Ice picks: Friday's best NHL bets

Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins (-150, 5.5)

If there’s one thing the Lightning know how to do, it’s win when their backs are against the wall. Tampa Bay improved to 4-0 this season when facing elimination, including a thrilling, 5-4 win in Game 6 in Florida.

"It's been our motto all season — resilience and work ethic,'' said Tampa Bay forward Teddy Purcell. "When we work hard around the crease and create traffic, that's when we have success against Tim Thomas. When we don't, he out-competes us and comes out on top.''

Don’t expect Thomas or the rest of the Bruins to intimidate the Lightning in Massachusetts. Tampa Bay already has won a Game 7 on the road this year, besting Pittsburgh, 1-0 in Pennsylvania as it completed a rally from a 3-1 series deficit. Overall, the Lightning are 3-0 all-time in Game 7s and are trying to become the first team in NHL history to win each of their first four Game 7s.

The Bruins, meantime, haven’t fared well recently in decisive contests. Boston beat Montreal in Game 7 on home ice earlier this postseason, but dropped its two prior Game 7s, both on home ice: against Carolina in 2009 and Philadelphia in 2010.

It also would be difficult to find a more clutch goalie in the playoffs than Tampa Bay’s Dwayne Roloson. Despite getting pulled in Game 4, Roloson is an absurd 7-0 in elimination games in his career. In those games, he has a miniscule 1.82 goals-against average and a sterling .936 save percentage.

"He was our MVP," Tampa Bay forward Steven Stamkos said. "He was clutch when we needed him. The numbers he put up were ridiculous. Our penalty kill is ultimately what won us this series, and he was our best penalty killer. Words can't express how much he meant to us in this series."

Pick: Tampa Bay

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Posted by W8LIFTER
1 year ago

BINGO!!! $$$$ Cash it again LARGE!!! Boston Bruins -155 ML $$$$
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Posted by W8LIFTER
1 year ago

Looking even better here! Bruins up 1-0
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Posted by W8LIFTER
1 year ago

Boston/Tampa Under 5.5 LARGE $$$$ it is!!!
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Posted by DDH420
1 year ago

All ready to roll for the big G7....................NHL:(1)BOS PL-1.5 to the O 5.5 +570 (2)TB ML to the O 5.5 +440......................MLB:(1)WSUX/JAYS U 8.5 (2)WASH RL-1.5 +170 (3)CLE ML+150 (4)WSUX RL+1.5 to CLE RL+1.5 +160(5)TEX ML to ATL ML +145(6)SEA ML -110 (7)TEX RL+105 (8)ATL RL-1.5 to the O 7.5 +370 (9)BRAVES ML-155 (10)ARZ ML-130 (11)MIL ML -120 (12)FLA ML to O 7.5 +275.....................BOL & Enjoy the games
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Posted by DDH420
1 year ago

Forgot me Leekytail...MLB(1)PHI/NYM O 7 -120
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Posted by shortyghs91
1 year ago

i thought u werent around buddy but i see u just responded to another post. Oh well my bad for asking for ur thoughts on Braves. No biggie gl
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Posted by DDH420
1 year ago

Hey I ain't happy about the outcome either but a smartass comment doesn't help. Why is it your fault for asking ?? Just fade me tomorrow Im going right back to them with Lowe vs a struggling Arroyo.
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Posted by Gaulstone78
1 year ago

This is stupid but the East finals have been all over the place so I gave my two year old daughter a TB and BOS beer coaster and asked her who will win. I waited a few minutes and did it again switching them up. No matter the scenario she picked the Bruins. Also if Boston wins my Leafs get Bostons second round draft pick this year as part of the Kaberle deal(what a bust), so Boston it is, that being said I'm not placing large bets as some of you do, but thought I'd give my ridiculous input. hmmm. maybe over as well... any thoughts or criticism is welcome.
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Posted by DDH420
1 year ago

HAHAH good stuff G-Stone and go Broons. I have them for 3 units on the series so taking to shots at some heavy plus money. Also going bigger on my fave play of the night on the bases which is the Bravos.
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Posted by Gaulstone78
1 year ago

Thanks D I'ma trail ya on ATL. I'ma blaze, kick back and hope to watch a great east final. Go Leafs
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Posted by Gaulstone78
1 year ago

Thanks D I'ma trail ya on ATL. I'ma blaze, kick back and hope to watch a great east final. Go Leafs
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Posted by DDH420
1 year ago

Well BOL to us then. Prick Braves had 2 men on twice in the first and got squat. Still I like that Leake is shaky plus CINCY's pen work a shitload the other day in that 19 inning marathon so they are probably not at their best either. Enjoy the game bro.
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Posted by Daddo
1 year ago

All trends point to Boston. Tampa has had a good run but their game 7 win was against an injury-depleted, non-scoring team. Home crowd...energy out the wazoo...and those trends...Go Beantown!
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Posted by W8LIFTER
1 year ago

Boston/Tampa UNDER 5.5 LARGE
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Posted by LeeK3
1 year ago

I won on the Bolts in Game #6 and I placed my bet last night on Tampa Bay and am going with Roloson (and the Lightning) to win another elimination game. Boston plays better on the road then they do at home, and IF Tampa Bay can score first and take out the home crowd (they usually start booing the Bruins when things go bad), I think the Bolts can hold on to win it. I almost bet the Over also, but I backed off because I always feel that Game #7s are played a bit tighter since nobody wants to make a mistake and give up a goal on a easy fast break................... The below stats are from the Covers article that most of you probably already saw, but it shows that Tampa has a better power play AND a better penalty kill then Boston................ "After going 0 for 9 on the power play in their last three games, both teams connected with the man advantage in Game 6. Tampa Bay went 3-for-4 to improve to 17-for-65 in the postseason, while Boston scored on one of five chances to up its mark to 5-for-61. The Lightning have now killed off 72 of 78 shorthanded situations in the playoffs."...........................41 year old goalie or not, the Lightning have the better offense and the better penalty killing team, so I am taking the +130 and rooting for the Bolts................Tampa Bay +130 vs BOSTON, 1 unit.............Good Luck to everyone and enjoy your weekend!
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Posted by rafaelite
1 year ago

yep, with ya on bolts as posted yesterday, good luck everybody.
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Posted by Lippsman
1 year ago

Rolly has been very absurd as of late allowing 15 goals in his last 176 minutes played for a whopping 5.11 GAA, with a .843 SV% You live in the past of what he did years ago. Yes they beat a depleted Pens team in game 7. But I will take what the 41 year old goaltender has been doing in this series of late and that's being swiss cheese. Let him allow 4 goals again tonight and see what happens.
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Posted by DDH420
1 year ago

Yeah I've heard a lot about his 7-0 record and sterling gaa (unitl last game) in elimination games but you're right,he looks outta gas to me as well.
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Posted by MojoGypson
1 year ago

agree- these "experts" always go with what happened last night or last game. Boston wins- the next game they pick Boston Tamps wins- next game their pick is Tampa. Come on- do some work, Boston very tough on home ice in this situation. tight game- Boston ML and the UNDER.
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Posted by 1junkie
1 year ago

Do you want to know what I like about the Covrs "experts" and the Tampa Bay pick .... The experts are wrong nearly 100% of the time. Give me the Bruins - and put it away early!!
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Posted by Yayo637
1 year ago

coin
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Posted by Yayo637
1 year ago

flipped a cion it said bos
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Posted by W8LIFTER
1 year ago

Boston Bruins -150 ML LARGE!!!
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Posted by rafaelite
1 year ago

gonna go with tampa and over even in boston, tampa got the speed
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Posted by buffalo11
1 year ago

tampa!!!!
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Top Response

Posted by Gaulstone78
1 year ago

"Thanks D I'ma trail ya on ATL. I'ma blaze, kick back and hope to watch a great east final. Go Leafs"

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Sports Betting Headlines »

Featured Free Play
MLB: Philadelphia vs. Miami
Pick:
Philadelphia
Start:
May 20, 2013 - 7:10 PM
Capper:
Will Rogers
Offered at:
5dimes @ -182 Philadelphia
Analysis:

It doesn't take much to want to play against the Miami Marlins, and with Cole Hamels starting Monday, the Phillies look like an easy winner. The fact that the Fish are off a rare win Sunday makes things even more enticing as there have been only two instances all season that they have been on a win streak. 

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Hamels - How has he lost to the Marlins, not once, but twice this season? Miami has only 12 wins all year! Hamels has certainly been a hard luck loser both starts as he's allowed just three runs in 14 innings. That's been the story of his career vs. Miami as Hamels career ERA vs. this division rival is 3.24, yet his TSR is 10-16 in 26 starts. Look for that to change here. It's incredible that Hamels has only one win in eight starts. Miami is averaging a pathetic 1.4 runs per game this season vs. left-handers!

2.  Marlins' Woes - There are many to report.  Before yesterday's 2-1 win over Arizona, the team had lost seven straight and 10 of its last 11. They'd been shut out four times during that span and held to three runs or less in every loss.  Offensively, this team is beyond abysmal, averaging only 2.7 runs per game while batting .221.  They are just 6-16 at home and 3-12 vs. lefties. What a horrible team.

3. X-Factor - Marlins starter Alex Sanabia is 0-3 with a 5.28 ERA his last three starts. He's allowed four runs in all of those starts while failing to go more than six innings.

Selection:  The play is on the Philadelphia Phillies (1*)
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