Friday 1/15/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Post your request, Comments or concerns here.
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[superbeets]

French Ligue 1 TODAY 19:30

Nice

v

Angers

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		11/10	11/5	14/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT NICE	RECENT FORM
HLADAD*HWHD*AD​ Most recent​	Unknown	HDAWHDALAW*HW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Angers have lost just one of their last eight games in all competitions

EXPERT VERDICT: Remarkably Angers’ still occupy second spot behind runaway leaders PSG in the Ligue 1 table and they look decent value to get something when they visit the south of France. Angers have an excellent away record and they can trouble inconsistent Nice.

RECOMMENDATION: Angers
1

 

[superbeets]

Premier League Sa 16Jan 12:45

Tottenham

v

Sunderland

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT1		4/11	9/2	8	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT TOTTENHAM	RECENT FORM
AWHWAWADHDHL​ Most recent​	2 - 1 5 - 1 1 - 0 1 - 0	ALALHLHWALAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Sunderland lost on their last four trips to Tottenham

EXPERT VERDICT: Punters might be surprised to learn that Sunderland have netted in their last seven away games. But Tottenham don’t give up many chances with Eric Dier forming an effective shield and the hosts look value to shut out the Black Cats.

RECOMMENDATION: Tottenham to win 2-0
1


REFEREE: Mike Dean STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League Sa 16Jan 15:00

Bournemouth

v

Norwich

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		10/11	13/5	7/2	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT BOURNEMOUTH	RECENT FORM
AWHDALADAWHL​ Most recent​	1 - 2 1 - 2 0 - 0 2 - 0	AWALHWHWHLAL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Norwich have conceded 23 goals in 11 away games

EXPERT VERDICT: Bournemouth’s captures of Juan Iturbe and Benik Afobe were a statement of intent in their quest for Premier League survival. The stylish Cherries have perhaps deserved more than just two home wins, but they will fancy their chances against a Norwich side who have struggled at the back on their travels.

RECOMMENDATION: Bournemouth
2


REFEREE: Robert Madley STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League Sa 16Jan 15:00

Chelsea

v

Everton

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		4/5	14/5	15/4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT CHELSEA	RECENT FORM
HWHDADAWHWHD​ Most recent​	1 - 0 1 - 0 2 - 1 3 - 1	AWHLHDHWHWAD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Everton have lost by more than one goal in just one of the teams' last nine meetings

EXPERT VERDICT: Chelsea have picked up a little since Guus Hiddink took charge but they face a tricky test against Everton whose pace, power and creativity looks tailor-made to cause them problems. If Everton gain the upper hand in midfield early on they can achieve a positive result.

RECOMMENDATION: Everton
1


REFEREE: Mike Jones STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League Sa 16Jan 15:00

Man City

v

C Palace

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		2/5	17/4	15/2	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT MAN CITY	RECENT FORM
HWADAWALAWHD​ Most recent​	5 - 1 3 - 0 1 - 0 3 - 1	AWADHDHLAWAL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Man City have won their last nine games against Palace

EXPERT VERDICT: Is there a player more important to his team than Sergio Aguero is to Manchester City? The injury-hit Argentinian looked back to his incisive self in City’s cup win at Norwich and may be the man to get things started against a Palace side who were thumped 5-1 on their last visit to the Etihad.

RECOMMENDATION: S Aguero first goalscorer
2


REFEREE: Jonathan Moss STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League Sa 16Jan 15:00

Southampton

v

West Brom

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		8/11	11/4	9/2	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT SOUTHAMPTON	RECENT FORM
HLHWALALHLHW​ Most recent​	0 - 0 1 - 0 0 - 3 3 - 2	HLALHWHWHDAD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Saints have already lost as many home games (four) as they did last season

EXPERT VERDICT: Southampton’s Boxing Day rout of Arsenal has proved a false dawn for the Saints, whose win over Watford on Wednesday was only their second in their last 11 games. It could be worth chancing the stubborn Baggies, who drew with Chelsea on Wednesday.

RECOMMENDATION: West Brom
1


REFEREE: Martin Atkinson STADIUM:

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL notebook: Predators, Senators swap defensemen
By The Sports Xchange

The Nashville Predators acquired defenseman Patrick Mullen from the Ottawa Senators on Thursday in exchange for defenseman Conor Allen.
Mullen, 29, has one goal, 15 assists and 18 penalty minutes in 36 American Hockey League games this season for Binghamton.
Allen, 25, has made 31 appearances for Milwaukee in the AHL this season and has six points and 52 penalty minutes. He started his career as an undrafted free agent with the New York Rangers and played in seven NHL games for the franchise, logging no points and four penalty minutes.
The Senators will assign Allen, who signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Predators last July, to Binghamton.

---Buffalo Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner was recalled from his conditioning assignment with Rochester of the American Hockey League, the team announced.
Lehner opened the season as a starter and sprained his right ankle in the season-opening loss to Ottawa. Lehner was acquired in the offseason from the Senators to be the Sabres' No. 1 goalie.
Buffalo assigned goaltender Linus Ullmark to Rochester to open up a roster spot.

---New Jersey Devils forward Jordin Tootoo was fined $2,000 by the NHL for a violation of the diving-embellishment rule.
Tootoo was cited for a violation in the third period of a game against the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 4. He was fined because it was his second offense of the season.

---Edmonton Oilers winger Rob Klinkhammer was placed on waivers for the purpose of assignment.
Klinkhammer, 29, has appeared in 13 games with the Oilers this season, recording one goal and four penalty minutes.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Canucks (14-17) at Hurricanes (20-18)

Date: January 15, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Carolina Hurricanes lost to the Vancouver Canucks last week. They haven't been beaten since and they're mighty happy about that.

Seeking their longest winning streak in two years, the Hurricanes will have to beat the Canucks for the first time in six tries Friday night if they're to achieve that.

Carolina (20-18-7) has been outscored 15-5 while losing five straight meetings with Vancouver, falling 3-2 after giving up a goal to Bo Horvat with 1:06 left in regulation on Jan. 6.

The Hurricanes have responded with a season-high four-game winning streak, their longest run since capturing five in a row Dec. 31, 2013-Jan. 9, 2014.

They scored three times in the third period in Thursday's 4-1 victory at St. Louis.

"It's been a good feeling I think in the locker room," left wing Jeff Skinner said. "Everyone likes to win. I think guys have come together over the last little while. We've been playing some pretty good hockey as of late. Hopefully we can keep it going."

Skinner scored one goal and set up another against the Blues, giving him a team-leading 17 goals, just one shy of his total from all of last season. He has just one assist in six career meetings with the Canucks, all ending in losses.

Carolina is likely to have Cam Ward in net after Eddie Lack made 23 saves Thursday. Ward has won three straight starts with a 1.94 goals-against average, but is 1-5-0 with a 3.74 GAA in his last six against Vancouver.

Slow starts have been a problem for the Canucks (17-17-10), who have allowed the first goal in eight straight games. They have managed a 4-3-1 record in that span but surrendered the first three in a 4-1 loss at Washington on Thursday in the opener of this six-game trip.

"We should've come out and scored more goals in the first period and get out to a lead because it's tough playing catch-up with those guys," Horvat said.

Horvat has four goals and three assists during a five-game point streak. He scored twice against the Hurricanes last week, but all six of his goals on the season have come at home.

Radim Vrbata ended a 10-game goal drought Thursday with his 11th of the season. He's failed to score in 10 career matchups with Carolina.

Ryan Miller is likely to return to the bench after making 36 saves against the Capitals after sitting out eight games with a groin strain. Miller, though, has won three straight games against the Hurricanes behind a 1.00 GAA and one shutout.

If Miller sits, Jacob Markstrom would get the call. He's compiled a 2.13 GAA while going 3-1-1 in his last five games, including a 26-save effort against Carolina.

Vancouver's Daniel Sedin failed to score Thursday and remains on 346 career goals, tying him with Markus Naslund for the franchise lead. Sedin has gone nine straight games against the Hurricanes without a goal.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Bruins (19-16) at Sabres (16-22)

Date: January 15, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Boston Bruins' inability to hold a lead heading into the third period of the past two games has prolonged their recent struggles. That current rough stretch included a defeat to the Buffalo Sabres in the same fashion.

As the Bruins try to avoid concluding their five-game trip with a season-high fourth straight defeat Friday night, they'll look to extend the Sabres' lengthiest home slide of 2015-16.

Two nights after taking a 1-0 lead into the third period of a 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers, Boston (21-16-5) failed to hold a 2-1 advantage after two in Wednesday's 3-2 defeat at Philadelphia. The Bruins outshot the Flyers 32-21, including 12-7 in the final period.

'Right now, it's a frustrating time for our team,' said coach Claude Julien, whose club has lost three in a row four times this season. 'Missed opportunities at one end and mistakes at the other, so we've got to turn the tide.'

Mired in a 2-7-1 stretch, Boston has scored 23 non-shootout goals in the last 11 contests. Since opening this trip with a 4-1 victory at New Jersey last Friday, the Bruins have totaled four goals while dropping three straight one-goal decisions.

"(We) just have to stay even-keeled and stick with it," goaltender Tuukka Rask, who has a 3.01 goals-against average while going 0-4-1 in 2016, told the Bruins' official website.

The Bruins led 2-1 after two periods and David Krejci increased the lead with the first goal of the third against Buffalo (17-22-4) at home Dec. 26 before the visitors broke out to win 6-3. Rookie Jack Eichel and Ryan O'Reilly each had two goals with an assist in the final 20 minutes to help the Sabres beat Boston in consecutive games for the first time since February 2012.

Buffalo earned one point in last season's two meetings with Boston at the First Niagara Center, where it's totaled seven goals during an 0-4-1 stretch and yielded nine in the last two contests.

The Sabres, however, return home winners of two straight after suffering six consecutive regulation defeats. Buffalo was outscored 31-15 in the first period prior to claiming a 5-1 advantage in back-to-back wins at Winnipeg and Minnesota.

All the Sabres' offense came in the first 20 minutes of Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Wild.

'We've probably played our best in the first period and not got the goals, not got the scoring chances to go in,' coach Dan Bylsma said. 'In the last two games, it's been the opposite. We've played well in the first, but we've gotten the goals to go in, we've gotten the pucks to get by the goalie.'

Rookie Linus Ullmark stopped 70 of 74 shots in the last two games, but he was demoted to AHL Rochester on Thursday to make room for Robin Lehner. Buffalo's starting goaltender has been out since spraining his right ankle midway through a 3-1 season-opening loss to Ottawa on Oct. 8.

Lehner went 1-2 and allowed 10 goals in three games of rehab work with Rochester.

Eichel, the Massachusetts native who starred one season at Boston University, recorded one point on Buffalo's three-game trip but has four goals and five assists in the last 11 at home.

Patrice Bergeron, Boston's leading scorer, has one point in four games but two goals and four assists in his last nine against Buffalo.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blackhawks (28-13) at Maple Leafs (12-18)

Date: January 15, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Stingy defense has played a critical role in the Chicago Blackhawks' nine-game winning streak. That trend could very well continue considering the Toronto Maple Leafs' scoring slump.

The reigning Stanley Cup champions aim to extend their remarkable run and hand the Maple Leafs a fourth consecutive loss in Friday night's matchup at Air Canada Centre.

Though Chicago (29-13-4) has gotten plenty of offense during its longest unbeaten stretch since a franchise-record 11-game streak Feb. 22-March 6, 2013, it needed another superb performance from Corey Crawford to increase it. The Montreal-area native made 17 of his 38 saves in the third period to lead the Blackhawks to Thursday's 2-1 victory over the Canadiens and give newly extended coach Joel Quenneville his 783rd regular-season win to move into sole possession of second place on the career list.

Crawford won his seventh consecutive start and has yielded nine goals over his last six, though he could give way to Scott Darling against a Maple Leafs team that's scored just twice during its skid and will be playing its second straight without top-line forward James van Riemsdyk, out 6 to 8 weeks after fracturing his left foot in Saturday's 7-0 shellacking by San Jose.

Van Riemsdyk is tied for the team lead with 29 points and is second with 14 goals, including a team-high five on a power play that's 2 for 29 over the last eight games.

Leo Komarov tops the club with 15 goals but has none over a nine-game stretch as one of several key players that haven't produced of late. Tyler Bozak is on a seven-game goal drought and Joffrey Lupul doesn't have a point in nine straight.

Though the Maple Leafs amassed 42 shots Wednesday against Columbus, their lone goal during a 3-1 loss didn't come until Brad Boyes scored with 2:27 left.

"As much as we could say we out-chanced them and outshot them and all that, catch-up hockey is losing hockey," coach Mike Babcock said.

The Blackhawks are capitalizing on their opportunities, having generated 34 goals over the streak to support the strong work of Crawford and Darling, who won his second straight start with 17 saves in a 3-1 victory over Pittsburgh on Jan. 6.

'There are a lot of factors, but it seems like our team is just coming together,' Crawford said. 'We're not taking as many penalties. We're playing a simple game with speed and skill. And there's a lot more chemistry throughout the lineup.'

Chicago's stars are coming through as well. Patrick Kane has 13 of his league-leading 63 points during the run and captain Jonathan Toews has three goals and four assists over a four-game point streak after recording the opening score against Montreal.

James Reimer will be tasked with keeping both in check as the Toronto netminder seeks his first win since Nov. 20. After missing most of December with a groin injury, Reimer allowed two goals each in recent losses to Los Angeles and Columbus to fall to 0-4-1 in five starts despite a 1.82 goals-against average during that span. Toronto has scored just five goals in those games.

Reimer owns a 4.13 GAA in three starts against Chicago but made 45 saves in a 3-2 home win on Nov. 1, 2014.

The Blackhawks have won nine of the past 11 meetings, including a 4-0 victory in Chicago on Dec. 21, 2014.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Penguins (19-16) at Lightning (20-17)

Date: January 15, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

Tampa Bay is on the verge of its first four-game winning streak of the season, and it's probably no coincidence that its top forward is breaking out.

Steven Stamkos has overcome a relatively slow start and most recently paced an impressive road trip, but the Lightning return to Tampa for much of the next five weeks hoping to recapture last season's home-ice magic.

That begins with Friday night's visit from the Pittsburgh Penguins, whose own four-game road trip isn't going quite as well.

The Lightning (22-17-4) are starting a span of 11 of 14 in Tampa with a four-game homestand, and last season's league-best 32-8-1 home record is already out of reach. They're 10-8-2 without consecutive home wins since a three-game streak from Nov. 19-25, going 4-4-1 since.

But home form might not be concerning them too much after winning their last three games, including Tuesday's 4-0 victory in Colorado.

"We played well all the way around," coach Jon Cooper told the team's official website. "We competed really hard, we battled for pucks, we shot pucks even though it didn't look like it. When we're battling, our structure falls into place. When you're executing and you're going tape-to-tape, you can do some pretty good things.

"As this road trip has gone on, we've gotten better and better. It's funny how this trip goes. You lose the first one, you're down 2-0 after two (periods) in one game and you come out with three straight wins."

Stamkos scored twice against the Avalanche, had four goals on the road trip and has nine goals in his last 11 games after going his previous 10 without scoring. The 43-goal scorer from 2014-15 had 11 through his first 32 games.

"He's our leader and he's starting to heat up, and we may get four a night (from him)," Cooper said.

Pittsburgh held Stamkos without a point last season to win two of three as part of an 11-1-0 run in the series, but the loss was the only meeting in Tampa with the Lightning getting a hat trick from Tyler Johnson.

The Penguins (20-16-6) are concluding a four-game road trip hoping for a split after Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss in Carolina. After scoring 10 goals in two games, they've regressed into old habits with eight over a 1-1-2 stretch. That changed some after falling behind 2-0 midway through the second period.

"It's just desperation," Sidney Crosby said. "We saw the position we were in (and) just got a little bit more desperate. That's how we need to play from the puck drop. ... Being put in that situation was a big part of that."

Even if the team remains inconsistent, some individuals have come around. Crosby assisted on both goals and has 14 points in his last 11 games after managing 19 through 30 contests, and Kris Letang scored for the fourth time in his last six after managing one through his first 27.

Crosby had four assists in the last meeting with the Lightning - a 6-3 Penguins home win on Jan. 2, 2015 - and the center has seven goals and 12 assists in his last seven games against the Lightning. Evgeni Malkin has 13 goals and 13 assists on an 11-game point streak in the series.

They'll likely be firing on Ben Bishop, who is coming off his second shutout of the season and is 10-6-1 with a 1.83 goals-against average and .932 save percentage dating to the first on Nov. 21. Against Pittsburgh, though, he's 0-2-0 with a 4.93 GAA and .856 save percentage in five career games.

Counterpart Marc-Andre Fleury is 7-0-0 in his last eight starts against the Lightning.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Jets (20-21) at Wild (22-13)

Date: January 15, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Coach Mike Yeo is looking for more offense from the Minnesota Wild. Getting the power play going would surely make a major difference.

The Wild look to find a way to create more power-play opportunities as they try to prevent a four-game home losing streak Friday night against the Winnipeg Jets.

Minnesota (22-13-8) is averaging 2.23 goals during a 5-6-2 stretch, and it's been held to two tallies or fewer in eight of those games - losing six. That's a significant drop in production from their 2.80 goals per game over their first 30.

The Wild generated 18 shots in Sunday's 2-1 loss to New Jersey and had 30 two days later while giving up the first three goals in a 3-2 defeat to Buffalo.

"If you're not willing to shoot against a team that's - they're protecting a lead. They're obviously going to play tight, so if you're not trying to create off the shot then you're not going to get much," Yeo told the team's official website.

Power-play chances could go a long way in helping Minnesota avoid a four-game skid at home for the first time since Dec. 17-27, 2014. The Wild is 1 for 23 on the power play over the last 13 games and 0 for 15 in the past eight.

The unit, however, has only been used once in each of the last four games.

"It's a little bit of an excuse, but there really hasn't been a lot of time to get any rhythm with it, whether it is practice or, (getting) one a game," left wing Zach Parise said.

Parise's 16 goals lead the Wild, but he failed to find the net against the Sabres after doing so five times over the previous four games.

He's had a tough time scoring at home with five goals in 19 games. Parise is pointless in his last three there against the Jets (20-21-3).

The Wild are 1-3-1 in their last five meetings with Winnipeg, losing 3-1 at home Nov. 27. Ryan Carter scored for Minnesota, but he's expected to miss two more games with a hand injury that forced him to sit out Tuesday.

The Jets are last in the Central Division but trying to build some momentum. They beat Nashville 5-4 after Blake Wheeler scored 51 seconds into overtime Thursday, snapping their three-game slide after the forward questioned his teammates' commitment to each other.

"I was honest," Wheeler told the team's official website. "It wasn't premeditated to kick anyone in the rear. I think we need to be honest with ourselves. We've been honest with ourselves in the last 24 hours and you could see that pushback (Thursday).

"We had a great feeling in the room and a great feeling on our bench."

The good vibes may continue against the Wild since Wheeler has six points over the last four meetings. He's matched that production while Winnipeg has won three of the last four visits to St. Paul.

Bryan Little has 15 points in 18 career meetings with Minnesota. He enters this one with a team-high 15 goals after ending an eight-game drought Thursday before assisting on Wheeler's winner.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Stars (27-11) at Ducks (16-17)

Date: January 15, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

If the Dallas Stars are to remain a serious contender for the top spot in the Western Conference, they need to turn things around on the road.

Beginning a three-game trip through California, the Stars look to avoid dropping six straight road contests for the first time in five seasons Friday night against the Anaheim Ducks.

Dallas (29-11-4) opened 11-2-1 on the road but has since gone 1-4-3 while allowing an average of 3.9 goals. The Stars have yielded six goals in their last two road games and one other time during the current 0-3-2 stretch away from home. They haven't lost six in a row on the road since a seven-game skid in 2010-11.

"Right now, we've got to go out and win a road game," coach Lindy Ruff told the Stars' official website.

Ruff's club visits San Jose on Saturday and Los Angeles on Tuesday before a three-game homestand leading into the All-Star break, but then plays seven of nine on the road.

Dallas hasn't played since Saturday, when its five-game home winning streak ended with a 2-1 loss to Minnesota. The Stars have lost their comfortable cushion atop the West by going 1-3-1 this month, and the league's highest-scoring team has totaled five goals in the last three games.

Perhaps the recent down time will allow them to regroup.

"I think our energy will be good," Ruff said. "First and foremost, our focus is playing well away from the puck. Getting back to the road game that we can be successful with. The last couple of road games, giving up the number of goals we did, we won't win enough games."

Antti Niemi has lost his past four road games and has an .857 save percentage in the last three. Kari Lehtonen is 0-1-0 with a 7.67 goals-against average in three road starts since posting a 2.00 GAA to win his first seven.

Dallas has gone 2 for 34 on the power play in its last 13 road games, and leading scorer Jamie Benn has no goals with three assists in the last 10.

"We're all not happy about how we're playing," said veteran Jason Spezza, who has nine points in the last seven games. "We've got to just focus on winning our games and getting back to it."

The Stars won both trips to Anaheim last season and posted a 4-3 home victory Oct. 27 in the clubs' only meeting this season. Antoine Roussel scored the winner with 1:28 to play and Benn had three assists.

The Ducks (18-17-7) have alternated wins and losses while going 3-2-0 on a season-high eight-game homestand.

They beat Ottawa 4-1 on Wednesday as second-liners Carl Hagelin and Jakob Silfverberg each had a goal and an assist, and 20-year-old defenseman Shea Theodore scored the first of his career during Anaheim's three-goal third period.

"We need other guys than our top guys to contribute offensively," said Hagelin, who had two points in the previous 16 contests.

The Ducks have scored at least three goals three times on the homestand after doing so once in the previous 12 games. They've yielded 14 non-shootout goals during a 6-2-1 stretch.

"We can't let ourselves get complacent," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Be ready for Dallas on Friday."

Frederik Andersen made 24 saves Wednesday in his first start since Jan. 1 and has a 1.76 GAA in his last four. He stopped 30 shots at Dallas in October.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Grand Salami - January

The Grand Salami in pro hockey is decided by adding up all the goals scored in every game scheduled for that particular day. You can wager on 'over' or 'under' the Grand Salami total. The total is set by adding up all listed 'over/under' odds for each game on that particular day.

Note: The Grand Salami will have no action if any game is suspended or cancelled before the regulation time of three twenty minute periods. Also, regardless of the number of goals scored during the shoot out portion of the overtime, the final scored recorded for the game will give the winning team on more goal than its opponent based on the score at the end of regulation time.

*The majority of sportsbooks do not put out a total on the Grand Salami when there is only one game on the card. For tracking purposes, we will continue to show the 'over/under' for goals and combined goals scored on days with just one game.

NHL GRAND SALAMI
Date No. of Games Total Goals Combined Goals Scored Result
1/1 2 10.5 9 UNDER
1/2 12 61.5 63 OVER
1/3 4 21 22 OVER
1/4 5 27 17 UNDER
1/5 8 43.5 46 OVER
1/6 5 26.5 23 UNDER
1/7 7 38.5 29 UNDER
1/8 6 31.5 34 OVER
1/9 10 53 47 UNDER
1/10 6 30 32 OVER
1/11 4 20.5 22 OVER
1/12 8 42.5 45 OVER
1/13 4 21.5 20 UNDER
1/14 8 42.5 - -
1/15 6 - - -
1/16 10 - - -
1/17 7 - - -
1/18 5 - - -
1/19 8 - - -
1/20 3 - - -
1/21 10 - - -
1/22 6 - - -
1/23 11 - - -
1/24 5 - - -
1/25 6 - - -
1/26 9 - - -
1/27 4 - - -
1/28 No games scheduled - - -
1/29 No games scheduled - - -
1/30 No games scheduled - - -
1/31 No games scheduled - - -

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Hot teams
-- Carolina won its last four games, allowing total of seven goals. Canucks are 4-0 in game following their last four losses.
-- Buffalo won its last two games after losing its previous six.
-- Chicago won last nine games, allowing 13 goals in last seven.
-- Lightning won four of their last five games.
-- Anaheim won four of its last six home games.

Cold teams
-- Boston lost eight of its last ten games.
-- Toronto lost its last three games, outscored 12-2.
-- Penguins lost three of their last four games.
-- Winnipeg lost three of its last four games. Minnesota lost five of its last seven.
-- Dallas Stars lost four of their last five games.

Series records
-- Canucks won their last five games with Carolina.
-- Sabres won 6-3/2-1so in last two games with Boston.
-- Blackhawks won eight of last ten games with Toronto.
-- Penguins won nine of last ten games with Tampa Bay.
-- Jets won four of last five games with Minnesota.
-- Road team won four of last five Dalls-Anaheim games. .

Totals
-- Under is 3-0-1 in last four Vancouver-Carolina games.
-- Under is 4-0-1 in last five Boston games.
-- Under is 3-1-1 in last five Blackhawk games.
-- Nine of last ten Pittsburgh-Tampa Bay games went over.
-- Under is 6-2-2 in last ten Minnesota games.
-- Under is 5-1-2 in last eight Anaheim games.

Back-to-backs
-- Vancouver is 3-2 on road if it played night before; teams are 1-6 the night after playing the Caps. Carolina is 5-2 if it played night before; teams are 2-2 the night after playing St Louis. .
-- Chicago is 0-4 on road (5-0 at home) if it played night before; teams are 4-2 the night after playing the Canadiens.
-- Winnipeg is 2-7 if it played the night before; teams are 3-2 night after playing Nashville.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Wizards (18-19) at Pacers (22-17)

Date: January 15, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

It's been a rough first half in many ways for the Washington Wizards, but they should be gaining confidence in what they'll be able to accomplish once they're healthy.

When that finally happens is anyone's guess.

Bradley Beal may be back out of action along with two other starters for Friday night's visit to Indiana, where John Wall is hoping whoever's left around him can help deliver some payback to the Pacers.

Beal returned Wednesday after missing more than a month with a stress reaction in his lower right leg, scoring 11 points in 23 minutes off the bench as the Wizards rallied to beat Milwaukee 106-101 and push their winning streak to three.

'I just took my time with this injury,' said Beal, who missed eight games with a similar injury last season. 'I definitely wanted to make sure I was 100 percent before I got back out here.'

But Washington (18-19), which has missed the most games to injury in the NBA, is far from out of the woods.

Beal is likely to be on a minutes restriction and says it's doubtful he plays both Friday in Indiana and Saturday against Boston. Wall was set to have an MRI Thursday to ensure there's nothing wrong with his sore left knee. Marcin Gortat missed a second straight game with an infection in his left knee, and Otto Porter left Wednesday's win with a sore right hip.

Those two are day to day while Kris Humphries (knee) and Alan Anderson (ankle) remain out.

Whoever suits up should be heavily invested in making sure Indiana (22-17) has a more difficult time shooting from long range. The Pacers made a franchise-record 19 3-pointers on just 26 attempts when winning 123-106 in Washington on Nov. 24, with Paul George hitting seven among his 40 points and C.J. Miles going 8 of 9 while scoring 32.

"We feel like we owe Indiana," Wall said. "They came in and shot the glove off the basketball when they were here last time. We've got to defend and get to their 3-point shooters and move the ball offensively, and I think we'll be fine."

The Wizards were relatively healthy for that one, and given the current injury uncertainty, they'll likely need another big effort from Nene. The Brazilian, who has missed 21 games to injury, totaled 26 points and played some solid defense in the last two games while starting in Gortat's place.

Washington is outscoring opponents by 8.2 points per 100 possessions when Nene is on the floor - easily the best on the team - and being outscored by 4.1 when he's off.

"Nene's huge for us," forward Jared Dudley said. "I don't even know if he realizes how big he is for this team. He's probably our best low-post scorer. He can pass the ball. He's a physical presence defensively. ... It seems like when he's in there, teams go for less offensive rebounds. Whatever we can do to keep him healthy, we'll do what we've gotta do."

The Pacers aren't exactly feeling 100 percent, either. Rodney Stuckey (foot) is out for at least two weeks, and coach Frank Vogel said after Wednesday's 103-94 loss at Boston that George was feeling fatigued after missing most of last season with a leg injury.

'He's reported that to me, that his legs feel a little heavy,' Vogel said of George, who is shooting 36.7 percent over his last 13 games. 'But everybody in the league goes through that. I don't think it's a big deal because of his injury, but that could be a factor.'

Miles hasn't been much better in January, shooting 32.9 percent.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Timberwolves (12-28) at Thunder (28-12)

Date: January 15, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Oklahoma City Thunder have spent the last six weeks surging to a big lead in their division. The Minnesota Timberwolves, meanwhile, have been sinking deeper into the cellar.

Given the history of this series the last seven years, both trends seems likely to continue Friday night when the Thunder try for their 12th straight home win over the Timberwolves.

Oklahoma City (28-12) went 17-4 from Dec. 6-Jan. 13 and tied San Antonio for the most wins in that span. That's allowed the Thunder to build a comfortable lead in the Northwest, while Minnesota (12-28) has spent that time plummeting into last place.

Those positions were further solidified when Oklahoma City won its eighth straight in the series Tuesday, 101-96 at Minnesota. Kevin Durant scored the final 12 points for the Thunder to finish with 30 and Russell Westbrook chipped in 22 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds and three steals.

Oklahoma City has won 22 of 25 over the Timberwolves.

The Thunder followed their latest win in the series with Wednesday's 108-89 victory over Dallas to improve to 13-1 against the Western Conference at home. The club did so without one of its best players, as Westbrook was ejected after receiving two technical fouls in the first half without scoring.

It was just the second scoreless game of his career, but Durant and Serge Ibaka combined for 49 points and 21 rebounds and Oklahoma City benefited from the Mavericks, who had played the night before, sitting out their starting five.

The Thunder matched a season high with 15 made 3-pointers for their 13th win in the last 15 home games. Oklahoma City topped the 100-point mark for the 10th straight game and held Dallas to 39.0 percent shooting.

Opponents have made 41.6 percent from the field against the Thunder in the last seven games.

"We didn't relax on the defensive end and that shows growth in us," Durant told the team's official website. "That's not our barometer because they didn't have their whole team there, but it was good for us to stay locked in, stay on pace and stick to what we do."

All Minnesota has done lately is lose, suffering through an eight-game skid and losing 12 of 13 - part of a 4-20 stretch. The Timberwolves are tied for the league's worst road record at 1-9.

Minnesota is the only team yet to win in the new year, though the Wolves have been more competitive of late with their last three defeats coming by six or fewer points.

Minnesota cut an 18-point deficit against the Thunder to two and then fell 107-104 at Houston on Wednesday.

'It's very frustrating not being able to win,' said guard Andrew Wiggins, who's averaged 26.5 points in the last four games and scored 22 against the Thunder. 'Every game we play good, but it's something that we're not doing right or a mistake we made and we just have to fix it.'

Turnovers have been the culprit in the last three contests with the Wolves' total climbing from 17 to 18 to 21.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Suns (13-27) at Celtics (20-19)

Date: January 15, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

Isaiah Thomas is riding the most prolific scoring stretch of his career as he faces the team that gave up on him last year.

There's a good chance he'll stay highly productive Friday night considering the Phoenix Suns have been awful defensively, especially on the road, and they provide the Boston Celtics a great shot to piece together back-to-back wins before leaving town again.

Thomas has averaged 32.3 points in the last three games, easily the highest mark of any stretch that long during his five NBA seasons. He had 17 games of 20 or more points with the Suns last season, but they dealt him to Boston on Feb. 19 for a first-round pick and the since-departed Marcus Thornton.

Three days later, Thomas went back to Phoenix and keyed the Celtics' 115-110 victory - the teams' only meeting since the trade. The 5-foot-9 point guard scored eight of his 21 points in the final 1:37 and had seven assists, though he did say afterward that there were "no hard feelings" toward the Suns.

This Phoenix team shouldn't provide much resistance, either, after allowing at least 20 points to each of the last three point guards it has faced. The Suns (13-27) have surrendered 109.1 points per game on 49.8 percent shooting while losing 12 of 13.

Those averages are 114.9 and 51.8 percent during their eight-game road losing streak, the team's longest since the 2012-13 season.

Phoenix has lost by an average of 20.6 points in three road games this month, and the first two came to lowly Sacramento and the last-place Los Angeles Lakers. The most recent was a 116-97 defeat at Indiana on Tuesday.

Brandon Knight missed the game with food poisoning, so he should return Friday, but key reserves Alex Len (hand) and Ronnie Price (toe) will sit out again. This will be Phoenix's ninth game since losing top scorer Eric Bledsoe (knee) for the season.

"It's tough, man, it's tough. But you have to keep playing in this league," forward P.J. Tucker said. "The games keep coming. It's especially tough at this time of the year, when you get guys that get sick or that get injured. It's next man up. But you have to keep trying and you have to keep playing."

The Celtics (20-19), meanwhile, are at full strength. They also played the Pacers in their most recent game but with a much different result, winning 103-94 on Wednesday. That game and this one along with a visit from Chicago next Friday are their only home dates in an 11-game span.

Boston had lost a season-high four straight and six of seven before holding Indiana to 40.7 percent from the field and 5 of 30 from 3-point range.

"We didn't do anything differently on offense. We just hunkered down and got stops," said Jae Crowder, who matched a career high with 25 points.

Thomas scored a game-high 28, but many Celtics pointed to Amir Johnson as being the difference. The 11-year veteran, in his first season with Boston, had 14 points, 18 rebounds and six assists.

Johnson has averaged 13.4 points and 10.0 boards over the last five games, far exceeding his season averages. Coach Brad Stevens said he has "really come on big time," though Thomas recognizes his contributions go well beyond the numbers.

"He just does all the little things that the fans don't see in the stat book," Thomas told the team's official website. "That's what type of player he's always been, and that's how he's made his name."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Trail Blazers (17-24) at Nets (11-28)

Date: January 15, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

The Portland Trail Blazers have an opportunity to build a bit of momentum before beginning a season-high homestand. The Brooklyn Nets are just hoping their first home win in over a month helps get the ball rolling.

While the Trail Blazers try to take advantage of a pivotal stretch starting Friday night in Brooklyn, the Nets seek their first winning streak since mid-December.

Portland (17-24) opened a five-game homestand with losses against Memphis, the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State, but the Trail Blazers beat Oklahoma City 115-110 on Sunday and Utah 99-85 on Wednesday.

They now play at the bottom two teams in the Eastern Conference, Brooklyn (11-28) and Philadelphia, and at under-.500 Washington before playing seven straight at home against underwhelming competition.

In all, eight of Portland's next 10 opponents have losing records.

The Trail Blazers sit in the ninth spot in the West at the midpoint of their season, and a push to get into the top eight rests largely on Damian Lillard's shoulders.

Without LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum for the first time in his career, Lillard's scoring average has risen from last season's 21.0 to 24.7 while his assists per game are up from 6.2 to 7.1. Lillard joins Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook as the only players ranked in the top 10 in scoring and assists.

The point guard missed the first seven games of his career Dec. 21-Jan. 3 with plantar fasciitis on his left foot, but he has come back strong. In his last three games, Lillard is averaging 30.7 points, 9.7 assists and 5.7 rebounds while making half of his 36 3-pointers.

He finished three boards shy of his first career triple-double while scoring 21 points and dishing out 10 assists in 29 minutes against the Jazz, even while sitting out the final quarter. It was his eighth double-double in 33 games, more than in any of his first four years.

Lillard scored 13 points in the third quarter, moving his average in that period to 7.9 - tied for third-best in the league.

"At the start of the game, people are locked in on the scouting report," Lillard said. "At the start of that third, the focus isn't as much there as it is at the start of the game and neither is the energy. So those are the times where I've tried to pick my spots and try to get aggressive."

Portland had won three straight in this series before the Nets took the last meeting 106-96 on April 6 in Brooklyn despite Lillard's 36 points.

Brooklyn snapped a five-game losing streak with Wednesday's 110-104 win over New York. The victory also ended a 10-game skid at home and was the first in two games under interim coach Tony Brown, who took over when Lionel Hollins was fired and general manager Billy King was reassigned Sunday.

Brook Lopez made 8 of 13 shots and finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Thaddeus Young chipped in 19 points and 11 rebounds.

'Games like this, it's going to help turn our fan base around,' Brown said. 'If we continue to play in this kind of fashion, we'll fill the seats - but we've got to show them first. It'll take time, but (Wednesday) was a good start.'