made great strides over the last couple of seasons to reach this point and we will see a pair of hungry hockey clubs battle it out in this one. I like the Panthers here to win their first playoff series in over 20 years.

Prediction: Panthers in 6

Florida Panthers
(Record: 47-26-9; 103 Points, Atlantic Division Champions)
O/U Record: (25-18-18 at 5 / 8-13 at 5.5)
Power Play: (#23: 16.9%)
Penalty Kill: (#24: 79.5%)
# of OT/SO Games: 17

Last Playoff Appearance: 2012 (Lost to New Jersey in 7)
(3-4 SU, 2-2-3 O/U & 5-2 ATS in that series)

Current Form: On an 11-5 SU Run Last 16 Games Overall
PK Unit has allowed 1+ Goals in 9 of Last 11 Games
Offense has scored 3+ Goals in 13 of Last 17 Games

Leading Scorers: Jaromir Jagr (27g, 65pts)
Jussi Jokinen (18g, 60pts), Aleksander Barkov (28g, 59pts)
Jonathan Huberdeau (20g, 59pts), Vincent Trocheck (25g, 53pts - Injured)

#1 Goalie: Roberto Luongo (34-19-6, 2.35 G.A.A; .922 Sv% w/4 SO in 59 GS)
(Career Playoff Record: 32-31, 2.54 G.A.A; .916 Sv% with 5 Shutouts)

New York Islanders
(Record: 45-27-10; 100 Points)
O/U Record: (11-9-8 at 5 / 22-32 at 5.5)
Power Play: (#17: 18.3%)
Penalty Kill: (#4: 84.5%)
# of OT/SO Games: 21

Last Playoff Appearance:2015 (Lost to Washington in 7)
(5-10 SU, 6-7-1 O/U & 8-5 ATS Last 2 Postseasons)

Current Form: Over is 8-2-1 Last 11 Games
On a 4-1 SU run Last 5 Games as a Favorite

Leading Scorers:
John Tavares (33g, 70pts), Kyle Okposo (22g, 64pts)
Frans Nielsen (20g, 52pts), Brock Nelson (26g, 40pts)

Goalies:
Jaroslav Halak (18-13-4, 2.30 G.A.A; .919 Sv% w/3 SO in 36 GS)
(Career Playoff Record: 13-15, 2.39 G.A.A; .924 Sv%) (Injured-Groin)

Thomas Greiss (23-12-4, 2.36 G.A.A; .924 Sv% in 38 GS)
(No NHL Playoff Experience)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Western Conference Outlook
By Alex Smith

Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild
2015-16 Head-to-Head Series: Stars lead 4-1 SU, 3-2 O/U
Road Team has won 6 of the Last 9 Meetings
Favorite has won 5 of the Last 8 Meetings
Over is 6-2 Last 8 Meetings
Stars: On a 13-5 SU Run Last 18 Games Overall
Wild: 2-5 SU Last 7 Playoff Games

With a dramatic 3-2 victory in their regular season finale at home, the Dallas Stars clinched both the Central Division crown and the top seed in the Western Conference, and will now open the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Minnesota Wild in the first round.

Dallas has been one of the best teams in the league all season from an offensive standpoint, with one of the best power-play units converting at a 22% clip, led by the duo of forwards Jamie Benn & Tyler Seguin, the two combined for 74 Goals & 87 Assists during the season.

Minnesota comes into this series on a 5-game losing streak, after previously winning 6 in a row. Their schizophrenic offensive attack has been the primary cause for their roller-coaster season, which saw a bit more stability once John Torchetti was brought in as new Head Coach late into the season. The Wild went 15-11-1 down the stretch with the former Chicago assistant at the helm. Injuries have bit this club as of late, as two key forwards Thomas Vanek & Zach Parise, could miss the start of this series. That duo combined for 43 goals during the season.

The keys to this series will undoubtedly come down to Goaltending & Special Teams. Dallas has been platooning between the Finnish duo of Antti Niemi & Kari Lehtonen all season. While both netminders have turned in respectable records this year, the 32-year old Niemi holds a 10-4-2 career record versus the Wild, which could give him the starting edge, despite Lehtonen winning 6 of his last 7 starts.

Devan Dubnyk will start between the pipes for Minnesota, and he will have to shake off his recent struggles if the Wild stand a chance of advancing out of the first round for the 3rd consecutive year. Dallas' PP shouldn't have too much of a struggle against the Wild's penalty-killing units.

Minnesota is ranked 4th-worst in the league in PK% at just under 78%. The Wild are a disciplined team, that stresses puck possession, but if they can't find the back of the net, they do get frustrated easily, which can turn into penalties.

If the Stars' blue-line corps can do enough to keep quality shots away from either netminder, this could be a very quick series for the club that once called the Twin Cities home over 2 decades ago.

Prediction: Stars in 5

Dallas Stars
(Record: 50-23-9; 109 Points - Central Division Champions)
O/U Record: (2-1-1 at 5 / 43-33 at 5.5 / 0-2 at 6)
Power Play: (#4: 22.1%)
Penalty Kill: (#10: 82.3%)
# of OT/SO Games: 17

Last Playoff Appearance: 2014 (Lost to Anaheim in 6)
(2-4 SU, 4-2 O/U & 4-2 ATS in that series)

Current Form: On a 9-2 SU run Overall and 6-0 Run at home.
5-1 SU Last 6 as a Favorite
PP has scored at least 1 Goal in 6 of Last 9 Games
PK Unit 50 Kills/53 Chances in the Last 15 Games
Lehtonen: 6-1 SU in his Last 7 Starts

Leading Scorers: Jamie Benn (41g, 88pts)
Tyler Seguin (33g, 73pts), Jason Spezza (33g, 63pts)
John Klingberg (10g, 57pts), Patrick Sharp (20g, 54pts)

Goalies:
Kari Lehtonen (25-10-2, 2.76 G.A.A; .906 Sv% in 39 GS)
(Career Playoff Record: 2-6, 3.88 G.A.A; .874 Sv%)

Antti Niemi (25-13-7, 2.68 G.A.A; .905 Sv% in 43 GS)
(Career Playoff Record: 35-26, 2.74 G.A.A; .907 Sv%

Minnesota Wild
(Record: 38-33-11; 87 Points)
O/U Record: (21-25-20 at 5 / 8-8 at 5.5)
Power Play: (#15: 18.5%)
Penalty Kill: (#27: 77.9%)
# of OT/SO Games: 15

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015
(Beat St. Louis in 7, Lost to Chicago in 4)
10-18 SU, 14-9-6 O/U & 14-15 ATS Last 5 Series
0-5 in Game 1's Last 5 Series

Current Form: On an 0-5 SU run
Offense held to 30< SOG in 7 of Last 9 Games

Leading Scorers: Mikko Koivu (17g, 56pts)
Zach Parise (25g, 53pts), Ryan Suter (8g, 51pts)
Mikael Grandlund (13g, 44pts), Nino Niederreiter (20g, 43pts)

#1 Goalie: Devan Dubnyk (32-27-6, 2.33 G.A.A; .918 Sv% with 5 SO in 65 GS) (Career Playoff Record: 4-7, 2.53 G.A.A; .908 Sv%)

St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks
2015-16 Head-to-Head Series: Blues lead 3-2 SU, 2-1-2 O/U
Road Team has won 5 of the Last 7 Meetings
Underdog has won 4 of the Last 6 Meetings
Blackhawks: 3-10 in Game 1 of Playoff Series since 2011
Blues: Lost to Chicago in 6 Games in 2014 first round

A historic division rivalry is renewed once again in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks look to officially begin their quest for a repeat, start off battling against the St. Louis Blues.

The Hawks & Blues face-off in an opening round series just 2 postseasons ago, where the Blues held a 2-0 series lead and dropped 4 straight, leading to the 2nd of what became 3 consecutive first round exits, while Chicago went all the way to Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, losing in Overtime to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion LA Kings.

This year's series has a similar setup, with St. Louis clinching home-ice less than a week ago after picking up a 2-1 OT win against these Hawks, in a game where they trailed for virtually the entire game, and tied up the contest with under a minute left and picking up the 2nd point early in the extra frame.

Both teams have superb offenses and talented defenders, but some hot & cold spells with goaltending. Chicago's top netminder Corey Crawford has returned after missing 11 starts with concussion-like symptoms, but he showed a bit of rust in his last start, a 5-4 OT loss at Columbus to conclude the regular season. The 2-time Cup Winner was looking like a Vezina Trophy Finalist during the 1st Half of the Season, going 28-12-2 with 7 shutouts before the All-Star Break, but faltering down the stretch with a 7-6-3 record.

The Blues are riding the hot pads of Brian Elliott, who suffered a mid-season injury, only to return and dominate between the pipes with a 12-1-1 record in his last 14 starts. Jake Allen was also very strong in net during Elliott's absence, but he is now out with his 2nd significant injury of the season and is questionable to even back-up his 31-year old counterpart.

The hottest offensive line in all of hockey has been the trio of Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin & Artem Anisimov. The 2013 Conn Smythe Winner will be adding to his trophy room collection this Summer regardless of how the Playoffs fare, as Kane becomes the 1st ever American-born player to win the Art Ross Trophy for most points scored during the regular season with 106. In addition, the 25-year old rookie Panarin led all first-year players with 76 points and is a shoe-in for the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year.

With all of this being said, the Hawks will need this line to produce as well as major contributions from Captain Jonathan Toews and veteran Marian Hossa, who is slated to return from a minor leg injury in time for this series. St. Louis has been a very tough team and they will be playing with a chip on their shoulder knowing that they have done well against Chicago during the season and will look to avenge their playoff defeat from 2 years ago. This club has just enough talent to pull off their first series win since 2012.

Prediction: Blues in 7

St. Louis Blues
(Record: 49-24-9; 107 Points)
O/U Record: (29-31-10 at 5 / 3-9 at 5.5)
Power Play: (#6: 21.5%)
Penalty Kill: (#3: 85.1%)
# of OT/SO Games: 22

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 (Lost to Minnesota in 7)
11-17 SU, 12-12-4 O/U & 10-18 ATS Last 4 years

Current Form: On a 14-4 SU run Last 18 Games.
Brian Elliott: 12-1-1 Last 14 Starts
Under is 6-4 Last 10 Games
PK Unit: 24 Kills/26 Chances over Last 10 Games

Leading Scorers:
Vladimir Tarasenko (40g, 74pts), Alex Steen (17g, 52pts)
Paul Stastny (10g, 48pts), David Backes (21g, 45pts),
Kevin Shattenkirk (14g, 44pts)

Goaltenders:
Brian Elliott (23-8-6, 2.01 G.A.A; .931 Sv% with 4 Shutouts in 37 GS)
(Career Playoff Record:6-10, 2.55 G.A.A; .898 Sv%)

Jake Allen (26-15-3, 2.35 G.A.A; .920 Sv% with 6 Shutouts in 44 GS)
(Career Playoff Record: 2-4, 2.20 G.A.A; .904 Sv%)

Chicago Blackhawks
(Record: 46-27-9; 103 Points)
O/U Record: (11-16-22 at 5 / 12-14 at 5.5)
Power Play: (#2: 22.6%)
Penalty Kill: (#22: 80.3%)
# of OT/SO Games: 20

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 (Beat Nashville in 6,
Beat Minnesota in 4, Beat Anaheim in 7, Beat Tampa Bay in 6)
45-26 SU, 34-27-10 O/U & 36-35 ATS Last 5 Years
3-10 SU in 1st Road Game of a Series since 2010 Cup Final

Current Form: On a 5-3 SU run Last 8 Games Overall
Offense has scored 3+ Goals in 6 of Last 8 Games.
PK Unit: 32 Kills / 35 Chances over the Last 13 Games
7/19 on the Power-Play over the Last 5 Games

Leading Scorers:
Patrick Kane (46g, 106pts - Art Ross Trophy Winner)
Artemi Panarin (30g, 77pts - Leads All Rookies)
Jonathan Toews (28g, 58pts), Brent Seabrook (14g, 49pts)

#1 Goalie: Corey Crawford (35-18-5, 2.34 G.A.A; .924 Sv% in 58 GS)
(Career Playoff Record: 45-29, 2.23 G.A.A; .921 Sv% with 5 SO's)

Anaheim Ducks vs. Nashville Predators
2015-16 Head-to-Head Series: Predators lead 2-1 SU, 2-0-1 O/U
Over is 9-0-1 Last 10 Meetings
Ducks: 7-3 SU Last 10 Meetings
Predators: 7-9 SU Last 16 Playoff Games

One of the biggest comeback stories in this NHL season will be taking part in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Anaheim Ducks take on the Nashville Predators in a first round series.

The Ducks got off to a 5-12 SU start to the season and looked like they would be a lottery pick contender, but they were able to muster through the storm and finished the 2nd half of the season with a 25-11 run over the last 3 months to climb all the way back and win the Pacific Division on the very last day of the regular season.

The longtime duo of Corey Perry & Ryan Getzlaf, along with a ton of young core players like Hampus Lindholm & Josh Manson, and the goaltending of Frederik Andersen & John Gibson all contributed to what was a magical run after a disastrous start.

For Nashville, the Predators were looking to expand on what had been a nice 2015-16 campaign, ended abruptly by the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks. The club had a bit of a roller-coaster season and eventually made the playoffs with a late push in, clinching the top Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

Wingers James Neal & Filip Forsberg hold down the offense for the Preds while veteran goalie Pekka Rinne leads a slightly-above average defense. Once considered one of the top goaltenders in the world, the 33-year old starter has logged a lot of ice time and has shown signs of fatigue in the last couple of seasons.

Both of these clubs possess solid Special Teams units, with Anaheim leading the league in both Power-Play & Penalty Kiliing percentage. Nashville's numbers rank within the middle of the league, but this time of year is all about momentum, which is certainly on the side of the Ducks. This will be an interesting series to watch, but I don't expect any shocking finishes here.

Prediction: Ducks in 5

Anaheim Ducks
(Record:47-25-11; 103 Points - Pacific Division Champions)
O/U Record: (21-24-16 at 5 / 11-10 at 5.5)
Power Play: (#1: 23.1%)
Penalty Kill: (#1: 87.2%)
# of OT/SO Games: 18

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015
(Beat Winnipeg in 4, Beat Calgary in 5, Lost to Chicago in 7)
21-15 SU, 17-12-7 O/U & 16-18 ATS Last 6 series

Current Form: On a 5-3 SU Run Last 8 Games
On a 6-4 SU Run Last 10 Games as a Favorite
6-14 SU This Season as an Underdog

Leading Scorers:
Ryan Getzlaf (13g, 63pts), Corey Perry (34g, 62pts)
Ryan Kesler (21g, 53pts), Richard Rakell (20g, 43pts)

Goalies:
John Gibson (21-13-4, 2.07 G.A.A; .920 Sv% w/4 SO in 37 GS)
(Career Playoff Record: 2-2, 2.70 G.A.A; .919 Sv% in 4 Starts

Frederik Andersen (21-9-7, 2.36 G.A.A; .917 Sv% w/ 2 SO in 36 GS)
(Career Playoff Record: 14-7, 2.54 G.A.A; .913 Sv%)

Nashville Predators
(Record: 41-27-14; 96 Points)
O/U Record: (19-15-18 at 5 / 14-16 at 5.5)
Power Play: (#10: 19.7%)
Penalty Kill: (#16: 81.2%)
# of OT/SO Games: 20

Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 (Lost to Chicago in 6)
2-4 SU, 5-1 O/U and 4-2 ATS in 2015 Playoffs

Current Form:
1-6 Last 7 Road Games, 5-2 Last 7 Home Games
5-1 Last 6 as a Favorite, 5-16 Last 21 as an Underdog

Leading Scorers:
Filip Forsberg (33g, 63pts), Roman Josi (14g, 61pts)
James Neal (31g, 57pts), Shea Weber (20g, 51pts)

#1 Goalie: Pekka Rinne (34-21-10, 2.48 G.A.A; .908 Sv% w/4 SO in 66 GS)
(Career Playoff Record:15-19, 2.48 G.A.A; .914 Sv%)

Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks
2015-16 Head-to-Head Series: Sharks lead 3-2 SU, 3-0-2 O/U
Road Team is 7-4 SU Last 11 Meetings
Over is 4-2-1 Last 7 Meetings
Kings: 3rd-Fewest Goals Allowed in NHL (192)
Sharks: Blew 3-0 Lead to Kings in 2014 first round

Two hated Pacific Division rivals clash in this opening round series between the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks.

These two squads faced off just 2 postseasons ago, with the Sharks suffering a historic collapse after taking a 3-0 series lead, allowing the Kings to come back and win 4 straight en route to their 2nd Stanley Cup in 3 years. That series loss was the catalyst for San Jose to fire coach Todd McLellan and a shake up of leadership and infusion of youth within the Sharks locker room.

Now this team is hungry again and ready to make another run into the playoffs after a one-year rebuild. The Kings also look primed and ready to make a deep postseason push after missing out on the playoffs last year, becoming the first team since the 2007-08 Carolina Hurricanes to miss the postseason a year after winning the Stanley Cup.

Both of these teams are built in similar fashion, with big, strong forwards up front who have the skills to score but also the toughness to bang bodies along the boards. They each have very dangerous Power-Play attacks and neither club takes a ton of dumb penalties. However, given the nature and history of this rivalry, we will definitely see our fair share of hits, collisions, extra-curriculars after the whistles, and maybe even a fight or two break out. The one glaring edge in this match-up is goaltending.

Jonathan Quick is one of the best goalies in the world when he's hot and with his deep playoff experience, he is always a guy the Kings can rely on to steal a game within a series. He'll either face off against his old back-up in Martin Jones, who has done a stellar job this season for SJ, but doesn't have any postseason experience, or James Reimer, who was acquired from Toronto near the Trade Deadline. The 28-year old backstop has played in one postseason series a few years ago, and has looked good since joining the club with a 6-2 record.

I expect this to be one of the roughest and toughest series of all of the first round match-ups, and with the past events looming in the heads of those veteran Sharks players like Joe Thornton & Patrick Marleau, I expect the San Jose club to see "Red" whenever the Silver & Black hit the ice, and I look for them to get past LA in this opening round.

Prediction: Sharks in 7

Los Angeles Kings
(Record:48-28-6; 102 Points)
O/U Record: (24-27-23 at 5 / 4-5 at 5.5)
Power Play: (#8: 20%)
Penalty Kill: (#15: 81.4%)
# of OT/SO Games: 18

Last Playoff Appearance: 2014
(Beat San Jose in 7, Beat Anaheim in 7, Beat Chicago in 7, Beat NY Rangers in 5)
16-7 SU, 14-8-4 O/U and 15-11 ATS in 2014 Playoffs

Current Form:
On a 4-7 SU Run Last 11 Games Overall
1-5 SU Last 6 Road Games
Allowed 3+ Goals in 8 of Last 11 Games

Leading Scorers:
Anze Kopitar (25g, 73pts), Jeff Carter (24g, 61pts)
Tyler Toffoli (30g, 57pts), Milan Lucic (20g, 54pts)

#1 Goalie: Jonathan Quick (40-23-5, 2.22 G.A.A; .919 Sv% w/ 5 SO in 68 GS)
(Career Playoff Record: 45-31, 2.22 G.A.A; .923 Sv% with 9 Shutouts)

San Jose Sharks
(Record: 46-30-6; 98 Points)
O/U Record: (19-18-8 at 5 / 23-14 at 5.5)
Power Play: (#3: 22.5%)
Penalty Kill: (#21: 80.5%)
# of OT/SO Games: 15

Last Playoff Appearance: 2014 (Lost to Los Angeles in 7)
(3-4 SU, 5-1-1 O/U & 3-4 ATS in that series)
58-56 SU in Playoffs from 2004-2014 (10 Appearances)

(Note: 2013 Sharks became the 4th team in Stanley Cup Playoff History to blow a 3-0 Series lead with 1942 Red Wings, 1975 Penguins, 2010 Bruins)

Current Form: On a 5-2 SU Run Last 7 Games overall
10-3 SU Last 13 Road Games
Power-Play has scored at least 1 Goal in 12 of Last 15 Games

Leading Scorers:
Joe Thornton (19g, 82pts), Joe Pavelski (38g, 78pts)
Brent Burns (27g, 75pts), Patrick Marleau (25g, 48pts)

Goalies:
Martin Jones (37-23-4, 2.27 G.A.A; .918 Sv% w/6 SO in 65 GS)
(Only NHL Playoff experience: 56 Minutes of Relief in 2 GP)

James Reimer (6-2, 1.62 G.A.A; .938 Sv% with 3 Shutouts in 8 GS for SJ)
(Career Playoff Record: 3-4, 2.88 G.A.A; .923 Sv%)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Betting 101: How to safely bet the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs

The NHL playoffs, more so than any other sport’s postseason, are about as different from the regular season as you can get.

Teams that dominated during the regular schedule suddenly find themselves on the brink of elimination, and clubs that squeaked into the playoff picture can catch fire and ride a hot goalie all the way to the Stanley Cup.

In order to help hockey bettors navigate the upside-down world of postseason puck, we asked some top handicappers to share their best tips, tactics, and trends when it comes to successfully wagering on the NHL’s second season.

Hot goaltenders

Like pitching in baseball, goaltending can singlehandedly win a playoff series. Year after year, hockey bettors witness incredible performances between the pipes and make a small mint riding these red-hot keepers.

On the other side of the coin, not having a proven No. 1 goalie can quickly put a wrap on the season – no matter how many goals a team can score. Jesse Schule points to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have been ushered out of the playoffs the past four years thanks to shaky play in the crease.

When looking to narrow down the field to legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, its always good look at the goaltenders first. Which ones are capable of carrying a team on their shoulders if need be? Who can steal a game, or even a series?

The Washington Capitals are hoping the sensational campaign by Braden Holtby can finally get them over their playoff woes and deliver a Stanley Cup. Holtby finished the season with a 48-9-7 record, just one win short of Martin Brodeur's record for wins in a single season. He also owns a 2.20 goals against average and .922 save percentage heading into the playoffs.

Depth and toughness

Ever watch a hockey player get interviewed about his team’s deep postseason run? More often than not, the guy’s face looks like someone dropped a plate of spaghetti on the floor and then tried to sew it back together.

The NHL playoffs are a grueling challenge of teams’ overall talent and toughness. When a series goes six or seven games, the true depth of a roster is drawn to the surface.

Injuries can spoil an NHL bet faster than a Shea Weber slapshot and knowing which teams are healthy, getting healthy, and beat up entering the playoffs is a good way to gauge just where you should put your money.

Some teams that were banged up earlier this season are healthy now and could perform better than expected, while the opposite could be true of teams suffering through multiple injuries at the moment.

Teams that can get production from their third and fourth lines are the ones who survive, while clubs that rely on a few key players to carry the team often find themselves trading hockey sticks for golf clubs. Opponents draw up schemes to shadow and lock down these stars and force role players to beat them.

It's important to consider depth. Which teams can roll four lines and get steady production from their role players? Unlike other sports, the NHL playoffs aren't all about the superstars. It's the grinders that often decide which team is left standing in June.

Physicality also plays a major role in the outcome of the playoffs, with every hit looked at as an investment. Finesse teams can get worn down over the course of a series while teams that like to lay the lumber excel in the furious pace of the postseason.

“Some teams might not be the fastest and most skilled, but instead they out-work, out-hit, and physically dominate their opponents,” says Schule.

Road Warriors

Another big difference between the NHL playoffs and other sports’ tournaments is the importance - or lack thereof - when it comes to home ice.

In basketball and football, having the crowd on your side is crucial to a championship run. However, in hockey, bettors get great value with road teams in the postseason. Hot home teams like Dallas or the New York Rangers may be good fade bait while tough road clubs, like San Jose, can hold added pop on the road.

“Other than getting the final line change, there is really not much of an edge for the home team,” says Steve Merril. “Obviously, the crowd will be supporting them. But unlike the NBA, it does not influence officials as much, as penalties are normally called evenly and on an alternating makeup basis. NHL playoffs is the one sport where I feel home teams are generally overvalued, especially since travel is not a factor and both teams in a best-of-seven series have the same travel schedule.”

Ben Burns believes each NHL postseason game is unique and doesn't carry as much momentum from one contest to the next. Teams quickly make adjustments, line changes and roster moves based on the game before and can have a completely different feel when they face off next. A high-scoring Game 1 can produce a low-scoring Game 2 with teams tightening up on defense.

Special teams

Referees do tend to let a lot more slide in the postseason compared to regular season action, so it makes it even more important for teams to capitalize on those man-advantages when the whistle does blow.

“It is absolutely imperative to score on the power play, in order to discourage opponents from taking cheap shots at your best players,” says Schule.

Entering the postseason, the Anaheim Ducks boast the top power-play attack in the league with 56 goals with the man advantage and a 23.0 power-play percentage. At the bottom of the scale, the Tampa Bay Lightning boast the lowest power-play percentage in the playoffs at 15.8 percent.

When it comes to playing a man down, the Ducks are just as good at killing those penalties off, as they are at scoring with the man advantage. They rarely got burned with a man in the box ranking first in the NHL with an 87.2 penalty-kill percentage. The Blues and Capitals followed them, each killing off 85.1 percent of their penalties. The Minnesota Wild have the worst penalty kill among playoff teams at 77.9 percent.

Editor's note: This article was originally published in April 2014. Stats and info have been updated to reflect this NHL season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL notebook: Leafs sign Rielly, Kadri to six-year deals
By The Sports Xchange

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenseman Morgan Rielly and forward Nazem Kadri to new six-year contracts on Wednesday.
They both could have become restricted free agents on July 1.
Rielly, 22, led all Maple Leafs' defensemen with a career-high 36 points (nine goals, 27 assists) while skating in all 82 games this year. The native of Vancouver, British Columbia, also led the team with 23:13 of average ice time per game. Since entering the league in 2013-14, Rielly has collected 92 points (19 goals, 73 assists) in 236 regular-season games.
Kadri, 25, led the Maple Leafs with 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists) in 76 games this season. In parts of seven NHL seasons, the London, Ontario, native has registered 197 points (81 goals, 116 assists) and 207 penalty minutes in 326 regular-season games.

---The New York Rangers recalled forward Marek Hrivik from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.
Hrivik, 24, skated in five games with the Rangers this season, registering one assist and a plus-three rating. He made his NHL debut on Feb. 21 and tallied his first career NHL assist/point on Feb. 23 at New Jersey. Hrivik also recorded two shots on goal, posted a plus-one rating, and led all Rangers forwards with 18:18 of ice time on April 9 against Detroit.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Hrivik skated in 68 games with the Wolf Pack this season, recording 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) and 18 penalty minutes.

---After Arizona fired general manager Don Maloney on Monday, the Coyotes made a point to let it be known that coach Dave Tippett was in no danger.
President and CEO Anthony LeBlanc said Tippett, who has two years left on his contract, would be back. Tippett also had a chance to leave and decided against exercising an out clause in his contract. According to reports, the Coyotes will give Tippett more control over player personnel.
The search for a new GM will be led by Coyotes majority owner Andrew Barroway, alternate governor Gary Drummond and LeBlanc.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL Hockey Odds and Picks: Scouting the Week Ahead
by Alan Matthews

I love the NHL but honestly don't watch much hockey during the regular season. But I would argue that the Stanley Cup playoffs are the best postseason of any major American sport, and the pucks drops on them starting Wednesday.

Certainly the top storyline has to involve the Chicago Blackhawks, the team of the decade. Chicago has won three Stanley Cups in the past six seasons but has yet to repeat. The last team to go back-to-back was the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 & '98. These Hawks don't look as good as last year's club, but if any team knows how to flip a switch, it's this one. Patrick Kane finished with an NHL-high and career-best 106 points to become the first American-born player to win the Art Ross Trophy as top scorer. Kane, who had 27 multipoint games, has to be the NHL MVP, which will be announced later this summer. And the Hawks should have the Calder Trophy winner as Rookie of the Year in Kane's linemate Artemi Panarin, who led all rookies with 77 points. The last Hawk to win that award? Kane in 2007-08.

Chicago is +450 to win the Western Conference and +750 to win the Cup. The Hawks open at St. Louis on Wednesday night. A reminder that Chicago will be without top defenseman Duncan Keith, the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP, for that game as he finishes a suspension. The Hawks and Blues are both -110 on the series line.

St. Louis will get back captain David Backes after he missed the final week or so with an injury. The Blues won three of the five regular-season meetings, with three of the five games decided after regulation. The Blues took a 2-0 lead in the first round of the playoffs two years ago against Chicago and then proceeded to lose the next four games. This franchise hasn't won a playoff series since the 2011-12 season, and I highly doubt Coach Ken Hitchcock is brought back if it happens again.

The other main story is that of the Presidents' Cup-winning Washington Capitals. Alex Ovechkin won yet another Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL's top goal-scorer with 50. It's the fourth straight season and sixth time overall he has done that. But Ovechkin's teams have flamed out in the postseason, failing to reach the conference finals with him. The Capitals have not played past the second round since they reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998.

The Caps are +400 favorites to win the Cup and +150 to win the East. It's actually pretty rare for a team to win the Presidents' Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same season, doing so just eight times. Chicago was the last in 2012-13. Washington opens against Philadelphia, a team I didn't think would make the playoffs and which has a negative goals differential (minus-4). Washington is -265 on the series line with Philadelphia at +225. The teams split four regular-season meetings.

Probably the marquee playoff matchup is Pittsburgh against the New York Rangers. The Pens won three of the four meetings and are -155 series favorites. Back in 2014, the Penguins won Game 4 of the conference semifinals against the Blueshirts at Madison Square Garden to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. However, the Rangers won the next three and also ousted Pittsburgh last year in five games.

Both teams have injury questions. New York captain Ryan McDonagh is dealing with an upper-body injury, reportedly a broken hand, and won't start Game 1. It's not clear if he will play at all. Fellow defenseman Dan Girardi is questionable, as is center Eric Staal, who was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in a trade on Feb. 28.

Pittsburgh remains without Evgeni Malkin, who has been sidelined since March 11 due to a suspected wrist/hand injury. He's not likely to play in the opener at least. Who will be in net for the Pens? Marc-Andre Fleury hasn't played since March 31 due to a concussion but was at practice on Monday. Youngster Matt Murray was great in Fleury's place but he was injured on Saturday -- a possible concussion -- and being called day-to-day. Why was he playing in a meaningless game?

The other significant injury to watch around the league is to the Stars' Tyler Seguin. He has been out since March 17 with an Achilles injury but was at practice on Monday. Coach Lindy Ruff wouldn't say if Seguin could play in Game 1 against Minnesota on Thursday. Seguin had 33 goals and 40 assists in 72 games for the NHL's highest-scoring team. The Stars probably don't need him to beat Minnesota, which enters the playoffs on a five-game losing streak. Dallas, the West's top seed, is -175 on the series line.

My Western Conference picks to advance are: Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles (over San Jose) and Anaheim (over Nashville), so chalk there. In the East: Washington, NY Rangers, NY Islanders (over Florida) and Detroit (over Steven Stamkos-less Tampa Bay).

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Flyers (41-27) at Capitals (56-18)

Date: April 14, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) When the Washington Capitals were coasting down the stretch, defenseman Matt Niskanen conceded 'it's hard to turn it on' come playoff time. Capitals players talked about it then, what the intensity level would rise to when the playoffs start.

On the eve of facing the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, the Capitals say they have put concerns about complacency behind them. It's no longer about manufacturing urgency but rather staying on an even-keel in what should be an emotional series.

'It's just making sure it doesn't get too high, making sure we're prepared and level-headed and focused going in instead of just (being) too excited just to be here that we start making mistakes out of excitement and overplaying situations,' goaltender Braden Holtby said. 'Making sure we're ready, we're prepared to put a full, all-in effort in.'

While the Capitals clinched the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout before another Eastern Conference team clinched a playoff spot, the Flyers have been all-in for months. They needed to go 15-5-3 since Feb. 25 just to get into the playoffs as the second wild card in the East.

'It was tough, I'm not going to lie,' Flyers forward Jakub Voracek said after clinching Saturday. "A lot of road games, a lot of tough games, a lot of skating, a lot of traveling. But you know, we dig in.'

The Capitals didn't have to dig in, yet they still went 11-6-4 since the trade deadline.

'You get concerned about habits that start to become evident,' Washington general manager Brian MacLellan said. 'I think the challenge has been for the coaching staff to balance out where we were in the standings and still hold our team accountable to get us ready to be playing the right way at the end.'

The NHL's divisional format allows for plenty of opportunities for familiarity-breeding contempt, but even more so in this series because the Capitals and Flyers met March 30 in Philadelphia.

'Playing the Flyers a couple times in really that last month was very helpful for us just so you got a good feel,' Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. 'I think it helps the players. It probably helps the Flyers, as well. I don't think there's an advantage one way or the other, but I think there's a comfort knowing what you're getting into.'

---

Some things to know about the Capitals-Flyers series:

LET'S GET PHYSICAL: These aren't the Broad Street Bullies, but Wayne Simmonds and the Flyers won't shy away from physical play. Philadelphia has a reputation for running opposing goaltenders, so Holtby understands what's coming his way. Washington isn't as big as it was in the 2015 playoffs without Troy Brouwer and Joel Ward, but forward Tom Wilson should being able to provide the muscle. If he keeps his head on straight, he can play on the same edge as the Flyers.

EXPERIENCE OF THE KINGS: The Capitals added winger Justin Williams and center Mike Richards, who won the Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014, for this time of year. Williams and Richards are also former Flyers players who know all about the playoff intensity in Philadelphia. Williams and Richards have about as much combined playoff experience as Philadelphia's entire Game 1 lineup combined, so the Flyers are hoping to pick up the pace fast.

THE NOT-SO-FRIENDLY GHOST: Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is the quarterback of the power play, and his offensive infusion changed the team's season when he was called up in the fall to replace the injured Mark Streit. Nicknamed 'Ghost,' Gostisbehere brings a dynamic from the blue line no other player in the series has, and the Capitals' penalty kill will be tested. Washington only gave up multiple power-play goals in a game twice this season.

OVECHKIN THE THREAT: The last time the Capitals and Flyers met in the playoffs back in 2008, Alex Ovechkin had four goals and five assists in the seven-game series. Ovechkin is a more complete player now and coming off his seventh 50-goal season, so he's a threat to score on the power play and at even strength. The Flyers could just try to shut Ovechkin down and let Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov beat them.

SNIDER ON THEIR MINDS: The Flyers learned of the death of founder and owner Ed Snider on Monday morning at the age of 83 following a two-year battle with bladder cancer. Captain Claude Giroux said Snider 'is the Philadelphia Flyers,' and the team will wear patches on their uniforms to remember him. The Flyers are dedicating the playoffs to Snider's memory.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Islanders (45-27) at Panthers (47-26)

Date: April 14, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) The days of the Florida Panthers playing before a largely empty arena are not exactly long gone. It was just last season when the franchise was setting attendance futility records, getting attention for plenty of wrong reasons.

The narrative has changed completely since.

No longer hockey's official doormat, the Panthers won the Atlantic Division title, set records for wins and points in a season and now can set their sights on ending the league's second-longest current drought between playoff series wins. They open the Eastern Conference playoffs Thursday at home against the New York Islanders, the team that just happens to have the longest such drought.

Florida hasn't won a series in 20 years. The Islanders haven't won one in 23 years. But both were 100-point clubs this year, and it's not farfetched for either to be thinking that they can win it all.

'If you're going into the playoffs thinking you can't do it, you might as well kick yourself right out of the playoffs,' Florida defenseman Erik Gudbranson said.

The Panthers are in the playoffs for just the second time since 2000, falling in seven games to eventual finalist New Jersey in 2012. The Islanders have lost their last eight playoff series going back to 1993, and lost to Washington in seven games in last year's opening round.

'It takes a lot of luck, a lot of health, a lot of special teams and great goaltending to get by a round,' Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. 'If we do those things we have a chance to get by Round 1. I got a lot of confidence in these guys that they're going to compete at a high level. You have to have a short memory. If you have a bad shift, if you lose a hockey game, you better bounce back. Those are the things we're going to concentrate on.'

---

Here's some of what to watch going into the series:

BACK TO BACK: The series starts with a rare playoff back-to-back on Thursday and Friday, with the NHL saying it was necessary because of a 'combination of factors' with other events scheduled at both arenas. The Panthers' BB&T Center couldn't host a potential Game 1 on Wednesday because of a concert; the Islanders' Barclays Center has conflicts on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. According to STATS, the Islanders were 9-3-3 on the second night of back-to-backs this season, the Panthers were 8-4-2.

GOALIE ISSUES: Florida would seem like it rates a serious edge here, at least from an experience factor. The Panthers' Roberto Luongo will be playing in his 65th playoff game Thursday night, his 63rd as a starter. New York - with Jaroslav Halak still injured - will go with Thomas Greiss, whose only Stanley Cup playoff game action was a 40-minute relief stint in 2010.

JAGR FACTOR: No one in NHL history has more goals against the Islanders than Florida's Jaromir Jagr, who has lit the lamp 64 times at their expense (three of those coming in postseason play). Jagr was born before the Islanders' franchise started play, was a two-time Stanley Cup winner before the Florida franchise played its initial game, yet even at 44 has proven that he remains an elite talent.

TIES THAT BIND: The Islanders' last series win came against Jagr and the Pittsburgh Penguins, and if that wasn't enough the architect of that New York team was Bill Torrey - who would soon become the first president of the Panthers. Torrey, one of the most respected executives in NHL history, has a banner retired in his honor by both the Islanders and the Panthers, and still has family living in New York. Torrey is an assistant to Panthers GM Dale Tallon.

SEASON SERIES SUCCESS: Florida's Aleksander Barkov had five points (2-3-5) in the three games against the Islanders this season, while Luongo stopped 81 of 87 shots. For the Islanders against Florida, defenseman Marek Zidlicky (0-3-3) was the leading scorer in the season series. Greiss beat the Panthers in his only appearance against them, stopping 23 of 25 shots.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Wild (38-33) at Stars (50-23)

Date: April 14, 2016 9:30 PM EDT

DALLAS (AP) Patrick Sharp is getting ready to face Minnesota in a playoff series for the fourth year in a row. It will be the first for the Dallas Stars, the franchise with roots in the Twin Cities.

Known as the North Stars before moving south to Dallas in 1993, the Stars are the top seed in the Western Conference. They open their first-round series at home Thursday night against the Wild, the team that eventually replaced them in Minnesota.

'I'm sure it means something to the fans,' Stars center Jason Spezza said. 'For us as players, it's a little different generation for us, we weren't directly involved in it.'

Spezza and Sharp were acquired in trades the past two offseasons, and with the high-scoring young All-Star duo of Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin helped lead Dallas to its first No. 1 seed since 2003.

The Wild, in their 15th season since entering the NHL as an expansion team, are hurting going into their fourth consecutive playoff appearance. Top scorer Zach Parise (25 goals) won't even travel for the first two games because of an upper-body injury that has kept him off the ice for more than a week.

'It changes lines and the combinations we have and special teams. In every area of the game, it will have an effect,' center Mikko Koivu said. 'But if he's in, if he's not, then we've got to react to that as a team and go from there.'

The Wild will also be without Thomas Vanek (18 goals) while Erik Haula, a solid third-line center who defends well, will likely be a game-time decision.

When the Stars won their only Stanley Cup title in 1999, they beat Buffalo and Lindy Ruff, now their third-year coach. Sharp was part of his third Stanley Cup championship last season with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Stars won four of five meetings this season against Minnesota, three in overtime along with a 6-3 win that included two empty-net goals - among the Stars' NHL-record 24 empty-netters and NHL-best 265 goals overall this season. Minnesota's victory was 2-1.

But the last of those games was Feb. 9, before the Wild fired Mike Yeo and named John Torchetti the interim coach.

'Their defense is involved a little bit more ... Offensively, I think they've got a little bit more giddy-up and go in them,' Ruff said. 'There's going to be some structure changes for them and there might be personnel that are in or out. The playoffs, I wipe the slate clean and you start from Game 1.'

Some things to know when the Central Division foes meet in the playoffs for the first time:

SEGUIN SKATING: All-Star forward Tyler Seguin was back on the ice this week after missing Dallas' last 10 games because of a small cut of his left Achilles tendon. Seguin had 73 points in 72 games before getting hurt. Ruff said Wednesday that Seguin was available to play, but that a decision for Game 1 wouldn't be made until Thursday. Seguin and Benn (89 points) are the NHL's highest-scoring teammates over the past two seasons.

WILD ENDINGS: Minnesota has finished its last three playoff appearances with losses to Chicago and Sharp. The Wild lost a first-round series in 2013 when the Blackhawks went on to win the Stanley Cup. The two teams met in the second round each of the last two seasons after Minnesota's first-round upsets - over Colorado in 2014 and St. Louis last year.

WHICH FIN IN NET?: Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen have split goaltending duties for the Stars all season, and likely will do so to start the playoffs after both Finnish players recorded 25 wins this season. Ruff said he wouldn't name a starting goalie before Game 1.

DIFFERING FINISHES: Minnesota ended the regular season with five straight losses, after winning six in a row before that. While the Wild were 15-11-1 after Torchetti took over as coach, they had the fewest points (87) by a Western Conference playoff team since San Jose in 1999-2000. Dallas won eight of its last 10 games, including 3-2 over Nashville in the regular season finale when Spezza had a hat trick and the Stars clinched the top seed.

---

This story corrects to say Dallas is the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the first time since 2003, not 1999-2000.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sharks (46-30) at Kings (48-28)

Date: April 14, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) Almost every NHL contender has a few ghosts of past failures that they must exorcise on the path toward the Stanley Cup.

The San Jose Sharks have a monster in their closet, and they've got to face it in the first round.

Just two years ago, the Los Angeles Kings rallied from a 0-3 series deficit in the first round to eliminate San Jose in humiliating fashion at the Shark Tank. The momentum propelled the Kings to their second championship, and it sent the Sharks on a spiral that bottomed out last spring with their first non-playoff season in over a decade.

Although Peter DeBoer wasn't on the Sharks' bench for that collapse, the coach knows all about it, and he hopes his players don't let it linger in their minds.

'Obviously there are a lot of teams left in the wake of the Kings who aren't leaving with good feelings over the last five or six years,' DeBoer said. 'It's a great test. You have to go through the best to win this trophy, and we're starting from one of the best.'

Few NHL opponents know each other better than these California rivals. They're about to face off in the postseason for the fourth time in six seasons, with several core players on both teams remaining from every series.

The Sharks won the first two meetings in 2011 and 2013, but the Kings made up for it in 2014. Los Angeles rode that momentum past Anaheim, Chicago and the New York Rangers to the franchise's second Stanley Cup championship, but missed the postseason along with San Jose last spring after three years of playoff grind finally caught up.

'It doesn't affect us at all,' Kings coach Darryl Sutter said of the 2014 series. 'The teams are pretty familiar with each other. We're close in terms of style, standings, all the critical stats, if you take any of that, if it makes any difference at all. I think it doesn't. It starts over. Everybody's at zero. The roster changes. If you're going back to two years ago, then two years ago it didn't affect it when the Sharks beat the Kings. It doesn't. It has no bearing on anything.'

Here are some more things to watch when the series opens at Staples Center on the day after Kobe Bryant's retirement game:

JONER'S TURN: Martin Jones will start the series opener for the Sharks in a familiar building. Jones won a championship ring during two years as Jonathan Quick's backup, appearing in two Kings playoff games in 2014. Realizing that the gifted goalie known in LA as 'Joner' would never supplant Quick, the Kings traded him to Boston last summer in a deal for Milan Lucic, and the Bruins shipped him to San Jose. 'It's a fun building to play in, (but) I think the novelty of playing the old team has kind of worn off,' Jones said.

UP THE MIDDLE: The Kings and Sharks have two of the NHL's best collections of playmaking centers. Joe Thornton, Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau center San Jose's top three lines, while Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter and Vincent Lecavalier line up down the middle for Los Angeles. Both teams rely heavily on the skills of their pivots to generate offense. The 36-year-old Thornton is having a renaissance season, while Kopitar and Carter have been outstanding down the stretch.

DEPTH CHARGE: The Sharks realize they can't take a break against the Kings and Sutter, who methodically rolls four lines and grinds away at every opponent. The same strategy led the Kings to two Cups, and Lecavalier's midseason arrival has given a boost to the scoring production on Los Angeles' third line. 'I think LA has really won being a four-line team,' DeBoer said. 'You can't understate the importance of their third and fourth lines over the past five or six years and their Cup wins. They kind of set the bar, and that's where everyone else is trying to get to.'

MISSING OUT: The roles are reversed in this series from past playoff matchups, with the Kings generally considered the favorite after leading the Pacific Division for most of the season. The Sharks are still regrouping from last season's reset and subsequent revitalization, yet they finished only four points behind the Kings and five behind first-place Anaheim.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Sportsbooks don't want these five teams to win the Stanley Cup
By JASON LOGAN

Among sports championships, the NHL’s Stanley Cup is not only the most kick-ass trophy in the bunch (you can drink champagne out of it. Try that with the World Series trophy/diorama) but it is considered by most to be the toughest title to earn.

The NHL playoffs are a grueling test of skill and will for 16 select hockey teams, and it’s not always the No. 1 seeds doing battle in the Cup final either. That unpredictability makes the NHL futures market a breeding ground for live long shots.

We talk to sportsbooks in Las Vegas and online about which NHL clubs would dish out the biggest body check to the futures book should they hoist Lord Stanley this season. Here are five teams the bookies are cheering against in the NHL playoffs:

Chicago Blackhawks (Open: +600, Now +700)

The defending Stanley Cup champs were bet early and often since sportsbooks tossed up their 2015-16 NHL futures. Bookmakers may be breathing a little easier with Chicago stumbling down the stretch and dropping to the No. 6 seed in the West, meaning a first-round matchup with the St. Louis Blues (10/1 to win Cup).

Johnny Avello, executive director of race and sports for Wynn Las Vegas, says his book always sees money on the Blackhawks – and all Chicago pro sports teams for that matter. He’s among a group of operators rooting against the Blackhawks this postseason.

"The Chicago Blackhawks are always a liability,” Avello said. “They're bet early in the season, and they were the winner last year so when you put up your futures book for the following year they're bet then. And if they perform throughout the season, of course, they're going to be bet throughout the season."

Online books are also pushing for an early exit from the defending champs. Offshore market BetNow.eu opened Chicago at 5/1 and hockey fans didn’t waste time making their opinion heard.

“At the start of the season, plenty considered that this could be the year that the Stanley Cup hangover would finally go away, they were at +500 at that time,” an oddsmaker says regarding their liability on the Blackhawks.

Pittsburgh Penguins (Open: +1,200, Now: +800)

The Penguins’ star-studded roster is always a draw at the NHL futures book, especially after Pittsburgh added Phil Kessel to the mix last summer. The Pens were slow out of the blocks, with captain Sidney Crosby struggling to find his All-Star form, and were as high as 30/1 around Christmas.

However, Pittsburgh caught fire in the final month of the schedule, winning 18 of its final 23 games and earning the third spot in the East. The Penguins open against the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs – still waiting on the status of top goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

“We took significant action from some value players on the Penguins about a month ago when they were better than +2,200,” says John Lester.

Pittsburgh also boasted a big price with Nevada sportsbook operator CG Technology, which operates books at The M, Cosmopolitan, and Venetian. They had the Penguins anywhere from 6/1 to 25/1 over the course of the NHL season.

“Most of the liability on them is at 20/1 and 25/1, including a $4,000 bet at 25/1 from January (that would net a $100,000 payout),” Jason Simbal, vice president of risk management for CG Technology, said.

Los Angeles Kings (Open: +1,000, Now: +600)

The Kings opened with an appealing price to win the Stanley Cup and that drew in many hockey bettors looking for a live underdog. Los Angeles is always a contender with solid goaltending and one of the best bluelines in the league.

“Los Angeles was a popular team with our bettors all season,” Greg Sindall says. “Almost all of the money is in the 8/1 to 10/1 range where they were listed for most of the season. It wasn’t until mid-March or so that the odds came down a bit.”

In Las Vegas, the Southern California teams always draw money from the wave of tourists making their way to Sin City from L.A. The Kings are no exception, and were priced between 5/1 and 15/1 at CG Technology sportsbooks.

“Most of the money was bet at 12/1 and then we took a $7,000 bet at 7/1 (which would pay $49,000),” Simbal said.

San Jose Sharks (Open: +6,000, Now: +1,800)

Another California club that is giving books the chills this postseason are the Sharks, who were monstrous long shots to open the schedule at some sportsbooks. Online market Bookmaker.eu wasn’t as generous with their opening odds on San Jose and have seen most of their action on the Sharks come in the past week, with many NHL fans liking the value with the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference.

“The Sharks have seen the most money at the futures window since the playoff teams were set,” says Lester. “We opened them at +2,400 and now they're hovering around +1,900.”

Anaheim Ducks (Open: +800, Now, +1,000)

Books aren’t big fans of hockey in the Golden State this postseason, with the Ducks also holding futures liability in some markets. Anaheim, the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, was well respected by oddsmakers out of the gate, but did watch its odds climb as high as 30/1 just after the New Year.

“Anaheim was a popular pick in the offseason last summer but people really piled on in the winter when they were priced in the 20/1 to 30/1 range,” says Sindall. “They are too good of a team to not have turned it around and those odds were too hard to pass up for many bettors.”