Friday 12/18/15 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

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Montpellier

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT S		5/4	11/5	12/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT NICE	RECENT FORM
HWALADHLADAD*​ Most recent​	1 - 1 2 - 2 2 - 0 0 - 1	HWHWAWHLADHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Montpellier have won just two of their last 15 away league matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Nice have gone four league games without a win but are still in the hunt for a top-three finish and can get back on track by beating mid-table Montpellier. Claude Puel's side have won just three of their eight home games but can squeeze past Montpellier, who have won just one away match this term.

RECOMMENDATION: Nice
1

 

[superbeets]

German Bundesliga TODAY 19:30

Schalke

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Hoffenheim

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BT2		13/20	3	4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT SCHALKE	RECENT FORM
HLHWADHWAWAL​ Most recent​	3 - 1 4 - 0 1 - 3 3 - 0	ADHDALHDADHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Hoffenheim were goal crazy a couple of seasons ago but average just 2.56 per game this term

EXPERT VERDICT: Hoffenheim boss Huub Stevens guided his side to their first win in six attempts against fellow strugglers Hannover last time out, but they are unlikely to surprise Schalke. However, they have notably tightened up since Stevens took over and with Schalke’s form nothing special, this could be a close game.

RECOMMENDATION: Schalke to win 1-0
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[superbeets]

Football Conference TODAY 19:45

Braintree

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Wrexham

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT1		19/10	12/5	11/8	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT BRAINTREE	RECENT FORM
HDADAWALHDAW​ Most recent​	1 - 0 3 - 0 1 - 5 0 - 0	HWHWAWHLAWAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Wrexham have kept four clean sheets in their last six league matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Braintree have lost only one of their last six league games but goals have been in short supply in Essex, with the Iron having scored only eight times at Cressing Road. Wrexham have won five of their last six matches and have won five of their 11 league away games.

RECOMMENDATION: Wrexham
3


REFEREE: Wayne Barratt STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League Sa 19Dec 15:00

Chelsea

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Sunderland

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		1/4	9/2	11	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT CHELSEA	RECENT FORM
HWAWADHLHWAL​ Most recent​	3 - 1 1 - 2 2 - 1 1 - 0	ALHLAWHWALHL​ Most recent​

EXPERT VERDICT: Sunderland have been terrible on the road this term and it would be a big shock if the Black Cats won, even at troubled Chelsea. Their 3-1 defeat at Arsenal flattered the Gunners but Sunderland will be quite content to try to soak up pressure at Stamford Bridge in what should be a Blues cruise.

RECOMMENDATION: Chelsea to win 2-0
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REFEREE: Roger East STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League Sa 19Dec 15:00

Everton

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Leicester

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		Evs	5/2	13/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT EVERTON	RECENT FORM
ADHWADAWHDAD​ Most recent​	2 - 2 3 - 2 2 - 2 2 - 1	AWHWAWHDAWHW​ Most recent​

EXPERT VERDICT: Leicester’s remarkable record has been propped up by some especially impressive away form and the Foxes remain unbeaten on the road. However, Everton have the tools to unpick their insecure defence and much-improved Romelu Lukaku looks a bit of value to get the opening goal.

RECOMMENDATION: R Lukaku first goalscorer
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REFEREE: Jonathan Moss STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League Sa 19Dec 15:00

West Brom

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Bournemouth

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

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT WEST BROM	RECENT FORM
HLALHWADHDAD​ Most recent​	1 - 0 2 - 1 4 - 0 2 - 2	ALHLADHDAWHW​ Most recent​

EXPERT VERDICT: Tony Pulis has improved West Brom’s goal threat in recent weeks and they should find the net against Bournemouth, who have landed two massive scalps in their last two outings but still offer up chances. The Cherries have won just one of their last eight away games but will push on regardless after the wins over Chelsea and Manchester United.

RECOMMENDATION: Both teams to score
2


REFEREE: Mike Dean STADIUM:

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL notebook: Blue Jackets bench Johansen
By The Sports Xchange

The Columbus Blue Jackets are keeping center Ryan Johansen on the bench as a healthy scratch for Thursday night's game against the Arizona Coyotes.
The decision to sit Johansen comes two days after coach John Tortorella benched the 23-year-old during the third period of the Blue Jackets' 5-1 loss to the Stars in Dallas.
"He's an important guy to our organization. This is a reset for him, in understanding what we're looking for, not just in the points but in the play," said Tortorella, according to The Columbus Dispatch. "You can't look at it as a punishment. It's part of the process for him."
Johansen's benching for the entire third period in Tuesday night's loss came after his play appeared lethargic and he committed several turnovers against the Stars. It's the second time that Tortorella has benched Johansen since he became coach after earlier questioning his conditioning and health.

---Ottawa Senators forward Zack Smith was fined $2,000 for his second offense of diving or embellishment by the NHL. Smith was previously warned by the league.
NHL Rule 64 is designed to bring attention to and more seriously penalize players (and teams) who repeatedly dive and embellish in an attempt to draw penalties. Fines are assessed to players and head coaches on a graduated scale.

---The New Jersey Devils activated forward Tuomo Ruutu off injured reserve, the club announced.
Ruutu has missed two months with a fractured right foot. The 32-year-old has scored 148 career goals in 705 games

---The Tampa Bay Lightning recalled goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis and center Mike Angelidis from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, the club announced.
Tampa Bay also reassigned goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy to Syracuse. The 21-year-old Vasilevskiy went 3-4-0 with 2.94 goals-against average in eight games with the Lightning.

---The Winnipeg Jets recalled forwards Joel Armia and Matt Halischuk from AHL affiliate Manitoba.
Armia played 18 games for the Manitoba Moose, recording eight points (five assists) and 16 penalty minutes. Halischuk has played 24 games for the Moose this season, recording six points (three goals, three assists) and six penalty minutes.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Bruins (16-9) at Penguins (14-12)

Date: December 18, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

After Boston kept the Pittsburgh Penguins winless under new coach Mike Sullivan earlier this week, the Bruins have a chance to quickly do it again.

Looking to extend their recent dominance over the reeling Penguins, the visiting Bruins can sweep this home-and-home with a fourth straight series victory Friday night.

Tuukka Rask made 34 saves and Jimmy Hayes snapped a 15-game goal drought as Boston (17-9-4) dropped Pittsburgh to 0-2-0 since Sullivan replaced the fired Mike Johnston with Wednesday's 3-0 victory.

"You always want to get off to a good start when you're playing those back-to-backs," Bruins coach Claude Julien, whose club has gone 9-1-3 in its last 13, told the team's official website.

"You hope that you can build some momentum, and now, you've got to go back (to Pittsburgh) understanding that they're going to be hungry, and that they're going to be ready for us."

Having gone 9-1-1 in the past 11 matchups including playoffs, Rask and the Bruins have blanked the Penguins (15-12-3) in two straight meetings.

Edmonton was the last team Boston shut out in three consecutive games, spanning the 2006-07 and 2009-10 seasons. The Penguins haven't had it done to them since the New York Rangers did it Feb. 1-March 18, 1970.

At 1-4-1 this month, Pittsburgh has been outscored 7-1 under Sullivan and managed three goals while averaging 40.3 shots in the last three contests. The Penguins are 0 for 14 on the power play in the last six games.

'Well, I think we are getting some chances, we are generating some chances,' Sullivan said. 'For me, what I see is we have to do a better job playing smarter. I think we are playing hard. I think our energy is there. I think our effort is there.'

Rask rendered that effort moot Wednesday, as he's done often in posting a 1.36 goals-against average during his 7-0-2 stretch. He's stopped 109 of 111 shots and recorded two shutouts in a four-game winning streak.

'He's been feeling it for a little while, maybe the last month,' Julien said. 'He's been the goaltender we all know he can be."

Rask, likely to be in net Friday, has posted a 1.29 GAA while starting all of Boston's last 11 games against Pittsburgh.

Sidney Crosby has one goal in nine games and no points in the last three. He's totaled one goal and one assist over his last seven regular-season and playoff home games against the Bruins.

"Once we get one or two, hopefully the flood gates open up for us," Crosby told the NHL's official website. "But we can't let it bother us; at the same time, we can't accept it."

With Marc-Andre Fleury expected to miss at least a week due to a concussion, Penguins backup Jeff Zatkoff is set to start again after making 26 saves Wednesday. He's 2-2-1 with a 2.35 GAA this season.

Hayes, with five goals on the season, recorded his third in his last three contests against the Penguins.

"Jimmy's going to have success by going to the net like he did (Wednesday)," Julien said. "He's really good at either tipping pucks or finding loose pucks. He's a big man; he has to play that game."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Panthers (13-12) at Hurricanes (12-14)

Date: December 18, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Jeff Skinner has the Carolina Hurricanes playing at a high level on offense, but they haven't had much success in recent meetings with the Florida Panthers.

As the veteran winger looks to stay hot, the Hurricanes will try for their fifth win in seven games Friday night by snapping a four-game losing streak to the Panthers.

After he scored only five goals over his first 25 games, Skinner has found a groove with nine in his last six. He recorded his second hat trick in three games during Tuesday's 4-3 overtime loss at Philadelphia.

It's the first time in franchise history that a player had multiple hat tricks in a span of three or fewer team games. Skinner insists he isn't doing anything differently, noting his good chemistry with linemates Victor Rask and newcomer Phil Di Giuseppe.

Di Giuseppe, who was recalled Dec. 5, has made an immediate impact with two goals and three assists - all on goals by Skinner - in his last four games.

"As a line, me, Phil and Rasker have been playing well and generating lots of opportunities. They've just been going in," Skinner, who has a team-high 14 goals, told the team's official website. "When you get a line together that's playing well ... they're able to feed off each other, and it creates the perfect storm to produce."

The Hurricanes have scored at least three goals in six consecutive games, going 4-1-1. They've gotten eight of their 26 goals over that span with the man advantage, including four by league power-play goals leader Justin Faulk.

"Even as a team, we scored more on that (four-game) road trip than we have all year," Skinner added. "Any time that happens, guys are going to have success individually. Hopefully we can keep going as a line and as a team."

Carolina, however, could have a more difficult time as it goes after its fifth win in six at home. Florida (16-12-4) has limited the Hurricanes to just two goals while winning all four meetings over the past two seasons.

Skinner has scored only once over his last 15 in the series after Elias Lindholm provided the only tally in a 4-1 home loss to the Panthers on Oct. 13.

Al Montoya finished with 22 saves in that contest, but he's likely to give way to Roberto Luongo after he had 15 in Thursday's 5-1 win at New Jersey. Luongo has a 1.86 goals-against average over his last eight starts and has allowed just two goals in his last three against the Hurricanes (12-14-5).

The Panthers, who are 2-1 on a four-game trip, have won seven of nine on the road while limiting opponents to 13 goals in the last eight.

They're also playing well on the attack, totaling 15 scores while winning three of their past four overall. Brandon Pirri has two goals and five assists over a five-game point streak and Reilly Smith has a goal in three straight and four of the last five.

"We're having fun," Pirri said. "We're just enjoying the ride."

Cam Ward is expected to start for Carolina despite allowing four goals on eight shots before getting pulled in Tuesday's 6-5 loss at Dallas. He's gone 6-2-1 with a 1.90 GAA in his last nine home starts against the Panthers.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Lightning (15-13) at Capitals (20-6)

Date: December 18, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Stars Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals haven't been their usual high-scoring selves lately, with Stamkos' drop in production particularly acute.

Their teams, though, have won most of their recent games, and the Capitals have added to their mastery of the Lightning during their successful stretch.

They'll try to secure another victory over Tampa Bay while continuing their home dominance in the series Friday night.

Stamkos hasn't tallied a goal in 10 games, his longest drought since his rookie season of 2008-09, but the Lightning (16-13-3) got plenty of scoring in a 5-4 overtime victory in Toronto on Tuesday. Vladislav Namestnikov finished off the team's fifth win in seven games and fourth in five road contests, while Nikita Kucherov scored his sixth goal in as many games.

"It's satisfying that we're getting the wins and guys are stepping up," said Stamkos, who has 11 goals and 11 assists - well off his 43-goal pace of last season. "Obviously, I do have high expectations and (my stats) are not where I want them to be."

Stamkos has one assist in two games this season against a Capitals team that's 10-1-1 in its last 12 and has won six straight at home.

A 2-1 victory at Tampa on Saturday started Washington (22-6-2) on its three-game win streak. The Capitals have allowed one goal in each of their past two, the most recent a 2-1 victory over Ottawa on Wednesday.

Washington has turned into one of the league's stingiest teams in its second season under defensive-minded coach Barry Trotz. Playing a big role in that has been Braden Holtby, 12-0-1 with a 1.67 goals-against average in his last 13 starts.

"He's an eraser," Trotz said. "Good goaltending erases a lot of mistakes. He's erased a lot of mistakes in the early part of the season for us.

"He's a workhorse. He's a focused athlete. I think his mental toughness is off the charts. I think everybody would agree in our room that he's the most valuable player for us so far this year."

Holtby's play and other contributions have taken some of the pressure off Ovechkin needing to dominate the stat sheet. He has just two of his team-best 14 goals and two assists in his last eight games, but Washington is 6-1-1 in that stretch.

Defenseman John Carlson has scored once in each of the past two games and has nine assists in his last 10. The Capitals also got an early goal from fourth-line forward Michael Latta on Wednesday.

"We're finding ways to win whether it's good goaltending, good penalty kill or good power play," Trotz said. "Right now, we're getting contributions from everyone."

Ovechkin scored in a 4-2 victory over Tampa Bay on Nov. 27, leaving the Capitals at 17-1-2 in the last 20 home matchups. They've taken both meetings this season and four straight in the series.

Holtby started all of those games and allowed a combined eight goals.

Lightning counterpart Ben Bishop is 1-5-1 with a 3.70 GAA in eight lifetime starts against Washington. Nicklas Backstrom has played a big role in inflating that goals-against with four goals and 12 assists in the last 11 matchups.

Ovechkin has three goals and three assists in his past five games in the series, while Stamkos has recorded one goal and seven assists in his last 10 against the Capitals.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Canucks (10-14) at Red Wings (15-9)

Date: December 18, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

Blowing third-period leads was actually working out relatively well for Detroit until its most recent game. The Red Wings have done so in nine of their last 14, though the latest was the first that ended in a regulation loss.

Now welcoming Vancouver for the second of a four-game homestand, Detroit's looking to do things by the book, and the Canucks don't appear to be the kind of team that can overcome any kind of deficit - particularly if Henrik Sedin is to miss time.

Prior to Monday's 2-1 loss against Buffalo, the Red Wings (16-9-6) had gone 8-0-5 before finally failing to gain a point three nights after a 3-2 overtime loss at New Jersey in which they gave up a two-goal lead in the final 20 minutes.

"We've been playing a little bit sloppier lately," captain Henrik Zetterberg said. "So maybe this was the little wake-up call here. Just got to get back to playing the right way for 60 minutes."

They might push that along by getting their power play clicking in their own building. Detroit ranked second in 2014-15 at 23.5 percent but is 20th this season at 18.2. At home, the Red Wings are at 14.5 - among the worst marks in the league.

"Some games have been pretty awful where we can't get things set up or get things going, but I think a lot of games we've had actually pretty good chances, it's just a matter of burying those chances," Gustav Nyquist told the team's official website.

"Hopefully it'll get better at home."

The Red Wings have gone 8-2-2 in the series since the start of 2011-12, including a 3-2 overtime win at Vancouver on Oct. 24.

The Canucks (11-13-8) are playing their fourth on a six-game trip and completing a back-to-back after a 2-0 loss in Philadelphia. This marks their third game in four days, so rather than worry about the final 20 minutes, Detroit is hoping for a quick start.

"It's not really try to focus on it but obviously it's a little on your mind you have to jump as soon as the puck drops," said Tomas Tatar, who's scored in his last two games against Vancouver and expects to be OK Friday after an illness. "You know how you feel when you go back to back, it's not easy, especially the first five minutes, to get the body going, but that's what we should use against them and just play whole game."

The Canucks have lost three straight by a 12-2 total and been shut out four times over a 2-6-1 span, so their first four-game regulation skid since a seven-game slide in 2013-14 is looking likely.

Sedin left the loss to the Flyers in the second period with a lower-body injury, and the only update after the game was that a forward would be called up from AHL Utica.

"It'll get tougher," coach Willie Desjardins told the team's official website. "But it'll give other guys a chance in maybe different roles. You never know. ... Your only choice is to go ahead and keep going. That's what we're supposed to do and that's what we have to do."

Ryan Miller, who has a 3.52 goals-against average over a 2-4-0 span, figures to be in net after Jacob Markstrom played against the Flyers. Miller is 1-5-1 with a 3.53 GAA lifetime in Detroit.

Jimmy Howard will start for the Red Wings after Petr Mrazek faced the Sabres. Howard has a 1.91 GAA and .943 save percentage over a 1-0-2 span. He didn't face the Canucks in October but has a 1.57 GAA and .936 save percentage over a 4-1-1 span in the series.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sharks (15-14) at Senators (13-11)

Date: December 18, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

Ottawa was spitting out road goals like a loose slot machine in the early part of the season, but an abrupt end to that binge made things difficult during a recent stretch in which five of six were played on opposing ice.

The Senators have been more levelheaded at home, where they'll try for a fourth straight victory Friday night against the San Jose Sharks, who have continued their puzzling success on the road while struggling at home.

After starting 7-2-1 outside Ottawa with 3.80 goals per game, the Senators (16-11-5) have lost five of six road contests with 11 combined tallies.

Five of those games were on a 2-4-0 overall span with 13 goals scored, but the lion's share came in Monday's 5-3 home win over Los Angeles. They followed that with a 2-1 defeat in Washington, so a quick stop home before heading south to face Tampa Bay and Florida leading into Christmas figures to be a relief.

But the Canadian capital wasn't always a refuge. The Senators started 0-2-2 at home, but have since gone 8-2-2 with 3.08 goals per game. The three straight wins have come behind 12 goals, and Mike Hoffman has tallied seven on a five-game home goal streak.

At the other end, Andrew Hammond played against the Capitals in his first action since Nov. 12 because of a concussion.

"Felt pretty comfortable in there," Hammond told the team's official website. "It was one of those games where it was pretty easy to get into it early on. I felt like I settled into it pretty quick. It was one of those tight, low-scoring games where you couldn't give them much. Ultimately, it was a night where there weren't going to be a lot of goals scored, but we ended up on the wrong end of that."

It's not yet known whether Hammond will get a chance to build on that or if Ottawa will go with Craig Anderson, who has a 3.18 goals-against average over a 6-5-0 span.

The Senators won both meetings last season with Hammond allowing two goals in each with a .934 save percentage. Hoffman helped him out with three goals and three assists.

The Sharks (16-14-1) have hinted at starting to turn things around with consecutive wins to begin a five-game trip, but it's followed a six-game losing streak. The road, however, might be a relief considering San Jose's league-best 12 away wins - including a 9-2-1 mark since the start of November - while going 4-9-0 at home.

"We don't really beat ourselves on the road," Joe Pavelski told the team's official website. "It has been a tough stretch. We love playing at home, but we definitely expect to be better. We have to find a solution."

Thursday's 5-4 overtime win in Toronto featured Patrick Marleau's third goal in four games and a goal and two assists from Pavelski two nights after he had one of each in a 3-1 win at Montreal. The center has scored in three straight road games and gotten 11 of his 15 total in opponents' buildings. He's also scored in his last two at Ottawa.

Martin Jones has started the last five games, which already includes a back-to-back set, so Alex Stalock could be in goal. Stalock has struggled in limited time as a starter, going 2-3-0 with a 3.63 GAA and .872 save percentage.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rangers (18-10) at Jets (14-15)

Date: December 18, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Having fallen on tough times after a fantastic start, the New York Rangers have to find a way to contain the opposition away from Madison Square Garden.

That challenge might fall even more on Henrik Lundqvist after backup goalie Antti Raanta went down with an injury for what could be a lengthy amount of time.

The Rangers look to tighten things up Friday night and end their longest road losing streak in seven years with a fifth win in the last six visits to Winnipeg.

Since allowing 1.76 goals per game during a 16-3-2 start, New York (19-10-4) has won just three times - all at the Garden - over its last 12. The club has struggled defensively on the road, allowing at least five goals in the last three away games and 24 while going 0-4-2 in its past six.

It's the Rangers' longest road skid since an 0-7-2 stretch Jan. 18-Feb. 25, 2009.

Making matters worse, they may have lost Raanta for an extended period after he took a shot off the mask 11:49 into Thursday's 5-2 loss at Minnesota. In his first relief appearance since Oct. 12, 2013, Lundqvist allowed four goals on 31 shots.

The former Vezina Trophy winner hasn't been able to stop the recent woes, allowing nine goals on 64 shots in his last two on the road. He's played much better against the Jets, going 5-3-1 with a 1.88 goals-against average in his last nine meetings.

"I didn't face so much in the first, so that was good," Lundqvist said. "But it's awfully tough to come in like that. In the first, after that, I think you're in it. I played good in the second, but in the third I just need to be better."

Winnipeg is focused on improving its special teams after going 0 for 2 on the power play and letting St. Louis convert 2 of 3 in Tuesday's 4-3 home loss. The squad ranks near the bottom of the league in power-play (15.2) and penalty-kill (77.3) percentage.

"There's some things to improve on for sure," Winnipeg defenseman Tyler Myers told the team's official website. "Definitely want to come in urgent (Friday), but we need to have a lot of urgency going forward with all our games."

The Rangers sit in the top 10 in both special teams categories, but only have two power-play goals in the last five road games and have given up nine in the last seven.

Jets center Mark Scheifele, who got his team-high 12th goal against the Blues, is having a big December with four goals and four assists in six games.

Mats Zuccarello leads New York with 14 goals and is second with three on the power play. He had scored in three straight before coming up empty Tuesday. He's scored in the last two meetings with Winnipeg, including the lone tally in a 4-1 home loss Oct. 13.

The Rangers are 4-1 at Winnipeg since the franchise moved from Atlanta in 2011-12.

Bryan Little led the Jets (14-15-2) with two goals in the October victory at MSG, while goalie Michael Hutchinson came up big with 40 saves. Hutchinson, however, has scuffled more recently, posting a 3.98 GAA while going 0-7-1 over his last eight starts.

Rookie Connor Hellebuyck could be in net again. He's given up 10 goals while dropping two of his last three starts after allowing three during a 3-0-0 start.

The Jets are looking to avoid their first back-to-back home losses since Oct. 18-23.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL Hockey Odds and Picks: Scouting the Week Ahead
by Alan Matthews

The Columbus Blue Jackets were the first team to fire their head coach this season, but a change hasn't reversed the team's fortunes much as the Jackets are last in the Metropolitan Division.

The Pittsburgh Penguins (15-11-3) certainly had higher aspirations this season than Columbus did, and that's why the team fired Coach Mike Johnston over the weekend and replaced him with Mike Sullivan, a head coach of the Boston Bruins from 2003-06. He had been serving as coach of the Penguins' AHL affiliate. In just over one full season since replacing Dan Bylsma during the 2014 offseason, Johnston led Pittsburgh to a 58-37-15 record.

There's no question that Pittsburgh has been underachieving -- no team with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel should rank 27th in scoring and 28th on the power play as the Pens do. Under Sullivan, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton had 85 goals, the third-highest total in the AHL this season. Those Penguins were 18-5-0-0, the best winning percentage (.783) in the 30-team league. Sullivan is the fifth member of a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton coaching staff to be coaching in the NHL, joining Bylsma (Buffalo), Mike Yeo (Minnesota), Michel Therrien (Montreal) and John Hynes (New Jersey).

Pittsburgh lost its debut under Sullivan on Monday, 4-1 at home to Washington despite putting 45 shots on net. There's talk that GM Jim Rutherford's next big move will be to trade for a defenseman. He made a moderately small move Monday in dealing Rob Scuderi, who was a healthy scratch vs. the Capitals, to Chicago for fellow defenseman Trevor Daley. The Blackhawks saved some $1 million in cap room because the Penguins are retaining one third of Scuderi's salary. Neither side is likely done dealing yet.

The Penguins are +2200 to win the Stanley Cup.

This Week's Games To Watch

Tampa Bay at Washington, Friday: The Bolts will remain short-handed this week. Tyler Johnson probably will miss the week after aggravating a previous injury last Thursday. Fellow winger Ondrej Palat also is likely out this week. Palat appeared to hurt the same ankle on Saturday that sidelined him for more than four weeks before he got back in the lineup last Thursday. Rather sadly, this is already the final regular-season meeting between these contenders. The Capitals beat the visiting Lightning 4-2 on Nov. 28. Tampa No. 1 goaltender Ben Bishop got that night off. On Saturday in Tampa, the Capitals won 2-1 as Braden Holtby made 35 saves. He has only one regulation loss in his past 15 games. Holtby is 19-4-1 on the season, with a goals-against average of 1.87 and a save percentage of .933.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Hot teams
-- Bruins won three of their last four games.
-- Florida won eight of its last eleven games. Colorado won four of its last six.
-- Washington won eight of its last ten games. Lightning won three of their last four.
-- San Jose won last two games, after losing previous six.

Cold teams
-- Pittsburgh lost seven of its last nine games.
--
Vancouver lost eight of its last ten games. Detroit lost three of last four. -- Senators lost three of their last four games.
-- Rangers lost eight of their last eleven games. Winnipeg lost three of its last four.

Series records
-- Bruins won last three games with Pittsburgh: 3-2ot/2-0/3-0.
-- Panthers won their last four games with Carolina.
-- Lightning lost their last four games with Washington.
-- Red Wings won four of their last five games with Vancouver.
-- Sharks won seven of last ten games with Ottawa, but lost last two.
-- Visiting team won last five Winnipeg-Ranger games.

Totals
-- Under is 6-1-2 in last nine Bruin-Penguin games.
-- Under is 6-2-1 in last nine Carolina-Florida games.
-- Eight of last ten Tampa Bay-Washington games went over.
-- Under is 4-1-1 in last six Detroit-Vancouver games.
-- Five of last seven Ottawa games stayed under.
-- Last three Ranger games went over the total.

Back-to-backs
-- Florida is 2-2 if it played the night before.
-- Canucks are 2-3 if they played the night before.
-- Sharks are 2-3 if they played the night before.
-- Rangers are 5-3 if they played the night before.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA notebook: Rockets' Howard denies requesting trade
By The Sports Xchange

Dwight Howard is no fan of losing. That doesn't mean the Houston Rockets center plans on moving any time soon.
Howard said that a published report by SheridanHoops.com claiming he asked to be traded was off base.
"I haven't said nothing to nobody about anything," Howard said. "I've been positive, trying to turn this thing around any way possible. People always going to make up lies or rumors to get off. But I haven't said nothing or anything to anybody.
"That's never been a focus. (It's) to try to get these guys to play better, to make myself to play better."

---Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr continues to recuperate from back surgery and is aiming to return to the bench by early January.
There is no formal return date set as the organization is leaving the decision to Kerr.
"What I've learned is that I miss it," Kerr told reporters. "I'm still hoping in the next two to three weeks to be back on the bench."
Luke Walton is serving as interim coach in Kerr's absence and the defending NBA champions are off to a record start. Golden State is 25-1 after rolling to a 128-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.

---The Detroit Pistons assigned guard Brandon Jennings to Grand Rapids of the NBA Development League to continue his rehab from a left Achilles injury.
Jennings is scheduled to play in his first game for the Drive on Saturday against the Iowa Energy.
Last season, Jennings was sidelined for the final 41 games after rupturing the Achilles' tendon during a Jan. 24 game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

---The Milwaukee Bucks met with free-agent forward Carlos Boozer this week to discuss a possible deal, according to a report.
Boozer has not played yet this year. He became a free agent in the offseason after one year with the Los Angeles Lakers and remains unsigned.
Bucks coach Jason Kidd and general manager John Hammond met privately with Boozer in Los Angeles, Yahoo Sports reported Thursday.

---The Atlanta Hawks assigned center Walter "Edy" Tavares to the Austin Spurs of the D-League, the club announced Thursday.
Tavares has played in four games for the Hawks this season and is averaging 1.0 points.

---The Memphis Grizzlies assigned forward James Ennis, forward Jarell Martin and guard Russ Smith to Iowa of the D-League, the team announced Thursday.
Ennis has played in seven games with Miami and Memphis this season, Smith has played 13 games for the Grizzlies and Martin underwent offseason foot surgery and has yet to make his NBA debut.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Trail Blazers (11-16) at Magic (14-11)

Date: December 18, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Though major offseason personnel losses were expected to reduce the Portland Trail Blazers' chances of competing in a deep Western Conference, their early season struggles can be attributed more to a lack of success against the East.

They'll try to reverse those recent fortunes in interconference play as they continue a road trip Friday night against the improving Orlando Magic.

Despite the departures of star forward LaMarcus Aldridge and three other starters from last season's 51-win team, Portland (11-16) has gone a respectable 10-10 within the loaded West. The Blazers are 1-6 against the East, though, losing 10 of 11 matchups with those teams overall.

Portland has dropped seven straight and 10 of 11 to East teams on the road. That includes a 111-104 loss March 20 to a Magic squad that's been considerably tougher than the one that went 25-57 last season.

Orlando (14-11) has won eight of 11 while showing better efficiency and resiliency under first-year coach Scott Skiles. After a 35-point home loss to Cleveland last Friday, the Magic responded with their best two shooting efforts of the season in back-to-back blowout victories.

The Magic shot 53.9 percent in Monday's 105-82 road win over Brooklyn, then hit 55.8 percent from the field in Wednesday's 113-98 defeat of Charlotte.

'It says a lot that we got back on track,' guard Elfrid Payton said. 'Sometimes those games are going to happen, but you can't let consecutive losses go on."

Channing Frye's hot streak has spurred the offensive surge. The veteran forward was 5 of 7 from 3-point range and scored a season-high 17 points against the Hornets, two days after going 3 of 5 from beyond the arc.

'We were missing him out there the last couple of games and now we found him,' Skiles said. 'Opponents have something else to be concerned about and that should open some other guys up.'

Orlando is shooting 51.1 percent on 3s during the win streak and was 14 of 24 on Wednesday.

The most recent win pushed the Magic to 8-4 at Amway Center, a major upgrade over last season's 13-28 mark. They've won three straight at home over Portland, loser of nine of 13 on the road after a 2-1 start.

The Trail Blazers are in the midst of a five-game trip in which they'll face three Southeast Division teams currently above .500. They got the trek off to a rough start by shooting 31.8 percent from inside the arc and a season-low 34.8 percent overall in Wednesday's 106-90 loss to surging Oklahoma City.

"I thought their defense was very good," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "They were very good protecting the basket. They made it difficult for us."

The Blazers have had more success from outside, with guards C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard combining to make eight of 15 from 3-point range. McCollum scored 24 points and has averaged 22.4 while shooting 51.5 percent from beyond the arc in his last five.

Lillard added 20 points but was 0 for 9 in the second half after spraining his ankle in the second quarter. The All-Star point guard still expects to play Friday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nets (7-18) at Pacers (15-9)

Date: December 18, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

The Indiana Pacers are doing a good job of using different lineups to create points off turnovers and that factor could be a recipe for success against the lowly Brooklyn Nets.

The Nets struggle to limit opponents in that department and have been awful on the road ahead of Friday night's matchup against a Pacers team that is 7-0 at home against Eastern Conference foes.

Indiana (15-9) has shown its versatility by occasionally employing a starting lineup with two big men with a presence in the post, as it did in Wednesday's 107-81 rout of Dallas in which Lavoy Allen and Ian Mahinmi started. Allen replaced C.J. Miles, who came off the bench.

Miles, who scored a team-high 20 points, doesn't mind the fact that his role changes. The varying usage of the Pacers' personnel is a major reason why they average 20.0 points off turnovers for one of the NBA's best marks.

"If a team is trying match up with that spread lineup or the big lineup because those guys run too, it's hard," Miles said. "We want to create a tempo to make their big guys have to run and make them have to match up."

It's not clear which lineup the Pacers will use against a Nets team that employs Brook Lopez at center and Thaddeus Young at power forward since Miles may be able to match up with Young.

Brooklyn (7-18) is yielding 18.0 points off turnovers and averaging 15.4 turnovers for two of the league's poorer marks. That puts pressure on point guard Jarrett Jack to control the tempo and prevent mistakes.

Jack had 22 points and 10 assists in Wednesday's 104-98 home loss to Miami. The Nets failed to contain Dwyane Wade, who had 28 points on 13-of-17 shooting.

Now Brooklyn faces another explosive guard in Monta Ellis, who scored all 19 points in the second half Wednesday in his first game against his former team.

'First half, I had some good looks, they just weren't going down,' Ellis said. 'I got some easy buckets and shots just started falling. It was nothing personal, but Dallas was talking in the second half, a little. It probably got me going.'

Indiana star Paul George has struggled in the last three games to average 16.0 points on 34.0 percent shooting. He averages 26.2 points on 43.7 percent shooting.

George was injured for the 2014-15 season series in which the Pacers lost two of three. He averaged 23.5 points on 52.3 percent shooting two seasons ago when Indiana swept four meetings.

Lopez made 12 of 16 shots for 25 points against the Heat. He totaled 32 on 11-of-29 shooting in his three previous games.

"It was a good bounce-back game," Lopez said. "You don't want to be happy with losing, it's still very disappointing."

Brooklyn is 1-11 on the road, including 0-6 against East foes. Indiana has won nine of its last 10 at home.

Nets reserve guard Donald Sloan had season highs of five points and 12 minutes Wednesday ahead of his return to Indiana, where he spent the previous two seasons.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Knicks (12-14) at 76ers (1-26)

Date: December 18, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Kristaps Porzingis fared well against a fellow top rookie in the New York Knicks' last game and his team came away with a victory.

He'll face another high 2015 draft pick Friday night in the Philadelphia 76ers' Jahlil Okafor, who missed what would have been their first regular-season meeting due to a suspension - the result of off-court behavior that has Porzingis looking like the better pick at the moment.

The Knicks go for their third straight victory when they visit a woeful 76ers club that's dropped eight in a row overall and 10 of 11 at home on the season.

Porzingis matched up with No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns of Minnesota on Wednesday. Though Towns had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Porzingis' 11 points, six boards and seven blocked shots helped New York (12-14) to a 107-102 victory.

'For Kristaps to block seven shots, he took away seven opportunities for the other team to score,' coach Derek Fisher said. 'That's more important than him making one more basket. Our guys are continuing to embrace the fact that your stat line won't make the difference every night. It's really about the Knicks winning the game.'

Arron Afflalo scored a game-high 29 and Carmelo Anthony had 20 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists for the Knicks, who built a 60-40 halftime lead by outscoring the Timberwolves 33-14 in the second quarter. Six of Porzingis' blocks came in the first half.

Anthony's assist total was his highest since recording 10 against Boston on April 17, 2012.

'(Anthony) always makes things easier for us,' Porzingis said. 'He was rebounding the ball good, helping us bigs get the rebound. He was passing the ball well. He had nine assists. He was really doing it all on the floor and that's what we need from him.'

Porzingis, who drew scorn and some ridicule from many fans and pundits when he was the Knicks' choice at fourth overall, has joined Towns as the top players out of the draft in the early going. Along with Towns, Okafor was seen as one of New York's top targets in June, but the Knicks are likely feeling fortunate that the draft broke the way it did, with Okafor being taken third by Philadelphia (1-26).

The center is averaging 17.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks, but his troubles away from the court have overshadowed that production. He was involved in a street fight in Boston on Nov. 25, which resulted in the 76ers suspending him for two games. He was also cited for speeding on a bridge in New Jersey, and other reports of troublesome behavior have surfaced.

The first game Okafor was suspended for came Dec. 2 at New York. Porzingis had team highs of 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks to lift the Knicks to a 99-87 victory - their sixth in the past seven meetings.

The Sixers allowed a season-high point total in a 127-106 loss at Atlanta on Wednesday. Philadelphia shot 52.0 percent from the field but allowed the Hawks to make 61.5 percent.

Isaiah Canaan scored a season-high 24 points and Okafor had 19.

'We just gave up a lot of easy looks, which has kind of been the story throughout the season,' point guard Kendall Marshall said, 'but it's something we can get better at.'

Porzingis and Okafor have met on the court once, during a Las Vegas Summer League game July 14. Porzingis blocked Okafor's potential tying dunk with 42 seconds remaining in overtime, though Okafor scored 18 points.

The 76ers won the most recent home matchup with the Knicks 97-81 on March 20.