Detroit Red Wings vs. Chicago Blackhawks
NHL Playoff Prediction: Under 5 goals -110 odds (May 25th 2013)
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We’ve yet to see a game in this series top five goals and I don’t see that changing as the Blackhawks face elimination on home ice on Saturday night.

Lost in Thursday’s 2-0 loss was the fact that Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford bounced back with arguably his best game of the series and that should bode well heading into Saturday’s contest.

Of course, the Blackhawks have been a terrific defensive team all season, allowing just two goals per game.

The Red Wings have really rounded into form over the course of these playoffs, particularly in their own end of the rink, where they’ve given up two goals or less in four of their last five games. Jimmy Howard has stood on his head over the last few games and that has only fueled the team’s confidence.

Going back to the regular season, the losing team has been held to one goal or less in seven of eight meetings here in 2013.

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Needless to say, this is the most important game of the series so far and I suspect that will lead to an even tighter-checking affair. There’s no need to over-analyze this selection – I don’t see the winning team scoring more than three goals, putting us in excellent position to cash with the ‘under’. Take the under (1*).

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators
Betting Line: Pittsburgh -125 Over/Under 5.5 (May 19th 2013)
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ATS Trends:
Senators are 13-6 in their last 19 home games. Senators are 1-9 in their last 10 vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Senators are 0-4 in their last 4 vs. Atlantic. Penguins are 6-0 in their last 6 Sunday games. Penguins are 22-6 in their last 28 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Penguins are 40-12 in their last 52 overall. Penguins are 40-12 in their last 52 vs. Eastern Conference. Penguins are 46-15 in their last 61 games following a win.

Over/Under Trends:
Under is 4-0-1 in Senators last 5 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days. Under is 14-3-6 in Senators last 23 vs. Atlantic. Under is 7-2-2 in Senators last 11 Conference Semifinals games. Under is 35-15-11 in Senators last 61 overall. Under is 35-15-11 in Senators last 61 vs. Eastern Conference. Over is 5-1 in Penguins last 6 games playing on 1 days rest. Over is 4-1 in Penguins last 5 games following a win. Under is 8-2 in Penguins last 10 vs. a team with a winning record. Over is 16-6 in Penguins last 22 Sunday games. Under is 8-3 in Penguins last 11 vs. Northeast.

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Head-to-Head Trends:
Penguins are 5-0 in the last 5 meetings. Over is 12-5 in the last 17 meetings. Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings in Ottawa. Home team is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings.

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New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins
Betting Line: Boston -122 Over/Under 5 (May 19th 2013)
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ATS Trends:
Bruins are 5-0 in their last 5 Conference Semifinals games. Bruins are 10-2 in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. Bruins are 2-5 in their last 7 games following a win. Bruins are 2-6 in their last 8 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. Rangers are 5-1 in their last 6 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game. Rangers are 17-4 in their last 21 Sunday games. Rangers are 7-2 in their last 9 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game. Rangers are 20-9 in their last 29 games playing on 2 days rest. Rangers are 3-9 in their last 12 vs. Northeast.

Over/Under Trends:
Under is 8-1-3 in Bruins last 12 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. Over is 4-1-1 in Bruins last 6 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is 4-1 in Bruins last 5 Sunday games. Under is 8-2-1 in Bruins last 11 vs. Atlantic. Over is 4-1-1 in Bruins last 6 Conference Semifinals games. Under is 2-0-2 in Rangers last 4 overall. Under is 2-0-4 in Rangers last 6 Sunday games. Under is 2-0-2 in Rangers last 4 vs. Eastern Conference. Over is 2-0-2 in Rangers last 4 vs. Northeast. Under is 2-0-2 in Rangers last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.

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Head-to-Head Trends:
Under is 8-1-2 in the last 11 meetings in Boston. Under is 14-5-3 in the last 22 meetings. Rangers are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Boston. Rangers are 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.

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San Jose Sharks vs. Phoenix Coyotes
NHL Hockey Prediction: San Jose +102 odds (April 24th 2013)
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The Sharks clinched a playoff spot with last night’s win over Dallas, but they’re still battling for seeding, and can still grab the coveted fourth spot, and the home ice advantage in the first round that goes along with it. With that in mind, I don’t expect to see any sort of letdown on Wednesday night.

San Jose has been at its worst on the road this season, posting an 8-14 record, but that doesn’t mean a whole lot right now, as the Sharks have gone a solid 4-3 in their last seven on the highway, including a 4-0 win in Phoenix earlier this month.

The Coyotes are still mathematically alive in the Western Conference playoff race, but sitting five points back of eighth spot, and more importantly with a number of teams to leap-frog and only three games remaining, it’s going to be an uphill battle.

Here’s goaltender Mike Smith following the team’s most recent setback in Detroit on Monday, “Disappointing, obviously, is the biggest word you can use. After getting to the conference finals last year and sitting where we are this year is obviously a tough pill to swallow right now.”

I’m not convinced that desperation leads to victory on this night.This isn’t an ideal spot for Phoenix, as it returns home following three straight on the road. In fact, the ‘Yotes have played six of their last seven games away from Glendale. At this point, I can’t help but think this is a team ready to be put out of its misery.

San Jose has taken three of four meetings in this series this season, with its lone loss coming by the narrowest of margins, 1-0 in a shootout. Take San Jose (1*).

NHL Hockey Picks: April 22nd 2013
Anaheim Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers
Prediction: Edmonton +112 odds
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The Oilers lost at home to the Ducks last night, and they have now lost seven of eight overall. Edmonton got off to a good start to the game, with Taylor Hall opening the scoring in the first minute. The Ducks scored with less than 5 seconds remaining in the first period though, and it all went downhill from there.

The Ducks went on to win 3-1, clinching home ice in the first round of the playoffs in the process. These two teams will meet again tonight, just 24 hours later in the same building. I’m expecting the Oilers to come out playing hard, looking to avenge last night’s loss in front of their home fans.

Edmonton carried the play in the first period of last night’s game, but the Ducks rallied back. Anaheim should be primed to suffer a let down though, playing their second game in as many nights.

Tonight’s game means a lot more to these young Oilers and their fans than it does to the Ducks, and I expect Edmonton to take advantage of this revenge situation.

The Ducks have won 10 in a row in Edmonton, but I expect that streak to come to an end tonight.

Take the Oilers.

NHL Picks: April 17th 2013
Detroit Red Wings vs. Calgary Flames
Prediction: Detroit -153 odds
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This is a 1* free NHL pick on the Detroit Red Wings over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night (9:35 ET).

These teams have played twice this year and Calgary has won both: 4-1 in Detroit on February 5th and 5-2 at home on March 13th. The Wings are 20-15-7 overall and 10-8-3 on the road. They’re coming off a 3-0 win at Nashville on Sunday. Calgary is 16-22-4 overall and 11-9-2 at home. It’s coming off a 4-3 loss vs. Minnesota on Monday. This is an important game for the Wings, as they sit tied with Columbus for the final Western Conference playoff spot and just two ahead of Dallas. “You should know it’s a fairly urgent situation for us, but I think it’s been like that all year,” Detroit coach Mike Babcock said Tuesday. “I heard lots of times we’ve been inconsistent, but that’s not true. We’ve been the most consistent Red Wings’ team I ever coached. We’ve been in the grinder since the start.” The wheels finally came off the bus for the Flames last time out, having to dress a lot of young players because of injuries and trades. Calgary’s normally unflappable goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff is sputtering down the stretch, posting a 4.12 GAA while losing his last six starts. Wings’ goaltender Jimmy Howard had 22 saves for his third shutout of the year vs. Nashville and has a big opportunity to build off that performance against this inconsistent home side. With two whole days off after tonight’s game to prepare for the final week of the regular season, I believe the Wings play with an extreme sense of desperation, taking advantage of this situation and avenging the earlier setbacks in the process. Consider laying the price in this one.

NHL Hockey Picks: April 11th 2013
St. Louis Blues vs. Minnesota Wild
Prediction: Under 5 -110 odds
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NHL totals set south of five are pretty much non-existent during the regular season, but if there were ever a spot for such a low number, this might be it.

The Blues are playing lights out defensive hockey right now – fresh off back-to-back 1-0 shutout wins over the Red Wings and Predators. With the Wild struggling to regain their offensive prowess, off a shutout loss to the Blackhawks on Tuesday, this is a good spot for St. Louis to continue its stingy ways.

I don’t see St. Louis letting down its guard in this spot. A long stretch of uneven play left the Blues in eighth place entering this past Sunday’s game in Detroit. They’ve now climbed to sixth spot, currently sitting tied with the Wild. Note that St. Louis has taken both previous meetings in this series this season, including a 4-1 victory here in Minnesota earlier this month.

Minnesota made a big splash at the trade deadline, acquiring Jason Pominville from Buffalo, but its offense has fizzled since, producing just three goals over its last three games. All three of those goals came in a 3-0 shutout win over the Blue Jackets on Sunday.
The good news is, the Wild seem to have righted the ship defensively (and between the pipes). They’ve allowed only four goals over their last three games, and Nik Backstrom has really stepped up his game, giving up only one goal on 55 shots in his last two starts.

Minnesota has allowed eight goals in regulation time in two previous matchups with the Blues this season, so it should bring the proper level of focus to the table on Thursday. Just as the Blues do, the Wild realize the importance of this late season showdown. Look for a well-played defensive game by both sides, as this one stays under the number. Take the under (1*).

NHL Picks: April 7th 2013
Minnesota Wild vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Prediction: Minnesota +109 odds
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The Wild have lost three straight, and they are just barely clinging to a playoff spot in the Western Conference, sitting four points up on ninth place Phoenix. The Blue Jackets are just five points back of Minnesota, and they can narrow that gap with a victory tonight, as they host the Wild in Columbus.

Both these teams made deals at the trade deadline, with Columbus acquiring the under achieving Marian Gaborik, and Minnesota picking up Jason Pominville from Buffalo.

Gabrorik has already tallied three points since coming over from New York, and there’s no doubt that Rangers coach John Tortorella is cursing his name, wondering what his problem was in New York, Gaborik is as skilled as they come, but he’s known for being a floater, while Pominville has the exact opposite reputation.

I expect the newcomer in the Minnesota lineup to be a difference maker in tonight’s game.

Both teams will be battling hard, but Minnesota is the better team here. Sergei Bobrovsky has been stealing games for the Blue Jackets all year, but I expect the Wild to grind out a victory on the road here tonight, against an inferior opponent.

NHL Hockey Picks: April 4th 2013
St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Prediction: Under 5.5 goals
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Free NHL Pick from Doc’s Sports Take St. Louis Blues/Chicago Blackhawks UNDER (Thursday, 8:35pm ET) The St. Louis Blues take on the Blackhawks in Chicago in what should be a hotly contested matchup. St. Louis is hanging onto the 8th spot in the Western Conference and every point is crucial as we enter the final quarter of the regular season. The Blackhawks are trying to hold onto the top spot in the conference, just four points ahead of Anaheim. St. Louis knows they can’t play a fast-paced up and down style of hockey against the Hawks. They will keep the game slow and play tight on the defensive end to allow as few shots as possible. It’s the way the Blues normally play, but they ratchet it up a notch against teams like the Hawks. It will help that Patrick Sharp is out for Chicago – one of their top scorers and distributors. These teams have played twice this season and the Hawks won both matchups by the scores of 3-2 and 3-0, respectively. Today’s game should have a similar outcome, which will put us below the total. Play the Under in tonight’s Blues/Blackhawks battle.

Hockey Picks: March 26th 2013
Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Prediction: Montreal +137 odds
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I’ll take a shot with the Canadiens as they look to put an end to the Penguins lengthy winning streak on Tuesday night.

Montreal has dropped just two of its last eight games, with both of those losses coming on home ice against the Sabres – both in the role of large favorite. The shoe is on the other foot tonight, as the Habs head to Pittsburgh as a sizable underdog against the streaking Pens.

Montreal has more than held its own on the road this season, posting an 11-2-2 record. It’s worth noting that the Canadiens haven’t suffered consecutive losses since losing three in a row from February 6th to 9th.

While I have a great deal of respect for the Penguins, I’m not sure that they’re deserving of such a high price tag against the team that sits just five points behind them in the Eastern Conference standings. Each of Pittsburgh’s last four wins have come after trailing, and three of those victories came by a single goal – so it’s not as if things have come easy for the Pens of late.

Speaking of nothing coming easy – the last four meetings in this series have been settled in either overtime or a shootout. Pittsburgh has managed to win three of those four games. In what should be another tightly-contested game that could go either way, I’ll side with the underdog Canadiens. Take Montreal (5*).

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