The NHL and the NBA Playoffs keep rolling along with two blockbuster games coming your way tonight. Opening festivities this evening is the Game 2 showdown between the San Jose Sharks and the St. Louis Blues. Then, it’s Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors.
Read on for a quick breakdown of these two pivotal games and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the 2016 Preakness Stakes.
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San Jose Sharks vs. St. Louis Blues (8:00 PM ET)
Line: San Jose Sharks (+110) at St. Louis Blues (-130); total: 5.0 – view all NHL lines
If Game 1 was any indication of what this series would be like, then we’re in for one epic showdown. The St. Louis Blues eked past the San Jose Sharks in Game 1 of their Western Conference Final clash with a heart-stopping 2-1 win on Sunday night. Jori Lehtera scored the game-winner in the second period for the Blues who improved to 4-4 at Scottrade Center in this year’s playoffs.
All is not lost, though, for the Sharks who demonstrated their tremendous offensive power in Game 1. The Sharks outshot the Blues, 32-23, in the series opener. Peter DeBoer’s men will need to do a much better job, however, on their power play opportunities if they are level to the series in Game 2. They went 0-for-3 with the man advantage in Game 1.
The Sharks are 4-2 in their last six road games against the Blues. They are pegged at +400 to win this year’s Stanley Cup.
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Writer’s Prediction
San Jose (+110) wins, 3-1, to level the series at one game apiece.
Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (8:30 PM ET)
Line: Toronto Raptors (+10.5) at Cleveland Cavaliers (-10.5); total: 202.0 – view all NBA lines
The Toronto Raptors will head to the Eastern Conference Finals with momentum on their side after thrashing the Miami Heat, 116-89, in Game 7 of their second round showdown on Sunday. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan combined for 63 points for the Raptors who advanced to the conference finals for the first time in their franchise history.
They will need to put up even greater numbers for Toronto in the next round as standing in their way in the conference finals are the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs have been unstoppable in this year’s playoffs, going a perfect 8-0 this postseason. Key to their hot start has been their phenomenal shooting from beyond the arc. The Cavs have made a league-best 134 three-pointers in just eight games.
That being said, the Raptors will fancy their chances against the Cavs as they have fared extremely well against them this season. Toronto won their regular-season series with Cleveland, 2-1. The Raptors are at a disadvantage, though, for Game 1 with Jonas Valanciunas still out with an ankle injury. He is averaging 15.0 points and 12.1 rebounds per game on 55 percent shooting for the Raptors this postseason.
The Raptors are 6-4 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games against the Cavs. They are pegged at +6,000 to win the NBA championship.
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Writer’s Prediction
Cleveland (-10.5) eases past Toronto, 104-90.
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