BARTENDER'S PICKS 4/30-5/6

4/23-4/29 9-9 -$83.00

Overall 260-206 +$6283.00

VGK/SJS over 5 ½ +110 As I mentioned in previous write-ups; I was on the under of every game of both these teams first round series and don’t quote me, but I think it went 6-1-1. Stylistically the match-up here dictates the over as the Sharks come in with a very tough offense, one that is averaging 3.78 GF at home since the Evander Kane trade (who is back in the lineup tonight) at the deadline. MAF and The Knights were able to sit back in the first round and smother a very low scoring Kings team, but here they need to open it up a bit to stay with San Jose, which by default helps create more opportunities at their own end for the home team. Martin Jones got to face a low scoring Anaheim team in round 1 and here has faced a much more capable Knights offense, one in which he struggled against in the regular season and that has carried over to the first two games of this series.

SJS -130 Sharks are big, fast, physical, they can score, and they can defend. This team is built to be a proto-typical playoff team. The Knights can match them in all areas except the physicality as the Sharks are a bigger team overall. I think what was seen in game 2 is what you’re going to see most of this series. Game 1 was simply an anomaly, one in which the Sharks outshot Vegas 17-9 in the 1st period yet somehow fell behind 0-4. Most gamblers and fans can’t dismiss numbers that stand out but there are situations where (that game being one) you need to pretend it didn’t happen. Teams that own time of possession, generate more shots on goal generally win the games…its just the natural order of things. Game 2 was bound to fall into line with how the play dictated. I expect more of game 2 from San Jose here on home ice.

No play on the BOS/TB game...cause, I just have no idea. Wasn't expecting such a lopsided road win in game 1.

Anyways, good luck everyone! 

Yeah, I'd probably lean them myself as I can't see them losing both at home to start this series.

Thanks, dcgmt! Same to you! 

BOL

mjm1012 

I wouldn't worry about agreeing or not. I'm hardly Nostradomus. I can only chug along and make picks based on my opinions of previous games and what I feel the numbers show. Sometimes it works out, sometimes not.

VGK/SJS over 5 ½ +110 

SJS -130 

Today: 1-1 -$20.00

:::sigh:::

4/30-5/6 1-1 -$20.00

Overall 261-207 +$6263.00

NASH/WIN over 5 ½ -124 What’s to say about both these? Nashville/Winnipeg is a series wherein the over is the best bet, imo, every game regardless of situation. These two teams continue to generate far too many scoring opportunities and only a goalie performance ala Hellebuyck in Game 1 will really keep that from happening. Both goaltenders are great, probably the Vezina winner and the runner-up, but even great goaltending can do so much when the scoring chances are overwhelming on each side. And at 5 ½ the line is too enticing to stay away. I expected these games, regardless of it being the playoffs to be at least 6.

WASH/PIT over 5 ½ -124 We’ve yet to get an over here in this series which is somewhat surprising to me with the offensive talent on both sides and the questionable goaltending coming into the series. Both Holtby and Murray and stepped up their games come playoff time but an over here is due. Malkin should be back (I’m betting and writing up before leaving for the night, but he was almost a go for game 2 so I expect him back tonight) which can only help our cause. Holtby was a disaster on the road throughout the regular season and both goalies struggled against the opposing teams…but that has yet to be a factor here this series. As with the other game tonight, this 5 ½ line just seems off for these two teams.

NASH/VGK, NASH/SJS, WIN/VGK, WIN/SJS

WASH/TB, WASH/BOS, PIT/BOS, PIT/TB

The current four series and any combination going forward all play out to be over bets game-in and game-out in my opinion. The only teams that matched up these playoffs to make sense for betting the under was SJS/ANA and VGK/LAK. Playoff hockey is still great to watch, but its def not the same tight-checking game it was in years past.

Good luck, everyone!  

NASH/WIN over 5 ½ -124

WASH/PIT over 5 ½ -124 

Today: 2-0 +$200.00

Thank u, all season you have put so much work into postingon this forum. You have helped me numerous times with your reads on totals. Much respect brother

Well glad I could help. I think I'm only like 12-10 in my last 22 but I honestly feel like the games have gone exactly how predicted and yet haven't...weird lol.

I didn't bet them to win this series but I do have them as my only Cup pick at +1100 from back in Fenruary or so.

And yes, I do glance at the live in-game stuff from time to time. Tuesdays are a bad day for me though as I'm out of the house all night.

I leaned Pens tonight also. Home ice with Malkin back...kinda made sense. Very low shot totals for these two today and yet we got the over. Some weird stuff. I'd lean Pens and the over for Game 4, personally.

Freddy666 

ROCKON 

skinnycat17 

Thanks, guys...and lady...or Kid Dyn-O-mite!

4/30-5/6 3-1 +$180.00

Overall 263-207 +$6463.00

5/2

VGK/SJS over 5 ½ -105 Vegas continues to run this standard playoff line out there and I’ll continue to bet the over. As I mentioned previously, styles create game-flow and pace and these two match-up in the sense that there are going to be a lot scoring chances. San Jose has given up 14 goals through three games, which was predictable based on the very average season by goalie Martin Jones, as well as his even worse stats against Vegas coming in. The Knights have a strong offense and clearly have his number in net, so nothing here says that won’t continue. For Vegas, it’s all about MAF holding down a San Jose team that averages nearly 4 GF per game at home since the Kane acquisition. The Sharks are averaging a tick over 40 SOG per game so they’re getting the chances. These last two games, both 4-3 decisions are indicative of the type of scores I think you’ll see as we finish out this series.

SJS -135 This is simply a bet on the home team to bounce-back as I’m expecting this to be a long, back-and-forth series.

BOS -133 Another series I expect to be drawn out with two strong teams going back-and-forth. I like Boston to have a bounce-back win here on home ice after splitting the road games. Boston went 3-1 against Tampa this year and won both games at TD Garden. The issue with Tampa has been well -documented for months now—the defensive zone. The trade deadline deals didn’t seem to fix that and the over-arching issue with it is the fact that it has caused Vasilevskiy to get severely overworked down the stretch (both in overall time played and the pressure and scoring chances against while in-game) and I think that’s going to hurt them a lot in this series. Both teams should be able to score but I expect the B’s to match Tampa plus more for the win. Tampa’s porous PK unit could also be a huge deciding factor here against The Bruins 4 ranked power play.

TB/BOS over 6 -115

Good luck, all! 

Unless theres a drastic change in the lines, I already know I'll be strictly on the overs going forward.