Brace yourselves for a super Sunday of Game 3s in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
All the action gets underway at 1:30 p.m. ET as the Battle of Florida resumes in Tampa. Unbelievably, the two-time defending Cup champs are looking to take a commanding 3-0 series lead on the Presidents’ Trophy winners.
Two hours later, the Rangers and Canes will drop the puck on Broadway. Like the Bolts, Carolina leads that series 2-0 following two tight victories on home ice.
Meantime, the night capper will feature another installment of the Battle of Alberta as the Oilers host the Flames. As advertised, this post-season showdown 31 years in the making has not disappointed. The two teams have combined to score 23 goals through two games.
Here are some prop bets to consider.
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Simply put, we’re witnessing greatness. McDavid has 20 points in nine games, which includes five straight multi-efforts and a five-game goal streak. Additionally, he’s covered the 3.5 shots on goal number in five straight games too. It goes without saying but until further notice, you should be hammering any and all McDavid game props. He’s unconscious right now.
Considering Gaudreau has cleared the 3.5 mark in four straight games, it’s tough to pass up on the plus-money value here. On top of that, the speedster has yet to score in the series, so you know he’ll continue shooting and gunning for that. In nine playoff games, the Flames winger has mustered 36 shots on goal for an average of four per contest. Take the plunge.
Prop No. 3: Aleksander Barkov Over 0.5 Assists (-120) + Over 3.5 SOG (+120)
For all intents and purposes, Florida’s season is on the line this afternoon. Across the board, they need more from their big boys. And that starts with the captain, who has been held pointless through the first two games of the series. Barkov, who averaged a point per game in Round 1, has six points in eight playoff games to date. Furthermore, the 26-year-old has cleared the 3.5 number in five of his past seven outings. Love me some plus-money value.
Similar to the Panthers, it’s put up or shut up time for the Rangers, who have scored just one goal through the first two games versus Carolina. Considering most of New York’s offence runs through Fox, especially on the power play, the 24-year-old needs to get going or they could be in some big-time trouble. Fox had 10 points in Round 1 against Boston, it’s been a much different tune so far against the Hurricanes.
Betting odds listed above via the Bet365 Sportsbook as of Sunday afternoon.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
