6-9-14

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Game of the Day: Kings at Rangers

Los Angeles Kings at New York Rangers (-125, 5)

After failing to erase several two-goal deficits, the New York Rangers attempt to claw their way out of a two-game hole when they host the Los Angeles Kings in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final on Monday at Madison Square Garden. New York held leads of 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2 before Dwight King's controversial goal and former Ranger Marian Gaborik's NHL-leading 13th tally forged a tie and captain Dustin Brown scored 10:26 into double overtime as Los Angeles claimed a 5-4 triumph on Saturday. "Everyone is talking about how we come back," Brown said of the team's resiliency. "I think it's more how we turn the tide of the game over the course of the game."

The Kings have overcome the tide of emotions to become the first team in league history to win three consecutive playoff contests after facing two-goal deficits. New York wasn't interested in hearing that news after failing to hold a third-period lead for the first time in 11 contests this postseason. Mats Zuccarello collected a goal and an assist in Game 2 for his first dent on the scoreboard since his three-point performance in the series opener versus Montreal in the Eastern Conference final.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC, RDS

LINE HISTORY: The Rangers opened as -122 home faves but has moved up to -125 with a total of 5.

INJURY REPORT: Rangers - LW Daniel Carcillo (Eligible June 11, suspension)

WHAT THE SHARPS SAY: "The Kings are certainly in the driver's seat with the series shifting to MSG but a wise man once said a series doesn't truly begin until a road team wins a game. The Rangers are confident in their ability to defend home ice and I certainly expect to see their most complete performance of the series to date in Game 3 - that's stating the obvious. If there's a game for King Henrik to steal, this is it. Leaning to the Blueshirts here." Covers Expert Sean Murphy.

WHAT THE BOOKS SAY: "After yet another heart breaking loss, the Rangers look to regroup on home ice and swing the momentum of the series in their favor. So far we are seeing all Rangers money on both the money line and puck line, seeing 89% and 81% respectively, with the series price now set at Rangers +450 and the Kings -650." Michael Stewart, CarbonSports.ag.

ABOUT THE KINGS: Although Los Angeles holds a 2-0 advantage, it hasn't had an official lead in either contest of the series. "Either way, we're up 2-0. I don't care how we got there," said Justin Williams, who scored the overtime winner in Game 1 before collecting three assists on Saturday. For those keeping score, the Kings haven't enjoyed a lead in the past 229 minutes, 15 seconds - dating to the third period of Game 6 of the Western Conference final against defending Stanley Cup-champion Chicago.

ABOUT THE RANGERS: Henrik Lundqvist was livid that King's controversial goal was allowed to stand despite goaltender interference, but admitted that he needed to leave the sour taste in Los Angeles. "You don't have a choice, you have to move on," Lundqvist said. "We go home now and try to stay positive, believing in what we do in here." When asked for his thoughts on King crashing the crease, coach Alain Vigneault did his best to measure his words: "Ask the NHL," he said.

TRENDS:

* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings in New York.
* Home team is 6-2 in the last eight meetings.
* Kings are 8-0 in their last eight vs. Metropolitan.
* Over is 5-1 in Kings last six road games.

COVERS CONSENSUS: 73.69 percent of Covers Consensus bets are on the Rangers.

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Today's MLB Picks

LA Dodgers at Cincinnati

The Dodgers head to Cincinnati tonight to face a Reds team that is 0-5 in Tony Cingrani's last 5 starts. LA is the pick (+100) according to Dunkel, which has the Dodgers favored by 2. Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (+100). Here are all of today's picks.

MONDAY, JUNE 9 Time Posted: 6:30 a.m. EST

Game 901-902: Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh (7:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Jackson) 12.973; Pittsburgh (Morton) 15.362 Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 2 1/2; 7 Vegas Line: Pittsburgh (-160); 7 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-160); Under

Game 903-904: LA Dodgers at Cincinnati (7:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: LA Dodgers (Haren) 17.510; Cincinnati (Cingrani) 15.360 Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 2; 9 Vegas Line: Cincinnati (-120); 8 Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (+100); Over

Game 905-906: Atlanta at Colorado (8:40 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Floyd) 16.700; Colorado (Bergman) 13.124 Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 3 1/2; 8 Vegas Line: No Line Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 907-908: Washington at San Francisco (10:15 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Washington (Strasburg) 14.579; San Francisco (Vogelsong) 15.865 Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1 1/2; 8 Vegas Line: Washington (-120); 6 1/2 Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (+100); Over

Game 909-910: Seattle at Tampa Bay (1:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Ramirez) 14.141; Tampa Bay (Price) 16.194 Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 2; 6 Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-215); 7 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-215); Under

Game 911-912: Minnesota at Toronto (7:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Nolasco) 15.094; Toronto (Dickey) 13.945 Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 1; 10 Vegas Line: Toronto (-200); 9 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+170); Over

Game 913-914: Boston at Baltimore (7:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Boston (Peavy) 14.954; Baltimore (Norris) 17.792 Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 3; 8 Vegas Line: Baltimore (-135); 9 Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (-135); Under

Game 915-916: Cleveland at Texas (8:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland (House) 16.934; Texas (Martinez) 15.410 Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 1 1/2; 11 Vegas Line: Texas (-110); 10 Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-110); Over

Game 917-918: Detroit at Chicago White Sox (8:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Porcello) 17.237; White Sox (Noesi) 14.103 Dunkel Line: Detroit by 3; 8 Vegas Line: Detroit (-135); 9 Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-135); Under

Game 919-920: NY Yankees at Kansas City (8:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: NY Yankees (Nuno) 14.153; Kansas City (Vargas) 13.779 Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1 1/2; 10 Vegas Line: Kansas City (-145); 8 1/2 Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (+125); Over

Game 921-922: Oakland at LA Angels (10:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Oakland (Chavez) 16.299; LA Angels (Richards) 17.798 Dunkel Line: LA Angels by 1 1/2; 7 Vegas Line: LA Angels (-125); 8 1/2 Dunkel Pick: LA Angels (-125); Under

Game 923-924: Houston at Arizona (9:40 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Houston (Cosart) 13.806; Arizona (Collmenter) 12.224 Dunkel Line: Houston by 1 1/2; 10 Vegas Line: Arizona (-145); 8 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Houston (+125); Over

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Today's NHL Picks

Los Angeles at NY Rangers

The Kings head to New York tonight for Game 3 and come into the contest with a 7-3 record in their last 10 road games. Los Angeles is the pick (+120) according to Dunkel, which has the Kings favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (+120). Here are all of today's playoff picks.

MONDAY, JUNE 9 Time Posted: 6:30 a.m. EST

Game 55-56: Los Angeles at NY Rangers (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 14.289; NY Rangers 12.647 Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 1 1/2; 6 Vegas Line & Total: NY Rangers (-140); 5 Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (+120); Over

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Rangers head home trailing 2-0 in finals

LOS ANGELES (AP) - For the second time in the Stanley Cup finals, the New York Rangers jumped out to a two-goal lead and were unable to shake the Los Angeles Kings.

Now the Eastern Conference champions face the unenviable task of overcoming a 2-0 deficit in the series with the scene shifting to Madison Square Garden. The Rangers lost 5-4 on Saturday night on Dustin Brown's tip-in goal at 10:26 of the second overtime.

''When you play five periods, the difference is not very big between winning and losing,'' goalie Henrik Lundqvist said. ''We came up short, and now we have to go back to New York and turn this thing around.

''You don't have a choice. You have to move on.''

New York took a 4-2 lead into the third period before the Kings pulled even with goals by Dwight King and former Rangers forward Marian Gaborik.

The Kings got within one with a favorable non-call that the Rangers felt should have been called goalie interference. New York wasn't looking for a penalty, but believes King's goal shouldn't have counted.

King fell on Lundqvist in the crease while he was being checked by Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh.

''I'm extremely disappointed on that call - or non-call,'' Lundqvist said. ''They've got to be consistent with that rule. We get called for that penalty in the second period, and the puck isn't even there.

''They score a goal and I can't even move. It's extremely frustrating, for them to get life like that. After that, it's a different game. But that's hockey.''

Lundqvist, who had 39 saves, didn't accept referee Dan O'Halloran's explanation that the puck was past him when King made contact.

''I don't expect a penalty on the play, but they need to blow the whistle,'' he said. ''A goalie can't move when you've got a guy like that on top of you. It's such an important play of the game.

''That's a wrist shot that I'm just going to reach out for, and I can't move.''

King scored at 1:58 into the third, redirecting a long wrist shot by defenseman Matt Greene after Justin Williams shook off a check from Martin St. Louis and got the puck to Greene.

''So far they've been taking advantage of a couple of mistakes in the first two games that we just have to minimize. But their forecheck brings that out because they put a lot of pressure on us,'' Lundqvist said.

The Rangers' penalty-killing unit, which had allowed only three goals in 49 short-handed situations over the previous 15 games, gave up Willie Mitchell's first goal of the postseason at 14:39 of the second period while Mats Zuccarello was off for tripping Brown.

Mitchell beat Lundqvist with a screened slap shot from just inside the blue line with Rangers defenseman Anton Stralman checking King in front.

''I think we can do a better job of blocking shots,'' Stralman said. ''They got too many point shots through. Maybe if we box out a little better in front, Henrik can see the puck a little better. But we worked hard and came really close. It just stinks right now.''

The Rangers scored just 11 seconds after Mitchell's goal, taking advantage of a turnover. Jonathan Quick went behind the net to play the puck and left it for Mitchell, who fumbled it away to Zuccarello before Derick Brassard converted his quick pass to him at the left of the crease.

''I thought we were in control then,'' Brassard said. ''Every time they scored a goal, we answered them. So that's something positive about this game.

''But they kept finding ways to score goals, and it's really frustrating right now. Now we have to go back to New York and try to steal the next one.''

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NHL playoffs

Rangers scored two goals 1:42 apart to take 2-0 lead in first period, but couldn't hold it, with Lundqvist keeping game tied in third period, despite Kings outshooting NY 20-3. Teams split two low scoring games earlier this season, with road team winning both. Rangers are 2-3 in last meetings here; under is 4-0-1 in those five games. Rangers are 6-5 on road in playoffs, winning four of last six away games. Kings are 6-4 at home in playoffs- over is 6-0-1 in their last seven games. Both sides were scoreless on power play in Game 1. This is only second time in LA's last 22 playoff series they've had home ice edge. Kings won Stanley Cup couple years ago; Rangers haven't won in 20 years.

Overall in playoffs, over is 47-27-14 this season.

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Monday's Tip Sheet
By Kevin Rogers

Dodgers at Reds – 7:00 PM EST

Probable Pitchers:
LAD: Haren (5-4, 3.50 ERA)
CIN: Cingrani (2-6, 4.09 ERA)

Previous series results: The Dodgers needed just six innings to hold off the Rockies, 2-1 on Sunday to take two of three at Coors Field. The Reds took care of the struggling Phillies, 4-1 to grab two of three at home this past weekend, but Cincinnati has won consecutive games at the Great American Ballpark just three times this season.

What to watch for: The last time these teams met at Dodger Stadium last month, Los Angeles won two of three matchups. Cincinnati is winless in Cingrani’s last five starts, including each of his past three outings at home. The Dodgers haven’t been much better with Haren on the hill, dropping each of his last four starts.

Red Sox at Orioles – 7:05 PM EST

Probable Pitchers:
BOS: Peavy (1-3, 4.72 ERA)
BAL: Norris (4-5, 4.41 ERA)

Previous series results: The Red Sox went from losing 10 consecutive games to winning seven in a row to now dropping five straight. However, Boston snapped its current skid and avoided a sweep at Detroit, thanks to a 5-3 triumph over the Tigers last night. The Orioles haven’t won a home series in a month after losing two of three to the A’s, capped off by an ugly 11-1 defeat on Sunday.

What to watch for: Boston has won four of six matchups with Baltimore this season, including two of three at Camden Yards to open the season. Peavy hasn’t had much luck away from Fenway Park, as Boston is 1-4 in his five road starts this season. The Orioles are struggling at Camden Yards of late, winning just three of their past 11 home contests.

Tigers at White Sox – 8:05 PM EST

Probable Pitchers:
DET: Porcello (8-3, 3.69 ERA)
CHW: Noesi (1-4, 5.29 ERA)

Previous series results: The White Sox return home from a 2-4 road trip through Southern California that finished with three straight losses to the Angels. The defeat that stung the most came on Saturday night as the Sox blew a 5-0 lead in the eighth inning of a 6-5 setback with ace Chris Sale on the mound. The Tigers couldn’t pull off the sweep of the Red Sox after losing last night, as Detroit fell to 2-6 the past eight contests.

What to watch for: Detroit owns a 4-2 record against Chicago this season, which includes a pair of road favorite victories at U.S. Cellular Field in late April. The Sox have compiled a solid 8-2 record in home series openers this season, while Chicago has cashed the ‘under’ in six consecutive home contests.

Athletics at Angels – 10:05 PM EST

Probable Pitchers:
OAK: Chavez (5-3, 3.04 ERA)
LAA: Richards (5-2, 3.25 ERA)

Previous series results: The A’s continue their road trip after back-to-back series victories over the Yankees and Orioles. Oakland has taken five of the last seven series on the highway, while winning seven of its past nine games overall. The Angels swept the White Sox, improving to 9-2 the last 11 home contests.

What to watch for: Oakland continues to lead the AL West, as the A’s have put together a 5-1 record against the Angels this season. Each of the last five meetings have gone ‘over’ the total, while Oakland swept Los Angeles last week in Northern California. Richards has allowed 10 earned runs in two starts against the A’s this season, while getting pulled in the first inning of a 9-5 loss at Oakland on May 30.

Nationals at Giants – 10:15 PM EST

Probable Pitchers:
WSH: Strasburg (5-4, 3.10 ERA)
SF: Vogelsong (4-2, 3.39 ERA)

Previous series results: The Giants have won 67% of their games this season, coming off a home sweep of the Mets. San Francisco is riding a 10-2 hot stretch, while losing only one series since late April. The Nationals shut out the Padres for the second time this past weekend in Sunday’s 6-0 blowout, as Washington grabbed two of three to start its road trip. Washington has won seven of nine, while scoring at least six runs in six of those victories.

What to watch for: The Nats have won six of nine road series openers this season, while Washington is 1-3 in Strasburg’s last four starts on the highway. San Francisco has won four straight and seven of Vogelsong’s past eight outings, while the Giants compiled a 2-0 record in his two starts against the Nationals last season.

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Porcello hittable, but unbeatable against White Sox
By JUSTIN HARTLING

The Detroit Tigers could not be sending a better pitcher to the mound Monday. Rick Porcello has steered the Tigers to a 12-1 record in his last 13 starts against the Chicago White Sox.

The White Sox have been able to make consistent contact, registering at least five hits in nine of Porcello's starts, but have rarely turned that into runs. Porcello has kept the White Sox to three runs or less in every one of those starts.

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Reds-Dodgers keep it close, totals bettors happy
By JUSTIN HARTLING

The Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers have not been able to push past their totals in recent memory. In the last 15 clashes between the two clubs, the under has paid out 11 times (with one push).

In these 15 games, that spans across the past three seasons, they teams average a combined 5.3 runs per game and has scored five or less runs nine times.

The Dodgers have been one of the top under plays in the MLB away from home, registering an over/under record of 12-18-1 on the road.

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Angels-Athletics pull the big bats out
By JUSTIN HARTLING

The Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels are set to do battle for the American League West lead. It's sure to be a closely fought series, but bettors can look to the totals for a safer bet.

In the last five meetings this season, the A's and Halo's have gone over in every one. Not one of those games have seen the teams score less than nine runs and have averaged 13 notches on the scoreboard per game.

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StatFox Super Situations

MLB | ATLANTA at COLORADO
Play Against - Any team (COLORADO) very good NL hitting team (AVG >=.280) against a team with a good bullpen (ERA <=3.75), with a bad bullpen that blows 38% or more of their save opportunities
192-133 since 1997. ( 59.1% | 69.0 units )
14-9 this year. ( 60.9% | 4.4 units )

StatFox Situational Power Trends

MLB | WASHINGTON at SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO is 14-3 (+11.7 Units) against the money line with an on base percentage of .300 or worse over their last 15 games this season.
The average score was: SAN FRANCISCO (5.2) , OPPONENT (3.4)

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Arthur Ralph Sports

Free Play MON

Tigers -125

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Hondo

Hondo enjoyed a laugher Sunday with the A’s, who yukked it up against Ubaldo of Baltimore and reduced the NRN (nasty red number) to 940 maldonados.

Monday night: Mr. Aitch will try to hit the high note with Vogelsong, and that’s the name of that tune — 10 units on the Giants to do a number on Strasburg.

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Mighty Quinn

Mighty hit with the Royals on Sunday and likes the Kings on Monday.

The deficit is 425 sirignanos.

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Cappers Access

Rangers(NHL) -130

Blue Jays(RL) -1.5(+111)