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NHL Hockey: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Montreal Canadiens Game 6 Preview and Odds - 06/22/2021

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Jun 22, 2021

The Golden Knights evened their semifinals series with the Canadiens at 2-2 with their 2-1 victory in overtime in Montreal on Sunday. It was the second straight game to go to overtime in this series. Montreal got on the board first when Paul Byron scored just over one minute remaining in the first period. After a scoreless second period with the Canadiens owning a 20-12 advantage in shot attempts, Brayden McNabb evened the score for Vegas with a goal at the 10:37 mark of the third period. Nicolas Ray scored the game-winner for the Knights just 1:18 minutes into overtime. Golden Knights’ head coach Peter DeBoer made the heavily-scrutinized decision to turn to Robin Lehner in goal for Game 4. Lehner had not played since allowing seven goals in a 7-1 loss to Colorado in Game 1 of their West Division finals series on May 30th. DeBoer defended the move because Marc-Andre Fleury seemed fatigued. The 36-year-old has played the most minutes between the pipes of any goaltender in the postseason. Lehner rewarded his coach’s faith with 27 saves, including a one-on-one breakaway from the Canadiens’ Cole Caufield that would have given Montreal a 2-0 lead midway through the third period. McNabb’s game-tying goal came soon after. DeBoer has yet to announce who he will choose to be his goaltender for Game 5 back in Las Vegas. Lehner’s playoff numbers are still unappealing with just his effort on Sunday to begin improving his numbers from his disastrous start in Colorado. He has a 3.97 goals-against-average and an .877 save percentage. During the regular season, Lehner had a 2.27 goals-against-average and a .913 save percentage. Fleury has a 1.97 goals-against-average and a .921 save percentage in 15 postseason starts this year.Max Pacioretty assisted on the Roy goal in overtime. That result was just the second combined point in the series between Mark Stone and Pacioretty. The top-line forward duo has not played with center Chandler Stephenson in the last two games due to an upper-body injury. Stephenson is listed as questionable for Game 5, although DeBoer has said his return is “on the horizon.”Second-line center William Karlsson leads the team with 14 points in the playoffs from four goals and ten assists. Alex Pietrangelo is second on the team with 11 points from four goals and seven assists. Pacioretty has added four goals and six assists. The Vegas blue-line has scored seven of their ten goals in this series. In their last eight games, the Knights' defense has contributed nine goals and 16 assists. Carey Price made 19 saves in the loss. He has a 10-5 record in the playoffs with a 2.09 goals-against-average and a .931 save percentage. Tyler Toffoli leads the team with 12 points coming from five goals and seven assists in the postseason. Nick Suzuki has scored four goals while adding six assists. Joel Armia and Corey Perry each have eight points. Left wing Tomas Tatar has been upgraded to questionable with the injury that has kept him out of action. Jake Evans remains questionable to return to the ice as he continues to go through the concussion protocol.Canadiens’ head coach Dominique Ducharme will remain in COVID quarantine for the rest of this series after testing positive last week. Luke Richardson has the head coach bench duties in his absence. Golden Knights’ general manager Kelly McCrimmon has also tested positive for COVID. BetAnySports lists Vegas as a -220 money line favorite with the total set at 5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB and Euro 2020 Previews and Odds - 06/22/2021

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, Jun 22, 2021

The Tuesday sports card features games in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and Euro 2020. The NBA Western Conference finals continue with Game 2 of the series between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix won the opening game with a 120-114 victory as a 4-point favorite on Sunday. The Suns are a 5.5-point favorite with the total set at 5.5 (all odds from BetOnline). The semifinals of the NHL playoffs continue with Game 5 of the series between the Montreal Canadiens and the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas evened this series at 2-2 with a 2-1 victory in overtime on the road in Montreal on Sunday. The Golden Knights return to Las Vegas as a -233 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.Fifteen games are on the MLB docket. Minnesota hosts Cincinnati at 1:10 PM ET as a -110 money line favorite with a total of 9.5. Houston visits Baltimore at 7:05 PM ET as a -160 money line road favorite with an over/under of 10. The Chicago White Sox travel to Pittsburgh as a -172 money line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The New York Yankees play at home against Kansas City as a -260 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. Washington plays at Philadelphia. Atlanta visits the New York Mets at 7:10 PM ET as a -107 money line road favorite with a total of 7. St. Louis is at Detroit as a -114 money line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Miami hosts Toronto as a -108 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. Tampa Bay is at home against Boston as a -111 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5.The Chicago Cubs host Cleveland at 8:05 PM ET as a -180 money line favorite. Oakland travels to Texas as a -143 money line road favorite with a total of 9. The Los Angeles Angels play at home against San Francisco at 9:38 PM ET as a -126 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Milwaukee visits Arizona at 9:40 PM ET as a -146 money line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Seattle is at home against Colorado at 10:10 PM ET as a -153 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at San Diego. Three games are on the WNBA docket. Connecticut plays at home against Dallas at 7 PM ET as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 159. Chicago visits New York. Washington travels to Seattle at 10 PM ET.The 2020 Euro continues with the conclusion of Group D at 3 PM ET. England plays the Czech Republic on ESPN at Wembley Stadium in London. The Three Lions have four points in the group after a 0-0 draw with Scotland on Friday. The Czechs have four points after a 1-1 draw with Croatia on Friday. England is a -1 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.25.Scotland plays Croatia on ESPN2 at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland. The Scots have one point in the group after their scoreless draw with England. The Croatians have one point with their draw against the Czech Republic. Croatia is a -0.25 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5.

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Ness Notes: NBA's 'Final 4'

by Larry Ness

Monday, Jun 21, 2021

How did we get here? For the first time in NBA history, a play-in tournament preceded the playoffs. The Celtics earned the No. 7 seed and the Wizards the No. 8 seed in the East, while over in the West, the Lakers grabbed the No. 7 seed and the Grizzlies the No. 8 seed. It was then on to the first round of 16 teams, which the NBA has featured beginning back in the 1983-84 postseason. The No. 1 seeds were Philadelphia in the East and Utah in the West (Jazz owned the NBA's best overall record). Neither was tested, advancing in five games. There was just one 4-0 sweep, as Milwaukee avenged its second-round loss in last year's postseason. Just one series went all seven games, as the Clippers fell behind the Mavs 2-0 but was able to push the series to a Game 7. The visiting team won the first six games of the Mavs/Clippers series (for the first time in NBA history) but the Clippers won Game 7 at Staples Center 126-111. Of note was that the NBA's two most-storied franchises, the Celtics and Lakers (each own 17 NBA titles), were both just No. 7 seeds and both got KO'd in the first round. The only lower seed to advance was the East's No. 5 seed (Atlanta) beating the NY Knicks (No. 4 seed) 4-1. However, it was hardly considered an upset, as both teams finished the regular season with 41-31 records. Closing the book on the first round numbers, home teams finished 22-21 SU (.512) and 20-23 ATS (46.5%). Those following the famous (infamous) "Zig-Zag Theory" checked in at 15-20 ATS or minus-7.0 net games. Over/Under bettors saw 24 overs, 18 unders and one push through the 43 first round contests (57.1%). The four second round series featured a surprising 4-0 sweep and two series that went a full seven games. Phoenix (West's No. 2 seed) took down Denver (No. 3 seed) in four games, extending the team's playoff winning streak to SEVEN straight. The Suns won those seven games by an average margin of 16.3 PPG, so it will come as no surprise that they were also 7-0 ATS. Both of the East's two semifinal series were extended to seven games. The Nets and Bucks saw the home team win each of the first six games (5-1 ATS) but the Bucks broke through on the road in Game 7, winning 115-111 in OT at Barclays Center. As for the East's No. 1 seed (Philadelphia), the Sixers were shocked by the Hawks in Game 1 but Philly rebounded with 16-point wins in Game 2 and 3. However, the 76ers blew big leads in back-to-back losses to Atlanta in Games 4 and 5. They then fell behind the Hawks by 12 points early going of Game 6 in Atlanta but were able to pull out a five-point win. Philly got to play Game 7 at home this past Sunday but was unable to 'hold serve,' as the Hawks won 103-96. The West's No. 1 seed (Utah), jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the No. 4 seed (LA Clippers). As the series  headed to LA for Games 3 and 4, the Jazz had won and covered SIX straight games but 'the wheels came off.' The Clippers won Games 3 and 4 to even the series at two-all and then, with Kwhi out after re-injuring his knee in Game 4, the Clippers won Game 5 in Utah and Game 6 in LA, overcoming a 25-point deficit to earn a 131-119 win, marking the largest comeback victory by a team in a series-clinching win over the last 25 seasons. The Clippers, who fell behind 0-2 to Dallas in the first round before winning in seven games, are now the first team in NBA history to rally from a pair of 2-0 series deficits in the same postseason. Closing the book on the second round numbers, home teams finished 15-9 SU and 13-10-1 ATS with nine overs, 14 unders and one push. Adding in the first round, home teams are 37-30 SU (.552) but just 33-33-1 ATS (50.0%). Over/Under bettors have seen 33 overs 32 unders and two pushes. Those following the "Zig-Zag" Theory will open the conference finals 22-33 or minus-14.3 net games.The NBA's 'Final 4' features the No. 2 Suns vs the No. 4 Clippers in the West and the No. 3 Bucks and the No. 5 Hawks in the East. I noted in my NBA 2021 Playoff preview article that we rarely get 'surprise' champions in the NBA. The Knicks are the lowest seed to ever make the NBA Finals, doing so as a No. 8 seed back in the strike-shortened season of 1998-99 (lost 4-1 to teh Spurs). The lowest seed team to "win it all," was the Houston Rockets back in the 1994-95 season, as a No. 6 seed (swept the Magic of Shaq and Penny). However, it's true that for just the second time since the NBA/ABA merger (1976-77 season), neither No. 1 seed made the conference finals. The only other exception was back in 1993-94 season when the West's No. 1 seed (Seattle) was KO'd in the first round by the 8th-seeded Nuggets, 3-2 (first round series didn't become best-of-seven until the 2003 postseason). Over in the East that year, Atlanta (No. 1 seed) was ousted 4-2 in the second round by the 5th-seeded Pacers. That season's Final 4 included two No. 5 seeds (Indiana and Utah), which both lost to No. 2 seeds New York and Houston. In case you are wondering, the Rockets beat the Knicks in the NBA Finals, 4-3. As for this year's Final 4, the two West teams, Phoenix and the LA Clippers, have NEVER won an NBA title. The Suns are in their 53rd season in the NBA and the Clippers in their 51st season (note: The Clippers are in a conference final for the first time in the franchise's 51-year history!).  As for the East's two teams, the Bucks' lone title came back in 1971 (Alcindor and the Big O), while the Hawks' lone title came back 1958 when they were based in St Louis (Bob Pettit and Cliff Hagan). The Suns opened at -200 to win the West (Phoenix took a 1-0 lead on Sunday) and the Bucks have opened at -420 to win the East. Odds provided by BetAnySports.Random Thoughts (Head Coaches): Tom Thibodeau was named the NBA's Coach of the Year for the 2020-21 season. Thibodeau took over a Knicks team that hadn't made the playoffs in seven seasons (since 2012-13) and one that had gone an abysmal 147-329 (.309) the previous six years. New York ended the season winning 16 of its final 20 games and at 41-31, claimed the East's No. 4 seed, earning the tiebreaker over the 41-31 Hawks by winning the season series 3-0. He did a fabulous job, so you'll get no argument from me. That said, how about showing a little 'love' to two head coaches who still have teams playing, Atlanta's Nate McMillan and Phoenix's Monty Williams.The Atlanta Hawks hired Lloyd Pierce as their head coach prior to the start of the 2018-19 season but he was fired on March 1 of this season, after the team's 14–20 start (his record with Atlanta was 63-120, .344). Nate McMillan took over and would lead the Hawks to a record of 27-11 (.711) the rest of the way, the best record of any NBA team during that span. McMillan and the Hawks haven't stopped there, beating the Knicks 4-1 and the 76ers 4-3 this postseason, winning FIVE of seven road games. The Hawks have advanced to a conference final for the first time since the 2014-15 season and more impressively, for only the FOURTH time since moving from St Louis to Atlanta for the 1968-69 season (note: The Hawks appeared in the conference finals in each of their first two seasons in Atlanta). Then there is Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns, who was hired prior to the 2019-20 season. His team famously went 8-0 SU & ATS in the Orlando 'bubble' during last year's pandemic-shortened season but just missed out on a playoff spot. Expectations were high that the Suns would finally break their 10-year postseason drought this season but few (if any) expected them to finish with the NBA's second-best overall record (51-21) and its second-best ATS mark (42-28-2). However, that's exactly what the Suns did and then, after falling behind the defending champion Lakers 2-1 in the first round, the Suns have run off EIGHT straight wins and covers (sound familiar?). The first seven wins in the Suns' current winning streak came by an average winning margin of 16.3 PPG, before they edged the Clippers 120-114 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, playing without PG Chris Paul. Kudos to both Nate and Monty.Random Thoughts (Players): Luka Doncic (Mavs) led a group of SEVEN players to average 30-plus points per game in a first round series by putting up a line of 35.7-7.9-10.3. However, his team lost in seven games to the Clippers, whose Kawhi Leonard posted a line of 32.1-7.9-4.6. Damian Lillard of Portland averaged 34.3-4.3-10.2 but his Blazers fell in six games to the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic (33.0-10.5-4.5). Boston's Jayson Tatum averaged 30.6-5.8-4.6 vs the Nets but it was not nearly enough to overcome the Brooklyn's "Big 3" of Durant, Harden and Irving, who combined to average 85.2 PPG, the most-ever by a trio in a single NBA playoff series. By the way, KD was part of the 30-plus 'club,' averaging 32.6 PPG and 7.4 RPG, as the Nets KO'd the Celtics in five games. Finally, Washington's Bradley Beal averaged 30.0-6.2-4.2 but like Tatum, it was not nearly enough against the East's No. 1 seed (Philadelphia), which eliminated the Wizards in five games.Just THREE of the above seven moved on to the second round, Denver's Jokic, Brooklyn's Durant and the LA Clippers Kawhi Leonard. Leonard is the only player to advance past the second round but his story needs a caveat. Kawhi averaged 27.3-7.5-4.0 vs Utah through four games but re-injured his knee in Game 4. He did not play in LA's Game 5 and 6 wins over the Jazz, nor did he play in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. Paul George, has come "to the rescue," scoring 30-plus points in FOUR of LA's last five games. It's also noteworthy that he's scored 20-plus points in all 14 of LA's postseason games so far, averaging 26.6-8.9-5.3. The scoring star of the Clippers/Jazz series was Utah's Donovan Mitchell, who averaged 34.8 PPG on 45.7% shooting from the three-point line. Neither Jokic nor Durant's teams made it out of the second round. Jokic did not have a great series (by his standards) in the Suns' 4-0 sweep, averaging 25.0-13.3-5.8. However, no one is blaming K.D. for his team's failure to get past Milwaukee. Durant scored 49 points in Brooklyn's Game 5 win and then set an NBA record with 48 points in a Game 7, as the Nets fell at home 115-111 in OT. Durant and Mitchell (34.8 PPG each) were not the only 30-point scorers during the second round, as Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 40 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the Bucks Game 7 win over the Nets, recording his FIFTH straight game of 30 points and 10 rebounds. Giannis averaged 31.9 & 12.9 in the series and has produced a double-double in all 11 of Milwaukee's playoff games so far, averaging 28.8 PPG and 13.6 RPG.However, two playoff 'rookies' may be making the most 'noise' of any performers this postseason. Atlanta's Trae Young has averaged 29.1 PPG and 10.4 APG through Atlanta's 12 games (Eastern Conference Final start Wednesday in Milwaukee), while the Suns' Kevin Booker continues to impress in his first-ever postseason. He had 40 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple-double in Game 1 vs LA on Sunday and is now averaging 29.0-7.4-5.4 through 11 playoff games. Enjoy the rest of the 'ride' and I'll return with a recap of the 2021 playoffs after The Finals.Good luck...Larry

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Euro 2020: Group B and C Match Previews - 06/21/2021

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Jun 21, 2021

The third and final matches in Group B and C of the Euro 2020 take place on Monday. The Group C matches take place at noon ET.The Netherlands plays North Macedonia on ESPN2 at the Amsterdam Arena in Amsterdam. The Oranje have already claimed first place in the group with a 3-2 victory against Ukraine followed by a 2-0 victory against Austria last Thursday. Manager Frank de Boer’s team does not need a result since they hold the head-to-head tie-breaker against a potential Austria/Ukraine winner who would also have six points in the group. The Dutch are likely to rest players to prepare for the knockout stage. North Macedonia got mathematically eliminated from reaching the knockout stage with a 3-1 loss to Austria and a 2-1 loss to Ukraine last Thursday. The Lynxes still have pride on the line, and a result against a traditional power like the Flying Dutchmen would go a long way. BetOnline lists the Netherlands as -1.75 goal line favorites with the total set at 3.Austria plays Ukraine on ESPN at the National Arena in Bucharest, Romania. With both sides having three points apiece with their respective victories against North Macedonia, a draw would likely be enough for both teams to reach the knockout stage. Ukraine holds the tie-breaker in the event of a draw since they begin the match with a four-to-three edge in goals scored. Second place in Group C will play Italy, the winner of Group A. The third-place finisher in Group C will face the winner of either Group E or Group F. BetOnline lists the match as a pick ‘em with the over/under at 1.75.The Group B matches start at 3 PM ET. Belgium plays Finland on ESPN2 at the Gazprom Arena in St. Peterburg, Russia. The Red Devils have six points from their 3-0 victory against Russia and their 2-1 win against Denmark last Thursday. Manager Roberto Martinez still needs a point to clinch first place. Finland opened their Euro with a 1-0 victory against Denmark before losing to Russia last Wednesday, 1-0. An upset victory against Belgium would give the Eagle Owls first place in the group, with head-to-head points being the first tie-breaker. The Finns need at least a point for a chance to advance to the knockout stage. BetOnline lists Belgium as a -1.25 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5.Denmark plays Russia on ESPN on home soil at the Parken in Copenhagen. The Red and Whites have yet to register a point with their losses to Finland and Belgium. Not only do the Danes need the three points that come with a victory, but they also need to overcome the -2 goal differential they currently have versus Finland. Goals scored is the next tie-breaker if Denmark goal differential is level with the Finns after the results of these two matches. Russia has three points in the group from their 1-0 win against Finland. A draw likely gets them into the knockout stage with four of the six third-place teams qualifying for the round of 16. Any result along with a Finland loss to Belgium secures the Bears second place in the group. BetOnline lists Denmark as a -0.75 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NHL, MLB, Euro 2020 and Copa America Previews and Odds - 06/21/2021

by Big Al Staff

Monday, Jun 21, 2021

The Monday sports card features games in the NHL, MLB, Euro 2020, and the Copa America. The NHL playoffs continue with Game 5 of the semifinal series between the New York Islanders and the Tampa Bay Lightning. New York evened this series at 2-2 with their 3-2 win at home on Saturday. Josh Bailey opened the scoring for the Islanders at the 5:30 minute mark of the second period. Matthew Barzal added a second goal for New York just over eight minutes later. Matt Martin added a third goal at 17:57 of the period. The Lightning got on the board 3:45 minutes into the third period. Tyler Johnson added a second goal at 6:43, but Tampa Bay would not draw any closer. Semyon Varlamov stopped 28 of the 30 shots he faced. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 27 saves for the Lightning. The series moves back to the Amalie Arena on the NBC Sports Network with a puck drop at 8:08 PM ET. Tampa Bay is a -183 money line favorite, with the total set at 5 (all odds from BetOnline).Eight games are on the MLB docket. A seven-inning doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets in Citi Field begins at 5:10 PM ET. Houston visits Baltimore at 7:05 PM ET as a -159 money line road favorite with an over/under of 10. Jake Odorizzi pitches for the Astros against the Orioles’ Keegan Akin. Oakland travels to Texas at 8:05 PM ET as a -127 money line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The A’s send out Frankie Montas to face the Rangers’ Kyle Gibson. The Chicago Cubs host Cleveland as a -135 money line favorite. Adbert Alzolay pitches for the Cubs against the Indians’ Aaron Civale. Cincinnati plays at Minnesota at 8:10 PM ET as a -117 money line road favorite with a total of 9.5. The second game in the Braves/Mets’ doubleheader starts at 8:10 PM ET. Milwaukee travels to Arizona at 9:40 PM ET as a -120 money line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Brewers’ Brett Anderson faces the Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly. San Diego plays at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers on ESPN at 10:10 PM ET as a -117 money line favorite with a total of 6.5. Yu Darvish pitches for the Padres against the Dodgers’ Julio Urias. The Euro 2020 continues with four matches. Group C concludes with two matches at noon ET. Austria plays Ukraine on ESPN in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 1.75. Both teams have three points with a win and a loss in their first two matches. The match takes place at the National Arena in Bucharest, Romania. The Netherlands plays North Macedonia on ESPN2 as a -1.75 goal line favorite with a total of 3. Holland has six points with two victories in their first two matches. The Lynxes are winless in their first two contests. The game takes place at Amsterdam Arena in Amsterdam. Group B’s final two matches start at 3 PM ET. Denmark plays Russia on ESPN as a -0.75 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. The Danes are pointless after two losses in their first two games. The Russians have three points from a victory against Finland. The Parken in Copenhagen, Denmark, is the site for the match. Belgium faces Finland on ESPN2 as a -1.25 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5. The Red Devils have six points after two victories in their first two matches. The Finns have three points from one victory against Denmark. Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg, Russia is the location for the match. Two matches take place in Group B of the Copa America on FS1. Uruguay plays Chile at 5 PM ET as a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.25. The match takes place at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, Brazil. Argentina faces Paraguay at 8 PM ET as a -1 goal line favorite with a total of 2.25. The Estadio Nacional de Brasilia in Brasilia, Brazil is the location. 

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Euro 2020 Group F Preview: France, Germany, Hungary, Portugal

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Jun 20, 2021

Euro 2020 Group F Preview: France, Germany, Hungary, Portugal.Group F of the Euro 2020 is considered the tournament’s “group of death” featuring the reigning World Cup champions, the reigning Euro champions, and the previous World Cup winner. France returns eight of their starting XI and manager Didier Deschamps from the team that won the 2018 World Cup. Les Bleus will be playing in their 13th straight Euro championship. This golden generation began their ascent with a second-place finish in the 2016 Euro as the host nation. The French cruised through their qualification matches for this event. Les Bleus are loaded with scoring options upfront. Kylian Mbappe had 34 goal involvements for Paris-Saint Germain this season after starring for the national team in the 2018 World Cup team as a 19-year-old. Antoine Griezemann remains a foundation, with the Barcelona star leading the team in big chances during the qualifying matches. Karim Benzema had 32 goal involvements for Real Madrid last season as he looks to play a significant role for the national team for the first time in his career. Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and Manchester United’s Paul Pogba patrol the midfield. Raphael Verane and Presnel Kimpembe will man the middle of the backline. FIFA ranks France as the number two team in the world. The ELO ratings place them third. DraftKings listed France at +460 to win the tournament before the event started.Portugal looks to defend their 2016 Euro championship with perhaps more core talent than the roster manager Fernando Santos had at his disposal at that time. The Seleccao lived on the edge that summer with only one victory in the 90 minute regulation time during their trek. They went on to the World Cup in 2018, where they lost in the round of 16. Portugal won the inaugural UEFA Nations League a year later. Cristiano Ronaldo remains the face of the team. The 36-year-old Juventus star will be on penalty kicks and lead the Portuguese attack. Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, and Liverpool’s Diogo Jota will provide support. The 38-year-old Pepe and Manchester City’s rising star Ruben Dias will anchor the backline. The Seleccao ranks fifth in the world by FIFA. The ELO ratings place them fifth. DraftKings listed Portugal at +800 to win the event at the start of the tournament. Germany continues to transition away from their 2014 World Cup, with this being the last hurrah for Joachim Low’s final tournament as the national team’s manager. Die Mannschaft reached the semifinals of the 2016 Euro, where they lost to France, 2-0. Despite being favorites to defend their World Cup title in 2018, the Germans failed to get out of the group stage. A 6-0 loss to Spain in the UEFA Nations League and an upset loss to North Macedonia in the World Cup qualifying matches since that disappointment in ’18 continue to ratchet up the concerns for this team. There is plenty of talent on the roster with a foundation of Bayern Munich stars, including Serge Gnarby, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Leroy Sane, Mats Hummels, and Manuel Neuer. Low received criticism for re-instating veteran forward Thomas Muller to the team in what will likely be his last event for the national team. Chelsea’s Timo Werner and Kai Havertz offer younger talent for Low to consider. FIFA ranks Die Mannschaft 12th in the world. Germany ranks 10th in the ELO ratings. DraftKings listed them at +900 to win the tournament at the start of the event. Hungary is the unfortunate fourth team to draw in this group. The Mighty Magyars will be playing in their second straight Euro after reading the round of 16 in 2016. They qualified for this event via the playoff with two late goals to defeat Iceland. Manager Marco Rossi will not have Dominik Szboszlai with the RB Leipzig right back out with an injury. The roster still has an intriguing mix of talent and international experience. RB Leipzig center back Willi Orban leads the backline. RB Leipzig Peter Gulacsi is the goalkeeper. FIFA ranks Hungary 37th in the world. The ELO ratings place them at 37th. DraftKings listed them at +10000 to win the tournament at the start of the event.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, Euro 2020, and Copa America Previews Odds - 06/20/2021

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Jun 20, 2021

The Sunday sports card features games in the NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, Euro 2020, and the Copa America.Two games are on the NBA docket. Phoenix hosts the Los Angeles Clippers in the opener of the Western Conference finals on ABC at 3:35 PM ET. The Suns have won seven games in a row after completing their four-game sweep against Denver with their 125-118 road victory as a 6-point favorite last Sunday. The Clippers won four straight games to eliminate Utah in six games with their 131-119 upset victory as a 2.5-point underdog on Friday. Phoenix is a 4-point favorite, with the total set at 221.5 (all odds from BetOnline).Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals series between Atlanta and Philadelphia takes place on TNT at 8:35 PM ET. The 76ers forced the seventh game of this series with their 104-99 victory as a 2.5-point road favorite on Friday. The Hawks have lost three of the last five games in this series. Philadelphia is a 7-point favorite with an over/under of 216. The semifinals of the NHL playoffs continue with Game 4 of the Vegas/Montreal series on the NBC Sports Network at 8:08 PM ET. The Canadiens took a 2-1 lead in this series with their 3-2 victory on Friday. The Golden Knights are a -174 money line road favorite with a total of 5.Sixteen games are on the MLB slate. Pittsburgh hosts Cleveland at 1:05 PM ET as a -127 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Toronto visits Baltimore as a -198 money line road favorite with a total of 10. The New York Mets play at Washington as a -125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The New York Yankees play at home against Oakland on TBS as a -130 money line favorite with a total of 9.5. Boston travels to Kansas City at 2:10 PM ET as a -133 money line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Houston hosts the Chicago White Sox as a -140 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. St. Louis visits Atlanta in the first game of their seven-inning doubleheader after their rainout on Saturday. The Chicago Cubs are at home against Miami at 2:20 PM ET as a -138 money line favorite. Minnesota visits Texas at 2:35 PM ET as a -113 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Milwaukee plays at Colorado at 3:10 PM ET as a -131 money line road favorite with a total of 12.San Francisco hosts Philadelphia at 4:05 PM ET as a -121 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Los Angeles Angels are at home against Detroit at 4:07 PM ET as a -157 money line favorite with a total of 9. San Diego plays at home against Cincinnati as a -150 money line favorite with a total of 8. Tampa Bay travels to Seattle as a -152 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8. St. Louis plays Atlanta in the second game of their doubleheader on ESPN at 7:08 PM ET. One game takes place in the WNBA. New York visits Los Angeles on ESPN at 4 PM ET. The Euro 2020 continues with two matches to conclude the group stage of Group A at noon ET. Wales plays Italy on ESPN2. The Welsh have four points after defeating Turkey, 2-0, on Tuesday. The Italians have six points with their 3-0 win against Switzerland on Tuesday. Italy is a -1 goal line favorite with a total of 2.25. The match takes place at the Stadio Olympic in Rome. Switzerland plays Turkey on ESPN. The Swiss have one point in Group A. Turkey has yet to earn a point with two losses. Switzerland is a -0.75 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.75. The Baku Olympic Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan, is the site. Two matches take place in the Copa America. Ecuador plays Venezuela on Fox at 5 PM ET. The Ecuadorians come off a 1-0 loss to Colombia last Sunday. The Venezuelans settled for a 0-0 draw with Colombia on Wednesday. Ecuador is a -0.75 goal line favorite with a total of 2.Colombia faces Peru on FS1 at 8 PM ET. Columbia has four points in this tournament with their win and draw against Ecuador and Venezuela. Peru lost to Brazil by a 4-0 score on Wednesday. Colombia is a -0.75 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.25.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA and Euro 2020 Previews and Odds - 06/19/2021

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Jun 19, 2021

The Saturday sports card features games in the NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, and the Euro 2020.Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals series between Milwaukee and Brooklyn takes place on TNT at 8:35 PM ET. The Bucks have won three of their last four games with a 104-89 home victory as a 5-point favorite on Thursday. Brooklyn is a 1-point favorite with the total set at 215 (all odds from BetOnline).The NHL playoff semifinals continue with Game 4 of the series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Islanders on the USA Network at 8:08 PM ET. Tampa Bay took a 2-1 lead in the series with their 2-1 victory at Nassau Coliseum on Thursday. The Islanders have lost their last two games after winning their four previous games. The Lightning are a -124 money line road favorite with an over/under of 5.Sixteen games are on the MLB docket. The New York Yankees host Oakland at 1:05 PM ET as a -120 money line favorite with a total of 9.5. The New York Mets play at Washington in the first game of their seven-inning doubleheader. The Chicago Cubs play at home against Milwaukee at 2:20 PM ET as a -112 money line favorite. San Francisco is at home against Philadelphia at 4:05 PM ET as a -115 money line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. Toronto visits Baltimore as a -165 money line road favorite with a total of 10. Cleveland plays at Pittsburgh as a -126 money line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Minnesota travels to Texas. Boston is at Kansas City at 4:10 PM ET as a -120 money line road favorite with a total of 10.5. The second game of the Mets/Nationals doubleheader starts at 6:05 PM ET. Fox has regional coverage of three games at 7:15 PM ET. San Diego hosts Cincinnati as a -180 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Houston plays at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -120 money line favorite with a total of 8. Atlanta is at home against St. Louis as a -120 money line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Milwaukee visits Colorado at 9:10 PM ET as a -107 money line favorite with a total of 10.5. The Los Angeles Angels are at home against Detroit on FS1 at 10:07 PM ET as a -205 money line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers plays at Arizona at 10:10 PM ET as a -215 money line road favorite with a total of 9. Tampa Bay travels to Seattle as a -135 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.Three games are on the WNBA docket. Connecticut plays at Chicago on CBS at 2 PM ET. Indiana visits Washington at 7 PM ET. Minnesota plays at Dallas at 8 PM ET.The Euro 2020 continues with three matches. France plays Hungary on ESPN at 9 AM ET at Ferenc Puskas Stadium in Budapest, Hungary. Les Bleus defeated Germany, 1-0, in their opening match on Tuesday. The Hungarians come off a 3-0 loss to Portugal on Tuesday. France is a -1.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5.Germany faces Portugal on ESPN at noon PM ET at the Allianz Arena in Munich. The Germans are a -0.25 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Poland takes on Spain on ABC at 3 PM ET at the Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville, Spain. The Poles lost to Slovakia, 2-1, on Monday in their opening Euro match. The Red Fury settled for a 0-0 draw with Sweden on Monday. Spain is a -1.25 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5.

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NBA Basketball: Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks Game 7 Preview, Odds and Prediction - 06/19/2021

by Al McMordie

Saturday, Jun 19, 2021

Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks Game 7 Preview, Odds and Prediction - 06/19/2021  Game Time:  8:35 pm, Saturday, June 19, 2021  Venue:  Barclays Center  Where to Watch:  TNT Network; NBA League Pass Regular Season record: Brooklyn: 48-24 (2nd, Eastern Conference) Milwaukee:  46-26 (3rd, Eastern Conference)  Opening Odds: DraftKings:  Brooklyn -1.5, 215; Moneyline:  Brooklyn -122; Milwaukee +100 Bet365:  Milwaukee -1, 216; Moneyline:  Milwaukee -115; Brooklyn -105 BetRivers:  Brooklyn -1.5, 215; Moneyline:  Brooklyn -122; Milwaukee +100  Key Injuries: Brooklyn:  Kyrie Irving (ankle) Out; Spencer Dinwiddie (ACL) Out Milwaukee:  Donte DiVincenzo (ankle) Out; Jordan Nwora (thigh) Out  Starting Lineups:  Brooklyn: G James Harden G Joe Harris F Kevin Durant F Jeff Green C Blake Griffin  Milwaukee: G Jrue Holiday G Khris Middleton F Giannis Antetokounmpo F PJ Tucker C Brook Lopez  Statistical Leaders:  Brooklyn: Points:  Kevin Durant (26.9) Rebounds:  James Harden (8.5) Assists:  James Harden (10.9)  Milwaukee: Points:  Giannis Antetokounmpo (28.1) Rebounds:  Giannis Antetokounmpo (11.0) Assists:  Jrue Holiday (6.1)  Coaches:  Brooklyn:  Steve Nash (1st season) Milwaukee:  Mike Budenholzer (3rd season)  Recent Form:  These two teams met on Thursday night for Game 6 in Milwaukee. Milwaukee was favored by 4.5 points, and the total was 220.  The Brooklyn Nets entered that game with a 3-2 series lead, so it was an elimination game for the Bucks.  But Milwaukee sprinted out to an 18-5 lead in the first quarter, and finished the quarter with a 26-19 lead.  In the 2nd quarter, the Nets’ James Harden (who is battling a hamstring injury) came alive, but Milwaukee closed the half strong — helped by a pair of 3-point buckets by Khris Middleton — to take a 59-48 lead into the half.  The teams traded punches in 3rd quarter.  Kevin Durant was big for Brooklyn, while Middleton continued to play well for Milwaukee, and the Bucks finished the 3rd quarter with a 78-67 edge.  Brooklyn could never mount a comeback, and when the final gun sounded, the Bucks earned a 104-89 victory. The Bucks covered the 4.5-point number, and it went under the total.  Middleton had a playoff career-high 38 points, while Giannis Antetokounmpo added 30.  For Brooklyn, Kevin Durant had 32 points, while James Harden contributed 16 points, on 5-for-9 shooting.  Milwaukee has won 7 of its last 10 games, straight-up, and is 5-5 against the spread.  The Bucks are 7-2-1 under the total over their last 10 games.  Brooklyn is 6-4 straight up over its last 10 games, and is 7-3 ATS. The Nets are 6-3-1 under the total over their last 10 games.  Neither team has shot a high percentage in this 2nd round playoff series.  Outside of the Nets shooting 52.1 percent in Game 2, each team has shot below 50 percent in each game.  Game 3 was the lowest for each team, as the Nets shot just 36.2 percent, while the Bucks weren’t much better, at 37.8 percent.  In Game 6, the Nets made 36-of-81, for 44.4 percent, while Milwaukee was 37-of-82, for 45.1 percent.  Series History:  Brooklyn and Milwaukee have met nine times this season, including six in this second round of the playoffs, and three in the regular season. Milwaukee has a 5-4 record this season, but is 4-5 ATS.  Seven of the nine meetings this season have gone under the total.  One key trend to note:  the home team has won all nine contests this year. Going back further finds Milwaukee is 21-9 straight-up, and 17-12-1 ATS since 2014.  Sixteen of the last 30 games have gone under the total.  Statistical Comparison:  Brooklyn's strength of its team is its offense.  It ranks #1 in offensive efficiency, and has a 119.00 adjusted offensive rating. Milwaukee's offense is also efficient, but ranks lower, at #7, with a 117.67 adjusted offensive rating.  On defense, Milwaukee has the advantage.  It ranked #10 in the NBA this season, with a 112.34 adjusted defensive ranking.  Brooklyn was one of the league's worst defensive teams in 2020-21, as it ranked #24, with an adjusted defensive ranking of 114.76.  Only the Portland Trail Blazers had a worse defense among the 16 NBA Playoff teams this season.  Of the remaining Playoff teams, the Philadelphia 76ers rank highest (#2) on defense, with an adjusted defensive rating of 108.66.  Margin of victory is, perhaps, the most important predictor of success, and Milwaukee has the edge here, with a 5.89 scoring margin (#3 in the NBA), while Brooklyn is 7th in the NBA, at 4.50.  Game 7 Preview:  This game on Saturday night is a winner-take-all Game 7.  It will be broadcast on the TNT Network, and can also be seen on NBA League Pass.  Brooklyn opened as a 1.5-point home favorite at DraftKings, with a total of 215.  Brooklyn opened as a moneyline favorite of -122, with Milwaukee at +100.  Currently, at DraftKings, the point spread has Brooklyn as a 1-point favorite, while the over/under line is 215.  And Brooklyn is -114 on the moneyline, while Milwaukee's moneyline odds are -106.  Historically, the higher seeds have done quite well in Game 7s in NBA history, as they’re 109-31 (77.9%) over the previous 140 games. And, since 1991, the higher-seeded teams have gone 54-18 straight-up, and 40-31-1 ATS.  With respect to the over/under, Game 7s have generally been lower-scoring affairs, and the under is 42-29-1 since 1991.  Brooklyn has played three previous Game 7s in its franchise’s NBA history, and has a 1-2 record.  Most recently, Brooklyn was involved in a Game 7 vs. Toronto in the 2014 playoffs.  That was one of the rare times a road team was victorious, as Brooklyn won, 104-103, as a 3-point road underdog.  Kevin Durant has played in four Game 7s, and has a 3-1 record.  Meanwhile, James Harden also has a 3-1 record in his career Game 7s.  Milwaukee has been in the league much longer than Brooklyn, and has played in 10 previous Game 7s.  Unfortunately for Bucks fans, their team has not had great success in these games, as the Bucks have gone 2-8.  Indeed, the last time Milwaukee reached the NBA Finals was in 1971, when Kareem Abdul Jabbar led it to the NBA title (Brooklyn has never won an NBA title, but did get to the NBA Finals in 2003, when it lost (as the New Jersey Nets) to the San Antonio Spurs).  Milwaukee’s last Game 7 occurred in 2018, when it played Boston.  The Celtics were a 5-point home favorite, and blew out Milwaukee, 112-96.  That was the only Game 7 in the careers of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.  Coach Mike Budenholzer has never coached a Game 7 as a Bucks coach, but he did when he manned the sideline for the Atlanta Hawks.  In 2014, Budenholzer’s eighth-seeded Hawks lost, 92-80, as a 6-point road underdog, to the top-seeded Indiana Pacers.  The oddsmakers have opened the betting odds for this Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 7 near Pk’em, so most anticipate a closely-contested matchup.  After falling behind 2-games-to-none earlier in this series, the Bucks have taken three of the last four games.  And they blew a 17-point, 3rd quarter lead in the one game they lost, so the Bucks clearly have momentum, and are brimming with confidence.  Still, that blown Game 5 should serve as a reminder of just how much talent remains on the Brooklyn side, even without an injured Kyrie Irving.  Kevin Durant poured in 49 points in that Game 5, had 17 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals, and two blocks!  Even more impressive was the fact that Durant played all 48 minutes. And a hobbled James Harden also gave everything he had, as he played 46 minutes (but only had five points, eight assists, and three rebounds, on 1-of-10 shooting).   Milwaukee was able to right itself in Game 6.  But that game was at Fiserv Forum.  As noted earlier, the higher-seeded teams have dominated Game 7s in NBA history, so it’s hard to bet against the Brooklyn Nets, given they will have home court advantage.  I expect both coaches to lean heavily on their starters, and de-emphasize their bench players.  Durant, Harden, Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Holiday should all play north of 40 minutes.  But if you're looking for possible X factors, Milwaukee's Bryn Forbes (11 points in Game 6) or Brooklyn's Bruce Brown (16 points and 11 rebounds in Game 3) could come up big.  Notable quotes:  Kevin Durant (after Game 6):  We were down four a couple of times and they pushed it, I mean they responded after every run we made and we got to give them credit for that….[We] just couldn’t get over the hump.  Steve Nash (after Game 6):  We weren’t well tonight offensively….Just not a great game from us….[But] we’ve got a Game 7 on our home floor.  Trends:  Milwaukee: 16-25 ATS on the road 17-33 ATS when not favored by more than 8 points, including 1-5 ATS as an underdog 4-8 ATS on the road off a home win  Brooklyn: 25-17 ATS at home 12-15 ATS off a loss 22-13 ATS vs. winning teams  Prediction:  Brooklyn Nets win by 10 Good luck, as always....Al McMordie.  I cashed 2 of 3 in the NBA last night (I'm now 306-240 his Basketball season), with winners on the Philadelphia 76ers and the 76ers/Hawks under.  Don't miss my Over/Under Winner in tonight's game at the Shop Picks page.  Or, better yet, go to the Subscriptions page to join for a week or month to get all of my award-winning selections.

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Euro 2020 Group E Preview: Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Jun 18, 2021

Euro 2020 Group E Preview: Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden.Group E of the Euro 2020 features one of the favorites to win the tournament with three other teams that all feel they can advance to the knockout stage either from a second-place finish or by earning one of the four third-place slots in the Round of 16.Spain is a three-time Euro champion that would become the first nation to win this event four times if they lift the trophy next month. La Furia Roja has taken a step back from their golden generation, where they won the 2008 Euro, the 2010 World Cup, and then the 2012 Euro. The Red Fury lost their Round of 16 matches in the 2016 Euro and the 2018 World Cup.For the first time since 2004, center back Sergio Ramos will not be representing the national team, with manager Luis Enrique opting to keep the Real Madrid star off the final roster. Talent and depth remain aplenty. 28-year-old Juventus forward Alvaro Morata will lead the attack up top. Liverpool’s Thiago Alcantara plays a vital role in the midfield. Barcelona’s Jordi Alba and Manchester City’s Aymeric LaPorte will headline the backline. A COVID outbreak earlier this month required Enrique to use the under-21 team in a friendly with Lithuania on June 8th. Midfielder Sergio Basquets and defender Diego Llorente tested positive for the virus. Llorente has since tested negative twice and got cleared to play. Spain ranks 6th in the world in the FIFA rankings. The ELO ratings place Spain 6th. DraftKings lists La Furia Roja at +900 to win the tournament. Sweden will be competing in their sixth straight Euro, although they have not reached the knockout stage in the last three tournaments going back to 2004. The Blue and Yellow reached the semifinals of the 1992 Euro before reaching the quarterfinals in the 2004 Euro. The Swedes played in the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup. They finished second in the Euro qualifying group, five points behind Spain. Sweden will not have the services of the legendary Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who considered coming out of international retirement for this event before injuries derailed those ambitions. Ibrahimovic last played for his national team in the 2016 Euro when they did not advance out of the group stage. Manager Janne Andersson’s current five-year run with the team began after that tournament. 17-year-old Alexander Isak features up-top. The Real Sociedad phenom scored 17 goals in La Liga this season. RB Leipzig star midfielder Emil Forsberg patrols the midfield. Manchester United center back Victor Lindelof features on the backline. FIFA ranks the Blue and Yellows 18th in the world. The ELO ratings place them 17th. DraftKings lists Sweden with +7500 odds to win the tournament.Poland has qualified for a third straight major international tournament for the first time in its history with their participation at this event. The White and Reds reached the quarterfinals of the 2016 Euro, where they lost to eventual champion Portugal on penalty kicks. They finished at the bottom of their group in the 2018 World Cup. A manager change earlier this year has yet to yield better results under new skipper Paulo Sousa. Their only won in 2021 was against Andorra in a World Cup qualifying event. Robert Lewandowski is the talisman for the team. The reigning World Player of the Year scored 41 goals in 29 matches for Bayern Munich this season. Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski patrols the midfield. Southampton’s Jan Bednarek has been training separately with a thigh injury but hopes to lead the backline. Sousa has two top-notch keepers at his disposal in Juventus’ Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski. Poland is ranked 21st in the world by FIFA. The ELO ratings place them 32nd. DraftKings lists the Eagles at +7500 to win the tournament. Slovakia advanced to the knockout stage in the 2016 Euro in their first appearance at the tournament. The Falcons did not qualify for the 2016 World Cup after reaching the knockout stage in 2010. They finished in third place in their Euro qualifying group but beat the Republic of Ireland via penalty kicks in the semifinal playoff. Pavel Capel was terminated as manager after that match, with assistant Stefan Tarkovic taking over to lead the national team to a 2-1 win over Northern Ireland to qualify for this event. The Repre are led by their 34-year-old captain in the midfield, Marek Hamsik, their all-time leader in goals and caps. Inter Milan center back Milan Skriniar leads the backline. Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka is their keeper. Slovakia ranks 36th in the FIFA rankings and 41st in the ELO rating system. DraftKings lists them at +40000 to win the tournament. 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL, WNBA, MLB, Euro 2020 and Copa America Previews and Odds - 06/18/2021

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Jun 18, 2021

The Friday sports card features games in the NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, the Euro 2020, and the Copa America.Two games are on the NBA docket. Philadelphia visits Atlanta on ESPN at 7:35 PM ET in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series. The Hawks took a 3-2 lead in the series with their 109-106 upset victory on the road as a 7-point underdog on Wednesday. The 76ers are a 3-point road favorite with a total of 221.5 (all odds from BetOnline).Utah travels to Los Angeles to play the Clippers in the second game on ESPN at 10:05 PM ET in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinals series. Los Angeles took a 3-2 series lead with their 119-111 upset road win as an 8-point underdog on Wednesday. The Jazz are a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 219.The NHL playoffs continue with Vegas playing at Montreal in the third game of their semifinals series. The Canadiens evened this series at 1-1 with their 3-2 victory in Las Vegas on Wednesday. The Golden Knights are a -160 money line road favorite with a total of 5.Fifteen games are on the MLB slate. Cleveland travels to Pittsburgh at 7:05 PM ET as a -137 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Washington hosts the New York Mets as a -111 money line favorite with a total of 9. Oakland visits the New York Yankees. Toronto is at Baltimore. Atlanta plays at home against St. Louis at 7:20 PM ET as a -170 money line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Minnesota visits Texas at 8:05 PM ET as a -153 money line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Miami is at Chicago against the Cubs. The Chicago White Sox plays at Houston at 8:10 PM ET as a -106 money line road favorite with a total of 8.5. Boston travels to Kansas City. Milwaukee plays at Colorado at 8:40 PM ET as a -187 money line road favorite with an over/under of 10.5.The Los Angeles Angels host Detroit at 9:38 PM ET as a -195 money line favorite with a total of 9. The Los Angeles Dodgers visit Arizona at 9:40 PM ET. San Francisco is at home against Philadelphia at 9:45 PM ET as a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Tampa Bay travels to Seattle at 10:10 PM ET as a -115 money line road favorite with a total of 7.5. San Diego plays at home against Cincinnati as a -185 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.The WNBA has one game on its schedule. Phoenix travels to Los Angeles on the CBS Sports Network at 10:30 PM ET.The Euro 2020 continues with three matches on ESPN. Sweden plays Slovakia at 9 AM ET at Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The Swedes come off a 0-0 draw with Spain on Monday. Slovakia defeated Poland, 2-1, on Monday. Sweden is a -0.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2.25.Croatia goes against the Czech Republic at noon ET at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland. The Croatians lost to England, 1-0, on Sunday. The Czechs come off a 2-0 victory against Scotland on Monday. Croatia is a -0.25 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.25.England faces Scotland at 3 PM ET at Wembley Stadium in London. The Three Lions are a -1.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5.Two matches take place in the Copa America on FS1. Chile plays Bolivia at 5 PM ET at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, Brazil. The Chileans come off a 1-1 draw with Argentina on Monday. Bolivia lost to Paraguay, 3-1, on Monday. Chile is a -1.75 goal line favorite with an over/under of 3. Argentina plays Uruguay at 8 PM ET at the Mane Garrincha in Brasilia, Brazil. Chile is a -0.25 goal line favorite with a total of 2.25.

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NHL Hockey: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Montreal Canadiens Game 3 Preview, Odds and Prediction - 06/18/2021

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Jun 18, 2021

NHL Friday NBC Sports Network Preview: Vegas Golden Knights at the Montreal Canadiens.Montreal evened their semifinals series at 1-1 with a 3-2 victory in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Joel Armia opened the scoring with a goal 6:12 minutes into the first period to give the Canadiens the lead. Tyler Toffoli added a goal at 16:30 of the first period. Paul Byron made it a 3-0 score at 17:45 of the second period. Alex Pietrangelo got the Golden Knights on the board with his goal a minute later. Pietrangelo added a second goal at 14:46 of the third period, but Vegas could not score a game-tying goal in the final five minutes. The Canadiens once again dominated the play in the first 20 minutes. They outshot the Knights, 12-4, in getting the two-goal lead. In Game 1, Montreal outshot Vegas by a 12-8 margin with a 7-1 edge in high-danger chances, yet they still were behind, 1-0, at the end of the period. The Canadiens have a 9-1 record in the postseason when scoring first. Carey Price made 29 saves in the victory. He has a 9-4 record in the playoffs with a 2.14 goals-against-average and a .930 save percentage. Tyler Toffoli leads the team with five goals, seven assists, and 12 points in the postseason. Nick Suzuki has scored four goals while adding four assists. Eric Staal, Joel Armia has eight points apiece from five goals and three assists. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 20 of the 23 shots. He has a 9-5 record in the postseason with a 1.92 goals-against-average and a .923 save percentage. Second-line center William Karlsson leads the team with 13 points in the playoffs from four goals and nine assists. Second-line right wing Reilly Smith has nine points from two goals and seven assists. Second-line left wing Jonathan Marchessault leads the Knights with six playoff goals. Pietrangelo is second on the team with 10 points from three goals and seven assists. The Vegas blue-line has scored five of their six goals in this series. In their last six games, the Knights' defense has contributed seven goals and 15 assists. Top-line center Chandler Stephenson was a surprise scratch for Vegas with an upper-body injury on Wednesday. He did not participate in today’s morning skate, with some reports indicating he did not make the trip to Montreal and is doubtful to play in Game 4. Center Tomas Nosek expects to be available for the first time in the postseason.These circumstances are the third-straight series in which Montreal has played a team that lost their top-line center after Game 1. John Tavares got injured for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Schiefele got suspended for his hit on Jake Evans. Evans remains questionable to return to the ice as he continues to go through the concussion protocol. Left wing Tomas Tatar is out indefinitely. Defensemen Jeff Petry and Jon Merrill returned to action in Game 2. Petry played 20:47 minutes and registered an assist. Merrill played for almost 13 minutes.Canadiens’ head coach Dominique Ducharme was sent home earlier today after irregularities from his COVID tests. He received his second vaccination shot on June 9th. Further testing this afternoon may clear him to be on the bench tonight. Colorado head coach Jared Bednar went through a similar circumstance in Game 6 in the West Division finals. After missing the morning skate, he got cleared to coach the team that night. Assistant head coach Alex Burroughs may be assigned the in-game coaching duties if Ducharme does not get cleared. Burroughs was promoted to the Canadiens on February 24th after being an assistant coach in the AHL previously this season.Montreal returns home to the Bell Centre with eight wins in their last nine games. The Golden Knights had their five-game winning streak end with the loss on Wednesday. BookMaker lists Vegas as a -165 money line road favorite with the total set at 5.Computer prediction:  Vegas Golden Knights 2 Montreal Canadiens 1

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