NHL Betting Info. 2/11

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Preview: Anaheim at Columbus
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 11, 2016
Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
The Anaheim Ducks are 7-1-0 in their last eight games – a stretch which has moved them comfortably into third place in the Pacific Division as they continue their season-long seven-game road trip in Columbus against the Blue Jackets on Thursday. Anaheim bounced back from a 6-2 loss to Pittsburgh on Monday with a 4-1 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday with Rickard Rakell serving as the face of the turnaround with two goals after he was a career-worst minus-4 versus the Penguins.
“As the season has gone on, I think we’ve become a better team and a more resilient team,” Ducks coach Boudreau told reporters. “… Now you’re under 30 games left. I remember at the beginning of the season saying, ‘We got 70 games left; what’s everyone worried about?’ But now there’s under 30, and we’re still in a dogfight. It’s one of those things we have to keep the foot on the gas.” Anaheim finds itself one point behind San Jose for second in the division and eight behind first-place Los Angeles with three games remaining against its southern California rival. Columbus is 4-1-1 in its last six games after opening a five-game homestand with a 3-2 shootout loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday. The Blue Jackets, though, are one of three clubs in the 16-team Eastern Conference that is considered out of playoff contention as it sits last in the Metropolitan Division and 13 points behind the wild-card leaders through Tuesday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket, FSN San Diego (Anaheim), FSN Ohio (Columbus)
ABOUT THE DUCKS (26-19-7): Rakell told reporters “you just want to prove to your coaches and teammates that you’re better than that,” after Tuesday’s bounce-back performance, but the organization probably knows that already as the 22-year-old is second on the club with 13 goals and third with 28 points. Rakell has five goals in his last nine games and has flourished since joining a line with Corey Perry (team-high 21 goals), who shares the club lead with captain Ryan Getzlaf at 38 points. Anaheim leads the NHL in penalty killing at 89 percent after extinguishing 6-of-7 Philadelphia power plays.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (21-28-6): Rookie goaltender Joonas Korpisalo (7-6-3, .923 save percentage) is 6-1-2 in his last nine starts after making a career-high 44 saves Tuesday and has been a savior with Sergei Bobrovsky and Curtis McElhinney out with injuries. “It’s terrific what’s going on with him,” Columbus coach John Tortorella told reporters. “For him and the organization, for now, for the future, we need to stay within ourselves, though. It’s a small sample … He has a lot to learn. The thing you can’t teach is his mental approach, his mental toughness. Whether it’s a good play or a bad play, it’s flat line as far as his concentration.” Scott Hartnell shares second on the team with 18 goals and has a club-best 36 points, and could be a prime candidate to be moved at the Feb. 29 trade deadline.
OVERTIME
1. The Ducks allow the third-fewest shots per game in the NHL at 27.5.
2. Brandon Saad, who leads the Blue Jackets with 19 goals, hasn’t scored in four contests since recording three in a two-game span – both against Montreal – that ended a nine-contest drought.
3. Anaheim prevailed in the season’s first meeting 4-2 on Nov. 6.
PREDICTION: Ducks 3, Blue Jackets 2

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Preview: Colorado at Ottawa
When: 7:30 PM ET, Thursday, February 11, 2016
Where: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
The Colorado Avalanche attempt to redeem themselves after a disastrous homestand when they begin a three-game road trip Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. Colorado is clinging to the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference after an 0-3-1 stretch at Pepsi Center that concluded Tuesday with a 3-1 setback against Vancouver.
Nathan MacKinnon has notched a point in four of his last six games to pull into a tie with Matt Duchene for the scoring lead on the Avalanche with 43. The Senators also are coming off a 3-1 loss, with Wednesday’s defeat at Detroit denying them their first three-game winning streak since they captured four in a row from Nov. 19-25. Zack Smith has scored in each of his last three contests to raise his season total to 12 goals – two shy of his career high set in 2011-12. Ottawa, which trails Pittsburgh by five points for the second wild card in the East, is looking to complete a sweep of the two-game season series after posting a 5-3 victory at Colorado on Nov. 25.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Colorado), TSN5, RDS (Ottawa)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (27-25-4): Coach Patrick Roy believes hitting the road may be just what his team needs to snap out of its current funk. “I think it’s good timing,” Roy told the team’s website. “Seems like on the road, we’re scoring more, and we take leads and play with more confidence.” Francois Beauchemin ranks second on the team among defensemen with 26 points, his highest total since registering that amount in 2009-10 with Toronto.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (25-24-6): Dion Phaneuf made his debut for Ottawa on Wednesday, registering two hits and a minus-1 rating in 21 minutes, 42 seconds of ice time a day after being acquired from Toronto in a nine-player deal. “I enjoyed every minute of it, except the outcome,” the 30-year-old, who was paired with Cody Ceci, told The Toronto Star. Captain Erik Karlsson notched an assist against Detroit to reach the 60-point plateau for the third straight season and climb within one of Dallas’ Jamie Benn for second in league scoring.
OVERTIME
1. Senators C Shane Prince scored two of his three career goals against the Avalanche in their first meeting this season.
2. Colorado LW Cody McLeod’s next game will be the 606th of his career, moving him past Steven Finn for eighth place on the franchise list.
3. Ottawa has won its last two home contests, outscoring its opponents 11-2.
PREDICTION: Avalanche 4, Senators 2

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Preview: Washington at Minnesota
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 11, 2016
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
The Minnesota Wild are mired in the worst home losing streak in team history and the prospect of ending the slide appears dim with the league’s best team coming to town. Minnesota has dropped six in a row overall (0-4-2) and six straight (0-3-3) at Xcel Energy Center as they prepare to host Alex Ovechkin and the red-hot Washington Capitals.
The Wild remained winless at home since Dec. 28 after dropping a 4-3 overtime decision to Dallas on Tuesday – their 11th loss in 12 games (1-9-2). “We’ve got to get a win, we’ve got to back it up with another,” Minnesota coach Mike Yeo said. “The way things are going, we need some things to feel good about right now.” The Capitals are riding a four-game winning streak and hold a six-point edge over the Chicago Blackhawks for the league’s best record. The Capitals halted a seven-game skid at Minnesota with a 3-2 victory in March 2015.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN-Plus Washington, FSN North (Minnesota), NHL.TV
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (39-9-4): After posting three consecutive 3-2 victories, Washington’s offense erupted in a 5-3 triumph at Nashville on Tuesday as Marcus Johansson scored one goal and set up two others to improve the team to an NHL-best 19-5-2 away from home. Forward Andre Burakovsky celebrated his 21st birthday Tuesday by running his point streak to eight games, a span in which he has four goals and six assists. Ovechkin has scored 10 goals in 12 games to give him 31 on the season – one behind Patrick Kane for the league lead.
ABOUT THE WILD (23-20-10): Ailing captain Mikko Koivu and fellow forwards Jason Pominville and Charlie Coyle all skipped Wednesday’s optional skate, but defenseman Jared Spurgeon was on the ice and could be back in the lineup after sitting out Tuesday’s game due to injury. Tuesday’s loss dropped Minnesota to 1-10 in overtime and shootouts, prompting Yeo to say he will shuffle his lineup the next time a game goes beyond regulation. “Going forward, I’ve got some different ideas that we have that we’ll try and we’ll continue to do that,” Yeo said.
OVERTIME
1. Ovechkin, who has six goals in eight games versus Minnesota, needs one tally to tie Jean Beliveau (507) for 39th place on the all-time list.
2. The Wild have scored on the power play in four straight games and six of the past seven.
3. Capitals G Braden Holtby has one regulation loss in the last 31 games.
PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Wild 2

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Preview: Boston at Winnipeg
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 11, 2016
Where: MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
There have been times when the Boston Bruins have lacked crispness this season, but they figure to be focused when they take the ice Thursday against the host Winnipeg Jets following a dreadful showing at home on Tuesday. Boston allowed 57 shots, its highest total since 1965, in an ugly 9-2 loss to visiting Los Angeles – leading Patrice Bergeron to tell reporters afterward that plenty of work remains for the club over its final 29 games.
“It happened a lot of times this year, where we really lacked focus, but tonight was that one, I guess, it topped all,” Bergeron said after the Bruins were throttled in their final contest before beginning a season-high six-game road trip. While Boston sits one point ahead of Pittsburgh for the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, Winnipeg flew home after completing a sweep of its two-game road trip with Tuesday’s 2-1 shootout victory at St. Louis. That triumph pulled the Jets within seven points of the final playoff berth in the West and gave them back-to-back victories for the first time since Jan. 14-15. “We’ve been right there the last two games, as good as we’ve been all year, where you’re wired into the game and ready to go,” Jets coach Paul Maurice told reporters.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), TSN3 (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE BRUINS (28-19-6): Coach Claude Julien shook up the team’s lines during Wednesday’s practice, telling reporters he seeks a different look after each of Boston’s last four victories have come by just one goal. Tyler Randell made the most of his first appearance since Jan. 9 on Tuesday, scoring a goal and getting into a fight on a night devoid of highlights for Boston. The road has been kind to the Bruins, who own the second-best record away from home in the NHL at 16-5-3.
ABOUT THE JETS (24-26-3): Winnipeg’s defense and Connor Hellebuyck were much more settled against the Blues, as the team allowed only 22 shots while the rookie goaltender posted just his second victory on his last six starts. Bryan Little snapped an eight-game goal-scoring drought with his 16th of the season, tying Drew Stafford – who served a one-game suspension Tuesday for a high-sticking incident against Colorado three days earlier – for the team lead. The Jets are 26th in the league on the power play at 16.6 percent after going 0-for-5 on Tuesday.
OVERTIME
1. The Jets have lost seven of their last nine at home.
2. The Bruins have allowed four or more goals three times in their last five games, while their offense has not scored more than three in the past eight contests.
3. Tuesday’s victory boosted the Jets’ record in one-goal games to 8-3-3.
PREDICTION: Bruins 4, Jets 3

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Preview: Dallas at Chicago
When: 8:30 PM ET, Thursday, February 11, 2016
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Patrick Sharp hopes to end a 5 1/2-week goal drought on Thursday when the veteran forward leads the Dallas Stars into the United Center to face the Chicago Blackhawks. Shuffled to Dallas mere weeks after Chicago claimed its third Stanley Cup title in six seasons, Sharp collected a goal and an assist in the Stars’ 4-0 win over Chicago on Dec. 22 before being held off the scoresheet in a 5-1 setback to the Blackhawks on Saturday.
While Sharp is struggling to buy a goal of late, defenseman John Klingberg continued his offensive surge by netting his third overtime tally of the season on Tuesday to give Dallas a 4-3 win over sputtering Minnesota. Klingberg has scored three goals and set up another in his last four games for the Stars, who have won four of their last five to reside three points behind the Central Division-leading Blackhawks with three games in hand. Chicago saw its seven-game winning streak at the United Center end with a thud on Tuesday with a 2-0 setback to San Jose. Coach Joel Quenneville’s brief but spirited rant on the officiating during the postgame conference could serve to ignite the Blackhawks, who fell for just the fourth time in 20 outings.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Dallas), CSN Chicago
ABOUT THE STARS (34-15-5): Sluggish out of the All-Star break, captain Jamie Benn has shown signs of heating up by setting up Tyler Seguin for Dallas’ lone goal versus Chicago and adding two assists versus the Wild. Speaking of Seguin, the 24-year-old also set up a pair of tallies versus Minnesota to run his point total to five (three goals, two assists) in his last four games. Former Blackhawk Antti Niemi, who could get the nod on Thursday, has been idle since he yielded three goals on 11 shots in the first period of Saturday’s tilt.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (36-17-4): Artem Anisimov recorded his second career four-point performance after collecting a goal and three assists in Saturday’s tilt with Dallas. Artemi Panarin set up a pair of tallies against the Stars to lead all rookies with 52 points, but is questionable to play on Thursday after an illness forced him to the sideline against the Sharks. Linemate Patrick Kane, who leads the league in goals (32) and points (76), scored in the last meeting versus Dallas and has 43 points (18 goals, 25 assists) in 32 career encounters.
OVERTIME
1. Chicago RW Marian Hossa has scored twice in his last three contests and resides four goals shy of 500 for his career.
2. Dallas has won each of its last three road games.
3. Blackhawks LW Teuvo Teravainen is mired in a 15-game goal drought.
PREDICTION: Stars 4, Blackhawks 2

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Preview: Toronto at Edmonton
When: 9:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 11, 2016
Where: Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Having shaken up their roster with a blockbuster nine-player deal in which they parted ways with captain Dion Phaneuf, the Toronto Maple Leafs continue their five-game road trip against the skidding Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Toronto has been outscored 10-4 in the first two games of its trek following Tuesday’s 4-3 loss at Calgary.
Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner said Tuesday’s trade made it “pretty emotional” for the team. “(Phaneuf) was one of our really good friends and obviously our leader on our team,” Gardiner said. “Obviously, it was tough all day long and we just tried to refocus for the game.” The Oilers faced emotions of another sort, dropping a 2-1 decision at New Jersey on a night when the Devils retired the jersey of goaltender Martin Brodeur. Outscored 15-3 during a three-game skid, Edmonton will play the first of six straight at home against Toronto.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, TSN4 (Toronto), Sportsnet West (Edmonton)
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (19-24-9): Toronto already was short on manpower with Tyle Bozak, Joffrey Lupul and Shawn Matthias not joining the team for the three games in Western Canada, but defenseman Jared Cowen and Colin Greening could be in the lineup after being acquired from Ottawa. “This is what I wanted. I wanted to be somewhere else,” Cowen said. “There’s a good coaching staff, I know they’re going to win here eventually.” Jonathan Bernier, who is winless in his last four appearances, will get the start against Edmonton.
ABOUT THE OILERS (21-29-5): The return of rookie Connor McDavid from a two-month injury absence temporarily ignited Edmonton, which scored 12 goals in his first two games before being held to one tally in each of the last three contests. The No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft has recorded seven points in five games since returning while Benoit Pouliot registered a pair of goals and six points during that same span. Backup netminder Anders Nilsson, who yielded at least three goals in eight of his last 10 appearances, was assigned to Bakersfield of the American Hockey League.
OVERTIME
1. Bernier is 3-1-0 with a 3.17 goals-against average versus Edmonton.
2. Oilers G Cam Talbot is 3-1-0 with a 2.46 GAA in four contests against Toronto.
3. The Maple Leafs have won only once in regulation over their last 14 games.
PREDICTION: Oilers 4, Maple Leafs 2

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Preview: Calgary at San Jose
When: 10:30 PM ET, Thursday, February 11, 2016
Where: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
The San Jose Sharks look to continue their rise in the Western Conference and improve their unimpressive home record when the Calgary Flames pay them a visit on Thursday. The Sharks won at Chicago 2-0 on Tuesday to gain at least one point for the 12th time in their last 14 games (10-2-2) but own just a 10-12-2 record on home ice.
Captain Joe Pavelski, who tops the team in goals (25) and points (52), told reporters, “We’re playing a good team game right now,” as the Sharks trail Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles by seven points and sit one ahead of Anaheim. Calgary is nine points behind San Jose despite winning three of its last four contests after edging Toronto 4-3 on Tuesday without leading scorers Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, who were scratched for disciplinary reasons. “They didn’t rob a bank,” Flames coach Bob Hartley told reporters Tuesday. “They made a mistake, and tonight, they paid for it.” Gaudreau and Monahan are expected to return to the lineup against the Sharks.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet 360 (Calgary), CSN California (San Jose)
ABOUT THE FLAMES (24-25-3): Lance Bouma also was suspended along with fellow forwards Gaudreau and Monahan as Calgary scored on four of its 22 shots Tuesday. Gaudreau tops the team in goals (21) and points (49) while Monahan is second in both categories (16, 35) after scoring twice and notching four assists in his last three contests. Captain Mark Giordano leads an active defense with 12 goals to go along with 33 points while fellow blue-liner TJ Brodie has registered 25 assists.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (28-20-4): Veteran center Joe Thornton has scored in three consecutive games and totaled five points in that span, including a late tally to seal Tuesday’s victory. Thornton has recorded 46 points overall – second on the team behind Pavelski – and All-Star defenseman Brent Burns has notched 44 but has been held off the scoresheet in three consecutive games. Blue-liner Brenden Dillon left Tuesday’s contest with an upper-body injury and his status for Thursday is uncertain.
OVERTIME
1. Calgary LW Jiri Hudler has recorded four points in his last four games and is one shy of 400 for his career.
2. San Jose LW Patrick Marleau scored his 472nd career goal Tuesday, pulling within one of Denis Savard and Alexander Mogilny for 52nd place on the all-time list.
3. Flames G Karri Ramo has allowed two or fewer goals in four straight contests but is 1-3-0 in that stretch and 17-18-1 on the season.
PREDICTION: Sharks 5, Flames 3