Cnotes 2018 NHL Picks/News/Trends/Best Bets - Thru The Stanley Cup !

[Cnotes53]

SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY JUNE 12, 2019
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:08 PM St. Louis Blues Boston Bruins TD Garden


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DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

06/09/2019 2-0-0 100.00% +10.40
06/06/2019 1-1-0 50.00% -2.35
06/03/2019 1-1-0 50.00% +0.00
06/01/2019 1-1-0 50.00% -0.75
05/29/2019 0-2-0 0.00% -13.85
05/27/2019 1-1-0 50.00% +0.00
05/21/2019 0-2-0 0.00% -10.50
05/19/2019 0-2-0 0.00% -11.90
05/17/2019 0-2-0 0.00% -10.50
05/16/2019 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
05/15/2019 1-1-0 50.00% +0.90
05/14/2019 0-2-0 0.00% -11.50
05/13/2019 1-1-0 50.00% -1.50
05/12/2019 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
05/11/2019 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
05/09/2019 0-2-0 0.00% -10.50
05/08/2019 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
05/07/2019 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
05/06/2019 1-3-0 25.00% -11.55
05/05/2019 1-0-1 100.00% +5.45
05/04/2019 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00
05/03/2019 1-3-0 25.00% -13.00
05/02/2019 2-2-0 50.00% +0.35
05/01/2019 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00

Totals..............24-33-1 .....42.10% -78.65


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BEST BETS:


DATE........................ATS................... ..UNITS..................O/U..................UNITS.............TOTALS


06/09/2019..............1 - 0....................+5.40..................1 - 0................+5.00............+10.40
06/06/2019..............0 - 0................... +0.00................. 1 - 0................+5.00............+5.00
06/03/2019..............0 - 1....................-5.00...................1 - 0.................+5.00............+0.00
06/01/2019..............0 - 0....................+0.00..................1 -0.................+5.00.............+5.00
05/29/2019..............0 - 0....................+0.00..................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
05/27/2019..............0 - 1....................-5.00....................1 - 0................+5.00............+0.00
05/21/2019..............0 - 1....................-5.00....................0 - 1................-5.50.............-10.50
05/19/2019..............0 - 0...................+0.00....................0 - 1................-5.50.............-5.50
05/17/2019..............0 - 1....................-5.00....................0 - 1.................-5.50.............-10.50
05/16/2019..............0 - 0....................+0.00...................0 - 1.................-5.50.............-5.50
05/15/2019..............1 - 0....................+6.40...................0 - 1.................-5.50.............+0.90
05/14/2019..............0 - 0....................+0.00...................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
05/13/2019..............0 - 0....................+0.00...................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+5.00
05/12/2019..............1 - 0....................+5.00...................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.00
05/11/2019..............0 - 0 .................. +0.00...................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
05/09/2019..............0 - 1.....................-5.00.................. 0 - 1.................-5.50..............-10.50
05/08/2019..............1 - 0.....................+5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.00
05/07/2019..............1 - 0.....................+5.00..................0 - 1..................-5.50..............-0.50
05/06/2019..............0 - 1......................-5.00..................1 - 1..................-0.50..............-5.50
05/05/2019..............1 - 0.....................+5.45..................0 - 0................. -0.00.............+5.45
05/04/2019..............0 - 0.....................+0.00..................0 - 2.................-11.00.............-11.00
05/03/2019..............0 - 0.....................+0.00..................1 - 1..................-0.50...............-0.50
05/02/2019..............1 - 1.....................+0.85..................1 - 1..................-0.50 ..............+0.35
05/01/2019..............0 - 0.....................+0.00..................0 - 2.................-11.00.............-11.00


Totals..................... 7 - 7.....................+2.70...................11- 17.................-38.50............-35.40

 

[Cnotes53]

Armadillo: Monday's six-pack

? Prayers to David Ortiz, who was wounded in a shooting in the Dominican Republic Sunday.

? Happy 80th birthday to Dick Vitale, who has more energy than most people half his age.

? Bruins 5, Blues 1? Winner-take-all Game 7 is Wednesday in Boston.

? Mariners 9, Angels 3? Edwin Encarnacion hit his 400th home run.

? Nationals 5, Padres 2? San Diego is 8-12 in its last 20 games.

? If the baseball playoffs started today:
NL: Phils-Cubs-Dodgers. Wild Card: Braves @ Brewers
AL: Bronx-Twins-Astros. Wild Card: Rangers @ Rays


**********

Armadillo: Monday's List of 13: Wrapping up a sports weekend??.

13) Big question for NBA commish Adam Silver this summer: Could Kawhi Leonard?s success this postseason lead to more regular season resting for NBA stars?

People pay a lot of money to go to games and obviously, they want to see the stars play; Leonard sat out 22 games this season. Same goes for TV ratings; people like to watch great players play.

12) Michigan G Charles Matthews tore his ACL as he prepared for the NBA Draft, is now out until at least January, and thats the risk of bolting school early. He still intends to leave Michigan; his agent still thinks he?ll be taken in the second round of the draft. We?ll see about that; the agent doesn?t get paid if Matthews goes back to Michigan.

11) Nationals 5, Padres 1? Game was tied in 8th inning, then Kendrick, Turner, Eaton, Rendon hit four consecutive bombs off of reliever Craig Stammen to settle things.

10) El Paso Chihuahuas? pitcher Kyle McGrath threw seven perfect innings Sunday before giving up a hit in the 8th inning; it was only his 4th professional start, in his 184th minor league game. El Paso is the AAA farm club of the San Diego Padres.

9) Brewers 5, Pirates 2? Closer Josh Hader pitched on back/back days for only third time this year; by way of comparison, San Diego?s Kirby Yates has pitched on back/back days seven times this season.

8) Twins 13, Tigers 2? Jake Odorizzi (9-2) is the first Twins? pitcher to win nine straight decisions since Johan Santana during his 2006 Cy Young season.

7) Baseball stuff:
? Mets put 2B Robinson Cano back on the IL.
? White Sox put P Dylan Covey (shoulder) on the IL.
? Bronx put P Domingo German (hip flexor) on 10-Day IL.

6) Rockies-Mets pitching matchup Sunday was Hoffman-Syndergaard, both of whom were 1st round draft picks of the Toronto Blue Jays, Hoffman in ?14, Syndergaard in ?10.

5) Bronx OF Brett Gardner threw a batting helmet in the dugout the other night; it bounced back, hit him in the lip and cut him? he needed six stitches.

4) Kevin Durant practiced with the Warriors Sunday, who haven?t announced yet if he will play Monday night in Toronto- they officially listed him as questionable.

3) Rory McIlroy shot a 61 Sunday and won the Canadian Open by seven shots.

McIlroy is the last golfer to win a major the week after he won another tournament; he won the Bridgestone and then the PGA in 2014.

2) Graeme McDowell drained a 30-foot putt on the last hole Sunday to qualify for the British Open, which is being played in McDowell?s hometown this summer.

1) University of Alabama is returning a $21.5M gift from its largest donor and taking his name off the law school after he called for Alabama to be boycotted over the state?s new abortion law.

 

[Cnotes53]

Tuesday?s 6-pack

Odds for the US Open this weekend:

15-2: Brooks Koepka

8-1: Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy

9-1: Eldrick Woods

16-1: Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth

22-1: Justin Rose

25-1: Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele

Quotes of the Day
?Playing for the Warriors is just like playing for Team USA. When you play in the Olympics, you don?t even enjoy it. There?s the anxiety of ?We have to win. We can?t lose, or we can?t go back home.? We talk about it on the Olympic team: ?We can?t go back home without the gold medal, fellas. Got to lock in. Let?s lock in.? Then once you win, it?s like, ?Yeah, we got it, we can go back home. Yay, we won, but we were supposed to.??
Andre Iguodala

Tuesday?s quiz
Dodger P Clayton Kershaw played center on his high school football team; which NFL QB was the QB on that high school team?

Monday?s quiz
Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game began in 1985.

Sunday?s quiz
Barbara Streisand co-starred with Kris Kristofferson in the 1976 version of A Star Is Born.

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Tuesday?s List of 13: Nobody asked me, but??

13) Warriors 106, Raptors 105? Toronto had a 6-point lead and the ball with 3:00 left, but couldn?t finish the job; Game 6 is in Oakland Thursday. Warriors were +6 in 12:00 with Kevin Durant on the floor; seriously doubt he plays again in this series.

12) Dallas Keuchel made his ?19 debut Monday, pitching for Rome in the Class A South Atlantic League; he allowed a single, a walk with nine strikeouts in seven scoreless innings.

11) Braves 13, Pirates 7? Josh Donaldson got drilled by a pitch in the first inning, the ump threw the pitcher out, and a high-scoring game broke out. Marte and Albies both homered twice in this game.

10) Former Auburn, Akron coach Terry Bowden is heading to the Clemson football staff as a 63-year-old graduate assistant; his brother Tommy was Clemson?s head coach for 10 years.

Bowden is going for a Master?s Degree in athletic leadership at Clemson, and his position on the staff is an unpaid graduate internship.

9) Auburn 14, North Carolina 7? Tigers advance to the College World Series; they scored 13 runs in the top of the first inning. Rough way for the season to end for UNC.

8) Wednesday?s Rangers-Red Sox game in Boston moves up from 7:00 to 4:00 because Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final is Wednesday night in Boston.

7) Baseball stuff:
? Pirates put P Jordan Lyles (hamstring) on IL.
? Cardinals put P Adam Wainwright (hamsring) on IL
? Angels? P Matt Harvey aggravated his back injury on a rehab start.

6) Rained in New York City Monday night, so Subway Series will have a day/night twinbill on Tuesday, with games at 1:05, 7:05.

5) Tony Parker retired after 18 seasons in the NBA; he won four NBA titles with the Spurs.

4) Read online yesterday that El Cortez and Four Queens are last places in Las Vegas that deal low-limit single deck blackjack that still pays 3-2 on naturals. Most single deck games pay 6-5 now.

3) College basketball transfer portal:
? Grad transfer Isaiah Moss bolts from Iowa to Kansas.
? Grad transfer Tevin Mack bolts from Alabama to Clemson.
? F Eugene Omoruyi bolts from Rutgers to Oregon.

2) Arizona 13, Phillies 8? This was seventh time since 1914 that a team led off a game with three straight home runs; last time was in 2017, also the Diamondbacks.

Phillies? Jerad Eickhoff didn?t allow a HR in any of his first five starts (30 IP); he?s allowed at least one homer in six straight starts (13 HR in last 24 1/3 IP).

1) Field for the College World Series is set:
Bracket One: Arkansas, Florida State, Michigan, Texas Tech.
Bracket Two: Auburn, Louisville, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt

 

[Cnotes53]

Bruins' consistency faces final test in Game 7 vs. Blues
June 10, 2019
By The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) The strains of Jay-Z and Linkin Park's ''Numb/Encore'' mashup emanated from a small speaker on the hallway floor outside the visiting locker room following the Boston Bruins' morning skate.

''I don't know what you're expecting of me ... put under the pressure ... of walking in your shoes.''

Despite all the pressure on Boston, team DJ Torey Krug wouldn't dare change anything in the face of elimination.

''Same playlist I've been playing for months now,'' Krug said. ''It's been the same music for months on end.''

And the same Bruins, whose consistent approach on and off the ice will be tested one more time Wednesday in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues. This is an experienced Boston roster with five players left from the 2011 Cup championship team that vanquished the Canucks in Vancouver, also the most recent time the final went to a seventh and deciding game.

''There's never been a (Cup Final) Game 7 in Boston, (so) I would say lean on past experience with that, but there is none,'' Krug said Monday. ''There is experience from guys who played in Game 7 in Vancouver.

''It's tough. It's the most exciting game in all of our lives and I think whoever maintains their composure and discipline within their system, how they play and how they approach the game is probably going to prevail.''

The smart money is on the Bruins recapturing the Stanley Cup on home ice, and sportsbooks give them the edge. Not only do they own an experience advantage in these situations, but carry with them some momentum from a 5-1 rainstorm on St. Louis' potential parade in Game 6.

Four of the previous five times in the 2019 playoffs that a team down 3-2 won Game 6, it also won Game 7. Just don't tell that stat to Boston coach Bruce Cassidy because he doesn't believe there's carry-over from a strong showing Sunday night.

''New slate,'' Cassidy said before the team flew home to Boston. ''They had expectations, Stanley Cup is in the building. ... I can't speak for them, but it can be tough, knowing we're playing good team defense to now have to come back (from a deficit) that far. But I don't think it will affect them all on Wednesday. It's one game, winner take all. Both teams will be in a good place mentally, ready to go.''

Longest-tenured Bruins player Patrice Bergeron put his teammates in the perfect mental state the day of Game 6. Young defenseman Charlie McAvoy had trouble calming his nerves until Bergeron spoke up in the locker room and said exactly what players needed to hear.

Speaking in French, Bergeron said he told the team, ''We are in a situation that is everyone's childhood's dream here and we must realize it.''

That's also a pretty normal thing for Bergeron to boost up his teammates, which he considers to be part of his role. It'll be up to him, captain Zdeno Chara, winger Brad Marchand, center David Krejci and goaltender Tuukka Rask to impart some lessons from winning in 2011 and also losing to Chicago in the final in 2013 - the time Bergeron played through broken ribs and a punctured lung but didn't get to lift the Cup a second time.

''They've been here for us all year (and) before that, too,'' forward Sean Kuraly said. ''You look to them and can feel comfort in that, follow in their footsteps and know you're walking in the right direction.''

The Blues are marching in the wrong direction after failing to close out a series for the first time in the playoffs. They eliminated Winnipeg, Dallas and San Jose on the first chance each time and all on home ice.

Now they go on the road where they're 9-3 this postseason with two of those victories coming in Boston.

''Listen, if you told me four months ago we were going to be in the finals in Game 7, I think I'd take it,'' St. Louis coach Craig Berube said. ''We've been a good road team. We've won twice up there in this series, so we're a confident group.''

Just like the Blues couldn't measure up to the Bruins in Game 6, it would be hard to make the argument that they're as confident after the deflating loss Sunday, Ryan O'Reilly and the Blues have typically been able to bounce back well and stay as even-keeled as their coach.

''We know if we play our best game, we can take these guys,'' O'Reilly said. ''Go there and get it done.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Wednesday?s 6-pack

Wagering matchups for the US Open:

? Dustin Johnson (-$170) vs Patrick Cantlay

? Brooks Koepka (-$150) vs Eldrick Woods

? Aaron Wise (-$125) vs Jason Dufner

? Henrik Stenson (-$115) vs Gary Woodland

? Ian Poulter (-$120) vs Bubba Watson

? Matt Wallace (-$130) vs Graeme McDowell

Quote of the Day
?Your indifference cost these men and women their most valuable commodity: Time! It?s the one thing they?re running out of.?
Jon Stewart, advocating for additional funding for the 9/11 victim compensation fund

Wednesday?s quiz
Who was the last President of the US who had previously been the Vice-President?

Tuesday?s quiz
Dodger P Clayton Kershaw played center on his high school football team; Lions? QB Matthew Stafford was the QB on that high school team.

Monday?s quiz
Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game began in 1985.

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Wednesday?s List of 13: Mid-week musings??.

13) Surprised to hear that the Oakland Raiders will be featured this summer on Hard Knocks; figured that they would wait until next year to feature the Raiders, when they move to Las Vegas.

12) Mets had two men on, no one out Tuesday with Jeff McNeil up; Bronx plays the 3B in for a bunt, and Mets? TV guy Gary Cohen exclaims, ?They?re playing in for a bunt!!! Doesn?t anyone scout?!?!?!?

Words aren?t out of his mouth and McNeil homers to right-center. I?m guessing Bronx coaches and staff won?t be too thrilled when they hear about Cohen?s comments- they are in first place after all, while the Mets are???the Mets.

11) There were 13 homers in the Arizona-Philly game Monday night, which is a major league record for one game.

10) Interesting to follow Twitter late Monday night and Tuesday with reaction to Kevin Durant?s injury; lot of people suddenly became medical experts.

Without knowing the inner workings of the Warriors, am guessing the decision comes down to Durant and the Warriors? trainer, with Durant having the final say.

What follows now really could alter the NBA?s entire offseason; what teams will throw major $$$ at a big star with a very serious leg injury? Will he get a shorter deal and have to prove himself healthy before he breaks the bank again?

9) With Game 6 in Oakland Thursday, it bears repeating that Toronto had a 6-point lead and the ball with 3:00 left Monday with a chance to win its first title, but lost at home.

Crowd will be fired up for Game 6, the last NBA game ever in Oakland? the Warriors have a new arena for next year, across the bay in San Francisco.

8) Royals-Tigers are playing a game in Omaha, Nebraska Thursday, in advance of the College World Series. Teams played Tuesday-Wednesday in Kansas City.

7) Baseball stuff:
? Giancarlo Stanton homered (was 2-4) in a Class A rehab game.
? Orioles? P Alex Cobb (hip) is out for the year.
? Tigers? SS Niko Goodrum left Tuesday?s game (bruised knee).

6) Memphis Grizzlies hired Taylor Jenkins as their new head coach; he was Mike Budenholzer?s assistant in Milwaukee this season and in Atlanta for five years. Jenkins will the Grizzlies? 4th coach in the last five years.

5) Saints signed DE Cam Jordan to a 3-year contract extension that is worth $52.5M with a maximum of $55.5M that includes $42M in guarantees.

4) FOX Sports produced its US Open promo, but didn?t include the person who won the last two US Opens, which was surprising to Brooks Koepka, who won the last two US Opens.

?We?re amazed that I wasn?t in it, just kind of shocked. Somebody probably got fired over it ? or should.?

3) Most home runs, first 67 games of a career in Major League history:
1. Jose Abreu, 25 (2014), 2. Cody Bellinger, 24 (2017) 5. Pete Alonso, 22 (2019)

2) Detroit Tigers have Jack Morris as a TV analyst this year and he is very good, especially when he talks about pitching. Very honest; I learn something every game.

1) Zack Greinke has thrown 89 pitches this season that were under 70 MPH, 25 more than any other pitcher in the major leagues.

 

[Cnotes53]

Game 7 Fast Facts
June 11, 2019
By VI News

The 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs will come to an end on Wednesday as the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues meet in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final from TD Garden.

Betting Preview - St. Louis at Boston

The road team has gone 4-2 through the first six games of this best-of-seven series.

Boston opened as a -175 favorite for Game 7 while St. Louis is a plus-151 underdog.

The 'over/under' was installed at 5.5 for Wednesday and the 'over' has gone 4-2 through the first six games, with four outcomes ending with more than six combined goals. Three of those games were decided by empty-net goals.

The Blues have gone 9-3 on the road in the postseason while the Bruins have gone 7-6 at TD Garden.

Recent Game 7 History

Boston has played in more Game 7's than any other team, going 15-12 in 27 appearances. St. Louis owns a 9-8 all-time record in Game 7's.

The last time the Sharks and Avalanche met for a Game 7 came back in the 2002 semifinals as Colorado edged San Jose, 1-0 at home.

Boston
2019 First Round - Boston 5 vs. Toronto 1
2018 First Round - Boston 7 vs. Toronto 4
2014 Second Round - Boston 1 vs. Montreal 3

St. Louis
2019 Second Round - St. Louis 2 vs. Dallas 1 (2OT)
2016 Second Round - St. Louis 6 at Dallas 1
2016 First Round - St. Louis 3 vs. Chicago 2

NHL Game 7 Playoff History (2012-2019)

Including the five games from this year's postseason, there have been 175 all-time Game 7?s in the NHL Playoffs and the home squad owns a 102-73 (58%) record.

Last year, road teams went 2-1 in Game 7's and the visitors scored 14 goals in those games which led to a 2-1 'over' mark.

In this year's playoffs, the home team has gone 4-1 in Game 7's and the 'over' has gone 3-2 in those games. Carolina has been the only visitor to win a Game 7 this year, earning a 4-3 decision at Washington in the first round.

2019
Colorado 2 at San Jose 3
Dallas 1 at St. Louis 2 (OT)
Toronto 1 at Boston 5
Vegas 4 at San Jose 5 (OT)
Carolina 4 at Washington 3 (OT)

2018
Washington Capitals 4 at Tampa Bay Lightning 0
Winnipeg Jets 5 at Nashville Predators 1
Toronto Maple Leafs 4 at Boston Bruins 7

2017
Pittsburgh Penguins 2 at Washington Capitals 0
Edmonton Oilers 1 at Anaheim Ducks 2

2016
Tampa Bay Lightning 1 at Pittsburgh Penguins 2
Nashville Predators 0 at San Jose Sharks 5
St. Louis Blues 6 at Dallas Stars 1
Nashville Predators 2 at Anaheim Ducks 1
Chicago Blackhawks 2 at St. Louis Blues 3

2015
Tampa Bay Lightning 2 at New York Rangers 0
Chicago Blackhawks 5 at Anaheim Ducks 3
New York Rangers 2 at Washington Capitals 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 2 at Detroit Red Wings 0
Washington Capitals 2 at New York Islanders 1

2014
Los Angeles Kings 5 at Chicago Blackhawks 4 (OT)
Los Angeles Kings 6 at Anaheim Ducks 2
Montreal Canadiens 3 at Boston Bruins 1
New York Rangers 2 at Pittsburgh Penguins 1
Philadelphia Flyers 3 at New York Rangers 4
Minnesota Wild 5 at Colorado Avalanche 4
Los Angeles Kings 5 at San Jose Sharks 1

2013
New York Rangers 5 at Washington Capitals 0
Toronto Maple Leafs 4 at Boston Bruins 5 (OT)
Detroit Red Wings 3 at Anaheim Ducks 2
Detroit Red Wings 1 at Chicago Blackhawks 2 (OT)
San Jose Sharks 1 at Los Angeles Kings 2

2012
Ottawa Senators 1 at New York Rangers 2
Washington Capitals 2 at Boston Bruins 1 (OT)
New Jersey Devils 3 at Florida Panthers 2 (2OT)
Washington Capitals 1 at New York Rangers 2

 

[Cnotes53]

Road warrior Blues unfazed by Game 7
June 11, 2019
By The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) If the St. Louis Blues beat the Boston Bruins in Game 7, perhaps Steve Hatze Petros should get his name on the Stanley Cup.

He is the NHL schedule-maker , making him the most responsible for a January-March stretch when the Blues didn't play more than one consecutive home game at a time. It was a virtual 70-day road trip that forced a team with a half-dozen new faces to come together under coach Craig Berube. It also helped them put up a 9-3 road record in the playoffs and it is a big reason the Blues say they feel totally at home playing for the Cup in Boston on Wednesday night.

''It was a time for us to get to know each other better,'' center Ryan O'Reilly said. ''We got out and got away, got the chance to go to the rink together every day, eat together every day. It just kind of brought us together. I think that's where we found our identity and came together. As you can see throughout the course of the playoffs, we're confident in the room. We find it easier to get to our game and have success.''

Whichever team gets to its style of game faster and more effectively wins. That has been the story of this hard-fought series between evenly matched teams that like to play different ways.

Boston wants to skate and use its talent to score goals and grab momentum. St. Louis prefers to get pucks deep in the attacking zone, make defenders turn around and then deliver body blows whenever possible.

The Blues front office has tried to replicate life on the road by having players stay in a hotel at home, but they are just 6-7 in St. Louis in the playoffs.

''I think when you're at home, you're maybe trying to play a little differently at times,'' Berube said.

The opening minutes of a 5-1 loss in Game 6 exemplified that. Players abandoned their straightforward approach and got fancy by trying to razzle-dazzle the puck past the Bruins, and when a goal didn't materialize in the first 10 minutes, momentum went the other way.

That's exactly how the Bruins like it.

''We came out pretty well,'' Boston defenseman Brandon Carlo said. ''We've had good starts on the forecheck early, playing assertive, being aggressive and staying right on top of them, not backing down from anything, keeping our gaps tight, forwards are doing a great job on the forecheck and kind of asserting the pace out there.''

Who sets the pace could win Game 7. If it is fast and up and down the ice, advantage Bruins.

''I think we're a better skating team, and if we're playing to our pace both skating and moving the puck, I think we've taken over a little bit and created more chances, playing better defensively,'' Bruins forward Joakim Nordstrom said. ''When we're skating, we're getting back on pucks better. It obviously helps our D to break the puck out. Same thing goes up ice. We get on the forecheck a little bit quicker.''

The Blues' whole game is based on their forecheck - how they put pressure on opposing defensemen and wear them down over the course of a game and a series.

''We're definitely built to sustain pressure,'' Blues winger David Perron said. ''When we do that, we can really back off teams and hopefully slow down the crowd a little bit.''

Quieting what should be a raucous crowd on hand for the first Stanley Cup Final Game 7 in Boston is easier said than done. St. Louis did that in Game 2 to tie the series and is brimming with confidence, unfazed by the lack of home-ice advantage in the final game of the season.

''We're excited and we're happy to get back on the road,'' winger Patrick Maroon said. ''I think this where we jell the best.''

The Bruins have won seven of 12 home games in the playoffs. Coach Bruce Cassidy said playing for home-ice advantage all season is for a situation just like this, but the road warrior Blues don't seem concerned.

''We just seem to like it,'' defenseman Carl Gunnarsson said. ''We just keep putting up good results on the road. I don't know why, but it seems to be working for us. We'll try to keep that going.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Chara all action, little talk in SC pursuit
June 11, 2019
By The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) Zdeno Chara didn't say much to his teammates when he showed up, as usual, one game after a puck bloodied his face and knocked him out of the Stanley Cup Final.

And it wasn't just because it was difficult for him to talk.

''He doesn't need to say anything, really,'' forward Charlie Coyle said on Tuesday, a day before Game 7 of the NHL championship. ''It's already known.''

Nine days after Chara left Game 5 with blood dripping from his face, and three days after Boston won in St. Louis to force the series to the limit, the Bruins and Blues will bring the confetti down on another hockey season Wednesday night. Chara will be there for the 14th Game 7 of his career - an NHL record.

''It's always fun to play Game 7s,'' said Chara, who as captain would have the honor of being the first to skate with the Stanley Cup. ''Very intense. You've just got to realize you've got to lay everything on line and play your best game.''

A six-time All-Star and the winner of the 2009 Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman, the 42-year-old Chara was still among the team's leaders in ice time this season, his 21st in the league. So he left a huge, 6-foot-9 hole in the team's lineup when he left Game 4 with blood dripping from his mouth after Brayden Schenn's shot deflected off Chara's stick and into his jaw.

Chara returned to the bench, but did not play; coach Bruce Cassidy said he wanted to be there with his teammates. Chara was back for Game 5 in Boston, but alternate captain Patrice Bergeron did most of the talking to fire up the team before the game.

''We shared our responsibility,'' Chara said after practice on Tuesday. ''It's a great group of leaders we have, and it's not that I'm going to be sitting at a desk and trying to figure out some speech. We all realize that it's more about our actions than words.''

And Chara's presence said it all. Cassidy said Chara is in a lot of pain, and he also has to adjust to playing with the full-face shield that limits his vision. (Although there have been reports that Chara broke his jaw, Cassidy has described it only as a ''facial injury.'')

The Boston fans gave the captain a lengthy ovation that he said caught him by surprise.

''I was overwhelmed by the response of the crowd,'' he said on Tuesday in his most extensive comments since the injury. ''It's very humbling, and I'm so honored to get that kind of a pregame crowd being involved and cheering us on. It just shows how passionate the Boston fans are. Very much appreciate it.''

 

[Cnotes53]

<a href="http://www.freeimagehosting.net/commercial-photography/"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/EnZWprS.png" alt="Commercial Photography"></a>

 

[Cnotes53]

13St Louis -14 Boston
ST LOUIS are 11-1 ATS (9.9 Units) in road games after allowing 4 goals or more in the current season.




NHL
Dunkel

Wednesday, June 12

St. Louis @ Boston

Game 13-14
June 12, 2019 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
St. Louis
14.102
Boston
12.648
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
St. Louis
by 1 1/2
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston
-170
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
St. Louis
(+150); Over




NHL
Long Sheet

Wednesday, June 12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS (60-36-0-11, 131 pts.) at BOSTON (64-31-0-10, 138 pts.) - 6/12/2019, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 28-9 ATS (+13.7 Units) when playing with 2 days rest over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 39-25 ATS (-4.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ST LOUIS is 60-47 ATS (+2.1 Units) in all games this season.
ST LOUIS is 45-25 ATS (+11.5 Units) second half of the season this season.
ST LOUIS is 128-104 ATS (+234.2 Units) in road games after a non-conference game since 1996.
ST LOUIS is 44-26 ATS (+10.9 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 12-6 ATS (+18.5 Units) in road games revenging a home loss versus opponent this season.
ST LOUIS is 31-22 ATS (+5.6 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
ST LOUIS is 23-10 ATS (+9.0 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more this season.
ST LOUIS is 39-26 ATS (+12.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ST LOUIS is 27-14 ATS (+12.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
BOSTON is 297-249 ATS (-106.6 Units) in home games second half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 6-6 (+0.6 Units) against the spread versus BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 6-6-0 straight up against ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
7 of 12 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.6 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




NHL

Wednesday, June 12

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

St. Louis Blues
St. Louis is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis's last 7 games
St. Louis is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
St. Louis is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. Louis's last 6 games when playing Boston
St. Louis is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games when playing on the road against Boston
Boston Bruins
Boston is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games
Boston is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games
Boston is 6-14 ATS in its last 20 games at home
Boston is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games when playing St. Louis
Boston is 5-12-2 SU in its last 19 games when playing at home against St. Louis

 

[Cnotes53]

Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 Preview
Kyle Markus


St. Louis Blues at Boston Bruins

(NBC, 8:08 p.m. ET)

The Boston Bruins staved off elimination in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals and now are heading home with a chance to claim the championship. They will host Game 7 against the St. Louis Blues in the capper of a series that has been phenomenal from start to finish.

The Bruins have been the better team in this series and come in as the favorite, but the Blues have shown the ability to win on the road in the Stanley Cup Finals and will be confident they can pull off the upset and secure the title.

There is no bigger moment in sports than a Game 7 with the title on the line and the Bruins and Blues will be ready to do battle in this one in NHL wagering.

Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals will feature the St. Louis Blues vs. the Boston Bruins at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 12th, 2019. The Bruins will host the matchup at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts and it will be nationally televised on NBC.

Odds Analysis

The Bruins have been listed as the -170 favorites to claim Game 7 and capture the trophy. Boston was the road underdog in Game 6 but went to St. Louis and cruised to the victory and now will feel good about its chances to close out the series at home. The Blues are listed as the +148 underdogs.

The Bruins are the 1.5-goal favorites on the puckline and are +170 underdogs to cover, while the Bruins are the -200 favorites to lose by a goal or win outright. The goal total is listed at five, with the ?over? the -145 favorite and the ?under? the +125 underdog in NHL odds.

Last Time Out

Brad Marchand scored an early goal for the Bruins in Game 6 and that was the only score for the first two periods. The Bruins blew it open in the third and cruised to the 4-1 win. Brandon Carlo and Karson Kuhlman scored for a 3-0 lead, and while Ryan O?Reilly got the Blues on the board, Boston answered back with two more goals from David Pastrnak and Zdeno Chara.

Chara is dealing with a broken jaw but has played through it and the Bruins were thrilled to see him score. Marchand and Pastrnak each had a goal and an assist in the contest. Boston goalie Tuukka Rask had 28 saves and only allowed the one goal. If he can put together another strong performance, his team will be feeling confident.

Player To Watch

O?Reilly -- The Blues are the underdogs and don?t have as much scoring punch, but O?Reilly has been fantastic in the Stanley Cup Finals. He has four goals and three assists through the first six games of the series and has been really playing well of late.

O?Reilly had two goals in Game 4 as St. Louis won at home, another one in Game 5 to help pull the upset in Boston and then the one in Game 6. O?Reilly had 28 goals in the regular season and if he can find the net early and give the Blues the lead it would really calm everyone?s nerves and allow this team to believe it can pull off the upset.

 

[Cnotes53]

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

STL at BOS 08:00 PM

STL +156

U 5.5

 

[Cnotes53]

Blues rout Bruins for first ever Cup
June 12, 2019
By The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) The Boston Bruins found out what San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets learned the hard way.

Don't let the St. Louis Blues take a lead.

Craig Berube's team showed all playoffs it could lock down a hockey game better than anyone else in the NHL. Their style of game translates perfectly to playing with a lead, a recipe that led to them finishing off Boston 4-1 in Game 7 and lifting the Stanley Cup.

After the regular season saw an NHL-record 138 multi-goal comebacks, the Blues went 4-0 in the Cup final when taking a lead of any kind on the Bruins and didn't lose a single playoff game when up by at least two goals.

So much of that can be traced back to Berube's changes when he took over as interim coach for Mike Yeo in November. He instituted a north-south brand of hockey that better suited the roster general manager Doug Armstrong put together.

St. Louis showed it could put a stranglehold on opponents when playing with a lead. They finished the playoffs 13-4 when scoring first, 8-2 when leading after one period and 10-1 when leading after two.

Even Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy conceded that the Blues ''play a different game'' when they're ahead.

Because of how well the Blues defend and even move the puck differently when they're ahead in a game, it gets increasingly difficult over the course of a game for an opponent to come back on the Blues. They also went 4-1 in chances to eliminate a team - and after losing Game 6 on home ice were clinical in holding on to a multi-goal lead in Game 7.

''Goals are scored, no lead is safe,'' said rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington, a big part of making sure Blues' leads were safe.

Binnington came out of nowhere to lead St. Louis to the Stanley Cup. Binnington didn't have the best numbers in the playoffs, or at least not close to his otherworldly regular season, but he was the biggest reason St. Louis won Game 5 to move to the verge of winning it all and made stopped 32 of the 33 shots he faced in Game 7.

 

[Cnotes53]

Bruins fall apart in Game 7 loss
June 12, 2019
By The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) The Boston Bruins will look back on three minutes all summer.

The Bruins had it all lined up: a raucous home crowd for its first Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Final in their 95-year history, was aided by a couple of world champions from other sports and a fast start that provided a handful of excellent scoring chances in the opening period.

Then in a matter of three minutes because of a slow line change and a bad turnover by forward David Pastrnak, it was gone.

The St. Louis Blues stunned the Bruins and their fans with two quick goals, took that 2-0 lead into the first intermission and cruised to a 4-1 win Wednesday night to celebrate their first championship.

Also gone was the city's chance for its 13th championship since 2002 that would have joined the New England Patriots' six, four by the Red Sox and one each by the Celtics and Bruins.

After Patriots Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman and Olympic champion gymnast Aly Raisman - both wearing David Ortiz white home jerseys as the honorary flag bearers - came out and fired up the crowd Boston came charging out quickly before its momentum disappeared late in the opening period even quicker.

They even showed 2004 World Series star Curt Schilling on the Jumbotron flashing his championship ring. Boston was searching for its first Cup since 2011 when it beat Game 7 in Vancouver, but nothing worked.

The Bruins were handed a power play on a delay of game penalty by Blues defenseman Colton Parayko 7:57 into the period and they certainly had their chances - like they did for a lot of the opening 10 minutes of the game.

Brad Marchand, the team's leading scorer in the postseason, was robbed by Jordan Binnington on a wrister from the slot. After the penalty was over, David Krejci cut in alone and Binnington flashed his right pad to rob his backhander from the edge of the crease. They had another excellent chance when Marcus Johansson came charging in alone from the right circle, but Binnington dove out to make the stop.

That's when Boston seemed to fall apart defensively late in the period. On slow change, the Blues collected the puck in the neutral zone and defenseman Jay Bouwmeester fired a shot from the point that Ryan O'Reilly tipped between Rask's pads at 16:47.

In the closing seconds, Pastrnak gave the puck up in his own end. Jaden Schwartz sent a pass to Alex Pietrangelo and the defenseman beat Rask with a backhander to the blocker side from the slot with eight seconds left.

It was the Blues' night from then on. Tuukka Rask had stopped 82 of 86 shots in Boston's three elimination games this season (twice in the opening round against Toronto and Game 6 in St. Louis) but the Blues got to him early and made it stand up.

 

[Cnotes53]

To grandma with love: O'Reilly hopes to take Cup to big fan
June 12, 2019
By The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) Ryan O'Reilly should expect another email from his 99-year-old grandmother pretty soon.

Congratulations from Deirdre O'Reilly are certainly in order after her grandson won the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the NHL playoffs. O'Reilly scored the opening goal for the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final to help beat Boston 4-1 and give the franchise its first title in its 51st season.

O'Reilly set a Blues record with 23 playoff points, became the first player since Wayne Gretzky in 1985 to score in four consecutive Cup Final games and did it all with his grandmother on his mind.

''She's one of my biggest supporters,'' O'Reilly said before the game. ''I'm hoping I could bring the Cup to her.''

O'Reilly's grandmother watches and emails him from Seaforth, Ontario, where he grew up playing hockey. She bought him multiple pairs of skates when he was a kid and has tracked his progress very closely.

''She's obviously a big part of my career,'' O'Reilly said.

The 28-year-old center's career hit a new peak this season when he was a finalist for the Selke Trophy as best defensive forward and the Lady Byng for sportsmanlike and gentlemanly conduct. Then he raised his game even further.

After scoring just three goals in his first 22 playoff games, O'Reilly scored five in the past four to carry the Blues to the Stanley Cup.

''He looks energized to me a little bit more, more jump in his stride out there, and he's finishing,'' coach Craig Berube said recently. ''He gets chances all the time, but he's finishing right now.''

This is the time O'Reilly had been waiting for after several soul-crushing seasons in Buffalo. After getting a taste of the playoffs with Colorado in 2010 and 2014, he missed with the Avalanche in 2015 and with the Sabres from 2016-2018.

O'Reilly raised eyebrows on locker cleanout day in Buffalo 15 months ago when he said he'd "lost the love of the game" multiple times throughout a trying season and needed to get it back. A blockbuster trade to St. Louis last summer changed everything, and now it's back in every possible way.

''It's very refreshing,'' O'Reilly said. ''It just kind of helps remind you what it's all about and why as a kid you play the game to have a chance to win a Stanley Cup and to be a part of a group like this, it just gave me a new life and reminder of how good and exciting this game can be.''

O'Reilly stated the obvious that winning is fun, losing is tough and ''it eats away at you.'' It was fun for the Blues in coming back from 1-0 and 2-1 series deficits in the final in large part because O'Reilly helped lead the way.

Following a horrendous faceoff performance in a blowout Game 3 loss, O'Reilly won 43 of 70 faceoffs the next three times out to help the Blues control play and take it to the Bruins.

O'Reilly of course scored some big goals in the process, too. Throughout the season, he earned a ton of respect from his teammates, referring Patrick Maroon to his sports psychologist dad and pulling a team together that had six new faces.

''Off the ice, he's an unreal guy,'' linemate Zach Sanford said. ''Everyone loves him. He's a good guy, he's a nice guy. He's always putting in the work. You see him after practice, leading all these drills on the ice and before games doing all these warmup drills and stuff. Obviously on the ice he's a great player. He's good offensively and defensively. There's not too many guys that can do it at the level he does.''

That showed in the Stanley Cup Final that made all those years watching playoffs this time of year feel like they had a purpose.

''It's worth it,'' O'Reilly said.

 

[Cnotes53]

STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

06/12/2019 2-0-0 100.00% +12.80
06/09/2019 2-0-0 100.00% +10.40
06/06/2019 1-1-0 50.00% -2.35
06/03/2019 1-1-0 50.00% +0.00
06/01/2019 1-1-0 50.00% -0.75
05/29/2019 0-2-0 0.00% -13.85
05/27/2019 1-1-0 50.00% +0.00


Totals..............8-6-0 ........57.14%..... +6.25


******************************


BEST BETS:


DATE........................ATS................... ..UNITS..................O/U..................UNITS.............TOTALS

06/12/2019..............1 - 0....................+5.00..................1 - 0................+5.00............+10.00
06/09/2019..............1 - 0....................+5.40..................1 - 0................+5.00............+10.40
06/06/2019..............0 - 0................... +0.00................. 1 - 0................+5.00............+5.00
06/03/2019..............0 - 1....................-5.00...................1 - 0.................+5.00............+0.00
06/01/2019..............0 - 0....................+0.00..................1 -0.................+5.00.............+5.00
05/29/2019..............0 - 0....................+0.00..................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
05/27/2019..............0 - 1....................-5.00...................1 - 0................+5.00............+0.00

Totals..................... 2 - 2.....................+0.40..................6- 1................+24.50............+24.90

 

[Cnotes53]

Pens put DeSmith on waivers
September 30, 2019
By The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) Backup goaltending competitions around the NHL have come into focus after the latest round of waiver moves.

The Pittsburgh Penguins for now are keeping Tristan Jarry as Matt Murray's backup and waived Casey DeSmith.

James Reimer won the Carolina Hurricanes backup job, and the team on Monday waived Anton Forsberg.

Teams have until Wednesday to set their 23-man opening night rosters, which means Tuesday is the final opportunity to put many players on waivers to send them to the American Hockey League.

The Washington Capitals still haven't shown their hand in goal, keeping 2018-19 backup Pheonix Copley and top prospect Ilya Samsonov on their roster. They made a somewhat surprising move by putting Christian Djoos on waivers 15 months after the Swedish defenseman helped them win the Stanley Cup.

Among the other players placed on waivers: New York Islanders forward Josh Ho-Sang and defenseman Thomas Hickey, Buffalo Sabres forwards Remi Elie and Curtis Lazar, Anaheim Ducks forward Daniel Sprong and defenseman Luke Schenn, Edmonton Oilers forward Sam Gagner and defenseman Brandon Manning and Nashville Predators defenseman Steven Santini.