Wednesday 12/9/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

Champions League TODAY 19:45

Chelsea

v

Porto

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		21/20	5/2	3	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT CHELSEA	RECENT FORM
HWALHWAWADHL​ Most recent​	1 - 0 2 - 1 3 - 1	HWAWHLAWAWHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Chelsea have scored 11 goals in five group games

EXPERT VERDICT: Struggling Chelsea have saved their best for Europe and can confirm their place in the Champions League last 16 at Stamford Bridge. Porto were poor in defeat to Dynamo Kiev on matchday five and that looks likely to cost them dear with the Ukrainians overwhelming favourites to join the Blues in the next round.

RECOMMENDATION: Chelsea
3


REFEREE: Cuneyt Cakir STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Champions League TODAY 19:45

Olympiakos

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Arsenal

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		11/4	14/5	Evs	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT OLYMPIAKOS	RECENT FORM
HWHWALHWAWAW​ Most recent​	2 - 1 3 - 1 1 - 0	ALHDALHWADHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Olympiacos have scored in every league game this season

EXPERT VERDICT: It’s judgement day for Arsenal as the Gunners head to Greece with their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread. Only a win – and probably by a two-goal margin – will suffice if Arsene Wenger’s men are to leapfrog Olympiakos and backing both teams to score looks a sensible play.

RECOMMENDATION: Both teams to score
2


REFEREE: Nicola Rizzoli STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Europa League Th 10Dec 18:00

FC Sion

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Liverpool

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		3	21/10	6/5	More markets

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

KEY STAT: Liverpool have drawn eight of 17 Europa games

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

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
2

 

[superbeets]

Europa League Th 10Dec 18:00

Fenerbahce

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Celtic

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT2		4/11	17/4	9	More markets

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

KEY STAT: Celtic have conceded 11 goals in Group A

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

RECOMMENDATION: Fenerbahce to win 2-0
1

 

[superbeets]

Europa League Th 10Dec 20:05

Tottenham

v

Monaco

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTEU		11/10	5/2	11/4	More markets

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

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

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

RECOMMENDATION: Monaco
1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL notebook: Penguins' Dupuis forced to retire
By The Sports Xchange

An ongoing medical condition that causes blood clots appears to have ended the career of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis.
The Penguins announced Tuesday that the 36-year-old Dupuis will no longer play hockey after having to come out of several recent games, the last on Dec. 1 against the San Jose Sharks, while on blood thinners to treat the issue.
Dupuis has dealt with the medical condition since January 2014 after he sustained torn knee ligaments and was on blood thinners for six months after the surgery. A blood clot was found in a lung in November 2014 and he sat out the rest of last season before receiving clearance in June to resume workouts.
Dupuis played 871 career games in 15 seasons with the Penguins, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers and Atlanta Thrashers. He totaled 190 goals and 409 points and was part of a Stanley Cup winner with the Penguins. In 18 games this season, he had two goals and two assists.

---Montreal Canadiens forward Alexander Semin was assigned to St. John's of the American Hockey League after clearing waivers.
It's uncertain whether or not Semin will report to the AHL team. The 31-year-old signed a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Canadiens during the summer after his contract was bought out by the Carolina Hurricanes at the end of last season.
In 15 games for the Canadiens this year, Semin has one goal and four points. He sat out seven games from Oct. 29 to Nov. 11 and saw limited playing time in his last five games.
Semin scored 20 or more goals in six straight seasons with the Washington Capitals from 2006 to 2012. His best season was in 2009-10 when he put up 40 goals and 84 points. But since then, his play has steadily declined. Last season with the Hurricanes, Semin finished with six goals and 19 points in 57 games.

---The Boston Bruins put forward Joonas Kemppainen to injured reserve with an upper-body injury and recalled forward Max Talbot from Providence of the American Hockey League on Tuesday.
Kemppainen has played in 24 games for the Bruins and has one goal and two assists in his first season with the team. The 27-year-old native of Finland signed with the Bruins as a free agent in May.
Talbot is expected to be available on Wednesday night for a game against the Canadiens in Montreal. He has played in seven games for the Bruins and 10 games for Providence this season. In 10 games with Providence, Talbot has four goals and six assists.

---The NHL will end its policy of allowing draft-pick compensation to teams who have a coach or executive hired away by another franchise while under contract.
On Jan. 1, teams will have the option to allow or deny other franchises permission to speak with coaches or front-office personnel under contract. But if a coach or executive moves to another organization, no compensation will be awarded to the team they left, commissioner Gary Bettman told the NHL Board of Governors.
A one-year trial run had allowed teams to be awarded either a second- or third-round pick to compensate for the loss of a coach or executive under contract. The rule even applied to those individuals who were fired.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Bruins (13-9) at Canadiens (18-6)

Date: December 09, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

The Montreal Canadiens are in danger of their first three-game losing streak, and the struggles have been more about a lack of scoring than anything felt from the absence of Carey Price.

They've had no problem beating Boston in recent seasons, and the Bruins visit Wednesday night with the Canadiens hoping to right things with an eighth straight regular-season win in the series.

Coach Michel Therrien is also taking it as an opportunity to rework his team's lines as it continues to try to find the right mix in the absence of injured wingers Brendan Gallagher, Devante Smith-Pelly and Torrey Mitchell.

Sven Andrighetto, who scored in Saturday's 3-2 loss in Carolina, was moved to the top line Tuesday with Max Pacioretty and Alex Galchenyuk. The 22-year-old Andrighetto has three goals in seven games this season, and a line shuffling comes as no surprise with Montreal scoring two regulation goals in each game over a 2-2-1 span.

"I was really excited, and I'm still excited. To play alongside Pacioretty, one of the best players in the league is huge for me," Andrighetto told the team's official website. "... Personally it doesn't change a lot for my game. I have to be consistent in what I do, bring my speed to the line and still focus on the little details. Just keep it simple and it will all work out well."

Montreal (19-6-3) beat Boston 4-2 in the first two meetings this season and has won the last six by at least two goals. The Canadiens have won 12 of 13 in the series with 3.31 goals per game.

"The first time that we played against them, we didn't have a good game at all," Boston's Ryan Spooner told the team's official website. "Last game, I actually thought it was one of our best games of the year. They're skilled and they're fast, so as a team I think we have to try and slow them down and be good in the neutral zone. So I think that's our focus."

Montreal's Lars Eller has three goals in the first two meetings, Thomas Plekanec and David Desharnais have scored in both, and Pacioretty has five goals and four assists over the six straight multigoal wins. Galchenyuk has five assists in this season's meetings as he grows accustomed to playing center. That'll again evolve alongside new linemates.

"I'm definitely very excited to play with Patch, he's a great player to play with," Galchenyuk said. "I think both of those guys are really quick, so it will be my job to create that space for them and make sure that I find a way to give them the puck when they are at top speed."

Boston (14-9-3) remains 10 points back of the Atlantic Division-leading Canadiens after Monday's 3-2 home loss to Nashville. The Bruins blew two leads, particularly unacceptable considering chances have been limited with 39 shots in the last two games.

"It was tough," Spooner said. "... I mean, 17 shots or something like that is definitely not enough when they had like 34 or something like that."

Jonas Gustavsson faced the Predators, so Tuukka Rask figures to return after shutting out Vancouver on Saturday to improve to 4-0-2 with a 1.71 goals-against average since last losing in regulation. Rask has a 2.89 GAA and .901 save percentage over a 1-8-2 span in the Montreal series.

The Canadiens will again start Mike Condon, who is 2-2-1 with a 2.22 GAA since Price went down Nov. 25 with his latest lower-body injury. The rookie made 29 saves in the latest win over Boston on Nov. 7.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sharks (13-13) at Oilers (9-15)

Date: December 09, 2015 9:30 PM EDT

An impressive stretch at home has the Edmonton Oilers overcoming a slew of injuries in an effort to turn their season around.

The Oilers aim for their longest winning streak at Rexall Place in almost eight years Wednesday night when they try to send the San Jose Sharks to a fifth straight defeat.

Edmonton (11-15-2) lost superstar rookie forward Connor McDavid to a broken clavicle five weeks ago and has since lost forwards Nail Yakupov (ankle) and Benoit Pouliot (lower body) and defenseman Andrew Ference (undisclosed). Left wing Rob Klinkhammer (leg) was already out, and there's no timetable for a return for any of them.

The Oilers are 6-7-2 without McDavid but have won four straight at home, including the first three of this five-game homestand after beating Buffalo 4-2 on Sunday.

They last won five straight as host during a seven-game run from Feb. 4-March 2, 2008.

"It's nice to win (these games) in a row at home," left wing Taylor Hall said. "That's a big boost for our group. You look at the standings and we are getting closer and closer to where we want to be. As we start getting bodies back it's important for us to stay in it."

Hall leads Edmonton with 11 goals and 17 assists, but he's done a lot of that damage at home with seven and 11. He has three of each over the last four games there after getting two points Sunday.

Hall, though, has one assist over his last five meetings with San Jose (14-13-0), and he was pointless in a 3-1 home loss April 9.

Jordan Eberle was also held off the score sheet in that matchup after collecting nine goals and 11 assists over the previous 19. Of his five goals this season, the right wing has scored four at home with all of them coming over the last five games.

The Sharks have been outscored 14-6 while losing four in a row after falling 4-2 at Calgary on Tuesday, opening an eight-game stretch with seven on the road.

"It's disappointing when you beat yourself," coach Peter DeBoer told the team's official website. "We took eight minor penalties and handed them another couple goals on odd-man rushes - uncharacteristic stuff for us that we've got to clean up."

San Jose hasn't lost five games in a row since Oct. 30-Nov. 10, 2013.

Joe Pavelski leads the Sharks with 12 goals and 13 assists, but his season-high goal-scoring drought reached six games Tuesday. He went seven games without a goal in March 2014.

Pavelski has 15 goals and 33 points in 36 career meetings with the Oilers but no points in his last two visits to Edmonton.

Patrick Marleau has 32 points in 35 games at Rexall. He scored the first of San Jose's three goals in the third period April 9, giving him five goals with four assists over the last seven games there.

It's unclear if Martin Jones or Alex Stalock will start in goal. Jones has lost three straight games with a 3.39 goals-against average and was pulled early in the second period Tuesday after allowing three goals on 14 shots.

Stalock stopped 18 of 19 attempts the rest of the way, but he's 2-3-0 with a 3.63 GAA in five starts.

They've both had success against the Oilers with Jones compiling a 1.01 GAA while winning two of three games. Stalock has the same record with a 1.68 GAA in three matchups.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Penguins (13-10) at Avalanche (12-15)

Date: December 09, 2015 10:00 PM EDT

Pascal Dupuis has spent the majority of the last two years recovering in an attempt to continue playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He realized the health risks aren't worth trying to keep his career alive.

The Penguins try to move on from the loss of their veteran winger when they complete a four-game road trip Wednesday night against the Colorado Avalanche.

Dupuis tore his ACL in December 2013 and was diagnosed with a blood clot the next month, forcing him to take blood thinners for the next six months during his rehab.

He played 16 games in 2014-15 before being diagnosed with a clot in his lungs that forced him to miss the remainder of the season. Dupuis has played 18 times this season while taking blood thinners, but he's had to come out of several of those games because he wasn't feeling well and had to undergo additional testing.

Dupuis announced Tuesday that he can no longer continue playing because of the persisting issues. The Penguins (14-10-2) will place him on long-term injured reserve and continue to pay his salary.

"It was very difficult for me to make this decision to have to step away from the game," Dupuis told the team's official website. "My wife and four children have always been my first priority, and playing with my condition has become a constant worry for all of us. I want to thank my teammates and the Penguins organization for their unwavering support during this difficult time."

Dupuis wasn't able to go out on a high note, with his final games being Saturday's 5-3 loss to Los Angeles and Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Anaheim. He's now forced to watch as Pittsburgh tries to overcome another rough patch.

It has gone 1-4-1 since Nov. 27 and struggled offensively over the weekend. Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz assisted on Olli Maatta's first-period goal against the Ducks, but the Penguins registered 24 shots on net after finishing with a season-low 20 against the Kings.

Evgeni Malkin went without a point in both games after having five goals and three assists in his previous four.

"I thought the effort was fine, but we have to execute still," coach Mike Johnston said. "When you have an open opportunity, because you don't get many of them, you've got to execute on those plays."

Crosby and Malkin scored in a 4-3 win over Colorado on Nov. 19. Matt Duchene scored twice for the Avalanche in that meeting, and he assisted on John Mitchell's overtime goal in Monday's 2-1 win over Minnesota.

Duchene has 13 goals and 10 assists over his last 18 after having one goal and one assist in his first 10.

The Avalanche (12-15-1) have won three of four, holding the opposition to one goal in each game save for Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Wild.

"I was really pleased with the way we played defensively," coach Patrick Roy said Monday. "We had to bounce back with a performance like this. Everyone had to fight for that inch of space out there. That was the type of game I wanted to see from our team."

Semyon Varlamov made 19 saves, but Reto Berra will be in net for this one. Berra, who lost the first meeting with the Penguins, hasn't started since making 27 saves in a 2-1 win at New Jersey on Dec. 1.

Marc-Andre Fleury, 7-2-0 with a 1.76 goals-against average in his last nine against the Avalanche, could go for Pittsburgh.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rangers (17-7) at Canucks (9-11)

Date: December 09, 2015 10:00 PM EDT

A year ago, a trip through Western Canada solved the New York Rangers' woes. They're looking for history to repeat itself.

The Rangers attempt to begin this Canadian jaunt with another win over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night.

New York (18-7-3) had dropped eight of 14 games before winning 5-1 at Vancouver (10-11-8) on Dec. 13 last year, following it with victories at Edmonton and Calgary over the next three days. Sweeping the trip through British Columbia and Alberta was part of the Rangers' eight-game winning streak that turned around their season, which ended with a Presidents' Trophy.

This four-day trip has the games in the same order, and New York is in a similar position after going 2-4-1 over its last seven games.

The Rangers have a 12-2 scoring edge while winning three straight road games against the Canucks.

"We had success on this same trip last year by coming out early, and I think it really helped," center Dominic Moore told the team's official website. "It's not easy coming all the way out here and sweeping this trip. We take it as a challenge and we're a team that likes challenges."

Like last season, the Rangers open this trip coming off a victory. They beat Ottawa 4-1 on Sunday following a pair of 2-1 defeats to the New York Islanders and Colorado, respectively.

"We've been better in many areas, notably with our puck possession and the decisions we've been making with the puck," said Alain Vigneault, who will coach in his 999th career game. "We're on the right track, I think, and I see a mindset from our group to continue that."

Derick Brassard has five points in the last four games, matching his total from the previous 12. The center had a season-high two goals Sunday, and he had a pair of assists at Vancouver last season.

He has five assists in the last four meetings.

Henrik Lundqvist has a 0.50 goals-against average while winning his last four starts against the Canucks, posting two shutouts.

Lundqvist has stopped 59 of 61 shots in his last two starts after a three-game stretch in which he had a 4.29 GAA.

"It's about building confidence," Lundqvist said. "The last few games we've been moving in the right direction. Step by step we are building something and we are coming closer to where we need to be."

The Canucks are hoping the same applies to them after winning 5-2 over visiting Buffalo on Monday, ending a five-game slide with just their fourth win in 17 tries.

"It's a good feeling for sure coming in here and seeing a lot of smiles on guys that haven't been scoring," captain Henrik Sedin said. "Hopefully we can build on this one."

Sedin has 14 points in the past 11 games after scoring against the Sabres. He has only three points in six career home matchups with the Rangers but did score twice in the teams' last meeting, Vancouver's 5-4 shootout win in New York on Feb. 19.

Ryan Miller won that day but is 1-3-0 with a 4.13 GAA in his last five games against the Rangers. He should be back in net after making 32 saves Monday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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

how's this for a prop idea: Which streak ends first: Golden State's record 22-game winning streak to open a season or Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane's mark of 22 straight games with a point? Both will be on the line for No. 23 Tuesday night.

Kane's streak is already a record for an American-born player, and he got an assist on Sunday in very unlikely fashion. With time winding down against Winnipeg, the Jets pulled their goaltender trailing 2-1. The Chicago bench knew Kane's streak was about to end, so Coach Joel Quenneville was yelling: "Pass it to Kaner!" Instead, Kane would get a point without the puck even touching his stick. He swatted the puck out of the air with his left hand and right to rookie Artemi Panarin, who fired the puck into the vacant net. That broke the Chicago franchise record of 21 straight games with a point held by Hall of Famer Bobby Hull. Kane still has a mile to catch Wayne Gretzky's uncatchable record of 51 in a row. When Gretzky did that, teams averaged 3.94 goals a game combined (the Oilers averaged 5.86 per game that year). This season, teams are averaging just 2.65 combined goals per game (Hawks at 2.7). Kane has either scored or assisted on 57.4 percent of Chicago's scoring throughout this streak, compared to 51.2 percent for Gretzky during his 1983-84 run.

"I just hope [Kane] breaks the record and then goes on and chases Gretzky. It's only 30 (more games). It's not a big deal. He can get 30 more, I'm sure," Hull said after Sunday's game.

Kane leads the NHL with 42 points in 27 games. He has 13 goals and 23 assists during the streak during which the Hawks are 12-6-4. So he has scored more points during the streak than any other player has scored for the season. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin of the Stars are tied for second in the NHL in scoring with 35 points each entering the week. Sidney Crosby (25) and Dany Heatley (22) are the only current active players to ever have a streak of that long in one season. Kane has scored in 392 of his 603 career regular-season games, so about 65 percent of the time. A player with a 65 percent chance of scoring on any given night thus would have a 1-in-13,000 chance of scoring in 22 straight games with all other things being equal.

Chicago hosts Nashville on Tuesday night -- no early line -- with the Predators playing the second of a back-to-back. The Hawks then visit the Preds on Thursday, host Winnipeg on Friday and Vancouver on Sunday. Chicago and Nashville haven't played this season. Kane had one assist in four regular-season games vs. the Predators last season. Pekka Rinne is one of the NHL's best goaltenders. The Preds didn't start him Monday in Boston so he could play here.

Here are some other games to watch this week:

Detroit at Washington, Tuesday (-155, 5): The Capitals remain Stanley Cup favorites at Bovada at +700 along with Dallas. The Caps had their season-high six-game winning streak snapped on Saturday in a 2-1 overtime loss at Winnipeg. Top goalie Braden Holtby has played seven straight games -- he had won a career-high eight in a row -- so you might see him get this one off with the winning streak over. Caps defenseman Brooks Orpik is close to returning from an injury that has kept him out since Nov. 12 but he won't play Tuesday. Winger Marcus Johansson (lower body) didn't skate Monday and is questionable for Tuesday. So is defenseman Karl Alzner (upper body) and he has played in 401 straight games. The Red Wings have won three straight and are starting to close the gap on first-place Montreal in the Atlantic Division. Detroit's forward depth took a blow last week against Arizona as both Teemu Pulkkinen (dislocated shoulder) and Drew Miller (broken jaw) suffered major injuries and they are likely to miss six weeks each. The Wings and Caps have split two one-goal games this season.

Boston at Montreal, Wednesday: The Bruins are really starting to play well because goaltender Tuukka Rask is. Rask is 4-0-2 with a 1.71 goals-against average, a .941 save percentage and two shutouts in his past six games. The Habs are starting to miss Carey Price as they have dropped two straight and three of four. Montreal has had Boston's number this season, winning a pair of 4-2 games. Price was in net for one and backup Mike Condon the other. Rask started one for Boston and Jonas Gustavsson the other.

Ottawa at Tampa Bay, Thursday: I keep waiting for the Lightning to finally flip a switch and ascend to the top of the Eastern Conference but it hasn't happened yet. They have a goals differential of just plus-1 on the season. Superstar Steven Stamkos has gone six games without a goal. The Bolts almost had disaster strike when goalie Ben Bishop took a stick to his right eye through his mask in Saturday's game. Bishop himself said he was very worried immediately as there was immediate pain and blurred vision, but he's OK. It's not often you will see a defenseman lead the NHL in assists but former Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson of the Senators is tied for the league with Kane at 26 helpers. This is the first meeting of the season between the Lightning and Senators.

Los Angeles at Pittsburgh, Friday: The Kings enter the week having won four straight and they are pulling away in the Pacific Division. They just completed a 4-0 homestand and this is part of a six-game road trip. The Kings hosted the Penguins on Saturday and won 5-3. Los Angeles had three goals from defensemen in a game for the first time since 2007; the Kings entered the game with only eight goals from their defensemen all season. It was the first time that L.A. reached five goals this year. Olli Maatta scored for Pittsburgh in his return from a six-game injury absence. Crosby also found the net, only his sixth goal.

Injury Report

San Jose could get arguably its best player back Tuesday in center Logan Couture, who has missed the past 23 games with a fractured right fibula. He returned to practice on Monday, the same day he was activated off injured reserve. Couture had one assist and a plus-1 rating in three games.

Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk has a mild groin strain and won't play again until Friday at the earliest. Dubnyk, who is second in the NHL with 13 wins, left the Wild's 3-0 victory Saturday against the Avalanche with 9:05 left in the second period after making 11 saves. Backup Darcy Kuemper completed the shutout with nine saves for Minnesota and is the temporary No. 1 now.

Nashville's Mike Fisher, perhaps better known as Carrie Underwood's husband, is dealing with a lower-body injury and may not play this week; he's on injured reserve. Fisher has five goals and two assists and is minus-2.

Vancouver has lost center Brandon Sutter for 4-6 weeks due to surgery to repair a sports hernia. The 26-year-old has been out of the lineup since Nov. 10. Sutter was one of the team's big offseason acquisitions, coming over in trade from Pittsburgh and then signing a five-year extension with the Canucks. He had four goals and four assists in eight games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Hot teams
-- Oilers won four of their last five games.
-- Avalanche won three of their last four games.

Cold teams
-- Boston/Montreal both lost three of their last four games.
-- Sharks lost last four games, scoring six goals.
-- Pittsburgh lost four of its last five games.
-- Rangers lost five of their last seven games. Vancouver lost five of last six.

Series records
-- Canadiens won their last nine games with Boston.
-- Sharks won three of last four games with Edmonton.
-- Penguins won seven of last nine games with Colorado.
-- Rangers won five of last six games with Vancouver.

Totals
-- Three of last four Boston games stayed under total.
-- Six of last seven San Jose games went over total.
-- Last four Colorado games stayed under the total.
-- Four of last five Ranger games stayed under total.

Back-to-backs
-- San Jose is 2-2 if it played the night before.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Heat (12-7) at Hornets (12-8)

Date: December 09, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

The NBA's admission of a blown call won't do much to console the Miami Heat after their latest loss. It might be tough for them to feel better on the road against one of the NBA's hottest teams.

The Heat are left trying to avoid their first losing streak Wednesday night against a Charlotte Hornets team in search of their eighth win in 10 games.

Miami (12-7) had a chance at a third straight win when it closed a four-game homestand Monday against Washington, but a late no-call proved costly and the Wizards cruised thereafter to a 114-103 victory.

The league said Tuesday that Bradley Beal's 3-pointer that extended Washington's lead to 108-103 with 1:07 left shouldn't have counted due to an uncalled traveling violation. But before the NBA's announcement, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra pointed to the rest of the game as concerning.

Miami shot a season-best 59.4 percent but failed to contain Washington's five-guard lineup late. The Wizards shot 50 percent - the second Heat opponent to reach that number, -and Miami committed nine of its 17 turnovers in the fourth quarter.

"I was more focused on things we could have done better to get ourselves in a better position to win going down the stretch," Spoelstra said. "Were we happy about that call? No. I don't want to leave it to that call to be the reason why."

The Heat lost for the first time ever when shooting at least 59 percent, and no other team had done so since Atlanta fell at New York on Dec. 14, 2013.

Miami joins Golden State and San Antonio as the only teams yet to lose back-to-back games. The Heat have opened the season with 14 of 19 games at home but play four of their next five on the road, where they are 2-3. Dwyane Wade averaged 25.8 points on the Heat's homestand but has averaged 9.3 and shot 29.3 percent in the last three road games.

Their first road game in 12 days comes against a team it has beaten in 19 of the past 21 meetings, but the losses have come in their two visits to Charlotte since losing LeBron James. The Hornets did lose 104-94 at Miami in their season opener, but they haven't lost much lately.

Charlotte (12-8) has won seven of nine games with the only defeats coming to conference leaders Golden State and Cleveland. The Hornets have won their last two without center Al Jefferson, who will miss 1-2 more weeks with a strained calf.

Starting at center in place of Jefferson, Cody Zeller finished one point off his career high with 20 in Monday's 104-84 rout of a Detroit team which had won four straight. Kemba Walker played through an illness to add 14 points and nine rebounds, and Nicolas Batum chipped in 13 points, eight assists and seven boards.

The Hornets entered the game in the bottom third in the league in rebounding margin (minus-2.2) and boards per game (43.5), but they pulled down a season-high 57 to Detroit's 41 - even without Jefferson.

'It has to become who we are,' coach Steve Clifford said. 'It has to be an every-night thing. If it is we have the chance to be the team that we think we can be.'

Charlotte improved to 9-3 at home and 10-0 when scoring at least 100 points.

Luol Deng was a full participant at Miami's practice Tuesday. The 12-year veteran has missed the last six games with a strained left hamstring.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Bulls (11-7) at Celtics (12-9)

Date: December 09, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Following a winning trip, the Boston Celtics look to continue the recent success they've also enjoyed at home.

The Celtics can record their fourth consecutive home victory by handing the Chicago Bulls a third straight defeat Wednesday night.

After shooting 40.9 percent in a 110-91 loss to Orlando that opened a five-game road swing Nov. 29, Boston (12-9) averaged 108.8 points and shot 47.4 percent while holding all but one opponent to fewer than 100 to complete a 3-2 trip.

"We've just played as a team," said center Jared Sullinger, who had 11 points and matched a career high with 20 rebounds in Monday's 111-93 win over New Orleans.

The Celtics hope to do the same at home, where they took advantage of three teams in the bottom five of the Eastern Conference to win their last three following a 3-4 start there. Boston held Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Washington to an average of 84.3 points and 36.3 percent shooting in the run.

Averaging a career-high 21.0 points, guard Isaiah Thomas totaled 51 and went 7 of 17 from 3-point range in the last two at home. Thomas was 9 of 13 from the floor and hit all four 3-point attempts to shoot better than 50 percent for the second time in three games Monday, when he scored all but three of his 22 points in the first half.

"He's one of those guys that can go off for 10 or 12 in a couple of minutes," teammate Kelly Olynyk told the Celtics' official website. "It's huge to have that kind of threat."

Though Boston has dropped three straight and 13 of 17 to Chicago (11-7), the Bulls enter this season's first meeting trying to get back on track after losing two in a row for the first time. Two nights after faltering in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 102-96 home loss to Charlotte, the Bulls blew a 16-point advantage while being outscored 42-24 in the final period, losing 103-101 at home to Phoenix on Mirza Teletovic's fadeaway putback with 0.3 seconds left.

Chicago had held opponents to 24.1 points and 38.9 percent shooting in the fourth before the Hornets and Suns totaled 72 and went 24 of 48 from the field.

"I don't know what it is," guard Jimmy Butler told the Bulls' official website. "Can't close teams out; have a lead, don't finish, lose games ... We keep talking about it, yadda, yadda, yadda, but eventually we're going to have to fix it or we're going to keep finding ourselves on the losing end of ball games."

Pau Gasol had 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and Butler scored 19 for the Bulls, who turned the ball over eight times in the fourth Monday.

"You have to have that killer instinct," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "We have yet to find it this year."

Derrick Rose seemed to have it while totaling 50 points and 14 assists in Chicago's two victories at Boston last season. Rose, however, is shooting 35.5 percent and has scored more than 20 twice while averaging 13.7 points this season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Spurs (18-4) at Raptors (13-9)

Date: December 09, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

After the Toronto Raptors bid adieu to one superstar, there won't be any hoopla with Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs visiting the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday night.

The Spurs look to continue their success against the Raptors, who are facing another former NBA MVP.

Toronto (13-9) is in the midst of a five-day stretch with three straight games against MVPs. The Raptors opened that span by giving up 44 points to reigning MVP Stephen Curry in Saturday's 112-109 loss to unbeaten Golden State.

They followed that up two days later with a 102-93 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Kobe Bryant's final game at Toronto as he's set to retire at the end of the season. The Air Canada Centre crowd gave Bryant a standing ovation when he left the court for the final time after cheering him throughout the game.

The reception won't be as warm for two-time MVP Duncan and the Spurs (18-4), owners of the NBA's second-best record.

"I think amongst the NBA circle they get the credit. People in the NBA certainly know how good, how consistent, how disciplined that team has been for such a long time," assistant coach Rex Kalamian said. "I would say that maybe fans appreciate it, but they don't really have the star power so they don't get the attention.

"We've always had problems with San Antonio because of their movement, their consistency and their ability to share the basketball with each other."

The Spurs have won eight of their last nine meetings with the Raptors but fell 87-82 at Toronto on Feb. 8, ending a four-game winning streak there.

Duncan is averaging 12.3 rebounds over the last three matchups, though he's put up 11.0 points while shooting 29.3 percent from the floor.

Kawhi Leonard picked up the slack in a 117-107 home win March 10, scoring 24 points with 11 rebounds and five steals while hitting 10 for 19 from the field.

An illness forced Leonard to get a day off with Duncan and guard Manu Ginobili on Monday, and San Antonio still hammered Philadelphia 119-68.

While Duncan and Ginobili are expected back, Leonard's status isn't clear.

LaMarcus Aldridge is looking to build on his season-high 26 points and nine boards from Monday. He's averaging 19.3 points over the last six road games and 26.6 in his past eight against the Raptors.

Toronto is 5-4 at home despite averaging 104.7 points. The Raptors have given up 109.0 points per game in those defeats compared to 91.8 in the victories.

Kyle Lowry continues to do his part offensively, averaging 26.6 points over the last seven games after totaling 68 in the past two. He had 32 at San Antonio in March but is averaging 14.3 on 36.6 percent shooting in the last three matchups at home.

Terrence Ross missed 10 of 13 attempts from the floor and totaled seven points against the Spurs last season. However, he is coming off a season-high 22 points while sinking 8 of 12 field goals Monday.

Ross made his first start in place of the injured DeMarre Carroll, who is out indefinitely with a bruised right knee.

"He was great and that is the T we need on a nightly basis," guard DeMar DeRozan said. "When he does that it makes our job a lot easier."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Grizzlies (12-10) at Pistons (12-10)

Date: December 09, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

Prior to Detroit's last game, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said it was too early to proclaim his team cured of its offensive concerns.

He was right.

After Memphis' latest loss, Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger called out his team's defense.

There's no arguing his point.

Both could temporarily fix the other Wednesday night in Detroit as two 12-10 teams coming off losses by a combined 57 points meet seeking a little consistency.

The Pistons followed a 4-0 homestand with Monday's 104-84 loss in Charlotte, shooting 36.8 percent after averaging 114.0 points and shooting 47.3 percent in the wins. Top scorer Reggie Jackson, named Eastern Conference player of the week earlier in the day, had a season-low four points on 2-of-9 shooting. The point guard averaged 27.0 points and shot 56.9 percent in the previous four.

In wins, Jackson is averaging 23.8 points and making 50.5 percent. In losses, he's at 13.9 and 33.8. There's more to it. His home splits are 23.0 and 48.5. On the road - 16.3 and 38.4.

Unsurprisingly, Detroit is 8-2 at home and 4-8 away with losses in eight of nine. The good news is it plays four of its next five at the Palace of Auburn Hills, but a team shooting 41.8 percent overall is going to struggle. The last team to finish with a winning record shooting under 42.0 percent was Boston in 2002-03.

"It's embarrassing," Jackson said. "It's frustrating as well, but it's embarrassing. We talk about we want to be somewhere special, but we've got to grow up. You've got to be who you're going to be in this league every day, night in and night out. It'll put you in the best position to win games."

Memphis is also searching. It lost twice on a three-game homestand with the defeats coming by at least 20 points, and that's a generous classification of Tuesday's 125-88 loss to Oklahoma City.

"When you look at the numbers, it's pretty simple," said Joerger, whose team has allowed 50.0 percent shooting and 42.7 from 3-point range in the last three games. "You know one team made shots and the other team struggled to make shots. Our defensive intensity wasn't where it (should have been)."

The Grizzlies also rely heavily on offense from their point guard. Mike Conley went 0 for 7 and was held scoreless for just the fifth time in his career when playing at least 10 minutes.

Memphis is 10-0 when he shoots better than 42 percent, 2-10 when he doesn't and 0-7 when he goes without a 3-pointer. In wins, he averages 17.6 points and shoots 49.7 percent. In losses, 11.2 and 28.9.

But Conley alone wasn't going to cause a 37-point swing. Teammate Courtney Lee chose to focus on a poor collective effort as the Grizzlies fell to 12 of 55 (21.8 percent) from long range in the last four games.

"First and foremost, we have to stop letting these games get out of hand. It's embarrassing, especially to lose that way in front of our home crowd and whatnot," Lee said. "These are teams that we faced last year and took them down to the wire and we were getting wins and so now we just have to figure out within ourselves."

The teams split two games last season with the home team winning each, but Memphis has won 10 of 11. Jackson had 23 points and a career-high 20 assists in a 105-95 win in Detroit on March 17.

Conley missed that game, but he played in the previous 10 wins, averaging 15.1 points on 54.6 percent shooting.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Lakers (3-18) at Timberwolves (8-12)

Date: December 09, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Lakers' longest road trip of the season might be the start of Kobe Bryant's farewell tour, but coach Byron Scott has used it as a chance to mold some of his youngest players.

The last-place Lakers will continue to build through their biggest star's goodbye on Wednesday night when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are experiencing their own growing pains.

Bryant announced his plans to retire following this season just before an eight-game, 12-day trip to open December. While the window on Bryant's 20-year career closes with adoration from opposing fans showering in, the Lakers (3-18) have opened the trip 1-4.

Their third straight loss was Monday's 102-93 defeat in Toronto, and while Bryant scored a team-high 21 points, second-year forward Julius Randle and rookie point guard D'Angelo Russell made their contributions from the bench.

Randle, drafted seventh in 2014, and Russell, this year's second overall pick, started the first 20 games but were replaced by Larry Nance Jr. and Lou Williams, respectively.

'Those two still have to understand how to play this game and it's a tough game,' Scott said. 'They're young, and they're a big part of our future, no doubt about that, but I still think at this point of their career you can still learn some things by sitting there watching as well.'

The change brought a similar result as Los Angeles lost for the 10th time in 11 games. Russell finished with nine points on 4-of-12 shooting. Randle fared better with 15 points and 11 rebounds, the same numbers he held in Sunday's 111-91 loss at Detroit.

Randle also went for 15 and 11 in a season-opening 112-111 loss to Minnesota, which opened with four wins in six games. But the Timberwolves (8-12) are mired in their second four-game losing streak since, the most recent one following three victories in a row.

Minnesota has found ways to lose late while dropping its four games by 21 points combined, the last three to open a four-game homestand.

That was the case again in Monday's 110-106 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Zach LaVine scored six of his 21 points during an 8-2 run for a 98-95 lead with a minute to play, but the Clippers regained the lead eight seconds later and sealed the game at the free-throw line.

The Timberwolves' last eight losses and 10 of 12 on the season have come by 10 points or fewer. Seven of those have come at Target Center, where Minnesota is 2-9.

"This year, we're disappointed with our record at home, but we've been in every game," interim coach Sam Mitchell said. "I ask my guys after every game, if one of them learns something... then the loss was worth it because they grew tonight."

LaVine isn't sure he agrees.

"I'd rather not learn something and get the win," he said.

Andrew Wiggins struggled to a season-low eight points on 3-of-15 shooting against the Clippers. He has made 9 of 30 shots in his last two games.

Bryant scored 24 in the season opener at Staples Center on 24 shots, while Williams added 21. Ricky Rubio finished with 28 points and 14 assists for Minnesota.

The Lakers won the previous three meetings in this series, including two at Target Center.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Clippers (12-9) at Bucks (9-13)

Date: December 09, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Clippers have veterans and the Milwaukee Bucks have young players, but both clubs won their last games with strong play down the stretch.

The Clippers are hoping Chris Paul and J.J. Redick will shoot better in their second games back from injury as they visit the Bucks on Wednesday night.

Los Angeles (12-9) outscored Minnesota 15-8 in the final 52 seconds for Monday's 110-106 victory to open this five-game trip. Redick was 7 for 7 from the line in that stretch.

'We just closed out the game,' coach Doc Rivers said. 'We executed. We got every shot. We got every stop. That's how you end games."

Paul was originally going to miss his third straight game with a rib injury before he opted to play. He made 5 of 14 shots for 14 points with five assists.

"I did a little bit, wanted to see how it felt this morning," he said. "Then I came over here this afternoon by myself with the trainer and got up and down a little bit, and I said I wanted to play."

Redick was listed as questionable with a sprained ankle, but started and played 21 minutes. He made 1 of 9 shots from the field but converted all 11 free throws for 14 points.

Rivers credited Paul's presence down the stretch as a key to the victory. The point guard Paul faces at the start of Wednesday's contest likely won't be who he matches up with when the game is on the line.

Milwaukee (9-13) continues to use Michael Carter-Williams off the bench, though the third-year guard played the entire fourth quarter of Monday's 90-88 home win over Portland. Carter-Williams assisted on Greg Monroe's layup with 5.9 seconds left that put the Bucks ahead for good.

"If you ask a lot of the stars in this league, they all relish in the last six minutes of the game," coach Jason Kidd said. "And so for Michael, not starting but being able to finish games is what the team maybe needs at this point. I'm not saying he won't get back in the starting lineup but he made some plays late and that's what we needed."

Kidd may be correct since all five starters scored in double figures Monday. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 17 and Monroe finished with 16 and 12 rebounds. O.J. Mayo has been the starting point guard the last two games with Jerryd Bayless out with a left ankle sprain and Tyler Ennis sidelined with a sore left shoulder.

The Bucks scored the game's final six points in the last 17 seconds.

"We're so young, we're going to make mistakes on the offensive and defensive end but I think tonight was a sign of staying together," Kidd said.

Milwaukee is third-worst in the league with a minus-4.2 rebound margin, and Los Angeles is second-worst at minus-4.6.

The Clippers' DeAndre Jordan is among the league leaders with 13.1 boards per game, though he had none in the fourth quarter Monday.

Los Angeles has won six of the last seven meetings, though it has dropped four of its last six at Milwaukee.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Magic (12-9) at Suns (9-13)

Date: December 09, 2015 9:00 PM EDT

Plenty of words can be used to describe how teams play under coach Scott Skiles: gritty, scrappy and tough, to name a few. The latest win from his Orlando Magic was more ugly than anything.

Skiles' former team was just content to finally earn a victory any way it could.

The Magic look for their seventh win in eight games Wednesday night when they visit a Phoenix Suns team hoping to rebound from a bumpy road trip.

Orlando (12-9) has turned a corner in its first season with Skiles, whose first head coaching job was with Phoenix from 1999-2002. The Magic have followed a perfect three-game homestand with a 3-1 start to their five-game road trip.

The latest win wasn't too easy on the eyes.

While opening a back-to-back in Denver on Tuesday, the Magic finished with their second-lowest point total, had 20 turnovers and one made 3-pointer - and somehow escaped with an 85-74 win.

Orlando trailed by as many as nine in the second quarter but held the Nuggets to 27 points in the second half.

'It wasn't the prettiest, but we'll take any win,' Tobias Harris said. 'We have to figure out a way to get off to a little bit better start... They made a run, but we kept coming back. That was a good sign for us.'

Usually a good indication of an Orlando loss is poor shooting from 3-point range. The Magic were 1-6 while shooting worse than 30.5 percent from long distance before Tuesday's 1-for-16 performance.

Orlando, 1-2 in the second game of back-to-backs, was in danger of snapping an almost nine-year streak of consecutive games with a 3-pointer until Evan Fournier knocked down a key one with 2:38 left. The Magic have made a 3 in 677 straight games dating to 2007.

'That felt good,' Fournier said. 'But we have to play better than that.'

The Magic outscored Denver 54-34 in the paint and have a plus-90 edge inside on their last five opponents.

Phoenix (9-13) finally pulled out a late win from a deflating six-game road trip. The Suns were one quarter away from ending the trip with five consecutive losses but rallied from 16 points down for Monday's 103-101 win at Chicago.

The Suns had coughed up four straight fourth-quarter leads, but one night after losing on an alley-oop with less than a second left in Memphis, Mirza Teletovic sank a fade-away putback with 0.3 on the clock.

Phoenix escaped with just its second win in 10 games after dropping its previous four by a combined 13 points.

'I know we put ourselves in position to win, but nothing's given in this league," Brandon Knight said. 'You have to go out and take it. After losing three or four games like that, I think we realize that."

The Suns played their road trip without center Tyson Chandler, whose return from a hamstring injury is still unclear. Alex Len started all six games at center and averaged 10.0 points and 7.5 rebounds, capped by a 15-point effort against the Bulls.

The Suns have won three of four in this series but have lost three of the last four in Phoenix.

While Orlando has won three of its last four road games after opening the season 2-5 away from home, Phoenix has lost its last three at home following a 5-2 start.