Tuesday 2/23/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

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[superbeets 0]

Champions League TODAY 19:45

Arsenal

v

Barcelona

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		4	16/5	4/6	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ARSENAL	RECENT FORM
HLHWHDAWHWHD​ Most recent​	2 - 1 2 - 2 2 - 4	HWAWADHWAWAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Luis Suarez has scored 41 games in 37 games this season

EXPERT VERDICT: Arsenal have exited the Champions League at the last-16 stage in each of the last five years and many pundits expect that sequence to continue having been pitted against brilliant Barcelona. Luis Suarez has been outstanding for Barca this season and can break the deadlock at the Emirates.

RECOMMENDATION: L Suarez first goalscorer
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REFEREE: Cuneyt Cakir STADIUM:

 

[superbeets 0]

Champions League TODAY 19:45

Juventus

v

B Munich

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT S		21/10	9/4	31/20	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT JUVENTUS	RECENT FORM
NWAWHWAWHWAD​ Most recent​	0 - 2 1 - 4 2 - 1 1 - 0	AWHWADAWAWHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Juve have not conceded in any of their last nine games

EXPERT VERDICT: Bayern’s pursuit of a sixth European Cup has been made more difficult with the loss of most of their first-choice defence to injury. After a slow start, Juventus have won 18 of their last 20 games and the Old Lady will be extremely confident of taking a first-leg advantage to Munich.

RECOMMENDATION: Juventus
2


REFEREE: Martin Atkinson STADIUM:

 

[superbeets 0]

Champions League We 24Feb 19:45

Dynamo Kiev

v

Man City

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		5/2	12/5	5/4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT DYNAMO KIEV	RECENT FORM
HWAWAWHWAWHW​ Most recent​	2 - 0	HWAWAWHLHLAL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Dynamo Kiev have conceded one goal in their last six matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Manchester City rested players in the FA Cup defeat at Chelsea to be ready for this Champions League tie in Ukraine and Manuel Pellegrini's men look capable of grabbing a vital draw. Dynamo Kiev qualified ahead of Porto in the group stages but could be rusty having not played a match since December.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1


REFEREE: Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz STADIUM:

 

[superbeets 0]

Champions League We 24Feb 19:45

PSV Eindhoven

v

Atl Madrid

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		7/2	5/2	17/20	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT PSV EINDHOVEN	RECENT FORM
HWAWHWAWAWHW​ Most recent​	0 - 3	HDHLALHWAWHD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Atletico Madrid have won five of their ten games against Dutch opposition

EXPERT VERDICT: PSV are into the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2007 but have main goal threat Luuk de Jong suspended for the first leg. 2014 finalists Atletico Madrid were unbeaten in three away group games, are long odds-on to qualify and can win in Eindhoven.

RECOMMENDATION: Atletico Madrid
3


REFEREE: Daniele Orsato STADIUM:

 

[superbeets 0]

Europa League Th 25Feb 18:00

Liverpool

v

Augsburg

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		9/20	10/3	6	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT LIVERPOOL	RECENT FORM
HDALHDAD*AWAD​ Most recent​	Unknown	ADHDALHLHDAW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Liverpool are unbeaten in five European home games

EXPERT VERDICT: Despite the 0-0 draw, Liverpool were the better team in last week’s Europa League first-leg clash and the Reds should finish the job comfortably at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp may rest a few players ahead of the League Cup final, but his side had six shots on target to Augsburg’s two in Germany.

RECOMMENDATION: Liverpool
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[superbeets 0]

Europa League Th 25Feb 20:05

Man Utd

v

Midtjylland

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		2/9	5	11	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT MAN UTD	RECENT FORM
AWHWADALALAW​ Most recent​	Unknown	HWADALALHDHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Memphis Depay has scored four European goals this term

EXPERT VERDICT: Midtjylland stunned Man United with a 2-1 first-leg victory last week at odds of 5-1, but the Red Devils can bounce back in Manchester. Memphis Depay, who seems to be saving his best performances for the European competitions, opened the scoring in Denmark and can repeat the trick at Old Trafford.

RECOMMENDATION: M Depay first goalscorer
1

 

[Scott602 0]

Fezzik GOM?

 

[SNI_PER 0]

Fezzik GOM?

Is Fezzik any good long term?

I've got Essler Double Dime CBB and Free NBA. Will post as soon as it's up.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2 0]

Soccer: CL Best Bets - Round of 16
By Toby Maxtone-Smith

Champions League Round of 16 - First Legs

With the two favorites for the 2015-16 Champions League, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, not playing last week, there was little change in the outright betting for the tournament.

But it was still a very interesting week of games:

On Tuesday, Chelsea put in one of their best performances of the season only to lose 2-1 away to PSG, leaving the tie as balanced as it was before the match, and Benfica stole a late win over Zenit St Petersburg. On Wednesday a Cristiano Ronaldo strike gave Real Madrid a one-goal advantage going into their home leg against Roma, while Wolfsburg conceded two late goals away to Gent in a 3-2 victory.

Tuesday, Feb. 23
Games scheduled for 2:45 p.m. ET on FS1 & FS2

Arsenal vs. Barcelona: Over 2.5 goals at 8/13

It has to see how, over two legs, Arsenal can overcome Barcelona. They are 6/1 to win the tie and 4/1 to win the first leg on home soil, with Barcelona 7/10 favorites to win the game and as short as 1/9 to win the tie. These prices seem about right, given that Arsenal are incapable of producing the type of ultra-disciplined, defensive displays that can undo Barcelona.

But it is worth bearing Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in mind, as well as Barcelona’s relatively poor away record in the Champions League knockout rounds. Arsenal’s dodgy runs of form, though frequent, tend to be quite short-lived, and there is no reason that a good Arsenal display could result in one or two goals for the North London club. Defence is far from Barça’s strongest point. And Barcelona themselves have three of the best four or five players in the world in attack, against a relatively mediocre Arsenal defence.

It’s a short price, but over 2.5 goals at 8/13 seems almost guaranteed to me.

Juventus vs. Bayern Munich: Juventus to win at 21/10

Juventus are embroiled in a fascinating title race in Serie A, and they look to have the edge. They are one point ahead of Napoli, having won an incredible 15 out of their last 16 games. Bayern are, of course, top of the Bundesliga, and by far more points than Juventus: eight. But for them the season has been largely free of concern. They will win the league. They know they will win the league, and have known this since the start of last season.

So Juventus have had far more to play for, meaning their run of wins shows greater character and ability to deal with adversity than Bayern’s domestic success. At 21/10 they look well worth a bet.

This is also because Bayern, like Barcelona who edge them out for status as favorites, have a poor record on the road in Europe. Under Pep Guardiola their away knockout record reads W1, D2, L3 with the only win coming at Arsenal. They may find a fired-up and focused Juventus side too much to handle.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2 0]

NHL notebook: Sharks obtain Polak, Spaling from Maple Leafs
By The Sports Xchange

The San Jose Sharks acquired defenseman Roman Polak and forward Nick Spaling from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday.
The Maple Leafs received forward Raffi Torres and the Sharks' second-round picks in the 2017 and 2018 NHL drafts in the trade.
Polak, 29, has played in 535 NHL games with Toronto and St. Louis, posting 101 points (19 goals, 82 assists) and 423 penalty minutes. This season with the Maple Leafs, Polak has scored 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) and 56 penalty minutes in 55 games.
Spaling, 27, has played in 414 games with Nashville, Pittsburgh and Toronto, recording 118 points (50 goals, 68 assists) and 114 penalty minutes. This season with the Maple Leafs, Spaling has played in 35 games, with eight points (one goal, seven assists) and 18 penalty minutes.
Torres, 34, was acquired by San Jose from Arizona on April 3, 2013. He played in 16 regular-season games, scoring 11 points (five goals and six assists). Torres will be reassigned to the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League.
The Toronto Maple Leafs also recalled defenseman Stuart Percy and forward Brendan Leipsic from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.

---The Nashville Predators signed forward Colton Sissons to a three-year, $1.875 million contract.
The team announced Sissons will make $575,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the American Hockey League level in 2016-17, and $650,000 in both 2017-18 and 2018-19.
Sissons, 22, has appeared in 19 games for the Predators in 2015-16, recording one goal and one assist, and a 59 percent success rate in the face-off circle, best among all NHL players taking at least 100 draws.

---The Vancouver Canucks acquired center Markus Granlund from the Calgary Flames in exchange for left winger Hunter Shinkaruk.
Granlund, 22, had four goals and three assists in 31 games for the Flames this season. He has participated in 86 career NHL games and has 14 goals and 14 assists.
Shinkaruk, 21, played in one NHL game for the Canucks this season. He has 21 points and 18 assists for Utica of the American Hockey League.

---The Buffalo Sabres recalled forward Cal O'Reilly from the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League.
O'Reilly, 29, has appeared in five games for the Sabres this season, recording one assist and two penalty minutes. He has appeared in 118 NHL games in parts of five seasons with the Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Phoenix Coyotes and Predators, registering 42 career points (13 goals, 29 assists) and 14 penalty minutes.

---The Tampa Bay Lightning recalled defenseman Matt Taormina from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League.
Tampa Bay also reassigned defenseman Slater Koekkoek to Syracuse. Koekkoek, 22, played in four games for the Lightning.
Taormina, 29, played in one game for Tampa Bay earlier this season. He has four goals in 57 career NHL games.

---The Chicago Blackhawks reassigned center Vincent Hinostroza to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.
Hinostroza, 21, made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks on Oct. 17 and has played in seven games this season, with no points.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2 0]

Death of the 6-goal NHL total: High-scoring hockey is gone forever
By JASON LOGAN

For the supposed “fastest game on earth”, hockey teams are dragging their skates when it comes to scoring pace.

So far this season, NHL teams have allowed just 2.49 goals against per game, which is currently tied for the second lowest league-wide GAA since the 1955-56 NHL season when teams gave up the same amount (2.49) of goals per contest. And if you need further evidence that goal scoring in the NHL is a lost art, just look at the decline in NHL Over/Under numbers since the league lockout in 2004-05.

Following the lockout, which brought with it numerous rule changes to help speed up the game and increase scoring, the 2005-06 NHL season had 1,064 regular season games (all but 166 games) with a betting total of six goals or more. Last year, NHL bettors saw just seven. That’s a decrease of more than 99 percent over the last 10 NHL seasons. And, for the 2015-16 NHL season, oddsmakers have yet to find a game worthy of a total of six goals or more, only going as high as 5.5 with adjusted juice.

In fact, the last NHL game to warrant a total of six or more goals was December, 29, 2014. The Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs, with the Lightning winning 3-2 and the final score staying below the number.

Dustin Nielson, an NHL analyst and talk radio host on TSN 1260 in Edmonton, believes two factors have played into the decline in scoring over the past 10 seasons: the use of advanced analytics to fine tune defensive pairings and matchups, and a decrease in ice time for the NHL’s top scorers. Nielson points to the latter as the major culprit, stating that the best offensive talents are playing less therefor not scoring at the same pace.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane, the NHL’s leading scorer (84 points as of Feb. 22) ranks fifth among forwards in average ice time with 20:40 minutes per game this season. Going back to the 2005-06 campaign, average ice time for forwards has been shrinking and Kane’s 2015-16 minutes wouldn't even crack to Top 10 in any of those 10 previous seasons, save for the last two years:

Here is where Kane’s 20:40 minutes of ice time would rank in each of those seasons:

2014-2015 – T-1st (leader was John Tavares at 20:40)
2013-2014 – T-10th (leader was Sidney Crosby at 21:59)
2012-2013 - 14th (leader was Ilya Kovalchuk at 24:44)
2011-2012 - 16th (leader was Ilya Kovalchuk at 24:25)
2010-2011 - 14th (leader was Ilya Kovalchuk at 22:33)
2009-2010 - 18th (leader was Ilya Kovalchuk at 22:02)
2008-2009 - 20th (leader was Alex Ovechkin at 23:00)
2007-2008 – T-24th (leader was Martin St. Louis at 24:17)
2006-2007 – T-21st (leader was Martin St. Louis at 24:09)
2005-2006 - 18th (leader Rod Brind'Amour at 24:17)

Nielson uses this year's scoring race as an example, with the top point getters in the mid-80s compared to the 100-point totals hockey fans have seen over those last 10 seasons. In 2005-06, Joe Thornton topped the NHL with 125 points and was one of seven players with 100-plus points on the year. Since the 2010-11 campaign (lockout-shortened 2012-13 season excluded), there have been only three players hit triple figures in points on the season.

“I'm almost certain if Tavares and Crosby were playing 23 or 24 minutes a night those totals would be a heck of a lot different,” Nielson said.

In 2005-06, NHL scoring jumped from 5.14 goals per game in the season prior to the lockout to 6.16, which was the highest-scoring NHL schedule since the 1995-96 season, which averaged 6.28 goals a contests. Of those 1,064 games with totals of six goals or more, teams averaged 6.44 goals per game but still boasted a 480-524-60 Over/Under count (52 percent Under), a forerunner of things to come in the NHL.

The next season, NHL totals of six or more goals were limited to 693 games. In 2007-08, Over/Unders of six-plus totaled just 209 games. There were only 200 in 2008-09 and 217 in the 2009-10 season. NHL totals of six or more goals were trimmed to 58 games in 2010-11. And over the last five NHL seasons, there have only been 54 games with an Over/Under of six or more goals, including just 16 in 2013-14 and 2014-15 combined, with none in the 2015-16 campaign so far.

Oddsmakers don’t have a rhyme or reason for the decline in scoring for the NHL – they honestly don’t really care to know - and simply react to how games are played out. According to Peter Korner, founder of Nevada-based odds service The Sports Club, he remembers setting nine-goal totals for Pittsburgh Penguins games back in the 1990s but says making today’s NHL totals is pretty much picking between two numbers.

“Totals are very easy now,” Korner said. “You really don’t have to personally research each game. You choose between 5.5 and 5. As for why those numbers, it just it. Scores are much lower. It’s simple to dissect from a betting standpoint.”

Games with totals of six goals or more (between 2005-06 and 2015-16) have finished with a collective 1,123-1,218-186 Over/Under record, playing Under the number 52 percent of the time. However, last season - which had only seven NHL games with totals of six goals - teams went 5-2 O/U.

For 2015-16, NHL games – regardless of total number - are 369-384 O/U (50.99 percent Under) as of Monday. And recently there has been a strong trend toward the Over, with NHL games finishing with a 96-60 Over/Under mark over the past 30 days (61.5 percent). But despite that uptick in high scores, oddsmakers aren't brining totals of six or more back from the dead.

And if the 6-goal total is on its deathbed, then the 6.5-goal total is the dodo bird. There’s hasn’t been a 6.5-goal total in an NHL regular season game since the Washington Capitals hosted the Carolina Hurricanes on November 28, 2010 – a 3-2 win for Carolina that finished Under the total. There were four 6.5-goal totals that season and they all finished below the number.

As for totals of seven goals or more - which have been slashed to unicorn status - NHL bettors may never get to wager on those sky-high Over/Unders again. There were 81 games with totals of seven or more in the 2005-06 season, finishing 25-36-20, and only nine in 2006-07, with a 1-8 O/U count.

The last NHL game with a total of seven was on April 3, 2007 when the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 at home. That could stand as the exact day high-scoring hockey died for good.

Rest in peace 6-goal totals. You were fun while you lasted.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2 0]

Preview: Rangers (34-19) at Devils (29-24)

Date: February 23, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The New York Rangers might get Ryan McDonagh back during their three-game trip, but that return likely won't come Tuesday night.

The Rangers have succeeded lately with their captain on the sidelines for most of their recent games, and they'll try to keep heading in the right direction against the slumping New Jersey Devils.

McDonagh sat out for the fifth time in seven games Sunday, but the Rangers improved to 7-1-1 in their last nine with a 1-0 overtime victory against Detroit.

"We're resilient," said defenseman Kevin Klein, who scored the winning goal. "When things don't go your way, you stay focused and stick to your system."

New York (34-19-6) is 4-0-1 in the five games McDonagh has missed because of a pair of upper-body injuries. The defenseman sat out four straight contests due to a concussion and was forced to leave a 4-2 win in Toronto on Thursday when the Maple Leafs' Leo Komarov elbowed him in the head.

McDonagh exited that collision with a bruised jaw and neck spasms.

"It's progressing and getting better every day," McDonagh told the team's official website after skating on his own Monday. "I've been continuing to feel like myself more and more. Hopefully it continues here and I can get back soon."

McDonagh's timetable for returning is unclear. His teammates will try to kick that off New York's trek by earning a season-high fourth consecutive road victory.

The Rangers will face a team that's been outscored 11-6 in a three-game slide, and the Devils (29-24-7) blew a third-period lead in a 4-3 loss in Washington on Saturday, giving up the tiebreaking goal with 3:58 remaining.

New Jersey scored three goals for just the second time in nine contests but has lost both games. It fell 6-3 to visiting Philadelphia last Tuesday to begin its current skid.

"There's nothing to be frustrated about," coach John Hynes said. "We've got to be better than what we were."

The Devils have won two of three from the Rangers this season, splitting a pair of contests in a six-day span earlier this month. They edged the Rangers 3-2 at home Feb. 2 to end a four-game home losing streak in the series but fell 2-1 in the rematch at Madison Square Garden six days later.

J.T. Miller scored the decisive goal in the third period and Henrik Lundqvist came with 2:18 of a shutout in New York's first win in three matchups this season. The Rangers goaltender is 4-1-0 with a 1.20 goals-against average in his last five starts and recorded his second shutout in that stretch Sunday.

Lundqvist is 3-1-1 with a 1.59 GAA in his last five games against the Devils. New Jersey netminder Cory Schneider has posted a 1.65 GAA while starting all three matchups this season.

Schneider has been charged with 10 goals in New Jersey's slide. He yielded 11 in his previous seven starts.

Devils forward Lee Stempniak has three goals and one assist in his last four games against the Rangers, but is currently mired in a season-worst five-game point drought.

Miller has scored three times in his past two matchups with New Jersey and is out to end a six-game goal drought in this one.

New Jersey hasn't lost four in a row since its 0-3-1 start.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2 0]

Preview: Flyers (26-21) at Hurricanes (27-23)

Date: February 23, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

In addition to his record point streak, rookie Shayne Gostisbehere has had a knack for coming through when the Philadelphia Flyers need it most.

That's certainly been the case against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Looking to become the first defenseman in 23 seasons to record a point in 16 straight games, Gostisbehere tries to help the Flyers complete a winning trip with a season sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.

Gostisbehere, who turns 23 in April, became the first rookie to record four overtime goals in a season when he scored 29 seconds into the extra session of Saturday's 5-4 win at Toronto.

"I'm living the dream," he told the NHL's official website. "What can you say?

Gostisbehere has five goals and 13 assists during a 15-game point streak that's the longest by an NHL rookie defenseman. Brian Leetch was the last defenseman to earn a point in 16 consecutive from 1991-92.

'He's unbelievable,' said teammate Brayden Schenn, who has three goals and three assists during the Flyers' 2-1-1 trip. "He's extremely confident. He always wants the puck out there."

Carolina (27-23-10) should be aware of that after Gostisbehere recorded the overtime winner in each of the last two meetings - both at Philadelphia. He has two goals and two assists while the Flyers (26-21-11) have recorded three overtime victories over the Hurricanes in 2015-16.

Philadelphia last swept a season series from Carolina in 2012-13, and could have a better chance to do it again if captain Claude Giroux and fellow center Sean Couturier are ready to be back on the ice.

Couturier has 16 points in his last 16 games but he's missed nine in a row with a lower-body injury. Giroux sat out Saturday with an upper-body issue.

'It's a little bit tough, but we've got a good group of guys in here,' said winger Wayne Simmonds, who has four points in three games. 'We're all battling for each other."

Though defenseman Michael Del Zotto will miss three to four months following wrist surgery, fellow blueliner Evgeny Medvedev and goalie Steve Mason should be fine after leaving Saturday's game.

Mason, who dealt with cramping, has yielded three goals four times in five starts. He gave up the first two at Carolina on Nov. 14 then was solid while facing only 21 shots overall in the 3-2 overtime victory.

Losers in two of three, the Hurricanes are 10th in the Eastern Conference - one point ahead Philadelphia - and four behind Pittsburgh for the final wild-card spot.

"This is playoff-style hockey, right?" Carolina coach Bill Peters said after Sunday's 4-2 home loss to Tampa Bay. "You've got to step up and play. It's fun. It's a great time of year."

The Hurricanes haven't suffered consecutive regulation defeats since a three-game skid Nov. 27-Dec. 3.

"Guys are playing hard," said forward Eric Staal, who has just one point in nine February games. "This team wants to be in the mix, and you need to respond after losses.

"There's good character in this room that's going to find a way to keep pushing forward."

Jordan Staal has a point in five straight games and 23 in the last 20. He's totaled only one assist against the Flyers this season.

Teammate Jeff Skinner recorded a hat trick in the 4-3 overtime loss at Philadelphia in the most recent meeting Dec. 15.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2 0]

Preview: Blue Jackets (24-29) at Red Wings (29-20)

Date: February 23, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

Detroit's probably thrilled to be returning home even if it's just for one game, and Columbus might normally strike the Red Wings as one of the more opportune teams to be doing so against.

But the Blue Jackets visit Detroit on Tuesday night having won a season-best three straight on the road, and the Red Wings haven't had much success in the series recently regardless of venue.

The Red Wings (29-20-11) are in danger of their first five-game losing streak of the season, though they at least get a break from hearing about their six-game road skid. The 0-2-2 overall stretch includes six goals scored and an 0-for-11 mark on the power play.

"We got to be better, too, to get pucks to the net," center Henrik Zetterberg told the team's official website. "It's not always from the point, maybe we have to get it from down low, too, to create some more chaos in front of the net."

While Detroit got top goal scorer Dylan Larkin back from illness in Sunday's 1-0 overtime loss to the New York Rangers, No. 2 scorer Tomas Tatar went a seventh straight game without a point, which is tied for the longest stretch he's posted in his three full seasons.

The shutout wasted a strong effort from Jimmy Howard, who made 29 saves but fell to 0-5-4 with a 3.52 goals-against average and .894 save percentage in 11 games since last winning Dec. 3. His teammates, however, took notice in this effort.

"Throughout the 11 years, that might have been the best game I've ever seen him play," defenseman Kyle Quincy said. "He had such a great game. Hopefully he can keep going. If he does that, we're in great shape."

Howard has posted shutouts in two of his last three against Columbus but settled for a 1-1-1 record.

Teammate Petr Mrazek has struggled lately, going 1-1-1 with a 4.20 GAA and .852 save percentage.

Columbus (24-29-7) has won eight of the last 10 meetings, including the past two. Those were both played in Detroit with the Red Wings totaling one goal.

What Zetterberg discussed is about how the Blue Jackets managed Monday's 6-4 win in Boston before seeing the Red Wings for the first of three times in just over three weeks.

"We just threw a bunch of pucks in there, power play, even strength, and we got a couple of goals that way," defenseman Ryan Murray told the team's official website. "Our forwards did a great job of getting in front of their goalie and it helped us out offensively. We played with a lot of speed, our forwards were coming back fast and that's hard to defend against."

Boone Jenner scored two goals for the second time in four games, pushing him five past his previous career high of 16. He's still one behind Brandon Saad's team-leading 22, which the first-year Blue Jacket reached Monday. He's one short of last season's career high.

Over a 3-1-2 span, Columbus has averaged 34.5 shots after averaging 28.5 through the first 54.

"It's something we've been preaching the last few weeks," forward Matt Calvert said. "We never had enough shots. I think during our last little streak here we've been throwing a lot of pucks at the net. You get the bounces that way."

Joonas Korpisalo allowed four goals for the second straight game, though he too has seen plenty of fire lately, posting a 2.34 GAA and .929 save percentage on an average of 33.5 shots over a 5-1-2 span.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2 0]

Preview: Predators (28-21) at Maple Leafs (20-27)

Date: February 23, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

With little room for error in a crowded playoff race, the Nashville Predators don't want to squander an opportunity to pick up points against free-falling Toronto.

A lack of offensive punch has been the Predators' undoing of late, though they might not have trouble against a short-handed Maple Leafs team struggling to keep opponents out of the net.

The Predators look to keep moving up in the Western Conference race Tuesday night when they try to extend a franchise-record eight-game point streak on the road.

After making a push by sweeping a four-game trip in late January, Nashville (28-21-11) tread water on a 3-3-3 stretch before Monday's 2-1 shootout win at Montreal. Viktor Arvidsson scored in regulation before Craig Smith provided the third-round winner.

The Predators leapfrogged Colorado to take over the top wild-card spot in the West and can continue climbing by turning around an offense that has scored two or fewer goals in each of the past four games.

James Neal leads Nashville with 21 goals but hasn't scored in his last four. Filip Forsberg, who has 20 goals, has come up empty in the past two after scoring six times over his previous six.

Shea Weber, third on the team with 15 goals, hasn't produced a point in his last four games. However, he's scored in each of the past two home meetings with the Leafs after a three-assist performance in a 9-2 rout in the most recent matchup at Toronto on Nov. 18, 2014.

"Right now, every game is so big," goaltender Pekka Rinne, who finished with 28 saves against the Canadiens, told the team's official website. "It doesn't really matter who you play against. It's usually this time of the year that is so much fun.

"It starts to become more realistic about what's coming up and it kind of hits you. You don't want to give up any points and look back and regret it."

Nashville, 6-0-2 in its last eight road games, should feel confident offensively in the second of a three-game road swing that concludes Thursday at Chicago. Toronto has allowed 33 goals in its last seven games and fell to 4-12-3 since Jan. 7 with Saturday's 5-4 overtime home loss to Philadelphia.

"If you don't do your job, someone else is getting (it)," coach Mike Babcock said. "That's just the way it is."

James Reimer, however, is expected to get another chance after allowing nine goals on 47 shots in his last two games. He has a 4.08 goals-against average in his past eight contests but he made 21 saves in a 2-1 shootout win Nov. 12 in Nashville that snapped Toronto's three-game skid in this series.

The Maple Leafs (20-27-10) will play without leading scorer Leo Komarov as he serves the second of a three-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh. The club will also be missing injured forwards James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak, Josh Leivo, Milan Michalek and Joffrey Lupul as well as injured defensemen Matt Hunwick and Jared Cowen.

The Leafs sit last in the East and have already begun looking forward, dealing forward Shawn Matthias to Colorado on Sunday and defenseman Roman Polak and forward Nick Spaling to San Jose on Monday.

They added three more draft picks in the process, continuing their trend of stockpiling for the future.

 

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Preview: Coyotes (27-26) at Lightning (33-22)

Date: February 23, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

The Tampa Bay Lightning have woken up offensively their previous three games, and the power play finally followed suit in the latest.

If they continue to light up the scoreboard in their next contest, it would mean an extension of the Arizona Coyotes' lengthy defensive slumber.

The Lightning are knocking on the door of the Atlantic Division leaders and can win their fourth straight Tuesday night by continuing their success against the Coyotes.

Tampa Bay (33-22-4) scored only 10 goals while losing four of five games earlier this month, but it's won three straight behind a revived offensive attack that has supplied the club with one of the NHL's best records since early January.

Another win would match Anaheim's league-leading 15 since Jan. 8. Tampa Bay is 14-5 with a scoring average of 3.21 during that span - fifth best in the league - and has moved within five points of first-place Florida.

The Lightning have scored 13 times on their current streak, and they prevailed 4-2 at Carolina on Sunday even without points leader Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov, who has 24 goals and 25 assists, missed his first game after suffering a lower-body injury during Saturday's 4-2 win at Pittsburgh.

Coach Jon Cooper is hoping Kucherov is available Tuesday.

Without their leading scorer, they continued to get production from the player who is expected to top that list. On Feb. 15, general manager Steve Yzerman announced Tampa Bay would not trade a struggling Steven Stamkos before the Feb. 29 deadline.

Stamkos scored only twice in a 13-game span from Jan. 15-Feb. 16, but he's found the back of the net the last three games to overtake the team lead from Kucherov with 25 goals. His goal against the Hurricanes might have been the most important as it put the Lightning ahead in the third period and ended their 0-for-18 drought on the power play.

"There's no question that the power play's been struggling," said Ryan Callahan, who scored twice. "Sometimes, you need a big goal like that late in the third to get things rolling again."

There should be plenty of opportunities to score against Arizona (27-26-6), which is 3-7-1 since Jan. 26 while surrendering 3.82 goals per game - better than only Toronto's 4.00 in that span.

The Coyotes have coughed up power-play goals in each of their last three games to drop their penalty-kill percentage to 77.8, third worst in the league ahead of Calgary (73.2) and Ottawa (74.3).

Even while keeping the league's top-scoring team mostly in check Monday, the Coyotes couldn't catch a break in a 3-2 loss at Washington.

The eventual winner came after goaltender Louis Domingue appeared to cover a puck with his glove midway through the third period, but the whistle didn't blow and the puck squirted out to Mike Richards, who buried his first goal in 13 months for the Capitals.

"We competed hard, we did some good things, but still you've got to do enough to win games," coach Dave Tippett told the team's official website. "That's the bottom line."

If this game is anything like this series has been over the last 14 years, Tampa Bay should have offensive opportunities. The Lightning are 12-3-1 against the Coyotes since January 2002 and have averaged 4.8 goals over the previous six meetings.

Tampa Bay outscored Arizona 11-5 in a pair of wins last season, and Kucherov had a hat trick in a 7-3 victory on Oct. 28, 2014.

Domingue has a .898 save percentage in his last three starts, while his Tuesday counterpart Ben Bishop holds a .943 mark in his last two.

 

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Preview: Stars (37-17) at Jets (25-29)

Date: February 23, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Dallas Stars can regain command of the Western Conference if they avoid matching their longest losing streak this season.

The Stars will try to get back on track Tuesday night by continuing their recent dominance of the struggling Winnipeg Jets.

Dallas (37-17-6) still has a chance to sit atop the West despite an 0-2-1 skid that includes a 7-3 drubbing to Boston on Saturday. The Stars were coming off a 6-3 loss in Arizona on Thursday.

"We should take a look at those scores and remember how it makes us feel," said forward Patrick Sharp, who scored his first goal in 19 games Saturday as part of a 3-1 lead in the first period. "It's not a representation of how our team can play or how we should be playing, but nonetheless it's happened."

Dallas has lost four in a row just once this season - from Jan. 9-19 - but has won three straight over the Jets (25-29-4), who are next-to-last in the West. The Stars won 5-3 in Winnipeg on Feb. 2 with Tyler Seguin tallying a pair of goals.

The Jets are returning home after going 0-2-1 in the final three of four consecutive road games. They tallied two goals or fewer for the fifth time in six contests with a 3-1 defeat to Florida on Saturday.

"We had the opportunities to put the puck in the net," captain Andrew Ladd said. "In tight games like that, you've got to find a way to do it."

Winnipeg has also labored at times offensively during a 2-8-0 stretch at home. It's scored a combined 14 goals in the eight losses and 10 in the two victories.

The Jets' struggles at the other end of the ice have been the main culprit during their current three-game skid at the MTS Centre. They have allowed a combined 16 goals while moving to the brink of their first four-game home losing streak since an 0-3-2 skid in March 2014.

This is Winnipeg's lone home game from Feb. 13-29, and the Jets finish that stretch with a two-game trip that begins Thursday in Dallas - their final scheduled meeting.

It's unclear if the Jets will have leading goal scorer Bryan Little available for either part of the home-and-home series because of an upper-body injury sustained in a 6-5 shootout loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday. Little, who has 17 goals, is considered day to day.

Ladd will try to make up for his absence by adding to his six goals in nine games this month. He has two goals and three assists in his past five matchups with Dallas.

Seguin's 12 goals and 23 points in 21 career games against Winnipeg are his most versus any opponent. John Klingberg has four goals and four assists in his past five matchups.

Dallas goaltender Kari Lehtonen is 7-1-1 with a 1.95 goals-against average - his lowest against any team - in nine career starts versus the Jets.

 

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Preview: Islanders (31-19) at Wild (27-22)

Date: February 23, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

It appears a coaching change was all the Minnesota Wild needed to find their offensive form and start winning again.

The Wild try to improve to 5-0-0 under interim coach John Torchetti on Tuesday night against the visiting New York Islanders.

Minnesota (27-22-10) averaged 2.5 goals and scored five or more five times under Mike Yeo, who was fired Feb. 13 following an eighth straight loss and 13th in 14 games. Since Torchetti was promoted from the AHL, the Wild have scored at least five in each game and outscored opponents 21-8 while winning a season-high four in a row.

"We're making plays offensively," forward Zach Parise told the NHL's official website. "We're playing with a lot more patience with the puck, a lot more poise, a lot more confidence with the puck. We're playing a fast game now, and to me, that's been the biggest difference."

All that was evident Sunday in Minnesota's 6-1 rout of Chicago at the outdoor TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus. Erik Haula and Jason Pominville each had a goal with two assists and Devan Dubnyk made 31 saves for the Wild, who are making a push for a wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

"It's up to them; it's not me. That's the bottom line," Torchetti said. "Once you make a commitment as a teammate and your other teammates see you play at that level, then it's up to myself and then the other players to hold everyone else accountable to that style of play."

Though Minnesota struggled offensively under Yeo, it has converted 24 percent (12 of 50) on the power play in the last 13 games and scored at least once with the man-advantage in four straight. Haula and Nino Niederreiter have combined for four goals and eight assists under Torchetti, while their linemate Pominville has three goals with three assists in the last three.

"We've been able to get on the score sheet, which helps your confidence, and confidence is a big part of the game," Pominville said.

Dubnyk should feel the same way while posting a 2.00 goals-against average during a three-game winning streak. In his previous nine starts, Dubnyk was 0-8-1 with a 2.77 GAA.

"It's obviously a team game, and when everybody is pitching in, it takes pressure off of others, too," Wild forward Ryan Carter said.

Niederreiter had a goal with an assist Feb 2, but the Islanders (31-19-7) did all their scoring in the final two periods for a 5-3 victory. New York dropped the next two that followed, but is 5-1-1 since.

Casey Cizikas scored on a rebound off his leg and Jaroslav Halak made 27 saves as the Islanders opened their season-high seven-game trip with Friday's 1-0 victory at New Jersey.

"It's important to start this way," coach Jack Capuano said. "I give the guys a lot of credit."

Halak had a 4.26 GAA while losing four of his previous five, but could get a second straight look after his latest effort. Thomas Greiss won five in a row and posted a 1.50 GAA in his previous four before making 32 saves in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss at Washington.

John Tavares had seven goals and nine assists in 11 games before his seven-game point streak ended Friday. He has three goals and three assists during a five-game point streak against Minnesota.

It's uncertain if Wild winger Jason Zucker will play after taking an elbow to the jaw that resulted in the back of his head hitting the ice Sunday.

 

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Preview: Senators (28-26) at Oilers (22-32)

Date: February 23, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

Craig Anderson's shutdown work of late hasn't closed the door on the Ottawa Senators' playoff hopes.

Anderson was anything but stellar when facing the Edmonton Oilers earlier this month, however.

The resurgent Senators begin an important Western Canada trip seeking a fourth consecutive win in Tuesday night's matchup with the Oilers, who've returned to their customary losing ways since the teams' last meeting.

Ottawa (28-26-6) appeared in disarray during a 7-2 home loss to the Oilers on Feb. 4, part of a 2-6-0 stretch that placed its postseason chances in extreme doubt. It's responded with its longest winning streak since a season-high four-game run from Nov. 19-25 to close within six points of eighth-place Pittsburgh in the East.

Anderson has yielded five goals while starting all three victories and has posted a 1.69 goals-against average and .947 save percentage in seven outings since allowing three goals on 10 shots in just 11:41 against Edmonton. He had 29 saves in Saturday's 3-2 shootout win over Detroit.

'I like the style we're playing right now,' Anderson said. 'It's very conservative, and we're not run-and-gun right now. We're playing consistent and together as a group and it's getting us some wins, so it's some positive reinforcement for us.'

Dion Phaneuf's addition has helped shore things up defensively as well, and the former Maple Leafs captain also made an impact on the offensive end by scoring Saturday's game-tying goal with 3:51 remaining in regulation, his first in six games since being acquired on Feb. 9.

'You can't overestimate what Dion Phaneuf has done in terms of our top-four defensemen and the breakouts, the D-zone coverage. All those things have improved since Dion came here,' coach David Cameron said. 'You add a real good player in the back end as a top-four defenseman and you get on a bit of a roll and that all adds to the confidence.'

The Senators now will see whether they can maintain that success on the road, where they've lost four straight. Anderson has a 4.77 GAA during the skid and a 3.46 mark outside Ottawa this season compared to 2.15 at home.

Edmonton (22-32-6) has gone in a different direction since its rout in Ottawa, having been outscored 31-16 over a 1-6-1 stretch that's left them tied with Toronto for the fewest points in the NHL. The Oilers have lost the last four on a six-game homestand they began with a 5-2 win over Toronto on Feb. 11.

'(Our record) is disappointing for all of us, for the whole organization,' coach Todd McLellan said following Saturday's 3-2 defeat to Colorado. 'It's not where we thought we would be.'

Connor McDavid's return has been one bright spot, with the 2015 No. 1 overall pick amassing 15 points in 10 games since missing three months with a fractured clavicle. The 19-year-old assisted on Jordan Eberle's two goals against Ottawa earlier this month.

Benoit Pouliot has 13 points since McDavid's comeback after registering a goal against Colorado, while Eberle has seven goals and six assists over that 10-game span.

Cam Talbot made 36 saves in the teams' previous matchup and owns a 1.34 GAA in winning all three career starts against Ottawa. He's just 1-5-0 with a 3.64 GAA in his last seven appearances, however.

Ottawa's Mike Hoffman has four goals and an assist in the series' last three meetings but has gone four straight without a point.