Tag: MSG

Watch: Pat Connaughton’s huge night at the Garden

Planet Pat becomes the latest guest to take over “The Garden”

Like Jim Phillips and Northwestern football deserve credit for their marketing campaign declaring the Wildcats to be “Chicago’s Big Ten Team” the same credit needs to go the way of whoever started marketing New York’s Madison Square Garden as “The World’s Most Famous Arena”.

We’re approaching 50 years since the New York Knicks have won an NBA title and almost 30 since the Rangers won a Stanley Cup. It might be a famous arena, but it’s only so famous because it’s importance is significantly overblown, just like almost everything based in New York.  When something special is accomplished there it seemingly comes from a guest of the building roughly 90% of the time (very scientific research backed this statistic up, I promise).

  • Billy Joel and Elton John both have banners in the rafters honoring the times both have sold out the Garden.
  • Marilyn Monroe’s infamously sang “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” to Jack Kennedy there in 1962.
  • Michael Jordan officially announced his return to the NBA with his double-nickel game (55 points) in 1995.
  • Reggie Miller owned this building despite only ever playing for the Indiana Pacers.
  • LeBron James put up 52 points while earning a triple-double in a game there in 2009.

Those are just some of the guests who have put on shows at the Garden.

Wednesday night’s performance by former Notre Dame star and current Milwaukee Buck, Pat Connaughton, might not be remembered for as long or by nearly as many people, but was another instance of a guest taking over the Garden.

Connaughton scored 23 points, one shy of his career high, with seven three-pointers as the Bucks survived a Knicks comeback to win 112-100 and move back to .500 on the young season.

Three of Connaughton’s seven three-pointers came in succession, taking the Bucks from a one to a 10 point lead.  Watch them below:

Related: 

10 most annoying Dukies of all-time

Notre Dame quarterback has a message for Dick Vitale

Pat Connaughton NBA tracker for first week of November

 

Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils live stream, TV channel, start time, prediction, odds

The New Jersey Devils will host the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The New Jersey Devils will host the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

This is a rescheduled game from earlier this month when the Devils and Sabres missed multiple weeks of their schedule due to covid protocols within their organizations. The Devils are looking for a win after losing their last five out of eight games while the Sabres have also struggled this season and are looking for a win after losing five of their last six.

This is a battle of the basement tonight between these two teams, here is everything you need to know to stream the NHL action this afternoon.

Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils

Prediction: This is a battle of two teams that are not playing well and looking to get on the right side of things as the season progresses. I would take the Devils at home because the Sabres can’t get out of their own way this year.

Bet: New Jersey Devils -145

NHL Odds and Betting Lines

NHL odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds last updated Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Buffalo Sabres (+120) vs. New Jersey Devils  (-145)

O/U: 5.5

Want some action on the NHL? Place your legal sports bets on this game or others in CO, IN, NJ, and WV at BetMGM.

We recommend interesting sports viewing/streaming and betting opportunities. If you sign up for a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres live stream, TV channel, start time, prediction, odds

The Buffalo Sabres will host the New York Islanders in their first game back since January, catch the action here with the live stream.

The Buffalo Sabres will host the New York Islanders on Monday night from KeyBank Center in Buffalo.

The Sabres have not played since the end of January and will be eager to get back on the ice tonight. They have an opportunity to turn their season around after the break and really take the season to the next level. As for the Islanders, they have won three out of the last four games and will look for their fourth win tonight.

This should be a fun one to start your Sunday, here is everything you need to know to stream the NHL action this afternoon.

New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres

  • When: Monday, February 15
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: NBCSN
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Prediction: The Sabres have not played since January 31st, they might be rusty but then again they might be ready to play and put up six goals. I’m rolling with the latter, the Sabres will win this game at home tonight.

Bet: Buffalo Sabres +120. 

NHL Odds and Betting Lines

NHL odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds last updated Monday at 6:40 p.m. ET.

New York Islanders (-130) vs. Buffalo Sabres (+110)

O/U: 5.5

Want some action on the NHL? Place your legal sports bets on this game or others in CO, IN, NJ, and WV at BetMGM.

We recommend interesting sports viewing/streaming and betting opportunities. If you sign up for a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

New Jersey Devils vs. Buffalo Sabres live stream, TV channel, start time, prediction, odds

The Buffalo Sabres will host the New Jersey Devils in a Sunday matinee game from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY.

The Buffalo Sabres will host the New Jersey Devils in a Sunday matinee game from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY.

The Sabres are coming off a 4-3 shootout win over the Devils yesterday and will look to make it two in a row this afternoon. This would give the Sabres a 5-3 record on the season and put them in a good position in the standings. As for the Devils, they are looking to snap a three-game losing streak as well as looking for their fourth win on the season.

This should be a fun one to start your Sunday, here is everything you need to know to stream the NHL action this afternoon.

New Jersey Devils vs. Buffalo Sabres

  • When: Sunday, January 31
  • Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: NHL Network, MSG
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Prediction: This should be an easy game for the Sabres but in the new NHL you never know which team will show up on any given day. I will be rolling with the Sabres in this one.

Bet: Buffalo Sabres -165

NHL Odds and Betting Lines

NHL odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds last updated Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET.

New Jersey Devils (+140) vs. Buffalo Sabres (-165)

O/U: 5.5

Want some action on the NHL? Place your legal sports bets on this game or others in CO, IN, NJ, and WV at BetMGM.

We recommend interesting sports viewing/streaming and betting opportunities. If you sign up for a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Teofimo Lopez frustrated with Vasiliy Lomachenko’s demands

The lightweight clash between Teofimo Lopez and Vasiliy Lomachenko is looking less and less likely because of the coronavirus…

With the coronavirus causing boxing cards to fold left and right, the much anticipated Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Teofimo Lopez lightweight title bout also appears to be on the cutting block.

The fight, which had a working date of May 30 at New York’s Madison Square Garden, is likely to get postponed. But there are questions as to whether the fight will take place at all even after the pandemic subsides.

In a recent interview with ESPN, Lopez claimed that the Ukrainian had been dragging his feet at the negotiating table for the past few months. Lopez says his side agreed to all the terms; not so with Team Lomachenko.

”We were waiting, particularly on Loma and his team for the fight,” a frustrated Lopez told ESPN. “I think he was being mad difficult with certain things, negotiation-wise. He wanted a bigger cut, he wanted a bigger percentage, such and such.”

Lopez (15-0, 12 KO), a native of Brooklyn who took a piece of the lightweight crown from Richard Commey last December, says Lomachenko even has an issue with the fight’s intended locale.

“We gave him everything he needs and everything he wants, and now he’s complaining about New York. He wants it in Vegas, he wants it in Cali,” Lopez said. “It’s been annoying.

“Honestly, we’re not going to wait on this guy.”

A strapping lightweight, Lopez has long hinted at moving up to 140 pounds in 2020. He wants to unify against Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs), but he also needs to listen to his body.

“I’m not going to just be there like a sitting duck and just wait on this man,” Lopez said. “Obviously, I’ve been saying for a while now that I want to move up to 140, and that is still on my mind. The only thing keeping that from happening and existing is the Loma fight.

“If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t occur, it’s not on me. It’s just difficult at times like this because of how things play out and how things are.”

Indeed, in these times, it’s difficult to plan for anything.

“You really can’t do much at times like this,” Lopez said. “It’s unpredictable. You have to really just sit and wait.”

Bob Arum on why cards at Madison Square Garden were canceled

Bob Arum of Top Rank eventually decided to cancel the Shakur Stevenson and Mick Conlan cards at Madison Square Garden because fighters…

It came down to one question: Can fighters be tested for the ever-expanding coronavirus?

Ultimately, the answer was a no. So on Thursday promoter Top Rank and New York City’s Madison Square Garden decided to pull the plug on both the Shakur Stevenson-Miguel Marriaga and Mick Conlan-Belmar Preciado cards that were scheduled to take place today and Tuesday, respectively, at MSG’s Hulu Theater.

Initially, both Top Rank and MSG decided to carry on with both cards without a live audience, inviting only relevant staff and media. That fulfilled the criterion laid down by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who announced a ban on gatherings larger than 500 people. Stevenson-Marriaga was scheduled to be featured on ESPN, Conaln-Preciado on ESPN+.

But with nearly the entire American sporting scene moving to suspend seasons outright – from professional and collegiate basketball to hockey, soccer and baseball – there was pressure for boxing to do the same. Then, of course, there was the question of testing. Or rather, the inability to do so.

That was the final nail in the coffin, according to Top Rank CEO Bob Arum.

“We were consulting the whole time with the New York State Athletic Commission,” Arum told SiriusXM. “They correctly brought in their medical staff and their advisers, and they said we would advise you to not go ahead [with the two shows] because who is going to test the fighters? And if a fighter has the virus, he could easily transmit it to his opponent, who might not have it, because they’re in very, very close contact.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 testing is only available for those who have received doctor’s orders or “have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19.”

Fighters who show no apparent symptoms, therefore, would not be eligible to get tested.

Arum had hoped that the shows could go on, given how much preparation and investment are made into one-off events like boxing.

“We have an obligation to these young men, to these fighters, who work like a bastard to get ready for a fight,” Arum said. “The last thing we wanted to do is pull the plug so we figured we could apply with the New York State rule, no more than (500) people in a room, and do the fight without an audience. No media, no nothing, just the television. And it looked like we could get that done.

“I mean it was a big sacrifice for us to lose the gate, but at least the fights [could go] on.”

But with no ability to test for the coronavirus, the fights, ultimately, were a moot point.

 

Follow Sean Nam on Twitter @seanpasbon

St. Louis Blues at New York Rangers odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s St. Louis Blues at New York Rangers sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The New York Rangers (35-26-4) host the St. Louis Blues (39-17-10) Tuesday at Madison Square Garden at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Blues-Rangers sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Blues at Rangers: Projected starting goalies

Jordan Binnington vs. Alexandar Georgiev

Binnington puts his 29-11-7 record, 2.60 goals against average and .910 save percentage on the line against the Blueshirts. While he has been strong at home with a 20-4-5 record, 2.21 GAA and .918 SV% in 29 home games, he has a 9-7-2 record, 3.22 GAA and .900 SV% with no shutouts in 18 assignments on the road.

Georgiev will start against the champs, and he has a 16-13-1 record, 3.02 GAA and .912 SV% in his 29 starts and two relief appearances. He is a solid 4-3-0 with a 2.74 GAA and .920 SV% in seven starts and eight appearances since the All-Star break.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Blues at Rangers: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:05 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Rangers 4, Blues 3

Moneyline (ML)

The Blues (-154) are moderate favorites on the road as they look for their eighth consecutive victory. Most of that damage has been done at home, as they’re just 3-9 in their past 12 on the road. The RANGERS (+125) are short dogs at home, and the value play, based on the Blues’ road struggles, the fact they’re due for a loss and the trends in this series. The home team is 5-2 in the previous seven meetings.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Rangers to win returns a profit of $12.50, while a $10 wager on the Blues results in a profit of $6.50.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The RANGERS (+1.5, -209) are rather expensive, but if you want a little insurance, you have to pay. The Blues (-1.5, +170) have been red-hot and might be tempting, but the public is all over the visitors, and that’s usually a bad sign.

Over/Under (O/U)

I’ll take a flier on the OVER 5.5 (-139). The Over is 7-3-1 in the past 11 on the road for the Blues, too, and 6-2 in the past eight against the Eastern Conference while going 9-4-1 in the past 14 against winning sides. The Over is 4-0 in New York’s past four, 11-4 in the past 15 versus the Western Conference and 13-3-1 in the past 17 against winning teams.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Calgary Flames at Boston Bruins odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Calgary Flames at Boston Bruins sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The Calgary Flames (32-25-6) travel to battle the Boston Bruins (39-12-12) Tuesday at the TD Garden at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Flames-Bruins sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Flames at Bruins: Projected starting goalies

David Rittich vs. Tuukka Rask

The All-Star Rittich is expected to start, putting his 23-15-5 record, 2.91 goals against average and .908 save percentage on the line. He’ll have a new defenseman in front of him, as the Flames bolstered their rearguard at the deadline by grabbing Erik Gustafsson from the Chicago Blackhawks. That will help the likes of Rittich, and the Flames as a whole. They also added sandpaper in the form of Derek Forbort from the Los Angeles Kings.

Rask is expected to go for the B’s, and while his overall numbers of 23-6-6, 2.17 GAA and .928 SV% are phenomenal, his splits at home are even better. He is 14-0-6 with a 1.97 GAA and .933 SV%, with all three of his season’s shutouts coming on home ice. Since the All-Star break he is 6-2-0 with a 1.81 GAA, as he is showing no signs of slowing down.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Flames at Bruins: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 1:45 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Bruins 4, Flames 2

Moneyline (ML)

The Bruins (-223) are just too expensive on the moneyline, even if Rask hasn’t suffered a loss in regulation at home this season. To get ahead in gambling, particularly on moneylines, you cannot risk more than twice as much as your return. Eventually you’re going to get burned. AVOID.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Bruins to win returns a profit of $4.48, while a $10 wager on the Flames (+180) results in a profit of $18.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The better play is on the BRUINS (-1.5, +125) at plus-money. Still, I’d make this a small-unit wager since the Flames (+1.5, -154) are 5-1 in the past six games on the road and 8-2 in the past 10 as an underdog. While the Flames might look attractive when you see those trends, know they’re 1-5 in the past six meetings with the B’s, and 2-7 in the past nine trips to Beantown.

Over/Under (O/U)

The Under (-200) is priced too high. I’m staying away. The trends are split, per side, with the Over in favor of the Flames, and the Under a slam-dunk on the B’s. In fact, the Over is 6-0-1 in Calgary’s past seven on the road, and 5-1 in the past six against winning sides. The Under is 5-1 in the past six at home for the B’s, 11-4 in the past 15 as a favorite and 5-2 in the past seven overall. Your best bet is to AVOID.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Vegas Golden Knights at Anaheim Ducks odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Vegas Golden Knights at Anaheim Ducks sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The Vegas Golden Knights (33-22-8) travel to battle the Anaheim Ducks (24-30-7) Sunday at the Honda Center at 10 p.m. ET. We analyze the Golden Knights-Ducks sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Golden Knights at Ducks: Projected starting goalies

Malcolm Subban vs. John Gibson

Subban is expected to make the start after Marc-Andre Fleury worked in the 5-3 win against the Florida Panthers Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. Subban has managed an 8-7-3 record, 3.09 goals against average and .893 save percentage across his 18 starts and one relief appearance. He allowed four goals on just 18 shots in a 4-3 loss at Anaheim Dec. 27.

Gibson has posted a 17-24-4 record, 2.95 GAA and .906 SV% in 45 starts. The results have been mixed for Gibson vs. the Golden Knights, as he is 1-2-0 with a 4.04 GAA and .900 SV% in three starts.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Golden Knights at Ducks: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:10 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Golden Knights 5, Sharks 3

Moneyline (ML)

The GOLDEN KNIGHTS (-176) are a rather risky play at this price level, although they’re expected to win. My limit on moneyline plays is generally -180 or lower. Toss in the fact that the Ducks (+145) have dropped three in a row, and Vegas looks a lot less risky. Vegas has won five in a row, and new D Alec Martinez posted a goal and an assist Thursday in his team debut, fitting right in. This is a team on the rise and playing well.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Golden Knights to win returns a profit of $5.68, while a $10 wager on the Ducks results in a profit of $14.50.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The GOLDEN KNIGHTS (-1.5, +155) might be worth a small-unit play at this price level, especially given Gibson’s struggles vs. VGK so far this season.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 5.5 (-139) is worth a look at this price level with the backup netminder for Vegas expected to play, while Anaheim’s Gibson has coughed up more than four goals per game against the Knights. The Over is 10-3-1 in the past 14 for Vegas following a win, and 5-2 in the past seven inside the division. The Over is 20-7 for Anaheim in the past 27 inside the division, and 10-4-1 in the past 15 against Western Conference foes.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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San Jose Sharks at New York Islanders odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s San Jose Sharks at New York Islanders sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The San Jose Sharks (26-31-4) continue their road trip against the New York Islanders (34-20-6) Sunday at 5 p.m. ET at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. We analyze the Sharks-Islanders sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Sharks at Islanders: Projected starting goalies

Martin Jones vs. Thomas Greiss

Jones puts his 14-18-2 record, 3.11 goals against average and .894 save percentage on the line as the road trip continues. He allowed just one goal on 28 shots in the first meeting with the Islanders at SAP Center in San Jose back on Nov. 23, a 2-1 win in overtime.

Greiss was originally drafted in the third round in 2004 by the Sharks. He is likely to face his original organization in this one, although it is unconfirmed. Greiss is 16-8-2 with a 2.65 GAA and .916 SV% in his 26 starts and 28 appearances overall. If not, Semyon Varlamov (18-12-4, 2.51 GAA, .918 SV%) would get the call.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Sharks at Islanders: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 9:55 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Islanders 3, Sharks 1

Moneyline (ML)

The Sharks (+170) are expected to be sellers leading up to Monday’s NHL trade deadline. They parted with D Brenden Dillon last week. C Joe Thornton, among others, might be following Dillon out the door. As such, the Islanders (-209) are the play. However, you can’t take them risking more than twice the return. AVOID.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Islanders to win returns a profit of $4.78, while a $10 wager on the Sharks results in a profit of $17.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The ISLANDERS (-1.5, +135) slapped the brakes on a four-game losing skid and offensive drought Friday, topping the Red Wings 4-1. The past four wins by the Islanders have also resulted in them covering the puck line, too, so go this route rather than the more expensive moneyline.

Over/Under (O/U)

The lean is to the UNDER 5.5 (-115), which has been the play in each of the past five for the Islanders. That was also the play in the first meeting in San Jose between these two teams. The Under is also 4-1 in the past five for the Sharks, and 7-1 in the past eight on the road.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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