Saturday 10-7-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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Trends - Montreal at Washington

W/L TRENDS

Montreal

Canadiens are 12-4 in their last 16 road games. Canadiens are 45-22 in their last 67 Saturday games. Canadiens are 2-5 in their last 7 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. Canadiens are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. Metropolitan. Canadiens are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record. Canadiens are 2-5 in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.

Washington

Capitals are 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600. Capitals are 54-15 in their last 69 vs. Atlantic. Capitals are 39-12 in their last 51 games playing on 1 days rest. Capitals are 62-23 in their last 85 home games. Capitals are 16-6 in their last 22 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game. Capitals are 38-16 in their last 54 vs. Eastern Conference. Capitals are 43-19 in their last 62 overall. Capitals are 36-16 in their last 52 games following a win. Capitals are 53-26 in their last 79 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.

OU TRENDS

Montreal

Under is 3-0-1 in Canadiens last 4 games playing on 1 days rest. Under is 4-0 in Canadiens last 4 Saturday games. Under is 3-0-1 in Canadiens last 4 vs. a team with a winning record. Under is 13-4-4 in Canadiens last 21 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game. Under is 13-4-5 in Canadiens last 22 vs. Metropolitan. Under is 19-6-7 in Canadiens last 32 overall. Under is 15-5-6 in Canadiens last 26 games following a win. Under is 14-5-6 in Canadiens last 25 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is 16-6-4 in Canadiens last 26 road games. Under is 27-13-11 in Canadiens last 51 vs. Eastern Conference.

Washington

Under is 5-0-2 in Capitals last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600. Under is 9-3 in Capitals last 12 games following a win. Under is 6-2 in Capitals last 8 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is 8-3 in Capitals last 11 home games. Under is 5-2 in Capitals last 7 games playing on 1 days rest. Over is 5-2 in Capitals last 7 Saturday games. Under is 17-8-2 in Capitals last 27 vs. Eastern Conference.

HEAD TO HEAD

Under is 18-4-4 in the last 26 meetings. Under is 16-5-5 in the last 26 meetings in Washington. Canadiens are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Washington. Canadiens are 6-15 in the last 21 meetings. Road team is 21-7 in the last 28 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Wild at Hurricanes

Gracenote
Oct 6, 2017

The Carolina Hurricanes will be hard-pressed to end an eight-year playoff drought this season, which opens at home against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, but acquisitions such as Justin Williams and goaltender Scott Darling could make a difference. Carolina also boasts a strong top four defensive corps with Justin Faulk, Noah Hanifin, Brett Pesce and Jaccob Slavin, providing hope for a club that was challenged offensively with only two players scoring more than 17 goals in 2016-17.

"This is a team on the rise and a team that will surprise a lot of people," Williams, who won his first Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006 before hoisting two more with Los Angeles, told reporters. "You always want to be a part of that and my role on this team will be an important one." Carolina will also be counting on 22-year-old center Elias Lindholm, who increased his assist total in each of the last three seasons and recorded a team-most 34 in 2016-17. Zach Parise missed Minnesota's 4-2 loss in Detroit on Thursday with a back injury - the 64th game he has sat out since signing a 13-year, $98 million contract prior to the 2012-13 season - and won't play Saturday. “You want to go in without nursing something,” Parise told the Pioneer Press. “I want to go in and not have that stuff be at the top of my mind - just go in and relax and play - and that’s what I’m shooting toward.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), FSN Carolinas

ABOUT THE WILD (0-1-0): Joel Eriksson Ek and Chris Stewart scored third-period goals Thursday to make it 2-2, but tallies by Eric Staal and Ryan Suter in the first period were disallowed by goaltender interference. That preceded Minnesota failing to score on a 5-on-3 power play that lasted 1:37 before allowing two goals in 23 seconds - one on a two-man advantage and another on a 5-on-4. "You have to win the special-teams battle to win games in this league," Stewart told reporters. "We didn't score on the 5-on-3, and then we let them get two on theirs. That was huge."

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (2016-17: 36-31-15, seventh in Metropolitan): Jeff Skinner scored a career-high 37 goals and rookie Sebastian Aho added 24 last season while Williams, 36, scored 24 with Washington - his highest total since scoring a career-high 33 with Carolina in 2006-07. Jordan Staal and Faulk, whose career-high 17 goals last season were tied for second among NHL defensemen, were named co-captains. Darling, who was acquired from Chicago and signed a four-year, $16.6 million contract during the offseason, is expected to start in goal with 12-year Carolina veteran Cam Ward serving as backup.

OVERTIME

1. The Wild, who were one of five teams to finish in the top 10 on the power play and short-handed last season, were 0-for-4 with a man advantage and killed 3-of-5 penalties Thursday.

2. Carolina RW Lee Stempniak (16 goals in 2016-17) begins the season on injured reserve with a soreness in his back and hip, and is expected to miss 10-to-14 days.

3. Minnesota has won seven of the last eight meetings, including a split last season with each club winning by two at home. ... The home team is 14-5-1 in the last 20 meetings.

PREDICTION: Hurricanes 3, Wild 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - Minnesota at Carolina

W/L TRENDS

Minnesota

Wild are 5-13 in their last 18 games playing on 1 days rest. Wild are 3-8 in their last 11 road games. Wild are 6-20 in their last 26 vs. Metropolitan. Wild are 2-7 in their last 9 vs. Eastern Conference. Wild are 1-4 in their last 5 Saturday games. Wild are 1-5 in their last 6 overall. Wild are 2-10 in their last 12 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game. Wild are 1-5 in their last 6 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.

Carolina

Hurricanes are 32-66 in their last 98 games following a win. Hurricanes are 36-74 in their last 110 Saturday games. Hurricanes are 16-35 in their last 51 games playing on 3 or more days rest. Hurricanes are 3-7 in their last 10 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. Hurricanes are 8-20 in their last 28 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. Hurricanes are 3-8 in their last 11 vs. Western Conference. Hurricanes are 2-7 in their last 9 vs. Central. Hurricanes are 1-5 in their last 6 overall.

OU TRENDS

Minnesota

Over is 4-0 in Wild last 4 vs. Eastern Conference. Over is 9-3-3 in Wild last 15 Saturday games. Under is 5-2 in Wild last 7 overall. Over is 10-4-1 in Wild last 15 vs. Metropolitan. Under is 5-2 in Wild last 7 road games.

Carolina

Under is 3-0-1 in Hurricanes last 4 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is 5-1 in Hurricanes last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. Under is 3-1-1 in Hurricanes last 5 games following a win. Under is 3-1-1 in Hurricanes last 5 home games. Under is 35-13-3 in Hurricanes last 51 games playing on 3 or more days rest. Under is 15-6-5 in Hurricanes last 26 vs. a team with a winning % below .400.

HEAD TO HEAD

Under is 3-0-2 in the last 5 meetings in Carolina. Wild are 7-1 in the last 8 meetings. Home team is 14-5-1 in the last 20 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Stars at Blues

Gracenote
Oct 7, 2017

The St. Louis Blues are riding high into their 2017-18 home opener versus the Dallas Stars on Saturday in what will be the first of many crucial Central Division battles this season. St. Louis spoiled two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh's banner raising party with a 5-4 victory Wednesday as defenseman Alex Pietrangelo scored in overtime to record his second career two-goal game.

Pietrangelo led St. Louis defensemen with a career-high 14 goals last season while the rest of the 2017-18 blueline corps combined for 10 in 2016-17. "You're playing the defending champs on their opening night. There's going to be no quit in their game, but finding a way to get two points and getting that first win under our belt, I think is huge," Blues center Paul Stastny, who recorded a goal and assist, told reporters. Dallas was on the wrong end of a trivia question when it opened the season with a 2-1 loss to Vegas on Friday in the first game in Golden Knights' franchise history. Injury was added to insult when new Stars No. 1 goaltender Ben Bishop left the contest after he was cut on the head while taking a shot off his facemask, but was able to return to the bench.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Dallas), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

ABOUT THE STARS (0-1-0): Bishop stopped all 19 shots he faced before Kari Lehtonen, who started 392 games since arriving in Dallas in 2009-10, took over with 16:02 remaining and gave up a pair of goals to James Neal - the second with 2:44 to play. Tyler Seguin, who shared the team lead in goals (26) with Jamie Benn and boasted a club-best 72 points last season, scored Friday and recorded a whopping 10 shots on goal. Alexander Radulov took two minor penalties and recorded three hits, including a big one Las Vegas' Cody Eakin in the neutral zone, in his Dallas debut.

ABOUT THE BLUES (1-0-0): St. Louis received additional offensive support from the blueline Wednesday as Colton Parayko scored while center Brayden Schenn registered an even-strength goal and assist in his Blues debut after he was acquired from Philadelphia during the offseason. Schenn's 17 power-play goals tied for the NHL lead with Alex Ovechkin and Nikita Kucherov in 2016-17. "I’ve gotta try and find ways to create more chances and produce a little bit more 5-on-5,” Schenn told reporters. “So that’s something I’m going to put a focus on. ..."

OVERTIME

1. St. Louis D Vince Dunn and C Tage Thompson made their NHL debuts Wednesday with Dunn finishing a plus-1 in 15:28 of ice time while Thompson was a minus-1 in 11:26.

2. Dallas, which had the worst-penalty killing unit in the NHL in 2016-17, extinguished all seven Golden Knights' power plays Friday.

3. St. Louis won the final three meetings last season - twice in overtime and all by one goal.

PREDICTION: Blues 3, Stars 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - Dallas at St. Louis

W/L TRENDS

Dallas

Stars are 5-0 in their last 5 Saturday games. Stars are 12-28 in their last 40 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. Stars are 6-14 in their last 20 vs. Western Conference. Stars are 20-50 in their last 70 games playing on 0 days rest. Stars are 9-23 in their last 32 road games. Stars are 7-19 in their last 26 vs. Central. Stars are 6-20 in their last 26 vs. a team with a winning record. Stars are 1-4 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.

St. Louis

Blues are 41-12 in their last 53 vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Blues are 9-3 in their last 12 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game. Blues are 22-9 in their last 31 overall. Blues are 79-34 in their last 113 Saturday games. Blues are 9-4 in their last 13 home games. Blues are 39-18 in their last 57 games playing on 2 days rest. Blues are 2-6 in their last 8 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game. Blues are 0-4 in their last 4 games following a win.

OU TRENDS

Dallas

Under is 4-0 in Stars last 4 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is 6-1 in Stars last 7 road games. Under is 5-1 in Stars last 6 vs. a team with a winning record. Over is 4-1 in Stars last 5 games playing on 0 days rest. Over is 7-2 in Stars last 9 Saturday games. Over is 9-3 in Stars last 12 vs. Central. Under is 9-4 in Stars last 13 overall. Over is 11-5 in Stars last 16 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. Over is 33-16-3 in Stars last 52 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.

St. Louis

Under is 4-0-1 in Blues last 5 vs. Central. Under is 7-1 in Blues last 8 games following a win. Under is 4-1-1 in Blues last 6 overall. Over is 4-1-2 in Blues last 7 Saturday games. Under is 4-1-1 in Blues last 6 home games. Under is 20-5-4 in Blues last 29 vs. Western Conference. Under is 19-5-3 in Blues last 27 vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Under is 6-2 in Blues last 8 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is 5-2-2 in Blues last 9 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game. Under is 39-18-10 in Blues last 67 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.

HEAD TO HEAD

Over is 3-0-2 in the last 5 meetings in St. Louis. Over is 6-1-3 in the last 10 meetings. Stars are 2-6 in the last 8 meetings in St. Louis. Stars are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Blue Jackets at Blackhawks

Gracenote
Oct 7, 2017

The Chicago Blackhawks scored 10 goals for the first time in almost 29 years to get the season off to a rousing start and hope to continue that kind of production when they host the stingy Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. The Blackhawks scored just three goals while getting swept by Nashville in the first round last postseason but pounded defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh 10-1 in their 2017-18 opener on Thursday.

“We had a lot to prove,” Chicago left wing Ryan Hartman told reporters after recording a career-high five points in the win. “I can’t really say we’re angry still. It’s a new season, but we wanted to come out ready and show that we’re a contender.” Patrick Kane added four points in the opener and the Blackhawks also received a hat trick from Brandon Saad, who was re-acquired from Columbus for Artemi Panarin in a major offseason trade. The Blue Jackets were just as impressive in their opener Friday, receiving three assists from Panarin and 29 saves from Sergei Bobrovsky en route to a 5-0 home victory over the New York Islanders. “Saader lights it up (on opening night),” Columbus coach John Tortorella told reporters. “They have a good player there in Chicago. We have a pretty damn good one here (in Panarin).”

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Columbus), WGN (Chicago)

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (1-0-0): Pierre-Luc Dubois, the third overall pick in the 2016 draft, scored in his NHL debut on Friday and 21-year-old Sonny Milano added his first career tally in his eighth game. Cam Atkinson, who netted a career-high 35 goals last season, also scored while Alexander Wennberg chipped in with a pair of assists as the Blue Jackets outshot the Islanders 37-29 overall and 31-18 over the first two periods. Columbus already is getting contributions from its defense corps again this season as Ryan Murray and Zach Werenski each tallied in the opener.

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (1-0-0): Nick Schmaltz, who registered two goals and an assist while centering Hartman and Kane in the opener, reportedly skated during Friday's practice after leaving the win over Pittsburgh with a leg injury. Saad was reunited with captain Jonathan Toews on a line with Richard Panik while Artem Anisimov centered another line that included veteran Patrick Sharp, who scored a goal to reach 600 points in his career. Corey Crawford was sharp in the opener with 28 saves and is 12-4-2 with a 2.18 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in his career against Columbus.

OVERTIME

1. Bobrovsky, who posted his 20th career shutout Friday, is 5-3-1 with a 2.52 GAA and .923 save percentage against the Blackhawks.

2. Chicago C Tanner Kero (lower body) is considered questionable for Saturday, which could get RW Tommy Wingels into the lineup.

3. The Blue Jackets have won four of the last six meetings after splitting the two-game series with the Blackhawks last season.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Blue Jackets 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - Columbus at Chicago

W/L TRENDS

Columbus

Blue Jackets are 15-5 in their last 20 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game. Blue Jackets are 30-80 in their last 110 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Blue Jackets are 3-10 in their last 13 overall. Blue Jackets are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. Central. Blue Jackets are 2-9 in their last 11 vs. a team with a winning record. Blue Jackets are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. Western Conference. Blue Jackets are 1-7 in their last 8 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game. Blue Jackets are 1-8 in their last 9 road games.

Chicago

Blackhawks are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. Metropolitan. Blackhawks are 6-0 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Blackhawks are 11-3 in their last 14 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game. Blackhawks are 21-7 in their last 28 games following a win. Blackhawks are 10-4 in their last 14 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. Blackhawks are 9-4 in their last 13 vs. Eastern Conference. Blackhawks are 1-8 in their last 9 overall. Blackhawks are 0-6 in their last 6 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game. Blackhawks are 0-6 in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.

OU TRENDS

Columbus

Under is 3-0-1 in Blue Jackets last 4 games playing on 0 days rest. Under is 8-2-1 in Blue Jackets last 11 road games. Under is 4-1 in Blue Jackets last 5 games following a win. Under is 16-5-1 in Blue Jackets last 22 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is 9-3-1 in Blue Jackets last 13 vs. a team with a winning record. Under is 20-7-1 in Blue Jackets last 28 vs. Western Conference. Under is 8-3 in Blue Jackets last 11 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is 5-2 in Blue Jackets last 7 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game. Under is 5-2 in Blue Jackets last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Over is 5-2-1 in Blue Jackets last 8 vs. Central.

Chicago

Over is 1-0-3 in Blackhawks last 4 overall. Under is 4-0-3 in Blackhawks last 7 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is 4-1-1 in Blackhawks last 6 home games. Under is 3-1-1 in Blackhawks last 5 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game. Over is 20-7-6 in Blackhawks last 33 games playing on 1 days rest. Under is 31-11-12 in Blackhawks last 54 vs. Metropolitan. Over is 5-2-2 in Blackhawks last 9 Saturday games. Over is 17-8-5 in Blackhawks last 30 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game. Over is 21-10-2 in Blackhawks last 33 games following a win.

HEAD TO HEAD

Home team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings. Over is 37-18 in the last 55 meetings. Blue Jackets are 8-22 in the last 30 meetings. Blue Jackets are 1-8 in the last 9 meetings in Chicago.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Golden Knights at Coyotes

Gracenote
Oct 7, 2017

The Vegas Golden Knights relied on their two marquee players to win the first game in franchise history and hope to make it two victories in as many nights when they visit the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday. James Neal scored a pair of third-period goals against his former team and Marc-Andre Fleury made 45 saves Friday as Vegas posted a 2-1 triumph in Dallas.

Neal, who has scored at least 21 goals in each of his first nine NHL seasons, reached the Stanley Cup Final last season with Nashville but came up short against Pittsburgh as Fleury came away with his third championship, albeit in a backup role this time around. The 32-year-old Fleury could be given a rest versus Arizona, which squandered a three-goal lead en route to a 5-4 loss at Anaheim in its season opener Thursday. First-year coach Rick Tocchet was encouraged by the play of a pair of key youngsters, however, as Max Domi recorded a goal and an assist while Anthony Duclair also tallied. The 22-year-old Domi scored only nine goals for the Coyotes last season after netting twice as many as a rookie in 2015-16 while Duclair, also 22, followed a 20-goal campaign by recording only five tallies in 2016-17.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Vegas), FSN Arizona

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (1-0-0): Neal scored the first goal in franchise history at 10:27 of the third period and capped his two-tally performance 6:49 later while Fleury turned aside 11 shots in the session after stopping 20 in the second. Malcolm Subban, who was claimed off waivers from Boston on Tuesday, could give Fleury a much-deserved night off and make his third NHL start Saturday. The 23-year-old brother of former Norris Trophy winner and current Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban made one start for the Bruins each of the last two seasons, losing both.

ABOUT THE COYOTES (0-1-0): Antti Raanta hopes to make his Coyotes debut after nursing a lower-body injury over the last few weeks and serving as Louis Domingue's backup in the season opener. "Every day there has been a little progress," Raanta, who was acquired from the New York Rangers in June, told the team's website after Friday's practice. "It was a good skate today, lots of shots. I felt real good." Clayton Keller, a 19-year-old center who was drafted seventh overall in 2016, scored his first career goal in the season opener - his fourth NHL contest - while 20-year-old right wing Christian Fischer also tallied, giving him four goals in eight career games.

OVERTIME

1. Golden Knights C Jonathan Marchessault, who spent last season with Florida, received the first penalty in franchise history Friday as he was called for roughing 9:10 into the contest.

2. Arizona D Alex Goligoski matched his career high with three assists in the season opener.

3. Vegas LW David Perron led the team with five shots in the opener while C Cody Eakin topped the club with 22 minutes, 57 seconds of ice time.

PREDICTION: Coyotes 5, Golden Knights 1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - Vegas at Arizona

W/L TRENDS

Vegas

No trends available.

Arizona

Coyotes are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. Pacific. Coyotes are 42-87 in their last 129 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game. Coyotes are 9-19 in their last 28 vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Coyotes are 17-40 in their last 57 vs. Western Conference. Coyotes are 11-27 in their last 38 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game. Coyotes are 2-5 in their last 7 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game. Coyotes are 4-10 in their last 14 overall. Coyotes are 3-9 in their last 12 games playing on 1 days rest. Coyotes are 1-4 in their last 5 Saturday games.

OU TRENDS

Vegas

No trends available.

Arizona

Over is 6-1 in Coyotes last 7 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game. Over is 6-1-1 in Coyotes last 8 vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Under is 37-9-5 in Coyotes last 51 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is 8-2-1 in Coyotes last 11 vs. Western Conference. Under is 15-5-3 in Coyotes last 23 Saturday games. Under is 7-3 in Coyotes last 10 overall. Under is 23-11-8 in Coyotes last 42 vs. Pacific. Under is 31-15-5 in Coyotes last 51 games playing on 1 days rest.

HEAD TO HEAD

No trends available.