Saturday 1/23/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

Championship TODAY 12:30

QPR

v

Wolves

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS1		5/4	12/5	5/2	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT QPR	RECENT FORM
ALHDHLALADAW​ Most recent​	1 - 2 1 - 0 0 - 0 0 - 1	HWAWAWALHWHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: QPR have drawn seven of their 13 home games in the Championship

EXPERT VERDICT: Wolves’ run of four straight league victories came to a halt last weekend against Cardiff but they have been handy on the road this season, avoiding defeat in eight of 13 away so far. QPR are struggling for form – they have won only once in their last eight league games.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
2


REFEREE: Andy Woolmer STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 12:45

Norwich

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Liverpool

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT1		10/3	5/2	19/20	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT NORWICH	RECENT FORM
ALHWHWHLALAL​ Most recent​	2 - 3 2 - 5 0 - 3 1 - 2	ALAWADHDHLHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Liverpool have scored 19 goals in their last five league meetings with Norwich

EXPERT VERDICT: Liverpool are struggling for consistency under Jurgen Klopp but there have been signs of improvement and they should have too much firepower for Norwich. The Canaries have conceded nine goals in their last three games and have a poor record against the Reds.

RECOMMENDATION: Liverpool
3


REFEREE: Lee Mason STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 15:00

Man Utd

v

Southampton

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		10/11	5/2	15/4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT MAN UTD	RECENT FORM
ALHDHWHWADAW​ Most recent​	0 - 1 1 - 1 2 - 1 3 - 0	HWALALHLHWHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: United have conceded only four league goals at home

EXPERT VERDICT: Some of Southampton’s attacking players are starting to come back into form after a poor spell, but they might lack the firepower to find their way through the Manchester United defence. The Red Devils may not be that exciting to watch but they are difficult to beat at Old Trafford and should eke out a victory.

RECOMMENDATION: Man Utd
1


REFEREE: Mike Jones STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 15:00

C Palace

v

Tottenham

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		13/5	5/2	23/20	More markets

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

KEY STAT: Crystal Palace’s games this season average 2.14 goals per match

EXPERT VERDICT: Both sides have industrious midfields capable of breaking up the play and this could be a fiercely contested London derby. Palace’s form has dipped but they remain a well-drilled outfit who can nullify a Spurs outfit likely to be tired after an especially hectic schedule.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1


REFEREE: Martin Atkinson STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 15:00

Leicester

v

Stoke

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		11/10	12/5	29/10	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT LEICESTER	RECENT FORM
HDHDADAWADHL​ Most recent​	0 - 1 1 - 1 2 - 1 4 - 2	AWALHLAWHWHD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Stoke have lost just three of their eleven away games

EXPERT VERDICT: Leicester have been struggling for wins recently and they look a tad short against the Potters. Mark Hughes’s team have earned praise for their home form this season but they have picked up almost as many points away from the Britannia and there could be some value in opposing the Foxes.

RECOMMENDATION: Stoke
1


REFEREE: Mike Dean STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 15:00

Sunderland

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Bournemouth

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		2	12/5	6/4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT SUNDERLAND	RECENT FORM
ALHLHWALAWAL​ Most recent​	1 - 1 3 - 2 1 - 1	HDALADAWHLHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Sunderland matches average 3.27 goals per game

EXPERT VERDICT: Bournemouth beat Norwich 3-0 on Saturday but they might not have things all their own way when they visit the Stadium of Light. Matches involving the Black Cats feature more goals than any other Premier League team and both sides look capable of finding the net in this closely matched contest.

RECOMMENDATION: Both teams to score
2


REFEREE: Roger East STADIUM:

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL notebook: Sabres place Girgensons on IR
By The Sports Xchange

The Buffalo Sabres placed center Zemgus Girgensons on injured reserve Friday with an upper-body injury.
Girgensons, 22, has recorded eight points (three goals, five assists) and 10 penalty minutes in 40 games this season.
The Sabres also recalled forward Cal O'Reilly from the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey league.
O'Reilly, 29, appeared in two games with the Sabres in December, logging one assist and a plus-1 rating. In 35 games with the Americans this season, he has 23 points (four goals, 19 assists) and four penalty minutes.

---The Edmonton Oilers placed defenseman Brandon Davidson on injured reserve.
Davidson, 24, exited Thursday night's 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars with an undisclosed injury. He has recorded five points (two goals, three assists) and 18 penalty minutes in 34 games this season.
The Oilers also recalled defenseman Griffin Reinhart from the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL.
Reinhart, 21, has appeared in 14 games with Bakersfield this season, registering five points (one goal, four assists) and 12 penalty minutes. He has appeared in 12 games with the Oilers this season, posting eight penalty minutes.

---The San Jose Sharks activated forward Dainius Zubrus from the injured reserve list.
Zubrus, 37, was placed on injured reserve Jan. 13 because of a lower-back injury. He has one goal and one assist in 17 games this season.
The Sharks also reassigned forward Ben Smith to the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL.
Smith, 27, has appeared in six games with the Sharks this season, recording five hits, one blocked shot and one shot on goal. He has missed 25 games due to injury.

---The New York Rangers assigned forward Jayson Megna to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL.
Megna, 25, played in five games with the Rangers after being recalled on Jan. 4, recording one goal, one assist and two penalty minutes. He has played in 34 games with the Wolf Pack, registering 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) and 12 penalty minutes.

---The St. Louis Blues sent defenseman Andre Benoit to Chicago of the AHL.
Benoit, 32, has played in two games for the Blues this season. He has 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) in 37 games for Chicago.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Canucks (16-17) at Penguins (21-17)

Date: January 23, 2016 12:30 PM EDT

The Pittsburgh Penguins are finally enjoying better results under Mike Sullivan, and one team that has noticed is the Vancouver Canucks.

Sullivan's most recent NHL job before taking over the Penguins was with the Canucks, who he will face Saturday in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh (22-17-7) fired Mike Johnston on Dec. 12, with Sullivan elevated to the head job after coaching the Penguins' AHL affiliate at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

After losing their first four games under Sullivan, the Penguins are 7-3-4 in the last 14. Star center Evgeni Malkin has 16 points in that stretch, and he likes what the new coach has brought.

"He came to the team and brought more energy and emotion," Malkin told the Penguins' official website. "Sullivan is an emotional guy in the locker room too. It's good for us."

Sullivan previously coached Boston and most recently was an assistant with Vancouver (20-17-11) under John Tortorella until both were fired in the 2013-14 season.

"They're a good team, they've got a lot of firepower," Canucks winger Alex Burrows said. "We're gonna see Mike Sullivan again and I think he's gonna prepare them."

Sidney Crosby has matched his longest point streak of the season with eight in five games, recording one goal and one assist in Thursday's 4-3 victory over Philadelphia.

The Penguins got power-play goals from Phil Kessel and Trevor Daley to improve to 29.7 percent (11 for 37) in their last 11 games.

"Now we are starting to believe that we can win every game," Malkin said. "We have a great team. We started playing better. I believe that we will make the playoffs."

Defenseman Kris Letang, third on the team with 30 points, will be a game-time decision with a lower-body injured suffered Thursday.

Vancouver is 3-1-1 on a six-game trip after beginning it with a regulation loss to Washington. Daniel Sedin became the Canucks' all-time leader in goals with two to give him 348 in Thursday's 4-2 win over Boston.

Sedin failed to score in the first four games of the trip.

'It's more about the two points, I think,' Sedin said. '(You) look at the standings every day and you try to stay away from it, but every point is huge.'

Mother Nature could possibly play a role in which goalie the Canucks will face.

Marc-Andre Fleury has posted a 2.48 goals-against average in winning five straight starts over the Canucks, including a 3-2 road victory Nov. 4.

Backup Jeff Zatkoff may start instead in order for Fleury to start Sunday at Washington in a game that could be postponed due to a massive snowstorm. The NHL will determine the status of that contest Saturday morning.

The Canucks will start Ryan Miller, who has seen plenty of action in three starts since missing nearly a month with a lower-body injury. He has faced 136 shots and allowed seven goals for a 2.25 GAA.

Although Saturday's early start time is inconvenient for a team from Western Canada, the Canucks didn't want to use that as an excuse at Friday's practice.

"We've got one game left. So why not go all out and have a good game?" coach Willie Desjardins said. "I'm hoping I see the energy I saw today in practice."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Wild (23-16) at Sharks (22-18)

Date: January 23, 2016 4:00 PM EDT

One of the most encouraging developments during San Jose's surge is how well the Sharks have been playing at home.

The Minnesota Wild would like nothing more than to put a damper on that to conclude their road trip.

San Jose looks to keep rolling as Minnesota tries to win back-to-back games for the first time in 2016 on Saturday night.

The Sharks (24-18-3) are tied with Vancouver for second place in the Pacific Division despite starting 5-12-0 at home. They've outscored opponents 27-13 during a 6-0-1 stretch that includes a 3-0-1 mark at SAP Center.

San Jose has made up for its woes at home with the second-most road victories in the league (16-6-2) and is coming off a 3-1 victory at Arizona on Thursday that moved them ahead of the Coyotes in a tight division race.

"You look around the league and everyone else is winning games," coach Peter DeBoer said. "You've got to hold serve."

Tommy Wingels and Chris Tierney scored in the first period before Patrick Marleau added an empty-netter on the power play. Marleau's goal ended a nine-game drought and gave him just his second point over his last eight.

Martin Jones made 23 saves and has won his last five starts with a 1.76 goals-against average. He has a 1.29 GAA while winning his last three at home after having a 2.87 GAA in his first 15 there.

"I really liked our game (Thursday)," DeBoer said. "From our goalie to our special teams to the four lines and six defensemen, we got contributions from everybody. I was really comfortable that we were going to show up and play a good game."

The Sharks weren't nearly as good in their first meeting with Minnesota (23-16-8), falling 2-0 on Dec. 12. Zach Parise scored early in the third before Mikko Koivu added an empty-netter in the first of the last five matchups that wasn't decided by one goal.

Parise scored on the power play Thursday against Los Angeles as the Wild ended an 0-for-25 drought with the man advantage. Erik Haula added a shorthanded goal in a 3-0 victory that snapped a five-game skid during which they managed only four goals.

Minnesota hasn't won back-to-back games since Dec. 28 and 31.

"I think we really needed (the win) for our own psyche," Parise said. "It's been getting tough lately. Losing a lot of games and not producing on offense, it was frustrating. The frustration was creeping in."

Coach Mike Yeo reunited Parise, Koivu, Ryan Suter, Mikael Granlund and Jason Pominville on the top power-play unit. Minnesota went 1 for 32 with the man advantage over its previous 16 after tying for eighth in power-play efficiency at 20.8 percent prior to that.

"To get that group back together, we had confidence in it and we moved (the puck) well," Suter said.

Yeo especially was impressed with Darcy Kuemper, who made 32 saves in his second shutout of the season - the first coming when he blanked the Sharks last month.

Yeo said after the game there's a good chance Kuemper, who is 5-1-2 with a 1.20 GAA in seven starts and one relief effort since Dec. 5, could get the start to complete the four-game trip.

Jones lost the first meeting but has stopped 65 of 67 shots in two starts and one relief appearance in his career against the Wild.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Ducks (18-18) at Red Wings (23-15)

Date: January 23, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Detroit Red Wings haven't been tallying too many goals lately but got just enough scoring to edge the Anaheim Ducks earlier this month.

The Red Wings will try to send the Ducks to another defeat while snapping a season-high home losing streak Saturday night.

Detroit (24-15-8) has scored 15 goals in its last eight games and was 1-2-1 over four contests before a 3-0 win in Buffalo on Friday. The Red Wings didn't get on the scoreboard until 7:59 remaining when Dylan Larkin found the net.

Henrik Zetterberg and Luke Glendening followed as Detroit outshot the Sabres 45-19.

"The one thing with the lack of scoring is we really can't afford any mistakes," said coach Jeff Blashill, whose team has dropped four straight at home. "A game like this where I thought we were carrying large parts of the play, if a goalie makes a mistake, all of the sudden, the momentum changes."

Riley Sheahan was the hero in a 2-1 win in Anaheim on Jan. 10, scoring with 3:44 left. Petr Mrazek, who got the shutout Friday, stopped 30 shots as Detroit ended a four-game skid against the Ducks.

With the Wings playing back-to-back nights, Jimmy Howard might be in net. He's 0-2-3 with a 3.63 goals-against average in his last six appearances while Mrazek is 6-1-1 with a 1.24 GAA in his last eight.

Howard gave up three goals while losing each of his two starts against Anaheim last season.

If he starts, Howard will face a Ducks team that's on an abbreviated road trip after Friday's game in Washington was postponed because of a severe snowstorm. Anaheim (20-18-7) went 3-1-0 in its final half of its eight-game homestand, topping Minnesota 3-1 on Wednesday.

John Gibson stopped 25 shots and Rickard Rakell scored the tiebreaking goal with 6:19 left.

"It's definitely big to finish off a homestand like that, especially getting some momentum going into the road trip," defenseman Shea Theodore said.

The Ducks are averaging a league-worst 1.98 goals but have totaled 13 in four games since losing to Detroit. They've outscored the Red Wings 13-6 in a three-game win streak at Joe Louis Arena in the regular season, and captain Ryan Getzlaf found the net with 24 seconds left in a 3-2 victory in the most recent visit Oct. 11, 2014.

Gibson was in net for Anaheim in the Jan. 10 loss, and the Ducks have Frederik Andersen as an option after he returned from a one-game absence due to an ailing back Wednesday. Andersen started their latest game in Detroit, making 27 saves in his only matchup with the Red Wings.

Both teams have shined on the penalty kill of late with the Ducks going 35 for 37 in their last 11 games. Detroit is 19 for 22 in its last eight but is 3 for 22 on the power play in that span.

The Ducks are 9 for 30 with a man advantage in their past 12 contests.

Ryan Garbutt could make his debut for Anaheim after being acquired from Chicago for Jiri Sekac on Thursday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jackets (15-27) at Bruins (22-17)

Date: January 23, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Boston is the only NHL team Sergei Bobrovsky has never defeated, and he won't be in a position to do so when the teams meet for the first time this season.

The Columbus goaltender's injury issues will again have him sidelined when the Blue Jackets visit the Bruins on Saturday night, while coach John Tortorella suffered his own injury in practice and won't make the game.

In Thursday's 4-2 home loss to Calgary, Bobrovsky was playing his second game since missing 17 with a groin injury, and he left midway through the second period with a third injury this season to the same groin.

Bobrovsky, who has now missed 43 games with groin injuries dating to the start of last season, was placed on injured reserve Friday. The Blue Jackets (17-27-4) recalled Anton Forsberg from AHL Lake Erie, making it likely that rookie Joonas Korpisalo will face the Bruins.

Korpisalo gave up two goals on 14 shots against the Flames, but the 21-year-old is 2-1-0 with a 1.65 goals-against average and .953 save percentage since opening his career 1-4-1 with 3.69 and .882 marks.

Tortorella himself was the next member of the Blue Jackets to go down. The coach collided with Rene Bourque in Friday's practice, leaving him with two broken ribs. Associate coach Craig Hartsburg will lead Columbus against the Bruins and Tortorella's status for Monday against Montreal is unknown.

Columbus has concerns behind the bench and between the pipes, but there's nothing consistently happening in front of its goaltenders, either. The Blue Jackets have averaged 2.25 goals and allowed 3.63 over a 2-5-1 span, though Brandon Dubinsky scored for the fourth time in seven games after opening the season with six in his first 34 contests.

"We made some mistakes and didn't develop enough offense," Tortorella told the team's official website. "There's no sense in me picking it apart. ... We just need to take each day and try to get better. All's we can do is try to stay positive."

That demeanor could be improved with the return of Nick Foligno, who was activated Friday from IR along with Matt Calvert. Foligno missed the last six game with an upper-body injury and is sitting on an eight-game point streak, and Calvert has scored three goals in his last two against the Bruins.

Columbus went 2-0-1 against Boston last season with Bobrovsky only playing in the shootout loss.

The Bruins (24-17-5) are also coming off a 4-2 defeat, which came Thursday at home against Vancouver after a three-game winning streak. It wasn't passed off as a blip.

"We went back to how we used to play early on in the season," Tuukka Rask said. "I guess we'll go work tomorrow and try to figure it out and get the battle level and heads in the game."

Despite the loss, there were some encouraging offensive aspects. Brad Marchand scored for a third straight game after going without a goal in his previous 11, and David Krejci returned after missing 10 games with an upper-body injury.

"Especially when you come back and guys are rolling, you want to just jump on the train and keep going," Krejci told the team's official website. "So kind of a little sad for my comeback, but it is what it is. Hopefully we can bounce back and get two points on Saturday."

Boston didn't face a short-handed situation but hasn't allowed a power-play goal in its last eight games (21 for 21) while killing 53 for 55 over its last 20 contests.

Rask is 3-2-0 with a 1.75 GAA and .940 save percentage as a starter against Columbus, but he's in the midst of his worst home season of his career. The former Vezina Trophy winner is 8-10-1 with a 2.92 GAA and .898 save percentage this season after posting 1.96 and .932 marks through 2014-15.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Lightning (24-17) at Panthers (22-15)

Date: January 23, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Nikita Kucherov's value to the Tampa Bay Lightning has shown up during their best run in 12 years, while the Florida Panthers' last five games have further illustrated Aaron Ekblad's importance.

The rising Lightning can match a franchise record with an eighth consecutive win in Saturday night's showdown with a Panthers team bolstered by Ekblad's return.

Tampa Bay (26-17-4) has closed within three points of the Panthers' lead atop the Atlantic Division by recording its longest winning streak since an eight-game run from Feb. 23-Mar. 6, 2004, the year of the club's lone Stanley Cup championship. Kucherov has at least one point in each of those wins and scored in a third straight game during Thursday's 2-1 victory over Chicago, breaking a 1-all tie with a power-play goal in the second period.

The Lightning have received contributions throughout the roster during a stretch in which they've outscored opponents 26-14. They ended the Blackhawks' team-record 12-game winning streak behind a decided 33-18 advantage in shots.

"This might have been our best game all season," said defenseman Anton Stralman, who had the Lightning's other goal. "We played for 60 minutes, and we got rewarded for it. "This the way we want to play, honestly. This is how we can play, and it hasn't always been there."

Florida (27-15-5) helped the Lightning climb in the standings with a four-game skid that included a 3-1 loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday, in which Kucherov scored twice. The 22-year-old has 10 points over the streak and 27 in 21 games since Dec. 5, second only to Chicago's Patrick Kane's 31 over that span.

Ekblad missed each of those defeats with a concussion, but returned with a goal to support Roberto Luongo's 27 saves in Friday's 4-0 win over the Blackhawks.

The Panthers have won 13 straight with Ekblad, a team-leading plus-19 this season, in the lineup, as well as both matchups with Tampa Bay this season in which he's played. The reigning Calder Trophy recipient had a goal in each, including one with 20.2 seconds left in a 1-0 win at BB&T Center on Nov. 16.

Reilly Smith and Quinton Howden have each scored in consecutive games for Florida, which totaled just five during its 0-3-1 stretch.

'I thought we came out and played a sound game, good defensively, really skated, really moved the puck," coach Gerard Gallant said. "We have to play our best game and that brought the best out of us (Friday), playing that team.'

Tampa Bay's Ben Bishop has allowed only four goals in winning four straight starts. The All-Star made 17 saves against Chicago and 26 in Sunday's victory over Florida.

Luongo, who'll join Bishop on the Atlantic Division team for the Jan. 31 All-Star Game in Nashville, owns a 1.96 goals-against average in three 2015-16 meetings with Tampa Bay. The veteran hasn't started on back-to-back nights all season, however, making Al Montoya Saturday's likely starter.

Montoya is 7-2-1 with a 1.85 GAA in 11 starts but is coming off his worst, a 20-save effort in Monday's 4-2 loss to Edmonton. The usually reliable backup had yielded one each in winning his five previous starts.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Devils (22-19) at Jets (21-23)

Date: January 23, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

While New Jersey has matched its top three-game scoring output, Winnipeg's same stretch could pass as binary code.

The Devils' system isn't much more complicated: Getting pucks low and on net has them chasing their second four-game winning streak of the season Saturday night in Winnipeg as the Jets aim to right things in the third of a six-game homestand.

After Thursday's 6-3 home win over Ottawa, the Devils (24-19-5) have scored 12 goals on the winning streak following a 1-5-0 span in which they managed six. Kyle Palmieri had two goals and an assist, Travis Zajac had a goal and three assists, and Joseph Blandisi scored his first NHL goal with two assists as the trio's line paced a five-goal first period.

"I think we've been clicking the last couple of games," Blandisi told the team's official website. "We're always down low in their zone creating chances, but just really haven't found a way to put it in but we stuck with it and stayed positive. There was no negative talk. Pucks were going in for us (Thursday). I think we worked pretty well down low."

For Palmieri, switching coasts has made all the difference. In five seasons with Anaheim, he topped out at 31 points in 71 games in 2013-14. He's got 35 in 48 games this season, including his first 20-goal campaign.

Zajac, meanwhile, had been limited to an assist in his previous nine games. It'll take quite a few more multipoint games to get him back to his career-best pace of 0.82 points per from 2009-10, but he's at least overcoming last season's letdown. Zajac averaged a career-low 0.34 points in 2014-15 and is up to 0.58 this season, two points shy of matching last season's total of 25 in 34 fewer games.

"It definitely helps the confidence," Zajac said. "You got to stay hungry in those situations, and contribute again in the next game."

The same goes for the power play. Palmieri and Blandisi scored on New Jersey's only power-play chances after the man advantage was 0 for 19 in the previous eight games.

Collectively, though, it's still amounting to an offensive struggle. The Devils are still scoring 2.27 goals per game, which leads only last season (2.15) and 2010-11 (2.09) for their worst average in franchise history.

Any of those numbers would be appealing to the Jets (21-23-3) over the last three games. Thursday's 4-1 home loss to Nashville was their third straight with one goal, though they at least won the first one in Minnesota on Jan. 15. That came on the road, and Winnipeg has dropped four of five at home with 10 goals.

The Jets were without forwards Alexander Burmistrov, Adam Lowry, Mark Scheiefle and Drew Stafford.

"We can play a little smarter and we can pass the puck better - we know that - but, clearly, we're in a tough spot with the losses that are mounting here at home," coach Paul Maurice told the team's official website. "I think they played hard, but they can play better. We can do more. If you throw your hands up because you've got a couple guys injured ... that's not getting you far.

"We had 10 guys with a grand total of four shots on goal. It's the National Hockey League. They're good players. They can get pucks to the net."

Cory Schneider is another obstacle having posted a 1.61 goals-against average and .943 save percentage over a 4-1-0 span.

Jets rookie Connor Hellebuyck is trying to avoid dropping three straight in regulation for the first time, but he has a 1.69 GAA and .941 save percentage in the last three games.

The series has gone Winnipeg's way with a 3-1 win in New Jersey as part of a 6-0-2 span in which the Devils have scored nine goals.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Canadiens (21-20) at Maple Leafs (13-20)

Date: January 23, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Despite the Montreal Canadiens' remarkable decline since early December, Michel Therrien has hardly questioned his team's effort. In turn, his players and the organization remain supportive of the embattled coach.

The visiting Canadiens can avoid their second six-game skid in less than a month with a ninth consecutive victory over their similarly struggling rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, on Saturday night.

Montreal (23-20-4) led the NHL with 41 points Dec. 1 but has gone 4-16-1 since and is out of playoff position. It's averaged 1.81 non-shootout goals in the slide - easily last in the league during that time - despite recording 33.0 shots per contest, the second-highest mark.

"These guys are giving everything they have," Therrien said after the Canadiens outshot Boston 39-24 but fell 4-1 on Tuesday. "Is the execution there? No, but that will come.'

Though naturally feeling the heat from fans and the media, Therrien remains positive, likely because his players continue to support him and take responsibility.

'He's been absolutely phenomenal through all this and that's what makes it so hard,' said captain Max Pacioretty, who has done his part with five goals and four assists in 10 games.

'Night after night we haven't been able to step up for him and that's frustrating because we all believe. We're all on board. We believe this is the way the game is supposed to be played.'

General manager Marc Bergevin stated this week that Therrien and his staff will finish the season.

"They're not going anywhere," Bergevin told the NHL's official website. "We're going to get through this together."

Bergevin also said star goaltender Carey Price could miss at least three more weeks with a leg injury that's kept him out since Nov. 25. The Canadiens have won six times in 24 games since Price went down and allowed an average of 3.14 goals in the last 21.

"To replace Carey Price is impossible," Bergevin said.

Rookie Mike Condon has seen most of the action in Price's absence, and had a 1.52 goals-against average in his first four January starts before yielding seven goals in his last two. Veteran Ben Scrivens has posted a 3.77 GAA while losing all three starts since being acquired from Edmonton on Dec. 28.

Perhaps a visit to Toronto will help the Canadiens at least temporarily cure their ills. They've averaged 3.4 non-shootout goals in 14 games against the Maple Leafs (17-20-8), who last beat their fellow Original Six opponent Jan. 18, 2014. Montreal has won four in a row and eight of 10 at Air Canada Centre.

Pacioretty has three of the Canadiens' eight goals in two meetings this season and Toronto native P.K. Subban has recorded four and 10 assists in his last 10 against the Maple Leafs.

Toronto has been outscored 22-8 during a 1-5-1 stretch and was blanked for the second time in that span Thursday, 1-0 in overtime by Carolina for its third straight home defeat. The Maple Leafs have failed to convert on all 19 power-play chances in six games and are 2 for 42 in the last 12.

"We're not scoring on our power play so I'll have to fix it," coach Mike Babcock said.

"Let's go to work. Let's find ways to win games, get people to the net, get pucks to the net."

Third-year center Leo Komarov has scored one of his career-high and team-leading 16 goals in the last 13 games.

James Reimer made 40 saves Thursday and has a 1.71 GAA in his last 15 starts. It's uncertain if he or Jonathan Bernier will be in net for this one.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Flyers (18-17) at Islanders (22-15)

Date: January 23, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

The New York Islanders are turning things around since being soundly beaten by the Philadelphia Flyers to cap a sluggish stretch two weeks ago.

The weather, however, may prevent the Islanders from another victory.

With Winter Storm Jonas bearing down on the East Coast, it's unknown if the Islanders will get a chance to extend their home winning streak over the Flyers to five games Saturday night.

New York (24-15-6) lost for the seventh time in 11 games after being pounded 4-0 at Philadelphia (20-17-8) on Jan. 9. The Islanders were outshot 11-2 in the first period and 31-20 overall while being blanked for the second time this season.

Avenging that defeat may have to wait since the region is about to be hit by a blizzard, with forecasts calling for up to 18 inches of snow in New York.

If the games goes forward, it'll give the Islanders a chance at a fourth win in five games since last facing the Flyers. New York scored three unanswered goals in the third period of its 5-2 win at Ottawa on Friday.

"Overall it was a good road win, especially coming off a bit of a layoff, and it will be good if we can carry this momentum forward," captain John Tavares said.

Tavares is looking to build on his two points from Friday, when he ended a six-game goal drought. The center's 16 goals are two behind Brock Nelson for the team lead, but Tavares has gone eight home games without finding the net.

He has five goals and four assists in his last nine home meetings with Philadelphia, setting up a tally by Kyle Okposo in a 3-1 win Nov. 25.

Okposo leads the team with 35 points, including four in the last three games. He's collected five over the past five home matchups with the Flyers.

Philadelphia has dropped six of its last eight games on the road after blowing a two-goal, first-period lead and losing 4-3 at Pittsburgh on Thursday. That came two days after falling 3-2 to Toronto after surrendering a goal with 8 seconds left in regulation.

"It's huge. We got another tough game in Brooklyn," right wing Jakub Voracek said. "We just gotta make sure we win that one. Obviously, we pissed away points the last two games. We can't hang our heads here. Like I've said before 'nobody cares.' We just gotta make sure we're ready to play Saturday."

The Flyers are now trying to avoid a three-game overall slide after a 5-0-1 stretch included the victory over the Islanders two weeks ago.

Voracek and Claude Giroux didn't get on the score sheet in that meeting, but they've got seven points each in five games since after netting two apiece against the Penguins.

Giroux has 40 points in 36 career meetings with the Islanders, his highest total against any opponent. He's found the net in each of the last two road matchups.

It's unknown if Philadelphia will have Sean Couturier back after he missed Thursday's game with a lower-body injury. The center has nine points in his last 11 road games but none in the past three against the Islanders. However, he had one goal and one assist at home against them earlier this month.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Avalanche (24-21) at Stars (28-13)

Date: January 23, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Ending their longest losing streak of the season has the Dallas Stars feeling good. The mood isn't all too pleasant after meetings with the Colorado Avalanche.

The Stars attempt to address their struggling special teams as they try to snap a seven-game losing streak to the Avalanche on Saturday night.

A 1-5-2 stretch cost Dallas (30-13-5) the Central Division lead, relinquishing it to Chicago. The Stars trail the Blackhawks by three points, but they regained some confidence after beating Edmonton 3-2 on Thursday to snap a four-game skid.

"Just to get two points, it's feeling good in here again. Winning helps," defenseman Alex Goligoski told the team's official website. "Definitely some areas we can be better."

Special teams certainly needs to improve, as the Stars have allowed opponents to go 5 for 10 on the power play over the last four games.

Dallas is also 3 for 28 on the power play over the last 11 contests after going 7 for 18 during the previous five.

The Stars' issues against Colorado (25-21-3) go beyond special teams. They're 1-7-3 in 11 meetings since hiring coach Lindy Ruff prior to the 2013-14 season, and they've surrendered an average of 4.14 goals while losing seven straight matchups.

Dallas gave up five unanswered goals in a 6-3 loss at Colorado on Oct. 10, allowing the Avalanche to go 2 for 4 on the power play.

"It's our last hurdle we've got to get over," Ruff said of needing to beat Colorado. "We played some great games last year and didn't win, but we've got to find a way to win. You can do that different ways. That can be special teams or being sound defensively against their key personnel."

The Avalanche have won seven of 10 games since Jan. 4, winning three in a row by 2-1 scores. In Friday's 2-1 shootout win over St. Louis, Nathan MacKinnon's goal with 53.7 seconds left in regulation forced overtime and Gabriel Landeskog converted the only successful attempt in the tiebreaker.

"We stayed focused," coach Patrick Roy said. "It could have been easy to panic and be (angry) and have excuses to lose the game. We kept pushing."

Landeskog and MacKinnon are among the reasons behind the Avs' recent dominance of the Stars. Landeskog has five goals and eight assists during a seven-game point streak against Dallas, collecting a career-high four points Oct. 10.

MacKinnon had one goal and two assists in that matchup, giving him 10 points in 11 career meetings.

The Stars are getting production out of Jamie Benn, who has three goals and two assists in five games after going four games without a point. The left wing's 27 goals are third in the NHL, one back of Washington's Alex Ovechkin and three behind Patrick Kane of Chicago.

Much of Benn's success has come at home. He leads the league with the most goals as host with 20 after scoring six times over the past seven contests.

Benn only has three goals in his last 22 games against the Avalanche, but has contributed 18 assists over that stretch.

Tyler Seguin has 11 points over his past nine meetings with Colorado. However, he enters this one with two goals and one assist in nine games after going pointless in the last two.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Kings (27-14) at Coyotes (22-19)

Date: January 23, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

The Arizona Coyotes' homestand has turned into a disaster after the club suddenly lost its scoring touch, missing out on a golden opportunity to pull out of a jumble of Pacific Division teams trying to keep up with first-place Los Angeles.

Even the Kings, though, are prone to a clunker now and then.

Arizona completes a seven-game stretch at home looking to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat when it faces the Kings on Saturday night.

The Coyotes (22-19-5) began their home stretch by scoring four goals each time in victories over Nashville and Edmonton to give them a four-game winning streak, but they've been outscored 10-4 in the ensuing 0-3-1 stretch. They trailed by two within the first 10 minutes of Thursday's 3-1 loss to San Jose.

Arizona went 10-2-2 in a 14-game stretch at Gila River Arena prior to the skid, averaging 3.50 goals.

The Pacific has four teams with fewer than 50 points while no other division has more than two below the mark. It's also the most tightly bunched one from second through last place with eight points separating those spots, which could make for a down-to-the-wire race for playoff berths over the season's final 2 1/2 months.

'(Thursday) was a measuring-stick game,' coach Dave Tippett said. 'We didn't have enough players measure up. It's a good learning experience for our group.

'The pace you need to play in a game like that has to be top-notch from the start. We didn't have a good enough pace and we didn't execute well enough to get ourselves off to a good start.'

Los Angeles (29-14-3) has opened up a 10-point lead on the Sharks and Vancouver and had scored at least three goals in each of its previous four. Playing their fourth game in six nights, though, the Kings couldn't keep up with Minnesota on Thursday and fell 3-0.

It was their first time being blanked since a 5-0 loss at Toronto on Dec. 19 and first being shut out at home since a 3-0 defeat to the Canucks on Oct. 13.

Anze Kopitar had his five-game point streak snapped after recording three goals and seven assists in that stretch.

"That was just a very poor effort," forward Tyler Toffoli said. "I think we really weren't prepared to play and it showed. We had our chances to score and we didn't bear down."

Toffoli assisted on Kopitar's overtime goal that gave the Kings a 4-3 road win over the Coyotes on Dec. 26. Arizona won the first two meetings in Los Angeles, 4-1 on Oct. 9 and 3-2 on Nov. 10.

Jonathan Quick has posted a 3.34 goals-against average in starting each of those matchups after going 3-0-1 with a 1.23 GAA and two shutouts in his previous four against the Coyotes.

The victory the day after Christmas began a 9-1-1 stretch with a 1.72 GAA for Quick before Thursday. He didn't get much special teams help against the Wild as they scored on the power play and added a short-handed goal in the third.

'Usually when you have success, you win the special teams battle for sure,' defenseman Luke Schenn said. 'But we weren't good enough at all. You can't be giving up special teams goals like that. It sucked the life out of us.'

Arizona's opponents have gone 7 for 13 on the power play in the last five, with Louis Domingue in net for four of those contests. His start Dec. 26 was his third of the season after Mike Smith went down with a core muscle injury in mid-December.

Domingue has allowed seven goals while losing his last three starts on the homestand.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Predators (19-18) at Oilers (15-25)

Date: January 23, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

A strong showing to open a four-game trip through Canada might be exactly what the Nashville Predators needed to turn things around on the road.

Armed with a sense of urgency, the Predators can build on that key win with a fifth straight victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night.

Ryan Johansen and James Neal each had a goal with an assist as Nashville (21-18-8) snapped an 0-3-1 road slide with Thursday's 4-1 victory at Winnipeg. Johansen has three goals and six assists in seven games since being acquired from Columbus.

"It was a great team win, a good way to start off what is going to be a tough road trip," said Neal, who has two goals with three assists in four games since going seven straight without a point.

Just outside of playoff position in the Western Conference, the Predators have four wins in their last 17 road contests. The only time they've won back-to-back games away from home came in October. However, they appear extra determined to improve that play on a trip that leads into next week's All-Star break.

"They're huge points, and they're playoff-like games," Neal told the NHL's official website. "(Each team) is fighting for its playoff lives, so you've got to do everything you can to grab a point, grab two."

Nashville has scored four goals in each game while earning three points in its last two on the road - both at Winnipeg. It's also recorded a power-play goal in three straight away from home and killed 12 of 13 penalties over the same span.

"Hard work, especially on the road," said Pekka Rinne, who made 26 saves Thursday to snap an 0-4-1 overall slide that resulted in a 3.73 goals-against average.

"I know it sounds (very) simple, but it's just the way it is. It's really the simple things, but I think that's what it comes down to when you win on the road."

The Predators won 4-1 in their last visit to Edmonton on Oct. 29, 2014, and haven't allowed a goal in the last two overall meetings. Nashville has never shut out the same opponent in three consecutive contests.

Rinne made 31 saves in a 2-0 win over the Oilers (19-25-5) on Oct. 10, and has an 0.74 GAA during the four-game series winning streak.

Boston was the last team to blank Edmonton in three straight meetings spanning the 2006-07 and '09-10 seasons.

The Oilers scored four goals each time while splitting the first two of a three-game trip before Thursday's 3-2 loss at Dallas. Teddy Purcell scored for the second time in three games but Edmonton was held to two or fewer goals for the 12th time during a 5-10-3 stretch.

"Those moral victories don't put points in the bank," coach Todd McLellan said after Thursday's respectable performance. "So I'm disappointed in that, but the effort at the back end of a road trip, a long couple weeks, was real strong, and I'm happy for that."

This will be Edmonton's final game before a break that could help heal McLellan's ailing roster. The Oilers are dealing with long-term injuries to key forwards Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (hand) and Connor McDavid (clavicle), while winger Lauri Korpikoski (foot) is a long-short to return from a three-game absence Saturday.

"Guys are resilient and they're stepping up, taking on bigger roles," Purcell said. "We're working our tails off and trying to do the right thing."

 

[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 37 UNDER
1/15 6 31 31 PUSH
1/16 10 52 48 UNDER
1/17 7 35 34 UNDER
1/18 5 26.5 26 UNDER
1/19 8 42.5 50 OVER
1/20 3 15.5 10 UNDER
1/21 10 53.5 49 UNDER
1/22 6 *PPD *PPD *PPD
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 - - -