Articles

WNBA Early Season Shootaround

by Sean Murphy

Friday, May 21, 2021

We're one week into the 2021 WNBA season and we've already seen plenty of surprises across the league. Here's a quick look at some key situations to keep an eye on heading into the second weekend of the season.Minny-slumpThe Minnesota Lynx are off to an improbable 0-3 start after a complete fourth quarter collapse against the Seattle Storm on Thursday. While the schedule-makers haven't been overly kind to the Lynx in the early going with two of their three games coming against title contenders in the Mercury and Storm, both of those games came at home and they also had a winnable road game against the Liberty which they lost 86-75. The good news is, reinforcements are on their way with two-way star in the making Napheesa Collier set to return from Covid quarantine. Note that the Lynx are in for an extended layoff as they won't take the court again until next Friday when they head to Seattle for a rematch with the Storm. Aces are wildWhile the Las Vegas Aces only managed to earn a split in a two-game season-opening set in Seattle, they still managed to put on quite a show, scoring 179 points led by 42 points from A'ja Wilson. Going back to the brief preseason, the Aces rank second in the WNBA in pace rating but they've been anything but careless, also checking in second in the league in fewest turnovers per game. Off Tuesday's blowout win over the Storm, the Aces have the opportunity to go on a run with four of their next five games coming at home, beginning with a date with the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday night. It's early but the Aces certainly look the part of a title contender - this time with a big chip on their shoulder after last year's Finals disappointment.Unpleasant Dream?The Atlanta Dream started the season completely out of sorts after head coach Nicki Collen surprisingly bolted for Baylor just weeks before the 2021 campaign began. They're off to a winless start through two games, checking in 10th in the league in defensive rating and 11th in offensive rating. Things don't figure to get a whole lot easier as they'll play their next two games on the road. The good news is Friday's opponent, the Indiana Fever, are in complete disarray having dropped their first three games this season. Dream first round draft pick Aari McDonald has yet to find her way, contributing just a single point in 27 minutes of action so far. Atlanta does have high hopes for a potential backcourt duo of McDonald and Chennedy Carter. For her part, Carter has accounted for nearly a quarter of the Dream's scoring output through two games. Mercury risingPhoenix is going to be a problem for many opponents this season with an explosive starting five that has seen all five players score in double-figures in two of three games so far (with four reaching the mark in the other). Having Brittney Griner back in the fold is obviously a major plus and she already appears to be in midseason form, contributing 47 points while grabbing 26 rebounds through three games. Along with Sue Bird of the Storm, Diana Taurasi is an ageless wonder, pouring in 50 points in her first three contests this season. Phoenix's tough early season schedule continues with consecutive home games against the undefeated Connecticut Sun and Las Vegas Aces up next.

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NHL Hockey: Edmonton Oilers vs. Winnipeg Jets Series Preview and Odds - 05/21/2021

by Big Al Staff

Friday, May 21, 2021

NHL North Division First Round Playoff Preview: Winnipeg Jets versus the Edmonton Oilers.Edmonton took second place in the North Division, representing the Canadian teams. Their 35-19-2 record produced 72 points, five points shy of Toronto for first place. This regular season for the Oilers continued the promise this team demonstrated last year when they finished fifth in the Western Conference before the stoppage of play. Their defense and goaltending let them down in the play-in qualifying series as they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in four games. General manager Ken Holland bolstered the offensive attack in the offseason. He signed defenseman Tyson Barrie as a free agent from Toronto to quarterback the power play. He had 34 assists as a Maple Leaf last season. Holland took a flier on center Kyle Turris, with the hopes that the 31-year old could resurrect his career away from Nashville. Holland was also able to convince Jesse Puljujarvi to return to the team after the former fourth pick in the 2013 draft left the club disgruntled after the 2019 season to return to his native Final to play professionally.Chronic shoulder issues kept Oscar Klebfbom, perhaps the team’s best pure defender, off the ice all season. Holland addressed that area of need at the trade deadline by acquiring Dmitry Kulikov from New Jersey. Edmonton will go as far as Connor McDavid can take them. He made his claim to being the best player in the world with 33 goals and 72 assists. His 105 points put him on a 154-point pace for a full regular season which would have put him in the rarefied air of Wayne Gretzky’s and Mario Lemieux’s best seasons. Leon Draisaitl anchors the second line at center with another 31 goals and 53 assists. These two play together on the Oilers’ power-play unit that led the league with a 27.6% success rate. That mark followed up a 29.5% conversion rate on the power play last season. Head coach Dave Tippet got better results when his team was playing at a man disadvantage this season. Edmonton was top-ten in the league in the fewest chances allowed, and they allowed the fewest goals when defending their opponent’s power play. Mike Smith rebounded from a .908 save percentage last season to post a .923 save percentage in 32 games. The 38-year-old posted a 21-6-2 record in his 30 starts with a 2.31 goals-against-average for the season. Winnipeg claimed the third seed in the North Division with a 30-23-3 record. Their 63 points were four points ahead of Montreal but nine points behind the Oilers. The Jets were in ninth place in the Western Conference when play stopped in March last season. Paul Maurice’s team returned in the bubble with a best-of-five qualifying series with Calgary, which they lost in four games. Injuries to Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine during that series left Winnipeg without two of their top forwards. Connor Hellebucyk was a bright spot, with a 2.57 goals-against-average and a .922 save percentage last season. His +20.8 saves above his expected save metric helped him win the Vezina Trophy for the best goaltender in the NHL. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff traded for forward Paul Stastny in the offseason to play on the second line. He then pulled off a blockbuster trade in January by trading Laine and forward Jack Roslovic to Columbus for center Pierre-Luc Dubois. Cheveldayoff acquired Jordie Benn from Vancouver at the trade deadline to add depth on the blue line.Center Mark Scheifele leads the team with 63 points coming from 21 goals and 42 assists. Left wing Kyle Connor’s 26 goals are a team-high. Hellebuyck has been good once again, with a 2.58 goals-against-average and a .916 save percentage. Edmonton dominated the regular-season series with seven wins in regulation in their nine meetings. McDavid was nearly unstoppable with nine goals and 15 assists in those nine games. However, Winnipeg upset the Oilers as a +145 money line underdog in the opener of this series in Edmonton on Wednesday.Edmonton hosts Winnipeg on Friday at 9 PM ET. BookMaker lists the Oilers as a -160 money line favorite with the total set at 5.5. The NBC Sports Network has the broadcast.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB, NBA, WNBA and NHL Previews and Odds - 05/21/2021

by Big Al Staff

Friday, May 21, 2021

The Friday sports card has action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and the WNBA.The play-in tournament for the NBA playoffs concludes with Golden State hosting Memphis in the final Western Conference elimination game on ESPN at 9 PM ET. The Warriors had their six-game winning streak end with their 103-100 loss in Los Angeles against the Lakers as a 5.5-point underdog on Wednesday. The Grizzlies advanced to this game with their 100-96 victory against San Antonio as a 4-point favorite on Wednesday. Golden State is a 4-point favorite with the total set at 220.5 (all odds from BetOnline). The winner takes the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs and a trip to Utah to begin a Western Conference quarterfinals playoff series on Sunday night.The first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs continues with four games. Boston plays at home against Washington on the NBC Sports Network at 6:30 PM ET. The Bruins took a 2-1 lead in this series with their 3-2 victory at home on Wednesday. Boston is a -171 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.Carolina travels to Nashville on the USA Network at 7 PM ET. The Hurricanes took a 2-0 lead in this series with their 3-0 shutout win at home on Wednesday. Carolina is a -145 money line road favorite with a total of 5. Edmonton hosts Winnipeg on the NBC Sports Network at 9 PM ET. The Jets upset the Oilers in the opening game of this series with their 4-1 victory on Wednesday. Edmonton is a -162 money line favorite with the over/under at 5.5. Colorado visits St. Louis on the USA Network at 9:30 PM ET. The Avalanche took a 2-0 lead in this series with their seventh straight victory in a 6-3 win on Wednesday. Colorado is a -213 money line road favorite with the total at 5.5. Fifteen games are on the MLB docket. The New York Yankees play at home against the Chicago White Sox at 7:05 PM ET as a -108 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Washington hosts Baltimore as a -205 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. Philadelphia is at home against Boston as a -152 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. Miami plays at home against the New York Mets at 7:10 PM ET as a -130 money line favorite with the total at 7. Milwaukee visits Cincinnati as a -113 money line favorite with a total of 9. Minnesota plays at Cleveland with both teams priced at -110 with an over/under of 8.5. Tampa Bay plays at Toronto at 7:37 PM ET as a -140 money line favorite with a total of 9.Houston visits Texas at 8:05 PM ET as a -123 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Kansas City plays at home against Detroit at 8:10 PM ET as a -151 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs travel to St. Louis at 8:15 PM ET as a -115 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8. Arizona plays at Colorado at 8:40 PM ET. Oakland travels to Los Angeles to play the Angels at 9:38 PM ET as a -113 money line road favorite with a total of 9. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit San Francisco at 9:45 PM ET as a -149 money line road favorite with an over/under of 7. San Diego hosts Seattle at 10:10 PM ET as a -205 money line favorite with a total of 7.5.Four games are on the WNBA slate. Atlanta plays at Indiana at 7 PM ET. New York visits Washington. Connecticut travels to Phoenix at 10 PM ET. Los Angeles is at Las Vegas on the CBS Sports Network at 10:30 PM ET.

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NHL Hockey: Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Preview, Odds and Prediction - 05/20/2021

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, May 20, 2021

NHL First Round Playoff Preview: Montreal Canadiens versus Toronto Maple Leafs.Toronto cruised to first place in the Canadien North Division with a 35-14-7 record and 77 points. The Maple Leafs enter the postseason with high expectations but the burden of a long recent history of playoff disappointments. The last time the organization won a playoff series was in 2004. They caught a break from the league when makeshift divisions were created with them separated from Atlantic Division rivals Boston and Tampa Bay, who have been thorns in their sides over the years. The pressure has only increased for the team to advance from the North Division playoffs to the Eastern Conference finals.The Maple Leafs fired head coach Mike Babcock after a 9-10-4 start last year. Sheldon Keefe was promoted from their minor league affiliate with the expectation that he would make better use of the core young talent on the team. The group responded by finishing in eighth place in the Eastern Conference while playing at a pace that would have generated 103 points during a full regular season. But losing to Columbus in the Stanley Cup qualifying round continued left more questions for the franchise. General manager Kyle Dubas was active in the offseason. He signed T.J. Brodie from Calgary to upgrade the blue line. Adding veterans Joe Thornton, Joey Anderson, Wayne Simmons, and Zach Bogosian offered the team more players with playoff experience to bolster the character in the locker room. Dubas continued this endeavor at the trade deadline by acquiring forwards Nick Foligno and Riley Nash from Columbus and defenseman Ben Hutton from Anaheim. Auston Matthews leads the team with 47 goals and 81 points as he continues to thrive after getting more minutes per game under Keefe. Mitch Marner has 67 points playing the top line partnered with Matthews. John Tavares added 19 goals and 31 assists anchoring the second line. Keefe will be giving Jack Campbell his first opportunity as the number one goalie in the postseason. Injuries to Frederik Anderson created the opportunity for Campbell to take the job. He responded with a 2.15 goals-against-average and a .921 save percentage which helped him post a 17-3-2 record in his 22 starts. Anderson has a career 10-14 record in the playoffs with the Maple Leafs, and this is the final year of his contract after a disappointing 2019-20. Montreal held on to the fourth and final playoff spot in the East Division despite losing their last five games. The Canadiens finished the regular season with a 24-21-11 record, good for 59 points. The team entered the year with momentum after upsetting Pittsburgh in the qualifying round in the bubble last year before giving Philadelphia a competitive series before losing in six games. All four of Montreal’s losses to the Flyers were by only one goal. The Canadiens started fast this season only to struggle with injuries and some disappointing performances from players they were counting on to continue their momentum after being the last team to qualify for the bubble last season. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, the third pick in the 2019 draft, had a breakout postseason in the bubble last year, but the center has taken a step back this year. Shea Weber’s skills are deteriorating at 35-years of age. Top-line right wing Brendan Gallagher missed 21 games to injury. Jonathan Drouin, the number three pick in the 2013 draft, played 44 games before taking a leave of absence for a non-COVID illness that will keep him out of the postseason. The midseason slump was too much for the Montreal management, who relieved head coach Claude Julien of his duties on February 24th. Assistant head coach Dominique Ducharme took over on an interim basis. Forward Tyler Toffoli leads the team with 28 goals in 52 games. Defenseman Jeff Petry has added 30 assists. 21-year-old center Nick Suzuki had 15 goals and 21 assists after a breakout performance in the bubble. Goaltender Carey Price has struggled with post-concussion symptoms for much of the season, but he appears ready to be between the pipes for the Canadiens in this series. Price only had a .901 save percentage and a 2.64 goals-against-average in 25 games. Price has not posted elite goaltending numbers since 2016-17, yet the Montreal faithful hope he can flip the switch just as he did last year. After a subpar regular season, Price had a .937 save percentage in his ten games in the Toronto bubble. Toronto won seven of the ten meetings between these two teams in the regular season. This showdown is the first meeting in the postseason for the two Canadian representatives in the NHL original six in 42 years. The opening game of this best-of-seven series begins on Thursday at 7:30 PM ET on the NHL Network and then on the USA Network at the conclusion of the Tampa Bay/Florida game broadcast. BetOnline lists Toronto as a -200 money line favorite with the total set at 5.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and WNBA Previews and Odds - 05/20/2021

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, May 20, 2021

The Thursday sports card has action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and the WNBA.The play-in tournament for the NBA playoffs continues with the Eastern Conference elimination game. Washington hosts Indiana on TNT at 8:10 PM ET. The Wizards lost their play-in game in Boston, 118-105, as a 1.5-point underdog on Tuesday. Indiana has won four of their last six games after winning their play-in game against Charlotte, 144-117, as a 1.5-point favorite on Tuesday. Washington is a 3-point favorite with the total set at 238.5. The winner earns the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff and a first-round series with top-seeded Philadelphia, beginning on Sunday. The Stanley Cup playoffs continue with four games. Tampa Bay plays at home against Florida on the USA Network at 6:30 PM ET. The Lightning took a 2-0 lead against the Panthers with their 3-1 victory on Tuesday. Florida is a -136 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.The New York Islanders are at home against Pittsburgh on the NBC Sports Network at 7 PM ET. The Penguins evened this series at one game apiece with their 2-1 victory on Tuesday. The Islanders are a -108 money line favorite with the total at 5. Toronto is at home against Montreal at 7:30 PM ET in the opening game of their seven-game North Division series. The Maple Leafs have lost two in a row after playing on Friday in a 4-2 loss at Winnipeg. The Canadiens have lost five in a row after their 4-3 loss to Edmonton last Wednesday. Toronto is a -200 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The NHL Network begins the broadcast with the USA Network moving to the game at the conclusion of the Panthers/Lightning game. Vegas visits Minnesota on the NBC Sports Network at 9:30 PM ET. The Golden Knights evened this series at a game apiece with their 3-1 victory on Tuesday. Vegas is a -111 money line road favorite with a total of 5.5. Eleven games are on the MLB slate. The card begins at 12:35 PM ET with Cincinnati playing at home against San Francisco as a -137 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Tampa Bay visits Baltimore as a -159 money line road favorite with the total at 9. The New York Yankees travel to Texas at 2:05 PM ET as a -132 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Chicago Cubs are at home against Washington at 2:20 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite. Houston plays at Oakland at 3:37 PM ET as a -117 money line road favorite with the total at 8.5. Minnesota visits the Los Angeles Angels at 4:07 PM ET in the opening game of their seven-inning doubleheader. Philadelphia hosts Miami at 7:05 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. The second game of the Twins/Angels doubleheader is set for 7:07 PM ET. Atlanta is at home against Pittsburgh at 7:20 PM ET as a -191 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. Toronto plays at home against Boston at 7:37 PM ET as a -122 money line favorite with an over/under of 10. The MLB card concludes at 10:10 PM ET with Arizona playing in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.One game is on the WNBA docket. Seattle visits Minnesota at 8 PM ET.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/19/2021

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

The Wednesday sports card has action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, and the English Premier League.The play-in tournament for the NBA playoffs continues with a doubleheader on ESPN. Memphis hosts San Antonio at 7:40 PM ET. The Grizzlies had their five-game winning streak end after their 113-101 loss at Golden State as a 3-point underdog on Sunday. The Spurs have lost four in a row after their 123-121 loss to Phoenix as a 2-point underdog on Sunday. Memphis is a 4-point favorite with the total set at 222 (all odds from BetOnline). The winner of this game plays the loser of the Warriors/Lakers contest to determine the eighth-seed for the Western Conference playoffs.The Los Angeles Lakers play at home against Golden State at 10:10 PM ET. The Lakers have won five in a row with their 110-98 win at New Orleans as a 9.5-point favorite on Sunday. The Warriors have won eight of their last nine games after their 113-101 win against Memphis as a 3-point favorite on Sunday. Los Angeles is a 5-point favorite with an over/under of 219.5. The winner inherits the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The loser plays on Friday against the victor of the first game to determine the eighth seed. Five games are on the NHL schedule. Calgary and Vancouver conclude their seasons at 3:30 PM ET with the Flames hosting the Canucks as a -165 money line favored with the total at 6. Boston plays at home against Washington on the NBC Sports Network at 6:30 PM ET in the third game of their East Division playoff series. The Bruins evened the series at 1-1 on Monday with their 4-3 victory. Boston is a -165 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.Carolina is at home against Nashville on CNBC at 8 PM ET in the second game of their Central Division playoff series. The Hurricanes won the first game of this series, 5-2, on Monday. Carolina is a -180 money line favorite with the total at 5.5. Edmonton plays at home against Winnipeg on the NBC Sports Network at 9 PM ET in the opening game of their North Division series. The Oilers ended a three-game losing streak with their 4-1 win against Vancouver on Saturday. The Jets have won two in a row with their 4-2 victory against Toronto on Saturday. Edmonton is a -155 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. Colorado hosts St. Louis on CNBC at 10:30 PM ET in the second game of their West Division series. The Avalanche won the opening game of this series with a 4-1 win on Monday. Colorado is a -307 money line favorite with the total at 5.5.Fifteen games are on the MLB slate. The Chicago White Sox travels to Minnesota at 1:10 PM ET as a -136 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. San Diego plays at home against Colorado at 4:10 PM ET as a -237 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. Philadelphia is at home against Miami at 7:05 PM ET as a -120 money line favorite with the total at 7.5. Tampa Bay visits Baltimore. The New York Mets travel to Atlanta at 7:20 PM ET. Toronto hosts Boston at 7:37 PM ET as a -110 money line favorite with an over/under of 10.5. Washington visits the Chicago Cubs at 7:45 PM ET as a -147 money line road favorite.The New York Yankees travel to Texas at 8:05 PM ET. Cleveland visits the Los Angeles Angels at 8:07 PM ET. Milwaukee visits Kansas City at 8:10 M ET as a -175 money line road favorite, with the total at 7.5. Houston plays at Oakland at 9:40 PM ET as a -175 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Seattle hosts Detroit at 10:10 PM ET as a -135 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. Arizona plays at the Los Angeles Dodgers.Two games take place in the WNBA at 7 PM ET. Indiana visits Connecticut on the CBS Sports Network. Chicago plays at Atlanta. Six games take place in the English Premier League to conclude Matchweek 37. Everton plays at home against Wolverhampton at 1 PM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.25. Newcastle United hosts Sheffield United as a -0.75 goal line favorite with a total of 2.75. Tottenham is at home against Aston Villa as a -1 goal line favorite with an over/under of 3. Arsenal visits Crystal Palace at 2 PM ET as a -1 goal line road favorite with a total of 2.75. Liverpool visits Burnley at 3:15 PM ET as a -1.75 goal line road favorite with an over/under of 3.5. West Ham United travels to West Bromwich Albion as a -1 goal line road favorite with a total of 3.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/18/2021

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

The Tuesday sports card has action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, and the English Premier League.The play-in tournament for the NBA playoffs begins with a doubleheader on TNT. Indiana hosts Charlotte at 6:30 PM ET. The Pacers ended a two-game losing streak with a 125-113 victory at Toronto as a 5.5-point favorite on Sunday. The Hornets have lost five in a row after a 115-110 loss at Washington as a 6.5-point underdog on Sunday. Indiana is a 3-point favorite with the total set at 227.5 (all odds from BetOnline). The winner of this game plays the loser of the Washington/Boston contest to determine the eighth-seeded team for the Eastern Conference playoffs. Boston plays at home against Washington at 9:10 PM ET. The Celtics have lost five of their last six games after their 96-92 loss at New York as a 12-point underdog on Sunday. The Wizards have won two in a row with their 115-110 victory against Charlotte as a 6.5-point favorite on Sunday. Boston is a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 232.5. The winner of this game earns the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. The loser plays on Thursday against the victor of the first game to determine the eighth seed. Four games are on the NHL schedule. Calgary visits Vancouver at 4 PM ET as a -129 money line road favorite with a total of 6 as both teams play out the remainder of their regular season. Pittsburgh is at home against the New York Islanders on the NBC Sports Network at 7:30 PM ET in the second game of their East Division playoff series. The Islanders won the opener of this series with their 4-3 win in overtime on Sunday. The Penguins are a -130 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. Tampa Bay plays at Florida at 8 PM ET on CNBC in the second game of their Central Division playoff series. The Lightning won the opener with a 5-4 victory on Sunday. The Panthers had their six-game winning streak end with the setback. Tampa Bay is a -126 money line road favorite with the total at 6. Vegas plays at home against Minnesota on the NBC Sports Network at 10 PM ET. The Wild won the opening game after breaking up a scoreless tie in overtime on Sunday. The Golden Knights are a -160 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.Fifteen games are on the MLB slate. Cincinnati hosts San Francisco at 6:40 PM ET as a -114 money line favorite with a total of 8. Tampa Bay travels to Baltimore at 7:05 PM ET as a -147 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Miami visits Philadelphia. The New York Mets visit Atlanta at 7:20 PM ET. Toronto is at home against Boston as a -130 money line favorite with the total at 9. Washington plays at the Chicago Cubs at 7:40 PM ET as a -110 money line road favorite. The Chicago White Sox play at Minnesota as a -110 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8. St. Louis plays at home against Pittsburgh as a -127 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. The New York Yankees play at Texas on ESPN at 8:05 PM ET as a -161 money line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Milwaukee visits Kansas City at 8:10 PM ET. The Los Angeles Angeles host Cleveland at 9:38 PM ET as a -132 money line favorite with the total at 8. Oakland is at home against Houston at 9:40 PM ET as a -112 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. San Diego plays at home against Colorado at 10:10 PM ET as a -200 money line favorite with a total of 7. Seattle is at home against Detroit as a -120 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers host Arizona.Three games are on the WNBA docket. Minnesota visits New York at 7 PM ET. Phoenix travels to Washington at 8 PM ET on ESPN2. Las Vegas plays at Seattle in the second game on ESPN2 at 10 PM ET. Matchweek 37 of the English Premier League begins on Tuesday with four matches that are on the Peacock app. Manchester United hosts Fulham at 1 PM ET as a -1.5 goal line favorite with the total at 3. Leeds United visits Southampton at 1 PM ET in a pick ‘em match up with an over/under of 3.25. Manchester City travels to Brighton and Hove Albion at 2 PM ET as a -1.25 money line road favorite with a total of 2.75. Chelsea plays at home against Leicester City at 3:15 PM ET on the NBC Sports Network (and Peacock) as a -0.75 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.25.

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NHL Hockey: Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues Series Preview, Odds and Prediction - 05/17/2021

by Big Al Staff

Monday, May 17, 2021

NHL West Division First Round Playoff Preview: St. Louis Blues versus the Colorado Avalanche.Colorado finished tied with Vegas for the most points in the NHL at 82. The Avalanche clinched the tie-breaker to seize the top seed in the divisional playoffs with their 2-1 victory in Las Vegas in the second to last game in the regular season last week. That win also allowed the organization to claim the President’s Trophy for the league's best record.Jared Bednar’s team was on pace for more than 110 points had this been a full season. His group led the NHL in both net goal differential and expected goals net differential. General manager Joe Sakic heads one of the more analytically-driven organizations in the league. Colorado has generated the best five-on-five analytics for any team since the 2007-08 season. The Avalanche made noise two years ago after upsetting the top-seeded Calgary Flames in the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs. With big expectations last season, they finished second in the conference before the stoppage of play. After defeating Arizona in the opening round of the playoffs, Colorado lost in the second round to a Dallas team that would eventually take Tampa Bay to six games in the Stanley Cup finals. Colorado is blessed with one of the elite young talents in the game in Nathan MacKinnon. The top-line center scored 20 goals and added 45 assists in 48 games. He is joined on the Avalanche top line by Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen, who contributed another 52 and 66 points, respectively. Last year’s Calder Trophy winner, Cale Makar tied with Rantanen with 36 assists in his 44 games while becoming one of the top defensemen in the league. Philipp Grubauer posted a 30-9-1 record this season after his injury left a big hole between the crease during last year’s playoffs. He has a 1.95 goals-against-average and a .922 save percentage. He was not as effective down the stretch with a .908 save percentage in his last ten games, yet he stopped 36 of 37 shots from Golden Knights last week in what was the biggest game of the regular season. Sakic traded for San Jose goaltender Devan Dubnyk at the trade deadline, given the season-ending injury to backup Pavel Francouz. He also added size by picking up center Carl Soderberg and defenseman Patrick Nemeth to help in a possible showdown with Vegas in the next round.Colorado must first dispose of a St. Louis team that is two years removed from lifting the Stanley Cup trophy. The Blues’ defense of their title was going well even without their star right wing Vladimir Tarasenko, who was battling a shoulder injury. They had the best record in the Western Conference before the stoppage of play. However, Craig Berube’s team was swept in their three-round robin games once play resumed in the summer before getting upset in the first round by Vancouver. General manager Doug Armstrong lost captain Alex Pietrangelo in the offseason when he signed with Vegas. He adapted by signing Torey Krug from Boston to a seven-year, $45.5 million deal to take the open spot on the blue line. Armstrong also brought in forward Mike Hoffman from Florida. Former Selke and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Ryan O’Reilly was named the new captain. The group struggled in a top-heavy realigned West Division before winning eight of their last twelve games to claim the final spot in the divisional playoffs with a 27-20-9 record and 63 points. After multiple shoulder surgeries, Tarasenko has returned to the ice to score four goals and assist on another ten goals in 24 games. O’Reilly leads the team with 24 goals and 30 assists. Krug has 30 assists while anchoring the power play. Jordan Binnington rebounded from a nightmare postseason with a 2.65 goals-against-average and a .910 save percentage. He has a .921 save percentage in his 16 games. The Blues hope their playoff experience and physical brand of hockey will neutralize a talented Avalanche team that has yet to reach a Western Conference final in the MacKinnon era. Colorado won five of the eight regular-season meetings, outscoring them by a 26-21 margin. An 8-0 victory on January 15th skews those numbers. St. Louis won the final two games in late April without having to face Grubauer in goal.BetAnySports lists Colorado as a -320 money line favorite with the total set at 5.5 for the opening game of this series on Monday. The NBC Sports Network broadcasts the game at 10 PM ET.Prediction:  Colorado Avalanche win series 4 games to 0

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Ness Notes: The NBA's "Second Season" (Extended Cut)

by Larry Ness

Monday, May 17, 2021

This the first of a two-part article on the 2021 NBA playoffs. Part 2 will be available "first thing" Saturday morning May 22.The 2020-21 NBA regular season came to a close on Sunday and the playoffs will begin on May 22 (it will end with the 2021 NBA Finals in July). The top-six teams in each conference are already in this year's postseason but for the first time a play-in tournament will precede the playoffs. The format (not universally loved) is really rather simple. Let's look closer. The 7th-through 10th-ranked teams compete for the final playoff spots, the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in each conference. The seventh-place teams in each conference will host the eighth-place teams, with the winners claiming the seventh seed in the playoffs. The losers of those games will host the winners of the two games contested between the 9th-and 10th-place teams (9th-place teams play at home vs the 10th-place teams). The two winners from those contests claim the eighth seed in each conference. Bottom line is that the No. 7 and No. 8 teams can clinch a playoff berth with just one win, while the No. 9 and No. 10 teams will need to win TWO games to earn a playoff spot.Twelve teams have secured playoff berths. The two No. 1 seeds are the 52-20 Utah Jazz in the West and the 49-23 Philadelphia 76ers in the East. The Jazz are back in the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, a year after blowing a 3-1 lead to the Nuggets in the first round of last year's Orlando's 'bubble.' The Jazz edged the Suns by ONE game and it's the first time in franchise history that the Jazz have finished with sole possession of the best record in the NBA. Utah had twice previously tied for the best record in 1998 and in the lockout-shortened season in 1999. Philadelphia also earned its top seed by just ONE game over the Nets. The 76ers last earned the East's top seed back in 2001 when Allen" We're Talkin' About Practice" Iverson won the MVP and Larry Brown won coach of the year. That team reached the NBA finals before losing to the Shaq and Kobe Lakers in five games. The 76ers won Game 1 (the 'step-over') but then lost FOUR straight. Philadelphia had made the playoffs 10 times since that 2001 Finals appearance (current run of four straight postseason appearances) without coming close to the Finals in any attempt. This 2021 appearance makes it 11 times since 2001. Will it be a "lucky 11?" Here's a list of seeds two through six in each conference. The Phoenix Suns went 8-0 SU & ATS in last year's Orlando 'bubble' but failed to make last year's postseason field. Phoenix ended its 10-season playoff drought with a bang in 2021 by going 51-21 to grab the West's No. 2 seed (the Suns' 42-28-2 ATS record is the "Best in the West" and the second-best in the entire NBA. The Nuggets and Clippers each finished 47-25, with Denver earning the No. 3 seed by having won two of three vs LA in the regular season. The Mavericks, Blazers and Lakers each finished 42-30, with Dallas breaking its three-way tie with Portland and Los Angeles by virtue of its Southwest Division title. Portland got the No. 6 seed (Blazers now own the NBA's longest-active playoff streak at EIGHT in row) because it won TWO of three over the Lakers in the regular season. The defending champs have been relegated to the "Play-In" tournament (see below). The 48-24 Brooklyn Nets fell ONE game shy of the East's top-seeded 76ers but finished two games better than the 46-26 Milwaukee Bucks, earning the No. 2 seed. The Bucks settled for the No. 3 seed, after owning the East's (and the NBA's) No. 1 seed each of the last two seasons. Milwaukee's current .639 winning percentage is far off its .748 percentage of the previous two seasons (116-39). The NY Knicks and Atlanta Hawks both finished 41-31, with the Knicks winning the tiebreaker to earn the No. 4 seed. New York ended a SEVEN-year playoff drought in 2021 (last playoff appearance was in the 2012-13 season) by winning 16 of its final 20 games. FYI, the Kicks were the NBA's best ATS team during the regular season, going 45-26-1. Many have likely forgotten that the Hawks had a run of 10 consecutive playoff appearances from the 2007-08 season through the 2016-17 season, mostly because Atlanta entered the current season with a three-season run of just 73-158 (.316). The No. 6 seed in the East belongs to the 40-32 Miami Heat, who last year made a memorable postseason run in the Orlando 'bubble' that saw them make it all the way to the NBA Finals (lost in six games to the Lakers).Eight others have qualified for the "Play-In" tournament and I'll get to the 7-10 seeds in a moment. However, let me first mention THREE teams among the 10 whose seasons are already over. Toronto won the 2019 NBA title and lost a seven-game series to Boston in the Eastern semifinals last year. The Raptors' 111-43 (.721) regular season record the last two years was second to only the Milwaukee Bucks. However, the Raptors finished the current season 27-45, ending seven consecutive playoff appearances. The Raptors were in the mix for a postseason berth in 2021 until they lost 10 of their last 11. Being forced to play their home games in Tampa didn't help, as the Raptors finished 11-25 at 'home.'Unlike Toronto, Houston's season was all but 'over' as soon as James Harden 'held his breath' until the Rockets traded him to the Brooklyn Nets on January 14. Houston was 11-10 on the morning of Feb 6 but went on to lose 45 of its last 51 games. At 17-55, Houston owns the NBA's worst record this season, ending the NBA's longest-active playoff run at EIGHT in a row. It's no surprise that the Sacramento Kings extended the NBA's longest playoff drought this season by finishing 31-41. In doing so, the Kings have tied the Clippers (1977-1991) for the longest postseason drought in NBA history (15). The team's last playoff game was back on May 5, 2006. Let me add this, right out of the "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" department. Sacramento hired Rick Adelman prior to the 1998-99 season (strike year) and the Kings were one of the most successful teams in the Western Conference over the next EIGHT seasons, qualifying for the playoffs every year of his Sacramento career. Despite his overall record of 395-229 (.633) in that span, His contract was not renewed after the 2005-06 season. Good decision Sacramento. Since ridding themselves of Adelman, the Kings have gone through 10 head coaches, compiling a 437-757 (.366) record On to 2021's "Play-In" Tournament. 36-36 Boston finished 7th in the East, followed by 34-38 Washington (8th), 34-38 Indiana (9th) and 33-39 Charlotte (10th). Over in the West, the defending champions Lakers (42-30) are 7th, the 39-33 Warriors are 8th, the 38-34 Grizzlies are 9th and the 33-39 Spurs are 10th. San Antonio is the lone Western Conference team 'alive' with a losing record, while THREE of the four East "Play-In" teams own losing records. The 'fun' begins Tuesday on TNT, which will cover the Eastern Conference games. No. 10 Charlotte will play at No. 9 Indiana with tip-off listed at 6:40 ET. The Hornets are hoping to end a four-year playoff drought, while the Pacers have been to the playoffs in NINE of the last 10 seasons (including FIVE in a row). The Hornets 'limp' into Tuesday night's game having lost 15 of their last 21, including FIVE in a row. The Pacers are playing  a little bit better (13-12 over their last 25 games) but also own the worst home record (13-23) of any team not yet eliminated. Indiana took two of three from Charlotte in the regular season and is favored by three points (over/under is 228). The HUGELY disappointing Celtics have been to the postseason in 12 of the last 13 years (including SIX straight) but draw the surging Wizards in this 7/8 matchup. Washington had gone a combined 57-97 (.370) the previous two seasons but behind Beal and Westbrook, turned around what looked like another 'lost' season. Washington was just 17-32 through April 5 but won 17 of its final 23 games. The Celtics took two of three regular season meetings with the tip-off set for 9:10 ET. Boston is favored by just 1 1/2-points (over/under is 233).Action in the West begins Wednesday, as the No. 10 Spurs are in Memphis to take on the No. 9 Grizzlies. San Antonio (and Pop) saw their run of 22 consecutive postseason appearances end last year and the Spurs don't look like a team capable of winning two straight on the road to grab the No. 8 seed this season. The Spurs sat 31-29 through April 26 but ended the regular season by losing 10 of their last 12 games. Memphis made SEVEN straight playoff appearances from the 2010-11 season through the 2016-17 season but opened the current season off three straight losing years (combined 89-146, .376 record). Memphis hovered around .500 for most of the season before ripping off FIVE straight wins from May 8-14, to set up a Sunday showdown in San Francisco vs the Warriors (winner got the No. 8 spot). Golden St won that game 113-101, so Memphis MUST beat San Antonio (Grizzlies took two three in the regular season) plus win on the road Friday at the loser of the 7/8 matchup. ESPN is covering the Western Conference games and tip-off is set for 7:40 ET with Memphis favored by 3 1/2-points (over/under is 222). Last but surely not least, it's the defending champion Lakers hosting the Warriors at 10:10 ET. The Lakers won the franchise's 17th NBA title last season (tied with Boston for the most of any team), while the Warriors, coming off FIVE consecutive appearances in the Finals (won three), owned the NBA's worst record at 15-50. LA's current season has been marred by injuries to both A.D. (missed 36 games) and LBJ (missed 27) but was just a tiebreaker (or two) away from coming away with the West's No. 5 seed. As noted above, the Warriors were able to secure the No. 8 spot by beating the Grizzlies this past Sunday, as Steph Curry (the NBA's leading scorer) can lay a legitimate claim to MVP honors (not saying he should win it!). However, he almost single-handedly led Golden St to EIGHT wins in its last nine games, including SIX in a row to end the regular season. The Lakers, who took two of three in the regular season, are favored by 4 1/2-points (over/under is 219 1/2).The loser of the 7/8 matchup will host the winner of the 9/10 matchup on Thursday (TNT) in the East and on Friday (ESPN) in the West. Those two winners will claim the No. 8 seeds in their respective conferences. The typical 16-team NBA playoff format begins on Saturday. Check back "first thing" Saturday morning for Part 2 of my look at the NBA's "Second Season."Good luck...Larry

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NHL Playoff Breakdown

by Ben Burns

Monday, May 17, 2021

If the first few games are any indication, we're in for an exciting NHL postseason. For the first time in history, the first three games of the NHL playoffs all went to Overtime. In fact, the fourth game nearly did, too. The third of those OT games was an epic duel between a pair of veteran goalies, Cam Talbot of the Minnesota Wild and Marc-Andre Fleury of the Vegas Knights. In last year's playoffs, there wasn't a single game which was scoreless after regulation. This year, it happened on the first full day of games. (It had previously happened in April of 2019, a game between the Islanders and Hurricanes.) Fleury, the first goalie to ever play in 15 straight postseasons, made some huge saves. Talbot made even more. Forty-two of them. Minnesota won 1-0, reminding us of the importance of "hot goaltending" in the playoffs. It's hard to predict which goalies are going to "get hot" at the right time, as they're all capable of doing so. It's important to pay attention to how they look out of the gate; the playoffs are an entirely different beast. Here are some to keep an eye on:Vasilevskiy (Tampa) Though he wasn't spectacular in the opening game of this year's playoffs, he still did enough. Vasilevskiy would stop 35 of 39 en route to the 5-4 win. He proved himself in last year's postseason and he's off a dominant regular season. Fleury (Vegas) At 36, Fleury is still playing at a very high level. As mentioned, this is his 15th straight trip to the playoffs. He's hoisted the Cup before and he managed career bests in both goals against average and save percentage during the regular season.Campbell (Toronto) Unlike the others, Campbell doesn't have playoff experience. There's also a lot of pressure on him. Still, he was excellent in the regular season and we've see young goalies get it done in the past.Rask (Boston) Rask has been playing at a high level for years but hasn't won the Cup as a starter (Rask was backup to Tim Thomas when the Bruins won in 2011.) He battled injuries this season but now appears to be healthyTalbot (Minnesota) Talbot wouldn't have necessarily cracked this list, if not for his superb effort in 1-0 win over the Knights. He's played well in the playoffs in the past though. He's going to need to keep standing on his head if the Wild want to knock off the Knights. There are a lot of other capable goalies in the field, too. Guys like Carey Price, Jordan Binnington and Semyon Varlamov. (Varlamov didn't play in the Isles' opener but rookie Ilya Sorokin stepped in and got the win.) Going forward, pay close attention to which goalies are playing their best. Confidence can be contagious. You may want to also keep an eye on the road teams, too. They're 3-1 through the first two days. Enjoy the games and good luck! 

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A Look at the NBA’s Play-In Tournament

by Will Rogers

Monday, May 17, 2021

EASTERN CONFERENCETuesdayWashington (8) at Boston (7)Celtics  -1.5      O/U 234Weird season all around, but none weirder than Washington’s. The Wizards opened the season 3-12, and then things started to go bad. There were five- and four-game losing streaks post All-Star Game, but here they are knocking on the door against a gasping Celtics team. Washington rode a resurgent Russell Westbrook to eight straight wins in a 12-5 April that moved the Wizards back in the playoff hunt. The Wizards have more than a puncher’s chance against Boston, which was outscored despite winning two of three against Washington. The Celtics, who are in disarray defensively and still haven’t yet figured out a way to cover for tiny guard Kemba Walker, were torched by Bradley Beal this year. Beal averaged nearly 42 in the three games vs. Boston, which has given up huge nights to numerous guards all year. Jaylen Brown (wrist) is out for the season, leaving the bulk of the scoring load to Walker and Jayson Tatum. Look for Washington to double-team Tatum all night; he struggles to find open teammates when swarmed.TuesdayCharlotte (10) at Indiana (9)Pacers  -3.5    O/U 229Heading into the post-season with five straight losses isn’t quite what Charlotte had in mind. The Hornets will now have to win two straight road games after blowing an 11-point lead and losing to Washington in the final regular season game. That’s a big problem, but not the only big problem for Charlotte. They need to figure out what to do with Pacers bigs Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner. Sabonis is an all-star who averaged better 20 and 12 this season, and Turner blocks nearly four shots a game and will make things problematic for LaMelo Ball’s drives. If things weren’t bad enough for Charlotte, Swiss army knife Gordon Hayward doesn’t expect to be able to go in the Play-In Tournament; Hayward missed 24 of the Hornets’ 72 games this season, and Charlotte was 8-16 in those games. If there is any consolation for Charlotte, it’s that Indy was atrocious at home this season, going 13-23 – the worst home record of any team in the post-season this year.WESTERN CONFERENCEWednesdaySan Antonio (10) at Memphis (9)Grizzlies -3.5     O/U 225.5How many times has San Antonio played a post-season game and NOT had the best player in the series? Not too often, but that will be the case in this one-and-doner. The Grizzlies feature up-and-coming star Ja Morant and a whole lot of people who know their roles, and accept them. SA got its fill of Morant when the Grizzlies overpowered the Spurs in back-to-back games just before the All-Star break. But that set of games three months of go featured a different San Antonio defense. Since then LaMarcus Aldridge has been jettisoned and a younger 5-man, Jakob Poeltl, has taken over. San Antonio isn’t exactly breezing into the Play-In – the Spurs closed the season with four straight losses. But in a single game, would you bet against any team coached by Gregg Popovich? That would take plenty of courage. The Grizz, meanwhile, are young and strong and running against the wind, and figure to be a tough out if they manage to get past San Antonio and into the playoffs proper.WednesdayGolden State (8) at Los Angeles Lakers (7)Lakers -6.5      O/U 222.5LeBron James saw this one coming a mile away while he was rehabbing a sprained ankle that kept him off the court for several weeks. Now it’s a reality, and while the NBA no doubt is delighted with the TV rating that a James-Steph Curry match will no doubt draw, James will be grouchy as the defending champions face the possibility of having to win one of the next two before even thinking about the real playoffs. The Warriors sans Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant still managed to finish six games over .500 this season in the West, and it’s clear to anyone and everyone that Golden State – which won the NBA title only two years ago – will sink or swim on whether Curry (the NBA scoring champ this season) can continue his torrid shooting. The Lakers, meanwhile, did everything they could to avoid the Play-In, winning their final five games. But they needed help elsewhere, and didn’t get it. To make matters worse, James seemed to re-injure his ankle in the season finale on Sunday. Wild horses won’t keep him off the court against GS, but will he be at 100 percent?

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NHL Hockey: Carolina Panthers vs. Nashville Predators Series Preview, Odds and Prediction - 05/17/2021

by Big Al Staff

Monday, May 17, 2021

NHL Central Division First Round Playoff Preview: Nashville Predators versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Carolina won the Central Division with a 36-12-8 record, with their 80 points being the third-most in the NHL this season. The Hurricanes made a surprise run to the Eastern Conference finals two years ago before getting swept by Boston. They made the playoffs again last summer, making it the first time the franchise qualified for the postseason in consecutive seasons since 2002. But Carolina ran into the Bruins once again, who eliminated them in the first round in the playoff bubble. General manager Don Waddell made few moves in the offseason, with the most significant addition being the signing forward Jesper Fast from the New York Rangers for depth on the bottom-six. With a young foundation of forwards Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and Teuvo Teravainen plus Dougie Hamilton on the blue line, the organization felt the pieces were in place to take the next step to reach a Stanley Cup final. Waddell was aggressive at the trade deadline last season by acquiring underachieving center Vincent Trocheck from Florida and Under third-year head coach Rod Brind’Amour, the Hurricanes are second in the league in both their power play and their power play kill units. Aho leads the team with 24 goals and 57 points. Hamilton tops the team with 32 assists. Trocheck has re-emerged with one of his best seasons since the Gerard Gallant era in Florida with 17 goals and 26 assists in 47 games. Svechnikov added another 15 goals and 27 assists. Teravainen missed 35 games to an injury, but he got back on the ice for the final eight games in the regular season. Goaltending was considered a question mark in the offseason, with Brind’Amour relying on the tandem of Petr Mrazek and James Reimer. Those two goaltenders and rookie Alex Nedeljkovic combined for a .935 save percentage at even strength, ranking second-best in the NHL. The Hurricanes lead the league by allowing only 1.78 goals per 60 minutes at even strength. Waddell made a minor move at the trade deadline this season by adding Jani Hakanpaa from Anaheim for more depth on the blue line.Nashville was close to being sellers at the trade deadline before they won twelve of fifteen games. The possibility of another playoff run compelled general manager David Poile not to dangle players like defenseman Mattias Ekholm or left wing Mikael Granlund. Instead, Poile added depth on the blue line by acquiring Erik Gudbranson from Ottawa. They enter the postseason with 20 victories in their last 28 games. The Predators reached the Stanley Cup finals in 2017. A loss in the Western Conference finals the next year was followed up by a first-round exit in 2019. Head coach Peter Laviolette was fired after a 19-15-7 start last season, with Poile bringing in John Hynes, who had been fired by New Jersey earlier that year. The team was eliminated in the play-in qualifier to Arizona after finishing seventh in the Western Conference in the abbreviated regular season. Nashville still has one of the best defensive pairs in the NHL in reigning Norris Trophy winner Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis. Eckholm anchors an effective second line. With goaltender Juuse Saros, the Predators lead the NHL with a .936 save percentage at even strength. They are third for the season by allowing 1.98 goals per 60 minutes at even strength, and they lead the league over their last 20 games by lowering that number to 1.66 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five. Carolina won the first six meetings between these two teams before dropping the last two games to Nashville earlier this month. BetOnline lists the Hurricanes as a -179 money line favorite with the total set at 5.Prediction:  Carolina Hurricanes win 4 games to 1

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