NHL Betting Info. 3/12

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Preview: NY Islanders at Boston
When: 1:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 12, 2016
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
The New York Islanders saw their four-game winning streak come to a halt as a late goal led to a shootout loss their last time out. New York looks to rebound from just its fourth setback in 15 outings (11-2-2) on Saturday afternoon when it visits the Boston Bruins.
Captain John Tavares scored in his second straight outing in Wednesday’s 4-3 shootout loss to Toronto to pull within one tally of 200 for his career. Tavares has 10 goals and 22 points in his last 17 games for the Islanders, who reside two points behind the rival New York Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division. Boston, which is mired in its own dogfight atop the Atlantic Division, ventured past regulation for the fourth straight game on Thursday before dropping a 3-2 decision to Carolina. “It’s the same as if we’d had a huge win,” Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid told CSNNE.com of the team’s mindset of the 2-0-2 stretch. “(The Carolina loss) doesn’t have any impact. You just move on, and get ready to face your next opponent.”
TV: 1 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus (New York), NESN (Boston), SN1, NHL.TV
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (37-20-8): Thomas Greiss is aware that all eyes will be on him as fellow goaltender Jaroslav Halak is sidelined for six to eight weeks with a groin injury. “Obviously, you’re going to think about it a little bit,” the 30-year-old Greiss told Newsday. “But you can’t worry. The season has been going pretty well so far. You can’t overthink the whole thing.” Greiss has posted a 7-0-2 mark in his last nine starts, but suffered a hard-luck setback in his lone career outing versus Boston despite stopping 28 of 29 shots.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (38-23-8): Patrice Bergeron notched an assist on Thursday to extend his point streak to six games (five goals, three assists) and scored and set up a goal in Boston’s 2-1 victory over New York on Nov. 8. The All-Star center was granted a maintenance day on Friday and did not practice after he committed a couple of penalties and made an ill-advised line change which led to the Hurricanes’ game-winning goal. Defenseman Kevan Miller participated in practice on Friday after missing three games with an upper-body injury, although coach Claude Julien noted that his status for Saturday’s tilt will be determined in the morning.
OVERTIME
1. New York D Nick Leddy scored and set up a goal for his third straight multi-point performance on Wednesday and increased his point total to 18 (two goals, 16 assists) in his last 18 games.
2. Boston is 3-for-25 on the power play in the last 10 contests.
3. Former Bruins D Johnny Boychuk has two goals and an assist in his last three games and has one of each against Boston this season.
PREDICTION: Bruins 2, Islanders 1

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Preview: Carolina at Buffalo
When: 1:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 12, 2016
Where: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, New York
The Carolina Hurricanes have battled back into postseason contention due to their ability to win tight games and they’ll continue they playoff drive when they visit the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon in the second of a five-game road trip. Carolina squeezed out a 3-2 overtime win at Boston on Thursday night to draw within four points of Detroit for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Hurricanes dropped four of five games to close out February and started dealing away some of their top players at the trade deadline with their postseason hopes seemingly slipping away. Yet they have rebounded to go 3-0-1 in March, beating Ottawa in a shootout and topping New Jersey on a late goal with 89 seconds to play. Unlike Carolina, Buffalo continues to struggle when it involves narrow decisions, dropping to 11-13-9 in one-goal games following Thursday’s 3-2 loss at Montreal. “We play good hockey, but we make those big mistakes that end up costing us games,” Sabres defenseman Jack McCabe told the Buffalo News. “You look at the playoff picture and you think back, ‘What if?’”
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FSN Carolinas, MSG Buffalo, NHL.TV
ABOUT THE SABRES (27-33-9): Forward Ryan O’Reilly, who still leads Buffalo in scoring with 49 points despite missing the past 10 games with a broken foot, skated Friday for the first time since sustaining the injury on Feb. 19. “It’s always nice to get back on the ice,” O’Reilly said. “It’s awkward kind of coming back, but it was a good workout. Hopefully, I’ll continue to improve and get back soon.” In an off-the-ice matter, Sabres forward Evander Kane was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office following an investigation into a sexual encounter in December.
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (31-26-11): Rookie defenseman Noah Hanifin, a former Boston College standout who was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft, made a successful debut to his home state by collecting a pair of assists – including the game-winning goal in overtime by fellow rookie Phillip Di Giuseppe. “It was my first game here in the NHL and just to be able to get out there and get a win in front of all my family and friends, it was definitely a really cool experience,” Hanifin said. Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward is 11-9-4 versus the Sabres but has dropped his last four starts in Buffalo.
OVERTIME
1. Hurricanes F Jeff Skinner has three goals and two assists during a three-game point streak and eight tallies in 16 contests versus the Sabres.
2. Buffalo has allowed a power-play goal in three straight games while going 0-for-8 with the man advantage in that span.
3. Sabres G Chad Johnson is 5-1-0 against Carolina, his most wins against any opponent.
PREDICTION: Sabres 4, Hurricanes 2

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Preview: NY Rangers at Detroit
When: 2:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 12, 2016
Where: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Star forward Rick Nash is on track to make his much-anticipated return to the starting lineup when the New York Rangers pay a visit to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday afternoon. Nash, who has been sidelined for the past 20 games due to a bone bruise in his left leg, went through a full practice Friday and coach Alain Vigneault said there’s a “very good chance” he will play Saturday.
Nash won’t be the only key player returning for the Rangers, who hold a two-point edge over the New York Islanders for second place in the Metropolitan Division. Starting netminder Henrik Lundqvist will be back in net after sitting out three games due to neck spasms while defenseman Marc Staal (back spasms) is expected to return after missing the past two games. The Red Wings snapped a three-game skid with a 3-2 victory over Winnipeg on Thursday and trail Pittsburgh by one point for the top wild card in the Eastern Conference. Detroit has dominated New York at home, posting a 12-1-1 mark in the last 14 games at Joe Louis Arena.
TV: 2 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), FSN Detroit
ABOUT THE RANGERS (39-22-6): Nash, a 42-goal scorer last season, has not played since he was injured while blocking a shot versus Carolina on Jan. 22 but was cleared for contact Friday. “It’s exciting to see Nasher back,” said Lundqvist, who posted his third shutout during a personal five-game winning streak versus Detroit with a 1-0 overtime victory on Feb. 21. “The whole team is happy to see him out there.” The return of Nash, who has 12 goals in 45 games this season, comes at an opportune time because leading goal scorer Derick Brassard is battling the flu and is questionable.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (33-23-11): Dylan Larkin picked the right time to end a seven-game point drought, becoming the first Detroit rookie to score 20 goals since Henrik Zetterberg in 2002-03 – with the milestone tally coming on an assist from Zetterberg that ended the captain’s eight-game point drought. “It’s pretty cool,” Larkin said. “It was a goal of mine coming into the year. But for me it’s what’s next and maybe 25, so there’s always more. I want that for myself and for our team to be successful.” Goaltender Petr Mrazek is expected to make his first start versus the Rangers.
OVERTIME
1. The Rangers have a daunting schedule upcoming with a home matchup versus Pittsburgh on Sunday followed by a three-game California road trip.
2. Detroit allowed two power-play tallies in three straight games before killing off all four chances by Winnipeg.
3. The Rangers have scored a power-play goal in three consecutive games.
PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Red Wings 1

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Preview: Minnesota at Montreal
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 12, 2016
Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec
Alex Galchenyuk is doing his best to single-handedly keep alive the Montreal Canadiens’ flickering postseason aspirations. After seeing Galchenyuk record his third consecutive multi-goal performance and fifth in eight outings, the Canadiens hope he has more in store heading into Saturday’s tilt with the visiting Minnesota Wild.
While Galchenyuk’s offensive efforts have brought a smile to the faces of Montreal fans, the sight of All-Star defenseman P.K. Subban stretchered off the ice in the final minutes of the team’s 3-2 victory over Buffalo was difficult to watch. Despite the scary scene, Subban is considered day-to-day with a neck injury but will miss Saturday’s tilt, coach Michel Therrien told reporters. The Canadiens’ battered defensive corps could be music to the ears of the Wild, who have mustered just eight goals during their last four games to drop two points behind Colorado for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. “We know it’s going to be a dogfight,” defenseman Ryan Suter told the Minneapolis Star Tribune after the team’s second straight loss. “We’ve put ourselves in a tough position here and we know it’s going to be difficult to get in the playoffs.”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), RSN, TVA (Montreal), NHL.TV
ABOUT THE WILD (31-27-10): Darcy Kuemper made 25 saves in a 2-1 loss to Edmonton on Thursday and had one fewer in a 2-1 victory over Montreal on Dec. 22. Whether Kuemper gets another crack at the Canadiens is uncertain as interim coach John Torchetti did not divulge Saturday’s starting goaltender with Devan Dubnyk returning to practice after a bout with an illness. Veteran Jason Pominville, who scored in the first meeting with the Canadiens, will miss his second straight game with a lower-body injury.
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (32-30-6): Subban will become the ninth regular player out of Saturday’s contest with an injury, joining fellow defensemen Jeff Petry, Nathan Beaulieu and Tom Gilbert along with forwards Brendan Gallagher, David Desharnais, Brian Flynn and Daniel Carr and goaltender Carey Price. With Lars Eller dealing with a lower-body injury, Montreal reached out to St. John’s of the American Hockey League on Friday to recall fellow forward Charles Hudon along with defenseman Darren Dietz. Despite the team’s constant game of musical chairs, Montreal has posted a 7-0-1 mark in its last eight home contests to remain on the fringe of postseason consideration.
OVERTIME
1. Minnesota LW Zach Parise snapped a nine-game goal drought on Thursday and has 14 tallies in 30 career meetings with Montreal.
2. Canadiens rookie G Mike Condon, who has yielded seven goals in his last three outings, made 20 saves in the first meeting with the Wild.
3. Minnesota is 0-for-8 on the power play in the last two games and failed to convert on its lone opportunity against Montreal.
PREDICTION: Wild 3, Canadiens 1

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Preview: Toronto at Ottawa
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 12, 2016
Where: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
The Ottawa Senators need a miraculous finish and plenty of help to get back in the playoff hunt after a 1-3-2 start to March, capped by a 6-2 loss at Florida on Thursday. The defensively challenged Senators will attempt to avoid falling deeper into the hole when they host the league-worst Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Ottawa has allowed 29 goals while winning twice in the last eight games (2-4-2) and Thursday’s loss was an example of how it has been going. “I thought we got a real good start. Then we got stubborn and that stubbornness has been killing us all year,” Senators coach Dave Cameron told reporters. “We force things when it’s low percentage. The puck ends up in the back of your net, you’re chasing the game. …” The Maple Leafs are looking toward the future and come in off a 4-3 shootout victory over the New York Islanders on Wednesday. Rookies Nikita Soshnikov, William Nylander and Zach Hyman each have two goals in six games since being called up by Toronto.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBC, TVAS2
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (22-33-11): Soshnikov had the shootout-winning goal Wednesday after Nylander tied the game late in regulation and defenseman Morgan Rielly, another prime prospect, tallied for the seventh time in his third season – one shy of his career high. Center Nazem Kadri recorded a pair of assists against the Islanders to move into the team lead with 37 points – one better than Leo Komarov, who has only one in nine games. The Maple Leafs are 4-for-10 on the power play and 6-for-6 on the penalty kill over the last three contests.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (31-30-8): Goaltender Craig Anderson returned after a four-game absence to allow six goals Thursday and his normally productive team has managed to score 10 times in five contests. Captain Erik Karlsson, who leads all defensemen in the league with 70 points, had a goal and an assist against Florida but has a minus-6 rating in six games this month. Mark Stone has four points in four games while Mike Hoffman (no points, six games) and Mika Zibanejad (no points, five games) have gone cold.
OVERTIME
1. The Senators won the first three contests in the four-game season series and have earned points in seven straight games against the Leafs (5-0-2).
2. Toronto D Rinat Valiev was recalled Friday and could make his NHL debut.
3. Ottawa veteran C Scott Gomez has registered one point and six shots on goal in five games since being signed as a free agent.
PREDICTION: Senators 5, Maple Leafs 2

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Preview: Philadelphia at Florida
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 12, 2016
Where: BB&T Center, Sunrise, Florida
Jaromir Jagr keeps collecting points and reaching milestones while leading the Florida Panthers as they inch closer to sealing up a spot in the postseason. The 44-year-old right wing looks to follow up a big two-goal performance and stay hot on home ice when the Panthers host the sizzling Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
Jagr became the fifth player in NHL history to reach 50 points (51) in 20 separate seasons in the 6-2 victory over Ottawa on Thursday and has scored 17 of his 23 goals at home. “Sometimes the puck goes in, sometimes it doesn’t,” Jagr told reporters. “And it’s easier at home, in front of your fans. They push you a little going forward.” The Flyers have won six of their last seven games after a solid 3-1 victory at Tampa Bay on Friday, allowing fewer than 20 shots for the third consecutive game. “Our guys worked hard,” Philadelphia coach Dave Hakstol told reporters. “You gotta do all the little things to have a chance to win on the road against a good team. That’s exactly what we did (Friday).”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia. FSN Florida
ABOUT THE FLYERS (32-23-11): Philadelphia pulled within two points of Detroit for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference after the victory and have a game in hand with 16 remaining. Brayden Schenn notched his ninth goal and 17th point in his last 14 games Friday while Sam Gagner and Matt Read each netted a power-play tally. Steve Mason made 18 saves for his third consecutive victory Friday while Michal Neuvirth has won three of his last four decisions, and Hakstol did not immediately name a starter for Saturday.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (37-21-9): While the line of Jagr with Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov has been productive all season, the Panthers are showing plenty of depth. Vincent Trocheck became the fourth Panther to reach 20 goals Thursday as he centers a line with Reilly Smith (21 goals) and Jussi Jokinen, who is riding a nine-game point streak (two goals, nine assists). “I feel we have two first lines right now,” Jokinen told the Miami Herald. “We’re going to need that going forward.”
OVERTIME
1. Huberdeau has recorded a goal and three assists in two games since returning from a concussion.
2. Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux was kept off the scoresheet Friday but has collected 11 points in his last eight games.
3. The Flyers lost at Florida 7-1 on Oct. 10 and came back two days later to beat the Panthers 1-0 at home.
PREDICTION: Flyers 4, Panthers 3

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Preview: Colorado at Winnipeg
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 12, 2016
Where: MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
The three-game suspension handed down Thursday to Gabriel Landeskog comes at a bad time for the Colorado Avalanche, considering the team is in a tight battle with Minnesota for the final Western Conference playoff spot. But as the Avalanche travel to Winnipeg for Saturday’s meeting with the Jets, they have confidence the wins will continue – especially if goaltender Semyon Varlamov plays as he did in Wednesday’s 3-0 shutout of Anaheim.
Varlamov stopped all 37 shots he faced in ending the Ducks’ 14-game point streak, two days after recording 37 saves in a 3-1 victory over Arizona following a two-game stretch where he did not start. “I’ve played up and down,” Varlamov told reporters. “It was one of the best games for us this year, for sure.” The Jets are last in the Western Conference and continue free-falling, losing for the sixth time in the past seven games in Thursday’s 3-2 defeat at Detroit — blowing a 2-0 lead after one period. “We really struggled in that second period to move the puck, to move our feet,” Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice told the media afterward. “There was a whole list of things.”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Altitude 2 (Denver), CITY (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (35-30-4): Colorado got a boost from an unexpected source Wednesday as forward Andreas Martinsen scored a goal after not playing in the Avalanche’s past seven contests. Landeskog has 46 points (17 goals, 29 assists) in 65 games this season, but will sit after a cross-check on Anaheim’s Simon Despres. Colorado has been outstanding on special teams, killing off a season-high 22 consecutive power plays and 34-of-35 since Feb. 12.
ABOUT THE JETS (27-35-5): Center Mark Scheifele is one of the hottest players in the NHL, recording an assist Thursday to give him 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in his past 11 contests. Marko Dano, acquired in the Feb. 25 trade that sent captain Andrew Ladd to Chicago, scored his first Winnipeg goal in Thursday’s loss after recording an assist Tuesday against Nashville. Goaltender Michael Hutchinson took the defeat Thursday and has surrendered 17 goals in his past five games.
OVERTIME
1. Winnipeg D Dustin Byfuglien played only 11 seconds in the final 24 minutes Thursday after suffering what Maurice described as an upper-body injury.
2. Colorado C Shawn Matthias has scored in back-to-back games, giving him three goals in seven outings since arriving in a Feb. 21 trade with Toronto.
3. The Avalanche have won three of the four matchups with the Jets this season and C Matt Duchene along with C Carl Soderberg each netted three goals as Colorado has outscored Winnipeg 13-9 overall.
PREDICTION: Avalanche 4, Jets 1

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Preview: St. Louis at Dallas

When: 9:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 12, 2016
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
The Dallas Stars have reclaimed sole possession of first place in the power-packed Central Division, but they will face one of the teams breathing down their necks when they host the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. The Stars knocked off Chicago 5-2 in a showdown for first place on Friday to move one point ahead of St. Louis and two clear of the Blackhawks.
Friday’s matchup marked the beginning of a five-game homestand for Dallas and the first of six straight contests against opponents sitting in the top three in their respective divisions. The Stars had lost eight of 11 (3-5-3) before dominating Chicago and now will look to reverse a trend that has seen them lose five of their last six to the Blues, including a 2-1 loss at St. Louis on Feb. 16. The Blues extended their winning streak to a season high-tying five games with a 5-2 thumping of visiting Anaheim on Friday. St. Louis also hits a rugged portion of the schedule as it kicks off a five-game road trip.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, NHL Network, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), FSN Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE BLUES (40-20-9): Vladimir Tarasenko had been in a bit of a goal-scoring slump – at least by his lofty standards – with six tallies in his previous 25 games, but he netted a pair of goals and set up another in Friday’s drubbing of the Ducks. Prior to Friday’s game, the Blues announced they signed defenseman Carl Gunnarsson, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent, to a three-year, $8.7 million contract extension. “He’s an underrated player,” coach Ken Hitchcock said of Gunnarsson. “He’s a great complimentary player. You need guys like that.”
ABOUT THE STARS (41-20-8): With captain Jamie Benn mired in a seven-game goal-scoring drought and Tyler Seguin failing to find the scoresheet in five straight contests, coach Lindy Ruff elected to split up his top two scorers, and the result was a goal and assist from each player on Friday. Conversely, Jason Spezza remained on a tear, scoring in his fifth consecutive game – and adding an assist for his 800th career point – to give him eight goals in the last nine contests and 26 for the season. Following a slump during which he lost four straight decisions, Kari Lehtonen is 3-0-1 in his last four starts.
OVERTIME
1. Blues G Jake Allen, who won his fifth straight start Friday, takes a 3-1-0 record and 1.42 goals-against average versus Dallas into Saturday’s clash.
2. The Stars have killed off 13 short-handed situations over their last four games.
3. Blues Fs Alex Steen and Steve Ott, along with G Brian Elliott, will accompany the team on the road trip.
PREDICTION: Stars 3, Blues 2

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Preview: Arizona at Edmonton
When: 10:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 12, 2016
Where: Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta
The Edmonton Oilers have escaped the basement of the Western Conference thanks to a recent surge they hope to continue against a struggling division rival as they begin a five-game homestand Saturday against the Arizona Coyotes. Edmonton has won five of its last seven contests to move two points ahead of Winnipeg in the West but has played three more games than the Jets and two more than Calgary, with which it is tied at 61 points.
The Oilers are 16-15-2 at home this season but have lost six of their last seven (1-5-1) at Rexall Place. Arizona is wrapping up a four-game road trip on which it improved to 1-1-1 with Friday’s 4-1 triumph at Calgary. The Coyotes, who have won only two of their last 11 contests (2-8-1), are clinging to their slim playoff hopes as they trail Colorado by nine points for the second wild-card spot in the West. The home team won each of the first three meetings of the season between Edmonton and Arizona, with the Coyotes going 2-0-1.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona Plus, Sportsnet (Edmonton)
ABOUT THE COYOTES (29-32-7): Arizona is hoping Oliver Ekman-Larsson returns to the lineup as the defenseman has missed the team’s last two games with a bruised shoulder. The 24-year-old Swede leads the team in a number of offensive categories, including assists (30), points (49), power-play goals (12) and game-winners (seven). Captain Shane Doan has scored a club-leading 24 goals this season, his highest total since netting a career-best 31 in 2008-09.
ABOUT THE OILERS (27-36-7): Edmonton expects to have Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the lineup against Arizona after the 22-year-old was activated from injured reserve Friday. Nugent-Hopkins, who hasn’t played since Jan. 18 because of a hand injury, has recorded eight goals and 22 assists in 46 games this season. Taylor Hall leads the team with 22 goals but has scored only two in his last 10 contests.
OVERTIME
1. Oilers D Darnell Nurse will serve the second contest of his three-game suspension for an incident against San Jose on Tuesday.
2. Arizona rookie LW Max Domi has gone nine games without a tally since posting back-to-back two-goal performances Feb. 18 and 20.
3. Three of Edmonton’s last five victories have been 2-1 decisions while another was a 3-1 final.
PREDICTION: Oilers 3, Coyotes 2

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Preview: Nashville at Vancouver

When: 10:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 12, 2016
Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
The Nashville Predators attempt to extend their franchise-record point streak and drive another nail in Vancouver’s coffin when they visit the Canucks on Saturday. Nashville staged a third-period rally at Calgary on Wednesday to avoid its first regulation loss since Feb. 9 and stretch its point run to 14 games (9-0-5).
The Predators are nine points clear of Minnesota in the Western Conference wild-card race and trail Chicago by seven points for third place in the Central Division. While Nashville has a solid hold on a postseason berth, Vancouver’s chances to qualify for the playoffs are slim as the club is 10 points behind the Avalanche for the second wild card with 16 games remaining. The Canucks got off to a good start on their four-game homestand, however, rebounding from a two-goal deficit to post a 3-2 overtime victory over Arizona on Wednesday. Nashville recorded a 2-1 triumph on Jan. 26 in its first visit to Vancouver this campaign and hosts the Canucks in the season-series finale on March 24.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FSN Tennessee (Nashville), CBC (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (34-21-13): Mike Fisher has had a disappointing campaign offensively, registering only 19 points in 57 games. The 35-year-old kept his streak alive, however, tallying against Calgary to reach double digits in goals for the 11th consecutive season. Craig Smith was kept off the scoresheet Wednesday, ending his five-game point streak during which he recorded four multi-point performances, but is two goals shy of reaching 20 for the third straight campaign.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (26-28-12): Captain Henrik Sedin has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury but participated in Thursday’s practice and could be in the lineup against Nashville. Vancouver confirmed Wednesday that Alex Edler would miss the rest of the season with a fractured fibula. The defenseman, who suffered the injury Feb. 9 against Colorado, recorded only 20 points in 52 games – his lowest total since notching 20 in 2007-08.
OVERTIME
1. Predators defensemen have accounted for 21 of the team’s 43 power-play goals, with captain Shea Weber leading the way with 12.
2. Vancouver RW Jannik Hansen is one tally away from reaching the 20-goal plateau for the first time in the NHL and four shy of 100 career goals.
3. Nashville is 1-12 in overtime this season.
PREDICTION: Predators 3, Canucks 1

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Preview: New Jersey at Los Angeles
When: 10:30 PM ET, Saturday, March 12, 2016
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
The Los Angeles Kings try to extend their winning streak to eight games versus teams not named the Anaheim Ducks as they complete a five-game homestand Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. First-place Los Angeles is coming off a 4-3 overtime victory over Washington on Wednesday and is one point ahead of Anaheim in the Pacific Division.
The Kings are 7-2-0 in their last nine games as they battle for their first division crown since winning the Smythe in 1990-91 and the perk that comes with the title. “We want to get home ice,” Los Angeles’ Jeff Carter told reporters after scoring in overtime Wednesday. “We’ve seen the last few times we’ve been in the playoffs how big Game 7s are, and when you have it in your home rink it’s a big advantage.” New Jersey began it’s three-game tour through California with a 3-0 victory over San Jose on Thursday and trails Detroit by six points for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. “It’s just worrying about our game,” the Devils’ Travis Zajac told reporters about the Stanley Cup playoff chase after scoring twice Thursday. “You’ve seen when we play with structure and with details and play hard we’re capable of winning games. That has to be our mindset right now.”
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New Jersey), FSN West (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE DEVILS (32-29-7): New Jersey’s postseason chances will depend in part on the play of goaltender Keith Kinkaid, who recorded his second career shutout Thursday after blanking the Kings 1-0 on Feb. 14. Kinkaid lost to Pittsburgh 6-1 on Sunday in his first start since Cory Schneider went down with a knee injury, prompting coach John Hynes to tell reporters Thursday: “He just seemed like he was more in control. The thing that we know about him, he’s very good at just making the saves that he should make.” Kyle Palmieri (team-high 25 goals) has scored twice in the last four games as he continues to enjoy a career season while Adam Henrique (23 goals) is pointless in two contests after producing four goals in his previous three games.
ABOUT THE KINGS (40-22-4): It doesn’t appear Carter will reach his average of 27 goals over the past three seasons but is heating up with three in his last two games, including the 300th of his career. Milan Lucic – Carter’s linemate – has two goals in four assists during a four-game point streak after being held off the scoresheet over the previous eight contests as he continues to work with the team on a contract extension. Tyler Toffoli (team-high 24 goals) hasn’t scored in nine games – once in his last 15 contests – while recording seven assists during that span.
OVERTIME
1. The Devils have won five straight versus Pacific Division teams.
2. Los Angeles is 4-for-11 on the power play over its last three games while New Jersey is 0-for-7 in the same span.
3. The Devils’ special-team units were each No. 9 in the NHL entering Friday. They are the only one of six teams (Anaheim, Boston, New York Islanders, St. Louis and Washington) with power play and penalty killing units ranked in the top 10 that is not in playoff position.
PREDICTION: Kings 3, Devils 2

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Preview: Washington at San Jose
When: 10:30 PM ET, Saturday, March 12, 2016
Where: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
The San Jose Sharks are struggling to put the pieces together at SAP Center this season, and the home team could be left scratching its head once again as the NHL-leading Washington Capitals pay a visit on Saturday. San Jose’s issues in front of its fans continued on Thursday as it dropped a 3-0 decision to New Jersey to begin a pronounced stretch of playing nine of its next 10 contests at home.
Several Sharks players recently told the San Jose Mercury News that the condition of the ice is an issue, but that doesn’t entirely explain how the team has recorded a league-worst 27 points at home (12-15-3) while posting a 25-9-3 mark on the road. San Jose made itself at home in the nation’s capital on Oct. 13, breezing to a 5-0 win over Washington as captain Alex Ovechkin sat out after reportedly oversleeping and missing the morning skate. Ovechkin might have been sleepwalking of late with just one goal and one assist in his previous six games before setting up a tally in the Capitals’ 4-3 overtime setback to Los Angeles on Wednesday.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, CSN Washington-Plus, CSN California (San Jose)
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (49-13-5): Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov continued their respective torrid stretches as each notched an assist on Wednesday. Backstrom, who missed the teams’ first meeting after offseason hip surgery, has recorded 30 points (eight goals, 22 assists) in his last 31 games overall and has 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists) in 33 road contests. Not to be outdone, Kuznetsov has 31 points (seven goals, 24 assists) in his last 26 games overall and 32 (10 goals, 22 assists) in 33 tilts away from the Verizon Center.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (37-24-6): Joe Thornton saw his six-game point streak end at the hands of the Devils, but the veteran forward traditionally has heated up against the Capitals. The 36-year-old Thornton scored in the first meeting and has 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) in 40 career encounters with Washington. Martin Jones, who turned aside all 31 shots he faced in the first tilt with the Capitals, has yielded just 10 goals in his last six games overall.
OVERTIME
1. Washington has played in 12 consecutive games that have been decided by one goal (8-3-1).
2. Former Capitals RW Joel Ward has been held off the scoresheet in each of the last eight contests while playing with the Sharks.
3. Washington is the lone NHL team that has yet to lose two straight games in regulation.
PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Sharks 1

[Satch]

Re: NHL Betting Info. 3/12

Hot teams
— Carolina won three of its last four games.
— Islanders won seven of their last nine games. Bruins won six of their last nine.
— Rangers won five of their last seven games.
— Flyers won six of their last seven games.
— Montreal won four of its last five home games.
— Colorado won three of its last four games.
— Blues won last five games, scoring 21 goals. Dallas Stars won three of last four.
— Seven of last nine Nashville games went over total.
— Edmonton won five of its last seven games.
— Washington won four of its last six games.
— San Jose won five of its last seven games. Washington won four of its last six.
— Kings won seven of their last nine games.
Cold teams
— Buffalo lost five of its last seven games.
— Detroit lost three of its last four games.
— Florida lost five of its last seven games.
— Toronto lost eight of its last ten games; Ottawa lost five of last six.
— Minnesota lost its last two games, scoring three goals.
— Winnipeg lost six of its last seven games.
— Canucks lost four of their last six games.
— Arizona lost eight of its last ten games.
— Devils lost five of their last seven games.
Series records
— Sabres won three of last four games with Carolina.
— Islanders lost their last four games with Boston.
— Rangers won six of last eight games with Detroit.
— Flyers lost three of last four games at Florida.
— Senators won their last three games with Toronto.
— Home side won last six Minnesota-Montreal games.
— Avalanche won four of last five games with Winnipeg.
— Blues won five of last six games with Dallas.
— Predators won three of last four games with Vancouver.
— Coyotes won seven of last eight games with Edmonton.
— Sharks won eight of last ten games with Washington.
— Devils won three of last four games with Los Angeles.
Totals
— Over is 6-0-2 in last eight Carolina-Buffalo games.
— Under is 5-2-1 in last eight Boston games.
— Under is 8-1-1 in last ten Ranger-Red Wing games.
— Six of last eight Philly-Florida games stayed under.
— Six of last eight Torotno-Ottawa games went over.
— Over is 3-1-2 in last six Montreal games.
— Over is 5-2-1 in last eight Colorado games.
— Over is 4-0-1 in last five St Louis games.
— Five of last seven nashville-Vancouver games stayed under.
— Nine of last ten Edmonton games stayed under total.
— Six of last eight San Jose games stayed under.
— Eight of last ten New Jersey-LA games stayed under.
Back-to-backs
— Flyers are 3-5 if they played the night before.
— Blues won three of last four if they played night before.
— Arizona lost six of last seven games if it played night before.