The Phoenix Coyotes and Nashville Predators have become the feel-good stories of the Western Conference playoffs, finally breaking through with big victories over storied franchises in the first round.
Both teams were underdogs in the first round but shut down their opponents in impressive fashion. They proved they can both score, hit and defend as well as any team left in the field. Continue reading
The New York Rangers finally figured out Ottawa’s Craig Anderson, and now carry all the momentum into Thursday night’s critical Game 7 Thursday night. After a 145-minute scoreless streak, the Rangers poured three goals in the second period of Game 6 in a 3-2 win.
It only promoted the notion that home ice just hasn’t been kind to the majority of teams in the NHL playoffs so far.
But the Rangers are hoping that trend stops tonight. New York has never lost a Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. Continue reading
This is a familiar place isn’t it?
Just last year the Boston Bruins made a remarkable run through the NHL Playoffs, becoming the first team in NHL history to win three Game 7s en route to the Stanley Cup championship.
We’re about to find out how much that really matters now as the Bruins square off against the Washington Capitals in another Game 7 Wednesday night. Continue reading
The Detroit Red Wings had the best home record in all of hockey, but that did little to help them against the Nashville Predators. Now they have to bail themselves out on the road in Game Five of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Predators snapped Detroit’s 23-game home win streak and now have a chance to snap its championship hopes at home on Friday. Getting surprise performances from some of their younger players, the Predators can close out the series tonight. Continue reading
Who saw this coming?
All that talk about a monumental sweep was silenced in powerful fashion as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the brakes off the Philadelphia Flyers Wednesday night, scoring 10 goals in a Game Four rout on the road.
The Penguins now return home in hopes of building on that momentum Friday night. The bad news is Philadelphia has won seven of eight at the Consol Energy Center. Continue reading
The Chicago Blackhawks suffered a huge blow Tuesday when points leader Marian Hossa was knocked out of the game on a huge hit by Phoenix Coyotes’ Raffi Torres.
With Hossa now out indefinitly, the Blackhawks try to swing back Thursday night in Game Four of the Western Conference playoffs.
Bovada is favoring Chicago by 1 1/2 goals with a -165 moneyline. It may be because of the extra motivation Torres provided. He was suspended indefinitly for the hit Chicago coach Joel Quenneville called “brutal”. Continue reading
How much things can change in a hurry.
The Vancouver Canucks were heavy favorites not only to beat the Los Angeles Kings, but to win the Western Conference Playoffs. A week later, it’s the Los Angeles Kings, eighth-seeded in the west, who are the darlings in NHL Futures Betting.
The Kings have won the first three games of their series with the Canucks, and look to close it out with a shocking sweep Wednesday night. The two teams square off in a pressure-packed Game Four at Staples Center. Continue reading
This wasn’t the kind of fight we were talking about.
With their backs against the walls in Game Three, the Pittsburgh Penguins came out swinging against the Philadelphia Flyers – literally.
Sidney Crosby and Co. brawled their way through most of Sunday’s playoff game, all to the the same result as the last two games. The Flyers delivered the biggest hook, blowing out Pittsburgh 8-4 to take a 3-0 series lead. Continue reading
That was fast.
Just a week ago, the Presidents’ Cup winners Vancouver Canucks were at the top of Bovada’s list to win the Western Conference playoffs. They were the number one seed and set to square off against the eight-seed Los Angeles Kings.
A week later, the favorite to win the west is still from that match-up, but its the Kings who have all the momentum. Continue reading
All eyes are on Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith as the series between the Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks shifts to Chicago on Tuesday night.
Smith has been able to turn away 89 of 95 shots on goal from the Blackhawks so far this series, but couldn’t shake off a big hit by Chicago’s Andrew Shaw. Continue reading