Betting news, trends, odds and predictions for Thursday, April 19, 2018 from various handicappers and websites
Preview: Bruins at Maple Leafs
Gracenote
Apr 18, 2018
Almost left for dead after the first two games of their Eastern Conference first-round series, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a chance to level the best-of-seven set when they host the Boston Bruins in Game 4 on Thursday night. The Maple Leafs absorbed a pair of beatings at Boston's TD Garden by a combined 12-4 score, but reversed the momentum with a 4-2 home win on Monday night.
With only four teams in history having come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series, Toronto coach Mike Babcock was keenly aware of the importance of winning Game 3 and understands his team needs a similar performance Thursday. “If we didn’t have success, I thought we were probably going to be done,” Babcock said. “(Now), you win one, you’re in a best-of-three. We’re set up real good that way. ... You still want to be in a better situation and be in the driver’s seat. So it’s important for us to even it up.” The Bruins did not exactly roll over Monday at Air Canada Centre, pouring 42 shots on goal, and acknowledged they didn't expect to steamroll the Maple Leafs at will the entire series. "You want to limit their chances, their opportunities as much as you can," Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. "We've been able to do that. But they were going to break through at some point. Fine, we get that game out of the way and get refocused and get ready for Game 4."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, NESN (Boston), CBC, TVAS (Toronto)
ABOUT THE BRUINS: Boston's top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak was all the rage in the opening two games, combining for a collective 20 points, but the unit was blanked in Game 3. “Clearly, it’s going to give them some motivation and it should when you keep them off the scoresheet," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "At the end of the day, I don’t think it will bother them one bit, and in fact, they might bear down a little bit more." Pastrnak, who had six points in Game 2, has six goals and seven assists in seven meetings versus Toronto this season.
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS: While Boston's top line dominated the first two games, Toronto's No. 1 unit was floundering by being held off the scoresheet, but star forward Auston Matthews provided the biggest moment for the Maple Leafs by netting the tiebreaking goal in Game 3. "Mats scoring that goal was a relief for him, but also a relief for our bench, the whole Toronto fan base," forward Mitch Marner said. "That goal was massive for our team." Frederik Andersen allowed eight goals in four periods in the first two contests, but his 40 saves Monday were his highest total since Feb. 20.
OVERTIME
1. Marner had two assists Monday to give him 13 points in seven games versus Boston this season.
2. Bruins rookie D Matt Grzelcyk is expected back in the lineup after sitting out Game
3. Maple Leafs F Patrick Marleau scored twice in Game 3 to boost his playoff total to 70 goals, tying Steve Yzerman for 16th on the all-time list.
PREDICTION: Bruins 4, Maple Leafs 3
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W/L Trends
Boston
Bruins are 12-2 in their last 14 games playing on 2 days rest.
Bruins are 14-4 in their last 18 Thursday games.
Bruins are 9-3 in their last 12 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Bruins are 19-7 in their last 26 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Bruins are 20-8 in their last 28 vs. Atlantic.
Bruins are 35-16 in their last 51 vs. Eastern Conference.
Bruins are 46-22 in their last 68 overall.
Bruins are 0-5 in their last 5 road games.
Bruins are 0-4 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Toronto
Maple Leafs are 5-0 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Maple Leafs are 10-4 in their last 14 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Maple Leafs are 5-2 in their last 7 Thursday games.
Maple Leafs are 35-17 in their last 52 home games.
Maple Leafs are 18-41 in their last 59 vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Maple Leafs are 1-4 in their last 5 games following a win.
Maple Leafs are 1-5 in their last 6 Conference Quarterfinals games.
OU Trends
Boston
Over is 3-0-2 in Bruins last 5 overall.
Under is 3-0-2 in Bruins last 5 Thursday games.
Over is 3-0-2 in Bruins last 5 vs. Atlantic.
Over is 3-0-2 in Bruins last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 2-0-3 in Bruins last 5 Conference Quarterfinals games.
Over is 2-0-2 in Bruins last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 6-2 in Bruins last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 7-3 in Bruins last 10 road games.
Toronto
Over is 7-0-1 in Maple Leafs last 8 vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 4-0-2 in Maple Leafs last 6 vs. Atlantic.
Over is 3-1-1 in Maple Leafs last 5 Thursday games.
Under is 3-1-1 in Maple Leafs last 5 games following a win.
Over is 3-1-1 in Maple Leafs last 5 home games.
Over is 18-6-2 in Maple Leafs last 26 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 20-7-2 in Maple Leafs last 29 overall.
Over is 15-6 in Maple Leafs last 21 games playing on 2 days rest.
Over is 5-2-1 in Maple Leafs last 8 Conference Quarterfinals games.
Under is 11-5-2 in Maple Leafs last 18 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Head to Head
Over is 3-0-1 in the last 4 meetings.
Home team is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
Bruins are 3-8 in the last 11 meetings.
Bruins are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings in Toronto.
Preview: Capitals at Blue Jackets
Gracenote
Apr 18, 2018
Fresh off their second straight overtime loss, Alex Ovechkin generated both headlines and raised eyebrows after declaring that the Washington Capitals would return to the District of Columbia tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets at two victories apiece in their Eastern Conference first-round series. Halfway there after a double-overtime win, the visiting Capitals look to make Ovechkin's words ring true in Game 4 on Thursday.
Ovechkin recorded his second straight two-point performance when he notched a pair of assists in his 100th career playoff game before Lars Eller ended Tuesday's marathon after the puck caromed off him and into the net for a 3-2 win. "It was a real ugly OT-winner goal. I had a feeling it was going be one of those. It doesn't make the win less sweet," the 28-year-old Eller told the Washington Post. Or less sour for the Blue Jackets, who saw Artemi Panarin's eighth straight multi-point performance go by boards in the setback. The former Calder Trophy recipient scored and set up a goal in Game 3 to give him seven points (two goals, five assists) in the series and 20 (four goals, 16 assists) in the eight-game stretch.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, USA, Sportsnet, TVAS2, NBCS Washington, FS Ohio (Columbus)
ABOUT THE CAPITALS: Braden Holtby earned his keep on Tuesday with 33 saves, prompting coach Barry Trotz to declare the 2016 Vezina Trophy winner the starter the following day. "I don't think there's any doubt about that," Trotz said of Holtby, who answered a 1-5-2 mark with a gaudy 4.82 goals-against average and .854 save percentage from Feb. 11-March 5 with a solid 5-1-0 record in his final six regular-season starts. Holtby also rebounded after Panarin's 2-on-1 goal early in the third period in Game 3 to stop the final 17 shots he faced.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS: Cam Atkinson joined defenseman Seth Jones with an assist on Tuesday to extend their respective point streaks, with the former riding a 12-game stretch (10 goals, seven assists). Jones logged a team-high 35:04 and Panarin had over 31 1/2 minutes, prompting Columbus coach John Tortorella to give his team the day off from practice on Wednesday with both teams working a staggering 47:24 of overtime in the series. "During playoffs, to me, it's not a physical fatigue; it's a mental fatigue - and that's what breaks you down physically," Tortorella said on Wednesday. "But if we're fatigued three games in, (expletive), we're just starting. It's a long game last night, and we've had a couple overtime games, but that's all part of this."
OVERTIME
1. Washington C Nicklas Backstrom, who has five assists in the series and is riding a six-game point streak (two goals, nine assists) will skate in his 100th career NHL playoff game on Thursday.
2. Two-time Vezina Trophy winner G Sergei Bobrovsky owns a .925 save percentage after facing 133 shots in three contests of the series.
3. This series is the 22nd in NHL history that has featured at least three consecutive overtime games.
PREDICTION: Capitals 3, Blue Jackets 2
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W/L Trends
Washington
Capitals are 6-0 in their last 6 road games.
Capitals are 5-0 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Capitals are 11-4 in their last 15 vs. Eastern Conference.
Capitals are 13-5 in their last 18 overall.
Capitals are 5-2 in their last 7 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Capitals are 70-29 in their last 99 games playing on 1 days rest.
Capitals are 7-3 in their last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
Capitals are 45-20 in their last 65 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Columbus
Blue Jackets are 4-0 in their last 4 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Blue Jackets are 11-2 in their last 13 vs. Eastern Conference.
Blue Jackets are 5-1 in their last 6 Thursday games.
Blue Jackets are 8-2 in their last 10 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Blue Jackets are 15-5 in their last 20 overall.
Blue Jackets are 9-3 in their last 12 home games.
Blue Jackets are 5-2 in their last 7 vs. Metropolitan.
Blue Jackets are 5-13 in their last 18 Conference Quarterfinals games.
Blue Jackets are 0-4 in their last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
OU Trends
Washington
Over is 4-0 in Capitals last 4 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Over is 5-1 in Capitals last 6 overall.
Under is 4-1-1 in Capitals last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 13-4 in Capitals last 17 Thursday games.
Over is 19-6-1 in Capitals last 26 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Over is 18-7-2 in Capitals last 27 games following a win.
Over is 20-8-1 in Capitals last 29 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 24-11-6 in Capitals last 41 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Columbus
Over is 5-0 in Blue Jackets last 5 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Over is 8-1 in Blue Jackets last 9 overall.
Over is 6-1 in Blue Jackets last 7 Thursday games.
Over is 6-1 in Blue Jackets last 7 vs. Metropolitan.
Over is 5-1 in Blue Jackets last 6 Conference Quarterfinals games.
Over is 4-1 in Blue Jackets last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 4-1 in Blue Jackets last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 4-1 in Blue Jackets last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 4-1 in Blue Jackets last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Head to Head
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Over is 9-3-1 in the last 13 meetings in Columbus.
Capitals are 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
NHL
Long Sheet
Thursday, April 19
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BOSTON (52-21-0-12, 116 pts.) at TORONTO (50-28-0-7, 107 pts.) - 4/19/2018, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 35-41 ATS (-18.9 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 19-10 ATS (+30.3 Units) when trailing in a playoff series since 1996.
TORONTO is 11-1 ATS (+9.8 Units) in home games after a win by 2 goals or more this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 9-7 (+3.7 Units) against the spread versus BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 9-7-0 straight up against BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
7 of 14 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.3 Units, Under=-0.5 Units)
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WASHINGTON (50-26-0-9, 109 pts.) at COLUMBUS (47-30-0-8, 102 pts.) - 4/19/2018, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 51-35 ATS (+6.2 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 8-1 ATS (+6.8 Units) in road games in April games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 16-9 ATS (+6.7 Units) in road games second half of the season this season.
WASHINGTON is 27-17 ATS (+7.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 10-6 (+1.5 Units) against the spread versus COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 10-6-0 straight up against COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
7 of 12 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.5 Units)
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NHL
Thursday, April 19
Trend Report
Boston Bruins
Boston is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games
Boston is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Boston's last 10 games on the road
Boston is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing Toronto
Boston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Boston is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 16 of Toronto's last 23 games
Toronto is 17-2 SU in its last 19 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Toronto's last 16 games at home
Toronto is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing Boston
Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
Washington Capitals
Washington is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 6 games
Washington is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Washington is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Washington is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Columbus
Washington is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing Columbus
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing Columbus
Washington is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Columbus
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Washington's last 13 games when playing on the road against Columbus
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Columbus is 15-5 SU in its last 20 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Columbus's last 9 games
Columbus is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Columbus is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Columbus's last 6 games at home
Columbus is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Washington
Columbus is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Columbus's last 5 games when playing Washington
Columbus is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Columbus's last 13 games when playing at home against Washington
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