The Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild will decide their opening round playoff series on Wednesday night when the series shifts back to Denver for a deciding Game 7. The teams meet in the sandwich game on an exciting night on the ice in a Game 7 necessitated by Minnesota’s 5-2 win on Monday.
Kings and Sharks Prepare for Predictable Game 7 Wednesday Night
When the playoffs started, most felt that the opening round series between the LA Kings and the San Jose Sharks would be close – nobody could have predicted how we arrived at Game 7 however!
The Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets continue their opening round playoff series on Wednesday night when the series shifts back to Toronto for Game 5. The Raptors picked up a big win in Brooklyn on Sunday to even the series at two games apiece, downing the Nets at the Barclays Center, 87-79.!–more–>[ad-4468020]
First-round Game 5
Series tied (2-2)
Brooklyn Nets (2-2) at Toronto Raptors (2-2)
Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Venue: Air Canada Centre
City: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
O/U Odds: 191
Spread: Toronto -3
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The Raptors’ backcourt keyed that Game 4 victory. Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan paced all scorers with 24 points on 7-of-19 shooting, while point guard Kyle Lowry scored 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting despite visibly limping around for much of the game on a balky knee.
The major takeaway for the team, though, was that they finally seemed to figure out a way to slow Joe Johnson. Johnson has been a thorn in the team’s side throughout the series, though he was held to just seven points on 2-of-7 shooting in Game 4. Slowing Johnson came at the expense of a highly effective outing from Paul Pierce, as he scored 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting, adding five rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
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Even still, the Raptors will take more of the same from what we saw in Game 4, and it starts with the play of All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan, who has put up 28 points per game since struggling in his playoff debut. DeRozan struggled with his shot again in Game 4, though he was able to fight through it to come away with a productive outing.
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As for the Nets, they’ll be hoping for a better outing from point guard Deron Williams, as his production has been key to achieving victory. In the team’s two wins, Williams has scored 22 and 25 points, while he’s managed just 15 and 10 points in the team’s two playoff losses. With fellow guard Alan Anderson banged up, Williams will need to be on his game on Wednesday.
Something really seemed to click for the Raptors in Game 4, and we could have seen the start of something special from the team, as they could be set to make a significant run through the rest of the postseason. Game 5 on their home court is going to be a major statement game for the Raptors, and they will surely look to put their best foot forward.
Additionally, a low-scoring Game 4 has many overlooking the total in this one. Expect to see the teams have some more success scoring the basketball this time around.
The Raptors are 23-11-1 in their last 35 games following an ATS win, while the Nets are 1-7-1 ATS in their last nine games overall.
The over is 7-1 in the Raptors’ last eight home games, and 6-2 in the Nets’ last eight conference quarterfinal games.
The play: Toronto -3, Over 191
Chicago and Cincinnati will play the final of a two-game series on Tuesday, with the Cubs looking to climb back into the season series after dropping two of a three-game set to the Reds earlier this month.
Flyers Back at Home Looking to Stay Alive
Game 6 between the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers goes down Tuesday night in the City of Brotherly Love with the Flyers looking for some much needed momentum in order to push this series to a seventh and deciding game.
Game one was rained out on Monday, so the Cubs and Reds will play game one of an abbreviated two-game series in Cincinnati on Tuesday night.
The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays will do battle at Fenway Park in a three-game set in Boston beginning on Tuesday. Neither side has been playing especially great of late, but every game is of vital importance in an ultra-competitive American League East division which doesn’t have much room between the teams at the top and bottom of the standings.
On the season the Mariners have an Over/Under record of 12-11 and a run-line W/L record of 13-11 and the Yankees have an Over/Under record of 11-14 and a run-line W/L record of 13-12.
The Blue Jays are right in the middle of the bunchy AL East but they have to start playing better or they will be at the bottom before they know it.
Due to a steady deluge of rain in the Great Lakes area (the Tigers have had three rainouts already this year) stud hurler Justin Verlander has been pushed back to Tuesday and will face the White Sox in the south side of Chicago. Having Verlander take the bump is always good news for Detroit.
The Wizards were missing one of their leaders with Nene out due to suspensions but it appears it might have sharpened their focus as they took a commanding 3-1 series lead heading back to Chicago.
The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers play game five of the NBA playoffs at the Staples Center on Tuesday with the series tied 2-2.
Green Bay defied the odds last season and snuck into the playoffs even though QB Aaron Rodgers missed a good chunk of the season.
Chicago had another disappointing season last year. When Aaron Rodgers got hurt they could have burst to the head of the division but again the second half proved to be more treacherous than expected.
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets will head back to Nationwide Arena following Pittsburgh’s 3-1 win on its home ice in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead. The teams have alternated wins and losses through the first five games of the series, which would put Columbus on track for a win in this one.
The MLB season isn’t quite a month old, but teams have begun to show us what they have to offer. There’s a long way still to go in a season that’s a marathon, not a sprint, but it’s these early opinions we formulate that will decide whether this season will be a profitable one for us or not.
