Betting news, trends, odds and predictions for Saturday, 5/5/18 from various handicappers and websites
Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs continues with a pair of pivotal Game 5's Saturday night, with the Penguins visiting the Capitals in the East and the Jets traveling to Smashville to take on the Predators in the West. We help you handicap this pair of games like a pro with our full betting preview.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals (-115, 5.5)
Series tied 2-2
Captain Alex Ovechkin looks to start another streak and help pull the Washington Capitals within one victory of the Eastern Conference finals when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins for the pivotal Game 5 on Saturday night. Ovechkin had scored in four consecutive playoff games before being held without a shot Thursday as the Penguins drew even in the best-of-seven semifinal series with a 3-1 triumph at home.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC, Sportsnet, TVA
SERIES PRICE (PER SPORTS INTERACTION):
BETTING ACTION AND LINE MOVES: The Capitals opened this pivotal Game 5 as slight -125 home favorites and had moved down to -115 as of Friday night, which isn't too surprising considering they are only seeing 51 percent of public bets according to our Covers Consensus. The total hit the board at 5.5.
Check out the complete line history here and consensus data here.
INJURY REPORT:
Penguins - C Zach Aston-Reese (Out, jaw).
Capitals - RW Tom Wilson (Out, suspension), Andre Burakovsky (Out, upper body).
GOALIE SHOWDOWN:
GP W L GAA SAVE % SO
Matt Murray (Penguins) 10 6 4 2.33 .909 2
Braden Holtby (Capitals) 9 6 3 2.07 .924 0
ABOUT THE PENGUINS: Forward Jake Guentzel continued a remarkable run for Pittsburgh with two goals and seven shots in Game 4 - giving him NHL bests of 10 goals and 21 points in the postseason, including four tallies and four assists in the series. Captain Sidney Crosby has added 19 points this postseason. Goalie Matt Murray, who had two shutouts in the first four games of the postseason, allowed one goal Thursday after permitting 17 in the previous five contests.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS: Ovechkin owns eight goals in 10 playoff contests, including five in a four-game span before Thursday when the Capitals were held to 21 shots - three in the third period by a rejuvenated Pittsburgh defense. Right wing T.J. Oshie snapped a four-game drought with his fourth goal of the playoffs in Game 4 on the power play, but has been held to five total shots over his last five contests. John Carlson has 10 points and Brooks Orpik boasts a plus-6 rating to lead the defense in the playoffs for Washington while Branden Holtby continues to shine with a 2.07 goals-against average and .924 save percentage after starting the postseason on the bench.
TRENDS:
* Penguins are 6-1 in their last seven road games.
* Capitals are 6-2 in their last eight overall.
* Over is 11-2-3 in Penguins last 16 games playing on one days rest.
* Under is 6-1 in Capitals last seven after scoring two goals or less in their previous game.
* Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings in Washington.
Note: Not every online sportsbook is the same. Thinking of placing a bet? Check which top rated sports betting sites have been reviewed first.
Winnipeg Jets at Nashville Predators (-160, 5.5)
Series tied 2-2
The Nashville Predators return home for Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets with a renewed sense of hope, after a gritty defensive performance helped them even the series at two games apiece. Nashville made an early lead hold up in Thursday’s Game 4, grinding down the speedy Jets with relentless defensive pressure in a 2-1 victory that gives the Predators home-ice advantage again and turns the series into a best-of-three sprint.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, CBC, TVA Sports
SERIES PRICE (PER SPORTS INTERACTION):
BETTING ACTION AND LINE MOVES: The Predators opened this huge Game 5 as moderate -155 home favorites and have been bet up slightly to the current number of -160. Sixty-seven percent of public wagers are backing the Preds according to our Covers Consensus, while 66 percent of bets are on the Over, which opened at 5.5.
Check out the complete line history here and consensus data here.
INJURY REPORT:
Jets - C Mathieu Perreault (Questionable, shoulder), D Dmitry Kulikov (Out, back).
Predators - C Calle Jarnkrok (Questionable, undisclosed).
GOALIE SHOWDOWN:
GP W L GAA SAVE % SO
Connor Hellebuyck (Jets) 9 6 3 2.32 .921 2
Pekka Rinne (Predators) 10 6 4 2.86 .909 1
ABOUT THE JETS: The Jets, who won Game 1 on the road, will have to win at least one more away from home in order to advance to the conference finals, and have to find a way to get their high-octane offense back on track after their lowest output of the postseason. Winnipeg struggled to crack the neutral zone in Game 4, avoiding the shutout on Patrik Laine’s power-play goal with 51 seconds to play to give the Jets tallies with the extra man in each of the past three games. Center Paul Stastny extended his points streak to five games (two goals, six assists) by assisting on Laine’s goal, but the Jets were unable to generate sustained offense until the final minutes.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS: Nashville outhit Winnipeg 27-23 and blocked more shots (9-6), two nights after the Jets scored seven times in the final 40 minutes. There would be no such outburst in Game 5 thanks also to Pekka Rinne, who carried a shutout into the final minute and finished with 32 saves in his best game of the series. The defense-first approach paid big dividends in Game 4 as Nashville held the Jets to 33 shots on goal, after Winnipeg peppered Rinne with 95 shots in the previous two games. Subban scored a goal for the third consecutive game and finished with four shots on goal and three hits in a team-leading 25:44 of ice time.
TRENDS:
* Jets are 8-0 in their last eight when their opponent allows two goals or less in their previous game.
* Predators are 0-4 in their last four games following a win.
* Under is 5-0 in Jets last five after scoring two goals or less in their previous game.
* Under is 9-2-1 in Predators last 12 when their opponent scores two goals or less in their previous game.
* Over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings in Nashville.
Preview: Penguins at Capitals
Gracenote
May 4, 2018
Captain Alex Ovechkin looks to start another streak and help pull the Washington Capitals within one victory of the Eastern Conference finals when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins for the pivotal Game 5 on Saturday night. Ovechkin had scored in four consecutive playoff games before being held without a shot Thursday as the Penguins drew even in the best-of-seven semifinal series with a 3-1 triumph at home.
“We’ve believed in ourselves all year,” Washington goalie Braden Holtby told reporters after the setback. “One game at a time. Now this game isn’t going to shake us at all. Our biggest asset has been bouncing back, either after a win or a loss. Just focus on playing our game, and that’s what we’re going to do.” Ovechkin owns eight goals in 10 playoff contests, including five in a four-game span before Thursday when the Capitals were held to 21 shots - three in the third period by a rejuvenated Pittsburgh defense. “I thought we defended hard,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan told reporters. “We made pretty good decisions with the puck. We stayed above the attack. The opportunities that we did get were off of our defense. I think it was a solid third period.” Forward Jake Guentzel continued a remarkable run for Pittsburgh with two goals and seven shots in Game 4 - giving him NHL bests of 10 goals and 21 points in the postseason, including four tallies and four assists in the series.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC, Sportsnet, TVA
ABOUT THE PENGUINS: Guentzel, who sealed Thursday’s win with an empty-netter, is the first player since Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier in 1988 to reach 20 points in 10 or fewer playoff games during one season. “He works hard,” Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby, who has 19 points in the playoffs, told reporters of Guentzel. “He does a lot of good things with and without the puck. I think he cares more about the wins more than the goals and assists. So he’s been a big part of our team’s success.” Goalie Matt Murray, who had two shutouts in the first four games of the postseason, allowed one goal Thursday after permitting 17 in the previous five contests.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS: Devante Smith-Pelley moved onto the first line with Tom Wilson serving the first of a three-game suspension, but did not have a shot while playing with Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov (five shots). Right wing T.J. Oshie snapped a four-game drought with his fourth goal of the playoffs in Game 4 on the power play, but has been held to five total shots over his last five contests. John Carlson has 10 points and Brooks Orpik boasts a plus-6 rating to lead the defense in the playoffs for Washington while Holtby continues to shine with a 2.07 goals-against average and .924 save percentage after starting the postseason on the bench.
OVERTIME
1. Crosby has 183 career playoff points, tied with Bryan Trottier and Nicklas Lidstrom for 11th in NHL history and two behind Steve Yzerman for 10th.
2. Washington F Shane Gersich had one shot on net in 5:48 of ice time Thursday in his first career playoff game, taking Wilson’s place.
3. Pittsburgh LW Carl Hagelin returned to the lineup for Game 4 after missing the previous three contests with an upper-body injury.
PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Penguins 3
__________________
W/L Trends
Pittsburgh
Penguins are 6-1 in their last 7 road games.
Penguins are 14-6 in their last 20 games playing on 1 days rest.
Penguins are 70-33 in their last 103 vs. Metropolitan.
Penguins are 2-6 in their last 8 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Penguins are 1-6 in their last 7 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Washington
Capitals are 6-2 in their last 8 vs. Metropolitan.
Capitals are 6-2 in their last 8 overall.
Capitals are 6-2 in their last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
Capitals are 19-7 in their last 26 Saturday games.
Capitals are 21-8 in their last 29 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Capitals are 74-30 in their last 104 games playing on 1 days rest.
Capitals are 92-39 in their last 131 home games.
Capitals are 37-16 in their last 53 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Capitals are 76-33 in their last 109 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Capitals are 53-26 in their last 79 vs. a team with a winning record.
OU Trends
Pittsburgh
Under is 2-0-2 in Penguins last 4 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Under is 3-0-2 in Penguins last 5 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Under is 3-0-2 in Penguins last 5 games following a win.
Over is 11-2-3 in Penguins last 16 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 4-1 in Penguins last 5 Saturday games.
Under is 4-1 in Penguins last 5 Conference Semifinals games.
Over is 12-4-1 in Penguins last 17 road games.
Over is 20-9-3 in Penguins last 32 vs. Eastern Conference.
Washington
Over is 7-1 in Capitals last 8 Saturday games.
Under is 6-1 in Capitals last 7 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Under is 18-7-6 in Capitals last 31 Conference Semifinals games.
Over is 5-2-1 in Capitals last 8 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Capitals last 7 home games.
Head to Head
Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Washington.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Preview: Jets at Predators
Gracenote
May 4, 2018
The Nashville Predators return home for Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets with a renewed sense of hope, after a gritty defensive performance helped them even the series at two games apiece. Nashville made an early lead hold up in Thursday’s Game 4, grinding down the speedy Jets with relentless defensive pressure in a 2-1 victory that gives the Predators home-ice advantage again and turns the series into a best-of-three sprint.
“I think the biggest thing is we had full commitment through our lineup to play defense,” Predators defenseman P.K. Subban told reporters after Nashville outhit Winnipeg 27-23 and blocked more shots (9-6), two nights after the Jets scored seven times in the final 40 minutes. There would be no such outburst in Game 5 thanks also to Pekka Rinne, who carried a shutout into the final minute and finished with 32 saves in his best game of the series. The Jets, who won Game 1 on the road, will have to win at least one more away from home in order to advance to the conference finals, and have to find a way to get their high-octane offense back on track after their lowest output of the postseason. “We’ve responded incredibly well all year,” Jets forward Blake Wheeler told the media afterward. “It has not been an easy year - a lot of adversity all year - and we’ve answered the bell every single time, so I’m excited about Game 5.”
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, CBC, TVA Sports
ABOUT THE JETS: Winnipeg struggled to crack the neutral zone in Game 4, avoiding the shutout on Patrik Laine’s power-play goal with 51 seconds to play to give the Jets tallies with the extra man in each of the past three games. Center Paul Stastny extended his points streak to five games (two goals, six assists) by assisting on Laine’s goal, but the Jets were unable to generate sustained offense until the final minutes. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves but only faced seven shots in the final period.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS: The defense-first approach paid big dividends in Game 4 as Nashville held the Jets to 33 shots on goal, after Winnipeg peppered Rinne with 95 shots in the previous two games. Subban scored a goal for the third consecutive game and finished with four shots on goal and three hits in a team-leading 25:44 of ice time. Forwards Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen each picked up assists on Subban’s goal, extending their points streaks to three games.
OVERTIME
1. Nashville D Yannick Weber made his playoff debut after missing time with an upper-body injury, finishing plus-1 in 8:32.
2. Jets C Matt Hendricks drew into the lineup, finishing minus-1 in playing only 6:42.
3. All three of Subban’s goals in the series have come on the power play.
PREDICTION: Predators 3, Jets 2
__________________
W/L Trends
Winnipeg
Jets are 8-0 in their last 8 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Jets are 10-2 in their last 12 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Jets are 5-1 in their last 6 Saturday games.
Jets are 12-3 in their last 15 vs. a team with a winning record.
Jets are 21-7 in their last 28 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Jets are 40-16 in their last 56 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Jets are 5-2 in their last 7 road games.
Jets are 10-4 in their last 14 vs. Central.
Jets are 38-16 in their last 54 overall.
Jets are 43-20 in their last 63 games playing on 1 days rest.
Jets are 43-20 in their last 63 vs. Western Conference.
Nashville
Predators are 13-3 in their last 16 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Predators are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Predators are 25-10 in their last 35 games playing on 1 days rest.
Predators are 12-5 in their last 17 Saturday games.
Predators are 48-20 in their last 68 home games.
Predators are 60-25 in their last 85 vs. Western Conference.
Predators are 36-16 in their last 52 overall.
Predators are 35-16 in their last 51 vs. Central.
Predators are 38-18 in their last 56 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Predators are 42-20 in their last 62 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Predators are 0-4 in their last 4 games following a win.
OU Trends
Winnipeg
Under is 5-0 in Jets last 5 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Under is 6-1 in Jets last 7 Saturday games.
Under is 8-3 in Jets last 11 overall.
Under is 8-3 in Jets last 11 vs. Western Conference.
Under is 5-2 in Jets last 7 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Jets last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 7-3 in Jets last 10 vs. Central.
Under is 7-3 in Jets last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
Nashville
Under is 9-2-1 in Predators last 12 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Predators last 5 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Over is 6-2 in Predators last 8 home games.
Under is 6-2-1 in Predators last 9 Conference Semifinals games.
Over is 8-3 in Predators last 11 games following a win.
Under is 5-2 in Predators last 7 overall.
Under is 5-2 in Predators last 7 vs. Central.
Under is 5-2 in Predators last 7 vs. Western Conference.
Head to Head
Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Nashville.
Home team is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings.
Jets are 2-5 in the last 7 meetings in Nashville.
NHL
Saturday, May 5
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Trend Report
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Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games
Pittsburgh is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games
Pittsburgh is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Pittsburgh is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Pittsburgh's last 17 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
Washington Capitals
Washington is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Washington is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Washington is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington's last 5 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Winnipeg is 17-4 SU in its last 21 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Winnipeg's last 11 games
Winnipeg is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Winnipeg's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Winnipeg's last 9 games when playing Nashville
Winnipeg is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Nashville
Winnipeg is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Nashville
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Winnipeg's last 7 games when playing on the road against Nashville
Nashville Predators
Nashville is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games
Nashville is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Nashville's last 7 games
Nashville is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Nashville is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Nashville's last 8 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Nashville's last 9 games when playing Winnipeg
Nashville is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Winnipeg
Nashville is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Winnipeg
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Nashville's last 7 games when playing at home against Winnipeg
NHL
Long Sheet
Saturday, May 5
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PITTSBURGH (53-33-0-6, 112 pts.) at WASHINGTON (55-28-0-9, 119 pts.) - 5/5/2018, 7:15 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 1-9 ATS (-9.1 Units) in road games on Saturday games this season.
WASHINGTON is 56-37 ATS (+4.1 Units) in all games this season.
WASHINGTON is 73-40 ATS (+0.3 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 15-4 ATS (+9.9 Units) on Saturday games this season.
WASHINGTON is 25-11 ATS (+12.6 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
WASHINGTON is 14-3 ATS (+10.4 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game this season.
WASHINGTON is 32-19 ATS (+8.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PITTSBURGH is 121-70 ATS (+17.2 Units) second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 52-28 ATS (+13.0 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 16-7 ATS (+23.7 Units) in road games when tied in a playoff series since 1996.
PITTSBURGH is 70-44 ATS (+13.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 17-13 (+5.0 Units) against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 17-13-0 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
14 of 26 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.2 Units)
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WINNIPEG (58-23-0-10, 126 pts.) at NASHVILLE (59-22-0-11, 129 pts.) - 5/5/2018, 9:45 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WINNIPEG is 5-17 ATS (+25.3 Units) in road games after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game over the last 3 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 59-34 ATS (+13.9 Units) in all games this season.
NASHVILLE is 48-27 ATS (+11.3 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 37-18 ATS (+61.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NASHVILLE is 50-27 ATS (+18.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
WINNIPEG is 58-34 ATS (+12.3 Units) in all games this season.
WINNIPEG is 35-17 ATS (+9.3 Units) second half of the season this season.
WINNIPEG is 40-24 ATS (+15.3 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
WINNIPEG is 29-13 ATS (+11.5 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
WINNIPEG is 31-20 ATS (+6.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
WINNIPEG is 21-10 ATS (+7.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
NASHVILLE is 10-8 (+0.2 Units) against the spread versus WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
NASHVILLE is 10-8-0 straight up against WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
11 of 17 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+4.9 Units)