Thursday 12/10/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

Europa League TODAY 18:00

FC Sion

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Liverpool

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		3	19/10	13/10	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT FC SION	RECENT FORM
HDHWADALHLAL​ Most recent​	1 - 2	HLAWHWHWAWAL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Liverpool have drawn eight of 17 Europa games

EXPERT VERDICT: A draw in Switzerland will give Liverpool top spot in their Europa League group and it will also qualify Sion along with the Reds. It does not mean the game will finish level, but there is no incentive for either side to go chasing the win and Liverpool have drawn three of their five Europa League games this term.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
2


REFEREE: Michalis Koukoulakis STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Europa League TODAY 18:00

Fenerbahce

v

Celtic

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		4/9	15/4	7	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT FENERBAHCE	RECENT FORM
ADHWAWAWHWAD​ Most recent​	Unknown	HWHLAWHDHLAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Celtic have conceded 11 goals in Group A

EXPERT VERDICT: Celtic have shipped at least two goals in all five of their Europa League group-stage matches and that sorry stat helps to explain why the Bhoys have already been eliminated before this difficult trip to Turkey. Fenerbahce, who have improved as their European campaign has progressed, should win comfortably.

RECOMMENDATION: Fenerbahce to win 2-0
1


REFEREE: Serge Gumienny STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Europa League TODAY 20:05

Tottenham

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Monaco

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		11/10	11/4	13/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT TOTTENHAM	RECENT FORM
HWADHWAWHDAD​ Most recent​	Unknown	ALHWHLADHDAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Monaco have won four of seven games in England

EXPERT VERDICT: Tottenham need a point to finish top of Group J but having already qualified it would be no surprise if Mauricio Pochettino rested a few weary limbs. Only a win will do for third-placed Monaco and they have the players to hurt Spurs if the White Hart Lane hosts are not at their very best.

RECOMMENDATION: Monaco
1


REFEREE: Ivan Bebek STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

German Bundesliga Fr 11Dec 19:30

Mainz

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Stuttgart

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

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT MAINZ	RECENT FORM
HLADHWADHWAW​ Most recent​	1 - 1 3 - 2 3 - 1 3 - 1	AWHWALHLALHD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Stuttgart have conceded at least two goals in ten of their last 12 Bundesliga away games

EXPERT VERDICT: A five-match unbeaten run has helped Mainz re-establish themselves in the top half of the table and their revival can continue with a home victory over struggling Stuttgart. Mainz won successive home games in November and are 12 points superior to second-bottom Stuttgart, who have the worst away record in the division.

RECOMMENDATION: Mainz
1

 

[superbeets]

Spanish La Liga Fr 11Dec 19:30

Getafe

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Sociedad

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS3		8/5	11/5	9/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT GETAFE	RECENT FORM
HLALHDHWALAL​ Most recent​	0 - 1 2 - 2 2 - 1 1 - 0	HLALHWALALHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Getafe have earned 13 of their 14 points in home games

EXPERT VERDICT: Real Sociedad look to be improving since the dismissal of David Moyes but they could face a difficult evening on the outskirts of Madrid. Getafe are also in the lower half of the table but they have a strong home record and are capable of checking Sociedad’s progress

RECOMMENDATION: Getafe
1

 

[superbeets]

French Ligue 1 Fr 11Dec 19:30

Rennes

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Caen

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		11/10	9/4	13/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT RENNES	RECENT FORM
HLAWHDADHLAD​ Most recent​	1 - 4 3 - 2 1 - 1 1 - 0	ALHWHDAWADHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Rennes have won one of their last 12 league games

EXPERT VERDICT: Rennes have won just once since mid-September and they look too short against Caen. The visitors are third in the Ligue 1 table and picked up a creditable draw against Monaco in their previous away outing. They can earn another draw against their out-of-form hosts.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL notebook: Semin refuses AHL assignment
By The Sports Xchange

Forward Alexander Semin rejected an assignment to the minor leagues and was put on unconditional waivers by the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday with the purpose of mutually parting ways.
After Semin cleared waivers on Tuesday, the Kings assigned Semin to St. John's of the American Hockey League. His refusal to report leaves his hockey future in limbo.
The 31-year-old signed a one-year deal worth $1.1 million with the Canadiens on July 24 after his previous contract was bought out after last season by the Carolina Hurricanes. In 15 games for the Canadiens this season, he had one goal and four points.

---The Nashville Predators activated defenseman Petter Granberg from the non-roster list and sent him on a conditioning assignment to Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.
Granberg was claimed off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 22. The 23-year-old has yet to suit up in 2015-16 due to offseason surgery, but he played in eight NHL games for the Maple Leafs, with no points and six penalty minutes. He played in 126 AHL games with the Toronto Marlies, recording 22 points (three goals, 19 assists) and 58 penalty minutes since his first North American professional season in 2013-14.

---The Los Angeles Kings recalled forward Michael Mersch from Ontario of the American Hockey League.
Mersch, 23, has not played in an NHL game. He has appeared in 19 games for Ontario this season and has 12 goals (fifth in the AHL) and three assists. In 102 career AHL games, Mersch has 36 goals and 27 assists.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Senators (12-8) at Lightning (12-12)

Date: December 10, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

The Tampa Bay Lightning were pleased with their effort despite failing to sweep a three-game trip that began a stretch of six of eight away from home.

They get two chances to build on that performance in California before heading out on the road again, starting with Thursday night's matchup against an Ottawa Senators team that hasn't won in regulation at Amalie Arena in nearly four years.

Tampa Bay (13-12-3) won 2-1 in Anaheim to avoid a third straight loss last Wednesday before holding off San Jose 4-3 on Saturday, scoring its most goals in five games. The Lightning, though, allowed Los Angeles to score twice in a 3:08 span of the second period the next day to conclude their trip with a 3-1 loss.

'I thought we actually played pretty well,' said Ben Bishop, who replaced backup Andrei Vasilevskiy after he allowed two goals on 10 shots. ' ... It stinks losing the last one and flying home, but it's a good road trip anytime you get four points out there.'

Despite Bishop's positive demeanor, the Lightning had another poor offensive showing in the finale. They went 0 for 6 with the man advantage and rank near the bottom of the NHL with a 16.5 power-play percentage.

Tampa Bay is also among the lowest-scoring teams in the league with 2.32 goals per game after leading the NHL with a 3.16 mark last season.

Help could be on the way against Ottawa (15-8-5) after forward Ondrej Palat practiced for the second time Wednesday since suffering a lower-body injury Nov. 7 at Minnesota. Palat has two goals and five assists in 16 games.

"Anytime you miss a few guys, it hurts special teams. It hurts five on five," center Steven Stamkos told the Lightning's official website. "When you're struggling to score goals, anytime you can get some offensive guys back in the lineup, with the way things have been going, obviously we'll take it."

Stamkos leads Tampa Bay with 11 goals but has none in six straight games. He's scored four times and added four assists in his last six at home in this series.

Tampa Bay has done a good job of picking up points recently against Ottawa, going 3-0-3 in the last six matchups and 6-1-3 in 10. The Lightning are 5-0-2 in the past seven meetings at home.

The Senators enter this one with three wins in four games following Tuesday's 4-2 victory over Florida in the second stop on a four-game trip. Ottawa trailed 2-1 heading into the third period before scoring three times, including Mike Hoffman's go-ahead goal with 5:37 left.

"We needed that one," center Zack Smith told the Senators' official website after scoring his seventh goal. "These road trips are important. We play a lot of games this month and we want to make sure we're ready to go every night."

Hoffman has 11 goals in his last 11 games and leads Ottawa with 15 after scoring a team-best 27 times last season.

'I don't know, the puck just seems to sometimes get to you and when you're streaking it seems a lot easier,' said Hoffman, who has been held to one assist in seven games against Tampa Bay.

Bishop is 6-0-3 with a 2.25 goals-against average versus Ottawa, while Craig Anderson - who has started the last 12 games for the Senators - is 7-2-3 with a 1.68 GAA against the Lightning.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Canadiens (18-7) at Red Wings (14-8)

Date: December 10, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

What goes up, must come down. Vice versa, too.

The once-cold Detroit Red Wings are riding their longest point streak in almost six years and could send the suddenly slumping Montreal Canadiens to their lengthiest drought in nearly two.

If the Red Wings can continue their surge Thursday night at Joe Louis Arena, they could avoid recording their worst losing streak in 89 years of this Original Six rivalry.

After an inconsistent first six weeks of the season which included a 1-5-1 slump in October, Detroit has rattled off an 11-game point streak over the last three weeks. The Red Wings (15-8-5) are 7-0-4 during that span for their longest point streak since a 10-0-2 spurt March 11-April 3, 2010.

Detroit ranked toward the bottom of the NHL with 2.18 goals per game through Nov. 15 but has since averaged 3.18. The offense exploded with 14 goals on a three-game winning streak, which looked as if it might extend to four Tuesday at Washington.

Instead, the Capitals rallied to hand the Red Wings a 3-2 shootout loss, only their fourth game with fewer than three goals in the last 11.

The point streak remains thanks in large part to Jimmy Howard. Granted, he was beaten midway through the third period to force overtime and allowed goals on both shootout attempts, but Howard finished with a season-high 38 saves.

'I think when you get to overtime, when you get to shootout you're leaving it to chance a little bit,' coach Jeff Blashill said. 'That's the reality of life sometimes.'

The Canadiens (19-7-3) were the highest-scoring team in the league with 3.54 goals per game through Nov. 27, but they have totaled just nine in their last five games.

The last three contests were regulation losses, and Montreal hasn't gone longer without recording a point since a four-game slide Jan. 18-25, 2014.

The Canadiens held a one-goal lead well into the third period Wednesday against Boston but came away with a 3-1 home loss.

"I'm not worried," defenseman P.K. Subban told the Canadiens' official website. "There's a lot of hockey left to be played. The good thing is that we turn around and have a game (Thursday) against a good team. ... That's all I'm looking forward to now, the next game."

That next one comes against a team Montreal has beaten seven straight times. The only other time the Canadiens won that many in a row over the Red Wings was a seven-game streak spanning 1943 and '44.

Tomas Plekanec has keyed the Canadiens' current run in the series with at least point in all seven games, totaling six goals and four assists, but he hasn't scored in 13 straight games.

Montreal won 4-1 at home Oct. 17 in the only meeting this season for the sixth of nine consecutive regulation wins to open the season.

Petr Mrazek allowed three goals on 40 shots that day, and it's unclear if he will make his second career start against the Canadiens. Howard has lost his last five starts against them, posting a 3.25 goals-against average.

Dustin Tokarski will make his first start in net this season for Montreal, which remains without injured star goalie Carey Price. Tokarski relieved Mike Condon in a 6-1 loss to Colorado on Nov. 14 in his only appearance, finishing with 11 saves while allowing two goals.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Capitals (17-5) at Panthers (10-11)

Date: December 10, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

The Washington Capitals continue to earn points during the early stages of a road-heavy stretch and appear to have a promising chance to extend two impressive streaks Thursday night.

The surging Capitals carry a 14-game point streak against the Florida Panthers and seven-game road run in the series into this matchup.

Washington (19-5-2) defeated Detroit 3-2 in a shootout at home Tuesday to give it a 7-0-1 mark in its last eight games, avoiding its first consecutive losses of the season in the process. Alex Ovechkin ended a three-game goal drought by tying it with 9:09 left in regulation and T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored in the tiebreaker.

"You talk about trying to learn killer instinct. I think we've learned that. It shows in our record when down after two periods," coach Barry Trotz said. "I don't think there's a better team that has come back in as many games as we have to get wins. There's some growth in the group for sure."

That matchup with the Red Wings was among just five home games Washington will play in a 19-game span Nov. 28-Jan. 9. Detroit, which played three straight on the road before Tuesday, is opening another three-game trip.

The Capitals, 4-0-1 in their last five on the road, have gone 5-0-2 in the past seven at Sunrise and 12-0-2 in the last 14 overall matchups.

Those games haven't been nearly as lopsided as the final results would indicate, however. Each of the last eight meetings have been decided by one goal, and four of them went to a shootout.

The clubs played beyond regulation for the fifth time in that span in Washington's 2-1 overtime road victory Oct. 31. Jay Beagle scored the tying goal in the third period and Kuznetsov had the winner.

Capitals backup Philipp Grubauer stopped 26 shots in that contest, but workhorse No. 1 Braden Holtby is expected to make his ninth straight start Thursday. Holtby, 9-0-1 with a 1.87 goals-against average in his last 10 starts and 11-1-1 with a 1.74 mark in the past 13, is 7-0-1 with a 2.48 GAA in eight all-time matchups with Florida.

In contrast, the Panthers' Roberto Luongo has struggled to keep the puck out of the net in his past two starts after a strong stretch that preceded it. He went 4-1-0 with a 1.42 GAA in five starts before giving up seven goals in back-to-back losses.

Luongo yielded two of Ottawa's three third-period goals in a 4-2 loss Tuesday.

The Panthers also allowed the Senators score twice on the power play after killing off all 20 penalties in their previous seven games. Washington has gone 8 for 21 with the man advantage in its last six.

"It was just little breakdowns. I thought we worked hard for most of the game but it was little things, especially on special teams," forward Logan Shaw said. "We've know we've got to be better."

Luongo was also on the bench for the season's first matchup with Washington. He's 15-1-0 with a 2.22 GAA in his last 17 meetings.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blackhawks (15-9) at Predators (12-9)

Date: December 10, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Playing one of his best games of the season, Corey Crawford heard Chicago Blackhawks fans cheer his name in the opener of a home-and-home series with the Nashville Predators.

Crawford also heard his name called by the hometown fans the last time these teams met in Nashville, albeit in a taunting manner.

While Patrick Kane looks to extend his point streak to 24 games, expected starter Crawford tries to lead the Blackhawks to a sweep of this set Thursday night in the first meeting in Nashville since the postseason.

Two days after stopping 30 shots in a 3-1 win over Winnipeg, Crawford made 36 saves in Tuesday's 4-1 home victory over the Predators. Crawford, who has yielded two goals or less in five of his last six starts, made a couple of key saves on breakaways and rebounds from close range.

Coach Joel Quenneville called Crawford's performance "spectacular," and Kane echoed that sentiment.

"You come to expect it from Crow," Kane said. "He's a big part of our team and keeps us in a lot of games when we give up some things. Nothing we're not used to seeing."

Kane again waited until the final moments to extend his streak, tallying an empty-net goal with 1:36 left. He broke Bobby Hull's franchise record of 22 consecutive games with a point Sunday with a legal hand pass on Artemi Panarin's empty-netter with 46 seconds remaining.

"If it ends it ends," said Kane, whose 17th goal of the season was his 600th NHL point. "Obviously you want to keep producing and keep creating for your team, but if it's over now I think it's been a pretty good run."

The Blackhawks (15-9-4) pushed their run against the Predators (14-9-5) in the regular season to three games and have won seven of nine meetings, which includes April's first-round playoff series.

This will be Crawford's first appearance in Nashville since giving up six goals in a Game 2 loss. That came two days after he surrendered three goals on 12 shots and was pulled after the first period in the opener.

He has a 6.75 goals-against average and .797 save percentage in his last three games in Nashville.

Predators counterpart Pekka Rinne is in the midst of his own rough patch, going 1-5-2 with a 3.14 GAA in his last eight games.

Rinne gave up a power-play goal to Andrew Shaw on Tuesday as Nashville's struggles while short-handed continued. Losers of eight of 11, the Predators have killed just 11 of 20 penalties in the last seven games and are in danger of allowing a man-advantage goal in eight straight for the first time since December 2009.

"We're going through a bit of a tough stretch right now," Nashville defenseman Seth Jones told the Blackhawks' official website. "It's not due to lack of effort, I think, or guys not giving it their all. It's just kind of the way it's going right now."

There's no lack of intensity in the offensive zone, as the Predators are averaging 35.2 shots in the last five games. Their average of 31.5 shots is one of the league's best marks, but they have one of the worst shooting percentages at 8.1.

"You can sit here and say we're getting chances, but who cares, we're not winning games, we're not scoring goals," captain Shea Weber told the Predators' official website. "That's the bottom line - it's not good enough."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Flyers (10-11) at Blues (15-8)

Date: December 10, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

The St. Louis Blues snapped a season-high three-game losing streak their last time out. They're now looking to win a second straight for the first time in a month by sending the Philadelphia Flyers to a third straight loss.

The Blues hit the midway point of a five-game homestand trying to break a stunning streak of recent offensive futility against the Flyers on Thursday night.

Alexander Steen and Vladimir Tarasenko scored in the second period to help the Blues (16-8-4) rally for a 4-1 win over Arizona on Tuesday. Kevin Shattenkirk and David Backes also scored and Jake Allen made 22 saves for St. Louis, which scored one goal in each game of the three-game skid.

'We have a solid hockey club, a very mentally strong (group). We take care of stuff in here,' Steen said.

'There's going to be lulls and times where for whatever reason things aren't in sync like they usually are. We had a couple games, but we just regrouped. We've been better in practice and kind of grabbed it. Today was good."

The Blues had been 2-2-3 over the past seven and 4-5-3 in 12. They're looking for their first back-to-back victories since a three-game run Nov. 4-10.

'We needed to get back on the right track, and we needed our best players to be our best players and if you look at who scored the goals, you look at who played well, it's all the guys that have been through this before,' said coach Ken Hitchcock, whose team improved to 8-0-1 when leading after two periods.

Hitchcock's club continued to struggle on the power play, though. St. Louis went 0 for 3 to leave it at 0 for 10 in the past four games and 2 for 17 in eight. It's converted 16.5 percent of its chances this season, near the bottom of the NHL.

The penalty killing has helped make up for it. The Blues have killed off 12 straight short-handed situations and are among the league leaders at 86.9 percent.

Philadelphia (11-11-6) had been rolling along until its last two games, carrying a four-game winning streak into matchups with struggling Columbus on Saturday and the New York Islanders on Tuesday. The Flyers are now left trying to avoid an extended skid, having lost 4-1 to the Blue Jackets and 4-3 in a shootout to the Islanders.

Philadelphia fell Tuesday despite a 46-26 shot advantage, including 17-5 in the second period when it scored only once.

'We deserved better tonight,' coach Dave Hakstol said. 'Everybody was moving, jumping, playing with tenacity. It's a good formula.'

Hakstol pulled Steve Mason early in the second period after he gave up three goals on 10 shots, and Michal Neuvirth provided a spark by stopping all 16 he faced. Despite that effort, Mason is expected to return to the net Thursday.

He'll try to extend the Blues' recent offensive struggles in the series. St. Louis has gone 2-2-0 in the past four meetings despite totaling two non-shootout goals. The last two matchups at Scottrade Center have been decided by 1-0 scores in a shootout.

Brian Elliott, who gets the nod in goal Thursday, earned the win in the most recent of those March 12 with 28 saves. He bested Mason, who stopped 35 shots and has gone 3-0-1 with a 0.62 goals-against average in his last five games against the Blues.

St. Louis has won four in a row at home over the Flyers.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jackets (11-16) at Jets (13-13)

Date: December 10, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

The Winnipeg Jets are spending most of a two-week stretch at home and they look forward to putting the time there to good use.

The Jets will begin a back-to-back set Thursday night when they host a Columbus Blue Jackets club that could be without starting goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.

Winnipeg (13-13-2) has three days off before this game before facing Chicago on Friday. The Blackhawks' game is the only road one for the Jets between Dec. 7-20, and the club feels rested and ready.

"I think our game is getting a lot stronger with that time, get a little practice time, sleep in the same bed for a few nights in a row, those things are sometimes overlooked but I think November was a grueling month for a lot of reasons so I think we're coming out on the other side of it," said Blake Wheeler, who has a team-high 27 points.

Jets coach Paul Maurice figures to give Connor Hellebuyck and Michael Hutchinson one start apiece in the next two, though he did not indicate who will get the nod Thursday. The rookie Hellebuyck is 3-0-0 with a 0.97 goals-against average in three starts while Hutchinson has posted a 3.59 GAA in losing his last four.

Maurice indicated that Hutchinson faced more quality chances in stopping 29 of 31 shots in Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Chicago than Hellebuyck did in his 37-save performance in Saturday's 2-1 overtime win over Washington.

"The last two games are played against really skilled teams," Maurice said. "We actually gave up probably more in the Washington game than the Chicago game so the numbers don't say we play differently in front of the two."

Columbus (11-16-2) may not have Bobrovsky, who has started a league-high 25 games. He exited Tuesday's 3-2 overtime defeat to Los Angeles in the third period with an undisclosed injury after stopping 33 of 34 shots.

Backup Curtis McElhinney fell to 0-4-1 after blowing a one-goal lead by allowing two goals on seven shots.

'I'll tell you what impact Bob had on the game,' coach John Tortorella said. 'We don't have a chance. I mean we're not even close if it isn't for Bob. We're down four or five goals going into that third period if we don't have Bob.'

McElhinney hasn't won a start in regulation since Feb. 19. He is 2-9-1 with a 3.15 GAA in his next 12, winning a pair of shootouts.

The Blue Jackets were outshot 41-23, leaving Tortorella incensed.

"We should be embarrassed," he told the club's official website. "I am totally embarrassed by the way we played."

Scott Hartnell has two goals and two assists in his last two games for the Blue Jackets, who will try to avenge a 3-2 home loss to Winnipeg on Oct. 31. Wheeler and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist in a three-goal first period in the Jets' third straight win in the series.

Wheeler will try to start a new streak after his six-game run with at least one point ended Sunday. He has five points in the three-game run over Columbus.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sabres (10-14) at Flames (10-14)

Date: December 10, 2015 9:00 PM EDT

Continued success at home has propelled the Calgary Flames to a modest winning streak that also happens to be their longest of the season.

The Flames can record a fourth straight victory by extending their run at home to eight Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres, whom they've dominated at the Saddledome in recent years.

Though still among the NHL's bottom dwellers, Calgary (11-14-2) has gone 8-5-1 since a slow start, defeating San Jose 4-2 at home Tuesday to continue its improved play.

While its win streak is short in length, it's huge for the psyche of a club that had high expectations after snapping a five-year playoff drought last season.

"It's like a boxer that takes a real good one on the jaw in the first second of a fight," coach Bob Hartley told the Flames' official website. "Right now, we're pulling out of the hole that we created for ourselves ... I like the way we're progressing as a team."

That progression has yielded the seven-game run at home - the club's longest since winning eight straight Feb. 23-March 27, 2013. Mikael Backlund had a goal and an assist Tuesday while Mark Giordano and Dennis Wideman each added two assists in the Flames' first regulation victory in seven games.

'Winning seven in a row at home gives you a nice confidence boost,' said Backlund, who has half of his four goals in the last three games. "We've been playing some good hockey."

Calgary has 12 non-shootout goals in the first three games of this five-game homestand. It scored 19 in dropping six of the previous nine overall.

"We knew we had a good team," Backlund said. "What we did last year was really good and we wanted to build on that. Having this streak at home is huge for us. We always hoped we'd have a good season and always believed in ourselves."

The Flames' league-worst power play, however, has gone 2 for 35 in the last 10 games after scoring once on seven chances against the Sharks.

Buffalo (11-14-3) has allowed one power-play goal in four of the last five contests.

The Sabres fell to Edmonton and Vancouver in the first two of their three-game trip, and they've been outscored 21-7 during a five-game skid at Calgary. Buffalo has lost seven of eight there, scoring two or fewer goals in each game.

The Sabres opened the scoring in the last two games but failed to take further advantage.

'We want better within this room,' said veteran forward Brian Gionta, who scored Buffalo's first goal in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Canucks. "We know we're capable of that, so that's why it's so disappointing.'

The Sabres also need to improve defensively, having allowed 15 non-shootout goals in the past four games.

Rookie Linus Ullmark made 26 saves Monday and has a 3.23 goals-against average while losing his last six starts. Teammate Chad Johnson posted a 1.33 GAA during a three-game winning streak that ended with Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Oilers, and he's expected to start this game.

Gionta has two goals and two assists in the last six contests.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Hot teams
-- Ottawa won three of its last four games.
-- Red Wings won three of last four games.
-- Washington won five of its last six games.
-- Philly won last three road games, allowing five goals.
-- Winnipeg won three of last four home games.
-- Calgary won last three games, scoring 13 goals.

Cold teams
-- Lightning lost three of last five games.
-- Montreal lost four of its last five games.
-- Florida lost four of its last five home games.
-- Predators lost eight of last 11 games. Chicago lost four of its last five road games.
-- St Louis lost three of last four games.
-- Columbus lost four of its last five games.
-- Sabres lost nine of their last twelve games.

Series records
-- Lightning is 6-4 in its last ten games with Ottawa.
-- Red Wings lost their last seven games with Montreal.
-- Panthers lost eight of last ten games with Washington.
-- Chicago won seven of last nine games with Nashville.
-- Blues won four of last six games with Philly.
-- Jets won four of last five games with Columbus.
-- Flames won three of last four games with Buffalo

Totals
-- Six of last eight Ottawa games went over total.
-- Over is 4-1-1 in last six Detroit games.
-- Under is 7-3-1 in last eleven Florida games.
-- Over is 6-1-1 in last eight Chicago-Nashville games.
-- Over is 3-0-1 in last four Philly games.
-- Under is 8-1-2 in last eleven Columbus games.
-- Over is 3-0-1 in last four Buffalo games.

Back-to-backs
-- Canadiens are 4-1 if they played the night before.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA notebook: Hornets' Jefferson suspended five games
By The Sports Xchange

The NBA suspended Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson for five games for violating the league's anti-drug policy, the NBA announced Wednesday.
Jefferson, 30, is currently sidelined with a calf injury and will begin serving his suspension when he is physically ready to play. It is unclear when that will be.
He is averaging 13.7 points and 6.4 rebounds in 17 games, all starts, this season. Jefferson has not played since a Nov. 29 game against Milwaukee. According to terms of the NBA/NBPA agreement, players are suspended for five games for a third positive marijuana test.

---Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson underwent successful surgery to repair the fractured posterior talus in his right ankle, the team announced.
The injury occurred during practice last Saturday. Hollis-Jefferson is expected to be out eight to 10 weeks. The procedure was performed by Nets team physician Dr. Martin O'Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.
In 19 games (14 starts) this season, the 20-year-old Hollis-Jefferson has averaged 5.2 points, 6.1 rebounds (fourth among qualifying rookies), 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals (first among rookies) in 22.1 minutes per game.

---The Sacramento Kings assigned rookie forward Duje Dukan to the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League.
Dukan has played and started in four games for the Bighorns, averaging 13 points and 3.8 rebounds in 27 minutes per game.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: 76ers (1-21) at Nets (6-15)

Date: December 10, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

The Philadelphia 76ers made about as bad a first impression possible on Jerry Colangelo's initial day as a team advisor.

Coming off a 51-point loss at home, the stumbling 76ers visit the site of one of their two road wins of this calendar year in Thursday night's matchup with the Brooklyn Nets.

Hours after being introduced as the team's new chairman of basketball operations, Colangelo - a four-time NBA executive of the year with Phoenix and current chairman of USA Basketball - saw a first-hand account of the Sixers' extensive rebuilding job during Monday's embarrassing 119-68 loss to San Antonio. The 51-point margin of defeat was the fifth-largest in franchise history.

The Spurs shot 61.8 percent and led by 44 points after three quarters despite resting Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.

"We played against a team that is the best defensive team in the NBA as we speak and we felt every bit of that," said coach Brett Brown, a former Spurs assistant. "I'm going to push this game aside and that's really all I have to say about this game."

Philadelphia (1-21) now heads back to the road, where it's lost 17 straight and 33 of 34 since a 90-88 win at Barclays Center on Jan. 9. The Sixers, 0-12 as the visitor this season, had dropped their first five games in Brooklyn.

Owners of the Eastern Conference's second-worst record, the Nets (6-15) aren't nearly on the level of the powerful Spurs. However, they've won three of five and improved to 5-1 in their last six at home after Tuesday's 110-105 decision over Houston.

The Nets had one of their best all-around performances in completing a season sweep of the Rockets. Brooklyn shot a season-high 55.6 percent, had three players score at least 20 points and forced 24 turnovers.

Brook Lopez finished with 24 points and Joe Johnson tied a season high with 22 while scoring 15 in the fourth quarter.

'That's what Joe does,' Lopez said. "We know we can go to him time and time again in the crunch time. He's going to deliver.'

Thaddeus Young added 20 points on 10-of-13 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double. The former 76er is averaging 21.0 points and 12.3 rebounds over that stretch.

Young had 21 points and nine rebounds in a 94-87 win in Philadelphia on March 14 that gave Brooklyn a 3-1 advantage in the 2014-15 season series.

Lopez, averaging 21.5 points over his last eight, gets his first head-to-head matchup with Jahlil Okafor, who looked rusty in returning to the court Monday. The rookie center, suspended two games by the 76ers for his involvement in a nightclub fight in Boston following a Nov. 25 loss to the Celtics, made 3 of 14 shots for 10 points.

Robert Covington had 13 points against San Antonio and is averaging 17.1 during a nine-game stretch. The third-year small forward is shooting 45.8 percent (22 for 48) from 3-point range over his last six.

Philadelphia shot 40.2 percent from 3 during a five-game sequence that preceded Monday's 4-for-24 effort.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Hawks (14-9) at Thunder (13-8)

Date: December 10, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

While the Oklahoma City Thunder saw a glimpse of the offense that could make them a contender in the Western Conference, the Atlanta Hawks' defense is helping them eye a return to that discussion in the East.

The Thunder seek their seventh win in nine games Thursday night as the visiting Hawks look to extend a rare winning streak to three.

Oklahoma City (13-8) orchestrated a 125-88 blowout win at Memphis on Tuesday with quick, efficient offense. Kevin Durant finished 11 of 14 from the field for 32 points, Russell Westbrook had 13 points on seven shots to go with 16 assists and four others scored in double figures.

The Thunder had 31 assists after failing to crack 20 in their previous four games.

'When we play together like that, we make the game easier,' Durant said. 'We were just playing smooth basketball. It was beautiful to watch. It was a fun game to play.'

The Thunder, who shot 41.5 percent over their previous three games, finished at a season-high 56 percent shooting. They made 13 of 26 shots from downtown after making just 29.6 percent of their 3s in the previous four games.

Oklahoma City improved to 4-0 when Westbrook scores under 20 points after going 6-8 in that situation last season.

'I can't say enough about what Russell did,' coach Billy Donovan said. 'In my opinion, he's one of the rare guys in this league that can dominate a game without scoring.'

He dominated Nov. 30 in Atlanta by doing exactly the opposite, pouring in half of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and finishing with 11 rebounds and seven assists. But Jeff Teague scored six of his 25 in a critical late stretch to help the Hawks win 106-100.

Atlanta (14-9) opened the season 7-1 while looking much like the team that rose to the top of the East a year ago. The Hawks, though, dragged through a 5-8 lull without two wins in a row.

The Hawks finally found another winning streak, though, after a 100-87 home victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday and, after four days off, Wednesday's 98-95 win at Dallas.

Atlanta has held opponents under 40 percent shooting in its last three victories. The Mavericks shot 36 percent from the field, a season low for a Hawks opponent.

'Our contests and our effort to get to their shooters was good,' coach Mike Budenholzer said. 'I didn't think anybody got into a rhythm. So, a couple times when they were open, maybe they didn't feel good and maybe didn't have as much confidence.'

Paul Millsap had 20 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Al Horford chipped in 14 points and eight boards. Tiago Splitter, who missed the previous seven games with a sore hip, had four points and three rebounds in 12 minutes.

Millsap has averaged 22.6 points in five meetings with Oklahoma City since joining the Hawks.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Clippers (13-9) at Bulls (11-8)

Date: December 10, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Following an uncharacteristic rough stretch last month, the Los Angeles Clippers continue to shine late in games during their recent turnaround.

That doesn't bode well for a Chicago Bulls team that is on the verge of its longest losing streak in two years because of its fourth quarter blues.

Blake Griffin looks to extend his dominance in this series Thursday night when the Clippers go after their seven straight victory at the United Center.

Los Angeles (13-9) was looking for answers during a 2-7 stretch in which it shot 40.8 percent in the fourth quarter, hitting just 28.6 percent from 3-point range.

The Clippers have worked out those late-game woes, shooting 51.2 percent and 41.7 from long range over the final 12 minutes while winning seven of the past nine.

After scoring a season-high 39 while hitting all 15 free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter of Monday's 110-106 win at Minnesota, Los Angeles shot 55.6 percent and outscored Milwaukee 34-27 in Wednesday's 109-95 victory.

J.J. Redick had a season-high 31 points and hit 6 of 9 from 3-point range in the team's third straight win. Chris Paul added 18 points and a season-high 18 assists and Griffin had 21 points and 14 rebounds.

"We're not going to say we've perfected anything," Paul said. "We know it's been a struggle for us early in the season, but we're finding a little rhythm."

Jamal Crawford had averaged 12.3 points and made 6 of 11 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter of his previous three games before scoring five on 2-of-4 shooting while playing all 12 minutes Wednesday.

Los Angeles might be able to continue its late success as it looks to win its first three on a five-game road swing. Chicago (11-8) has faded in its last three games, getting outscored 102-70 in the final 12 minutes.

The Bulls shot 36.4 percent in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 102-96 home loss to Charlotte before getting outscored 42-24 in Monday's 103-101 loss to visiting Phoenix. On Wednesday, they let the Celtics put up 30 in the final 12 minutes of a 105-100 loss.

Derrick Rose has missed 18 of 22 shots in the fourth quarter over his last five games for Chicago, which hasn't dropped four in a row since December 2013.

'This is our first time really going through it,' Rose said. 'The nucleus of this team, we've been together for a long time. We're just trying to figure things out.'

Jimmy Butler was a bright spot Wednesday with a career-high 36 points, while Pau Gasol added 16 points and 15 rebounds. Butler has struggled in his last two home games versus Los Angeles, totaling 19 points on 6-of-24 shooting.

Gasol scored four points on 2-of-13 shooting in a 96-86 loss March 1 in the most recent meeting at the United Center. Rose hasn't faced the Clippers since December 2011, missing the past six meetings due to various injuries.

Chicago hasn't had much success at home, losing 12 of the past 14 meetings.

Paul led the way with 28 points and 12 assists in the March victory, while DeAndre Jordan pulled down 26 rebounds. Griffin did not play in that contest, but his 25.4 scoring average against Chicago is his highest versus any opponent.