Thursday 3/24/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Post your request, Comments or concerns here.
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[superbeets]

International TODAY 19:45

Czech Rep

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Scotland

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PMSK		3/4	13/5	4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN CZECH REP	RECENT FORM
HWAWHLAWHWAL​ Most recent​	1 - 0 3 - 1 3 - 2	HWADALHLHDAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Czech Republic have won four of their last six at home

EXPERT VERDICT: Czech coach Pavel Vrba will be concentrating on preparing for France and is unlikely to do too much tinkering ahead of a major tournament. The Czechs beat both Holland and Iceland at home during qualifying and thrashed a decent Serbia side 4-1 in a November friendly. They can overcome a Scotland side lacking experience.

RECOMMENDATION: Czech Rep
3

 

[superbeets]

International TODAY 19:45

Wales

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N Ireland

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BBC2		13/10	21/10	5/2	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN WALES	RECENT FORM
HWAWHDALHWHL​ Most recent​	2 - 2 1 - 2	HDAWHDHWADHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Northern Ireland are unbeaten in eight matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Wales aren’t entirely a one-man team but they are far, far weaker when Gareth Bale isn’t around – and he’s not their only world-class star missing in Cardiff. Chris Coleman’s men must also do without Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey and Northern Ireland can grab a draw.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1

 

[superbeets]

League One Fr 25Mar 17:30

Swindon

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Wigan

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SS1		11/4	13/5	11/10	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT SWINDON	RECENT FORM
AWHWAWHWHDAD​ Most recent​	2 - 1 2 - 1 1 - 1 2 - 2	AWHWADHDADHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Swindon’s Nicky Ajose is League One top scorer with 20 goals

EXPERT VERDICT: Title contenders Wigan are on a 16-game unbeaten run in the league and beat Swindon 1-0 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. However, the Robins have proved hard to beat with their last defeat coming eight games ago against playoff chasers Port Vale and they can at least trouble the Latics.

RECOMMENDATION: Wigan to win 2-1
1


REFEREE: Andy Davies STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

League One Fr 25Mar 19:45

Peterborough

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Coventry

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SS1		6/4	13/5	19/10	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT PETERBOROUGH	RECENT FORM
HLHLALADHLAW​ Most recent​	0 - 1 1 - 0 1 - 0 0 - 1	HLALHLALAWHD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Coventry have won four of the past five meetings

EXPERT VERDICT: Both sides are in poor form with Coventry claiming three points in only one of their past six games. Top scorer Adam Armstrong is out of form having not scored in his last six. Howeverm, Peterborough’s 2-1 win last Saturday was their first in their last eight games – during that run they’ve let in 19 goals.

RECOMMENDATION: Coventry
2


REFEREE: Chris Kavanagh STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

International Fr 25Mar 19:45

Ireland

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Switzerland

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
PMSK		19/10	21/10	8/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN IRELAND	RECENT FORM
AWHWHWALADHW*​ Most recent​	0 - 0 1 - 2 2 - 1 3 - 0	HWALHWAWALAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Ireland were unbeaten at home in Euro 2016 qualifying

EXPERT VERDICT: Ireland were impressive in home matches during Euro 2016 qualifying and they may represent the best value in this friendly. The Irish won three of their five Group D home games, claiming a 1-0 victory over Germany and securing qualification with a 2-0 win against Bosnia in Dublin. Switzerland lost home and away to England.

RECOMMENDATION: Ireland
1

 

[superbeets]

League One Sa 26Mar 12:30

Burton

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Oldham

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS1		8/11	11/4	9/2	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT BURTON	RECENT FORM
HDAWADALHWAW​ Most recent​	2 - 2	AWADHDALHWHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Burton have won seven of their last ten home games

EXPERT VERDICT: Burton’s charge to the Championship should continue with three more points against Oldham. The relegation-threatened Latics are better away from Boundary Park than at home, but they look no match for the table-topping Brewers. Burton won 4-0 at Port Vale last week and can get the Pirelli-faithful purring.

RECOMMENDATION: Burton
3


REFEREE: Geoff Eltringham STADIUM:

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

10 Players to Watch: WGC-Dell Match Play
By Tom LaMarre, The Sports Xchange

1. Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland -- Not only is McIlroy the defending champion, having won the title with a 4-and-2 victory over Gary Woodland last year at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, but he is always a tough out in match play. He owns a 24-9-1 record in singles matches in his career, including 18-6 in this tournament, going 7-0 en route to the title last year. Rory also made a run for the title in 2012 at Dove Mountain in Arizona, winning five consecutive matches before losing in the final to Hunter Mahan, 2 and 1. His best result in the World Match Play Championship in Europe was a tie for fifth in 2009. He will face Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark in the first round on Wednesday, with Kevin Na and Smylie Kaufman also in his four-man group for the preliminary rounds.

2. Jason Day, Australia -- With only two days off after his victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Day must shake off any letdown and get past a tough group that includes Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland in his opening match plus Paul Casey of England and Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand. The Aussie claimed the WGC-Match Play title in 2014, outlasting Victor Dubuisson of France in a classic 23-hole final at Dove Mountain. Even though 2015 was a career year for Day, who claimed five titles, he didn't have any success in match play. He lost all three matches in his title defense at TPC Harding Park to Charley Hoffman, Branden Grace and Zach Johnson, who also beat him in President's Cup singles. However, Day has a 15-8 singles mark, and he reached the 2013 WGC Match Play semifinals before losing to eventual champion Matt Kuchar, 4 and 3.

3. Jordan Spieth, United States -- Despite having only a 5-5 record in match play as a pro, Spieth is a force to be reckoned with, as he rose to No. 1 in the World Golf Rankings since most of those matches were played. Two years ago in the WGC-Match Play at Dove Mountain, he beat Pablo Larrazabal of Spain, Thomas Bjorn of Denmark and defending champion Matt Kuchar before Ernie Els of South Africa sent him home, 4 and 2, in the quarters. Last year at TPC Harding Park, Spieth beat Mikko Ilonen of Finland and Matt Every before Lee Westwood of England won their group by beating him, 2 up. He will start against Jamie Donaldson of Wales, and good pal Justin Thomas and Victor Dubuisson of France are also in his group. Spieth has a 7-2-1 mark in team matches (fourball and foursomes) in the Ryder and President Cups.

4. Adam Scott, Australia -- The best golfer in the world over the last month or so, with victories in the Honda Classic and the WGC-Cadillac Championship plus a runner-up finish in the Northern Trust Open, Scott hopes to carry that form to Austin Country Club. However, he has only an 18-21 match-play singles record in his career, and last year he lost to Chris Kirk, Paul Casey of England and Francesco Molinari of Italy at TPC Harding Park to give him an eight-match losing streak in the WGC-Match Play. Scott has a first-round match against Thomas Pieters of South Africa and also must deal with Bill Haas and Chris Wood of England in his group this week. He made a run at the title in 2003, when eventual champion Tiger Woods beat him in on the 19th hole in the semifinals, and again two years later, when eventual winner David Toms defeated him in the quarterfinals, 2 and 1.

5. Rickie Fowler, United States -- The gritty Fowler has been a tough match-play opponent in his budding career, posting a 10-6-2 record in singles. He got past match-play ace Ian Poulter of England, Jimmy Walker, Sergio Garcia of Spain and Jim Furyk two years ago at Dove Mountain before eventual champ Jason Day of Australia beat him in the semifinals, 3 and 2. Last year, he swept Harris English, Shane Lowry of Ireland and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland in pool play before Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa sent him packing in the round of 16, 1 up. Fowler will start off with a tough match against Jason Dufner, and he also has Byeong-Hun An of South Korea and Scott Piercy in his group at Austin Country Club. Perhaps the biggest feather in his cap was a 6-and-5 rout of Phil Mickelson in round two at Dove Mountain in 2011.

6. Bubba Watson, United States -- With his length off the tee and variety of shots, Watson should be a monster in match play, but he has only an 11-10-1 singles record in his career. His best run in the WGC-Match Play came in 2011 at Dove Mountain, where he defeated Bill Haas, Mark Wilson, two-time champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia and J.B. Holmes in a slugfest before Martin Kaymer of Germany got past him in the semifinals, 1 up. Last year at TPC Harding Park, Watson beat Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain and Keegan Bradley before Louis Oosthuizen pulled out a victory on the 19th hole to win their group. Watson opens with Patton Kizzire this time, and he also has matches against Holmes and Emiliano Grillo of Argentina in round-robin group play.

7. Dustin Johnson, United States -- Johnson is another guy who should have a big advantage in match play because of his prodigious drives and deft play around the greens, but he has only a 7-8 mark in match-play singles. However, he has been getting better, winning six of the past nine matches he has played in this tournament and team match play. After being ousted in the first round by Alexander Noren of Sweden and Peter Hanson of Denmark the two previous years, when the event was single elimination, last year he beat Matt Jones and Victor Dubuission of France but lost the group-play title to Charl Schwartzel on the 20th hole. v will open with Robert Streb on Wednesday and also must contend with Jimmy Walker and Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand in his group to advance to the round of 16.

8. Charl Schwartzel, South Africa -- Having won the Tshwane Open on the European Tour and the Valspar Championship this year, Schwartzel comes into the WGC-Match Play in top form. Also, he probably is a better match-play performer than his 13-11-1 record might indicate. He reached the round of 16 in this event twice, including last year when he beat Victor Dubuisson of France, Matt Jones of Australia and Dustin Johnson in pool play before losing to Paul Casey of England 3 and 1. Schwartzel also made it to the quarterfinals of the 2011 Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain before Luke Donald of England ended his run, 2 up. He drew Danny Lee of New Zealand for his first-round match in round-robin pool play, and Brandt Snedeker and Charley Hoffman also stand between him and the round of 16.

9. Matt Kuchar, United States -- Kuchar's play so far this season has not been up to his standards, as a tie for eighth in the Northern Trust Open is his best result, but a return to match play might help get him back on track. He has a 19-11 singles record in his career, and he won the WGC-Match Play title three years ago at Dove Mountain, where he went through Hiroyuki Fujita of Japan, Sergio Garcia of Spain, Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, Robert Garrigus, Jason Day of Australia and defending champion Hunter Mahan, beating him 2 and 1 in the final. Mahan got Kuchar back last year when he handed him a 5-and-4 defeat to win their pool. Kuchar opens with Fabian Gomez of Argentina on Wednesday and also will face Justin Rose of England and Anirban Lahiri of India in the round-robin portion of the tournament.

10. Paul Casey, England -- Something of a sleeper pick in the WGC-Match Play this week, Casey has never won the tournament, but he finished second twice and last year took eventual champion Rory McIlroy to the 22nd hole before losing in the quarterfinals at TPC Harding Park. Before that, he beat Chris Kirk, Adam Scott of Australia, Francesco Molinari of Italy and Charl Schwartzel of South Africa. He has a 30-20-2 career match-play record, and he won the 2006 HSBC World Match Play Championship with a 10-and-8 rout of Shaun Micheel at Wentworth outside London. In 2009, he lost to Geoff Ogilvy, 4 and 3, in the WGC final, and the next year Ian Poulter beat him for the title, 4 and 2, both at Dove Mountain. Casey will play Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand in the first round of pool play and also will meet No. 2 Jason Day of Australia and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland in a formidable group.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

WGC Match Play Preview
By Dan Daly

Since pretty much every NCAA bracket in the country is sitting at the bottom of a trash can right now we all get a redo of sorts this week with the WGC Match Play tournament starting on Wednesday. With the new “group system” in place and the PGA tour turning it into some B-team ‘made for TV’ Monday night event, the Weekly Waggle was forced to move back a day this week. I won’t even go into how lame and cheesy the live broadcast was (1-10 scale it was about a 15) but if you watched it as well, let’s just say I feel sorry for you and that was two hours of your life that you will never…ever get back.

For those not familiar with the new format, the CliffsNotes go something like this. There are 16 groups of four players playing round-robin matches Wednesday through Friday. The winners of each group advance to a single-elimination round of 16 bracket style format Saturday and Sunday.

Not only was the live TV lottery a waste of everyone’s time, but the new system itself is a total fail if last year is any indication. The Wednesday, Thursday and Friday matches went from the best three days of the tournament, to the worst, with little to no drama. While some of the Friday matches mattered, eleven of Friday’s 32 matches last year were literally irrelevant. Meaning they weren’t going to advance to the Sweet Sixteen no matter who won. No thanks!

Up until last year this was my favorite non-major of the year, I loved the 64-man single elimination NCAA style format. The problem for the PGA Tour was simple, too many big names didn’t make the tournament. Personally, I loved the upsets, it made for incredible TV Wednesday, Thursday and Friday…but the networks care much more about Saturday and Sunday.

I know TV is the driver behind the new change and it’s not my money on the line but the PGA Tour butchered the best non-major of the year. There is nothing more fun in sports, golf included, than a single elimination, win or go home tournament. Especially when it’s only once a year. Do you think anyone really cares about college basketball from November through February?

Personally, I think the Olympics completely dropped the ball by doing a 72-hole stroke play tournament instead of Match Play. What’s better than an 18-hole match play for the gold medal? But once again, it’s all about TV.

The bottom line is, when someone like Jordan Spieth, who never has a bad thing to say about anything (other than the 18th hole at Chambers Bay), is openly critical of the format, you know it’s bad. Can you blame the guy? No one in the entire field was more under par after the three group rounds than Jordan and the guy didn’t advance. I know, that’s the “beauty” of match play, and while I would normally agree with that, if all things were equal, but with this new group system…they aren’t. And thus, it’s stupid.

I know they never will, but when the 2016 WGC Match Play ends up being just as big a disaster as 2015 was, I really wish the PGA Tour would go back to the 64-man, single elimination match play tournament.

Anyway, I will step down from my soapbox now. So here are the WGC Match predictions sure to beat my NCAA bracket. I fully expect my billion dollars from Warren Buffett when I end up with a perfect bracket come Sunday.

Round of 64 Group Winners

Group 1

Jordan Spieth (1) - Justin Thomas (31) - Victor Dubuisson (39) - Jamie Donaldson (51)

Winner – This one is pretty much a no brainer. Justin Thomas should put a valiant effort but this is a home game for Spieth who has played ACC countless times from his days at UT and will have the crowd behind him as well. Oh, and he is still the number one ranked player in the world.

Group 2

Jason Day (2) - Paul Casey (23) - Thongchai Jaidee (36) - Graeme McDowell (62)

Winner – Day seems like the obvious choice here based on his win this past weekend at the API but his iron play was all over the place and his short game bailed him out time and again over the weekend. Meanwhile, Paul Casey is one of the best iron players in the world and fits this course perfectly. There is nothing more frustrating in match play than a guy on the green in regulation hole after hole. I like Casey to come out of this group.

Group 3

Rory McIlroy (3) - Kevin Na (26) - Smylie Kaufman (46) - Thorbjorn Olesen (64)

Winner – Oleson has no chance. Kaufman has a puncher’s chance. Na could actually put up a good fight. But I’ll take the defending Match Play champion and the guy that will make the most birdies (or better) all day in a round robin. Rory should win this group fairly easily.

Group 4

Bubba Watson (4) - J.B. Holmes (21) - Emiliano Grillo (33) - Patton Kizzire (63)

Winner – I could be way off here, but having played ACC more times than I can count I just don’t see this course fitting Bubba Watson’s eye. I think it will give him fits…and once something gets inside Bubba’s head he’s done. Grillo might get swept. Homes should win this group but I’m going with my biggest flyer of the week on Patton Kizzire. He doesn’t drive the ball well which could be his downfall this week, but there is no lack of course knowledge working against him and he is 23rd on tour in birdie average per round 4th in strokes gained putting. Plus his name is awesome and he has nothing to lose after barely sneaking in this tournament in the first place.

Group 5

Rickie Fowler (5) - Byeong-Hun An (27) - Scott Piercy (47) - Jason Dufner (58)

Winner – Everyone loves them some Rickie Fowler…except me. He will be a heavy favorite in the group and most will have him go fairly deep in this thing. I’m not a buyer on Fowler this week. Piercy is just overmatched here. Dufner’s game fits ACC pretty well actually and has had a decent start to 2016 so Duf winning this group would shock me. But I’m going with An. Despite being the only non-American in this group, Byeong-Hun An is actually the only one to win the US Amateur. In other words, the dude is good at match play and has been playing well for the better part of a year now.

Group 6

Adam Scott (6) Bill Haas (30) - Chris Wood (41) - Thomas Pieters (55)

Winner – In his last four starts Adam Scott has gone T2, Win, Win, T12. And the T12 at the API was playing the 18th hole in +5 over the weekend. He is prone to a big number here and there but in Match Play it will only cost him one hole, I like his chances on the other 17. Haas might have a chance in a one round single elimination but do you really want to bet against Adam Scott right now in a 3 day round robin?

Group 7

Justin Rose (7) - Matt Kuchar (28) - Anirban Lahiri (48) - Fabian Gomez (57)

Winner – Rose and his putter just don’t bode well for match play. Lahiri is playing well lately overseas but travel catches up to you in a three day round robin. Kuchar should win this group fairly easily.

Group 8

Dustin Johnson (8) - Jimmy Walker (22) - Kiradech Aphibarnrat (37) - Robert Streb (49)

Winner – Rule number one in golf, never bet actual money you have earned on Dustin Johnson to win a tournament, not even a four man tournament. So he’s out. Robert Streb just isn’t going to win. This is a semi home game for Jimmy Walker living in San Antonio and playing junior golf here, but his match play record eliminates him. Which leaves us with the man everyone calls ‘Asia's John Daly’, Anujit Hirunratanakorn…or Kiradech Aphibarnrat for short.

Group 9

Patrick Reed (9) - Phil Mickelson (17) - Matthew Fitzpatrick (42) - Daniel Berger (53)

Winner – This is a two horse face between arguably the two cockiest players on the PGA tour, FIGJAM (Mickelson) and FIGJAM Jr (Reed). Reed has made a name for himself in match play the last few years but his play the last month has been more appalling than his choker necklace. Meanwhile Mickelson has actually been playing well the past few months and should come out of this group the winner.

Group 10

Danny Willett (10) - Brooks Koepka (18) - Billy Horschel (40) - Jaco Van Zyl (50)

Winner – Danny Willett is the best pro golfer most people know nothing about. He is the 10th ranked player in the world for a reason. He also finished 3rd in this event last year as well as the last two WGC events he has played in. Koepka is no pushover by any means, but to me Willett might be the best group bet on the board.

Group 11

Branden Grace (11) - Russell Knox (32) - David Lingmerth (38) - Chris Kirk (54)

Winner – Grace has played incredible outside the US. On the PGA Tour…not so much. Kirk has been battling a wrist injury for a while. So to me it comes down to two Match Play first timers in Knox and Lingmerth. I’ll take the guy that won the WGC event back in November…give me Russell Knox in a small upset in this group.

Group 12

Hideki Matsuyama (12) - Kevin Kisner (20) - Soren Kjeldsen (43) - Rafa Cabrera Bello (52)

Winner – It’s hard to go against Matsuyama in this group, but I am. Kisner has a great record on Pete Dye golf courses but after his hot start to 2016 has come back down to earth. Rafa Cabrera Bello meanwhile has been playing some of the most consistent golf on the European tour this year. To paraphrase a line from Devil’s Advocate... ‘He’s the hand up Mona Lisa's skirt. He’s a surprise. They don't see him coming.’

Group 13

Sergio Garcia (13) - Marc Leishman (25) - Ryan Moore (45) - Lee Westwood (59)

Winner – Westwood just isn’t playing much golf right now. Sergio actually has a very good match play record both in this and team events but I think the group format works against him. Moore obviously has made a name for himself as a match play player over the years, but I like Leishman to come out of this group without much trouble.

Group 14

Zach Johnson (14) - Shane Lowry (24) - Martin Kaymer (44) - Marcus Fraser (60)

Winner – Everything about this course sets up perfectly for Zach Johnson. Lowry will be a tough out, but in the end I think Zach Johnson will have a lot of success this week and as long as they play this tournament at ACC.

Group 15

Brandt Snedeker (15) - Charl Schwartzel (19) - Danny Lee (34) - Charley Hoffman (56)

Winner – I love me some Sneds and I think this course is great for him, but that rib injury makes me nervous. Danny Lee apparently forgot how to play golf the last few months and Charley Hoffman just doesn’t make enough birdies to win a three day match play group. If the ribs are bothering Sneds then Schwartzel should win this group easily, if Sneds is healthy I still like Schwartzel but not nearly as much.

Group 16

Louis Oosthuizen (16) - Andy Sullivan (29) - Bernd Wiesberger (35) - Matt Jones (61)

Winner – Willett is still my favorite group bet on the board, but Oosthuizen is right behind him. The guy has been a machine in this event the last few years. Simply put, this should be an easy win for Louis.

Bracket Rounds:

Sweet 16

Oosthuizen over Spieth (In extra holes. This might be the best match of the tournament)

Casey over Schwartzel (O/U for greens hit in this match will be 34.5)

Zach Johnson over Rory (Holding my nose with this pick)

Leishman over Kizzire (It was a nice run for Kizz)

Rafa Cabrera Bello over An (Always goes with the 12 over the 5 right?)

Scott over Knox (Fairly easily)

Willett over Kuchar (This will be a common theme to come)

Aphibarnrat over Mickeson (The Asian John Daly…hello)

Elite 8

Oosthuizen over Aphibarnrat

Leishman over Rafa Cabrera Bello

Willett over Casey

Scott over Zach Jonhson

Final 4

Oosthuizen over Leishman

Willett over Scott

Championship Match

Danny Willett wins the WGC Match Play over Louis Oosthuizen in what most would consider a boring finals match. But if you like good golf, this match will be anything but.

Paging Mr. Buffett...I’ll take my billion dollars now.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Golfers to Bet - WGC Match Play

Tournament: WGC-Dell Match Play Championship
Date: Thursday, March 24th
Venue: Austin Country Club
Location: Austin, TX

Some of the TOUR’s biggest names will be playing when Austin Country Club hosts the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship on Thursday. This is not any ordinary tournament, though.

The WGC-Dell Match Play Championship is a match play knockout event. Jason Day will be the talk of the TOUR coming into this event, as he came away with a victory at last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. Day barely held on to defeat Kevin Chappell, but that should not concern him. It was his first victory of the year and he desperately wanted to get over the hump.

Day will, however, have some very tough competition in Austin this week. This field is set to include guys like Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson. McIlroy actually won this event a year ago, but Day was the victor in 2014.

With that out of the way, let’s now take a look at who might be coming away with the win when this tournament is all over:

Golfers to Watch

Jason Day (12/1) - As previously mentioned, Jason Day is coming off of a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and he also won this match play knockout tournament in 2014. There are very few golfers on TOUR that are as intimidating to be across from as him and that is a major factor when looking at this type of event. Day’s opponents will have to feel that they can go toe/toe with somebody on his level, but very few golfers on the TOUR really believe that they are as good as him. He was 17-under a week ago and now has three top-15 finishes on the season. He’ll be out to win his second event in a row and should be taken very seriously in Austin.

Justin Rose (25/1) - Rose has not yet won a tournament this season, but he is playing some good golf heading into this event. Rose finished tied for ninth at 10-under at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week. It was his third top-10 finish of the season and he appears to be playing some of his best golf heading into this event. With Rose being in good form, it’s tough to imagine that many guys will be able to best him this weekend. He is one of the best golfers in the world when he is on his game and he is receiving some absurd odds at 25/1. Rose is worth putting a few units on this weekend, as he should rise to the challenge of outshining some of the world’s best in this one.

Paul Casey (30/1) - Casey is not as big of a name as the other two guys listed here, but he has been playing some incredible golf lately and also happens to have some impressive history at this event. Casey just shot a 10-under at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which was good for a ninth place tie for the weekend. That performance followed up a seventh place finish at the WGC-Cadillac Championship early in March. Casey is trending in the right direction heading into this tournament and he also happens to be a two-time runner-up at this event. Casey fell just short of beating Ian Poulter in 2010 and was also unable to defeat Geoff Ogilvy in 2009. He’ll be hoping to get over the hump this week and is a great bet to do so at 30/1.

Jimmy Walker (65/1) - Walker has not done anything spectacular at this event in his career, but he is a very talented golfer and represents some tremendous value this weekend. Walker is receiving absurd odds at 65/1 and would pay off huge if he were to make a run in this event. It’s really not out of the question, as Walker is in very good form coming into this one. His last event was the WGC-Cadillac Championship and he finished eight-under for a sixth place finish there. It was Walker’s fourth top-10 finish of the year and he is not somebody that should be counted out in this event. Throwing a unit on him could end up being a very good decision and he’s a solid person to pair with Day when playing this event.

Odds to win WGC-Dell Match Play Championship

Rory McIlroy 11/1
Adam Scott 12/1
Jason Day 12/1
Jordan Spieth 12/1
Rickie Fowler 14/1
Bubba Watson 15/1
Dustin Johnson 25/1
Justin Rose 25/1
Charl Schwartzel 30/1
Hideki Matsuyama 30/1
Louis Oosthuizen 30/1
Paul Casey 30/1
Phil Mickelson 30/1
Danny Willett 33/1
Sergio Garcia 33/1
Patrick Reed 35/1
Branden Grace 40/1
Brooks Koepka 45/1
Matt Kuchar 45/1
Brandt Snedeker 50/1
Zach Johnson 50/1
J.B. Holmes 55/1
Justin Thomas 55/1
Marc Leishman 60/1
Andy Sullivan 65/1
Jimmy Walker 65/1
Bill Haas 70/1
Shane Lowry 70/1
Kevin Kisner 75/1
Ryan Moore 75/1
Byeong-Hun An 80/1
Graeme McDowell 80/1
Kevin Na 90/1
Billy Horschel 100/1
Daniel Berger 100/1
Jason Dufner 100/1
Russell Knox 100/1
Smylie Kaufman 100/1
Bernd Wiesberger 120/1
Anirban Lahiri 125/1
Charley Hoffman 125/1
Emiliano Grillo 125/1
Kiradech Aphibarnrat 125/1
Lee Westwood 125/1
Martin Kaymer 125/1
Matthew Fitzpatrick 125/1
Rafa Cabrera Bello 125/1
Thomas Pieters 130/1
Thongchai Jaidee 130/1
Victor Dubuisson 130/1
Danny Lee 140/1
Chris Kirk 150/1
Chris Wood 150/1
David Lingmerth 150/1
Matt Jones 150/1
Patton Kizzire 150/1
Scott Piercy 150/1
Thorbjorn Olesen 150/1
Jamie Donaldson 170/1
Robert Streb 200/1
Soren Kjeldsen 200/1
Marcus Fraser 210/1
Fabian Gomez 250/1
Jaco Van Zyl 250/1

Odds Subject to Change

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Day tweaks back in first-round win
By Steve Habel, The Sports Xchange

AUSTIN, Texas -- Jason Day, the world's No. 2 ranked player, tweaked his lower back on the 15th hole during his 3-and-2 victory over Graeme McDowell at the Dell Match Play on Wednesday afternoon at Austin Country Club and headed straight to the therapy trailer after signing his scorecard.
Day looked gimpy coming off the 15th green and was in obvious pain when he dropped his driver after his tee shot on the next hole. He had to slowly slither down the side of a deep fairway bunker to play his second shot on the par-5 16th and was down on his knees next to the green when McDowell missed a birdie putt that would have extended the match, rising only to remove his cap and shake McDowell's hand.
Wednesday's rounds were the first of three days of group play (or round robin) competition to be held through Friday. The player in each group with the highest point total at the end of group play advances to the 16-player, single-elimination matches.
The first match win of the tournament went to Brandt Snedeker over Charley Hoffman, 2 and 1. Hoffman took a 1-up lead with a birdie on the 10th hole, but Snedeker rallied with a par on the 14th and hole-winning birdies on Nos. 15 and 16 before ending the match with a par on No. 17.
Other early first-round winners were: Charl Schwartzel over Danny Lee, 1-up; Thongchai Jaidee over Paul Casey, 2 and 1; Jason Dufner over Ricky Fowler, 2 and 1; Rafa Cabrera Bello over Hideki Matsuyama, 1-up; and Kevin Kisner over Soren Kjeldsen, 2 and 1. Scott Piercy and Byeong-Hun An halved their match, each earning half a point.
NOTES: The tournament features the Top 64 players from the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as of March 14. The players were seeded by their ranking based on their position in the OWGR on March 21. ... Jim Furyk (wrist injury) and Henrik Stenson (scheduling) qualified but did not join the field. Patton Kizzire (No. 65) and Thorbjorn Olesen (No. 66) replaced Furyk and Stenson. ... Last year, the tournament utilized Group Play (or Round Robin) Matches for the first time with the field divided into 16 four-player groups. This year, the 18-hole matches will be played to a conclusion, or a halve, with matches not extending beyond 18 holes until Friday. ... Spectator tickets to the event, which is being held in Austin for the first time, sold out within weeks.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

PGA Tour Picks: World Golf Championships-Match Play Odds and Expert Predictions
by Alan Matthews

The PGA Tour is a foreigner's game right now, with a non-American winning four straight events after USA players got off to a strong start to the season.

Last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Bay Hill, the final event of the Florida Swing, Australian Jason Day shot a final-round 2-under 70 to win by one over Kevin Chappell. Day got up-and-down twice over his final five holes, including on No. 18. From a greenside bunker about 100 yards from the hole, Day blasted out to within four feet and drained the par putt to go wire-to-wire.

"My iron play was very, very poor over the weekend but one thing that helped a lot was my short game," said Day, who finished the week 17-under and moved to No. 2 in the world.

Day had been receiving text messages from his idol, Tiger Woods, all weekend. He said that helped his game. Day's victory was his eighth career on the PGA Tour and fifth in his past 12 starts going back to the Canadian Open last summer the week after the British Open. It also meant for the first time since 1993 the Florida Swing was won completely by former major champions: Aussie Adam Scott won two events on the swing and South African Charl Schwartzel the other.

Chappell was a tough-luck loser, making his only final-round bogey of the back nine on the last hole and shooting 69. Henrik Stenson finished tied for third. Since Jan. 1, 2015, he has finished in the top three in nine of 30 worldwide starts but hasn't won. The Swede was my pick to win last week. Thus, I did get him at -105 for a Top 10 as well as -135 as the top continental European. Also hit on a Top 10 for Justin Rose (T9), who also was my choice as top Englishman; he tied there with Paul Casey. I took a few longer-shot bets on Keegan Bradley as he usually plays well at Bay Hill but he finished T36. Head-to-head, I hit on Scott (even money) over Rory McIlroy (-130), and Casey (-115) over Brandt Snedeker (-115). Decent results.

So now this week the Tour heads to Austin, Texas, for the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play. This tournament has moved weeks and courses a handful of times over the years and both are new this year. Prior to this year, it had been held at five different courses. The Match Play will stay in the last week of March with Dell as its sponsor through 2019.

It's one of four WGC events, which has a limited field and expanded purse. This is the only PGA Tour event that uses match play (Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup do but those are team events). It also starts on Wednesday, not the usual Thursday.

There are four brackets with players seeded by their world ranking. Players face each of the other three members in their mini-group during pool play, with winners earning a point and ties a worth a half point for each participant. The player with the most points from each group will advance to single-elimination knockout play this weekend (36 holes on Saturday and Sunday -- more if matches are all square after 18). That format was new last year; it used to be simply the knockout round to begin with.

The top four seeds are No. 1 Jordan Spieth, who of course went to the University of Texas in Austin, No. 2 Day, No. 3 McIlroy and No. 4 Bubba Watson. Spieth could be looking at a nice matchup vs. No. 8 Dustin Johnson to win his bracket. Day has Rose in his bracket. Day also could take over No. 1 in the world rankings depending on what he and Spieth do here. McIlroy has Scott in his bracket and Watson has Rickie Fowler. McIlroy is the defending champion. He beat American Gary Woodland 4 and 2 in the 2015 final. McIlroy never trailed and the match was only all square for the first three holes. McIlroy became the first No. 1 seed since Tiger in 2008 to win this.

All but two of the world's Top 50 are set to play. Stenson is taking the week off and Jim Furyk remains out following wrist surgery. Stenson won this in 2007. Tiger holds the record with three wins in the Match Play but remains out. One guy also missing: worldwide match play stud Ian Poulter. He won here in 2010 but isn't eligible this year.

Golf Odds: WGC-Match Play Favorites

McIlroy is the +1000 favorite . In his four-man group are No. 64 Thorbjorn Olesen, No. 46 Smylie Kaufman and No. 26 Kevin Na. McIlroy is -225 to beat Olesen on Wednesday. He is -143 to win that group.

Day, the 2014 winner, is +1100. He's in a group with No. 23 Casey, No. 36 Thongchai Jaidee and No. 62 Graeme McDowell. Day is -120 for that group.

Scott and Spieth (both +1200) round out the favorites. Spieth is with No. 31 Justin Thomas, No. 39 Victor Dubuisson and No. 51 Jamie Donald and is -165 for that group. Scott is with No. 30 Bill Haas, No. 41 Chris Wood and No. 55 Thomas Pieters and Scott is -110 there.

Golf Odds: WGC-Match Play Picks

If I'm being honest, it's almost impossible to handicap this tournament. Your smarter bets aren't going to be on who wins, but simply betting individual matches and group winners. Here are a few group winning props I like: Fowler (even money) in Group 5, Johnson (+138) in Group 8, Phil Mickelson (+188) in Group 9, Hideki Matsuyama (+130) in Group 12 and Louis Oosthuizen (+150) in Group 16.

I actually like McDowell at +160 over Day (-200) for their opening match on Wednesday. Also go Sergio Garcia (-200) over Lee Westwood (+160), Mickelson (-174) over Matthew Fitzpatrick (+135), Haas (-170) over Wood (+130) and Shane Lowry (+125) over Martin Kaymer (-165). I expect all the top seeds to win Wednesday other than Day.

As for a winner? The average seeding has been 18.5 of the previous 17 winners (as in No. 1-64). I'm going with No. 23 Casey at +3000 to win. He finished T5 last year, losing to McIlroy in 22 holes after winning his first four matches. Casey is +800 to be the top European finisher. For top American, I'll go Johnson at +1100.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL notebook: 2017 oudoor game set for prime time
By The Sports Xchange

The 2017 NHL Stadium Series game pitting the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Philadelphia Flyers in an all-Pennsylvania matchup will be played in prime time, the league announced Wednesday.
The game will be televised at 8 p.m. ET Feb. 25, 2017, from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh by NBC in the United States and Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.
The original date was Feb. 18, but the game was pushed back a week later in order to televise it in prime time.
The two teams played a Winter Classic game at Heinz Field in 2011. That game was moved from afternoon to evening because of the weather conditions and received the highest ratings for a Winter Classic in league history.

--The Boston Bruins sent goaltender Jeremy Smith back to Providence of the American Hockey League.
Smith, who has yet to make his NHL debut, was an emergency call-up on Tuesday.

--The Calgary Flames signed left winger Andrew Mangiapane to an entry-level contract.
Mangiapane, 19, was drafted by Calgary in the sixth round of last year's NHL draft.

--The New Jersey Devils recalled forward Blake Pietila on an emergency basis from Albany of the American Hockey League.
Pietila, 23, has recorded 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) and 17 penalty minutes in 54 games with Albany this season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Devils (35-31) at Penguins (40-24)

Date: March 24, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Sidney Crosby's production lacked during a frustrating start to the season that forced the Pittsburgh Penguins to change coaches with the club sitting toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

Now the Penguins are rolling during a more customary Crosby tear with Evgeni Malkin sitting out.

Pittsburgh can win a season-high seventh consecutive game by taking a third straight meeting with the visiting New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.

Crosby scored only six times during the Penguins' 15-10-3 start, but they've gone 25-14-5 since Mike Sullivan took over for the fired Mike Johnston on Dec. 12, with Crosby posting 25 goals and 32 assists in that stretch.

He had two assists in Sunday's 6-2 rout of NHL-leading Washington, giving him six goals and 14 assists during a 12-game streak. Crosby is the only player in the league this season with two point streaks of at least 10 games, and the latest has helped the Penguins surge back into the race for home-ice advantage in the first round of playoffs.

"He's the driving force of everything," said winger Chris Kunitz, whose four goals over his last six have all been assisted on by Crosby. "He's taken on the responsibility when 'Geno's' been out. Throughout the year he matches up against the other team's top line. When he's on the streak he's on, it drives our team."

The last five of Pittsburgh's season high-tying six-game winning streak have come without Malkin, who is expected to miss at least another month because of an upper-body injury. The Penguins have outscored opponents 23-11 during the streak, with Crosby having a hand in 10 goals.

"We're a team that other teams are scared of (because of Crosby)," forward Carl Hagelin said. "When he gets going he creates something out of nothing. He's always a threat out there."

Crosby scored in a 2-0 win over the Devils on Jan. 26 and had two assists in a 6-1 rout March 6 at New Jersey. The Devils have dropped their last five games at Pittsburgh.

New Jersey (35-31-7) has gone 6-10-0 in its last 16 and slipped six points back of Philadelphia and Detroit for the East's final playoff spot. They've won four of their last six, though, beating Columbus 2-1 on Sunday behind Scott Wedgewood's 27 saves in his first NHL start.

Cory Schneider hasn't played since injuring his knee March 4 and he'll be out at least the next two despite having returned to practice. Keith Kincaid has allowed 13 goals over his last three starts, and coach John Hynes felt Kinkaid was being worn down from the shift to a No. 1 role.

'For a long time I had replayed (the debut) in my head,' Wedgewood said. 'I felt like it was just another hockey game, when it comes down to it. I felt I belonged here. Those things helped me step in and stay calm.'

Wedgwood also will get the start against the Penguins, who are likely to go with Marc-Andre Fleury in net.

Fleury has started five games during the streak with a 1.77 goals-against average. He made 25 saves Jan. 26 and has a 1.00 GAA in his last four starts against New Jersey, posting two shutouts.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Hurricanes (31-28) at Blue Jackets (30-35)

Date: March 24, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Carolina Hurricanes' scoring touch has gone cold during an ill-timed skid, and their latest defeat came against a team that's below them in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Hurricanes will try to snap out of their woes and extend their road win streak over the Columbus Blue Jackets when they face another such opponent Thursday night.

Carolina (31-28-14) has scored nine goals in an 0-2-3 skid that matches its longest this season, leaving the Hurricanes seven points back of the East's final playoff spot. They looked as if they were going to cut that deficit Tuesday but collapsed late in a 3-2 defeat to Buffalo.

Joakim Nordstrom gave Carolina the lead with 6:20 remaining before the Sabres scored twice in the final four minutes. The Hurricanes' frustration showed with 22 penalty minutes - more than triple their conference-low average of 6:47 - and leading scorer Jeff Skinner got a career-high 14 from a second-period fight.

"Sometimes, there's a battle and you just play the game, and then there are times where you can't really take it," said Skinner, who hasn't scored in the last six games. "Some of the things were over the line, there's only so much you can take before you don't take it anymore."

Carolina will try to harness that anger into earning a fifth consecutive win in Columbus and improving its 7-0-2 record in the past nine overall matchups. The Hurricanes swept a home-and-home series with the Blue Jackets from Jan. 8-9 while scoring a combined eight goals.

They posted a 4-3 overtime win at Nationwide Arena in the finale on Jordan Staal's goal. Staal also had the opening goal and added an assist in a 4-1 victory in Raleigh while Elias Lindholm provided a pair of scores.

The Blue Jackets (30-35-8) have won six of nine at home, including the past two. They bounced back from a 2-1 loss in New Jersey on Sunday with a stunning 3-2 shootout victory against visiting Philadelphia two days later.

Columbus scored twice in the final 1:04 of regulation, beginning with Boone Jenner's short-handed tally. Cam Atkinson netted the tying goal with eight seconds remaining, and Jenner had the only score in the shootout.

"It's a huge win, definitely," goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky said. "Obviously guys worked hard until the very end and got rewarded for that."

Columbus' victory only delayed its inevitable elimination from the playoff race, and that could become official with a loss Thursday, depending on Philadelphia's and Detroit's results.

Of course, the Blue Jackets can keep their faint hopes alive by sending Carolina to its first six-game skid since Dec. 4-16, 2014. The Hurricanes are also 0-1-3 in their last four road contests, putting them on the verge of matching their longest losing streak there this season.

The Blue Jackets and Hurricanes finish their season series April 2 in Carolina.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Panthers (40-24) at Bruins (39-27)

Date: March 24, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Boston Bruins are no doubt ready to play again at home after establishing their longest losing streak with four straight road defeats.

They could also be facing the perfect opponent.

The Bruins have won nine straight at home over a Florida Panthers team they are chasing in a tight Atlantic Division race heading into Thursday night's matchup.

Boston (39-27-6) totaled three goals in three regulation defeats on the West Coast before losing 5-2 at the New York Rangers on Wednesday. The Bruins are 0 for 9 on the power play in this slide.

It has been costly with Boston trailing Tampa Bay and Florida (40-24-9) by three points in the Atlantic. The Bruins have played one more game than those clubs.

Even worse, they are only three points ahead of Philadelphia and Detroit and could be out of the playoffs altogether if the losing continues.

"I said this morning we control our own destiny and right now we are giving teams below us some hope," coach Claude Julien said. "We have to turn this around quick."

The Panthers have one regulation win in their last 15 meetings with Boston, losing twice in regulation and once in overtime this season. They are 0-8-1 in their last nine on the road in this series since a 2-0 victory Dec. 8, 2011.

Florida has stopped other road slides this season, ending a 10-game skid in Washington, a six-game losing streak in Columbus and a nine-game winless run in Nashville.

"We've come into many buildings that haven't been kind to us, we've played good hockey, we've won some games so hopefully we'll do the same in Boston," coach Gerard Gallant said. "It's going to be a tough game, it's always a battle with them."

Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand each have five points in the season series to lead the Bruins. They went pointless on the West Coast before each notched an assist Wednesday.

Julien will have to decide which goalie to start after he replaced Tuukka Rask with Jonas Gustavsson after one period versus the Rangers. Rask, who sat out practice Tuesday with an illness, stopped six of eight shots and Gustavsson 13 of 15.

Florida opened a crucial three-game trip with Monday's 4-2 defeat to the Rangers. The Panthers play at Tampa Bay to close it Saturday.

"Obviously this game is a huge game for us, and the next game after that with Tampa," Gallant said. "There's three teams fighting for first place in that division, and we're all within what, three points? It's going to be a battle and whoever is going to win it is going to have some win some games down the stretch here."

Florida has several former Bruins, most notably fan favorite Shawn Thornton and winger Reilly Smith. Those players have returned to Boston while defenseman Steven Kampfer will face the Bruins for the first time since he played for them between 2010-12.

The Panthers expect to start Roberto Luongo, who is 0-6-1 with a 4.26 goals-against average in his last seven starts at Boston - including three losses in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals with Vancouver.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Canadiens (34-34) at Red Wings (36-26)

Date: March 24, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

The Detroit Red Wings offered little explanation for why a club fighting to secure a postseason spot seemingly lacks energy amid such meaningful games down the stretch.

They're running out of time to sort things out.

Detroit opens a crucial three-game homestand Thursday night looking to avoid a letdown against a Montreal Canadiens team that could be getting P.K. Subban back.

The Red Wings (36-26-11) surged into March having won three in a row, but they've gone 4-6-0 this month and are now tied with Philadelphia for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot. Most of the frustration stems from allowing the first goal in nine of those games, and they've had even more difficulty putting together a rally while giving up an average of 3.5 per game during that stretch.

Tampa Bay scored twice in the first period and added another early in the second Tuesday before routing Detroit 6-2. Coach Jeff Blashill pulled Jimmy Howard following the third goal, but Petr Mrazek wasn't much better in relief.

"Playing catch-up hockey is losing hockey. It's too hard in this league to come back against good teams," said Justin Abdelkader, who scored after combining for three assists in his previous two games.

"We've obviously been comfortable at home, so we've just got to come out and play well. Montreal has nothing to lose so they're just going to come out a little looser. They always play us hard. It's a big game for us."

The Red Wings are 7-2-1 at home since Feb. 6 and beat the Canadiens 3-2 at Joe Louis Arena on Dec. 10 to snap a seven-game skid in the series. Mrazek made 23 saves to earn that victory, but it's unclear if he or Howard will get the start in this matchup.

Mrazek sat out the last two because of an illness, and Blashill elected not to start him Tuesday. No matter who is in net, Howard knows Detroit needs to get out of its funk quickly with only nine games remaining and the Flyers holding one in hand.

"There's not going to be any knight in shining armor that comes over the fence here and through the door that's going to get the job done for us," Howard said. "It's got to come from within here."

Montreal (34-34-6) isn't lacking motivation despite needing what amounts to a miracle to reach the playoffs. Its 9-0 start is a distant memory and reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner Carey Price hasn't played since late November due to injury.

Subban has missed the last six after suffering a neck injury that forced him to be taken off the ice on a stretcher in a win over Buffalo on March 10. He's participated in practice this week, and coach Michel Therrien said there's a chance he could play.

The Canadiens lost four of their first five without Subban before beating Anaheim 4-3 on Tuesday. David Desharnais, who fractured his left foot Feb. 15, also has been practicing.

"You've got guys battling for positions next year, so every game is an audition," said winger Lucas Lessio, who scored his first goal in 11 games since being recalled from the AHL. "If we keep playing like that, I think we're going to win a lot more than we're going to lose."

Ben Scrivens will be in net for his second career start against Detroit. He has a 3.52 goals-against average in his last six outings.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Ducks (40-23) at Maple Leafs (26-35)

Date: March 24, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

A loss to one of the NHL's most storied, but currently struggling, teams kept the Anaheim Ducks from clinching a playoff berth.

They can bounce back by taking care of another lowly Original Six club.

The Ducks continue their five-game Canadian trip Thursday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are trying to win three straight at home for the first time this season.

Needing one point to secure a postseason spot, Anaheim (40-23-9) fell to 1-1-0 on the trip with Tuesday's 4-3 loss to Montreal.

'I don't think (a playoff berth) was even mentioned in the room,' forward Jakob Silfverberg said. "It's a matter of winning games and (Tuesday) we didn't do it.'

The second-place Ducks trail Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles by four points and are one ahead of San Jose. Anaheim won two straight prior to Tuesday, but the defeat was its fifth in eight games.

"When you give up four goals, you're not going to win a lot of games," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "We didn't play anywhere near as well as I think we could have."

Despite yielding one fewer goal than they did over the previous four contests, the Ducks have killed all 21 penalties in the last eight games.

"We've been playing a lot of good hockey over the last few months and we've just got to find a way to get back to there in Toronto," captain Ryan Getzlaf said.

Though the Leafs (26-35-11) are giving extended time to younger players down the stretch, the Ducks shouldn't expect things to be easy. They lost for the seventh time in eight meetings, 4-0 on Jan. 6, and have dropped three straight at Toronto, last playing there Dec. 16, 2014.

Jonathan Bernier, who stymied Anaheim with 39 saves in the first matchup, has posted a 1.27 goals-against average and a shutout while winning three of four starts. He stopped 23 shots and 2014 first-round pick William Nylander had a goal and two assists as the Leafs improved to 3-1-0 on a six-game homestand with Monday's 5-2 victory over Calgary.

Drafted eighth overall, Nylander has played 12 games and recorded five of his seven career points in the last two.

'If you get on a roll and start scoring in this league you start to become more confident, more poised with the puck and really start to not doubt yourself and not doubt that scoring touch," center Nazem Kadri said. "He's got that. He's gifted in that sense.'

The Maple Leafs have totaled nine goals in two games and scored at least four in three of four. However, they're 0 for 18 on the power play in six contests.

Kadri has gone six games without a point but has a goal in two of the last three against Anaheim.

Silfverberg has scored six of his career-high 15 goals in the past five games but doesn't have a point in four straight against Toronto.

Corey Perry reached the 30-goal mark for a third consecutive season Tuesday and sixth time overall - tying Paul Kariya for second-most in Anaheim history.

"That's a very difficult thing to do for as long as he's done it," Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler told the NHL's official website.

The Peterborough, Ontario native has seven goals in nine games against the Maple Leafs but none in three at Toronto.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Flames (31-36) at Wild (35-28)

Date: March 24, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Before the Minnesota Wild focus on the team they're battling for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference, they'll try to get the best of an old friend.

Less than a month after the Wild traded longtime goalie Niklas Backstrom to Calgary, he returns to Xcel Energy Center looking to help the Flames prevent his former team from earning a fourth straight victory Thursday night.

During nine active seasons with Minnesota, Backstrom set franchise records for wins (194), shutouts (28) and games played (409). However, his past four seasons were marred by injuries and the club was unable to trade him or buy out his contract last summer.

Absorbing a salary-cap hit of $3.4 million while Backstrom sat behind Devan Dubnyk and Darcy Kuemper this season, Minnesota finally dealt the 38-year-old plus a draft pick to Calgary (31-36-6) on Feb. 29 for veteran forward David Jones.

"He was very professional this year in trying circumstances," general manager Chuck Fletcher told the Wild's official website. "I just give him a lot of credit for putting the team first and practicing hard every day and being a good teammate."

"The trade was made in part to help us but also hopefully to give Nik an opportunity to get some game action this season and hopefully rejuvenate his career."

Backstrom's first game action since Jan. 13, 2015, came Sunday when he made 21 saves in Calgary's 4-1 victory at Montreal.

"It was fun," he said. "It's a long time since my last game so for sure there are some things I need to improve."

After sitting out Monday's 5-2 loss at Toronto, Backstrom gets the call for what should be an emotional evening for him and perhaps the Wild's fans.

Minnesota (35-28-11), meanwhile, must worry about the matter at hand and not Saturday's key matchup at Colorado. The Wild moved one point ahead of the Avalanche for that final wild-card spot after Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Los Angeles.

"We just have to take care of our own business," defenseman Ryan Suter said.

After posting back-to-back 3-2 shootout victories, Minnesota came through in regulation thanks to 38 saves from Dubnyk.

"He was big, competitive and wanted to win and show the team he was going to carry us through that game," interim Wild coach John Torchetti said.

Dubnyk has a 1.58 goals-against average in the last three games and has played a big part in Minnesota killing all 15 penalties in eight contests. He owns a 1.74 GAA over a win streak against Calgary that reached four games with the 5-3 road victory Feb. 17.

Minnesota has won five straight amid a 6-0-1 stretch against the Flames. Mikko Koivu, who scored the winner Tuesday, has a goal in three straight against Calgary.

Jones has two goals, an assist and is a plus-2 in 10 games since coming over from Calgary.

The Flames' four-game point streak, which featured three wins, ended Monday when they allowed three goals in the final period.

"It was one of those games where, as a team, we were not at our best," coach Bob Hartley said.

Joe Colborne has scored six of his career-high 16 goals in nine games but none in seven against Minnesota.

The Flames' Johnny Gaudreau has 51 goals since the start of last season but hasn't scored in four career games with the Wild.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Canucks (27-33) at Predators (37-23)

Date: March 24, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Nashville's latest win came over a potential first-round playoff opponent, and it's put together over a month of strong results to prepare for such a series next month.

The Predators' next opponent is no longer concerning itself with tuning up for the postseason, and it's getting to the point that even a win seems unrealistic. Rather, the Vancouver Canucks visit Nashville on Thursday night with simply scoring a goal considered a step in the right direction as they try to end a historic drought.

Nashville (37-23-13) began a four-game homestand with Monday's 5-2 win over Los Angeles, improving to 10-2-2 dating to Feb. 22. At Bridgestone Arena, they've gone 5-0-3 since last losing in regulation Feb. 9 to Presidents' Trophy shoe-in Washington.

Ryan Johansen had a goal and two assists, Roman Josi and James Neal each had a goal and an assist, and Filip Forsberg reached the 30-goal mark for the first time. Neal has five goals and two assists in the last four games, while Johansen has two goals and four assists.

"We've got a lot of young bodies in this room and when they go home tonight, they're going to look at the standings and the results and say, 'Wow, we beat one of the best teams in this league that's talked about as a Stanley Cup contender,'" Johansen said.

"So we'll definitely use it as confidence for our group in this room and maybe being a playoff matchup."

Special teams have been a part of it with the Predators scoring a power-play goal in three straight games (3 for 6), while their penalty kill is 26 for 26 over the last eight.

Nashville shouldn't have much trouble keeping the kill streak going against Vancouver (27-33-12), which is 0 for 25 on the power play over eight games.

The Canucks fell 2-0 in Winnipeg on Tuesday and were shut out for the third consecutive game, tying a franchise record. Their goalless stretch is at 228:00 - passing the previous franchise record of 223:10 from January 1984 - and 11 periods going back to the opening 20 minutes of their March 16 home matchup against Colorado.

"It's tough to go through," Henrik Sedin told the team's official website. "We're all disappointed, there's no question about that, but we still have to look at it as a process. It's not going to change overnight.

"We have to keep doing the same things over and over, and the right things over and over, and it's going to change. We're trying to build something that's going to be good for the future, but it's tough."

It's part of a five-game losing streak - all in regulation - and they last went beyond that on a seven-game points drought Jan. 27-Feb. 8, 2014.

Adding to the frustration is that Vancouver's goaltenders have generally done enough. Jacob Markstrom made 47 saves against the Jets, while Ryan Miller has faced an average of 40.0 shots with a .942 save percentage over a 1-2-0 span.

"Not winning hockey games is very frustrating, especially the way we do it," Markstrom said. "I feel like we've got to stick together here. It's really important for us as a group to not just count (down) the games. We've got to stick to it here."

Miller is 4-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .964 save percentage in his career in Nashville.

Potential counterpart Pekka Rinne has won his last three games with two goals allowed in each and is 3-1-1 with a 2.10 GAA against Vancouver since the start of last season.