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The Denver Broncos are hiring Vance Joseph to be their defensive coordinator under new head coach Sean Payton, Peter Schrager from Good Morning Football reported, per a source close informed of the decision.
Joseph for two seasons was the Broncos’ head coach from 2017-18, gathering an 11-21 record before he was fired. He had since then been in Arizona as the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator for the past four seasons.
Being an experienced coordinator, Joseph was in high demand as a DC during the coaching cycle, conducting a long interview on Tuesday with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Denver hired Payton who was briefly retired for one year in the aftermath of a 15-season run as the New Orleans Saints head coach. Denver was not content with one comeback story, so they had to bring Joseph back too.
Vance will build a solid defensive line in Denver, headed by safety Justin Simmons, cornerback Patrick Surtain II and edge rusher Randy Gregory. Simmons and linebacker Josey Jewell are the only players left from Joseph’s tenure as Denver’s head coach.
The veteran coach will provide the Broncos’ defense with a type of experience and leadership that will help Payton redirect his efforts towards revamping Denver’s stray offense; starting with a rehabbing for Russell Wilson after a terrible 2022 campaign.
Joseph’s attacking 3-4 D, matches well with the Broncos’ personnel and style, which Payton wants his defenses to adopt. Last Season in Arizona, the Cardinals blitzed on 36.
1 per cent of downs, third-most in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats.
Denver’s new defense coach will keep defensive line coach Marcus Dixon and defensive backs coach Christian Parker on his staff. James Palmer from NFL Network reported, per a source.
Greg Manusky is being hired as an inside linebackers coach, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per a source.
Recently, the Broncos also held interviews for former Jets and Bills head coach, Rex Ryan and Patriots senior football advisor/offensive line coach Matt Patricia for the DC job before landing on Joseph.
Every hitter during the Major League season has at one point endured ups and downs, but sometimes those downs do not go away immediately. This was how it happened last season for the five MLB hitters listed below, who entered the 2022 campaign with hope, and some even had aspirations to become MVP.
Now, with Spring Training approaching, and a new MLB season underway, five MLB.com writers have picked their best candidates for which MLB hitters are most likely to bounce back in 2023. This is the list below:
Last year, underlying injury issues and lack of luck affected Muncy. The slugger’s strong 2021 ended with a torn UCL, which he got while attempting to catch a throw at first base that took his arm into the path of a baserunner on the final day of the regular season, denying him the rest of October and impacting a greater part of his play in 2022. In late May, Muncy went on the injured list for a left elbow inflammation. His average at that time was Just.150.
Even after Max returned two weeks later, it took him a while to get his groove back. He was slashing .161/.310/.303 with only 10 doubles and nine homers in 83 games as of July 31. Here is where the bad luck should be highlighted, because Muncy’s BABIP at that time was a ridiculously low .190. from August 1, he slashed a more Muncy-like .247/.358/.500 with 12 doubles and 12 homers in 53 games – thanks partly to more a reasonable.282 BABIP.
Given his fly-ball tendencies and lack of speed, Muncy’s BABIP profile is not exactly, high, but his .227 mark last season was the fourth worst in MLB. That was not the worst of his seven-year career: He posted a .203 BABIP in the short 2020 season, only to rebound with a down-ballot MVP campaign (135 OPS+, career-high 36 HR) – in spite of a .257 BABIP.
Amidst all the hardship Muncy endured last year, he maintained his elite plate disciplines (99th percentile walk rate, 100th percentile chase rate) including exit velos and hard-hit rates in alignment with his career norms. In other words, he will seek out a return to form his age-42 season.
-Chosen by Jason Catania
Tyler O’Neil, Cardinals
Key stat: .392 xwOBA in 2021
O’Neil was one of the best all-around players in the Majors in 2021, joining the likes of Ronald Acuña Jr., Showing Ohtani, and Fernando Tati’s Jr. as the only qualifiers to rank in the 90tg percentile or better in both xwOBA (based on the quality of contact, strikeouts and walks) and sprint speed. Tyler finished eighth in NL MVP Award voting after hitting. 286 with 34 homers, 15 steals and a .912 OPS over 138 games.
Although he relapsed with the bat last season and slashed just .228/.308/.392, the 27-year-old outfielder still showed skills which were above average in a number of areas, all the while making noteworthy strides in improving his plate discipline and lowering his strikeout rate. And after missing significant time in the first half of last season with a right shoulder impingement and a left hamstring strain, he started to look more like his 2021 self down the road.
O’Neill recorded a .387 xwOBA over his last 31 games – which is estimated to be one-third of his season – while socking eight dingers in that span before another left hamstring injury cut him off in mid-September. To add to his injury mishap, he has some tough luck at the plate, tying for the 22nd-largest gap (24 points) between his xwOBA (.331) and his original wOBA (.307).
Tyler does not have a long successful track record, except the one he got in 2021, but this season he is due for an uptick in production and definitely MLB hitters to make a comeback material.
– Chosen by Thomas Harrigan.
Nick Castellanos, Phillies
Key stat: .539 xSLG from 2019-21 (.395 in ’22)
While, Nick Castellanos undeniably made some big plays in the Phillies’ postseason run – with his defense of all things – his debut season in Philadelphia was mostly disastrously. Castellanos just only 13 home runs after signing a five-year, $100 million deal last off-season and posted a career-worst .694 OPS in 2022. That came on the back of a 34-homer campaign with the Reds in ’21 in which he had a .939 OPS and made his first All-Star appearance.
“Last year was last year,” He said recently.
Nick had said that he wasn’t comfortable last year. He was “pissed off, unhappy, frustrated.” The extra-base hits he had become known for – his 278 doubles from his first full season in 2014 through ’21 which were the most in MLB – disappeared. He ranked in the bottom quarter of the league in average exit velocity and hard-hit rate. His barrel percentage dipped to 6.6%, down from 10.6% in 2021 and a career-best 16% in ’20.
That being said, Castellanos’ whiff rate was slightly down from his ’20 mark and his chase rate was up only slightly. The only noticeable difference was that he swung at first pitch a career-high 47.5% of the time – up from 42% in ’21 and 37.8% in ’20.
He has never backed down from saying it how it is, and he says he’s more comfortable and settled in going into ’23. If that’s really the case, expect the ex-Silver Slugger to be back to the top of the leaderboard in doubles, especially playing his home games at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park. He is a perfect candidate for the list of MLB hitters to bounceback.
– Chosen by Paul Casella.
Jesse Winker, Brewers
Key stat: .392 xwOBA from 2020-21
Winker was one of the best MLB hitters in the Majors on a rate basis from 2020-21, ranking in the same range as Yordan Alvarez, Paul Goldschmidt, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Shohei Ohtani. And his results matched his expected metrics (which are based on the quality of contact, strikeouts and walks). However after an off-season trade from Cincinnati to Seattle, Jesse’s expected production took a nose dive in 2022, and his numbers did the same too (.219/.344/.344).
There may be an obvious reason for that. Although his durability is in constant question, Winker still managed to play in 136 games for the Mainers but did so while impaired by a meniscus injury in his left knee, and a neck injury too. Both of which led him to off-season surgery, the latter a disc replacement procedure that he said paid immediate dividends for relieving symptoms that had plagued him for years. It is too soon to know if Jesse will maintain his health, but there is a reason behind this hope.
Another thing to note is that Seattle traded Winker to Milwaukee, whose America Family Field ranks as the fifth-best home run park for lefties – 14 spots ahead of the Mariners’ T-Mobile Park. (It is worth knowing that he has slashed .344/.440/.591 in 109 career plate appearances in Milwaukee.) This means that the road is clear for a refreshed Winker to get back to his status as an All-Star-caliber bat in 2023.
– Chosen by Andrew Simon.
Jared Walsh, Angels
Key stat: .417 wOBA vs. RHP from 2020-21, sixth best in MLB (min. 400 PA)
Jared Walsh is another lefty slugger that wants to bounce back from a campaign spoilt by an injury, easily placing him on the list of MLB hitters that will make a comeback. After He experienced symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome for many years before last season, but they got worse over the course of 2022.
The reoccurring tightness in his neck and left shoulder, including the tingling in his fingertips, made him a shadow of his former self at the plate.
In 2020, Walsh squashed nine home runs over his last 20 games during the shortened season and carried that energy into, 2021 when he posted a 126 wRC+ – meaning he was 26% better than the league average with the bat. Walsh’s ability to make authoritative contact was shown in his 11.3% barrel rate and by ranking in the 94th percentile when it came to maximum exit velocity. He slashed .333/.405/.589 in almost 400 plate appearances versus right-handed pitching. He smashed 29 home runs and made the All-Star team. Jared was the Angels’ best everyday hitter who was not Shohei Ohtani, that season’s unanimous AL MVP.
Last year, all of Walsh’s numbers dropped, which is understandable. He wanted against righties, turning in a .660 OPS. But almost, six months after getting corrective surgery, he says he is feeling close to 100% in spring camp. He is in the running to receive the bulk of his at-bats versus righty pitchers, which clearly plays to his strengths, bringing the optimism that he can recapture his form from two years ago.
This will go a long way in assisting the Angels to defy their low playoff probability.
The newest exhibition season of Major League Baseball is scheduled to hold on Friday. Every team is expected to play their first spring training contest no later than Saturday. This means that it is time for players, coaches, and fans to get an orientation about the major MLB rule changes MLB made to its rulebook during the off-season.
So, what will the MLB product look like this year? Morgan Sword, the EVP of Baseball Operations, recently told ESPN that the new regulations reflected “probably the biggest change that’s been made in baseball in most of our lifetimes.” It would be easy to point a finger at Sword for overstating matters, but he did have a point: the league will introduce a pitch timer; restrictive defensive positioning; and install bigger bases as a way to enhance the pace of play and, in theory, adding more action to the game by re-incentivizing contact and speed. (The League will also enforce its own baulk rules more religiously.)
So much will change this season, so this would be a good time to provide a breakdown of what the new rules are, how they have been received, and what other changes may be coming.
The pitch timer will be the most omnipresent new feature of the MLB rule changes. Following its implementation, pitchers must begin their deliveries within 15 seconds with the bases empty, and within 20 seconds with at least one runner on the board. Time violations will warrant an automatic ball.
Additionally, pitchers are allowed to “disengage” just twice during any given plate appearance – that includes stepping off the rubber or attempting to pick off a baserunner.
The timer-related rules will also be heeded by hitters too. These are, they must be in the box and “alert” to the pitcher with at least eight seconds left on the clock. They are now allowed only one timeout per plate appearance. If batters violate either aspect, they’ll be charged with an automatic strike.
The new defensive positioning rules will curb over shifts. Teams must have four fielders within the infield boundary whenever the pitcher is on the rubber, with two fielders stationed on either side of the second-base bag at the time of the pitch. Teams are still allowed to bring an outfielder in, either onto the infield or into the shallow outfield. They are not, allowed to employ a four-outfielder alignment. Positioning violations will result in the opposing team’s choice of an automatic ball or the result of the play.
As for the bases, they will be measured at 18 square inches instead of 15 square inches. There are two possible benefits to the chunkier bags: one is enhanced player safety since there is more room available for fielders and baserunners to avoid a potential collision. Another, less likely benefit is giving teams a greater incentive to try a stolen base. After all, the larger bases shorten the distance between stations, increasing the chances of success.
How are baseball fans taking to all this change?
2. What people are saying about the new rules
The first week-plus of camp has seen players questioned for their thoughts on the advantages and implementations of the League’s new rules. There has been a number of opinions, some in favour, others against the latest MLB rule changes.
Ryan Pressly the Houston Astros closer is not a fan of the pitch clock in part because it goes against what players were taught coming up. He did however accept that the pitchers would need to make the tweaks so as to comply with the new rulebook.
“I think every pitcher is taught to be on your own tempo, be controlled, breathe and slow the game down,” Pressly told the Houston Chronicle. “Now the pitch clock is going to affect that a little bit, but we’re all big leaguers. We can make an adjustment.”
Although the timer might work against what pitchers were taught coming up, the shifts extinction might benefit the hitters – especially the ones who defer their own instincts and believe that hitting the ball hard up the middle is good, even a great piece of business.
“I think a lot of us are really looking forward to that,” Chicago Cubs first baseman Eric Hosmer told MLB.com. “It just kind of seems like there’s going to be more hits out there for guys. There’s no worse feeling than hitting the ball hard up the middle and seeing the shortstop standing right there. So maybe this could be better for the offensive player, especially the left-handed hitter.”
Now would also be a good time to mention that Alex Cora the Red Sox manager compared the larger bases to “pizza boxes.” He downplayed any chances the new bases have of sparking the player’s desire to run wild whenever a player was on board.
“Talking to the minor-league coaches and everybody that used the rules last year – it’s not that all of the sudden we’re going to steal 100 bags with a guy,” Cora said. “The value of the out is still in play, and you get 27. So you got to be smart, you got to be efficient.”
This is baseball, teams will find a way to work around the new rules. Yet, it is as though the league will be monitoring clubs closely to ensure that they do not get too creative in a bid to circumvent or exploit the new additions to the rulebook.
“From what I’ve understood, you cannot push the envelope,” Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash told the Tampa Bay Times. “If MLB defines it, or the umpire says you’re exploiting the rule, they’re gonna say no.”
3. More rule changes may be coming
Major League Baseball may bar players and coaches from finding loopholes in these new rules, but the league (and the MLBPA) may give in to introducing more twists and exceptions to the sport.
One notable fact is that the MLB will keep experimenting with the automated ball-strike system (aka robot umpires) at the Triple-A level. All Triple-A games played Monday through Thursday this year will get their zones dictated by technology.
Games played Friday through Sunday, will employ the automated ball-strike system on a challenge basis.
MLB at some levels and in various leagues played around with the “pie wedge” defensive positioning restriction that makes the area behind second base off limits; the double-hook system that stipulates teams lose their DH if their starting pitcher fails to last five innings; and the “dropped-pitch” rule that enables batters to reach base on wild pitches and passed balls. (Batters who are successful get a hit.)
Will any of these rules or tweaks make their way to the majors? Maybe one day. For now, MLB has made enough new additions to keep everybody on edge – and hopefully on the right side of the pitch timer and the infield boundaries.
The Panthers gained space to activate Anthony Duclair
David Dwork: The Florida Panthers send Grigori Denisenko to the AHL with Tierney on waivers, if he does clear the Panthers would get enough cap space to activate Anthony Duclair of the LTIR.
Puck Pedia: “Sending Denisenko down is critical for #FlaPanthers to activate Duclair. Because FLA did not have sufficient room in their LTIR performance bonus pool, Denisenko counts $1.775M against cap while they’re in LTIR due to his bonuses, not his $925K Cap Hit.”
Puck Pedia: “After removing Denisenko and his $1.775M Cap Charge, #TimetoHunt now has $3.14M of Cap Space in LTIR, leaving them enough room to activate Duclair ($3.0M). They do not need to send Tierney down to make room for Duclair, they have sufficient room.”
The Blackhawks get Zaitsev and picks from the Senators for nothing Frank Seravalli: The Ottawa Senators have traded defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, a 2023 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick for future considerations.
Puck Pedia: The Senators currently have $4.96 million in cap space with a 20-man roster.
Ottawa could add $18 million in cap hits right now or $21.9 million at the deadline.
Cap Friendly: The Blackhawks have under 45.3 million in project salary cap hits for 15 players next season.
Ben Pope: GM for Blackhawks Kyle Davidson on the Zaitsev trade: “We are getting an NHL calibre defenseman and acquiring very valuable draft capital in this upcoming draft and beyond. Nikita gives us added depth on the right side and we anticipate him joining us soon.”
Shawn Simpson: “The Zaitsev experiment that was recommended by Smith was a total disaster from day one. Top four dollars that have set back the program on every level, and now giving up picks to make him go away.”
Sens Communications: Senators GM Pierre Dorion: “We’re pleased to afford Nikita a fresh start. He’s a pro’s pro who showcased himself to be a caring teammate and quiet leader throughout his #Sens tenure. We’re thankful for his time in Ottawa and wish he and his family the best in his next chapter.”
Tomorrow, Sunday, the Seattle Sounders VS Colorado Rapids matchup will conclude the first day of a new edition of Major League Soccer. The sparring teams missed playoffs in the Western Conference, so they’ll want to rebrand the image they displayed last campaign.
The Sounders and Rapid have played against each other 10 times, with five victories for the Rave Green. Their last game also happened at Lumen Field and the home team emerged victorious. It ended in a 2-1 final score, with Jordan Morris and Nicolás Lodeiro scoring goals. Jonathan Lewis gave the visitors the lead.
Here at MatchPlug, you’ll find the Best Betting Tips Today and MLS Predictions surrounding the anticipated Sounders and Rapids match.
Once again all of Nashville FC’s hope will be placed on Hany Mukhtar and what he can do (no pressure!), as he is just returning as MLS MVP thanks to his 23 goals and 11 assists.
Another thing to note about this club is that they reached the playoffs in all the three years they’ve been in the league since contesting as an expansion team in 2020.
Two main players Dave Romney and Aké Loba left Nashville this season, while Fafà Picault and Nick DePuy are the replacements to be focused on.
Nashville FC Probable Lineup: Joe Willis, Shaquille Moore, Walker Zimmerman, Jack Maher, Daniel Lovitz, Dax McCarty, Sean Davis, Fafà Picault, Randall Leal, Hany Mukhtar, C.J.Sapong.
Betting On Colorado Rapids
1XBet Spread: +1.5
1XBet Over/Under: Under 2.5
1XBet Moneyline: 3.94
The Colorado Rapids finished 10th place in last season’s MLS with only 43 points. The team headed by Robin Fraser is coming off a goal-fest in its preparatory matches.
They ended 2-2 with Orlando City, won Miami FC 3-1 and lost 4-1 to the Philadelphia Union one of the heavy hitters in the Eastern Conference and another strongest contender for the title. These three games showed Colorado’a offensive virtues, but also defensive deficiencies.
Colorado Rapids Possible Lineup (4-2-3-1): William Yarbrough, Lalas Abubakar, Keegan Rosenberry, Alex Gersbach, Michael Barriors, Sam Nicholson, Ralph Priso, Cole Bassett, Max Alves, Connor Ronan, Darren Yapi.
MatchPlug Prediction
Past matches between these clubs before their MLS debut had even the most impatial spectator feelng good.
The six goals scored and seven conceded by the Rapids tip the scales in the favour of the Sounders, fans should expect rich goals and thrills too.
Finally, the MLS season is upon us, today will mark the first day of the championship. Nashville SC VS New York City FC is one of the thrilling matches happening. Both clubs will compete for a top spot in the standings.
Last season, New York City FC finished third in the Eastern Conference and is now starting a new year in the absence of star player, Maxi Morález who has joined Argentina’s Racing Club.
Nashville SC is coming off a fifth-position finish in the regular season in the Western Conference and is again competing to make it to the playoffs.
In this Betting Preview, MatchPlug has covered all you should know about the matchup between Nashville and New York City, and given the Best Betting Tips Today for it. You can view more MLS Predictions and matches on our website.
Once again all of Nashville FC’s hope will be placed on Hany Mukhtar and what he can do (no pressure!), as he is just returning as MLS MVP thanks to his 23 goals and 11 assists.
Another thing to note about this club is that they reached the playoffs in all three years they’ve been in the league since contesting as an expansion team in 2020.
Two main players Dave Romney and Aké Loba left Nashville this season, while Fafà Picault and Nick DePuy are the replacements to be focused on.
Nashville FC Probable Lineup: Joe Willis, Shaquille Moore, Walker Zimmerman, Jack Maher, Daniel Lovitz, Dax McCarty, Sean Davis, Fafà Picault, Randall Leal, Hany Mukhtar, C.J.Sapong.
Betting On New York City FC
1XBet Spread: +1.5
1XBet Over/Under: Over 2.5
1XBet Moneyline: 3.62
New York City FC can taste the nostalgia this season, as for the first time in a really long while, they will be playing without Maxi Morález.
Morález will be remembered for his contributions to the club – 26 goals and 69 assists in 162 appearances for the club. He is recognized as one of the best international midfielders who played in the MLS. This Argentine won’t be forgotten in a hurry by New York, as he led them in 2021 to win their only title in the tournament.
Additionally, Sean Johnson, the goalkeeper is another of the club’s star players that won’t be in the club after signing with Toronto FC.
New York City FC Probable Lineup (4-3-2): Matt Freese, Mitja Ilenič, Maxime Chanot, Braian Cufré, Malte Amundsen, Keaton Parks, Santiago Rodríguez, Nicolás Acevedo, Thiago Andrade, Talles Magno, Gabriel Pereira.
MatchPlug Prediction
These clubs have been the main characters for while now in the MLS, fans can therefore expect to see an interesting match in their debut.
Experts believe that this will be an evenly placed match, where the hosts Nashville will win by one goal difference.
On MLS Matchday 1, one of the games that’ll draw fans’ attention is Austin FC VS St Louis City FC. For this match, the local team will want to exploit a newly formed squad that has no experience in the top flight to begin on the right foot with three points.
MatchPlug has always provided advice on everything American Sports betting, and now we bring you the Best Betting Tips Today for the game between Austin and St Louis City. These are the best odds and predictions below.
Austin FC had a fantastic season in the last edition of the MLS, finishing second in the Western Conference with 56 points, although they had a mishap facing LAFC in the playoff semifinals, where they lost by a 3-0 score.
But, this team has everything it needs to recreate the campaign they had last season, so they’d like to get started on the right foot for the first Matchday. They will utilise the fact that they’re playing on their own field, where lost just three of the 17 games they played in last year’s regular season.
The Oaks played in 6 preparation matches, with two wins, two draws, and two losses balance.
Possible Austin Lineup (4-3-3): Brad Stuver, Julio Cascante, Zan Kolmanic, Nick Lima, Leo Vaisanen, Owen Wolff, Daniel Pereira, Sebastian Driussi, Diego Fagundez, Gyasi Zardes, Emiliano Rigoni.
Betting On St Louis FC
1XBet Spread: +1.5
1XBet Over/Under: Under 2.5
1XBet Moneyline: 6.05
Finally, St Louis City FC will make its debut in the new edition of the first division; hoping to become one the few expansion teams that’ll transcend in its first year.
No matter, today’s match won’t be an easy task as they’ll be playing against one of the conference’s best teams, Austin FC. Matter of fact, only five clubs have scored three points in their inaugural MLS fixture, and the other 15 ended in defeat or draw.
St Louis had six preseason games before today, where it can only choose one victory (three ties, two losses).
Possible St Louis Lineup (4-4-2): Roman Burki, Kylie Hiebert, John Nelson, Jakob Nerwinski, Tim Parker, Eduard Löwen, Tomas Ostrak, Njabulo Blom, Rasmus Alm, Joao Klauss, Jared Stroud.
MatchPlug Prediction
Austin FC seems to have more weapons in their Arsenal to win in this event, as they have more experience playing in the MLS than St Louis FC which has only played preparatory matches.
This team is one of the best clubs of 2022 and will have the privilege of playing at home, a place where they haven’t lost in the five most current official matches.
Due to this, upvoting Austin FC to win the MLS Matchday 1 game seems like the most logical outcome to choose.
St Louis Blues VS Pittsburgh Penguins feature two teams playing to be featured in the postseason faceoff. The Penguins (63 points, 10th in the Eastern Conference), and will be visiting the Blues (56 points, 11th Western Conference).
Pittsburg lost every of its last four games after a 7-2 setback at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night. St. Louis lost four straight after a clash with the Vancouver Canucks (3-2).
The Penguins will play in the absence of Mark Friedman, Ryan Poehling, and Jan Rutta. For the Blues, Jake Neighbours is out and Torey Krug remains questionable.
For the best previews and odds for all NHL games, you can visit MatchPlug. We give you the best NHL Predictions Today for the Blues and Penguins matchup.
Predictions, Odds and Betting Preview for St. Louis Blues VS Pittsburgh Penguins
The St Louis Blues can still make the postseason even after trading away Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari their forwards, for Adam Gaudette a prospect and forward. In the 40 games he played before he was traded, O’Reilly scored 12 goals and had seven assists.
St Louis is scoring an average of 3.02 goals per game which is 21st in the NHL while taking an average of 29.0 shots. The power play for the Blues scores 21.1% of the time they have a main advantage. Jordan Kyrou has a team-best 25 goals and two other players scored 16 goals each. Robert Thomas has 35 assists which are a team-best, while Kyrou is the points leader with 54 and Thomas has 48.
The Blues allowed an average of 3.64 goals per game which is 29th in the NHL. St Louis No 1 goalie Jordan Binnington is 21-20-4 with 3.28 goals against average, and a .894 save percentage and has posted two shutouts. They allow 32.1 shots per game which are 21st in the NHL. The penalty kill unit is well below average, holding opponents scoreless only 75.2% of the time St Louis is shorthanded which is 25th.
Betting On The Pittsburgh Penguins
Season Record: 27-21-9
1XBet Spread: -1.5
1XBet Moneyline: 2.128
1XBet Over/Under: Over 6.5
BetMGM Spread: -1.5
BetMGM Moneyline: 1.62
BetMGM Over/Under: Over 6.5
The Pittsburgh Penguins allow an average of 3.23 goals per game. Tristan Jarry the top goaltender is 16-7-5 with 2.82 goals against average, a .916 save percentage and one shutout but due to injury missed several games.
Casey DeSmith the backup has seen a lot of action and is 10-24-4 with 3.28 goals against an average of 34.1 shots per game which is 29th and the Penguins’ penalty kill line is 14th, rendering opponents scoreless 80.6% of the time they are short-handed.
Pittsburgh is scoring an average of 3.18 goals per game, 15th in the League. Syndey Crosby scored 25 goals best in the team, while Jake Guentzel scored 24. Crosby has 44 assists another team-best, and a team-high 69 points. Second in assists is Evgeny Malkin with 37 and Malkin is second in points with 58.
The Penguins average the fifth most shots in the NHL at 33.6 per game and scoring 21.5% of the time is their power move, they have a man advantage which is just 15th.
MatchPlug Prediction
The largest difference in this game is in the goals against; because the Penguins are holding opponents to an average of 3.23 goals per game, while the Blues allow an average of 3.64 goals per game.
Jarry goals against average are only 2.82, while Binnington has a goals-against average of 3.28. Pittsburgh has won 13 of its last 18 played against the team from the Western Conference and they have won every of the last four overall against St Louis.
Meanwhile, St Louis lost all of its last four and the Penguins have lost 17 and the last 22 when playing just after a day’s rest.
The Columbus Jackets suffered another straight defeat (0-1-1) and their third loss in the last five games they’ve played (2-2-1), shutting out with a count of 2-0 by the Minnesota Wild at the Nationwide Arena on Thursday.
Columbus outshot the visiting team 30-25, won 71% of the face-offs and stopped their only penalty, but went 0-for-1 with the man advantage, surrounding Minnesota’s double in the first 8:48 of the matchup. Boone Jenner (17 goals, 32 points this year) recorded a game-high six shots on target for the Blue Jackets who dropped seven of its last 10 fixtures (3-5-2).
Joonas Korpisalo the goaltender in the game with Minnesota made 23 saves, going 10-11-3 for the season with a 3.20 GAA and a.914 save percentage. He registered a 2-4-0 record from 9 past matches against the Oilers with a 3.57 GAA and .883 save percentage. Elvis Merzlikins (6-15-1 for the present campaign with a 4.21 GAA and a .873 save percentage) is 1-1-0 against the Oilers in three last encounters with a 2.67 GAA and .928 save percentage.
The Blue Jackets are also 3rd in the least goals buried per game this season (2.50), 3rd in most goals allowed on average (3.67), 3rd from the bottom in power play (16.2%) and 20th in penalty kill (77.4%).
Betting On The Edmonton Oilers
Season Record: 32-19-8
1XBet Spread: -1.5
1XBet Moneyline: 1.73
1XBet Over/Under: Over 6.5
BetMGM Spread: +1.5
BetMGM Moneyline: 1.44
BetMGM Over/Under: Over 7
The Edmonton Oilers won for the second time in a row, extending their current point streak to five outings (2-0-3) after whipping the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-2 at the PPG Paints Arena last Thursday.
Connor McDavid (109 points this season) scored twice to attain a career-high 46 snipes in a season, adding some assists too. Leon Draisaitl (35 goals, 87 points) extended his current goal to run a career-high six contests, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (28 goals, 72 points), like Draisaitl, bagged a marker and an assist. It was the first time Edmonton won in its last three travels (1-1-1).
Stuart Skinner the goaltender on Thursday stopped 22 shots to raise his present performance status to 15-11-4 for the season with a 2.89 GAA and a .913 save percentage. He picked up a 1-0-1 past total versus the Blue Jackets with a 2.45 GAA and a .923 save percentage. Meanwhile, Jack Campbell (17-8-4 on the year with a 3.39 GAA and a .887 save percentage) is 2-0-2 against Columbus with a 2.99 GAA and a .897 save percentage.
Their opponents the Oilers are netting the highest amount of goals per game this season (3.81), while allowing the 12th-highest quantity defensively (3.24). They top the league in power play (32.2%) and 26th in penalty kill (75.0%).
MatchPlug Prediction
Columbus has won in their last two head-to-head matchups against Edmonton. Prior to that, the Oilers were on a five-game winning streak versus the Blue Jackets, having won by a margin of two tallies on each occasion.
In addition, three of the last four trips the Edmonton Oilers took to Ohio ended in a victory for Connor McDavid and his squad, with Edmonton outscoring Columbus 15-3 in all those wins.
Moreso, 29 of 40 defeats Columbus suffered this season have been by more than a strike, with the team sporting the 2nd-worst goal differential in the entire league (minus-68). Edmonton on their own path, have won with a goal gap of at two tallies in an outstanding 17 of their most recent 19 victories, netting up to five goals in 14 of them.
The Arkansas Razorbacks VS Alabama Crimson Tide matchup has two paths for the teams. On one hand, the Razorbacks get the ultimate opportunity to give their March Madness resume a huge shot in the arm this Saturday as they face off against the Crimson Tide on the road.
Will Arkansas defeat Alabama in Tuscaloosa? Or will the Crimson Tide sweep away the Razorbacks?
Keep reading this betting preview by MatchPlug for everything you need to know about the game between Razorbacks and Crimson Tide. It has the Basketball Predictions, picks, and odds for today’s matchup.
Predictions and Betting Preview for Arkansas Razorbacks VS Alabama Crimson Tide
The Arkansas Razorbacks are should play some of the best games they’ve ever done this season if they hope to secure an upset win against the Crimson Tide today. Arkansas were not close to completing this challenge last January at home when they lost to Alabama, 84-69.
But, in the games that followed, Arkansas showed that they shouldn’t be taken for granted even by a strong team like Alabama. They scored shots against the Texas A&M Aggies, Kentucky Wildcats, and Florida Gators after their loss to the Crimson Tide.
The Razorbacks’ defense can mess up their opponent’s flow for the whole game, as they rank top 20 in the country when it comes to adjusted defensive efficiency and top 25 in opponents’ eFG. The Under is 3-1 in Arkansas’ last four games on the road.
Betting On The Alabama Crimson Tide
Season record: 24-4
1XBet Spread: -7.5
1XBet Over/Under: Under 152.5
1XBet Moneyline: 1.288
BetMGM Spread: -8.5
BetMGM Over/Under: Under 151.5
Alabama has been noticeably great this season and is arguably the best team in the whole of Division I basketball presently, despite their loss to the Tennessee Volunteers (68-59) in Knoxville last week Wednesday. The Crimson tide gets recognized for its impressive balance on both ends of the course. They are great on offense and defense.
The Crimson Tide are top 15 in the USA in adjusted offensive efficiency and top 10 in adjusted defensive efficiency. The first time they met with Arkansas, they shot 54.6 eFG% and held the Razorbacks to just 44.3 eFG%.
Alabama went 9/20 from deep, while Arkansas made only two of 10 attempts from the back of the arc, in large part as the Crimson Tide’s defense didn’t give them space to breathe. The Crimson Tide are 6-1 ATS in their past seven home games.
MatchPlug Prediction
Alabama can watch out for a redoubled effort today from Arkansas, but they won’t fold. The Crimson Tide will find a way to cut through the Razorbacks’ defense at the beginning of the game and force turnovers for transition baskets to build a large lead in the first half.
