The Anaheim Ducks will look to complete the comeback in game six tonight as they seek to close out the Los Angeles Kings. The game takes place at the Staples Center and is scheduled to start at 02:30 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Ducks at Kings live here:Preview: (Ducks currently lead the series 3-2):LAST GAME - Anaheim 4 Los Angeles 3 DUCKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  Things didn't look too good for Anaheim at the onset of this series; two consecutive home losses to the Kings had them on the brink of a near-unsalvageable series deficit, heading into game three. Fast forward three games, and a remarkable turnaround has Anaheim on the brink of their first Conference Final appearance in eight years, a they head back to Staples Center for game six. A few subtle adjustments made by head coach Bruce Boudreau prior to game four, including the moving of Devanta Smith-Pelly onto the first line, and the re-insertion of energy winger Kyle Palmieri and Dan Winnik into the lineup, have been catalysts in the Ducks resurgence; but no one has meant more to their success than John Gibson. The 20-year old rookie is 2-0 with a sparkling 1.50 goals against average and .957 save percentage in his two starts, including Saturday's shutout and Monday's 39 save stunner. For a team who had alternated between twogoalies throughout the first 9 games of their playoff runs, the stability and confidence Gibson has shown has given the Ducks all the backbone they need to turn this series around.  The Ducks will also hope for continued production from their new-look first line, led by captain Ryan Getzlaf (currently on a 5-game point streak). Smith Pelly seemed an excellent fit with Getzlaf and Corey Perry on Monday night, notching two goals and clearing space for the stars with his significant frame. The move also allowed Bruce Boudreau to utilize center Nick Bonino in a more natural spot, as he had been laboring (without success) at the first line winger spot, for the better part of the lats 5 games. KINGS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Los Angeles Kings face an elimination game for the fifth time these playoffs, but do so this time on the back of what has been a tough series collapse. A 2-0 series lead built up through strong performances in Anaheim seems a distant memory now, and it is up to the Kings to show their steel yet again, and come through in game six to force a seventh and deciding game on Friday. The biggest different for Los Angeles in their three losses has obviously been the play of goaltender Jonathan Quick, who is the player most critical to the Kings sustained success. It's remarkable to consider the difference in stat line for Quick in wins and losses: in the six games the Kings have won, Quick has a ridiculous .961 save percentage, and has allowed just 8 goals, while in the team's 7 losses, he has allowed 25 goals, and his save percentage is a substandard .848. It's clear that, for the kings to come back in this series, they will need Quick the former, and not the goalie who has been Jekyll and Hyde through two rounds. Another big reason it would be such a shock to see the Kings eliminated from the playoffs this early, is the fact that they possess both the playoff-leading goalscorer (Marian Gaborik, 8), and the playoff-leading point scorer (Anze Kopitar, 16) in the league. The duo has definitely been dynamic for the Kings in the first two rounds, and have done their part to ignite an offense that was one of the worst in the league in the regular season. It's now up to the depth scorers, including center Mike Richards (1 goal, 3 points in 12 games), winger Justin Williams (0 goals, 2 points in second round) and center Jeff Carter (1 goal, 3 points in second round) to give the team the secondary scoring it needs to pull even with Anaheim on Wednesday. BOTTOM LINE:  The Kings aren't the kind of team that are going to wilt under the pressure of an elimination game on Wednesday night; after all, they faced four consecutive ones against the Sharks in round two, and managed to claw their way back to make history. To be successful, they'll need Quick to be better, and to get secondary scoring behind Gaborik and Kopitar. Pretty simple. But maybe it's not all about how the Kings play? After all, the Ducks are the higher seed for a reason, and have been dominant in their three straight victories. It hasn't all been Gibson, either; they have played a more up-tempo, pressure offensive game, and can bring the same intensity to bear at the Staples Center on Wednesday night. And, if anything, you'd have to imagine that the Kings will have to be tired of elimination scenarios; a cat only have so many lives. Pick: Anaheim.]>
The Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens will bring their epic second-round battle to a close tonight, as they face off in what is sure to be a dramatic game seven in Boston. The game takes place at the TD Garden and is scheduled to start at 00:00 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Canadiens at Bruins live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 3-3):LAST GAME - Montreal 4 Boston 0 BRUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  It's do-or-die time for the favored Bruins, who come into game seven with one of the more battle-tested cores in the NHL. This is largely the same group that conquered three game sevens en route to a Stanley Cup in 2011, and dispatched of Toronto in similar dramatic fashion in the first round last season. Now, they must overcome their most familiar foe in Montreal, as they aim to return to the conference final for the third time in four seasons. The Bruins offense was largely a no-show in Monday's 4-0, as they registered just 26 shots on Habs goaltender Carey Price on the night, including a mere 8 in a third period in which they trailed. Leading the train of misery for the Bruins right now is second line winger Brad Marchand, who has yet to score in 11 games of these playoffs, and has gone three games against Montreal without a point. Marchand's line, along with center Patrice Bergeron and winger Reilly Smith, has gone quiet over the past three games, with only Smith managing to register a point (goal in game five) in that interim. For a team that relies on balanced scoring throughout the lineup, this simply isn't good enough. Goaltender Tuukka Rask has also been surprisingly pedestrian in this series for Boston; whereas he allowed just 6 goals in 5 games against the Red Wings in round one, Rask has already surrendered 16 in the six games of this one, and setting aside his game four shutout, has been the lesser of two goaltender in the series. Much like they did in their Cup run of 2011, the Bruins rely heavily on goaltending to be successful; they will need Rask to come through huge on Wednesday night, if they are to keep their championship hopes alive. CANADIENS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The underdog Montreal Canadiens have managed to go punch-for-punch with the Bruins throughout their dramatic seven game series, and they will look to complete the upset on Wednesday night, as they head back to the lion's den of T.D. Garden for one final clash. Though defenseman P.K. Subban gets all of the press for his brash on-ice antics and bold off-ice conjecture, goaltender Carey Price has been the steadying force that has guided the team to success through the first two rounds of these playoffs. Price had a brilliant 26 save performance on Monday night, making key early saves to keep the Bruins off the board, and more importantly, stay momentum for the Habs. Price has also faced a pressure-packed 'must-win' scenario a few times already this year; his play as the starting goaltender for Team Canada at the Sochi Olympics, including in the Gold Medal game, was the stuff legends are made of. And now, he has the chance to do the same for the club, and send Montreal to their first conference final since 2010. One under-documented storyline from game six was the re-emergence of the Habs first line, specifically big wingers Max Pacioretty and Thomas Vanek. Pacioretty had been maligned in the media for his inability to score in these playoffs (1 goal in 9 games prior to game six); but his 2-0 marker midway through the second game at a critical juncture for the Habs, and showed that he can still be a catalyst in these playoffs. Vanek, meanwhile, had a two goal night, and appeared to be engaged in the play again, after going pointless in the preceding two games. It is up to the duo, along with center David Desharnais, to lead the offensive charge for the Canadiens once again. BOTTOM LINE:  Simple logic suggests that this Bruins team, led by so many core players who have been in this situation innumerable times before, should come out on top. After all, they were the best team in the league in the regular season, have the best goalie in the world, maybe the best defenseman in the world, and balanced scoring. They were consensus Stanley Cup favorites at the onset of the playoffs for a reason. But there is also a reason to believe in these plucky Habs. Of all the teams in the league, Montreal seems to know how to play Boston the best. They've been the better team on the whole in this series, and need only bring the same effort to bear in game seven as they did in game six to be successful. And they've got Price, who finally looks like the all-World goaltender he was predicted to be when they drafted him in 2005. They won't be anybody's favorites heading into game seven, but they are a team that should inspire all the confidence in the world. Pick: Montreal.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Tuesday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... New York 2 Pittsburgh 1 Scorers: NYR - Boyle, Richards  PIT - Jokinen The New York Rangers completed their improbable comeback on Tuesday night, climbing back from a 3-1 series hole to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in game seven, by a 2-1 score line. The Rangers now move on to their second conference final in three seasons. Bryan Boyle opened the scoring for the rangers early in the first period, scoring his second of the playoffs on a brilliant pass from Dominic Moore. The game-winner for the Rangers would (ironically) come on the power play, where they have struggled for much of the playoffs. Center Brad Richards knocked home a brilliant pass from Martin St. Louis mid-way through the second, to establish a lead that the Rangers would not relinquish. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was absolutely brilliant, making 35 saves for the victory. [txt39786] It's another early summer for the star-studded Pittsburgh Penguins, who managed to throw away a hard-fought 3-1 series lead, falling in seven games to the upstart Rangers. Jussi Jokinen had his team-leading seventh goal of the playoffs in the second period, but the team couldn't find another way past Lundqvist on the night. Sidney Crosby finishes the playoffs with just 1 goal, having failed to score again in game 7 on two shots and 22:02 of ice time. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was tested with just 18 saves on the night, but will be pegged with the loss in another early exit for the Pens. Chicago 2 Minnesota 1 Scorers: CHI - Versteeg, Kane  MIN - Haula [txt11224] The Chicago Blackhawks finally managed to do away with the Minnesota Wild's home dominance, and it was an overtime goal from a familiar face that gave them a 2-1 victory on Tuesday night. The Blackhawks win the series 4-2. Patrick Kane notched his sixth goal of the playoffs (and third game-winning goal) to put the Hawks in the conference final for the fourth time in six seasons. The goal was Kane's first since putting up a two-goal effort in game one of the second round series. Winger Kris Versteeg had opened the scoring early in the first, with his first goal of the playoffs. Goaltender Corey Crawford was the real story for the Hawks, making 34 saves in a winning effort. The Minnesota Wild gave the Chicago Blackhawks all they could handle in game six, but couldn't find a way past Crawford in overtime, and now face the prospect of another long summer. Erik Haula posted his fourth goal of the playoffs in the second period, while the Wild peppered Crawford with 35 shots goal, led by Justin Fontaine's six. Wild goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov had another strong game for the team, making 25 saves in the losing effort.]>
The Chicago Blackhawks will try and end the home dominance of the Minnesota Wild tonight, and in doing so, book a ticket to the Conference Finals as they do battle in game six of their Eastern Conference semi-final.The game takes place at the Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul and is scheduled to start at 02:00 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Blackhawks at Wild live here:Preview (Chicago currently lead the series 3-2):LAST GAME - Chicago 2 Minnesota 1 BLACKHAWKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Chicago Blackhawks turned in a dominant defensive performance in Chicago on Sunday, and in doing so, put themselves back in the driver's seat in their second round series with the Minnesota Wild. Tuesday night in Wild, they have a chance to set aside a 1-4 road playoff record, and in doing so, make a trip to a second consecutive Western Conference Final. Coming up big for the Hawks on Sunday, as he has in every critical playoff situation he has ever been called upon, was captain Jonathan Toews, who scored the third period game winner early in the frame. The goal was his first in three games, and his fifth in the playoffs; what's more, it was his playoff-leading 4th game winning goal of the spring, demonstrating once again how critical his production is to the Hawks success. Chicago is now 5-0 in the playoffs in games where Toews scores. Another player who the Hawks needed to emerge was winger Patrick Sharp, the team's leading goal scorer from the regular season, who had notched just 1 goal in the playoffs prior to Sunday. His game-tying marker in the second gave him points in consecutive games for the first time these playoffs, and gives Chicago hope that he could be turning the corner. With winger Andrew Shaw expected to miss another game with an undisclosed injury, look for Sharp and Bryan Bickell to continue rotation on the wing on both the Toews line, as well as the first unit power play.  WILD EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Minnesota Wild have been a night-and-day team depending on the location of their games; in home contests these playoffs, they are a perfect 5-0, yet their 1-6 road record has held them back from being a truly dominant playoff team. Luckily for them, their must-win game six against the Hawks takes place at home, where they have been a much better team to this point in the playoffs. One thing the Wild will need to be successful again in game six, is a stronger performance from offensive catalysts Zach Parise and Mikael Granlund. The Blackhawks did an excellent job of shutting down the top-scoring duo in game five, and Minnesota will need to find a way to keep them from the Hawks top blue line duo of Keith and Seabrook, who were tasked on Parise and Granlund in game five. They could also use something from captain Mikko Koivu, who has just 1 assist in the series to this point, and has been heavily outplayed by his Chicago counterpart. The Wild will once again turn to Ilya Bryzgalov in net on Wednesday night, in hopes that the Russian veteran can keep up the same level of consistency he has to this point in the last three games. Bryzgalov was considered a question mark entering this series, as he inherited the starting job only because of an injury to incumbent starter Darcy Kuemper. Now, he's all the Wild have got, and they need him to be strong in game six if they are to stay alive BOTTOM LINE:  It is remarkable how well the Wild have done at home in these playoffs. Head coach Mike Yeo has employed his shutdown duo of Ryan Suter and Jonas Brodin in such a way that they have managed to hamper the offensive efforts of both Colorado, and now Chicago's, top offensive performers. But it isn't a form that can last forever. The Blackhawks found another gear on Sunday night, and showed that they are as capable of winning a tight-checking, defensive contest, as they are a shootout. Combine that with all the Stanley Cup experience they have on that roster, and it's not difficult to imagine the Hawks punching their ticket to the Western Conference Final in an emphatic way on Tuesday night. Pick: Chicago.]>
Game seven between the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers takes place tonight, with both teams facing a win-or-go-home scenario. The game takes place at the Consol Energy Center and is scheduled to start at 00:00 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Rangers at Penguins live here:Preview (Series currently level at 3-3):LAST GAME - New York 3 Pittsburgh 1 PENGUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  With their 3-1 series advantage but a distant memory, the Pittsburgh Penguins will look to prevent one of the biggest collapses in their franchise history on Tuesday night, and advance through to the Conference Final for a second consecutive season, as they play host to the New York Rangers in game seven. Whereas the problems of some teams require a full and thorough dissection, it is readily apparent what about the Pittsburgh Penguins has malfunctioned in these playoffs. Captain Sidney Crosby has just 1 goal (1-8) in 12 games to this point, and is a -3, a stat line which wouldn't be so terrible, were not such great things expected of him. The best player in the game has managed just four points in these series with the Rangers, and hasn't registered a point in two consecutive Penguins losses. This is in spite of being played on a line with Chris Kunitz and Evgeni Malkin, a trio which should be loaded for scoring bear. Instead, head coach Dan Bylsma has gotten nothing from the group, and that has spelled trouble for the reeling Pens. What's more, it appears as though New York have found a way to exploit goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury again, after it looked like the goaltender had found a way out of his early-playoff struggles. Fleury has allowed 7 goals on 56 shots in the last two games, and though much of the Penguins defensive problems have to do with the injury absence of shut-down blue liner Brooks Orpik, there have been some goals that simply can't go in. The Rangers aren't a particularly proficient offensive team, but they are good enough to exploit any perceived weaknesses, and there is perhaps no greater chink in the armor than the Penguins defense and goaltending right now. RANGERS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  On the back of a pair of excellent performances in games 5 and 6, the New York Rangers have managed to claw their way back into their second round series with Pittsburgh, and now find themselves on the brink of a big upset in game seven. All it'll take is one more stellar team effort, and they will be off to their second conference final in three years. The Rangers have certainly gotten an emotional boost from veteran Martin St. Louis, who overcame the loss of his mother late last week to put in strong performances in games 5 and 6. Head coach Alain Vigneault had moved St. Louis onto a line with former Tampa Bay teammate Brad Richards, and energy man Carl Hagelin, and the trio combined for 2 of the team's three goals in Sunday's victory. What's more, the return from injury of young Chris Kreider has enabled Vigneault to spread the scoring wealth around the Rangers wings; regular season leading scorer Mats Zuccarello is now on the third line, where he looked solid with Benoit Pouliot and Derick Brassard on Sunday. The one catalyst the Rangers can always turn to is goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, whose 37-save effort on Sunday was nothing short of heroic. What's more, the Rangers veteran is one of the best game 7 goaltenders in NHL history; in his last four game 7's, he is 4-0, with a 0.75 goals against average and a .973 save percentage. These are otherworldly numbers, and demonstrate how clutch the superstar Swede is in these situations for New York. They will need to be a hero again if they are to take game seven. BOTTOM LINE:  Game sevens are where reputations are made (or broken). The Penguins are a team which famously won the first Stanley Cup of the Crosby/Malkin era in a game seven back in 2009, but they have lost in both game sevens they have been in (2010 vs. Montreal, 2011 vs. Tampa Bay) since then.  The Rangers, on the other hand, have a guy like Lundqvist, who is one of the most clutch game seven goaltenders in the history of the league, to fall back on. They also have momentum, which they have built up by stymieing Crosby and Malkin over the last couple games, and finding weaknesses to exploit in Fleury and the Penguins D. And when it comes down to it, they're a deeper team up front. They can roll three solid scoring lines, while it seems that Pittsburgh can only really count on their second line for production right now. That could spell doom for Pittsburgh, and a Conference Final berth for the upstart New York Rangers.  Pick: New York.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Monday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Anaheim 4 Los Angeles 3 Scorers: ANA - Bonino, Smith-Pelly (2), Silfverberg  LAK - Lewis, Gaborik (2) The Anaheim Ducks rode a two goal performance from Devante Smith-Pelly, along with another lights-out showing from rookie goaltender John Gibson, to a 4-3 series lead on Monday night. In doing so, Anaheim gained a 3-2 series lead. Smith-Pelly, who was recently promoted to the Ducks' first line alongside superstars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, notched two goals within a minute-and-a-half of each other early in the second period, gaining first star honors in the victory. Center Nick Bonino had opened the scoring for Anaheim early in the first, while Jakob Silfverberg got the eventual game winner late in the second. John Gibson was stellar in his second-career playoff start, making 39 saves for the victory. [txt6020] Los Angeles surrendered a second period 4-1 hole which they could not climb out of, and now find themselves facing elimination for a second straight playoff series. Marian Gaborik added to his league-leading goal total with two markers on the night, while Trevor Lewis had another early in the first period. Goaltender Jonathan Quick had another tough outing, surrendering 4 goals on 24 shots in the loss. Game six goes Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Montreal 4 Boston 0  Scorers: MTL - Eller, Pacioretty, Vanek (2)  BOS - none [txt33997] There will be a game seven in the epic second round series between the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins, as Montreal rode the wave of an early lead to a 4-0 victory at the Bell Centre on Monday night. The series is now tied 3-3. The Habs got an early first period goal from Lars Eller off a defensive-end mistake by the Bruins, and never looked back. Winger Max Pacioretty notched just his second goal of the playoffs, while Tomas Vanek had two goals (the second of which was into an empty net) in the victory. Goaltender Carey Price was as strong as Montreal needed him to be, notching 26 saves for his first shutout of the playoffs. The Bruins didn't look competitive from moment one, and now face the prospect of a do-or-die game seven at home to the Habs on Wednesday night. Goaltender Tuukka Rask sunk back into poor form on Monday, making just 24 saves, while many of the Bruins key offensive players, including leading scorer Patrice Bergeron, and center David Krejci, were both non-factors in the game. Winger Loui Eriksson had a particularly ugly night, registering a -3 with just 1 shot on goal in 16:29 of ice time. Game seven goes Wednesday night in Boston.]>
The Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings continue their 'Freeway Series' tonight, with both teams seeking a series lead. The game takes place at the Honda Center, Anaheim and is scheduled to start at 03:00 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Kings at Ducks live here:Preview (Series currently tied 2-2):LAST GAME - Anaheim 2 Los Angeles 0  DUCKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Anaheim Ducks flipped the script in games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles, brushing aside a 2-0 series deficit to storm back into relevance with two consecutive victories. Game four was one of the more remarkable and unique games of the playoffs, and the Ducks will try and carry the momentum over from that game into Monday's clash with the Kings, where they can grab their first lead of the series. The story from Saturday night's 2-0 Anaheim victory was unquestionably the play of rookie goaltender John Gibson, who recorded a shutout in his first career playoff game. Head coach Bruce Boudreau made the gutsy decision to go with the 20-year old Gibson on Saturday morning, immediately following his call-up from minor league club Norfolk. In just 3 regular season games preceding, Gibson was undefeated, and had shown that he was unquestionably the future of the Ducks in net. On Saturday night, he gave credence to the belief that the future is now, making 28 saves in a truly remarkable performance that now situates him firmly in the Ducks crease as the starter for the club moving forward. Lost in all of the Gibson hype from Saturday night was the re-emergence of the Ducks first line, with big-scorers Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry looking like they've finally found a fit at let wing. 21 year old Devante Smith-Pelly was slotted into the role in advance of game four, and was stellar in netting the game winning goal on four shots in 19:06 of ice time. His placement also seemed to ignite Perry and Getzlaf, with the latter notching his first goal of the series along with an assist, and Perry potting 2 assists. Indeed, it is absolutely essential to the Ducks success that their first line click on all cylinders, and must be a relief to Boudreau that he appears to finally have found the right match for his superstar pairing. KINGS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  After taking a 2-0 series lead with a pair of dominant performance in games 1 and 2 in Anaheim, it looked to all the world like the Los Angeles Kings were on their way to a third consecutive Conference Final appearance. Two unexpectedly strong performances from the Ducks later, and they find themselves reeling, heading back to Anaheim with the series tied at 2-2. Now, it is up to their experienced core to right the ship, and get them back in a situation where they can re-capture the series lead in game five. One of the keys to game five will be for the Kings to test Ducks rookie goaltender Gibson more than they did on Saturday. Los Angeles may have outshot Anaheim 28-14 on the night, but most of their chances were of the perimeter variety, and the rookie was forced into few game-saving heroics late. Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik combined for five shots on goal, but were held mostly at bay for a second consecutive game by an impressive effort from the Ducks.  Another key for the Kings will be shutting down the Ducks first line, which has gotten the better of them for two straight games on the hop. Tasked with the shut-down role in game four were the pairing of Jake Muzzin and Drew Doughty, neither of whom fits the archetypical role of shut-down blue liner. Look for Los Angeles to try and employ the big bodies of Kyle Clifford, Mike Richards and Trevor Lewis in that role on Monday night, as they try and find the right combination to do halt what has been an impressive surge of late from the Ducks superstars. BOTTOM LINE:  In a series which has already been full of unexpected twists and turns, Monday's happenings have to be considered among the most unexpected, and dramatic, in the 2014 playoffs. Now, it is up to Gibson and the Ducks to have an encore on Monday night, where they will look for a critical home ice victory, and a series lead. But it's not just up to Gibson to turn in another spectacular performance; it is also up to the Ducks offensive depth to produce more than it did on Saturday night (the first line combined for 7 of their 14 shots), and for them to employ a more dangerous two-way game. They are clicking on all cylinders right now though, and it's hard to imagine a team that was one of the league's best at home during the regular season (29-8-4) losing three straight, no matter who the opponent. Pick: Anaheim.]>
The Boston Bruins will look to become the first team to reach the Conference Finals tonight when they do battle with the Montreal Canadiens.The game takes place at the Bell Centre, Montreal and is scheduled to start at 00:30 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Bruins at Canadiens live here:Preview (Bruins currently lead the series 3-2): LAST GAME - Boston 4 Montreal 2 BRUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Boston Bruins have managed to recapture all of the momentum in their second round series with Montreal, turning a 2-1 series deficit heading into game four in Montreal on its head. A tenacious effort in game five net them a 4-2 victory, and they now have the opportunity to close out the Canadiens on Monday night in Montreal. As has been the case for much of the playoffs, Saturday night was a victory in large part owing to the Bruins unmatchable offensive depth. They had four different goal scorers on the night, including the first goal of the playoffs for Carl Soderberg, and power play goals from winger Reilly Smith and the struggling Jarome Iginla. Boston doesn't have a single player with more than 4 goals in the playoffs, but has seen markers from 10 different forwards to this point. Their leading scorer is Patrice Bergeron, with 9 points (3-6) on the playoffs, but it is their four-line game which has caused the Canadiens so many problems over the last two contests. Goaltender Tuukka Rask has also righted the ship in the past couple games, after looking shaky in the first three against the Habs. His shutout win on Thursday night was a 33 save effort, while his 29 save victory on Saturday night was highlighted by some five-alarm game savers in the second and third periods. Rask is the key cog in the Bruins engine, and they need him to play exactly this way if they are to reach a third Conference Final in four seasons.  CANADIENS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Montreal Canadiens have some how managed to forget everything that made them successful through the first three games of the series, as they have been outgunned and largely outplayed in two straight games by the Bruins, and now find themselves in a series hole heading back home. Still, it only requires one strong effort in game six to send this back to Boston for a do-or-die game seven, but they will need more production from their top players if they are to do it. A quick scan of the boxscores from the five games in this series will quickly reveal the Habs most pressing problem at the moment: a lack of production from their top line. With the exception of Thomas Vanek's 2 goals in game two, the Canadiens have gotten nothing out of their top unit of Max Pacioretty, David Desharnais, and Vanek. Pacioretty's absence is the most glaring, as the winger who scored 39 goals in the regular season has just 1 in the playoffs thusfar, and has been completely stymied by a stiff-checking Bruins defense. If they can't get more from this trio in game six, it may well sound the death knell on the Habs playoff hopes. It will also be critical to the Habs success that defenseman P.K. Subban, who has been a target of all sorts of extracurricular activity from the Bruins over the course of the series, find a way to re-engage himself in the Habs offense. Setting aside his meaningless late-game marker in game five, Subban has largely been absent since his game three heroics, and has clearly been thrown off his game by a determined effort from Boston to distract him.  Subban is one of the most dynamic defenseman in all of the NHL, but he's also one of the most emotional. He needs to find a way to rise above the Bruins efforts at distraction, and ensure that his emotion and passion stay strictly within the bounds of the game, if he is to be successful. And the Habs badly need him to be successful if they are to stand any chance of turning this series around. BOTTOM LINE:  This series has been tense and emotional since minute one, and it will surely be a breathtaking atmosphere at the Bell Center for a do-or-die game six for the Canadiens. There are a few keys for Montreal, but the most pertinent one is that they need a better offensive performance from their two key offensive cogs: Pacioretty and Subban. If they can find a way to get Pacioretty away from the hard checking of Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron, they may see him finally find success offensively. And if they can find a way to keep the emotional Subban focused solely on what's happening on the ice, they could see the same catalytic performance he gave in game three, and ultimately, a way to force a game seven back in Boston on Wednesday night. Pick: Montreal.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Sunday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Chicago 2 Minnesota 1 Scorers: CHI - Bickell, Toews  MIN - Haula The Chicago Blackhawks regained a series lead over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday night, getting some clutch third period heroics en route to a 2-1 victory, and a 3-2 series lead heading back to Minnesota. Jonathan Toews proved once again why he is perhaps the most clutch player in the game today, as he fought for a loose-puck goal at 04:33 of the third period to put the Hawks ahead 2-1. Winger Bryan Bickell had the other goal for Chicago, midway through the second period. Hawks goaltender Corey Crawford bounced back from a tough pair of games in Minnesota, making 27 saves, including 14 in a high-pressure third period, for the victory.  [txt27819] As has been their narrative for much of the 2014 playoffs, Minnesota was unable to get a crucial victory on the road, and now face the prospect of winning two straight to keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive. Winger Erik Haula notched his third goal of the playoffs, but the club was unable to put anything else by Corey Crawford in a 28-save effort. Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov made 26 saves in the losing effort. Minnesota is now a miserable 1-6 on the road in these playoffs. Game six goes Tuesday night in Minnesota. New York 3 Pittsburgh 1 Scorers: NYR - St. Louis, Hagelin, Brassard  PIT - Sutter [txt8235] Behind the heroics of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and a brave effort from winger Martin St. Louis, the New York Rangers took game six from Pittsburgh by a 3-1 score, and now force a game 7 in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. The series is tied at 3-3. Much like game five, the story of game six for New York was veteran winger Martin St. Louis, who played with a heavy heart after the death of his mother on Friday morning. St. Louis opened the scoring early in the first, with his first goal (and point) of the series. Carl Hagelin and Derrick Brassard added first and second period markers respectively. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 37 big saves on the night, including 22 in the final two periods, to register his second consecutive victory. Pittsburgh will lament the fact that they have piddled away a 3-1 series lead, as they were full value for being the better team for the majority of Sunday night. They outshot New York 38-29, but center Brandon Sutter's pinball goal late in the first period was the only one they managed to get by Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves in the losing effort, while superstar center Sidney Crosby was once again an absent force, registering a -1 with 1 shot on goal in 24:23 of ice time. Game seven goes Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.]>
The Anaheim Ducks will look to re-capture home ice advantage in their second round series with the Los Angeles Kings, as they seek a second consecutive win and a series tie tonight. The game takes place at the Staples Center and is scheduled to start at 02:30 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Ducks at Kings live here:Preview: (Kings currently lead the series 2-1):LAST GAME - Anaheim 3 Los Angeles 2 DUCKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Ducks used a second period marker from the ageless Teemu Selanne to break a 1-1 tie late in the second period on Thursday night, and surged past the Los Angeles Kings for a critical 3-2 victory. The win ensured that there is still life for Anaheim in this series, and now they must try and find a way to even up the series at 2, in Friday night's crucial game four. The goal was Selanne's second of this series, as the 43-year old continues to prove that there is still plenty of life left in his old legs. The powerplay marker at 15:10 of the second period came off a brilliant feed from young Nick Bonino, and capped off a strong effort for Selanne on Thursday night, as he had 3 shots in 14:10 of ice time. What's more, Ducks sniper Corey Perry opened the scoring in the first period, notching his first goal of the series, to snap out of a funk which had seen him go pointless in the first two games in Anaheim. The biggest surprise from Thursday night was in goal though, where head coach Bruce Boudreau elected to go back to Danish rookie Frederik Andersen for the game three start. To his credit, the rookie was strong in a 22-save effort; but he was pulled midway through the third period with a suspected leg injury, paving the way for veteran Jonas Hiller to come back in and try and re-capture the crease for the Ducks. Though there has been no official update as to Andersen's injury status prior to game four, it's probably a safe bet to expect Hiller back between the pipes, unless the Ducks can guarantee that the rookie is 100% KINGS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Kings suffered their first loss since game 3 of the first round series with San Jose, as they fell behind the Ducks on two separate occasions en route to the 3-2 loss on Thursday. Now, L.A. must find a way to recapture the form they showed on the road in games 1 and 2, as they seek a way to take a 3-1 series stranglehold back to Anaheim for game five. One guy who cannot be stopped for Los Angeles right now is center Anze Kopitar, whose power play assist in the second period continued his 10-game playoff point streak, and elevated his league-leading point total to 15 (4-11) in 10 games. Kopitar was comparatively quiet outside of the assist on Thursday night though, registering just 1 shot in 16:43 of ice time. The same can be said of his line mate Marian Gaborik, who had an assist and 4 shots in just 15:19 on the ice. For a duo that had combined for 8 points from the first two games for the Kings, this was a weaker night, and the scoreline reflects how crucial their production is to the Kings success. Goaltender Jonathan Quick also had his first off-night in a while, surrendering 3 goals on just 22 Kings shots. The Ducks were far better at getting pucks and pressure down low on Quick, and disrupting him from the typical rhythm that has made him so successful this year. It is contingent on the Kings defense to be a better job of clearing the crease area of pucks and Ducks, as it is a philosophy that the Sharks, and now the Ducks, have employed to success early on in the playoffs. BOTTOM LINE: The Ducks came out with a clear and concise game plan on Thursday night to get pucks and bodies in front of Quick, and disturb his crease. From the Perry goal onwards, they managed to do just that, and it netted them their first win of the series. Expect them to employ much of the same philosophy going forward. Still, the Kings are a veteran team with Stanley Cup experience, and are unlikely to be swayed or affected by any adjustments the Ducks make against their defense. As Quick so eloquently stated in his postgame interview, "They scored three, we scored two." Brilliant insight it may not be, but it does demonstrate that the Kings aren't a team that is easily rattled, and should be able to come back with a superior performance in game four. Pick: Los Angeles.]>
The Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens will both be looking to snag the upper hand in their playoff series tonight.The game takes place at the TD Garden and is scheduled to start at 00:00 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Canadiens at Bruins live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 2-2):LAST GAME - Boston 1 Montreal 0 (OT) BRUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Bruins will thank their lucky stars that head coach Claude Julien's move to put Matt Fraser in the lineup for Jordan Caron on Thursday night worked out, as the rookie net his first career playoff goal to give the Bruins a 1-0 overtime victory. Now, it's incumbent on them to continue the momentum back home, as they seek their first lead of the series in game five. Julien's line juggling was wholesale on Thursday night, as struggling first line center David Krejci swapped lines with Patrice Bergeron, while winger Loui Eriksson, sitting on just one goal for the playoffs, was bumped up to play alongside the hot Patrice Bergeron and Milan Lucic. It's difficult to say that the moves worked out, as the Bruins managed only the one goal, in overtime, from the most unexpected source. But a win is a win, and you can bet that Julien will consider keeping those lines together come Saturday night, if only because they were successful in limiting Montreal to nothing offensively either. Goaltender Tuukka Rask was the story on Thursday night, as he re-emerged after a difficult first 3 games of the series to give a first start performance. His 33-save shutout was his second of the playoffs, and gave the Bruins the backbone they needed to ensure they could tie this series. Rask was certainly helped along by a mammoth 24:24 of ice time from Zdeno Chara, who was as effective at shutting down the Canadiens top scorers as any forward.  CANADIENS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  It was a wholly disappointing night for the Habs on Thursday, as the Bruins managed to stifle an offense that had given them so many fits over the first three games. As such, it's back to the drawing board for Montreal, in hopes that they can take another road game in Boston, and re-take the series lead. The Habs wasted a stellar effort from goaltender Carey Price, whose 34-save effort included some five-alarm game savers in the first and second, when the Bruins brought the game to Montreal. It was the first real dominating performance we have seen from Price in these playoffs, and its only a shame that it came on a night where his team couldn't solve Tuukka Rask. To their credit, the Habs' top four defensemen, Markov, Subban, Gorges, and Emelin each played in excess of 22 minutes, and it was the third pairing of Douglas Murray and Mike Weaver that was on the ice for the deciding goal.  We may well see line juggling akin to that the Bruins employed on Thursday night when Montreal gets to Boston on Saturday. One player that head coach Michel Therrien will be looking to spark is winger Max Pacioretty, who has just 1 goal and 3 points, after a regular season in which he posted a career-high 39. Pacioretty's struggles have been well documented in Montreal, but now they have bled through to his linemates, as center David Desharnais has just 1 point from his last 6 games, while Thomas Vanek has had an extremely quiet two games since posting 2 goals in game one. BOTTOM LINE: In 2-2 series, the winner of game 5 has gone on to win the best of 7 in far more occasions than it has lost. As such, expect both teams to understand the gravity of the situation on Saturday, and come out with A efforts. If Thursday showed anything, its that the Bruins still have the ability to play to the 'physical, shut-down defense' archetype that has made them so successful in the past few seasons. If they can manage another effort at home loike the one they had on Thusday in Montreal, they will be a tough team for to beat, let alone a Montreal squad whose top scorers are misfiring at the moment. Pick: Boston.]>
Minnesota Wild host Chicago Blackhawks tonight in Game 4 of their playoff series.The game takes place at the Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul and is scheduled to start at 02:30 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Blackhawks at Wild live here:Preview (Chicago currently lead the series 2-1):LAST GAME - Minnesota 4 Chicago 0 WILD EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  Another dominant home performance on Tuesday night saw the Wild through to a 4-0 victory, and they now find themselves very much in their second round series with the defending champion Blackhawks. The win was Minnesota's 4th in four home playoff games, demonstrating again that they are a team to be reckoned with at the Xcel Energy Center. Wild winger Zach Parise has always been considered one of the more clutch forwards in the NHL, and he is compounding that reputation with another outstanding playoffs in 2014. His 13 points (4-9) are second only to L.A.'s Anze Kopitar, and his two point night on Wednesday was the catalyst for the Wild victory. Couple that with the emergence of his linemate Mikael Granlund (4-3 in 10GP), and you have a pairing that should do wonders for the Wild for years to come. In net, there were plenty of questions about Ilya Bryzgalov following games 1 and 2. After all, the veteran allowed 7 Blackhawks goals on just 35 shots, and was being exploited by the Hawks elite forwards. Tuesday night, Bryzgalov's 19 save shutout helped to affirm the faith of head coach Mike Yeo, at least for one night. With Darcy Kuemper unlikely to return from injury any time soon, Bryzgalov is the man; the Wild just need to hope that they get more nights like Wednesday, and fewer like the ones before. BLACKHAWKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  In spite of what appears, from a pure score standpoint, to be a dominant performance in the early going of this series, the Blackhawks haven't actually been much better than the Wild. In fact, Minnesota has outshout Chicago 69-63 in the first three games, and has probably been the better team on at least two of those occasions. The only difference had been that the Hawks had managed to get to Ilya Bryzgalov; until Tuesday night, that is. Tuesday was just the second time all playoffs where Blackhawks wunder-captain Jonathan Toews failed to make the score sheet, as he was shut out with two shots in 19:56 of play. Couple that with a second-consecutive quiet night for Patrick Kane (0 points, 1 shot in 19:56 of ice time), not to mention the fact that regular season leading-scorer Patrick Sharp has just 3 points (1-2) from 9 playoff games thusfar, and you've found the crux of the problem; namely, if the Hawks' big guns don't score, they don't win. Chicago is expected to be without spark-plug winger Andrew Shaw for a third consecutive game on Friday, as he recovers from an undisclosed injury; the good news on the injury front is that top-6 blue liner Nick Leddy, who had missed game three due to injury, should be back for game four, which will be that he and partner Michal Roszival will be reunited on the Hawks solid third D-pairing.  BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota has proven to be a completely different team at home than they have been on the road; when they can get dynamic defenseman Ryan Suter out against the likes of Toews and Kane, they get shut down. At home, Yeo can get those match-ups, and he'll get them again on Friday. The Hawks do have the ability to beat the match-up game though, and it comes from their depth. They need a guy like Sharp to emerge from his scoring funk, or perhaps for second line center Ben Smith to give them more than the 3 points he has at this stage in the playoffs. Or maybe they just need Toews and Kane to be their usual selves. Regardless, this Hawks team is a season bunch with Stanley Cup experience, and they won't wilt under the match up game like the Avalanche did; expect them to come back with a punch on Friday night. Pick: Chicago.]>
The New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins continue their second round playoff series tonight. The game takes place at the Consol Energy Center and is scheduled to start at 00:00 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Rangers at Penguins live here:Preview (Penguins currently lead the series 3-1):LAST GAME - Pittsburgh 4 New York 2 PENGUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  It has been night-and-day in round two for the Pittsburgh Penguins, as they have managed to turn around form from what was a difficult six game series win over Columbus, to a team that is on the verge of a quick dispatching of the New York Rangers in round 2. They have outscored New York by a 9-2 mark over the last three games, and have their first opportunity to close out the Blueshirts at home on Friday night. Defense has been the strength of the Penguins play in this series, and Friday should only see it get better, as U.S. Olympian and top-pairing defenseman Brooks Orpik is expected to return to the lineup full-time. After platooning for 5 minutes on Wednesday in an effort to test out his injury, all indications are that the injury that took Orpik out of the game mid-way through the first was minor, and that he will be good to go Saturday. That should do wonders for the balance of the Pittsburgh D, which had already been stellar in allowing just 5 Rangers goals in four games. Up front, there is a strong case quickly being built for Evgeni Malkin as the team's halfway M.V.P. The Russian star has 12 points (5-7) from 10 games, and has been on fire since notching a hat trick in game six against Columbus. It appears as though head coach Dan Bylsma's move to put Malkin on the first line with Sidney Crosby was a stroke of genius, as the duo have been on a scoring tear all series. It's up to them now, to close out the series on Friday, and return the Pens to their second consecutive conference final. RANGERS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  Nothing has gone the way of the Rangers since game one of this series, and three consecutive losses in which they have registered just 2 goals has them on the brink of a second consecutive second-round loss.  There is a lot of finger pointing going around the Big Apple right now, but the biggest finger should be pointed squarely at the Rangers scoring stars, none of whom have stepped to the plate in any way against the Pens. Rick Nash, who had 25 goals in 65 regular season games, has nothing in 11 playoff games to this point, and has gone 8 games now without registering a single point. For as good as he was in round one against the Flyers, Martin St. Louis has 0 points against the Pens, and has looked listless in the multitude of power play time head coach Alain Vigneault has given him. Speaking of the power play, the Rangers have yet to score on the man-advantage in this series, and are now clicking at a league-low 6.8% on the man advantage. So detrimental to their overall game has been their powerplay, that they are actually a -1 on the series with Pittsburgh, having managed to surrender a shorthanded goal to the Penguins Brandon Sutter on Wednesday night. At this juncture, it's too late to overhaul the entire system; it is on the guys who are present to find a way through the quagmire. BOTTOM LINE: There is no going back for the Rangers in this one, as one more loss means that they will be golfing by the weekend. The Penguins have re-asserted themselves in this series as a Stanley Cup favorite, and there is little reason to believe that they won't be able to close out the job; if not Friday, then by early next week at the latest. The only way the Rangers will be able to get back into this series, is if they scoring stars, primarily St. Louis and Nash, can find their way onto the score sheet. Malkin and Crosby have been doing it for the Pens, and it has won them games. They can't be expected to stop at this point, and this is the last chance for the Rangers duo to prove they are equals. PICK: Pittsburgh.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Thursday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Boston 1 Montreal 0 (OT) Scorers: BOS - Fraser  MTL - none Rookie Matt Fraser broke a scoreless tie early in overtime, scoring his first career playoff goal to give the Boston Bruins a 1-0 game four victory. The win ties the series up at 2-2, as the teams prepare to head back to Boston for game five. The 23-year old Fraser was making his first career playoff appearance, and was playing in his first game with the Bruins since early January. The goal marks just the sixth time in the 75 history of the modern NHL playoffs that a player has scored his first career playoff goal as an overtime winner. Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask bounced back from a few tough outings to start the series, posting 33 saves for the shutout. [txt6159] The Habs were unable to capitalize on a golden opportunity to seize a hold in this series, as they were unable to solve Tuukka Rask on the night. They combined for 33 shots on goal, led by 5 each from Brian Gionta and Andrei Markov. Habs goaltender Carey Price made 34 saves in a valiant effort in the loss. Game five goes Saturday night in Boston. Anaheim 3 Los Angeles 2 Scorers: ANA - Perry, Selanne, Lovejoy  LAK - Carter, Richards [txt37718] The Anaheim Ducks have fought their way back into their second round series with the Kings, taking a 3-2 decision on the back of a strong road performance. Los Angeles now leads the series by a 2-1 mark. Corey Perry finally snapped out of his pointless funk, netting a power play goal early in the first to give the Ducks a lead they would not relinquish. Veteran Teemu Selanne and defenseman Ben Lovejoy notched the other markers for Anaheim, who won the game despite being outshot by a 31-22 mark. The Ducks surprised everyone by starting young Frederik Andersen in net for game three, and though the rookie had to be taken off midway through the third period with an apparent leg injury, he was strong in making 22 saves. Jonas Hiller stopped 7 of 8 shots in relief, and was credited for the win. Los Angeles will look at Thusday night as an opportunity missed, as they lost their first game in seven to have their series lead halved. Goals from Jeff Carter and Mike Richards (his first) kept the game close, but in the end, Anaheim's timely scoring proved too much. Goaltender Jonathan Quick had his first tough outing in a while, surrendering 3 goals on just 22 shots in the losing effort. Game four goes Saturday night in Los Angeles.]>
The Los Angeles Kings will look to take a stranglehold in their second round series with the Anaheim Ducks tonight in Game 3. The game takes place at the Staples Center and is scheduled to start at 03:00 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Ducks at Kings live here:Preview: (Kings currently lead the series 2-0):LAST GAME - Los Angeles 3 Anaheim 1 KINGS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Los Angeles Kings are winners of six straight playoff games, having not lost a game this spring since falling behind the San Jose Sharks 3-0. The fact that they were able to kick the door down in Anaheim, and take two straight victories from the top-seeded Ducks, showed that they are a team in top form, and one that looks destined to return the Conference Finals for a third-consecutive season. If they were to give an award for halfway-mark playoff MVP, there is little doubt that Kings star center Anze Kopitar would be the recipient. The 26-year old has a league-leading 14 points (4-10) through 9 games of the playoffs, and has registered at least a point in each of the Kings games thusfar. What's more, his outstanding puck distribution and game-breaking offensive ability has elevated linemate Marian Gaborik, who has 6 goals and 9 points to this point in the playoffs. Much like he did when he registered 20 points in the 2012 Playoffs, Anze Kopitar is asserting himself as one of the best playoff performers in the NHL, and growing into stature as one of the very best two-way players in the game. Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick has completely recovered from his early playoff hiccup, and is now producing at levels that are close to the best in the league. Since allowing 16 goals in the first three games of the Sharks series, Quick has been lights out: he has allowed just 8 goals in the 7 games since, saving 191 of 199 shots against, for a ridiculous .960 save percentage. His success has in part been due to a change in defensive philosophy for the Kings, but there is no denying that Quick is back in his Conn Smythe trophy-winning form, and that spells trouble for Kings opponents going forward. DUCKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  Thursday night's game represents about as close to a must-win as you can get for the Anaheim Ducks, as they try and climb back into their first round series with the Los Angeles Kings. Down 2-0, it is highly unlikely that Anaheim would be able to mount a comeback from a 0-3 deficit, meaning that they need to be the same dominating team they were on Monday, only with better results. Anaheim outshot L.A. 37-17 on Monday, and were full value for a better result than the one they got. The only problem was the play of Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick, which is what the Ducks need to solve on Thursday. Corey Perry is pointless thusfar in the series, and has largely been a non-factor in two games; Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf has assisted on all three of the team's goals, but they need him to be more than just a set-up man in this series, particularly with Perry gone cold. Couple that with the fact that a Ducks defenseman hasn't scored a goal since Ben Lovejoy notched one in game four of their first round series with Dallas, and you can understand that the Ducks offensive drought is one that has crippled them against the Kings. For a team that prides itself on its forward depth, it is perhaps surprising to see how reliant the Ducks have been on Getzlaf and Perry in these playoffs. Indeed, outside of Nick Bonino, there isn't a single Ducks forward with more than 2 goals in their 8 playoffs games, with regular season producers like Mathieu Perreault, Andrew Cogliano, and Jakob Silfverberg having lost a lot of their punch. Against a goaltender like Quick, you need to capitalize on every opportunity you're given. In wasting a 37-shot barrage, Anaheim may have lost its last best chance at getting back into this series. BOTTOM LINE: Ever since game three of the first round, the Kings have looked like a well-oiled machine. Behind Kopitar, Gaborik, Quick, and a stellar defense, they look like a reasonable facsimile of the team that stormed to the Stanley Cup in 2012. That spells trouble for the NHL. Still, the Ducks are no pushovers. Anaheim found itself in a tough spot against the Stars in round one, and managed to find the effort needed in games 5 and 6 to come out on top. They are going to need both their star forwards and their depth ones to come to the fore on Thursday night, if they are to stay in this one. Getzlaf and Perry need to be the difference makers, as they have been for Anaheim all season. Pick: Anaheim.]>
The Montreal Canadiens will look to do the unexpected tonight, as they have a chance to go up 3-1 in their second round series with the top-seeded Boston Bruins.The game takes place at the Bell Centre, Montreal and is scheduled to start at 00:30 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Bruins at Canadiens live here:Preview (Canadiens currently lead the series 2-1): LAST GAME - Montreal 4 Boston 2 CANADIENS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  Tuesday was a banner night in Montreal, as the Canadiens rode the energy of the raucous Bell Centre crowd to an early 3-0 victory, and held on through a furious third period charge from the Bruins, to win 4-2. The win put them ahead 2-1 in the series, demonstrated that they are the superior team on current form, and gives them a chance to take a true stranglehold on the series as it stays in Montreal for game four. Though he was already known in Montreal circles for his bold, exciting style (both on and off the ice), Tuesday truly saw a new chapter written in the legend of P.K. Subban. The Habs star defenseman and defending Norris Trophy winner had a goal and an assist in a team-high 27:50 of ice time. His breakaway goal at 14:44 of the first period put the Habs up by 2-0, and nearly tore the roof off the Bell Centre. He now has 11 points (3-8) to lead all Canadiens in playoff scoring, and has to be considered an early favorite for the Conn Smythe trophy. As controversial as he is, Subban is the kind o heart-and-soul player who makes his name in the playoffs, and he is writing his name all over 2014 thus far. Were it not for Subban, Habs fans would probably be talking about the play of center Lars Eller, who has stepped his game up for Montreal through seven games in the playoffs. Eller also had a goal and an assist on Tuesday night, and his 8 (3-5) playoff points lead all Habs forwards in scoring. His line, with captain Brian Gionta and Rene Bourque, has been one of the great surprises for Montreal in these playoffs, as it has mitigated much of the damage that could've been done by a lack of goal scoring from 39-goal man Max Pacioretty (1 goal in the playoffs). BRUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER: Though not many would've pegged the Bruins to have been this thoroughly dominated early in their second round series with Montreal, the fact that they find themselves down 2-1 heading into game four is perhaps indicative of what this rivalry does teams. The Bruins, though far from being an inferior team to Montreal, have been thoroughly outplayed for all but 10 minutes in this series, and need desperately flip the script in game four, lest they find themselves on the brink of an early exit heading back home. Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask, who had been such a giant through their first round series with the Red Wings, has been decidedly pedestrian through 3 games against Montreal, and that form needs to change. Consider the juxtaposition between rounds: Rask allowed just 6 goals on 166 shots in 5 games of round one; through just 3 games against Montreal, he has already allowed 10 goals, on just 76 shots. This stunning drop of form can be attributed to many things, but it is clear that Montreal has managed to exploit the weaknesses of the man who is arguably the best goaltender in the world, and the Bruins desperately need him to return to his round one form if they are to find a way out of this hole in Montreal. Boston could also do with better scoring numbers from some of their key players, specifically David Krejci and Loui Eriksson. Entering these playoffs, Krejci had built a reputation for himself as one of the best playoff performers of the modern age (73 points in 81 career playoff games). With just 3 assists through 8 games of the 2014 campaign, it is clear that the opposition is keying in on Krejci's line, and the Bruins need him to do better. The same can be said of Eriksson, who has just 3 points (1-2) through 8 games, severe under-production from what was expected of the one-time 30-goal scorer. BOTTOM LINE: This is a make-or-break game for the Bruins. If they fall to Montreal once again, and particularly if they do so on the back of being outplayed for a fourth consecutive game, then it is likely curtains for them heading back to Boston. Montreal has shown to be much better than pundits gave them credit for in this series, and they deserve full marks for the state they have put the Bruins in. But let's remember that this Boston team is the same one that was the best in the league in the regular season, and virtually the same one that made it to the Cup Finals last year, and won the title in 2011. They've been here before, and they know how to change their fortunes. They haven't put themselves in an easy spot entering game four, but if they can find their steel, and if Rask can show flashes of his first round brilliance again, they can send the series back to Boston all knotted at 2's. Pick: Boston.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Wednesday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Pittsburgh 4 New York 2 Scorers: PIT - Malkin, Sutter, Jokinen, Kunitz  NYR - Hagelin, Zuccarello The Pittsburgh Penguins took a third consecutive game from the New York Rangers on Wednesday night, winning by a score of 4-2. In doing so, Pittsburgh took a 3-1 series lead, and now find themselves within one game of a second-consecutive berth in the Eastern Conference Finals. Superstar forwards Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby came through again for Pittsburgh, with Malkin registering his fourth multi-point game of the playoffs (1-1), while Crosby added another 2 assists to bring his playoff point total to 9 (1-8). Brandon Sutter, Jussi Jokinen (with his team-leading 6th) and Chris Kunitz all added goals for the Pens, who outshot New York 27-15 in a dominant defensive effort. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was forced into making just 13 saves for the victory. [txt35101] The Rangers managed what they hadn't in games two and three, as they found a way to score on Fleury, but two goals wasn't enough on Wednesday night, and they find themselves in a deep hole heading back to Pittsburgh. Carl Hagelin and Mats Zuccarello produced goals for New York, but a playoff-low 15 shots on goal simply wasn't enough pressure to burst the Penguins dam. Rick Nash had a team-leading 4 shots, as he seeks his first goal of the playoffs. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist struggled for form on Wednesday, allowing 4 goals on 27 shots. Game five goes Friday night in Pittsburgh.]>
The Pittsburgh Penguins will look to continue their winning ways tonight when they take on the New York Rangers in Game 4 of their playoff series. The game takes place at Madison Square Garden, New York and is scheduled to start at 00:30 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Penguins at Rangers live here:Preview (Penguins currently lead the series 2-1):LAST GAME - Pittsburgh 2 New York 0 PENGUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Pittsburgh Penguins have never been known as a suffocating defensive team, but in shutting out the New York Rangers in both games 2 and 3, they are fast re-imagining themselves as a defensive force, and head into game four on the back of a dominating 2-0 victory from Monday night. The story of the series thusfar for the Penguins has surely been goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who was the whipping boy of so many after a difficult first round series victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Fast forward to the second round, and you have a goaltender who is in the top-3 in the playoffs in save percentage (.925), saves (259), and shutouts (2), while sitting fifth in goals against average (2.22). He has allowed just 3 Rangers goals on 81 shots from the first three games, and his 35 save effort in game three was the stuff of legends. If he can continue in this form for the balance of the series, he will do away with any worries or trepidation people may have of him as a playoff goaltender. Sunday's night win also saw the first goal of the playoffs for captain Sidney Crosby, who, like Fleury, had faced a lot of grief in NHL circles for a perceived lack of production early in the playoffs. Although 7 points (1-6) and a -4 from 9 games is hardly worthy of Conn Smythe consideration, Crosby has been given more difficult defensive assignments from head coach Dan Bylsma this series, a sign that he is trying to evolve his game to mirror that of the great two-way centers in the league, including Jonathan Toews and Patrice Bergeron. With defenseman Brooks Orpik expected to miss a fifth consecutive game, look for the top defensive pairing of Paul Martin and Kris Letang to once again get significant minutes for the Penguins in an all-situations role. RANGERS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  Game three saw head coach Alain Vigneault tinker heavily with his lines, as he sought a solution to the Rangers playoff scoring woes. In light of a second consecutive goalless effort, you can bet that we will see more in the way of tinkering in advance of game four, as the Rangers desperately seek a way to spark an offense that is last in scoring production among teams still alive (2.20 G/game). It's always going to be difficult to be successful in the playoffs if your leading scorer at the midway mark of the second round has just 3 goals, but that is exactly the predicament the Rangers find themselves in right now. Some of their key scorers are going through significant scoring droughts: winger Martin St. Louis (2-4) is now five games without a point, while Rick Nash (0-4) hasn't registered a point since game three of their first round series with Philadelphia (a run of 7 games), and has yet to score a goal at all in these playoffs. Couple that with a lack of scoring production from the back end (just 2 goals combined), and you have a recipe for disaster for the Rangers in the offensive end. Offensive struggles aside, the Rangers have been a good enough team defensively to stay competitive with the Penguins through three games. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made just 13 saves on Monday night, but has made 80 to this point in the series, while his defense, led by shut-down men Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi, has still allowed more than 3 goals just twice in 10 playoff games thusfar. Still, it's moot point if they can't score goals, and the blue liners have combined for just 2 goals in the playoffs thusfar, a mark which must improve if New York is going to turn this series around. BOTTOM LINE:  In spite of out-shooting the Penguins 35-15 on Monday night, the Rangers never really looked like the better team on the night, and are probably deserving of the 2-1 series hole they find themselves in right now. It is incumbent on them to flip the script on Wednesday night, and find a way to lift themselves out of their combined scoring drought. Goal (or even point) production from the likes of St. Louis and Nash would go a long way to changing that narrative, though the Penguins defensive pairing of Letang and Martin has done an excellent job of shutting down the duo early in this series. If they can put in another strong defensive effort on Wednesday, and if Marc-Andre Fleury can continue his long march back towards respectability between the pipes, the Penguins could find themselves with a 3-1 series advantage come Thursday morning. Pick: Pittsburgh.]>
Here's our preview of tonight's MLB action in the American League... SEATTLE MARINERS (16-15) @ OAKLAND ATHLETICS (19-14)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum - 20:35 GMTExpected pitchers - F. Hernandez (3-1, 2.53) vs. Straily (1-2, 5.01) The Seattle Mariners will look to continue their series dominance of the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night, as the two team's meet in a doubleheader set in Oakland. The Mariners have won four consecutive games, scoring 29 runs in the process. Leading the charge for the M's of late has been first baseman Justin Smoak (.250, 4HR 20RBI), who had 3 RBI in the team's win over Oakland on Tuesday night. The team also likes what it has gotten from big free agent signing Robinson Cano (.298, 1HR 18RBI), who hasn't been hitting long, but has been consistent. Ace Felix Hernandez takes the mound, as he looks for his first win since early April. The Athletics are, as expected, currently leading the charge in the AL West, although their 19-14 mark from the last 10 games leaves something to be desired. The Athletics have receieved offensive contributions from a number of sources, with a remarkable 7 players already hitting more than 10 RBI on the season. Third baseman Josh Donaldson (.268, 7HR 23RBI) has picked up where he left off from a career 2013 season, and leads the team in RBI and HR, while outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is a sure first-ballot All Star in left. Wednesday starter Dan Straily has struggled for form this season, and will be seeking just his second win from seven starts. PICK: Seattle MINNESOTA TWINS (15-16) @ CLEVELAND INDIANS (14-19)Progressive Field - 00:05 GMTExpected pitchers - Nolasco (2-3, 5.82) vs. Salazar (1-3, 5.93) The Cleveland Indians are in the process of trying to salvage a slipping season, as a 3-7 mark in their last ten, coupled with an ugly 4-11 record, has them last in the AL Central at 14-19, already 7.5 games behind division leading Detroit. The Indians don't have a single every-day player hitting above .300 right now, highlighted by normally sweet-swinging Carlos Santana's ugly .144 batting average. Add to that another leg injury suffered by team-leader Michael Bourn in the outfield, and you have a recipe for things that may get worse before they get better in Cleveland. In spite of a record which has consistently hovered around .500 all year, the Twins are playing better baseball than most predicted this year. This is in large part thanks to some slid hitting from veteran Joe Mauer (.296, 2HR 11RBI), along with Kurt Suzuki and Chris Colabello (whose 28 RBI's are 5th in the majors). Their pitching has struggled though, and nowhere is that more evident in the person of staff ace Ricky Nolasco, who has a 5.82 ERA and an opposition batting average of .329 on the season. PICK: Cleveland HOUSTON ASTROS (10-23) @ DETROIT TIGERS (19-9)Comerica Park - 00:08 GMTExpected pitchers - Peacock (0-2, 5.26) vs. Porcello (4-1, 3.66) The AL's best and the AL's worst square off again on Wednesday night, as the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers meet in the third of a four-game set. The Tigers have been victorious in the first 2 games, including taking a decisive 11-4 victory on Tuesday night, highlighted by 18 Tigers hits. Defending AL MVP Miguel Cabrera (.293, 3HR 23RBI) is picking up his play after a shaky start to the season, and has registered 8 hits on 22 AB in the month of May. Young Rick Porcello has been strong for the team out of the four spot in the rotation, and will look to continue his hot start on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, the Astros look once again destined for a date with the AL basement in 2014, as their recent 3-7 swoon has them in the basement of the league. Prior to Tuesday night, the Astros had gone 17 consecutive innings without scoring a run, a mark which is highlighted by a league-low in run production. Indeed, only second baseman Jose Altuve (.279, 1HR 10RBI) is having a respectable season at the plate, and even his is low by comparative standards. It's shaping up to be another long year in Houston. PICK: Detroit BALTIMORE ORIOLES (16-14) @ TAMPA BAY RAYS (15-18)Tropicana Field - 00:10 GMTExpected pitchers - B. Norris (2-2, 3.94) vs. C. Ramos (1-1, 2.91) The Baltimore Orioles have recovered from an early-season swoon, and are now sitting atop the tight AL East standings with a 16-14 record. They bested the Rays in the first of their 3-game set on Tuesday, led by the hot bat of Matt Wieters (.341, 5HR 18RBI), who may well be the best catcher in the game right now. Wednesday starter Bud Norris has been one of the best of a shaky starting bunch for Baltimore, and seeks a second consecutive victory as he takes the mound against the Rays. More was expected of Tampa Bay entering this season, and although it is still too early in the year to call them a disappointment, they will want to right the ship sooner rather than later. Serious injuries to pitchers Alex Cobb and Matt Moore certainly haven't helped matters, as the burden has fallen even harder onto the shoulders of David Price in the early going. The team hopes that left Cesar Ramos can continue to give them solid starts from his spot in the rotation, while they try and piece together the 3-4 spots from struggling veterans, and free agent pick ups like Erik Bedard. PICK: Baltimore COLORADO ROCKIES (21-14) @ TEXAS RANGERS (17-16)The Ballpark at Arlington - 01:05 GMTExpected pitchers - J. De La Rosa (3-3, 5.11) vs. Lewis (2-1, 4.22) Riding a red-hot 9-3 mark in their last 12 games, the Colorado Rockies have to be considered one of the big surprises in the league at this point, and will look to continue their dominance of the Rangers into game three of their four game set. The Rockies have won the first two games of this series in Arlington by 8-2 and 12-1 marks, highlighted by the maniacal hitting form of Troy Tulowitzki (.421, 9HR 30RBI), who leads the league in batting average, is tied for fourth in home runs, and is third in RBI's. Couple that with the play of slugger Carlos Gonzalez (.279, 6HR 24RBI), who went 5-5 on Tuesday night, and you have a recipe for sustained success for this surprise story. The flip side of the equation is that the Rangers have allowed an ugly 20 runs from the first two games of their set with the Rockies, highlighting the struggles of their pitching staff. Outside of Yu Darvish, no pitcher in the Texas rotation has really blown the doors off the place in 2014, and Wednesday starter Colby Lewis is no exception. In fact, outside of Shin-Soo Choo (whose .370 average is second in the majors to Tulowitzki), the team has struggled to hit for the long-ball as well; Choo's 3 home runs leads the team, a remarkable stat considering some of the bats (Prince Fielder, Adrian Beltre) at their disposal. PICK: Colorado CHICAGO CUBS (11-20) @ CHICAGO WHITE SOX (17-17)U.S. Cellular Field - 01:10 GMTExpected pitchers - T. Wood (2-3, 3.35) vs. Jh. Danks (2-2, 5.00) The all-Chicago battle continues on the south-side of the Windy City, as the Cubs look to salvage a losing set on Wednesday night. The Cubbies offense has sputtered in this set with the Sox, hitting for just 2 runs in two games, but that is indicative of what has been an ongoing battle for them all season. Outside of Anthony Rizzo (.291, 6HR 16RBI) and Starlin Castro (.288, 4HR 14RBI0, the team hasn't gotten consistent every day hits from a player in the order, and that has severely impacted their pitching statistics. Take ace Jeff Samadzija, for example: he has yet to win in 7 starts this season, in spite of posting a strong 1.62 era, .228 opp. batting average, and 1.12 WHIP.  The White Sox, meanwhile, have been a pleasant surprise in the AL Central, as they look to improve on a hideous 63-win 2013. The team has gotten the big stick from shortstop Alexei Ramirez (.321, 4HR 20RBI), who looks like a sure first-ballot All Star after a strong start to 2014, as well as league-leading home run producer Jose Abreu (12 HR). The Sox thought the season was lost when lefty ace Chris Sale went down with an injury in mid-April, but the performance of some of his replacements, including Wednesday starter John Danks and Jose Quintana, has been enough to keep the Sox heads above water until he returns in late-May. PICK: Chicago White Sox NEW YORK YANKEES (17-15) @ LOS ANGELES ANGELS (16-16)Angels Stadium - 03:05 GMTExpected pitchers - Nuno (0-0, 6.87) vs. H. Santiago (0-5, 5.01) The Yankees put a halt t a 1-5 skid on Tuesday night, beating the Angels 4-3 in a tight contest in Los Angeles to set up the rubber match on Wednesday night. The Bronx Bombers have struggled with consistent batting production from some of their expected producers, including sub-.500 averages for Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran and Alfonso Soriano. Still, it has been a solid bull-pen, led by emerging closer David Robertson, which has kept them in close games, and some solid starts from the likes of Masahiro Tanaka and Hiroki Kuroda have allowed them to overcome some offensive hiccups, and stay in the hunt in the AL East. The L.A. Angels have been an up and down club through the first month and a half of the season, so perhaps their .500 mark is in keeping with what should be expected of them right now. One plus has been the resurgence of veteran slugger Albert Pujols, whose numbers (.302, 10HR 26RBI) are on pace to shatter his best as numbers as an Angel, while MVP runner-up Mike Trout (.294, 6HR 20RBI) has struggled of late (just 2 hits in 17 AB in the month of May), but is too good a player to not snap out of it soon. Pitching has been probably the biggest let-down for the Angels to this point, highlighted by Wednesday starter Hector Santiago, who has lost 5 of 6 starts to this point in the season. PICK: Los Angeles]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Tuesday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Montreal 4 Boston 2 Scorers: MTL - Plekanec, Subban, Weise, Eller  BOS - Bergeron, Iginla Defenseman P.K. Subban buffered his Conn Smythe trophy resume on Tuesday night, leading the Montreal Canadiens with a goal and an assist in a 4-2 victory in game three. The win puts Montreal up in the second round series by a 2-1 margin. Subban's goal and assist in a team-leading 27:05 of ice time put him at 11 points (3-8) for the playoffs, which is tied for third in the league (in spite of playing just 7 games thusfar). The team also had goal-and-assist performances from forwards Lars Eller and Dale Weise, while Tomas Plekanec also scored, early in the first period. Goaltender Carey Price was strong when called upon, making 26 saves in the winning effort, which is Montreal's third consecutive home win of these playoffs. [txt10045] The Bruins once again fronted Montreal a signficant early lead, only unlike game two, they were unable to come back and win this one. Goals from Patrice Bergeron and Jarome Iginla in the second and third periods respectively game them life, but they were unable to tie the game in a made dash late in the third. The Bruins outshot Montreal by a 28-26 margin, led by Bergeron's 6. Goaltender Tuukka Rask made 22 saves in the losing effort, his third consecutive 3+ goals allowed performance in the series. Game four goes Thursday night in Montreal. Minnesota 4 Chicago 0 Scorers: MIN - Haula, Granlund (2), Parise  CHI - none [txt11131] The Minnesota Wild blitzed the Chicago Blackhawks for four goals in the third period, en route to a 4-0 game three victory which has give them new life in their second round playoff series. Chicago now leads the series by a 2-1 margin. The win was Minnesota's fourth consecutive home playoff win, a mark which demonstrates their prowess away from the line matching that road playoff games emphasize. Center Mikael Granlund continued his breakout playoffs with 2 goals on the night, while heart-and-soul winger Zach Parise had a goal and an assist, to bring his team-leading scoring total to 14 points (2nd in league playoff scoring). Third liner Erik Haula also scored, opening the account for the Wild early in the third. Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, much maligned after struggling in games 1 and 2 in Chicago, made 19 saves for his first shutout of the playoffs. The Blackhawks were suffocated by the neutral zone trap and high forecheck of the Wild, and as such were unable to convert on any of their 19 shots directed on goal. Captain Jonathan Toews and winger Patrick Kane were held to just 3 shots on goal combined, while the team was led by winger Patrick Sharp's 4 shots. Goaltender Corey Crawford made just 14 saves on the night, before being pulled in favor of backup Antti Raanta late in the third period. Game four goes Friday night in Minnesota.]>
Minnesota Wild host Chicago Blackhawks tonight in Game 3 of their playoff series.The game takes place at the Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul and is scheduled to start at 02:00 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Blackhawks at Wild live here:Preview (Chicago currently lead the series 2-0):LAST GAME - Chicago 4 Minnesota 1 BLACKHAWKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Chicago Blackhawks have been the dominant team through two games of their second round series with the Wild, and they will look to continue that form as the series shifts to a road set in Minnesota. They outscored the Wild by a combined 9-3 mark in Chicago, and are just two wins away from a third Conference Final appearance in five seasons. As has been the case in their recent Stanley Cup championships, the Blackhawks find themselves led on the scoring front by their two offensive leaders, captain Jonathan Toews and winger Patrick Kane. Toews has to be considered a favorite in the playoffs M.V.P. race right now, on the strength of his 9 points (4-5). Of those 4 goals, 3 have been game winners, and Toews is increasing his resume of clutch with every playoff that goes by. Patrick Kane's 8 points (5-3) are second in team playoff scoring, while his +8 mark has him second in the playoffs in that stat, behind Pittsburgh's Paul Martin. Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford may not get all the press some of his more illustrious teammates do, but his stats thusfar in the playoffs have been nothing short of outstanding. He has a top-3 rating in every conceivable goaltending statistic: wins, saves, save percentage, and goals against average. Indeed, this is shaping up to be the second consecutive playoffs where Crawford has put in a stellar performance that has gone largely unnoticed: his .932 save percentage and 1.84 goals against average were among the best numbers in modern league history for a Cup-winning goaltender, yet he didn't find himself with a Conn Smythe at the end of the playoffs. WILD EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  In spite of going punch-for-punch with the Central-winning Colorado Avalanche in the first round, the Wild have looked largely overwhelmed by the Blackhawks in their second round series, and are left with the task of tying to climb back into a series on the back of a 0-2 deficit for a second consecutive round. One thing Minnesota has going for it, is it has been in this situation before; the 2-0 lead the Avalanche built up against them in the first round was conquered in large part thanks to a pair of wins in games 3 and 4 at home, which is exactly the situation they find themselves in now. The Wild will need more from their top-scoring duo of Zach Parise and Mikael Granlund, which has combined for just 1 assist in heavy minutes through the first two games. The same could be said of their 1A line, as none of Koivu, Coyle, or the struggling Matt Moulson have managed to come up with a point through two games.  Goal scoring aside, the one thing the Wild could really do with on the back end is an infusion of strong goaltending, which is something they have lacked since Darcy Kuemper went down with an injury during game 7 of their first round series with Colorado. Veteran Ilya Bryzgalov has simply not been up to snuff, having allowed 7 goals on just 35 shots through the first two games of the series. With Kuemper unlikely to return from injury any time soon, Minnesota's Stanley Cup hopes rest squarely on the shoulders of Bryzgalov... which, considering some of his most recent stats, is a risky prospect indeed. BOTTOM LINE: The Blackhawks are the pre-eminent example of a team that knows how to turn on the jets in the post-season. They were a mediocre 5-5 in the final 10 games of the season, lost out on a chance at home ice advantage in the first round, and looked to all the world like a team that was sitting on its laurels after last season's Cup win. Fast forward to the playoffs though, and you have a different beast. This is a team that dismantled a strong St. Louis Blues squad in the first round, and is well on its way to doing the same to upstart Minnesota in the second. The Wild have hardly shown up with their best form through the first two games of this series, but even if they were to, its hard to imagine them turning this one around. The Blackhawks are simply too elite, and are led by too many guys with Stanley Cup expertise. If they can stay the course in Minnesota on Tuesday night, they can pencil in another trip to the Conference Final. Pick: Chicago.]>
The Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens continue their second round series tonight, with both teams seeking a critical 2-1 series lead.The game takes place at the Bell Centre, Montreal and is scheduled to start at 00:00 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Bruins at Canadiens live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 1-1): LAST GAME - Boston 5 Montreal 3 CANADIENS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Canadiens had the Bruins dead-to-rights in game two on Saturday, leading them 3-1 midway through the third period, before a furious late charge from Boston saw the Bruins through to a 5-3 victory, and Montreal to its first loss of the 2014 playoffs. Still, a 1-1 series split out of Boston is a solid result for the Habs, particularly when you consider the home ice advantage they get from the raucous crowd at the Bell Centre. Habs defenseman P.K. Subban has always been a lightning rod for attention, good and bad, in his four years in the league. These playoffs, however, are showing a man who is quickly evolving into a generational defenseman for Montreal. Subban has a team-leading 9 points from just 6 playoff games, including 4 (2-2) from the first two games of the series against Boston. Game one overtime heroics aside, Subban has shown up huge for the Canadiens, and will need to continue to be the team's driving force from the back end, if they are to make it past a deep Bruins squad in the second round. Up front, there is talk that Habs winger Rene Bourque may be out of the lineup in game three, owing to the flu. This would put an even heavier load on the club's top line, which hasn't exactly lit the world on fire through 6 games. Winger Max Pacioretty, who had a career-high 39 goals during the regular season, has just 1 in the playoffs thusfar, and while Thomas Vanek has been strong (5 points in six games), the Canadiens need the line as a whole to be as dominating as the Bruins top unit; they can't count on their second and third lines to be point-per-game producers every night. Look for winger Michael Bournival to get bumped up to the second line wing assignment in the event that Bourque is unable to go on Tuesday night. BRUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Bruins showed on Saturday night why they are the Stanley Cup favorites that they are, storming back from a 3-1 third period deficit, laying siege to Habs goaltender Carey Price en route to a 5-3 comeback victory. The game featured goals from five different sources, including a game winner from young second liner Reilly Smith, a testament to the depth the Bruins have in their forward corps these playoffs. Boston is the kind of team that doesn't rely on any one specific line to succeed, with head coach Claude Julien choosing to roll three, and sometimes four, lines in equal measure throughout the game. That strategy paid definite dividends on Saturday night, as a fresher Bruins squad managed to get contributions from both its first and its second line down the stretch in the third period, something Montreal was perhaps lacking late in the game.  Center Patrice Bergeron leads the scoring charge for Boston right now, with 8 points (2-6) from seven games, though it is defenseman Torey Krug, with 7 points from 7, who has been the biggest revelation for Boston in these playoffs. With just one full regular season under his belt, Krug has shown, in two playoff seasons thusfar, to be a clutch performer for the B's; he has 13 points (6-7) from 22 career playoff games. Goaltender Tuukka Rask hasn't exactly been his Conn Smythe-favored self to this point in the second round; the 7 goals he has surrendered through 2 games eclipses the 6 he surrendered through the entire first round series against Detroit, and though its hard to place the blame solely at Rask's feet, there is a definite need for the Bruins goaltender to be better as the series shifts to Montreal. He has been a difference maker all season for Boston, and if he slips, there's no telling where this series could go. BOTTOM LINE: Though it would be unfair to sell the enthusiastic crowd at the TD Garden in Boston short, there is nothing quite like the playoff atmosphere at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The fans are the loudest and probably the most passionate in the league, and the fact that their Habs are up against forever rivals Boston in the second round should only ratchet up the intensity in game three. Consider, though, the last time these two teams met in the playoffs, the first round of 2011. Montreal had won the first two games of the series in Boston, and were expected to sweep the Bruins out upon the series return to the Bell Centre. Instead, Boston won both games 3 and 4 in Montreal, gaining momentum that would carry them through to a 7-game series win, and an eventual Stanley Cup title. They need that same energy and belief on Tuesday night, as they try and take the lead in a series which has thusfar lived up to all dramatic expectations. Pick: Boston.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Monday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Los Angeles 3 Anaheim 1 Scorers: LAK - Gaborik, Martinez, King  ANA - Maroon The Los Angeles Kings rode a stellar 37-save performance from goaltender Jonathan Quick to a 3-1 victory, and will not carry a 2-0 series stranglehold back home to the Staples Center, where they have the potential to sweep-out the Anaheim Ducks. Quick was the difference maker for the Kings, who were outshot by a wide 37-17 margin on the night. The 2012 Conn Smythe trophy-winning goaltender was stellar though, and has now allowed just 5 goals in his last 5 playoffs games, all victories. Winger Marian Gaborik opened the scoring early in the first, with his 3rd goal of this series and league-leading sixth of the playoffs, while defenseman Alec Martinez had the game-winner late in the first. Dwight King added an empty netter to seal it late in the third. [txt17288] In spite of probably being the better team for a second consecutive game, the Ducks find themselves in a difficult 2-0 hole going into Los Angeles, and will be hard-pressed to find their way back up. Winger Patrick Maroon had a power play goal mid-way through the first, but that would be the only marker for the Ducks on the night. Corey Perry, who has yet to register a point in this series, led all Ducks shooters with 5 shots on goal in 20:16 of ice time, in a game where all but 1 of the Ducks skaters registered at least a single shot on goal. Goaltender Jonas Hiller made just 14 saves in the loss. Game three goes Thursday night in Los Angeles. Pittsburgh 2 New York 0 Scorers: PIT - Crosby, Jokinen  NYR - none [txt30375] Marc-Andre Fleury and the Pittsburgh Penguins shut out the New York Rangers for a second consecutive night, as Pittsburgh was victorious at Madison Square Garden by a 2-0 score line, and take a 2-1 series lead into game four. Fleury made 35 saves for first star honors on the night, and has flipped the script on a first round in which he seriously struggled. He has now gone 120 minutes without allowing a Rangers goal, making a total of 57 saves, and looks like a steady presence in the Penguins net again. Captain Sidney Crosby finally had his first goal of the playoffs, the eventual game-winner early in the second period, while winger Jussi Jokinen added his fifth of the playoffs late in the second period to ice it.  The Rangers once again managed to shell Fleury with a respectable number of shots, but were simply unable to find the back of the net on Fleury for a second consecutive contest, and now find themselves facing a critical game four at home. Winger Martin St. Louis had just 2 shots on goal in the game, and although he hit the post on two occasions on Monday, his playoff pointless streak is now at a troubling five-games. The same can be said of Rick Nash, who still has yet to score a goal in these playoffs, and hasn't registered a point since game 3 of the series against Philadelphia, seven games ago. Henrik Lundqvist made 13 saves in a losing effort. Game four goes Wednesday night in New York.]>
The Los Angeles Kings will look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead when they take on the Anaheim Ducks tonight in the second game of their second round Western Conference playoff series. The game takes place at the Honda Center, Anaheim and is scheduled to start at 03:00 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Kings at Ducks live here:Preview (Kings currently lead the series 1-0):LAST GAME - Los Angeles 3 Anaheim 2 (OT) KINGS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Los Angeles Kings used a clutch 2-goal night from Marian Gaborik, including a game-tier with 7 seconds left and an overtime winner, to overcome the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night. In doing so, they won their fifth consecutive playoff game, and took a 1-0 hold in the series being dubbed the 'Freeway Series'. Los Angeles changed up their alignment prior to game one, with head coach Daryl Sutter shifting in two new defensemen (Schultz & Greene) in favor of Mitchell and Regehr, and electing to continue with the 'kid line' of Pearson, Carter and Toffoli as his second. But no line has been as effective these playoffs as the Kings' first, and the combination of Gaborik and Anze Kopitar continued to impress in game one. Gaborik had the two critical goals and an assist, while center Anze Kopitar continued his torrid playoffs with three assists. Kopitar's 13 points are now tops in league playoff scoring, while his current 8 game point streak (which is every game in the playoffs to this point) is also the best of its kind. Goaltender Jonathan Quick made 33 saves or the victory on Saturday night, but it was the defensive adjustments made by Sutter that seemed to be of most benefit to the Kings. Early in the Sharks series, Los Angeles' defense looked old and slow, and was exposed by the Sharks speed forwards for 16 goals in three games. Without the benefit of line matching on the road, the Kings knew they would need to be proactive with their defensive assignments, and Sutter's adjustments benefited the Kings defense against the Ducks myriad speedy forwards. DUCKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Ducks were the better team for much of the first 50 minutes in game one against the Kings, and will feel they missed an opportunity to take a series lead after surrendering the late equalizer and overtime winner to Marian Gaborik. Still, in a series where most prognosticators had the Kings as heavy favorites, Anaheim proved that they can stay with their Southern California rivals in game one, and will be looking to even the series up in the second game. Leading the charge for the Ducks on Saturday night was 43-year old superstar Teemu Selanne, whose go-ahead goal late in the third period proved to the hockey world that he isn't done producing just yet. On a line with grinders Patrick Maroon and Rickard Rakell, Selanne has been relied upon for fewer minutes for the Ducks, but still managed a goal on 3 shots in those limited minutes on Saturday.  Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf also managed 2 assists in a monster 25:54 of ice time on the night, but the team will hope that the goose egg put up by Corey Perry (0 points, 2 shots in 23:45) isn't a sign of things to come for the star forward. Goaltender Jonas Hiller appears to have taken the crease back from young Frederik Andersen, thanks to a strong 33 save effort in the overtime loss. Were it not for Gaborik's deft hands on the game-tying goal with 7 seconds left, we could well be talking about Hiller in this space as carrying Anaheim through to a victory. Still, they will need him to be even better in game two if they are to send this series back to Los Angeles tied at ones. BOTTOM LINE:  In spite of the Ducks regular season domination of them, the Kings proved on Saturday night that they can punch with their Southern California rivals; Anaheim, meanwhile, will feel they deserved a better fate than they got after being the better team for the majority of the night.  The key to this series for Anaheim appears to be shutting down the Kings top line, and specifically Kopitar. The slick Slovene has ratcheted his game up to another level in these playoffs, and is steering the Kings ship to success right now. The Ducks will need to shut he and Gaborik down in game two if they are to have success. But with the way that duo has been playing for the Kings, that's no easy feat. Pick: Los Angeles.]>
The Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers square off in game three of their second round series tonight, both seeking the upper hand. The game takes place at Madison Square Garden, New York and is scheduled to start at 00:30 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Penguins at Rangers live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 1-1):LAST GAME - Pittsburgh 3 New York 0 PENGUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS;  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Penguins have probably been the better team through the first two games of the series, considering they've outshot New York by a combined 71-49 margin through the first two games. Nonetheless, they find themselves heading back to the Big Apple with only a series split, but do so on the back of a strong 3-0 victory from Sunday night. Leading the Pens to that victory was goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who had his best night in what has been a difficult playoffs thusfar. Making 22 saves for the shutout, Fleury demonstrated why he is still the man between the pipes for Pittsburgh, i spite of his first round struggles. In fact, the win has managed to reconcile his playoff numbers to respectable levels: 2.49 goals against average and .914 save percentages are 6th among playoff goaltenders, thsi in spite of facing the 3rd most shots of any goaltender in the playoffs. Pittsburgh will need him to be just that same kind of goaltender if they are to be successful deeper into the playoffs. The one thing that will concern Penguins fans (and that has concerned them all playoffs), is the lack of production from superstar center Sidney Crosby. A pointless Sunday night means that #87 has 0 points in two games of this series, and just 6 assists through 8 games of these playoffs. Couple that with a rough -5 rating, and you have a decidedly un-Crosbylike stat-line. Still, Sid is far too good to be kept down, and he is bound to score eventually; figure that, in a critical game on the road in New York, Monday night may be just such a night. RANGERS EXPECTED LINE:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Rangers suffered a shutout defeat for the first time in the playoffs on Sunday night, and in doing so, missed an opportunity to jump out to a commanding 2-0 series lead on the Penguins. Still, they head back to Madison Square Garden with the split that they desired, and will look to carry over their strong home form from round one (where they went 3-1) into their series with the Penguins. New York's top line has certainly been carrying the offensive mail thusfar in the playoffs; the unit of Stepan, St. Louis and Nash accounted for exactly half (11) of the team's 22 shots on Sunday night, and were the only line that truly buzzed for sustained portions of the contest. St. Louis and Stepan, in particular, have looked strong through 2 games of this series, while Nash is getting his opportunities (team-leading 37 shots in the playoffs), but has still yet to score a goal in these playoffs. The team-leading scorer right now is third line center Brad Richards, who has 7 points (3-4) through 9 games. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist put forth a valiant effort in defeat on Sunday night, making 32 saves, many of the highlight-reel variety. His 2.07 goals against average and .926 save percentage are both top-5 numbers among playoff goaltenders, this in spite of playing behind an offense which is last in terms of active playoff teams in goal production (2.44/game). There is no denying that 'King Henrik' has been New York's playoff M.V.P. thusfar, and they will need him to continue to be if they are to succeed against the Penguins dynamic offense. BOTTOM LINE: Were it not for a Benoit Pouliot overtime marker in game one, the Penguins would likely find themselves deservedly in front 2-0 in this series. They have been the better team on form through two games, and will hope to continue that on the road in a difficult Madison Square Garden. Still, the Rangers are in this series, and you have to imagine that they can wake up heading back home. One aspect of their game they need to improve is a playoff-worst power play, which is clicking at an abysmal 8.1% right now. If they can manage to turn that around, and if they get the same level of goaltending from Lundqvist that they have through the first two games of this series, there is every reason to believe they can hold serve at home, and take a critical 2-1 series lead. Pick: New York.]>
Here's our preview of tonight's MLB action in the National League... LOS ANGELES DODGERS (18-14) @ WASHINGTON NATIONALS (17-14)Nationals Stadium - 00:05 BSTExpected pitchers - Greinke (5-0, 2.04) vs. Zimmerman (2-1, 3.27) The Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in the thick of the National League West race as we enter May, but they may also find themselves without All Star center fielder Yasiel Puig for some time, after the outfielder injured himself running down a ball late in Sunday night's loss to the Marlins. In Puig's stead, the team will rely even more on the big bat of Adrian Gonzalez (.292, 9HR 25RBI), as well as that of Matt Kemp, who has been steadily improving of late. Undefeated Zack Greinke takes the mound, where he will look to take a 6th win in seven starts. The Washington Nationals have made the most of life without Bryce Harper, who is out for the foreseeable future with a serious thumb injury. The team has gone 3-2 since placing their stud outfielder on the DL, thanks in no small part to some stellar pitching from their staff. Righty Jordan Zimmerman goes on Monday night, and he will be looking for wins in consecutive starts for the first time this season. Of note is veteran first baseman Adam LaRoche, who leads everyday starting hitters on the Nats with a .317 average, and 5 home runs. PICK: Los Angeles SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (20-11) @ PITTSBURGH PIRATES (12-19)PNC Park - 00:05 BSTExpected pitchers - n/a The NL West-leading San Francisco Giants will look for a sixth consecutive win on Monday night, as they start a three game set on the road with the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates. The Giants are coming off a fifth consecutive game in which they allowed 2 or fewer runs, as they closed out a 3-game series sweep of the Braves in Atlanta. Leading the charge for them as been the bat of Michael Morse (.302, 8HR 22RBI), who is putting up his best numbers since 2011 with the Nationals. Monday's start was scheduled for Matt Cain, but the hurler has been placed on the 15-day disabled list; expect a substitute to be announced shortly before game time, perhaps long-reliever Yusmiero Petit Nothing has gone right to this point in 2014 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, as their 12-19 record has them 8.5 games behind division-leading Milwaukee already, and fading fast. The Bucs coming off their first series win in a while though, as they took 2 of three from Toronto over the weekend. Still, they need someone other than Andrew McCutchen (.302, 4HR 17RBI) to step up offensively; big-slugging Pedro Alvarez has 7 home runs and 18 RBI's, but is hitting a poor .211, while second baseman Neil Walker is the only every-day player hitting above .260 (other than McCutchen). Pittsburgh needs to start a winning run, and fast. PICK: Pittsburgh TORONTO BLUE JAYS (14-17) @ PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (15-14)Veterans Stadium - 00:05 BSTExpected pitchers - Happ (0-0, 4.15) vs. K. Kendrick (0-2, 3.52) The Toronto Blue Jays are a team hovering just below .500 right now, and that may just be the reality they face going forward this season. Sweet-swinging Melky Cabrera (.336, 6HR 14RBI) and sugger Jose Bautista (.294, 9HR 20RBI) are putting up the kind of sesasons that the team hoped for, and have led the team to respectable numbers offensively. It has just been the pitching, with no discernible ace, and a staff that is consistently erratic, that has let Toronto down. Long-relieving lefty J.A. Happ gets his first start of the season on Monday, in place of the injured Brandon Morrow, who struggled mightily in his 6 starts; indeed, of the Jays regular rotation, only Drew Hutchison (1-2, 3.82ERA) features an ERA below 4, and a WHIP below 1.4. Not much was expected of the veteran Phillies lineup this year, so a 15-14 start has to be considered a boon for the club. They are coming off a 2-1 series defeat of division rival Washington, and are only a game-and-a-half out of first in the NL East. They have been led by some strong arms out of the starting rotation, including Monday starter Kyle Kendrick, who doesn't have a win yet on the season, but has respectable ERA and WHIP numbers. The one thing holding Philadelphia back right now may be their bullpen, which has allowed the most runs in the National League at this early juncture in the season, and needs to be far better. PICK: Philadelphia NEW YORK METS (16-14) @ MIAMI MARLINS (16-15)Marlins Park - 00:15 BSTExpected pitchers - Niese (2-2, 2.20) vs. Eovaldi (2-1, 2.58) The surprising New York Mets ended a mini 3-game losing slump on Sunday, as they took a 5-1 decision in Colorado. At 16-14, they are doing far better than most pundits anticipated at the start of the season, and have a real chance to make a statement in their three game set with division-rival Miami. The Mets top-rotation starters have been surprisingly strong, led by emerging ace Dillon Gee (3-1, 2.51) and Monday starter Jon Niese (2-2, 2.20), while Daniel Murphy looks to continue the form he showed in an excellent four-game set with the Rockies, which included 7 hits from 19 at-bats. He leads the team in everyday average, at .314 At 16-15, the young Marlins find themselves on the sunny side of .500 for the first time in a while. This is thanks, of course, to stellar starts from staff ace Jose Fernandez (4-1, 1.74), who looks well on his way as a favorite for the Cy Young this year, but also from the 2-4 guys, including Monday starter Nathan Eovaldi. Indeed, in a combined 25 starts to this point in the season, the Marlins 1-4 starters have allowed just 43 runs, an excellent run of form which showcases the strength of this roster as the rotation. Now all they need is the bullpen, which has struggled, to reciprocate. PICK: Miami ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (16-16) @ ATLANTA BRAVES (17-13)Turner Field - 00:15 BSTExpected pitchers - S. Miller (3-2, 3.15) vs. Harang (3-2, 2.97) Things haven't exactly gone swimmingly for the defending NL-champion St. Louis Cardinals, who find themselves at .500, already 5 games behind Milwaukee for the division lead, as we enter May. What's worse, the Cards are coming off a pair of series losses to division rivals Chicago and Milwaukee, and have been struggling to find consistent offense from the majority of their everyday hitters. Indeed, other than Matt Adams (.339) and Yadier Molina (.336), no Cardinal regular is hitting above .270 right now, and that needs to change. Monday starter Shelby Miller is proving to be a reliable start, at just 23 years of age. The Atlanta Braves lead the log-jam that is the NL East right now, though they have just 1.5 games on the collective of four other teams behind them. This would be a lot different, were it not for a brutal 6 game losing streak in which they currently find themselves mired. Sweeps at the hands of the Marlins and Giants have negated what was a strong start in Atlanta, and they will look to recover over a course of two consecutive home stands. The Braves are one of few teams witout a single everyday hitter above .300 on average; outfielder Justin Upton leads the charge at .299, while also potting 8 home runs and 18 RBI in what has thusfar been a strong season for the veteran. PICK: Atlanta ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (11-23) @ MILWAUKEE BREWERS (21-11)Miller Park - -01:15 BSTExpected pitchers - Bolsinger (1-1, 5.79) vs. M. Garza (1-3, 5.00) The Arizona Diamondbacks have the worst winning percentage in the bigs right now, and are at serious risk of having their season lost before the 40-game mark. They are actually 6-5 in their last 11, a run which has somewhat mitigated their abysmal 5-18 start, but there is still so much to be done to regain respectability in the desert. Behind the likes of Paul Goldschmidt, Miguel Montero and Chris Owings, their bats have actually been respectable enough; it has been the pitching, including some league-leading runs allowed numbers, which has let them down so much to start the year. And, with even ace Wade Miley struggling, there doesn't appear to be relief on the horizon. Whereas Arizona has surprisingly submarined this season, the Milwaukee Brewers have got the be the feel-good story of the early year. Their 21-11 mark is tops in the bigs, and they currently find themselves 5 games clear of St. Louis in the NL Central. The return from suspension of dynamic outfielder Ryan Braun (.318, 6HR 18RBI) has re-energized the Brew Crew, especially outfielder Carlos Gomez (.280, 7HR 17RBI), who missed Braun's protective bat in the middle of the order last year. Their starting pitching has also been extremely solid; only Monday starter Matt Garza has an ERA over 3.20 in 6+ starts, and his is largely due to a rough last-pair of starts against St. Louis and Pittsburgh. PICK: Milwaukee.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Sunday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Pittsburgh 3 New York 0 Scorers: PIT - Letang, Jokinen, Malkin  NYR - none Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury had a statement night on Sunday, making 22 saves en route to his first shut-out of the 2014 playoffs, and a 3-0 Pittsburgh win to tie the series up at 1-1. Defenseman Kris Letang led the charge offensively for the Pens, with his second goal of the playoffs, to go along with two assists in 25:35 of ice time. Also scoring for Pittsburgh was Jussi Jokinen and Evgeni Malkin, the latter of whom also had an assist with 5 shots on goal. Fleury's 22 save-shutout come on the heels of a tough game one loss, and should instill confidence back in a goaltender who has been under siege since a tough first round series with Columbus. Sidney Crosby went pointless with 6 shots, his second consecutive game without getting on the score sheet. [txt9409] The Rangers were outplayed for most of game two, and will probably feel that a loss in their situation was deserved. They managed just 22 shots on Marc-Andre Fleury in game two, the second such game where they have been out shot. The first line of Nash, St. Louis, and Stepan accounted for half of those 22 shots, while goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was heroic in defeat, making 32 saves in the losing effort.  Game three goes tonight in New York. Chicago 4 Minnesota 1 Scorers: CHI - Toews, Saad (2), Bickell  MIN - McCormick [txt33801] The Chicago Blackhawks used a second consecutive dominating performance on Sunday night to defeat the Minnesota Wild 4-1, and in doing so, took a 2-0 series lead over the Minnesota Wild, as the series prepares to shift back to Minnesota for game three. Leading the Blackhawks on Sunday night was winger Brandon Saad, who had his first two goals of the playoffs (the second of which was into an empty net), and winger Bryan Bickell, who had a goal and two assists. Bickell's three point effort gives him 8 points (5-3) on 8 games in these playoffs, which is remarkably half of his output from the entire regular season (15 points from 59 games), showing again that he is a prime playoff performer. Hawks captain Jonathan Toews had the opening marker for the team, in the first period, while goaltender Corey Crawford had to make just 18 saves en route to the victory. Minnesota managed to hold the Blackhawks to just 22 shots on goal for a second consecutive game, but this time were unable to mount any kind of sustained offensive charge, and find themselves in a serious hole heading back home for game three. Fourth liner Cody McCormick was the only Wild player to score on Sunday night, while team-leading scorer Zach Parise had a tough night, registering a -3 with 3 shots on goal in 19:18 of ice time. Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov had another tough night in net, making just 18 saves in the loss. Game three goes Tuesday night in Minnesota.]>
So-Cal rivals the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings meet for the first time ever in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in an all-California second round match-up in the Western Conference. These two teams have been rivals since Anaheim joined the league in 1993, but this represents the first time they have ever squared-up in the dance, and presents perhaps the most intriguing first round match-up on the docket in round two. Watch Anaheim Ducks vs. Los Angeles Kings live here:Preview:LAK: Gaborik - Kopitar - Brown / Pearson - Carter - Toffoli / King - Stoll - Williams / Clifford - Richards - Lewis / Muzzin - Doughty / Regehr - Voynov / Greene - Martinez / Quick SERIES L - P1 vs. P3 TIME (ET)   vs.    Saturday, May 38 p.m.Los Angeles at Anaheim Monday, May 510 p.m.Los Angeles at Anaheim Thursday, May 810 p.m.Anaheim at Los Angeles Saturday, May 10TBDAnaheim at Los Angeles *Monday, May 12TBDLos Angeles at Anaheim *Wednesday, May 14TBDAnaheim at Los Angeles *Friday, May 16TBDLos Angeles at Anaheim On paper, the Ducks enter the series as the favorites, having won the Pacific division by a comfortable margin, with home ice advantage, and having beaten the Kings four of five times during the regular season. Still, coming off a history-making first round comeback, the Kings look like a team of destiny again, and will be as stiff a challenge as the Ducks could possibly fathom in round two. WHY THE DUCKS WILL WINAnaheim has the luxury of icing perhaps the best 1-2 forward duo in the league right now, in captain Ryan Getzlaf and winger Corey Perry. Getzlaf, who was recently nominated for the Hart Trophy as league M.V.P., missed a game-and-a-half of action in the first round thanks to a jaw injury, but still managed to tie for team lead in points with 7 (3-4). So long as he is healthy, he is the best forward in this series, and the Kings will be hard pressed to find an answer for the superstar. Perry also had 7 points on the series (2-5), including a monster 3 point game in the Ducks game 5 victory. He is also an extremely cagey player, and is known as one of the game's great pests, so he will be looked at to get under the skin of some of the Kings key offensive players. Beyond Getzlaf and Perry, the Ducks have an enviable level of forward depth, which will be called upon again in the second round. The likes of Nick Bonino, Mathieu Perreault, and Andrew Cogliano may not be house-hold names, but they have been strong offensive producers for the Ducks throughout the year, and will be looked to do the same against the Kings. Veteran Teemu Selanne was a healthy scratch in round one, and isn't quite the player he once was, but he still has that ability to be a one-shot game-changer. The Ducks can also muck it up with the best of them on the bottom six, led by guys like Dan Winnik and the emerging Devante Smith-Pelly. Anaheim will need for their defensive corps to play above its depth, much like it did in round one against Dallas. They don't really have a top pairing or a shut-down stud like most teams in round two, and rely on the young pairing of Cam Fowler and Ben Lovejoy for the bulk of their minutes on the back end. Still, this is the perfect defensive corps for head coach Bruce Boudreau's attack philosophy; it is a mobile one, and one perfectly suited for an up-tempo, offensive style. Boudreau will continue to roll all three pairings, which gives the Ducks a level of speed from the back end which they will try and use to exploit the Kings slower back end. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO - F Devante Smith-PellyThe bruising 21 year old played in five of the Ducks' six first round games, and came up enormous in game six against Dallas. He posted 2 goals, including a late third-period game-tying marker, and even saw time on the first line alongside Getzlaf and Perry. At 6'0" 220 pounds, Smith-Pelly plays the kind of hard, bruising game that the Kings usually thrive on, and it will be interesting to see how it interacts with some of the Kings stars. As it stands right now, he is posed for a break-out playoffs, particularly if Boudreau elects to keep him on that first unit with Getzlaf and Perry, where, granted, even a pylon could excel. WHY THE KINGS WILL WINThe 2012 Stanley Cup Champions looked down-and-out after 3 games against San Jose in the first round. They were down 0-3, had seen their defensive game and goaltending implode, and were being exploited as a slow, rigid team. Fast forward to game seven though, and the adjustments made by head coach Daryl Sutter, coupled with a return to Kings (read: crash and bash) hockey saw Los Angeles through to a mammoth comeback. They became just the fourth team in NHL history to come back from an 0-3 series deficit to win in seven games, and will carry that momentum through to Anaheim for game one on Saturday. Like the Ducks, the Kings ice a forward corps which is extremely deep. They are led by center Anze Kopitar, who is currently tied for the league lead in scoring. Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau recently referred to Kopitar as "one of the best players in the world", which is praise that is quickly becoming gospel. Kopitar brought the Kings back from the brink in round one, and with Anaheim so heavily reliant on Getzlaf and Perry, he will be their counter for the Kings. Behind Kopitar, the likes of Jeff Carter, Justin Williams, Dustin Brown, and Mike Richards have all been there, as key parts of the 2012 Stanley Cup champions. Carter and Williams have proven in the past to be clutch playoff performers, and were steadily round into form in the final four games of the first round; Brown and Richards represent the forwards most likely to draw the assignment of shutting down Getzlaf and Perry, a task which they have been called upon for in the past (see round one, when they shut down the Joe Thornton line).  The Kings also have Jonathan Quick, who presents a far better goaltending option than whichever of Jonas Hiller or Frederik Andersen the Ducks decide to roll with. Quick was famously exploited for 16 goals in the first three games of the series against the Sharks, but ended up righting the ship; in the Kings four consecutive victories, he allowed just 5 goals, bringing his stats back to a respectable (3.10 goals against average, .914 save percentage) level. The 2012 Conn Smythe trophy winner as playoff MVP has proven in the past to be an immense clutch performer, and can be that again for the Kings against the Ducks. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO - F Tyler ToffoliAlong with Tanner Pearson, Toffoli represents the next wave of Kings offensive studs. He had 5 points (3-2) in the first round, including a back-breaking marker in game 7, and is quickly establishing himself as a go-to-guy offensively for head coach Daryl Sutter. If he can continue his evolution in the second round, the already-strong Kings forward corps could have yet another stud on its hands. BOTTOM LINE: There is a lot of hate between these two teams, the product of years of being each other's foil throughout the regular season. Finally having a playoff match-up to point to represents a zenith in the rivalry though, and makes this series must-watch television on a nightly basis. The Ducks were the better team during the regular season, and didn't have quite the myriad struggles Los Angeles had in the first round, but it's hard not to like the Kings. Not only do they have the playoff pedigree of their 2012 championship, but their goaltending is miles better, their defense has a superior lynchpin in Drew Doughty, and, provided they are able to shut down Getzlaf and Perry (which is no short order), they have more depth down the forward lines.  Anaheim may emply the same kind of up-tempo offensive scheme that San Jose used to exploit the Kings in games 1-3 of the first round, but Los Angeles knows how to clamp down on that. They can do the same against their Southern California rivals, and take first blood in the playoff history of these two teams. Kings in 6 games.]>
The Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild kick off their second-game set tonight in a re-match of their first-round battle from the 2013 Playoffs. The game takes place at the United Center, Chicago and is scheduled to start at 02:30 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Wild at Blackhawks live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 0-0):BLACKHAWKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  Following a week-long rest that resulted from dispatching of the St. Louis Blues in six games, the defending-champion Blackhawks resume their search for consecutive Stanley Cups on Friday night, as they come up against a Minnesota Wild team who they defeated in five games in the first round last year. Hawks captain Jonathan Toews showed again in the first round why he is one of the greatest playoff performers of the modern era, posting 7 points (3-4) and a +4 mark, including an overtime winner in game five, to lead Chicago to victory. He will anchor the Hawks first line, alongside veteran star Marian Hossa, who was comparatively quiet in the first round, with just two points. Winger Patrick Kane will suit up on the team's second unit, alongside regular season leading scorer Patrick Sharp and unheralded young Ben Smith. Brent Seabrook looked strong in his first game back from suspension in game six, posting 2 assists and a +3 mark in 22:05 of ice time. He and Duncan Keith will certainly be keyed upon for critical minutes in offensive situations for the Hawks, while the second pairing of Jonny Oduya and Niklas Hjalmarsson will be looked to for shut-down minutes against the likes of Zach Parise and Mikael Granlund WILD EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  Minnesota will look to keep up the momentum gained from their unexpected round one victory against Colorado, as they look to avenge a five-game defeat suffered at the hands of the Hawks from the first round of last year's playoffs. The big question for Minnesota will be who is between the pipes, as a late injury in game 7 to incumbent starter Darcy Kuemper means that the team will likely be looking to the number-4 goaltender on its depth chart, veteran Ilya Bryzgalov, for the start in game one. Bryzgalov actually started the first two games of the Colorado series for the Wild, but was pulled after allowing 8 goals on just 46 shots through a game and a half in favor of Kuemper, who led the team from there. Now, it appears that Bryzgalov is the man again for the Wild, and that has many questioning whether the position will be the achilles heel for the Wild in this series. One guy who the Wild they can count on is winger Zach Parise, who is currently tied for the league lead in playoff scoring with 10 points. He and center Mikael Granlund have made a formidable duo for the Wild on the top forward unit, and will be looked to to continue their offensive production in round two. The Wild will also hope for more from top-6 forwards like Matt Moulson (2 points) and Jason Pominville (1 goal), who could soon see themselves supplanted on the scoring lines by the likes of game 7 overtime hero Nino Niederreiter if they don't re-affirm their scoring form. BOTTOM LINE: Goaltending is going to be a huge question mark for the Wild in this one, as the loss of Kuemper means that their playoff hopes lies squarely on the shoulders of the erratic Bryzgalov. As such, expect the Wild to employ a suffocating defensive style, much like they did in restricting the Avalanche to a league-low 24.9 shots per game in the first round. Still, Chicago is a better team that Colorado, and has the depth to expose the weaknesses of the Wild defensive corps. When Ryan Suter isn't on the ice, look for the Hawks to employ the likes of Toews and Kane in heavy minutes. And, should they do so, the Wild simply won't have an answer, unless Bryzgalov discovers another gear entirely. Pick: Chicago.]>
The New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins meet in the playoffs for the first time in six years when their second round playoff series gets underway tonight. The series represents an intriguing look-in, as the Penguins, though successful in six games over Columbus in the first round, struggled and slogged through most of the games, while the Rangers took seven-hard fought games to dispatch of the Philadelphia Flyers. Watch Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers live here:Preview: SERIES J - M1 vs. M2 TIME (ET)   vs.    Friday, May 27 p.m.NY Rangers at Pittsburgh Sunday, May 47:30 p.m.NY Rangers at Pittsburgh Monday, May 57:30 p.m.Pittsburgh at NY Rangers Wednesday, May 77:30 p.m.Pittsburgh at NY Rangers *Friday, May 9TBDNY Rangers at Pittsburgh *Sunday, May 11TBDPittsburgh at NY Rangers *Tuesday, May 13TBDNY Rangers at Pittsburgh      With a berth in the Eastern Conference Final on the line, these two teams will do battle in a second round series between two teams who emphasize a skill-type game over a bruising one. Pittsburgh looks to return to the Eastern Conference Final for the second consecutive season, while the Rangers, making their third straight visit to the second round of the playoffs, will look to get back for the second time in three seasons. WHY PITTSBURGH WILL WIN If anything, you can't imagine that their performance against Columbus was their best. It took the Penguins six hard-fought games to overcome the feisty Blue Jackets, in a series where they surrendered two-or-three goal leads to either lose or eke out a one-goal win on three separate occasions. Still, they are a much better team than the first round would indicate, and will need to improve upon their form if they are to beat the Rangers. And that starts with their best players. The Penguins have the best 1-2 center ice punch in the league, with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin spearheading an offense that was the fifth-best in the league during the regular season. Crosby was criticized throughout the series against the Jackets for failing to register a goal, this despite registering six assists and playing heavy minutes, so you can bet that he will be motivated to break that drought in round two. Malkin woke up in game 6 of the series, potting a hat-trick to lead the Penguins to victory, and is still one of the most dynamic offensive presences in the league today. Add high-scoring wingers Chris Kunitz and James Neal to the mix, and you have a top-heavy forward group that can dominate the opposition. The best players for the Penguins in their first round series were actually probably on defense; Matt Niskanen and Paul Martin led all Penguins scorers with 8 points, while Niskanen's 2 power play goals and 6 power play points are both near the top of the league in those categories. The Penguins led the league in power play percentage during the regular season, in large part because of the danger that Crosby and Malkin represent as shooting presences, so having a trigger man like Niskanen playing from the back end does wonders for their puck distribution. A healthy Kris Letang will also be an absolute boon for Pittsburgh, while rookie Olli Maatta rounds out a strong 1-6 corps. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO - G Marc-Andre FleuryIn what has become an all-too familiar narrative for Penguins fans, Fleury struggled through much of their first round series with the Blue Jackets, surrendering large leads and instilling doubt in the minds of his coach and fans. In the end though, he managed to come out on top, and now has a chance to redeem himself as we head into the second round. To his credit, Fleury's end-of-series numbers were actually solid enough (2.81 goals against average, .908 save percentage), and much of the blame for the team's collapses should be foisted upon a collapsing defensive system, but he will still get the brunt of it. If he can come through big in round two, he won't do anything to silence the majority of the critics, but he just do enough to regain the confidence of his teammates.  WHY THE RANGERS WILL WIN New York gutted out a tough seven-game series win over the Flyers, getting past Philadelphia with a 2-1 game seven victory on Wednesday night. In doing so, they likely dispelled the notion that they are a flimsy, skill-based team, and instead built a reputation as a club that can grind teams down with a suffocating defensive game, as well as turn on the counter attack with some skilled offensive players. Tasked with shutting down Crosby and Malkin will be the Rangers top defensive duo of Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi, which was given a similar job in round one. McDonagh has evolved into one of the premier shut-down blue liners in the game today, and managed to limit Flyers superstar center Claude Giroux to just two goals (on an empty-netter) in the first round. Crosby and Malkin are even better than Giroux, but in McDonagh and Girardi, New York has as good a chance as any to keep Sid and Geno off the score sheet. Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist certainly doesn't come with any of the baggage attached to the Penguins' Marc-Andre Fleury, so that position is one where the Rangers will find themselves at a distinct advantage. 'King Henrik' put up strong numbers in the team's first round tilt (.919 save percentage, 2.11 goals against average), and much of the same will be expected of him against an even more potent offensive-attack of Pittsburgh's. Up front, veteran Martin St. Louis leads a balanced offense, which didn't feature a single player with more than 6 points on the series. He, Rick Nash and Derek Stepan are a capable first line, but will need to be a lot better in the second round if the Rangers are to keep up with Pittsburgh offensively. Similarly, New York will want to improve upon its power play; it's 10.4% was 2nd-worst among the 16 teams in the first round, and they won the series largely in spite of it and their 15th-ranked penalty kill. If specialty teams improve, New York will be far better off. UNSUNG HERO - F Brad RichardsIt was just one season ago that Richards found himself a healthy scratch in the Rangers elimination games against the Boston Bruins; there was talk of buy outs, free agency, and even retirement. This year has been a complete resurgence for the skilled center, and the 6 points (2-4) he put up in the first round tied him with St. Louis for the team lead. This is coming in a third line role as well, and you can bet that head coach Alain Vigneault will look towards the experienced Richards when the chips are down in round two. BOTTOM LINE - Pittsburgh found themselves in a similar situation heading into the second round last season, having eked out a tough 6-game win over an upstart lower-seeded opponent, and managed to blitz the Ottawa Senators in an easy five games. Don't expect the same lack of attrition this year however, as the Rangers represent a veteran-laden team whose Cup window is now. The big keys in this series will all be Penguins: Crosby, Malkin, and Fleury. Pittsburgh needs Crosby to get on the scoreboard, and Malkin to be the player he was in game 6 against Columbus, and not the previous five games. Fleury, on the other hands, is a much more intriguing factor. He wasn't the goalie when the Penguins got past the Senators last season, but the lack of a substantial backup means he is their only option this year. If the Rangers can get to him early in the series, they can re-instill that all-too-familiar doubt in his mind. And if they can do that, they can punch with the Pens in this second round series. Prediction: Rangers in 6.]>
The hate returns to the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, as the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens meet for the league-high 34th time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Both teams are coming off convincing first-round series victories, with the Canadiens having swept the Tampa Bay Lighting in four games, and the Bruins having dispatched of the Detroit Red Wings in five.. Watch Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens live here:Preview: SERIES I - A1 vs. A3 TIME (ET)   vs.   Thursday, May 17:30 p.m.Montreal at Boston Saturday, May 312:30 p.m.Montreal at Boston Tuesday, May 67 p.m.Boston at Montreal Thursday, May 87:30 p.m.Boston at Montreal *Saturday, May 10TBDMontreal at Boston *Monday, May 12TBDBoston at Montreal *Wednesday, May 14TBDMontreal at Boston      The last time these two teams met in the Playoffs was back in 2011, when the Bruins won a dramatic seventh-game Overtime, en route to their first Stanley Cup since 1972. Now, on the back of solid regular seasons, and first round success, they meet again, and the consensus entering the season is that the league-best Bruins will have their hands full with a Habs team that beat them 3 out of 4 times in the regular season, and looked electric in their first round sweep of Tampa Bay. WHY THE BRUINS WILL WIN Well, for starters, they were the best team in the league during the regular season, and systematically dismantled a talented Detroit Red Wings squad in five games in round one. The Bruins defense, the second-ranked in the league during the regular season, allowed just 6 goals against over the whole series, lead by the stellar play of Vezina trophy-nominated goaltender Tuukka Rask, and Norris trophy-nominated defenseman Zdeno Chara. Rask has long been considered one of the best goaltenders in the league, but his performance during the regular season established him as perhaps  best, while his play against the Red Wings in round one only went further to cement that. He registered a league-best 1.16 goals against average and a staggering .961 save percentage in his five games of the first round, and has the definite potential to be a series-breaker for the B's in round two. Chara has been the same Herculean force you would expect him to be, averaging 25 minutes per game, and even potted 2 power-play goals in the process. He and young Dougie Hamilton will get the lions-share of the minutes against Montreal's top offensive players, and so long as they play the exact same way they did in round one, Boston will be extremely solid on the back-end Up front, the Bruins balanced attack is one of the best in the game, and relies upon the scoring prowess of some big-bodied bruisers. Chief among those are wingers Milan Lucic and Jarome Iginla; Lucic had 3 goals and an assist in the first round, while Iginla had 2 goals and 2 assists, including a game four OT winner. Centered by playoff wizard David Krejci, the Bruins top line was a key reason for their success this season. Two-way center Patrice Bergeron is probably the best defensive forward in the league on the second line, while Boston employs a solid mix of grinders and potential game-breaking snipers on the bottom-six. Indeed, it is a forward grouping so deep, that injuries to key players Dan Paille and Chris Kelly hasn't even managed to put a dent in it. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO - F Carl SoderbergThe third line center doesn't get much press around the league, and he had just 1 point (an assist) and was a +3 in the first round against Detroit, but there is no denying his two-way acumen. Appointed to a shut-down role for much of the first round, Soderberg proved that he can be as efficient defensively as offensively (had 16 goals and 48 points during regular season), and against a team with as spread a scoring presence as the Habs, you can bet that Soderberg will play an even more critical goal in any success the Bruins are to have in this series. WHY THE CANADIENS WILL WIN Of all the series in the first round, very few pundits would've predicted the 2-3 match-up between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Canadiens would be the only one to feature a sweep. But, on the back of a dominating offensive performance, and some clutch goals scored late in games 1 and 4, the Canadiens did just that, and their gift is a return date with the arch-rival Boston Bruins in round two. Although four games hardly yields a significant sample size, the Habs had their fair share of heroes from the first round, starting with defending Norris trophy-winning defenseman PK Subban. The lynchpin of the defensive core had 5 assists in the series, including some highlight-reel individual efforts, and even managed to shut-down Lightning offensive star Steven Stamkos for much of the series. Subban is the flashiest player in the Habs' top-four, but each should be given credit for their contribution to the team's success. Markov, Emelin, Gorges and Subban are among the best top-four defenses in the league, and there is no doubt that they will be counted on heavily to shut-down the Bruins top players in round two. There are few goalies in the league who you would seriously consider as equals to Boston's Tuukka Rask, but Montreal's Carey Price may well be one of them. Though he didn't exactly have a sparkling first-round, statistically (2.33 goals against average, .904 save percentage), he was good enough to win all four games for the Habs, and is coming off the best regular season of his young career. Not only that, but the big game experience he earned from winning a Gold medal as starting goaltender for Team Canada in the Sochi Olympics should come to bear in the pressure-cooker of round two, and you can bank on Price being a key part of the Habs success. Offensively, the Habs find themselves in a similar situation to that of the Bruins; though they lack any true lynchpin offensive force, they have excellent scoring depth, which was on full display in the first round. No fewer than 10 Canadiens forwards scored during the series, led by second liner Brendan Gallagher's 3 goals and 2 assists, and third liner Rene Bourque's 3 goals. So efficient was the Canadiens attack that team-leading scorer Max Pacioretty, he of the 39 regular season goals, only managed one goal in the series, and the team didn't suffer in the slightest. Like the Bruins, Montreal's balanced attack is one of the key reasons for their success, and they will need it to come to full bear if they are to upset the Bruins in round two POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO - F Danny BriereThere is perhaps no more clutch a playoff performer in this series than Montreal's Danny Briere, who has a remarkable 51 goals and 111 points in 112 playoff games. That PPG click is easily tops in the league among players remaining in the playoffs with 75 or more playoff games, and is testament to the diminutive center's ability to come up enormous in the clutch. He had a goal and an assist in the first round, and though he may be employed in a fourth line role with Montreal, don't count him out when the big goal is needed; chances are, he'll be there. BOTTOM LINE - Toss all the regular season statistics out the window for this one; it's going to be a hateful, bruising series, that has all the hallmarks at the outset of a seven-gamer. The Bruins are still the favorites league-wide to hoist the Cup, and with their defensive prowess getting full marks from round one, that is a well deserved spot. But counting out the Habs in this one would be unwise; not only did they take the season series from Boston, but they have also managed, in the past, to best the Bruins more than they have not. The physical game may be one that lends itself more to a Boston-style of hockey, but Montreal aren't the same timid club they once were; they can give it as hard as they get it. In a seven-game series, it's all about the goaltending and the clutch scoring. Bet this one will go to seven, and bet that the Habs can shock the hockey world. PREDICTION: Canadiens in 7.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Wednesday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Los Angeles 5 San Jose 1 The Los Angeles Kings made history on Wednesday night, becoming just the fourth team in NHL history to come back from an 0-3 series deficit to win in seven games, as they took out the San Jose Sharks with a commanding 5-1 victory. Anze Kopitar's backhand deke at 18:39 of the second period turned out to be the game-winner, as the Kings rode a stellar 39-save effort from goaltender Jonathan Quick to the win. After allowing 17 goals in the first three games of the series, Quick and the Kings allowed just five in the final four games, and will move onto the second round as a result. Drew Doughty, Tyler Toffoli, Dustin Brown and Tanner Pearson all added goals for the Kings, who will now prepare for another cross-state rival, the Anaheim Ducks, in a second round series that starts on Saturday. [txt37383] The San Jose Sharks epic playoff collapse makes them just the fourth team in 175 different instances to lose a series after taking a 3-0 lead. San Jose scored first, from defenseman Matt Irwin, but couldn't translate that, nor the 40 shots they put on Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, into a game seven victory. Much soul-searching will be done after this series, and it starts with the Sharks top players: Joe Thornton had 0 points in the final four games of the series, and was a -2 in 20:02 of ice time in game seven, while none of Patrick Marleau, Brent Burns or Logan Couture could muster a goal in the final four games of the series. Antti Niemi made 25 saves in a losing effort. New York 2 Philadelphia 1 [txt38210] It was the first time in 40 years that these two storied NHL franchises met for a game 7 of an NHL playoff series, and the New York Rangers used a 2-1 effort on Wednesday night to come up victorious. The Rangers got goals from two unexpected sources in Dan Carcillo and Benoit Pouliot, but it was the clutch third period performance of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist that will be remembered as the key reason for the team's victory. Lundqvist made 26 saves on the night, including 10 in the third, for his fourth career game 7 victory. The Rangers rode their top-4 defense of McDonagh, Staal, Stralman and Girardi hard, as all four had over 22 minutes of ice time in the game. New York will now move on to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in round two of the playoffs, in a series that starts on Friday night in Pittsburgh.  A valiant game 7 effort from the Flyers wasn't enough, as they were only able to solve Lundqvist and the Rangers defense once on the night. Winger Jason Akeson's goal at 04:32 of the third period cut the Rangers lead in half, but wound up being the last on the year for Philadelphia. Goaltender Steve Mason proved his game seven chops, making 31 saves in a heroic effort, but it was for naught. The Flyers top line of Hartnell, Giroux, and Voracek combined for 11 shots on goal on the game, but were unable to solve Lundqvist, and will now head into the summer earlier than they would've hoped, and expected. Minnesota 5 Colorado 4 (OT) [txt20391] Winger Nino Niederreiter was the overtime hero for the Minnesota Wild, as his goal at 05:02 of the first extra session gave the Wild a 5-4 victory, and put to bed a hard-fought seven game series with the Colorado Avalanche. Niederreiter put in a monster effort in game 7, as he had 2 goals and an assist on the game, with 5 shots in 16:00 of ice time. Linemates Kyle Brodziak and Dany Heatley also had 3 point night, with the latter putting in probably his best effort in a tumultuous three years in a Minnesota Wild uniform. The team also had goals from captain Mikko Koivu, and a game-tying effort from defenseman Jared Spurgeon with just over two minutes remaining in the third period. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 17 saves on the night, but left the game late in the third with an undisclosed injury, paving the way for backup Ilya Bryzgalov to come in and win the game for Minnesota, who will now move on to face the Chicago Blackhawks in a second round series that begins on Friday. The clock struck 12 on the cinderella season for the Colorado Avalanche, as they bend and broke in game seven against the Wild on Wednesday night. They had 4 separate 1-goal leads over the course of the game, but couldn't hold on to any, and gave up the ultimate decider in overtime. Goals from Nick Holden, Jamie McGinn, Paul Stastny, and Erik Johnson weren't enough, and the Avs will head into an earlier summer than they had hoped. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov had a 30-save effort, but couldn't come up with clutch stops on either the Spurgeon tying-goal with 2 minutes remaining, nor Niederreiter's wrister from the slot in overtime.]>
The Los Angeles Kings will look to make history tonight, while the San Jose Sharks will look to avoid an epic collapse when the two teams meet in the deciding game 7 of their first round series. The game takes place at the SAP Center in San Jose and is scheduled to start at 03:00 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Kings at Sharks live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 3-3):LAST GAME - Los Angeles 4 San Jose 1 KINGS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Los Angeles Kings are three-quarters of the way to making history in their first round series with the Sharks, and will look to complete the task in game 7 on Wednesday night. Only 3 teams in NHL history have come back from an 0-3 deficit to win a best-of-seven playoff series, and the Kings, who yielded an 0-3 deficit to San Jose before storming back to tie it, can become the fourth with an improbable victory on Wednesday night in San Jose. The difference between the wins and losses for the Kings has been staggering. They gave up a 17 goals in the first 3 games to San Jose, with goaltender Jonathan Quick suffering through 16 of those on 92 shots. It left much hand wringing in Los Angeles, as the Kings looked significantly slower on defense, their offense looked weaker, and their goaltender looked exposed.  In the three games since, the Kings have turned the series narrative on its head; they have allowed just 4 goals, while Quick has allowed just 4 goals on 95 shots to elevate his save percentage into the 900's (.901) and his goals against average back below 3.5 (3.47). For a team that prides itself on its defensive acumen (league-best 2.05 goals against average during regular season), this is a market correction after a truly shocking first three games of the series. Offensively, Kings star center Anze Kopitar has come alive in the past three games. He has 5 points (3-2) in that span, and has re-ignited an offense that looked tepid in their early-series losses. Along with wingers Justin Williams (4-1) and Marian Gaborik (3-1) and center Jeff Carter (2-3), there is some serious firepower up front for the Kings; and what's more, all of their key guys have game seven experience. In fact, Carter and center Mike Richards were both a key part of the last team to come back from an 0-3 series deficit to win in seven games, the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers. SHARKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  There is no denying that, for years, the San Jose Sharks have been labelled as playoff failures. A team that has made the playoffs for a remarkable 10 consecutive seasons, has somehow failed to translate a roster continually stocked with talent into a serious Stanley Cup run. Now, staring down the potential of one of the biggest collapses in North American sports history, it is up to their core group of players to re-ignite the club, and find a way past the Kings, and into the second round. The situation the Sharks find themselves in right now is an unenviable one, but is one that could've been completely avoided if they had gotten production through the past three games from their top line. Instead, the familiar narrative of 'playoff disappointment' looks set to fall upon star center Joe Thornton, who has just 3 points (2-1), all from the first four games of the series, and is a -4 iwith just 15 shots on goal. Along with linemate Brent Burns (2-1), the Sharks top unit simply hasn't been good enough, and should they fall to the Kings on Wednesday night, much of the blame will be placed squarely on their shoulders. The biggest question entering game 7 though is who head coach Todd McLellan will start in net. On the heels of a truly ugly first five games of the series, McLellan switched to unheralded backup Alex Stalock for the game six start, and, though his 4 goals allowed on 30 shots hardly brings to mind legendary performances of goaltenders past, it does look like he will be the man for the team on Wednesday night. Hitching your wagon to a rookie with exactly 29 games of NHL experience is a gutsy move for McLellan, and the result will likely dictate whether or not he finds himself on the employment line come this time next week. BOTTOM LINE: It's high time the Sharks dumped this narrative. For too long, they have labored in the shadows as a good-but not quite good enough-playoff team, and an epic first round collapse to the Kings on Wednesday would only further cement that reputation.  The Kings are a suffocating defensive team when they want to be, and it has been tough for the likes of Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski to penetrate the wall in the past three games. Still, one has a hard time imaging this Sharks roster, with all of the offensive skill and systems play they have, suffering a fourth-consecutive shut down at the hands of the Kings. Guys like Thornton and Marleau know that their legacy as players is on the line here. They need to come up massive on Wednesday night, lest their team go down in history in the category of biggest choke-jobs in NHL history. At home, they'll have the crowd energy and the impetus, and provided Stalock doesn't succumb to his inexperience in net, they can do it. Pick: San Jose.]>
Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild conclude their wild series in Denver tonight, locking horns in a decisive game 7.The game takes place at the Pepsi Center, Denver and is scheduled to start at 02:30 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Wild at Avalanche live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 3-3):LAST GAME - Minnesota 5 Colorado 2 AVALANCHE EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Colorado Avalanche will be hoping that the trend of the home team winning in this series continues into Wednesday night, as they look to continue their Cinderella season into a second round match-up with the Chicago Blackhawks. To do so, they will need to be much better at a puck pressure game, and find a way to test Minnesota goaltender far more than they have to this point (playoff-worst 25.3 shots per game). Leading the charge for the Avs will, of course, be the first line of Landeskog, Mackinnon and Stastny. They have been absolutely lights-out for the Avs at home in this series; Mackinnon's 10 points (3-7) are tied for the lead in playoff scoring, all of which have been registered at home, while Stastny has 8 of his 9 at home and Landeskog all 4 (3-1) of his. As such, look for head coach Patrick Roy to steer his top line clear of Wild shut-down defenseman Ryan Suter, who had done an outstanding job of shutting Colorado's top unit down in games played in Minnesota. The injury return of regular season leading scorer Matt Duchene also should give a boost to the second line, which was being carried primarily by two-way workhorse Ryan O'Reilly. Duchene looked none the worse for wear on Monday, registering an assist in 18:52 of ice time. If anything, it should allow them a secondary offensive threat, and take some of the scoring load off the heavily-burdened first line. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov will be looking to bounce back from his first rough outing of the playoffs; he allowed 3 goals on just 21 shots in Monday's loss. WILD EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  The Wild will look to turn the tide in game seven, as they seek to conquer an arena that has been a den of horrors for them through the first three games of their first round series with the Avs. The difference in their defensive game has been night and day compared to the two venues: they have been outscored 12-8 in the three games in Colorado, but have held the Avs to an 8-3 score line in the three games in Minnesota. They need to reverse that trend if they are going to leave Denver the victors on Wednesday night. Monday night in Minnesota saw the re-emergence of one of the game's playoff performers, as Wild winger Zach Parise used a 4-point night (2-2) to carry the Wild through to a 5-2 victory. In doing so, he jumped into a tie with Colorado's Nathan Mackinnon in playoff scoring, and established himself as the go-to guy for the Wild offense. The chemistry he and sophomore center Mikael Granlund have shown early in these playoffs has been the one thing that has kept the Wild offense going, and they will be the key actors in any script where the Wild are successful on Wednesday night. Rookie goaltender Darcy Kuemper has been nothing short of outstanding since taking the reins midway through game 2. His 1.53 goals against average and .934 save percentage are near the top of the playoffs, while the effortless manner with which he makes big saves for the Wild has put their myriad goaltending concerns at ease. He has been on Varlamov's level through the entirety of the series, and Minnesota will need him to be exactly that when Kuemper suits up for the biggest game of his life on Wednesday night. BOTTOM LINE: If you subscribe to the tale of two cities argument, then this series can only have one possible outcome. Yet if you were to look closer at the results from Denver, you would see two games, games 1 and 5, where the Avalanche fell behind the Wild, were forced to tie the game late, and won in the resulting overtime. As such, it would be fair to say that the Wild have been the better team on balance for most of the games in this series, with the exception of game 2, and probably deserve a better fate. The shot difference between the two teams in the series (Minnesota 33 SPG, Colorado 25.3 SPG) would also affirm that narrative. Nonetheless, the reality for both clubs is that it's win-or-go-home on Wednesday night, and you can bet that both will bring their A-games to bear. In game sevens, it is often the team with experience that is given the upper hand. As such, consider this: the Wild have seven players on their roster who have played in a game 7, including Parise and Jason Pominville; the Avalanche have two, third liner Maxime Talbot and Varlamov. Minnesota also has guys like Ryan Suter and Mikko Koivu, who have been there before. Provided Kuemper stays his solid self, this could well be the night where the buck stops on the consecutive home wins, and the Wild advance past the first round for the first time since 2002-03, when they beat... surprise!... the Colorado Avalanche. Pick: Minnesota.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Tuesday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Philadelphia 5 New York 2 Scorers: PHI - Simmonds (3), Gustafsson, Giroux  NYR - Hagelin, Zuccarello Flyers winger Wayne Simmonds played hero on Tuesday night, scoring a hat-trick to lead the team to a 5-2 game six victory over the Rangers at home. In doing so, Philadelphia forced a deciding seventh game, to be played Wednesday at Madison Square Garden in New York. Simmonds has 3 goals on 6 shots in just 12:50 of ice time on Tuesday night. All 3 goals were scored in a fashion typical of Simmonds, as he fought around the crease for rebounds and loose pucks. The team also had markers from defenseman Erik Gustafsson and captain Claude Giroux, the latter of whom had a breakthrough 3 point (1-2) night. Goaltender Steve Mason was the real star of the day for Philly, making 34 saves in another strong home playoff performance. [txt5748] The Rangers couldn't channel a 36-28 shot advantage into a victory Tuesday night, and now face the task of a win-or-go-home game with the young Flyers on Wednesday. They surrendered a 4-0 lead to Philadelphia through two periods, before adding late markers from Carl Hagelin and Mats Zuccarello. Team leading scorer Martin St. Louis has 0 points and 2 shots in 17:31 of ice time, while goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 19 saves on 23 shots before being pulled at the end of the second period in favor of back-up Cam Talbot.  Game 7 goes Wednesday night in New York.]>
The New York Rangers will look to close out the Philadelphia Flyers in their first round series tonight, and in doing so, move on to the second round for a third consecutive season, as the teams meet for a critical game six.The game takes place at the Wells Fargo Center and is scheduled to start at 00:30 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Rangers at Flyers live here:Preview (Rangers currently lead the series 3-2):LAST GAME -  New York 4 Philadelphia 2 RANGERS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:   The Rangers took a 3-0 lead midway through the second period in Sunday's game five battle with the Philadelphia Flyers, a lead which they would never relinquish. A 4-2 victory put them ahead in the series 3-2, and within one game of a third-consecutive appearance in the second round of the playoffs. Leading the charge for the Rangers these playoffs has been winger Martin St. Louis, who has 6 points (2-4) from five games. St. Louis was heavily criticized in the hockey media for scoring just 1 goal in 19 games as a Ranger following his acquisition at the trade deadline, but his performance to this point in the playoffs shows exactly why New York was so keen on acquiring him. He is a big game performer, and will be a key part of any Stanley Cup charge the Rangers mount going forward. The Rangers haven't been carried along in these playoffs by any one specific player, though; they have four players with two goals from the series, but none with more, a testament to the balanced offensive attack employed by head coach Alain Vigneault. They would love to see star winger Rick Nash get on the score-sheet soon, though; he has 0 goals and 4 assists on 23 shots in the first five games of the series. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has been solid through most of the series, posting a 1.81 goals against and a .926 save percentage, though he has yet to be called upon to truly steal a game. Allowing just 10 goals through 5 games is a tick that is second to only Boston though, so he has clearly been good enough to merit early Conn Smythe talk. FLYERS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:   Philadelphia had hoped to stop the trend of win-one-lose-one that had beset this series through the first four games of it, but defensive breakdowns and an inability to solve Henrik Lundqvist until late cost them, as they dropped a 4-2 decision on Sunday. It's do-or-die time now, as Philadelphia must win its next two games in order to stay alive. That starts at home on Tuesday night. One plus for the Flyers from Sunday's game is that it saw captain Claude Giroux finally get off the scoring schneid; his third period goal was his first of the series, and accentuated what was probably the best game of the series for the Flyers star center. All Philadelphia needs is for him to be that exact same player over the next two games, as their fate is very much linked the the performance of their superstar captain. The team will also hope for a bounce back game from goaltender Steve Mason, who was a shadow of the man who stole game four for the Flyers on Sunday night. He made just 18 saves on the night, and was exposed weak-side on two of the Rangers goals. Mason seems to be the type who is buoyed by a home crowd, so the hope is that he can find that energy to steal Philly a game again, and force the Rangers back home for a game seven. BOTTOM LINE:  This series has lacked much of the chippiness and drama of some of the others, as it has been a methodical, almost predictable, back and forth. Still, any time a team faces elimination, they are sure to bring their fullest effort. The Rangers will key in on the Giroux line, knowing that, if they manage to stop the Flyers captain, they can win the day. They would do well to remember Giroux's linemates too, though, as winger Jakub Voracek has been particularly clutch to this point in the series. At home, with the crowd behind them, the Flyers can push this to seven, provided Mason game be the Steve Mason of game four heroics, and not game five disappointments. Pick: Philadelphia.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Monday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Los Angeles 4 San Jose 1 Scorers: LAK - Williams (2), Kopitar (2)  SJS - Sheppard The Los Angeles Kings have done what just eight other teams in NHL history of done, as a 4-1 victory on Monday night has allowed them to tie their first round series up at 3-3, after having fallen into a 0-3 hole. They now have a chance to be just the fourth team in history to win a series in 7 after falling behind by three games. Two goal nights from both Justin Williams and Anze Kopitar led the day, with Williams getting first star nods on a three point (2-1) night. Kopitar also had 3 points (2-1) in 20:40 of ice time on the night, while defenseman Drew Doughty had 2 assists in a team-leading 25:38 of ice time. Jonathan Quick continued his resurgence with a 25-save performance. [txt16519] The Sharks simply weren't good enough on Monday night, and now face the spectre of game seven for a second consecutive season with the Sharks. Third liner James Sheppard scored their only goal of the night, while team leaders like Joe Pavelski (0 shots, -2), Patrick Marleau (4 shots in 18:20 ice time), and Joe Thornton (0 shots, -1) had quiet nights. Surprise starter Alex Stalock made 26 saves in his first career playoff spot, but the loss leaves questions as to who head coach Todd McLellan will turn to for game seven. Game seven goes Wednesday night in San Jose. Minnesota 5 Colorado 2 Scorers: MIN - Parise (2), Granlund, Pominville, Scandella  COL - Stastny, Holden [txt11521] The Minnesota Wild have forced a game seven in their first round series with the Colorado Avalanche, as they turned a huge night from winger Zach Parise into a 5-2 victory. Parise showed why he is one of the best big-game players in the game today, scoring 2 goals and adding 2 assists in a monster 19:11 of ice time. He was named first star of the game. Defenseman Ryan Suter was once again huge for Minnesota, adding 2 assists and a +2 performance in a team-leading 26:41 of ice time. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 21 saves for his third career playoff victory. The young Colorado Avalanche learned a hard lesson about how difficult it is to put away a team in the playoffs on Monday, as they were out-worked, out-hustled and out-played for much of the game by the veteran Wild. Goals from Paul Stastny (shorthanded) and Nick Holden, along with a 2 assist night from Ryan O'Reilly, simply weren't enough, while goaltender Semyon Varlamov showed kinks in his armor, making just 18 saves on the night. Game seven goes Wednesday night in Colorado. Pittsburgh 4 Columbus 3 Scorers: PIT - Malkin (3), Sutter  CBJ - Tyutin, Anisimov, Foligno [txt14081] The Pittsburgh Penguins are moving onto round two for a second consecutive season, as they turned a hat-trick from Evgeni Malkin into a 4-0 lead that they would bend, but not break, on. Malkin's 3 goals were his first of the playoffs, in what was a critical performance from the Pens' superstar. Sidney Crosby had an assist in 19:48 of ice time, while defenseman Matt Niskanen also played a critical role in the victory, posting 2 assists and a +1 rating in 18:06 of ice time. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 24 saves for the victory, and was solid for the first two periods at least. A valiant third period effort by the Columbus Blue Jackets was for naught, as they cut a Penguins 4-0 lead to just 1-goal with a third-period flurry, but were unable to get that tying marker late. Goals from Fedor Tyutin, Artem Anisimov and Nick Foligno less than 5 minutes apart brought them back into the game, but the four they had yielded in the previous two periods proved too much to conquer. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves in the losing effort.]>
Minnesota Wild host Colorado Avalanche tonight in Game 6 of their playoff series.The game takes place at the Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul and is scheduled to start at 02:00 BST.In the UK, the game is streaming live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Avalanche at Wild live here:Preview (Colorado currently lead the series 3-2):LAST GAME - Colorado 4 Minnesota 3 (OT) AVALANCHE EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  Down 3-2 late in the third period, the Colorado Avalanche needed a hero. Two men played the part, as winger P.A. Parenteau tied the game with just over a minute left, leading to an overtime winner from all-World rookie Nathan Mackinnon. The win gave the Avalanche a 3-2 series lead, and the opportunity to close out the Wild on the road, where they were unsuccessful in two games prior. Mackinnon had been quiet through games 3 and 4, shut down by the Wild's tight-checking and the titanic play of Wild blue liner Ryan Suter. In game 5, he was back to his usual scoring self, posting a 3-point night (1-2) en route to first star honors. He now has 10 points on the playoffs (2-8), all at home, a mark which leads the league. In scoring the winner for the Avs on Saturday, he also became the second-youngest player in NHL history to score a playoff overtime winner, and should he continue with the pace he's on, he could become the first 18-year old in league history to lead the playoffs in scoring at the conclusion of the first round. There's also positive news on the injury front for the Avalanche, as it looks probable that team leading scorer Matt Duchene will make his first appearance in the series on Monday night.  The center had been out of action since late March with a knee injury, but looks prime to return to the lineup in a limited fourth line and power play role. There was talk that he could slide back into full time action on the team's second line, but that seems unlikely given the nature of his injury. WILD EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  It's do-or-die time for the Minnesota Wild, as they head back home with the knowledge that they need back to back victories over the Avalanche in order to stave off first round elimination for the second consecutive season. They will be comfortable in their memory of the dominating performances they posted at home in games 3 and 4, but will again need to find a way to quiet the Avs first line if they are to force this game to 7. Wild winger Zach Parise had been doing everything right prior to Saturday's game, but had yet to manage a goal in the four games of the series. His second period marker was an effort of pure individual skill, and showed that the skilled American could still be a force for the Wild in this series. He, along with center Mikael Granlund, have been the two best forwards for the Wild through five games, and the team needs them to be even better in game 6 if they are to survive for a seventh. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper was finally solved by the Avs on Saturday; he had allowed just 2 and a half games since replacing Ilya Bryzgalov midway through game 2. 4 goals against on 31 shots should hardly be considered 'exposed' but he didn't look particularly strong on either the game-tying or game-winning goals, and Minnesota will need him to shut the door again on Monday to give them a chance to win. BOTTOM LINE:  This is the kind of game that builds a young playoff team's mettle. The Avalanche are led by a bunch of kids who haven't been here before, and so they will learn the hard way what it means to close out a playoff series. They will lean heavily on their top line, which has been night (0 points in 2 road playoff games) and day (22 combined points in 3 home playoff games) depending on the venue in this series. Minnesota, meanwhile, is led by a group of seasoned veterans. And they need those guys, from Parise and Suter, to Jason Pominville and Mikko Koivu, to come through in the clutch for them. If they can throw up the same defensive wall in game 6 as they did in games 3 and 4, they should have enough firepower to send this series back to Colorado for a decisive game 7. Pick: Minnesota.]>
The Pittsburgh Penguins will get their first opportunity to close out the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight, as the two teams take their dramatic series back to Ohio. The game takes place at the Nationwide Arena, Columbus and is scheduled to start at 00:00 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Penguins at Blue Jackets live here:Preview (Penguins currently lead the series 3-2):LAST GAME - Pittsburgh 3 Columbus 1 PENGUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  You have to give credit where credit is due: the Penguins looked like they might be done at the end of the first period in game five. They had outshot the Blue Jackets 15-9 in the period, but were trailing 1-0, and were at risk of surrendering a 3-2 series deficit to a severe underdog after losing game four in overtime. But Pittsburgh dug deep and showed their mettle, storming back with 3 unanswered goals en route to a 3-1 game five victory, which allows them the chance to close out the series on Monday night in Columbus. The Penguins shelled Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky with a remarkable 50 shots on Saturday night, led by 7 from game five hero Chris Kunitz. The winger had been quiet through the first four games of the series, registering just a goal and an assist on 14 shots. He burts through on Saturday though potting an assist to go along with his game tying goal, and seems to have re-asserted himself on Sidney Crosby's wing. Crosby had an assist and 6 shots in 19:54 of ice time, and though he is still looking for his first goal of these playoffs, he was back to his dominant ways in game five, and will look to carry that over to a series clincher on Monday. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was called everything under the sun after his game four meltdown, but the consensus was that his annual playoff collapse had begun anew for Pittsburgh in game four. How unexpected it was to see him bounce back with a strong performance on Saturday night; he posted 23 saves in the victory, including some key ones in the final few minutes to conserve the lead for the Pens. Now, heading back to the sight of his game four collapse in Columbus, the Penguins need Fleury to be the same hero he was in game five, if they are to begin exorcising their playoff demons, and move on to round two. BLUE JACKETS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  Though they are the darlings of the hockey world right now for the plucky manner in which they are trading blows with the star-powered Penguins line up, the Blue Jackets were the far inferior team on Saturday night, surrendering 51 shots to the Penguins en route to a 3-2 series hole. Now, it is up to this Cinderella bunch to bring their best form on Monday night, and force this back to Pittsburgh for a game seven. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky had yet to really come up as the hero for Columbus at any point in this series, but he was spectacular on Saturday night, and kept his team in a game which they probably had no business being in. He made 48 saves on the night, including 20 in a furious second period from the Penguins, and was easily the best Jackets player on the ice. They need him to be at that exact same level on Monday night, as the Penguins superstars have been buzzing for goals in the past few games, and will bear down on the Jackets for the series win on Monday night. Columbus is the kind of team that gets things done through depth and hard work, and it has been the stellar play of their top-two centers, Ryan Johansen and Brandon Dubinsky, which has kept them in this series. Johansen has been an offensive catalyst, with 6 points 924) through five games, while Dubinsky also has 6 points (1-5), while excelling in the dual role of shutting down Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby. Indeed, in a series where you'd expect the Penguins top two centers (Crosby and Evgeni Malkin) to be the dominant pairing, it has been these two Blue Jackets who have been the better players, and who have led their team to victories. BOTTOM LINE: Series lead or not, the Penguins are still a rfragile team, particularly in net. Fleury was good enough for the win on Saturday night, but if he is tested again by the Jackets like he was on Saturday (46 shots against), there's no telling if the dam will burst. It is incumbent on the Jackets to pressure him early and often; if they can do that, they may instill that doubt. Still, you have to imagine that the Penguins superstars are going to emerge soon. For all the criticism he's getting in the media right now, Sidney Crosby still has 5 points (all assists) in the series, while Evgeni Malkin also has 4 assists. So they're producing, just not in the goal column. Yet. If these two players can wake up offensively, it's hard to imagine the Jackets having any answer. And, with blood in the water and the prospect of a second round berth on the line, you can bet that players like Crosby and Malkin will be primed to excel in a make-or-break game six on Monday night in Columbus. Pick: Pittsburgh.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Sunday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Anaheim 5 Dallas 4 (OT) Scorers: ANA - Bonino (2), Smith-Pelly (2), Lovejoy  DAL - Daley (2), Eakin, Garbutt The Anaheim Ducks are moving on to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, thanks to the overtime heroics of Nick Bonino, whose goal at 02:47 of the first overtime session completed a dramatic comeback, as they won 5-4 in overtime The Ducks found themselves down 4-2 late in the third, but goals from Bonino and Devante-Smith Pelly within two minutes of each other forced the game to overtime, where Bonino ended it early. Smith-Pelly and Bonino both had two goals for the Ducks, while defenseman Ben Lovejoy added the other in the second period. Starting goaltender Frederik Andersen was pulled after allowing 4 goals on 12 shots, giving way to backup Jonas Hiller, who made 12 saves. The Ducks will play the winner of the San Jose Sharks-Los Angeles Kings series. [txt36157] For a while there, it really looked like the upstart Dallas Stars could push the Ducks to 7 games. Defenseman Trevor Daley led the charge with 2 goals on Sunday, while Cody Eakin and Ryan Garbutt added others, but it simply wasn't to be. Goaltender Kari Lehtonen made 25 saves on the night, but he couldn't shut the door in the final 2 minutes, surrendering a soft-side goal to Bonino and a scramble play to Smith-Pelly. Star winger Jamie Benn was held off the score sheet for the first time in the series, with just 1 shot and 3 hits in 22 minutes of ice time.  Chicago 5 St. Louis 1  Scorers: CHI - Bickell, Toews, Sharp, Shaw, Keith  STL - Oshie [txt12216] The Chicago Blackhawks completed their series comeback on Sunday night, winning a fourth consecutive game against the St. Louis Blues by a 5-1 score line. In doing so, they dispatched of the Blues in their first round series by a 4-2 margin. Defenseman Duncan Keith led the way for the Hawks on Sunday, posting a goal and 3 assists along with a +3 mark in 25:16 of ice time. The team also saw the first goal of the playoffs for regular season leading scorer Patrick Sharp, along with markers from Bryan Bickell, Jonathan Toews and Andrew Shaw. Goaltender Corey Crawford was strong in making 35 saves for the victory. The Hawks will play the winner of the Colorado Avalanche-Minnesota Wild series in game two. For a second consecutive playoffs, the St. Louis Blues managed to squander away a 2-0 series advantage that they had built themselves, and now head into the off-season with an abundance of question marks yet again. They outshot the Blackhawks 36-27, and got a first period goal from winger T.J. Oshie, but were the far inferior team in the third period of the game. Goaltender Ryan Miller simply wasn't good enough, allowing 5 goals on 27 shots on the night. He ends the playoffs with a 2.70 goals against average, and a .897 save percentage. New York 4 Philadelphia 2 Scorers: NYR - Staal, Richards, Moore, D. Moore, Boyle  PHI - Lecavalier, Giroux [txt26250] The New York Rangers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in game five of their series with the Philadelphia Flyers, and survived a late third period push to take a 3-2 series lead back to Philadelphia for game six on Tuesday. The Rangers balanced offense saw goals from four different sources, including a critical individual effort from fourth line center Dominic Moore late in the second period. Brad Richards, Marc Staal and Brian Boyle also registered markers for the Rangers, while winger Martin St. Louis, who led all Rangers forwards in ice time with 20:01, continued his impressive first round performance with an assist. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was solid in making 24 saves for the victory. The Flyers will be disappointed to find themselves in a 3-2 hole heading back to Philly for game 6, but they were largely outplayed by the Rangers for the balance of the game on Sunday night. After surrendering a 3-0 lead midway through the second, they clawed back to within one late, thanks to goals from Vincent Lecavalier and Claude Giroux. Goaltender Steve Mason was unable to emulate his game four heroics, allowing 3 goals on just 21 shots on the night. Game six goes Tuesday night in Philadelphia.]>
The San Jose Sharks will get a second chance to close out the Los Angeles Kings tonight, as their series shifts back to Northern California for Game 5. The game takes place at the SAP Center in San Jose and is scheduled to start at 03:00 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Kings at Sharks live here:Preview (Sharks currently lead the series 3-1):LAST GAME - Los Angeles 6 San Jose 3 SHARKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  The Sharks will look to bounce back from a tough 6-3 loss to the Kings on Thursday night, as they return home with another chance to close out the Kings in rapid fashion. Goaltender Antti Niemi's indifferent form through the first three games had largely been overshadowed by just how poorly Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick had looked, but game four demonstrated that there is still plenty left to be desired at the position for the club. Niemi allowed 5 goals on 26 shots before getting the hook early in the third, and was the victim of a few soft markers from the Kings at points throughout the game. Entering game five, you can be sure that the Kings will try and take the run of play to the Sharks goaltender, as his position might be the only weak point on the otherwise stellar San Jose roster. One thing the Sharks have not been at want for through four games is goals; their 20 is tops in the league, and with a remarkable 12 players already having registered markers to this point in the series, you can be sure that they will look to play the exact same way in the Kings end of the ice as they have in the first four games. The top line of Pavelski, Thornton and Burns looks unstoppable, while Patrick Marleau's 7 points (3-4) from the second line leads the team. KINGS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  Although a 3-1 series deficit heading back to San Jose is hardly the scenario the Kings envisioned entering this series, they should be heartened by the way they played in game four, where they blitz the Sharks defense for 6 goals en route to a 6-3 victory. As such, there is belief again in Los Angeles, and the hope is that the Kings are able to carry the momentum back to San Jose, where they looked putrid in their first two games of the series. The scoring of some of the Kings' key forwards had been questioned after dropping into a 3-0 series hole, so the fact that both Marian Gaborik and Justin Williams managed two goals from the first line has to be seen as a boon for a Kings offense that had been struggling. Superstar center Anze Kopitar is still goalless, but he has been given the near-impossible task of playing in a shut-down center role along with trying to produce, so he can perhaps be forgiven. The team could do with more from Mike Richards, who has just 1 assists through 4 games, and is a -3. Goaltender Jonathan Quick has, of course, been categorically awful to this point in the series, posting a .871 save percentage and a shocking 5.04 goals against average. Still, he made a few big saves in game four, and has all the ability in the world to be the same goalie who was the Kings M.V.P. in the 2012 and 2013 playoffs. It's just stunning how far he's fallen, and how easily the Sharks have managed to exploit unknown weaknesses. BOTTOM LINE:  The Kings managed to keep the Sharks honest in the two games they hosted, and a 1-1 split with a loss in overtime may not be so bad, were it not for the fact that they were demolished in games 1 and 2 on the road. Now, heading back to San Jose, the Kings have to have short memories. They have to remember that they are the same team that won the Stanley Cup just two years ago, and made the Western Conference Final last season. If they can't, and the Sharks get a quick goal or two to get back into their heads, it could well be the beginning of a long summer of soul searching in the City of Angels. Pick: San Jose.]>
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets return to Pennsylvania tonight looking to take the lead in Game 5 of their playoff series. The game takes place at the Consol Energy Center and is scheduled to start at 00:00 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Blue Jackets at Penguins live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 2-2):LAST GAME - Columbus 4 Pittsburgh 3 (OT) PENGUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  The Pittsburgh Penguins will look to rebound from a morale-sucking overtime loss to the Blue Jackets on Wednesday night, as they return to the friendly confines of the Consol Energy Center to play host on Saturday night. The biggest talking point following game four was, of course, the brain cramps experienced by goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. In what is becoming a playoff ritual for Pens fans, Fleury made yet another questionable decision in the dying seconds of the third period on Wednesday, leaving his crease to play the puck behind the net. His mishandle led to the Jackets game tying goal with 27 seconds to go, and was only bested by a terrible effort on Nick Foligno's game winning goal in overtime. So heading into game five, it is the Fleury narrative, and not the Crosby one, that is dominating the headlines in Pittsburgh. Speaking of Crosby, number 87 is not without his detractors to this point in the series. The Pens captain is goalless through four games, and was a -2 in just 18:47 of ice time in the loss on Wednesday night. It goes without saying that, to win this series, Pittsburgh needs the best player in the world to play like it. And even then, there's still Fleury... BLUE JACKETS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  They are still basking in the glow of the franchise's first ever home playoff win, as the Jackets used a late third period rally to tie the game with Pittsburgh, before eventually winning the game on an overtime floater from Nick Foligno. Now, it is up to the Jackets to channel that optimism into a 60-minute effort, something that has been lacking through the first four games of the series. The M.V.P. of the first round for the Jackets has probably been second line center Brandon Dubinsky, who has been tasked with the dual goals of providing goal support for the first line, and shutting down superstar center Sidney Crosby. And not only has Dubinsky done the latter extremely well (Crosby has 0 goals through 4 games), but he has also outscored the perennial Hart trophy candidate, posting 6 points (1-5) through the first four games. He may not get the press a guy like Ryan Johansen does, but Dubinsky's play has been the primary reason for the Jackets' success to this point in the series. Columbus has also gotten to where they are in this series without receiving truly lights-out goaltending from defending Vezina trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky, who has been up and down in the series thusfar. His 3.22 goals against average and .900 save percentage aren't exactly stellar numbers, but as last game proved, you only have to be good enough to avoid the gaffes. And Bobrovsky has managed to do just that for the Jackets. BOTTOM LINE:  This is a critical game for the Penguins in more ways than just its relevance to the series. Should they find a way to lose this, and eventually the series, you could be looking at a complete roster and coaching overhaul in Pittsburgh in the off-season, starting with the oft-maligned Fleury and head coach Dan Bylsma. Still, lots of credit has to be given to the Blue Jackets, who have stuck right in there with the Penguins through the first four games. And what's more, Columbus hasn't even been at their best yet. If they can manage that on Saturday night, they could put the Penguins on the brink of a surprise elimination yet again. Pick: Columbus.]>
Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins continue their first round playoff series tonight with Game 5.The game takes place at the TD Garden, Boston and is scheduled to start at 20:00 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Red Wings at Bruins live here:Preview (Bruins currently lead the series 3-1): LAST GAME - Boston 3 Detroit 2 (OT) BRUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  The Bruins stormed back from a 2-0 deficit in game four, using goals from Torey Krug and Milan Lucic to force the game into overtime, where a deflection off a point shot by veteran Jarome Iginla net them a 3-2 victory, and a critical 3-1 series lead heading back to Massachusetts.  The story of the playoffs for the Bruins thusfar has been the play of goaltender Tuukka Rask, who has been lights out in the first four games of the series. He has allowed just 4 goals on 119 shots to this point, and his stat line reads a 0.96 goals against average and a .966 save percentage. Much of his success has to do with the strong defensive corps he has in front of him, particularly B's defenseman Zdeno Chara, but if there was any doubt entering this series as to whether Rask was the best goaltender in the world right now, his form thusfar should dispel it. In light of his spear to the lower extremities of Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith in game one, Bruins winger Milan Lucic has been an extremely controversial player in this series. Still, you can't argue with his production: Critical goals in games two and four have hoisted him back into the spotlight, and though his line is still looking to produce at the output it did during the regular season, it's hard to deny that the Wings have yet to find an answer for the Bruins bruising big-man RED WINGS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  Despite a two-goal second period lead, and despite the emotional lift they got from the return of injured captain Henrik Zetterberg to the lineup on Thursday night, the Detroit Red Wings were unable to dig down deep enough to tie their series with the Bruins up at 2. As such, they find themselves on the brink of elimination, and facing the improbable task of running the table on the President's Trophy winners. Zetterberg's return was a definite boost to the offense, if only because it made Pavel Datsyuk look so much better. Datsyuk had been shut down by Bruins big blue liner Zdeno Chara for much of the first three games of the series, but Zetterberg's craft puck skill created more opportunities for him on Thursday, resulting in a 2 point (1-1) night for him. It is critical to any comeback chances the Wings have that they continue to play like they did on Thursday; Datsyuk had five shots on goal in 22:27 of ice time, while winger Justin Abdelkader's 8 hits and 3 shots on net augmented an assist in a strong performance. Second line winger Gustav Nyquist has still yet to make his mark on this series, with 0 points, and his time is running out. The biggest surprise from the Wings lineup on Thursday was not the return of Zetterberg, but head coach Mike Babcock's decision to start back up Jonas Gustavsson in net in place of Jimmy Howard. After posting a shutout victory in game one of the series, it looked like Howard was going to be back to his strong playoff form. Losses in games 2 and 3 led Babcock to make the critical decision prior to game 4 though, and Gustavsson's 37 save performance justified that faith. Look for him to get a second consecutive start on Saturday night. BOTTOM LINE:  This is it for the Red Wings; it's win or go home time. Zetterberg's return made them an infinitely better team on Thursday, but even that wasn't enough to lead them to a victory over the best team in the NHL. Now, they will look to their veterans, who have been in situations like this before, to bring them back from the brink. It's tough to bet against the Bruins though, particularly with Rask in net. He has looked nigh-unbeatable all series, and with a guy like Chara playing the monster minutes in front of him that he does, not to mention the best defensive center in the league in Patrice Bergeron running shut down ice on the second line, it's hard to imagine him getting beaten at all. If the Bruins can pull this one off on Saturday night, they can start to plan for their second round battle with arch-rival Montreal. And what a series that would be. Pick: Boston.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Friday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Chicago 3 St. Louis 2 (OT) Scorers: CHI - Hossa, Smith, Toews  STL - Oshie, Pietrangelo The Chicago Blackhawks used an overtime breakaway goal from captain Jonathan Toews to post their third consecutive victory over the Blues, and take a commanding 3-2 series lead heading back home. Toews proved once again why he is one of the most clutch playoff performers in the league, registering his second goal of the series on a breakaway midway through the overtime session. Also scoring for the Hawks were Ben Smith and Marian Hossa, the first goals of the playoffs for both. Goaltender Corey Crawford made 27 saves for the victory. [txt25086] For a second straight playoffs, the Blues have squandered a 2-0 series lead to fall into a 3-2 series hole heading into game 6. The return of concussed captain David Backes, along with the first goal of the playoffs from mercurial winger T.J. Oshie, simply wasn't enough. Goaltender Ryan Miller made 27 saves in the loss, while Backes registered 8 hits and 2 shots and was a -2 in a heroic reutrn to action. Game six goes Sunday in Chicago. Anaheim 6 Dallas 2  Scorers: ANA - Bonino, Rakell, Perreault, Silfverberg, Getzlaf, Perry  DAL - Ja. Benn, Horcoff [txt36099] Anaheim weathered a late-second period storm from the Dallas Stars, before blitzing them for three goals in 5 minutes in the third period, en route to a 6-2 drubbing on Friday night. The win puts the Ducks up 3-2, and has the Stars on the brink heading back to Dallas. The Ducks welcomed captain Ryan Getzlaf back into the lineup on Friday night, after he had sat for a game with a suspected fractured jaw. Getzlaf proved to not miss a beat though, scoring a goal and adding 2 assists in just under 20 minutes of ice time. Corey Perry was also a force, registering a goal and 2 assists in 16 minutes of ice time, while goaltender Frederik Andersen returned from a difficult game four with a strong 34 save performance in the win. Frustration was the word of the day for the Stars, as they were surrendered 6 goals on just 23 shots en route to a demoralizing 6-2 loss. Starting goaltender Kari Lehtonen was pulled after allowing 5 goals on just 21 shots, negating what had been a strong run of form in the last two games of the series. A fourth goal of the playoffs from Jamie Benn aside, the scrum that took place at 07:40 of the third period indicated that the Stars were more interested in sending a message than winning a game in the latter part of Friday's contest. Game six goes Sunday night in Dallas. Philadelphia 2 New York Rangers 1 Scorers: PHI - Read, Voracek  NYR - D. Moore [txt12997] Philadelphia goaltender Steve Mason returned to the Flyer net with authority on Friday night, registering a stellar 36 save performance en route to a 2-1 Flyers victory. The win evens the series up at 2 games apiece heading back to New York. Mason had been injured through the first three games of this series, but made his presence felt immediately in game four. The Rangers outshot the Flyers 16-6 in the first period, and a total 38-25 mark over the course of the game, and Mason's stellar form was the only thing separaing the Flyers from a 3-1 series hole. Wingers Matt Read and Jakub Voracek were the goal scorers for Philly; for Voracek, it was a second game-winning power play goal in the playoffs.  The Rangers were probably the better team on the evening, but were unable to solve Mason after Dominic Moore opened the scoring for them at 04:38 of the first period. Rick Nash, Mats Zuccarello and Brad Richards all had 5 shots, while goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was strong in a 23 save performance. Workhorse defenseman Ryan McDonagh led all skaters with 28:02 of ice time on the night, and was  +1. Game five goes Sunday afternoon in New York.]>
Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars return to Southern California tonight, with one team seeking the upper hand in Game 5 of their playoff battle. The game takes place at the Honda Center, Anaheim and is scheduled to start at 03:30 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Stars at Ducks live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 2-2):LAST GAME - Dallas 4 Anaheim 2 DUCKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  The Anaheim Ducks found the road to be a tough place this week, losing a 2-0 series lead by losing back-to-back games with the Dallas Stars. In doing so, they also lost captain Ryan Getzlaf to a serious jaw injury, and will be looking to find some semblance of momentum at home on Friday night. Getzlaf's injury means that the Ducks offense will route primarily through star winger Corey Perry, who was pointless in the two games in Dallas. Perry clearly grew frustrated towards the end of Wednesday's contest, chipping away at the Stars defense and even fighting with Stars agitator Antoine Roussel. The Ducks need less irritation and more offense from him, particularly if Getzlaf is to remain out for the balance of the series, as expected. Rookie goaltender Frederik Andersen was exposed on Wednesday night, looking weak on at least three of the Stars goals in the 4-2 loss. As such, there was much talk that head coach Bruce Boudreau may turn to incumbent starter Jonas Hiller for game five, though his lack of game action means that a cold start in such a critical game may be ill advised. STARS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  Following two consecutive home victories, the latter in which they looked the much better team, momentum is fully on the side of the Dallas Stars heading back to Anaheim for Friday's game. Now it's up to Dallas to bring that same level of play on the road, where neither team has been successful to this point in the series. Goaltender Kari Lehtonen has probably been the story of the series for the Stars thusfar, as he has been the lights-out number one goaltender everyone hoped he would be entering his first full playoffs as a starter. He allowed just 2 goals on 58 shots in the Stars two victories, and, setting aside his mediocre form from the Sunday loss in Anaheim, is giving the Stars a real shot to win every night. The Ducks will need to get in his kitchen if they are to be at all successful in this series. Stars captain Jamie Benn is also proving to be a potent playoff performer, in the first postseason action of his career. He has three goals from the first four games of the series, including a wicked wrist shot goal on Wednesday night that started the rally for the Stars. Although his linemate and Stars leading scorer Tyler Seguin may be quiet right now, Benn is the prototypical playoff performer, and is proving to everyone why he is quickly evolving into one of the best players in the game today. BOTTOM LINE: Not having Getzlaf means that the Stars actually have the manpower advantage up front, thanks to the dynamic duo of Benn and Seguin. If they can continue their transition game, and take the run of play to the Ducks, they could well be successful again. Still, it's hard imagining a team as good as Anaheim losing three straight playoff games. They are veteran laden, and have a deeper defense and bottom-6 forward corps than the Stars. As such, expect them to come out hard at home on Friday, and seek to overwhelm the Stars with the same balanced attack they showed through the first two games of the series. Pick: Anaheim.]>
The Philadelphia Flyers host the New York Rangers tonight, looking even their first round series up.The game takes place at the Wells Fargo Center and is scheduled to start at 00:00 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Rangers at Flyers live here:Preview (Rangers currently lead the series 2-1):LAST GAME - New York 4 Philadelphia 1 FLYERS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  Philadelphia welcomes back starting goaltender Steve Mason for game four of their first round series with the Rangers, and the timing couldn't be any better. Backup goaltender Ray Emery made just 16 saves on 20 shots in the game on Tuesday, poor form which generally echoed that of his team, which never really put up a fight on the offensive front. The one player Philadelphia will need to be better is superstar center Claude Giroux, who is the fulcrum around which the entire Flyers offensive turns. He has 0 goals and 2 assists with just 2 shots through three games, a run which is simply not good enough for a team scoring leader. His poor form has also cost his linemates; winger Scott Hartnell also has 0 goals through three games, while Jakub Voracek has been on an island as the best offensive performer for Philadelphia through three games. What's more, following Tuesday's loss, Giroux made the brave guarantee of a Flyers victory in Friday's contest: Guarantee aside, it is incumbent upon Giroux to carry this team on his back going forward. The Flyers don't have quite the offensive depth the Rangers do, though they have the luxury of moving two-time 40 goal scorer Vincent Lecavalier from the fourth to second line, as they did in the middle of game three. Head coach Craig Berube seemed dissatisfied with his lines, substituting Lecavalier for struggling winger Michael Raffl, so expect their to be a very short leash for his forwards heading into Friday's clash. RANGERS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  INJURY LIST:  New York will look to play exactly like they did on Tuesday night, when their stifling defense held the Flyers to the outside, allowing a quick transition offense to blitz them for four goals.  Leading the charge for the Rangers right now is much-maligned veteran Martin St. Louis, who has 5 points (2-3) through 3 games. Much press was given to the fact that St. Louis had just 1 goal in 19 regular season games with the Rangers after coming over from Tampa Bay at the trade deadline, so it is a definite relief to the Rangers and their fans that he has rediscovered his scoring form through three games of this series. His line, along with Derek Stepan and Rick Nash, has been the best in this series, and will need to continue to be if New York wants to take a 3-1 stranglehold back home. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist bounced back from a weak game two performance to demonstrate why he is still one of the best goaltenders in the world on Tuesday night. His 31-save effort included some key stops off Flyers stars in the third period, and New York will count on he, along with the stifling shut-down defensive pair of Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi, to keep Flyers superstar Claude Giroux off the score sheet in game four. BOTTOM LINE:  Claude Giroux's 'guarantee' of a victory was a wise, veteran move from the Flyers captain. It shifts all of the pressure off of the team, and now hoists it onto him going into game four. If he can come through with a strong game, and buck his scoring drought, it would do wonders to building his legend in Philly. Still, it's tough to imagine the Flyers keeping up with the Rangers scoring depth, particularly when they are having the kind of defensive lapses they have shown through three games. It appears as though New York's veteran stars are kicking it back into gear, and if they are able to play to their full potential, it could spell trouble for the Flyers on Friday night. Pick: New York.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Thursday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Minnesota 2 Colorado 1  Scorers: MIN - Spurgeon, Coyle  COL - O'Reilly The Minnesota Wild put on a stifling defensive display on Thursday night, limiting the Colorado offense to just 12 shots en route to a 2-1 victory. The Wild win evens their first round series up at 2-2 heading back to Colorado. Minnesota were clearly the better team on the night, using goals from Jared Spurgeon and Charlie Coyle to take a 2-0 lead which they would never relinquish. Overtime hero Mikael Granlund once again had a strong game, posting an assist and a +1 in 17:48 of ice time, while workhorse defenseman Ryan Suter was once again the game leader with 30:18 of ice time. Rookie goaltender Darcy Kuemper wasn't tested often, making 11 saves for the win. [txt16025] The Avalanche will look back on this pair of games in Minnesota as a lost opportunity, as they were simply unable to emulate the offensive flair they showed in the first two games of the series, on the road. The once-potent line of Landeskog-Stastny-Mackinnon was once again shut out of points, and registered a combined 2 shots on the night. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov was once again the only thing separating the Avs from a blowout, as he made 31 saves in a busy night. Game five goes Saturday night in Colorado. Boston 3 Detroit 2 (OT) Scorers: BOS - Krug, Lucic, Iginla  DET - Kronwall, Datsyuk [txt11585] Veteran Jarome Iginla was the overtime hero for Boston, as the Bruins stormed back from a 2-0 second period deficit to beat the Red Wings 3-2 on Thursday night, and in doing so, take a 3-1 series lead back to Boston. Iginla's deflection at 13:32 of the first overtime proved to be the difference, as the Bruins shelled surprise starter Jonas Gustavsson with 40 shots over the course of the game. Defenseman Torey Krug and winger Milan Lucic also scored for the Bruins, who now have a chance to close out the Red Wings at home on Saturday. Goaltender Tuukka Rask was once again stellar, making 35 saves in a winning effort. He has now allowed just 4 Red Wing goals in four games. Detroit got off to the kind of start they wanted, with goals from veterans Niklas Kronwall and Pavel Datsyuk putting them in front 2-0 midway through the second. They were unable to close out the Bruins though, as defensive lapses on the Krug and Lucic goals meant that surprise starter Jonas Gustavsson was unable to be a hero in his first playoff start on Thursday. Captain Henrik Zetterberg was a +1 with 1 shot in 19:34 of ice time in his first game back from a back injury that had sidelined him since early February. Game five goes Saturday afternoon in Boston. Los Angeles 6 San Jose 3 Scorers: LAK - Gaborik (2), Williams (2), Toffoli, Brown  SJS - Sheppard, Nieto, Pavelski [txt10989] On the back of two-goal performances from wingers Marian Gaborik and Justin Williams, the Los Angeles Kings managed to stave off elimination on Thursday night, winning game four 6-3 and sending the series back to San Jose with the Sharks ahead 3-1. Gaborik and Williams were the keys to the Kings offense on Thursday, as both awoke from early-series funks to post breakout offensive performances. The team added goals from Tyler Toffoli and an empty netter from Dustin Brown, and managed to keep the Sharks offense at bay for much of the game. Goaltender Jonathan Quick bounced back from a difficult first three games of the series, making 36 saves en route to the victory. San Jose's defensive breakdowns and goaltending lapses were legion on Thursday night, and they were unable to exploit Quick and the slow Kings defense like they had in the first three games of the series. James Sheppard, Matt Nieto and Joe Pavelski scored for the Sharks, who will not have to wait until Saturday night at home to get another chance to close out the Kings. Starting goaltender Antti Niemi made 21 saves on 26 shots, before being pulled in favor of backup Alex Stalock early in the third. Game five goes Saturday night in San Jose..]>
The San Jose Sharks will look to close out the Los Angeles Kings tonight in Game 4 of their playoff series. The game takes place at the Staples Center, Los Angeles and is scheduled to start at 03:30 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Sharks at Kings live here:Preview (San Jose currently leads the series 3-0):LAST GAME - San Jose 4 Los Angeles 3 (OT) KINGS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  none As the best defensive team in the NHL during the regular season, the Kings developed a reputation as a team that would very seldom allow more than a goal or two per game from the opposition. Through three games of their first round series with the Sharks, they have allowed 16 goals. So what has gone so horribly wrong for them? For starters, 2012 Conn Smythe trophy-winning goaltender Jonathan Quick is a shadow of the player he was in the last two playoffs. The 28 year old has looked awful through 3 games, allowing 16 goals on 92 shots for a putrid 5.78 goals against average, and a .852 save percentage. The Sharks have admittedly done an excellent job of blitzing the Kings slow defense, but when called upon, Quick has looked porous and slow as well. All could be better if the Kings could manage to put together a dominant offensive game, something they showed shades of in game three. They got goals from key forwards, including Marian Gaborik and Jeff Carter, and actually drove the play at the Sharks defense through the first two periods. Until the third period, that is, where the Sharks outshot the Kings 23-8, and made them look inept at both ends of the ice. The Kings need more from the likes of Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams, both who have been dead quiet to this point in the series. SHARKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  San Jose will look to sweep their way through the first round for the second consecutive season on Thursday night, as they are on the brinkk of closing out a Los Angeles Kings team they have dominated and exposed thusfar in round one. Whereas the Kings have struggled to get scoring from some of their top offensive players, the Sharks stars have shone early in the series. Forward Patrick Marleau leads all team scorers with 3 goals and 5 points, including the flukey overtime winner in game three of the series. Pavelski, Thornton, Burns and Hertl have all come up big as well, while the Sharks fourth line of Torres, Desjardins and Brown has been punishing and momentum-changing. Defensively, San Jose may not have quite the name recognition the Kings do, but they have been solid nonetheless in allowing just 8 goals through 3 games. Goaltender Antti Niemi, much maligned after a mediocre regular season, has been as solid as the Sharks could ask for through three games, though he has yet to face any sustained tests from the Kings. The system in front of him is sound, and looks to be capable of pulling the rug out from under the Kings in advance of game four. BOTTOM LINE:  At the onset of this series, many were predicting it to be a knock-down, drag-out, bloodied 6 or 7 game war. The fact that the Sharks have so easily dispatched of the Kings to this point in the series shows both their strengths as a transitional offensive team, and the Kings weaknesses as a slower defensive one. Still, Los Angeles isn't the kind of team that is going to lay down and die for the Sharks. They are a proud bunch, two years removed from a Stanley Cup, and will be back to their physical, forechecking ways on Thursday night. If Quick can snap out of this unbelievable funk he is in right now, there is every reason to believe that the Sharks can come back in game four, and at least push it back to San Jose to avoid the sweep. Pick: Los Angeles.]>
Minnesota Wild host Colorado Avalanche tonight in Game 4 of their playoff series.The game takes place at the Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul and is scheduled to start at 02:30 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Avalanche at Wild live here:Preview (Colorado currently lead the series 2-1):LAST GAME - Minnesota 1 Colorado 0 (OT) WILD EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  Minnesota will look to build on the momentum they generated in a dominating 1-0 victory over Colorado on Monday, as they enter game four with an opportunity to tie the series 2-2 heading back to Colorado. Leading the charge for the Wild on Monday was young Mikael Granlund, whose overtime heroics were a demonstration of the sublime skill possessed by the 22 year old from Finland. He had been been a strong offensive presence for the Wild all game, registering 7 shots in just under 20 minutes of ice time playing alongside Zach Parise. That duo has all the offensive talent in the world, and it will take another strong effort from them on Thursday for the Wild to outscore the potent Avs offense. Speaking of the Avs offense, Minnesota did an admirable job of shutting down the opposition's top unit on Monday. Rookie goaltender Darcy Kuemper posted a 22-save shutout for his first career playoff win, while defenseman Ryan Suter's herculean 31:56 of ice time was largely played in a match-up against that top unit. As demonstrated in the first two games of this series, it is essential to the Wild's hopes that they play tight-checking defensive hockey, and a performance like they had on Monday could be just what the doctor ordered in game four. AVALANCHE EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  The Avalanche can take some positives out of Monday's 1-0 OT loss; namely, that they were out-shot 46-22, out-chanced significantly, and still almost managed to pull a victory out.  That is in large part thanks to the play of goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who continues to buffer his playoff resume with an oustanding first three games of the series. The 25 year old Russian is proving to be full value for his outstanding regular season, and has a stellar .937 save percentage through the first three games of this series. One negative heading into game four is that number one defenseman Tyson Barrie is out for the length of the series, the victim of a vicious knee from noted Wild agitator Matt Cooke. In Barrie's stead, the Avs will rely heavily on the top pairing of Jan Hejda and Erik Johnson to shut the opposition down, while employing forwards to the points on the powerplay. Rookie sensation Nathan Mackinnon was quiet on Monday night, registering 3 shots in just over 22 minutes of ice time. He was the victim of the match-up game, as the Wild employed Norris-worthy defenseman Ryan Suter in a strict shut-down role on his line, to great effect. The rookie will likely face much of the on Thursday night, and will need to find his way through the Wild's defensive wall if he is to regain the success he had in the first two games of the series. BOTTOM LINE:  The Wild need this one to have any chance in this series. They aren't quite as strong a team offensively as the Avs, but they have a lynchpin in Suter, who was employed to perfect effect in game three. If they can do much the same in game four, it could well shift the tide of this series. Still, they say it's hard to keep a good man down, and one can't imagine the dynamic Avs trio of Landeskog, Stastny and Mackinnon staying quiet for another game. Defensive holes of not, they have a blitzing offense, and will use that to full effect as they try and bounce back in game four to take a 3-1 series lead. Pick: Colorado.]>
The Boston Bruins will look to take a 3-1 stranglehold in their first round series with the Detroit Red Wings, as the two teams play a decisive game four tonight.The game takes place at the Joe Louis Arena, Detroit and is scheduled to start at 01:00 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Bruins at Red Wings live here:Preview (Boston currently lead the series 2-1): LAST GAME - Boston 3 Detroit 0 BRUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  Since dropping the first game to the Red Wings 1-0, the Bruins have looked the far superior team in games two and three, taking the run of play to the Red Wings and blitzing them by a combined 7-1 score en route to two victories. Now, it is up to them to put in a similar performance on Thusday night, where a win would send the Red Wings reeling back to Boston, where the Bruins would have a chance to close out the series. Goaltender Tuukka Rask is nothing short of the best goaltender in the league right now, so it should be of no surprise that he has posted some ridiculous numbers through the first three games of the series. On 82 shots, he has allowed just two goals, which translates to an absurd 0.67 goals against average, and a .976 save percentage. Beyond Rask and the defense, the Bruins employ a balanced offensive attack, without a single player with more than 1 goal thusfar in these Stanley Cup playoffs. The first unit of Iginla, Krejci and Lucic gets the bulk of the press, but bottom-9 guys like Reilly Smith, Justin Florek and Jordan Caron have had strong starts to the playoffs, making the Bruins already enviable depth that much better. RED WINGS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  The Detroit Red Wings have struggled mightily to get any kind of goal production through three games of this series, but are still hanging onto life down 2-1. On the plus side, there is a real possibility that they may see the return of their captain and scoring leader Henrik Zetterberg, who has been out since early February with a serious back injury. The possible return of Zetterberg could be just the offensive jolt the Red Wings need, as they have been unable to crack the defensive shell of the Bruins through 3 games. With just two goals, it is clear that the Wings were becoming victims of the Bruins physical shut-down style. Superstar center Pavel Datsyuk has been quiet since his highlight reel game winner in game one, while high-scoring sophomore Gustav Nyquist has still yet to make his mark on the series. Zetterberg, with his 48 points in 45 regular season game, is one of the best players in the league, and would represent a definite boon to the Wings chances. Wings goaltender jimmy Howard also needs to return to the form he showed in game one, as allowing 6 goals on 56 shots over two games against a team like the Bruins simply isn't going to cut it. He could do with an injury return from shut-down defenseman Jonathan Ericsson, but that does not appear to be coming anytime soon. BOTTOM LINE:  Boston is an experienced playoff team, and will smell blood in the water when they take to the ice on Thursday. If they can manage to take the play to the Wings early, and instill doubt and fear in their minds as they have all series, this could be a quick one. Still, you have to like what the possible return to the lineup of Zetterberg could do to the Wings psyche. Any time your injured captain sucks it up and returns to action well ahead of schedule, you are bound to get fired up. With his return on Thursday night likely, that could well be what happens; in that event, the Bruins had better watch out. Pick: Detroit.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Wednesday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Columbus 4 Pittsburgh 3 (OT) Scorers: CBJ - Jenner, Johansen, Dubinsky, Foligno  PIT - Adams, Kunitz, Neal The Columbus Blue Jackets stormed back from a 3-0 first period hole on Wednesday night, tying the game up in the last seconds before winning it on a Nick Foligno goal early in the first overtime session. [txt12503] Columbus got goals from top offensive players Ryan Johansen and Boone Jenner to cut the lead down to one, before Brandon Dubinsky tied it off a Marc-Andre Fleury miscue with just 24 seconds to go in the third period. Foligno's writers at 2:49 of the first overtime series caught Fleury by surprise, giving the Jackets their first home playoff win in franchise history, and a 2-2 series tie heading back to Pittsburgh. The Penguins were up by 3 early in the first, but couldn't hang on to their substantial lead in the final minutes of the game, and now face a tough best-of-three set with the Jackets heading into the weekend. Craig Adams, Chris Kunitz and James Neal scored the Pens goals, while Marc-Andre Fleury, in spite of his obvious miscues, still made 42 saves in a game where the Pens were outshot 46-25. Sidney Crosby is still goalless in these playoffs, and was actually a -2 on the night in just 18:41 of ice time. Game five goes Saturday night in Pittsburgh. Dallas 4 Anaheim 2 Scorers: DAL - Ja. Benn, Fiddler, Eakin, Goligoski  ANA - Allen, Maroon [txt15405] The surprising Dallas Stars erased a 2-0 first period deficit on Wednesday night, storming back for a 4-2 game four victory, evening the best of seven first round series up at 2-2 heading back to Anaheim. Dallas used third period goals from Cody Eakin and Alex Goligoski to surge ahead of the Ducks in the third period, a lead which they would never relinquish. Vernon Fiddler and captain Jamie Benn had tied the game up with goals in the second, while goaltender Kari Lehtonen was solid in making 21 saves.  The Ducks will be disappointed that they couldn't earn at least a split in Dallas, but have only their shoddy defensive play and indiscipline to blame for the road losses. The team was without injured captain Ryan Getzlaf, and suffered in their overall zone time as a result. Goaltender Frederik Andersen looked shaky, allowing 4 goals on 26 shots including a pair of softies in the second period. Bryan Allen and Patrick Maroon scored for the Ducks. Game five goes Friday night in Anaheim. Chicago 4 St. Louis 3 (OT) Scorers: CHI - Kane (2), Shaw, Bickell  STL - Tarasenko (2), Lapierre [txt20506] The Chicago Blackhawks rode a stellar two-goal performance from superstar Patrick Kane, which included an overtime winner, to victory on Wednesday night, giving them a home sweep of the Blues to tie their first round series up at 2-2. Kane's 2 goal performance brought him back from the hibernation he had been in for much of the first three games; his overtime winner at 11:17 of the session was a stellar solo effort, and demonstrated some vintage Pat Kane. The Hawks also got goals from Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell, while much-maligned captain Jonathan Toews had 2 assists. Goaltender Corey Crawford was strong in making 30 saves for the win. The Blues will rue the fact that they have let the Blackhawks back into this series, in spite of the heroics of Vladimir Tarasenko. The Russian forward and game 2 hero had 2 goals in the contest, including a go-ahead marker at 12:26 of the third period that the Blues thought would be enough. Missing captain David Backes for a second consecutive game, the Blues welcomed center Patrik Berglund back into the fold; he went pointless in 20:29 of ice time, and registered a -3 mark. Goaltender Ryan Miller made 30 saves in a losing effort. Game five goes Friday night in St. Louis.]>
The St. Louis and Chicago Blackhawks resume their first round series tonight; a series which is quickly turning into one of the most physical and violent in recent playoff memory. The game takes place at the United Center, Chicago and is scheduled to start at 02:30 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Blues at Blackhawks live here:Preview (Blues lead the series 2-1):LAST GAME - Chicago 2 St. Louis 0 BLUES EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  The Blues have been subjected to a particular brand of Blackhawks hockey that they perhaps didn't expect, as Chicago has been physical, chippy, and at times nasty, in their efforts to come back in their first round series. From the David Backes concussion to a potential T.J. Oshie hand injury as a result of a Duncan Keith slash, St. Louis is a team that is hurting right now, and they will need to dig deep if they are to overcome the defending champs. One player who has the opportunity to emerge as a star in Backes' stead is young Jaden Schwartz, who will likely assume the first line center mantle in game four. The sophomore had a breakthrough regular season, posting 21 goals and 56 points to establish himself as an everyday top-6 NHL'er. Now, with Backes out for the foreseeable future with a concussion, it is likely that the Blues will count on Schwartz and defensive maven Vladimir Sobotka as their top offensive centers for the remainder of this series. That is a lot of pressure for two players who aren't exactly top-line centers, at least at the point in their careers. One thing the Blues can fall back on is their defense, which is healthy, and one of the deepest in the league. The pairing of Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester have done a wonderful job shutting down the Hawks best scorers this series, as the likes of Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp have been held to low offensive number through the first three games. Still, the Blues can't get the match-ups they want on the road, so it is up to the bottom two pairings to do the job against the Hawks top offensive players in game four, and game three proved that to be a tall task for the likes of Leopold and Polak. BLACKHAWKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  Chicago has goaltender Corey Crawford to thank for getting them back into this series, as his 34 save shutout on Monday night was nothing short of sensational. Now, with the Blues forward line up significantly depleted due to injuries, it is up to their top players to do what they've done in countless playoff series before: elevate their games. It is remarkable that noted playoff performers Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp have combined for exactly 0 points and a -4 rating through the first three games of this series, but perhaps that is more testament to the match-up game the Blues are playing than anything. Head coach Joel Quenville has gone to great lengths to spread the scoring wealth through the Hawks' top three lines. Still, with Toews and Kane sitting on just one goal, it has been the suspended Brent Seabrook and young winger Brandon Saad carrying the bulk of the offensive load for Chicago. That needs to change if they are to dispel of a strong Blues squad. As was said above, Crawford was sensational in game three, displaying shades of the form he showed in leading the Hawks to the Cup last year. After a shaky first two games of the series, it is up to him to carry that form into game four, as the forwards in front of him are giving him little in the way of reliable scoring help. BOTTOM LINE: Expect the Blackhawks game plan to be much the same as it has been in the first three games: hit, hack, chirp and intimidate the Blues skilled players, particularly Oshie, Steen and Schwartz. The removal of Backes from the Blues line up, which was already missing top-6 center Patrik Berglund, severely depletes their depth, and leaves them vulnerable down the middle. Still, St. Louis has the better, deeper defensive corps, and in a series like this, that can often make the difference. It will be hard for the Hawks to be successful here if the Blues continue to shut down Toews, Kane, Sharp, and Hossa. Look for Pietrangelo and Bouwmeester to play another heavy 30+ minute game, and for the Blues to come back with a vengeance. Pick: St. Louis.]>
The Dallas Stars will look to even up their series with the Anaheim Ducks tonight, as the two teams do battle in game four. The game takes place at the American Airlines Center and is scheduled to start at 01:00 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Ducks at Stars live here:Preview (Anaheim currently lead the series 2-1):LAST GAME - Dallas 3 Anaheim 0 DUCKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  The Anaheim Ducks will think that, on the back of a game where they healthily outshot and outchanced the opposition, a loss was a largely undeserved result. Still, they need to bounce back from their 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Stars on Wednesday night, and find a way to head back home with a 3-1 series lead. To do that, they will need to find a way to put the puck past Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen. Monday's game saw a new narrative for the Stars in trying to shut down the Ducks, as Dallas turned to a chippy, physical style against Ducks superstars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry in an effort to get them off their game. Getzlaf, the second leading scorer in the league from the regular season, is particularly susceptible, as it is suspected that he is playing through a broken or fractured jaw as a result of a play from game two. As such, it's up to the Ducks depth scoring to step up in the event that their stars can't get it done. One guy to watch is newly promoted Devante Smith-Pelly, who went from riding the pine in games 1 and 2, to replacing the injured Matt Beleskey on the first line for game three. He is a hard-checking forward, and will be relied on to free up space for Perry and Getzlaf on the top line. Expect rookie Frederik Andersen to get his fourth consecutive start on Wednesday. He wasn't exactly in the best form on Monday night, allowing 3 goals on just 22 shots, but has shown in the first two games of the series that he is a capable and competent starter. STARS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  Goaltender Kari Lehtonen had one of the best games of his career on Monday, posting a 37-save shutout en route to his first playoff victory in 11 seasons in the league. Now, the tall task for him is repeating the feat, as the top offense in the league is unlikely to be kept to the perimeter like they were for much of game three. Stars captain Jamie Benn has been exactly the kind of playoff performer everyone thought he would be, posting 2 goals and an assist in some heavy minutes during the first three games. He and center Tyler Seguin represent the most consistent scoring options the Stars have, and it is critical that they remove themselves from the Ducks match-up game. Look for rookie Valeri Nichushkin to return to playing on the first line for game four; he was dropped to the bottom line at the start of game three, but scored a goal and was a force for much of the game. BOTTOM LINE: The Stars didn't necessarily look like the better team on Monday, but they did do a good job of getting into the Ducks' heads. The physical game of the likes of Daley, Roussel, and Garbutt really seemed to take its toll on Getzlaf, who is clearly playing injured, and Perry, who is prone to indiscipline. Still, you can bet that Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau will have a succinct game plan for getting into Kari Lehtonen's crease, and making things more difficult on the Stars stud goaltender. Anaheim is the first seed for a reason, and if they can continue to drop 40 shot performances on the Stars, they will wear them down for victories. Pick: Anaheim.]>
The Columbus Blue Jackets will look to bounce back from a tough game three loss, as they look to even their first round series with the Penguins tonight. The game takes place at the Nationwide Arena, Columbus and is scheduled to start at 00:00 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Penguins at Blue Jackets live here:Preview (Penguins currently lead the series 2-1):LAST GAME - Pittsburgh 4 Columbus 3 BLUE JACKETS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  The Jackets had the Penguins on the ropes on Monday night, holding a 3-1 lead early in the third period, and having carried the balance of play for much of the first forty minutes. All it took was 2 and a half minutes for the Pens offense to strike though, and by the end, Columbus was on the losing end of a 4-3 score line. It is now up to the Jackets to pick up the pieces, and find a way to even up the series heading back to Pittsburgh on Friday. Defenseman Jack Johnson has been a revelation in the early going for the Jackets. He has goals in each of the first three games, and is a +1, all while playing an average of 29:05 per game in a critical shut down role against Sidney Crosby. The pair of he and Fedor Tyutin has easily been the Jackets' best, and they will be counted on to do much of the same as Columbus tries to turn this series around. Offensively, star center Ryan Johansen has been the fulcrum of the Columbus offense through the first three games, but they would like to see more than just a single goal from him. Having posted 33 in the regular season, much was expected of him heading down the stretch into the post-season. He has been a two-way workhorse for head coach Todd Richards, but they will need to see more goal scoring from him if they are to come back in this series. PENGUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  Pittsburgh has probably been the weaker of the two teams in this series on form, and will feel fortunate that they enter game four with a 2-1 series lead. They were outplayed for large portions of Monday's win, surging back midway through the third period with the kind of blitz that only they can provide. Still, they will need a more consistent team performance if they are to go deep in these playoffs, and that begins with better play against the Blue Jackets on Wednesday. Everyone remembers when Sidney Crosby was held pointless in the Pens four-game loss to the Boston Bruins in last year's Eastern Conference Final. This year, he has 4 assists through three games, but is a -1, and has yet to post a goal. In fact, Crosby hasn't posted a playoff goal since game four of their second round series with Ottawa last year. That's a stretch of 8 games goalless. Pittsburgh has been getting offense from other sources in his stead, but they need him to step up and be his usual Sidney-self if they are to go deep in the playoffs. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was shaky in the early-going on Monday, but recovered to post a strong final 40 minutes en route to the victory. Still, he has done little to abate the fears of Penguins fans whose memories of his last two playoff collapses are fresh, and will need to step up with a stellar playoff performance sometime soon to stay those criticisms. BOTTOM LINE: You have to think that a team with the skill of the Penguins is going to manage a blow-out victory sometime soon. Still, the first two games have demonstrated that the Jackets are committed to a whole-team concept, and it is clear that they are going to be sticking with Pittsburgh for the balance of this series. For game three, look for the Penguins to understand the gravity of the situation. What's more, look for Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to finally step to the fore, and be the players they need to be if the Pens are to be considered contenders in the deep playoff pool we have this season. Pick: Pittsburgh.]>
The Los Angeles Kings will try and find their way back into their first round series with the San Jose Sharks tonight. The game takes place at the Staples Center, Los Angeles and is scheduled to start at 03:00 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Sharks at Kings live here:Preview (San Jose currently leads the series 2-0):LAST GAME - San Jose 7 Los Angeles 2 SHARKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  The San Jose Sharks have hung 13 goals through two games on the best defensive team from the regular season, and will try to do more of the same as the series shifts to L.A. San Jose has got stellar performances from some of their top players, including leading scorer Joe Pavelski, who has 4 points in the first two games. More remarkable though, is the fact that they have goals from 11 different players in the first two games of this series. The first line of Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton and Brent Burns may be the line that gets all of the attention, but it was the unheralded fourth line, featuring Raffi Torres, Andrew Desjardins and Mike Brown, that has been the Sharks' offensive surge. They had two goals to bring the Sharks back into game two after giving away a 2-0 lead. If they can continue to get this kind of depth production, it will do wonders for their scoring ability. Goaltender Antti Niemi hasn't been great in the first two games of the series; but then, he hasn't had to be. When you get 13 goals for in two games, you need only make sure you don't allow any back breakers. KINGS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER: INJURY LIST:  It has certainly not been the opening to the playoffs that the Kings would've expected, as they have allowed 13 combined goals in two games, after having allowed an average of just over 2 per game during the regular season. Goaltender Jonathan Quick has looked particularly shaky, allowing twelve goals on 68 shots, but his defense has been equally at fault. They simply look far too slow to skate with the speedy Sharks forwards. Los Angeles needs more from its defensive corps, which has been strong enough offensively, but obviously not good enough on the defensive end. The Kings trend towards a heavy forechecking, physical game, but that doesn't seem to be the kind of game that can be successful against the Sharks. For their part, guys like Willie Mitchell and Robyn Regehr, defensive-minded defensemen, have looked porous, and need to be much better. The Kings have yet to get a goal from the likes of Kopitar, Carter, Gaborik, Williams or Richards, and will need to have someone other than fourth line center Trevor Lewis scoring goals if they are to be successful. BOTTOM LINE: The Sharks have authored a story line thusfar in this series that likely no one would've ever expected, as their offense has made the Kings defense look utterly incompetent. Still, the Kings shouldn't be counted out from this series just yet. After all, they were in a 2-0 series hole in the first round of last year's playoffs against St. Louis, and came back with four consecutive wins to take the series. Though the Sharks are unlikely to have the kind of lapses the Blues did, they can still be a vulnerable team, particularly in goal, and it is up to the Kings to exploit that. Pick: Los Angeles.]>
Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins continue their Stanley Cup playoff series tonight.The game takes place at the Joe Louis Arena, Detroit and is scheduled to start at 00:30 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Bruins at Red Wings live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 1-1): LAST GAME - Boston 4 Detroit 1 BRUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  The Bruins will look to carry over the momentum generated from a strong game two performance, as they head to Joe Louis Arena with the series tied at a game a piece. The top line of Lucic, Iginla and Krejci came up big in Sunday's 4-1 win, with Lucic netting a goal and iginla two assists.  Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask made 34 saves in the victory, proving once again why he is the best goaltender in the league right now. To their credit, the Red Wings took the play to the B's defense for much of the game, but Rask was enormous, and captain Zdeno Chara's goal and +2 in 26 minutes was enough for them to even the series. For game three, the Bruins will probably look for more from their second line, which features a pairing of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand which has been quiet through the first two games. The team has also benefited from the strong play of some bottom-six surprises, including rookie Justin Florek. RED WINGS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER: INJURY LIST:  The Red Wings will look to emulate their game one rather than their game two form, and not just because they won the first. In game two, it was clear that they were being sucked into the Bruins brand of chippy, physical play, which is a style that the Wings are not built to succeed with. They would be smart to return to the kind of high-skill, puck possession game they showed in their victory. Leading that offensive charge will have to be veteran Pavel Datsyuk, who has easily been the best Wing in the first two games of the series. He scored the lone goal in game one for Detroit, on an amazing individual effort that showed why he is still considered the best one-on-one player in the game today. Now, it is up to the Wings secondary scoring to come through in the clutch. Among those players, winger Gustav Nyquist, who was so good in the latter half of the season, needs to step up in particular. Goaltender Jimmy Howard has been stellar through the first two games, making some excellent saves and keeping his club in both games. His play thusfar is proving that he is a premier playoff goaltender, in spite of his lacking regular season statistics. BOTTOM LINE: This is a critical game for the Red Wings if they have designs on an upset. The Bruins are simply too good of a team to lose several games in a row, and will thus be tough to beat if they are up 2-1 in the series. What's more, the Wings weren't a particularly good home team during the regular season, and will be trying to keep Datsyuk away from Chara in the match-up game. That being said, the Wings have proven over the course of this series that they are for real, and can keep up with Boston. If they can get back to playing their skill game, and not get baited into the dirty stuff by the Bruins, then they have the horses to come up with a clutch victory. Pick: Detroit.]>
The Montreal Canadiens will look to finish a sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight, and in doing so, become the first team to book their ticket to the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs.The game takes place at the Bell Centre, Montreal and is scheduled to start at 00:00 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Lightning at Canadiens live here:Preview (Montreal currently lead the series 3-0): LAST GAME - Montreal 3 Tampa Bay 2 CANADIENS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:   The Canadiens will look to complete the 23rd series sweep in their franchise history on Tuesday night, as they play host to a Tampa Bay Lightning team whom they clearly have on the ropes. Their 3-2 on Sunday night was keyed along by defenseman P.K. Subban, who had 2 assists en route to the victory. Montreal has relied on strong offensive output from some unexpected sources early in this series, including 3 goals from third liner Rene Bourque and a team-leading 4 points (2-2) from second liner Brendan Gallagher. Bourque scored just 11 seconds into game three, giving the Habs a lead they would never relinquish, and has probably been the best forward in the series. They will look for more from 39-goal man max Pacioretty, who has yet to score in this playoffs, despite producing 10 shots on goal. Subban is often considered the engine that drives the Habs offense, and his play on Sunday further cemented that reputation. His individual effort in setting up Gallagher for the 2-1 goal was nothing short of magic, and he is fast growing into one of the best blue liners of his generation. Goaltender Carey Price has been strong as well, rebounding from a poor game one performance to post strong numbers in games 2 and 3. LIGHTNING EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  Tampa Bay will look to stave off an unlikely four-game sweep on Tuesday night, and they will do so with the possibility that captain and leading scorer Steven Stamkos will be absent from the line-up. Stamkos suffered a head injury in the second period of Sunday's game three loss, and is listed as questionable for Tuesday night. Losing Stamkos would likely be the final nail in the Bolts' playoff coffin, as they have been unable to stick with the Habs for much of their first round series. The injury to Vezina trophy-favored goaltender Ben Bishop certainly hasn't helped, but it has been their offense that has struggled. Outside of Stamkos' 4 points (2-2) from three games, Tampa doesn't have a single player with more than one goal in the series, and desperately need guys like Val Filppula and Tyler Johnson to step up in game four. Goaltender Anders Lindback hasn't been particularly strong for the Bolts in this series, but he hasn't necessarily been terrible either. It was always going to be tough for Tampa to stay in this one with Bishop out, but the play of their defense has been disappointing, and allowing 33.7 shots per game average through three games certainly hasn't helped matters. BOTTOM LINE: There is no better arena atmosphere in the league than the Bell Centre in Montreal, and it is sure to be rocking on Tuesday night. Habs fans see the opportunity to quickly dispatch of the Lightning, and will be heartily behind their team doing so. For their part, Montreal has looked much the better team, both offensively and defensively, for the balance of the series. With Stamkos hurting and Bishop not coming back, it is simply too much to ask Tampa Bay to be just the third team in history to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series. After a strong regular season, it'll likely be curtains for them on Tuesday night. Pick: Montreal.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Monday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Pittsburgh 4 Columbus 3 Scorers: PIT - Orpik, Sutter, Stempniak, Jokinen  CBJ - Jenner, Johnson, Atkinson The Pittsburgh Penguins blazed back from a 3-1 third period deficit to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3, taking a critical 2-1 series lead in the process. Pittsburgh scored three goals in 2 minutes and 13 seconds of the third, stunning the Jackets with an offensive blitz after struggling to score for the first two periods. Their three third-period markers came from unexpected sources, too, as Brandon Sutter, Lee Stempniak and Jussi Jokinen did the scoring. Sidney Crosby had an assist and was a +1 in 22 minutes of ice time. The Jackets will rue losing a lead that they had fought hard to build up, but the fact that they were outshot 41-20 in the game probably tells the story of which team was better. Boone Jenner and Jack Johnson put them up 2-0 after just 3 minutes of play, and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was strong in a 37-save outing, but their third period lapse cost them. Game four goes Wednesday in Columbus.[txt17270] Chicago 2 St. Louis 0 Scorers: CHI - Toews, Kruger  STL - none [txt16634] The Chicago Blackhawks proved that they aren't quite dead yet, fighting to a 2-0 victory at the United Centre to cut the Blues series lead in half to 2-1. Hawks captain Jonathan Toews, who had been bemoaned by media and pundits for a lack of production in the first two games, scored the eventual game winner early into the first period, and had a strong 22 minutes of ice time for the Hawks. Their M.V.P though was goaltender Corey Crawford, who made 34 saves en route to his third career playoff shutout. St. Louis will be disappointed that they couldn't hang an insurmountable 3-0 series lead on the Blackhawks, particular after outshooting Chicago 34-24 on the night. They missed captain David Backes, who is expected to be out some time with injury, and relied heavily on winger T.J. Oshie, whose 23:28 of ice time led all forwards. Ryan Miller made 23 saves, but allowed a shaky goal to Toews, the eventual game winner, and will need to bounce back in game four. Game four goes Wednesday night in Chicago Minnesota 1 Colorado 0 (OT) Scorers: MIN - Granlund  COL - none [txt34645] Mikael Granlund's gorgeous overtime winner elevated the Minnesota Wild back into their first round series with Colorado, giving them a 1-0 victory in game three, and turning the series into a competition. Colorado leads it 2-1. The Wild were the much better team on the night, outshooting the Avs 46-22, and more importantly, doing an outstanding job of shutting down the Avs top line of Stastny, Mackinnon and Landeskog. Granlund was maybe the best player on the ice for Minnesota, scoring an unbelievable overtime winner, to go along with 7 shots in 19:41 of ice time. Rookie goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 22 saves for the shutout. Colorado can thank goaltender Semyon Varlamov for staying in this game, as his 45-save performance was nothing short of miraculous. Their offense was simply unable to muster anything over the course of the game, with the Mackinnon-Stastny-Landeskog line that had been so dominant, looking far more pedestrian in game three. Another troubling result from game three is the injury to top defenseman Tyson Barrie, who left the game late in the first after receiving a knee-on-knee hit from the Wild's Matt Cooke. Game four goes Thursday night in Minnesota. Dallas 3 Anaheim 0 Scorers: DAL - Ja. Benn, Nichushkin, Garbutt  ANA - none [txt28523] The Dallas Stars parlayed a stellar 37-save performance from goaltender Kari Lehtonen to knock off the Anaheim Ducks 3-0, thereby bringing them back into a series that now stands at 2-1 for Anaheim. Lehtonen was easily the best player on the ice for the Stars, as they were outshot 37-22 over the course of the game. The Stars goaltender was forced into making some stellar stops in notching his first career playoff game, and will need to be just that good for Dallas to have a chance in this series. Captain Jamie Benn, rookie Valeri Nichushkin and grinder Ryan Garbutt had goals for the Stars. Anaheim will be disappointed that they weren't able to capitalize on a distinct shot advantage to beat the Stars, but will likely chalk it up to a hot goaltender and little more. Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf were quiet on the night, combining for just four shots. Goaltender Frederik Andersen made just 19 saves, and looked shaky on both the second and third goals against. Game four goes Wednesday night in Dallas.]>
The St. Louis Blues will look to bury the defending champions Chicago Blackhawks in a 3-0 hole tonight, as the series returns to Chicago for game three. The game takes place at the United Center, Chicago and is scheduled to start at 01:30 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Blues at Blackhawks live here:Preview (Blues lead the series 2-0):BLUES EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  St. Louis managed to convert the Blackhawks indiscipline and defensive gaffes into another overtime win in game two, giving them a critical 2-0 series lead over the defending champions. Saturday's hero was defenseman Barret Jackman, whose winner in the first period of overtime followed a Vladimir Tarasenko game tying goal with just 6 seconds to play. Lost in the fervor of a 2-0 series lead is the fact that the Blues will likely be without captain and U.S. Olympian David Backes, who suffered what appeared to be a concussion on a brutal hit from the Hawks' Brent Seabrook in the third period of game two. Couple that with an injury to Patrik Berglund, and a suspected injury to winger T.J. Oshie, and you have a team that is having its depth seriously tested. Grinding winger Steve Ott was moved to the first line in place of Backes towards the end of game two, and will likely start Monday's game in that spot. Goaltender Ryan Miller hasn't necessarily been lights-out for the Blues in the first two games of the series, allowing 6 goals in two games. Still, the Blues have one of the deepest, most dynamic defensive corps in the game, and don't really need a goaltender to be lights out every night to be successful. Still, if they are to be a Cup contender, they will need Miller to be better than he was on Saturday night. BLACKHAWKS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER: INJURY LIST:  Everything was going right for the Blackhawks in the second half of the game on Saturday. They came back from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead into the final moments of game two. But an ill-advised major penalty by defenseman Brent Seabrook led to a Blues tying goal, and the eventual St. Louis winner in overtime means that the defending champs are on the ropes, and desperate for a win in advance of game three.A definite problem for the Hawks heading into game three is the lack of production from their top players. Team leading scorer Patrick Sharp is pointless in the first two games, while captain Jonathan Toews, typically a stellar playoff performer, has zero goals and has been largely a non-factor early on. Couple that with just one point from 2013 Playoff MVP Patrick Kane, and you can understand by the Hawks are in the hole they are in advance of game three. Still, there will probably be no bigger loss to the Hawks roster than that of defenseman Brent Seabrook, who was suspended for three games as a result of his high-hit on David Backes late in game two. As a result, even more onus will be put on anchor blue liner Duncan Keith, who has logged a remarkable 34 minutes (on average) through the first two games of the series. Expect right handed blue liner Sheldon Brookbank to get the sub for Seabrook. BOTTOM LINE: The Blackhawks have been here before. Most recently, they came back from a 3-1 series deficit in the second round against Detroit last season, winning in game seven. As a result, they are unlikely to be rattled or thrown-off by the deficit. Still, this Blues team looks like it's for real. They are hard-working, resilient, and defensively sound. The Hawks need players like Toews, Sharp and Kane to be the difference makers for them. These are guys who have done it before too, so there is no reason to believe they can't come through at home in game three. Pick: Chicago.]>
The Columbus Blue Jackets will look to carry the momentum of a Game 2 win back home to Ohio tonight for a Game 3 battle with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The game takes place at the Nationwide Arena, Columbus and is scheduled to start at 00:00 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Penguins at Blue Jackets live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 1-1):BLUE JACKETS EXPECTED LINES:   EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  INJURY LIST:  Saturday's 4-3 overtime win was a landmark moment in Columbus Blue Jackets history, as it represented the first time in the club's 16 year history that they won a Stanley Cup Playoff game. Now, with the series tied 1-1 heading back home, the Jackets are very much in the thick of the battle, and will look to carry the momentum through. Saturday's hero was winger Matt Calvert, whose two goals included the hard-working overtime winner. The Jackets second line, particularly Calvert and center Brandon Dubinsky, has probably been the team's best line of the series. Dubinsky has been particularly effective, as he has been tasked with the shut-down role of superstar Sidney Crosby, who has zero goals and 3 assists to this point in the series. Columbus will certainly miss defenseman Fedor Tyutin, who suffered an injury in the first period of the second game, and is questionable for game 2. As such, the team will rely heavily on their four best defensemen, including Jack Johnson, who had a game-high 38:21 of ice time in game one. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 39 saves on the game, including 12 key ones in overtime, and will continue to be relied upon to shutdown the Penguins high-octane offensive game. PENGUINS EXPECTED LINES:  EXPECTED PAIRINGS:  EXPECTED GOALTENDER: INJURY LIST: The Pittsburgh Penguins will be looking to bounce-back from their loss of home ice advantage in game two, and will rely on a better game from some of their better players in order to regain momentum in game three of their series. Superstar center Sidney Crosby has three assists from the first two games, so it's probably unfair to say that has been unproductive, but there is still definitely room for improvement for the Pens' captain, who is still looking for his first goal of the series. Second line center Evgeni Malkin wasn't as good as he needed to be in game 2, with 0 points and a -1 in 29 minutes of play. One man who will surely be missed is winger Brian Gibbons, who had two goals in two minutes of play on Saturday, before leaving with an injury in the first. Marc-Andre Fleury has been good, if not great, in the first two games of his 2014 playoffs. This should be considered progress for a player who was much maligned in light of his previous poor playoff performances. Still, he looked shaky on a few of the Jackets goals on Saturday, including the overtime winner, where his lateral movement on the rebound cost him. He will still need to be better in game there. BOTTOM LINE: If the Jackets want to have a real chance at an upset in this series, they need to take the run of play to Pittsburgh in game three. They like how competitive they have been in the first two games, but they will need more from some of their better players, particularly center Ryan Johansen, if they are get in the driver's seat. Still, if they are able to get back in Fleury's kitchen in game three, and ride the momentum of home ice and the energy that is sure to bring, it is definitely something that they could do. Pittsburgh needs more from their best players, and a better defensive performance, if they are to be successful. Pick: Columbus.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Sunday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Philadelphia 4 New York 2 Scorers: PHI - Voracek, Akeson, Schenn, Simmonds  NYR - St. Louis, Pouliot The Philadelphia Flyers bounced back from a tough game one loss to New York, to come out of Madison Square Garden with a 1-1 series split.  The Flyers got goals from four different lines on Sunday night, with the game winning goal coming from defenseman Luke Schenn midway through the second period. Goaltender Ray Emery, making his second straight start in place of injuried starter Steve Mason, was excellent in a 31 save performance. New York will be disappointed that they gave away an early 2-0 lead, as they were unable at times to cope with the speed of the Flyers offense. Winger Martin St. Louis got his first goal of the playoffs, while Benoit Pouliot added the second. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made just 21 saves in a less-than-stellar start. Boston 4 Detroit 1 Scorers: BOS - Florek, R. Smith, Lucic, Chara  DET - Glendening Still smarting from a 1-0 loss in game one, the Boston Bruins bounced back with a strong performance in game two, tying the series with Detroit 1-1 after a 4-1 victory. Leading the charge for the B's on Sunday was the line of Milan Lucic, Jarome Iginla and David Krejci. Lucic had the all-important third goal, while veteran winger Iginla had 2 assists. Rookie Justin Florek opened the scoring in the first period, with his first career playoff goal. Tuukka Rask was very strong, making 34 saves for the win.  The Red Wings appeared to get sucked into the Bruins heavily-physical brand of hockey in game two, and at times abandoned their offensive tenets. Still, they outshout Boston 35-29, and will only be disappointed that they weren't able to get more quality chances on Rask. Rookie Luke Glendening's goal was the first of his playoff career. Montreal 3 Tampa Bay 2 Scorers: MTL - Bourque, Gallagher, Plekanec  TBL - Palat, Carle The Montreal Canadiens took a stranglehold on their first round series with Tampa Bay, eking out a 3-2 victory to take a 3-0 series lead. The Habs now have a chance to sweep the series on Tuesday. Leading the charge for Montreal was defenseman P.K. Subban, whose two assists were punctuated by one of the best individual efforts you will ever see on Brendan Gallagher's 3-2 goal. Along with Subban, Gallagher had two points (1-1), while goaltender Carey Price had a strong night, making 27 saves.  Tampa Bay will once again be disappointed to drop a one-goal decision to the Habs, and now find themselves on the brink heading into game four. Leading scorer Ondrej Palat was a difference marker, while the injury loss of superstar Steven Stamkos could be the death knell for the Lightning's comeback hopes. Game four goes Tuesday. San Jose 7 Los Angeles 2 The San Jose Sharks were once again way too much for the Kings defense to handle, as they hung a 7-spot on goaltender Jonathan Quick en route to a 7-2 victory, and a 2-0 series lead.  7 different Sharks had goals on Sunday, but it was the performance of the team's fourth line of Mike Brown, Raffi Torres and Andrew Desjardins that was the catalyst. They had the first two goals of the Sharks onslaught, bringing them back from a 2-0 deficit en route to the victory. The Sharks speed game was accentuated on goals from Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture as well. Considering the Kings surrendered the fewest goals against in the league in the regular season, the fact that they have allowed 13 in their first two games has to be seen as a concerning statistic. They had a 2-0 lead by the midway mark of the first, only to see it dwindle away as a result of the Sharks' strong transition game. Quick was again shaky, making 33 saves on 40 shots in the loss.]>
The Dallas Stars will look to rebound from a tough Game One loss when they square off with the Anaheim Ducks again tonight. The game takes place at the Honda Center, Anaheim and is scheduled to start at 03:00 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Stars at Ducks live here:Preview (Anaheim currently lead the series 1-0):DUCKS EXPECTED LINES: EXPECTED PAIRINGS: EXPECTED GOALTENDER: INJURY LIST: Anaheim built up a 4-0 lead by the mid-way mark of the second period and Game 1, and were able to hold off a hard charge from the Stars in the late-going to win 4-3. The Ducks got goals from four different sources, including the eventual game winner on a power play from Matt Beleskey.  Anaheim dictated the pace for much of Game One, and rolled four lines comfortably. The top line of Beleskey, Perry and Getzlaf accounted for two of the four goals, and really was the best line on the ice. Head coach Bruce Bourdreau has tried to spread the love of late, and gave heavy minutes to both Nick Bonino and Andrew Cogliano on the second and third lines. Keep an eye on second line winger Daniel Winnik, who looked strong along the wall and was throwing his body around wildly in just under 14 minutes of ice time on Wednesday. The biggest surprise of Game One for the Ducks was Boudreau's decision to start rookie goaltender Frederik Andersen in place of incumbent Jonas Hiller. Andersen, 24, looked strong in his first playoff appearances, making 32 saves for the victory. In spite of allowing three late markers to allow the Stars back into the game, you can only truly pin one on him. The young Dane is scheduled to get the Game two start for the Ducks, and figures to be the man for Anaheim, at least until he falters. STARS EXPECTED LINES: EXPECTED PAIRINGS: EXPECTED GOALTENDER:  Playing in their first playoff series since 2008, the Stars were understandably shaky against a veteran-laden Ducks team on Wednesday night. Still, they will be encouraged by their play in the third period, where three consecutive goals brought them to within just one of the Ducks.  As expected, the dynamic duo of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn was enormous for the Stars in game one; each had a goal, and over 20 minutes of action. Rookie linemate Valeri Nichushkin also looked strong in game one, with 1 assist and a +2 rating in just over 15 minutes of ice time. An unsung hero for the Stars in game one was young winger Colton Sceviour, who made a name for himself with a goal and an assist in just under 14 minutes of ice time. Watch for him to get elevated up the lineup if he continues with his strong level of play. The one shaky area for the Stars on Wednesday was their defensive corps, which, aside from anchor Alex Goligoski, looked shaky at times. The third pairing of Patrick Nemeth and Aaron Rome looked particularly vulnerable, so look for Rome to get sat in favor of rookie Kevin Connauton. Goaltender Kari Lehtonen made 31 saves in just his third career playoff game, but let in a couple goals he would like to have back. The Stars will need a better performance from him against the Ducks high-octane offense. BOTTOM LINE: As expected, the Ducks looked the superior team on Wednesday, taking the play to the Stars with speed and a heavy forecheck. Still, the Stars will be encouraged by what was a strong third period, and will look to carry that momentum over into Friday. For their part, if Dallas can continue to get shots on rookie goaltender Frederik Andersen, they may be able to rattle him. Seguin and Benn need to be as strong as they were in game one, and if they can be, Dallas stands a real chance of evening this series up at one. Pick: Dallas.]>
Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins kick off their first round playoff series tonight.The game takes place at the TD Garden, Boston and is scheduled to start at 00:30 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Red Wings at Bruins live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 0-0): BRUINS EXPECTED LINES: EXPECTED PAIRINGS: EXPECTED GOALTENDER: INJURY LIST: The Presidents Trophy champion Boston Bruins start the long road back to the Stanley Cup Final on Friday night, as they play host to the 8 seeded Detroit Red Wings.  The Bruins are one of the deepest offensive teams in the Stanley Cup tournament, and ice a roster with no fewer than 6 players with 50 or more points on the regular season. First line winger Jarome Iginla and second line center Patrice Bergeron led the team in goal scoring on the season, with 30 a piece. The Bruins are suffering through injuries to some key bottom-six players, including Chris Kelly and Dan Paille. As such, they are expected to dress winger Justin Florek in what would be just the 5th game of the 23 year old's NHL career. Look for the defensive pairing of Zdeno Chara and Dougie Hamilton to get heavy defensive minutes, likely in a shut down role against the Wings top scorers. Behind them, young Torey Krug is a man to watch; he famously had 4 goals and 6 points for the Bruins in the playoffs last year, and is fast developing into one of the best offensive-defensemen in the game today. Likely Vezina trophy candidate Tuukka Rask will get the start in net, and there is probably no better goaltender in the league right now than he. RED WINGS EXPECTED LINES: EXPECTED PAIRINGS: EXPECTED GOALTENDER: INJURY LIST: The Detroit Red Wings qualified for the playoffs for an NHL-record 23rd time this season, and will be looking to pull off a similar first round upset, to the one they hung on the highly-seeded Anaheim Ducks in the first round of last year's playoffs. Keying the Red Wings offense in the absence of captain and leading scorer Henrik Zetterberg will be center Pavel Datsyuk, who had 17 goals and 37 points in just 45 games in an injury riddled 2014 campaign. He is aided by dynamic young sophomore Gustav Nyquist, who had 28 goals and 48 points in 57 games, including some clutch markers down the stretch. In the absence of Zetterberg, rookie Riley Sheahan has an opportunity to make a name for himself; he is expected to center the team's second line. Goaltender Jimmy Howard will be an x-factor in this series. When he is on, like he was in the playoffs last season, he gives the Wings an extremely reliable playoff goaltender. When he is just mediocre though, as he has been for much of this season, there is room for the other team to wiggle. With shutdown defenseman Jonathan Ericsson expected to miss the first couple games of the series with a finger injury, expected top defenseman Niklas Kronwall to get heavy minutes against the Bruins top forwards. BOTTOM LINE: One of funniest facts of the series heading into game one, is the dynamic of having two brothers, the Bruins' Reilly Smith and the Red Wings' Brendan Smith, playing opposite one another in a playoff series. Brotherly love aside, this is sure to be one of the most skilled, exciting of the first round series. Both teams ice some of the more individually-skilled forwards in the league, and with defensive depth largely a saw-off, it is the goaltenders who will be keyed in on to be the difference makers. And in that area, the Bruins have a definite advantage. They get to ice arguably the best goaltender in the league, after all. Pick: Boston.]>
The Montreal Canadiens will look to continue the momentum from an emotional overtime victory in Game One, while the Tampa Bay Lightning will look to recover and even up the series at home tonight.The game takes place at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa and is scheduled to start at 00:00 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Canadiens at Lightning live here:Preview (Montreal currently lead the series 1-0): LAST GAME - Montreal 5 Tampa Bay 4 (OT) LIGHTNING EXPECTED LINES: EXPECTED PAIRINGS: EXPECTED GOALTENDER: INJURY LIST: The Lightning were largely outplayed by the Canadiens on Wednesday, getting out-shot 44-25 and looking the inferior team for large stretches of the first and third periods. Still, they managed to send the game to overtime, largely thanks to a 2-goal performance from superstar captain Steven Stamkos. Their overtime loss was probably just course for their form on the game, and they will look to bounce back with a better performance on Friday night at home. Speaking of Stamkos, the Lightning captain was probably the best player on the ice for either team on Wednesday night. He had 2 goals on 5 shots and finished a +1 in a remarkable 27:51 of ice time, a mark which far and away led all forwards on either team. The team lost leading scorer and Stamkos winger Ondrej Palat early in the third period with an undisclosed injury, and word out of Tampa Bay is that he is doubtful for game two, and the subsequent trip to Montreal. In his stead, look for young Alex Killorn to get elevated to the first line wing. He was stellar for the team in game one, potting a goal and an assist in just under 22 minutes of ice time. The big story for Tampa Bay is the health of M.V.P. goaltender Ben Bishop. It is speculated that Bishop will miss Friday night's game, along with most of the series, with what is being described as a serious shoulder injury In his stead, backup goaltender Anders Lindback gets an opportunity to shine. He was solid in game one, making 39 saves under heavy siege from the Habs. They will still need him to be better on Friday night if they are to stand a chance. CANADIENS EXPECTED LINES: EXPECTED PAIRINGS: EXPECTED GOALTENDER: INJURY LIST: They say that legends are formed in the fire of playoff hockey. If that's the case, then Habs fourth line winger Dale Weise ought to have a statue of him erected somewhere in Montreal already. He scored the game winner for the Habs late in the first overtime, elevating them to a dramatic game one victory in Tampa Bay.  The Habs largely outplayed the Lightning for the balance of the game on Wednesday, out-shooting them 44-25 as mentioned, including 13-5 in the critical third period. The best line for Montreal was probably the second unit of Bourque, Eller and Gionta, which combined for two goals and saw heavy minutes late in the third period. 39-goal scorer Max Pacioretty was largely quiet on the night, registering 0 points on four shots on goal with a +1, but don't expect that to last long.  Montreal rode their top defensemen heavily, led by veteran Andrei Markov's 33:41 of ice time. He, PK Subban, Alexei Emelin and Josh Gorges saw most of the ice time from the early third-period onward. Goaltender Carey Price wasn't at top form on Wednesday, and looked a bit shaky on at least two of the Lightning goals, but he is too talented a goaltender for that to last long. He will be back between the pipes for the Habs on Friday, and they will look for him to carry the mail, towards what they hope will be a 2-0 series stranglehold. BOTTOM LINE: Tampa Bay is a team that is familiar with adversity. After all, they lost Stamkos for the better part of four months with a broken tibia, had to trade captain Martin St. Louis prior to the deadline, and now, are without their M.V.P. and a possible Vezina trophy winner in goaltender Ben Bishop. Still, the playoffs are not a time for excuses, and the Lightning will need to come up big, lest they fall into a near-insurmountable 2-0 hole heading back to Montreal.  For their part, the Habs just need to do exactly what they did in game one. Pepper Lindback with shots, and carry the run of play. So long a Price is a step up from his Wednesday performance, they should be a solid bet to take a firm grasp of the series, heading back to Montreal for game three. Pick: Montreal.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Thursday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... New York Rangers 4 Philadelphia 1 Scorers: NYR - Zuccarello, Richards, Stepan, Hagelin  PHI - MacDonald The New York Rangers weren't about to let an early 1-0 hole trip them up on Thursday night. They bounced back with four consecutive goals, including two third-period power play markers within the span of a minute, to take game one from Philadelphia 4-1. The Rangers got goals from four different sources, including third period power play markers from Brad Richards and Derek Stepan. They outshot the Flyers by a heavy 36-15 margin, limiting Philadelphia to just 1 shot in the critical third period. Richards had 2 assists to go along with his goal, and was named the game's first star. Philadelphia couldn't carry through the momentum from an early 1st period goal by defenseman Andrew MacDonald, as they were outshot, and summarily outplayed, by a superior Rangers team on Thursday. Captain Claude Giroux was a non-factor, registering 0 shots in just over 17 minutes of ice time. Game two goes Sunday afternoon in New York. [txt13762] St. Louis Blues 4 Chicago Blackhawks 3 (OT) Scorers: STL - Cracknell, Tarasenko, Schwartz, Steen  CHI - Oduya, Seabrook, Kane [txt6395] The St. Louis Blues took game one from the defending champions in dramatic fashion, tying it late in the third period, before winning a marathon three overtime session on a goal from Alexander Steen. Steen's marker 26 seconds into the third overtime capped an outstanding night for the winger, who had six shots on goal in a remarkable 35 minutes of ice time. Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo played a game-high 44:08, while goaltender Ryan Miller came up enormous in his first playoff game as a Blue, making 39 saves for the win. The playoff-proven Hawks will be disappointed that they couldn't close the deal on Thursday night, as they saw their tenuous lead slip away in the final minutes. Captain Jonathan Toews had 2 assists in just under 33 minutes of ice time, while winger Patrick Kane had a goal on 6 shots. Hawks goaltender Corey Crawford was strong, making 28 saves. Game two goes Saturday afternoon in St. Louis. Colorado Avalanche 5 Minnesota Wild 4 (OT) Scorers: COL - Stastny (2), Landeskog, O'Reilly, McGinn  MIN - Coyle, Suter, Haula, Brodziak [txt35497] The Colorado Avalanche stormed back from a 4-2 deficit in the final half of the third period, tying the game with 18 seconds left before winning it early on in overtime on a goal from Paul Stastny. Stastny actually had both the game tying and game winning markers for the Avs, adding an assist and a +1. 18 year old rookie Nathan Mackinnon registered 3 assists in his first ever playoff game, including a crucial pass to Stastny on the eventual game winner. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov was strong, if unspectacular, in making 29 saves for the victory. The Wild were probably the better team on form on Thursday night, but just couldn't hang onto the lead in the third. Winger Zach Parise registered 2 assists in 23 minutes of ice time, while defenseman Ryan Suter had a game-high 31:11 of ice time. Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov needed to be better, making 26 saves on the night. San Jose Sharks 6 Los Angeles Kings 3 Scorers: SJS - Thornton, Hertl, Marleau, Torres, Vlasic, Burns  LAK - Muzzin, Voynov, Lewis [txt34941] The San Jose Sharks made a true statement on Thursday night, chasing Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick from the net after hanging 5 goals on him in two periods, en route to their eventual 6-3 victory. San Jose got goals from 6 different players, led by the play of the top line of Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton and Brent Burns. The trio combined for four points, including Thornton's pace-setter at the 3-minute mark of the first. Goaltender Antti Niemi came up with some key saves in the first and third, making 31 in total for the victory. The Kings gave the Sharks a 5-0 lead by the end of the second period, and were simply unable to compete with San Jose for the better part of two periods. They laid a remarkable 69 hits on the Sharks, and were led in ice time by anchor defenseman Drew Doughty (25:33). Jonathan Quick made 23 saves through two periods, before getting the hook in favor of back up Martin Jones.]>
The Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks square off tonight in a round-one rematch of a bruising, bloodied second round series from 2013. The game takes place at the SAP Center in San Jose and is scheduled to start at 03:30 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Kings at Sharks live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 0-0):SHARKS EXPECTED LINESEXPECTED PAIRINGSEXPECTED GOALTENDERINJURY LIST San Jose will look to avenge their heartbreaking seven game defeat at the hands of the Kings from last season, as they enter the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the odds-on favorite of many pundits as the favorite in the Western Conference. The injury return of dynamic rookie Tomas Hertl means that head coach Todd Maclellan is likely to go back to the formation that he achieved success with early in the season. That means 41-goal man Joe Pavelski will be bumped to the third line from the top in favor of Hertl, containing Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau, will be pure scoring. Heavy-hitting winger Raffi Torres is an x-factor in this series, and is expected to be healthy for game one. On paper, the Sharks defensive corps is largely underwhelming. In reality though, their top-line pairing of Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Jason Demers is one of the best shut-down duos in the league, and figures to get heavy match-up minutes against the Kings top scorers. Down the groupings, veteran Dan Boyle anchors the powerplay, while third pairing of Brad Staurt and Justin Braun give reliable situational minutes. Goaltender Antti Niemi struggled through much of the second half of the 2014 season, and will be looking to re-assert himself as one of the best goaltenders in the league in the playoffs. He posted a 39 win mark, which was second in the league, but had a meduiocre .913 save percentage, and looked shaky at times down the stretch. The Sharks need the 2010 Stanley Cup winner to be the man for them against the loaded Kings forward group. KINGS EXPECTED LINESEXPECTED PAIRINGSEXPECTED GOALTENDERINJURY LIST The 2012 Cup Champions are back for more in 2014, and will look to be the same playoff juggernaut they have been for much of the last two postseasons. Goalscoring problems aside, they are a big-bodied, physical team, whose style fits perfectly with the demands of playoff hockey. Star center Anze Kopitar is the anchor of the Kings forward group, which posted a 26th ranked 2.42 goals per game, and struggled at times to find the back of the net. On paper, the team has one of the more loaded forward groupings in the league; they ice two 40-goal scorers in Marian Gaborik and Mike Richards, along with noted scoring threats like Kopitar, Justin Williams and Dustin Brown. Still, they need to solve their scoring woes heading into the playoffs, or they will struggle to punch with the Sharks. Number one defenseman Drew Doughty continues to be one of the most underappreciated stars in the game. He is expected to be healthy for game one of the playoffs, after sitting a few with an undisclosed minor injury. The Kings have one of the most balanced defensive corps in the league, including power play anchor Slava Voynov, and dominant shut down blue liners Robyn Regehr and Willie Mitchell. It is a big reason they were the top defensive team (2.05 goals against/game) in the league this season. 2012 Conn Smythe trophy winner Jonathan Quick is back for more, and he gievs the Kings an almost-unrivalled level of clutch goaltending. In 50 career playoff games, he has a remarkable .929 save percentage, and 7 shutouts. He was almost as good in 2013 as he was in the Cup year of 2012, and you can bet that he will be back with much of the same in 2014. BOTTOM LINE: This is one of the most hotly-anticipated series of the first round. It features two of the biggest-bodied, most physical, and most-highly skilled teams in the league. And what's more: these are two teams who simply do not like each other. The Sharks were the 6th best offensive team in the league, while the Kings were the very best defensive one. It stands to merit then, that much of this series will be decided on the play of the Sharks defense and goaltending, and the Kings struggling offense. The Sharks may be a deeper club up front, but the Kings are built for playoff hockey. Expect them to come out swinging in game one. Pick: Los Angeles.]>
The St. Louis Blues will look to put their late-season slide behind them tonight when they square off in Round One with the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks. The game takes place at the Scottrade Center, St. Louis and is scheduled to start at 01:00 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Blackhawks at Blues live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 0-0):BLUES EXPECTED LINESEXPECTED PAIRINGSEXPECTED GOALTENDERINJURY LIST St. Louis will look to put an ugly final week and a half of the season, which saw them lose six straight and fall out of the Central division lead, behind them in round one. They were 3-1 against the Blackhawks during the regular season, but lost the most recent match-up on April 6th. The Blues ice a deep and competitive forward corps, although it enters the playoffs with many injury questions surrounding it. Leading assist-man T.J. Oshie is still questionable for Game 1, as he looks to overcome a suspected head injury suffered last week. Second-line winger Patrik Berglund is out with a shoulder injury, while the team hopes to have sniping winger Vladimir Tarasenko back to fill his void, after he had missed 6 weeks with a hand injury. There is stability on the blue line for St. Louis, which has to be seen as a boon for the club. The top pairing of Jay Bouwmeester and Alex Pietrangelo will undoubtedly get heavy minutes in all situations for the club, including a shut-down role against the Hawks stars. Don't sleep on Kevin Shattenkirk either, whose 10 goals on the season included 7 power play markers. A big tell in this series will be how Ryan Miller fares in goal for the Blues. The former All-star struggled after being acquired from Buffalo at the deadline, posting just 10 wins and a weak .903 save percentage in 19 games with the team. He has been strong in 47 career playoff games with Buffalo though, and you need look no further than his 2010 Olympic performance to know that he is a big-game player. BLACKHAWKS EXPECTED LINESEXPECTED PAIRINGSEXPECTED GOALTENDERINJURY LIST The defending Stanley Cup champs will start the long road to hoe back to the top on Thursday night in St. Louis, and they will do so icing a new look on the forward lines. Head coach Joel Quenville had mixed things up at practice earlier in the week, dropping winger Patrick Kane from the first to third lines, and inserting young Brandon Saad on the wing alongside captain Jonathan Toews. It's an interesting look, likely designed to keep the Blues from playing a heavy match-up game. Still, the strength of the Hawks forward group is on the second line, with leading scorer Patrick Sharp and veteran Marian Hossa. Likely Norris trophy-winner Duncan Keith and his partner Brent Seabrook are back for another playoffs, and you can pencil them in for anywhere up to 30 minutes in a critical role for the Hawks. Behind them, Chicago really likes their second pairing of Nicklas Hjalmarsson and Johnny Oduya, which is used in more of a shutdown role than the top grouping.  2013 playoff hero Corey Crawford will unsurprisingly get the game one start for the Hawks, as he continues to try and make believers of the skeptics. He had a strong statistical season for the Hawks, recovering from a shaky start to end with 32 wins, a top-10 goals against average, and a .917 save percentage. They need him to be the same guy he was in the 2013 playoffs, when he was spectacular. BOTTOM LINE: The Blues need to come out hard in this one, and prove to all of the pundits and experts (and they are legion) picking the Hawks to romp in this series, that they are still for real. A lot of that will come down to how well Miller plays in his first playoff series in three years, and how well the team adapts to injuries. For their part, the Blackhawks are a team that simply knows how to flick the switch. Expect the likes of Kane, Toews and Hossa to get back to their playoff-dominating selves starting on Thursday. That could be an ill-omen for the Blues, who looked every bit the Stanley Cup favorite in the West right up until April. Chicago is fearsome, and they can instill doubt in the blues minds from day one. Pick: Chicago.]>
Metropolitan division rivals New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers kick off their first-round playoff series tonight. The game takes place at Madison Square Garden, New York City and is scheduled to start at 00:00 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Flyers at Rangers live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 0-0):RANGERS EXPECTED LINESEXPECTED PAIRINGSEXPECTED GOALTENDERINJURY LIST The Rangers will look to roll three lines heavily, as they prepare to square off with the Flyers top-heavy lineup. The team lacks any concrete first line, and will probably split time evenly between their three scoring units. Team leading scorer Mats Zuccarello anchors the de-facto 'top line', with center Derick Brassard and Benoit Pouliot. High scoring Martin St. Louis is an intriguing option on the second-line wing. In order for the Rangers to come out on top in this one, they will need stellar performances from their vaunted defensive corps. Number one blue liner Ryan McDonagh looks likely to start game one, after suffering a head injury in a game last week. He will line up alongside big Dan Girardi, likely as a shut-down pairing against the Flyers top scorers. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will once again be looking to make a deep run in the playoffs. The Rangers superstar netminder had a strong, if unspectacular, 2013 regular season, finishing in the top 10 in wins, minutes played and shutouts. The Rangers also rely heavily on a 3rd-ranked Penalty Kill, which they will hope can mitigate a strong Flyers powerplay. FLYERS EXPECTED LINESEXPECTED PAIRINGSEXPECTED GOALTENDERINJURY LIST Philadelphia was one of the best teams in the East in the second half of the season, and they will look to continue that form into their first round playoff series with New York. Unlike the Rangers, the Flyers do feature a superstar: captain Claude Giroux, who finished the regular season 3rd in league scoring. He will be counted on heavily to produce scoring numbers, alongside wingers Jakub Voracek and Scott Hartnell. Keep an eye on a young second line, which features 29-goal man Wayne Simmonds. Philadelphia relies heavily on their top pairing of veteran Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn for balanced minutes. Expect them to get anywhere from 23-27 minutes of ice time against the Rangers scoring units. They do have a balanced and deep top-6, including powerplay anchor Mark Streit, and the big-hitting Nicklas Grossman.  The biggest story fr the Flyers going into game one is the health of starting goaltender Steve Mason. He is expected to miss the first game with an undisclosed ailment, meaning backup Ray Emery will get his chance in the spotlight. The former Blackhawk had a poor season statistically, posting just 9 wins and a .903 save percentage. BOTTOM LINE: With two relatively evenly matched teams, this is going to be a series that is all about momentum. Entering game one, you'd have to say that momentum is on the side of the Flyers, who were a better team than the Rangers down the stretch. Still, the injury to starting goaltender Steve Mason does a lot to squelch that momentum, and it will be up to the Flyers leaders to carry them through offensively. For their part, the Rangers ice a more balanced scoring attack than the Flyers, and will look to blitz Ray Emery early, and often. If they can get to him early and instill doubt, it would go a long way to giving the the home ice advantage, and momentum, that they need to carry through the series. Pick: New York.]>
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs got underway on Wednesday night. Here's our recap and highlights from the night's action... Montreal 5 Tampa Bay 4 (OT) Scorers: MTL - Plekanec, Gionta, Eller, Vanek, Weise  TBL - Stamkos (2), Kucherov, Killorn In the pantheon of likely overtime heroes, Montreal's Dale Weise probably ranks somewhere around the bottom. But it was his overtime winner, with under two minutes to go in the first extra frame, that sent the Habs clear of Tampa Bay in Game 1, winning by a score of 5-4. Along with Weise, Montreal got goals from the likes of captain Brian Gionta, and trade deadline acquisition Thomas Vanek. They directed 42 shots on surprise Lightning starter Anders Lindback, and looked the superior team for much of the game. Gionta led the team with a goal and an assist, while defenseman Alexei Emelin had 2 assists on the night. [txt20574] Tampa Bay started the night by naming back-up Anders Lindback as the game one starter, in lieu of injured number 1 Ben Bishop. Lindback made 39 saves, and looked to be the better of the two goalies for much of the game. Lightning captain Steven Stamkos had 2 goals, while winger Alex Killorn had a goal and an assist. Defenseman Andrei Markov had a team-high 33 and a half minutes played in four periods. Game Two goes on Friday night in Tampa Bay. Pittsburgh 4 Columbus 3 Scorers: PIT - Jokinen, Bennett, Niskanen, Sutter  CBJ - Johnson, Letestu, MacKenzie [txt30168] The Pittsburgh Penguins overcome some early adversity, including a two-goal second period deficit, to come away with the victory in game one of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series. Brandon Sutter was the hero for Pittsburgh, scoring the eventual game winner with just over 10 minutes to go in the third period. Pens defenseman Matt Niskanen also played the role of her, with a powerplay goal and an assist. Superstar center Sidney Crosby had one assist in 19:39 of ice time on the night. Columbus fought well in their first playoff game since 2009, but will be disappointed to have relenquished a 3-1 lead they had in the second period. Defenseman Jack Johnson had a goal and an assist, along with a hefty 24:18 of ice time on the night. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves on the night, but let in a pair of weak goals, including Niskanen's game-tier through the five hole early in the second. The two teams get back at it on Saturday night in Pittsburgh. Anaheim 4 Dallas 3 Scorers: ANA - Palmieri, Getzlaf, Perreault, Beleskey  DAL - Ja. Benn, Sceviour, Seguin [txt30482] The Anaheim Ducks got ahead early in Game One of their series with the Dallas Stars, and fought off a late Dallas surge to come out on top 4-3. The Ducks notched three first-period goals, including a goal and an assist from captain Ryan Getzlaf, to surge to the early lead. Winger Matt Beleskey scored a power play goal midway through the second to compound the lead, which they were able to keep for the victory. Rookie Frederik Andersen was a surprise starter in net, but looked strong in his first career playoff start. He made 32 saves for the victory. Dallas will be disappointed in the start they had, but looked every bit the superior team in the second and third periods. Their superstar duo of Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin both notched goals, while unheralded Colton Sceviour had a goal and added an assist. Making his first playoff start since 2007, goaltender Kari Lehtonen looked shaky at first, but levelled out by the end. He made 31 saves in the loss Game 2 goes Friday night in Anaheim.]>
The top-seeded Anaheim Ducks start what they hope will be a long quest through the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight against the second Wild Card seed, the Dallas Stars. The game takes place at the Honda Center, Anaheim and is scheduled to start at 03:00 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Stars at Ducks live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 0-0):DUCKS EXPECTED LINES: EXPECTED PAIRINGS: EXPECTED GOALTENDER: INJURED LIST: The Ducks are the definite favorites entering the series, and will try to start it off on the right fit at home, where they were an excellent 29-8-4 on the season. Anaheim ices one of the best 1-2 pairings in the Stanley Cup playoffs, with center Ryan Getzlaf, the league's second leading scorer, as the crux of the attack. He and winger Corey Perry will be the players the Stars need to key in on, as they combined for 74 of the Ducks league-leading 266 goals on the season.  The Ducks may lack a prominent secondary scoring threat, but their third to twelfth forwards are all respectable enough offensive performers. Legendary veteran Teemu Selanne is in his his final playoff season, and will be looked to for the clutch goals that made him famous. Another player to key in on is winger Jakub Silfverberg, who suffered through an injury-riddled first season with the Ducks, but is an immensely talented offensive performer. Anaheim relies heavily on young Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm on defense, both of whom will be counted on at different times to key in on the Stars top offensive performers. Veteran shut down blue-liners Stephane Robidas, Bryan Allen, and Francois Beauchemin will be relied on to steady their young partners; each has extensive playoff experience. STARS EXPECTED LINES: EXPECTED PAIRINGS: EXPECTED GOALTENDER: INJURED LIST: No team relies more on individual players than the Stars rely on their star forwards Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. Seguin emerged as one of the biggest offensive forces in the league, finishing fourth in scoring with 37 goals and 84 points. The Ducks will undoubtedly key in on him, along with Benn, in their game plans. The duo accounted for 16 of the stars power play goals this year as well. Stars starting goaltender Kari Lehtonen is making just the second playoff appearance of his ten-year career. He played in just two playoff games for Atlanta in 2007, both losses. As such, his playoff pedigree is far from assured. Still, he has shown in recent years that, when healthy, he is a perfectly capable and competent starter. And if he should fail, the Stars have an intriguing back-up option in veteran Tim Thomas, the 2011 Conn Smythe trophy winner. One Star to watch is rookie Valeri Nichushkin. The 19 year old had 14 goals and 34 points in his first season with the club, and posted an excellent +20 rating. Head coach Lindy Ruff has shown plenty of trust in Nichushkin down the stretch, and will likely place him alongside Benn and Seguin to start Wdnesday's game. BOTTOM LINE: The Ducks are going to enter game one with all the confidence of a first seed, but they should be wary of the Stars vaunted attack. If Dallas can manage to instill some doubt in the mind of Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller, it would go a long ways to making them more competitive in this series. If Seguin and Benn are on point, they can do it. Pick: Dallas.]>
The heavily-favored Pittsburgh Penguins open up their first round playoff series with the upstart Columbus Blue Jackets tonight, and will do so in the hopes that they can overcome a spate of bad playoff luck that they have suffered through since their 2009 Stanley Cup Championship. The game takes place at the Consol Energy Center and is scheduled to start at 00:30 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Blue Jackets at Penguins live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 0-0):PENGUINS EXPECTED LINES: EXPECTED PAIRINGS: EXPECTED GOALTENDER: INJURY LIST:  The Penguins will once again rely heavily on superstar centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for the bulk of their offense. Crosby is coming off another scoring title and MVP-worthy season, and will be the focal point of the Pens attack. Malkin and winger James Neal provide excellent scoring punch from the second line, meaning that the Jackets will have to focus their line matching on two prominent scoring lines, as opposed to just one. The shut-down duo of Brooks Orpik and Paul Martin will be expected to go up against Jackets star center Ryan Johansen, while it will be interesting to see how dynamic blue liner Kris Letang adapts to full game action, having sat out ten weeks after suffering a stroke. Rookie Olli Maatta is a definite X-factor, and will be looked to for heavy minutes in the event Letang falters. All eyes will be on goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who has famously stumbled in virtually every playoffs since his 2009 Stanley Cup win. He lost the starting job last year to backup Tomas Vokoun, but without a competent replacement waiting in the wings this year, the Pens will sink or swim based on how he performs. He has the pedigree, but needs to show that he still has the abilityBLUE JACKETS EXPECTED LINES: EXPECTED PAIRINGS: EXPECTED GOALTENDER: INJURED LIST: The Blue Jackets are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2009, and will hope for better fortune than the four-game sweep they suffered at the hands of Detroit that year. They aren't a particularly proficient team in any aspect of the game, though they did finish in the top half of the league in goals allowed, power play percentage and penalty killing efficiency. Head coach Todd Richards has them playing a team-game, heavily reliant on the complete defensive buy-in of his forwards, as well as the offensive instincts of a select few of his defenseman. Center Ryan Johansen broke through with a career year in 2013/14, posting 33 goals and 63 points to lead the Jackets in scoring. He is surely the best weapon Columbus has, and will undoubtedly come up against the Penguins checking units. Second line center Brandon Dubinsky may see a lot of Sidney Crosby, as the Jackets lack a true shut-down center for the role. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is a true X-factor in the series; the defending Vezina trophy winner put up another excellent campaign, finishing in the top-10 in wins, shutouts and save percentage. He doesn't have much of a playoff pedigree, having last started in 2010/11 when he was with the Flyers. If the Jackets are to stem the Penguins potent attack, they will rely heavily on their star goaltender to bar the door. BOTTOM LINE: The Penguins need to get off to a strong start in this series, if only to stave off the inevitable barrage of criticism that will come if Marc-Andre Fleury struggles. Columbus has no true superstar in their midst, but the are a hard-working, grinding club that will pressure the net at every opportunity. If they can get in Fleury's kitchen, they can survive. Still, the Penguins are the team with the playoff chops, and should be able to use their experience in the pressure-cooker of playoff hockey to get an early edge on the Jackets. Game one will be telling. Pick: Pittsburgh.]>
The second and third seeds in the Atlantic division kick off their first round playoff series tonight, as the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning square off in South Florida.The game takes place at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa and is scheduled to start at 00:00 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Canadiens at Lightning live here:Preview (Series currently tied at 0-0): It is a series which pits the NHL's most storied and successful franchise, against one of its newest. It is the second time these two teams have met in a playoff series, with the Lightning having overcome the Habs en route to a Stanley Cup Championship in 2004. CANADIENS EXPECTED LINES: EXPECTED PAIRINGS: EXPECTED GOALTENDER: INJURED LIST: The Habs will look to get off on the right foot on Wednesday night, and perhaps starting on the road will be a boon for them. They infamously struggled to maintain home ice in their series with Ottawa last year, and will have to earn at least a split to regain it from the Lightning.  Montreal is expected to line the Plekanec line up against the Stamkos one, in an effort to get their top scorers away from the Lightning's top. The absence of Alex Galchenyuk means that Rene Bourque will get a bump to the team's third line, where he will try and bring a physical presence alongside Lars Eller and Danny Briere. The defense pairing of Markov and Emelin will likely get the Stamkos assignment as well. Expect defending Norris trophy winner PK Subban to eat heavy minutes for the Habs. Carey Price will look to be establish himself as an elite playoff goaltender, following a few lackluster performances over the past few years. He is coming off winning a Gold medal for Team Canada this year, and will try and channel that momentum into success for the Habs. Montreal won 1 of three games against the Lightning in the 2013/14 regular season, although 3 of those games were decided by just a single goal. LIGHTNING EXPECTED LINES: EXPECTED PAIRINGS: EXPECTED GOALTENDER: INJURED LIST: Tampa Bay returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2011, and does so again without the burden of expectation. The trading of Martin St. Louis, along with four months missed by Steven Stamkos, meant that this was a season in which the Bolts were playing with house money. Their success, not to mention their home ice advantage, shows the skilled team they have evolved into. A lot of that success is contingent on the play of goaltender Ben Bishop, who was perhaps the best goaltender in the league during the regular season. He is questionable for Game 1 with a suspected elbow injury, meaning that back-up Anders Lindback could very well get the Game 1 start for the team. He is a definite downgrade for the Bolts, making the position suddenly a weak spot for them. Tampa Bay will try and ice the Stamkos line as much as possible, as Palat and Stamkos have been their two most potent offensive weapons on the season. It is likely that Montreal will try and counter the line with the pairing of Andrei Markov and Alexei Emelin, but home ice means last change. Expect coach Jon Cooper to move the Stamkos line away from the Habs shutdown pairing. BOTTOM LINE:Tampa Bay will be looking to prove that they are for real against the Habs, while Montreal will be looking to erase the ghosts of 2013. Home ice is always important for the first game, as it grants definite momentum for the team that has it in the early going. If Bishop misses this one, that is negated, though. The more experienced Habs need to jump on the Bolts early, and often. Pick: Montreal.]>
When the Blues and Blackhawks' first round series comes to an end, one thing is guaranteed: an early season Stanley Cup favorite will be eliminated from contention. An easy case could be made for both the Blues and the defending champion Blackhawks as Stanley Cup favorites entering the 2014 playoffs, so it will be a particularly disappointment for one to be eliminated in the first round this year. For St. Louis, this series is a result of an epic late season collapse which cost them the Central division title. For Chicago, it’s the result of a season of goaltending questions, scoring streaks and droughts, and occasional malaise that resulted in a disappointing third place finish in the division. Watch St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks live here:Preview: Thursday, April 178 p.m.Chicago at St. Louis Saturday, April 193 p.m.Chicago at St. Louis Monday, April 218:30 p.m.St. Louis at Chicago Wednesday, April 239:30 p.m.St. Louis at Chicago *Friday, April 258 p.m.Chicago at St. Louis *Sunday, April 273 p.m.St. Louis at Chicago *Tuesday, April 29TBDChicago at St. Louis WHY THE BLUES WILL WINTop to bottom, there may be no team in the league more stacked at every position than St. Louis. They have a deep forward corps, with scoring forwards, set-up men, grinders and role players galore. Their defensive corps features no fewer than three potential Norris trophy winners (present and future), and their goaltender is former Vezina winner Ryan Miller. It is a roster which, on paper, has been built to win now. Up front, the Blues have 4 forwards who finished with more than 55 points on the season, led by 33 goal man Alex Steen. Steen is the flash on a line with Blues captain David Backes, who is the bruiser, and winger T.J. Oshie, who is the set-up man. There are questions about Oshie’s health entering the playoffs, but he has been taking full practices, and should be fine. The team also really likes sophomore Jade Schwartz on the second line, as his 56 points were nearly tops on the team this year. Their bottom six is among the best in the league, and includes two former heralded captains in Brendan Morrow and Steve Ott.  On defense, the pairing of Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester was probably the best pairing in the league this season, and was one of the biggest reasons for Canada’s success at the Olympics. They will get heavy minutes up against the Hawks top line, while number-3 defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk gives them one of the best second pairings in the league. Ryan Miller has struggled somewhat since coming over from Buffalo at the trade deadline, but on paper, he is still one of the best goaltenders in the league. If he can find his game, it is a definite boost for the Blues, particularly as his opponent across the way is the shaky Corey Crawford. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – F Vladimir SobotkaBlues management and fans laud the versatility of the 26-year old Sobotka, who has blossomed in his role as a versatile top-9 center for the team over the past few seasons. He isn’t ever going to be the kind of 60-point guy that David Backes or T.J. Oshie are, but he is the kind of guy who can go up against a superstar center like the Hawks Jonathan Toews, and shut him down. If the Blues are successful at stopping the Hawks big guns, you can bet Sobotka’s fingerprints will be all over it. WHY THE HAWKS WILL WINWell, they’ve obviously won before. They have an unmatched pedifree in terms of core players, led by the incomparable Jonathan Toews and the mercurial Patrick Kane. Toews is probably the best leader in the game today, and always seems to ratchet up his game come playoff time. Kane is the defending Conn Smythe trophy winner for Playoff MVP, and has found another gear as a scoring star for the team this year. Beyond Kane and Toews, there is obviously Marian Hossa, who has the most career playoff points of any active player in the dance this year, and team leading scorer Patrick Sharp, who reached another level this year with 34 goals and 78 points. These four forwards have all been part of the Hawks two recent Stanley Cups, and form a foursome which is the envy of teams around the league. If they can do it like they did in 2013, they’re unstoppable. The Hawks top-pairing of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook is probably the only one that can rival the Blues’ Pietrangelo and Bouwmeester in the Western Conference, and should give the team heavy minutes in a shutdown role against the Backes line. Beyond them, the Hawks probably have better 3-6 depth than the Blues, led by everyman Niklas Hjalmarsson and scoring stud Nick Leddy. Crawford was probably the best Blackhawk during their Stanley Cup run last year, and though he has been erratic in net for them this year, if he manages to flip the switch for the playoffs again, he’s extremely hard to beat. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – F Bryan BickellRemember him? There has been a lot of talk about the health of Toews and Kane entering these playoffs, so it is important to look at the Hawks forward depth in the event that those two aren’t at 100%. Bickell had 9 goals and 17 points during the Hawks run last year, and became one of the best stories of the team’s Stanley Cup run. They desperately need him to return from a nagging injury to his old playoff form. He had just 11 goals and 15 points in 59 games on the season, and often looked listless and slow. If Toews and Kane aren’t 100%, they will need a guy like Bickell to take the pressure off of Sharp and Hossa. BOTTOM LINE – If there is one series you should be sure to watch all the games of, it’s this one. These are two of the very best rosters in the league, and the fact that one of them will be gone after just one round of playoffs is tragic. St. Louis stumbled down the stretch, losing 7 of their last 10 games, and the Central division title as a result. They will need to regroup, and be on their best form to beat the defending champions. The x-factor in this series is Ryan Miller, who will either be the world-beater he was for the Sabres in 2011 and at the start of this season, or the dregs that he has been since joining the Blues in early March. He wants a ring and a big contract at the end of this year, so bet on the latter. Blues in 7.]>
Colorado makes a return to the post-season after three years adrift, and does so with a young, energetic roster that proved itself in one of the greatest turnaround seasons in NHL history. Minnesota, meanwhile, struggled through another up-and-down year, and qualified for the playoffs in spite of the one of the more tumultuous goaltending situations in the entire league. Much is expected of this young Avalanche squad, as they are believed to be an up-and-coming squad in the vein of Chicago and Pittsburgh from the late 2000’s. Still, they definitely have some question marks heading into their first playoffs in a while, and it will be interesting to see how they address those questions against a more experienced Wild squad. Watch Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild live here:Preview:Thursday, April 179:30 p.m.Minnesota at Colorado Saturday, April 199:30 p.m.Minnesota at Colorado Monday, April 217 p.m.Colorado at Minnesota Thursday, April 249:30 p.m.Colorado at Minnesota *Saturday, April 26TBDMinnesota at Colorado *Monday, April 28TBDColorado at Minnesota *Wednesday, April 30TBDMinnesota at Colorado Colorado makes a return to the post-season after three years adrift, and does so with a young, energetic roster that proved itself in one of the greatest turnaround seasons in NHL history. Minnesota, meanwhile, struggled through another up-and-down year, and qualified for the playoffs in spite of the one of the more tumultuous goaltending situations in the entire league. Much is expected of this young Avalanche squad, as they are believed to be an up-and-coming squad in the vein of Chicago and Pittsburgh from the late 2000’s. Still, they definitely have some question marks heading into their first playoffs in a while, and it will be interesting to see how they address those questions against a more experienced Wild squad. WHY THE AVALANCHE WILL WINColorado’s return to relevance in 2013/14 was stunning. Coming on the heels of a last-place finish in 2013, the Avs retooled their front office heading into this year, but did little to address their roster deficiencies. It was expected to be a transition year, with a playoff spot an unlikelihood. Instead, the Avs took completely to the system of first year head coach Patrick Roy, and became one of the great success stories in 2014. They won the Central, and enter the playoffs as the second seed in the Western Conference. Leading the charge at forward for the Avs will be Matt Duchene, though there are questions about his health. The Gold medal-winning center has been out of action since March 29th with a leg injury, and there are questions about his health heading into this series. He had 70 points in 71 games for the Avs this season, so his impact goes without saying. Rookie Nathan Mackinnon and captain Gabriel Landeskog are also a part of that young, emerging core, and will be relied upon heavily to show their mettle in their first ever post-season appearances. Beyond the top-end scoring, the Avs also have some solid checking and role-players down the lineup. Ryan O’Reilly is probably the best third line center in the playoffs, while Max Talbot has the experience of two Stanley Cup Finals with Pittsburgh. The team’s defensive corps is rag-tag, led by the re-emerging Erik Johnson, who seems to finally be developing into the blue liner everyone expected him to be coming out of college. Tyson Barrie is an underrated offensive producer, having registered 13 goals and 38 points in just 64 games for the team from the second pairing. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov is the real strength of this team though. In his second season with the club, Varly emerged as one of the elite starting goaltenders in the NHL. His 41 wins and 1,867 saves were first in the league, while his save percentage of .927 was third best in the league. At just 25 years of age, it is clear that Varlamov is part of a young, emerging group of future star goaltenders. For the Avs, his future is now. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – D Tyson BarrieSpeaking of Barrie, there are plenty of reasons to think that the Avs could have the next great offensive-defenseman I the league on their hands. The 22 year old broke out this year with 13 goals and 38 points in just 64 games, establishing himself as an anchor defenseman for coach Roy. He is never going to be a bruising shut-down type, but there is no reason to discount his merits as a future stud. If he can channel his regular season performance into the playoffs, he will definitely make a name for himself league-wide. WHY THE WILD WILL WINA roster with the level of talent the Minnesota Wild has should be a lot more than just a perennial Wild Card team, so it is clear that there is some kind of disconnect somewhere in Minnesota. Still, they were the 7th best defensive team in the NHL this year, and it is clear that they are building a reputation for themselves as a solid defensive team under head coach Mike Yeo. Now, it’s time for them to channel that defensive soundness into playoff success. One of the main things the Wild have that the Avs lack is playoff experience. Players like Zach Parise, Jason Pominville, Matt Cooke and Dany Heatley have been far in the playoffs, and can give the kind of big-game advice young stars need to excel. With the likes of Parise, Pominville, and Matt Moulson, they also boast some of the best wing-depth of any team in the Western Conference. They weren’t able to transfer that depth into sustained offensive success in the regular season (24th in league in GF), but a guy like Parise is the epitome of a player who turns it on come playoff time. Like Colorado, the Wild ice a defensive of largely underwhelming names, but it is one that gets the job done. The team was proficient on the defensive end of the ice this year, and there’s no reason to expect their system to loosen up come playoffs. The Wild do have a number one blue liner in Ryan Suter, which is something that the Avs lack. Suter once again led all players in ice time this season, eclipsing second-placed Erik Karlsson by a full two minutes per game. He is the heart of the Wild defense, and a big reason in any potential success. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – G Ilya BryzgalovIf you had told Wild fans at the start of the season that their starting goaltender come playoff time would be journeyman veteran Ilya Bryzgalov, they would’ve looked at you like sideways. But, recurrent symptoms of M.S. experienced by starter Josh Harding, along with a serious neck injury to backup Nicklas Backstrom, meant the team needed to find a veteran to carry the load down the stretch. Enter Bryzgalov, whose personality is as legendary as his past playoff flops. He was good down the stretch for the Wild, and can be a real boom-or-bust type. If he booms, he’s tough to beat. BOTTOM LINE – It’ll be interesting to see how this young, excitable bunch of Avs takes to playoff hockey in their first real shot at it. Patrick Roy has really created a good thing in Colorado, and the Avalanche aren’t going to be satisfied simply with making the dance. They want to win, and they want to prove themselves as an elite club. Against Minnesota, there is definite room for the Avalanche to excel. The Wild have scoring depth on paper, but have been unable to translate that to sustained success this season. If the Avs can get to Bryzgalov early on, it will instill doubt in the erratic goaltender, and make for a much easier road to hoe. Even with Ryan Suter, the Wild are vulnerable; this is the Avs series to take. Colorado in 5 games]>
This match-up has been in the offing for quite some time, owing to a new divisional playoff format which sees the 2 and 3 seeds from a division do battle in Round One. Still, that doesn’t remove from the intrigue of two clubs with very different histories and expectations entering 2014.  Watch Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens live here:Preview:Wednesday, April 167 p.m.Montreal at Tampa Bay Friday, April 187 p.m.Montreal at Tampa Bay Sunday, April 207 p.m.Tampa Bay at Montreal Tuesday, April 227 p.m.Tampa Bay at Montreal *Thursday, April 247 p.m.Montreal at Tampa Bay *Sunday, April 27TBDTampa Bay at Montreal Tuesday, April 29TBDMontreal at Tampa Bay On one hand, the Tampa Bay Lightning were just coming off a brutal season that saw them finish 2nd last in the Eastern Conference. They drafted 3rd overall, and looked like they were entering another season full of Stamkos, St. Louis and a whole lot of question marks. Instead, their season became one of turmoil, upheaval, and ultimately success, as they rolled to second position in the Atlantic, and a playoff spot. Montreal, on the other hand, came into 2013/14 on the back of a division title last year, and were looking for much of the same this season. So, two compelling narratives to enter the year, and plenty of reason to consider the potential of this series as one of the best in the first round. WHY THE LIGHTNING WILL WINThe biggest story out of Tampa Bay this year was probably the Martin St. Louis saga, as an Olympic snub by Canada (and Lightning) General Manager Steve Yzerman saw a breakdown in trust between player and management, and ultimately, a trade deadline swap with the Rangers. This is, of course, ignoring the fact that all-Universe center Steven Stamkos missed four months with a shattered tibia, but so far as drama goes, it was the story of the year. So, amid all of this turmoil, it was the season put up by new Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop that is the central reason the team finds itself in the dance this year. In posting a 37-14-7 record, with a sparkling 2.23 goals against average and .924 save percentage, Bishop asserted himself as one of the very best starting goaltenders in the league, and the team’s definite M.V.P. for the balance of the season. He sat out the Bolts’ final four regular season games, leaving his status for Wednesday’s series opener very much up in the air. If he’s healthy, it’s a boon for the Bolts; if he’s not, well… The Lightning will also expect that Steven Stamkos shows no ill effects from the aforementioned broken tibia, as he is their first and primary line of offense. The team’s leading scorer on the year was actually winger Ondrej Palat, who registered 59 points and a remarkable +32 in his rookie season. Alongside Stamkos and fellow rookie Tyler Johnson, Palat’s reputation as a big-game player could be made based on how well he performs in his first playoffs with the team.  POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – F Ryan CallahanThe Lightning will look for the man they acquired in the Martin St. Louis trade to give them the kind of playoff leadership and tenacity they witnessed in his prior playoff runs with the Rangers. Callahan can score a bit, but is known more as a heart-and-soul playoff grinder, the kind of guy who wills a team to a win through his own fierce example. For a team with many rookies and youngsters who are inexperienced in the ways of the playoffs, Callahan provides an excellent example of how to properly play, and win, in the grind of the spring hockey. WHY THE CANADIENS WILL WINMontreal seems to be a team that is flying under the radar somewhat as we enter the 2014 postseason, but that may be with right reason. The Habs have a decent amount of depth, and are capped off by a defending Norris Trophy winner on defense, a Gold Medal winning goalie, and two forwards with 40-goal potential, but they still have yet to put together a serious playoff run with this core group of players. 2014 is another opportunity for them to chase the Cup this glory franchise has been after since their last win in 1993. When Montreal acquired Thomas Vanek at the trade deadline, the thought was that he would be a catalyst for an offense that looked middle-of-the-pack for much of the season. With 15 points in 18 games as a Hab, Vanek has done just that; but more importantly perhaps, is the effect he has had on Max Pacioretty. The young Habs sniper has grown into an elite talent in 2014, posting 39 goals on the season, including 9 in the 18 games he has played with Vanek. Indeed, the dynamic duo provides the kind of scoring depth the team sought for much of the season. Figure in the 53 points they got from defenseman PK Subban on the season, and you have a team with some seriously top-end offensive skill. 2014 also represents another chance for Carey Price to assert himself as a big-time playoff goaltender. The Habs star has never really been able to mount much of a run with the club, as they have seen first round exits in three consecutive series where he has been the number one. He won Gold with Team Canada at the Sochi Olympics though, and the hope in Montreal is that such a run may give him the confidence needed to thrive in big games. It all starts with Round One, and how Price squares off with Ben Bishop is one of the more intriguing storylines of this series. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – F Danny BriereThe former Flyers stalwart had a less than impressive first season with the Habs, registering just 13 goals and 25 points in 69 games for the team. Still, Briere has always been the kind of player who finds another gear in the playoffs, and the Habs are hoping to see much of the same in 2014. In 108 career playoff games, Briere has 109 points (50-59), a remarkable feat which puts him in rarified company as a player with more than 100 playoff GP at a point-per-game. Give him the room to move and a talented linemate to play off of, and he could very well be a catalyst for the Habs in this one. BOTTOM LINE – There are plenty of ‘what ifs’ entering this series, but the important thing to remember is that these two teams were separated by but a hair (1 point) in the Atlantic division standings. That Tampa took 3 of four from Montreal this season should be considered, but perhaps ignored in light of the fact that three of those will one-goal games.  A potential ‘X-factor’ in this series is the Montreal crowd. When it’s going, the Bell Centre is the most raucous atmosphere in the entire league, and has the potential to distract or intimidate a Lightning team littered with players without much playoff experience. It’ll be down to which of Bishop or Price stands on their head the most, probably; the depth is a saw off. By the tiniest of margins, reckon that Price’s big game experience from the Olympics finally translates into playoff success. Canadiens in 6 games.]>
President’s Trophy champions, the Boston Bruins, will begin the long road back to the Stanley Cup Final on Friday night, as they kick their first round series off against the Detroit Red Wings. These two Original Six franchises will be squaring off in the playoffs for the first time since 1957, and with 7 Stanley Cups between them since then, it is truly a battle between two of the most storied franchises in NHL history. Interestingly enough, it was the Red Wings who prevailed in the season series between the two clubs; Detroit took 3 of 4 from the Bruins, including the most recent contest on April 2nd. The Bruins are the heavy favorites entering the series, but they will need to be aware of the myriad weapons at the Red Wings disposal, if they are to start beating a path back to the Cup Final. Watch Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings live here:Preview:Friday, April 187:30 p.m.Detroit at Boston Sunday, April 203 p.m.Detroit at Boston Tuesday, April 227:30 p.m.Boston at Detroit Thursday, April 248 p.m.Boston at Detroit *Saturday, April 263 p.m.Detroit at Boston *Monday, April 28TBDBoston at Detroit *Wednesday, April 30TBDDetroit at Boston President’s Trophy champions, the Boston Bruins, will begin the long road back to the Stanley Cup Final on Friday night, as they kick their first round series off against the Detroit Red Wings. These two Original Six franchises will be squaring off in the playoffs for the first time since 1957, and with 7 Stanley Cups between them since then, it is truly a battle between two of the most storied franchises in NHL history. Interestingly enough, it was the Red Wings who prevailed in the season series between the two clubs; Detroit took 3 of 4 from the Bruins, including the most recent contest on April 2nd. The Bruins are the heavy favorites entering the series, but they will need to be aware of the myriad weapons at the Red Wings disposal, if they are to start beating a path back to the Cup Final. WHY THE BRUINS WILL WINBoston was the class of the NHL this season, posting a ridiculous 28-9-5 record in the calendar year 2014 en route to the President’s Trophy. They were one of the most dominant teams of the modern era, posting the 3rd most goals for in the league, alongside the 2nd fewest goals against.  Leading the charge for the Bruins this season was new acquisition Jarome Iginla, whose 30 goals were a much needed charge of scoring for a team which lacked it at key times last season. In fact, the Bruins had a remarkable 6 players post 50 or more points on the year, a remarkable spread of scoring that is the envy of any team in the league. Their first line of Iginla, David Krejci and Milan Lucic will be the line the Red Wings will need to watch, as it is an unstoppable mix of scoring skill and physicality. The team will look to likely Vezina trophy winner Tuukka Rask for a second consecutive season, and there is probably no better goaltender to look to in the game today. Rask’s .940 save percentage and 1.88 goals against average were ridiculous numbers, and would’ve been worthy of a Conn Smythe trophy had the Bruins won the Cup. There is no better goaltender in the game today, and he is probably the best reason the Bruins are the bookie favorites for the Cup as we start the playoffs. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – F Reilly SmithSmith was acquired from the Dallas Stars as a ‘throw in piece’ in the Tyler Seguin mega-deal in the off-season, and surprised everyone by posting first line-worthy numbers for much of the 2014 season. His 20 goals and 51 points were 6th most on the stacked Bruins offense, and though he dropped off to a 0.36PPG pace after the Olympic break, he could very well play a crucial role in the Bruins success as an anchor on the third line. WHY THE RED WINGS WILL WINThere was a serious risk at about the halfway point of the season that the Detroit Red Wings may miss the playoffs for the first time since 1991. They were limping along in the Atlantic, sitting in 10th in the conference, and suffering major injuries in the process. But they say you can’t keep a good team down, and excellent form in March and April meant that the playoffs would once again have a Detroit quotient in 2014. Superstar forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are usually the ones keying along the Red Wings offense, so their extensive injuries throughout the 2013/14 campaign meant that someone new would have to step into the scoring void. Enter winger Gustav Nyquist. The 24 year old had a true breakout season for the Wings, posting 28 goals and 48 points in just 57 games, including a 10 game stretch in late March where he had a ridiculous 12 goals, almost single-handedly propelling the Wings into a playoff spot. And, speaking of Pavel Datsyuk, the superstar center will be healthy and ready to go for Game 1 on Friday. His 37 points came in just 45 games this year, but you can be sure that the Bruins will not allow a man of his caliber to go unnoticed. Down the Wings lineup, you see a curious mix of seasoned veterans (Daniel Alfredsson, Todd Bertuzzi, David Legwand) and fresh greenhorns (Tomas Tatar, Riley Sheahan, Tomas Jurco). Tatar will be a particularly fun won to watch; the Slovak was an excellent producer in his first full season with the Wings, and figures to be a key part of the team’s second line. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – G Jimmy Howard It’s tough to call a team’s incumbent starting goaltender a potential ‘unsung hero’, but considering the difficulties the 30 year old Howard has gone through this year, it would be sweet for he and Wings fans if he were a key part of an upset. His regular season numbers are among the poorest of all 16 starting goaltenders in the playoffs, but remember this: his performance in 2013 was the single reason the Red Wings upset the Ducks in the first round, and took the eventual champion Blackhawks to 7 games. He can be a big game, big-time performer. And if he can be against the Bruins, he has the chance to turn the series on its head. BOTTOM LINE – There is plenty of cynicism directed towards the President’s Trophy winner on a yearly basis. The inevitable stats are trotted out: only 8 of 28 since inception have won the Stanley Cup (which are actually pretty strong odds, considering the 16 teams and all), the 09 Sharks, 10 Capitals and 12 Canucks all won the President’s, only to be dropped unceremoniously in the first round. Et cetera. But there are plenty of positives about winning the President’s Trophy. For one, it means you’re the best. The Blackhawks won it last year after all, and they did just fine in the playoffs. The Bruins will face a stiff test in the Red Wings, and there is no doubt that their regular season struggles against Detroit will weigh heavy. But Boston’s line-up is simply too strong, and they will blitz the underdog Red Wings with everything they have. Likely to avail, too. Bruins in 6.]>
It’ll be a re-match of the epic second round match-up we enjoyed in last season’s playoffs, as the Kings and Sharks square off in the 2014 first round.This is sure to be one of the most physical, brutal of all first round match-ups, and also is probably the most likely to go a deep seven games.The Kings won last year’s seven gamer thanks to bigger clutch performances from their players in Game 7. Both teams have added a few key pieces in advance of this year’s clash, but the cores are still there. It’ll again be a battle of Thornton, Couture, Pavelski and Marleau against Kopitar, Williams, Carter and Brown. And it’ll again be a beauty.Watch San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings live here:Preview:Thursday, April 1710:30 p.m.Los Angeles at San Jose Sunday, April 2010 p.m.Los Angeles at San Jose Tuesday, April 2210 p.m.San Jose at Los Angeles Thursday, April 2410:30 p.m.San Jose at Los Angeles *Saturday, April 26TBDLos Angeles at San Jose *Monday, April 28TBDSan Jose at Los Angeles *Wednesday, April 30TBDLos Angeles at San Jose WHY THE SHARKS WILL WINSo many pundits believe that, after years of failed launches and playoff failures, 2014 may finally be the year that the Sharks rise. And why not? Their roster is as strong as it has ever been, buffered by the performance of rookie Tomas Hertl, the return from injury of grinder Raffi Torres, and, of course, the out-of-nowhere 41 goal season of Joe Pavelski.The Sharks boast one of the most versatile forward corps in the league, anchored by the aforementioned Pavelski and Joe Thornton. The former came out of nowhere to post the third most goals in the league this season, while Thornton’s 65 assists and 76 points were classic Jumbo Joe. From the second line, the team will hope that Patrick Marleau can build on a strong 33 goal campaign, and that Logan Couture can bounce back from injury, and be the point-per-game player they know he can be. Rookie Tomas Hertl, with 25 points in 37 games, is a talented wild card in a third line role. The team also employs one of the most balanced defensive systems in the game today, though it relies on no particular anchor or defensive stud. They posted the 5th best Goals against mark in the league this season, a remarkable jump for a team which has often been criticized for their defensive zone play. Much of that has to do with the excellent shut down pairing of Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Jason Demers, which has thrived under the tutelage of Hall of Fame assistant coach Larry Robinson. Their defensive game rivals that of Los Angeles in efficiency, and is something for the Sharks to hang their hats on entering the playoffs.POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – F Brent BurnsBurns is only unsung because of the low profile he keeps behind the likes of Thornton, Marleau and Pavelski. The 29-yer old has never really excelled in the playoffs, with just 3 goals and 9 points in 27 career games. He wasn’t all that great in last year’s 11 games either, posting just four points. Still, there is so much raw talent and potential there; at 6’5, 230, Burns is the kind of player built for playoff hockey. If he can get his head on straight heading into this series, he could give the Sharks an unrivaled fifth premier scoring option, which would make them extremely hard to beat. WHY THE KINGS WILL WINLos Angeles was once against the stingiest defensive team in the league this season, posting a league-best 2.05 goals against per game mark. This was done without starting goaltender Jonathan Quick for two months as well, as he went down with a serious neck injury in early November. This speaks to the undeniable strength of head coach Daryl Sutter’s defense-first philosophy; he is a no-nonsense head coach, and demands defensive responsibility of all of his players. When the team was suffering through a stretch with just 5 goals in 9 games, they still won 3. What other team but the Kings would be able to do that?Goaltender Jonathan Quick has proven in the past that he has the distinct ability to turn the switch on come playoff time. His injury-riddled 2013/14 campaign was largely unspectacular, at least from a statistical point of view, but no goaltender in the league has a better playoff pedigree than he. Much of that has to do with the play of perennial underrated defenseman Drew Doughty, who seems to always go without mention in Norris trophy voting, despite having one of the best two-way games of any defenseman in the league.Statistically, the Kings may top-end forwards may not have the same proficiency as the Sharks’, but they are basically equals from a talent standpoint. Anze Kopitar is the offensive kingpin for the Kings, as his 70 points this season again showed. Behind him, Jeff Carter, Justin Williams and the newly-acquired Marian Gaborik are all immensely skilled offensive forwards, though none put up particularly overwhelming numbers in the regular season. Most of that is due to Sutter’s defensive system, though, and these players have all proven in the past that they can score the big goals when it matters. Look no further than Williams two goals against San Jose in Game 7 last year. These guys are as clutch as they come.POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – F Mike RichardsIt is remarkable how Richards has gone from a point-per-game first line forward with the Flyers, to a 10 goal defensive-man with the Kings, but again, that is largely a product of playing in Sutter’s system. Richards is still a playoff powerhouse, and has the ability to be an offensive catalyst for the Kings when the stakes are at their highest. Alongside Carter, he best not be overlooked. BOTTOM LINE – The rivalry between these two teams makes for outstanding hockey. Sure, the series definitely won’t be the most high-scoring; but you can bet that it will be among the most physical, as well as being the closest.The Sharks truly think that this is their year. And with the spread of talent they have on their roster, can you blame them? But there is something to be said for pedigree. The Kings are two years removed from their first ever Stanley Cup championship, and return a core that is arguably more talented than that one this year. Like 2012, they are flying under the radar entering the 2014 playoffs. And, like 2012, they have the ability to pull of another first-round strong arm. Fear these Kings; they are once again for real. Kings in 6 games.]>
The Anaheim Ducks will be out to avenge their first round exit of 2013, and re-assert themselves as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender in 2014. They qualified as the top-seed in the Western Conference this year, and though there are plentiful question marks as they enter the playoffs, they are the obvious favorites over the 8th seeded Dallas Stars in round one. Dallas makes an appearance in the post-season for the first time since 2008, and will be looking to build off of what was a surprisingly strong regular season in 2014. They are heavily reliant on their two forward stars Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, but do have the horses down the lineup and in net to give the Ducks a stiff challenge in the first round.Watch Anaheim Ducks vs. Dallas Stars live here:Preview:Wednesday, April 1610 p.m.Dallas at Anaheim Friday, April 1810 p.m.Dallas at Anaheim Monday, April 219:30 p.m.Anaheim at Dallas Wednesday, April 238 p.m.Anaheim at Dallas *Friday, April 25 10:30 p.m.Dallas at Anaheim *Sunday, April 27TBDAnaheim at Dallas *Tuesday, April 29TBDDallas at Anaheim WHY THE DUCKS WILL WINOther than Sidney Crosby, there was probably no better player in the league this season than the Ducks Ryan Getzlaf. The captain flourished again in head coach Bruce Boudreau’s system, posting a career high 31 goals and a stellar 87 points in an MVP-worthy campaign. He and winger Corey Perry (2nd in league with 43 goals) are still the heart and soul of the Ducks attack, and make a formidable one-two punch for any team to deal with. Beyond them, the Ducks don’t really have any potent scoring forwards, though they do have the kind of depth a team needs to be successful in the playoffs. Centers Nick Bonino and Mathieu Perreault were both 40+ point men this year, while legendary veteran Teemu Selanne will surely be a factor in his last ever playoffs. One player to watch for the Ducks is winger Jakub Silfverberg, who struggled with injuries in his first season with the team, but is a top-tier offensive talent. For all of their depth ‘issues’, the Ducks were still the top-scoring team in the entire league this season, averaging 3.21 goals per game. A Bruce Boudreau-coached team is never going to have a lock-down defensive system, so the fact that the Ducks finished 9th in the league in Goals against should be considered a definite boon. They have a solid defensive core, anchored by young studs Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm. Veterans Francois Beauchemin and Stephane Robidas provide ample leg-room for the two scoring studs, while goaltender Jonas Hiller, though hardly spectacular this season, has the ability to shut the door in the event of ventilation. It may surprise to hear that defensive systems are a strength for the Ducks, but they certainly are in this case, and that could mean tough sledding for a shallow Stars offense. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – F Nick BoninoBehind Getzlaf and Perry, there are plenty of questions as to where the scoring is going to come from for Anaheim. Enter Nick Bonino, who emerged this year as a scoring threat from the second line, with 49 points. He will start the series off as a likely fourth line center, in part because of recent injuries, in part because second line center Mathieu Perreault has been excelling. But don’t expect him to be there for long; in the event that either Getzlaf or Perry slip up, Boudreau will look to Bonino to do what he has done all season, which is pick up the scoring slack. WHY THE STARS WILL WIN – Dallas are the heavy underdogs in this series, but that is not to say that they don’t stand a chance against the favored Ducks. They have the ability to win the series, largely thanks to their equally excellent dynamic duo of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. They will also be playing faster and loser than the Ducks, as they are essentially playing with house money against the top team in the Conference, and will try and use their youth and speed as an asset. Seguin emerged as one of a top-tier offensive talent in the league this season, finishing fourth in scoring with 84 points, and looking every bit the stud that Boston thought he would be when they drafted him second overall in 2011. If the Stars are to win, they’ll need him to be even better against the Ducks. The same can be said of captain Jamie Benn, whose 79 points and Gold medal-winning performance with Canada at the Olympics helped established him as one of the premier offensive talents in the league today. Like Getzlaf and Perry for Anaheim, these two provide the bulk of scoring for the Stars, and will be relied on heavily if Dallas is to make any kind of sustained push on the Ducks. Dallas also looks to have the advantage in goal, with Kari Lehtonen showing superior numbers to the Ducks’ Hiller across the board entering the playoffs. Though Lehtonen has played a grand total of two playoff games in his career, there is no reason to believe that any rust should be shown in 2014; he has proven over the past few years with the Stars that he is a reliable starting goaltender, and is as cool a customer as any in net. The Stars do have the option of 2011 Conn Smythe winner of Tim Thomas, should Lehtonen falter at any point. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – F Alex ChiassonThe team will desperately miss the scoring of the injured Ray Whitney and Rich Peverley, so it will be up to the young guys on the second and third lines to provide them with needed depth punch. The 23 year old Chiasson started the year off red hot, with goals in his first 3 games of the year, and 9 points in his first 9 games. He has struggled to re-establish an offensive presence since, though, and enters the playoffs as a fringe forward. At 6’4, 205, he is built for the playoffs, and has proven in the past to be capable of the big scoring numbers the team needs from a forward outside of their dynamic duo. If he can do it in the playoffs, it would do wonders for his fledgling career. BOTTOM LINE – On paper, this looks like an easy one. The highest scoring team in the league, against the 10th; the 9th best defensive team in the league, against the 17th. Cake walk, right? Not so fast. With lacking forward depth, a green defense corps, and a starting goaltender who has done little to instill full confidence in management and fans this season, it could be argued that the Ducks have more question marks entering the postseason than the Stars do. They run a good systems game, but Bruce Boudreau-coached teams are notorious for struggling come playoff time. The Stars, with the playoff-proven Seguin and warrior Jamie Benn as leaders, have the ability to shock the world. Their goaltending is better. They have the hunger. They can do it. Dallas in 7 games.]>
On paper, New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers figures to be one of the more even match-ups on the round one slate.The Rangers boast stellar goaltending and defensive depth (if healthy), while the Flyers have more top-end forward skill. Neither team is entering the series as a distinct favorite, as proven by the 2-2 split they had in the season series. An element that will definitely enter this series is one of hate; these two teams, with storied rivalries and long-standing animosity as division rivals, simply don’t like each other. Both also have the ability to be big and bruising if the situation requires it, so expect to see plenty of chippiness, board-crashing and post-whistle scrumming when this series gets going on Thursday.Watch New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers live here:Preview:Thursday, April 177 p.m.Philadelphia at NY Rangers Sunday, April 20NoonPhiladelphia at NY Rangers Tuesday, April 228 p.m.NY Rangers at Philadelphia Friday, April 257 p.m.NY Rangers at Philadelphia *Sunday, April 27NoonPhiladelphia at NY Rangers *Tuesday, April 29TBDNY Rangers at Philadelphia *Wednesday, April 30TBDPhiladelphia at NY Rangers WHY THE RANGERS WILL WINThe Rangers strength as a team lies in their defensive game. They ranked 4th in the league in goals against perm game this season, a testament to how well they adapted to the system of new head coach Alain Vigneault. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has the pedigree of one of the best goaltenders in the game today, although he is still looking for that elusive first Stanley Cup Final appearance. He has always been strong in the playoffs though, and there is no reason to expect any less in 2014. In front of Lundqvist is one of the better shut-down defensive corps in the league. Marc Staal and (if healthy) Ryan McDonagh are a stellar top-end pairing that gives Vigneault 24 minutes+ a night, while Dan Girardi anchors the second pairing in a similar role. In front of Lundqvist, they don’t necessarily have to be world beaters; but the fact that this group is so balanced and skilled makes this a definite strength of the club. The Rangers lack that truly elite first-line scorer, choosing to go with a ‘Boston Bruins’ model of balanced scoring, spread throughout the lineup. Their leading scorer on the year was actually winger Mats Zuccarello, who is on the team’s third line, a prime example of the spread Vigneault emphasizes. Winger Martin St. Louis was brought over from Tampa Bay at the deadline to be that elite offensive gamebreaker the team sought, but his 1 goal and 8 points in 17 games as a Ranger leaves plenty to be desired. If he can break out though, he is still an elite scoring talent, and could give the Rangers that last push they need to get over the hump. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – F Brad RichardsEveryone remembers what happened to Richards last season, when former Rangers head coach John Tortorella sat him for the final two playoff games of the Rangers second round series with Boston. The resulting firestorm  was such that Tortorella found himself on the outs in New York, with Richards on the brink of a contract buy out. Fast forward to 2014 though, and it’s clear that Richards has re-discovered a role under Vigneault. He posted a very respectable 51 points in 82 games from the second line, and though he isn’t the point-per-game player the Rangers thought they were getting when they signed him for big bucks in 2011, he is a capable and competent second line performer, and could be a catalyst in a deep playoff run. WHY THE FLYERS WILL WINPhiladelphia authored one of the more intriguing team stories of 2013/14; after opening the year with just 1 win in 8 games, their head coach was fired, and broad, sweeping changes were promised if things didn’t change. Among the names in talks was captain Claude Giroux, who went goalless in the team’s first 15 games, and looked listless and disinterested at times. Then came November, and a renaissance for the team. Giroux broke out of his scoring malaise, and actually, threw it into overdrive, and ended the season with the third most points of any player in the league. Linemates Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds proved to be point-per-game players, too; Simmonds was particularly strong, eclipsing career highs with 29 goals and 60 points. He has proven to be a playoff warrior in the past, and is the kind of player that could give the Rangers scoring forwards fits in the first round. Beyond them, the Flyers boast enviable center depth, including the quietly emerging Sean Couturier, who may already be one of the best shut-down centers in the league today. One of the biggest question marks for the Flyers lies in goal, where Steve Mason will look to establish himself as a playoff goalie in just his second opportunity. The former Blue Jacket has enjoyed a career resurrection in Philadelphia, and has brought much needed stability to the position for a franchise which has long sought it. There is no doubt that the Rangers have an edge in goaltending, but if Mason can provide the kind of solid, consistent goaltending he did in the regular season, it will be more than enough to keep the Flyers competitive in the series. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – F Vincent LecavalierThe former 50-goal man is indeed a shadow of his former dominating self, but Lecavalier still presents an intriguing option for the Flyers at center. He currently occupies the role on the team’s fourth line, but is a constant on the first unit power play; 8 of his 20 goals on the year were on the man advantage, and he still has world class release on his one-timer. If he stays slotted into the 4C slot, Lecavalier is probably the best fourth line center in the entire playoffs, and gives the Flyers a level of scoring depth that is truly the envy of the competition in the East. BOTTOM LINE – There is no clear favorite in this series, no matter what anyone says. Home ice advantage will be a benefit to the Rangers, but all it takes is a split from the first two games for Philly to take that away. It’ll be up to the Rangers solid defense and goaltending to keep the Flyers top-end scoring at bay, and much of that relies on the health of McDonagh. Expect this to be a bloody, bruising battle, the epitome of what playoff hockey is all about. The Flyers have the kind of skill necessary to come out on top if the series is a high-scoring one, but it’s tough not to like the make-up of these Rangers. Top-to-bottom, they are constructed to win in the playoffs. This is their time. Rangers in 6 games]>
A perennial playoff favorite squares off with a team that has never won a playoff game in franchise history, as the Penguins draw the Blue Jackets in round one, beginning tonight.Pittsburgh are the obvious favorites going into this one, with top end offensive talent that simply cannot be matched. But the Blue Jackets shouldn’t be ignored, as they are fast developing a reputation as one of the most resilient, hard-working teams in the league.Watch Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets live here:Preview:Wednesday, April 167:30 p.m.Columbus at Pittsburgh Saturday, April 197 p.m.Columbus at Pittsburgh Monday, April 217 p.m.Pittsburgh at Columbus Wednesday, April 237 p.m.Pittsburgh at Columbus *Saturday, April 26TBDColumbus at Pittsburgh *Monday, April 28TBDPittsburgh at Columbus *Wednesday, April 30TBDColumbus at Pittsburgh Pittsburgh does have a few question marks, principally in goal, where Marc-Andre Fleury has struggled to be the man for them in the past few postseasons. Still, there is too much to like about their roster to consider them anything but overwhelming favorites in this series. WHY THE PENGUINS WILL WIN Pittsburgh’s offense runs, first and foremost, through Sidney Crosby. The league scoring champion and likely MVP is seeking a second Stanley Cup to add to his resume, and in a season where he won both a Gold Medal and an NHL scoring title, there would be no better capper. He looks fully healthy again after a few seasons of concussion questions, and it is imperative for the Penguins that he bring the kind of numbers they expect, and require, of him, if they are to have any success in the post-season at all. Behind Crosby, Evgeni Malkin should be his usual point-per-game self, but there are some questions of depth in the order. Crosby’s right winger is probably Beau Bennett, who has all of 47 regular season and 6 playoff games worth of NHL experience. He is a speedy skater with some definite offensive upside, but there are questions as to whether he’s the kind of winger around whom Crosby can succeed. Beyond Bennett, the options are even more slim; the team likes pairing 40 goal man James Neal with Malkin, so the next option is journeyman Lee Stempniak, who has struggled since coming over at the deadline. The Penguins have one of the better and more deep defensive corps in the Eastern Conference, anchored by the top-end shutdown pairing of Paul Martin and Brooks Orpik. It’ll be interesting to see how defenseman Kris Letang, ten weeks removed from a suffering a life-threatening stroke, and rookie Olli Maatta, fare in the playoffs, too. Letang is one year removed from being a Norris Trophy candidate, but there are obvious questions about his long-term health. Maatta was strong this year, but is still a rookie. And we haven’t even gotten to goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, whose playoff struggles over the past few seasons are the stuff of legend. Keeping the puck out of the net is of primary concern for a team whose regular season numbers in that category (10 in league) were respectable enough, though not top-end. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – D Olli MaattaMuch of the Penguins post-season hopes are hinging on how healthy Kris Letang is on the second pairing. But if he isn’t, and proves to still be suffering the after-effects of the stroke he suffered, it will be imperative that rookie Olli Maatta steps into the top four role he has thrived in all year. Maatta established himself as a quiet, unassuming top-4 defenseman this year, posting 9 goals and 29 points while logging huge minutes at times for head coach Dan Bylsma. The team will likely look for him to emulate that into the postseason, and if he can, it gives the Pens enviable defensive depth. WHY THE BLUE JACKETS WILL WINReturning to the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history, the first step for Columbus this year will be to win a game. In their first appearance in the post-season in 2009, the team was swept out in four games by the Detroit Red Wings. Their opponent this go-around is no easier, as the top-tier Penguins are many folks’ pick to mount a charge at the Stanley Cup this year. Still, there is plenty of reason to figure that the Jackets can give the Pens fits in round one, starting with their top-end talent. 21 year old center Ryan Johansen is the key to everything for the Jackets. His breakout season this year was one of the main reasons the team had the offensive punch it needed to qualify for the postseason, and they will hope that he is able to emulate that same form in the post-season. It is very likely that Johansen’s line will be put up directly against that of Sidney Crosby, so it will be fun to see how one of the league’s rising stars does against the best player in the game. First line winger Boone Jenner is a heart-and-soul player who is developing into an excellent leader for the club, and will be relied on to excel at both ends of the ice. Beyond Johansen, there are concerns of depth and inexperience. Winger Nathan Horton’s experience in winning a Cup with Boston in 2011 would be invaluable right now, but he is expected to miss the first round with an abdominal injury. Second line center Brandon Dubinsky excelled in his role this year, posting 50 points, but he has been silent in past post-season runs with the Rangers, and it remains to be seen whether he can handle Crosby or Malkin in a shut-down role. No other forward had more than 40 points. But they are going up a goaltender in Marc-Andre Fleury who has been rattled in the past by lesser competition, and if their multitude of fast, grinding wingers can get in his kitchen and disrupt him, they very well could find themselves in more games than they are being given credit for. Defending Vezina trophy-winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky picked up exactly where he left off in 2013, posting another outstanding season leading in leading the Jackets. Though his small market often leads to him being underrated, it is the one position on the ice where the Jackets have a distinct advantage. He is one of the best in the game right now. POTENTIAL UNSUNG HERO – F Cam AtkinsonLost in the hullabaloo of Johansen’s breakthrough season, diminutive winger Cam Atkinson also had a breakout season in 2014, posting 21 goals and 40 points from the team’s second line. His production dropped off somewhat after the Olympic break, but he has the potential to be the kind of depth sniper the team needs to compete with Pittsburgh. He and his line will be relied on heavily in close games to be a catalyst. BOTTOM LINE – Not many are picking the Blue Jackets to pull an upset in this one, and that’s probably fair. Columbus is a team that is definitely on the up-swing, but they simply don’t have the horses to run with the Penguins. Not yet, at least. A good series for Columbus would be one where they win a couple games, and keep the Penguins and their stars honest. If they can somehow get in Fleury’s kitchen enough to elicit memories of his 2012 and 2013 collapses, they could find themselves more successful than they thought. Forgiving that though, Crosby and co. will probably be too much, even if Bobrovsky stands on his head. Penguins in 5 games.]>
Here's our preview of tonight's MLB action in the American League... CHICAGO CUBS (4-8) @ NEW YORK YANKEES (7-6)Yankee Stadium - 00:05 GMTExpected pitchers - Hammel (2-0, 2.63) vs. M. Tanaka (1-0, 3.21)Money line - CHC (37/20) NYY (20/41)Run line - CHC +1.5 (20/23) NYY -1.5 (20/21) The Cubs have dropped all 4 of their early-season series, doubling up losses to wins at a ratio which already sees them reeling, and in trouble. For the most part, their starting pitching has been repsectable; Jeff Samardzija has allowed just 3 runs in 21 innings pitched, Travis Wood 4 in twelve, while Tuesday starter Jason Hammel has allowed just 5 hits in two starts. Their bats, however, have not been quite as reliable. Outside of the emerging Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro, there is little power game in the order, and the club has just three players hitting at .300 or better at this early juncture of the season. That needs to improve, and fast. The Yankees were looking a bit listless at the .500 mark, but taking 3 of 4 from the rival Red Sox over the weekend ought to renew the confidence of the club and its fans. The Yankees rotation, which was considered a question mark entering the season, has actually ended up being a great strength. Their two Japanese nationals, Masahiro Tanaka and Hiroki Kuroda, have been the strongest two arms, while Michael Pineda, C.C. Sabathia and Ivan Nova have been strong enough to get wins. The strong start to the season of new acquisitions Jacoby Ellsbury, Yangervis Solarte, and Carlos Beltran only helps matters. PICK: New York TAMPA BAY RAYS (7-7) @ BALTIMORE ORIOLES (6-7)Camden Yards - 00:05 GMTExpected pitchers - Odorizzi (1-1, 5.73) vs. M. Gonzalez (0-1, 9.64)Money line - TB (100/107) BAL (100/103)Run line - TB -1.5 (29/20) BAL +1.5 (20/33) The Rays' early season hopes were dealt a serious blow on Wednesday, with news that stud young lefty Matt Moore will be out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. This means that the bulk of the hard starts will be handled solely by David Price and Alex Cobb, both of whom are strong starters, but leaves a hole in the Rays rotation. For their part, the Rays bullpen has been stellar to this point in the season; closer Grant Balfour has yet to allow a run, while set up man Jake McGee has the same distinction. Their hitting, on the other hand, could certainly use a boost, beyond the reliable bats of Matt Joyce and Evan Longoria. Young Wil Myers, whom the club expected to break out this season, has struggled, posting just a .217 average, with 0 home runs and 4 RBI. Like the Rays, the Orioles entered the season with plentiful expectations. And, like the Rays, they have looked up-and-down in the early going of the 2014 campaign. Their starting pitching was their big question mark entering the season, but outside of new acquisition Ubaldo Jimenez, it has been largely respectable. The Orioles were one of the hardest hitting teams in the league last season, so their mark of just 9 homers in 13 games has to be seen as disappointing. Last year's home run champion Chris Davis (53 in 2013) has just one in the early season, though he has picked up his run producing and average over the past few games. PICK: Tampa Bay CLEVELAND INDIANS (6-7) @ DETROIT TIGERS (6-4)Comerica Park - 00:08 GMTExpected pitchers - McAllister (1-0, 2.31) vs. An. Sanchez (0-0, 3.00)Money line - CLE (29/20) DET (5/8)Run line - CLE +1.5 (20/29) DET -1.5 (5/4) Entering the season in the throes of some injury troubles, it was always going to be difficult for the Indians to get off to a particularly strong start. Yet, right up until going 1-3 against the lesser-sister Chicago White Sox, it was actually going fairly well for the team. Their starting pitching has struggled at times to give them consistently reliable outings, but they have been saved by a solid bullpen. Tuesday's starter, young Zach McAllister, has probably been the best arm, but he has started just twice. They could desperately use a healthy return of the big bat of Michael Bourn, as their normally reliable power hitters have gone dry for most of the early season. A team as stacked from top to bottom as the Tigers are should always get off to a strong start to the season. Behind one of the best pitching staffs in the Majors, the Tigers have done just that. Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer have both put in a strong first three starts, and it is now up to excellent number three man Anibal Sanchez to do the same. For their part, the order has been relatively consistent, although the poor start of two-time defending AL MVP Miguel Cabrera (.225, 1HR 4RBI) has to be seen as a little troubling. Still, he's too talented to let his struggles linger for long. PICK: Detroit SEATTLE MARINERS (7-5) @ TEXAS RANGERS (6-7)The Ballpark at Arlington - 01:05 GMTExpected pitchers - Beavan (0-0, -.--) vs. R. Ross (0-0, 1.74)Money line - SEA (5/4) TEX (20/27)Run line - SEA +1.5 (4/7) TEX -1.5 (31/20) Clutch bats and better-than-expected starting pitching have been the key reasons for early success in Seattle, and it will be interesting to see if this young and unproven bunch can continue to ride the wave through the first part of the season. Outside of ace Felix Hernandez, the team has seen strong starts from young pitches James Paxton and Roenis Elias, and even stronger support from their bullpen. They are led at the plate by perennial All Star second baseman Robinson Cano, whose .326 batting average is strong, even if he is still looking for his first home run of the year. Young catcher Mike Zunino (.282, 3HR 8RBI) has surprised in the early going with strong form. The Rangers have to be fairly disappointed with their 6-7 start, as they have the bats and arms to be a much more consistent team. With just 5 home runs on the year though, it is clear that they are suffering through a severe power drought. Big Prince Fielder (.176, 0HR 3RBI) has been particularly disappointing for the team, and is still looking for his first dinger as a Ranger. In fact, the Rangers don't have a single everyday starter hitting above .300 right now, a troubling stat that speaks to what has ailed them early in the year. Their pitching staff has been good enough, and Tuesday starter Robert Ross has been a particular surprise in the early going. PICK: Seattle BOSTON RED SOX (5-8) @ CHICAGO WHITE SOX (7-6)U.S. Cellular Field - 01:10 GMTExpected pitchers - Peavy (0-0, 2.13) vs. E. Johnson (0-1, 9.58)Money line - BOS (100/139) CWS (129/100)Run line - BOS -1.5 (11/10) CWS +1.5 (10/13) Call it a World Series hangover, but the Red Sox haven't exactly been lighting the world on fire in the early days of the 2014 season. They faced some serious adversity over the weekend, losing 3 of four in a set against the Yankees, dropping them to a rough 5-8 mark. For their part, the Red Sox starting arms, including Tuesday starter Jake Peavy, have mostly been reliable. The bats, on the other hand, are up and down. Team leader Dustin Pedroia is struggling in the early going, hitting just .236 with 1 RBI and 0 stolen bases. The one pleasant surprise for the team has been Grady Sizemore (.343, 2HR 4RBI), who looks like he could be a real option as an everyday center fielder for the club. If there's one team whose early returns should be considered overwhelmingly positive, it's the 7-6 Chicago White Sox. Coming off a miserable last-place finish in the AL Central, the team really needed some positives entering 2014. And, behind some clutch hitting and solid starting pitching, they have gotten just that in the first dozen games of the season. Shortstop Alexei Ramirez is re-emerging as one of the best in the game, with a sparkling .420 average, 3 home runs and 12 RBI. On the pitching side,  the Sox may finally have a foil for ace Chris Sale in young lefty Jose Quintana, who has been strong in his three starts to this point in the season. Tuesday starter Erik Johnson has struggled, but is talented.  PICK: Chicago KANSAS CITY ROYALS (4-7) @ HOUSTON ASTROS (5-8)Minute Maid ParkExpected pitchers - Ventura (0-0, 0.00) vs. Harrell (0-2, 11.05)Money line - KC (20/31) HOU (7/5)Run line - KC -1.5 (1/1) HOU +1.5 (5/6) This hasn't been the start the Royals were hoping for when they entered 2014. Considered by many to be a team on the rise, with the markings of a real AL Central contender, Kansas City has struggled both at the plate, and in the pen, and their results have suffered. Starting pitchers like James Shields and Jason Vargas have been good enough, but their bullpen has struggled mightily for consistency. Only spot-man Aaron Crow has made more than 1 appearance without surrendering a run. In terms of their power game, it has been absolutely non-existent for the Royals: they have just 1 home run (Alex Gordon), a league-low that has many in the franchise wondering whether they have the kind of pop they need to compete long term. Anything is an improvement on a 53-win season, and the Astros 5 wins in 13 games should be taken with a grain of salt, as just that: an improvement. Starting pitching was their Achilles heel last season, so the stellar form shown by new acquisition Scott Feldman (2-0, 0.44 in 20 IP) has to be considered welcome. Behind him, they have been getting reliable enough starts from everyone Tuesday starter Lucas Harrell, who has struggled in the early going. They lost some heart-breaking 1-0 contests to Texas in a three game set over the weekend, and will look to a ragtag batting order to give their surprising pitching the run support it needs to be successful. PICK: Houston TORONTO BLUE JAYS (7-6) @ MINNESOTA TWINS (6-6)Target Field - 01:10 GMTExpected pitchers - Morrow (1-1, 5.73) vs. P. Hughes (0-0, 7.20)Money line - TOR (25/32) MIN (59/50)Run line - TOR -1.5 (6/5) MIN +1.5 (5/7) Back-to-back series victories over the Astros and Orioles will be reassuring for the Blue Jays, who have lookd good enough to be competitive in the early going. They have gotten reliable starts from the likes of Mark Buehrle and Drew Hutchison, though perhaps not from ace R.A. Dickey, who has 1 win and a 5.30 ERA in his first three starts. Timely hitting has helped the Jays, particularly that of left fielder Melky Cabrera, whose .328 and 20 hits is far and away tops on the team in the early going. They will hope that Jose Bautista's early power (5 home runs, 9 RBI in 40 at bats) can be spread over the balance of the season, as he looks to rebound from a poor 2013. A three game sweep of the Royals over the weekend means that there's reason for optimism in Minnesota, as the Twins look to rebound from an ugly 2013. Though their starting pitching hasn't exactly been lights out, it has been good enough to keep them in high-scoring games, where some strong bats have propelled them through the early going. They have  5 everyday players hitting above .250, led by the .385 of surprising veteran outfielder Jason Kubel.  PICK: Toronto OAKLAND ATHLETICS (9-4) @ LOS ANGELES ANGELS (6-7)Angels StadiumExpected pitchers - Straily (1-1, 2.77) vs. Richards (2-0, 0.75)Money line - OAK (51/50) LAA (25/28)Run line - OAK +1.5 (5/11) LAA -1.5 (9/5) The Athletics hold the best record in the AL to this early point in the season, thanks in large part to a pitching staff which has been nigh-unbeatable. Of their regular starters, only Tuesday starter Dan Straily has an ERA over 2.00, and his is a perfectly respectable 2.77. In the injury absence of Jarrod Parker, young Sonny Gray has stepped up as a reliable option at ace, posting 2 wins and a sparkling 0.95 ERA in three starts. For their part, the A's bats have shown a surprising level of pop in the early going; they have 14 home runs from 9 different sources, led by the re-emerging Yoenis Cespedes (.240, 3HR 10RBI) in left field. There is maybe no more frustrating a team in the American League than the Angels, who have one of the more talented rosters in the Majors, but are consistently unable to find sustained success with it. A hard-fought 3-2 loss to Oakland perfectly encapsulated the Angels early season struggles, as they gave up a ninth-inning home run to pinch hitting catcher John Jaso of the A's en route to losing their lead, and the game. The team suffered a serious blow when Josh Hamilton was lost to injury last week, and the burden of expectation now falls heavily on the shoulders of Mike Trout (.296, 4HR 7RBI). Tuesday starter Garrett Richards has been one of the more pleasant surprises in the early going for the Angels, but they need more from their ace arms. PICK: Los Angeles]>
With the Stanley Cup Playoffs starting later today,  are providing you with the most comprehensive break-down and preview of the Playoffs available. Today, we profile and break-down all 16 teams, ranking them in ascending order, with an eye towards how we think they look heading into the play-offs... 1. BOSTON BRUINS - 54-19-9, 1st in Atlantic division.The Boston Bruins enter the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the incumbent Presidents Trophy champions, and the odds-on early favorites to raise the Cup. They are coming off of the heartbreak of losing in the 2013 Finals, but still have many of the same players who won it all in 2011. With six players scoring 50 or more points on the season, the Bruins have some of the most balanced scoring in the league, while their 177 goals against was the second best mark of all in the regular season. 2. ANAHEIM DUCKS - 54-20-8, 1st in Pacific division.Anaheim enters the 2014 postseason with much of the same burden of expectation that they crumbled under in 2013. They are a year older though, and hopefully a year wiser, and were the best regular season team from the Western Conference in 2013/14. The Ducks are led by captain and M.V.P. candidate Ryan Getzlaf, who finished second in league points scoring this year, and winger Corey Perry, whose 43 goals were also second best in the league. 3. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS - 46-21-15, 3rd in Central division.Although their 7th place finish in overall league standings may leave something to be desired, the defending champion Blackhawks deserve a level of respect based on their pedigree alone. The 2010 and 2013 Champions enter the playoffs with much of the same core of key players still intact, and will look to capitalize on the same kind of strong team play they demonstrated in last year's playoffs. Their weak spot is in goal, where Corey Crawford has stumbled this year, after such a strong showing en route to a Stanley Cup in 2014. 4. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS - 51-24-7, 1st in Metropolitan division.Any team that boasts the dynamic duo of league scoring champion Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin has to be considered a favorite, and the Pittsburgh Penguins enter the 2014 postseason exactly that. They stumbled en route to the top last year, losing in the Eastern Conference Final to Boston, and will be looking down a road which likely contains those same Bruins in 2014. Their one question mark lies in net, where incumbent starter Marc-Andre Fleury has struggled mightily in his last three post-seasons, and will be looking to recapture the glory of 2009. 5. ST. LOUIS BLUES - 52-23-7, 2nd in Central division.There was a time earlier in the season where the Blues would perhaps have topped this list; after all, they had the best record in the league for a significant length of time, and looked solid for the top spot in the Western Conference. A late-season swoon saw them finish second in the Central however, and their first round reward is the defending champion Blackhawks. They are an extremely deep, physical team, and should give Chicago everything they can handle in round one. It'll be interesting to see how new goaltender Ryan Miller adapts, in his first playoff appearance since 2010. 6. COLORADO AVALANCHE - 52-22-8, 1st in Central division.The Colorado Avalanche authored one of the best stories in the league this season, going from worst in their division in 2013 to first in 2014. They have one of the best emerging young cores in the league, led by surefire rookie of the year Nathan Mackinnon, and point-per-game man Matt Duchene. First year head coach Patrick Roy has spearheaded a renaissance in Colorado, and you can bet that this isn't the last time that you see the Avalanche as Kings in the Central. They are a team that is positioned to be good for years to come. 7. SAN JOSE SHARKS - 51-22-9, 2nd in Pacific division.It seems almost criminal to have the Sharks this low in the pre-playoff power rankings, but that speaks more to the depth and talent level about them than any deficiencies on their roster. The Sharks are a loaded club that can win both the skill game, and the physical one. They are led by the emerging Joe Pavelski, whose 41 goals on the season were good for 3rd in the league. They have some key players returning from injury in Tomas Hertl and Raffi Torres, and provided goaltender Antti Niemi can recover from some shaky form, they are an excellent underdog bet for their first ever Cup. 8. MONTREAL CANADIENS - 46-28-8, 3rd in Atlantic division.Montreal enters the post-season as a somewhat-overlooked 3 seed in the Atlantic. They famously slipped up in the first round last year, losing in just five games to Ottawa after finishing 2nd in the East. Gold medal-winning starting goaltender Carey Price is the man to watch for the Habs, as he tries to enhance his lacking playoff pedigree. Trade deadline acquisition Tomas Vanek has been an excellent fit alongside 39 goal-man Max Pacioretty, and the duo give the Habs one of the best top line scoring punches in the conference. 9. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING - 46-27-9, 2nd in Atlantic division.The Bolts make their first appearance in the postseason since 2011, and do so in spite of a year of turmoil and upheaval. Prominent sniper Steven Stamkos was gone for the better part of four months with a broken tibia, and has only recently returned to top form for the club. Captain Martin St. Louis was dealt at the trading deadline, amid turmoil with manager Steve Yzerman. In the midst of all this, the club saw the emergence of goaltender Ben Bishop, who asserted himself as one of the best goaltenders in the NHL in his first full season with the team.  10. LOS ANGELES KINGS - 46-28-8, 3rd in Pacific division.Don't underestimate the 2012 champs, who probably would've finished higher than they did in the West were it not for a December-January swoon. They are a low scoring team (206 goals for is lowest among teams qualified for the playoffs), but their defense and goaltending reliance is the same recipe that led them to a Cup in 2012. In fact, their 174 goals against was the very best output in the league, with former Conn Smythe trophy winner Jonathan Quick leading the way in net. They are an underdog not to be overlooked, although their first round foe is the stellar San Jose Sharks. 11. NEW YORK RANGERS - 45-31-6, 2nd in Metropolitan division.In their first season under new head coach Alain Vigneault, it could be argued that the talented Rangers under performed yet again. A team with the kind of depth and goaltending that New York has should be competing for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and not languishing as a middle-man for much of the season. Still, they closed out the year with some excellent March and April form, and will again look to all-World starting goaltender Henrik Lundqvist to give them the kind of net play they need to be a threat in the East. 12. DETROIT RED WINGS - 39-28-15, 4th in Atlantic division.Make no mistake, this ain't your daddy's Red Wings. Detroit almost missed the playoffs for the first time in 23 years after getting off to a poor start to the season and an even poorer middle. Still, they ended out the year on a 9-4-2 tear, and are coming up against a Boston Bruins team which they took 3 of four games from in the regular season. They will dearly miss captain Henrik Zetterberg, who is expected to be absent from the first round with an injury, but are heavily reliant on Pavel Datsyuk and young Gustav Nyqvist to get them points. Though they are by no means a favorite, don't sleep on the dark-horse Red Wings. 13. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS - 42-30-10, 3rd in Metropolitan division.Were it not for an ugly 1-7 start to the regular season, the Flyers may well have been a team that was in the thick of the race for the Metropolitan division crown. As it stands, they are a strong team that is reliant heavily on their first line, led by high-scoring captain Claude Giroux. The much-maligned star re-emerged as a point-per-game scoring force for the team this year, and will be counted on for much of the same in the playoffs. Their first round opponent is the Rangers, a team the Flyers have struggled against this year; they will need unproven goaltender Steve Mason to come up big time. 14. MINNESOTA WILD - 43-27-12, 4th in Central division.In spite of entering the year with one of the better teams in the West on paper, the Wild again stumbled through large stretches of the regular season, before accelerating towards the end to lock up a playoff spot. They are a deep team at forward, and number one defenseman Ryan Suter is one of the best in the game today, but the big question mark for them lies in goal. Both of their incumbent starters are currently out with injury, leaving journeyman Ilya Bryzgalov as the team's starter entering the playoffs. Though he has somewhat of a pedigree, the erratic Bryzgalov is far from a sure thing for Minnesota, particularly against the high-scoring Avs. 15. DALLAS STARS - 40-34-11, 4th in Pacific division.Dallas returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2007/08 on the back of a break out season from new acquisition Tyler Seguin. The 22 year old finished 4th in league scoring, and is proving to be the anchor of a strong offense. The team also relies heavily on captain Jamie Benn on Seguin's wing, but after that, there is considerably less depth than some of their competitors in the West. the team will also be relying on unproven starting goaltender Kari Lehtonen, who hasn't been to the playoffs since a brief 2-game sojourn with Atlanta in 2007. They are young and exciting, but there are plenty of question marks. 16. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS - 43-32-7, 4th in Metropolitan division.How sweet it must be for long-suffering Blue Jackets fans to be back in the playoffs for the first time since 2008-09. A hard-working, lunchpail bunch with no real superstar ground out a strong regular season in order to give themselves a shot in the dance, and their reward is the superstar-laden Pittsburgh Penguins. Emerging center Ryan Johansen is the offensive catalyst for the Jackets, while defending Vezina trophy winner as best goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky gets a chance to show his mettle when it really counts. The Jackets are still looking for their first playoff victory in franchise history.]>
The Stanley Cup Play-offs are the most grueling, physical, dramatic, and emotional two and a half months in all of professional sport. It's a bold claim to make, but in a sport that demands players sacrifice their bodies on a nightly basis for the good of the team, the play-offs represent the pinnacle of team accomplishment.  Tonight, the Stanley Cup play-offs will begin anew, and we at are providing a comprehensive, four-part Stanley Cup preview to get you prepared and pumped for the drama to come. Today, we'll profile the 10 key story lines entering the Stanley Cup playoffs. We've entitled the article 'Top 5 reasons to watch the Stanley Cup play-offs'; but really, all you need to do is watch the video below, and I'm sure you'll be there with the rest of us when things get going on Wednesday night. [txt30706] 5. New kids on the block - There are just five teams who have qualified for the playoffs this season who weren't in them last year, which is a remarkable turnaround for a league with such parity. Still, three of those five teams are making return visits to the dance after having been gone for a few years, led by Colorado.  The Avalanche had one of the greatest turnaround seasons of any club in NHL history in 2014, going from last place in the Western Conference in 2013, to first place in their division this year. They are a young, energized team, and will be looking to continue their breakthrough season, and establish themselves as a Western conference powerhouse. Eighth seed Dallas makes it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2008, and are a team that is led by one of the best dynamic duos in the whole league, forwards Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. The Stars also feature underrated goaltender Kari Lehtonen, who will be making just the second playoff appearance of his career. Out east, Columbus returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2008/09, and does so thanks to a sustained, hard-working team-first philosphy emphasized by coach Todd Richards. Defending Vezina trophy winner for best goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky leads the charge for the Jackets, making an appearance in the playoffs for just the second time in their history. 4. Playing through the pain - The stories of players gutting out serious and sometimes career-threatening injuries in order to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs are legendary. Just last year, Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron famously played Game 6 of last years Stanley Cup Final with, among other things, a punctured lung, a cracked rib, and a separated shoulder. [txt36913] From Bobby Baun scoring the game-winning goal of the 1964 Stanley Cup Final on one-leg, to Anaheim's Paul Kariya coming back from a concussion in Game 6 of the 2002 Finals to score the game-winning goal against New Jersey. The aura of the Stanley Cup knows no limits, and can push players to their absolute athletic limits. Expect to hear and see many of the same stories this year, as nothing short of a hospital stay will keep most players out of playing in every game. 3. Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins' all-World center Sidney Crosby has already done it all in hockey. He won a Stanley Cup in 2009, has won 2 Olympic Gold medals with Team Canada, an MVP trophy, multiple scoring titles, and universal plaudits and recognition as the best player in the game today. Still, there are some in the game today who measure greatness not by M.V.P. trophies and scoring titles, but by Stanley Cups. And those would suggest that the one Cup that Crosby has is simply not enough to elevate him into the pantheon of the game's true greats. Take Chicago's Jonathan Toews for example; he has won two Stanley Cups in just six seasons in the league, and is already lauded by pundits and historians as one of the 'greatest leaders' of the modern era. Crosby, for all of his skill, tenacity and will, is perhaps outside of that conversation. The Penguins have stumbled in their last few playoff appearances, and it will be up to Sid to carry the mail again for the Pens, and find a way to push them through to another Cup. If he can do that, perhaps he will finally get his due in the conversation on the best hockey players of all time. 2. Are the best always the best? - The NHL rewards the Presidents Trophy to the top performing team in the 82-game regular season, a trophy which means about as much to the players as a can of beans. In the 28 times since the Presidents Trophy was awarded since 1985-86, the winner has gone on to win the Stanley Cup just 8 times. Granted, one of those 8 was last-years' Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, but it is an interesting and telling stat nonetheless. This stat is a testament to how different the game is when it comes to the playoffs. Teams that rely on certain facets of a skill game solely for success, may find difficult in a seven-game series. Just ask the 2008-09 San Jose Sharks, 2009-10 Washington Capitals and 2011-12 Vancouver Canucks; each of these teams won the Presidents Trophy, only to be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by an 8 seed. Regular season success is one thing; it's an entirely different matter to win out in the grind. The unrivaled parity of the NHL means that the 8 seed in a conference is almost never going to be a pushover, and ensures that the grind for a Cup begins from day one of the playoffs. This year's Presidents Trophy champions are the Boston Bruins, who were the team Chicago bested in the 2013 Finals. The 2011 champs are a well-oiled machine, stacked from top-to-bottom, and boast some of the most balanced scoring in league history. Still, their first round opponent is the vaunted Detroit Red Wings, proving again that there is no glory in the Presidents Trophy. Only a more glamorous road to hoe. 1. The Stanley Cup itself - Standing at 18.5 centimeters tall, 29 centimeters wide, and made entirely of silver and nickel alloy, the Stanley Cup trophy is probably the most grandiose and glamorous of all championship trophies in professional sports. Established in 1893, the Cup was originally a 'Challenge Cup', given to the winner of an invitational tournament for teams from across Canada. Since being transferred solely to the jurisdiction of the NHL in 1926, the Stanley Cup has been awarded 86 times; the only time it was not awarded was during the 2004-05 season-long NHL lockout. One of the most distinctive aspects of the Stanley Cup are the engravings: etched onto the silver, in ascending order, are the names of the respective Stanley Cup champions, along with the players, managers and executives who played a role in the team's victory. Logistics mean that a 'ring' from the Cup is retired once every dozen seasons-or-so, but right now, the listing shows every Stanley Cup champion from 1953-54 to present. The defending champions this year are the Chicago Blackhawks, who enter the 2014 playoffs as a 3 seed in the Central division, and will lock horns with the St. Louis Blues in the first round. Regardless of what happens to the Blackhawks, you can be sure that the Stanley Cup, in all of its glory, will be there to greet the victors come mid-June. And, like it has so many times in the past, it will captivate, thrill, and ultimately reward its Champion for two months of the hardest physical grind in professional sport. How sweet it is. [txt38535]]>
The Stars lock up the final playoff spot in the league, while the Lightning and Rangers make moves to secure home ice advantage in Saturday's penultimate edition of the NHL play-off race. Here's our latest look at the playoff race in both conferences, breaking down the positioning, possible seeding, remaining schedule, and hypothetical playoff matches, ahead of the Stanley Cup playoffs on April 15th... RESULTS FROM FRIDAY, APRIL 11thChicago 0 Washington 4 St. Louis 0 Dallas 3Carolina 2 Detroit 1 Winnipeg 5 Calgary 3Columbus 2 Tampa Bay 3 Colorado 1 San Jose 5NY Islanders 3 New Jersey 2 (SO) NHL FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 12thBuffalo @ Boston Chicago @ NashvillePhiladelphia @ Pittsburgh San Jose @ PhoenixNY Rangers @ Montreal Vancouver @ EdmontonToronto @ Ottawa Anaheim @ Los AngelesColumbus @ Florida EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION1. BOSTON*^ - 115 points (50 ROW) 2 games remaining 2. TAMPA BAY* – 99 points (38 ROW) 1 game remaining 3. MONTREAL* – 98 points (39 ROW) 1 game remaining METROPOLITAN DIVISION1. PITTSBURGH*^ – 107 points (44 ROW) 2 games remaining 2. NEW YORK RANGERS* – 95 points (41 ROW) 1 game remaining (3. PHILADELPHIA* – 91 points (38 ROW) 2 games remaining ( WILD CARD1. COLUMBUS (MET)* – 91 points (37 ROW) 1 game remaining 2. DETROIT (ATL)* – 91 points (33 ROW) 1 game remaining -----------------3. WASHINGTON (MET) – 89 points 4. NEW JERSEY (MET) – 86 points 5. TORONTO (ATL) – 84 points 6. OTTAWA (ATL) – 84 points 7. CAROLINA (MET) – 81 points 8. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (MET) – 77 points 9. FLORIDA (ATL) – 66 points 10. BUFFALO (ATL) – 51 points ( WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION1. COLORADO* – 111 points (47 ROW) 1 game remaining 1. ST. LOUIS* - 111 points (43 ROW) 1 game remaining 3. CHICAGO* – 107 points (40 ROW) 1 game remaining  PACIFIC DIVISION1. ANAHEIM*^ – 112 points (50 ROW) 2 games remaining 2. SAN JOSE* – 109 points (40 ROW) 1 game remaining 3. LOS ANGELES* – 99 points (38 ROW) 1 game remaining  WILD CARD1. MINNESOTA* (CEN) – 98 points (35 ROW) 1 game remaining 2. DALLAS (CEN)* – 91 points (35 ROW) 1 game remaining ---------------------3. PHOENIX (PAC) – 87 points 4. NASHVILLE (CEN) – 84 points 6. WINNIPEG (CEN) – 84 points 5. VANCOUVER (PAC) – 81 points 7. CALGARY (PAC) – 77 points 8. EDMONTON (PAC) – 65 points ( IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY... EASTERN CONFERENCEATL1. Boston v WC2. Detroit ATL2. Tampa Bay v ATL3. MontrealMET1. Pittsburgh v WC1. Columbus MET2. NY Rangers v MET3. Philadelphia WESTERN CONFERENCECEN1. Colorado v WC1. Minnesota CEN2. St. Louis v CEN3. ChicagoPAC1. Anaheim v WC2. Dallas PAC2. San Jose v PAC3. Los Angeles]>
Here's our preview of MLB action in the National League on Saturday, April 12th 2014... TAMPA BAY RAYS (6-5) @ CINCINNATI REDS (3-7)The Great American Ballpark - 18:10 GMTExpected pitchers - Cobb (0-1, 3.00) vs. Simon (1-0, 1.29) The Tampa Bay Rays rode a stellar performance from ace David Price to a win over the Reds on Friday, night, and will look to try and continue that momentum through to Saturday. Number two starter Alex Cobb will look for his first win of the season in his third start, while the team will look to their hot bats, including left fielder Matt Joyce (.423, 2HR 7RBI) and third baseman Evan Longoria (.359, 1HR 5RBI), to continue their strong start into Saturday. It hasn't exactly been a banner start to the season for the Reds, who have struggled to put up runs in their first 10 games of the year. Key bats like Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto have been up-and-down through the first ten games of the season, while the starting pitching, including ace Jonny Cueto, have performed well, but not gotten the run support to qualify wins. The team will hope that their relief pitching can improve upon form which has been disappointing early in the season. Veteran starter Alfredo Simon goes for the Reds on Saturday afternoon. PICK: Tampa Bay CHICAGO CUBS (4-6) @ ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (5-5)Busch Stadium - 19:15 GMTExpected pitchers - Ca. Villanueva (1-2, 4.26) vs. Wainwright (1-1, 1.29) The Cubs fought to a well-deserved 6-3 win over the rival Cardinals on Friday night, on the back of an extra innings shot from young catcher Wellington Castro. The team has actually gotten a respectable level of production from its bats this year, particularly young stars Anthony Rizzo (.333, 1HR 6RBI) and Starlin Castro (.310, 2HR 7RBI). Still, the NL Central is a division of arms, and unless their bullpen, which has struggled mightily behind strong starting pitching, improves, they will go nowhere but down. The defending NL-champion Cardinals have gotten off to a bit of an inconsistent start, as they adjust to some new faces in new places. Sophomore first baseman Matt Adams (.378, 0HR 1RBI) is continuing his evolution into an every day first baseman for the team, though the troubling lack of production of newly acquired shortstop Jhonny Peralta (.063, 2HR 4RBI) is something that will need to improve. Saturday's starter is ace Adam Wainwright, a solid prospect for a win on a nightly basis for the Cards. PICK: St. Louis COLORADO ROCKIES (5-6) @ SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (7-4)AT&T Park - 21:05 GMTExpected pitchers - B. Anderson (0-2, 4.50) M. Cain (0-1, 5.73) Though they weren't exactly an NL West favorite entering the season, the Rockies were seen as a potential underdog in the division, owing to a potent batting order and an improving pitching staff. As expected, the bats have been big, led by perennial all Stars Carlos Gonzalez (.375, 4HR 13RBI) and Troy Tulowitzki (.393, 1HR 5RBI). And, as expected, the arms have been less than impressive; staff ace Jhoulys Chacin is out for another couple of weeks with arm soreness, leading the struggling Jorge De la Rosa (0-2, 9.69) as the staff ace for the time being. With apologies to the starting pitching, it has been the batting order which has surged the Giants to a strong start. The power games of players like Angel Pagan (.442, 1HR 8RBI), Michael morse (.394, 2HR 10RBI) and Buster Posey (.351, 3HR 7RBI) have been key in big-run victories for the team. Staff number two Matt Cain will look to find his form after a lackluster first couple starts, as he recovers from a lingering shoulder injury which has persisted since last season. PICK: Colorado MIAMI MARLINS (5-6) @ PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (4-6)Veterans Stadium - 00:05 GMTExpected pitchers - Eovaldi (1-1, 3.46) vs. Pettibone (0-0, -.--) 5 straight losses have invalidated what was a particularly strong 5-1 start for the Marlins, who will look to get back on the horse on Saturday night. Staff ace Jose Fernandez had the worst start of his stellar young career on Friday, and the club will hope that the same doesn't happen with promising number two Nathan Eovaldi, who gets the Saturday start. Marlins star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (.283, 2HR 13RBI) has recovered from a mediocre 2013 by showing excellent form in the early part of 2014. The veteran-laden Phillies were the first team to crack the Jose Fernandez shell this season, and will look to keep their good thing rolling on Saturday night. Aside from reliable veteran Chase Utley (.469, 2HR 7RBI), few of the Phillies key players have lived up to the expected level of play this season, starting with former all-World first baseman Ryan Howard (.216, 1HR 4RBI). What's worse, the Phillies bullpen, including closer Jonathan Papelbon and set up man Jeff Manship, have struggled mightily in their early performances, and need to be better to back up a mediocre starting rotation. PICK: Miami PITTSBURGH PIRATES (6-4) @ MILWAUKEE BREWERS (8-2)Miller Park - 00:10 GMTExpected pitchers - Volquez (0-0, 1.17) vs. Gallardo (2-0, 0.00) The Pirates have surged to a solid start, behind the big bat of Pedro Alvarez (.205, 5HR 10RBI) and some timely power hitting. More importantly, the team really likes what it has gotten from it's starting staff, and that's without the benefit of outstanding starts from staff ace Francisco Liriano (0-2, 4.00). Their bullpen was considered one of the best in the league entering the season, and considering they have allowed 9 runs combined (6 of which are on Jeanmar Gomez), it's a definite boon for this otherwise strong up-and-down roster. Although it is only the 10-game mark, the surprise team in the league to this point has to be the Milwaukee Brewers. Coming off a fourth place finish in the NL Central last season, an 8-2 start to 2014 has folks in the Brew Crew believing again. Saturday's starter Yovanni Gallardo has yet to allow a run in 12 and 2/3 innings pitched, an outstanding start for the staff ace, while only number 2 Kyle Lohse has allowed more than 4 earned runs as a starter on the season. Augment that with strong early performances from Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Gomez and the returning Ryan Braun, and you have a recipe for success in the early season for the Brewers. PICK: Milwaukee WASHINGTON NATIONALS (7-3) @ ATLANTA BRAVES (6-4)Turner Field - 00:10 GMTExpected pitchers - Jordan (0-0, 1.42) vs. A. Wood (1-1, 1.93) Expected to be a contender at the on-set of the 2014 season, the Nationals have looked like just that on the back of a 7-3 record in their first ten games. They will bemoan losing the first game of this important three-game set against the divisional rival Braves on Friday, but can reconcile it with a win on Saturday. They have been led in the early days by some outstanding performances from their bats: they have 4 everyday starters hitting above .300 right now, led by veteran Adam LaRoche (.361, 2HR 9RBI). Thanks in large part to the performance of injury replacements, the Braves have managed to overcome some early season adversity, in order to stay competitive in the NL East. The play of emerging first baseman Freddie Freeman (.400, 2HR 5RBI) has been the biggest catalyst, while pitching, led by new acquisition Aaron Harang and Saturday starter Alex Wood, has been everything the club could ask for after suffering two season-ending injuries to starters in spring training. If they can manage to get this kind of consistent output from top to bottom all year, they'll stay in the hunt in the East. PICK: Atlanta LOS ANGELES DODGERS (7-4) @ ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (4-9)Chase Field - 01:10 GMTExpected pitchers - Greinke (2-0, 3.27) vs. Miley (2-1, 4.05) NL West favorites at the onset of the year, the Dodgers have overcome some early season pitching troubles, and sit with a respectable 7-4 mark. The power game hasn't really been there for the club, outside of big first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (.244, 3HR 9RBI). Star right fielder Yasiel Puig (.241, 1HR 4RBI) has struggled for form out of the gate, while former All Star Matt Kemp (.167, 2HR 4RBI) is a shadow of the player he once was, and is now more of a substitute than an every day starter. With Clayton Kershaw sitting due to injury, Saturday starter Zack Greinke is the default staff ace. Since starting the season out with two losses in the Sydney, Australia Premiere series with the Dodgers, nothing has really gone right for the Diamondbacks. Their pitching, particularly from their starters, has been abysmal; none of the five arms in their starting staff has an ERA under 4, while only Saturday starter Wade Miley and Bronson Arroyo have actually managed wins. They are actually hitting for average well enough, keyed by perennial All Star Paul Goldschmidt (.340, 2HR 8RBI) and big-hitting Mark Trumbo (.235, 5HR 13RBI), but until their arms can improve, they will struggle on a nightly basis. Still, at least Miley is a respectable and reliable starter, and gives them a chance to win. PICK: Arizona DETROIT TIGERS (5-3) @ SAN DIEGO PADRES (4-6)Petco Park - 02:40 GMTExpected pitchers - Verlander (0-1, 2.57) vs. Kennedy (1-1, 3.27) AL Central favorites Detroit have lost 3 of 4 since getting out to a strong 4-0 start, and will look to rebound on the back part of their weekend set with the Padres. The team has struggled to get the kind of run support it expected this year, particularly from $300 million man Miguel Cabrera (.250, 1HR 3RBI). Still, it's extremely early in the year, and this is far too deep a team to worry. Staff ace Justin Verlander is on the mound for a third time this year on Saturday, and he, Max Scherzer and Anibal Sanchez are one of the best 1-2-3 rotations in the game. Pitching was always going to be a problem for the Padres, so how nice it must have been for them to get a 9-inning, 11 strikeout shutout from ace Andrew Cashner on Friday. In fact, the majority of their starters, including Cashner and Saturday starter Ian Kennedy, have looked good in their early starts. It has been the bats which have been the problem for the Pads; they have an NL-worst 5 home runs on the year, and will need more power from what little big bats they have to stay competitive in their tough division. PICK: Detroit]>
Montreal Canadiens (45-28-8, 3rd ATL 4th EC) will look to recapture home ice advantage in the Atlantic division tonight, as they close their regular season out against fellow play-off qualifiers the New York Rangers (45-31-5, 2nd MET 4th EC).The game takes place at the Bell Centre and is scheduled to start at 00:00 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Rangers at Canadiens live here:Preview:Entering the final regular season game of the year, Montreal currently finds itself one point behind Tampa Bay for the coveted second spot in the Atlantic division, which would guarantee them home ice advantage. The two are locked into a first round playoff meeting, with only the venue yet to be decided. Montreal is the only of the NHL's seven Canadian teams to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, testament to how they have quickly evolved into one of the more consistent teams in the Eastern conference. They have been led offensively by winger Max Pacioretty (39-21, +8), who is a goal away from the first 40-goal season of his young career. The 25 year old is fast developing into one of the more dangerous power forwards in the game today, and should feature heavily for the team as they head into the playoffs, starting on Wednesday. The team will rely heavily Gold medal-winning goaltender Carey Price (33-20-5, 2.36 .925) for any sustained playoff success this year. Price has used this year to re-establish his credentials as one of the top regular season goaltenders in the game today; all that remains to be added to his resume is a significant playoff run. Price's playoff numbers are less than impressive to this point in his career; he has just 9 wins from 30 games, with a 2.90 goals against and a .905 save percentage. Still, a lot of that has to do with the fact that his team has been limited to the first round in his last few playoff appearances, so their status as a top tier team this year should mean that he improves upon those stats. New York entered the season as one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference, and in spite of some up-and-down form, find themselves locked into the second spot in the Metropolitan division, which is right where most predicted they would end up at the start of the year. All that remains is to determine their first round opponent, with both Columbus and Philadelphia potential foes in the 3 spot. The Rangers enter the playoffs with an enviable level of depth up front, though their less-than-impressive 218 goals for on the season does little to reinforce that fact. Like Eastern Conference contemporaries Boston and Montreal, the Rangers lack a true offensive catalyst in their midst, relying instead on a spread of scoring from top to bottom. Their leading scorer on the year is actually Mats Zuccarello (19-40, +11), who has emerged under first year head coach Alain Vigneault as an offensive catalyst in the top-6. The team will hope for more from veteran Martin St. Louis (1-7, +1) than they have seen in his first 19 games with the team. Superstar goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (33-24-5, 2.36 .920) will once again try and break through that playoff barrier, and assert himself as a reliable playoff performer in 2014. The only real sustained playoff run that 'King Henrik' has ever really gone through was in 2012, when New York made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. His career numbers (67GP 30W 2.28, .920) in the playoffs are strong, but there is still the belief out their that he isn't a big-time playoff goaltender. Though this is a categorically unfair assertion to make, it is incumbent on Lundqvist to prove the naysayers wrong with a true assault on the Stanley Cup in 2014. There is very little for the Rangers to play for, as they have locked up the second seed in the Metropolitan division. As such, expect them to rest some of their key players in anticipation of the playoffs next week. Meanwhile, the Habs will be staring down the barrel of home ice advantage in the Atlantic, and as such, will likely ice a roster similar to that which they will show come playoff time. They'll also have more to play for, which can make all the difference in an inconsequential game such as this. Pick: Montreal.]>
Philadelphia Flyers (41-30-9, 3rd ATL 6th EC) will look to lock up third place in the Atlantic division later today when they do battle with their cross-state rival Pittsburgh Penguins (51-24-5, 1st MET 2nd EC).The game takes place at the Consol Energy Center and is scheduled to start at 20:00 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Flyers at Penguins live here:Preview:Philadelphia is back in the dance after missing in 2013, and looked destined for a first-round matchup with the New York Rangers. Philadelphia can secure the match-up by winning one of their two remaining regular season games; they close out their season with a Sunday matinee against the Carolina Hurricanes. When the Flyers started the season 1-7 and fired their head coach, there was a lot of talk that the season was already over for them. Even worse things were said of captain Claude Giroux, who struggled out of the gate with a goalless first 15 games. Well, fast forward to the end of the year, and Giroux (27-55, +6) has come through with one of the best seasons of his young career. The superstar center has used torrid form in the final two-thirds of the season to re-assert himself as one of the best players in the league, and perhaps gain him some consideration in end of year M.V.P. voting. Known in Philly circles as 'Captain Clutch', the playoffs represents an opportunity for Giroux to compound his quickly blossoming legacy. The team will go with Steve Mason (33-18-7, 2.51 .917) as their starting goalie for the playoffs, in place of Stanley Cup champion Ray Emery. Mason, 25, has just four playoff games to his credit, from his stint in 2009 with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has established himself as a reliable starting goaltender for the Flyers this year, answering so many of the goaltending questions the team had asked over the past few seasons. Still, it is in the playoffs where goaltenders truly make their names, and Mason has a real opportunity to further himself as one of the emerging young goaltenders in the league, with a strong playoffs starting on Wednesday. Pittsburgh has long known that they would be the top seed in the Metropolitan division, second seed in the East, and destined to face whomever finished in the first Wild Card position in the conference. Right now, that looks like it could be old foe Detroit, although both Columbus and Saturday's opponent from Philadelphia are also possibilities for the position. The Penguins welcomed former All-Star defenseman Kris Letang (10-9, -7) back into the fold on Thursday, just 10 weeks after he suffered a stroke and was placed on the injured reserve indefinitely. It is a remarkable return for a player who is such a key part of the Penguins offense, and speaks to the sheer will and desire to win of the 26 year old. In Letang's absence, rookie defenseman Olli Maatta (9-20, +9) had been a brilliant steadying force on the back end, while unheralded Matt Niskanen (10-35, +31) shouldered the offensive load from the blue line. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (39-18-4, 2.35 .917) will surely get a rest on Saturday night, and will be eyeing the start of the playoffs intensely. The one time Stanley Cup and Olympic champion goaltender has suffered extensively in his last three playoff appearances, with just 7 wins in 18 games and some truly ugly collapses. Last year, he even surrendered the starting job to back up Tomas Vokoun, though the latter's injury problems this year make that an impossibility this time around. All eyes in Pittsburgh will be on Fleury starting on Wednesday, and it is critical to his future with the team that he find the form to re-emerge as a reliable starting goaltender when the chips are down. Philadelphia will be looking to make a statement in their final two regular season games, as they enter the playoffs as somewhat of an underdog in the East. The Penguins, meanwhile, will look to this game, and Sunday's finale against Ottawa, as opportunities to rest starters, and try combinations in advance of the start of the playoffs on Wednesday. Still, there is a lot of hatred that exists between these cross-state rivals, and you can bet that neither team will give the other any quarter on Saturday night. It'll be an intense affair regardless of circumstance. Pick: Philadelphia.]>
The Coyotes suffer a massive setback, while the Avs leapfrog the Blues and the Rangers lock up home ice in the Friday edition of the NHL play-off race. Here's our latest look at the playoff race in both conferences, breaking down the positioning, possible seeding, remaining schedule, and hypothetical playoff matches, ahead of the Stanley Cup playoffs on April 15th... RESULTS FROM THURSDAY, APRIL 10thBuffalo 1 NY Rangers 2 Washington 5 Carolina 2NY Islanders 2 Montreal 0 New Jersey 1 Ottawa 2 (SO)Philadelphia 2 Tampa Bay 4 Toronto 2 Florida 4Phoenix 0 Nashville 2 St. Louis 2 Minnesota 4Boston 1 Winnipeg 2 (SO) Los Angeles 3 Edmonton 0Colorado 4 Vancouver 2 GAMES ON FRIDAY, APRIL 11thChicago @ Washington Carolina @ DetroitColumbus @ Tampa Bay NY Islanders @ New JerseySt. Louis @ Dallas Winnipeg @ CalgaryColorado @ San Jose EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION1. BOSTON*^ - 115 points (50 ROW) 2 games remaining 2. MONTREAL* – 98 points (39 ROW) 2 games remaining3. TAMPA BAY* – 97 points (37 ROW) 2 games remaining  METROPOLITAN DIVISION1. PITTSBURGH*^ – 107 points (44 ROW) 2 games remaining 2. NEW YORK RANGERS* – 95 points (41 ROW) 1 game remaining (3. PHILADELPHIA* – 91 points (38 ROW) 2 games remaining ( WILD CARD1. COLUMBUS (MET)* – 91 points (37 ROW) 2 games remaining 2. DETROIT (ATL)* – 91 points (33 ROW) 2 games remaining ---------------------3. WASHINGTON (MET) – 87 points 4. NEW JERSEY (MET) – 85 points 5. TORONTO (ATL) – 84 points 6. OTTAWA (ATL) – 84 points 7. CAROLINA (MET) – 79 points 8. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (MET) – 75 points 9. FLORIDA (ATL) – 66 points 10. BUFFALO (ATL) – 51 points ( WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION1. COLORADO* – 111 points (47 ROW) 2 games remaining 1. ST. LOUIS* - 111 points (43 ROW) 2 games remaining 3. CHICAGO* – 107 points (40 ROW) 2 games remaining  PACIFIC DIVISION1. ANAHEIM*^ – 112 points (50 ROW) 2 games remaining 2. SAN JOSE* – 107 points (39 ROW) 2 games remaining 3. LOS ANGELES* – 99 points (38 ROW) 1 game remaining  WILD CARD1. MINNESOTA* (CEN) – 98 points (35 ROW) 1 game remaining 2. DALLAS (CEN) – 89 points (35 ROW) 2 games remaining ----------------------3. PHOENIX (PAC) – 87 points (30 ROW) 2 games remaining 4. NASHVILLE (CEN) – 84 points 6. WINNIPEG (CEN) – 82 points 5. VANCOUVER (PAC) – 81 points 7. CALGARY (PAC) – 77 points 8. EDMONTON (PAC) – 65 points ( IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY…. EASTERN CONFERENCEATL1. Boston v WC2. Detroit ATL2. Montreal v ATL3. Tampa BayMET1. Pittsburgh v WC1. Columbus MET2. NY Rangers v MET3. Philadelphia WESTERN CONFERENCECEN1. Colorado v WC1. Minnesota CEN2. St. Louis v CEN3. ChicagoPAC1. Anaheim v WC2. Dallas PAC2. San Jose v PAC3. Los Angeles ]>
Here's our preview of tonight's MLB action in the American League... BOSTON RED SOX (4-6) @ NEW YORK YANKEES (5-5)Yankee Stadium - 00:05 GMTExpected pitchers - Lester (0-2, 2.51) vs. Sabathia (1-1, 7.50) The Red Sox haven't exactly gotten off to a banner start to the season. A 4-6 record is certainly salvageable, and no one on the team has been noticeably poor or under performing, but the Sox will want to ensure that they don't fall too behind in the difficult AL East. The team really likes the production it has gotten from center fielder Jackie Bradley (.364, 0HR 5RBI) to this point in the season, and his spot atop the order seems secure for now. Rookie Xaender Bogaerts (.314, 0HR 0RBI) has also been a revelation at shortstop, and figures to be a big part of the Red Sox plans moving forward. New York beat Boston 4-1 on Thusday, in the first of their four game home set with their arch rivals. The win was on the back of an excellent pitching performance from number 5 starter Michael Pineda, an unfamiliar narrative for a Yankees team which has seen it's starting staff knocked around a bit in the early season. Staff ace C.C. Sabathia (1-1, 7.50) gets the start on Friday, and the Yanks will hope that he can improve upon his first two starts, which have seen him yield 15 hits and 10 earned runs in just 12 innings pitched. PICK: Boston TORONTO BLUE JAYS (5-5) @ BALTIMORE ORIOLES (4-5)Camden Yards - 00:05 GMTExpected pitchers - McGowan (0-1, 13.50) vs. Tillman (1-0, 1.35) Toronto finds itself at .500 after a start to the season which has been up and down. They won their most recent set, at home to Houston, and now head out on the road for three consecutive series along the Eastern seaboard. The team has seen a strong start from their bats, particularly outfielder Melky Cabrera (.333, 4HR 5RBI), but would probably like to see a little more consistency from their starting pitching. With the exception of veteran Mark Buehrle, Jays starters have been knocked around a bit, including staff ace R.A. Dickey (1-2, 5.30), who surrendered 2 home runs and 5 earned runs in 7 innings pitched against Houston on Thursday. The Orioles were many pundits pick for 'potential surprise team' in the AL East, thanks in large part to a batting order which is one of the most dangerous in the Majors. That order includes 2013 home run king Chris Davis (.303, 0HR 6RBI), who has yet to go yard in 33 at bats to this point in the season. Center fielder Adam Jones (.303, 1HR 4RBI) is also hitting well enough for average, but is struggling to give the Orioles the kind of power they expect from the middle of the order. With the exception of catcher Matt Wieters (.367, 2HR 6RBI), the team will expect a lot more from its loaded line up as the season progresses. PICK: Baltimore HOUSTON ASTROS (4-6) @ TEXAS RANGERS (4-5)The Ballpark at Arlington - 01:05 GMTExpected pitchers - Feldman (2-0, 0.66) vs. Darvish (1-0, 0.00) Considering that they were the very worst team in the majors last season, the Astros 4-6 has to be seen as a positive. The team has looked competitive, particularly on the offensive side, where second baseman Jose Altuve (.297, 0HR 5RBI) is continuing his ascension into the ranks of elite second basemen in the league. The only thing that has really held the club back to this point in the year has been their pitching staff, which, with the exception of Friday starter Scott Feldman, has been poor.  The Rangers have had to overcome injuries to some key players to start the season, but will still be disappointed with a 4-5 start that has seen series losses to AL rivals Tampa Bay and Boston. Staff ace Yu Darvish gets the start on Friday night; he missed his opening day start with some shoulder issues, but came back last week to post an excellent 7-inning shutout against the Rays. He is fast developing into one of the best arms in the game today. The team likes the early season production they have got from some unexpected bats in Alex Rios and Shin-Soo Choo, but will hope that big man Prince Fielder (.162, 0HR 3RBI) can find his way out of early season struggles sooner, rather than later. PICK: Texas CLEVELAND INDIANS (5-5) @ CHICAGO WHITE SOX (5-5)U.S Cellular Field - 01:10 GMTExpected pitchers - Carrasco (0-1, 6.35) vs. Sale (2-0, 1.76) The Indians lost for the first time in 14 games to the White Sox on Thursday night, 7-3. They are at U.S Cellular Field for a four-game weekend set, and are looking to reassert themselves as a competitive club in the AL Central. Leading the charge for the Tribe this season has been recent center field pick up Nyjer Morgan (.389, 0HR 4RBI), who was brought in as an early season stopgap for star outfielder Michael Bourn, who began the season on the injured reserve. With Bourn set to return by next week, expect Morgan to remain in the lineup; his .389 is far and away the best of any of the Indians' everyday starters right now. The White Sox will be pleased to get off the schneid with a win against the Indians on Thursday, and now have the benefit of turning to stellar staff ace Chris Sale (2-0, 1.67) for the Friday start. Sale gives them a chance to win every time he takes the mound, and is far and away the best arm on the staff. The team also really likes the production it has gotten from the bat of young Jose Abreu (.300, 4HR 14RBI), who looks to be emerging as an excellent offensive performer in his first season in the league. Abreu has been getting some solid top-order support from shortstop Alexei Ramirez (.421, 2HR 9RBI) as well, as he continues to perform like one of the best offensive shortstops in the game today. PICK: Chicago White Sox KANSAS CITY ROYALS (4-4) @ MINNESOTA TWINS (3-6)Target Field - 01:10 GMTExpected pitchers - B. Chen (0-0, 1.42) vs. Gibson (1-0, 1.80) The Royals were expected to be competitive in the AL Central this year, and have looked exactly that in their first few series. They won their most recent set, taking 2 of three at home from a talented Tampa Bay Rays squad. The team has gotten another outstanding start from 23 year old catcher Salvador Perez (.458, 0HR 2RBI), who is fast developing into one of the best catchers in the game today. The team has also been getting some good production from the arms in its rotation, which was seen as a bit of a soft spot on the club entering the season. Friday starter Bruce Chen was solid in his first outing, and will look to continue that form through tonight. As was to be expected with a young and mediocre roster, the Twins have struggled to show form in the early going. Normally reliable veteran Joe Mauer (.250, 0HR 0RBI) has struggled in his adjustment to first base, and isn't put up the numbers they need him to. Everyday left fielder Jason Kubel (.448, 1HR 6RBI) has been the best bat, but it has been a tough start for their pitchers that has most hobbled the Twins. With 4 of their 5 starters having gone through two starts already, none has an ERA better than 6.17. Young Kyle Gibson will look to build upon a strong first start of the season with another one on Friday night. PICK: Kansas City NEW YORK METS (4-5) @ LOS ANGELES ANGELS (4-5)Angels Stadium - 03:05 GMTExpected pitchers - Gee (0-0, 4.50) vs. Skaggs (1-0, 0.00) Considering they entered this season with rock-bottom expectations, the Mets have to be fairly pleased with a 4-5 start that includes a recent 2-1 series win over defending NL East champion Atlanta. The team hasn't particularly excelled at anything, and the players they need to perform (particularly 3B David Wright), have struggled to engage to this point in the season. But they like what they have gotten from every day second baseman Daniel Murphy (.321, 0HR 3RBI), and hope that veterans like Wright and Curtis Granderson can turn things around, and help guide this relatively young lineup out of the dregs of the NL East basement. The Angels were dealt a significant blow on Thursday, when it was revealed that they will be without big slugger Josh Hamilton for the better part of two months due to injury. Considering the strong start to the season Hamilton was having (.444, 2HR 6RBI), this will be a significant blow to the team. All-world center fielder Mike Trout (.257, 2HR 5RBI) hasn't exactly lit the world on fire to start the season, but he is sure to find his form soon. The team sure would love to be able to say the same of future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols (.250, 2HR 5RBI), but it is too difficult to tell at this point whether or not he is done as a heavy producer in the league. PICK: New York Mets OAKLAND ATHLETICS (6-3) @ SEATTLE MARINERS (5-3)Safeco Field - 03:10 GMTExpected pitchers - Milone (0-0, -.--) vs. F. Hernandez (2-0, 1.88) The Athletics have gotten out to the best start of any team in the AL, which may be considered a surprise if it weren't so typical of them. Their balanced offense has been buffered by a pitching staff which has looked outstanding to start the season. Young lefty Tommy Milone gets his first start of the season on Friday, and will look to continue the strong run of form for A's pitchers to this point in the year. If there's one thing the team could look to improve on at this point, it's their power game; they have just 9 home runs combined from their first 9 games of the season. The Mariners will send ace Felix Hernandez to the mound on Friday, which means that they are automatically the favorite to come out of the game on top. They have looked like a much stronger team after an off-season roster overhaul, particularly on the mound. Hernandez, James Paxton and Roenis Elias have all given the team reliable starting arms to this point in the season, something that had always been a contention for an M's staff that had looked sparse behind their ace. So long as their bats, led by perennial All Star second baseman Robinson Cano (.300, 0HR 2RBI) can improve a little in their consistency, this could very well be the first of many successful seasons for the rejuvenatedM's. PICK: Seattle]>
Colorado Avalanche (52-21-7, 1st CEN 2nd WC) can take another massive leap in their quest for the top in the Western Conference tonight when they pay a visit to the San Jose Sharks (49-22-9, 2nd PAC 5th WC).The game takes place at the SAP Center and is scheduled to start at 03:00 BST.The streaming live online with bet365.Watch Avalanche at Sharks live here:Preview:Colorado took a huge step in their continuing evolution into a top-tier Western team on Thursday night; their 4-2 victory over Vancouver vaulted them ahead of St. Louis for first in the Central division, and put them just one point behind Anaheim for top spot in the West. The remarkable turnaround the Avs have posted this season, going from 29th overall in the league last year to 3rd (at this point) in 2014 has been one of the greatest one-year resurgences in league history. Following the victory over Vancouver on Thursday, Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy made a strong case for why goaltender Semyon Varlamov (41-14-6, 2.41GAA .927SP) has been not just the Avs' most valuable player this season, but the most valuable player in the entire league. And really, the form Varlamov has shown this season has elevated him into the pantheon of elite goaltenders in the league. His 41 wins are tops in the league, while his third-place save percentage is made even more remarkable when you consider that he has faced the most shots, and made the most saves, of any goalie in the league this season. Playing in the middle market of Denver, Varlamov may not get the kind of media attention he deserves; but his form this season has been among the best exhibited by a goaltender in the last decade, and has been a massive reason why the Avs are where they are right now. Two goals for Avs forward Paul Stastny (25-35, +15) on Thursday put him above the 60 point mark again, an excellent feat when you consider that he has played in just 69 games on the year. The 28 year old is part of the Avs elite forward corps, but is the only one who may not return to the fold next season. Stastny is an unrestricted free agent at season's end, and there is talk that he could want to troll the water for a big money, big term contract that the Avalanche simply can't offer him. Further, Stastny is positioned behind under-25's Ryan O'Reilly and Nathan Mackinnon on the team's center depth chart going forward, and they may not want to invest the kind of money required to lock their third line center up long term. Much will hinge on how well he performs in just his third ever playoffs. San Jose's 5-2 loss to Anaheim on Wednesday meant that, for a second consecutive season, the Sharks would fall just short of securing the Pacific division title. That means that they are locked into the 2nd spot in the Pacific division, guaranteed of a first round matchup with the Los Angeles Kings. The Sharks round out their season at home to Colorado, before heading to Phoenix for their finale on Saturday night. The Sharks have been keyed along this season by the remarkable play of forward Joe Pavelski (39-38, +21), who could very well be one of only three players to net 40 goals on the season. Pavelski has truly emerged from the shadow of Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau this season, and taken the reins as the team's offensive leader. Head coach Todd Maclellan ha recently slot him into the second line left wing position, alongside Thornton and Brent Burns. The line should be one of the most imposing in the entire league entering the playoffs, as both Pavelski and Thornton have over 70 points on the year, while Thornton's 63 assists are second to Sidney Crosby in league proficiency. One Shark to watch heading into the playoffs is goaltender Antti Niemi (38-17-7, 2.40GAA .912SP). The starter hasn't exactly had a banner season for the club, with save percentage numbers that are 30th in the league, despite playing the third most minutes of any goaltender. Of late, he has allowed a combined 15 goals in his last 5 starts; not exactly elite level numbers, particularly when you put them against the best goalies in the conference. Still, Niemi has a Stanley Cup pedigree (Chicago, 2010), and has shown in the past the ability to come up big in critical playoff situations. The Sharks will need him to do just that this spring. The Avalanche have their playoff destiny in their hands right now, as wins in their final two games mean that they will be the top seed in the Central division. As such, expect them to come out with much to play for on Friday night, even if they are giving workhorse starter Varlamov a rest. The Sharks, meanwhile, are comfortably locked into their playoff position, and there is talk that they may rest some of their starters over the next two games. As such, don't expect them to come out with much jump, as the last thing they would want to do is suffer a critical injury in a meaningless game. Pick: Colorado.]>
Dallas Stars (39-30-11, 5th CEN 8th WC) will look to clinch the final playoff spot available in the league tonight when they play host to the St. Louis Blues (52-21-7, 2nd CEN 3rd WC).The game takes place at the American Airlines Center and is scheduled to start at 01:30 BST.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Blues at Stars live here:Preview:It's pretty simple for the Stars as they come to their final two games: win, and you're in. Dallas currently holds a 2-point lead over Phoenix, with two games remaining on the latter's schedule. Dallas would be guaranteed the playoff spot with a win tonight by virtue of the Regulation & Overtime Wins tiebreaker, which they have already locked up over Phoenix. It should be noted that those same Coyotes are the Stars final opponent of the season, a game on Sunday that could have massive playoff implications if Friday night doesn't pan out. Dallas enters action on Friday coming off a tough 3-1 loss to Columbus on Wednesday, but still find themselves able to lock up a playoff spot thanks to the poor form 9th place Phoenix has shown of late. The game also represents an opportunity for Stars center Tyler Seguin (36-47, +16) to continue his assault on 2nd place in the NHL scoring race. Though Sidney Crosby is un-catchable in first, Seguin sits just four points behind the Ducks' Ryan Getzlaf for second in league scoring, which would be a remarkable feat for a guy in his first year with a new team. Seguin is also garnering some M.V.P. talk of late, thanks to his stellar numbers for the Stars this season. The scoring gap between Seguin and Jamie Benn (77 points) and third place in Stars forward scoring (Cody Eakin: 35 points) is enormous, and speaks to the top-heavy nature of the Stars attack this season. Should Dallas make the playoffs, it would be incumbent on their secondary scoring to establish itself as a reliable source of goals for the team. Their first round opponent is still very much up in the air, but any kind of shut-down pairing an opposition has would surely be put up against the Seguin/Benn line in the playoffs, making the establishment of a reliable scoring presence on the second line crucial to any success the Stars are going to have in the playoffs. Less than two weeks ago, the Blues looked like a pretty safe lock atop the Central division. Their lead was 8 points on Colorado and Chicago, and they were playing some of the best hockey of their season. Fast forward to the season's end though, and lackluster pre-playoff form of late (four consecutive losses) has seen the team passed by Colorado for first in the Central, and at serious risk of falling out of the top pairing of the Western Conference playoff picture. Dallas and Detroit represent their final two games of the regular season. The team has scored just 8 goals in their last six games, a remarkably low number for a team with as much forward depth as the Blues have. Top-scoring forward T.J. Oshie (21-39, +19) hasn't registered a single point since posting a hat trick against Minnesota on 27March, and may have been lost for some time due to an injury suffered in Thursday's game against the Wild. The team could also do with much more production from captain David Backes (27-30, +14), who has just one assist in his last five games played.  The team would also like to see starting goaltender Ryan Miller (25-28-4, 2.63GAA .919SP) awaken from his most recent slump. Miller's last three starts have seen him yield a combined 12 goals on just 52 shots, including four on 13 before getting pulled in Thursday's loss to the Wild. Miller was acquired from Buffalo at the trade deadline to be the missing piece in net for a Blues team that was loaded everywhere else; since his acquisition though, he has been mediocre at best, posting 10 wins in 17 games with a 2.41 goals against and a poor .903 save percentage. Surely, the Blues expect more out of Miller heading into the playoffs, as he is their best chance (on pedigree) of sustained playoff success. The Blues most recent slump has exposed a lack of top-end scoring depth that most didn't know existed prior to the month of April. The consensus is still that they are just going through a hiccup right now, and will be primed come the start of the playoffs next week. Still, their potential loss of the Central division crown has to be seen as a poor omen for a team that has never been able to get over that early round playoff hump. Dallas, meanwhile, has a real chance to make a statement on Friday night. A win would qualify them for their first playoffs since 2007/08, and would represent a marked change in expectation for a team that had been rudderless for so long. Expect them to come out with that in mind on Friday night. Pick: Dallas.]>
The Flyers and Wild clinch, four more teams bite the dust, and the remaining three in play-off spots face a huge day in the Wednesday edition of the NHL play-off race. Here's our latest look at the playoff race in both conferences, breaking down the positioning, possible seeding, remaining schedule, and hypothetical playoff matches, ahead of the Stanley Cup playoffs on April 15th... RESULTS FROM TUESDAY, APRIL 8thDetroit 4 Buffalo 2 Philadelphia 5 Florida 2Ottawa 4 NY Islanders 1 Washington 4 St. Louis 1Carolina 1 NY Rangers 4 Boston 3 Minnesota 4 (SO)Phoenix 3 Columbus 4 (OT) Nashville 2 Dallas 3 (SO)Toronto 0 Tampa Bay 3 Colorado 4 Edmonton 1 EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION1. BOSTON*^ - 114 points (50 ROW) 3 games remaining 2. MONTREAL* – 97 points (39 ROW) 3 games remaining3. TAMPA BAY* – 95 points (36 ROW) 3 games remaining  METROPOLITAN DIVISION1. PITTSBURGH*^ – 105 points (44 ROW) 3 games remaining 2. NEW YORK RANGERS* – 93 points (40 ROW) 2 games remaining (3. PHILADELPHIA* – 91 points (38 ROW) 3 games remaining ( WILD CARD1. DETROIT (ATL) – 90 points (33 ROW) 3 games remaining 2. COLUMBUS (MET) – 89 points (36 ROW) 3 games remaining ------------------------3. WASHINGTON (MET) – 85 points (26 ROW) 3 games remaining 4. NEW JERSEY (MET) – 84 points (34 ROW) 3 games remaining 5. TORONTO (ATL) – 84 points 6. OTTAWA (ATL) – 82 points 7. CAROLINA (MET) – 79 points 8. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (MET) – 73 points 9. FLORIDA (ATL) – 64 points 10. BUFFALO (ATL) – 51 points ( WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION1. ST. LOUIS* - 111 points (43 ROW) 3 games remaining 2. COLORADO* – 109 points (46 ROW) 3 games remaining 3. CHICAGO* – 105 points (39 ROW) 3 games remaining  PACIFIC DIVISION1. ANAHEIM* – 110 points (49 ROW) 3 games remaining 2. SAN JOSE* – 107 points (39 ROW) 3 games remaining 3. LOS ANGELES* – 96 points (37 ROW) 3 games remaining  WILD CARD1. MINNESOTA* (CEN) – 96 points (34 ROW) 2 games remaining 2. DALLAS (CEN) – 89 points (35 ROW) 3 games remaining --------------------------3. PHOENIX (PAC) – 87 points (30 ROW) 3 games remaining 4. NASHVILLE (CEN) – 82 points 5. VANCOUVER (PAC) – 81 points 6. WINNIPEG (CEN) – 80 points 7. CALGARY (PAC) – 75 points 8. EDMONTON (PAC) – 65 points ( IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY…. EASTERN CONFERENCEATL1. Boston v WC2. Columbus ATL2. Montreal v ATL3. Tampa BayMET1. Pittsburgh v WC1. Detroit MET2. NY Rangers v MET3. Philadelphia WESTERN CONFERENCECEN1. St. Louis v WC2. Dallas CEN2. Colorado v CEN3. ChicagoPAC1. Anaheim v WC1. Minnesota PAC2. San Jose v PAC3. Los Angeles ]>
Detroit Red Wings (38-27-14, 4th ATL 7th EC) can lock up a spot in the playoffs for the 23rd consecutive season tonight if they can get past their rivals, Pittsburgh Penguins (50-24-5, 1st MET 2nd EC).The game takes place at the CONSOL Energy Center and is scheduled to start at 00:00 GMT.In the UK, the game airs live on Premier Sports, while it is also streaming live online with bet365.Watch Red Wings at Penguins live here:Preview: Things weren't looking so good for Detroit around early March, when the team was adrift of the final playoff spot in the Conference, and suffered serious injuries to stars Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk. Still, with full credit to the healthy players still around, the team has won 5 of their last six games, and stand on the precipice of guaranteeing Spring hockey in Michigan for yet another year. The biggest reason for the Wings resurgence over the last month has been the clutch play of winger Gustav Nyquist (28-19, +13), who is asserting himself as one of the best young players in the league. The 2008 4th round draft pick has taken some time to arrive, but his performance in March (12-6 in 16 games) shows that he is the kind of player who can be a force for the Wings for years to come.  Speaking of injuries, the Wings got a boost from the recent return of superstar center Pavel Datsyuk (17-18, -1). He had been out of action since just after the Olympic break, after tweaking a nagging upper body injury that he had been nursing for much of the season. Along with Zettberberg, Datsyuk's effect on the Wings team psyche is invaluable: he is universally respected as one of the most skilled forwards to ever play the game, and has an underrated leadership presence that is key to the progression of young players like Nyquist. His health is of paramount concern for the Wings as they enter the playoffs, and you can be sure that they'll go easy on him over the next few games, until they can be sure that he is in peak condition. Pittsburgh has long since clinched the top spot in the Metropolitan division, and has thus been playing essentially to gain form entering the playoffs. The team is an underwhelming 5-5 over their last 10 games, but such a lull should maybe be expected for a team that has known it's position in the Eastern conference for much of the last month. With a 16-point lead atop the NHL scoring race, Sidney Crosby (36-66, +16) is primed to win the second Art Ross trophy of his prestigious career. It has been another banner year for Sid the Kid, who won a Gold Medal as captain of Team Canada at the Sochi Olympics, and looks primed to win a second Hart Trophy as league M.V.P at the end of the season.  Still, these aren't the trophies that matter to Crosby; at 26 years old, it has frequently been asserted that having just one Stanley Cup title prevents him from being mentioned in the pantheon of the game's greats. Though we can debate whether it's fair to blame one player for the yearly failing's of an entire team, Crosby can do do much to silence those criticisms with a dominant playoffs in 2014. His 105 points in 82 career playoff games show that he is as clutch a player as any in the game, and it is now up to him to show the Penguins through to the promised land one more time. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (38-18-4, 2.34GAA .917SP) has had another strong regular season, and figures to be the team's unquestioned starter heading into the playoffs. Still, it is in the spring where Fleury will be judged; his epic collapses in the last two playoffs are the stuff of legend in Pittsburgh, and there is much talk around the league that this is a 'make or break' playoffs for him. At 29, Fleury has a strong resume that includes a Stanley Cup, but this is a 'what have you done for me lately' business. He needs to show that he can still be a clutch playoff goalie this season, lest he be saddled with the label of playoff disappointment yet again. This game means so much more to the Wings than it does to the Pens, as a single point will propel Detroit through to the playoffs in a year that has been filled with injury drama and question marks. And what better team for the Wings to do it against than their former Stanley Cup nemesis from Pittsburgh? What's more, as the 2 and 7 teams in the East, these two appear to be on a collision course for a first-round playoff match-up. Wednesday will therefore be a statement game, and a definite one to watch for it's myriad playoff implications. Pick: Detroit.]>
The Rangers clinch, the Devils take a hit, while all the contenders and bubble teams prepare for key match-ups in the Tuesday edition of the NHL play-off race. Here's our latest look at the playoff race in both conferences, breaking down the positioning, possible seeding, remaining schedule, and hypothetical playoff matches, ahead of the Stanley Cup playoffs on April 15th... RESULTS FROM MONDAY, APRIL 7thCalgary 1 New Jersey 0 Minnesota 1 Winnipeg 0Anaheim 3 Vancouver 0 EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION1. BOSTON*^ - 113 points (50 ROW) 4 games remaining 2. MONTREAL* – 97 points (39 ROW) 3 games remaining3. TAMPA BAY* – 93 points (35 ROW) 4 games remaining  METROPOLITAN DIVISION1. PITTSBURGH*^ – 105 points (44 ROW) 3 games remaining 2. NEW YORK RANGERS* – 91 points (39 ROW) 3 games remaining (3. PHILADELPHIA – 89 points (37 ROW) 4 games remaining ( WILD CARD1. DETROIT (ATL) – 88 points (32 ROW) 4 games remaining 2. COLUMBUS (MET) – 87 points (35 ROW) 4 games remaining ---------------------3. NEW JERSEY (MET) – 84 points (34 ROW) 3 games remaining 4. TORONTO (ATL) – 84 points (29 ROW) 3 games remaining 5. WASHINGTON (MET) – 83 points (25 ROW) 4 games remaining 6. OTTAWA (ATL) – 80 points (28 ROW) 4 games remaining 7. CAROLINA (MET) – 79 points 8. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (MET) – 72 points 9. FLORIDA (ATL) – 62 points 10. BUFFALO (ATL) – 51 points ( WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION1. ST. LOUIS* - 111 points (43 ROW) 4 games remaining 2. COLORADO* – 107 points (45 ROW) 4 games remaining 3. CHICAGO* – 105 points (39 ROW) 3 games remaining  PACIFIC DIVISION1. ANAHEIM* – 110 points (49 ROW) 3 games remaining 2. SAN JOSE* – 107 points (39 ROW) 3 games remaining 3. LOS ANGELES* – 96 points (37 ROW) 3 games remaining  WILD CARD1. MINNESOTA (CEN) – 94 points (33 ROW) 3 games remaining 2. DALLAS (CEN) – 87 points (35 ROW) 4 games remaining --------------------3. PHOENIX (PAC) – 86 points (30 ROW) 4 games remaining 4. NASHVILLE (CEN) – 81 points (33 ROW) 4 games remaining 5. VANCOUVER (PAC) – 81 points 6. WINNIPEG (CEN) – 80 points 7. CALGARY (PAC) – 75 points 8. EDMONTON (PAC) – 63 points ( IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY... EASTERN CONFERENCEATL1. Boston v WC2. Columbus ATL2. Montreal v ATL3. Tampa BayMET1. Pittsburgh v WC1. Detroit MET2. NY Rangers v MET3. Philadelphia WESTERN CONFERENCECEN1. St. Louis v WC2. Dallas CEN2. Colorado v CEN3. ChicagoPAC1. Anaheim v WC1. Minnesota PAC2. San Jose v PAC3. Los Angeles ]>
Colorado Avalanche (50-21-7, 2nd CEN 3rd WC) will look to climb the Western Conference ladder further tonight when they pay a visit to the Edmonton Oilers (28-42-9, 7th PAC 14th WC). The game takes place at Rexall Place and is scheduled to start at 02:30 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Avalanche at Oilers live here:Preview: If you had gone to pundits before the start of the season, and said that the Colorado Avalanche were going to win 50 games and be a threat for the Western Conference title, you would've been met with some healthy derision. After all, the Avs finished 2013 last in the Western Conference, and second-last in the entire league, with just 16 wins. They drafted first overall. The rebuild was still very much in full swing. Fast forward a year, and what do you have? A team that finds itself just four points behind St. Louis for first in the Conference, and a serious threat in the deep Western Conference. The reasons for the revival in Denver are plentiful, but perhaps none is as salient as the way the team has taken to first year head coach Patrick Roy. The legendary Canadiens and Avalanche goaltender came to Colorado with question marks surrounding his viability as a head coach, having served as the bench boss for Junior league side Quebec for several years, but never a big league team. He has proven to be everything the team could hope for, and more, in his first year as coach. He is a demanding boss to be sure, but the level of respect and accountability he demands of his players has been an absolute boon, especially when you consider that his roster is one of the youngest in the entire league. Colorado's core really revolves around it's four young stars: Matt Duchene, Ryan O'Reilly, rookie Nathan Mackinnon and captain Gabriel Landeskog. These four forwards are all under 23 years old, and represent one of the best young forward cores in the entire league. Mackinnon (24-36, +22) is having one of the best rookie seasons in recent memory, while Duchene (23-47, +8) has proven himself to be a point-per-game star, and Landeskog (26-38, +23) a two-way stud. With these four at the center of the resurgence, it is clear that the Avalanche are a team that is going to be a force in the West for years to come. A year ago, the Oilers were in virtually the same position the Avalanche were; enduring another losing season, and looking towards 2013/14 with hopes that their young players could shoulder a load of renewed success. Unlike Colorado though, 2013/14 has seen more heartbreak and failure. Now, on the verge of another summer full of questions, the Oilers will look to end the season with some semblance of pride and accountability. The one thing that the Oilers have going for them is that young winger Taylor Hall (27-50, -13) looks like the franchise forward the team expected him to be when they drafted him first overall in 2011. In what looks to be a second-consecutive point per game season, Hall has proven to be one of the most dynamic, dangerous wingers in the game today. That he has had to suffer through four consecutive seasons of abject team failure seems to have had little effect on the play of the young forward, who, in spite of voicing obvious frustration in the team's inability to win, has been otherwise professional and consistent. Unlike Roy in Colorado, first year head coach Dallas Eakins has been entirely unable to turn the fortunes of the franchise around, and now looks to be on the hot seat after just one year in charge of the team. Although there have been times where the prickly Eakins has certainly looked out of his element, he can hardly be blamed for the team's goaltending problems, which seem to be issues more of personnel than anything. The team has iced a league-high six goaltenders this year, and it has only been since they acquired Ben Scrivens and Viktor Fasth in February and March respectively, that they have shown any progress at the position. The hope is that this tandem can lead them to more sustained goaltending success moving forward, but anything is possible for a franchise which has been down for a long, long time. This is definitely a tale of two cities, as Colorado represents everything right in constructing a rebuild, while the Oilers represent everything that can go wrong.  With a win and a St. Louis loss, Colorado can climb to within two points of the Blues for the Central division lead. You can be sure that they will have that incentive in mind as they take the ice on Tuesday night. Edmonton, meanwhile, is bound to another last place finish in the West, and have only pride to play for as they take their home ice for the third-last time on the season. Pick: Colorado.]>
Here's our preview of MLB action in the National League on Tuesday, April 8th 2014... MILWAUKEE BREWERS (4-2) @ PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (3-3)Veterans Stadium - 21:05 GMTExpected pitchers - Lohse (0-1, 3.86) vs. K. Kendrick (0-0, 1.29) The Brewers will look to build upon a series sweep of the defending champion Red Sox, as they start a rain-delayed series in Philadelphia on Tuesday. The team has gotten a strong start from its complimentary bats, including Aramis Ramirez and Jonathan Lucroy. Ryan Braun (.150, 0HR 0RBI) has struggled in coming back from his 100-game PED suspension, and the team will hope that he can recover form before the bats of their secondary players inevitably dry up Tuesday night is the Phillies home opener, and they will try to build upon a promising road start to the season. Pitcher Kyle Kendrick had a particularly strong first outing of the season for the club, and will look to build upon that as he comes up against the Brewers strong bats. The team likes the start it has gotten from veteran Chase Utley (.458, 2HR 6RBI), who looks like a facsimile of the player who was so successful throughout the mid 2000's. PICK: Philadelphia ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (2-7) @ SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (5-2)AT&T Park - 21:35 GMTExpected pitchers - Cahill (0-2, 6.30) vs. T. Hudson (1-0, 0.00) Things haven't exactly gone as Arizona hoped to start the season, as they have struggled through their opening series' en route to just two victories in nine games. They went 1-2 in a home series against these same Giants last week, and will look to improve upon that form this week. Tuesday's starter is Trevor Cahill, and the stats indicate that he has been roughed up in his first two starts for the D-backs. their one constant is first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (.400, 1HR 4RBI), who has picked up exactly where he left off in 2013, with some stellar form at the plate. The 2012 champion Giants hoped to improve upon a disappointing 2013, and have thusfar shown more resilience and better form in 2014. They got the better of both Arizona and Los Angeles in their first two road series of the season, and return to AT&T Park to open three consecutive sets at home. The team's pitching has been strong to start the year, including Tuesday's starter Tim Hudson. The veteran allowed just 3 hits and no runs in 7 2/3 innings pitched in his debut against Arizona last week. The team will hope that he can stave off Father Time for one more season, and give them that kind of production for the balance of the season. PICK: San Francisco MIAMI MARLINS (5-2) @ WASHINGTON NATIONALS (4-2)Nationals Stadium - 00:05 GMTExpected pitchers - H. Alvarez (0-1, 9.00) vs. Gio Gonzalez (1-0, 1.50) After an impressive start to the 2014 campaign, the Miami Marlins hit the road on Tuesday, hoping to carry their form over into sustained success. After finishing dead last in the NL East last season, not much was expected of the team heading into 2014. Their 5-2 start has been buoyed by strong bats, including the re-emergence of right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (.345, 2HR 12RBI). The former All Star has rebounded from last year's down season, and looks every bit the all-World outfielder he looked last year. Oh, and the unbelievable pitching of Jose Fernandez (2-0, 0.71ERA) certainly helps. The NL East-favorite Nationals will look to make a statement against the upstart Marlins in their first series of the year. Washington has looked strong in their first 6 games of the year, particularly on the mound. Tuesday's starter, Gio Gonzalez, had an excellent first start of the year against the Mets, and with ace Stephen Strasburg struggling in his injury recovery, Gonzalez looks like the staff ace at this point. The bullpen has allowed just 4 runs in 6 games to this point, demonstrating another strength of the club. PICK: Washington NEW YORK METS (2-4) @ ATLANTA BRAVES (4-2)Turner Field - 00:10 GMTExpected pitchers - Colon (0-1, 4.50) vs. Harang (1-0, 0.00) It was never going to be an easy season for the New York Mets, who are in the thick of a rebuild back towards respectability. Still, their trouble at the plate is indicative of a team which has really nowhere to go but down from this point forward. Normally reliable veteran David Wright (.238, 1HR 3RBI) has gotten off to a poor start at the plate, while other youngsters expected to emerge this year, have yet to do so. The only Met who has impressed to this point is centerfielder Juan Lagares (.350, 1HR 3RBI), but it remains to be seen if the 24 year old has the gumption to keep that form up for the balance of the season. After suffering two season-ending arm injuries to starting pitchers during Spring Training, many were writing the Braves off before the campaign had even started. The fact that their 4-2 start has been on the back of some outstanding starting pitching has been one of the more pleasant surprises in the league's first week. Their starting staff has surrendered just 7 runs in 6 games to this point, all of which were on the top two arms in the rotation. Without a single pitcher over 3.00 ERA to this point in the year, perhaps pundits were too quick to write off this cobbled-together Braves rotation. PICK: Atlanta PITTSBURGH PIRATES (4-2) @ CHICAGO CUBS (2-4)Wrigley Field - 01:05 GMTExpected pitchers - Morton (0-0, 0.00) vs. E. Jackson (0-0, 1.69) Coming off their first playoff appearance in two decades, expectations were high for the Pirates entering 2014. Early returns have been strong for the club, and that is without a strong early performance from defending NL MVP Andrew McCutchen. The team has been buoyed by some really strong performances from its pitching staff, particularly the strengthened bullpen. The 'pen has allowed just 3 runs to this point in the season, and figures to be a strength behind the Pirates respectable rotation as the season progresses. The Cubbies kick off another season at legendary Wrigley Field rooted firmly in the reality that they simply aren't a playoff team as currently constructed. Outside of second baseman Emilio Bonifacio, none of their bats have awoken yet this year, and a pitching staff that has no real star has been saves by two strong starts from ace Jeff Samardzija (0-1, 1.29). The problem with the Cubs as they are currently constructed is that they lack punch in the lineup, and have none foreseeable on the horizon. It's bound to be another long season for long-suffering Cubs faithful. PICK: Pittsburgh CINCINNATI REDS (2-5) @ ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (4-3)Busch Stadium - 01:15 GMTExpected pitchers - H. Bailey (0-1, 8.31) vs. Lynn (1-0, 5.40) Cincinnati hasn't exactly gotten off to the start that they had hoped, particularly with their stars at the plate. The usually-reliable Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto have struggled to start the year, with just 1 home run and 3 RBI between the two. They have been bupoyed somewhat by strong starts from Ryan Ludwick and Todd Frazier, but unless they can get power production from their two biggest bats, they will struggle to post the kind of numbers they did in their 90-win season of 2013. As expected, the strength of the Cardinals roster to this point has been their starting pitching. Michael Wacha and Adam Wainwright have allowed a combined 3 runs in their four starts, and look every bit the dynamic duo they were expected to be at the start of the year. Lance Lynn takes the mound on Tuesday with the hopes of solidifying himself as a strong number 3 starter for the club. Flamethrowing closer Trevor Rosenthal has had a shakier start to the season than usual, but has been given enough of a run cushion to net 2 saves to this point. PICK: St. Louis CHICAGO WHITE SOX (3-4) @ COLORADO ROCKIES (4-4)Coors Field - 01:40 GMTExpected pitchers - Quintana (0-0, 3.00) vs. F. Morales (0-0, 5.06) The White Sox have looked respectable enough in posting a 3-4 record to start the season, though 2 of those wins were as a result of outstanding starts from ace starter Chris Sale. When Sale doesn't start, the team stands much less of a chance of being competitive. Case in point, the team's rough 8-1 loss to the Rockies on Monday, where their pitching again struggled to give them reliability beyond Sale. The team has actually got a decent start from most of the bats they rely on, but unless the starters and pen can keep the runs down, it won't matter at all. The Rockies always manage to field a potent offense, in large part thanks to the friendly, low-altitude confines of Coors Field. All-world left fielder Carlos Gonzalez (.355, 3HR 9RBI) has been his expected self this season, while long-time Rockie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (.417, 1HR 3RBI) looks like the perennial +.285/20HR guy he has established himself as being to this point in his career. As is always the case in Colorado, if the arms can hold up, the Rockies will contend. It all rests on the proficiency of the pitching staff. PICK: Colorado DETROIT TIGERS (4-1) @ LOS ANGELES DODGERS (5-3)Dodger Stadium - 03:10 GMTExpected pitchers - Scherzer (0-0, 0.00) vs. Haren (1-0, 0.00) The Tigers entered the season as heavy AL Central favorites, and though they have seen a couple of their early games postponed due to weather, their wins in four from five have demonstrated that they are full value for that assertion. $300 Million man Miguel Cabrera (.350, 1HR 3RBI) looks every bit the perennial MVP candidate the team needs him to be, while the pitching staff, anchored by ace Justin Verlander and Tuesday starter Max Scherzer, has been reliable in their early showings. This is a deep, strong team. Los Angeles had the unique assignment of opening the season with the double set against Arizona in Sydney, Australia, and don't appear to have suffered the ill effects of such bizarre season-opening circumstances. The Dodgers have probably the most potent batting order int he entire league, and have seen that order posting the kind of run support they need to be successful. Tuesday's starter is Dan Haren, who posted a 4 hit, 0 run 6 inning start in his first game last week, and looks like he can contribute well behind duelling aces Clayton Kershaw (15 day disabled list) and Zack Greinke. PICK: Los Angeles]>
Toronto Maple Leafs (38-33-8, 5th ATL 10th EC) will try and keep their dwindling play-off hopes alive tonight when they pay a visit to the Tampa Bay Lightning (42-27-9, 3rd ATL 4th EC).The game takes place at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa and is scheduled to start at 00:30 BST.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Maple Leafs at Lightning live here:Preview: Toronto's epic fall from grace hit true rock bottom on Saturday night, as the Leafs dropped a 4-2 decision to Western Conference also-ran Winnipeg, in front of a national audience on Hockey Night in Canada. The team now finds itself three points behind Columbus for the final Wild Card spot in the East, with just three games remaining in their season. With their final three games of the year on the road, the playoffs seem a tall task for a struggling Toronto team. Although he is far from the biggest problem for the Leafs right now, winger Phil Kessel (37-43, +0) has seen a definite drop in production since the Olympic break, something that has been a definite factor in the team's struggles. His goal on Saturday night was his first in six games, a tough stretch for a player who was the league's Player of the Month in January, and looked every bit an MVP candidate at the team entered the stretch run. The blame for the club's spectacular thud over the past two months hardly lies at Kessel's feet, but the fact that he has been unable to carry the team on his shoulders as he did in January and February, has been a bigger reason than some may think. It is obvious that Leafs backup James Reimer (12-14-1, 3.42GAA .907SP) will need a change of scenery after this season; his poor play in spot starter roles in relief of Jonathan Bernier has been one of the biggest reasons for the club's failure over the past month and a half. It has been such a quick slide for Reimer, who was so strong down the stretch last season in leading the Leafs to their first playoff appearance since 2004. This year, he has suffered playing behind Bernier, and with the criticisms of him growing ever more vociferous in the hockey media capital of the world, Reimer's career could really do with a fresh start come the off-season. Following a pair of losses to Calgary and Dallas last week, the Lightning look destined to finish third in the Atlantic division. They currently sit four points behind Montreal for second in the division, and though the Habs have a tougher schedule to close out the year, a five point gain is a lot to ask out of the final three games of the season. It is likely that head coach Jon Cooper will rest starting goaltender Ben Bishop (37-14-7, 2.23GAA .924SP) over these next few games, and if there's anyone on the Lightning roster who deserves a rest, it's Bishop. The goaltender has emerged as one of the game's elite stoppers in his first season as a starter, and could find himself a nominee for the Vezina trophy as Goaltender of the Year come June. Though injuries, trades and contract squabbles have plagued the Lightning for much of the season, Bishop has been one of the most reliably consistent goaltenders in the league, and looks like he can function as such for the team for the foreseeable future. Another emergence for the Bolts this year has been that of defenseman Victor Hedman (12-38, +3), who looks to finally be living up to the pedigree of a second overall pick (2009). The hulking Swedish defenseman had suffered through injuries and criticism in his first four years in the league, as any man bearing the label of the 'next Nicklas Lidstrom' would. This year, he has been an absolute force for the Lightning, providing a stellar 50 points, a consistent + rating, and heavy minutes for Jon Cooper's squad. Though his star shines somewhat-lightly in the hockey media desert of Tampa Bay, it is clear that the 23 year old Hedman is rounding into one of the very best blue liners in the game today. It will be interesting to see how he performs in his role come playoff time. A Leafs regulation loss, combined with Columbus gaining a point against Phoenix, would eliminate the Leafs from the playoffs yet again, and set about an off-season of hair pulling and soul-searching in Toronto. And, with a 6-11-1 record since the beginning of March, the team has no one to blame but themselves. Still, Tuesday represents a real chance to try and salvage their fading hopes. With nowhere to go in the standings, Tampa Bay is likely to rest many of their key starters. If the Leafs have any backbone left after their epic fall down the standings, they will seize upon this likely opportunity, and play more like the team that looked like a sure playoff bet in October and January, than the one that has been such a failure since. Pick: Toronto.]>
Columbus Blue Jackets (40-31-7, 4th MET 8th EC) host the Phoenix Coyotes (36-28-14, 4th PAC 9th WC) tonight. The game takes place at the Nationwide Arena, Columbus and is scheduled to start at 00:00 GMT.The game is streaming live online with bet365.Watch Coyotes at Blue Jackets live here:Preview: Columbus' quest for a first playoff appearance since 2008 has been a largely up and down affair, but Tuesday night represents a real opportunity to take a stranglehold on the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. New Jersey's loss on Monday night means that, with a win against Phoenix, Columbus will be five points clear of the Devils and Leafs, with just three games remaining. They close the season out with three road games in the deep South, against the Stars, Lightning and Panthers. Though there are many reasons for the Jackets resurgence this season, perhaps the most salient has been the play of young center Ryan Johansen (31-26, +1). The 21 year old has emerged this year as the kind of dominant first-line center whom the Jackets have sought since their inception into the league in 1998. His 31 goals are the most by a Blue Jacket not named Rick Nash, and his play down the stretch, where head coach Todd Richards has heaped heavy responsibility upon him, as been nothing short of outstanding. He is a definite one to watch for years to come. Defending Vezina trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky (29-20-5, 2.41GAA .922SP) is once again making a serious case for consideration as top goaltender in the league, on the back of another statistically stellar season. His 31 save shutout of New York on Sunday served to elevate him into the top-10 in the league in both shutouts and save percentage, and were it not for an early-season bout of injuries, he would likely be among the statistical leaders for goaltenders in Wins and Minutes Played. For a guy who was cast off by Philadelphia just two seasons ago, Bobrovsky certainly has become the franchise goaltender everyone suggested he could be when he came into the league in 2010. The Coyotes' 3-2 shootout loss to Edmonton on Friday did serious damage to their playoff hopes, as they now sit a single point behind Dallas (who are also in action on Tuesday) for the final Wild Card spot in the West. The Coyotes have a tough final four games, rounding their season out on the road against Nashville, before heading home to face San Jose and those same Dallas Stars in Sunday's season finale. Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett was particularly critical of his top scoring forwards after Friday's loss to Edmonton, and with right reason. The Yotes leading scorer is veteran Radim Vrbata (20-29, -6), but he has just 1 point (0-1) in his last 8 games, and has been bumped from the first line as a result. In fact, the nine forwards on the Coyotes top 3 lines, players who are expected to provide the bulk of the team's scoring down the stretch, have combined for just one goal in the club's last four games. Unsurprisingly, the team has gone 0-2-2 in that stretch. The one saving grace for the Coyotes over that stretch has been the play of backup goaltender Thomas Greiss (9-7-4, 2.28GAA .923SP), who has been extremely strong in relief of injured starter Mike Smith down the stretch. Heading into this season, Greiss had been a career backup in parts of four seasons with the Sharks. This last stretch of games has been the first time in his career where he has been able to show his capability as an everyday starter, and he has acquitted himself well. With the club unsure when Smith will return, it's imperative that Greiss continue this level of play if they are to have any chance of qualifying. These two teams may be in different conferences, but their playoff situations are remarkably similar. That means that Tuesday's game is enormous for both clubs. Columbus can make enormous in-roads on locking down a playoff spot with a win, while the Coyotes likely need one to stay competitive with the Stars for the final playoff spot. With four consecutive losses, you can bet that the Coyotes will come out with some spunk. The Jackets are a strong 21-15-4 on the year at home, and you can bet that, with a chance to make a serious playoff statement available to them on Tuesday, they will bring their A-game to bear. Pick: Columbus.]>
The Blue Jackets win a big one, the Stars lose a big one, and the Flyers inch closer towards clinching in the Monday edition of the NHL play-off race. Here's our latest look at the playoff race in both conferences, breaking down the positioning, possible seeding, remaining schedule, and hypothetical playoff matches, ahead of the Stanley Cup playoffs on April 15th... RESULTS FROM SUNDAY, APRIL 6thSt. Louis 2 Chicago 4 Dallas 2 Florida 3NY Islanders 0 Columbus 4 Buffalo 2 Philadelphia 5Pittsburgh 3 Colorado 2 (SO) Anaheim 2 Edmonton 4 EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION1. BOSTON*^ - 113 points (50 ROW) 4 games remaining 2. MONTREAL* – 97 points (39 ROW) 3 games remaining3. TAMPA BAY* – 93 points (35 ROW) 4 games remaining  METROPOLITAN DIVISION1. PITTSBURGH*^ – 105 points (44 ROW) 3 games remaining 2. NEW YORK RANGERS – 91 points (39 ROW) 3 games remaining (3. PHILADELPHIA – 89 points (37 ROW) 4 games remaining ( WILD CARD1. DETROIT (ATL) – 88 points (32 ROW) 4 games remaining 2. COLUMBUS (MET) – 87 points (35 ROW) 4 games remaining ----------------3. NEW JERSEY (MET) – 84 points (34 ROW) 4 games remaining 4. TORONTO (ATL) – 84 points (29 ROW) 3 games remaining 5. WASHINGTON (MET) – 83 points (25 ROW) 4 games remaining 6. OTTAWA (ATL) – 80 points (28 ROW) 4 games remaining 7. CAROLINA (MET) – 79 points 8. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (MET) – 72 points 9. FLORIDA (ATL) – 62 points 10. BUFFALO (ATL) – 51 points ( WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION1. ST. LOUIS* - 111 points (43 ROW) 4 games remaining 2. COLORADO* – 107 points (45 ROW) 4 games remaining 3. CHICAGO* – 105 points (39 ROW) 3 games remaining  PACIFIC DIVISION1. ANAHEIM* – 108 points (48 ROW) 4 games remaining 2. SAN JOSE* – 107 points (39 ROW) 3 games remaining 3. LOS ANGELES* – 96 points (37 ROW) 3 games remaining  WILD CARD1. MINNESOTA (CEN) – 92 points (32 ROW) 4 games remaining 2. DALLAS (CEN) – 87 points (35 ROW) 4 games remaining -----------------3. PHOENIX (PAC) – 86 points (30 ROW) 4 games remaining 4. NASHVILLE (CEN) – 81 points (33 ROW) 4 games remaining 5. VANCOUVER (PAC) – 81 points (30 ROW) 4 games remaining 6. WINNIPEG (CEN) – 80 points 7. CALGARY (PAC) – 73 points 8. EDMONTON (PAC) – 63 points ( IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY…. EASTERN CONFERENCEATL1. Boston v WC2. Columbus ATL2. Montreal v ATL3. Tampa BayMET1. Pittsburgh v WC1. Detroit MET2. NY Rangers v MET3. Philadelphia WESTERN CONFERENCECEN1. St. Louis v WC2. Dallas CEN2. Colorado v CEN3. ChicagoPAC1. Anaheim v WC1. Minnesota PAC2. San Jose v PAC3. Los Angeles ]>
Here's our preview of tonight's MLB action in the National League... CINCINNATI REDS (2-4) @ ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (3-3)Busch Stadium - 21:15 GMTExpected pitchers - Cingrani (0-0, 0.00) vs. Wacha (0-0, 0.00) The Cincinnati Reds are expected to contend again for a playoff spot in the NL Central, coming off a strong 90-win campaign that saw them through to the Wild Card playoff in 2013. As was expected, their pitching staff has been particularly strong, allowing  or fewer runs in 3 of their first six games. The problem for the Reds in the early going have been their bats, where everyday starters Bobbie Hamilton and Zack Cozart have both struggled to get anything going offensively. The team sought balanced offensive punch behind the reliable Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips this season, so they will hope that early season struggles can be overcome soon. Being defending N.L. champions, the Cardinals had a big target painted on their back to start the 2014 campaign. Their 3-3 start belies what has been a strong pitching start to the year for St. Louis. With the exception of a 12-2 loss to Pittsburgh on Friday, the Cards have allowed a minimal amount of runs (10 in their other 5 games). Monday's starter is Michael Wacha, who didn't allow a run and just 3 hits on 6 2/3 innings pitched against Cincinnati in his first start of the season, form which he will look to continue into another match-up with the Reds. The Cards won the opening series between these two teams 2 games to 1. PICK: St. Louis CHICAGO WHITE SOX (3-3) @ COLORADO ROCKIES (3-4)Coors Field - 01:40 GMT Expected pitchers - Paulino (0-0, 1.69) vs. Lyles (1-0, 7.20) The Chicago White Sox entered 2014 in the midst of a serious organizational rebuild, so this was always going to be a tough year for them to be competitive. Still, they have looked competitive in their first two series of the year, posting a .500 record and looking capable offensively in doing so. Shortstop Alexei Ramirez (.455, 0HR 4RBI) has 10 hits from 22 AB, and looks like an excellent lead off presence for the club. With the exception of stellar ace Chris Sale (2-0, 1.76), the pitching has been relatively lackluster; the team hopes that veteran Felipe Paulino can build off a strong first start, and post improvements on Monday. As is so often the case with the team that occupies the Mile High confines of Coors Field, the only way the Rockies were going to compete for a playoff spot this season, was if their pitching stood up. Their first two series against Miami and Arizona were road series, and their bats definitely carried the day, particularly that of all-World leftfielder Carlos Gonzalez (.346, 2HR 8RBI). Now that they return home, all eyes will be back on the pitching staff, including Monday's starter Jordan Lyles. The team has high hopes for the 23-year old, and he can start to act on those hopes by posting a strong outing in his first of the season at Coors. PICK: Colorado MILWAUKEE BREWERS (4-2) @ PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (3-3)]>