Tuesday 12/1/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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

French Ligue 1 TODAY 18:00

Angers

v

Paris St-G.

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		8	15/4	4/11	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ANGERS	RECENT FORM
HDALALHLADHW​ Most recent​	1 - 3	AWALHWAWAWHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: League matches involving Angers average 1.53 goals per game this season

EXPERT VERDICT: High-flying Angers finished third on their way to promotion from Ligue 2 last season but they’ve adapted to the top flight brilliantly. Their matches are incredibly low-scoring, while for a dominant force PSG aren’t an especially free-scoring side on the road but the big-spending leaders should come out on top.

RECOMMENDATION: PSG to win 2-0
1

 

[superbeets]

Capital One Cup TODAY 19:45

Middlesbro

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Everton

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS1		2	12/5	6/4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT MIDDLESBRO	RECENT FORM
AD*HWHWALHWAW​ Most recent​	0 - 1 0 - 2 2 - 1 0 - 1	ALHD*HWADHWAD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Boro have conceded just two goals in nine home games

EXPERT VERDICT: Everton’s League Cup visit to the Riverside will give Middlesbrough an insight to just how far they’ve come under Aitor Karanka. The Championship high-flyers have been superb at home this term winning seven of their nine games, but Everton have been in good nick and their extra class may tell.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw-Everton double result
1


REFEREE: Roger East STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

French Ligue 1 TODAY 20:00

Nantes

v

Lyon

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		5/2	11/5	6/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT NANTES	RECENT FORM
AD*HLAWALALHD​ Most recent​	3 - 2 1 - 1 1 - 2 2 - 1	AWHLHWALHLHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Nantes have one of the league’s best defences, having conceded 15 goals

EXPERT VERDICT: The strain of Champions League football has clearly been a factor in Lyon’s season starting to unravel in recent weeks – they’ve lost three of their last four games. Alexandre Lacazette’s form has shown signs of improvement but despite that, the visitors look too short to win at mid-table Nantes, who are relatively sturdy.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1

 

[superbeets]

French Ligue 1 We 2Dec 18:00

Monaco

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Caen

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		5/6	5/2	7/2	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT MONACO	RECENT FORM
HWADALHWHLAD​ Most recent​	2 - 2 0 - 1 2 - 2 1 - 1	HLHLALHWHDAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Monaco have failed to score more than one goal in their last seven home games

EXPERT VERDICT: Surprise package Caen are not close to the summit through luck. Their amazing results will almost certainly dip but performances have been good enough to suggest they can get a draw at Monaco, who give away too many chances. The hosts allow an average of 13.6 shots per game – only bottom-of-the-table Troyes concede more.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1

 

[superbeets]

Capital One Cup We 2Dec 19:45

Southampton

v

Liverpool

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS1		8/5	12/5	15/8	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT SOUTHAMPTON	RECENT FORM
ADHWHWAWHLAL​ Most recent​	0 - 2 0 - 3 3 - 1 2 - 0	AWAWHLAWHWHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Only Spurs have drawn more games than Southampton and Liverpool this season

EXPERT VERDICT: Liverpool’s players are firmly buying into Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing system and will be confident they can reach a League Cup semi-final but they could also be weary having played plenty of matches in recent weeks. A trip to St Mary's is not easy and Southampton can take this to extra-time.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
2

 

[superbeets]

Portuguese Liga We 2Dec 20:00

Uniao da Madeira

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Porto

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		12	11/2	1/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT UNIAO DA MADEIRA	RECENT FORM
ADHDALALHLAD​ Most recent​	Unknown	HWHDAWHWHLAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Uniao’s last four home games have featured just two goals

EXPERT VERDICT: Porto are a short price to win this and it may pay to look to the goal markets rather than the match betting. Uniao will probably be scrapping for their Primeira survival this term but they have made their home ground a tough place to visit and can keep the scoreline respectable.

RECOMMENDATION: Porto to win 2-0
1


REFEREE: Bruno Miguel Duarte Paixao STADIUM: Estadio Centro Desportivo da M

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL notebook: Canadiens' Price out six weeks
By The Sports Xchange

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, last season's winner of the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP, will miss at least six weeks with a lower-body injury, the team announced Monday.
The injury is believed to be to his left knee, the Montreal Gazette reported. He will not need surgery, however.
Price, a four-time All-Star, has played in only 12 games this season and has a 2.06 goals-against average.
He had missed nine games with a lower-body injury before suffering a similar injury in last Wednesday's game against the New York Rangers.

--The Minnesota Wild recalled defenseman Christian Folin from the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League.
The team also reassigned forward Jordan Schroeder to Iowa.

--The New York Rangers recalled forward Jayson Megna from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.
Megna, 25, has skated in 21 games with Hartford this season, registering five goals and seven assists for 12 points, along with eight penalty minutes.

--The Boston Bruins assigned forward Max Talbot to the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League.
Talbot has played in seven games for Boston this year, after appearing in 18 contests last season when he registered three assists.

--The Nashville Predators announced that defenseman Victor Bartley cleared waivers and was assigned to Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.

---Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Garret Sparks, 22, made his NHL debut, replacing goalie Jonathan Bernier, who has struggled. James Reimer (leg), the Leafs' best goalie this season, missed his second straight game.
Also, Toronto right wing Joffrey Lupul missed his first game of the season to rest nagging injuries.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Avalanche (9-14) at Devils (10-9)

Date: December 01, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

While the New Jersey Devils have teetered the ledge but just won't drop off, the Colorado Avalanche are in danger of losing their footing.

The once-hot Devils have lessened the blow of a slump and look for back-to-back wins for the first time in more than two weeks when the slumping Avalanche visit Tuesday night.

New Jersey (12-9-2) was one of the hottest teams in the league with wins in 10 of 13 games from the middle of October into mid-November. The Devils cooled off, however, with losses in three of four, and it seemed as if a home-and-home set against Montreal would continue the spiral.

First, New Jersey blew a third-period lead at home before falling 3-2 in a shootout on Friday, and then trailed 2-0 midway through the final period at Montreal on Saturday.

But Patrik Elias and Kyle Palmieri tied it in the third, the latter goal coming with 22 seconds left, and John Moore scored 2:29 into overtime for a 3-2 victory.

'We stuck to a game plan that we thought was going to work,' forward Mike Cammalleri said. 'It took longer than you hope for but we got the two points we really needed.'

The Devils have remained afloat in the Eastern Conference with 26 points, their most through 23 games since opening 2009-10 with 33.

Goaltender Cory Schneider has been solid in net, and he continued his consistent play against the Canadiens. In the pair of games against Montreal, the veteran stopped 55 of 59 shots. He has a .937 save percentage in his last 12 starts.

Schneider's .947 save percentage in 13 appearances against Colorado is tied for third best against any team in his career. He holds a 1.64 GAA against the Avalanche while holding them to two goals or fewer in nine of 12 starts.

The Avalanche have controlled this series, though, with a 7-0-1 record in the last eight meetings, including 3-0-1 in New Jersey.

Last-place Colorado (9-14-1) has lost four of its last five away from home, the most recent road defeat a 5-3 loss to the New York Islanders on Monday to open a four-game trip.

Jarome Iginla, Nick Holden and Blake Comeau scored, but the Avalanche fell for the fifth time in seven games while surrendering at least five goals for the third time in the last five.

Semyon Varlamov allowed two goals early in the third period and the Islanders added an empty-netter - the three tallies coming on just seven shots.

'It's a game I thought we could've had,' said Iginla, whose goal snapped an eight-game personal drought. 'and it didn't happen.'

Varlamov's performance might be comparative to his season as he turned aside 13 of 14 shots during a New York barrage in the second period but surrendered the two goals to the Islanders' fourth line in the third. The former Vezina Trophy finalist holds a career-high 3.28 GAA and career-low .887 save percentage while playing through a groin injury early this season.

Varlamov, though, has won four straight starts against New Jersey with a 1.20 GAA. It is unclear if Varlamov or backup Reto Berra will start.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jackets (10-15) at Canadiens (17-4)

Date: December 01, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

Alex Galchenyuk is just 21 years old, so it's hard to believe the center is already in his fourth season with the Montreal Canadiens.

He has scored in a career-best four straight games heading into Tuesday night's home matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Galchenyuk has been on a steady rise since making his NHL debut a month shy of his 19th birthday Jan. 19, 2013. He finished with 27 points as a rookie, registered 31 in 2013-14 and went up to 46 last season.

There's every indication that Galchenyuk will set a career best again this season. He has 18 points, including seven in a five-game run after his first two-goal effort of 2015-16 in Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss to New Jersey.

'I've worked hard in practice and worked hard in games to get my offensive game going,' he said. 'I'm happy I'm able to chip in offensively.'

He brings another weapon to a club that leads the Eastern Conference with 3.5 goals per game. Max Pacioretty has a team-high 12 goals and Montreal (18-4-3) needs to pick up the slack without the injured Brendan Gallagher, who is tied for second with nine.

All of that offense makes life easier for rookie goalie Mike Condon, who will likely see the bulk of the goaltending duties going forward after the team said Monday that Carey Price - the reigning Hart and Vezina trophy winner - will miss at least six weeks with a lower-body injury that will not require surgery.

'He's a big part of our team,' star defenseman P.K. Subban said. 'But if we think we're going to get any sympathy from the teams we're going to play in the next six weeks, we're not.

'The good thing is we've had to deal with not having Price in the lineup for a little while already and we know what that means. When a key part of your team goes down, everyone has to pull up their socks and be a little better.'

Condon is second in the NHL with a goals in support average of 3.56.

No goalie has started more than the Blue Jackets' Sergei Bobrovsky, who is in line for his 22nd of the season. Bobrovsky is 6-2-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average in his last eight games, and has allowed one or two goals in each of his last seven road starts.

Columbus (10-15-0) will welcome back the hard-working Brandon Dubinsky, who sat out Saturday's 3-1 loss at St. Louis due to a one-game league suspension for his cross check on Sidney Crosby in Friday's 2-1 overtime victory against Pittsburgh.

'We're not going to whine here,' coach John Tortorella said. 'Pittsburgh can whine. Pittsburgh whines enough for the whole league, so there's no room for any other team to whine. So we just go about our business. We missed him. We missed him but you can't get involved in what happened in those type of situations.'

Dubinsky is the only qualifying Columbus skater who wins more than half of his face-offs. The Blue Jackets rank last in that department at 46.6 percent.

Ryan Johansen has scored in four of his last five games after he had two goals in his first 18. Boone Jenner, who has a team-high 11 goals, has matched a season worst by failing to tally in three straight.

Columbus is second in the league with an average of 13:12 penalty minutes. That's a concern since Montreal has one of the league's best power plays at 23.9 percent.

The Canadiens haven't dropped consecutive home games all season. Pacioretty scored five goals as Montreal swept three meetings from Columbus last season.

Montreal is averaging a league-high 11.1 giveaways and Columbus the fewest at 4.7.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Flyers (8-10) at Senators (9-6)

Date: December 01, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

The last time the Philadelphia Flyers came to town, the Ottawa Senators put together one of their most complete games of the season that sparked them through a successful just-completed road trip.

With the Flyers returning to Ontario for the second time in 10 days Tuesday night, the Senators look for another such effort to kick-start their three-game homestand.

Craig Anderson turned aside 36 shots and four Senators scored as Ottawa beat Philadelphia 4-0 on Nov. 21. It was the second victory in a four-game win streak for the Senators (12-6-5), who defeated Dallas and Colorado on their three-game trip before that run ended with a 4-3 loss to Arizona on Saturday.

Mikkel Boedker's second hat trick of the season against Ottawa negated a strong offensive effort by the Senators, who outshot the Coyotes 38-19. Coach Dave Cameron, though, felt his team played too soft defensively - Ottawa gave up goals in the opening minute of the first and second periods.

"I thought we made it easy for them to score tonight, not taking from Arizona," Cameron said. "I'm not saying that they weren't deserving, but it was too easy."

Anderson, who made 15 saves Saturday, carries a scoreless streak of 76:01 against the Flyers into this contest and is 9-4-2 with a 2.63 goals-against average in 16 career matchups.

Mike Hoffman scored a pair of goals against the Coyotes and has five and two assists in a four-game point streak.

The Flyers (9-10-5) have won three of four since being shut out by the Senators, finding some life offensively. While Philadelphia is still last in the NHL with 1.83 goals per game, it's totaled 10 in that four-game span after beating the New York Rangers 3-0 on Saturday.

Wayne Simmonds had two goals and assisted on Sean Couturier's tally while Steve Mason made 24 saves as the Flyers posted their league-leading fourth shutout.

"This is going to be a critical point. We're hoping this can be the flip-around for our season here," Simmonds told the league's official website. "We've got to keep playing hard. We've played two strong games and we just have to continue when we go up to Ottawa."

Simmonds' season-high outburst ended a six-game point drought. Though Philadelphia failed to convert on either of its power-play opportunities against New York, it's gone 4 for 13 in its last four games after succeeding on eight of 60 chances in its first 20 contests.

Hoffman had a goal and an assist while Bobby Ryan added two assists for Ottawa on Nov. 21. The Senators had most of their success against the Flyers' line of Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Matt Read and Chris VandeVelde - all of whom were minus-3.

Ottawa also dominated the faceoff dot in the victory, winning 38 of 63 draws as Zack Smith and Mika Zibanejad combined to take 21 of 30.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sabres (9-12) at Red Wings (12-8)

Date: December 01, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

At first glance, the Detroit Red Wings' point streak looks pretty good. A closer look, though, reveals a negative trend.

The Red Wings hope a meeting against a team they have cleaned up against will keep them from leaving any more points on the table when the Buffalo Sabres visit Tuesday night.

Detroit's seven-game point streak is its best in four years, and another against the Sabres would give the franchise its longest since going 12 in a row from March 11-April 3, 2010.

The Red Wings (12-8-4) are 4-0-3 since Nov. 16 after losing three of their previous four games. But a sour taste resonates considering they've played six overtimes in seven games and four extra periods in a row. The last four - two wins and a pair of losses - came after Detroit blew leads in the third period.

"It's been frustrating," center Luke Glendening told the team's official website. "I think it's been my line the last four games or five games here, so we have to figure... a way to hold on."

The Red Wings have surrendered five goals in the closing three minutes this season to force overtime, and they've coughed up 29 goals overall in the final five minutes of periods - tied for the second most in the league.

Detroit has played nine overtime games already, its most in the first two months of a season since the league reintroduced the extra period in 1983-84. A single-season high for Detroit is 27 in 1996-97.

"We're getting leads and playing pretty well for most of the game, but we're not closing it out," left winger Drew Miller said. "Obviously you don't want to give up leads late in the third period, but I don't think it's something we're going to worry about."

What might help is a game against the Sabres.

The Red Wings are 26-2-2 with one tie against Buffalo since March 27, 1996, including an 11-0-1 mark since March 13, 2010. They have won 15 of the last 16 in Detroit, losing once in overtime to earn 31 of a possible 32 points.

Buffalo (10-12-2) has finally found its offense, though, to log consecutive wins after an 0-4-2 stretch.

The Sabres scored seven goals during their losing streak but linked together consecutive 4-1 victories over Carolina on Friday and Nashville on Saturday.

They went 2 for 4 on the power play against the Predators, snapping a five-game drought on the man advantage.

'Critical,' coach Dan Bylsma said. 'We've had the power-play situation before recently and it's been at critical times.'

Both power-play tallies, a Jamie McGinn rebound and a Sam Reinhart wrist shot, followed a Viktor Arvidsson major penalty for cross-checking when his stick hit Sabres defenseman Carlo Colaiacova in the throat.

Arvidsson was assessed a game misconduct and Colaiacova did not return and was taken to the hospital as a precaution, though he practiced on Monday.

"Obviously it was a scary incident and at the time it was pretty painful, but it is what it is," Colaiacovo told the Sabres' official website. "Right now, it's not really stopping me from doing much."

Buffalo will face Petr Mrazek, who holds a 2.19 goals-against average and .932 save percentage in 14 appearances. Mrazek was pulled midway through the first period against the Sabres on Jan. 18 after allowing three goals on seven shots.

It's unclear if Chad Johnson or Linus Ullmark will start for Buffalo.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Panthers (8-9) at Blues (14-6)

Date: December 01, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Vladimir Tarasenko and Alexander Steen have been St. Louis' constant scoring threats, but the Blues also have had to rely on offensive production from unexpected places given the amount of injuries that have plagued the club.

That depth has helped them pull out some close victories.

St. Louis looks to win a seventh straight meeting with Florida and prevent the visiting Panthers from winning a third consecutive game for the first time this season Tuesday night.

Paul Stastny recently returned after missing more than a month with a broken foot, but Jaden Schwartz hasn't played since Oct. 20 after going on injured reserve with a fractured left ankle.

Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who has two goals and eight assists during an eight-game point streak, also missed 10 games earlier with a lower-body injury, and Steve Ott sat out six with an upper-body issue.

St. Louis (15-6-3) largely has been able to overcome those problems, going 8-1-3 in one-goal games and losing back-to-back contests just twice all year. Scottie Upshall, who was a healthy scratch in an overtime loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday, scored the tiebreaking goal in Saturday's 3-1 win over Columbus.

"We started the season with a hard, hard road trip. That was exhausting," Ott told the team's official website. "Then you top it off with the amount of injuries that we've had. Not just your run of the mill hockey players, your most key guys."

Tarasenko scored his team-high 14th goal on the power play before assisting on Steen's empty netter. Steen and Shattenkirk assisted on Tarasenko's goal.

Upshall's goal was his fourth of the season in 18 games, reaching half of his total in 63 with Florida last season. He spent 4 1/2 years with the Panthers, setting a career high with 37 points in 2013-14.

'Just a good chemistry amongst the four lines (Saturday) and a big team win,' Upshall said. 'Our best players were our best players.'

Upshall could remain in the lineup against his former team, which hasn't beaten the Blues since Oct. 31, 2009.

The Panthers (10-9-4), though, are coming off back-to-back victories, beating the New York Islanders 3-2 in a shootout Friday before beginning a five-game road trip with Sunday's 2-1 overtime win over Detroit.

Brian Campbell assisted on Reilly Smith's tying goal late in the third period before netting the winner 1:20 into OT.

"It's a nice way to start it because we have a lot of good opponents coming up," Smith said. "It's good to get a win and get our confidence up right at the start."

Roberto Luongo made 28 saves and has a 1.96 goals-against average over his last five starts. He has a 2.13 GAA in his career against the Blues, including the postseason.

Florida has failed in its three previous attempts to win a third straight contest.

"We want to keep building off what we've done," Luongo said. "(St. Louis) is another test for us. We just want to play the way we have the last couple games and put ourselves in position to be successful."

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock announced Jake Allen will be in net for the 15th time in 17 games. Allen, who has a 2.04 GAA on the season, has never faced the Panthers.

Florida forward Jaromir Jagr, who has team highs with eight goals and 18 points, needs one more point to tie Marcel Dionne for fourth all-time. His five-game point streak came to an end Sunday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Coyotes (13-9) at Predators (10-7)

Date: December 01, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

A perfect three-game homestand has the surprising Arizona Coyotes surging into a five-game road trip, powered by timely scoring and resurgent goaltending.

It's been almost the exact opposite for the Nashville Predators' during their recent slide, with offense nearly nonexistent and the defense struggling to keep games close.

The Coyotes can win four in a row for the first time since early in the 2013-14 season when they try to send the Predators to their third straight loss and sixth in seven games Tuesday night.

Arizona (13-9-1) already has more than half of its win total of last season as the club's rebuilding project has been yielding quick results. With youngsters Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and Tobias Rieder developing into reliable scoring options, the Coyotes find themselves near the top of the Pacific Division.

The club also relies on several key veterans, and one of them sparked a 4-3 victory over Ottawa on Saturday. Mikkel Boedker recorded a hat trick to help Arizona close out its three-games-in-four-nights homestand without a loss.

'He's developed into a real good player,' coach Dave Tippett said of the eighth overall pick in the 2008 draft by the Coyotes. 'The biggest thing for him is now that consistency is there. We rely on him in so many parts of our game right now. When he capitalizes, it enhances his value, but right now he's an important player for us.'

Dustin Jeffrey, recalled from Springfield of the AHL on Tuesday with captain Shane Doan sidelined due to a lower-body injury, scored on a second-period breakaway for his first goal of the season.

"You just try to come in and make an impression," Jeffrey told the team's official website about his opportunity. "Tonight, to be able to contribute to a team win is all you can ask for."

The challenge for Arizona is to play better on this trip after it went 1-3-0 on the road swing that preceded its homestand. The Coyotes had played well away from home prior to that trip, going 6-2-1.

Arizona has dropped three in a row and four of five in Nashville, but might be catching the Predators (12-7-4) at the right time to end those struggles. Nashville has scored six goals during its 1-4-1 slump, with all of those coming after the club was shut out in the first three games of the stretch.

They couldn't get much going against Buffalo on Saturday, giving up four consecutive goals and losing 4-1 at home. The Predators completed a stretch of six games in nine days, the first five of which came on the road.

"I thought we could've had more gas ... the energy, maybe the second period had something to do with that," coach Peter Laviolette said. "The road trip lasted until tonight, whatever it is - it was a long trip and I'm not making any excuses, but I think we can play at a higher tempo. I think that's when we're at our best, and I think we had more to push in that area tonight."

Along with the lack of scoring, penalties have hurt Nashville in the past five contests. Opponents are 6 for 16 in that span after the Sabres went 2 for 4, converting twice on Viktor Arvidsson's five-minute major for cross-checking in the second period.

Arizona's Mike Smith, expected to return to the net after Anders Lindback made 35 saves Saturday, has gone 6-2-0 with a 2.40 goals-against average in eight starts since posting a 4.55 mark in his previous seven.

Expected Nashville starter Pekka Rinne has a 3.26 GAA in his last four outings. He's recorded a 1.21 mark in his past four against the Coyotes.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Wild (11-7) at Blackhawks (13-8)

Date: December 01, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

As many days as it's been since the Chicago Blackhawks' last home game, the interval still can't match Patrick Kane's historic point streak.

Kane looks to extend his run to 20 games when the Blackhawks take the ice at United Center for the first time in 16 days Tuesday night against the slumping Minnesota Wild.

Chicago (13-8-3) returns home after going 3-1-2 on a season-high six-game trip during which Kane set an NHL record for U.S.-born players for consecutive games with a point. The star wing had a power-play goal and an assist in Saturday's finale in Los Angeles, but the Blackhawks couldn't hold a two-goal lead through two periods in a 3-2 overtime loss.

Kane eclipsed the mark shared by Eddie Olczyk and Phil Kessel and is two games shy of matching Hall of Famer Bobby Hull's franchise record set in 1971-72.

"Two great players, two great careers, and it's fun to be there with them," Kane said. "It was pretty exciting when it happened, and it looked like it was going to be a fun night there. But it's kind of overshadowed by the loss.'

Kane, who has tallied 31 of his league-leading 37 points during the streak, brings another impressive stretch into Tuesday. He's amassed nine goals and 16 assists in collecting points in 13 straight home games dating back to last season's Stanley Cup Final.

Kane also has had plenty of recent success against Minnesota (11-7-4), accumulating eight goals and nine assists over the last 11 meetings, including the postseason. Five of those goals came during Chicago's four-game sweep in the 2015 Western Conference semifinals.

He faces a Wild team that's been struggling defensively, having surrendered 21 goals over a 1-4-2 stretch. Minnesota allowed three third-period scores to blow a 3-0 lead in Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to Dallas that increased its skid to three games.

"We were far more concerned with getting the fourth (goal) and who's going to get it and, 'I want my goal,' than we were about making sure we didn't give up the next one," coach Mike Yeo told the NHL's official website.

Injuries also have played a part in the Wild's slump, though they're slowly getting healthier. Zach Parise has played the last two games after missing eight with a knee injury and forward Justin Fontaine returned from an 11-game absence to record an assist against Dallas. Defenseman Marco Scandella is close to being ready after missing five games with a lower-body issue.

Minnesota hasn't lost four straight in the regular season since the Jan. 14 acquisition of Devan Dubnyk that triggered last season's second-half turnaround. The goaltender hasn't been in top form of late, permitting three or more goals five times while losing five of six starts.

Dubnyk stopped 25 shots in a 5-4 home win over Chicago on Oct. 30, the Wild's third straight against the Blackhawks in the regular season. However, they're 1-7-1 including playoffs in their last nine trips to United Center, where Chicago has gone 8-2-1 this season.

Corey Crawford, who did not play in the October matchup, stopped 50 of 54 shots in consecutive wins at San Jose and Anaheim on Chicago's road trip. Counting the playoff series, he went 6-2-0 with a 1.88 goals-against average in eight 2014-15 starts against Minnesota.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Stars (18-5) at Flames (8-14)

Date: December 01, 2015 9:00 PM EDT

Owning the NHL's best road record is a key ingredient to the Dallas Stars' position atop the Western Conference.

The Stars go for their longest winning streak away from home in almost five years Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames.

Dallas (19-5-0) leads the league in wins and its 10-2-0 road record owns the same status. The Stars have won six straight as visitor, putting them on the brink of their longest such streak since an eight-game run from Dec. 13, 2010-Jan. 20, 2011.

Dallas is also trying to match its longest winning streak in Calgary, a four-game stretch from Feb. 20, 1995-Nov. 20, 1996.

"We're comfortable on the road. We really do play a simple game," left wing Jamie Benn said. "Sometimes when we're at home we try to do a little too much, but it seems like on the road we keep it simple."

The Stars opened this four-game road trip by rallying for a 4-3 win at Minnesota on Saturday. Tyler Seguin scored with 1:03 left in overtime. completing a comeback from a 3-0 deficit that included three third-period goals.

"This year we've been able to stay a lot more patient," Seguin said. "It's a message that really speaks loudly. Even going to the third period, we know how we can play, we know how much power we have in this locker room, not only up front but on the back end."

Benn and Seguin have both put together personal eight-game point streaks after they had one goal and one assist apiece Saturday. Benn has 14 points on his and Seguin's collected 11.

Benn also has six goals during a four-game scoring streak, giving him a league-leading 18 on the season. His 35 points rank second in the league, one ahead of Seguin.

Both Benn and Seguin have been extremely productive against the Flames. Benn has 25 points in 20 career matchups, including 15 over the last seven.

Seguin has 15 points in seven meetings, tallying a career-high six in a win at Calgary on Nov. 14, 2013.

The Flames (8-14-2) open a five-game homestand after concluding an 0-2-1 trip by giving up the first four goals in a 5-2 loss to San Jose on Saturday.

"We know what we have to do," captain Mark Giordano told the team's official website. "We have a homestand here that if we can pick up some points it'll go a long way.

"It's been frustrating, but at the same time we have to come together. Sometimes it's a good thing to get a little fire under your game, individually and as a team."

A return home could provide a spark since the Flames have scored 12 goals during a four-game winning streak there after going 1-5-0 in their first six.

Johnny Gaudreau, who had one point on the recent trip, has accumulated 14 of his team-leading 21 points at home. The left wing has 12 points during a seven-game point streak there.

Karri Ramo is expected to start in net after Jonas Hiller made 24 saves Saturday in his return from a lower-body injury that sidelined him for 12 games. Ramo has posted a 1.49 goals-against average while playing every game during the home win streak, but is 0-1-1 with a 4.25 mark in three career games against Dallas.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Canucks (8-9) at Kings (13-8)

Date: December 01, 2015 10:30 PM EDT

The last time Los Angeles faced the Vancouver Canucks, the Kings were sent to their worst home start in 30 years.

Things have certainly changed.

The Kings look to continue their home success against the struggling Canucks on Tuesday night.

Los Angeles (14-8-1) had just 15 shots while falling 3-0 to Vancouver on Oct. 13 to begin the season with three straight losses. It was the first time they had such a start at home since 1985-86.

They've put those worries to rest by winning eight of 10 at home and moving into first place in the Pacific Division.

"We obviously didn't have a good start at home ... we have to turn this home record around," defenseman Alec Martinez told the team's official website of the team's attitude following the loss to the Canucks. "I believe that was our (third) game, against Vancouver, and we weren't really happy with our starts, so you look at it that way. You also look at it as a divisional opponent. Those are a big two points up for grabs."

Los Angeles has been outscored 9-2 while losing the last three meetings with the Canucks (9-9-7). However, the Kings are on the brink of a second four-game home winning streak after Marian Gaborik's second goal completed a comeback in Saturday's 3-2 overtime win against Chicago.

"It was tough, but our team never quits until the last whistle," defenseman Drew Doughty said. "It was great to get the win, and it really good for Gabby - because now he's going to get hot."

Gaborik has three goals and one assist in the last two home games after getting one point in the first 11.

Jonathan Quick will likely be in net after making 20 saves against the Blackhawks. He's 7-2-0 with a 1.87 goals-against average over his last nine home games since stopping 23 of 25 shots and taking the loss to the Canucks on Oct. 13.

He's 4-2-0 with a 1.18 GAA over his last six home matchups with Vancouver.

The Canucks were 3-0-1 after that victory in Los Angeles in October, but they've won just three of their last 13 games (3-7-3). They're also coming off their most lopsided defeat of the season, falling 4-0 at Anaheim on Monday as they were shut out for the first time.

"That's the furthest from being into a game we've been all year," Henrik Sedin said. "We knew it was a big game coming in. We did some technical stuff right, but our energy level wasn't there."

Henrik Sedin had 10 points during a six-game point streak that ended Monday, while Daniel Sedin ended his seven-gamer with 12 points. He leads Vancouver with 11 goals and 27 points while Henrik isn't far behind with eight and 23.

It's uncertain if Ryan Miller will start on back-to-back days for the third time this season. He was pulled midway through the third period Monday after allowing four goals on 29 shots.

Miller is 6-2-1 with a 1.93 GAA and two shutouts in his last nine starts against the Kings, including his 15-save effort in October.

Backup Jacob Markstrom stopped the only shot he faced Monday. He had 26 saves in a loss with Florida in his only meeting with Los Angeles on Oct. 13, 2013.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Penguins (12-8) at Sharks (13-9)

Date: December 01, 2015 10:30 PM EDT

Evgeni Malkin is riding an impressive hot streak, but he needs some more help from his teammates in order to pull the Pittsburgh Penguins out of their recent malaise.

They'll hope for other contributors Tuesday night when they visit the surging San Jose Sharks, who haven't lost to Pittsburgh at home in nearly two decades.

The Penguins (13-8-2) have dropped three of four and six of 10 since a six-game winning streak. They fell 2-1 in overtime at Columbus on Friday, then 3-2 in a shootout Saturday against a last-place Edmonton team that was playing its fourth road contest in six days. It was just their second home loss to the Oilers going back to 1994.

Malkin accounted for both goals, the first coming 48 seconds into the second period when he stole the puck near the Edmonton zone and ripped a spinning backhand shot into the top of the net.

"That's one of those highlight-reel goals you're going to see for the next couple of days," coach Mike Johnston told the team's official website. "It was just a great play and high-end skill to be able to beat a defenseman like that."

Though Pittsburgh is slumping, Malkin has been extremely productive. He has seven goals and three assists in his last six games, contributing to more than half of the Penguins' 16 goals in that span. He'll be looking to end a three-game personal point drought against the Sharks, however.

"You saw his battle and his compete (Friday against Columbus)," Johnston said. "He's been in the groove lately. He's really been playing on top of his game."

Meanwhile, second-leading goal scorer Phil Kessel has just one goal in his last nine games, though Sidney Crosby could be heating up with three goals during a season-high five-game point streak. He has scored only once in nine career games against San Jose.

The Sharks (14-9-0) have won seven of their last eight games behind excellent special teams. In that span, they've scored seven times on 29 power-play chances while surrendering three goals on 25 times short-handed.

Pittsburgh has scored on the power play in six straight games, but has also surrendered nine power-play goals over its last 10.

Six of San Jose's last seven victories have come on the road, while the club is just 4-6-0 at home. Saturday's 5-2 home victory against Calgary was its first since Nov. 5.

"We were desperate right from the start," said Joe Pavelski, who had two assists. "We had everyone going and that was important. We've got to start winning a few games at home, and that was kind of our talk, is win tonight and go from there."

The Sharks are undefeated in their last 12 home meetings with Pittsburgh including 10 straight victories. They haven't lost to the Penguins at home since Oct. 22, 1997.

San Jose won 3-1 at Pittsburgh on Nov. 21 despite being outshot 39-29. Brent Burns scored twice while former Penguin Paul Martin had a goal and an assist.

Patrick Marleau had two assists and has three goals and four assists in his last four games overall.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Hot teams
-- Columbus won six of its last nine games. Montreal won four of last five.
-- Ottawa won four of its last five games. Flyers won three of their last four.
-- Sabres won last two games, after losing previous six.
-- Florida won its last two games, allowing three goals. St Louis won three of last four at home.
-- Arizona won four of its last five games.
-- Dallas Stars won seven of their last eight games.
-- San Jose won seven of its last eight games.

Cold teams
-- Avalanche lost five of their last seven games. New Jersey lost four of its last six.
-- Detroit lost four of last six home games.
-- Nashville lost five of its last six games.
-- Minnesota lost six of its last seven games. Chicago lost three of its last five games.
-- Calgary lost last three games, scoring six goals.
-- Canucks lost seven of their last nine games. Los Angeles lost three of last five.
-- Pittsburgh lost three of its last four games.

Series records
-- Devils lost seven of last eight games with Colorado.
-- Blue Jackets lost their last six games with Montreal.
-- Flyers lost four of last five games with Ottawa.
-- Red Wings won nine of last ten games with Buffalo.
-- Blues won five of their last six games with Florida.
-- Predators won their last five games with Arizona.
-- Blackhawks won four of last five games with Minnesota.
-- Dallas Stars won five of last seven games with Calgary.
-- Kings lost their last three games with Vancouver.
-- Sharks won six of last eight games with Pittsburgh.

Totals
-- Seven of last eight Colorado games went over total.
-- Under is 5-2-1 in last eight Columbus-Montreal games.
-- Eight of last ten Philly-Ottawa games stayed under.
-- Over is 3-1-1 in last five Buffalo-Detroit games.
-- Under is 4-1-1 in last six Florida games.
-- Five of last seven Arizona-Nashville games went over.
-- Over is 3-1-1 in last five Chicago-Minnesota games.
-- Five of last seven Dallas stars games stayed under.
-- Under is 6-1-2 in last nine LA-Vancouver games.
-- Last three San Jose games went over total; three of last four Penguin games went under.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL Hockey Odds and Picks: Scouting the Week Ahead
by Alan Matthews

Suddenly it's a great fall/winter to be a Washington, D.C. sports fan. OK, maybe not of the NBA's disappointing Wizards, but the NFL's Redskins are in first place in the NFC East and the NHL's Capitals are the hottest team in the NHL on a five-game winning streak and atop the Metropolitan Division. The Capitals have become favorites to win the Stanley Cup at +650, just surpassing Dallas (+700).

If I asked you who the Capitals' leading scorer is, you'd no doubt say Alex Ovechkin. And you would be wrong. He does lead the club with 12 goals, but center Evgeny Kuznetsov is tops on the club with 26 points as well as with a plus-minus rating of plus-14 (tied for NHL lead). The 23-year-old has had three multipoint games in his past five. He had only 37 total points last year, his first full season in the NHL.


The Capitals have outscored their opponents 21-10 in the last five games and they are 17-5-1, which is a pace for about 125 points (not happening). Washington has scored 10 power-play goals in the past nine games, with five coming in the last two alone, and seven of those goals have been from the second unit. Overall, the Capitals' power play is ranked third in the league (26.8 percent), behind the Bruins and Stars.

Braden Holtby is now one of the NHL's five best goalies and was named the league's Second Star for last week. Holtby, who has won his last seven starts, had a 1.75 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage in the four games last week. Holtby, who hadn't earned any such NHL honors since March 2011, leads the league with 15 wins and a 1.95 GAA.

Washington puts that winning streak on the line Thursday night against the Metropolitan Division-leading Montreal Canadiens. Speaking of the Habs...

Injury Report

Hopefully you didn't put any money down before the season on Montreal goalie Carey Price to repeat as the Hart or Vezina Trophy winner because that's not happening now. Price, who missed nine games earlier this season, re-aggravated a lower-body injury and now will be out at least six weeks, although he won't need surgery. That six-week timeline would end Jan. 11, or 18 games. Price thus will miss the Jan. 1 Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium against the Boston Bruins. GM Marc Bergevin says he has no plans to trade for a goaltender and will ride Mike Condon. The rookie is 8-2-3 with a 2.19 GAA and .916 save percentage; he went 5-2-2 with a 2.39 GAA and .903 save percentage when Price was first sidelined. Condon's backup is now prospect Zachary Fucale, who was recalled from the AHL on Monday when the team sent goalie Dustin Tokarski down. Remember, the Habs are without one of their best forwards, Brendan Gallagher, for the next five weeks or so due to fractured fingers.

Rangers winger Derek Stepan will miss 4-6 weeks due to broken ribs suffered on a hit by Boston's Matt Beleskey on Friday. The Rangers thought it was dirty, but Beleskey wasn't penalized and the league didn't discipline him. Still, expect retaliation when the teams play next. Stepan has six goals and six assists while averaging 16:47 of ice-time per game. Last season, Stepan ranked third on the team with 55 points in 68 games.

The Lightning's Tyler Johnson missed Saturday's game with an undisclosed injury but should play on the team's upcoming road trip. He missed a few games earlier in November with an upper-body injury. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said what kept Johnson out this time was not a recurrence of the previous injury. Johnson has 11 points in 21 games.

Former Calder Trophy favorite and No. 1 overall pick Connor McDavid is reportedly ahead of schedule in his rehab from a broken collarbone, but there's still no clear timetable for this return. Did you see the Cowboys' Tony Romo re-injure his collarbone on Thanksgiving? Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli did and that worried him the same thing could happen to McDavid if he's rushed back. Don't expect him until sometime in mid-January at the earliest.

Games To Watch

Minnesota at Chicago, Tuesday: The Hawks are -140 for this Central Division showdown and all eyes will be on NHL leading scorer and Hart Trophy favorite (with Dallas' Jamie Benn) Patrick Kane of the Blackhawks. Kane's first-period goal Saturday against the Kings set the record for most consecutive games with a point by an American-born player at 19. Kane has 11 goals and 20 assists during the streak, which began Oct. 17 against the Blue Jackets. The last player with at least a point in 20 straight games was Pittsburgh's Canadian-born Sidney Crosby in 2010 when he had one in 25 in a row. The NHL record is held by Wayne Gretzky, naturally, who had a 51-game streak at the start of the 1983-84 season. Gretzky had 61 goals and 92 assists during his streak. Those numbers are absurd in the modern NHL. Chicago lost in Minnesota 5-4 on Oct. 30. Kane had an assist. The Wild have lost to the Blackhawks in the playoffs each of the past three seasons, including the past two in the second round. But the Wild are 9-6-1 in the past 16 regular-season meetings.

Tampa Bay at Anaheim, Wednesday: Johnson could be back for this game as the Bolts start their three-game challenge through California. These teams met Nov. 21 in Tampa, and the Lightning played perhaps their best game of the season in a 5-0 rout. Steven Stamkos had two goals and an assist and Ben Bishop made 30 saves. Bishop is 5-0-1 in his career against the Ducks. Anaheim star winger Corey Perry has now failed to score a goal in 10 games vs. Tampa Bay. The disappointing Ducks just can't put together a winning streak, but Ryan Kesler essentially guaranteed his team would make the playoffs. Kesler is one reason why this team is 29th in the league in scoring as he has only three goals entering the week.

Pittsburgh at Los Angeles, Saturday: The NHL would love it if this were a Stanley Cup Finals matchup this summer between the league's biggest star and the No. 2 media market team. It appears that Pens star Crosby is starting to wake up. He has only five goals and 10 assists but extended his point streak to five games Saturday with an assist against the Oilers. Fellow star Evgeni Malkin also is heating up as he has seven goals and three assists in his past six games. The Kings are 9-1-0 this season when scoring three goals or more and 4-7-1 when scoring two or fewer. The Kings were unable to score last season in losing both games to Pittsburgh.