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**TheGame** · 03-01-2016, 07:47 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 3/1

Preview: Hurricanes (28-26) at Devils (30-26)

Date: March 01, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils remain within striking distance of the Eastern Conference's final playoff spots, but appear to be focused beyond this season.

The Hurricanes made one of the most high-profile moves before the trade deadline while the Devils shipped off their leading scorer ahead of Tuesday night's matchup in New Jersey.

Carolina (28-26-10) began by sending Eric Staal, its captain and second-leading scorer in franchise history, to the New York Rangers on Sunday for a prospect and a pair of second-round draft picks.

That deal was completed an hour before the Hurricanes' 5-2 defeat to St. Louis, their third in a row, and they completed another trade after the game.

Carolina sent forward Kris Versteeg to Los Angeles for a prospect and a fifth-round pick. Before Monday's trade deadline, the Hurricanes moved defenseman John-Michael Liles to Boston for a prospect and two more draft selections.

They now have 11 picks in this year's draft, seven in the first three rounds.

"It's not easy for the players. It's not easy for our fans. You have to make those tough decisions, and we felt this was a direction we could go in," general manager Ron Francis said. "I still believe in the guys in the locker room. I know they're not going to quit. I wouldn't put it past them to continue to surprise people down the stretch."

New Jersey (30-26-7) sent veteran forward Lee Stempniak, who has 41 points, to Boston for two draft picks Monday. The Devils made two more deals, sending winger Stefan Matteau to Montreal for Devante Smith-Pelly and defenseman Eric Gelinas to Colorado for a third-round pick in 2017.

New Jersey's flurry of activity followed its fifth loss in six games, a 4-0 defeat to visiting Tampa Bay on Friday. The Devils were blown out 6-1 in Columbus the previous night.

"We're never going to give up. I think we're a proud group of guys here," goaltender Cory Schneider said. "We haven't shown it the past two (games). We know what we can do, and we've done it for most of the year so we're not going to let a few games get us down."

New Jersey is trying to avoid missing the playoffs for a fourth straight season while Carolina has the league's second-longest active drought, six seasons.

The Devils have won two of three over the Hurricanes this season, rallying for a 3-2 victory in the previous home matchup Dec. 29. Kyle Palmieri and David Schlemko scored in the third period after Staal tallied both of Carolina's goals in the second.

New Jersey is 3-0-1 in the past four visits from the Hurricanes but has lost three of four home games since Feb. 16. Carolina is 0-2-1 in its last three on the road.

Keith Kinkaid has started both of the Devils' wins against Carolina this season and is 3-1-0 with a 1.70 goals-against average in four career matchups. Schneider, who has a 3.93 GAA in his last four starts, is 4-2-1 with a 1.85 GAA in seven lifetime starts versus the Hurricanes.

Palmieri, owner of a team-best 23 goals and 40 points, has found the net in each of the past two matchups. Adam Henrique has seven goals and one assist in his last 11 meetings, but he has one assist in his past seven games.

**TheGame** · 03-01-2016, 07:47 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 3/1

Preview: Flames (26-32) at Bruins (34-23)

Date: March 01, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Boston went ahead and made two moves for a playoff push at Monday's trade deadline, though the group it had wasn't having too difficult of a time picking up points against its next opponent.

The Bruins haven't lost a regulation game to Calgary since 2008-09, a streak they'll try to extend Tuesday night in Boston while furthering the Flames' crippling overall skid.

The Bruins (34-23-6) acquired forward Lee Stempniak from New Jersey in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in 2016 and a second-round draft pick in 2017. They also acquired defenseman John-Michael Liles from Carolina for a third-round draft pick in 2016, a fifth-round pick in 2017 and Anthony Camara.

In 63 games, Stempniak has 16 goals and 41 points. Liles has six goals and 15 points in 64 games.

Both are expected to be available Tuesday.

"Lee's versatility, the type of year he's having, I think will complement our group very well. He can play in a bunch of different positions for us," general manager Don Sweeney said. "And John-Michael Liles is another player that brings a lot of versatility to our group."

The Bruins are playing their second of a four-game homestand, and they'll probably appreciate the new bodies more with Chicago and Washington following the Flames in. Boston's coming off Sunday's 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay - a hiccup after taking a 1-0 lead that followed consecutive wins by a 9-2 total.

Many of the problems it has had over a 2-2-0 span have been special-teams related with the Bruins going 0 for 9 on the power play and 5 for 10 on the penalty kill with two power-play goals allowed against the Lightning.

Tuukka Rask was in goal and has a .938 save percentage over a 4-2-0 span. He's 3-0-3 with a .937 save percentage against Calgary.

The Flames (26-32-4) have won the three meetings since the start of last season - including a 5-4 overtime victory in Calgary on Dec. 4 - but the Bruins have emerged from each with a point as part of a 5-0-3 span in the series with 3.87 goals per game.

Before Monday's 5-3 loss in Philadelphia, the Flames acquired goaltender Niklas Backstrom and a sixth-round draft pick from Minnesota for right wing David Jones. The move comes after Karri Ramo was lost for the season in mid-February. The Flames also sent defenseman Kris Russell to Dallas for defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka, forward prospect Brett Pollock and a conditional 2016 second-round pick.

The defeat started a four-game East Coast swing and extended their losing streak to a season-worst five games.

Sean Monahan has scored in three of the last four games, which have all been regulation losses, while Johnny Gaudreau has 12 points on an eight-game point streak. But Calgary has wasted almost all of it with an average of 4.11 goals allowed over a 1-7-1 span, and its penalty kill has been hideous for even longer with a 61.3 percent rate (27 of 44) over the last 11 games.

"It's a tough day," captain Mark Giordano told the team's official website. "You try to go through your routine as much as possible. You sort of always have one ear opened and you're listening to what's going on. Our will was there, our compete was there."

Jonas Hiller could be in goal for both games on the back-to-back having gone 1-4-0 with a 4.32 goals-against average and .860 save percentage spanning six games. He's 5-1-1 with 1.89 and .938 marks in eight against Boston.

**TheGame** · 03-01-2016, 07:47 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 3/1

Preview: Penguins (32-21) at Capitals (45-12)

Date: March 01, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

Washington's perch atop the NHL standings provides a nice view of the other Eastern Conference teams with virtually no hope of catching it, leaving little reason for general manager Brian MacLellan to make a significant deal ahead of the trade deadline.

Pittsburgh is fighting to at least become the Capitals' first-round playoff opponent, but the Penguins also didn't find the need for a major move.

They dealt Washington one of its very rare regulation home defeats earlier this season and will try to win their third straight visit to the nation's capital Tuesday night.

MacLellan admitted Monday's deadline was quieter than he'd hoped as he tried to strengthen the Capitals (45-12-4) for a deep postseason run. He traded mainstay Brooks Laich and a draft pick to Toronto for forward Daniel Winnik to go along with last Tuesday's deal that brought in defenseman Mike Weber from Buffalo.

Weber has yet to make his team debut following his wife giving birth to their child but should be with the Capitals soon. It's unclear if Winnik will be available for this contest.

'We were trying to add some depth players, but I'm comfortable with where we're at as a team," MacLellan said. "I like where we are. We're well-balanced. I like our four lines. I like our eight (defensemen). I expect us to continue to evolve, to play well down the stretch and then peak at the playoffs and have a long run.'

Washington has lost two of three, though, after falling 3-2 at Chicago on Sunday despite power-play goals from Marcus Johansson and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Alex Ovechkin had four goals and four assists during a five-game point streak that was snapped against the Blackhawks.

He hasn't recorded a point in either meeting this season with the Penguins (32-21-8), who dealt Washington one of its five regulation home losses with a 3-1 victory Oct. 28. They lost 4-1 at home in a rematch Dec. 14 but have won each of their last two visits to D.C.

Pittsburgh could be playing at least its first two playoff games at the Verizon Center if it finishes in the East's second wild-card spot. It has won three of its last four and leads Philadelphia by three points for that position.

Patric Hornqvist had a hat trick, Sidney Crosby had three assists and Chris Kunitz had a goal and an assist in Monday's 6-0 win over Arizona. Crosby has just one goal in his last nine, but he helped generate chances for Kunitz and Hornqvist.

'Glad to see (the top line) got rewarded for their efforts,' coach Mike Sullivan said. 'I think they've played hard here the last week or so. It hasn't necessarily translated on the score sheet but (Monday) it did for them. You can see when those guys are going."

General manager Jim Rutherford decided to move forward with his current group rather than make a splash before Monday's trade deadline. He traded Russian rookie forward Sergei Plotnikov to Arizona and made a separate deal with the Coyotes later, but the players acquired aren't expected to make an impact at the NHL level.

The Penguins will get an idea of how they stack up with that group against Washington, which is expected to have Braden Holtby in net. Holtby has a 1.35 goals-against average and two shutouts in his last six against Pittsburgh.

Marc-Andre Fleury recorded his fifth shutout Monday, leaving it unclear if he or backup Jeff Zatkoff will get the start against Washington.

**TheGame** · 03-01-2016, 07:47 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 3/1

Preview: Oilers (23-34) at Sabres (25-31)

Date: March 01, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

The Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers spent the trade deadline tweaking their rosters amidst largely disappointing seasons, but the future of each franchise will meet on the ice this week.

The top two picks of the June draft clash for the first time on Tuesday night when Connor McDavid and the Oilers visit Jack Eichel and the Sabres.

The teams already played this season with Edmonton (23-34-7) earning a 4-2 home win on Dec. 6 despite an Eichel goal for Buffalo (25-31-7), but that was about a month into the top pick McDavid's three-month recovery from a fractured left clavicle.

McDavid, though, has played all of February and will finally meet his highly-touted 19-year-old rookie counterpart at First Niagara Center. Eichel is third in rookie scoring with 17 goals and 41 points in 63 games behind Chicago's Artemi Panarin (22 goals, 57 points) and Arizona's Max Domi (17 goals, 42 points), while McDavid is ninth with 10 goals and 29 points in 27 games.

"For me, it's more of a bigger game because I have some family coming, some buddies coming in from Erie, so I'm more excited about the game from that sense," McDavid said. "I'm sure it's going to be pretty well-covered (by media), I think everyone expects that. I think for the both of us, it's just another game."

Despite the added punch this season from their top picks, the Sabres and Oilers are trudging through miserable offensive seasons.

Putting the puck in the back of the net has been Buffalo's Achilles heel this decade with four of the team's five lowest-scoring seasons coming in the last five years: 2.46 in 2012-13, 1.83 in 2013-14, 1.87 in 2014-15 and 2.32 in 2015-16.

This season's mark ranks in the bottom three of the NHL and is on pace to tie the third-worst mark in franchise history with the 2002-03 club.

After matching a season-high four-game point streak (3-0-1) from Feb. 12-19, the Sabres have lost three of four and have been shut out in two of their last three - giving them six scoreless games this season.

Three nights after a 1-0 loss at Anaheim, Buffalo closed a three-game road trip with Saturday's 2-0 defeat in Los Angeles. The Sabres failed to score on seven power-play chances on their trip and are 3 for 28 in the last nine games.

"Without a question, I think we haven't been able to establish any offensive presence with the power play," coach Dan Bylsma told the team's official website. "It's been a draining factor for our team."

Robin Lehner suffered the tough-luck losses in Buffalo's two shutout defeats last week, despite making 61 saves while surrendering only three goals between them.

The Sabres have scored twice in each contest of a three-game skid against the Oilers.

Edmonton, though, is almost as offensively challenged. The Oilers scored 11 goals during an 0-5-2 skid from Feb. 13-26 before snapping it with Sunday's 3-1 win over the New York Islanders. Cam Talbot made 36 saves, improving his save percentage to .953 his last three starts.

The Oilers now open a four-game road trip, hoping to improve on their league-worst 2.03 scoring average away from home. Edmonton has lost five straight road contests, dropping its NHL-worst road record to 7-20-5, but Buffalo owns the league's worst home mark at 11-17-3.

Hence, each team's selling status at the trade deadline. After departing with goaltender Anders Nilsson, defenseman Justin Schultz and forward Teddy Purcell on Saturday, Edmonton acquired forward Patrick Maroon from the Ducks Monday in exchange for a 2016 fourth-round draft pick and defenseman Martin Gernat.

Buffalo traded Jamie McGinn to Anaheim for a conditional third-round pick. McGinn ranked fifth on the team with 14 goals and 27 points.

**TheGame** · 03-01-2016, 07:48 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 3/1

Preview: Blues (36-20) at Senators (30-27)

Date: March 01, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong offered a very reasonable defense for his inactivity at the trade deadline: The eventual returns of multiple injuried players will add more than enough depth than the Blues could've acquired without giving up someone off the current roster.

The same went for Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray, who made a significant deal in early February and simply kicked the tires on potential acquisitions before leaving the onus on his current group to fill the void left by Kyle Turris' injury.

St. Louis is in a much more enviable position playoff-wise than the Senators, though, and it'll look to snap Ottawa's three-game home winning streak Tuesday night.

Alexander Steen, Jori Lehtera, Steve Ott and Brian Elliott are battling injuries at the moment, with Lehtera the only one not on injured reserve. Those setbacks haven't slowed the Blues (36-20-9) much, however, considering they can jump Chicago for second in the Central Division with a victory over Ottawa (30-27-6).

Armstrong traded prospect Niklas Lundstrom and a fifth-round pick to Edmonton for Anders Nilsson on Saturday to add goaltending depth while Elliott recovers, but he stood pat Monday and let the deadline pass.

Forward Ryan Reaves also is set to return after serving a three-game suspension.

"We've got a little scar tissue this year, a little battle-tested," Armstrong said. "The great thing is, we have a very good record, but we're in the best division in hockey bar none.

"I didn't see a player that was going to fit into our (forward) group of nine when we're 100 percent healthy."

Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo returned from missing the previous nine with a knee injury and scored the last of St. Louis' four unanswered goals in Sunday's 5-2 win at Carolina that snapped a three-game skid.

'Petro makes a huge difference. What can you say?' coach Ken Hitchcock said. 'He organizes our team better, puts players in better position play-wise, gets us better matchups. He really helps us a lot.'

The Blues have lost four of five meetings with the Senators after falling 3-2 on Bobby Ryan's overtime goal Jan. 4. Ryan has only two goals over his last 10, but his teammates have picked up the slack lately.

Ottawa has won five of six after Mika Zibanejad recorded a hat trick during a span of 2:38 in the third period of Saturday's 6-4 victory at Calgary. It is chasing Pittsburgh for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot and will have to do so without Turris, who was shut down indefinitely Monday because of a nagging high ankle sprain.

The Senators made a couple of minor trades before the deadline but decided not to do anything drastic after acquiring defenseman Dion Phaneuf from Toronto in a nine-player trade Feb. 9. Murray admitted to having conversations with Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman regarding Jonathan Drouin and nearly acquired Brandon Pirri before Florida dealt him to Anaheim.

"At the end of the day, we decided that we had enough players to fill (Turris') role," Murray said. "I certainly wasn't going to pay a first- or second-round pick for a rental player at this point. We think that the group that we have right now gives us a chance."

Craig Anderson has a 1.36 goals-against average while winning five straight home starts and could be in net for this matchup.

The Blues, who have four days off before completing a four-game road swing Sunday against Minnesota, likely will give Jake Allen the nod.

**TheGame** · 03-01-2016, 07:48 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 3/1

Preview: Panthers (35-19) at Jets (26-31)

Date: March 01, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Dale Tallon's mission to improve the Florida Panthers prior to the trade deadline resulted in a flurry of deals he hopes will bolster their chances of winning their first playoff series in 20 years.

Fending off three other suitors for the Atlantic Division crown remains the top priority for now, though.

The Panthers have dropped two in a row to begin a five-game trip heading into Tuesday night's contest in Winnipeg, where the Jets have handled them easily during their last five visits.

Tallon hit the phones hard Saturday and dealt four draft picks to acquire Jiri Hudler from Calgary, fellow forward Teddy Purcell from Edmonton and defenseman Jakub Kindl from Detroit. The only move he made Monday was sending injured center Brandon Pirri to Anaheim for a sixth-round selection.

Tallon is expecting those moves to help the Panthers (35-19-8) in their pursuit of their second division title in franchise history. Tampa Bay tied Florida atop the Atlantic with Monday's win at Toronto, with Boston sitting four points back and Detroit also very much in the race.

The eventual goal is a deep playoff run for Florida, which hasn't won a postseason series since making it to the Stanley Cup Final in 1995-96.

"I like our team once we're healthy, like what our young guys have brought to the table,' Tallon said. "We have a lot of depth now with the acquisitions. We had a good week and we improved our club with a defenseman and two forwards."

Neither of the three were in uniform for Sunday's 3-1 loss at Minnesota that followed a 3-0-2 stretch. Hudler and Purcell still are working through visa issues, but they'll be able to play against the Jets (26-31-4) with the game being in Canada. Their statuses for Thursday's game at Colorado are unclear.

Jonathan Huberdeau hasn't played since suffering an upper-body injury Feb. 20, when Jaromir Jagr scored twice in a 3-1 win over Winnipeg for the Panthers' second straight victory in the series. Both were played in Florida, though, and the Panthers have been outscored 30-8 while losing their past five at Winnipeg.

Mathieu Perreault scored four goals in the last meeting north of the border, an 8-2 victory Jan. 13, 2015. Perreault missed practice Monday, though, due to his wife expecting the birth of their first child, and it's uncertain if he'll be with the team Tuesday.

His absence would mean another lineup change for the last-place Jets, who shipped captain Andrew Ladd to Chicago on Thursday in a deal that brought back forward Marko Dano and a first-round pick in the upcoming draft. They're also without Bryan Little, who is out for the season with a fractured vertebrae.

Dano made his team debut in Saturday's 4-1 loss at Pittsburgh. Winnipeg has dropped five of six and was quiet on deadline day following the Ladd deal.

"(Younger players need) to get into some games. They've got to make some mistakes," coach Paul Maurice said. "You've got to push them, but experience for these guys is what they need to get better."

The Jets are beginning a five-game homestand, but they've dropped four straight and nine of 11 at MTS Centre. It's unclear if Michael Hutchinson will make a third straight start or if Ondrej Pavelec will get the nod in net.

Roberto Luongo has a 1.78 goals-against average in his last four appearances, beginning with the win over the Jets last month.

**TheGame** · 03-01-2016, 07:48 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 3/1

Preview: Avalanche (32-28) at Wild (28-25)

Date: March 01, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Colorado Avalanche added a piece at Monday's trade deadline with intentions of making a postseason push, but their biggest competition for the Western Conference's final playoff spot did the same - with similar plans to follow.

Two of the teams vying for the West's second wild card clash for a pivotal Central Division matchup on Tuesday night when the Avalanche visit the Minnesota Wild.

Colorado (32-28-4) currently holds the West's final playoff spot - two points ahead of Minnesota (28-25-10) - though the Wild have put some pressure on with improved play over the last two weeks while their health concerns have taken a turn for the better.

The Avalanche front office delivered a vote of confidence to the team on Monday by acquiring forward Mikkel Boedker from Arizona in exchange for forward Alex Tanguay and prospects Conner Bleackley and Kyle Wood.

Boedker, a speedy left winger, had 13 goals and 39 points with the Coyotes.

"It sends a message to everybody in here that they are willing up top to give us the best chance possible to win and go deep in the playoffs, and that's what we want to do," captain Gabriel Landeskog said. "I think this adds some depth up top, and I think (Boedker) has obviously tremendous speed and a lot of skill, so we are excited to have him."

Colorado, which also acquired defenseman Eric Gelinas from New Jersey for a 2017 third-round draft pick, could use a boost for the final five weeks as Minnesota has clawed back into the postseason discussion with a 5-3-0 run following a 1-11-2 stretch.

The Avs have lost two of three and are coming off Saturday's 5-3 defeat to Detroit in an outdoor game at Coors Field. Semyon Varlamov surrendered four goals for the second straight game and has a 3.96 goals-against average in his past four starts.

Varlamov has faced the Wild plenty in his career between stints with Washington and Colorado, going 9-10-1 with a 2.35 GAA. He suffered losses in this season's first two matchups before making 19 saves in a 2-1 overtime win on Dec. 7. That was just the Avalanche's second victory in the last 10 games of this series, including Minnesota's 2014 seven-game first-round playoff series win.

After totaling 21 goals during a season-high four-game win streak Feb. 15-21, Minnesota scored five while dropping three straight last week. The Wild, though, recovered with Sunday's 3-1 victory over Florida, just their second win in their last 11 at Xcel Energy Center.

With the push over the last two weeks and a few players returning from injury in the coming days, Minnesota general manager Chuck Fletcher added former Colorado forward David Jones on Monday in a trade with Calgary for oft-injured goalie Niklas Backstrom.

"I wanted to give the coaches some versatility in terms of lineup options," Fletcher said. "Give them some depth, and create some competition."

Jones, who played his first six seasons with the Avs and logged back-to-back 20-goal campaigns from 2010-12, had nine goals and six assists in 59 games with the Flames this season.

In addition, Minnesota continues to get healthier. Star forward Zach Parise returned on Sunday after a two-game absence with an upper-body injury, and defenseman Jonas Brodin is probable for Tuesday after missing 11 games with a broken foot. Also, forward Jason Zucker is expected back Thursday in Toronto after missing four games with a concussion.

Like Varlamov, Minnesota's Devan Dubnyk has also faced Colorado 20 times and is 11-6-1 with a 2.13 GAA.

**TheGame** · 03-01-2016, 07:49 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 3/1

Preview: Stars (38-19) at Predators (31-21)

Date: March 01, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Predators hope left winger Filip Forsberg plays down the stretch the way he has been the past few games.

That way the fun - and the wins - will continue in Nashville.

The surging Predators hope Forsberg can continue his torrid pace Tuesday night when they host the Dallas Stars.

Forsberg was named the first star of the week Monday by the NHL after he became the first player since 1986-87 with two natural hat tricks in three or fewer games. Forsberg had six goals and an assist last week as the Predators won four straight games.

'It's always good to score goals,' Forsberg said after practice. 'I mean a hat trick is obviously pretty special. To get two in a short period of time is probably something I never thought was going to happen. It's been a lot of fun these past few days. I've got to keep it going.'

Forsberg became the first player in Nashville franchise history with two hat tricks in a single season Saturday in a 5-0 win against St. Louis, and he set a very high standard after his first came on Feb. 23 in a 3-2 win at Toronto. The feat hadn't been done in the NHL since November 1986.

That's when Petri Skriko did it in back-to-back games for Vancouver against Calgary on Nov. 18 and Nov. 21 against the Rangers.

Forsberg's hat tricks capped an amazing February for the 21-year-old from Ostervala, Sweden. He set a franchise record with 12 goals in 11 games in February, the most goals scored in a single month. That tied Alex Ovechkin of Washington and Boston's Brad Marchand for most goals in the league during February.

He already has tied his previous career best of 26 goals set last season, and he is seven goals from the franchise record of 33 with 19 games left.

'Forsberg seems to score on every shot this month,' teammate Mike Fisher said.

It's a big difference from how Forsberg started the season. He scored only three goals through the first 23 games. Lately, he's been working on the second line with veteran center Mike Ribeiro and Craig Smith. As a result, Forsberg now leads Nashville in both goals and points (46) through 63 games.

Predators coach Peter Laviolette said that line is playing really well with a lot of speed and confidence, which is creating chances in the offensive zone for Forsberg to shoot. Laviolette also noted Ribeiro is a tremendous playmaker whose pass on the power play Saturday against St. Louis set up Forsberg's third goal.

'That's when Filip can really shine,' Laviolette said. When he gets the puck in the situation like he did, to bury that one on the power play, he has the skill level to do it.'

Combined with goalie Pekka Rinne playing like the three-time Vezina Trophy finalist he is, the Predators enter this contest on a nine-game point streak (6-0-3). They have won four straight to match a season high and currently hold the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference with a game in hand and a five-point lead over Colorado.

'He's looked unbelievable and made some great plays,' Fisher said of Forsberg. 'I would say just overall playing smarter, taking advantage of his chances and you know pretty impressive week he had, month really. Hopefully, he can keep that going and stay hot and continue.

'It's really fun to watch as a teammate.'

Predators captain Shea Weber could return after missing three games with a lower-body injury. Weber was a full participant in practice Monday, the first time he'd taken the ice with the full team since Feb. 23.

"I feel good," Weber told the team's official website Monday. "It's hard, you don't like to sit out. You feel like you're letting your teammates down, so it's not easy."

The Stars got a late goal from Vernon Fiddler before falling 3-2 in overtime to Detroit on Monday, their third straight loss.

All three of those defeats came at home, but now Dallas (38-19-7) plays three of its next four on the road where it's averaged 3.6 goals during a 6-1-1 surge. Included in that stretch is a 3-2 overtime victory at Nashville on Feb. 15.

Kari Lehtonen figures to be in net after Antti Niemi made 26 saves Monday. Lehtonen is 0-3-1 with a 3.82 goals-against average in his last four starts, and has the same record with a 3.04 GAA his past four in Nashville.

The Stars have won four in a row against the Predators, with Jamie Benn tallying four goals and seven points in the last three meetings.

This game could mark the Stars debut of defenseman Kris Russell, who was acquired from Calgary on Monday for defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka, forward prospect Brett Pollock and a conditional 2016 second-round pick.

**TheGame** · 03-01-2016, 07:49 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 3/1

Grand Salami - February

The Grand Salami in pro hockey is decided by adding up all the goals scored in every game scheduled for that particular day. You can wager on 'over' or 'under' the Grand Salami total. The total is set by adding up all listed 'over/under' odds for each game on that particular day.

Note: The Grand Salami will have no action if any game is suspended or cancelled before the regulation time of three twenty minute periods. Also, regardless of the number of goals scored during the shoot out portion of the overtime, the final scored recorded for the game will give the winning team on more goal than its opponent based on the score at the end of regulation time.

*The majority of sportsbooks do not put out a total on the Grand Salami when there is only one game on the card. For tracking purposes, we will continue to show the 'over/under' for goals and combined goals scored on days with just one game.

NHL GRAND SALAMI
Date No. of Games Total Goals Combined Goals Scored Result
2/1 No games scheduled - - -
2/2 12 64.5 75 OVER
2/3 3 16 15 UNDER
2/4 12 64.5 77 OVER
2/5 4 21 27 OVER
2/6 12 62 67 OVER
2/7 3 16.5 17 OVER
2/8 4 20 20 PUSH
2/9 12 64.5 72 OVER
2/10 3 16.5 10 UNDER
2/11 9 49.5 66 OVER
2/12 7 35.5 47 OVER
2/13 10 52 56 OVER
2/14 5 25 24 UNDER
2/15 7 38.5 47 OVER
2/16 8 43.5 39 UNDER
2/17 3 16.5 21 OVER
2/18 11 60.5 68 OVER
2/19 5 26.5 24 UNDER
2/20 9 47 59 OVER
2/21 6 30.5 34 OVER
2/22 4 21 27 OVER
2/23 9 49.5 43 UNDER
2/24 4 22.5 21 UNDER
2/25 10 54.5 51 UNDER
2/26 5 26 21 UNDER
2/27 9 47 53 OVER
2/28 7 36.5 36 UNDER
2/29 6 33 33 PUSH

**TheGame** · 03-01-2016, 07:49 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 3/1

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

The NHL trade deadline is no different than those in Major League Baseball or the NBA: the rich get richer and the bad teams throw in the towel and accrue assets for the future. Can I tell you with certainty who will win the Stanley Cup after Monday's NHL trade deadline passed? I can't, but I can tell you which teams to bet against the rest of the season.

But let's start with the winners from the deadline, and by winners I mean just for this season, which have to be the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks and Colorado Avalanche.

The Caps are +315 favorites to win the Stanley Cup. They sent Brooks Laich, the team's longest-tenured player, to Toronto for forward Daniel Winnik. Laich used to be a good player but is breaking down and had just one goal and six assists this season, playing mostly on the fourth line. Winnik ranked second among NHL forwards in shorthanded time on ice per game last season (3:16) and set career highs in assists (25) and points (34). This year, he had four goals and 10 assists for the sorry Leafs. He's an upgrade even though Laich was hugely respected in the Caps' locker room.

The Blackhawks, who are +625 second-favorites for a fourth title this decade and beat the visiting Capitals in a potential Finals preview on Sunday, probably are the most improved team. GM Stan Bowman was able to keep the team's top young players yet still able to bring back forward Andrew Ladd, a key member of the 2010 Cup team, as well as forwards Tomas Fleischmann and Dale Weise. They also swapped defensemen with the Kings: Rob Scuderi for Christian Ehrhoff. Ladd, acquired from Carolina, had 17 goals and 18 assists this season. He was a very popular player on that 2009-10 Hawks team but was part of the salary-cap purge after winning the Cup. Ladd will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and will cost too much to be re-signed. He had an assist Sunday in his Chicago debut. Weise had 14 goals and 12 assists in Montreal and Fleischmann 10 goals and 10 assists with the Habs. Both those guys will be free agents after the year as well.

The Rangers, +1600 to win the Cup, got perhaps the biggest "name" in Eric Staal from the Hurricanes. Carolina's former captain had spent his entire 12-year career with the club. The four-time All-Star has 10 goals and 23 assists. He joins brother Marc on the Blueshirts. Staal will be a free agent after the season. Noticing a pattern here?

The Panthers added some scoring punch in acquiring wingers Jiri Hudler from the Calgary Flames and Teddy Purcell from the Edmonton Oilers as well as defenseman Jakub Kindl from Detroit. Florida is +1500 for the Cup.

Anaheim landed forward Brandon Pirri from Florida and winger Jamie McGinn from Buffalo. Pirri has only played in 101 games since the start of the 2014-15 season but he has scored 33 goals in those games. He's out with an ankle injury right now. The Ducks are +1400 for the Cup. Colorado (+5000) landed winger Mikkel Boedker from the Coyotes. After Ladd, he was arguably the top rental forward on the market. He had 13 goals and 26 assists with 18 of those points on the power play. The Avs are simply battling to get into the playoffs.

Which teams are worse after the deadline? No question it's Arizona, Toronto, Calgary and Carolina. Those four all loaded up on young players and draft picks in their moves and that may well work out in the long term, but they are clearly in full tank mode the rest of this season. Bet against those clubs accordingly.

This Week's Games To Watch

Pittsburgh at Washington, Tuesday: Any time Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin take the ice together, it's must-see TV. This will be on the NBC Sports Network. Ovechkin is the first player to 40 goals and battling Chicago's Patrick Kane for the Hart Trophy. The Capitals could get to 100 points this week as they run away with the Presidents' Trophy. They are an NHL-best 24-5-2 at home and catch the Penguins on the second of a back-to-back with Pittsburgh hosting Arizona on Monday. Washington looks to avoid its first two-game losing streak since the start of February following Sunday's 3-2 loss in Chicago. The Caps and Pens have split two meetings thus far. There's no early line here because it's not clear if Pens No. 1 goalie Marc-Andre Fleury will play both ends of the back-to-back.

Chicago at Detroit, Wednesday: One bad thing about realignment a couple of years ago was that it hurt this rivalry, one of the best in the NHL. With the Red Wings in the East, they face the Blackhawks now just twice a year. Chicago's Kane had his sixth game-winning goal of the season during Sunday's 3-2 win over Washington. That ties a career high. Jonathan Toews snapped his eight-game goal drought in the win. Newly acquired Weise and Fleischmann are expected to play alongside Teuvo Teravainen (the key young player Bowman was able to keep) on Chicago's third line. Weise wasn't able to debut Sunday because of some immigration problems. I'm a bit surprised the Red Wings were largely quiet ahead of the deadline. This game is nationally televised on the NBC Sports Network and the teams play again Sunday in Chicago.

Anaheim at Los Angeles, Saturday: The Ducks enter the week on an NHL-high eight-game winning streak and are two points behind the crosstown Kings in the Pacific Division. The Kings also made a move at the deadline, getting winger Kris Versteeg from Carolina. L.A. needed some forward depth because it has lost Marian Gaborik to injury. Gaborik will reportedly miss 10-12 weeks with a knee injury. Versteeg had 33 points (11 goals) with the Hurricanes and has plenty of postseason experience as well from his time in Chicago. The Kings moved Gaborik to long-term injured reserve to absorb Versteeg's salary. The Ducks lead the season series with the Kings 2-1 and beat visiting L.A. 4-2 on Sunday to snap the Kings' four-game winning streak. Corey Perry had his ninth career hat trick for the Ducks. The Kings haven't finished first in their division since the 1990-91 season, believe it or not. The Ducks trailed the Kings by 15 points on Jan. 2.

**TheGame** · 03-01-2016, 07:49 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 3/1

NHL

Hot teams
-- Bruins are 4-0 in game after their last four losses.
-- Senators won five of their last six games.
-- Colorado won five of its last eight games.
-- Nashville won its last four games, outcoring foes 13-4.
-- Islanders won seven of their last ten games.
-- Washington won five of last seven games. Penguins won three of their last four games.

Cold teams
-- Carolina lost five of its last seven games. Devils lost five of their last six.
-- Flames lost eight of their last nine games.
-- Edmonton lost seven of its last eight games. Sabres lost three of last four games.
-- St Louis lost three of its last four games.
-- Panthers lost three of their last four road games. Winnipeg lost five of its last six games.
-- Minnesota lost three of its last four games.
-- Dallas Stars lost six of their last seven games.
-- Vancouver lost five of its last seven games.

Series records
-- Devils won seven of last ten games with Carolina.
-- Calgary won three games in row against Boston, all in OT/SO.
-- Oilers won four of last five games with Buffalo.
-- Ottawa won four of last five games with St Louis; all four wins were in SO/OT.
-- Home team won last six Florida-Winnipeg games.
-- Minnesota won eight of last ten games with Colorado.
-- Dallas Stars won their last four games with Nashville.
-- Islanders lost six of last seven games with Vancouver.
-- Washington won four of its last six games.

Totals
-- Under is 6-1-1 in last eight Carolina games.
-- Six of last eight Calgary games went over the total.
-- Last five Edmonton games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 3-1-1 in last five St Lojuis games.
-- Five of last six Florida games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 6-1-1 in last eight Colorado-Minnesota games.
-- Six of last eight Dallas-Nashville games stayed under.
-- Last six Islander games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 6-1-1 in last eight Washington-Pittsburgh games.

Back-to-backs
-- Calgary lost four of last five if it played the night before.
-- Dallas Stars lost five of last seven if they played night before.

**Satch** · 03-01-2016, 09:26 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 3/1

NHL MONEYLINE

NHL > (3) CALGARY@ (4) BOSTON | 2016-03-01 19:05:00 - 2016-03-01 19:05:00
Play AGAINST BOSTON using money line in Home games in non-conference games
The record is 2 Wins and 10 Losses for the this season (-12.55 units)

NHL > (3) CALGARY@ (4) BOSTON | 2016-03-01 19:05:00 - 2016-03-01 19:05:00
Play AGAINST BOSTON using money line in Home games revenging a loss versus opponent
The record is 2 Wins and 10 Losses for the this season (-11.65 units)

NHL > (11) COLORADO@ (12) MINNESOTA | 2016-03-01 20:05:00 - 2016-03-01 20:05:00
Play ON COLORADO using money line in Road games after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game
The record is 21 Wins and 8 Losses for the last three seasons (+19.7 units)

NHL > (13) DALLAS@ (14) NASHVILLE | 2016-03-01 20:05:00 - 2016-03-01 20:05:00
Play AGAINST NASHVILLE using money line in Home games after a win by 2 goals or more
The record is 2 Wins and 9 Losses for the this season (-11.8 units)

NHL > (17) PITTSBURGH@ (18) WASHINGTON | 2016-03-01 19:30:00 - 2016-03-01 19:30:00
Play AGAINST PITTSBURGH using money line in All games vs. division opponents
The record is 17 Wins and 32 Losses for the last two seasons (-28.5 units)

NHL > (9) FLORIDA@ (10) WINNIPEG | 2016-03-01 20:05:00 - 2016-03-01 20:05:00
Play ON FLORIDA using money line in All games on Tuesday nights
The record is 11 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+10.2 units)

NHL > (17) PITTSBURGH@ (18) WASHINGTON | 2016-03-01 19:30:00 - 2016-03-01 19:30:00
Play ON WASHINGTON using money line in all games
The record is 45 Wins and 16 Losses for the this season (+21.1 units)

NHL > (13) DALLAS@ (14) NASHVILLE | 2016-03-01 20:05:00 - 2016-03-01 20:05:00
Play AGAINST NASHVILLE using money line in All games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game
The record is 13 Wins and 26 Losses for the last two seasons (-21.2 units)

NHL > (9) FLORIDA@ (10) WINNIPEG | 2016-03-01 20:05:00 - 2016-03-01 20:05:00
Play AGAINST WINNIPEG using money line in Home games second half of the season
The record is 2 Wins and 9 Losses for the this season (-9.4 units)

-------------------

NHL PUCKLINE

NHL > (3) CALGARY@ (4) BOSTON | 2016-03-01 19:05:00 - 2016-03-01 19:05:00
Play AGAINST BOSTON in Home games in non-conference games
The record is 2 Wins and 10 Losses for the this season (-12.55 units)

NHL > (3) CALGARY@ (4) BOSTON | 2016-03-01 19:05:00 - 2016-03-01 19:05:00
Play AGAINST BOSTON in Home games revenging a loss versus opponent
The record is 2 Wins and 10 Losses for the this season (-11.65 units)

NHL > (11) COLORADO@ (12) MINNESOTA | 2016-03-01 20:05:00 - 2016-03-01 20:05:00
Play ON COLORADO in Road games after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game
The record is 21 Wins and 8 Losses for the last three seasons (+19.7 units)

NHL > (13) DALLAS@ (14) NASHVILLE | 2016-03-01 20:05:00 - 2016-03-01 20:05:00
Play AGAINST NASHVILLE in Home games after a win by 2 goals or more
The record is 2 Wins and 9 Losses for the this season (-11.8 units)

NHL > (17) PITTSBURGH@ (18) WASHINGTON | 2016-03-01 19:30:00 - 2016-03-01 19:30:00
Play AGAINST PITTSBURGH in All games vs. division opponents
The record is 17 Wins and 32 Losses for the last two seasons (-28.5 units)

NHL > (9) FLORIDA@ (10) WINNIPEG | 2016-03-01 20:05:00 - 2016-03-01 20:05:00
Play ON FLORIDA in All games on Tuesday nights
The record is 11 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+10.2 units)

NHL > (17) PITTSBURGH@ (18) WASHINGTON | 2016-03-01 19:30:00 - 2016-03-01 19:30:00
Play ON WASHINGTON in all games
The record is 45 Wins and 16 Losses for the this season (+21.1 units)

NHL > (13) DALLAS@ (14) NASHVILLE | 2016-03-01 20:05:00 - 2016-03-01 20:05:00
Play AGAINST NASHVILLE in All games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game
The record is 13 Wins and 26 Losses for the last two seasons (-21.2 units)

NHL > (9) FLORIDA@ (10) WINNIPEG | 2016-03-01 20:05:00 - 2016-03-01 20:05:00
Play AGAINST WINNIPEG in Home games second half of the season
The record is 2 Wins and 9 Losses for the this season (-9.4 units)

------------------

NHL TOTALS

NHL > (7) ST LOUIS@ (8) OTTAWA | 2016-03-01 19:35:00 - 2016-03-01 19:35:00
Play OVER OTTAWA on the totalin All games in non-conference games
The record is 32 Overs and 14 Unders for the last two seasons (+17.75 units)

NHL > (7) ST LOUIS@ (8) OTTAWA | 2016-03-01 19:35:00 - 2016-03-01 19:35:00
Play OVER OTTAWA on the totalin Home games in non-conference games
The record is 27 Overs and 10 Unders for the last three seasons (+17.45 units)

NHL > (3) CALGARY@ (4) BOSTON | 2016-03-01 19:05:00 - 2016-03-01 19:05:00
Play UNDER CALGARY on the totalin All games in a road game where where the total is 5.5
The record is 13 Overs and 34 Unders for the last two seasons (+17.65 units)

NHL > (17) PITTSBURGH@ (18) WASHINGTON | 2016-03-01 19:30:00 - 2016-03-01 19:30:00
Play UNDER PITTSBURGH on the totalin Road games revenging a home loss versus opponent
The record is 5 Overs and 16 Unders for the last two seasons (+11.8 units)

NHL > (15) NY ISLANDERS@ (16) VANCOUVER | 2016-03-01 22:05:00 - 2016-03-01 22:05:00
Play UNDER NY ISLANDERS on the totalin Road games in non-conference games
The record is 1 Overs and 9 Unders for the this season (+7.9 units)

NHL > (17) PITTSBURGH@ (18) WASHINGTON | 2016-03-01 19:30:00 - 2016-03-01 19:30:00
Play UNDER PITTSBURGH on the totalin Road games revenging a loss versus opponent
The record is 8 Overs and 21 Unders for the last two seasons (+13.25 units)

**Satch** · 03-01-2016, 09:27 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 3/1

Preview: Carolina at New Jersey
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
The New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes are sitting just outside the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, but that didn’t prevent them from being among the busiest clubs at Monday’s NHL trade deadline. The Devils are within five points of the final playoff spot and Carolina is another point back entering Tuesday’s clash at New Jersey.
Coming off back-to-back lopsided losses that dropped them to 1-5-0 in their last six games, the Devils made three separate deals Monday, the most notable involving the trade of leading scorer Lee Stempniak to Boston. “If we were in a playoff spot, I don’t think I would have done that,” said New Jersey general manager Ray Shero, who picked up a 2016 fourth-round draft pick and 2017 second-round selection in the deal. The Hurricanes started their fire sale on Sunday by dealing captain Eric Staal to the New York Rangers and forward Kris Versteeg to the Los Angeles Kings. Carolina wasn’t done wheeling and dealing, sending veteran defenseman John-Michael Liles to the Bruins.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Carolinas, MSG-Plus (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (28-26-10): Carolina has plenty of young talent on the blue line to withstand the loss of Liles, who fetched prospect Anthony Camara along with third- and fifth-round picks in the 2017 draft. General manager Ron Francis admitted trading three veterans for five draft picks and three prospects may not play well with the team’s fan base. “I still believe in the guys in the locker room, and I know they’re not going to quit,” Francis said. “I wouldn’t put it past them to continue to surprise people down the stretch.”
ABOUT THE DEVILS (30-26-7): Defenseman Eric Gelinas, who has not played since Feb. 8 and has complained about his playing time, got his wish when New Jersey shipped him to the Colorado Avalanche for a third-round draft pick in 2017. The Devils also cut ties with former first-round pick Stefan Matteau, sending him to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for another underachieving forward in Devante Smith-Pelly, who has six goals and six assists in 46 games. New Jersey added a defenseman Monday by acquiring David Warsofsky off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
OVERTIME
1. Stempniak was dealt at the trade deadline for the third consecutive season.
2. Carolina has scored four goals during a three-game skid and plays seven of the next eight contests away from home.
3. Following Tuesday’s game, New Jersey plays five of its next six on the road – including three against the top teams in the Pacific Division.
PREDICTION: Devils 3, Hurricanes 1

**Satch** · 03-01-2016, 09:28 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 3/1

Preview: Calgary at Boston
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
The Boston Bruins are in solid playoff position as they host the Calgary Flames on Tuesday but are not content as evidenced by their acquisition of two players with expiring contracts prior to Monday’s trade deadline. Boston, which sits third in the Atlantic Division and five points clear for a wild-card spot, added right wing Lee Stempniak from New Jersey and defenseman John-Michael Liles from Carolina.
“I think (Stempniak) will complement our group very well,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told reporters. “He can play a bunch of different positions for us. And John-Michael Liles is another player that brings a lot of versatility to our group.” Stempniak (16 goals this season), who has been dealt four times at the trade deadline during his 11-year career, reportedly could find himself on a line with Brad Marchand (team-high 32 goals) and center Patrice Bergeron (23 goals, club-most 53 points). Boston must improve its play at TD Garden, where it is 13-16-3 after a 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday. Calgary was on the periphery of a playoff position before going 1-7-1 over its last nine games, including a 5-3 loss in Philadelphia on Monday, and is tied for the third-fewest points in the NHL with 56.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Flames (Calgary), NESN (Boston)
ABOUT THE FLAMES (26-32-4): Calgary was a seller as it traded defenseman Kris Russell to Dallas on Monday, two days after sending forward Jiri Hudler to Florida for prospects and draft picks. “I think it’s important our fans understand we made a concerted effort to sign (Russell),” president of hockey operations Brian Burke told reporters. “We love (Russell). He’s an Alberta kid; he’s everything we want in a player here. But where our team is and the players we have coming up to sign limits what we’re in a position to do. We made that clear to (Russell), and his agent has said he wants to test the market. We understand that.” Calgary turns it attention to paying Johnny Gaudreau (team bests of 24 goals and 39 assists) and Sean Monahan (44 points), who scored his 20th goal Monday.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (34-23-6): Some believed soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Loui Eriksson (23 goals, 48 points) would be traded after the team and Eriksson’s agent could not come to terms on a contract extension, but he instead remains a valuable offensive threat. Boston settled for Liles after making a big play for Vancouver defenseman Dan Hamhuis, who reportedly would not waive his no-trade clause. Liles, 35, recorded six goals, 15 points and averaged 20:34 of ice time in 64 games while posting a minus-3 rating this season and adds depth to the blue line.
OVERTIME
1. The Bruins haven’t scored a power-play goal in four straight games and nine of their last 10 contests, going 3-for-34 during that span.
2. Boston is one of six teams in the NHL who do not earn at least a point per game at home and one of two (San Jose) occupying a playoff position.
3. Calgary has won three straight meetings after its 5-4 overtime victory on Dec. 4 in which Gaudreau completed his second hat trick of the season with the game-winner.
PREDICTION: Bruins 3, Flames 2

Announcement

NHL Betting Info. 3/1

NHL Betting Info. 3/1

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