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NHL
Long Sheet

Monday, April 16

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BOSTON (52-20-0-12, 116 pts.) at TORONTO (49-28-0-7, 105 pts.) - 4/16/2018, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 42-27 ATS (+12.3 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 139-113 ATS (+20.5 Units) in road games after a win by 2 goals or more since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 8-7 (+2.7 Units) against the spread versus BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 8-7-0 straight up against BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
7 of 13 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.5 Units)

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TAMPA BAY (56-23-0-5, 117 pts.) at NEW JERSEY (44-31-0-9, 97 pts.) - 4/16/2018, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW JERSEY is 45-40 ATS (-16.3 Units) in all games this season.
NEW JERSEY is 8-1 ATS (+9.1 Units) after 3 or more consecutive overs this season.
NEW JERSEY is 25-23 ATS (+66.4 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
TAMPA BAY is 57-28 ATS (+8.8 Units) in all games this season.
TAMPA BAY is 226-232 ATS (+490.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1996.
NEW JERSEY is 5-17 ATS (+24.6 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 7-4 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus NEW JERSEY over the last 3 seasons
TAMPA BAY is 7-4-0 straight up against NEW JERSEY over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.7 Units)

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NASHVILLE (55-18-0-11, 121 pts.) at COLORADO (43-32-0-9, 95 pts.) - 4/16/2018, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 44-41 ATS (-17.9 Units) in all games this season.
COLORADO is 25-22 ATS (+63.7 Units) second half of the season this season.
COLORADO is 26-25 ATS (+88.5 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
COLORADO is 12-4 ATS (+7.8 Units) in home games after allowing 4 goals or more this season.
COLORADO is 19-15 ATS (+35.7 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.
COLORADO is 15-8 ATS (+6.2 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NASHVILLE is 55-30 ATS (+11.5 Units) in all games this season.
NASHVILLE is 71-44 ATS (+12.3 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 20-8 ATS (+8.7 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
NASHVILLE is 27-12 ATS (+8.6 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.
NASHVILLE is 11-1 ATS (+9.6 Units) after playing 3 consecutive home games this season.
NASHVILLE is 33-14 ATS (+14.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NASHVILLE is 19-7 ATS (+8.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
NASHVILLE is 13-3 (+7.5 Units) against the spread versus COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
NASHVILLE is 13-3-0 straight up against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
13 of 16 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+10.7 Units)

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ANAHEIM (44-27-0-13, 101 pts.) at SAN JOSE (47-27-0-10, 104 pts.) - 4/16/2018, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ANAHEIM is 13-17 ATS (-10.2 Units) after a division game this season.
SAN JOSE is 23-8 ATS (+12.9 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
ANAHEIM is 557-443 ATS (+38.8 Units) second half of the season since 1996.
ANAHEIM is 14-8 ATS (+24.6 Units) in road games when trailing in a playoff series since 1996.
ANAHEIM is 27-15 ATS (+9.6 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
ANAHEIM is 441-442 ATS (+907.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.
ANAHEIM is 48-31 ATS (+12.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 178-150 ATS (-80.4 Units) in home games after a division game since 1996.
SAN JOSE is 16-27 ATS (-15.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN JOSE is 8-7-0 straight up against ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
9 of 10 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+8.2 Units)

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Monday's NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Preview and Odds

The opening round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs continues Monday night with the puck dropping on four games. Home ice has dominated these series except out West where the Sharks won both games in Anaheim and look to put a stranglehold on the series in Game 3.

Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs (-110, 5.5)

Bruins lead series 2-0.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are making back-to-back appearances in the postseason for the first time in 14 years but they appear headed for a second straight first-round exit barring a stunning turnaround. Toronto has been manhandled in its Eastern Conference first-round series against the Boston Bruins and hopes a return home to Air Canada Centre will get it back on track in Monday night's Game 3.

ABOUT THE BRUINS: Center Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand form the other two-thirds of Boston's top line and each collected four assists in Saturday's romp, but Pastrnak has been the driving force in helping the unit amass a staggering 20 points in the first two games. "A lot of people in Boston already know how good he is," Bergeron said of Pastrnak, who scored 35 goals in the regular season. "I think people on the outside are getting to know." Defenseman Torey Krug collected all three of his assists in the first-period outburst Saturday to give him five for the series.

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS: Toronto has concerns from one end of the ice to the other, but the biggest are the lack of productivity of its own No. 1 line and the suddenly shaky play of netminder Frederik Andersen, who was yanked in Game 2 after surrendering three goals on five shots. "You've got to give your goalie a chance to be good and we haven't done that," Babcock said Sunday. "Freddy's our guy and he'll be back tomorrow." With Nazem Kadri serving a three-game suspension, the pressure is even greater on Auston Matthews and the top line, which has yet to score a point.

SERIES PRICE (PER SPORTS INTERACTION):



LINE HISTORY: The Maple Leafs have been get pumped by Boston and still opened as -118 home chalk. However, money coming in on Boston has driven that line down to -110 or lower at some shops. The total hit the betting board at 5.5 and has held firm.

INJURY REPORT:

Bruins - C Riley Nash (Questionable, Ear), RW Tommy Wingels (Questionable, Upper Body), D Brandon Carlo (Out For Season, Ankle), LW Anders Bjork (Out For Season, Shoulder).

Maple Leafs - C Leo Komarov (Questionable, Lower Body), C Nazem Kadri (Eligible to return April 21, Suspension), LW Joffrey Lupul (I-R, Conditioning).

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Bruins are 0-4 in their last 4 road games.
* Maple Leafs are 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Over is 2-0-2 in Bruins last 4 overall.
* Over is 6-0-1 in Maple Leafs last 7 vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Home team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.




Tampa Bay Lightning at New Jersey Devils (+120, 6)

Lightning lead series 2-0.

The Tampa Bay Lightning look to continue their offensive production and take a stranglehold of the Eastern Conference first-round series when they visit the New Jersey Devils for Game 3 on Monday night. The Lightning scored 10 times while winning the first two games of the series, going 3-for-4 on the power-play and getting multiple goals from three players.

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING: Alex Killorn has often saved his best hockey for the postseason and he is off to another strong start with three goals in the first two games of the series after scoring twice Saturday. “You play all season for this,” Killorn, who has 18 goals and 36 points in 49 career playoff games, told reporters. “Playoff hockey is great. There are a few more cameras around, a couple more people watching, but I think we like that pressure.” Forwards Nikita Kucherov and Tyler Johnson have also scored twice in the first two games while defenseman Ryan McDonagh and left wing Ondrej Palat each boast three assists.

ABOUT THE DEVILS: Cory Schneider, who has not won a game since Dec. 27 while struggling with injuries and an .863 save percentage since, stopped all 10 shots he faced in relief of Keith Kinkaid on Saturday and could get the start Monday. “It was good to give him an opportunity to get in there,” coach John Hynes told reporters, “and I thought he came in and made huge saves, looked solid, so that’s a positive for us moving forward.” Hynes went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen Saturday while inserting blue liner Damon Severson (three shots, 16:41 of ice time) into the lineup and hinted there could be more changes for Game 3.

SERIES PRICE (PER SPORTS INTERACTION):



LINE HISTORY: The Lightning opened as +120 road favorites at most books and money coming in on the home team has seen that number bet down to +115. The total hit the board 5.5 and has been bet up slightly to an even 6.

INJURY REPORT:

Lightning - D Dan Girardi (Questionable, Undisclosed), RW Ryan Callahan (Questionable, Upper Body), LW Adam Erne (Out Indefinitely, Lower Body).

Devils - LW Marcus Johansson (Questionable, Concussion).

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Lightning are 4-0 in their last 4 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Over is 5-0 in Devils last 5 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
* Over is 6-1 in Devils last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Over is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings.




Nashville Predators at Colorado Avalanche (+140, 5.5)

Predators lead series 2-0.

The Colorado Avalanche are banking that the Rocky Mountain air will breathe new life into their Western Conference first-round series with the Nashville Predators. The Avalanche, who matched franchise records for consecutive home wins (10) and total victories on the season (28), have dropped 12 straight to the Predators -- including the first two heading into Monday's Game 3.

ABOUT THE PREDATORS: Nashville has spread its offense around in the first two games of the series, with eight players responsible for the team's 10 goals. Filip Forsberg and Austin Watson have each scored twice, with the former netting five goals in his last three contests while latter has tallied in three straight. Ryan Johansen scored in Game 2 to extend his point streak to four contests while defenseman P.K. Subban set up two goals on Saturday to boost his point total to seven (one goal, six assists) in his last eight outings.

ABOUT THE AVALANCHE: While MacKinnon has eight points (two goals, six assists) in his last seven games, captain Gabriel Landeskog has seven (two goals, five assists) in that stretch after scoring and setting up a goal in Game 2. While the statistics are piling up, the wins are not -- but Landeskog told reporters that a victory in Game 3 would eliminate any lingering doubts on his club and generate some for the opponent. "I think it's win Game 3 and all of a sudden you are feeling good and they start second-guessing themselves," the 25-year-old Swede said. "We just got to make sure we take care of these two at home, that's the bottom line. Especially Game 3, we can't look too much further ahead than that, but make sure we win Game 3 and then after that get rolling."

SERIES PRICE (PER SPORTS INTERACTION):



LINE HISTORY: The Predators opened as +120 road chalk and that number wasn't high enough as money rolled in on Nashville pushing the line as high as +140. The total opened at 6 and has been bet down slightly to 5.5.

INJURY REPORT:

Predators - C Calle Jarnkrok (Questionable, Upper Body), D Yannick Weber (Questionable, Upper Body).

Avalanche - D Samuel Girard (Questionable, Upper Body), G Semyon Varlamov (Out Indefinitely, Knee), D Erik Johnson (Late May, Knee).

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Predators are 8-0 in their last 8 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Avalanche are 1-5 in their last 6 overall.
* Over is 6-1 in Predators last 7 games following a win.
* Over is 5-0 in Avalanche last 5 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Predators are 6-0 in the last 6 meetings in Colorado.
* Over is 6-1-1 in the last 8 meetings in Colorado.




Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks (-140, 5)

Sharks lead series 2-0.

The Anaheim Ducks are in a familiar -- albeit uncomfortable -- position, having lost the opening two games at home for the third time in their last five postseason appearances. The Ducks will have to find a way to claw back into their Western Conference first-round series on the road against a Pacific Division rival when they head north to face the San Jose Sharks on Monday night.

ABOUT THE DUCKS: Anaheim, which entered the postseason with the fewest goals of any of the 16 teams, now must attempt to duplicate last season's series against Edmonton, when it dropped the first two at home before rally to prevail in seven games. “Sure, we can draw on that,” said Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm, who scored one goal and set up another Saturday. “People have not been believing in us all year but we know what we’re capable of.” Rickard Rakell, the team's leading goal (34) and overall scorer, has been limited to two shots on goal through the first two games.

ABOUT THE SHARKS: Goaltender Martin Jones won only once in his final five starts of the regulation season but he has turned away 53 of 55 shots in the series and has surrendered only seven goals in five matchups against the Ducks this season. Captain Joe Pavelski, who has collected three assists in the first two games, said a key factor for San Jose was to not get rattled by the relentless physical play of Anaheim. "Nothing we haven't taken before," Pavelski said. "Maybe they are coming a little bit harder. Be poised. Make some plays. Stick to what we are trying to do."

SERIES PRICE (PER SPORTS INTERACTION):



LINE HISTORY: The Sharks opened as high as -161 home chalk and that number was too high and money coming in on Anaheim has dropped that moneyline down as low as -135 at some books. The total hit the betting board at 5 and has yet to move off the opening number.

INJURY REPORT:

Ducks - D Cam Fowler (Mid May, Shoulder), RW Patrick Eaves (Out For Season, Illness).

Sharks - C Joe Thornton (Questionable, Knee), RW Barclay Goodrow (Questionable, Upper Body).

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Sharks are 8-2 in their last 10 games following a win.
* Under is 7-1 in Ducks last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Under is 6-0-1 in the last 7 meetings in San Jose.
* Ducks are 0-4 in the last 4 meetings.

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MONDAY, APRIL 16
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

BOS at TOR 07:00 PM
TOR -115
O 5.5

TB at NJ 07:30 PM
TB -155
O 6.0

NAS at COL 10:00 PM
NAS -150
U 5.5

ANA at SJ 10:30 PM
SJ -155
O 5.0

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Matthews, Marleau help Maple Leafs beat Bruins in Game 3
April 16, 2018

TORONTO (AP) Auston Matthews got the go-ahead goal in the second period, Patrick Marleau scored twice, and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Boston Bruins 4-2 on Monday night in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

James van Riemsdyk also scored and Mitch Marner and Morgan Rielly added two assists each ti help Toronto pull to 2-1 in the best-of-seven set. Frederik Andersen stopped 40 shots.

Adam McQuaid and Zdeno Chara had the goals for Boston, Sean Kuraly had two assists, and Tuukka Rask finished with 26 saves.

The Maple Leafs will look to even the series at home in Game 4 on Thursday night.

DEVILS 5, LIGHTNING 2

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Taylor Hall had a goal and two assists, setting up Stefan Noesen's game-winner with 7:05 play, and New Jersey scored four times in the third to beat Tampa Bay in Game 3.

Rookie Will Butcher had a power-play goal earlier in the third to tie the score 2-all, and Blake Coleman and Ben Lovejoy added empty net goals late. Cory Schneider made 34 saves while starting in place of Keith Kinkaid.

Schneider, who seemed to hurt his groin in a collision with Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh midway through the final period, survived a late power play to nail down the win.

Alex Killorn and Steven Stamkos each had a power-play goal and an assist for the Lightning. Nikita Kucherov added two assists, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 36 saves.

Game 4 of the best-of-seven series will be Wednesday night at the Prudential Center.

SHARKS 8, DUCKS 1

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Joonas Donskoi scored one goal and set up another to start a four-goal barrage in the second period and San Jose raced past Anaheim for the third straight game to take a 3-0 series lead.

Donskoi scored and then set up Marcus Sorensen in the opening four minutes of the second period to seize control of the game and series.

Eric Fehr and Tomas Hertl added goals later in the second to turn this all-California series into a rout. Logan Couture had a goal and two assists, Joe Pavelski, Evander Kane and Chris Tierney scored power-play goals in the third period, for the Sharks, who have outscored the Ducks 14-3 through the first three games of the first-round series.

Martin Jones made 45 saves, the most for a Sharks goalie in a regulation playoff game.

San Jose will look to complete the sweep in Game 4 at home Wednesday night.

Rickard Rakell scored a power-play goal for Anaheim, which has scored three goals all series - including just one at even strength.

AVALANCHE 5, PREDATORS 3

DENVER (AP) - Nathan MacKinnon scored twice, including one as part of a three-goal first period and another to chase Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne from the game, and Colorado pulled to 2-1 in the first-round series.

Blake Comeau and Gabriel Bourque also scored in a furious opening period that revved up a pom-pom waving capacity crowd. Gabriel Landeskog was credited with an empty-net goal for the Avalanche, who snapped a 12-game skid against the Predators.

Game 4 is Wednesday in Denver.

MacKinnon's goal at 4:25 of the second period gave Colorado a 4-0 lead and prompted the Predators to pull Rinne in favor of backup Juuse Saros. Rinne allowed four goals on 15 shots.

Jonathan Bernier stopped 29 shots on a night when the Avalanche finished 0 for 5 on the power play. Ryan Johansen had a second-period goal and Colton Sissons scored another in the third to make it 4-2.

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SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY APRIL 17, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:30 PM Washington Capitals Columbus Blue Jackets Nationwide Arena
8:00 PM Winnipeg Jets Minnesota Wild Xcel Energy Center
10:30 PM Vegas Golden Knights Los Angeles Kings Staples Center

SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY APRIL 18, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins Philadelphia Flyers Wells Fargo Center
7:30 PM Tampa Bay Lightning New Jersey Devils Prudential Center
10:00 PM Nashville Predators Colorado Avalanche Pepsi Center
10:30 PM Anaheim Ducks San Jose Sharks SAP Center at San Jose

SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY APRIL 19, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:00 PM Boston Bruins Toronto Maple Leafs Air Canada Centre
7:30 PM Washington Capitals Columbus Blue Jackets Nationwide Arena
10:00 PM Los Angeles Kings Vegas Golden Knights T-Mobile Arena

SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY APRIL 20, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
12:00 AM Colorado Avalanche Nashville Predators Bridgestone Arena
12:00 AM Minnesota Wild Winnipeg Jets Bell MTS Place
12:00 AM Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins PPG Paints Arena
12:00 AM San Jose Sharks Anaheim Ducks Honda Center


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NHL PLAYOFF RECORD:

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

04/16/2018 5-3-0 62.50% +4.25
04/15/2018 5-1-2 83.33% +21.25
04/14/2018 1-6-1 14.29% -27.75
04/13/2018 2-3-1 40.00% -11.50
04/12/2018 4-5-1 44.44% -4.00
04/11/2018 4-2-0 66.67% +9.50

TOTALS..........25-20-5.......55.55%.....-8.25

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Tuesday’s 6-pack

— Rockies 6, Pirates 2— Colorado TV guys estimated the crowd for this game at 1,500 on a cold, snowy night.

— Nationals 8, Mets 6— New York bullpen blew a 6-1, 8th inning lead.

— Bryce Harper got sawed off on the fists and still hit a HR into the RF bullpen.

— Heat 113, 76ers 103— Series is now tied 1-1.

— Big guy Omar Yurtseven transfers from NC State to Georgetown; not good for the Wolfpack.

— RIP Harry Anderson 65, who played a funny judge on the TV show Night Court for nine years.

Quote of the Day
“I’d feel a little bit uneasy if I were at the top of this draft and I decided I had to have a quarterback. The pressure to get a quarterback is so great in this league, I get that. But we can’t create ’em. I wouldn’t be surprised if only one of these guys is left standing in four or five years, and if so, I’d guess it would be Sam Darnold.”
Sean Payton

Tuesday’s quiz
What state is Vice-President Mike Pence from?

Monday’s quiz
Bartolo Colon begin his major league career with the Cleveland Indians, in 1997.

Sunday’s quiz
Steve Kerr was once the GM of the Phoenix Suns.

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Tuesday’s List of 13: Nobody asked me, but…..
13) Tonight in Oakland, the A’s commemorate the 50th anniversary of their first-ever game in the Oakland Coliseum. Admission is free, place will be packed as the A’s play the White Sox.

50 years ago, the A’s lost 4-1 to Baltimore in their home opener; Rick Monday hit a solo homer for the A’s only run. A pinch-hitter named Tony LaRussa had Oakland’s only other hit.

12) If I was a D-I college basketball coach, I’d make sure my school offered a course called Financial Literacy, and all my players/support staff would take it.

How to write a check, open a savings account, invest money, divorce laws, child support, stock market- all that stuff would be covered. Every day things you will need whether you play in the NBA or not.

You read about a lot of pro athletes going broke after they’ve made millions and it makes you want to puke. They need to learn how to handle their own money instead of trusting others— in this crazy world of ours, it is a debatable strategy to trust strangers with your money.

11) Ice problems in Toronto; CN Tower was closed Monday, after reports of ice chunks falling off the tower, endangering buildings and pedestrians.

The roof on Rogers Centre was damaged by falling ice; Royals-Blue Jays game was postponed.

A chunk of ice also flew off the roof of one of the Kansas City Royals’ team buses and broke the windshield of the second bus. One of the players grabbed the wheel of the bus after the driver was hit by a piece of the broken glass.

10) Nickname of the Day: Teams at the U of Arkansas-Monticello are known as the Boll Weevils.

9) Arizona Wildcats are hurting for basketball players; they signed 6-6 wing Omar Thielemans from Belgium, who was described this way: “……..is a good athlete who is a “mid-major” level player.” That description came from someone who has seen Thielemans play in Europe, and it didn’t sound like much of an endorsement for a kid headed to the Pac-12.

8) For the record, the last major league baseball game to have only one hit: Sandy Koufax’s perfect game against the Cubs on September 9, 1965.

Astros-Rangers was headed that way Sunday night; Bartolo Colon was still throwing 92 in the 8th inning, and he is 44 years old.

7) High school football games in Alabama are going to have instant replay at every game starting this fall. Note to self: Never, ever visit Alabama- it seems like a very strange place.

Even Texas doesn’t have instant replay for high school games; they probably will now.

6) Sports Illustrated’s Peter King mentioned more than once in his weekly column Monday that the Bills might trade as many as three first-round draft picks to move into the top 4 of the draft next week. If I owned an NFL team that had a top 4 pick, I’d tell my GM to accept any offer of three first round picks in a trade, or else I’d fire him. First round picks are gold.

Say the Browns draft a QB with the first pick, doesn’t matter which one; the Giants take either Barkley or Chubb, and the Jets take the QB they want. Then if I’m the Browns and Buffalo calls and wants to give me three #1 picks for the 4th pick, I’m just fine with that.

5) Guy I know who knows a lot about the NFL is down on Wyoming QB Josh Allen, and that is being kind. Allen won me a lot of units when I picked Wyoming on this site, but he has to become a more accurate passer and he damn well better learn how to slide when he runs with the ball. I still like him, but the accuracy thing reminds me a little of Jake Locker.

4) My thought is that FOX should put together a QB classroom TV show like the one Jon Gruden used to do, using Troy Aikman in Gruden’s role. I think he’d be very good at it, and I’d think he’d enjoy doing it.

3) Baseball injuries:
— Pirates lost 2B Josh Harrison (broken hand) for six weeks
— Rays lost OF Kevin Kiermaier (thumb ligaments) for 8-12 weeks

2) This spring, someone in my fantasy baseball league offered me Aaron Sanchez and Braves’ prospect Ronald Acuna for Giancarlo Stanton— not a strong offer, but Acuna is being touted as God’s gift to baseball and the second coming of Barry Bonds— I declined.

Acuna started the season at AAA Gwinnett so the Braves can keep him under team control for an extra season; as you read this, he is hitting .139 in AAA.

1) It was windy as hell and raining sideways for the Boston Marathon Monday; too bad. People work so hard to get ready to run the 26-mile marathon. Hell, I get tired driving 26 miles.

Tuesday’s List of 13: Nobody asked me, but….

13) Tonight in Oakland, the A’s commemorate the 50th anniversary of their first-ever game in the Oakland Coliseum. Admission is free, place will be packed as the A’s play the White Sox.

50 years ago, the A’s lost 4-1 to Baltimore in their home opener; Rick Monday hit a solo homer for the A’s only run. A pinch-hitter named Tony LaRussa had Oakland’s only other hit.

12) If I was a D-I college basketball coach, I’d make sure my school offered a course called Financial Literacy, and all my players/support staff would take it.

How to write a check, open a savings account, invest money, divorce laws, child support, stock market- all that stuff would be covered. Every day things you will need whether you play in the NBA or not.

You read about a lot of pro athletes going broke after they’ve made millions and it makes you want to puke. They need to learn how to handle their own money instead of trusting others— in this crazy world of ours, it is a debatable strategy to trust strangers with your money.

11) Ice problems in Toronto; CN Tower was closed Monday, after reports of ice chunks falling off the tower, endangering buildings and pedestrians.

The roof on Rogers Centre was damaged by falling ice; Royals-Blue Jays game was postponed.

A chunk of ice also flew off the roof of one of the Kansas City Royals’ team buses and broke the windshield of the second bus. One of the players grabbed the wheel of the bus after the driver was hit by a piece of the broken glass.

10) Nickname of the Day: Teams at the U of Arkansas-Monticello are known as the Boll Weevils.

9) Arizona Wildcats are hurting for basketball players; they signed 6-6 wing Omar Thielemans from Belgium, who was described this way: “……..is a good athlete who is a “mid-major” level player.” That description came from someone who has seen Thielemans play in Europe, and it didn’t sound like much of an endorsement for a kid headed to the Pac-12.

8) For the record, the last major league baseball game to have only one hit: Sandy Koufax’s perfect game against the Cubs on September 9, 1965.

Astros-Rangers was headed that way Sunday night; Bartolo Colon was still throwing 92 in the 8th inning, and he is 44 years old.

7) High school football games in Alabama are going to have instant replay at every game starting this fall. Note to self: Never, ever visit Alabama- it seems like a very strange place.

Even Texas doesn’t have instant replay for high school games; they probably will now.

6) Sports Illustrated’s Peter King mentioned more than once in his weekly column Monday that the Bills might trade as many as three first-round draft picks to move into the top 4 of the draft next week. If I owned an NFL team that had a top 4 pick, I’d tell my GM to accept any offer of three first round picks in a trade, or else I’d fire him. First round picks are gold.

Say the Browns draft a QB with the first pick, doesn’t matter which one; the Giants take either Barkley or Chubb, and the Jets take the QB they want. Then if I’m the Browns and Buffalo calls and wants to give me three #1 picks for the 4th pick, I’m just fine with that.

5) Guy I know who knows a lot about the NFL is down on Wyoming QB Josh Allen, and that is being kind. Allen won me a lot of units when I picked Wyoming on this site, but he has to become a more accurate passer and he damn well better learn how to slide when he runs with the ball. I still like him, but the accuracy thing reminds me a little of Jake Locker.

4) My thought is that FOX should put together a QB classroom TV show like the one Jon Gruden used to do, using Troy Aikman in Gruden’s role. I think he’d be very good at it, and I’d think he’d enjoy doing it.

3) Baseball injuries:
— Pirates lost 2B Josh Harrison (broken hand) for six weeks
— Rays lost OF Kevin Kiermaier (thumb ligaments) for 8-12 weeks

2) This spring, someone in my fantasy baseball league offered me Aaron Sanchez and Braves’ prospect Ronald Acuna for Giancarlo Stanton— not a strong offer, but Acuna is being touted as God’s gift to baseball and the second coming of Barry Bonds— I declined.

Acuna started the season at AAA Gwinnett so the Braves can keep him under team control for an extra season; as you read this, he is hitting .139 in AAA.

1) It was windy as hell and raining sideways for the Boston Marathon Monday; too bad. People work so hard to get ready to run the 26-mile marathon. Hell, I get tired driving 26 miles.

[StarDust Bum]

Vegas looks to sweep L.A.
April 17, 2018

A Golden sweep?

There were plenty of questions to be answered going into this NHL playoffs first round duel. Many experts were expecting the experienced Kings to give the league’s new-boys a real hard time and indeed end what has been a dream ice hockey season in Las Vegas.

Three games on, however, it’s the Golden Knights once again hogging all the headlines as they look to continue their fairytale Stanley Cup chase with a sweep of their first ever postseason series.

Tuesday sees Marc-Andre Fleury and co. take to the ice at the Staples Center looking to seal the deal on what has been yet another capital in an astonishing story. After taking both games at home, the Golden Knights went out West on Sunday and bagged three third-period goals to ensure a come-from-behind 3-2 win.

The momentum looks to be all on the road-team’s side, but can they hold their nerve when it comes to the crunch in California tonight?

Golden Knights at Kings Game 4

Los Angeles Kings 4/5

To Win the Western Conference

Nashville Predators 19/10
Vegas Golden Knights 21/10
San Jose Sharks 9/2
Winnipeg Jets 9/2
Minnesota Wild 16/1
Colorado Avalanche 25/1
Anaheim Ducks 50/1
Los Angeles Kings 50/1

To Win The Stanley Cup – Intertops.eu

Nashville Predators 15/4
Vegas Golden Knights 4/1
Tampa Bay Lightning 9/2
Boston Bruins 5/1
Pittsburgh Penguins 8/1
San Jose Sharks 8/1
Winnipeg Jets 8/1
Columbus Blue Jackets 12/1
Toronto Maple Leafs 18/1
Washington Capitals 30/1
Minnesota Wild 33/1
Philadelphia Flyers 33/1
New Jersey Devils 40/1
Colorado Avalanche 50/1
Anaheim Ducks 100/1
Los Angeles Kings 100/1

Odds subject to change – Updated 4.17.18

[StarDust Bum]

NHL

Tuesday, April 17

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Washington Capitals
Washington is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 5 games
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Washington is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Washington is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Columbus
Washington is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing Columbus
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 6 games when playing Columbus
Washington is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Columbus
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Washington's last 12 games when playing on the road against Columbus
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Columbus is 15-4 SU in its last 19 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Columbus's last 5 games
Columbus is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Columbus is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games at home
Columbus is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Washington
Columbus is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Columbus's last 6 games when playing Washington
Columbus is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Columbus's last 12 games when playing at home against Washington


Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg is 3-10 ATS in its last 13 games
Winnipeg is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Winnipeg's last 5 games
Winnipeg is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Winnipeg's last 5 games on the road
Winnipeg is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Winnipeg's last 6 games when playing Minnesota
Winnipeg is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Winnipeg's last 7 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Minnesota Wild
Minnesota is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Minnesota is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Minnesota's last 12 games
Minnesota is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Minnesota is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing Winnipeg
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games when playing Winnipeg
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Winnipeg
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 7 games when playing at home against Winnipeg


Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games
Vegas is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Vegas's last 21 games
Vegas is 17-8 ATS in its last 25 games on the road
Vegas is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Vegas's last 12 games on the road
Vegas is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Los Angeles
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Vegas's last 6 games when playing Los Angeles
Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games
Los Angeles is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Los Angeles is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
Los Angeles is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Vegas
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 6 games when playing Vegas

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Dunkel

Tuesday, April 17


Washington @ Columbus

Game 51-52
April 17, 2018 @ 7:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Washington
12.413
Columbus
10.892
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 1 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Columbus
-140
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(+120); Over

Winnipeg @ Minnesota

Game 53-54
April 17, 2018 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Winnipeg
12.312
Minnesota
10.887
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Winnipeg
by 1 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Minnesota
-115
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Winnipeg
(-105); Over

Vegas @ Los Angeles

Game 55-56
April 17, 2018 @ 10:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Vegas
10.120
Los Angeles
11.634
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Los Angeles
by 1 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Los Angeles
-125
5
Dunkel Pick:
Los Angeles
(-125); Over




NHL
Long Sheet

Tuesday, April 17

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON (49-26-0-9, 107 pts.) at COLUMBUS (47-30-0-7, 101 pts.) - 4/17/2018, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
COLUMBUS is 24-11 ATS (+11.1 Units) on Tuesday nights over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 50-35 ATS (+5.1 Units) in all games this season.
WASHINGTON is 19-13 ATS (+5.7 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
WASHINGTON is 51-36 ATS (+92.7 Units) in road games in April games since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 245-243 ATS (+510.5 Units) in road games second half of the season since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 19-8 ATS (+9.5 Units) in road games revenging a home loss versus opponent over the last 3 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 23-11 ATS (+8.0 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
WASHINGTON is 26-17 ATS (+6.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 9-6 (+0.5 Units) against the spread versus COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 9-6-0 straight up against COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.6 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WINNIPEG (54-21-0-10, 118 pts.) at MINNESOTA (46-28-0-11, 103 pts.) - 4/17/2018, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 18-7 ATS (+6.8 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
WINNIPEG is 54-32 ATS (+10.7 Units) in all games this season.
WINNIPEG is 10-1 ATS (+8.8 Units) in April games over the last 2 seasons.
WINNIPEG is 28-21 ATS (+55.6 Units) in road games on Tuesday nights since 1996.
WINNIPEG is 36-22 ATS (+13.6 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
WINNIPEG is 27-13 ATS (+9.5 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
WINNIPEG is 52-40 ATS (+11.7 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 3 seasons.
WINNIPEG is 17-10 ATS (+31.1 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 73-77 ATS (-15.0 Units) second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 14-20 ATS (+41.0 Units) after a win by 2 goals or more this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
WINNIPEG is 10-7 (+4.7 Units) against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
WINNIPEG is 10-7-0 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
10 of 17 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.9 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VEGAS (54-24-0-7, 115 pts.) at LOS ANGELES (45-32-0-8, 98 pts.) - 4/17/2018, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VEGAS is 55-31 ATS (+17.7 Units) in all games this season.
VEGAS is 23-9 ATS (+11.0 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
VEGAS is 28-15 ATS (+12.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
LOS ANGELES is 84-84 ATS (-14.1 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 18-24 ATS (-15.4 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5 or less over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 7-14 ATS (-17.5 Units) in April games over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 43-49 ATS (-31.0 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 13-19 ATS (+33.0 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
LOS ANGELES is 16-28 ATS (-21.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
VEGAS is 5-2 (+2.8 Units) against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
VEGAS is 5-2-0 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
5 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+5.1 Units)

[StarDust Bum]

TUESDAY, APRIL 17
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

WAS at CLB 07:30 PM
WAS +110
O 5.5

WIN at MIN 08:00 PM
MIN -105
U 5.5

VEG at LA 10:30 PM
VEG +100
U 5.0

[StarDust Bum]

Eller, Capitals beat Blue Jackets in 2OT to tighten series
April 18, 2018

LOS ANGELES (AP) Brayden McNabb scored against his former team in the second period, lifting Vegas to a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night that made the Golden Knights the first expansion team in NHL history to sweep its first playoff series.

Marc-Andre Fleury turned in another stellar performance, stopping 31 shots as the Knights finished off their fourth one-goal victory of the series. It was his second shutout of the series.

The Knights poured into the net to hug Fleury at the final horn. Vegas fans in the crowd chanted the goalie's name in celebration.

The Knights became the second team to win their first four playoff games, joining the 1970 Pittsburgh Penguins.

Jonathan Quick made 20 saves for the Kings. who managed just three goals in this series and lacked offensive punch from center Anze Kopitar (one goal) and wings Brown and Tyler Toffoli (no goals).

CAPITALS 3, BLUE JACKETS 2, 2OT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Lars Eller scored 9 minutes into the second overtime and Washington beat Columbus to tighten up the first-round playoff series.

The Capitals won at Nationwide Arena after Columbus won the first two games - both in overtime - in Washington. It was the Capitals' turn to prevail in OT, this time on the Blue Jackets' home ice, to pull to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

On the winner, Eller tapped a rebound past Sergei Bobrovsky for his first goal in the playoff series.

Tom Wilson and John Carlson also scored, and Braden Holtby stopped 33 shots for the Capitals.

Game 4 is Thursday night back here with Game 5 set for Washington on Saturday.

Pierre-Luc Dubois and Artemi Panarin scored for Columbus, and Bobrovsky finished with 42 saves after getting 54 in the Game 2 on Sunday.

JETS 2, WILD 0

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Mark Scheifele scored both goals for Winnipeg and Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves for his seventh shutout this season, as the Jets took a 3-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.

Scheifele scored with 28 seconds left in the first period and tacked on an empty-netter with 11 seconds remaining, pushing the Wild to the brink of elimination.

Devan Dubnyk stopped 26 shots for the Wild, who played without star left wing Zach Parise because of a broken sternum suffered in Game 3. After a six-goal outburst in their last appearance, the Wild had trouble generating the same kind of relentless attack and simply couldn't slide any pucks past Hellebuyck.

Now the series shifts back to Winnipeg, with Game 5 on Friday night.

[StarDust Bum]

SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY APRIL 18, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins Philadelphia Flyers Wells Fargo Center
7:30 PM Tampa Bay Lightning New Jersey Devils Prudential Center
10:00 PM Nashville Predators Colorado Avalanche Pepsi Center
10:30 PM Anaheim Ducks San Jose Sharks SAP Center at San Jose

SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY APRIL 19, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:00 PM Boston Bruins Toronto Maple Leafs Air Canada Centre
7:30 PM Washington Capitals Columbus Blue Jackets Nationwide Arena
10:00 PM Los Angeles Kings Vegas Golden Knights T-Mobile Arena

SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY APRIL 20, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:00 PM Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins PPG Paints Arena
7:30 PM Minnesota Wild Winnipeg Jets Bell MTS Place
9:30 PM Colorado Avalanche Nashville Predators Bridgestone Arena
10:30 PM San Jose Sharks Anaheim Ducks Honda Center


**************************


NHL PLAYOFF RECORD:

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

04/17/2018 4-2-0 66.67% +9.75
04/16/2018 5-3-0 62.50% +4.25
04/15/2018 5-1-2 83.33% +21.25
04/14/2018 1-6-1 14.29% -27.75
04/13/2018 2-3-1 40.00% -11.50
04/12/2018 4-5-1 44.44% -4.00
04/11/2018 4-2-0 66.67% +9.50

TOTALS..........29-22-5.......56.86%.....+1.50

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday’s 6-pack

Odds for the Valero Texas Open this weekend:

Sergio Garcia 12-1

Matt Kuchar, Charley Hoffman 18-1

Luke List 22-1

Ryan Moore 25-1

Kevin Chappell 28-1

Adam Scott 30-1

Quote of the Day
“I know my role, and that’s to play as well as I possibly can at quarterback.”
Aaron Rodgers

Wednesday’s quiz
Who did the Knicks play the last time they made the NBA Finals?

Tuesday’s quiz
Vice-President Mike Pence is from Indiana.

Monday’s quiz
Bartolo Colon begin his major league career with the Cleveland Indians, in 1997.

************************

Wednesday’s List of 13: Mid-week musings…….

Its easy to shred the Miami Marlins after they traded their whole OF from last year, plus 2B Dee Gordon. A team that went 77-85 last year is off to a 5-12 start this season.

What did the Marlins get back for those four players? Here is a look at the 14 players they got back in their fire sale:

13) Players acquired from Bronx for Giancarlo Stanton, a move that was a salary dump:
— Starlin Castro 2B— 28-year old major league infielder who has a .282 career BA in nine big league seasons; he is likely to get flipped for more prospects in July. Castro is hitting .295 so far this season.
— Jose Devers SS— 18-year old hit .245 in A ball last year; his season hasn’t started yet.
— Jorge Guzman P— 22-year old was 5-3, 2.30 in 13 starts in NY-Penn League LY, a Class A short season league. His season hasn’t started yet.

12) Players acquired from St Louis for Marcell Ozuna:
— Daniel Castano P— 23-year old who is still in A ball— He is 2-0, 4.35 in Florida State League this month; Class A hitters are batting .275 against him.
— Zac Gallen P— 22-year old is 1-1, 3.18 in three AAA starts, allowing 23 hits in 17 IP this season.
— Sandy Alcantara P— 22-year old is said to be the best prospect Miami landed in these four deals. He is 0-0, 4.82 in two starts (9.1 IP) this season, allowing 8 hits, 8 walks in 9.1 IP, with 12 strikeouts. Alcantara allowed six runs in 8.1 IP in the majors (8 games) last year.
— Magneuris Sierra OF— 22-year old is 6-44 (.136) in AAA this season; he was 19-60 (.317) hitting in 22 games with St Louis last season.

11) Players acquired from Milwaukee for Christian Yelich:
— Iban Diaz 2B— 21-year old hit .222 in A-ball last year; he is off to a 1-24 start in the AA Southern League this year.
— Monte Harrison OF— 22-year old is off to a 5-31 (.161) start in AA, wth 16 strikeouts.
— Jordan Yamamoto P— 21-year old is heading into his 5th season of A ball; he was 17-19, 4.19 in his first four minor league seasons. Class A hitters have hit .267 against him.
— Lewis Brinson OF— 23-year old is hitting .131 for the Marlins this season. He hit .106 in 47 AB’s for Milwaukee last season.

10) Players acquired from Seattle for Dee Gordon:
— Robert Dugger P— 22-year old is 1-1, 4.91 in two starts in A ball; last year, he was 6-6, 2.75 in 31 games (18 starts) in A ball last year.
— Nick Neidert P— 21-year old is 1-0, 5.19 in two AA starts, allowing 14 hits in 8.2 IP. He was 1-3, 6.56 in the AA Texas League last year.
— Chris Torres SS— 20-year old hit .248 in three years of A ball; his 4th season of A ball hasn’t started yet.

It is still very early this season and most of these guys are young, but if you were a Marlins’ fan, how many of the 14 players they traded for would make you optimistic for the future?

Elsewhere in the world…….
9) Reading lot of stuff about Montreal and Portland, OR getting MLB expansion teams, which would put baseball at 32 teams and actually make scheduling easier, with an even amount of teams in both leagues. Wouldn’t have to have interleague games every day.

8) Lot of college athletic programs have fundraisers at golf courses; boosters pay to play golf with coaches or former players and programs raise a lot of money that way. UNLV’s football team had one of those this week at Spanish Trail golf course.

Boy, times have changed; back when UNLV basketball was a national power, Jerry Tarkanian wouldn’t hire an assistant coach who owned golf clubs. Seriously.

7) Atlanta 2B Ozzie Albies is the youngest player in the major leagues (21 years, 100 days old) and he is a damn good second baseman.

6) Mavericks-76ers will play couple of preseason games in China in October; Yale-Stanford will also play in China, in the annual game AliBaba sponsors.

5) Marlins 9, New York 1— JT Realmuto comes off the DL and hit a 3-run homer as Miami won in the Bronx. Rookie Jarwin Garcia allowed only one hit in five shutout innings; in his two starts this season, he’s allowed one hit, no runs in 11 IP.

Marlins’ payroll for their Opening Day lineup was $21,092,142.

Giancarlo Stanton is making $25,000,000 this season; he is 3-35 at home. No sympathy for him getting booed at home— he chose to go to New York, as opposed to St Louis/San Francisco.

4) Brett Favre tried out for the analyst’s job on Monday Night Football recently and apparently didn’t do too well- he won’t be hired.

NFL schedule comes out on Thursday and ESPN still doesn’t know who will be calling their MNF games. Sounds like Joe Tessitore will be the play-by-play guy.

3) It was so cold at the Rockies-Pirates game last night in Pittsburgh that all fans got a ticket voucher good for a free ticket to a future (Mon-Thurs) home game.

2) Question of the Day: If you owned an NFL team and had a really good QB, like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or Ben Roethlisberger, would you seek his input on personnel decisions regarding the offense? I’m curious what people think about this.

1) RIP Barbara Bush, 92. Only two people have been both a First Lady and the mother of a President, Mrs Bush and Abigail Adams. RIP, ma’am.

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday’s 6-pack

Odds for the Valero Texas Open this weekend:

Sergio Garcia 12-1

Matt Kuchar, Charley Hoffman 18-1

Luke List 22-1

Ryan Moore 25-1

Kevin Chappell 28-1

Adam Scott 30-1

Quote of the Day
“I know my role, and that’s to play as well as I possibly can at quarterback.”
Aaron Rodgers

Wednesday’s quiz
Who did the Knicks play the last time they made the NBA Finals?

Tuesday’s quiz
Vice-President Mike Pence is from Indiana.

Monday’s quiz
Bartolo Colon begin his major league career with the Cleveland Indians, in 1997.

************************

Wednesday’s List of 13: Mid-week musings…….

Its easy to shred the Miami Marlins after they traded their whole OF from last year, plus 2B Dee Gordon. A team that went 77-85 last year is off to a 5-12 start this season.

What did the Marlins get back for those four players? Here is a look at the 14 players they got back in their fire sale:

13) Players acquired from Bronx for Giancarlo Stanton, a move that was a salary dump:
— Starlin Castro 2B— 28-year old major league infielder who has a .282 career BA in nine big league seasons; he is likely to get flipped for more prospects in July. Castro is hitting .295 so far this season.
— Jose Devers SS— 18-year old hit .245 in A ball last year; his season hasn’t started yet.
— Jorge Guzman P— 22-year old was 5-3, 2.30 in 13 starts in NY-Penn League LY, a Class A short season league. His season hasn’t started yet.

12) Players acquired from St Louis for Marcell Ozuna:
— Daniel Castano P— 23-year old who is still in A ball— He is 2-0, 4.35 in Florida State League this month; Class A hitters are batting .275 against him.
— Zac Gallen P— 22-year old is 1-1, 3.18 in three AAA starts, allowing 23 hits in 17 IP this season.
— Sandy Alcantara P— 22-year old is said to be the best prospect Miami landed in these four deals. He is 0-0, 4.82 in two starts (9.1 IP) this season, allowing 8 hits, 8 walks in 9.1 IP, with 12 strikeouts. Alcantara allowed six runs in 8.1 IP in the majors (8 games) last year.
— Magneuris Sierra OF— 22-year old is 6-44 (.136) in AAA this season; he was 19-60 (.317) hitting in 22 games with St Louis last season.

11) Players acquired from Milwaukee for Christian Yelich:
— Iban Diaz 2B— 21-year old hit .222 in A-ball last year; he is off to a 1-24 start in the AA Southern League this year.
— Monte Harrison OF— 22-year old is off to a 5-31 (.161) start in AA, wth 16 strikeouts.
— Jordan Yamamoto P— 21-year old is heading into his 5th season of A ball; he was 17-19, 4.19 in his first four minor league seasons. Class A hitters have hit .267 against him.
— Lewis Brinson OF— 23-year old is hitting .131 for the Marlins this season. He hit .106 in 47 AB’s for Milwaukee last season.

10) Players acquired from Seattle for Dee Gordon:
— Robert Dugger P— 22-year old is 1-1, 4.91 in two starts in A ball; last year, he was 6-6, 2.75 in 31 games (18 starts) in A ball last year.
— Nick Neidert P— 21-year old is 1-0, 5.19 in two AA starts, allowing 14 hits in 8.2 IP. He was 1-3, 6.56 in the AA Texas League last year.
— Chris Torres SS— 20-year old hit .248 in three years of A ball; his 4th season of A ball hasn’t started yet.

It is still very early this season and most of these guys are young, but if you were a Marlins’ fan, how many of the 14 players they traded for would make you optimistic for the future?

Elsewhere in the world…….
9) Reading lot of stuff about Montreal and Portland, OR getting MLB expansion teams, which would put baseball at 32 teams and actually make scheduling easier, with an even amount of teams in both leagues. Wouldn’t have to have interleague games every day.

8) Lot of college athletic programs have fundraisers at golf courses; boosters pay to play golf with coaches or former players and programs raise a lot of money that way. UNLV’s football team had one of those this week at Spanish Trail golf course.

Boy, times have changed; back when UNLV basketball was a national power, Jerry Tarkanian wouldn’t hire an assistant coach who owned golf clubs. Seriously.

7) Atlanta 2B Ozzie Albies is the youngest player in the major leagues (21 years, 100 days old) and he is a damn good second baseman.

6) Mavericks-76ers will play couple of preseason games in China in October; Yale-Stanford will also play in China, in the annual game AliBaba sponsors.

5) Marlins 9, New York 1— JT Realmuto comes off the DL and hit a 3-run homer as Miami won in the Bronx. Rookie Jarwin Garcia allowed only one hit in five shutout innings; in his two starts this season, he’s allowed one hit, no runs in 11 IP.

Marlins’ payroll for their Opening Day lineup was $21,092,142.

Giancarlo Stanton is making $25,000,000 this season; he is 3-35 at home. No sympathy for him getting booed at home— he chose to go to New York, as opposed to St Louis/San Francisco.

4) Brett Favre tried out for the analyst’s job on Monday Night Football recently and apparently didn’t do too well- he won’t be hired.

NFL schedule comes out on Thursday and ESPN still doesn’t know who will be calling their MNF games. Sounds like Joe Tessitore will be the play-by-play guy.

3) It was so cold at the Rockies-Pirates game last night in Pittsburgh that all fans got a ticket voucher good for a free ticket to a future (Mon-Thurs) home game.

2) Question of the Day: If you owned an NFL team and had a really good QB, like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or Ben Roethlisberger, would you seek his input on personnel decisions regarding the offense? I’m curious what people think about this.

1) RIP Barbara Bush, 92. Only two people have been both a First Lady and the mother of a President, Mrs Bush and Abigail Adams. RIP, ma’am.

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday's NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Preview and Odds

There are four Stanley Cup playoff games on Wednesday's NHL schedule, including Game 4 between the Penguins and Flyers with Philly looking to lock the series up at two wins apiece on home ice..

Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers (+125, 6)

Penguins lead series 2-1.

The Philadelphia Flyers were still licking their wounds after sustaining two pronounced beatings at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins before the team suffered another potential key loss during Tuesday's practice. First-line center Sean Couturier collided with teammate Radko Gudas and will be re-evaluated on Wednesday prior to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series versus the visiting Penguins.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (49-30-4-2, 48-33 O/U): Pittsburgh's superstar captain Sidney Crosby has seven points (four goals, three assists) in the series to move within one of Mario Lemieux's franchise postseason record of 172 (76 goals, 96 assists). Patric Hornqvist has provided both a physical presence as well as an important one on the scoresheet during his 10-game point streak (seven goals, five assists), but coach Mike Sullivan noted that Pittsburgh will be without the gritty 31-year-old Swede for Game 4 due to an upper-body injury. Forward Dominik Simon, who had 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 33 games this season, replaced Hornqvist at right wing on a line with Crosby and Jake Guentzel during Tuesday's practice.

ABOUT THE FLYERS (43-28-7-7, 44-37 O/U): Versatile captain Claude Giroux could return to his center position should the 25-year-old Couturier be sidelined as the Flyers bid to even their best-of-seven series with the Penguins at two victories apiece. Prior to Couturier's injury, coach Dave Hakstol was bidding to light a spark under a team that has mustered just six goals in three contests - with five coming in Game 2. While rookie Nolan Patrick was summoned to replace Couturier on line with Giroux and Jakub Voracek in Tuesday's practice, Hakstol also inserted Jordan Weal on the third line with the 26-year-old set to make his series debut. Weal, who will replace Oskar Lindblom, recorded a team-high four points (two goals, two assists) in the season series versus Pittsburgh.

SERIES PRICE (PER SPORTS INTERACTION):



LINE HISTORY: The Penguins opened as -145 road favorites and, as of Tuesday night, that moneyline has yet to move. The total hit betting boards at 6 and has also been steady.

INJURY REPORT:

Penguins - D Kris Letang (Probable, Undisclosed), RW Patric Hornqvist (Out, Upper Body), RW Carter Rowney (Out Indefinitely, Upper Body).

Flyers - C Sean Couturier (Questionable, Undisclosed), G Michal Neuvirth (Questionable, Upper Body).

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Penguins are 9-2 in their last 11 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Flyers are 5-1 in their last 6 home games.
* Over is 12-3-1 in Penguins' last 16 road games.
* Over is 12-3-2 in Flyers' last 17 vs. Eastern Conference.
* Over is 8-1-2 in the last 11 meetings.




Tampa Bay Lightning at New Jersey Devils (+130, 6)

Lightning lead series 2-1.

The New Jersey Devils climbed back into the Eastern Conference first-round series with a comeback win and can even the slate when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 4 on Wednesday night. Taylor Hall registered a goal and two assists as the Devils rallied from one-goal deficits twice and scored four times in the third period for a 5-2 victory Monday.

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (56-24-3-2, 52-31 O/U): Nikita Kucherov had a pair of assists to increase his team-leading total to six points in the series for Tampa Bay, which led 1-0 in the second period and then 2-1 after captain Steven Stamkos’ goal 38 seconds into the third. However, the Lightning gave the Devils seven power plays - four in the third period - and New Jersey tied it on a 5-on-3 advantage to spark the four-goal uprising. The Lightning have scored five of their 12 goals in the series with the power play on nine chances and their much-maligned penalty kill is 10-for-12 - giving up one of those while down two men. Right wing Ryan Callahan (upper-body), a key on the penalty-killing unit, sat out Game 3 but participated in the morning skate Monday and could return to the lineup soon.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (45-31-5-4, 45-38 O/U): Cory Schneider replaced Keith Kinkaid in net for Game 3 and was outstanding when he needed to be, especially in the third period when he gloved a Tyler Johnson point-blank chance while laying on the ice. Forward Blake Coleman had an empty-netter Monday for his second goal in two games and boasts a series-high, plus-3 rating. New Jersey F Marcus Johansson (concussion) had two shots while logging 14:30 of ice time Monday in his first game since Jan. 23.

SERIES PRICE (PER SPORTS INTERACTION):



LINE HISTORY: The Lightning opened as -150 road favorites and, as of Tuesday night, that moneyline has not moved. The total hit betting boards at 6 and has also been steady.

INJURY REPORT:

Lightning - RW Ryan Callahan (Questionable, Upper Body), LW Adam Erne (Out Indefinitely, Lower Body).

Devils - No injuries to report.

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Lightning are 8-2 in their last 10 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Devils are 4-0 in their last 4 home games.
* Over is 5-0 in Lightning's last 5 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.
* Over is 4-0 in Devils' last 4 overall.
* Over is 5-1-1 in the last 7 meetings.




Nashville Predators at Colorado Avalanche (+150, 6)

Preds lead series 2-1.

The Nashville Predators are skating a fine line after surrendering the first goal in each of their first three playoff contests. While the Predators overcame early deficits in the first two, they were unable to do the same in the third and are in jeopardy of seeing their Western Conference first-round series knotted at two wins apiece should Game 4 at the Pepsi Center follow a similar path.

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (55-19-4-7, 44-40 O/U): The Predators permitted three first-period goals and have been outscored 5-0 over the course of the opening 20 minutes of each game in the series. P.K. Subban caused a stir by unleashing an open-ice shot to the back of the head of MacKinnon during Game 3, but the defenseman didn't pull any punches when asked about it. "Yeah, I'd do it again next game," the 28-year-old Subban told the Tennessean.

ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (44-32-8-1, 45-32 O/U): Potential Hart Trophy finalist Nathan MacKinnon scored twice to help Colorado snap a 12-game winless skid to Nashville while continuing his torrid play in Denver, as he has recorded 69 of his 102 points at Pepsi Center in the 2017-18 regular season and playoffs. While MacKinnon collected his fifth multi-point performance in nine career playoff contests, captain Gabriel Landeskog recorded a personal postseason best with three points (one goal, two assists) in Game 3 while linemate Mikko Rantanen notched his first multi-point playoff outing with a pair of assists.

SERIES PRICE (PER SPORTS INTERACTION):



LINE HISTORY: The Predators opened as -175 favorites for Game 4 and some early betting action on the underdog Avalanche has pushed that number down slightly to -170. The total hit betting boards at 6 and has yet to move off that opening number.

INJURY REPORT:

Predators - C Calle Jarnkrok (Questionable, Upper Body), D Yannick Weber (Questionable, Upper Body).

Avalanche - D Samuel Girard (Questionable, Upper Body), G Semyon Varlamov (Out Indefinitely, Knee), D Erik Johnson (Late May, Knee).

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Predators are 8-1 in their last 9 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Avalanche are 0-4 in their last 4 games following a win.
* Over is 5-0 in Predators' last 5 overall.
* Over is 6-0 in Avalanche's last 6 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Over is 7-1-1 in the last 9 meetings in Colorado.




Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks (-175, 5)

Sharks lead series 3-0.

The San Jose Sharks are one of only four teams in NHL history to lose a best-of-seven series after winning the first three games but, barring a stunning repeat of four years ago, they are heading to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. San Jose can complete a four-game sweep and close out the series on home ice when it hosts the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.

ABOUT THE DUCKS (44-28-6-7, 33-50 O/U): Rickard Rakell, who paced Anaheim in goals (34) and points (69), finally got on the scoreboard with a first-period tally but the Ducks were shut down the rest of the way and have managed only three goals in the series while piling up penalty minutes at an alarming rate. Getzlaf has been limited to two assists while Ondrej Kase, Adam Henrique, Jakob Silfverberg and Corey Perry have one goal and one point between them after combining for 74 goals during the season.

ABOUT THE SHARKS (48-27-7-3, 38-44 O/U): The Sharks have shown no residual effects from the late wobble down the stretch that enabled the Ducks to snag the No. 2 seed and home ice in the series, winning twice in Anaheim before returning home to destroy their Pacific Division rivals in an 8-1 drubbing Monday to set up an elimination game. Almost loss in the offensive showcase was the play of goaltender Martin Jones, who registered a playoff career-high 45 saves. San Jose is 6-for-17 on the power play in the series after converting on half its eight chances in Game 3.

SERIES PRICE (PER SPORTS INTERACTION):



LINE HISTORY: The Sharks opened as -175 favorites and, as of Tuesday night, that moneyline has not moved. The total hit betting boards at 5 and has also been steady.

INJURY REPORT:

Ducks - D Cam Fowler (Mid May, Shoulder), RW Patrick Eaves (Out For Season, Illness).

Sharks - D Brent Burns (Probable, Undisclosed), RW Barclay Goodrow (Questionable, Upper Body), C Joe Thornton (Questionable, Knee).

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Ducks are 12-5 in their last 17 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Sharks are 9-2 in their last 11 games following a win.
* Under is 10-3 in Ducks' last 13 road games.
* Over is 12-3-2 in Sharks' last 17 games following a win.
* Ducks are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings.