NHL Future Plays

2012-2013 EASTERN CONFERENCE - ODDS TO WIN
(1 unit) BOSTON BRUINS +400

2012-2013 WESTERN CONFERENCE - ODDS TO WIN
(2 units) CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS +140

2012/2013 STANLEY CUP - ODDS TO WIN
(1 unit) CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS +350

2012/2013 STANLEY CUP - ODDS TO WIN
(1 unit) LOS ANGELES KINGS +1400

SERIES PLAYS
(3 units) KINGS SERIES -125
(3 units) BRUINS SERIES -220



GOOD LUCK

OTTAWA at BOSTON (4/28)

Ottawa (24-16-6) at Boston (28-13-5), 7:00 p.m. EDT 

The final regular-season game will be a very important one for the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins. 

While the Bruins will be focused on winning the Northeast Division title Sunday night, the visiting Senators have an opportunity to move up a spot and avoid high-powered Pittsburgh in the first round. 

The regular season was originally scheduled to end Saturday, but this game was postponed from April 15 in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings. 

Boston (28-13-6) has been vying with Montreal for the Northeast lead for most of the season and the Bruins will have the final say as they chase their third straight division title. 

Facing the Senators (24-17-6) would appear to be a favorable matchup for the Bruins, winners of five straight and 13 of 14 in the series. Boston has outscored Ottawa 23-11 while taking six of seven home meetings. 

A win of any kind would put the Senators in a first-round matchup with Montreal, while an overtime or shootout loss means a meeting with Boston. A regulation loss would leave Ottawa as the No. 8 seed and set up a series against the Penguins. 

Offense has been an issue all season for Ottawa and the power play has contributed very little lately. After going scoreless on five opportunities Saturday, the Senators are 2 for 22 with the man advantage in the last seven games. 

Generating offense in this game may not be easy regardless of which Boston goalie starts. Rask has posted a 1.21 goals-against average while winning his four career starts against Ottawa, and backup Anton Khudobin is 3-0-0 with a 1.33 GAA lifetime in the series. Khudobin has won both meetings this season, including a career-high 45-save performance in a 3-2 victory April 2. 

Anderson, who hasn't faced the Bruins this season, has gone 1-7-0 with a 4.20 GAA in his last eight meetings. 

Backup Robin Lehner has been much better, posting a 2.13 GAA in six starts versus Boston despite a 1-3-2 record. 

NHL(31) OTTAWA @ (32) BOSTON | 04/28/2013 - 7:05 PM
Play UNDEROTTAWA on the total in All games second half of the season
The record is 10 Overs and 29 Unders this season (+18.70 units)  

NHL(31) OTTAWA @ (32) BOSTON | 04/28/2013 - 7:05 PM
Play UNDEROTTAWA on the total in All games in all games
The record is 10 Overs and 29 Unders this season (+18.70 units)  

GOALIES as of 5:00PM CT
(OTT) Robin Lehner - CONFIRMED
(BOS) Tuukka Rask - UNCONFIRMED

BRUINS are the better team. BRUINS have the better goalie. BRUINS have the best shot at winning this one and taking the Northeast Division title. I like BOSTON a lot in this one. LET'S GO BRUINS


3u BRUINS -120 (3way line)

Be careful with Saturday's NHL match-ups - here's why

Saturday marks the unofficial end of the NHL regular season, so here's a breakdown of the games that have playoff implications and those matchups that don’t mean a darn thing.

New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers (-170, 5)

The Rangers clinched a playoff berth with a 4-3 win over the Hurricanes on Thursday, and can finish anywhere from the No. 6 to No. 8 seed.

Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs (+100, 5.5)

The Canadiens enter the day with 61 points, tied with the Boston Bruins -- who have one game in hand -- as the teams battle for the top spot in the Northeast Division. A Montreal victory would mean the Bruins would need three points in their final two contests to capture the division. The Maple Leafs appear to be locked into the No. 5 spot in the East, but a win would make it impossible for the Ottawa Senators to catch them and bump them to the six seed.

Philadelphia Flyers at Ottawa Senators (-170, 5.5)

The Flyers have nothing to play for, but the Senators can finish anywhere from No. 5 to No. 8 in the East depending on the outcome of their final two games. Ottawa and Boston square off in the season finale on Sunday.

Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals (+113, 5.5)

The Bruins can clinch the Northeast with a win or Montreal loss. Washington has won the Southeast Division and will enter the 2013 playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the East.

Nashville Predators at Columbus Blue Jackets (-230, 5)

The Blue Jackets need a win in their season finale in order to have a shot at the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

Detroit Red Wings at Dallas Stars (+117, 5)

The Red Wings sit seventh in the West heading into action Friday night and will be looking for points in their finale in order to qualify for their 22nd consecutive playoff appearance.

Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche (+129, 5)

The Wild were defeated by the Edmonton Oilers 6-1 Friday night. A victory would have clinched a playoff spot. Now Saturday’s date with the Avs is crucial.

Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues (-157, 5)

The Blackhawks have already clinched the Presidents’ Trophy, but the Blues will be looking for points in order to lock down the No. 4 seed and clinch home advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings (-147, 5)

The Sharks and Kings are deadlocked at 57 points and both have a chance to leapfrog the Blues for home-ice advantage in the opening round.

Saturday’s meaningless games:

Carolina Hurricanes at Pittsburgh Penguins (-198, 5.5)
Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning (-175, 5.5)
Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers (+115, 5)
Phoenix Coyotes at Anaheim Ducks (-157, 5)

Astros at Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have a chance at compiling the best April record in their long and storied history, which would be a remarkable achievement on the heels of their worst season in 48 years. If the Red Sox win their final three games of the month - beginning with Saturday's home contest against the Houston Astros, they will accomplish the feat. Boston has taken the first two games of the series, including a 7-3 decision Friday for its fourth win in its last five games.

The Red Sox are getting contributions from everywhere, including their backup catcher. David Ross hit two home runs Friday and had four of Boston's 17 hits. Ryan Dempster won his first game in a Red Sox uniform to complement an already strong starting rotation as Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester and Felix Doubront are a combined 11-0. Saturday's starters - Doubront and Houston's Brad Peacock - have never faced the opposition. The Astros have lost seven straight road games.

Red Sox are batting .355 during a three-game winning streak, Boston (16-7) - which has taken 11 of 14 - is also 12-0 when scoring first, posted 18 wins in April 1998 and 2003.

Felix Doubront (2-0, 4.32 ERA), is on the verge of winning a career best-tying third consecutive start. Doubront will be making his first appearance against the Astros, who counter with Brad Peacock (1-2, 7.50). The right-hander is coming off an outing to forget, surrendering career highs of seven runs, nine hits and three homers over 4 1-3 innings of Monday's 7-1 loss to Seattle.

Boston outfielder Shane Victorino is expected to miss a third straight game due to lower back troubles. 

BOSTON is 5-0 (+5.0 Units) against HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons

3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.0 Units)

BOSTON is 2-0 (+2.0 Units) against HOUSTON this season

1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.0 Units)

Houston, which has never won at Fenway Park (0-5), struck out 14 times Friday and leads the majors with 232 through 23 games.

Red Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 games as a home favorite.

Red Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 games as a favorite.

Red Sox are 8-2 in their last 10 games following a win.

Red Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 overall.

Red Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 home games.

Red Sox are 6-0 in Doubronts last 6 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.

Red Sox are 8-1 in Doubronts last 9 starts during game 3 of a series.

Red Sox are 5-1 in Doubronts last 6 starts.

Over is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings.

Astros are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings in Boston.

Astros are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings.

The Astros by all means should be a better team with all the "rebuilding" they've been doing in recent years. Unfortunately they're still bad, really bad. Going against the Red Sox wont be any easier in game 3. They still get beat by 5 or more runs. Taking the 1st half and the RL in this match-up. Good Luck

1H RED SOX -½-155

RED SOX -1½-125

Bettors beware these top MLB teams

Losing a bet late in a game stings like a cut fastball high and inside. These four clubs are considered among baseball’s best but have been burning backers with their late-game letdowns.


St. Louis Cardinals (13-8, +5.14 units)
 
The Cardinals have jumped to the top of the National League Central thanks to a solid pitching staff (which ranks third in ERA) and some consistent offense, averaging 4.86 runs per game. However, after the seventh inning, things go south for St. Louis. 

The Cards are hitting just .200 and average only one run in the final three innings. That lack of late-game pop isn’t enough to make up for a shaky bullpen, which lugs a 5.20 ERA (second worst in the bigs) and has blown five saves already this season. 

St. Louis opens a three game set with Pittsburgh Friday. The Pirates have the second-best batting average from the seventh inning on in the National League and have won their last two games in comeback fashion. 

Detroit Tigers (10-10, -3.71 units)

The Tigers’ current swoon hasn’t been helped out by the fact the team runs out of gas in the final three innings. Detroit has just one win in its last six games, heading into Friday, including an extra-innings loss to Kansas City Thursday. The Tigers have had troubles cashing in runners in scoring position recently, especially deep into games.

Detroit is hitting a measly .206 and averages just 0.65 runs from the seventh inning on – last in the majors. Big bats Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera are both hitting .250 in the late innings and have combined for just one home run in that span. The Tigers pitching staff has also struggled past the sixth, posting a collective 5.27 ERA – another stat that ranks worst in the bigs. The bullpen has a 1-5 record and has blown four saves.

Detroit is involved in a possible World Series preview this weekend, hosting the Atlanta Braves in interleague play. Atlanta is shutting the door in the final three innings, with an MLB-best ERA of 1.56 from the seventh on, and a bullpen which is limiting opposing bats to a .213 BA.

Washington Nationals (11-11, -2.77 units)

The Nationals have fallen far from their sky-high expectations in April, limping out to a .500 start heading into Friday. Washington’s once-powerful pitching staff is struggling and its offensive is only plating 3.82 runs an outing and only 0.73 of those runs are coming past the sixth inning.

The Nats are batting .218 and own an OBP of .267 in the late innings. On the other side of the ball, Washington’s staff lugs a 4.22 ERA from the seventh on – nearly a run more than last year’s 3.32 ERA in the same situation. The bullpen, which ranked third in the NL in 2012, is currently 11th and has already blown four saves. Washington’s relievers blew just 17 saves overall last year.

The Nationals opened a four-game set versus Cincinnati with an 8-1 win Thursday, scoring six of those runs before the seventh. The Reds boast the best ERA from the seventh on (2.84) in the majors and score 1.91 runs per game in that span – another MLB-best.

Boston Red Sox (14-7, +6.85 units)

The Red Sox have budged their way to the top of the American League East, knocking in nearly five runs per game and getting stellar work from their starters. Boston is hitting a respectable .257 and its starters own a combined 3.10 ERA – second lowest in the AL. Then comes the seventh inning stretch…

Boston’s bats cool off quickly after the sixth inning, hitting .186, and manage to cash in just 1.14 runs per game in that span. The pitching staff has a 4.32 ERA from the seventh on and the bullpen has been flighty with a 3-3 record and four blown saves.

The BoSox catch a bit of a break this weekend, hosting the Houston Astros. Boston took the first game of the series 7-2, doing all of the damage in the first five innings. The Astros also rank among the worst late-inning teams in baseball. But to be fair, Houston generally sucks no matter what inning it is.