NHL Betting Info. 2/13

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Preview: Boston at Minnesota
When: 2:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 13, 2016
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Ryan Suter has seen his Minnesota Wild spiral in the wrong direction, so much so that the defenseman openly told reporters that he feels the team can’t go any lower. Minnesota fans hope Suter’s assessment rings true as the sputtering Wild look to snap a seven-game losing skid (0-5-2) when they host the Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon.
“You usually have to hit rock bottom to go up, and I feel like we’ve hit rock bottom,” Suter told the Minneapolis Star Tribune after the Wild dropped a 4-3 decision to red-hot Washington on Thursday. The setback was the seventh in a row at home (0-4-3) and 12th in 13 games overall (1-10-2) for Minnesota, which finds itself on the outside of the Western Conference postseason picture. Boston, on the other hand, has squeezed into the top eight of the Eastern Conference based on its strong play away from home. Patrice Bergeron, who is questionable to play with an undisclosed injury, tallied twice on Thursday for his fifth multi-goal performance as the Bruins began their season-high six-game road trip with a 6-2 rout of Winnipeg.
TV: 2 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FSN North (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE BRUINS (29-19-6): Brad Marchand extended his goal streak to five games and added two assists on Thursday for his first three-point performance since Oct. 30. The pesky Nova Scotian leads Boston with 26 goals, just two shy of his career high in 2011-12. Loui Eriksson, who scored and set up a goal versus the Jets, recorded his third career hat trick in the Bruins’ 4-2 victory over the Wild on Nov. 19.
ABOUT THE WILD (23-21-10): Devan Dubnyk enjoyed one of the feel-good stories of 2014-15, but this season has told quite a different tale. Last campaign’s Vezina Trophy finalist has dropped nine consecutive starts and his 0-5-0 mark and 5.20 goals-against average in his career versus Boston doesn’t inspire too much confidence. Dubnyk may not see Jared Spurgeon on the ice, as coach Mike Yeo told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the defenseman is “questionable to doubtful” to play in Saturday’s tilt.
OVERTIME
1. Boston is 1-for-20 on the power play in the last six contests.
2. Minnesota D Matt Dumba has scored two goals and set up four others during his five-game point streak.
3. Boston recalled F Joonas Kemppainen from Providence of the American Hockey League on Friday.
PREDICTION: Wild 3, Bruins 2

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Preview: Nashville at Florida
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 13, 2016
Where: BB&T Center, Sunrise, Florida
The Florida Panthers have had some trouble keeping the puck out of their net since the All-Star break and look to change that trend when they host the Nashville Predators on Saturday. The Panthers, who are third in the league in goals against (2.31), have allowed 20 in their last six contests – including Friday’s 5-3 loss to St. Louis.
Florida leads the Atlantic Division by five points and has five contests left on a six-game homestand with several key players out of the lineup due to injuries, including top center Aleksander Barkov (upper body). The Predators are in a fight for their playoff lives in the Western Conference and let a point get away in a 4-3 overtime loss at Tampa Bay on Friday. All-Star James Neal scored a goal, reaching 20 for the eighth time in his eight NHL seasons. “He’s been a consistent goal scorer in this league,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette told reporters. “It’s not easy to do. He’s been a strong player for us.”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Tennessee (Nashville), FSN Florida
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (25-21-9): Laviolette was not pleased with the late slashing call against his team that led to Steven Stamkos’ power-play goal with 26.6 seconds left in regulation, before Nashville dropped to 1-8 on the season in overtime. “We played a good game tonight,” Laviolette told reporters. “It got taken from us.” Filip Forsberg tallied Friday for the fourth time in his last three games while defenseman Roman Josi set up a pair of goals, pushing his team-leading totals to 29 assists and 40 points.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (32-17-6): Florida has struggled on the penalty kill of late, allowing seven power-play tallies in the last five contests, and it doesn’t help that key defensemen Erik Gudbranson and Willie Mitchell are out with injuries. The Panthers continue to get strong offensive contributions throughout the lineup as Jonathan Huberdeau and All-Star Jaromir Jagr each notched two points to tie for the team lead with 40 while six players have at least 34. Jagr has 739 goals – two shy of Brett Hull for third place on the all-time list.
OVERTIME
1. Florida recalled LW John McFarland from Portland of the American Hockey League and assigned C Corban Knight to the Pirates.
2. Nashville G Pekka Rinne has stopped 105 of the 122 shots he has faced (.861 save percentage) since the All-Star break.
3. The Panthers have earned at least one point in each of the last four meetings (2-0-2), including a 2-1 win at Nashville on Dec. 3.
PREDICTION: Predators 3, Panthers 2

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Preview: NY Islanders at Carolina
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 13, 2016
Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina
The New York Islanders attempt to post their longest winning streak in more than two months when they go for their fourth straight victory Saturday against the Metropolitan Division-rival Carolina Hurricanes. New York, which has not won four in a row since Nov. 28-Dec. 4, is clinging to third place in the division with a one-point lead over Pittsburgh.
Captain John Tavares has had the hot hand of late, collecting 12 points over his last eight contests – including three goals and four assists during his current four-game streak. Carolina has earned points in five of its last six games to climb within five points of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference but is coming off back-to-back 2-1 shootout losses, including Friday’s setback against the Penguins in the opener of its three-game homestand. The Hurricanes hope to have their scoring leader back in the lineup as defenseman Justin Faulk missed Friday’s contest with an undisclosed injury. Carolina won the opener of the four-game season series, posting a 3-2 overtime victory at New York on Oct. 29.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New York), FSN Carolinas
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (29-18-6): Tavares’ goal in Thursday’s victory over Los Angeles was his 20th of the season, tying him with Brock Nelson for the team lead. The 25-year-old has reached the plateau in each of his seven NHL seasons, making him the first Islander with that many 20-goal campaigns since Brent Sutter, and passed Tomas Jonsson for 14th place on the franchise assist list with 250 and Billy Harris for 12th on the club’s points list with 444. Frans Nielsen is two goals shy of tying Ray Ferraro (116) for 24th in Islanders history.
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (24-21-10): Defenseman Brett Pesce (lower body) was activated from injured reserve Friday and replaced Faulk in the lineup, recording two shots and blocking four while posting a plus-1 rating in 19 minutes, 46 seconds of ice time. Andrej Nestrasil’s goal on Friday was his career-best eighth of the season and third in three games. Jeff Skinner is one tally shy of the fourth 20-goal campaign of his career.
OVERTIME
1. The Islanders are 11-0-0 when Tavares records a multi-point performance.
2. Carolina has scored fewer than two goals in each of its last five losses.
3. New York has netted a total of 12 tallies in its last 11 defeats (0-10-1).
PREDICTION: Islanders 5, Hurricanes 2

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Preview: Ottawa at Columbus

When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 13, 2016
Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
The blockbuster trade to acquire defenseman Dion Phaneuf has yet to pay off in the win column for the Ottawa Senators, who will attempt to halt a two-game skid when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night. The Senators have been in a three-week tailspin, losing seven of 10 games (3-7-0) following Thursday’s 4-3 home setback to Colorado.
Phaneuf, the key player in the nine-player deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs, collected a pair of assists Thursday in his first home game with Ottawa and was greeted warmly by the fans. “That was nice, and that was an extremely classy move by the fans to welcome me to Ottawa,” Phaneuf said. “I felt it and I appreciate it.” The Blue Jackets are coming off a 4-3 shootout win over visiting Anaheim that boosted their record to 5-1-1 over the last seven games. “That’s probably one of the better games we’ve played since I’ve been here,” coach John Tortorella told The Columbus Dispatch.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TVA, City (Ottawa), FSN Ohio (Columbus), NHL.TV
ABOUT THE SENATORS (25-25-6): Captain Erik Karlsson also set up a pair of goals Thursday to give him 10 assists in six games since the All-Star break, raising his season total to 51 – eight shy of his career high established in 2011-12. Karlsson, who leads all defensemen with 62 points and is on pace to easily eclipse his career-best 78, has tormented the Blue Jackets this season with two goals and seven assists in a pair of decisive victories. Ottawa’s league-worst penalty kill continued to struggle against Colorado, surrendering three power-play tallies.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (22-28-6): Columbus captain Nick Foligno, who played his first five seasons with the Senators, had a pair of assists Thursday for his first multi-point game since Dec. 29. “I thought he played really well. But now he needs to come back with an even better game and start building that way,” Tortorella said. “He’s not a kid. He’s a main cog of our team. He’s our captain. He needs to be there every night.” Defenseman David Savard, who has missed the past 11 games, was activated off injured reserve Friday and could rejoin the lineup.
OVERTIME
1. Karlsson has seven goals and eight assists in 10 games versus Columbus.
2. Blue Jackets rookie G Joonas Korpisalo has made eight consecutive starts, posting a 5-1-2 mark.
3. Senators G Craig Anderson is 11-4-0 with a 2.35 goals-against average versus the Blue Jackets.
PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 3, Senators 2

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Preview: Toronto at Vancouver
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 13, 2016
Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
Every time the Vancouver Canucks appear to be falling out of the playoff chase in the Western Conference, they stand up and continue to fight. The Canucks have allowed two goals combined in the last two games and go after their third consecutive victory when they host the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Vancouver lost center Brandon Sutter (broken jaw) and top-pair defenseman Alexander Edler (broken fibula) this week for an indefinite period and came into Friday two points out of the final playoff spot. “We know where we are in the standings,” Canucks defenseman Alex Biega told the Vancouver Sun. “Every game is do or die for us and every point really matters.” A victory is essential against the injury-ravaged Maple Leafs, who have dropped three in a row to start a five-game road trip and are 3-10-2 since Jan. 6. Toronto could be without three of its top four scorers because of injuries if center Nazem Kadri (lower body) remains out after missing Thursday’s 5-2 loss at Edmonton.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBC
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (19-25-9): James van Riemsdyk (foot) and Tyler Bozak (concussion) are out indefinitely, leaving leading point producer Leo Komarov (34) as the only top-four scorer available if Kadri (28) can’t go. Joffrey Lupul (lower body) and Shawn Matthias (undisclosed) did not make the trip while recently acquired forward Milan Michalek (finger) and defenseman Jared Cowen (hip) are questionable. James Reimer, who is likely to get the start in net, and Jonathan Bernier have each allowed seven goals in their last two games.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (22-20-12): Henrik Sedin, who is six behind his twin brother Daniel for the team scoring lead with 38 points, is slated to play his 1,141st game Saturday and pass Trevor Linden for first on the franchise’s all-time list. Thirteen different players registered at least a point in the last two victories while forward Bo Horvat along with defenseman Ben Hutton had two. The Canucks need that kind of depth to stay in the race along with the continued strong play of goalie Ryan Miller (12-15-8), who has allowed two or fewer goals in four straight.
OVERTIME
1. Toronto D Jake Gardiner has scored in each of the last two games to give him five on the season.
2. Vancouver recalled F Alex Friesen and D Yannick Weber on Thursday to replace Edler and Sutter.
3. The Maple Leafs have won three of the last four meetings, including a 4-2 triumph in Toronto on Nov. 14.
PREDICTION: Canucks 5, Maple Leafs 2

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Preview: Washington at Dallas
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 13, 2016
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
The Washington Capitals are starting to run away and hide for the best record in the NHL and will carry a five-game winning streak into Saturday night’s marquee matchup at the Dallas Stars. Led by superstar captain Alex Ovechkin, the surging Capitals own an eight-point edge over the Chicago Blackhawks atop the league standings entering the finale of a three-game road trip.
The fastest team to reach 40 wins in league history, Washington faces a daunting challenge against the Stars in a showdown of the top two scoring teams in the NHL. Ovechkin registered a hat trick in Thursday’s 4-3 victory at Minnesota to take over the league’s goal-scoring lead from Patrick Kane with 34 tallies. Dallas won has won five of six following a 4-2 victory at Chicago on Thursday night to pull within one point of the Western Conference-leading Blackhawks with three games in hand. The Stars won the first meeting this season, squeezing out a 3-2 victory at Washington on Nov. 19.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN Washington, FSN Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (40-9-4): Ovechkin’s first hat trick since December 2013 gave him 13 goals in his last 13 games and lifted him past Jean Beliveau into sole possession of 39th place on the career list with 509 tallies. “It’s incredible. The puck just comes to him,” said linemate Nicklas Backstrom, who assisted on all three of Ovechkin’s goals. “But he has that ability, when it comes, to put it in the net. It’s hard to do.” It’s equally hard to beat Capitals netminder Braden Holtby, who is 7-0-1 in his last eight games and owns a league-best 35 wins.
ABOUT THE STARS (35-15-5): Ovechkin’s hat trick was matched by an unlikely source as Dallas’ Patrick Eaves became the 10th player in franchise history to tally three goals in one period in Tuesday’s win. Playing on the top line with 28-goal scorers Tyler Seguin and captain Jamie Benn, Eaves has four goals and three assists in the past four games after notching three goals and an assist in his first 31 contests. “He is really shooting them right now,” Seguin said. “He’s got a quick release, and when you find those open spots good things are going to happen. He’s dialed in right now.”
OVERTIME
1. Stars G Kari Lehtonen has turned aside 81-of-86 shots in back-to-back starts.
2. Ovechkin has six goals in 11 games versus Dallas.
3. Stars F Travis Moen (lower body) will be sidelined for a short time but D Jason Demers is expected to return to the lineup.
PREDICTION: Stars 4, Capitals 3

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Preview: Anaheim at Chicago
When: 8:30 PM ET, Saturday, February 13, 2016
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
The Chicago Blackhawks have seen their Central Division lead reduced to a single point after losing the first two contests of their four-game homestand. The Blackhawks look to get back on track and complete a three-game season sweep of the visiting Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.
“The last two, we’ve been in a little bit of a funk,” Chicago superstar Patrick Kane said after scoring his team-leading 33rd goal in a 4-2 loss to Dallas on Thursday. “We’ll work ourselves out of it, just like we always do, and come back ready to play Saturday.” While the Blackhawks have struggled to start their homestand, the Ducks have followed a five-game winning streak by dropping two of the first three contests on their seven-game road trip. David Perron extended his point total to 10 (four goals, six assists) in as many contests after scoring a goal and setting up another in Anaheim’s 4-3 setback to Columbus on Thursday.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FSN Prime Ticket (Anaheim), WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE DUCKS (26-19-8): Forward Chris Stewart was sent to Anaheim on Friday to undergo a medical examination to test for a broken jaw following his fight with Blue Jackets defenseman Dalton Prout. “It’s a big loss for us,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau told the Orange County Register of Stewart, who has scored eight goals and set up 10 others this season. “He’s played extremely well for us. … He’s been a really good team player and leader actually for this team.” Anaheim reached out to San Diego of the American Hockey League and recalled forward Nick Ritchie, who collected 15 goals and 13 assists with the Gulls this season.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (36-18-4): Corey Crawford, who was rocked for four goals on 18 shots on Thursday, has dominated Anaheim in his career. The two-time Jennings Trophy recipient improved to 11-4-1 with three shutouts and a 1.77 goals-against average versus the Ducks after stopping 62-of-64 shots en route to winning both encounters this season. Captain Jonathan Toews has scored two goals and set up three in his last four games and tallied in overtime to give Chicago a 1-0 victory over Anaheim on Oct. 26.
OVERTIME
1. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville told reporters that rookie LW Artemi Panarin could return to the lineup Saturday after sitting out the last two games due to illness.
2. Ducks G Frederik Andersen has secured at least one point in each of his last eight decisions (6-0-2).
3. Chicago is 12-2-2 versus Pacific Division representatives while Anaheim is 6-6-2 versus Central Division foes.
PREDICTION: Blackhawks 3, Ducks 1

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Preview: Winnipeg at Edmonton

When: 10:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 13, 2016
Where: Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta
The Edmonton Oilers sit in last place in the Western Conference, but every time 19-year-old phenom Connor McDavid hits the ice, the Oilers cannot help but feel optimistic about the future. The rookie center has four goals and eight assists in six games since returning from a broken left collarbone, and enters Saturday’s home contest against the Winnipeg Jets off a five-point performance.
“What do you say?” Edmonton coach Todd McLellan told reporters Thursday after McDavid’s two goals and three assists sparked the Oilers past Toronto 5-2. “You turn into a fan, as a coach and as a player, and you just admire what he and his linemates did.” The Jets showed signs of shaking out of a month-long slump by sweeping a two-game road trip, but returned home with a thud in Thursday’s 6-2 rout by Boston. “They got faster and we got slower,” Jets coach Paul Maurice told the media after Winnipeg lost for the ninth time in the past 14 games. Bryan Little finished with a goal and an assist for the Jets, who have allowed 19 goals in their past five contests.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, CBC, TVAS
ABOUT THE JETS (24-27-3): Winnipeg had plenty of chances Thursday, outshooting the Bruins 30-12 at one point before going more than 17 minutes without a shot on net. Rookie goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was yanked after allowing three goals on 11 shots in the first period, losing for the fifth time in his past seven decisions, and Winnipeg sent Hellebuyck to Manitoba of the AHL Friday while activating Ondrej Pavelec (knee) from injured reserve. The Jets missed an opportunity to draw closer to Nashville for the final Western Conference playoff spot, entering Friday seven points back of the Predators, and a loss Saturday would drop them into a tie with the Oilers for last in the conference.
ABOUT THE OILERS (22-29-5): McDavid’s linemate Jordan Eberle recorded his first NHL hat trick Thursday, and the line of McDavid, Eberle and Benoit Pouliot (four assists) combined for 13 points. Goaltender Cam Talbot made 34 saves Thursday, stopping all 14 shots he faced on the power play to get his first victory since Feb. 4. The Oilers are 15-10-1 at home and play their next five games on home ice, beginning play Friday nine points out of the final Western Conference playoff spot.
OVERTIME
1. Pavelec has not played since Nov. 21; Maurice would not say at Friday’s practice whether Pavelec or Michael Hutchinson would start Saturday.
2. McDavid has three multi-point games in his first six contests back from injury and boasts nine goals and 15 assists in his first 19 NHL contests.
3. Talbot made 44 saves in Edmonton’s first meeting of the season with the Jets, a 3-1 Oilers home victory Dec. 21 in which RW Teddy Purcell scored twice and LW Taylor Hall finished with three assists.
PREDICTION: Oilers 5, Jets 3

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Preview: Arizona at San Jose
When: 10:30 PM ET, Saturday, February 13, 2016
Where: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
One day after ending their five-game slide, the Arizona Coyotes continue to push toward a postseason berth when they visit the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Arizona climbed within three points of Nashville for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference on Friday with its first win since Jan. 25 – a 4-1 triumph over Calgary.
Coyotes captain Shane Doan enters the meeting with San Jose as the franchise’s all-time points leader as he passed Dale Hawerchuk (929) by notching two goals and an assist versus the Flames for 931 career points. The Sharks have struggled with consistency of late, alternating wins and losses over their last eight games. Despite the ups and downs, San Jose sits in second place in the Pacific – one point ahead of Anaheim and eight behind division-leading Los Angeles. The Sharks won the opener of the five-game season series, posting a 3-1 victory at Arizona on Jan. 21.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, CSN California (San Jose)
ABOUT THE COYOTES (25-23-6): In addition to passing Hawerchuk in points, Doan moved ahead of the Hall of Famer for first on the franchise list with his 123rd power-play goal. The 39-year-old hit the 20-goal mark with his first tally Friday, marking the 13th time in his career he has hit the plateau. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson matched Doan with three points against Calgary, raising his team-leading total to 41.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (28-20-5): Captain Joe Pavelski leads the club in goals (25) and points (52) but has gone five games without a tally. Joe Thornton has been an offensive force of late, notching at least one point in 22 of his last 24 games. The 36-year-old enters Saturday with a four-game point streak during which he has recorded three goals and three assists.
OVERTIME
1. San Jose’s Brent Burns leads all NHL defensemen with 18 goals but is mired in a 13-game drought.
2. Ekman-Larsson has scored seven game-winning goals this season, one shy of the league lead shared by Pavelski and Chicago captain Johnathan Toews.
3. San Jose C Logan Couture is heating up, collecting two goals and five assists during his three-game point streak.
PREDICTION: Sharks 4, Coyotes 2