Thursday 3-22-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
The Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks are stumbling toward the finish line of the regular season, each mired in last place in their respective divisions and trying to break out of a losing streak. One of the teams will finally get back into the win column when the Blackhawks host the reeling Canucks on Thursday night.

Chicago, which topped the Western Conference with 109 points a year ago, was eliminated from postseason contention after Tuesday's 5-1 setback to Colorado to end a nine-year playoff run. "Obviously, it was one of those runs you want to keep going," forward Patrick Kane said after Chicago's fourth straight loss and sixth in seven games. "We had a disappointing second half of the season, to say the least." The loss of leading scorer Brock Boeser has sapped the life out of Vancouver, which is 0-for-7 since the rookie was injured. While the Canucks now own the worst record in the West, they have won three in a row in the series, including both meetings at home this season by a combined 9-4.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver), NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (25-39-9): Boeser had scored 29 goals before he fractured a bone in his back on March 5 and his absence has been painfully apparent -- Vancouver has scored seven goals in the seven-game slide, including three consecutive shutouts. "It's frustrating to lose. The players are frustrated," coach Travis Green said. "I don't blame them. I think it's a combination of not scoring ... and losing." The Canucks have failed to score on the power play in seven of eight games and had only one chance in five of them.

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (30-35-9): Joel Quenneville has guided Chicago to three Stanley Cup titles since 2009-10 but there are questions about his future despite the fact he is having his first losing season in 21 years. "He's giving us all the right points about what we should be doing before the game and what the other team's doing," forward Vinnie Hinostroza said. "It's usually the execution that's not there. I don't see him giving up at all." Kane collected an assist Tuesday to reach 70 points for the seventh time.

OVERTIME

1. Canucks G Jacob Markstrom has lost five straight starts but beat the Blackhawks in both matchups this season.

2. Chicago has scored first in 27 of its last 36 games but is only 12-12-3 in those contests.

3. Canucks F Daniel Sedin has two assists in eight contests since a five-game goal-scoring streak.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Canucks 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
The Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche meet in Denver on Thursday in a game loaded with Stanley Cup playoff implications and featuring two potential Hart Trophy candidates. Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon is riding a 13-game point streak and is the main reason the Avalanche hold the top wild-card spot in the Western Conference while Anze Kopitar is also a strong Selke contender as Los Angeles sits one point behind the Avalanche.

"It's crunch time and I think, not just myself, but everyone is playing really well," MacKinnon told reporters after recording two assists in Tuesday's 5-1 victory at Chicago, giving him 13 goals and 26 points during his point streak and the Avalanche five wins in their last six games. "We're finding our gear and (Semyon Varlamov) has been really good, too. If you don't have goaltending, you're not going to win in this league, obviously. He's been awesome." The Kings split the first two contests of a four-game road trip, defeating Minnesota 4-3 in overtime Monday and losing to Winnipeg 2-1 in overtime Tuesday. "I think we got three out of four points against two tough opponents, which is a really positive thing,'' Los Angeles coach John Stevens told reporters. "But I think we want to be honest with ourselves and know we can play better. ..." The Kings won the first of three meetings this season 2-1 on Dec. 21 in Los Angeles on Dustin Brown's overtime goal for their third straight victory in the series with the final encounter April 2 in California.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), Altitude (Colorado)

ABOUT THE KINGS (40-27-7): Kopitar recorded an assist in each of the last two games and has two goals and 10 assists in his last nine contests, giving him team highs of 29 goals and a career-high 82 points. Dustin Brown (23 goals, 51 points) has three goals and two assists in his last four games and is on pace for his most goals and assists since 2010-11. Jeff Carter has eight goals and 10 points in 13 games since missing more than four months with an ankle injury while Drew Doughty (54 points) continues to build a case to win his second Norris Trophy in three seasons with eight assists in his last five games while averaging 26:47 of ice time - second-most in the NHL to Minnesota's Ryan Suter (26:49).

ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (40-25-8): The MGM line featuring MacKinnon (team highs of 38 goals and 91 points), Gabriel Landeskog (56 points) and Mikko Rantanen (79) continues to produce at a high level with Rantanen recording his 26th goal Tuesday while matching MacKinnon with his 53rd assist. Defenseman Tyson Barrie also had a goal and an assist versus Chicago, giving him 15 points (six goals) during his career-high 11-game point streak. Varlamov (22-14-6, 2.69 goals-against average, .919 save percentage) has appeared in 18 straight games, starting 15 of the last 16, and is 6-1-3 with a .942 SP in March.

OVERTIME

1. Los Angeles C Trevor Lewis (14 goals, 25 points) is questionable to play after sustaining an upper-body injury Monday and missing Tuesday's game.

2. Colorado C Colin Wilson returned Tuesday after missing eight games because of a concussion and recorded an assist in 11:47 of ice time.

3. The Kings have alternated wins and losses in their last 10 games (5-3-2).

PREDICTION: Kings 3, Avalanche 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Vegas Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
The expansion Vegas Golden Knights seem light-years removed from when they shifted to a five-man goaltender carousel to spin their way out of early-season trouble. With Marc-Andre Fleury nursing a head injury, the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights open a modest two-game road trip on Thursday with a tilt against the second-place San Jose Sharks.

"Not getting into specifics with what he's doing, but he's not going to come today. He may join us tomorrow or in the near future," coach Gerard Gallant said of Fleury, who exited after one period in Tuesday's 4-1 triumph versus Vancouver after taking a shot off the mask. Malcolm Subban came on in relief and is expected to get the nod on Thursday in place of the three-time Stanley Cup champion, who already had missed 25 games this season with a concussion. Vegas has won five of seven but has failed to pad its eight-point lead over San Jose, which has erupted for 27 goals en route to winning a season-best five in a row. "You always find out what your group is made of when they're pushed up against the wall," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. "We were in a group a couple weeks ago of five or six teams that were all pretty much in the same spot, and we found a way to separate ourselves."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (47-21-5): Jonathan Marchessault is bidding to put his seven-game point drought in his rear-view mirror with an assist in Sunday's 4-0 victory over Calgary and a goal versus Vancouver in his last two outings. The 27-year-old Quebec native scored 1:21 into overtime to cap a three-point performance in Vegas' 5-4 overtime win over San Jose on Nov. 24 before scoring a goal and setting up another in a 5-3 triumph over the Sharks on Feb. 8. "This is going to be like a playoff game. I can't wait," Marchessault said of Thursday's upcoming tilt. "They have a lot at stake and so do we. If we focus on our game and not worry about them - we'll be OK. But I expect a real hard game with both teams ready to go."

ABOUT THE SHARKS (41-23-9): Defenseman Brent Burns notched two of his three assists on the power play in Tuesday's 6-2 romp over New Jersey, repeating the feat of his last encounter versus Vegas. The 2017 Norris Trophy winner has five of his club-best 48 assists in the last four contests while captain Joe Pavelski (team-leading 59 points) has one goal and five assists during his five-game point streak. Pavelski tallied twice in the more recent meeting with the Golden Knights, but Martin Jones has struggled by yielding seven goals to the club in just over four periods of action this season.

OVERTIME

1. San Jose C Logan Couture has three goals and three assists in his last four contests and D Brenden Dillon has scored two goals and set up four others during his five-game point streak.

2. G Oscar Dansk, who sported a 3-0-0 mark with a 1.78 goals-against average in four games with Vegas, was recalled from Chicago of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis Wednesday.

3. The Sharks' eighth-ranked power play has six goals in the last seven games after going 0-for-28 in their previous 12.

PREDICTION: Sharks 5, Golden Knights 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Fair Grounds

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.

Race 3 - Maiden Special Weight - 8.0f on the Turf. Purse: $38000 Class Rating: 73

FOR ACCREDITED LA BRED MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. THREE YEAR OLDS, 116 LBS.; OLDER, 123 LBS.


RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks

# 10 B'S TEN 4/1

# 5 AGENT PROVOCATEUR 7/2

# 2 GLISPEE 12/1

B'S TEN looks respectable to best this field. Always good to invest in a trainer with this kind of respectable win percentage - 16 percent - at this distance & surface. Will almost certainly go to the lead and should never look back. Is a solid contender - given the 73 speed figure from her most recent race. AGENT PROVOCATEUR - Is tough not to look at based on Equibase Speed Figures which have been very strong - 80 avg - of late. She should have a good outing versus this softer group. GLISPEE - Strong average speed figures in turf route races make this horse a solid choice. Camacho has solid numbers that point to this filly to be a very strong contender.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Gulfstream Park

Gulfstream Park - Race 1

$1 Daily Double / $1 Exacta / $.50 Trifecta / $.10 Superfecta $.50 Bet 3 (Races 1-2-3) / $.50 Pick 5 (Races 1-5)


Optional Claiming $75,000 • 5 Furlongs • Turf • Age 3 • CR: 86 • Purse: $56,000 • Post: 12:35
(RAIL AT 96 FEET). FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON A RACE OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, STARTER OR RESTRICTED ALLOWANCE OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES OR OPTIONAL CLAIMING PRICE OF $75,000. WEIGHT, 120 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE FEBRUARY 22 ALLOWED 2 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $75,000 (RACES WHERE ENTERED FOR $50,000 OR LESS NOT CONSIDERED IN ALLOWANCES) (CONDITION ELIGIBILITY). (IF DEEMED INADVISABLE TO RUN THIS RACE OVER THE TURF COURSE, IT WILL BE RUN ON THE MAIN TRACK AT FIVE FURLONGS)
Contenders

Race Analysis
P#
Horse
Morn
Line

Accept
Odds


Race Type: Dominant Front-runner. MIZ MAYHEM is the Dominant Front-runner of the race. * KEY ANGLES * MIZ MAYHEM: Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days. Horse has the highest TrackMaster Power Rating. CRAZY FOR SOFIA: Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. Horse ranks in the top three in average Equibase Speed Figure at the distance/surface. SLY BEAUTY: Horse's win percentage at today's distance(sprint or route)/surface (dirt or turf) is at least 50. Horse ranks in the top three in average Equibase Speed Figure at the distance/surface.
4
MIZ MAYHEM
2/1

3/1
3
CRAZY FOR SOFIA
7/2

5/1
2
SLY BEAUTY
5/2

7/1




P#

Horse (In Running Style Order)

Post

Morn
Line

Running Style

Good
Class

Good
Speed

Early Figure

Finish Figure

Platinum
Figure
4
MIZ MAYHEM
4

2/1
Front-runner
84

83

124.7

84.7

78.2
2
SLY BEAUTY
2

5/2
Front-runner
79

78

101.4

77.4

72.4
3
CRAZY FOR SOFIA
3

7/2
Front-runner
89

79

95.4

80.4

72.9
1
MAKE ME PROUD
1

6/1
Front-runner
84

70

67.9

66.5

56.0
5
GIFT OF GLORY
5

10/1
Trailer
85

70

76.0

73.0

65.0
6
MAGIC SPELL
6

6/1
Trailer
82

87

57.7

76.9

72.4

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Oaklawn Park - Race #3 - Post: 2:25pm - Maiden Claiming - 6.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $36,000 Class Rating: 68

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#11 MY FIRST GAL (ML=15/1)
#1 VYERA (ML=4/1)
#9 SHOWIT (ML=5/1)


MY FIRST GAL - Recent speed ratings show solid pattern of improvement. A repeat of that last race on June 29th where she notched a speed fig of 69 looks good enough to score in this race. Trying to break maiden moving from a grass race to the main track. I think Lauer will have her fit and ready for today's affair. VYERA - Took a class drop last race out at Oaklawn Park. Van Berg keeps her at the same level right here. I think that's a good move. With 'blinkers-on' this filly should be very competitive. SHOWIT - This filly should get an ideal trip in this spot. She looks like the only 'stalker' in this affair. Recent Equibase speed figs show strong pattern of improvement.

Vulnerable Contenders: #3 PROMISSORY NOTE (ML=3/1), #4 UNPROVOKED (ML=4/1), #2 BLUES CORNER (ML=8/1),

PROMISSORY NOTE - Hasn't raced or had any morning blow outs since Feb 24th. Not much value on this chalk horse. UNPROVOKED - This mount didn't go to the front end and didn't make up ground down the lane last time she ran. The speed figure last time around the track doesn't fit very well in this contest when I look at the class rating of today's contest. Mark this horse as a questionable challenger. BLUES CORNER - The Brain always tells me to keep away from horses in short distance races that haven't finished in the money in short distance contests lately. Last raced on February 16th at Oaklawn Park, finishing fifth. Unlikely to move up off of that try in today's race. Will be hard for this animal to beat this bunch off of that last speed rating. Unlikely to improve enough to run a figure close enough to today's Equibase class figure, so put her on the possibly overvalued equines list.



STRAIGHT WAGERS:
#11 MY FIRST GAL is going to be the play if we are getting 4/1 or better

EXACTA WAGERS:
Box [1,9,11]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Box [1,9,11] Total Cost: $6

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
None

[Can'tPickAWinner]

F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Remington Park

Remington Park - Race 7

Exacta / Trifecta / Superfecta (.10 Cent Minimum) / Pick 3 (Races 7-8-9)


Maiden • 250 Yards • Dirt • Age 2 • CR: 70 • Purse: $22,600 • Post: 8:36P
QUARTER HORSE 250Y, FOR ACCREDITED OKLAHOMA-BRED MAIDEN, TWO YEAR OLDS. WEIGHT, 124 LBS.
Contenders

Race Analysis
P#
Horse
Morn
Line

Accept
Odds


Race Type: Not Applicable (Quarter Horse). * KEY ANGLES * RETURN OF SONNY D: A first time starter with a trainer that has a return on investment with first time starters of at least +50 (minimum 10 starts). Horse is a first time starter and its sire's win percentage with first timers is at least 18 (minimum of 50 starts). PROSPECT TO CASH: Jockey/Trainer combination return on investment is at least +20. LATE TRAIN: Jockey/Trainer combination return on investment is at least +20.
2
RETURN OF SONNY D
4/1

4/1
10
LATE TRAIN
12/1

10/1
3
PROSPECT TO CASH
6/1

10/1
7
THIS POLITICAL CANDY
2/1

10/1




P#

Horse (In Running Style Order)

Post

Morn
Line

Running Style

Good
Class

Good
Speed

Early Figure

Finish Figure

Platinum
Figure








Unknown Running Style: TRES RISING (15/1) [Jockey: Torres Daniel Antonio - Trainer: Chavira Luz], RETURN OF SONNY D (4/1) [Jockey: Brooks Jimmy Dean - Trainer: Willis Eddie D], PROSPECT TO CASH (6/1) [Jockey: Smith Stormy - Trainer: Hunt Charley], RA

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Santa Anita - Race #2 - Post: 12:32pm - Maiden Claiming - 5.5 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $17,000 Class Rating: 74

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#2 VEILED HEAT (ML=4/1)


VEILED HEAT - Rounding her way back into form. Each of her finish positions is getting better in her recent starts. This thoroughbred coming off a good performance in the last month is a solid contender in my book.

Vulnerable Contenders: #3 SO EURO (ML=8/5), #6 BLAME THE WEATHER (ML=2/1), #7 KNOWITALLHOUSEWIFE (ML=5/2),

SO EURO - The speed figure in the last race doesn't fit very well in this race when I look at the class figure of today's race. Mark this animal as a possibly overvalued equine. BLAME THE WEATHER - Today's race is 5 1/2 furlongs. Hasn't finished in the money in a short distance contest in the last couple of months. Not the best of signs. KNOWITALLHOUSEWIFE - A bit of a lackluster try when this filly finished fourth.



STRAIGHT WAGERS:
Play #2 VEILED HEAT to win if you can get odds of 1/1 or more

EXACTA WAGERS:
None

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
None

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
None

SUPER HIGH 5 WAGERS:
Pass

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Turfway Park

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.

Race 3 - Claiming - 6.0f on the Dirt. Purse: $7100 Class Rating: 79

FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NOT WON THREE RACES SINCE MARCH 22, 2016 OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON FOUR RACES. WEIGHT, 124 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE FEBRUARY 22 ALLOWED 3 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $5,000 (IF THIS RACE IS CONTESTED WITH 10 OR MORE BETTING INTERESTS EACH OWNER / PARTNERSHIP SHALL


RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks

# 7 SUCKER PUNCHED 5/2

# 2 THAMAAN 5/1

# 1A TACOMA PARK 5/1

SUCKER PUNCHED looks solid to best this field. Has to be carefully examined against this group of horses in this race displaying decent figures as of late and an average speed figure of 75 under similar conditions. Reason to like this gelding as he has in the irons one of the best jocks using winning percentages over the last 30 days. He should be given a chance given the strong speed figs. THAMAAN - The Equibase Speed Fig of 75 from his most recent race looks solid in here. Recent numbers for the jockey - 17 win percent - make this gelding stand out in this field. TACOMA PARK - Must be given a shot given the class of races run lately. Has been running soundly and has among the strongest speed in the race for today's distance.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Jeff Benton

Your Thursday freebie is the Michigan Wolverines over the Texas A&M Aggies.

I guess it is time to take this Michigan team seriously!

The Wolverines not only won the postseason Big Ten Tournament, but they nipped one of the hottest teams in the land when they beat Houston, 64-63 over the weekend but did not cover as the -3 1/2 point favorites. Even with that spread loss, John Beilein's team has rattled off 11 in a row with just 2 point spread losses in that span.

Texas A&M recorded an eye-opening 21-point win over the defending national-champion North Carolina Tar Heels their last time out, and in Charlotte no less! Pretty darn impressive if you ask me, and they also knocked out a pretty piping-hot Providence team by 4 in the first round.

This is still an Aggies team that sports 12 straight up losses this season, and is allowing 66.2 points per game over their last 5 compared to Michigan's 59.6 per game over their last 5.

I have seen it before, a team gets an unexpected win over a higher-seed - in this case A&M blowing out # 2 UNC - and then they cannot follow it up in the following game, especially after having a few extra days back on campus to let said win soak in.

Going to lay it with the Maize-and-Blue.

4* MICHIGAN

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Tommy Brunson

My free play for Thursday is the Jazz to get back to their winning ways in Dallas against the Mavericks.

Utah was riding a 9-game winning streak, but they were upended at home on Monday by the Atlanta Hawks of all teams!?!?

With 3rd through 8th still very much unsettled in the Western Conference it would behoove the Jazz-Men to pick up a win over the Mavericks who have been eliminated from any postseason conversation.

The Mavs have lost 3 straight and 4 of their last 5, and they have failed the spread in 3 of those 5. The Jazz meanwhile are still on a positive 6-2 spread run their last 8 games, and they have covered in 7 of their last 10 overall.

Series-wise, Utah has won 5 of the last 6 meetings, and 7 of their last 10 overall, and while the Jazz is just 1-4 against the spread the last 5 meetings, with so much on the line as far as playoff seeding is concerned, look for Utah to come to play in this road game on Thursday.

Jazz play sweet music in Dallas tonight.

2* UTAH

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Mike Wynn

Free Play: Free Pick Texas A&M/Michigan Over 136 Points

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Free Selection from Jim Feist

Jim Feist's Comp Pick, Thursday, March 22, 2018



3/22 07:05 PM PT / 10:05 PM ET

NBA (811) ATLANTA HAWKS VS (812) SACRAMENTO KINGS

Take: (812) SACRAMENTO KINGS

Reason: Your free play for Thursday, March 22, 2018 is in the NBA scheduled contest between the Atlanta Hawks and the Sacramento Kings. Your free play is on the KINGS.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Jeff Allen Sports

Thursday's Free Selection is on the Florida Panthers

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Razor Sharp

YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR THURSDAY: Take LOYOLA-CHICAGO/NEVADA OVER the total of 143½