Ottawa Senators vs. Montreal Canadiens
This matchup is a great clash of styles. The Canadiens are a fast skating team, looking to press the action. The Senators play a very conservative game. They rely on a strong defense, great penalty killing (#1 in NHL) and strong goal tending.
The Canadiens have very balanced scoring, eight players with double digit goals. Defenseman PK Subban is one of them, besides being one of the best defenders in the game. They like to put the puck on the net then swarm in front. As a result they are very hard to matchup with.
Goalie Carey Price is solid, but had a very tough April. He has had success in the past, but could be their Achilles heel at this time.
Ottawa has fought through injuries all season. Daniel Alfredsson is 40 years old now, but is still their second leading goal scorer. He has had quite a bit of success against the Canadiens in the past. Kyle Turris is their best forward and leads the team with a mere 12 goals. Jakob Silfverberg chipped in 10, same as Alfedsson. That’s it for double digit goal scorers.
Defensively Segei Gonchar can still put the puck on the net. Erik Karlsson is not much of an offensive threat, but when healthy is one the league’s best on the blue line. He averages 27 minutes a game, but will be closer to 30 minutes if he can hold up in this series,
Goaltender Craig Anderson has comes in hot. His 1.69 goals against and .941 save percentage speak for themselves. Both are the leagues best.
I’m making a strong play on the Senators +1.5 -230. I’m making a smaller play on the Sens game 1 +130 and a small play of the Sens to win the series +120.
New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals
The Caps started the first couple weeks as the worst team in the NHL. That’s no exaggeration, they won only 2 of their first 11. After a 5-2 loss to the Penguins, they had a come to Jesus meeting that turned the season around.
Alex Ovechkin gave up the Rip Van Winkle routine and came back with one of his best seasons. He scored 32 goals (led the league) and contributed 24 assists. He is again one of the NHL’s best players.
Right winger Troy Brouwer was second on the team in goals and will have to keep the threat alive in order to take some pressure off Ovechkin.
They are a bit weak at the blue line and sharp team like the Ranger could take advantage.
They have the #1 power play in the league (Ovechkin had 16 himself) but the worst penalty killing unit in the playoffs.
Goalie Brian Holtby is good, not great, but was outstanding in last years playoffs
The Rangers shook up their team this year. They, too, got off to a slow start but finished the year strongly. They finished 9-3-1 to not only sneak in, but get all the way to the sixth seed.
Part of their resurgence has been the improved play of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. In march, Lundqvist’s save percentage was .928, in April .931. He still finished fifth in the NHL in that stat and sixth in goals against average.
Rick Nash was added in the offseason and had productive season. He led the team in goals with 21 and added 21 assists. He was also second on the team in plus/minus with +16. Nash has been steady throughout and put two in the net in the season’s final game.
Ryane Clowe, added midseason, was a strong contributor when healthy but is highly doubtful to start the series. He could be missed.
These are both teams I would like to bet on. The Rangers are either pick (-110) or a slight -115 favorite for the series. Game 1, the Caps are -130. I would be forcing a play here if I did anything so I will pass all the way around. I’ll keep my eye on any significant events to see if anything comes to light for me. Right now, though: too tough.
Los Angeles Kings vs. St.Louis Blues
I saw nothing to change my mind about this series. The Blues outplayed the Kings for 59:30 then got lucky to win in OT. I still think the value is on the Blues. I laid a very reasonable -120 on the Blues to win game 2.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Anaheim Ducks
I think the Ducks are clearly the superior team. The prices are still reflected of what these teams once were, not what they are now. It’s the Wings who are young and inexperienced while the opposite is true of the Ducks. The Wings Mike Babcock might be the best in the game and I don’t count them out yet. But to me the value is still on the home favorite. I’m taking the Ducks -140 to win game 2.