NHL Betting Info. 3/1

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Preview: Edmonton at Buffalo
When: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Where: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, New York
The top two picks in last year’s NHL draft will square off as professionals for the first time when Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers visit Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. McDavid and Eichel have not opposed one another since they competed in the World Juniors in 2014, when they played for Team Canada and Team USA, respectively.
No. 2 pick Eichel is more preoccupied with his own play than the matchup with McDavid after Buffalo was blanked twice on its just-concluded three-game road trip. “For myself, no production in these three games,” Eichel said. “I need to be a lot better and I need to step up.” Likewise, top overall pick McDavid downplayed any significance of facing his rookie counterpart. “For me personally, it’s not really too much of a big deal,” McDavid said. “We got drafted together sure, but other than that we don’t really share that much in common.”
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Edmonton), MSG (Buffalo)
ABOUT THE OILERS (23-34-7): Edmonton absorbed a costly blow when forward Benoit Pouliot, who had matched his career high with 36 points, suffered a potential season-ending shoulder injury in Sunday’s 3-1 win over the New York Islanders that snapped a seven-game losing streak. “Shoulder injury, not day-to-day, and he’s got to see some doctors and have some tests to figure out what long-term really is,” coach Todd McLellan said. “He won’t play for a little while for sure.” The Oilers added a big body at the trade deadline Monday, acquiring forward Patrick Maroon from Anaheim.
ABOUT THE SABRES (25-31-7): Buffalo lost one of its top offensive players at the trade deadline when forward Jamie McGinn was shipped to Anaheim in exchange for a conditional third-round draft pick that could wind up a second-rounder. “We have a ton of picks, a ton of picks that don’t have to be used on draft day, which I’ve said since I’ve got here,” Sabres general manager Tim Murray said. “I think we have a lot of options again going forward in the next two drafts.” Eichel scored a goal in a 4-2 loss at Edmonton on Dec. 6 – a game in which McDavid was sidelined by an injury.
OVERTIME
1. Eichel is mired in a six-game goalless drought and is a minus-15, the worst mark in the league for a rookie.
2. Oilers leading scorer Taylor Hall has three goals in five career games versus Buffalo.
3. The Sabres are laboring on the power play, converting 3-of-28 over the past eight games.
PREDICTION: Oilers 3, Sabres 2

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Preview: Pittsburgh at Washington
When: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Where: Verizon Center, Washington, District Of Columbia
The Washington Capitals will spend the last six weeks of the regular season preparing for the playoffs, and losing three times in four games is not part of the plan. The Capitals will try to avoid that scenario when they begin a three-game homestand against the Metropolitan Division-rival Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.
Washington, which has earned the most points in the league (94), dropped a 3-2 decision at Chicago on Sunday for its second loss in three contests. Newly acquired defenseman Mike Weber could make his debut with the team after being obtained last week from Buffalo for depth purposes with John Carlson out indefinitely due to a lower-body injury. Marc-Andre Fleury posted his fifth shutout of the season Monday as the Penguins blanked Arizona 6-0 at home for their second straight victory and maintained a three-point lead for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Pittsburgh, which is 7-3-1 in its last 11 contests, recorded a 3-1 win at Washington in October and dropped a 4-1 decision to the Capitals at home in December.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (32-21-8): Patric Hornqvist notched his first career hat trick on Monday and Pittsburgh hopes he can make steady contributions to the offensively gifted team when healthy. Captain Sidney Crosby tops the club with 59 points after recording three assists on Monday and Evgeni Malkin reached 50 with one assist against Arizona. The Penguins lost David Warsofsky on waivers to New Jersey but will be adding fellow defenseman Justin Schultz soon after he clears up visa issues following his acquisition from Edmonton.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (45-12-4): Washington also picked up forward Daniel Winnik on Sunday from last-place Toronto, and he is expected to play with Jay Beagle and Mike Richards on the fourth line when he arrives – most likely on Wednesday. “It kind of revitalizes your play,” Winnik, who has recorded four goals and 10 assists this season, told reporters of moving to a first-place team. Captain Alex Ovechkin (league-best 40 goals) has tallied 12 times in his last 13 games while leading scorer Evgeny Kuznetsov (64 points) has collected 23 points in his last 17 contests.
OVERTIME
1. Washington RW Justin Williams needs one goal to reach 20 for the first time since 2011-12 with Los Angeles.
2. Pittsburgh D Kris Letang scored his 11th goal Monday, matching his career best that was set in 2013-14 and equaled last season.
3. Capitals G Braden Holtby needs one victory to reach 40 on the season but posted just a .903 save percentage in February.
PREDICTION: Capitals 5, Penguins 2

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Preview: St. Louis at Ottawa
When: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Where: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
After remaining quiet at the NHL’s trade deadline, the St. Louis Blues hope to make noise when they continue their four-game road trip against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. St. Louis recorded its fifth road win in six outings and improved to 1-1-0 on its current trek with a 5-2 victory in Carolina on Sunday.
The Blues remain in the thick of it with Central Division powers Chicago and Dallas, although the latter two clubs were quite active prior to the deadline. With St. Louis looking to make a charge in the division, Ottawa has won five of six as it attempts to get back in the postseason picture. Bobby Ryan’s scoring troubles continued as he was held off the scoresheet for the eighth time in 10 outings in the Senators’ 6-4 win over Calgary on Saturday. Ryan has torched the Blues, however, scoring his second goal of the contest in overtime in Ottawa’s 3-2 win on Jan. 4 to extend his point total to 30 (17 goals, 13 assists) in 23 career outings versus St. Louis.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), RDS, WPCW (Ottawa)
ABOUT THE BLUES (36-20-9): St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong was aware his options were limited at the trade deadline, so much so that he was quick to tell others that he wasn’t interested in wasting their time. “I think for our situation, I’ve been pretty up front with the (general managers) I’ve talked to over the last couple of weeks about what our dynamics are and where we are as far as the cap,” Armstrong told TSN. Captain David Backes, who has been part of St. Louis’ plans for 10 seasons, has three goals and an assist in his last five games.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (30-27-6): Ottawa parted ways with a pair of defensemen on Monday, highlighted by shuffling Shane Prince and a seventh-round pick in the upcoming draft to the New York Islanders for a third-round selection in 2016. The Senators also shipped Conor Allen to Minnesota for forward Michael Keranen, who collected eight goals and 15 assists in 45 games this season with Iowa of the American Hockey League. Speaking of the AHL, Ottawa recalled forward Matt Puempel from Binghamton on Monday.
OVERTIME
1. St. Louis is 0-for-3 on the power play in the last two games after scoring 11 goals with the man advantage in the previous nine contests.
2. Ottawa C Mika Zibanejad recorded a natural hat trick on Saturday to match his point total from his previous eight games.
3. With Ryan Reaves returning from suspension, St. Louis assigned fellow RW Ty Rattie to Chicago of the American Hockey League on Monday.
PREDICTION: Blues 3, Senators 1

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Preview: Dallas at Nashville
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
The Dallas Stars attempt to put a dismal second half of February behind them and claim sole possession of first place in the Central Division when they visit the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. Dallas began last month by winning six of its first seven contests but ended it by losing six of seven, including each of the last three.
The Stars managed to earn a point against Detroit on Monday to complete their homestand at 0-2-1 and pull even for the top spot in the Central with Chicago (83 points). Unlike division-rival Dallas, Nashville ended the month on a high as it enters Tuesday with a four-game winning streak and a run of nine straight contests with a point (6-0-3). Things could get even better as captain Shea Weber practiced Monday with the Predators, who sit in the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference — five points in front of Colorado. Dallas is 2-0-0 in the five-game season series with the Predators, including a 3-2 overtime win at Nashville on Feb. 15.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest Plus (Dallas), FSN Tennessee (Nashville)
ABOUT THE STARS (38-19-7): Dallas bolstered its blue line at Monday’s trade deadline by acquiring Kris Russell from Calgary for two prospects and a conditional second-round draft pick. “I just want to go in there and earn some minutes and play well on both sides of the puck and try to help this team win,” Russell, who is ready to return to action after being sidelined since Feb. 12 with a lower-body injury, told the Stars’ website. “I’ve been skating the past four or five days, and it’s felt good, so I’m ready to go.” Travis Moen, who hasn’t played since Feb. 11 because of a groin injury, could return Tuesday.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (31-21-11): Weber, who leads the team with 11 power-play goals, has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury but appears as if he is close to returning to the lineup. “Once a player goes through a process and they get back to practice, that’s always a positive sign that things are moving in the right direction,” coach Peter Laviolette told the team’s website. Nashville improved its organizational depth on the blue line by acquiring Corey Potter from Arizona and assigning him to Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.
OVERTIME
1. Each of the last two goals by Predators RW Craig Smith, who notched a tally and an assist versus Dallas on Feb. 15, have been game-winners.
2. Dallas C Colton Sceviour has scored three of his eight goals on the season in his last four contests.
3. Nashville LW Filip Forsberg was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week after recording six goals — two natural hat tricks — and an assist in four games.
PREDICTION: Predators 3, Stars 2

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Preview: Colorado at Minnesota
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
The Colorado Avalanche added a bit more speed to their lineup at the NHL’s trade deadline as they seek to secure a postseason spot. One day after acquiring forward Mikkel Boedker from Arizona, the Avalanche look to strengthen their hold on the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference when they visit the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.
“I’m grateful for the situation that (the Coyotes) put me in when I was young,” Boedker (13 goals, 26 assists) told TSN after being shipped to the Avalanche for fellow forwards Alex Tanguay and Conner Bleackley and defenseman Kyle Wood. “I was drafted by them, but now it’s on to Colorado. Let’s see if I can help them win hockey games and go on a playoff run.” The Avalanche have dropped two of their last three overall and two of three this season to the Wild, who moved within two points of Colorado with a 3-1 win over Florida on Sunday. Erik Haula scored his career-high eighth goal in the victory and has three tallies and six assists in his last eight games.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Altitude (Colorado), FSN North (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (32-28-4): John Mitchell scored in a 5-4 season-opening loss to Minnesota on Oct. 8 to ignite a four-game goal streak and also tallied in overtime to seal a 2-1 win over the Wild on Dec. 7. Unfortunately for 31-year-old Mitchell, he has just one goal and two assists in his last 23 games. Captain Gabriel Landskog was also in a prolonged slump until recently, as the 23-year-old Swede has scored one goal and set up five others in his last four games – including two assists in Saturday’s 5-3 setback to Detroit.
ABOUT THE WILD (28-25-10): General manager Chuck Fletcher told reporters that he felt Minnesota didn’t need to make a splash deal at the NHL’s trade deadline in order to qualify for the playoffs. Fletcher stayed true to his word for the most part, although the Wild made three moves on Monday – “highlighted” by the team acquiring forward David Jones from Calgary for veteran goaltender Niklas Backstrom. In addition, Minnesota picked up defenseman Conor Allen from Ottawa for left wing Michael Keranen and acquired right wing Scott Sabourin from Los Angeles for center Brett Sutter – with both Wild players expected to be sent to Iowa of the American Hockey League.
OVERTIME
1. Minnesota C Charlie Coyle leads the team with 19 goals, including nine in his last 17 games.
2. Avalanche G Semyon Varlamov, who has yielded four goals in each of his last two contests, turned aside 60-of-63 shots to split his last two meetings with the Wild.
3. Minnesota activated Jonas Brodin from injured reserve after he missed 12 games with a broken foot and sent fellow D Christian Folin to Iowa.
PREDICTION: Wild 3, Avalanche 2

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Preview: Florida at Winnipeg

When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Where: MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Florida Panthers find themselves squarely in the race for the Atlantic Division title and, with 12 of their final 20 games on the road starting Tuesday at the Winnipeg Jets, they were active leading up to Monday’s trade deadline. Florida made three deals over the weekend to bolster its playoff hopes and Monday shipped forward Brandon Pirri to Anaheim.
Newcomers Jiri Hudler, Teddy Purcell and Jakub Kindl did not play in Sunday’s 3-1 loss at Minnesota — the second straight defeat for the Panthers — and backup goalie Al Montoya was injured in a first-period collision. “Injuries have been tough this year,” Florida forward Nick Bjugstad told reporters afterward. “We’ve gotta find ways to win, though, and we’ve done that for the most part.” Winnipeg is looking ahead to next season after dealing captain Andrew Ladd to Chicago on Thursday and dropping five out of six games (1-4-1), capped by Saturday’s 4-1 loss at Pittsburgh. “We’ve got to learn how to play better defensively,” Jets coach Paul Maurice told reporters after Saturday’s loss, the sixth time in the past eight games Winnipeg has surrendered three goals or more.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Florida, TSN3 (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (35-19-8): Florida coach Gerard Gallant told the media Montoya’s injury was not long term, but the Panthers recalled goalie Mike McKenna on an emergency basis after Roberto Luongo made 21 saves in relief Sunday. Center Derek MacKenzie landed on injured reserve Sunday with an upper-body injury, but Gallant will get to refresh his lines when the new acquisitions join the team for Tuesday’s game. The Panthers ranked second in the NHL in goals against per game (2.31) through Sunday, and hope Hudler and Purcell can bolster an offense averaging 2.66 goals per contest.
ABOUT THE JETS (26-31-4): Winnipeg ranked 19th in the league in scoring through Sunday, and goals will be a challenge now that Ladd (17 goals, 17 assists before the trade) and Bryan Little (17 goals, 25 assists, out for the year with a neck injury) are gone. Forward Blake Wheeler is enjoying a solid season, ranking ninth in the league with 39 assists entering Monday. The Jets have struggled all season slowing opposing offenses, allowing 2.95 goals per contest (sixth-worst in the NHL through Sunday) while also ranking near the bottom of the league on the penalty kill (77.1 percent).
OVERTIME
1. Winnipeg D Adam Pardy was claimed off waivers by Edmonton on Monday.
2. Panthers C Quinton Howden played Sunday after missing five games with a concussion.
3. Luongo made 29 saves and leading scorer Jaromir Jagr had two goals as the Panthers beat the Jets 3-1 at home on Feb. 20.
PREDICTION: Panthers 4, Jets 1

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Preview: NY Islanders at Vancouver
When: 10:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
The New York Islanders look to dust themselves off from an unexpected setback on their franchise high-tying seven-game road trip when they visit the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. The third-place Islanders, who dropped to 3-1-0 on its trek with a 3-1 setback to woeful Edmonton on Sunday, saw their lead over Metropolitan Division-rival Pittsburgh reduced to one point the following night after the Penguins routed the Arizona Coyotes.
Casey Cizikas scored his team’s lone goal on Sunday to extend his point streak to four games and secure his eighth point (three goals, five assists) in as many contests. “We know (losing a lead late) can’t happen, especially this time of year,” Cizikas told Newsday. “Not with how close the standings are. We have to come out Tuesday and be way better.” Vancouver suffered its ninth loss in 13 outings with a 4-1 setback to San Jose on Sunday. Ryan Miller yielded three third-period goals in the loss, but turned aside 47 shots to lead the Canucks to a 2-1 shootout win over New York on Jan. 17.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus (New York), RSNP (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (33-20-7): New York added depth to its blue line on Monday as the club acquired defenseman Shane Prince and a seventh-round pick in the upcoming draft from Ottawa for a third-round selection in 2016. The 23-year-old New York native has scored three goals and set up nine others in 42 games with the Senators this season. The Islanders also made a minor-league move, as the club acquired Marc-Andre Cliche from Colorado for fellow forward Taylor Beck.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (24-25-12): Radim Vrbata returned to practice on Monday and remained very much part of the team despite general manager Jim Benning telling reporters he did his best to try to deal the 34-year-old prior to the NHL’s trade deadline. “It wasn’t from a lack of trying. There wasn’t a lot of buyers in the marketplace and the buyers weren’t offering much,” Benning told the team’s website. Fellow pending unrestricted free agent Dan Hamhuis also remained with Vancouver despite Dallas reportedly “focused” on acquiring the 33-year-old defenseman. The Stars ultimately landed fellow blue-liner Kris Russell from Calgary instead.
OVERTIME
1. New York C Ryan Strome, who has been held off the scoresheet in each of the last five games, scored his team’s lone goal versus Vancouver in the first meeting.
2. The Islanders are 0-2-1 in their last three versus the Canucks.
3. Vancouver LW Daniel Sedin scored on Sunday for his ninth point in seven games (two goals, seven assists).
PREDICTION: Islanders 5, Canucks 2