Cnotes National Hockey League February Rated Plays - Trends - News - Etc. !!

[CNOTES]

Preview: Sabres (21-26) at Bruins (27-18)
Date: February 06, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Jack Eichel's most productive game as a pro came in his triumphant return to Boston just after Christmas, but the Buffalo Sabres' star rookie couldn't lead his team past the Bruins earlier this week.


The Sabres and Eichel seek a better result in their next visit to the TD Garden on Saturday night, when they'll again have to contend with a red-hot Brad Marchand.


Eichel had two goals and two assists in a 6-3 victory against the Bruins on Dec. 26. The former Boston University star and No. 2 overall draft pick hasn't registered more than two points in any of his other 51 games.


Eichel, the Sabres' second-leading scorer with 35 points, was kept off the scoresheet for the second time in seven contests in Thursday's 3-2 shootout defeat to Boston. Marchand tallied his eighth goal in eight games to complete the Bruins' rally from a 2-0 deficit.


"(Marchand has) been really good," said coach Claude Julien, whose team is 5-2-1 during his binge. "Tonight he wasn't just good scoring, he was good everywhere; he was all over the ice. When he plays like that he becomes one of the good players around the league, no doubt."


While it's won four straight on the road, Boston (27-18-6) is 3-6-1 in its last 10 home games, including the loss to the Sabres. The Bruins blew a two-goal lead in their return from the All-Star break Tuesday, a 4-3 overtime defeat to Toronto, and are hoping to get a boost from Thursday's comeback.


"Those are the type of games we need to know how to win, and I thought we showed some good character," Marchand told the team's official website.


Buffalo, though, has won five of seven on the road and out to match a season high with a third consecutive win there.


"The best thing about this league is you get another opportunity. Even better, it's against those guys in Boston in a couple days so we're going to prepare and focus on playing these guys again," forward Sam Reinhart told his team's official website.


The Sabres (21-26-5) have won in each of their past two visits to Boston. Ryan O'Reilly provided two goals and an assist in the latest trip to the Garden.


The Sabres' leading scorer has seven assists in his last 11 games but hasn't added to his team-best 17 goals. Eichel, who has 16 goals, scored twice in a 3-2 win in Ottawa on Jan. 26.


Boston has won two of the three meetings with Buffalo this season, with Ryan Spooner totaling two goals and two assists in those victories. He also provided the shootout winner Thursday.


Marchand's 14 goals against the Sabres are his most versus any opponent, but Thursday's tally was his first in the past five matchups.


Buffalo's Evander Kane has six goals and one assist in his past nine games against Boston. He has scored four of his 12 goals in the past eight contests.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Maple Leafs (19-22) at Senators (23-23)
Date: February 06, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Ottawa Senators are trying to remain composed during a rough stretch.


Hoping a players' meeting will provide a solution, the Senators try to avoid matching a season high with their fourth consecutive defeat Saturday night against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs.


A loser of 11 of 16, Ottawa (23-23-6) held a closed-door meeting following Thursday's 7-2 home defeat to Edmonton.


"We're still confident in this group," forward Zack Smith told the NHL's official website. "I think the main focus right now is not to feel sorry for ourselves.


"It's a good test to see what kind of team you have when you go through something like this, and if guys start falling apart. It's just a matter of sticking together and I think we've done that so far."


Though the Senators are averaging 2.3 goals in the last 16, the bigger concern is the 27 they've allowed and their opponents' 47.4 percent (9 for 19) conversion rate on the power play during a 1-5-0 rut.


Two nights after falling 6-5 at Pittsburgh, Ottawa allowed the Oilers to score three times in as many chances with the man advantage Thursday.


"The way we have been playing and the results we've been getting are unacceptable," defenseman Marc Methot said. "But we can't start turning on each other as a group in the dressing room, because that's a recipe for disaster and that won't get us anywhere."


Coach Dave Cameron also sees no point in flying off the handle to motivate his club.


'I'm going to give them some solutions," he said. "I'll suggest on what we work on and we'll work on it. I'm not going to yell and scream. Those days are gone.


'Am I close to losing my patience? No, not at all. They need me now.'


Craig Anderson faced a season-high 44 shots against the Penguins then was pulled after yielding three goals on 10 versus Edmonton. He has posted a 5.63 goals-against average while losing three straight.


Anderson made 37 saves in a 5-4 shootout victory at Toronto on Oct. 10 but has a 3.51 GAA in his last three against the Maple Leafs.


Ottawa, which dropped four in a row Oct. 15-24, has earned at least a point in five in a row against Toronto (19-22-9).


The Maple Leafs entered the All-Star break on a 1-7-2 slide but overcame a two-goal, third-period deficit to beat Boston 4-3 in overtime Tuesday. They then received a tying goal from Tyler Bozak late in regulation in Thursday's 3-2 shootout victory over New Jersey.


"Obviously, it's nice to win," Mike Babcock said after coaching his 1,000th game.


Bozak, who added an assist, had recorded two points in his previous 11 contests.


'I thought he had the puck all night (Thursday) and was good," Babcock said of Bozak, who snapped a 15-game goal drought. "I still think he can be way better. We need him to be consistently competitive like he was (against the Devils)."


Bozak recorded his first hat trick in a 4-3 overtime win over the Senators on March 28, and also scored against them in October.


Ottawa defenseman Erik Karlsson had three assists in the season's first meeting, giving him seven and four goals in a seven-game point streak against Toronto.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Blackhawks (35-16) at Stars (33-14)
Date: February 06, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Jonathan Toews' brief absence didn't make a difference in the Chicago Blackhawks' first game after the All-Star break, but his return certainly did in the latest.


The Dallas Stars head home hoping they can withstand the loss of a key player and close the gap on the first-place Blackhawks as the Central Division foes face off Saturday night.


Dallas (33-14-5) has kept pace with the Blackhawks by winning its first two out of the break, though Thursday's comeback victory at Colorado was marred by Jason Spezza's upper-body injury that will sideline the veteran center for at least a few games.


'I'm going to say it's more than a few days,' coach Lindy Ruff said following the Stars' 4-3 overtime win.


Spezza's 18 goals rank third among Dallas players and he's amassed a team-leading 15 points over the last 15 games.


The Stars, winners of three straight and first in the NHL with 169 goals, still possess two of the league's top four scorers in Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin and one of its best offensive defenseman in John Klingberg, whose goal 35 seconds into overtime capped Dallas' comeback from a 3-2 deficit after two periods.


"I thought we fought through some adversity," Ruff said. "I thought we could have got some calls (Thursday). It was a gutsy win."


Chicago (35-16-4) also displayed some resolve in Thursday's 5-4 win at Arizona that maintained its three-point edge over the Stars. It had a first-period goal waved off that drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from coach Joel Quenneville, which led to the Coyotes scoring on the resulting power play, then blew a late one-goal lead before Toews scored with 28.5 seconds left in overtime.


Toews recorded his league-leading fifth overtime goal and scored short-handed earlier in his return from a one-game suspension. The Chicago captain was forced to sit out Tuesday's 2-1 win at Colorado after skipping Sunday's All-Star Game with an illness.


"It's about getting opportunities," he said. "After you get a few early in the season you feel confident in the situation. I'm glad I've been able to cash in on situations like that.'


The Blackhawks' five goals equaled their total during a 2-3-0 stretch that followed a franchise-record 12-game winning streak from Dec. 29-Jan. 19, a run that erased the Stars' 13-point lead in the Central.


Dallas has had little trouble producing points in recent matchups with Chicago, outscoring the Blackhawks 14-3 while winning the last three - two by shutout. Spezza scored a power-play goal and ex-Blackhawk Patrick Sharp had a goal and an assist in a 4-0 home win Dec. 22, supporting 20 saves from former Chicago goaltender Antti Niemi.


Niemi, part of the Blackhawks' 2010 Stanley Cup champion team, has posted shutouts in two of his last three meetings with Chicago and is 7-2-0 with a 1.56 goals-against average in his past nine home starts.


Corey Crawford improved to 11-2-0 with a 1.77 GAA since Jan. 3 with 24 saves against Arizona but has conversely struggled in this series, having allowed 13 goals in Chicago's three straight defeats.


Dallas has won 11 of 14 at home and is 19-6-0 at American Airlines Center.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Wild (23-19) at Blues (29-17)
Date: February 06, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

If Zach Parise is frustrated by scoring once in the last 3 1/2 weeks, he can only imagine how Vladimir Tarasenko feels with the same goal total in the last four.


These wingers are emblematic of their teams' struggling offenses as they meet Saturday night when Tarasenko's Blues host Parise's Wild.


Parise has 17 goals, with one in this nine-game stretch in which Minnesota (23-19-9) has won once. The Wild fell to 1-8-1 in their last 10 with Thursday's 4-2 defeat to the New York Rangers that extended Parise's pointless drought to four games.


"He's incredibly frustrated, you can see that," coach Mike Yeo said.


Tarasenko can relate since his team-high goal total is stuck on 25 during a five-game pointless drought with the one tally in the last 11. The Blues have totaled three goals in a 1-2-1 stretch after Thursday's 3-1 loss to San Jose.


"I don't think we need to be worried, I think we need to remedy it," center David Backes said.


At least St. Louis (29-17-8) has won a game among its last four. The Wild are now on the outside looking in at the crowded Western Conference playoff picture thanks to an 0-3-1 stretch.


Thursday's defeat not too far from New York's famed Broadway prompted an appropriate response from Yeo.


"We've been searching for answers for that for quite some time," he said. "We've tried some different, whether it's talks, or meetings, or whatever, we're trying a lot right now and what it boils down to is the actors gotta act."


Minnesota has conceded at least three goals in five of its last seven games, with Devan Dubnyk allowing a total of eight in two defeats to start this three-game trip. He failed to hold a 2-0 lead after one period Thursday.


"We're a very fragile team," Ryan Suter said. "They get one, and we kind of go into a shell, and that's a team that has no confidence. So we have to figure it out, and figure it out fast or it's not going to work."


Parise is not the only culprit for the offense, with Thomas Vanek registering no goals in his last eight games. Charlie Coyle scored in four straight games to match Vanek with 14 overall before coming up empty versus the Rangers.


It won't be easy to break through against Blues expected starter Brian Elliott, who has posted a 1.71 goals-against average in his last seven starts.


St. Louis is 0 for 19 on the power play in its last eight games while that area has been a recent strength for Minnesota, which is 4 for 14 in its last five.


These teams have essentially played three one-goal games, with Vanek scoring a late empty-net tally in a 3-1 victory on New Year's Eve. The Wild also won 3-2 on Oct. 10 and lost by that score when Backes scored in overtime Oct. 31.


Tarasenko has missed the last two meetings after amassing six points in the previous three. Parise also sat out the last matchup.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Sharks (27-19) at Predators (24-20)
Date: February 06, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The San Jose Sharks continue to enjoy success on the road, although that's been elusive for them in Tennessee over the years.


The Nashville Predators have captured their last five home games against the Sharks, who look poised to end that run Saturday night.


San Jose (27-19-4) is tied with Washington for the league's most road wins after notching its 17th with Thursday's 3-1 victory at St. Louis. Martin Jones recorded his NHL-best 15th road victory with 26 saves, as the Sharks improved to 9-1-2 in their last 12 games.


'It's tough to win, let alone on the road, so it's a good sign,' Jones said. 'I think the last month we've been playing very well, even at home, so it's good to see things coming together here.'


Finnish rookie Joonas Donskoi has eight points in his last eight games, scoring the game's first goal against the Blues.


"He's getting better and better, he's getting more confidence, (he's) skating with the puck more," coach Peter DeBoer said. "We've added some transition where he gets a chance to get back and skate with the puck and get it with his hands, which he is probably used to more with the European hockey he has played."


Joe Pavelski had two assists Thursday to give him eight points in his last six games. Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic has an assist in three straight games.


The Sharks are 0-4-1 in their last five visits to Nashville (24-20-8), which may not present that formidable an opponent this time.


The Predators, who had the league's second-most home wins last season, have dropped a season-high three straight at home following Thursday's 6-3 result against Philadelphia at the midpoint of this four-game homestand.


"Tonight obviously we're at home, there's no excuse, we've gotta win our games at home, we're always good on home ice," defenseman Ryan Ellis said. "Today we didn't have it and we're going to need it the next two before we head out again."


James Neal leads the team with 18 goals although he has failed to score in his last five home games. Filip Forsberg is second on the team with 14 goals, with none in his last four.


Ryan Johansen had a goal and an assist Thursday to give him 12 points in 12 games since being acquired Jan. 6 from Columbus.


Nashville conceded a power-play goal for the first time in eight games.


The Predators face a tough assignment in solving Jones, who is 8-1-1 with a 1.97 goals-against average in his last 10 games. The goalie is 0-1-2 with a 3.13 GAA in three games - two starts - versus Nashville.


"I love his game right now, I love the feeling he gives our team, the composure he's playing with is contagious to our group," DeBoer said.


Jones made 22 saves in a 2-1 home defeat to Nashville on Oct. 28. Pekka Rinne stopped 20 shots for the Predators to mark the seventh time in his last eight starts versus San Jose that he has allowed one or zero goals.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Penguins (25-17) at Panthers (31-15)
Date: February 06, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

It's hard to believe some may still be questioning the legitimacy of the Florida Panthers. One look at the recent opponents they've not only beaten, but done so handily, should shut down any remaining critics.


Another challenge awaits the high-flying Panthers, who bring a five-game win streak into Saturday night's matchup with red-hot Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.


After a 25-point improvement from 2013-14, Florida (31-15-5) was expected to at least compete for a playoff spot this season as its young talent continued to mature. However, nobody could've predicted they would be leading the Atlantic Division at this point and ranking among the league's elite teams.


The Panthers seem likely to reach the postseason for the second time in 16 years and could also surpass the franchise record of 98 points set in 1999-00.


Critics may have been ready to pounce after the team was outscored 13-3 during a three-game skid last month, but Florida has rebounded with a vengeance.


It kicked off a five-game win streak with a 4-0 rout of reigning Stanley Cup champion Chicago on Jan. 22 and followed with wins over Tampa Bay, Toronto and league-leading Washington before Thursday's 6-3 victory against Detroit.


The Panthers have outscored those opponents 25-8 and tallied five or more goals in four consecutive games for the first time in franchise history.


"I don't know. Seriously," coach Gerard Gallant said when asked to explain the secret to Florida's offensive success of late. "Teams go on streaks. We're putting pucks to the net and guys are confident."


Vincent Trochek leads the way with five goals and eight points in that span, while Reilly Smith, Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau have three goals apiece.


"We're clicking," said Trocheck, who has goals in four straight. "We're playing great hockey. There's something special in this group."


Roberto Luongo has recorded four of those wins with a 1.50 goals-against average and a shutout. However, he's 1-2-3 with a 2.91 GAA in his past six starts against Pittsburgh.


Defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who turns 20 Sunday, has been a part of 17 straight wins, the longest streak by any player since Mathieu Dandenault won 19 in a row with Detroit from Nov. 2, 1995-Feb. 13, 1996.


Pittsburgh (25-18-7) had a four-game win streak snapped with a 6-3 loss at Tampa Bay on Friday despite registering 10 of the game's first 11 shots and Crosby scoring in his fifth consecutive game.


"It's discouraging," coach Mike Sullivan said. "We played the right way for the most part and we don't get rewarded for it. That happens sometimes. We have to find a way to stay the course."


The Penguins captain has nine goals and six assists during a nine-game point streak and a league-high 15 goals since Dec. 26. It's Crosby's longest streak since a career-best 25-gamer Nov. 5-Dec. 28, 2010. He is one point shy of 900, needing one in the next two games to become the 10th-fastest to the milestone.


Crosby will shoulder a big offensive burden again with Evgeni Malkin (lower body) set to miss his second straight game. Malkin, who leads the team with 23 goals and 49 points, scored in overtime to give the Penguins a 3-2 victory over Florida on Oct. 20.


Games on back-to-back nights could give Marc-Andre Fleury a chance to rebound from Friday's abbreviated outing. He was pulled midway through the second period after allowing four goals on 14 shots, ending his personal five-game win streak.


Fleury has allowed nine goals on 37 shots in his last two starts.


Pittsburgh is 3-0-1 in its last four against Florida.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Jets (22-26) at Avalanche (27-23)
Date: February 06, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

Semyon Varlamov is back on the ice instead of the courtroom. The Colorado Avalanche are hoping he can pick up where he left off, and a meeting with the Winnipeg Jets should help.


Varlamov is expected to make his return after a two-week absence Saturday night when the Avalanche host the struggling Jets.


Varlamov has won four straight starts with a 0.99 goals-against average, but he hasn't played since making 42 saves in a 3-1 win at Dallas on Jan. 23.


He was instead tending to legal matters, which ended Tuesday when a jury sided with him in a lawsuit filed against him by a former girlfriend who claimed he beat her during an argument in 2013. Jurors awarded Varlamov $126,608 in damages on an abuse of process claim after his attorneys argued the woman was trying to get a payout from the goalie and the evidence did not support her claims of a brutal attack.


"There's relief, because it's been a long time dealing with this," Varlamov said. "I'm looking forward to hockey and focusing on hockey and enjoying the game."


He acted as a backup to Calvin Pickard in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to Dallas at home. Pickard finished with 40 saves, but was taken by surprise by a slapshot on a 3-on-1 35 seconds into OT.


That came two days after a 2-1 loss to Chicago opened this four-game homestand.


"They are all big games for us," coach Patrick Roy told the team's official website. "We need to be sharp in this homestand, but we just want to be better defensively. I feel that the last few games we're giving too many shots, and we have to be better in our zone. We're giving them too much time and space, and we'd like to reduce that."


Colorado (27-23-4) has a league-best 26 points (12-4-2) against the Central Division, including wins in all three meetings with the Jets (22-26-3).


Varlamov has compiled a 1.67 GAA while starting each of those games. He made 36 saves in a 2-1 win at Winnipeg on Jan. 18.


That was also the last time Jarome Iginla scored. He's only registered four shots in seven games since.


The Jets may be looking forward to opening a stretch with six of seven games on the road. They concluded a 1-5-0 homestand by giving up four first-period goals and their rally fall short in a 5-3 loss to Carolina on Friday.


"We got going," captain Andrew Ladd told the team's official website. "We got our legs going, we got moving. It's pretty simple. There's no special formula. We should understand by now, what needs to happen right from the drop of the puck for us to be successful, and that's moving and being on the puck."


Leading scorer Blake Wheeler has five points over the past four games, but his goal Friday ended a five-game drought. He has eight points in nine career visits to Colorado.


It's unknown whether the Jets will start Connor Hellebuyck or Michael Hutchinson in net. Hellebuyck was pulled Friday after allowing three goals on six shots in the first 4:33, and Hutchinson stopped 21 of 23 shots the rest of the way.


Hellebuyck had 32 saves against the Avalanche last month, but is 1-4-0 with a 3.42 GAA over the last six games.


Hutchinson has a 3.16 GAA while losing seven straight decisions in eight games. That includes 20 saves in a 5-3 loss at Colorado on Nov. 28.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Flames (22-25) at Canucks (20-19)
Date: February 06, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

Vancouver and Calgary both made surprising runs to the playoffs last season and were expected to contend for a spot again in a Pacific Division that seemed wide open.


Goals have been tough to come by lately for both teams, though, resulting in them sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.


The Canucks will have a new look on defense with Dan Hamhuis back in the lineup as they try to avoid a fourth straight defeat when they host the Flames on Saturday night.


Calgary (22-25-3) finished third in the Pacific in 2014-15 and won a physical six-game first-round series with Vancouver (20-19-12) in the postseason. Neither team will be returning, though, unless they find a way to consistently put the puck in the net.


The Canucks sit fifth in the division and have lost back-to-back games by 2-1 scores, falling to Nashville on Jan. 26 before the All-Star break and losing in a shootout to Columbus on Thursday.


Linden Vey's power-play goal 9:05 into the first period was all they could muster against the Blue Jackets despite Henrik Sedin's return after missing the previous four with a shoulder injury.


"If we're going to get to the playoffs, we need more," coach Willie Desjardins said. "And it's from the whole team.


"For awhile we weren't creating chances, so we're moving in the right direction. At the same time, there has to be urgency around the net. We have to get the hard areas around the net a little bit more. I think we can do a better job."


The Flames are five points behind Vancouver and tied for the fewest in the West with Edmonton and Winnipeg. They've dropped four of their last five while scoring two goals or fewer in each defeat, including Friday's 2-1 loss to Columbus.


Jiri Hudler scored in the first period for Calgary, which outshot the Jackets 31-18 but allowed the winning goal 1:42 into the third period.


"Bottom line is one goal, you're not going to win many games in this league," defenseman Mark Giordano said. "We have to create more, we have to score more goals. Two goals against is pretty good on most nights."


Vancouver will try to shut down the Flames with help from Hamhuis, who is making his return after missing the last 21 games since being hit in the face with a puck against the New York Rangers on Dec. 9.


With Hamhuis returning, general manager Jim Benning confirmed fellow defenseman Yannick Weber has been placed on waivers.


"I've been working hard over the last month to get my fitness back," Hamhuis said. "I'm looking forward to getting back in the lineup with the guys."


Ryan Miller has lost his last four starts despite giving up three goals over his previous two combined, and he could be in net for this matchup. He beat the Flames 5-1 in the season opener Oct. 7 behind a goal and two assists from Daniel Sedin, then fell 3-2 on Oct. 10 on Johnny Gaudreau's overtime goal.


Karri Ramo made 16 saves Friday, leaving it unclear if he'll start for a second consecutive night. Jonas Hiller beat the Canucks with 28 saves in the last matchup and has a 2.17 goals-against average in his last five against them, including playoffs.


Gaudreau has two goals and five assists in his last three against Vancouver.

 

[CNOTES]

Armadillo: Saturday's six-pack


-- Iowa State suspended Jameel McKay for at least one game; he is their best guy on defense and they do not have much depth.


-- Akron (-5) 92, Central Michigan 87-- Zips led by 13 with 1:50 left.


-- Yale 86, Columbia 72-- Bulldogs (5-0) have a game lead in Ivy League race.


-- Nuggets 115, Bulls 110-- Denver was down 16 after the third quarter.


-- Celtics 104, Cavaliers 103-- Boston was down eight after third quarter.


-- Over his last six games, Lebron James is 0-18 on 3-pointers.


**********


Armadillo: Saturday's List of 13: Random stuff with weekend here........


13) Louisville self-imposed a postseason ban in its basketball team Friday, trying to head off a more severe (and longer lasting) penalty from the NCAA, one tha would negatively impact its recruiting. So no Louisville in the postseason next month; thats two of the top 25 teams (with SMU) that will be done too early this season.


12) Rick Pitino made a big thing out of feeling sorry for his two graduate transfers who came to Louisville to play their senior season for the Cardinals, leaving Drexel, Cleveland State for greener pastures. I have no sympathy for the kids- they bolted on their old teams for business reasons- well, business can be harsh sometimes.


Drexel is 3-19, Cleveland State 7-17; wonder what their coaches think?


11) I am told in the PR business it is known as "a Friday news dump", getting bad news out to the public just before the weekend, when the most people are not paying as much attention. We had Louisville's debacle, Iowa State suspending a player and USC AD Pat Haden retiring all announced 48 hours before the Super Bowl.


10) Yale's Brandon Sherrod had an amazing streak snapped Friday; he made 30 consecutive shots from the floor, but finally missed one. Yale hasn't won an Ivy title since 1959; they came thisclose LY, but are in first place now, with nine games left.


9) Bad Beat of the Week: Illinois (-7) 110, Rutgers 101, 3OT-- Wednesday's game was a horrific beat for Rutgers backers, not covering a triple OT game when you're +7, especially since Rutgers hit a ridiculous 3-pointer to tie the game at the buzzer of one of the OTs. But I have one question for people who bet on Rutgers:


They're a really, really bad team; how can you bet on Rutgers in the first place?


8) Richard Dreyfuss is playing Wall Street crook Bernie Madoff in a new movie and that makes it worth watching. Our two favorite Dreyfuss roles are the compulsive gambler in Let It Ride and the actor-turned-dictator in Moon Over Paradoor.


7) If you care about such things, over the last nine years, the average length of the national anthem before the Super Bowl was 1:57.


6) In Super Bowl history, the first score was: TD 24 times, 22 FGs, 3 safeties.


5) Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley and Purdue coach Matt Painter were both in the movie Blue Chips, as players, Hurley was Indiana's point guard in the movie.


4) St Mary's has had 18 Australian players since Randy Bennett has been coach of the Gaels, best of whom were Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova.


3) Golfer Steve Stricker turns 50 in 13 months; if he wants to play a lot of golf, he could make a small fortune on the Senior Tour, since he is still very competitive on the PGA Tour. Senior Tour is one place where being a rookie is an advantage.


2) Many thanks to Geek Squad at Best Buy, who put a quick end to this laptop's mouse problems during the week. Quick and inexpensive-- good place to shop.


1) NFL Network's Super Bowl pregame show starts at 9am Sunday; the game is 6:30 at night. Thats an awful lot of banter for one day.

 

[CNOTES]

NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, February 6

Hot teams
-- Washington won eight of its last 11 games. New Jersey won five of its last seven.
-- Philly won last three games, scoring 14 goals. Rangers won their last four home games.
-- Edmonton is 2-0 since All-Star break, winning 5-4/7-2.
-- Bruins won six of their last nine games.
-- Penguins won five of their last seven games. Florida won its last five games.
-- Toronto is 2-0 since All-Star break, winning 4-3ot/3-2- they had lost nine of previous ten. Ottawa lost five of its last six games.
-- Blackhawks won 15 of their last 18 games. Dallas Stars won their last three games.
-- San Jose won nine of its last twelve games.

Cold teams
-- Montreal lost nine of its last ten games.
-- Detroit lost five of its last seven games. Islanders lost three of last four road games.
-- Buffalo lost four of its last six games.
-- Nashville is 0-2 since All-Star break, losing 1-0/6-3.
-- Minnesota lost nine of its last ten games. St Louis lost three of its last four.
-- Winnipeg lost five of its last six games. Colorado lost three of its last four.
-- Flames lost five of their last six games. Vancouver lost its last three games.

Series records
-- Washington won its last four games with New Jersey.
-- Rangers lost three of last four games with Philly.
-- Islanders won seven of last ten games with Detroit.
-- Oilers won their last four games with Montreal.
-- Bruins won six of last eight games with Buffalo.
-- Penguins won three of last four games with Florida.
-- Maple Leafs lost three of last four visits to Ottawa.
-- Dallas won three games in row vs Chicago, shutting them out in last two.
-- Predators won five of last seven games with San Jose.
-- Blues lost four of last five games with Minnesota.
-- Avalanche won five of last six games with Winnipeg.
-- Flames won six of last nine games with Vancouver.

Totals
-- Over is 4-0-1 in last five Washington games.
-- Over is 4-0-1 in last five Philadelphia games.
-- Over is 4-0-2 in last six Edmonton games.
-- Over is 3-0-1 in last four Islander games.
-- Over is 6-2-1 in last nine Boston home games.
-- Five of last six Florida games went over the total.
-- Over is 7-2-1 in last ten Ottawa games.
-- Under is 4-1-1 in last six Chicago games.
-- Three of last four Nashville games stayed under.
-- Last five St Louis games stayed under the total.
-- Three of last four Colorado games went over.
-- Under is 3-0-1 in last four Calgary games.

Back-to-backs
-- Pittsburgh lost eight of last nine games if they played night before.
-- Winnipeg lost seven of last eight games if it played night before.
-- Calgary is 2-5 if it played the night before.

 

[CNOTES]

NHL

Saturday, February 6

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Trend Report
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1:00 PM
NY RANGERS vs. PHILADELPHIA
NY Rangers are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
NY Rangers are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games
Philadelphia is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games at home
Philadelphia is 7-3 SU in their last 10 games when playing at home against NY Rangers

1:00 PM
WASHINGTON vs. NEW JERSEY
Washington is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing New Jersey
Washington is 7-16 SU in its last 23 games when playing on the road against New Jersey
New Jersey is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
New Jersey is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Washington

2:00 PM
EDMONTON vs. MONTREAL
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 6 games when playing Montreal
Edmonton is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Montreal's last 6 games when playing at home against Edmonton
Montreal is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games

2:00 PM
NY ISLANDERS vs. DETROIT
NY Islanders are 8-3 SU in their last 11 games when playing Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the NY Islanders last 6 games when playing Detroit
Detroit is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
Detroit is 3-8 SU in their last 11 games when playing NY Islanders

7:00 PM
BUFFALO vs. BOSTON
Buffalo is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing Boston
Buffalo is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Boston is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
Boston is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home

7:00 PM
PITTSBURGH vs. FLORIDA
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games when playing Florida
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Florida's last 5 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Florida's last 6 games

7:00 PM
TORONTO vs. OTTAWA
Toronto is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing on the road against Ottawa
Ottawa is 5-12 SU in its last 17 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Ottawa's last 6 games when playing Toronto

8:00 PM
CHICAGO vs. DALLAS
Chicago is 15-3 SU in its last 18 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chicago's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 5 games at home
Dallas is 4-11 SU in its last 15 games when playing Chicago

8:00 PM
MINNESOTA vs. ST. LOUIS
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing St. Louis
Minnesota is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of St. Louis's last 5 games
St. Louis is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota

8:00 PM
SAN JOSE vs. NASHVILLE
San Jose is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games
San Jose is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Nashville
Nashville is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against San Jose
Nashville is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home

10:00 PM
CALGARY vs. VANCOUVER
Calgary is 3-10 SU in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Vancouver
Calgary is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Vancouver is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Vancouver is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing Calgary

10:00 PM
WINNIPEG vs. COLORADO
Winnipeg is 4-14 SU in its last 18 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Winnipeg's last 10 games on the road
Colorado is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Winnipeg
Colorado is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Winnipeg

 

[CNOTES]

NHL
Long Sheet

Saturday, February 6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON (36-9-0-4, 76 pts.) at NEW JERSEY (26-20-0-6, 58 pts.) - 2/6/2016, 1:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW JERSEY is 13-9 ATS (+23.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
WASHINGTON is 36-13 ATS (+15.4 Units) in all games this season.
WASHINGTON is 52-40 ATS (+95.2 Units) in road games in February games since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 6-4 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus NEW JERSEY over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 6-4-0 straight up against NEW JERSEY over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.1 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NY RANGERS (28-18-0-5, 61 pts.) at PHILADELPHIA (23-18-0-8, 54 pts.) - 2/6/2016, 1:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NY RANGERS are 7-15 ATS (-9.6 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
NY RANGERS are 62-84 ATS (-36.3 Units) after 3 or more consecutive overs since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 2-9 ATS (-8.6 Units) in road games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 8-3 ATS (+11.5 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 16-9 ATS (+6.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 15-10 ATS (+27.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NY RANGERS are 92-60 ATS (+11.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
NY RANGERS are 51-28 ATS (+12.6 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NY RANGERS are 33-15 ATS (+13.4 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
NY RANGERS are 35-11 ATS (+15.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 26-48 ATS (+80.2 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 229-235 ATS (-16.7 Units) after a win by 2 goals or more since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
NY RANGERS is 10-8-0 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
8 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.5 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NY ISLANDERS (26-17-0-6, 58 pts.) at DETROIT (25-18-0-8, 58 pts.) - 2/6/2016, 2:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NY ISLANDERS are 30-33 ATS (-8.7 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NY ISLANDERS are 6-15 ATS (+21.5 Units) in road games on Saturday games over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 10-14 ATS (-8.7 Units) in home games second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 91-99 ATS (-73.6 Units) after playing 3 consecutive road games since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
NY ISLANDERS is 4-3 (+1.2 Units) against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
NY ISLANDERS is 4-3-0 straight up against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.2 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDMONTON (21-26-0-5, 47 pts.) at MONTREAL (24-24-0-4, 52 pts.) - 2/6/2016, 2:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
EDMONTON is 9-29 ATS (+47.8 Units) on Saturday games over the last 3 seasons.
MONTREAL is 26-10 ATS (+13.9 Units) on Saturday games over the last 2 seasons.
MONTREAL is 89-70 ATS (+162.0 Units) after 3 or more consecutive losses since 1996.
EDMONTON is 28-27 ATS (+63.7 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
MONTREAL is 3-10 ATS (-9.5 Units) second half of the season this season.
MONTREAL is 4-12 ATS (-10.5 Units) in non-conference games this season.
MONTREAL is 4-11 ATS (-8.9 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game this season.
MONTREAL is 8-13 ATS (+22.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
EDMONTON is 4-1 (+4.9 Units) against the spread versus MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
EDMONTON is 4-1-0 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.9 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BUFFALO (21-26-0-5, 47 pts.) at BOSTON (27-18-0-6, 60 pts.) - 2/6/2016, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 43-17 ATS (+16.8 Units) on Saturday games over the last 3 seasons.
BUFFALO is 260-223 ATS (+31.1 Units) vs. division opponents since 1996.
BUFFALO is 200-202 ATS (+434.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1996.
BOSTON is 68-65 ATS (+227.1 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 6-11 ATS (-8.2 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
BOSTON is 31-43 ATS (-37.2 Units) in home games in February games since 1996.
BOSTON is 235-209 ATS (-82.4 Units) in home games second half of the season since 1996.
BOSTON is 186-156 ATS (-52.6 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.
BOSTON is 87-79 ATS (-65.1 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
BUFFALO is 4-8 (+1.5 Units) against the spread versus BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 8-4-0 straight up against BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.1 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH (25-18-0-7, 57 pts.) at FLORIDA (31-15-0-5, 67 pts.) - 2/6/2016, 7:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
FLORIDA is 3-4 (+1.1 Units) against the spread versus PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 4-3-0 straight up against FLORIDA over the last 3 seasons
5 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+3.8 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TORONTO (19-22-0-9, 47 pts.) at OTTAWA (23-23-0-6, 52 pts.) - 2/6/2016, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 11-37 ATS (+63.8 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 14-44 ATS (+68.7 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 1-16 ATS (+26.4 Units) in road games on Saturday games over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 1-13 ATS (+19.0 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
TORONTO is 6-26 ATS (+41.3 Units) revenging a home loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 27-56 ATS (+95.0 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 19-33 ATS (-18.4 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 5-16 ATS (-11.8 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
OTTAWA is 19-12 ATS (+6.7 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 6-4 (+3.4 Units) against the spread versus OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 6-4-0 straight up against OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
8 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+6.0 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO (35-16-0-4, 74 pts.) at DALLAS (33-14-0-5, 71 pts.) - 2/6/2016, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 37-31 ATS (-4.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 13-3 ATS (+8.6 Units) second half of the season this season.
CHICAGO is 50-28 ATS (+12.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 8-16 ATS (-10.1 Units) after a 3 game unbeaten streak over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 7-4 (+0.0 Units) against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 7-4-0 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.7 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SAN JOSE (27-19-0-4, 58 pts.) at NASHVILLE (24-20-0-8, 56 pts.) - 2/6/2016, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAN JOSE is 4-11 ATS (-11.4 Units) in February games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 48-48 ATS (-33.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 196-144 ATS (+51.2 Units) on Saturday games since 1996.
SAN JOSE is 12-4 ATS (+7.9 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
SAN JOSE is 12-6 ATS (+18.0 Units) in road games revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
NASHVILLE is 24-28 ATS (-12.4 Units) in all games this season.
NASHVILLE is 31-35 ATS (-19.6 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 9-21 ATS (+31.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
NASHVILLE is 5-2 (+4.8 Units) against the spread versus SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
NASHVILLE is 5-2-0 straight up against SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
5 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+4.3 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA (23-19-0-9, 55 pts.) at ST LOUIS (29-17-0-8, 66 pts.) - 2/6/2016, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 23-28 ATS (-12.4 Units) in all games this season.
MINNESOTA is 3-12 ATS (-11.8 Units) second half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 9-9 (+0.2 Units) against the spread versus ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
ST LOUIS is 9-9-0 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.4 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WINNIPEG (22-26-0-3, 47 pts.) at COLORADO (27-23-0-4, 58 pts.) - 2/6/2016, 10:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
COLORADO is 8-5 (+3.3 Units) against the spread versus WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
COLORADO is 8-5-0 straight up against WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
7 of 13 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.2 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CALGARY (22-25-0-3, 47 pts.) at VANCOUVER (20-19-0-12, 52 pts.) - 2/6/2016, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CALGARY is 72-71 ATS (+156.3 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CALGARY is 31-23 ATS (+58.5 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
VANCOUVER is 220-209 ATS (-114.5 Units) in home games second half of the season since 1996.
VANCOUVER is 119-114 ATS (-58.7 Units) in home games vs. division opponents since 1996.
VANCOUVER is 14-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
VANCOUVER is 90-76 ATS (-58.1 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
VANCOUVER is 10-7 (+1.3 Units) against the spread versus CALGARY over the last 3 seasons
VANCOUVER is 10-7-0 straight up against CALGARY over the last 3 seasons
8 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.1 Units)

 

[CNOTES]

NHL MONEYLINE


NHL > (13) TORONTO@ (14) OTTAWA | 2016-02-06 19:05:00 - 2016-02-06 19:05:00
Play AGAINST TORONTO using money line in Road games on Saturday games
The record is 2 Wins and 23 Losses for the last three seasons (-21.2 units)

NHL > (13) TORONTO@ (14) OTTAWA | 2016-02-06 19:05:00 - 2016-02-06 19:05:00
Play AGAINST TORONTO using money line in Road games second half of the season
The record is 4 Wins and 29 Losses for the last two seasons (-23.45 units)


NHL > (11) PITTSBURGH@ (12) FLORIDA | 2016-02-06 19:05:00 - 2016-02-06 19:05:00
Play ON FLORIDA using money line in All games after a 3 game unbeaten streak
The record is 13 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+12.05 units)


NHL > (19) MINNESOTA@ (20) ST LOUIS | 2016-02-06 20:05:00 - 2016-02-06 20:05:00
Play AGAINST MINNESOTA using money line in All games second half of the season
The record is 3 Wins and 12 Losses for the this season (-12.55 units)


NHL > (11) PITTSBURGH@ (12) FLORIDA | 2016-02-06 19:05:00 - 2016-02-06 19:05:00
Play ON FLORIDA using money line in All games after a win by 2 goals or more
The record is 13 Wins and 3 Losses for the this season (+10.75 units)


NHL > (3) NY RANGERS@ (4) PHILADELPHIA | 2016-02-06 13:05:00 - 2016-02-06 13:05:00
Play ON PHILADELPHIA using money line in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 16 Wins and 9 Losses for the this season (+11.6 units)


NHL > (1) WASHINGTON@ (2) NEW JERSEY | 2016-02-06 13:05:00 - 2016-02-06 13:05:00
Play ON WASHINGTON using money line in All games
The record is 34 Wins and 11 Losses for the this season (+16.65 units)


-------------------------


NHL PUCKLINE


NHL > (13) TORONTO@ (14) OTTAWA | 2016-02-06 19:05:00 - 2016-02-06 19:05:00
Play AGAINST TORONTO in Road games on Saturday games
The record is 2 Wins and 23 Losses for the last three seasons (-21.2 units)

NHL > (13) TORONTO@ (14) OTTAWA | 2016-02-06 19:05:00 - 2016-02-06 19:05:00
Play AGAINST TORONTO in Road games second half of the season
The record is 4 Wins and 29 Losses for the last two seasons (-23.45 units)


NHL > (11) PITTSBURGH@ (12) FLORIDA | 2016-02-06 19:05:00 - 2016-02-06 19:05:00
Play ON FLORIDA in All games after a 3 game unbeaten streak
The record is 13 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+12.05 units)


NHL > (19) MINNESOTA@ (20) ST LOUIS | 2016-02-06 20:05:00 - 2016-02-06 20:05:00
Play AGAINST MINNESOTA in All games second half of the season
The record is 3 Wins and 12 Losses for the this season (-12.55 units)


NHL > (11) PITTSBURGH@ (12) FLORIDA | 2016-02-06 19:05:00 - 2016-02-06 19:05:00
Play ON FLORIDA in All games after a win by 2 goals or more
The record is 13 Wins and 3 Losses for the this season (+10.75 units)


NHL > (3) NY RANGERS@ (4) PHILADELPHIA | 2016-02-06 13:05:00 - 2016-02-06 13:05:00
Play ON PHILADELPHIA in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 16 Wins and 9 Losses for the this season (+11.6 units)


-------------------------


NHL TOTALS


NHL > (15) CHICAGO@ (16) DALLAS | 2016-02-06 20:05:00 - 2016-02-06 20:05:00
Play UNDER CHICAGO on the totalin All games revenging a loss versus opponent
The record is 15 Overs and 37 Unders for the last two seasons (+21.9 units)


NHL > (15) CHICAGO@ (16) DALLAS | 2016-02-06 20:05:00 - 2016-02-06 20:05:00
Play UNDER CHICAGO on the totalin Road games revenging a loss versus opponent
The record is 4 Overs and 16 Unders for the last two seasons (+11.7 units)


NHL > (17) SAN JOSE@ (18) NASHVILLE | 2016-02-06 20:05:00 - 2016-02-06 20:05:00
Play OVER NASHVILLE on the totalin Home games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 19 Overs and 5 Unders for the last two seasons (+13.5 units)


NHL > (23) CALGARY@ (24) VANCOUVER | 2016-02-06 22:05:00 - 2016-02-06 22:05:00
Play UNDER VANCOUVER on the totalin All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 4 Overs and 14 Unders for the this season (+10.15 units)


NHL > (17) SAN JOSE@ (18) NASHVILLE | 2016-02-06 20:05:00 - 2016-02-06 20:05:00
Play UNDER NASHVILLE on the totalin Home games on Saturday games
The record is 3 Overs and 14 Unders for the last two seasons (+10.95 units)

 

[CNOTES]

LAST NIGHTS ACTION: 1 - 2


SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS




NYR at PHI 01:00 PM


NYR +100




WAS at NJ 01:00 PM


NJ +134 BEST BET




NYI at DET 02:00 PM


DET -106




EDM at MON 02:00 PM


EDM +116 BEST BET

 

[CNOTES]

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS




PIT at FLA 07:00 PM


FLA -169




BUF at BOS 07:00 PM


BUF +171 BEST BET




TOR at OTT 07:00 PM


TOR +100




SJ at NAS 08:00 PM


SJ -105




MIN at STL 08:00 PM


STL -135




CHI at DAL 08:00 PM


CHI +103 BEST BET




WIN at COL 10:00 PM


WIN +120




CAL at VAN 10:00 PM


CAL +118 BEST BET

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Flyers (23-18) at Capitals (37-9)
Date: February 07, 2016 12:00 PM EDT

As they attempt to forget about a frustrating loss to another division rival, the Philadelphia Flyers can draw upon the confidence gained from a recent road win over the Washington Capitals.


The teams face off at Verizon Center for the second time in 12 days Sunday with the first-place Capitals aiming for a third consecutive win and charging Philadelphia looking to extend its point streak to five games.


Philadelphia stopped the Capitals' 12-game home winning streak with a 4-3 overtime victory on Jan. 27, the final game for both before the All-Star break. The Flyers returned with two more wins and nearly had a fourth straight Saturday against the New York Rangers, taking a one-goal lead into the final seconds of regulation before ending with a potentially costly 3-2 shootout defeat.


New York's Keith Yandle tied it with 12.9 seconds remaining in the third period and the Rangers scored on their two shootout attempts against Steve Mason to deny Philadelphia (23-18-9), currently outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture but 8-3-2 since Jan. 5, an important point.


'It's definitely a tough way to lose a game," Mason said. "We have to find ways to close it out. We lost a big point there.'


The Flyers were forced to play much of the game without top goal scorer Wayne Simmonds, ejected midway through the first period for punching Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh. Simmonds entered off two straight two-goal efforts and recorded six with two assists over his previous four.


Philadelphia totaled 14 goals during its winning streak and a resurgent power play has converted 34.5 percent of its chances while scoring in seven straight. Rookie defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere has 10 points over a seven-game streak and Jakub Voracek 11 during a six-game run.


Voracek scored twice, including 38 seconds into overtime, in the recent win over Washington (37-9-4), dealing Braden Holtby his first home loss since Oct. 28.


Holtby owns a 3.09 goals-against average over his past six starts but has been solid in two following the break, backing a 24-save effort in Thursday's 3-2 home win over the New York Islanders with 22 in Saturday's 3-2 shootout victory at New Jersey.


Andre Burakovsky scored in a fifth straight game and T.J. Oshie and Alex Ovechkin each had shootout goals after Paul Carey scored his first NHL with 5:53 left to tie it.


'You always envision the goals being big ones, and to tie it up in the third period is a great feeling and to help the team out on a call-up makes it even better," said the 27-year-old Carey, recalled from the minors on Friday.


The Capitals also overcame another dull effort from their usually strong special teams. Washington is 0 for 15 on the power play over a four-game stretch, tying its longest drought of the season, and has killed just 11 of 16 short-handed situations in its last five.


Ovechkin has eight goals over his past 10 but has been held without a point in two meetings with the Flyers this season. Jason Chimera scored two power-play goals in a 5-2 win at Philadelphia on Nov. 12.


Mason will likely start on consecutive days with Michal Neuvirth, who had 27 saves in the teams' last matchup, out with a lower-body injury. Mason stopped just 27 of 32 shots in the November loss.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Oilers (21-27) at Islanders (26-18)
Date: February 07, 2016 2:30 PM EDT

Although John Tavares can sympathize with the pressure and expectations foisted on phenom Connor McDavid, their teams are in far different positions.


Tavares is trying to help the New York Islanders get back into the playoff picture Sunday against the highly touted rookie and the last-place Edmonton Oilers.


Expectations were high when Tavares was selected first overall at age 18 in 2009. He played all 82 games that season and led New York with 54 points, showing the promise fans have hoped would turn the struggling franchise into a Stanley Cup champion.


Tavares has turned the Islanders into a playoff contender, and that burden of expectations has him relating to McDavid, last year's top pick who turned 19 last month and is expected to turn around the moribund Oilers as the NHL's next transcendent star.


"Some of it is a little overwhelming," Tavares told the team's official website. "You're going through it for the first time and you're barely an adult. You're trying to mature and make sure you're handling yourself the right way. I had great people around me that really helped me through that."


Tavares, the team's captain, has done his part to live up to those expectations. He's tied with Kyle Okposo for the team lead with 37 points and has eight in eight games after scoring a goal on an assist by Okposo in Saturday's 5-1 loss at Detroit.


The Islanders (26-18-6) are one point back of New Jersey for the second wild-card position in the Eastern Conference.


McDavid and the Oilers (21-27-5) trail the same spot in the West by 11 points. The young center had 12 points in his first 13 games before a broken clavicle sidelined him for the next 37. He got five points in his first two games back before failing to get on the score sheet during a 5-1 loss at Montreal on Saturday.


Coach Todd McLellan wasn't happy with Edmonton's overall play, which included being outshot 36-24 overall and 13-4 in the third period.


"That's as bad as we've been in a long time," McLellan said. "We didn't skate well, we didn't pass, our structure was poor ... We got what we deserved."


It's unknown if McLellan thinks Cam Talbot deserves to be back in net after allowing four goals on 23 shots and getting pulled after the second period Saturday. Backup Anders Nilsson stopped 12 of 13 shots the rest of the way.


Nilsson was a third-round pick by the Islanders in '09, and he went 9-9-2 with a 3.05 goals-against average in 23 games over two seasons before moving on to the Oilers as a free agent last summer.


Talbot, however, is 3-1-0 with a 2.78 GAA in five career meetings with New York.


The Islanders are in a similar situation after Jaroslav Halak was lifted midway through the second period Saturday after surrendering four goals on 13 shots. He's lost three straight starts with a 4.04 GAA but is 8-2-1 with a 1.98 mark and three shutouts in 12 games against the Oilers. He had 34 stops in a 3-2 overtime home win Feb. 10.


Rookie Jean-Francois Berube made six saves after replacing Halak against the Red Wings. He split his first two career starts with a 3.50 GAA.


Still, much of the focus will be on Tavares and McDavid. Tavares has seven points in six games against Edmonton, while McDavid is getting his first taste of the Big Apple.


"Special players just have a demeanor around them," Tavares said. "He's very humble, doesn't take anything for granted and obviously has shown some great promise about why he's going to be a great player."

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Hurricanes (24-21) at Canadiens (25-24)
Date: February 07, 2016 2:30 PM EDT

It's been so long since Montreal won consecutive games that Carey Price had a hand in it. While there's no news on when the reigning MVP might return, the Canadiens are at least in a position to remedy the first problem.


The opportunity comes Sunday against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes, who are one of the teams that's blown by the once-promising Canadiens in the Eastern Conference.


Montreal (25-24-4) is a league-worst 7-20-2 since a four-game win streak Nov. 20-27 - Price's last appearance was Nov. 25 - and every other team has at least 11 wins during that slide. The Canadiens have allowed 3.10 goals per game in that time, though a 5-1 home win over Edmonton on Saturday ended a four-game skid on which they gave up 18.


Queue Ben Scrivens, one of Price's replacements, for maybe the understatement of the year after beating his former team:


"We're kind of in a bit of a struggle right now, so hopefully that's a good game for us that we can build off of," the December acquisition told the team's official website after his first win in five games this season. "That's all that really matters to me."


Tomas Plekanec had a goal and three assists after recording an assist in his previous seven games, while P.K. Subban and Brendan Gallagher added a goal and an assist each. Subban, the team's points leader, has two goals and six assists on a five-game point streak, but he's been held from the score sheet in his last six against Carolina.


Gallagher's tally came with the man advantage, marking the team's fifth straight game with a power-play goal after going 6 for 71 in its previous 22.


"No complaints this time," Plekanec said. "We played with confidence. We moved the puck really well and scored some goals. Hopefully this is the start of the solid winning streak that we need and that we keep it going."


Montreal could still use a spark from Max Pacioretty, who's been limited to an assist with a minus-10 rating over the past seven games but has seven goals and five assists in his last eight versus the Hurricanes.


Part of the extended struggle was a 3-2 loss in Carolina on Dec. 5 which ended the Canadiens' five-game winning streak in the series, though they've still got a five-game run going at home against the Hurricanes.


Carolina (24-21-8) is 8-3-1 since going winless in the first three games of 2016. The Hurricanes have scored 2.92 goals per game in that span, which was padded in Friday's 5-3 win at Winnipeg.


They got four first-period goals and have 10 over a 3-1-0 span, but coach Bill Peters wasn't entirely pleased after the Jets scored the next three.


"We got off to a good start, so there are some positives, but lots and lots of things to work on," Peters told the team's official website. "We're not quite where we were when we entered the All-Star break. We've got to get our team game back.


"I thought we did some good things structurally early, but then we got away from it and allowed them to build some momentum and get back in the game."


Andrej Nestrasil scored twice and Jordan Staal had a goal and two assists to help Cam Ward ease back into things after missing six games with a concussion. Ward made 33 saves and has a 1.89 goals-against average and .928 save percentage over a 6-3-2 span, though he's posted 3.95 and .873 marks on a 1-5-0 stretch in Montreal.


Mike Condon, who has dropped his last three starts with 3.38 GAA and .889 save percentage, figures to complete the back-to-back set for the Canadiens.

 

[CNOTES]

NHL MONEYLINE


NHL > (51) PHILADELPHIA@ (52) WASHINGTON | 2016-02-07 12:05:00 - 2016-02-07 12:05:00
Play ON PHILADELPHIA using money line in Road games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 8 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+9.85 units)


NHL > (51) PHILADELPHIA@ (52) WASHINGTON | 2016-02-07 12:05:00 - 2016-02-07 12:05:00
Play ON PHILADELPHIA using money line in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 16 Wins and 9 Losses for the this season (+11.6 units)


-----------------------


NHL PUCKLINE


NHL > (51) PHILADELPHIA@ (52) WASHINGTON | 2016-02-07 12:05:00 - 2016-02-07 12:05:00
Play ON PHILADELPHIA in Road games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 8 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+9.85 units)


NHL > (51) PHILADELPHIA@ (52) WASHINGTON | 2016-02-07 12:05:00 - 2016-02-07 12:05:00
Play ON PHILADELPHIA in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 16 Wins and 9 Losses for the this season (+11.6 units)

 

[CNOTES]

DUNKEL'S HIGHLIGHTED GAME


Carolina at Montreal - Sunday February 7, 2016


The Hurricanes head to Montreal today to face a Canadiens team that is coming off a 5-1 win over Edmonton and is 0-8 in its last 8 games after allowing 2 goals or less in its previous game. Carolina is the pick (+100) according to Dunkel, which has the Hurricanes favored by 2. Dunkel Pick: Carolina (+100).


SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2016


Philadelphia
@
Washington
Game 51-52
February 7, 2016 @ 12:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Philadelphia
13.111
Washington
11.936
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Philadelphia
by 1
4
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Washington
-210
5
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia
(+180); Under




Carolina
@
Montreal
Game 53-54
February 7, 2016 @ 2:30 pm


Dunkel Rating: Carolina
12,643
Montreal
10.804
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Carolina
by 2
5 1/2
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Montreal
-120
5
Dunkel Pick: Carolina
(+100); Over




Edmonton
@
NY Islanders
Game 55-56
February 7, 2016 @ 2:30 pm


Dunkel Rating: Edmonton
8.597
NY Islanders
13.009
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: NY Islanders
by 4 1/2
6 1/2
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: NY Islanders
-170
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Islanders
(-170); Over