Saturday 12/26/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 12:45

Stoke

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Man Utd

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT STOKE	RECENT FORM
AWALHWHWADHL​ Most recent​	1 - 1 2 - 1 0 - 2 0 - 2	HDADHDALALHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: United have won one of their last six away games

EXPERT VERDICT: The increasingly praised Stoke attack still doesn’t create quite as many chances as it should but the same can be said of Manchester United. Both teams have the defensive solidity to keep things tight but preference is for the draw over the skinny prices on the goal-related markets.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
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REFEREE: Kevin Friend STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 15:00

Chelsea

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Watford

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT CHELSEA	RECENT FORM
AWADHLHWALHW​ Most recent​	3 - 0 5 - 0 4 - 0 4 - 0	ALHLAWHWAWHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Watford’s games *average 2.18 goals per match

EXPERT VERDICT: Interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink faces an awkward fixture against a confident Watford side who will be set up to frustrate their under-fire hosts. Chelsea’s misfiring attack is unlikely to have been rebuilt overnight and the Hornets will be buzzing after keeping out Liverpool at the weekend.

RECOMMENDATION: 1-1 draw
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REFEREE: Andre Marriner STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 15:00

Liverpool

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Leicester

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT LIVERPOOL	RECENT FORM
HWAWALADHDAL​ Most recent​	2 - 2 2 - 1 1 - 0 1 - 0	HWAWHDAWHWAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Leicester are unbeaten in their last 12 league away games

EXPERT VERDICT: Liverpool were abject in their 3-0 loss at Watford on Saturday but they can restore some pride by holding Leicester to a draw. Victory will be the target for the Reds as they seek to reduce the 14-point gap between themselves and the league leaders, but Leicester are flying and will be a tough nut to crack.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
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REFEREE: Martin Atkinson STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 15:00

Aston Villa

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West Ham

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ASTON VILLA	RECENT FORM
HDALHLADHLAD​ Most recent​	1 - 0 0 - 2 2 - 1 3 - 0	HDALHDADHDAD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Villa have scored just five goals at home this season

EXPERT VERDICT: West Ham’s injury issues have blunted their attack in recent weeks but they are getting key men back to fitness and should overpower Aston Villa. Villa’s last home win was over the Hammers but the fact it was in May tells you all you need to know – the tepid Villans struggle to take a grip on games.

RECOMMENDATION: West Ham
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REFEREE: Mike Dean STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 15:00

Man City

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Sunderland

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT MAN CITY	RECENT FORM
HWHWALHWHWAL​ Most recent​	3 - 2 2 - 2 3 - 1 3 - 0	HLAWHWALHLAL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Sunderland have scored in their last seven matches against Man City

EXPERT VERDICT: Sam Allardyce has made Sunderland more competitive but they are likely to be overwhelmed by Manchester City’s potent attack. However, the weaknesses at the back which have hampered City could be exploited by the battling Black Cats.

RECOMMENDATION: Both teams to score
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REFEREE: Anthony Taylor STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Premier League TODAY 15:00

Swansea

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West Brom

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT SWANSEA	RECENT FORM
ALHDALHLALHD​ Most recent​	3 - 0 1 - 2 3 - 1 3 - 0	ALHWADHDADHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Swansea have failed to score in five of their last seven

EXPERT VERDICT: Two out-of-form teams clash at the Liberty Stadium and with confidence low we could be in for a dour encounter. West Brom have scored more than once in just one of their last six, while for Swansea it’s one in seven, and they managed just two shots on target against West Ham on Sunday.

RECOMMENDATION: No goalscorer
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REFEREE: Roger East STADIUM:

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Washington at Philadelphia

When: 8:25 PM ET, Saturday, December 26, 2015
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Washington Redskins flopped in their last bid to take control of the NFC East, but they can wrap up the division title with a victory at the visiting Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday night. Although Washington holds a one-game lead over Philadelphia and the New York Giants, the Eagles can win the NFC East with victories in their last two games.

The Redskins rebounded from a lackluster home loss to Dallas on Dec. 7 to knock off Chicago and Buffalo, posting back-to-back victories for the first time this season. Philadelphia bounced back from a three-game skid with wins over New England and Buffalo before it was demolished at home by the Arizona Cardinals 40-17 last week, putting it in a win-out situation. "I'm guaranteeing a win," Eagles defensive end Fletcher Cox said. "What am I supposed to say? That I think we're going to lose or something? No." The last three meetings have each been decided by three points, including the Redskins' 23-20 win in Week 4.

TV: 8:25 p.m. ET, NFL Network. LINE: Eagles -3. O/U: 47.5

ABOUT THE REDSKINS (7-7): Kirk Cousins is in the midst of his the best stretch of his career with a passer rating above 100 in four straight games, capped by a 153.7 mark in last week's 35-25 win over Buffalo in which he threw for 319 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. DeSean Jackson tuned up for his former teammates by hauling in six catches for 153 yards and a TD against the Bills; he has torched the Eagles with nine receptions for 243 yards and a score in the past two matchups. The Redskins are vulnerable to the run, ranking 28th with an average of 129.8 yards per game allowed.

ABOUT THE EAGLES (6-8): Philadelphia was pierced for at least 40 points for the third time in five games in last week's loss and its 30th-ranked run defense surrendered a staggering 230 yards to the Cardinals. After throwing only one interception in a four-game span, quarterback Sam Bradford negated a season-high 361-yard performance by getting picked off twice and losing a fumble. The soap opera that is the Eagles' running game continued as marquee free-agent acquisition DeMarco Murray had a season-low two carries for three yards and has been limited to 91 yards over the past four games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Bradford tossed a season-high three scoring passes in the Week 4 matchup.

2. Cousins has 16 touchdown passes and three interceptions over his last eight games.

3. Eagles WR Jordan Matthews had eight receptions for 159 yards and a TD last week.

PREDICTION: Eagles 27, Redskins 23

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jackets (12-20) at Lightning (16-15)

Date: December 26, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

The only coaches to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Stanley Cup Final will be in Amalie Arena on Saturday night, and Jon Cooper and John Tortorella are both searching for offense.

The league-worst Columbus Blue Jackets, now coached by Tortorella, have lost six of their last seven games at Tampa heading into this matchup with Cooper's Lightning.

Cooper led Tampa Bay to the Eastern Conference title last season, with that feat only bettered in franchise history by Tortorella's Lightning capturing the 2004 Stanley Cup.

Offense is a concern for both coaches. Tampa Bay (17-15-3) is 23rd in goals per game at 2.5, with Columbus 24th at 2.4.

The Lightning totaled 13 goals in three games before Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Vancouver.

"It's kind of a microcosm of how our first 35 games have gone," Cooper said. "You've got to put the puck in the net."

Columbus (13-20-3) fell 5-2 at Pittsburgh in its last game Monday, getting outshot 35-24. The Blue Jackets were outscored 4-0 in a second period in which Boone Jenner and Brandon Dubinsky were whistled for fighting penalties.

"We have to get into an aggressive mind-set," Tortorella said. "We did not develop enough offense tonight."

Fittingly, the Lightning won 2-1 at Columbus on Dec. 14 in the only previous meeting this season. That marked the ninth game of a season-high 10-game goal drought for Steven Stamkos in which he kicked the puck into the net for a disallowed tally.

Stamkos broke out by totaling three goals in back-to-back games before coming up empty Tuesday. The Lightning continue to play without injured center Tyler Johnson, who had 29 goals last season.

Brian Boyle, whose head struck the glass after a first-period hit in Friday's 5-2 win over Ottawa, didn't play against the Canucks and is day to day. Boyle is third on the club with eight goals.

Jenner and Scott Hartnell each have 13 goals to lead Columbus, which has received abysmal production from Ryan Johansen and Nick Foligno, who have combined for 11. Foligno and Johansen totaled 57 goals a season ago.

Johansen's assist Monday marked his first point in five games. He hasn't scored in his last 10.

Tampa Bay went 1 for 10 on the power play Tuesday, ranking 24th in that department at 16.8 percent. The Lightning are 1-1-0 on a six-game homestand.

"Now we've got to make a push," Cooper said. "We've got four more games at home here that we can gain some ground in the standings and we have every thought that we are going to do that."

The Lightning figure to start Ben Bishop, who is third in the NHL with a 2.00 goals-against average. The Blue Jackets are starting a back-to-back set and will go with Curtis McElhinney or Joonas Korpisalo, who made his NHL debut in the first meeting against Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay winger Nikita Kucherov has six points in a four-game streak.

The Blue Jackets are fifth in the NHL with an average of 27.3 hits with the Lightning sixth-worst at 19.5. Columbus held a 36-23 advantage in that category in the first meeting.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Devils (15-13) at Hurricanes (13-16)

Date: December 26, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

The Carolina Hurricanes hope a chance to rest allowed a sputtering offense the opportunity to recapture its prior form.

The New Jersey Devils look to keep breaking out of their scoring slump with another big offensive performance against the Hurricanes on Saturday night in Raleigh.

An offense that had been lethargic nearing the holiday break came to life in the Devils' most recent outing, as Kyle Palmieri, Jordin Tootoo and David Schlemko scored within a 2:12 span during the first period of Tuesday's 4-3 victory at Detroit. New Jersey (17-13-5) had managed five goals over its prior five outings and lost its previous three.

'We got off to a good start and took advantage of some opportunities,' coach John Hynes said.

The Devils matched a season high in goals in a 5-1 rout of the Hurricanes on Dec. 3 at PNC Arena and are 6-1-1 in the past eight meetings. They've outscored Carolina 20-9 in winning five of six in Raleigh.

New Jersey's Mike Cammalleri recorded two goals and an assist in the previous meeting but has just one goal in his last eight games. Adam Henrique has 13 goals but none in the past six games with only one assist.

Carolina's offense got rolling following that defeat to New Jersey, averaging 4.3 goals while going 4-1-1 over its next six. The Hurricanes, however, scored just three over their last three games before a five-day holiday break and lost two of them.

Jeff Skinner led that six-game surge with nine goals, including two hat tricks, but has no points over the last three. He owns 10 goals in 18 career games against the Devils.

Carolina (13-16-5) has relied heavily on a power play that's gone 10 for 30 since last facing New Jersey. The Hurricanes, though, failed to score on three power-play chances and on many other good scoring opportunities in Monday's 2-1 loss to Eastern Conference-leading Washington, finishing with 32 shots.

'We get about three or four chances that bounce just wide,' said Kris Versteeg, who scored Carolina's lone goal. "That sometimes is the way of the game. We've got a really good team, a young team, and guys are experiencing new situations at a high level. It's going to happen."

While the Hurricanes have had trouble scoring goals, Cam Ward has done a better job of preventing them lately. The veteran netminder has yielded four over his last three starts, an encouraging sign for a team that ranks last in the NHL with an .887 save percentage.

Eddie Lack made just 22 saves in the Dec. 3 loss to the Devils and has allowed four goals in each of his last two outings.

Keith Kincaid had a sharp 30 saves in the teams' last matchup, though Hynes is expected to start workhorse Cory Schneider, who has allowed two goals or less in 20 of his 29 starts.

Schneider owns a 4-1-1 record and 1.65 goals-against average in six starts against Carolina and has allowed four goals in winning three straight at PNC Arena.

The teams also face off in New Jersey on Tuesday night, with the Hurricanes visiting Chicago on Saturday in between.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Canadiens (19-13) at Capitals (23-6)

Date: December 26, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

The start of the 2015 portion of the NHL schedule was Montreal's time. The end is threatening to cancel out that success, and the slide started with an early December loss to Washington - the team which has since taken over.

The Capitals were already soaring at that time, and they haven't come down since. The next step is returning from the Christmas break with a strong home showing against the Canadiens on Saturday night to extend their winning streak to a season-best seven games.

Montreal (20-13-3) started the season with nine straight wins and opened December with a victory to get to 19-4-3. A 3-2 home loss to Washington on Dec. 3 then started a 1-9-0 span that has it just one point clear of Boston in the Atlantic Division.

Washington (25-6-2), meanwhile, is 13-1-1 dating to Nov. 21 with two six-game winning streaks, building a sizable lead atop the Eastern Conference. The latest was Monday's 2-1 win in Carolina with goals from Michael Latta and Jason Chimera, who is a goal shy of becoming the sixth Caps player with 10.

The power play was 0 for 2, but Washington ranks second at 25.7 percent behind the Bruins and is at 30.0 percent (15 of 50) over the last 15 games.

"It can't be the power play every game, and the top six guys," center Jay Beagle told the team's official website after assisting on Latta's goal. "It can't be on them every game to score goals. Lats gets us going with that big goal there, and we get one off a draw there. It's nice when we're chipping in and to be successful - especially down the road - you've definitely got to have the third and fourth lines chipping in."

But those expected parts have been the driving force behind the run as the team goes for its longest winning streak since an eight-gamer April 2-16, 2013. Evgeny Kuznetsov, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom are one of three trios on a given team with at least 30 points each, the others being Dallas and Ottawa.

The Capitals are also looking to win eight consecutive home games for the first time since winning 13 straight Jan. 5-March 6, 2010.

It's been more than two years since Montreal last beat Washington in regulation with the Capitals limiting the Canadiens to 10 goals over a 4-0-2 span.

The Canadiens' slide has them searching for answers on both ends of the ice. In the last 10 games, they've been outscored 3.20-1.50, and that disparity has grown on a five-game losing streak to 3.80-1.00. Montreal last lost six straight Oct. 13-24, 2011, and is also in danger of a six-game road skid for the first time since a seven-gamer March 12-April 5, 2012.

The latest on both streaks was Tuesday's 2-1 loss in Minnesota.

"We meet often. We talk often. It doesn't really need to be aired out there. I think what we need to do is stick with it. We've done a lot of good things," said leading scorer Max Pacioretty, who has one goal and one assist over the last 10 games.

It doesn't help that they're likely to be up against Braden Holtby, who leads the NHL with a 1.96 goals-against average and ranks fifth with a .931 save percentage. He last lost in regulation Nov. 10, going 13-0-1 since.

Holtby is 7-0-2 with a 1.40 GAA against the Canadiens, while Mike Condon's only game against the Capitals was the loss earlier this month. The rookie is 0-6-0 with a 3.16 GAA in eight games dating to that contest.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sabres (13-16) at Bruins (17-10)

Date: December 26, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Ten points separate the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres in the Atlantic Division, but both clubs appear to be happy with where they're at in terms of their wildly different expectations.

Boston seeks a fourth victory in five games when it hosts the well-rested Sabres on Saturday night.

The Bruins (19-10-4) expect to be among the NHL's elite every season, but they got off to a slow start to 2015-16 after missing last season's playoffs and dealing with changes in the front office.

They've gone 11-2-3 since Nov. 19, though, to close the gap on first-place Montreal and have used the holiday break to take a step back and evaluate that success. They also promised not to let Tuesday's 2-0 loss to St. Louis fester after being shut out for the first time all season.

"You know, we've taken a lot of strides forward and we definitely have to build on that and realize what we've done," center Patrice Bergeron told the team's official website. "But at the same time I think we can't be satisfied."

Tuukka Rask made 27 saves against the Blues, a game coach Claude Julien called "a measuring stick" against another quality opponent. Despite falling short, the overall run they made prior to the break has the Bruins thinking big as the new year approaches.

"I think we're right there," forward Brad Marchand said. "To this point, we've done really well, and we have to be happy with where we're at, but we just want to continue to get better."

Buffalo (14-16-4) is not expected to be competing for championships anytime soon, but it has made strides in its rebuilding process under first-year coach Dan Bylsma.

The Sabres dropped all three games on a trip to Western Canada before going 3-1-1 prior to the break. That includes Saturday's 3-2 shootout loss to defending champion Chicago.

"We got back to what was our foundation," captain Brian Gionta said. "On that West Coast trip, we had a lot of turnovers, we were sloppy with the puck, never established our forecheck - so we got back into that kind of thing, managing the puck better and giving ourselves a chance to forecheck. We're a much better team when we do that."

Buffalo practiced Sunday, then enjoyed a much longer break than most other teams. Bylsma doesn't believe the extra time off will have any adverse effects.

It also gave center Tyler Ennis some extra recovery time. He returned Saturday after missing 15 games with a lower-body injury.

"The good news is, everybody's going to have (at least) three days off going into the 26th and won't feel their best on that day," Bylsma said. "It's not going to be any different for us because we have three more days. It's going to be quite similar for us.

"Having said that, we've played a lot of hockey in the last month. ... This is a much, much needed break for our group."

Former Bruin Chad Johnson made 26 saves against the Blackhawks and has started the last two. It's unclear if he or Linus Ullmark will be in net against Boston.

Rask has a 1.01 goals-against average over his last six and has won his last three against the Sabres.

Boston is 5-0-2 in the past seven meetings, but the teams haven't played each other since March.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Penguins (15-14) at Wild (18-9)

Date: December 26, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

A scoring barrage that came without Sidney Crosby finally ended Pittsburgh's skid and gave new Penguins coach Mike Sullivan his first victory entering the holiday break.

He's hoping it's the first of many.

Pittsburgh looks to win back-to-back games for the first time in five weeks by winning a fourth straight meeting with the host Minnesota Wild on Saturday night.

The Penguins (16-14-3) dropped five straight and scored four times in four games under Sullivan prior to Monday's 5-2 victory over Columbus. Crosby sat for the first time this season with a lower-body injury, but Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel had two goals apiece.

Pittsburgh hasn't won consecutive games since beating Minnesota on Nov. 17 and Colorado two nights later.

"Everybody here wants to win," Sullivan said. "Everybody cares and when you go through a slide, everybody squeezes their stick a little bit more and that's part of dealing with those pressures. To get a win, guys can feel good about themselves."

Pittsburgh completed a blockbuster deal with Toronto during the offseason to bring in Kessel, a five-time 30-goal scorer. Having three of the league's most prolific offensive talents hasn't delivered the desired results for the Penguins, who rank 28th in the NHL in scoring.

Kessel hadn't scored in eight consecutive games prior to Monday. Without Crosby, who has only six goals in 32 games, Kessel played on a wing with Nick Bonino as his center.

"Doesn't make a difference who you play with, you have to do whatever you can to help the team win," Kessel said. "It felt good. I haven't scored in awhile. It's nice to get one and it's a nice win heading into the break."

Crosby is considered day to day and could be back against the Wild (18-9-6), who also entered the hiatus on a high note after beating Montreal 2-1 on Tuesday.

Minnesota had dropped its previous two games following a 6-0-3 stretch.

"Lately we've been scoring a lot of goals and sometimes you think it's going to be that way once you get one or two early, and you kind of slip away from what we do best," said Jason Pominville, who scored in the first period. "When we defend hard, we're a tough team to play against, and I think we showed that."

Charlie Coyle scored for the second straight contest after going without a goal in his previous nine for the Wild, who have won five of their last six at home.

"It's going to be nice to kind of regroup, and some guys going home, and enjoying the holidays, but right back at it on the 26th, and we have to come back with the same attitude," Coyle said. "It's not just going to come for us."

Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves Tuesday, but Devan Dubnyk could be back in net against the Penguins. Dubnyk has allowed nine goals in his last three starts after missing the previous four games with a groin injury.

He's 2-3-0 with a 3.16 goals-against average in his career against Pittsburgh after losing 4-3 in the last meeting. Malkin scored twice and had a season-high four points to help back Marc-Andre Fleury, who made 26 saves.

Fleury, though, has been out with a concussion since losing to Washington on Dec. 14 and could be sidelined for another week. Rookie Matt Murray has started the last two games, stopping 46 of 50 shots.

Malkin has two goals and five assists during the Penguins' three-game winning streak against the Wild.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Red Wings (16-10) at Predators (15-11)

Date: December 26, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

The Detroit Red Wings enjoyed the comforts of home ice throughout much of the past five-plus weeks, but that will change when they head out of the Christmas break.

The Red Wings will try to kick off their road-heavy stretch by earning a fourth consecutive win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.

Detroit (17-10-7) played 13 of its past 16 games at home, a span which included most of its 13-game point streak - the team's longest in one season since a 20-game run in 2005-06. The Red Wings rallied to top Nashville 5-4 in overtime in one of those games Dec. 5.

Gustav Nyquist netted the winner after Dylan Larkin and Justin Abdelkader erased Detroit's two-goal deficit in the third period, with Abdelkader's tying goal coming on a power play with 2:23 remaining.

The Red Wings, though, are 1-2-1 in their last four after falling into an early three-goal deficit in a 4-3 home loss to New Jersey on Tuesday. They got within one goal on two occasions after Petr Mrazek replaced an ineffective Jimmy Howard in net but couldn't tally an equalizer following Riley Sheahan's goal with 5:37 remaining.

Detroit now opens a three-game trip and plays nine of its next 10 on the road. Coach Jeff Blashill's team has played a league-low 12 road games but is 5-1-3 in the last nine.

"I think we have lots of confidence that we can go on the road and win. We've done it already this year. I think it comes down to playing good hockey," Blashill said. "Obviously, there's some buildings that are tough and we're going to go into some tough buildings but it still comes down to who executes at a higher level.

"I think lots of teams in the league have proven they can win on the road. I think we've proven it, but we better go prove it here in this next stretch."

The Predators (17-11-6) will seek to improve to 3-0-0 on a four-game homestand and match their longest win streak this season. They routed Montreal 5-1 in their final contest before the break Monday with Shea Weber and Colin Wilson each registering a goal and two assists.

"I think it will make the break a little bit nicer. For four days, everyone would be thinking about it after a loss," Wilson said. "It felt good, and we will try to use that momentum after the break."

Nashville, though, has lost six of eight against Detroit while allowing 30 goals.

Tomas Tatar has keyed the Red Wings' three-game win streak in the series with four goals and two assists, but he enters on a season-high four-game point drought.

Weber recorded his first career hat trick in the visit to Detroit earlier this month, and his 14 goals against the Red Wings match his most versus any opponent. The Nashville captain has one goal and five assists in his last three games.

The Predators last won three in a row Oct. 17-22.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Stars (25-7) at Blues (20-11)

Date: December 26, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Last year, St. Louis entered the Christmas break with an 11-point lead on Dallas, and that gap only grew by season's end.

This time around, the Blues are on roughly the same pace, but the Stars are celebrating the holiday with an eight-point lead over their Central Division foes, who are the closest to them in the Western Conference.

The disparity can grow to 10 points Saturday night when the Stars visit St. Louis seeking a fourth straight win paced by their high-powered offense in a likely matchup of goaltenders coming off shutouts.

Dallas (26-7-2) leads the NHL with 54 points in 35 games after missing the playoffs in a season that saw Anaheim lead the league at the break with 51 points in 36 contests. The Stars beat Stanley Cup-defending Chicago 4-0 at home Tuesday before three days off.

"It's all part of the growing process for our team," Jason Spezza told the team's official website. "I think everybody seems to bring their best to us every night. We're going to see the best from teams.

"Chicago is Chicago. They bring fans with them. They bring an intense atmosphere, and they're always exciting games. I thought we handled ourselves pretty well tonight."

Spezza scored a power-play goal in the second period before former Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp, Colton Sceviour and Mattias Janmark added to the lead in a third period that featured a 17-3 shot advantage.

Spezza and Sharp have both scored twice in the last three as part of the team's 16-5 scoring advantage on the streak. The Stars are 5 for 14 on the power play in that time.

St. Louis (21-11-4), however, has had the answer to that scoring and began the season series with a 3-0 home win Dec. 12 for its second shutout on a three-game winning streak over the Stars. It stands as the only shutout against Dallas this season while Detroit and Minnesota remain the only teams not to be blanked.

Jake Allen was responsible for both of those shutouts, and he also was in goal for the Blues' 2-0 win in Boston on Tuesday. After the 32-save effort, Allen has a 1.58 goals-against average and .943 save percentage on a 5-2-0 span.

"I felt pretty good (in Monday's 4-3 loss in Philadelphia) even though we lost. I wanted to carry that momentum into tonight," Allen said. "It was a good road game (tonight) - two teams with similar skills. Last night, we were all-in for like 18 minutes, then let the foot off. Tonight it was a full 60."

The Blues have won four of five, and Vladimir Tarasenko scored for the sixth time on a seven-game point streak with five assists. He also has six goals and an assist in five games against Dallas since the start of last season.

Allen is 2-1-0 with a 1.30 GAA and .947 save percentage in four career games against Dallas, while Antti Niemi has 6.06 and .811 marks on a three-game skid versus St. Louis dating to his time with San Jose.

Niemi, however, has posted a 1.41 GAA and .942 save percentage over a 5-1-0 span after the shutout against Chicago.

"I thought he made a couple of big saves," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "We were great defensively in from of him. I don't think they had a scoring chance in the third period."

Jamie Benn has five goals in his last four games against the Blues.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Kings (18-11) at Coyotes (16-15)

Date: December 26, 2015 9:00 PM EDT

Goaltender Louis Domingue played a sizable role in helping the Arizona Coyotes end their recent woes just before the Christmas break.

Coach Dave Tippett indicated he might use both his netminders when the Coyotes face a back-to-back set this weekend that begins with Saturday night's visit from the Los Angeles Kings.

Arizona (16-15-2) headed into its three-day hiatus with two wins, edging the New York Islanders 1-0 last Saturday and Toronto 3-2 on Tuesday. After recording his first career shutout, Dominigue made 37 saves against the Maple Leafs.

"That was a big win for us," said defenseman Connor Murphy, who scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period. "It's all about trying to carry positive play, starting with our defensive play. Starting with goalie out, Louis was outstanding. We need that, and we've got to play well in front of him."

Dominigue will likely start just one of the next two games, either the finale of this six-game homestand or a visit to Colorado on Sunday.

"We've got two games in less than 24 hours so I would imagine both guys will play," Tippett said.

Dominigue, who has never faced Los Angeles, is 2-1-0 with a 1.62 goals-against average in three appearances since being called up from the minors Dec. 11. The Coyotes needed his help with Mike Smith out until February because of a lower-body injury.

Arizona was outscored 37-21 in a 1-6-1 stretch to open this month, and Anders Lindback was pulled in place of Dominigue after giving up four goals on 10 shots in a 7-5 loss to Columbus on Dec. 17. Lindback is 1-1-1 with a 4.28 GAA in his last four and 1-2-0 with a 4.20 GAA in three career starts against the Kings.

That would seem to give an edge to Dominigue for this game, and he'd face a team that gave up a combined 10 goals in back-to-back losses before the break. Those starts were split by Jhonas Enroth and Jonathan Quick, who was charged with four goals in a 5-3 loss to San Jose on Tuesday.

Quick has given up a combined nine goals in his last three starts but earned a 3-0 win in Montreal on Dec. 17 for his second shutout of the season.

"We've given up a lot of goals these last couple of games," forward Tyler Toffoli said. "That's not our type of hockey. We need to find a way back to shutting things down. We need to refocus."

Los Angeles (20-11-2) hasn't lost three straight since its 0-3-0 start but is 1-2-1 in its last four road games. The Coyotes are 7-1-1 in their last nine at home.

The Kings, who are starting a four-game trip, have been outscored 7-3 in their two losses to Arizona this season with Quick in net for both games.

Martin Hanzal has three goals and two assists in his last three matchups with Los Angeles, but missed Tuesday's game because of a lower-body injury.

Defenseman Zbynek Michalek also has a lower-body injury that has kept him out since Dec. 11, but Tippett indicated fellow blueliner Nicklas Grossmann might play Saturday after being forced to leave the win against Toronto with an upper-body ailment.

Los Angeles won 4-0 in its most recent trip to Arizona on Dec. 4, 2014, to end a five-game skid there.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Oilers (13-18) at Canucks (11-14)

Date: December 26, 2015 10:00 PM EDT

Henrik and Daniel Sedin have been Vancouver's top two scorers every season since 2006-07, remaining constants despite plenty of changes around them through the years.

Canucks coach Willie Desjardins sure is glad they're on his side.

After the twins sent Vancouver into the break on a high note, the club looks to win a third straight at Rogers Arena when it begins a seven-game homestand against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night.

The Canucks (13-14-9) have been inconsistent through the first portion of their schedule and are coming off a 2-3-1 trip. They ended that swing with a 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay, though, with Daniel Sedin scoring midway through the third period off a feed from Henrik, who missed the previous two because of a lower-body injury.

Daniel's 16 goals lead the team, while Henrik's 23 assists are a team high.

"They're remarkable," Desjardins said. "They're always in the game. You can be getting nothing and those two can create."

Vancouver has appeared to regress a bit from last season, when it finished second in the Pacific Division with 101 points before being ousted by Calgary in six games in the first round of the playoffs.

Henrik's 32 points are 12 more than third-leading scorer Jannik Hansen.

"I think we battled hard and we showed on the (penalty kill) we were there," Henrik said after the Canucks killed nine of 10 power plays against Tampa. "Our game is not perfect, but at least I think we understand what it takes to win. We have different guys contributing now, which is good."

Edmonton (15-18-2) has been forced to dig into its depth with plenty of injuries, including the broken collarbone of star rookie Connor McDavid. The Oilers had been outscored 13-3 during a three-game losing streak before heading into the break with Monday's 3-1 win over Winnipeg.

Teddy Purcell scored twice in the first period before Justin Schultz added a goal in the second. However, the Oilers were outshot 45-21, leaving coach Todd McLellan displeased despite the victory.

"I'm disappointed," McLellan said. "It's great that we got the points in the bank and we went into the break feeling good, but I think we're such a better team than we just performed. We got away with one."

Cam Talbot's performance in goal sure helped. He gave up four goals in four of his previous five starts, but he's faced at least 37 shots in each of his last three.

"I don't think it was the best game for us, but Cam played great, I'm really happy for him," forward Taylor Hall said. "The last three starts for him have been really strong and it's a good sign for our team."

Talbot, though, is 2-6-1 with a 3.15 goals-against average in nine road starts, and the Oilers have gone 5-13-1 away from home to tie for the second-fewest road victories in the league.

The Canucks are 5-6-3 at home but have won back-to-back games at Rogers Arena. They've earned at least a point in 10 of the last 11 home meetings with Edmonton, which won 2-1 at Vancouver on Oct. 18 on Lauri Korpikoski's overtime goal.

Ryan Miller won his first 12 starts against the Oilers with a 2.23 GAA before taking the loss in that contest. It's unclear if he'll be able to go in this meeting, though.

Miller missed Tuesday's win after suffering cramps during the shootout of a loss to Florida on Sunday. Jacob Markstrom would make his second straight start if Miller isn't ready.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'On the Ice!'

After three well-deserved days off, the NHL is back in action this Saturday with nine games, starting with an old Adams Division classic between the Buffalo Sabres (14-16-1-3) and the Boston Bruins (19-10-3-1). This will be their first meeting of the 2015-2016 campaign. Game time is 07:00 EST from the Garden.

The Sabres were the worst team in the league last year, and the year before that, allowing them to grab centers Sam Reinhart (8G, 7A) and Jack Eichel (9G, 7A) with back-to-back No. 2 overall selections. Their play has helped Buffalo inch back toward respectability under new head coach Dan Bylsma. The 'Under' is 4-0-1 in Sabres last five games.

After a slow start, the Bruins have won 11 of their last 16 games to move within a point of the Montreal Canadiens for first place in the Atlantic Division. Tuukka Rask has lost just once in regulation since Nov. 17 posting an 8-1-2 record over 11 games. The 'Under' is 8-1 in Boston's last nine.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA notebook: Lakers G Bryant leads early All-Star voting
By The Sports Xchange

Retiring Los Angeles Lakers veteran Kobe Bryant has struggled this season but is the top vote-getter in early fan balloting for the 2016 NBA All-Star Game.
The 17-time All-Star, who announced last month that this season will be his final one in his storied 20-year career, received 719,235 votes in results released Friday by the league. The All-Star Game will be played Feb. 14 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Bryant has scored the most points in NBA All-Star Game history with 280 and trails only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19) for most All-Star selections.
Guard Stephen Curry, who has led the Golden State Warriors to a 27-1 record this season, had the second-highest vote total (510,202) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James is third (357,937). James received the most votes among Eastern Conference players.
The top three Eastern Conference frontcourt vote-getters are James, Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (283,785) and Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (148,278). The leaders in the East backcourt are Miami guard Dwyane Wade (300,595) and Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (138,191), who returned to the court this week for the first time after recovering from a knee injury.

---Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris apologized for a towel-throwing incident that resulted in a two-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.
Morris was disciplined by the Suns on Thursday for throwing a towel at coach Jeff Hornacek during Wednesday's game. Morris will miss games against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday and Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.
Morris has been unhappy with the Suns since they traded twin brother Marcus to the Detroit Pistons during the summer. He recently lost his starting job and has fallen out of favor with Hornacek.

---The Miami Heat re-assigned forward/center Jarnell Stokes to the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the D-League, the club announced Friday.
Stokes was obtained from the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 10 as part of a four-player deal for Mario Chalmers and James Ennis.
Stokes has appeared in two games with Memphis this season and in two different stints with Sioux Falls, he is averaging 18.1 points and 8.9 rebounds.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Wizards (13-14) at Nets (8-21)

Date: December 26, 2015 4:00 PM EDT

The Washington Wizards have been as reliant as ever on John Wall for scoring, but that might be starting to change. The point guard's shot hasn't been falling lately, yet the Wizards are on fire from 3-point range and on the verge of a season-best win streak.

The run can reach four Saturday against the visiting Brooklyn Nets, who have won once in seven games but have been encouraged by their latest efforts.

Wall's 19.4 points, 16.3 shots and 4.3 3-point attempts per game are at least tied for career highs, but he's been limited to 15.8 points on 32.5 percent shooting in his last five. He's still posted four straight double-doubles while averaging 14.0 assists.

"John again doesn't have to carry the load for us scoring (but) he still ended with 14 assists," coach Randy Wittman said after Wednesday's 100-91 home win over Memphis. "John has a sense for needing to take over or to dish the ball."

The team completed a 3-0 homestand while averaging 107.3 points and shooting 48.8 percent. The most impressive number has been the 49.3 percent the Wizards (13-14) have hit from long range in that time, despite being without plenty of perimeter contributors and playing the last game with nine players.

Bradley Beal and Otto Porter have been out, and Garrett Temple has started six of the last seven games. In the previous three, he's averaged 21.3 points and shot 53.5 percent while hitting 10 of 22 from beyond the arc.

"Whether they're missing shots or making shots, I still believe in these guys," Wall said. "Giving them the ball in certain situations, and they're kind of just getting into a rhythm and making shots."

Beal is dealing with a leg injury and is scheduled to be re-evaluated Saturday, while Porter has missed three straight with a thigh injury.

The teams are meeting for the first time since a four-game split a season ago.

Brooklyn (8-21) has lost five straight at home after Wednesday's 119-118 overtime loss to Dallas. It followed a 105-102 win at Chicago on Monday, so the Nets feel as though they're headed in the right direction after a discouraging five-game skid.

They shot 50.5 percent and went 10 of 19 from 3-point range against the Mavericks and limited themselves to 11 turnovers in 53 minutes. The problem was Dallas shot 54.9 percent, and Brooklyn's last seven opponents have posted a combined 49.1 mark.

"There are some good things that we can definitely pull from the game," Thaddeus Young told the team's official website. "We just have to win basketball games. We have to bring the intensity that we had in the last two games to the next game and carry it over. If we keep playing like we've been playing, we're going to win more games."

Young might also be a key to that. The forward had a season-high 29 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 14 for 20. In his first full season in Brooklyn, Young is averaging 16.0 points and a career-best 9.2 rebounds.

"Just a tremendous effort," coach Lionel Hollins said of Young. "He was just battling. That's what I like and expect from the whole group and that's what we got. His numbers stand out over other people, but I thought we got the efforts we needed and the extra efforts."

The Nets have also gotten some solid offense recently from Bojan Bogdanovic, who has started the last 10 games in the backcourt with Jarrett Jack. The 6-foot-8 guard scored 17 points against the Mavericks and is averaging 14.0 on 57.1 percent shooting in the last three games, including going 10 of 16 from 3-point range.