Pittsburgh's 5-3 win over the Flyers in Philly on Saturday cut the original NHL playoff field in half as the Pens join the Bruins, Canucks and Red Wings in advancing to the next round. Are the Blackhawks next?
If Sean Avery isn’t getting the best of New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella, he’s certainly influencing him. After making Avery a healthy scratch for Game 5 of the Rangers’ Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Washington Capitals, Tortorella was suspended by the NHL for Game 6 after squirting a fan behind the bench with water.
So much for setting an example for the league’s most hated player. The end result from all this mess was the Blueshirts dropped both games to allow the Caps back in the series. Games 7 goes Tuesday night in Washington, and expect New York to be hefty underdogs when the moneyline is released on Monday.
Tuesday also features a do-or-die Game 7 between New Jersey and the Carolina Hurricanes, who held serve against the Devils in a 4-0 payday as –145 home favorites in Game 6 on Sunday. If both New Jersey and Washington win out, the East first round will have gone completely according to the chalk.
The fourth-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins did their part for the faves by rolling into Philly and closing out their series in Game 6 with the Flyers on Saturday. Pittsburgh scored five unanswered goals to eliminate Philadelphia in a 5-3 win, cashing as +105 pups for backers.
In the Western Conference, the top-seeded San Jose Sharks are alive after escaping in overtime against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 of their quarterfinal series on Saturday night. Patrick Marleau scored the winner to lift the Sharks (-200) to a 3-2 win and a return trip down the road to Anaheim, which leads the best-of-seven series 3-2. Game 6 is slated for Monday night at the Honda Center, and oddsmakers like the Sharks (-130) to get the series back to San Jose for a potential Game 7 on Wednesday night.
Chicago (+120) at Calgary (-140, 5˝) Monday, Apr 27, 9:30 p.m. (ET) – Game 6 (Blackhawks lead 3-2)
The Calgary Flames had better step up their effort, or the Chicago Blackhawks are going to skate into the Pengrowth Saddledome and leave with a victory – and the series – in Game 6 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series on Monday night.
Calgary came out absolutely flat in Game 5 at the United Center on Saturday, and the game was over after 30 minutes because of it. Chicago chased Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff midway through the second period with its fourth goal of the night, as the Blackhawks went on to win 5-1 as –155 home chalk.
Chicago’s offensive onslaught allowed the game to play over the 5.5-goal total set by oddsmakers for the third consecutive time in the series. Brent Seabrook had a goal and two assists for the Hawks, who have outscored the Flames 17-15 through five games.
The total is right back at the ol’ reliable 5.5-goal number at every outlet for Monday night, with Calgary priced in the range of –135 to –140 favorites on the moneyline for the elimination game. Chicago is set between +120 and +130 underdogs at sportsbooks, which are predictably seeing most of the action (62%) come in on the Flames through Sunday night.
Sharps looking to take the Hawks on the puckline should tread lightly, considering they weren’t able to cash in either of their two previous losses at the Saddledome. Most wise puckline bettors are likely waiting to play the Flames in a potential Game 7 on Wednesday night in Chicago, with Calgary having lost 3-2 in each of the first two games at the United Center.
Flames backers hoping for the return of rugged defenseman Robin Regehr are going to have to wait for the second round. Regehr is officially listed as day-to-day with an injury to his medial collateral ligament in his knee, and reports out of Calgary have him returning only if the Flames advance past the first round.
Of concern for the Hawks is the health and play of Patrick Kane, who has only one goal and one assist in four games in the series. Kane missed Game 3 in Calgary with the flu, and appears to be still dealing with its effects despite returning to the lineup. If Kane can’t get it going, the probability of Chicago pulling off the upset on Monday becomes all the more unlikely.
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