Yankees out to continue success vs. lefties, sweep Royals

The New York Yankees struggled in most of their encounters against left-handed pitching until Saturday. Then they dominated Kansas City southpaw Noah Cameron and rolled to their most lopsided victory of the season.

After their best showing at the plate, the Yankees seek a three-game sweep Sunday afternoon when they host the Royals.

The Yankees will face another left-hander in Cole Ragans (0-3, 3.78 ERA) after going 7-for-20 with three homers off Cameron. New York raised its batting average against left-handed pitchers 19 points to .179 after Saturday’s 13-4 win.

Cody Bellinger, who entered Saturday 3-for-17 off lefties, hit a pair of two-run homers and drove in five runs. Bellinger also is 10-for-28 (.357) over his past seven games.

Ben Rice homered for the third straight game for the first time in his career and is 5-for-16 (.313) off lefties after hitting .208 against southpaws last season. Rice will remain in the lineup Sunday along with Paul Goldschmidt while Giancarlo Stanton gets a scheduled day off ahead of Monday’s off-day before the start of a three-game series at Boston.

The Yankees scored their most runs all season after their previous five wins were decided in the final at-bat. Amed Rosario hit a two-run homer, drove in three runs and is hitting .293 off lefties since the start of last season.

“We’re a talented team that can win in many different ways,” Bellinger said. “Obviously these games are more ideal but I like where we’re at.”

Since their 6-5 win over the Yankees in Game 2 of the 2024 ALDS, the Royals are on a 10-game losing streak against New York. Kansas City has lost six straight and nine of 11.

The Royals were blanked until Carter Jensen hit a two-run homer in the seventh and also scored on a two-run double by Michael Massey in the ninth. Bobby Witt Jr. had one of Kansas City’s seven hits and is 5-for-20 on the road trip.

The Royals are coming off their most lopsided loss of the first 21 games after 10 of their previous 11 games were decided by two runs or fewer.

“It looks bad when you get your butt kicked like today, but every game this week has been a really close game,” Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said. “Guys are running hard, they’re playing hard, they’re preparing hard. It just hasn’t worked out.”

After getting seven sharp innings from Will Warren and not using any high-leverage relievers, the Yankees will send lefty Ryan Weathers (0-2, 4.29 ERA) to the mound.

Weathers, who struggled at times with his fastball command Tuesday in a 7-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, makes his first career start against Kansas City. Weathers is allowing a .268 average to opposing hitters and allowed three homers in a span of five pitches on fastballs to Mike Trout, Jo Adell and Jorge Soler.

Weathers also gave up a homer to Oswald Peraza on his changeup but wound up with 10 strikeouts in five-plus innings when he allowed five runs. He also became the first Yankee and 17th pitcher all-time to get at least 10 strikeouts and allow four homers.

In four starts, Ragans (0-3, 3.78) has received four runs from his offense and is coming off his best start this season. Ragans allowed one hit in six scoreless innings in a no-decision during Kansas City’s 2-1 loss at Detroit on Tuesday.

Ragans does not have a decision and a 2.57 ERA in a pair of appearances (one start) against the Yankees.

–Field Level Media

With bullpens taxed, Rays, Pirates hope starters can go deep

With exhausted bullpens following Saturday’s six-hour, 39-minute, 13-inning marathon game, the pressure is on the Rays’ Shane McClanahan and the Pirates’ Mitch Keller to deliver strong starts on Sunday afternoon in the finale of their three-game series in Pittsburgh.

The Rays used eight relievers and the Pirates used six relievers in a game officially of four hours and 12 minutes that was delayed an additional two hours and 27 minutes by inclement weather, and ended with an 8-7 win for Tampa Bay.

Now, McClanahan (1-1, 3.95 ERA), who last Tuesday picked up his first win since June 16, 2023, will try to make it eight wins in their past nine games for the Rays.

McClanahan gave up two earned runs (three overall) on two hits and four walks, and struck out four in five innings against the Chicago White Sox. The left-hander continued his solid return to the majors this season after missing the past two years following Tommy John surgery and recovery from a nerve issue.

For McClanahan, it was the end of a wait of 1,033 days between wins and a long period of resilience while dealing with his physical issues and the death of his father.

“It was probably the adrenaline dump and emotional release that I’ve had in my entire life,” McClanahan said. “Some days, you don’t think you’re ever going to get to this point again. Proud of who I’ve turned into and the work that I put in, and I know it’s going to get better.”

McClanahan, who is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two career starts against the Pirates, is still fine-tuning things on the mound as he has issued 11 walks and struck out 13 in 13 2/3 innings. But he’s been effective enough for the Rays to win two of his three starts so far. Another such outing would be huge for a Rays staff, which utilized all seven available relievers on Saturday. A roster move could be made to supplement a taxed bullpen.

For Pittsburgh, Keller (1-1, 2.86) was off to one of the best starts in the majors over his first three outings before struggling last Tuesday against the visiting Washington Nationals.

Keller gave up five runs on six hits, walked four and struck out three over four innings (90 pitches) in a game the Pirates lost 5-4.

Over his first three starts (18 innings), Keller had allowed only two runs.

It was the second time this season that Keller walked four batters in a game. But he overcame them by allowing only two runs in a 5-4 home win over the Baltimore Orioles on April 3 — his lone pitching victory of the season.

Keller is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two career starts against Tampa Bay.

“With Mitch, from the beginning, didn’t have the sharp command, but battled and grinded and got through four innings,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “You could tell from the beginning he wasn’t as sharp as he’s been.”

The Pirates recalled reliever Cam Sanders on Saturday and optioned Jose Urquidy to Triple-A Indianapolis. Mason Montgomery and closer Dennis Santana were the only relievers Pittsburgh did not use in Saturday’s game.

–Field Level Media

Fresh off play-in win, Suns take on top-seeded Thunder

The Phoenix Suns come into their first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder with some momentum after knocking off the Golden State Warriors in the play-in finale Friday to earn the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

The Thunder haven’t played in a week heading into Sunday’s Game 1 of the series in Oklahoma City.

After letting a big lead slip away in the play-in opener against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Suns bounced back with a 111-96 home win over the Warriors.

Jalen Green was one of the biggest factors in Phoenix advancing, with 36 points in Friday’s victory.

“They’re going to come in, play hard, play their game, but I think if we bring the same energy that we brought (Friday night) and getting stops, playing defense, getting out and running, we can use that to our advantage,” Green said, looking forward to facing Oklahoma City. “It should be a good series.”

The Thunder are looking to become the first team since Golden State in 2017-18 to repeat as champions.

“It’s an opportunity,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I think just going through last year and realizing that’s so far down the line. So many things are going to happen before we get to the Finals clinching game. … So many things have to go our way that aren’t in our control and so many things we have to control that are hard to control at this level for a long period of time for us to have that opportunity.”

Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren said there’s value in having the experience, but that his team can’t take any team lightly.

“You have to try to carry over the experiences that you learn from, but you can’t carry over the result, because the result means absolutely nothing,” Holmgren said. “If you’re sitting here in the playoffs saying, ‘Oh, we won last year,’ that’s not going to win you a playoff series or a game or get a stop on a possession.”

The series features two of the best defenses in the league.

The Thunder had the NBA’s best defensive rating, allowing just 106.5 points per 100 possessions during the regular season while the Suns were ninth at 112.9.

In Friday’s win, Phoenix scored 30 points off Golden State turnovers to help fuel the win, while Oklahoma City led the league with 22.0 points per game off turnovers during the season. The Thunder also limited opponents to just 14.7 points per game off turnovers, second-best in the NBA.

The Thunder won three of the five regular-season matchups between the teams, with Phoenix being one of just three teams to hand Oklahoma City multiple losses this season.

The teams closed the regular season against each other, though that game — a 32-point Suns win — will bear little resemblance to Sunday’s matchup.

With their playoff/play-in positions set, both teams sat most of their starters, with the Thunder’s only regular starter to play being Luguentz Dort.

Phoenix was without Grayson Allen (hamstring) and Mark Williams (foot soreness) for Friday’s win. Both are listed as questionable for Sunday’s series opener.

–Field Level Media

Sabres’ first postseason since 2011 starts with confident Bruins

The Boston Bruins have won 11 Stanley Cup playoff rounds since the last time the Buffalo Sabres made the postseason.

That experience seems to have Boston coach Marco Sturm oozing with confidence heading into Game 1 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series on Sunday night in Buffalo.

“We know how we have to play, we’re going to be ready to go,” Sturm said Friday. “We’re excited. We are bigger, stronger, we are more physical. We just have to be smart, but we’re going to go after them.”

Buffalo forward Josh Doan said on Saturday that those comments have been seen and heard by the Sabres, who will play their first postseason game since April 26, 2011.

“At the end of the day, I think our group trusts what we’re doing here and we’ll just let that play out throughout the series,” he said. “We’re going to stick to our game plan. So, it’s one of those things that you see, but at the end of the day there’s no real response from us in this room.”

Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff didn’t fire back either when asked about Sturm’s comments.

“That’s his take on his team,” Ruff said. “I have a lot of respect for what our team has done and how we play and the speed we play the game. They’ve got a good team. I mean, they know who they are and we know who we are.”

Boston won three out of four meetings with Buffalo this season, most recently a 4-3 overtime win on March 25 that moved the Bruins into a tie for third in the Atlantic Division at the time.

Boston ultimately finished fourth in the Atlantic, six points behind the third-place Montreal Canadiens. That dropped the Bruins into the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot.

The Bruins are just happy to get back into the postseason after missing out last season for the first time in nine years.

“I think if you don’t enjoy (the Stanley Cup playoffs), you’re in the wrong sport or wrong place,” Boston defenseman Nikita Zadorov said. “That’s playoff hockey. That’s pressure, that’s atmosphere, intensity, physicality, blood, sweat — you name it.”

Leading the way for the Bruins will be 29-year-old forward David Pastrnak, who finished the regular season with exactly 100 points (29 goals, 71 assists) — the fourth straight year he has hit triple digits.

After Pastrnak, however, the Bruins have a significant drop-off in point totals with Morgan Geekie next at 68 points (39 goals, 29 assists).

Sturm said he doesn’t expect Ruff to try to match up line for line.

“In the past, Lindy wasn’t really a big matchup guy,” Sturm said. “He did his thing, so we’ll see where it goes. Maybe he does it differently in the playoffs, but we don’t really care.”

The Sabres not only ended the NHL’s longest active playoff drought at 14 years, they won the Atlantic Division by three points over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Buffalo doesn’t have a 100-point scorer, but Tage Thompson remains one of the top centers in the league. He followed up last year’s 44-goal output with 40 goals and 41 assists this year.

The Sabres also boast one of the top offensive defensemen in Rasmus Dahlin, who finished second on the team with 74 points (19 goals, 55 assists). That ranked sixth among all NHL defensemen.

–Field Level Media

Experienced Lightning face young Canadiens in first round

The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning will meet in the postseason for the first time since 2021 and this matchup will come under much different circumstances.

Game 1 in the first-round series is set for Sunday at Tampa, Fla.

Holding the Atlantic Division’s second spot, the Lightning clinched home-ice advantage Tuesday night when the third-place Canadiens lost 4-2 in their regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Tampa Bay right winger Nikita Kucherov produced 130 points (44 goals, 86 assists) in 76 games, falling eight short of Art Ross Trophy winner Connor McDavid, who produced 138 points while playing in all 82 matches for the Edmonton Oilers.

In a season that may produce a second Vezina Trophy, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy went 39-15-4 to lead the NHL in wins. He had a 2.31 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

Jon Cooper’s Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, the latter in the Finals over the Canadiens when conference alignment was ditched in an adjusted playoff format because of the pandemic.

The Lightning’s title run was interrupted by three straight Cup appearances and two championships by the archrival Florida Panthers.

“Everybody’s looking for something new, right? For somebody new to win or somebody new to come along,” Cooper said. “But what’s wrong with the team that wants to sit there and maybe throw (the word) ‘dynasty’ around. That’s what we’re looking at.”

A pending unrestricted free agent, defenseman Darren Raddysh had a breakout year running the power play, producing a career-best 22 goals, a franchise record, to go with 48 assists that will lead to a hefty contract in the summer.

The availability of defenseman Victor Hedman, who has not played since March 19, is uncertain.

While Tampa Bay has played in six conference finals and made four trips to the Final under Cooper, coach Martin St. Louis will send out a group of youthful Canadiens that represent early success from a rebuild.

Montreal suits up the NHL’s youngest club with an average just shy of 26 years old, ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres.

The first-round matchup is a classic one of veteran core players versus talented youngsters.

Cole Caufield, 25, produced 51 goals in 81 games, while 22-year-old Juraj Slafkovsky, the No. 1 overall pick in 2022, had 30 tallies and 73 points in 82 matches.

Star defenseman Lane Hutson, also 22, had 12 goals and 66 assists as one of 11 Canadiens to reach double figures in goals.

The squad’s 26-year-old captain from London, Ontario, Nick Suzuki had a career year in becoming the fifth Montreal player to register 100 points, posting 29 goals and 72 helpers en route to a second straight playoff appearance.

Guy Lafleur, Peter Mahovlich, Steve Shutt and most recently Mats Naslund in 1986 hit the century mark.

Suzuki, who played against the Lightning in the 2021 Final, said the Habs have grown since losing in five games to the Washington Capitals a year ago.

“We’ve built our game throughout the whole season, learning different things, individually and as a team,” said Suzuki, who missed Wednesday’s practice to attend the birth of his daughter, Maya. “We’re in a much better spot that we were last year in the playoffs. We’ve matched up well against (the Lightning) the last couple of years.

“There’s no intimidation.”

Montreal went 2-1-1 against Tampa Bay including two victories in the campaign’s final nine games.

–Field Level Media

Avs to put ‘dangerous’ offense up against upset-minded Kings

The Colorado Avalanche are prohibitive favorites in their first round Western Conference Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings, which begins with Game 1 on Sunday at Denver.

The Avalanche (55-16-11, 121 points) won the Presidents’ Trophy as the team with the best regular-season record. They also led all teams with 302 goals and have a gallery of stars led by NHL-leading goal scorer Nathan MacKinnon, who tallied 53 times on the season and finished with 127 points.

Colorado’s Martin Necas reached 100 points (38 goals, 62 assists), while defenseman Cale Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, had 20 goals with 59 assists.

Colorado’s calling card is a relentless attack with speed and skill.

“We’ve always been a dangerous offensive team, whether we’re finishing top five in the league, usually because of some of the players that we have and the way we play and the style we play,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “We tend to create a lot of offense, so that’s something we’ve been proud of over the years.”

Goalies Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood shared the William M. Jennings Trophy, which is awarded to the goaltenders who play at least 25 games for the team allowing the fewest goals each season. Colorado gave up 203.

The Kings (35-27-20, 90 points) have the fewest points among the 16 playoff teams but came alive late by going on eight-game point streak (6-0-2) before dropping their season finale. Los Angeles scored 225 goals but allowed 247.

These are the Stanley Cup playoffs, though, when first-round upsets have become legendary.

“They have the good players; they finished first in the regular season but we’re a scrappy team. We keep it close with everybody and that can really frustrate them,” Los Angeles defenseman Brandt Clarke said. “If we play our style, it’s going to be a tight series, it’s going to be tight games, so we’re looking forward to it.

“In the playoffs it comes down to that, it comes down to one shot. You never know which way it’s going to go. We have the utmost belief in our group of guys that we can pull off anything.”

Colorado’s production goes well beyond MacKinnon, Necas and Makar. Brock Nelson had 65 points (33 goals, 32 assists) and Nazem Kadri, who was acquired at the trading deadline from the Calgary Flames, had a combined 50 points (16 goals, 34 assists).

Kings coach D.J. Smith, who took over on an interim basis March 6 when Jim Hiller was fired, knows what his team must do to have a chance.

“We’re going to have to weather the storm,” said Smith, who played 34 of his 45 career NHL games with the Avalanche in 2002-03. “There are going to be times when they’re really going to come at us.

“They have five, six, seven of the best players in the world over there, but the one thing we’ve always been able to do is play defense. We’re going to have to defend real hard and then when we get opportunities we’re going to have to sting them.”

Kings forward Artemi Panarin delivered 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) for his new team in 26 games after he was acquired from the New York Rangers on Feb. 4. Adrian Kempe had 73 points (36 goals, 37 assists), and Quinton Byfield had 49 points (24 goals, 25 assists).

–Field Level Media

Celtics, 76ers renew acquaintances in series opener

Although the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers met four times during the regular season, each team will have a different look Sunday afternoon when they meet in Boston for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. Boston and Philadelphia split their four games in the regular season, but three of those were played before mid-November.

The seventh-seeded 76ers didn’t play the second-seeded Celtics after Jayson Tatum returned from a ruptured Achilles, and the Boston didn’t face Philadelphia with Paul George in the lineup. George was injured when the season began and then missed games in February and part of March after he was suspended 25 games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. Tatum averaged 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 16 games (all starts) during the regular season. “I remember when I got injured, there was a lot of uncertainty,” Tatum said. “The playoffs weren’t a sure thing, and now that I get that opportunity, I couldn’t be more happy.” Tatum’s return gave the Celtics an exceptional 1-2 scoring punch, with Jaylen Brown averaging a team-high 28.7 points per game. George has averaged 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while shooting 41.5% from 3-point range in 10 games since returning from his suspension. “I’ve had my share of playing Boston with Jayson and Jayen, so I know what to expect,” George said. “We’re playing against winners; we’re playing against champions. This is where they play their best basketball. We respect that. But we’re going to have to challenge that. They’ve been great for a couple years now. They’re a well-oiled machine over there. Great coach. Great roster. Two studs, superstars over there.” There’s uncertainty regarding the status of Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid entering the series. Embiid had an appendectomy during the final week of the regular season, and the 76ers haven’t announced a timetable for when he will return. Embiid was limited to 38 games this season, but averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game when he was able to take the court. The 76ers play at a slower pace when Embiid is in the lineup. “We know we have to be at our best because they’re going to be at their best,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Philly’s a great team as you saw throughout the season. To get to this point with all the injuries that they’ve had, and to be where they’re at now, it’s going to be a tough test for us. We gotta be ready for it.” Philadelphia secured the No. 7 seed with Wednesday’s 109-97 victory against the Orlando Magic in the play-in tournament. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia’s leading scorer at 28.3 points per game, scored 31 points during that victory. Boston hasn’t played since it wrapped up the regular season with a 113-108 victory over Orlando on Sunday. The Celtics won that matchup despite resting their top seven scorers.

“They’re playing great,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. “They’ve played really great all season. They got a bunch of guys that have been together — I mean, a core group of guys that have been together for a long time through a lot of winning and a lot of deep runs. Tremendous, tremendous challenge for us.” –Field Level Media

Ottawa opens its playoff run on the road Saturday night at Lenovo Center, and this is not an easy first draw. Carolina gets home ice, carries the stronger market respect, and comes in priced like the more complete team. That part is not surprising. The Hurricanes usually control games with structure, pressure, and territorial play, especially at home, and that tends to show up right away in playoff series.

Still, this opener is not quite as simple as laying the favorite and moving on. Ottawa has enough pace and enough offensive push to make Carolina work for clean control, and that matters in Game 1. The Senators are the kind of underdog that can look outmatched for stretches and still stay alive because they generate enough dangerous moments off transition and second-chance pressure.

The betting angle really starts with game flow. If Carolina gets the usual script, meaning long offensive-zone time, cleaner defensive exits, and fewer rushed mistakes, the favorite should look justified. But if Ottawa forces more back-and-forth play than Carolina wants, the plus price becomes a lot more interesting. That is where the value question lives.

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Ottawa Senators vs Carolina Hurricanes Odds

These are the current betting lines for Saturday’s opener, and bettors should still monitor the latest NHL odds before puck drop in case the market shifts or derivative prices improve.

Ottawa Senators Betting Form

Ottawa is entering this series as the underdog, but not the kind of underdog you can just dismiss. The Senators have enough speed and enough offensive confidence to make Carolina uncomfortable if this game opens up at all. That is really the case for them. They are not likely to win a slow, methodical territorial battle over 60 minutes. Their path is forcing pace in spurts, cashing in on chances quickly, and making Carolina defend more often than it wants to. If you have been following the Ottawa Senators stats and results, that offensive volatility is part of both the appeal and the risk.

The concern, obviously, is consistency. Ottawa can look dangerous for 10-minute stretches and then spend too much time reacting in its own zone. Against Carolina, that gets expensive fast because the Hurricanes are so good at layering pressure and keeping teams pinned. If Ottawa is late on clears or loses the neutral-zone battle repeatedly, the game can tilt hard without necessarily looking dramatic on the scoreboard at first.

That is also why the Senators are probably more attractive as a moneyline dog than as a puck-line safety play. If you like Ottawa, it is because you think they can steal the script, not just survive it. Keep an eye on the Ottawa Senators injury report before puck drop, because lineup depth matters a lot in a matchup where sustained pressure is going to test every forward line and defensive pair.

Carolina Hurricanes Betting Form

Carolina looks like the more reliable side, and that is the first thing bettors have to weigh here. The Hurricanes usually bring one of the cleanest game-management profiles in the league. They forecheck hard, defend in layers, and spend long stretches controlling where the game is played. At home, that becomes even more important because they can dictate matchups a little better and keep their preferred rhythm. If you check the Carolina Hurricanes schedule and stats, the overall profile lines up with why the market keeps them in this favorite range.

What makes Carolina trustworthy for this spot is not just talent. It is repeatability. The Hurricanes do not need a weird game to win. They can win a low-event game, a special teams game, or a game where they slowly grind the opponent down over the middle 40 minutes. That kind of flexibility matters in Game 1 because playoff openers can get messy, and teams that stay close to their identity usually have the edge.

The one hesitation is price. Carolina moneyline at -154 is not outrageous, but it is also not cheap enough to ignore matchup flaws. If Ottawa gets enough transition chances or if the Senators finish well on limited looks, the favorite can end up feeling a little heavy. That is why the Hurricanes are probably more of a control-and-close team here than an automatic puck-line team, even with the plus return attached. As always, monitor the Carolina Hurricanes injury report before betting into a playoff opener.

Ottawa Senators vs Carolina Hurricanes Matchup Breakdown

This matchup is really about whether Ottawa can escape Carolina’s preferred pace. The Hurricanes want long shifts in the offensive zone, layered support on the forecheck, and a game that slowly starts leaning downhill. Ottawa would rather see more broken ice, more transition, and more chances to attack before Carolina gets set defensively. That contrast is why the moneyline price is interesting on both sides, depending on how you see the first 15 or 20 minutes going.

At five-on-five, Carolina has the cleaner edge. The Hurricanes usually spend more time with the puck, and they are better at recovering possession when plays break down. Ottawa can still generate danger, but it often comes in shorter bursts. That is not nothing. In fact, that is exactly why some bettors will look at the dog. If Carolina dominates volume but not finish, Ottawa can hang around and turn this into a one-shot game late.

Special teams can also swing this, though perhaps not as dramatically as the even-strength script. Carolina usually benefits when the game becomes more structured and predictable. Ottawa probably needs a little more disruption overall. That is part of why a good NHL betting guide can help in spots like this. The better team on paper is not always the better price, especially in playoff openers where nerves, pace, and finishing can distort the usual profile.

There is another angle too. Carolina feels like the side with fewer paths to losing badly, while Ottawa feels like the side with more swing potential. That sounds obvious, maybe, but it matters when you decide between favorite moneyline and dog moneyline. If you are looking at larger postseason context, a Stanley Cup betting guide can help frame how teams like Carolina are often priced in early-round spots versus where the actual single-game value might sit.

Ottawa Senators vs Carolina Hurricanes Predictions and Best Bets

My lean is Carolina moneyline at -154. It is not the most exciting price on the board, but it is the side that matches the cleaner game script. The Hurricanes are more reliable territorially, they are at home, and they have the kind of structure that usually translates well to a Game 1 environment. Ottawa can absolutely make this uncomfortable, but Carolina still looks like the team with more repeatable ways to win.

I do not love laying the puck line, even at plus money. Carolina -1.5 (+156) is tempting because if the Hurricanes take over territorially, the multi-goal win path is very real. Still, playoff openers can stay tight even when one team controls a lot of the game, and that makes the straight moneyline easier to trust. On the Ottawa side, +131 is not a bad number if your read is that the Senators can force more transition and turn this into a less structured game. I just do not trust that script enough as my primary angle.

The total, as posted, is a different conversation. A 9.5 in an NHL playoff game is so unusual that it almost functions more like a market placeholder than a standard betting decision. Using the number exactly as posted, the under is the obvious fit, but at that price there is no real betting value to discuss. So for practical purposes, this handicap is about the side, not the total.

From a value standpoint, Carolina is still the better play because the matchup lines up with what the Hurricanes do best. They should have more puck control, more offensive-zone time, and fewer stretches where the game gets dragged into chaos. Ottawa has upset potential, but Carolina has the sturdier base.

Best Bet: Carolina Hurricanes moneyline (-154).

NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats

If you are betting NHL playoff games daily, one article should be the starting point, not the whole process. The best approach is comparing multiple reads, seeing where the board is moving, and understanding which teams are being priced correctly versus which teams are only being respected on reputation. That is why checking today’s NHL picks and the full NHL previews page can help before locking in a number.

ScoresAndStats is especially useful if you want transparency with your handicappers. You can compare styles, track long-term performance, and see which analysts have been winning over a larger sample instead of just riding a short burst. The top sports handicappers page and the handicapper leaderboard make that part easier, especially when the playoff board gets tighter and pricing becomes more efficient.

And if you want more than just the free board, premium NHL picks can help narrow the card when you want a stronger betting position. Pair that with a broader sports betting strategy guide and you get a better sense of how to choose between favorite moneylines, dog shots, and derivative markets once the postseason pressure starts changing how these games are priced.

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Minnesota opens its first-round series on the road Saturday at American Airlines Center against Dallas, with Game 1 set for 5:30 p.m. ET. This is one of those playoff matchups that has felt inevitable for weeks. The Wild finished 46-24-12 with 104 points, the Stars closed 50-20-12 with 112, and now the reward for Dallas is home ice in a series that should be tighter than the opening moneyline says.

The Wild did not exactly limp into the postseason, but they were not pushing at full throttle late either. Minnesota had already locked in its spot and managed some lineup decisions down the stretch, so the recent results need context. Dallas, meanwhile, kept showing the profile of a team that can win games in different ways. That matters in a playoff opener. The Stars can play with pace, they can lean on special teams, and they can let Jake Oettinger carry a lower-event script if needed.

The market has this one priced close, with Minnesota at +102 and Dallas at -119, and honestly that feels about right. There is no cheap favorite here. Dallas has the more proven playoff goaltending setup and the stronger home environment, but Minnesota brings enough top-end skill and enough structure to keep this from looking like a comfortable Game 1 for the Stars.

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Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars Odds

These are the current betting lines for Saturday’s opener, and bettors should still monitor the latest NHL odds before puck drop in case more markets or late price moves hit the board.

Minnesota Wild Betting Form

Minnesota is a dangerous underdog because this team does not need a wide-open game to win. The Wild finished with 104 points, stayed near the top of the Central all year, and built a profile that usually translates well into playoff hockey. They have enough finishers to punish mistakes, but the bigger betting point is that they can stay patient. When Minnesota is at its best, the game does not feel rushed. It feels controlled, layered, and a little frustrating for the opponent. If you have been checking the Minnesota Wild stats and results, that balance is what makes them live here.

There is also a real decision in net that changes the shape of the handicap. Minnesota is expected to start Jesper Wallstedt in Game 1 instead of Filip Gustavsson, which is a bold call but not a random one. Wallstedt was better down the stretch after the Olympic break, and the Wild are clearly betting on current form rather than defaulting to the bigger regular-season workload. That does add volatility because this is his postseason debut, but it also gives Minnesota a little upside if he settles in early and turns this into a goalie-confidence game.

The other piece is health. Quinn Hughes dealt with an illness this week, though he is expected to be available, and his presence matters a lot because he changes how Minnesota exits the zone and runs offense from the back end. The Wild power play has been one of the league’s better units, and that becomes more important in a series where both teams can defend well enough at even strength. Before locking in a side, keep an eye on the Minnesota Wild injury report and make sure the final lineup still looks as strong as expected.

Dallas Stars Betting Form

Dallas comes in as the deserved favorite, even if only by a small margin. The Stars had the better regular season, grabbed 112 points, and still look like the deeper team overall. They can beat you with speed, with second-line pressure, or by turning one special teams stretch into the game. That kind of flexibility is valuable in a playoff series, but especially in Game 1, when teams are still trying to feel out the rhythm. If you have been tracking the Dallas Stars schedule and stats, the depth is the first thing that jumps out.

The home setup helps too. Dallas has generally looked comfortable in this building, and Oettinger gives them a stabilizing edge in net that bettors usually trust in playoff openers. He is not being asked to steal the matchup on his own. That is important. The Stars can still drive play in front of him, and when the top six gets going, they create enough layered pressure to wear teams down over the middle 40 minutes. Against a Minnesota team that prefers control, Dallas has the talent to force more uncomfortable defensive sequences than the Wild usually see.

Still, this is not a perfect Stars setup. Roope Hintz is already ruled out for the first two games of the series, which removes one of Dallas’ most important transition players and one of its best two-way forwards. Miro Heiskanen is expected back, and that is huge for Dallas, but the Hintz absence keeps this from feeling like a clean favorite spot. That is also why the price is reasonable rather than expensive. Monitor the Dallas Stars injury report before puck drop, because lineup clarity matters quite a bit in a series opener like this.

Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars Matchup Breakdown

This game probably swings on who gets the cleaner version of special teams and whether Minnesota can make Wallstedt’s night manageable early. Dallas has one of the league’s strongest power plays, and Minnesota is not far behind, so this is not a spot where one side owns a massive edge with the man advantage. Still, the Stars feel slightly more dangerous because their depth can generate pressure beyond the first unit. In a Game 1 setting, that matters. Penalties do not always come in predictable spots, and the team with more secondary push often gets the better of those momentum windows.

At five-on-five, I think this is closer than the number suggests. Minnesota has enough top-end talent with Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Hughes driving offense from the back end. Dallas counters with a more complete lineup and the steadier goaltending expectation. So the difference is not just who has more talent. It is where the game gets played. If this turns into a tight, patient opener with long possessions and limited rush chances, the Wild become more attractive. If Dallas gets pace and forces Minnesota into repeated defensive-zone shifts, the Stars likely justify the favorite tag.

There is also some playoff history hanging over this matchup. Dallas has seen this opponent before in the postseason and has generally handled these spots better. I do not think that should be overplayed, but it is part of the tone here. The Stars look a little more settled in their identity. Minnesota may be just as dangerous, maybe even more explosive in short stretches, but the Wild still feel like the team that needs a slightly cleaner path to win Game 1. If you like broader context before betting this series, the NHL betting guide and the Stanley Cup betting guide both fit naturally with this kind of matchup because the margin between side value and series value is pretty small.

Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars Predictions and Best Bets

My lean is Dallas moneyline at -119. It is not a heavy lean, and this is not the kind of number I would chase if it climbs too far, but at the current price the Stars make slightly more sense. They have home ice, the steadier goalie situation, and fewer unknowns in the most important spots of the game. Oettinger in a playoff opener at home against a rookie postseason starter is a meaningful edge, even if Minnesota’s decision on Wallstedt is understandable.

That said, this is not a game where I would rush to dismiss the underdog. Minnesota has enough scoring talent to punish any sloppy Dallas stretch, and Hughes being available gives the Wild a much better chance to manage the puck and generate controlled offense. If you are someone who prefers dogs in playoff openers, I get the case. The +102 price is not generous, but it is playable if your read is that Minnesota can keep this mostly at even strength and avoid letting Dallas dictate special teams momentum.

The real issue for me is that Dallas feels more stable. Hintz being out clearly matters, and it trims some of the Stars’ offensive ceiling, but the overall home setup still looks stronger than what Minnesota brings into this opener. The Wild can win this game. I just think Dallas has more paths to doing what the market expects. Sometimes that is enough, especially when the price is still under the range where a favorite starts feeling overpriced.

Because only the moneyline was provided here, that is where the best value sits. If more derivative markets show up later, there may be a better way to attack this matchup, but for now the straight side is the cleanest play.

Best Bet: Dallas Stars moneyline (-119).

NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats

If you are betting playoff hockey every day, one preview is useful, but it should not be your whole process. The stronger approach is comparing multiple reads, tracking who is seeing the board well, and filtering the noise before prices start moving. That is where today’s NHL picks can help, especially if you want to stack opinions and see where the sharper agreement is forming.

ScoresAndStats also gives bettors a better way to measure consistency over time. The value is not just in finding one capper who won yesterday. It is in comparing styles, seeing how different handicappers attack sides versus totals, and checking longer-term performance. The top sports handicappers page and the handicapper leaderboard are useful for exactly that, especially once the postseason card starts getting tighter and every price matters a little more.

And if you want more than just the free board, premium NHL picks are there for bettors looking for stronger positions and more selective plays. You can also use the full NHL previews board and the broader sports betting strategy guide to compare game reads, market angles, and different betting styles before locking in a playoff number.

Philadelphia heads into Pittsburgh for Game 1 on Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena, and this opener feels tighter than the price suggests. The Flyers closed the regular season on a strong run, while the Penguins did enough to secure home ice in the matchup. That matters, of course, but so does current form, and Philadelphia looked a little cleaner structurally down the stretch.

This is the kind of playoff game bettors usually overcomplicate. Pittsburgh has the more dangerous offensive ceiling and the stronger special teams profile, but Philadelphia has been the steadier team at five-on-five lately. That creates a real split in the handicap. If this stays mostly even strength, the dog has a real chance. If the whistles pile up, the matchup gets friendlier for the Penguins.

The market has Pittsburgh as the favorite at home with the total sitting at 6.5. That number makes sense on paper because the Penguins can score in bunches, but this is still a rivalry playoff game and, honestly, those often start tighter than the regular-season data suggests. So the edge is not just about picking the better team. It is about deciding which version of the game is more likely to show up.

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Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins Odds

These are the current betting lines for Saturday’s opener, and bettors should still monitor the latest NHL odds before puck drop in case the moneyline or total moves late.

Philadelphia Flyers Betting Form

Philadelphia comes into this series in better recent form than the market is fully crediting. The Flyers closed the regular season with three straight wins, and over their last 10 games they played like a team that had finally settled into a playoff identity. The offense was not explosive every night, but it was efficient enough, and the defensive structure was much sharper than what we saw earlier in the year. If you have been tracking the Philadelphia Flyers stats and results, the late-season version of this team has clearly been the more useful betting read.

What stands out most is how Philadelphia wants to play. This team would much rather grind you through layers than trade rushes for 60 minutes. That matters here because Pittsburgh is more dangerous in a game that starts to stretch. The Flyers have done a better job lately of forcing opponents into longer possessions and fewer easy entries, and that style travels reasonably well in the playoffs. Maybe not perfectly, but well enough to keep this number interesting.

There are still some concerns. The Flyers do not have the same special teams upside as Pittsburgh, and that can become a problem fast if discipline slips. They also do not have much margin if they fall behind early. Still, their recent five-on-five play gives them a path to hang in this opener, which is why the plus-money look deserves respect. Availability matters too, so keep an eye on the Philadelphia Flyers injury report before locking anything in.

Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Form

Pittsburgh earned the favorite role for a reason. The Penguins are at home, they have the stronger scoring ceiling, and their power play is the most obvious matchup edge on the board. Over the last 10 games, they still produced offense at a high clip, and when this team gets into rhythm, it can flip a game quickly. The top-end talent is obvious, but what makes Pittsburgh more dangerous for bettors is that the offense does not always need one line to do all the work. If you check the Pittsburgh Penguins schedule and stats, the scoring profile is still one of the biggest reasons the market leans their way.

The issue is that Pittsburgh has not looked quite as clean defensively heading into this series. The finishing is there, but the game flow has been less reliable. That is where some hesitation comes in when laying a favorite price in a playoff opener. The Penguins can absolutely win this game, and maybe they should, but asking them to control the full script for 60 minutes is a slightly different question. That is why I think the puck line is more fragile than it first appears.

Goaltending also deserves a pause. There has been real uncertainty around Pittsburgh’s Game 1 decision in net, and when that happens, bettors should be careful about assuming stability that has not actually been confirmed. If the Penguins get the better version of their goaltending, they can justify this number. If not, the Flyers become even more attractive as a live underdog. As always, monitor the Pittsburgh Penguins injury report before puck drop.

Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins Matchup Breakdown

This matchup really starts with game state. Philadelphia wants this played mostly at five-on-five. Pittsburgh would prefer more special teams time, more open ice, and more moments where skill can take over. That is the central betting fork in the road. If the Flyers keep this game heavy and patient, their price becomes much more appealing. If Pittsburgh gets an emotional, whistle-driven opener, the favorite starts to make more sense.

At even strength, I think Philadelphia has a fair shot to compete. The Flyers have looked more connected defensively down the stretch, and their recent form suggests they are more comfortable in lower-event games than this price implies. They are not the more explosive team. That part is obvious. But they do not need to be if they can keep the middle of the ice clean and force Pittsburgh into longer possessions.

Special teams, though, are where the Penguins can really separate. Pittsburgh’s power play is the clearest single advantage in this matchup, while Philadelphia’s own power play has not been reliable enough to assume it can answer back consistently. That is part of why this game is tricky. You can make a strong case for the Flyers at plus money and still admit the Penguins hold the best unit-specific edge on the ice. That tension is exactly why playoff hockey can be so price-sensitive, and it is also why a good NHL betting guide can help frame these spots more clearly.

The other angle is experience versus form. Pittsburgh has more natural playoff familiarity in key areas. Philadelphia, on the other hand, looks like the team bringing better recent rhythm into the series. I tend to trust form a bit more in Game 1, especially when the underdog has a cleaner five-on-five path. If you are thinking beyond just this one game, broader postseason context from a Stanley Cup betting guide can also help separate series value from single-game value.

Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins Predictions and Best Bets

My lean is toward Philadelphia on the moneyline at +124. I do not think the Flyers are the better overall team, and I would not sell it that way. Pittsburgh has the stronger offensive ceiling and the more dangerous power play. But the price is asking you to pay for a fairly clean Penguins script, and I am not sure this matchup is clean enough for that. Philadelphia has been better at five-on-five lately, and that matters a lot in a rivalry playoff opener.

I also think the Flyers are the more interesting bet than the puck line. Taking +1.5 at a heavy price does not do much for me here. If you like Philadelphia, I think you are better off trusting the underdog number and accepting the volatility. On the Pittsburgh side, -1.5 at plus money is tempting, but it needs the Penguins to dictate game flow in a way I am not fully sold on. There is upside there, just less margin for error than the payout suggests.

The total is where the handicap gets interesting. My first instinct is Under 6.5 because Philadelphia’s ideal game is slower, tighter, and more controlled through the neutral zone. That version is very real. But there is also a real path to the Over if Pittsburgh draws enough penalties and the special teams battle starts deciding things early. So while I lean Under, I trust the side a bit more than the total.

From a value standpoint, this feels like one of those playoff openers where the better bet is simply taking the stronger price instead of forcing a favorite because of home ice. Pittsburgh can win, obviously. But if Philadelphia gets the five-on-five script it wants, this number looks a little too generous.

Best Bet: Philadelphia Flyers moneyline (+124).

NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats

If you are betting the NHL every day, one preview is useful, but it is only part of the process. The sharper approach is comparing multiple opinions, checking how different cappers see the same board, and using that information to filter out weak prices. That is why today’s NHL picks and the full NHL previews page are worth checking before the card starts to move.

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And if you want to go beyond free content, premium NHL picks can help narrow the card when you want a stronger position on the board. That works even better when paired with a broader sports betting strategy guide so you are not just tailing names, but actually understanding which market fits your read best.

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