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**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:29 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Sabres (19-26) at Canadiens (21-23)

Date: February 03, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The last time the Montreal Canadiens faced the Buffalo Sabres, they were riding the high of a win streak that fell one game shy of an NHL record.

This time around, the Canadiens are about as low as they can get.

Montreal seeks just its sixth win during a two-month free-fall when it opens a four-game homestand Wednesday night against the Sabres.

Montreal (24-23-4) started the season with nine consecutive wins, the eighth of which was a 7-2 rout in Buffalo on Oct. 23 that snapped a three-game skid in this series. The Canadiens added a win over Toronto the next day for a streak that fell one shy of the record set by the 1993-94 Maple Leafs and matched by the Sabres in 2006-07.

Fast forward about five weeks to Dec. 1 and the Canadiens owned the NHL's best record at 19-4-3. Skip ahead another two months and they've plummeted out of the Eastern Conference's playoff picture with by far the league's worst record in that span.

The Canadiens have earned just 11 points (5-19-1) since Dec. 3, making them the only team with fewer than 20 in that time. They've gone 2-8-0 at home and have failed to log points in consecutive games while averaging a league-low 1.84 goals and allowing 3.24.

Monday's return from the All-Star break brought much of the same for the NHL's most two-faced team. What was supposed to be the start of a resurgence turned into a 4-2 loss at Philadelphia, the club's third straight and eighth in nine games dating to Jan. 9.

The Habs erased a two-goal deficit only to surrender a pair in the final period.

"We're just all looking for answers in here," defenseman Nathan Beaulieu said. "It's frustrating. I mean, we're not going to give up on each other... We've got to really look at ourselves in the mirror right now."

Montreal has scored 16 goals in its last nine games while allowing 34.

Although the Sabres (20-26-4) have lost three of four, Robin Lehner has performed well with a 2.02 goals-against average and .948 save percentage in three starts during that stretch - giving him four since returning from an ankle injury Jan. 15.

Lehner, who was hurt in the second period of the season opener Oct. 8, picked up his first win with Buffalo by making 34 saves in a 3-2 victory at Ottawa on Jan. 26 which snapped the Sabres' three-game skid in the final contest before the All-Star break.

With Lehner playing well and Sam Reinhart (upper-body), Josh Gorges (upper-body) and Nicolas Deslauriers (broken foot) soon returning, things are looking up. Gorges and Deslauriers will play Wednesday, while Reinhart - who has 12 goals and eight assists in 47 games - is probable.

"I think that's good for us and then you look at our locker room, we've been pretty prone to injuries this year," Jack Eichel told the team's official website. "You see Deslauriers on the ice, he brings a lot of energy to our team, he's a key component. You see Sam's getting healthy, obviously we all know how good he can be.

"We're starting to come around."

Buffalo has averaged only 1.93 goals in its last 15 games, the last three coming without Reinhart. It's unclear if the Sabres will face Montreal's Mike Condon or Ben Scrivens in net.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:29 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Red Wings (24-16) at Lightning (25-18)

Date: February 03, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been taking advantage of a month-long stretch they'll spend mostly at home.

All of the Detroit Red Wings' recent success has come on the road.

Looking for a seventh straight victory at Amalie Arena, the Lightning can halt the Red Wings' road surge and avoid a third loss in as many meetings this season Wednesday night.

Tampa Bay (27-18-4) returns from the All-Star break at the halfway point of a 14-game stretch in which 11 will be played at home. Five of the first six came at Amalie, where the Lightning are 15-8-2 and in the midst of their longest winning streak since last season's 10-game run.

Steven Stamkos scored a first-period power-play goal and backup Andrei Vasilevskiy made 30 saves to help Tampa Bay to its eighth victory in nine games, 1-0 over Toronto at home last Wednesday.

'We're getting back on track,' Stamkos said after snapping a five-game goal drought with his 21st.

Tied with Detroit (25-16-8), the Lightning come out of the break feeling good about themselves.

"We're back in playoff (position)," defenseman Anton Stralman said. "That's what you want ... Get the points."

Tampa Bay failed to record a point in the first two meetings with the Red Wings, but gets its first crack at home. Though the teams split the four played there in last year's first-round playoff series, the Lightning have allowed five goals during a four-game regular-season home winning streak over Detroit.

All-Star Ben Bishop has yielded two goals in each game against the Red Wings this season, made 31 saves in a 2-0 Game 7 home victory over them in April and posted a 1.22 goals-against average in those last four regular-season meetings at Amalie.

Stamkos has two goals and an assist in his last three regular-season home contests against Detroit.

The Red Wings have dropped five in a row at home, but went 7-1-0 on the road in January. They'll look to win a fourth straight away from Joe Louis Arena in the opener of a back-to-back against the Florida teams.

"It will be a good test for us," coach Jeff Blashill told the Red Wings' official website. "We know Tampa's played great here lately.

"We think we've gotten better in our game ... We got to make sure to do everything we can to put ourselves in the best position to win."

The Red Wings have been sparked by Petr Mrazek, who has posted a 1.11 GAA in a 6-1-1 stretch and a 1.28 mark while winning seven straight road starts. Among the NHL leaders in GAA, Bishop (2.02) and Mrazek (2.03) are expected to match up for the first time this season.

Jimmy Howard stopped 49 of 51 shots in the first two games against Tampa Bay. However, he's given way to Mrazek, who posted a 2.29 GAA and recorded three shutouts while going 4-5-0 versus the Lightning during the regular season and playoffs in 2014-15.

Mrazek has also been a big reason why the Red Wings have killed 25 of 28 penalties over the last 10 games.

Fresh off a successful All-Star weekend, Detroit rookie Dylan Larkin has recorded two goals and six assists in eight road games. He has one of each against the Lightning this season.

"He wants to be a long-term great player," Blashill said of Larkin, tied for the team lead with 33 points.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:29 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Hurricanes (23-20) at Flames (20-24)

Date: February 03, 2016 9:30 PM EDT

Some teams were surely looking forward to the All-Star break and a few days off. The Carolina Hurricanes probably weren't among that group.

Carolina tries to continue its resurgence with a third straight win when it opens a three-game trip Wednesday night against the sinking Calgary Flames.

Two months ago, this seemed to be another lost season for the Hurricanes, who after a listless 5-1 home loss to New Jersey on Dec. 3 were tied with three other teams for last in the NHL's overall standings with 20 points.

That defeat appears to have signified a turning point for Carolina, which has since gone 15-7-4 for one of the league's best marks during that span. Only Chicago, Washington and Florida have been better entering the second half.

'That game, we didn't play hard, we gave up too much, and we weren't strong on the puck,' forward Riley Nash said. 'So that was kind of a kick in the butt to say, `We better get in gear, or we're going to be on the outside looking in again.''

Carolina (23-20-8) closed a three-game homestand in impressive fashion Jan. 26, rolling to a 5-0 rout of the reigning champion Blackhawks behind Nash's two goals and Eddie Lack's 26 saves.

'When we get contributions throughout the lineup, we're a good team,' said coach Bill Peters, whose club outshot Chicago 40-26. 'We've been a good team here for a while now.'

Jeff Skinner has led the Hurricanes offensively during the turnaround, tallying team highs of 13 goals and 21 points in those 26 games. Jordan Staal has 18 points and Kris Versteeg has contributed eight goals and 17 points.

Peters now has two strong options in net to choose from. Lack has won three of his last four starts with a 1.48 goals-against average and two shutouts, while Cam Ward is 5-3-2 with a 1.78 GAA in his past 10.

Ward, who hasn't played since Jan. 15, was activated from injured reserve Jan. 26 after missing time with a concussion.

The Flames (21-24-3) could definitely be counted among those teams that were happy to see the break arrive. They entered the layoff with three straight losses and a 2-6-1 record following a 2-1 defeat to Nashville last Wednesday.

That loss marked yet another slow start for Calgary, which allowed the first goal 6:21 into the contest and was outshot 11-4 in the opening 20 minutes. The Flames dropped to 5-11-0 when trailing after one period compared to a 12-3-1 mark when leading at that point.

"Our starts have been terrible this year," leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau told the team's official website. "It's tough to come back in games when you're down a goal or two. That's something that we need to be better at in the next part of the season here."

Even playing at home hasn't been enough lately for the Flames, who have lost five of seven at Scotiabank Saddledome since a franchise-record 11-game win streak there.

Also hanging over the team is the suspension of defenseman Dennis Wideman, who was banned indefinitely pending a hearing for checking and knocking down linesman Don Henderson last Wednesday.

This will be the second meeting between these teams in a little over a week after Versteeg scored twice in Carolina's 5-2 victory Jan. 24. The Hurricanes are 0-5-1 in their last six visits to Calgary since a 4-3 win Dec. 12, 2002.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:30 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 2/3

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

After a very entertaining new format in the All-Star Game, the NHL is back in action on Tuesday night. The Washington Capitals enter the second half of the season with an NHL-best 74 points. They have a 15-point lead over the second-place New York Rangers in the Metropolitan Division and an 11-point lead over Atlantic-leading Florida for the East's top seed in the playoffs. The Caps are +400 favorites to win the Stanley Cup and +175 for the East title. Tampa Bay is next in the East at +550.

Defending Cup champion Chicago leads the Western Conference with 70 points. The Blackhawks, led by Hart Trophy favorite Patrick Kane, are three ahead of the No. 2 team in the West and Central Division, Dallas. Chicago is +500 to win a fourth Cup this decade and +275 for the West, with Pacific-leading Los Angeles second at +350.

Of course, this is also Super Bowl week, Dportsbooks have a couple of NHL props to go with the game. You can bet total shots on goal by Washington's Alex Ovechkin on Super Bowl Sunday at home against Philadelphia in an NBC national TV game against the total touchdowns scored in the Super Bowl. Both options are -120. Ovechkin usually leads the NHL in shots and does this season with 234, 29 more than No. 2 Brent Burns, a Sharks defenseman. Ovechkin averages about 5.1 shots per game. He has eight shots in two games this season against the Flyers. I rather doubt there will be more than five touchdowns in the Super Bowl with two very good defenses. I'd take Ovechkin there.

You can also wager the total number of goals in the Carolina vs. Montreal game on Sunday vs. total catches by Panthers tight end Greg Olsen. Both are -120. The Habs beat the Hurricanes 3-2 in the only meeting this season on Dec. 5 in Raleigh. Montreal is 10th in the NHL in scoring at 2.7 goals per game and Carolina 23rd at 2.4 per game. Olsen is easily Cam Newton's favorite target and has had six catches in each playoff win thus far. I'd say he's good for at least that many again. I'd definitely take him on that prop.

Anaheim at Los Angeles, Thursday: This game also is on the NBC Sports Network. The Ducks are probably the biggest disappointments in the NHL. They were the West's top seed in last year's playoffs and lost to Chicago in a seven-game West Finals. But the Ducks have just 51 points in 47 games, and they are five points out of the second wild-card spot in the conference. Anaheim is last in the NHL in scoring but might be snapping out of its funk with 24 goals over the past six games, five of which are wins. The Kings lead the Pacific Division by seven points over San Jose but lost three of four ahead of the break. This is L.A.'s final game before a season-high seven-game road trip. The Ducks and Kings somehow have played just once so far this season, a 3-2 L.A. road win on Jan. 17.

Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, Friday: The Lightning were playing their best hockey when the break hit, winning eight of their past nine. They also ended Chicago's NHL-best 12-game winning streak. I still say the Bolts will take the Atlantic Division title unless they actually do trade superstar Steve Stamkos (more on that later this month). Tampa Bay finished with the best January points percentage (.818) in the NHL. The Lightning scored three or more goals in seven of 11 January games. Pittsburgh closed the first half on a three-game winning streak. The Lightning won the lone meeting thus far, 5-4 in overtime in Tampa on Jan. 15. Vladislav Namestnikov completed a hat trick in overtime.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:30 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 2/3

NHL

Hot teams
-- Lightning won eight of its last nine games. Detroit won seven of its last eight road games.
-- Hurricanes won three of their last four games.

Cold teams
-- Canadiens lost eight of their last nine games. Buffalo lost three of its last four.
-- Calgary lost its last five games, scoring seven goals.

Series records
-- Sabres won three of last four games with Montreal.
-- Red Wings are 6-4 in last ten games with Tampa Bay.
-- Home side won eight of last nine Carolina-Calgary games.

Totals
-- Over is 5-0-2 in last seven Montreal games.
-- Under is 6-3-1 in last ten Detroit games.
-- Under is 5-2-1 in last eight Calgary home games.

Back-to-backs
-- Montreal lost six of last seven games if it played night before.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:31 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 2/3

'On the ice'

The Lightning skate out of the All-Star break with a goal differential of plus-13 on the season, while the Red Wings have been somewhat fortunate at minus-2. Also, it's expected that back-up goalie Jimmy Howard (.908 save percentage) will start Wednesday over Petr Mrazek (.932 SV%) in the front end of back-to-back games for the Wings. No. 1 netminder Ben Bishop (.926 SV%) is penciled in to start for Tampa Bay after playing in his first career All-Star Game.

Detroit will be without at least one key player in this game: Top defenseman Niklas Kronwall (three goals, 14 assists) was put on long-term injured reserve Monday after having his knee scoped last month. Kronwall leads all Detroit blueliners with 10 power-play assists. Centre Riley Sheehan (seven goals, six assists) is iffy to face Tampa Bay after coming down with an undisclosed illness and missing Monday's practice.

**TheGame** · 02-03-2016, 07:43 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 2/3

BUFFALO vs. MONTREAL
Buffalo is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Buffalo is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing Montreal
Montreal is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing Buffalo
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Montreal's last 7 games

DETROIT vs. TAMPA BAY
Detroit is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Detroit's last 5 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit

CAROLINA vs. CALGARY
Carolina is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Calgary
Carolina is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Calgary
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Calgary's last 5 games when playing Carolina
Calgary is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games

**Satch** · 02-03-2016, 09:17 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Detroit at Tampa Bay
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
The winner will take over sole possession of second place in the Atlantic Division when the Detroit Red Wings visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. The Lightning finished off a 9-2-0 month by shutting out Toronto before the All-Star break while Detroit went 7-3-1 in January after besting the New York Islanders 4-2 last Monday.
The Red Wings have won both meetings this season at home by a combined score of 5-2 after losing a seven-game series to Tampa Bay in the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Rookie Dylan Larkin (15 goals, 33 points) looks to continue his Calder Trophy-caliber season after the break, following a trip to the All-Star Game on which he won the fastest skater event in the Skills Competition. Captain Steven Stamkos leads the Lightning with 21 goals and is three shy of 300 for his career as he remains without a contract for next season. Ben Bishop (19 wins, 2.02 goals-against average, .926 save percentage) joined Stamkos at the All-Star Game and is expected to face Petr Mrazek, who also had a solid first half (18, 2.03, .932).
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TVA
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (25-16-8): Larkin notched three points in three games before the break and is tied with captain Henrik Zetterberg for the team lead in scoring. Veteran Pavel Datsyuk is starting to warm up after starting the season on injured reserve, registering nine points in his last nine games with a plus-6 rating in that span. Detroit will need more supplementary scoring from Tomas Tatar (one point in his last five games) and Gustav Nyquist (points in two of his last 10 contests).
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (27-18-4): Nikita Kucherov has recorded at least one point in 16 of his last 18 games to take over the team lead with 41 – three better than Stamkos. Ondrej Palat and Vladislav Namestnikov played on a line with Stamkos most of last month while Alex Killorn and Tyler Johnson are teaming with Kucherov. Valtteri Filppula, who has picked it up with 12 points in his last 13 games, is centering Ryan Callahan (one goal, 35 games) and J.T. Brown on the top checking unit for the Lightning.
OVERTIME
1. Mrazek, who posted two shutouts in the series against Tampa Bay last postseason, has allowed nine goals in his last eight games.
2. Tampa Bay D Victor Hedman has recorded 10 points in his last nine games and ranks third on the team with 28.
3. The Red Wings are 15-for-15 on the penalty kill over their last five games while the Lightning are 18-for-19 in the same stretch.
PREDICTION: Lightning 4, Red Wings 2

**Satch** · 02-03-2016, 09:17 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 2/3

Preview: Carolina at Calgary
When: 9:30 PM ET, Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta
The Carolina Hurricanes are entertaining postseason plans after entering the All-Star break with a flourish while the Calgary Flames’ bid for a second straight playoff berth has cooled considerably. Fueled by a 7-2-1 mark in their last 10 contests, the Hurricanes look to continue their hot hand on Tuesday when they open a three-game road trip with a date against the sputtering Flames.
Kris Versteeg is making a homecoming of sorts as the 29-year-old is expected to have his family make the two-hour trek from Lethbridge (Alberta) to the Scotiabank Saddledome. Versteeg would love a repeat performance of his last meeting with the Flames, against whom he scored twice in Carolina’s 5-2 win on Jan. 24. Joe Colborne scored in that contest and again versus Dallas the following night, but Calgary mustered just two other tallies during its three-game losing skid. “You can shoot 60 times if you want or shoot from center ice,” coach Bob Hartley told the Calgary Sun of the team’s scoring woes. “I think we have to do a better job around the blue paint. I think we have to be a bit more opportunistic and have quicker releases around the net.”
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, FSN Carolinas, RSN (Calgary)
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (23-20-8): Joakim Nordstrom tallied in the first meeting with Calgary as part of a three-game goal-scoring streak. The 22-year-old Swede has worked well with linemates Andrej Nestrasil and Jordan Staal, with the latter setting up two tallies as part of his four-game point streak (one goal, four assists). Victor Rask also scored versus Calgary, with his 12th goal serving as third-best on Carolina and 29th point placing him fourth on the team.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (21-24-3): Ladislav Smid knows he needs to be ready as fellow defenseman Dennis Wideman awaits his fate from the NHL following the veteran’s cross-check to an official in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Nashville. “Obviously you don’t want to get in the lineup this way, I feel bad for (Wideman),” Smid told the team’s website. “But for me, I’ve been in and out of the lineup a lot this season so nothing really changes.” Wideman, who is suspended indefinitely by the league, met with NHL officials in Toronto on Tuesday for a disciplinary hearing.
OVERTIME
1. Calgary RW Jiri Hudler scored in the last meeting and has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in eight encounters with Carolina.
2. Carolina has scored two goals or fewer on 28 occasions this season.
3. Flames G Karri Ramo, who is 1-5-0 in the last six outings, yielded three goals on 19 shots before being relieved in the second period versus the Hurricanes on Jan. 24.
PREDICTION: Flames 3, Hurricanes 2

**Satch** · 02-03-2016, 09:18 AM

Re: NHL Betting Info. 2/3

Grand Salami – February
By VI News
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 –

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NHL Betting Info. 2/3

NHL Betting Info. 2/3

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