Thursday 11/5/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

Europa League TODAY 18:00

Celtic

v

Molde

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		8/13	16/5	5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT CELTIC	RECENT FORM
AWAWALHWAWHW​ Most recent​	Unknown	HDHWHWHWAWHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Celtic are without a clean sheet in their last five European matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Home advantage is usually worth plenty to Celtic at Parkhead but Molde have been fantastic in this season’s Europa League and can at least find the net in Glasgow. Molde have notched in eight of their nine European matches this term and will be dangerous opponents having already won at Fenerbahce in the group.

RECOMMENDATION: Both teams to score
1


REFEREE: Slavko Vincic STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Europa League TODAY 18:00

Rubin

v

Liverpool

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

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT RUBIN	RECENT FORM
HDALHWADALAW​ Most recent​	Unknown	ADADHDHDHWAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Liverpool have drawn all three Europa League matches this season

EXPERT VERDICT: The Europa League is probably bottom of Liverpool’s priorities this season and Jurgen Klopp is likely to select a weaker starting 11 than the team which beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The long trip isn’t ideal either and the Reds could be heading for a fourth straight European stalemate.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1


REFEREE: Kevin Blom STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Europa League TODAY 20:05

Tottenham

v

Anderlecht

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		7/10	3	17/4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT TOTTENHAM	RECENT FORM
ADADHDALAWHW​ Most recent​	1 - 1	HDAWHWHWADHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Anderlecht have not won in their last 12 away European matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Mauricio Pochettino’s team selection will be interesting seeing as Tottenham face Arsenal on Sunday. However, Anderlecht are not great travellers so Spurs should be able to take revenge for the 2-1 defeat in Belgium on matchday three but if there is any complacency it could allow the visitors to notch.

RECOMMENDATION: Tottenham to win 2-1
1


REFEREE: Orel Grinfeld STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Spanish La Liga Fr 6Nov 19:30

Las Palmas

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Sociedad

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS2		13/8	21/10	7/4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT LAS PALMAS	RECENT FORM
HWALHLALHDAL​ Most recent​	1 - 1 0 - 0 2 - 1	AWHDALHLAWHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Las Palmas have lost four of their last five matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Real Sociedad twice let a lead slip against Celta Vigo last time out in a 3-2 defeat but they may gain compensation against Las Palmas. David Moyes’s team have won two of their last three away from Anoeta, while Las Palmas have picked up just one point in their last five games.

RECOMMENDATION: Sociedad
1

 

[superbeets]

German Bundesliga Fr 6Nov 19:30

Hannover

v

Hertha Berlin

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		6/4	11/5	9/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT HANNOVER	RECENT FORM
ADHWAWHLALAW​ Most recent​	1 - 1 1 - 1 1 - 1 0 - 3	ADHWALAWAD*HL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Hertha’s four defeats this season have come against teams in the top five

EXPERT VERDICT: Hannover are a poor side despite losing only one of their last five matches and a fifth home defeat of the season could be on the cards against Hertha. The sixth-placed Berlin boys have not lost a match to a team currently below them in the Bundesliga and are worthy of support against the 14th-placed hosts.

RECOMMENDATION: Hertha Berlin
2

 

[superbeets]

French Ligue 1 Fr 6Nov 19:30

Angers

v

Rennes

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		9/5	2	17/10	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ANGERS	RECENT FORM
AWHWAWHDALAL​ Most recent​	0 - 0	HDADHLADAWHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Rennes have drawn their last three away league games

EXPERT VERDICT: Angers' results have dipped in recent weeks but they remain very solid at the back and can dig out a point at home to Rennes. Only Paris St-Germain have conceded fewer Ligue 1 goals than Angers and the promoted side can hold their own against a Rennes outfit who have won just one of their last eight matches.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL notebook: Oilers lose injured McDavid for 'months'
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

Edmonton Oilers center and No. 1 overall draft pick Connor McDavid will undergo surgery after he suffered a broken left collarbone on Tuesday night.

Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli said Wednesday that he did not have a timetable for how long McDavid would be out but said it would be "months."

"He's a strong kid, mentally and physically. He's still developing and he's going to come back stronger," Chiarelli said.

The 18-year-old McDavid was injured with 1:44 left in the second period of the Oilers' 4-2 win at Rexall Place against the Philadelphia Flyers after slamming hard into the end boards. He has five goals and seven assists in 13 games for Edmonton this season. On Monday, he was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for October.

---The Boston Bruins recalled forward Max Talbot from the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League after left winger Chris Kelly suffered a broken leg Tuesday night.

Kelly is expected to miss six to eight months after fracturing his left femur in the first period of a 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars at TD Garden. Kelly left 1:40 into the game and was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital. He underwent surgery Wednesday.

Talbot has skated in two games for Boston this year, and appeared in 18 contests last season when he registered three assists. In 81 games split between Colorado and Boston last year, Talbot recorded five goals, 13 assists and 29 penalty minutes. In three games for Providence this season, Talbot has notched four assists and a plus-3 rating.

---St. Louis Blues forward Ryan Reaves has been fined for roughing Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar during Tuesday night's game.

The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Reaves was fined $3,024.19, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Kopitar took a hard elbow to the face from Reaves at 11:56 of the first period and had trouble getting to the bench. Kopitar came back on the ice later in the period but was not on the Kings' bench for the start of the second period. Kopitar suffered an upper-body injury, the Kings said.

---The St. Louis Blues recalled forward Magnus Paajarvi from the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.

Paajarvi, 24, has dressed in seven games for the Wolves this season, ranking third on the club with seven points (four goals, three assists).

The 6-foot-3, 203-pound Paajarvi has appeared in 65 career games with the Blues, posting 13 points (six goals, seven assists) and 12 penalty minutes. The Norrkoping, Sweden, native has played in 228 career NHL games with Edmonton and St. Louis, accumulating 71 points (32 goals, 39 assists) and 46 penalty minutes.

---The San Jose Sharks reassigned defenseman Karl Stollery and forward Barclay Goodrow to the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League.

Stollery, 28, has played in six games with the Barracuda this season, posting an assist and eight shots on goal. Goodrow, 22, has recorded three assists in 12 games with the Sharks this season. He has four goals and 11 assists in 72 career NHL games with San Jose.

---The Philadelphia Flyers recalled defenseman Davis Drewiske from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League.

The Flyers also returned forward Chris Conner to Lehigh Valley.

Drewiske, 30, received his first recall of the season. He has recorded one assist in nine games for the Phantoms this season. He has appeared in 135 NHL games in his career for Los Angeles and Montreal, recording five goals and 20 assists. Conner was recalled Monday and joined the Flyers in Vancouver but did not dress for games in Vancouver and Edmonton. He is second on the Phantoms in scoring this season with four goals and four assists in eight games.

---The Winnipeg Jets placed forward Andrew Copp on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and recalled forward Patrice Cormier from Manitoba of the American Hockey League.

Copp, a rookie, was injured in Saturday night's 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has played in 11 games this season, scoring his first career NHL goal in Saturday's game.

Cormier, 25, has played in nine games this season for Manitoba, with one goal, one assist and six penalty minutes. In his NHL career, Cormier has compiled five points (one goal, four assists) in 50 career games with Winnipeg and the Atlanta Thrashers.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Bruins (6-4) at Capitals (8-3)

Date: November 05, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Forget about the Boston Bruins' defensive issues. They've got a bigger problem at hand: figuring out Braden Holtby.

To remain unbeaten on the road, the Bruins will have to slip a puck past the Washington Capitals goaltender Thursday night - something they haven't done in quite some time.

Holtby didn't allow a goal in 180 minutes against Boston last season. He made 88 saves in three shutouts, matching the mark for most by a goaltender against one team since the 1989-90 season.

He carries a scoreless streak of 186:43 against Boston dating to March 29, 2014. If he registers another 60-minute blanking, Holtby would hold the fourth-longest shutout streak for a goalie against one team since '89-90.

Maybe more importantly, it might help him erase the memory of his last start.

Holtby was uncharacteristically bad during a 5-2 road loss against the New York Rangers on Tuesday. He surrendered five goals for the first time in 89 starts, raising his goals-against average from 1.90 to 2.25. He had allowed just nine pucks to reach the back of the net in his previous six starts.

It ended with the Capitals (8-3-0) taking their second loss in nine games.

"We'll move forward," coach Barry Trotz said. "You've just got to learn how we have to play and learn something from every game. That was our first road loss of the year, so we've got to go back home and make home a real tough place and just go forward."

The Verizon Center has been a rough spot for Boston (6-4-1). The Bruins dropped last season's final two games there and are 2-4-2 in Washington since Nov. 5, 2010. However, Boston has opened this season with five straight road wins and will try to find its mojo in the opener of a three-game trip.

The Bruins are a bit lost after reverting to the defensive form of their first seven games during a 5-3 defeat to Dallas on Tuesday. Boston had surrendered just two goals in its previous three games after allowing 29 in its opening seven.

Tuukka Rask took a step back against the Stars after allowing one goal in his previous two starts. He surrendered the five goals on just 19 shots and was even mocked by Boston fans after making an easy save late.

The veteran has been up and down so far, and terrible career numbers against the Capitals might be enough for backup Jonas Gustavsson to make his fourth start in his first year with the Bruins.

Gustavsson won each of his first three while allowing six goals and making 64 saves. He is 2-2-1 with a 2.94 GAA against Washington, but Rask is 1-6-3 with a 3.00 GAA.

No matter who is in net, the Bruins have to kill more penalties.

Dallas scored on three of four opportunities with a man advantage, and Boston has allowed power-play goals in nine games. Opponents have 12 goals on 40 power- play chances.

'It's pretty obvious. It's way too porous and too many holes,' center Patrice Bergeron said. 'We definitely got to be a lot better.'

Help might come with the return of Max Talbot. The Bruins recalled him from the AHL on Wednesday after fellow center Chris Kelly fractured his left femur against the Stars.

"We brought in Max Talbot because No. 1, he's a penalty killer, No. 2, he's a great veteran, great leader," coach Claude Julien told the team's official website.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Lightning (6-6) at Sabres (4-7)

Date: November 05, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Scoring goals and winning games remain issues for the Tampa Bay Lightning, but those haven't been problems in recent matchups with the Buffalo Sabres.

Coming off yet another disappointing offensive showing, the Lightning seek a seventh consecutive win against the improving Sabres on Thursday night.

After scoring a league-best 259 goals last season, Tampa Bay figured to have plenty of offense again in its attempt to remain among the league's elite following an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Since scoring 27 goals during a 5-2-2 start, the Lightning have managed a mere seven in the past six games, resulting in a 1-4-1 stretch.

They appeared to make progress with a 4-3 victory at Carolina on Sunday to end a four-game losing streak, but were shut down again two nights later in a 2-1 loss at Detroit.

Tampa Bay is 3-3-1 when allowing two goals or fewer after it was 35-3-3 in such contests in 2014-15.

'You give up two or less goals a game and it should be a layup,' coach Jon Cooper said. 'But we're losing an alarming amount of those games.'

Defenseman Anton Stralman hit the crossbar in the final minute with the goaltender pulled for an extra attacker Tuesday, at least the third time in the game the Lightning hit a post or crossbar.

'With goal posts, there's nothing you can do,' Alex Killorn said. 'Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't.'

A meeting with the Sabres (5-7-0) appears to be coming at an opportune time for Tampa Bay (6-6-2), which has won the first two matchups this season and six straight in the series by a combined 21-4.

Ben Bishop stopped 24 shots in a 4-1 road victory Oct. 10 and turned away 31 in a 2-1 win at home a week later. He's won eight straight starts against Buffalo, posting a 1.48 goals-against average.

The Sabres, however, are enjoying their best stretch of the season with three wins in four games, with the only blemish coming in a 4-3 loss last Thursday at Pittsburgh in which they outshot the Penguins 53-29.

Matt Moulson and Sam Reinhart scored third-period goals and rookie Linus Ullmark had another strong performance with 29 saves in Sunday's 2-1 win over the New York Islanders.

'You go out and win a game in the third period,' coach Dan Bylsma said. 'You don't see that often on the road in the National Hockey League.'

Ullmark has a .930 save percentage in his first three NHL starts and could be in net again in place of Chad Johnson, who has allowed 14 goals in his last three.

'It's amazing what a couple of big saves can do,' Reinhart said of Ullmark. 'It can turn two losses into two wins just like that. He's been great.'

The Sabres and Lightning will conclude their four-game season series Tuesday at Tampa Bay.

"You don't see it that often," Buffalo defenseman Josh Gorges told the team's official website of facing the Lightning again. "We've got to make sure we're at our best; this is a team that was in the Stanley Cup Finals last year. They're where we want to be so it's a good test and a good matchup for us."

Tampa Bay is still awaiting the return of injured forwards Cedric Paquette (ankle) and Jonathan Drouin (lower body). Paquette has missed five games and Drouin four.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Islanders (7-3) at Canadiens (11-2)

Date: November 05, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

John Tavares returning to practice is a welcome sight for a New York Islanders team that won only once in three games without him.

The Montreal Canadiens won't get Carey Price back before the end of the week, but their rookie goaltender is holding up just fine.

Tavares is expected to play as the visiting Islanders look to avoid a fourth straight loss to the Canadiens on Thursday night.

New York (7-3-3) dropped three in a row prior to Tuesday's 2-1 win over New Jersey as the fourth line provided the spark. Casey Cizikas scored the winning goal with 2:12 left with Matt Martin getting an assist.

They've combined with Cal Clutterbuck for six goals and seven assists on the season.

"There's a purpose to what we do out there,' Clutterbuck said. "Casey and Marty have been together here for years - we're all capable of contributing the way we know how.'

Their success is the reason coach Jack Capuano can't bring himself to break up that line regardless of game or roster circumstances.

'There's just too much continuity with that line,' Capuano said. 'They're not going to make the sexy play all the time. They're going to chip pucks in, they're going to grind it out. They're going to give us the big goals, and they're timely goals. Our other lines need to feed off that.'

The top line should get a boost with the return of Tavares, who has a team-high 11 points. Capuano said Tavares had been battling flu-like symptoms, but the captain fully participated in practice Wednesday and appears to have recovered.

Tavares has three goals and seven assists in his last eight against the Canadiens, but the Islanders lost all three meetings last season and are 1-5-1 in the last seven.

Montreal (11-2-1) looks to extend its winning streak in the series behind rookie Mike Condon, who likely will make his fourth straight start in place of Price as the reigning Hart Trophy winner recovers from a lower-body injury.

Condon is 4-0-1 with a 1.60 goals-against average this season and made 25 saves before allowing a goal in overtime of a 2-1 loss to Ottawa on Tuesday. He hasn't allowed more than two goals in any of his five starts, stepping up with Price out.

Montreal is 2-2-1 since beginning the season with nine straight wins, with Tuesday's loss snapping a five-game home winning streak.

"You're never happy when you lose," Condon said. "We'll just take the positives, take the point, and move on."

Dale Weise continues to impress playing on a line with David Desharnais and Tomas Fleischmann. Weise scored the lone goal against the Senators and has seven on the season, including his first career hat trick in Friday's win over Calgary.

The winger is in his sixth year and hasn't scored more goals than the 10 he netted last season.

'I feel good,' Weise said. 'I'm playing with some great players. (Desharnais) is so underrated it's not even funny. (Fleischmann) has amazing hands. I'm just going to try and stay consistent and try to put in as many as I can.'

Former Montreal goaltender Jaroslav Halak likely will face his old team. He's 4-1-1 with a 1.65 GAA in six starts this season and 4-1-0 with a 2.01 GAA in five career outings against the Canadiens.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Jets (8-4) at Senators (4-4)

Date: November 05, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

The Winnipeg Jets got back into the win column on their road trip by using their third-period dominance for a late deciding goal.

The Jets will try to keep heading in the right direction Thursday night by adding to the Ottawa Senators' home woes.

Winnipeg endured a 5-1 drubbing to Montreal in the start to the Canadian portion of its four-game trip Sunday. After getting a couple days to rest, the Jets rebounded with a 4-2 win over Toronto on Wednesday.

Alex Burmistrov came out of the penalty box to tally the go-ahead goal with 2:05 remaining, and Winnipeg (8-4-1) outshot the Maple Leafs 14-5 in the final period.

"It wasn't classic or pretty, but I'm happy with the way we mentally processed that game," coach Paul Maurice said. "It was a grind. We threw some big, big hits. We didn't get out of position too often. We didn't connect on a lot of plays but we didn't allow too many plays to be connected against us."

The Jets will try to wrap up their trek with a winning record and earn their fourth victory in five games Thursday. They'll take on an Ottawa team that's won three of four but is also 1-3-2 at home.

The Senators (6-4-2) have given up at least four goals in each of the last four games there and suffered a 5-3 loss to Detroit on Saturday. Craig Anderson gave up all five goals in a span of 32:40.

Anderson followed with a 36-save performance in 2-1 overtime victory in Montreal on Tuesday. Kyle Turris scored 34 seconds into the extra period to give Ottawa its first win in the new 3-on-3 extra period.

The Senators had gone to shootouts in each of their previous four overtime games, winning two.

"This was one of our best games of the year," Turris said. "To come into this building against a team that's been so hot lately, it's a big one for us.

"We haven't been very good at home but Thursday (against Winnipeg) will be a good opportunity to keep this going."

Winnipeg, 5-2-0 away from home, won 2-1 in a six-round shootout in its lone visit to Ottawa last season Nov. 8. Anderson made 36 saves in regulation and overtime while Ondrej Pavelec had 37.

The Jets might put Michael Hutchinson in net for this game with Pavelec starting in Toronto. Hutchinson was pulled in his only start against the Senators on March 4 after giving up three goals on 17 shots in 31:54.

Before the shootout win last November, Pavelec was 0-6-0 with a 4.81 goals-against average in his prior six starts versus Ottawa.

Anderson is expected to start for the Senators and is 4-0-1 with a 2.36 GAA in his last five matchups.

Milan Michalek has eight goals and five assists in his past 10 games against Winnipeg. Turris has five goals and three assists in his last eight.

Dustin Byfuglien has six goals and seven assists in his past 13 matchups with the Senators.

Ottawa's co-leading scorer Mark Stone will wrap up his two-game suspension for his check to Detroit forward Landon Ferraro's head Saturday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Predators (5-2) at Wild (7-2)

Date: November 05, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

The Minnesota Wild are off to yet another fast start at home.

They'll try to maintain the league's lone perfect home record Thursday night against the Nashville Predators, who are the NHL's final team to play its first divisional game.

The Wild (7-2-2) are 5-0-0 at home for the second straight season, inching closer to their franchise-best start of 8-0-0 at home in 2006-07. While they've allowed only 11 goals in those games, they haven't been nearly as good on the road, dropping four straight, including a 3-2 overtime setback in St. Louis on Halloween.

Minnesota squandered all five of its power plays Saturday after scoring four times on 16 chances with the man advantage over the previous five contests. Zach Parise hasn't scored on the power play after doing so in each of the team's first three games, though he has four goals overall and three assists in his last five home games against Nashville.

Coach Mike Yeo lamented his team's early misfortunes in the new 3-on-3 overtime format, as the Wild also dropped their only other overtime game 2-1 at Los Angeles on Oct. 16.

"I've looked at our overtime pretty closely, and we've out-chanced the opposition in both games that we've played," Yeo told the Wild's official website. "We actually had better chances in both games that we played. But it's just that one breakdown that quickly goes back against us."

Minnesota has won eight of the last 12 meetings, though it has lost three straight at home while surrendering 16 goals.

The Predators (7-2-2), are 3-2-1 on the road, but have dropped three of four overall. They lost 4-2 Sunday at Anaheim, allowing four goals for the second straight game, this time to a Ducks team which entered last in the NHL in scoring with 1.3 goals per game. Nashville had been giving up 2.8 goals per game prior to the last two contests.

Amazingly, this marks the Predators' first foray into divisional competition. They ranked third among Central teams with a 15-9-5 record in 2014-15, while Minnesota is 3-1-1 against divisional opponents this season.

Pekka Rinne is likely to start in goal after not facing the Ducks. He owns a 1.97 goals-against average, though he has a .893 save percentage in his last five starts against the Wild.

Devan Dubnyk, who has given up at least three goals in six of his nine starts, is expected to get the nod at the other end.

Minnesota will remain without third-line right winger Justin Fontaine, announcing Tuesday a sprained MCL in his left knee suffered Friday against Chicago will sideline him for four to six weeks. He has one goal and three assists in eight games. Rookie center Tyler Graovac will also be out about six weeks after undergoing surgery for a core muscle repair.

Defenseman Ryan Suter has no goals and eight assists in 13 games against his former club since joining the Wild prior to the 2012-13 season.

James Neal leads Nashville with seven goals but he hasn't scored in his last four meetings with Minnesota. Shea Weber has scored in back-to-back games but has one goal in his last 23 games against the Wild.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Avalanche (4-7) at Coyotes (5-5)

Date: November 05, 2015 9:00 PM EDT

A late barrage in their last game got the Colorado Avalanche out of a scoring funk. The Arizona Coyotes are hoping a much-needed break can get them back on track.

The Coyotes return from a five-day layoff Thursday night to host an Avalanche team coming off one of its most impressive performances of the season.

After producing 12 goals over a 1-5-1 stretch, Colorado (4-7-1) recorded three in the final seven minutes to earn a 6-3 home win over slumping Calgary on Tuesday. Nathan MacKinnon netted the game-winner with 6:59 remaining and added two assists, while Matt Duchene scored twice after managing just one goal through the first 11 games.

The outburst also reversed a season-long trend of third-period failures for the Avalanche, who had been outscored 13-8 in the final 20 minutes coming in.

'We knew how we felt when we collapsed," MacKinnon said. "(Tuesday) it was different, more confidence. We just knew we were going to win this game. We thought we deserved it and we went and took it, so it definitely feels good.'

Jarome Iginla added two goals and an assist, leaving the former Flames captain five goals shy of 600.

Arizona (5-5-1) seeks a return to early-season form in its first outing since Friday's 4-3 loss to visiting Vancouver, its sixth in eight games following a 3-0-0 start. A portion of those struggles came during an East Coast trip in which the Coyotes played five times in eight days.

"We've had some good practices, so hopefully that gets us out of the fatigue factor we were into and into a new stretch of the season where we can go back out and play well," coach Dave Tippett said.

The break enabled Martin Hanzal to get healthy after missing the previous two contests with a lower-body injury. The top-line center has 10 assists in nine games while often working with promising youngsters Max Domi and Anthony Duclair, each tied for the team lead with five goals.

Tippett is hoping the time off benefits Mike Smith as well. The struggling goaltender has a 4.55 goals-against average over his past seven starts after yielding two goals in winning his first three.

Smith was pulled just 4:26 into the Vancouver game after allowing two goals on three shots, three days after permitting six in a loss at Boston.

Smith owns a 1.93 GAA in 10 career starts against Colorado but has lost his last three while surrendering four goals in each.

The Avalanche scored 14 goals, four from Gabriel Landeskog and three by Duchene, in winning all three 2014-15 meetings. The Avalanche have won four straight and six of seven in the series.

Colorado has endured some goaltending issues of its own with Semyon Varlamov having allowed three or more goals in seven of his nine starts. With the Avs hosting the New York Rangers Friday, it's likely he'll split duties with Reto Berra during the back-to-back set.

Varlamov posted a 1.80 GAA in winning his two matchups with the Coyotes last season, while Berra allowed three goals on eight shots in 11 minutes in a start at Arizona on Nov. 25, 2014.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Flyers (3-6) at Flames (3-9)

Date: November 05, 2015 9:00 PM EDT

Perhaps a simpler approach to the game will help the Philadelphia Flyers end their current slide.

Looking to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat, the visiting Flyers hope to make things easy on themselves Thursday night against a Calgary Flames club that's struggled throughout the first month of the season.

After winning four of five, Philadelphia (4-6-2) has gone winless and totaled five goals while losing the last four in regulation. The Flyers failed to hold a 2-1 advantage Tuesday by yielding three third-period goals in a 4-2 loss at Edmonton.

'Any time you lose five in a row, you are pretty frustrated,' said Flyers forward Ryan White, who scored his first of the season. 'We are trying out there. Sometimes I think we are trying a little too hard."

White believes the solution to Philadelphia's current problems might not involve too much thinking.

"We just need to calm down and play," he said. "Right now we want it, but we just aren't doing the right things to make it happen. We need to step back and regroup and get back to the basics.'

Philadelphia can start by fixing a power play that's among the worst in the league, converting 11.1 percent of its chances - including 0 for 14 in the last six contests. Flyers opponents, meanwhile, are making good on 28.0 percent (7 for 25) of their opportunities with the man advantage over the last seven.

"We are just not a confident group right now," White told the NHL's official website. "When this team is confident, we are winning battles and making good plays with it from there. Right now, we are winning battles and almost giving it right back to them.

"It's tough when you are not winning. You get a bit fragile. We need to calm down and get back to playing hockey."

The Flames (3-9-1) haven't been able to carry over the confidence they enjoyed while reaching the playoffs for the first time in six years. Saddled with some lofty expectations, Calgary is allowing a league-high 4.23 goals per game compared to 2.60 last season.

"It's all about reading the game," coach Bob Hartley said. "You have to read the game and you have to compete on every shift."

Following Tuesday's 6-3 loss at Colorado, Calgary has given up 28 non-shootout goals while dropping five of the last six. Karri Ramo and Joni Ortio have combined to allow 15 goals in the last three games while starter Jonas Hiller remains sidelined after suffering a lower-body injury in last Wednesday's 5-4 shootout loss at Ottawa.

Though Hiller was expected to be out a week, his status for this contest remains uncertain.

"It's frustrating," rookie forward Sam Bennett said. "You've got to keep battling through it."

Bennett has been one of the few recent bright spots for the Flames, recording two goals and four assists in the last four games after totaling one point in his first eight.

Claude Giroux has two points in the last six games for the Flyers but one in each of his last three against the Flames.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jackets (3-10) at Kings (8-4)

Date: November 05, 2015 10:30 PM EDT

Los Angeles and Columbus both started the season with losing streaks, the difference being one was of crippling length and leaves the Blue Jackets in the NHL cellar.

The Kings responded to theirs with a substantial win streak and can start another Thursday night as they open a five-game homestand against mostly questionable competition.

After Tuesday's 3-0 win in St. Louis, Los Angeles (8-4-0) has followed a season-opening three-game skid by winning eight of nine. The only slip came with a 4-2 loss in Chicago on Monday that ended the team's seven-game winning streak.

The Kings were outscored 12-2 in their first three but have since held an average scoring edge of 3.00-1.44. Jeff Carter has five goals and five assists in his last seven games, while Tyler Toffoli has eight goals and two assists in his previous nine.

"I thought we had really good purpose to our game right from the start and played the whole game, played a complete game," coach Darryl Sutter said.

The shutout came courtesy of backup Jhonas Enroth's 24 saves, so Jonathan Quick figures to be back in goal for this one.

Before getting the night off, Quick had allowed seven goals in two games, though he's won six straight and has a 1.62 goals-against average over a 7-1-0 span against Columbus.

He's also posted a 1.22 GAA on the team's four-game home winning streak, which has a good chance to grow with Florida, Arizona, the New York Islanders and Edmonton also passing through Staples Center during this stretch.

The Kings have won the last three meetings and five straight in Los Angeles against the Blue Jackets (3-10-0) with the visitors totaling seven goals.

Columbus began a three-game West Coast trip with a 5-2 win at San Jose on Tuesday, and progress under coach John Tortorella is beginning to show. After starting 0-8-0, they've gone 3-2-0 with Tortorella in charge.

The Blue Jackets have been acceptable defensively with 2.20 goals allowed per game over the last five after allowing 4.62 during the losing streak.

"It was our most complete game of the whole season," defenseman Fedor Tyutin told the team's official website after missing the previous two games.

Scott Hartnell scored for the third time in four games, Brandon Saad has scored in consecutive contests, and Boone Jenner has a team-high seven goals after scoring four times in five games.

After sacrificing two one-goal leads, Columbus scored twice in the last two minutes of the second to grab a two-goal lead.

"Everybody brought their 'A' game," said Saad, who had four goals and five assists in his last seven against the Kings, including the postseason while with Chicago. "Confidence was high and everybody did a good job of making good plays with the puck and not just throwing it. It was fun playing that way. We have to remember that and keep it going."

Confidence might slowly be growing in Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 41 saves a game after allowing three goals in a period and being replaced. Bobrovsky has a 2.55 GAA and .921 save percentage since posting 4.72 and .840 marks in six games on the losing streak.

"Our goaltender stood tall tonight," Tortorella said after the latest win. "Bob was outstanding."

Bobrovsky has never won in Los Angeles, going 0-3-1 with a 2.75 GAA and .880 save percentage.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Panthers (5-4) at Sharks (5-6)

Date: November 05, 2015 10:30 PM EDT

The San Jose Sharks started the season in blistering fashion, but things have gone downhill in a hurry.

They'll try to avoid a seventh loss in nine games Thursday night when they host the Florida Panthers, who have dominated the series of late.

San Jose (6-6-0) opened its season by outscoring opponents 14-2 during a 4-0-0 start, but has since been outscored 31-19. Its special teams have been a disaster, with two power-play goals on 21 chances in that span, while opponents have scored nine times on 24 opportunities on the man advantage.

The Sharks were somewhat snakebit Tuesday, having 41 shots turned aside by Sergei Bobrovsky in a 5-2 home loss to Columbus. That dropped them to 2-3-0 at home, where they're yet to score on 13 power plays.

Joe Pavelski scored both goals against the Blue Jackets, who own the league's worst winning percentage.

"We were sitting on our heels a little bit," he said. "We have to break that mold. We have to start winning games."

Pavelski has scored in a career-high five straight games and leads the team with eight goals, while Joel Ward, with seven, is the only other San Jose player with more than three.

Goalie Martin Jones' recent struggles have mirrored the Sharks' larger issues. He's given up 19 goals in his last six starts after allowing only two while winning each of the first four games. He was pulled Tuesday in favor of Alex Stalock after surrendering four goals on 21 shots through 40 minutes.

Jones has never faced Florida.

Tough losses are piling up for the Panthers (5-4-3), who opened their three-game West Coast trip Tuesday with a 3-2 shootout loss at Anaheim. They looked poised for a regulation win before surrendering a power-play goal to Corey Perry with 5.1 seconds left. Brian Campbell was called for high sticking with 40 seconds remaining to set up the goal, and coach Gerard Gallant was livid with the penalty call.

"It was very frustrating, obviously," he said. "I'm not too happy. You all saw what happened the last five minutes, so what do you do?"

Florida was four days removed from a 2-1 overtime loss to Washington, and three other defeats have been by one goal. None have come by a margin of more than two.

Jaromir Jagr, who leads the club with six goals, returned to action after missing two games with an upper-body injury, but recorded only one shot. He has only one goal in his last 10 meetings with San Jose.

The Panthers have enjoyed a significant recent edge in this series, winning seven of the last eight meetings despite being outshot 294-226.

Al Montoya, who owns a 1.63 goals-against average, is expected to start in net. He won both previous starts against the Sharks while yielding four goals on 71 shots.

Florida wraps up its trip Saturday in Los Angeles before playing seven of its next eight at home.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Hot teams
-- Washington won four of its last five games. Bruins won seven of last nine.
-- Buffalo won three of its last four games.
-- Winnipeg won four of its last six games. Ottawa won three of last four.
-- Minnesota won four of its last six games.
-- LA won eight of its last nine games. Blue Jackets are 3-2 in last five games after 0-8 start.

Cold teams
-- Lightning lost five of its last six games.
-- Islanders lost three of their last four games. Montreal lost three of its last five.
-- Predators lost three of their last four games.
-- Colorado, Arizona both lost six of their last eight games.
-- Flyers lost last five games, scoring eight goals. Calgary lost five of its last six.
-- Florida lost five of its last seven games. Sharks lost six of their last eight.

Series records
-- Washington won last three games with Boston: 4-0/2-0/3-0.
-- Sabres lost their last four games with Tampa Bay.
-- Islanders lost six of last seven games with Montreal.
-- Senators won six of last eight games with Winnipeg.
-- Minnesota won six of last nine with Nashville; road team won last five.
-- Avalanche won six of last seven games with Arizona.
-- Visitor won seven of last nine Philadelphia-Calgary games.
-- Kings won five of last six games with Columbus.
-- Panthers won seven of last eight games with San Jose.

Totals
-- Nine of eleven Boston games went over the total.
-- Five of last six Tampa Bay games stayed under.
-- Under is 5-0-1 in last six Islander games.
-- Four of last five Ottawa home games went over.
-- Four of last fiveNashville road games went over.
-- Under is 4-0-1 in Colorado's road games.
-- Five of six Calgary home games went over total.
-- Four of last five Los Angeles home games stayed under.
-- Under is 3-0-1 in last four Florida games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Thunder (3-2) at Bulls (3-2)

Date: November 05, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Coming off one of their worst defensive showings in recent memory, the Chicago Bulls now have to regroup in a matchup with one of the NBA's most dangerous offenses.

The Bulls return home to face the high-scoring Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday in a clash of expected contenders that are both trying to bounce back from disappointing outcomes.

Renowned for its defensive prowess under former coach Tom Thibodeau, Chicago (3-2) delivered easily its worst performance in successor Fred Hoiberg's brief tenure during Tuesday's 130-105 loss at previously winless Charlotte. The Bulls surrendered their highest point total in regulation since a 132-108 defeat to Utah on March 9, 2010.

The Hornets went 13 of 18 from the field in the first quarter, led by 27 in the second and reached 100 points by the end of the third, the first time Chicago permitted that many through three quarters since 1990. The Bulls also were outrebounded 52-33 and allowed Charlotte to make 14 of 23 from 3-point range.

"It was an individual effort tonight and it seemed as if no one had anybody's back,' Hoiberg said. 'We didn't make them make the extra pass. They outrebounded us by 19 and you can go all the way down the line and it just wasn't there and we have been pretty solid on that end of the floor. They just beat us in all areas tonight.'

There were a few positives to take from the Bulls' second loss in three games, as Jimmy Butler scored 26 points and Doug McDermott had a career-high 17. The two, along with Aaron Brooks, were a combined 13 of 19 on 3-pointers.

Butler has 23 or more points in three of the last four games but Derrick Rose has been struggling, netting just 18 on 27.6 percent shooting over the past three. The 2011 NBA MVP had four points on 2 of 8 shooting against the Hornets.

Chicago will need an improved effort to slow down a healthy Thunder squad that's averaging 114.2 points and shooting 39.3 percent from beyond the arc while sporting two of the league's most prolific scorers in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

Oklahoma City (3-2) enters the United Center after an off night, though, after struggling down the stretch of Wednesday's 103-98 home loss to unbeaten Toronto. The Thunder went 5 of 20 from the field in the fourth quarter while blowing an eight-point lead with six minutes left.

Westbrook amassed 22 points and 16 assists but was 1 of 8 in the final period and committed eight of the Thunder's 19 turnovers in Oklahoma City's second straight loss.

'It's all correctable stuff,' said Durant, who finished with 27 points and is averaging 29.2 thus far. 'I'm not worried at all. It's not like we just can't get a grip on what's going wrong. We turn the ball over and we foul. That's the game.'

Westbrook, averaging 28.6 points, had 36 with 11 rebounds as the Thunder earned a 109-100 home victory over Chicago without an injured Durant on March 15, Oklahoma City's sixth win in the teams' last seven meetings. He scored 43 in a 108-105 loss at the United Center, where the Bulls have won nine straight dating back to last season, 10 days earlier.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Heat (2-2) at Timberwolves (2-1)

Date: November 05, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

The Minnesota Timberwolves' first home game started with an outpouring of emotion. They would like the second to end with a victory.

After a two-day break following a draining tribute to Flip Saunders, the Timberwolves look for their first home win against the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

A heart-rending opening two weeks for the Timberwolves continued on Monday with a pregame tribute to Saunders, the team's president of basketball operations, coach and minority owner who died last week after complications with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

'I was drained from the beginning,' rookie Karl-Anthony Towns said. 'I was crying the whole pregame. I was emotionally drained coming out.'

The Timberwolves (2-1) followed with their first flat game of the season, falling behind Portland by double digits in the fourth quarter before a late rally fizzled in a 106-101 loss.

"(Monday) night was a tough night, guys," interim coach Sam Mitchell said after Tuesday's practice. "There's no words you can give to someone to make them feel better. All you can do is be there."

Getting back on the winning track would help, and it might take a better performance from Andrew Wiggins to make that happen.

Wiggins has opened his second season making 30 percent of his shots while missing all six of his 3-pointers and committing nine turnovers. He had a rough showing offensively against the Trail Blazers, finishing 5 for 17 for 16 points.

"In 82, that's going to happen," Mitchell said. "He understands that. We've just got to get him rolling. He knows that. We need him."

Towns was also grounded against Portland. After posting 42 points and 26 rebounds in Minnesota's first two wins, he finished with 11 points and five boards while committing four turnovers and five fouls.

Towns and Wiggins may have an opportunity to regroup against a Miami team that has allowed an average of 45.0 points in the paint through four games. Miami (2-2) scored 52 points in the lane against Atlanta on Tuesday but also surrendered that many in a 98-92 loss at home.

The Heat trimmed a 15-point lead to four early in the fourth quarter, but couldn't get closer. Miami committed a season-high 19 turnovers while dishing out a season-low 13 assists.

'We were able to fight back. That is an admirable quality of this group,' coach Erik Spoelstra said. 'But learning how close the margin for error is can be a lesson.'

Dwyane Wade logged his fourth consecutive 20-point game even though he spent a long period of the second half in the locker room dealing with a migraine. He returned in the fourth quarter after taking some medicine.

More concerning for the Heat is the news that Gerald Green was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday morning for unknown reasons. The team released a statement saying Green was taken to an undisclosed hospital.

Green, who signed with Miami as a free agent in July, averaged 10.3 points in the first three games. He did not play against the Hawks with what the Heat called an illness.

Minnesota snapped a six-game home losing streak against Miami with a 102-101 win Feb. 4 behind 30 points from Kevin Martin. Hassan Whiteside, who's put up 48 points and 29 boards in the Heat's two games in November, had his only career 20-20 game (24 points, 20 rebounds) last season in Minneapolis.