Category Archives: NHL Hockey

The National Hockey League (NHL; French: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH) is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 6 are located in Canada and 24 in the United States.

Vancouver Canucks visit Calgary Flames on Thursday: NHL Odds

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Vancouver at Calgary Betting

When: 9:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta

The Opening Line is : Vancouver Canucks -150 Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: The Vancouver Canucks are surging at the right time, and a road contest against the Northwest Division rival Calgary Flames doesn’t look to provide much resistance in their quest toward a second consecutive Presidents’ Trophy. Coach Alain Vigneault’s club will vie for its season-best eighth straight victory when it visits Calgary on Thursday. Vancouver, which is tied with the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers, sits two points ahead of St. Louis for the top spot in the West.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, RSNP, RSNC

Vancouver Canucks (50-21-9): Although Vancouver is getting the better of the scoreboard, its less-than-stellar goaltending situation continues to rear its ugly head. Roberto Luongo was yanked in its 5-4 victory over Anaheim on Tuesday, allowing Cory Schneider to save the day – much to the relief of the British Columbia faithful. “It’s getting old,” Schneider said of the jeers aimed in Luongo’s direction. “I’m glad they like me and support me, but (Luongo’s) a guy that has done a lot for this team and this city, and he deserves a lot better than that.” Luongo has started all five contests against the Northwest Division rivals, yielding just eight goals en route to a 3-1-1 mark. Schneider is expected to start on Thursday.


Calgary Flames (35-29-16): Calgary fell off the postseason pace by suffering three straight losses and eight in its last nine contests (1-4-4). The Flames’ 3-2 overtime defeat on Saturday officially sealed their fate – although their playoff prospects were minute at best prior to that result. “You feel like you failed,” coach Brent Sutter said. “What hurts, what kills me, is seeing the guys let each other down, let themselves down. They’re like you’re own kids and you want them to succeed and want to see them do well. … You feel bad for them. You feel bad for the organization. You feel bad for the fans. You feel like you let everybody down. That’s a tough one.”

OVERTIME:

1. Canucks LW Maxim Lapierre has collected three goals in as many games, and his shootout marker proved to be enough against the Ducks. Traditionally a fourth-liner, Lapierre replaced injured Daniel Sedin (concussion) and netted his lone career goal in 12 games versus Calgary in a 3-2 win on Saturday.

2. Flames captain Jarome Iginla has collected just one goal and three assists in the team’s last nine games.

PREDICTION: Canucks 4, Flames 1. CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$.

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NHL Betting Lines: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Colorado Avalanche

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Columbus @ Colorado Betting

When: 9:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado

The Opening Line is : Columbus Blue Jackets -185 Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: For the Colorado Avalanche to make the playoffs, the scenario is easy to explain. For it to unfold, though, is hard to imagine. First, the Avalanche must win their final two games – in regulation or overtime – beginning Thursday when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets. They also need the San Jose Sharks to lose their final two games – in regulation – and the Dallas Stars to gain no more than two of a possible four points.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Blue Jackets), Altitude (Avalanche)

Columbus Blue Jackets (27-46-7): Columbus had a three-game winning streak snapped with a 2-0 loss at Phoenix on Tuesday despite peppering Mike Smith with a franchise-record 54 shots. Goaltender Allen York also had a personal three-game streak halted but continued to improve his stock during his emergency call-up. York has a .942 save percentage in his last four games and didn’t allow more than two goals in any of those contests. Steve Mason, who was struck in the mask with a shot during practice March 28, served as the back-up Tuesday and could return to the starting lineup Thursday.


Colorado Avalanche (41-33-6): A scheduling quirk, coupled with the Pepsi Center hosting the Women’s Final Four, gave Colorado five days off since its 4-1 victory at Calgary on Friday. Jamie McGinn, who has eight goals and four assists in 15 games since being acquired from San Jose, missed Friday’s game with a back injury and is questionable. Coach Joe Sacco announced Semyon Varlamov will make his eighth consecutive start. Varlamov is 3-3-1 in his last seven after going 8-2-0 in his previous 10. The Avalanche, 1-3-1 in their last five games, host Nashville on Saturday.

OVERTIME:

1. Columbus won the last meeting 2-0 on March 1 after Colorado took the first two encounters this season, including a 5-0 decision on Feb. 24.

2. With the league’s worst record clinched, Columbus will have a 48.2 percent chance of acquiring the No. 1 pick in the draft.

3. Scoreboard watching: San Jose has a home-and-home with Los Angeles while Dallas finishes at Nashville and home to St. Louis.

PREDICTION: Avalanche 3, Blue Jackets 2 (SO). CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$.

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NHL Betting Odds: Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild

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Chicago at Minnesota Betting

When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota

The Opening Line is : Chicago Blackhawks -155 Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: The sixth-seeded Chicago Blackhawks will look to improve their standing Thursday when they visit Minnesota to take on the Wild. The Blackhawks are two points behind the Nashville Predators and three points back of the Detroit Red Wings. This is the fourth and final meeting between the clubs this season with the Blackhawks holding a 2-1 series advantage. Minnesota earned a 5-4 shootout win April 1st in Chicago.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN-Chicago, FS-N, FS-WI

Chicago Blackhawks (44-26-10): The good news – Chicago is in the playoffs. The bad news – the Blackhawks shouldn’t expect to go very deep in the tightly contested Western Conference without their captain and leader Jonathan Toews. The young sniper has missed the last 20 games with a concussion and is not committing to a return date. “There’s still signs of the concussion lingering and, you know, when that’s completely gone I’ll be comfortable playing,” said Toews, who has passed the necessary tests required to return and is traveling with the team to Minnesota. “… I’m just waiting for the symptoms to completely subside.”

Minnesota Wild (34-35-11): After hosting Chicago, Minnesota will close out its season by hosting the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday. That will wrap up an up-and-down season which at one point saw the Wild among the top teams in the Western Conference. “We want to be winners,” said coach Mike Yeo. “And winning is a habit. One thing we’ve become better at – and part of it is because we’ve dealt with it a lot – is dealing with adversity. And that’s a huge part of winning.” The Wild have won three of their last four contests – all of which went to extra time, with the last three decided via shootout.

OVERTIME:

1. Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith will return to the lineup after serving a five-game suspension for elbowing Vancouver’s Daniel Sedin.

2. Minnesota captain Mikko Koivu has six points in his last five games.

3. Chicago’s Patrick Sharp has scored in three-straight games, while Patrick Kane has collected three goals and two assists in the same time-span.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Wild 1. CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$.

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Thursday NHL Gambling: Dallas Stars visit Nashville Predators

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Dallas @ Nashville Betting

When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee

The Opening Line is : Nashville Predators -160 Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: The Nashville Predators are fixated on fourth place in the Western Conference, while the Dallas Stars will just be content to be part of the postseason equation. Coach Barry Trotz’s club will welcome back Pekka Rinne, who sat out Tuesday’s shootout win over Minnesota with a virus. The Finnish netminder returned to practice on Wednesday and will look to propel the Predators past the Central Division rival Detroit Red Wings and into fourth place.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSSW, FSTN

Dallas Stars (42-33-5): Dallas suffered a crippling setback in its postseason aspirations on Tuesday when it dropped its third straight decision and seventh in 10 outings with a 5-2 loss to San Jose. The defeat dropped the Stars three points behind the Sharks in the race for the eighth spot in the Western Conference. Defenseman Alex Goligoski snapped a 20-game goalless drought by tallying versus San Jose. His last goal came on Feb. 19 in a 3-2 loss to the Predators.

Nashville Predators (46-26-8): Although Anders Lindback stopped 25 of 26 shots, Rinne is expected to be the workhorse for the remainder of the Predators’ involvement in the season and playoffs. After two sluggish outings versus the Stars, Rinne turned aside 22 shots on Feb. 19. Rookie Gabriel Bourque, who has collected four goals and three assists in his last nine games, has netted two tallies in as many contests versus Dallas. Nashville sits one point behind fourth-place Detroit in the Western Conference.

OVERTIME:

1. Dallas G Kari Lehtonen has struggled lately by dropping five of his last seven starts, but he yielded just four goals en route to splitting a pair of contests versus Nashville this season.

2. Nashville’s Alexander Radulov has providing quite the impact since his return from the Kontinental Hockey League. The Russian has collected six points in seven games, as well as the lone shootout marker in Tuesday’s victory over Minnesota.

PREDICTION: Predators 2, Stars 1 (SO). CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$. 

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NHL Picks and Predictions: New Jersey Devils vs Detroit Red Wings

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New Jersey at Detroit Betting

When: 7:30 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

The Opening Line is : Detroit Red Wings -145 Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: For those anticipating a Pittsburgh-Philadelphia first-round playoff matchup, the New Jersey Devils would like to remind you that they can still spoil the party. The Devils look to keep their hopes for a No. 5 seed intact as they visit the Red Wings on Thursday. New Jersey needs three more points than Philadelphia over the final two games to vault the Flyers for fifth in the East. Detroit can secure home-ice advantage in round one of the West playoffs with a win and a Nashville Predators loss.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus, Fox Sports Detroit

New Jersey Devils (46-28-6): New Jersey’s first-round playoff opponent remains a mystery, but the list of candidates has been narrowed to three. If the Devils move past Philadelphia and into fifth, they’ll face Pittsburgh in the opening round. If the club remains sixth, it will wind up taking on the winner of the Southeast Division, which means a first-round meeting with either the Florida Panthers or the Washington Capitals. The Devils finish their regular-season sked Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators.

Detroit Red Wings (48-27-5): Regardless of who gets in as the playoff jockeying continues in the West, the Red Wings will enter the post-season with the worst road record in the conference. Detroit’s 17-21-3 mark away from Joe Louis Arena is of great concern in Hockeytown, even with the Wings enjoying a 31-6-2 home mark that ranks second in the NHL. The disparity makes the next two games even more critical for Detroit, which leads fifth-place Nashville by a single point. Detroit’s last game goes Saturday against Chicago.

OVERTIME:

1. The teams haven’t met since Jan. 26, 2011, when the Red Wings pulled out a 3-1 home victory behind 23 saves from Jimmy Howard.

2. Devils F Ilya Kovalchuk has three goals and three assists in his last three games.

3. Wednesday’s 3-2 win over St. Louis gave Detroit 101 points on the season, marking its NHL-record 12th consecutive year with at least 100 points.

PREDICTION: Red Wings 3, Devils 2. CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$. 

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San Jose Sharks @ Los Angeles Kings on Thursday: NHL Gambling

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San Jose at Los Angeles Betting

When: 10:30 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

The Opening Line is : Los Angeles Kings -135 Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: Much is at stake Thursday when the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings begin a season-ending, home-and-home series at the Staples Center. Los Angeles, which has won nine of 12 overall and seven of eight at home, are even in points with Phoenix but sit atop the Pacific Division by virtue of the tiebreaker. The Sharks, who have won five of seven overall but lost four of five on the road, are eighth in the Western Conference, one point behind the Kings and Coyotes.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, CSN California (San Jose), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

San Jose Sharks (41-29-10): San Jose still can claim its fifth consecutive division title. It needs to sweep the Kings and have Phoenix lose one of its final two games in regulation. The Sharks can clinch a playoff spot with one victory or a regulation loss by Dallas. They enter Thursday three points ahead of the ninth-place Stars after sweeping their home-and-home series. “The two games against Dallas were the two biggest games of the year,” coach Todd McLellan said. “It was like a playoff series … very big considering four points went into our count and none into theirs.” Antti Niemi has started 20 consecutive games.


Los Angeles Kings (40-27-13): Los Angeles is seeking the second division title in franchise history. It captured the Smythe Division in 1990-91. Jeff Carter remains day-to-day with a deep bone bruise on his ankle. An MRI showed no fracture or structural damage. “What the results are, it doesn’t really matter. He’s getting better,” coach Darryl Sutter said. Jonathan Quick leads the NHL with 10 of the Kings’ franchise-record 11 shutouts. Quick has posted blankings in three of his last six starts.

OVERTIME:

1. The home team won each of the first four meetings between the division rivals this season.

2. Los Angeles is 87-0-7 in its last 94 games when ahead after two periods.

3. The Sharks have lost seven of their last 10 divisional games.

PREDICTION: Kings 3, Sharks 1. CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$. 

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NHL Online Gambling: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Toronto Maple Leafs

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Tampa Bay @ Toronto Betting

When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario

The Opening Line is : Toronto Maple Leafs -130 Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: The Toronto Maple Leafs have been good offensively for much of the season, especially against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Leafs have outscored the Lightning 17-5 in three victories and will go for the season sweep on Thursday. Toronto lost all four games to Tampa Bay last season. Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos, who grew up in the Toronto area, is two shy of becoming only the second 60-goal scorer in the NHL since 1995-96.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, SunSports, Leafs TV.

Tampa Bay Lightning (37-36-7): Stamkos was shut out in Montreal on Wednesday after recording eight goals and three assists in his previous six games. The 22-year old center attempted 10 shots and four went on goal against the Canadiens. His teammates will be looking for him even more the last two games, including a trip to Winnipeg on Saturday. Vincent Lecavalier scored for the first time in four games after returning from a broken hand. Defenseman Victor Hedman has points in a career-high five consecutive games. Goalie Dwayne Roloson, 4-2 in his last six starts, is expected to play the final two contests.


Toronto Maple Leafs (34-36-10): Toronto looked like it was headed for two straight wins over Buffalo on Tuesday before coughing up a 3-0 lead and losing 6-5 in overtime. The Leafs showed why they stand second to last, just ahead of Tampa Bay, in goals-against at 3.16 per game. Phil Kessel continues to improve his career-best numbers with four points in the last two games to give him 81, while Tyler Bozak has seven points in seven games with a plus-2 rating. Defenseman Carl Gunnarsson is out for the rest of the season with a separated shoulder. Ben Scrivens played the last two games in net for the Leafs.

OVERTIME:

1. Toronto is eighth in the league on the power play, but 29th in penalty killing.

2. Stamkos has 46 even-strength goals, the most in a single season since 1992-93.

3. Rookie forward Carter Ashton, traded from Tampa Bay to Toronto on Feb. 27, has no points in 14 games.

PREDICTION: Lightning 4, Maple Leafs 3. CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$.

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Winnipeg Jets visit New York Islanders on Thursday: NHL Odds

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Winnipeg at NY Islanders Betting

When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York

The Opening Line is : New York Islanders -125 Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: The New York Islanders will close out their home schedule on Thursday by welcoming the Winnipeg Jets. Both teams will miss the 2012 playoffs. This is the fourth and final meeting between the clubs with the Islanders holding a 3-1 series lead. The Jets‘ lone win came in November, when they shutout the Islanders 3-0 in New York. PA Parenteau leads the Islanders with two goals and an assist in the three games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN-Jets, MSG Plus 2

Winnipeg Jets (37-34-9): Despite barely missing out on the playoffs, Winnipeg’s inaugural season has to be considered a success. A trip to the NHL’s second season would have been nice, but the Jets have a plan in place that should see them there in the near future. “The long-term success is what we’re about,” said Mark Chipman, Chairman of True North Sports and Entertainment. “It’s to be a team that is a perennial playoff team. A team that is going to have a .600 winning percentage, or better and be consistently in the playoffs. And then, given the right circumstances to go deep into the playoffs and eventually contend for a championship.”

New York Islanders (33-36-11): The Islanders will close out their season on Saturday in Columbus. Sunday marks the beginning of another long off-season – a fifth straight without playoff action. But not all is doom and gloom on Long Island – thanks to a strong nucleus of players that is highlighted by John Tavares. Tavares recorded his 200th NHL point Tuesday in New Jersey, making him the second-fastest to the mark in Islander history behind Bryan Trottier. “He’s one of the elite players in the league,” said coach Jack Capuano. “He takes a lot of pride in his game and it’s important to him to play hard in very single game we play.”

OVERTIME:

1. Parenteau has scored both game-winning goals for the Islanders in their two wins versus the Jets.

2. Captain Mark Streit recorded his 150th point as an Islander on Tuesday with an assist.

PREDICTION: Jets 5, Islanders 3. CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$.

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NHL Betting Picks: Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers

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Buffalo & Philadelphia Betting

When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Opening Line is : Philadelphia Flyers -135 Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: The Buffalo Sabres are walking a fine line. Tied with Washington for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference, the Sabres will look to better their standing on Thursday when they visit the City of Brotherly Love to face the Philadelphia Flyers. The Capitals, who own the tiebreaker, could secure a postseason berth with a victory over Florida and a Buffalo regulation loss.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG, CSP

Buffalo Sabres (39-31-10): Coach Lindy Ruff’s club erased a three-goal deficit in the first period and a two-goal disadvantage in the third before skating away with a 6-5 overtime win over Northeast Division rival Toronto on Tuesday. Derek Roy’s overtime marker lifted Buffalo to a 14-2-3 mark in its last 19 contests. Roy had notched just one point in his previous six contests. The Sabres will now have their campaign on the line against the Flyers, who eliminated them during last season’s Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Defenseman Tyler Myers will miss the team’s final two regular-season matches with what Ruff termed a “bad foot.”


Philadelphia Flyers (46-25-9): Claude Giroux has been on quite the roll. Giroux notched three assists in Philadelphia’s 5-3 loss to the Atlantic Division rival New York Rangers on Tuesday. He has collected 10 points – including a five-assist effort in a 7-2 triumph on Feb. 16 – in three victories over Buffalo and fellow All-Star Scott Hartnell has tallied in all three contests as well. The NHL’s First Star of the Week, Wayne Simmonds has recorded six goals in his last five contests – including two on Feb. 16.

OVERTIME:

1. Buffalo’s Ryan Miller wasn’t too impressed with Washington’s Brooks Laich making a guarantee that his club would make the playoffs. “I don’t think he’s Mark Messier,” Miller said, referring to the former Rangers captain famously saying that New York would defeat New Jersey in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. Messier netted a hat trick in Game 6 and the Rangers went on to win both the series and the Stanley Cup.

2. Ilya Bryzgalov struggled in his return from a chip fracture in his right foot, yielding five goals versus the Rangers. The Russian has been in net for all three Flyers victories over the Sabres this season.

PREDICTION: Sabres 3, Flyers 2 (SO). CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$.

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NHL Betting Lines: New York Rangers visit Pittsburgh Penguins

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NY Rangers at Pittsburgh Betting

When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2012
Where: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Opening Line is : Pittsburgh Penguins -170 Click here to Bet at Bovada

PREVIEW: The Pittsburgh Penguins have guaranteed themselves a spot in the postseason. One more win and they’ll be assured of home ice for at least the first round of the playoffs. The Penguins will eye that win and a fourth consecutive triumph over the New York Rangers when the Atlantic Division rivals meet Thursday night. The Rangers, owners of the East’s top seed, can also claim the Presidents’ Trophy by winning their final two games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG, FOX Pittsburgh, NBCSN

New York Rangers (51-22-7): New York clinched the conference crown with a 5-3 win over Philadelphia on Tuesday. It is the first time the Rangers own the No. 1 seed at season’s end since winning the Stanley Cup in 1993-94. “To win the division and the conference is definitely good, and it shows that all year long we have been consistent,” winger Marian Gaborik said. “We don’t want to let up. We want to tune up for the playoffs.”


Pittsburgh Penguins (49-25-6): The Flyers’ loss, combined with Pittsburgh’s 5-3 win over Boston, has the Penguins three points clear of Philadelphia in the race for home ice with two games to play. Sidney Crosby continued his recent tear since returning from lingering concussion symptoms, finishing with two goals and an assist against the Bruins on Tuesday. The former Hart Trophy winner, limited to just 20 games to date, has three goals and six assists in his past three outings.

OVERTIME:

1. Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has a league-best 105 points and is all but assured the NHL scoring title. He has four goals and an assist in his last three games against the Rangers.

2. Gaborik is working on a six-game point streak (six goals, four assists).

3. New York is 21-3-2 when leading after the first period.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Penguins 3 (SO). CLICK HERE for 500 Handicappers Package FOR 5$.

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