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[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cincinnati at Denver

When: 8:30 PM ET, Monday, December 28, 2015
Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

Both starting quarterbacks have been lost to injury, but the stakes are still high in Monday night's clash between the visiting Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos. Despite losing starter Andy Dalton to a fractured right thumb two weeks ago, the Bengals can wrap up the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the postseason with a victory.

Cincinnati, which holds a one-game edge over Denver and is one game behind New England for the best record in the AFC, can also wrap up the AFC North with a win. "It will be fun, it's a great opportunity," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "Both teams have earned it, and we've got to have at it." Brock Osweiler will make his sixth consecutive start in place of Peyton Manning for Denver, which blew a 17-point halftime lead in a 34-27 defeat at Pittsburgh last weekend. The Broncos still have a chance at the No. 2 seed but also had their lead cut to one game over Kansas City in the AFC West.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Broncos -3.5. O/U: 40.5

ABOUT THE BENGALS (11-3): A.J. McCarron threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions in relief of Dalton in a loss to Pittsburgh, but was solid in a 24-14 win at San Francisco with 192 yards on 15-of-21 despite the absence of star tight end Tyler Eifert and limited nature of top wideout A.J. Green. With Eifert set to miss a second straight game due to a concussion and Cincinnati's ground game struggling the past two weeks, McCarron will have his hands full with the league's top-ranked defense. The Bengals are no slouches on the other side of the ball, allowing a league-low 17.4 points per game.

ABOUT THE BRONCOS (10-4): Osweiler threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in the first half alone against Pittsburgh, but for the third straight week he was unable to put any points on the scoreboard in the second half as Denver lost its second in a row. The running game has not been much of a factor all season, but Emmanuel Sanders came alive with 10 catches for 181 yards and a touchdown and fellow wideout Demaryius Thomas had a pair of scoring receptions. The Broncos were torched by Pittsburgh's passing game, but they are tied for the league lead with 47 sacks and feature the No. 1 run defense.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Broncos LB Von Miller has six sacks in last six games.

2. Bengals RB Jeremy Hill rushed for 147 yards and a TD in a 37-28 win over Denver last season.

3. Thomas had seven catches for 155 yards in last season's matchup.

PREDICTION: Broncos 27, Bengals 13

 

[superbeets]

Football Conference TODAY 12:30

Grimsby

v

Lincoln

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT1		1/2	13/4	5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT GRIMSBY	RECENT FORM
HWHDHDALHWAW*​ Most recent​	1 - 3 1 - 1 1 - 1 3 - 1	ADHDALHDNLHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Grimsby have conceded just three goals in their last six home league games

EXPERT VERDICT: Grimsby have won their last three home league games, with Cheltenham the only visitors to win at Blundell Park since September. Lincoln have conceded 18 goals on the road, which is bad news facing a Grimsby side who have scored 30 goals on their own patch.

RECOMMENDATION: Grimsby
3


REFEREE: Adrian Holmes STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Championship TODAY 12:45

Bolton

v

Blackburn

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS1		3	23/10	11/10	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT BOLTON	RECENT FORM
HDHLALADHDAL​ Most recent​	2 - 1 4 - 0 1 - 0 2 - 1	AWHDAWHWHDAL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Blackburn have just lost one of their last five away games

EXPERT VERDICT: Beleaguered Bolton haven’t won any of their last eight Championship home games, but the Trotters are still picking up points having drawn eight of 11 at the Macron. However, Blackburn are thriving under Paul Lambert, with Rovers winning at Bristol City and Preston since his arrival.

RECOMMENDATION: Blackburn
3


REFEREE: Jonathan Moss STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 15:00

West Brom

v

Newcastle

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		6/5	9/4	11/4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT WEST BROM	RECENT FORM
HWADHDADHLAL​ Most recent​	0 - 2 1 - 0 1 - 1 1 - 3	HLALHWAWHDHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Both teams have scored in five of West Brom’s last six home games

EXPERT VERDICT: Back both teams to score at the Hawthorns. Before their 1-0 defeat at Swansea on Saturday, West Brom were involved in five straight games in which both teams had notched, while Newcastle have found form and a scoring touch in recent weeks but still always look like conceding.

RECOMMENDATION: Both teams to score
2


REFEREE: Mike Jones STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 15:00

C Palace

v

Swansea

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		11/10	12/5	3	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT C PALACE	RECENT FORM
HLHWADHWAWAD​ Most recent​	1 - 0 0 - 2 0 - 3 0 - 1	HDALHLALHDHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Swansea have lost five of their last six away games

EXPERT VERDICT: Swansea finished eight points clear of Crystal Palace in the Premier League last season, but the two sides have gone in very different directions during 2015-16. While the Swans are fighting against relegation the Eagles are flying high with Europe the ambition for Alan Pardew’s men.

RECOMMENDATION: Crystal Palace
2


REFEREE: Neil Swarbrick STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 15:00

Norwich

v

Aston Villa

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		21/20	5/2	3	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT NORWICH	RECENT FORM
ALHDALHDAWAL​ Most recent​	0 - 1 1 - 2 1 - 4 2 - 0	ALHLADHLADHD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Norwich have kept one clean sheet in eight home league games

EXPERT VERDICT: Norwich’s coupon-busting win against Man United was only their second victory in 12 Premier League matches but it’s worth noting that the Canaries are unbeaten in three home games. Villa’s woes continue but draws with Newcastle, Southampton and West Ham offer hope.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
3


REFEREE: Graham Scott STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 15:00

Everton

v

Stoke

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		19/20	13/5	16/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT EVERTON	RECENT FORM
ADAWHDADHLAW​ Most recent​	0 - 1 4 - 0 1 - 0 0 - 1	ALHWHWADHLHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Stoke beat Everton 2-0 and 1-0 last season

EXPERT VERDICT: This could be a cagey contest at Goodison Park as, apart from tonkings of Sunderland and Aston Villa, Everton haven’t won in front of their fans since September. Stoke were involved in 11 straight games containing fewer than three goals before Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1


REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg STADIUM:

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Capitals (24-6) at Sabres (14-16)

Date: December 28, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Goaltender Braden Holtby might downplay what he and his Washington Capitals have been up to lately, but there is no stepping around the history books.

The Capitals can extend their best start in franchise history Monday night and Holtby can add to his league-high win total when they visit the Buffalo Sabres for the first game of a home-and-home set.

Washington leads the Eastern Conference with a 26-6-2 record thanks to a dominating stretch in the last month-plus.

Holtby made 29 saves in Saturday's 3-1 win over Montreal for his 10th consecutive win at the Verizon Center - matching the longest home streak by a Capitals goaltender since 1989-90. It improved the Caps' record to 14-1-1 since Nov. 21 and gave them their seventh straight regulation win.

"I don't think any of us really even know we're winning seven in a row," Holtby said. "We expect a win every night, and we try and prepare in a way that gives us the best chance to do that."

The Capitals play six of their next seven on the road, but things don't drop off much away from the nation's capital. Washington not only holds the best home record in the NHL but the best road mark in the East. Holtby has a 1.65 goals-against average and .949 save percentage in his last nine road games.

Holtby ranks toward the top of the NHL in GAA (1.92) and save percentage (.932). What helps is a team that has supplied him early leads. The Capitals are 19-1 when scoring first and 12-0 when leading after the first period.

Even without points from Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, the Capitals jumped ahead of the Canadiens with an Evgeny Kuznetsov first-period tally and cruised in their first game back from the NHL's Christmas break.

The only negatives were a few bumps and bruises. Ovechkin was examined for a shot he took to his left arm and top defenseman John Carlson needed a maintenance day at Sunday's practice, which Holtby left early due to dehydration and cramps. All three are expected to play on Monday.

Buffalo (15-16-4) continued its mini roll of late with Saturday's 6-3 win at Boston. The Sabres improved to 4-1-1 in their last six games thanks to a monster five-goal third period. The five goals in the final 20 minutes were the most for Buffalo in a third period since it posted six in a 7-4 win over Tampa Bay on March 19, 2008.

Rookie Jack Eichel logged two goals and an assist in the final period to cap his first four-point game. The 19-year-old has been inconsistent since the Sabres made him the No. 2 pick in the June draft, but he has tallied points in three straight games.

'I think he's gone through some ups and downs,' coach Dan Bylsma said. 'We've seen him play some great games and we've seen some tough stretches of playing a lot of hockey. We've had this break - the six-day break - and seen him come back energized with a little more jump in his step.'

Buffalo's season-high six goals were one more than the Sabres scored in their previous three games.

Goaltender Chad Johnson will look to add to his 3-0-1 hot streak since Dec. 14. He holds a 1.47 GAA and .957 save percentage during that span.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Canadiens (19-14) at Lightning (17-15)

Date: December 28, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

Facing the possibility of losing seven games in a row for the first time in two decades, the Montreal Canadiens return to the site where last season ended earlier than anticipated.

The visiting Canadiens face the Tampa Bay Lightning for the first time since Game 6 of last season's playoff series Monday night.

Montreal (20-14-3) has dropped six straight while being outscored 22-6 and lost 10 of 11 since Dec. 1.

The Canadiens haven't lost seven consecutive games since a slide that bridged two seasons in 1995.

"We're looking, offensively, way too much for the perfect play with no results," coach Michel Therrien said.

There have been few positive results to speak of through the first four of this season-high eight-game road trip, surrendering 16 goals while giving up the first tally in each.

Montreal gave up the first two goals in a 3-1 loss at Washington on Saturday as its road losing streak reached six games. The Canadiens last lost seven in a row as the visitors while concluding 2011-12.

"When we get scored on first, we have a tendency to slow down and fall apart. The first goal is important. Everyone has to give more," center David Desharnais told the team's official website. "It's never easy to go through something like this. We have to find a way out of it."

The Canadiens will have some added motivation against the Lightning (18-15-3), who eliminated them in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 4-1 victory May 12. Montreal also lost all five regular-season meetings last season after sweeping Tampa Bay in the opening round of the 2014 playoffs.

Mike Condon, a 25-year-old rookie, will get his first taste of this burgeoning Atlantic Division rivalry as he continues to fill in for the injured Carey Price (leg).

Condon has lost seven straight starts with a 3.37 goals-against average after stopping 30 of 33 shots against the Capitals. He is trying to avoid being the first Habs goaltender to drop eight straight starts since Jose Theodore did from Nov. 11, 1998 to Feb. 11, 1999.

"It's not really about me or any individual, to be honest. It only matters when you win. It doesn't matter how good you play," Condon said. "We're working really hard. It's not effort-based. It'll come. We've just got to stay positive."

Max Pacioretty has 12 goals and nine assists in 30 career matchups with Tampa Bay, including the playoffs. The left wing had Montreal's only goal in Game 6 and finished the series with three goals and two assists.

The Lightning have won four of six games as they search for consistency a season after reaching the Stanley Cup Final. They're starting to find some via the power play, which has gone 6 of 21 the past three games to match its production in 49 attempts over the prior 15 contests.

Tampa Bay scored a season-high three power-play goals while beating Columbus 5-2 on Saturday.

"It's a pretty good example of what it can do to a hockey team if you execute," said Steven Stamkos, who had two goals and one assist - all on the power play.

Stamkos has five goals in four games after going 10 without one. The captain has 32 points in 35 overall career meetings with Montreal, collecting eight goals and six assists in 11 matchups last season. That includes seven points in the last postseason.

Nikita Kucherov matched Stamkos' point production in the series. The right wing finished with six goals after scoring twice and getting an assist in Game 6.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rangers (19-12) at Predators (15-12)

Date: December 28, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

The Nashville Predators will spend much of the next month on the road as they try to make up ground in the Central Division.

Leaving home with a victory over a quality opponent could provide the confidence it needs for that stretch.

Nashville seeks a third win in four tries when it hosts the well-rested New York Rangers on Monday night.

The Predators (17-12-6) sit in fifth place in the Central and are looking to earn a split of a four-game homestand that included some time off for the holiday break. They returned in disappointing fashion Saturday, falling 3-2 to Detroit.

After this matchup with the Rangers (20-12-4), they'll travel to face division foes St. Louis on Tuesday and Dallas on Thursday to begin a stretch of 11 of 14 on the road.

"There's still a lot of games left, but we have big games coming up again against the division on Tuesday and a big game against New York Monday," forward Mike Ribeiro said. "When you lose, you're frustrated like I am right now, but the only thing you can do is really focus for the next one and really come out like we know we can. When we do that, we come out strong in the first most times, we'll win games."

Ribeiro assisted on both of Filip Forsberg's goals Saturday to give him a goal and four assists over his last three. Forsberg has come on lately as well with three goals and two assists during a four-game point streak.

Forsberg has nine goals and 15 assists in 34 games this season after posting 26 goals and 63 points in his first full NHL season in 2014-15. Forward production has been lacking all around for the Predators, though, as defensemen Roman Josi (26 points) and Shea Weber (25) are the club's top two scores.

'I have been playing up and down, but lately I have been feeling good,' Forsberg said. 'It's always good to score goals. That's what I'm here for, but it doesn't really matter when we lose a game like (Saturday's).'

Forsberg has one assist in three career games against the Rangers, who have won the last two meetings with Nashville after Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves in a 3-0 victory Nov. 23.

Lundqvist gave up 13 goals during New York's three-game losing streak before stopping 17 shots in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over Anaheim that sent it into the holiday break on a positive note.

Mats Zuccarello scored on the power play in the extra session to give him four goals and four assists over his last seven. He had one point in his previous nine.

"We were letting way too many goals in, way too many chances," defenseman Marc Staal said. "We talked about being better and I thought we were. We didn't really give them much."

Derick Brassard assisted on the winner and scored twice, his third two-goal game in his last nine. He has 13 points over his last 12 after posting 15 in his first 24.

"He works hard every night," Zuccarello said of Brassard. "He's one of our best players. We need guys like that stepping up if we are going to turn things around."

Lundqvist will be in goal again for this contest and has a 1.50 goals-against average in eight career starts against the Predators.

Pekka Rinne has a 2.01 GAA in his last five, but it's unclear if he'll get the start with Nashville playing the following night.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Red Wings (17-10) at Wild (18-10)

Date: December 28, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Early in the season, it seemed like Detroit and six other teams would be competing for second place in the Atlantic Division.

As Montreal struggles, the Red Wings now find themselves in the division's driver's seat heading into Monday night's trip to Minnesota, but it'll take some sustained road success to continue the upward trajectory.

Detroit (18-10-7) returned from the Christmas break with Saturday's 3-2 win in Nashville to begin a three-game trip against the Central Division, moving it into a tie atop the Atlantic with the Canadiens. It's playing nine of its first 10 after Christmas on the road.

Gritty play in front of the net helped on Riley Sheahan's rebound goal on a second-period power play, and coach Jeff Blashill is fine with that as an identity. It was Sheahan's second goal in as many games after he scored three in his first 33.

"I think our net front has been really, really good," said Blashill, whose team is 6-1-2 on the road since dropping three of its first four. "If you look back at lots of the goals and even some of the near misses, we've had great net front. It's a big part of hockey today and certainly a big part of what we want to do."

They'd now like for it to translate into consecutive wins for the first time since winning three straight to begin December, going 3-2-3 since with seven one-goal, overtime or shootout games.

Detroit has also had a rash of close contests against Minnesota, the latest being the Red Wings' 3-2 eight-round shootout win in St. Paul on April 4. The teams have played four games without more than a goal separating them over the previous two seasons with Detroit going 3-0-1, though both teams have scored 12 goals. Minnesota's Zach Parise has five goals in the last three meetings, while Detroit's Gustav Nyquist has six and an assist on a five-game point streak in the series.

The Wild (18-10-6) are completing a four-game homestand trying to salvage a split after Saturday's 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh. It was their third regulation loss in four games after a 6-0-2 span.

"The last four or five games we've got another level that we have to get to and a lot of individuals I would say through that time have to bring a little bit more," said coach Mike Yeo, whose team has scored eight goals in the last four after tallying 13 on a preceding three-game winning streak. "This is a time of year where do you fall asleep and lose ground or do you make a push and gain ground?"

That'll depend some on Devan Dubnyk, who has lost his last three games with a 3.43 goals-against average and .903 save percentage. He's also 1-1-2 with a 3.22 GAA and .881 save percentage in his last five games against the Red Wings.

Jimmy Howard also has some room for improvement after being replaced in Tuesday's 4-3 home loss to New Jersey. The veteran gave up three goals on six shots in less than a period of work before being pulled but didn't take the loss. He's been busy lately with 39.3 shots per game faced in the three preceding games, posting a 3.19 GAA and .911 save percentage in the last four starts.

Howard has a 2.94 GAA and .879 save percentage over a 3-1-1 span against the Wild.

Detroit's Dylan Larkin sat out Saturday with an upper-body injury after scoring in his previous two games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Kings (19-11) at Canucks (12-14)

Date: December 28, 2015 10:00 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Kings have built a Pacific Division lead mainly with solid defense, but losing the catalyst for a balanced offensive attack still isn't ideal.

Luckily for them, Jeff Carter's injury doesn't appear to be too serious.

Carter might only miss this matchup against the Vancouver Canucks as the Kings continue their road trip Monday night.

Los Angeles (21-11-2) had dropped four of five during its toughest stretch of the season - playing 10 of 11 on the road to close December - before Anze Kopitar scored in overtime of Saturday's 4-3 victory over Arizona that kicked off a four-game trip.

Carter, though, suffered an upper-body injury in the first period, and there was speculation that he would miss an extended period of time when the club sent him back to Los Angeles for further evaluation.

The Kings practiced Sunday in Arizona before leaving for Vancouver, and general manager Dean Lombardi provided a positive outlook, saying Carter is considered day to day.

The veteran center, whose team highs of 17 assists and 28 points pace 10 Kings with at least 11 points, likely will be out for this contest but could return at some point on the trip that concludes with stops in Edmonton on Tuesday and Calgary on Thursday.

With or without Carter, the Kings are hoping to plug holes in a defense that's allowing the second-fewest goals in the league but has been vulnerable lately.

Los Angeles gave up five goals in three of its previous four, then blew a two-goal lead in the third period Saturday before Kopitar's goal. Jonathan Quick has allowed 12 goals in his last four starts after posting a 1.57 goals-against average during a 7-0-1 stretch.

It's unclear if Quick will be in net against the Canucks, who beat him 2-0 on Oct. 13 before Kopitar scored in overtime to give him a 2-1 victory Dec. 1.

That defeat was part of Vancouver's 0-7 start in 3-on-3 action before Jannik Hansen's OT goal gave it a 2-1 win over Edmonton on Saturday. The Canucks are 3-0-1 following a three-game losing streak.

'I think we were due in OT,' goalie Jacob Markstrom said. 'That was a big win for us. I got a lot of help. The boys were great.'

Hansen scored both goals and has four with two assists over his last six games. The winner came after he hit his forehead on the crossbar after a rush and received multiple stitches.

Vancouver (14-14-9) couldn't afford to be more shorthanded while already dealing with a plethora of injuries, including Alex Burrows' upper-body issue that kept him out.

'Janny's been good for us this year,' coach Willie Desjardins said. 'He comes back and he gives us a lot of energy. On the bench, he was telling the (defensemen) that he wanted that puck. He came back and got some speed and they found him wide. It worked out for us.'

Ryan Miller missed a second straight game with muscle cramps, and reports said he could be out for up to a week. Markstrom has won both in Miller's place, stopping 26 shots in a 2-1 win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday before making 32 saves against the Oilers.

Markstrom made 38 saves in the last meeting with the Kings, who are 10-5-2 on the road.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Avalanche (17-17) at Sharks (16-15)

Date: December 28, 2015 10:30 PM EDT

Owners of the most points on the road in the NHL, the San Jose Sharks also have the dubious distinction of having the fewest in the league at home.

A five-game homestand can change that.

The Sharks finally emerge from their holiday break looking to avoid their longest home losing streak of the season Monday night against the Colorado Avalanche.

San Jose (17-15-2) has 28 points on the road compared to just eight at home while going 4-9-0. The Sharks have lost six of seven as host, including three straight with a 2-0 setback to Minnesota on Dec. 12.

They followed that with a 3-1-1 trip that concluded with three unanswered goals in Tuesday's 5-3 win at Los Angeles. Joe Pavelski scored the tying and go-ahead goal 92 seconds apart after getting an assist.

"There's a reason he's the captain. He was just willing us to win," coach Peter DeBoer said. "He was taking on guys physically who were much bigger than him and going into the dirty areas. When your best player is that honest and working that hard and cares that much, everyone tends to follow."

That's certainly true of Pavelski's influence on the Sharks home and road records. The center has 14 goals in 21 road games and just four in 13 at home. He hasn't scored in the last eight games in San Jose but has chipped in with six assists.

Brent Burns is also having trouble scoring at home, tallying four of his 14 goals there. The defenseman, who had an empty-netter Tuesday, had 17 goals all of last season.

Burns has four goals and six assists over his last seven meetings with the Avalanche. He had two goals while Pavelski added one in a 4-3 win at Colorado on Nov. 1, extending San Jose's winning streak in the all-time series to four games.

The Avalanche (17-17-2) have followed a season-high five-game winning streak by losing 7-4 to Toronto last Monday before emerging from the Christmas break to fall 2-1 in overtime to Arizona on Sunday.

"We should have kept the shifts a little shorter," coach Patrick Roy told the team's official website of his team's tactics in OT. "We had a rush chance and we took a shot from a bad angle. Not only that, the three guys went to the net and the puck came back. That's not the type of game we want to play. We want one guy to be aware and stay back and be smart about it. We played like an All-Star Game in that 3-on-3."

Matt Duchene leads Colorado with 16 goals, but he failed to get any during a 2-1-1 homestand. The center has 12 goals and seven assists in 20 road games. He's got six points over his last seven overall meetings with San Jose, finding the net in a 5-1 road defeat April 1.

Jarome Iginla had a goal Sunday, moving him one shy of becoming the 19th player to reach 600. He's also two back of tying Jari Kurri for 18th on the all-time list.

Iginla, though, has only scored two of his 10 goals away from home, and he has no points in the last six such games.

He hasn't scored in his last two visits to San Jose but had a goal against the Sharks on Nov. 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Grand Salami - December

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
12/1 10 53.5 51 UNDER
12/2 4 22.5 18 UNDER
12/3 8 41.5 37 UNDER
12/4 7 36 33 UNDER
12/5 10 52 54 OVER
12/6 7 36 37 OVER
12/7 3 16 15 UNDER
12/8 9 48.5 55 OVER
12/9 4 21.5 20 UNDER
12/10 7 37 44 OVER
12/11 7 36 37 OVER
12/12 10 52 47 UNDER
12/13 3 15 12 UNDER
12/14 5 25.5 24 UNDER
12/15 11 58.5 61 OVER
12/16 2 10.5 6 UNDER
12/17 11 59.5 56 UNDER
12/18 6 30.5 38 OVER
12/19 10 52 46 UNDER
12/20 6 31 42 OVER
12/21 8 42.5 54 OVER
12/22 10 54.5 45 UNDER
12/23 No games scheduled - - -
12/24 No games scheduled - - -
12/25 No games scheduled - - -
12/26 9 47.5 48 OVER
12/27 9 49.5 - -
12/28 6 - - -
12/29 10 - - -
12/30 5 - - -
12/31 9 - - -

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Hot teams
-- Washington won its last seven games, allowing 11 goals. Sabres won four of last six games.
-- Tampa Bay won four of its last six games.
-- Canucks won three of their last four games.

Cold teams
-- Canadiens lost six in row, nine of last ten games.
-- Rangers lost six of their last eight games. Nashville lost four of its last six games.
-- Red Wings lost four of their last six games. Minnesota lost three of last four.
-- Los Angeles lost four of its last six games.
-- Colorado lost its last two games, 7-4/2-1ot, after winning five in a row. San Jose lost seven of its last ten games.

Series records
-- Sabres lost six of last nine games with Washington.
-- Lightning won eight of last ten games with Montreal.
-- Rangers won five of last seven games with Nashville.
-- Red Wings won three of last four games with Minnesota.
-- Canucks won three of last four games with Los Angeles.
-- Sharks won their last four games with Colorado.

Totals
-- Under is 4-1-1 in last six Buffalo games.
-- Seven of last nine Montreal games stayed under. Four of last five Tampa Bay games went over the total.
-- Under is 6-0-2 in last eight Ranger-Nashville games.
-- Over is 5-0-3 in last eight Detroit-Minnesota games.
-- Over is 3-1-1 in last five Los Angeles games.
-- Five of last seven San Jose-Colorado games went over.

Back-to-backs
-- Colordo is 2-2 if it played the night before.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Streaks, Tips, Notes

Los Angeles Kings at Vancouver Canucks December 28, 10:00 EST

Los Angeles Kings continue to set the pace in the Pacific Division with 44 points behind a record of 21-11-1-1. Kings are lighting the lamp 2.5 times/game on a league best 32.3 shots on nets. Jeff Carter leads the way with a team-high 28 points (11G, 17A) with Tyler Toffoli second best contributing 25 points (14G, 11A). Kings top goaltender has been Jonathan Quick with a GAA of 2.28, although backup Jhonas Enroth has been impressive in seven starts with a 1.90 GAA and a .939 save %.

Vancouver Canucks are second in the Pacific at 14-14-7-2 giving the team 37 points. Daniel Sedin carries the load offensively with 37 points (16G, 21A) with his twin Henrik a close second at 33 points (9G, 24A). As a team Canucks put 2.5 per/game into the mesh on 29.4 shots/game. Ryan Miller handles most duties between the pipes and has a 2.74 GAA. Miller however may not be available due to a lower-body injury. If that's the case, Jacob Markstrom gets the call with his 2.33 GAA, 3-6 record on the year.

The teams split a pair played in L.A. earlier this season and have split the last four meetings on Canuck ice surface. Trends of note: Kings are a ho-hum 8-10 in Vancouver with Quick between the pipes. Canucks 1-6 vs. Western Conference, 2-6 following a win.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA notebook: Suns could fire Hornacek
By The Sports Xchange

Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek could be fired in the midst of a 5-15 stretch that bumped the team to 12-20 on the season.
The Suns lost for the 15th time in 20 games Saturday and also could have lost star guard Eric Bledsoe to a knee injury. ESPN reported management was ready to move on Hornacek immediately.
After the defeat to the lowly Philadelphia 76ers, Hornacek described the defeat as "a low point. Now the confidence is lacking."
The Suns expected to contend in 2015-16. Offseason addition Tyson Chandler and Brandon Knight, acquired in February 2015 via trade, were expected to push Phoenix into the playoff picture.

---An MRI exam revealed that Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks has a fractured left fibula and will be sidelined indefinitely.
Burks also was diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms by the Jazz medical staff.
Both injuries resulted from a fall that occurred in the second quarter of Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
No surgery is required to repair Burks' broken leg, but there is no timetable for his return. He is averaging 14.3 points and has appeared in all 28 games.

---Atlanta Hawks center Tiago Splitter suffered a mild calf strain in Saturday's game against the New York Knicks and will miss at least the next two games.
Splitter did not travel with the team to Indiana for Monday's game against the Pacers, and will not play in Tuesday's game at Houston either.
He is averaging 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds this season for the Hawks, who are riding a six-game winning streak.

---The Sacramento Kings recalled rookie forward Duje Dukan from the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League.
This is the fourth time Dukan has been recalled from the D-League, but he has yet to make an appearance in an NBA game. He has averaged 13.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in nine games with the Bighorns.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pelicans (10-20) at Magic (17-13)

Date: December 28, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis attributes his team's recent success to better communication among his teammates.

Attempting to turn their season around, Davis and the Pelicans will go for a fourth win in five games Monday night while they try to earn a little revenge against the Orlando Magic.

A playoff team last spring, the Pelicans started this season 0-6 and dropped 10 of their first 11 games while giving up an average of 110 points. The slump included a 103-94 home loss to Orlando on Nov. 3 when Davis shot 3 for 12 from the field and scored 14 points in 36 minutes, his worst offensive performance in a full game this season.

Davis averaged 22.7 points and 8.4 rebounds during the 1-11 start. He has averaged 24.1 points and 12.3 rebounds during the recent 3-1 stretch, including 24 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks as the Pelicans held on for a 110-108 win over Houston on Saturday.

The former No. 1 overall pick scored the game's final basket, giving the Pelicans the lead for good on a dunk with 2:14 remaining. New Orleans, which trailed by nine in the fourth, locked down on defense after that as the Rockets missed their final four shots.

Eric Gordon scored 26 points, hitting 6 of 8 3-point attempts as New Orleans went 13 of 24 from long range.

The Pelicans (10-20) are just 3-14 on the road and have the second-worst record in the Western Conference, but Davis thinks they are starting to figure things out.

"We're just trusting each other, helping each other, talking to each other," Davis said. "We're starting to have a better understanding of our defense, our assignments, our schemes and what we need to run against certain teams."

Orlando (17-13) is coming off a 108-101 loss to Miami on Saturday. Nikola Vucevic scored 22 points and Elfrid Payton had 18, but the Magic gave up 24 points each to Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and 22 to Goran Dragic.

Orlando outshot Miami 54.4 percent to 49.4 percent and led by as many as 15 in the third quarter, but Wade scored 12 of his 24 in the last 4:53 to lead a Heat comeback.

Vucevic and Payton scored Orlando's final 20 points over the last 8:19. Vucevic is averaging 18.7 points and 9.1 rebounds in 13 games this month.

"When things get a little tight, we occasionally get the blinders on and want to do it on our own," Magic coach Scott Skiles said. "We kind of panicked and everybody tried to be the hero instead of just doing what we do. We're not good enough to do that. Period."

The Magic fell to 10-6 at home, where they'll wrap up a four-game homestand Wednesday against Brooklyn.

They have won four of the past six meetings with the Pelicans. Evan Fournier scored a career-high 30 points in the Nov. 3 win in New Orleans.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Hawks (20-12) at Pacers (17-12)

Date: December 28, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

The Atlanta Hawks lead the Eastern Conference with 20 victories following a six-game winning streak keyed mostly by their offense.

Their defense helped them overcome a big deficit last time out.

The Hawks open a three-game road trip looking to match their season-best win streak and earn a fifth consecutive regular-season victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.

Atlanta (20-12) has averaged 111.5 points and shot 51.2 percent while winning its last six games after scoring 86.7 points and shooting 40.5 percent during a three-game skid.

The Hawks trailed New York by 15 points just seven minutes into Saturday's game and was down 14 late in the second quarter before rallying for a 117-98 win. The Southeast Division leaders surrendered more than 30 points in both the first and second quarters but allowed a combined 35 over the final two.

"I think the second half, our defense and our activity put us in a good place," coach Mike Budenholzer said. "... We've got to figure a way to do that from the beginning of the game to the end of the game, but credit to our guys for turning it."

Atlanta, which didn't take its first lead until 4:04 into the third quarter, built a 20-point advantage just over four minutes into the fourth. The Knicks shot 30.0 percent from the floor in the second half after hitting 65.9 percent in the first.

"We made sure they had to earn everything they got," said center Al Horford, who had 19 points. "Our team defense was good."

Paul Millsap led Atlanta with 22 points, Mike Scott scored a season-high 18 off the bench and Jeff Teague added 17. Six Hawks scored in double figures for the fourth time in five games.

Backup point guard Dennis Schroder has also keyed the win streak, averaging 14.0 points on 50.8 percent shooting in 21.8 minutes per game. He averaged 7.3 points and shot 33.7 percent in his previous 12 games.

"They're playing at a great level right now, they've won six straight and starting to resemble the team that earned the No. 1 seed last year," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "... They still got Horford, Millsap, Teague and (Kyle) Korver, Mike Scott coming off the bench lighting everyone up and Schroeder is playing terrific basketball for them."

Vogel hopes his biggest offensive weapon and his team are back on track after a big fourth quarter.

Paul George is scoring 24.8 points per game but has averaged 12.3 in the last three, shooting 26.5 percent. However, he was 3 of 3 from the field in the final period Saturday after going 4 for 13 in the first three, and the Pacers (17-12) snapped a three-game losing streak with a 102-88 win in Minnesota.

George scored eight of his 18 in the fourth, Monta Ellis had seven of his 22 in the same quarter and Indiana overcame a seven-point deficit late in the third.

'This one was very important," George said.

The Pacers were 6 for 9 on 3-pointers in the fourth quarter after going 3 of 17 over the first three. They're fourth in the NBA in 3-point shooting at 37.2 percent.

'We're a good 3-point shooting team,' Vogel said. 'We haven't shot the ball well of late, but we feel like that's going to come around as long as we're moving the basketball. We got 25 assists, so we are trying to move it. We feel like the shots are going to go.'

Indiana had 23 turnovers Saturday - its most in a win since Feb. 1, 2014 - and now faces an Atlanta team which averages an NBA-best 20.2 points off turnovers and ranks second in takeaways with 16.9 per game.

The Hawks were 3-0 against Indiana last season, but George hasn't faced them since averaging 23.9 points and 10.7 rebounds in the Pacers' seven-game win in the first round of the 2014 playoffs. Teague has averaged 22.0 points during Atlanta's four-game regular-season win streak over the Pacers.

It's unclear if Hawks big man Tiago Splitter will play after leaving Saturday's game with right leg soreness.