[Let's Go Rangers]

Round 1 + 141.83 units
( +48.45 units in series wagers, 7 of 8 predicted correctly, 6 of 7 bet correctly )





Nashville - 165 @ Phoenix
As I pointed out in my original round 1 series predictions, I think Nashville will represent the West in the Stanly cup finals.
Nothing that I saw changed my mind about this prediction.

The Preds easily handled a good Wings team, and they are well rested.
The Yotes certainly got their fill of pressure games.
5 overtimes in the 6 game series.
*
During the regular season, these teams split 2-2, each winning 1 home and away
The Coyotes and Preds scored 12 goals each

The playoffs is where we saw these teams at their best.
The Preds dominated the Wings, and the Coyotes struggled with the Hawks.

I know the Preds are the road team in this series, but in the NHL that doesn't mean that much.when you win BOTH PLAYOFF GAMES IN DETROIT, you can easily win in the desert.

Preds -165***** 16.5 units to win 10

LA @ St. Louis -175

The Blues are a very good team, and so is LA
LA won the season series 3-1,* both teams winning a 1-0 tilt at home, and the Kings winning 5-0 @ home and 3-2 in St Louis ( LA outscored SL 9-3 )
in 4 games, there were a total of 12 goals scored
3-22** 1-0 LA ( OT )
2-3**** 1-0 SL
11-22* 3-2 LA
10-18* 5-0 LA

I think while the Blues have superior talent, the Kings have the better goalie, and certainly 1 that can steal a series.
It also doesn't hurt that the NHL would probably prefer the LA market in the playoffs a little longer than the SL market.

I think all the games in this series are 1 goal games, maybe an open netter or a game that ends 3-0 after its 1-0 after 2, so in what I feel will be a close/ low scoring series,* I look for value.
I can take LA with the better goalie @ +155, Sign me up

LA KINGS + 155*** 5 units to win 7.75

Washington @ NY Rangers -175
Series split 2-2* rangers scoring 11 goals, Caps scoring 13
What I think we need to look at in this series is the "what have you done for me lately" factor

We know the Blueshirts had to go 7 to beat Ottawa, but what were their last 20 regular season games like?
Let me recap

4-7 home Caps LOST 4-1
4-5 @ pitt LOST 5-2
4-3 @ philly WIN 5-3
4-1 home boston LOST 2-1
3-30 home Montreal WIN 4-1
3-28 @ Winnipeg WIN 4-2
3-27 @ Minn WIN 3-2
3-24 @ Toronto WIN 4-3 ( SO )
3-23 home Buffalo LOST 4-1
3-21 home Detroit WIN 2-1 ( SO )
3-19 home NJ WIN 4-2
3-17 home Colorado LOST 3-1
3-15 home Pittsburgh LOST 5-2
3-13 home Carolina WIN 4-2
3-11 home NYI WIN 4-3 ( SO )
3-9 @ chicago LOST 4-3
3-8 @ Ottawa LOST 4-1
3-6 @ NJ LOST 4-1
3-4 home Boston WIN 4-3
3-2 @ TB LOST 4-3 ( SO )

This shows the Rangers lost 50% of their last 20 regular season games.
The Caps won 11 of their final 20, so not much better.
The intangible here is the goal-tending
Will Holtby wilt under more pressure, or will he rise to be a star.
We pretty much know what we will get with Lundqvist.
A stellar goalie that can occasionally let in a soft goal.

Lundqvist has played in 69 games so far this season
Holtby has played in 14

Does fatigue set in?
It may
With Sid the kid out of the playoffs, the NHL would love to send Ovechkin deep in the playoffs.
The question is will the Caps be able to take the pressure, or will they have it in their grasp, and choke like they do every season?

I think The Rangers are the more talented team, but when breaking down the series, this one is a tossup
The Rangers have the better:
Offense
Defense
Penalty Killing

The Caps have the better
Power play
better face off men
more discipline

Goialtending, the Rangers have a proven commodity, but Holtby has been impressive so far

I think the teams are going in opposite directions, the Caps peaking and the Rangers wilting

Taking the Caps @ +155** 10 units to win 15



New Jersey @ Philadelphia -170
I bet the Flyers to win the cup back in March, and little in round 1 changed my mind

What does scare me is that if you don't tune in the game until half and hour after it started, the Flyers are always down by 2 goals.
Against a team like the Devils, that could be a long uphill climb.

The Flyers do have the firepower to catch up though, and we saw in the series against the Panthers that the Devils can blow leads.

I would be SHOCKED if this one goes 7 games.
I think the Flyers will easily handle the Devils and will cruise in a lopsided series.

The Devils probably win 2 close games, the Flyers win 4 routs

Flyers -170* 17 units to win 10

[Let's Go Rangers]

Note

first round units won were posted at another website

I will not link here in complience with SBR wishes, but can be verified by any SBR mod if SBR thinks Im trying to tout

[fulcher33]

I'm a little worried about the Flyers coming off that emotional series. But the fact that it's another rival in the Devils should help. Not sure the Devils can handle Philly firepower....Marty going to have to be big.

[nammertl]

I think the flyers are just too good a team. I see in Giroux the same thing I see in Crosby and that is a fierce competitor who brings out the fire in his team mates. The current NJ is just not gonna cut it and they were very lucky to win against the lowly Panthers.

I expect the Flyers to come out with full intensity for game 1 and win by a puckline at least. Bryz is like Kryptonite against NJ having collected the wins in the reg. season why Bobrovsky was in net for the losses. Brodeur is an old man and his team just loves to give up big leads.

Philly will win this series by at least 2 games. I'm gonna toss a huge chunk on the series and a bit on the -1.5 games.

[Let's Go Rangers]

I like that prop Philly -1.5

I could have used that Preds game last night.
They dominated, and lost

[High3rEl3m3nt]

GL with these plays...appreciate the effort in your post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[D3 Mighty Ducks]

Going against your beloved Rangers and taking the Caps? No shot. Rangers want revenge from that Game 7 loss last time these 2 met in the playoffs. Lundqvist and the Rangers are on a mission this year. I've been saying it since November, I believe with their goaltending and their explosive offense, plus John Tortarella being one of the best coaches in the league, this team definitely has what it takes to win it all.

[lakerboy]

D3 the rangers offense is awful. What on earth are you talking about pal?

[D3 Mighty Ducks]

They would of finished first in the East and be already up 1-0 in the second round of the playoffs of their offense was "awful". It may not be as explosive as let's says the Flyers, but they know how to put the puck in the net in 5-5 situations and on the PP.

Losing Brian Boyle was a huge loss for them he was tearing it up until he got his concussion. Hopefully he'll be back soon enough.

[a4u2fear]

Nice to see someone go against their team, usually these thread start off with that team winning

[UpsetSpecial09]

I like that prop Philly -1.5

I could have used that Preds game last night.
They dominated, and lost

Anything can happen in OT. doesn't matter who dominated the game once it goes to OT. Phx had A LOT of OT games in the last round, perhaps they were a bit less anxious last night in OT.

[Let's Go Rangers]

Well my "Caps advantages" came through in the third period tonight.

The Caps have the better
Power play
better face off men
more discipline

They got the PP because of poor discipline by the rangers / stupid penalty

Caps won faceoff
Scored PP goal

[Let's Go Rangers]

They would of finished first in the East and be already up 1-0 in the second round of the playoffs of their offense was "awful". It may not be as explosive as let's says the Flyers, but they know how to put the puck in the net in 5-5 situations and on the PP.

Losing Brian Boyle was a huge loss for them he was tearing it up until he got his concussion. Hopefully he'll be back soon enough.

Lundqvist has owned the Flyers, the Rangers can overcome a mistake or 2 when playing against them.

The "Buckle it up " Caps wont allow as many opportunities.

1 mistaken can cost Rangers a game

[Let's Go Rangers]

Nice to see someone go against their team, usually these thread start off with that team winning

Rangers were overpriced.

I saw a tired team the last 20+ games.

Lundqvist now @ over 70 games this year.
even world class athletes have to get tired with that work load

[Let's Go Rangers]

Anything can happen in OT. doesn't matter who dominated the game once it goes to OT. Phx had A LOT of OT games in the last round, perhaps they were a bit less anxious last night in OT.

[a4u2fear]

Verified his previous records and statements and they were impressive and correct. Nice going. Need Preds

[Let's Go Rangers]

looking like a split with nashville dead, Philly not looking good.Caps and Kings look like winners- 10.75 units unless Philly wakes up