Sunday, April 30, 2017 St. Louis Blues vs. Nashville Predators (NHL) - 3:05 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -150 Nashville Predators Pick Title: 9 Star Hostile Takeback (WIN) Nashville may only be an 8th seed heading into these playoffs, but they're not playing like it. Despite the momentary setback in St. Louis, I feel whistles will go back to status quo of an even amount of penalties called on both sides. Game 2 was severely lopsided with whistles totaling 6 of 7 against the Predators' side. After going a red-hot 2-for-3 on power plays in Game 1, they didn't get to enjoy 1 attempt in game 2. HC Pete Laviolette knows his Nashville entry must limit penalties. Laviolette stated, "It really takes the flow out of the game & puts the penalty killers on the ice way too much." It looks like what the Predators' HC said is true since they lost the face-off wars to Nashville 30-25 in Game 2. When the penalties were evenly called in the opener, the Predators controlled face-offs over the Blues to the tune of a 38-23 advantage. Even though the Predators hold a slim 56-50 overall shots advantage for the series, they are much better converting power plays @ 67% to the Blues conversion rate of 14%. My bottom line says St. Louis has struggled @ this venue losing 5 of the last 7 as well as a streak of 3 straight losses. In fact, the last 16 games of this series have gone the home ice way in 12. Don't be shocked to find back-up goalie Juuse Sares between the pipes for the majority over Pekka Rinne who allowed some damaging scores late in Game 2. I'm expecting Nashville to convert again on power plays (Center Ryan Johansen had 2 goals & 2 assists in 5 games versus the Blues in the regular season) which is a BIG edge since St. Louis is a no-show 2 of 21 for their 7 playoff games in scoring on man advantages. Look for the Predators to neutralize Vladimir Tarasenko & snuff any late-game heroics this time around. With the better offense, face-off advantages & goal-tending, look for home ice to get through on Jake Allen as we go to Bridgestone Arena in Tennessee to play the NASHVILLE PREDATORS as my 9 Star Hostile Take-Back! Saturday, April 29, 2017 New York Rangers vs. Ottawa Senators (NHL) - 3:05 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: 115 Ottawa Senators Pick Title: 9 Star Excellent Paybacker (WIN) On the surface it will look like the New York Rangers are a tough road out with their 29-13 record away from Madison Square Garden. Here's what many MUSHES & most of the public will miss when they quickly side with the wrong club. The Rangers are actually slumping when traveling losing their last 6 of their last 8. Sometimes teams peak & things start going the other way. Ottawa has won the last 4 of 5 series meetings versus N.Y. who has dropped 3 in a row @ this venue. My bottom line points toward HC Guy Boucher who has his Senators playing excellent defense which is translating into winning the shots on goal war. Look again for home ice to rule that category as Boucher will implement lines to steal momentum from the start. Veteran goalie Henrik Lundqvist will have his hands full early on & the Rangers should be playing from behind down the stretch. The public has pushed this line to a point where you have to like. Remember that the head brass with GM Pierre Dorian as well as owner Eugene Melnyk have already stated they want to see immediate results (after making off-ice changes this season) in the playoffs. Let's head to the Canadian Tire Centre in the province of Ontario to eagerly grab the OTTAWA SENATORS as my 9 Star Excellent Paybacker! Thursday, April 27, 2017 San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) - 9:35 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -214 San Antonio Spurs Pick Title: 9 Star Public Missed Perception Play Of The Week (WIN) Prognosticators & mushes alike will be eager to hop on HC David Fizdale's Memphis entry & the points since this series has been won 9 straight times by the home team. Guess what? That streak is broken here! San Antonio took the Grizzlies to OT before getting edged the last time @ this venue. HC Gregg Popovich will make strategic matchup adjustments that will include MORE playing time for Patty Mills & Manu Ginobili. Where's the discrepancy tonight? It's in the way Memphis plays defense. Last time out, they allowed the Silver & Black to shoot 52.5% from the floor overall included within a red-hot 14-for-28 from beyond the arc. Kwahli Leonard (31.6 PPG, 57.6% from the field, 54.2% in 3PT FG's throughout the 1st 5 playoff games) has consistently taken charge & will team up nicely with four-time NBA champion Ginobili. Here's my bottom line. It's going to get tougher to withstand opponent runs when you've lost your shooting guard in Tony Allen (suffered a medial gastrocnemius muscle strain sidelining him for the playoffs). Besides the Spurs' playoff experience, enter HC Gregg Popovich. Popovich has had just 1 losing season (his rookie year) before stringing out 20 winning seasons in a row. More importantly, coming into tonight you'll find he's 2nd-to-none in career 1st-round victories with 65 under the current playoff format. He just surpassed legendary Phil Jackson (64) who compiled those wins as coach of the Chicago Bulls & Los Angeles Lakers. When the heat has been on, Popovich has also responded BIG as his 35-15 record in series' clinchers attest. With important blueprints laid in our favor, let's make our way to the FedEx Forum in Memphis, TN to play the SAN ANTONIO SPURS as my 9 Star Public Missed Perception Play Of The Week! NOTES: We're zeroed in the NBA & NHL now since they're playing for real without resting players at the drop of the hat. We'll be taking in several extra hours this week to come up with the winning formula that we'll bring the highest yield of exotics & straights for the Kentucky Derby set for Saturday, May 6th @ Churchill Downs. Last horse season was a rare off year of near misses so don't expect that to happen again. Here's an accurate recap of all sports going into Monday, May 1st. NOTE: The VegasTopDogs grading system does not account for when we buy points in football & basketball games thus pushing winning totals off our correct ATS figures. 2016-17 NHL Overall Season Record: 27-19----59%---- 2016-17 NBA Overall Season Record: 11-1----for an off the charts 92%---- 2017 MLB Overall Season Record: 2-1----67%---- Final 2016-17 CBB Overall Season Record: 49-27----64%---- Final 2016-17 CFB Overall Season Record: 43-28----60%---- Final 2016-17 NFL Overall Season Record: 60-55----52%---- Playing games @ strategic times @ a higher amount (which means days with passes) is the way to go instead of always giving out multiple action per games (most handicappers do this just to increase their chances of yielding more money--something I'll never compromise for). Thank You to all my faithful customers who understand my methods & techniques of taking away house advantages. Mike Handzelek
 

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