Monday 12-11-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Patriots vs. Dolphins Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/08/2017

The New England Patriots have been among the league's best teams at keeping focused on the task at hand, but they must avoid looking ahead when they visit the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. Red-hot New England is tied with Pittsburgh for the best overall record (and No. 1 seed) in the AFC and has a showdown looming in the Steel City on Dec. 17.

The Patriots have ripped off eight consecutive victories, including a 35-17 win over the Dolphins three weeks ago, but they have lost three of their past four visits to Miami. "They always play well down there against us, so I think we know it's going to be a lot different game, and environment, and everything else Monday night from what it was (on Nov. 26)," New England coach Bill Belichick said. While the Patriots can clinch a record nine AFC East title in a row, the Dolphins need a victory to keep their flickering postseason hopes alive. Miami, which entered the weekend trailing Baltimore by two games for the final playoff slot in the AFC, halted a five-game skid with a 35-9 drubbing of the reeling Denver Broncos last weekend.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Patriots -11. O/U: 47.5

ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (5-7): Miami was gouged for a staggering 177 points during its five-game slide before sending Denver to its eighth straight defeat, getting a pair of safeties and a touchdown from its defense and special teams. Quarterback Jay Cutler missed last month's matchup versus the Patriots due to injury, but returned last week with a rather pedestrian performance, throwing for 235 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Wide receiver Jarvis Landry has at least five catches in every game this season, including eight for 70 yards in the first matchup, and has at least six receptions in his last six games versus New England. An injury to Damien Williams opened the door for Kenyan Drake to rush for 120 yards and a TD on 23 carries last week.

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (10-2): Quarterback Tom Brady failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time since the season opener in last week's 23-3 win at Buffalo, but the NFL's leading passer burned Miami for four scoring passers three weeks ago. Brady insists he will play despite not practicing due to an Achilles injury and he will be without star tight end Rob Gronkowski, who had two TD passes versus Miami but was suspended one game for delivering a forearm to the back of the head of a prone Buffalo defensive back last week. Dion Lewis ran for 115 yards against the Dolphins last month and leads a ground game that has amassed over 190 yards in each of New England's last two wins. A defense that was ravaged early in the season has not allowed more than 17 points during the winning streak.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Miami has struggled under the bright lights this season, losing all three prime-time matchups and getting outscored 112-45.

2. Brady has 11 touchdown passes and one interception in his last four games versus Miami.

3. Dolphins WR Kenny Stills has 278 yards and two TDs in his last two home games.

PREDICTION: Patriots 23, Dolphins 19

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Celtics vs. Bulls Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/10/2017

The Boston Celtics will try to complete a winning road trip when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Monday. After dropping the opener of the three-game trip at San Antonio, the Celtics clamped down defensively in a 91-81 victory at Detroit on Sunday to improve to 9-2 on the road against the Eastern Conference.

"We were locked in," center Aron Baynes told reporters after his team got revenge for a recent 118-108 home loss to the Pistons."Our offense wasn't as crisp as we wanted it to be, but defensively we had a game plan and we stuck with it. We were trying to pack the paint and make them make plays from the outside. Last time, they really had whatever they wanted inside the paint." The Bulls have won two in a row following a 10-game losing streak as they've made the most of Nikola Mirotic's return to the lineup. "I said to (assistant coach) Randy Brown at the Charlotte game that we're going to win that game, and he said, 'Why?'" Mirotic told reporters after a 104-102 victory over New York on Saturday. "And I said 'Because I'm back.' And we won that game, and today I told him too - 'We're going to win two in a row.' And he said, 'Niko, I trust you.' We are 2-0, so there is no coincidence." Mirotic, who missed the first 23 games due to facial fractures and a concussion resulting from a preseason fight with teammate Bobby Portis, scored 19 points in 20 minutes versus the Knicks.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN Boston, WGN (Chicago)

ABOUT THE CELTICS (23-5): Forward Al Horford rebounded from a season-worst two-point performance against the Spurs to lead his team with 18 points at Detroit while chipping in nine rebounds, six assists, two blocks and zero turnovers. Point guard Kyrie Irving added 16 points and Baynes recorded a season-high 13 rebounds as Boston prevented itself from losing consecutive games for the first time since starting 0-2. "We responded not only to that loss at home (to Detroit), but also to the tough Spurs loss," Irving told the media. "We want to continue to build character and identity for our team and be responsive with a quick turnaround."

ABOUT THE BULLS (5-20): Mirotic's big effort Saturday night was part of a solid showing for Chicago's five reserves, who combined for 54 points on 21-of-37 shooting with 14 assists and two turnovers. Point guard Kris Dunn led the starters with 17 points and nine assists and he is averaging 17.5 points, eight assists and 6.3 rebounds during a four-game stretch. "I want to be a leader for my team and I want to make the big plays," Dunn told reporters. "I know we have multiple guys who can make plays, but I definitely want to be one of them."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Boston rookie F Jayson Tatum was 3-for-5 from 3-point range Sunday to improve his NBA-leading percentage from long distance to 52.3.

2. Celtics F Marcus Morris (knee) is expected to miss his second straight game.

3. Chicago has won four straight regular-season meetings with Boston at home.

PREDICTION: Celtics 108, Bulls 104

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Heat vs. Grizzlies Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/10/2017

The Miami Heat gave themselves a chance at a winning three-game road trip and a .500 record when they went into Mexico City and locked down on the defensive end in a 101-89 win over the Brooklyn Nets. The Heat will try to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this month when they visit the struggling Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.

Miami allowed 240 points in losses to Western Conference powers Golden State and San Antonio before holding the Nets to 36 points in the second half on Saturday. "A great game for us, especially defensively," Heat point guard Goran Dragic told the Miami Herald. "We know that they were going to try to play fast. They scored 89 points and shooting 40 percent from the field. That's in our wheelhouse. We want to play like that every night on defense." The Grizzlies are losers of three straight and 14 of their last 15 but are seeing some improvement under interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff and took the Oklahoma City Thunder to overtime on Saturday before dropping a 102-101 decision. "We had our chances," Bickerstaff told reporters after the loss. "Over and over again, we had our chances. We can't afford to let these types of games slip. ... Small things, simple execution things, understanding our player tendencies, those types of things. We had our opportunities. We let it slip away from us."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Miami), FS Southeast (Memphis)

ABOUT THE HEAT (12-13): Miami small forward Justise Winslow is beginning to embrace his role off the bench and scored a season-high 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting on Saturday, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range. "I think I was just in a rhythm, defensively and offensively," Winslow told reporters. "I think I got to the point now where I'm really just trusting my skills and all the work I put in, not thinking and just flowing really." Winslow is not the only reserve playing at a high level of late, and shooting guard Tyler Johnson totaled 45 points on 17-of-23 shooting over the first two games of the road trip.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (8-18): Memphis held a 20-point lead in the first half on Saturday but came out of the locker room cold with a nine-point third quarter. "Basketball happened," center Marc Gasol explained to reporters. "They made runs. They're a good team. You were up 20 obviously for a reason. You were doing things correctly. We were able to slow them down in transition. They changed a little bit, the pace of the game. They slowed us down offensively, and they were able to speed up the game on their end because they were getting stops. That's what happened." Gasol is averaging 21.4 points over the last five games and logged 42 minutes on Saturday -- the second time in the last five contests that he eclipsed 40.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Heat SG Dion Waiters went 1-of-10 from the field in two of the last three games, with an 8-of-12 effort sandwiched in between.

2. Grizzlies SG Tyreke Evans is averaging 28 points on 23-of-43 shooting over the last two games.

3. The road team took each of the two meetings last season, with Miami earning a 90-81 victory in Memphis on Nov. 25, 2016.

PREDICTION: Heat 105, Grizzlies 103

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Hornets vs. Thunder Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats08:00 PM
by Gracenote on 12/10/2017

The Oklahoma City Thunder made a great effort over the summer to bring in a pair of All-Stars and improve the roster but when it comes to crunch time, it's still Russell Westbrook's team. Westbrook will try to guide the Thunder to their fifth win in six games when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Monday.

Westbrook finished off his triple-double on Saturday at Memphis by sinking the tying and go-ahead free throws in the final seconds of overtime after guiding the team back from a 20-point deficit. "(Westbrook) was really good," guard Alex Abrines told the team's website. "He is the leader of this team. We need him to score. We need him to pass the ball and create for his teammates. He's been doing it all year. He's one of the best in the world." The Hornets are losers of three straight and seven of their last eight and are beginning a two-game trip at Oklahoma City before heading to Western Conference-leading Houston on Wednesday. Charlotte finished off a four-game homestand by falling in overtime to the NBA-worst Chicago Bulls on Friday and dropping a 110-99 decision to the Los Angeles Lakers the next night.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), FS Oklahoma

ABOUT THE HORNETS (9-16): Charlotte allowed 56 points in the paint in each of its last two losses and is dealing with an injury situation that had four of the team's top eight players out by the end of the game on Saturday. Shooting guard Nicolas Batum has been dealing with an elbow injury all season and had it flare up on him again Saturday, when he was limited to two points in 19 minutes. Point guard Kemba Walker is trying to pick up the slack and is averaging 24 points in four games since returning from his own injury -- a shoulder issue that robbed him of two games.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (12-13): Westbrook was one of four Oklahoma City players to reach 20 points on Saturday along with Abrines, Carmelo Anthony and Steven Adams. Abrines, who averages 4.7 points, got the start in place of Paul George (calf) and went off for 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting in 43 minutes. "I'm more happy about the comeback and the effort that my teammates put out," Abrines told the team's website. "We just took our time to find the open man and I just had to be ready. Russ and Melo were able to find me when I was wide open."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. George sat out the last two games with a calf bruise and remains day-to-day.

2. Hornets coach Steve Clifford (undisclosed health issue) missed the last three games and his return is uncertain.

3. Charlotte took both meetings last season, including a 113-101 triumph at Oklahoma City on April 2.

PREDICTION: Thunder 107, Hornets 99

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Pelicans vs. Rockets Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/11/2017

The Houston Rockets have appeared unbeatable of late and now begin their longest homestand of the season when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. A 124-117 victory at Portland on Saturday ran Houston's winning streak to nine games, a stretch during which it has averaged 119.8 points and won all but the most recent contest by double digits.

"We're really good," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters on Saturday. "When you have great players, our defense keeps holding up. To win on the road, you have to play good defense. It gives us a chance that sometime in the 48 minutes, we're going hit a variety of shots. We impose our will at that point. Either the bench does it, the starters do it, or a combination. We're 48 minutes of pretty good basketball." James Harden and Chris Paul seem to be the perfect pairing in Houston's backcourt as they combined for 74 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals in the win at Portland. Harden averaged 30.3 points, 13.8 assists and nine boards in four meetings last season with the Pelicans, who capped a 2-2 homestand with a 131-124 comeback victory over Philadelphia on Sunday. Jrue Holiday scored 34 points - 19 in the fourth quarter - in New Orleans' best offensive showing of the season.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN New Orleans, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)

ABOUT THE PELICANS (14-13): Anthony Davis scored 29 points and DeMarcus Cousins added 23, but the big men had little help on the glass as New Orleans was outrebounded 47-33 by Philadelphia and gave up 22 offensive boards. "I thought the big thing for us, we just did a real, real poor job on the boards," coach Alvin Gentry told reporters after the win. "Offensive rebounding really hurt us. Even when we were playing good defense, we just gave them those extra possessions." There were plenty of assists to go around, but point guard Rajon Rondo claimed most of them with a season-high 18 to go along with 13 points and five steals.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (20-4): Paul's 26 points on Saturday represents a season high as he made at least 50 percent of his shots for the third time in the last four games. Center Clint Capela recorded his 14th double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes and he was 4-for-5 from the field to push his shooting percentage to 66 percent - second in the NBA entering Sunday. Houston won't play on the road again until Christmas Day at Oklahoma City.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Harden has made exactly four 3-pointers in four straight games and is shooting a career-high 40.6 from beyond the arc.

2. Pelicans SG E'Twaun Moore hit 2-of-4 3-pointers on Sunday and is 19-for-29 this month.

3. Houston averaged 120 points while taking three of the four meetings last season.

PREDICTION: Rockets 124, Pelicans 111

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trail Blazers vs. Warriors Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats10:30 PM
by Gracenote on 12/10/2017

The Golden State Warriors just got finished sweeping a six-game road trip despite losing point guard Stephen Curry to an ankle sprain midway through. The Warriors still won't have Curry available but will have another former MVP, Kevin Durant, when they return home and host the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.

Durant picked up the slack for Curry in the final two games of the trip, dropping a 35-point triple-double on the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday before going for 36 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks in a 102-98 win at Detroit on Friday. "Usually over a three-game road trip, the last game we're a little sluggish and ready to get home," Durant told reporters after beating the Pistons. "We've been on the road for so long, and guys are ready to get home. I liked our focus level to start the game, for 48 minutes we were focused. ... I think our focus level was the main thing throughout this whole trip--especially with so much that went on. Just proud of the effort that we gave from the coaches all the way down to the players." The Trail Blazers could be happy to be hitting the road for a five-game trip after getting swept in a four-game homestand, capped by a 124-117 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday. "I'm definitely not into moral victories, but I think if we had that type of effort against any of the previous three teams, we might have finished this home stand 3 and 1," Portland point guard Damian Lillard told reporters. "I think we all understand that you go through adversity in the NBA season, but it's how you come out of it. I think this was definitely a few steps in the right direction."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Northwest (Portland), NBCS Bay Area (Golden State)

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (13-12): Lillard and CJ McCollum combined for 63 points in Saturday's loss, and the team tried to find the positives. "It's disappointing to lose," said Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts. "They're the best team in the league right now and we competed and came up short, but we had a lot of good efforts from a lot of different players. That was very encouraging. After the last three games, it's good to be in a game at the end against a really good team, and like I said, we just came up short." McCollum scored 28 points on 11-of-21 shooting after shooting 34.2 percent and failing to reach 20 points in any of the previous four contests.

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (21-6): Golden State is a different team without Curry on the floor, and Durant is stepping up. "I feel like we're always focused, but it's just a different style that we have to play," Durant told reporters. "Obviously not having Steph, the way he shoots the three, the way he penetrates the way he creates for everybody on the floor not having him on the floor is a little different and we definitely miss him, but we have to figure out ways to score the ball and find the open man." Draymond Green (shoulder) returned from a one-game absence on Friday and struggled with his shot at 1-of-6 from the floor but made up for it with 13 assists and six blocks.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Warriors C Zaza Pachulia (shoulder) sat out Friday and is doubtful for Monday.

2. Trail Blazers C Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) missed Saturday's game and is day-to-day.

3. The teams are meeting for the first time since Golden State swept Portland in the first round of the playoffs last spring.

PREDICTION: Warriors 123, Trail Blazers 101

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Raptors vs. Clippers Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/10/2017

The hard-charging Toronto Raptors look to stay perfect on their road trip and extend their winning streak to seven games when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. The Raptors are averaging 117 points during their six-game run and they turned up the intensity on the defensive end with Sunday's 102-87 victory at Sacramento on Sunday, although it wasn't the most even effort in the streak.

"That's something we've got to fight for is consistency and make sure it doesn't become a habit," coach Dwane Casey told reporters while referencing the near-loss of an early 15-point lead. "We've got to fight that. But I thought our defense carried us when we couldn't make shots." The Clippers snapped a four-game losing streak with a dramatic win over Washington on Saturday, as Lou Williams' 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left was the difference. Los Angeles had to endure some controversy and replay reviews to negate the Wizards' game-winning attempt, and it was pleased with a rare positive in what has been a difficult season so far. "I just wanted it to go in our favor and it did," coach Doc Rivers told repoters. "We showed a lot of heart."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, TSN2 (Toronto), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (17-7): DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points in the win at Sacramento and he is averaging 25.4 while shooting 50 percent and handing out 6.8 assists in the last five games. "Just being aggressive, picking and choosing my spots, understanding my knack of trying to get to the free-throw line, when I can get to the free-throw line," DeRozan told reporters Sunday. "That's all that was, me understanding the moment." The three-time All-Star is 35-for-42 from the charity stripe over a four-game stretch but he's missed all 11 of his 3-point tries over his last seven contests.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (9-15): Danilo Gallinari struggled in his first game back from a glute injury but rebounded to score 25 points against the Wizards and gives the squad another quality scorer to go along with Williams, who has carried the team during an injury-riddled stretch. "Obviously we have guys out and I'm playing more minutes than I usually would," Williams told reporters after a 35-point effort Saturday. "So to some degree it feels good to be able to have some high numbers, but we would like to be able to turn these things into some wins." Both Williams and Austin Rivers were 4-of-8 from 3-point range and Rivers is averaging 23 points over his last three games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Clippers C DeAndre Jordan has at least 16 rebounds in four of his last five games.

2. Toronto's winning streak matches its longest since an 11-game run in 2015-16.

3. Los Angeles PG Milos Teodosic (foot) has missed 22 straight games but has been upgraded to questionable for this one.

PREDICTION: Raptors 106, Clippers 104

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Capitals vs. Islanders Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/10/2017

After wrapping up a five-game homestand with four consecutive victories, the Washington Capitals hope to extend their winning streak when they visit the New York Islanders on Monday. Washington has scored at least four goals in each of the triumphs during its run, including Friday's 4-2 win over the New York Rangers.

Nicklas Backstrom scored a goal and set up another as the Capitals squandered a two-goal lead before tallying twice in the final 3:32 of the third period en route to their seventh victory in eight overall contests. The 30-year-old Swede has collected five points in his last two games while captain Alex Ovechkin is riding a four-game streak during which he has notched three goals and five assists. The Islanders return home from a four-game road trip that concluded with their third straight loss, a 3-1 setback at Boston on Saturday. Anders Lee recorded the lone goal to tie captain John Tavares (17) for the team lead while Josh Bailey moved ahead of Tavares for first on the club in scoring, registering an assist for his 32nd point.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCSN Washington, MSG Plus (New York)

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (18-11-1): Backstrom's goal on Friday was the 193rd of his career, tying him with Dave Christian for seventh place on the franchise list. Fourteen of defenseman Matt Niskanen's last 29 career goals have been game-winners, including his lone tally of the season on Friday. Andre Burakovsky has recorded four points in 10 games this season and is one shy of 100 for his career.

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (16-10-3): The club will be without Thomas Hickey as the defenseman was placed on injured reserve Sunday with an upper-body injury. Shane Prince, who underwent offseason ankle surgery, was activated from injured reserve and sent to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League for conditioning. Tavares and Lee are the first Islander teammates to have 17 goals by Dec. 9 since 1984, when Brent Sutter and Mike Bossy both hit the mark before the end of November.

OVERTIME

1. The Islanders have allowed a power-play goal in seven consecutive games.

2. Washington is 13-0-0 this season when scoring at least four goals.

3. Tavares needs one assist to tie Stefan Persson (317) for eighth place on the franchise list while G Jaroslav Halak is one win away from matching Rollie Melanson (77) for fifth in team history and Ilya Bryzgalov (221) for 68th all-time in the NHL.

PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Islanders 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Avalanche vs. Penguins Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/10/2017

The Pittsburgh Penguins have cooled off again after stringing together a season-high four-game winning streak and look to move back in a positive direction when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. The Penguins have lost two of their last three after surrendering three first-period goals en route to a 4-3 home setback against Toronto on Saturday.

"We can't keep chasing games the way we're chasing them, and when you play good teams, you can't spot them a three-goal lead," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan told reporters. "When you give up a couple goals so early in the game, it's a head-scratcher for me. ... That's something that we, as a group, have to solve if we're going to become the team we want to be." Phil Kessel tops the Penguins with 14 goals and 36 points after scoring three times in the last four games while Nathan MacKinnon (11 goals, 33 points) leads Colorado, which snapped its four-game losing streak with a 7-3 triumph at Florida on Saturday. The Avalanche matched their goal total during the slide in one night and hope to build on that as they continue a difficult four-game road trip. "Every line chipped in (Saturday), and we need four lines to contribute if we're going to make a push here," MacKinnon told reporters. "And this was a step in the right direction."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA, Altitude (Colorado), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh

ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (13-13-2): Matt Nieto recorded his second three-point performance of the season while Carl Soderberg (goal, assist) and Colin Wilson (goal) also contributed in the big win on Saturday. MacKinnon has recorded five points in his last four games and second-leading scorer Mikko Rantanen has notched four in as many contests to reach 24 on the season. Tyson Barrie is tied for third on the team with 21 points and fellow defenseman Erik Johnson has scored a goal in each of the last two contests, doubling his total for the campaign.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (16-12-3): Patric Hornqvist left Saturday's game in the third period after getting hit in the head with a puck and was to be re-evaluated on Sunday. The good news on the injury front is that No. 1 goaltender Matt Murray (lower body), who has been out since Oct. 27, has been practicing with the team and is close to returning to the lineup. Captain Sidney Crosby continues to put up points with 16 in his last nine games, while Evgeni Malkin is riding a five-game point streak during which he has notched a pair of goals and four assists.

OVERTIME

1. Colorado RW Nail Yakupov, who has gone without a point in his last six games, was a healthy scratch in the past two.

2. Pittsburgh D Kris Letang, who is fourth on the team with 24 points, has recorded at least one in four straight games (one goal, five assists).

3. The Penguins are 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings but dropped a 4-3 overtime decision at home to the Avalanche last season.

PREDICTION: Penguins 5, Avalanche 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Stars vs. Rangers Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/10/2017

The New York Rangers attempt to continue their dominance at home on Monday as they face off against the slumping Dallas Stars. New York has won 10 of its last 11 contests at Madison Square Garden, including a 5-2 triumph over New Jersey on Saturday.

Mats Zuccarello scored a pair of goals in the victory and has registered a team-leading 24 points for the Rangers, who have won 13 of their last 17 overall contests. That does not bode well for the Stars, whose losing streak reached three games with Saturday's 5-3 setback against Vegas. Captain Jamie Benn scored a goal in the defeat to snap his nine-game drought and pull within two of Tyler Seguin for the team lead. Seguin tallied just twice in his last seven contests but has collected 11 of his club-high 28 points over his last 11 games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Dallas), MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE STARS (16-13-1): Center Jason Dickinson was recalled from Texas of the American Hockey League on Sunday and will be in the lineup against the Rangers - as will defenseman Julius Honka, who has been a healthy scratch for five of the team's previous six games. Meanwhile, Antoine Roussel (elbow) and blue-liner Greg Pateryn (thigh) missed Sunday's practice and will be game-time decisions. Kari Lehtonen, who is two wins shy of 300 for his career, is expected to start against New York while Martin Hanzal (hamstring) is traveling with the team and likely will play at some point during the four-game road trip.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (16-11-2): Michael Grabner has scored 13 of his team-leading 14 goals since Oct. 26, the most in the NHL during that span. Chris Kreider has been kept off the scoresheet in each of his last two games, leaving him one goal shy of 100 for his career and one point away from 200. Defenseman Nick Holden also is on the verge of reaching a milestone, as his next point will be 100th in the league.

OVERTIME

1. Rangers RW Jesper Fast is riding a career-best three-game goal-scoring streak and has recorded six of his seven tallies on the season over his last eight contests.

2. Roussel returned to the lineup Saturday after missing four games with an illness and recorded an assist.

3. New York G Henrik Lundqvist is four saves shy of becoming the 15th goaltender in NHL history with 20,000 in his career.

PREDICTION: Rangers 5, Stars 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Panthers vs. Red Wings Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/11/2017

The Florida Panthers look to stay in striking distance for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference as they begin a five-game road trip Monday against the struggling Detroit Red Wings. The Panthers had earned at least one point in five of six games, including an impressive win over Winnipeg, before falling apart in a 7-3 setback against Colorado on Saturday.

"Every three or four games, we run into this problem, not being consistent in the things that we know are going to make us successful," Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad told reporters. "It's something as a leader in this room and the rest of us leaders in the room have got to nip in the bud." The Red Wings have been just as inconsistent and are suffering through their worst stretch of the season with one victory in nine games (1-5-3) after Saturday's 6-1 loss to St. Louis. Detroit had a 20-10 advantage in shots over the first two periods against the Blues but could not score while giving up four goals. "If you look at it through a clear lens, not a frustrated lens, you say, 'OK, if we replicate the first two periods again Monday, I think we will be in a great spot,'" Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill told reporters. "If you stay with it, you end up getting the success you want."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Florida, FSN Detroit

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (11-14-4): Third-leading scorer Aleksander Barkov (27 points) missed Saturday's game with an upper-body injury and is questionable for the opener of the road trip. Jonathan Huberdeau continues to put up points with five in his last two games to push his team-leading total to 31 - one better than Vincent Trocheck, who has notched seven in his last four contests. Ekblad is the third defenseman in franchise history to score a goal in three consecutive games, joining Jay Bouwmeester (2008-09) and Jason Garrison (2011-12).

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (11-13-5): Jimmy Howard has allowed at least four goals in four of his last five games and stopped just 6-of-10 shots on Saturday. "I am not worried about Jimmy Howard in the least," Blashill told reporters. "He's been at the top of his game all year, but every goalie has a night where they hit the corner with every shot and pucks go in off a skate or a stick. He's fine." Dylan Larkin leads the team with 23 points but has gone nine games without a goal, while Anthony Mantha (22) has not hit the scoresheet in three contests.

OVERTIME

1. Florida's 20-year-old C Denis Malgin has scored in three consecutive games after managing one goal in his first nine contests of 2017-18.

2. Detroit D Luke Witkowski is eligible to return to the lineup Monday after serving a 10-game suspension.

3. The Red Wings won 3-2 in a shootout at Florida on Oct. 28 and have earned at least one point in five of the last seven meetings (4-2-1).

PREDICTION: Red Wings 4, Panthers 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Canucks vs. Jets Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/10/2017

The Winnipeg Jets have been one of the biggest stories in the NHL with their red-hot start, and hope returning home Monday to host the Vancouver Canucks will snap them out of their first real stumble of the season. Winnipeg could not hold a one-goal lead Saturday at Tampa Bay, salvaging a point in a 4-3 overtime loss to conclude a 0-2-1 road trip and extend the Jets' road losing streak to five.

"We have a better game to play. We look like we've seen both oceans a couple times here in the last month," Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice told reporters Saturday, referencing the Jets recent travel schedule that has taken them to California, Colorado, Detroit and Florida in a two-week span. Vancouver also comes in off a frustrating loss, losing a 2-1 third-period lead in a 4-2 loss Saturday at Calgary. The Canucks have dropped five of their past eight games and four of their past five road contests. "When you play on the road, it's going to be tight," Canucks center Henrik Sedin told the media afterward. "We had some chances, but in the end we've got to battle to get it to overtime."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver), TSN3 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (14-12-4): Forward Brock Boeser scored his 15th goal of the season Saturday, most among all rookies, and has 13 points (10 goals, three assists) in his past 13 games. Forward Nic Dowd, acquired from the Kings on Thursday, played 8:12 Saturday in his Vancouver debut. Anders Nilsson made 31 saves in losing for the second time in three starts Saturday, and Jacob Markstrom - who has won two of his past three starts - may get the nod Monday.

ABOUT THE JETS (17-8-5): Forward Blake Wheeler moved into a tie for the NHL lead with assists with his 30th of the season Saturday, extending his points streak to five games (two goals, eight assists) and giving him 13 points in his past seven games. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has lost three of his past five starts, posting an .884 save percentage. Winnipeg is 2-2-1 in December after finishing November at 9-3-2, but has won six in a row at home.

OVERTIME

1. The Canucks still have a better record on the road (9-6-1) than at home (5-6-3).

2. Winnipeg has won seven of the past eight meetings with the Canucks, including a 4-2 victory on Oct. 12 in Vancouver.

3. Vancouver F Sven Baertschi left in the second period Saturday when a puck hit him in the face, and the team did not issue an update on his status Sunday.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Canucks 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Hurricanes vs. Ducks Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/11/2017

The Carolina Hurricanes remain in search of their first victory on their six-game road trip, which continues Monday against the Anaheim Ducks. Carolina is 0-1-2 on its trek after dropping a 3-2 overtime decision in Los Angeles on Saturday, and 0-2-3 in its last five overall away from home.

Elias Lindholm scored for the Hurricanes in the loss to the Kings, giving him four points in as many games, while Victor Rask has tallied in back-to-back contests for the first time this season. While Carolina has struggled on the road, Anaheim has been having difficulty everywhere it plays of late. The Ducks carry a four-game point streak into the finale of their three-game homestand on Monday but have recorded just one victory in that string (1-0-3). Anaheim's stretch of four wins in five games in mid-November is a distant memory as the club has lost eight of its last 10 overall contests (2-4-4).

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FSN Carolinas, FSN West (Anaheim)

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (11-10-7): Cam Ward, who has been relegated to the backup role, figures to start against either Anaheim or Tuesday night in Vegas. The 33-year-old former Conn Smythe Trophy winner is 3-0-1 in his last five starts and is one victory shy of 300 for his career. Defenseman Justin Faulk, who has scored just one goal in 28 games after recording a career-high 17 last season, is mired in a seven-game point drought and needs one to reach 200 in the NHL.

ABOUT THE DUCKS (12-11-7): Rickard Rakell leads the injury-riddled team with eight goals but has gone five games without a tally. Corey Perry leads Anaheim with 22 points and is riding a four-game streak during which he has collected three goals and three assists, while Adam Henrique has begun his career with the Ducks with a five-game run that includes three tallies and three assists. Perry, the 32-year-old former Hart Trophy winner, scored his first power-play goal of the season on Dec. 2 against Nashville, leaving him two shy of 100 for his career.

OVERTIME

1. Ducks LW Andrew Cogliano has been kept off the scoresheet in six straight games and remains one assist away from 200 in the NHL.

2. Carolina has been outscored in the second period 14-3 over its last eight games.

3. Anaheim, which is 1-0-1 on its homestand, begins a six-game road trip on Thursday and will not return to the Honda Center until Dec. 27 against Vegas.

PREDICTION: Ducks 4, Hurricanes 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Florida International vs. South Florida Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/10/2017

After taking a break for exams, South Florida returns to action on Monday when the Bulls host Florida International. USF hopes the return of a prized transfer will turn its fortunes in a positive direction.

Senior forward Isaiah Manderson sat out the opening six games of the season for unspecified reasons but returned to the Bulls' lineup and expects to see his role increased. The 6-10 transfer from Texas Tech made his season debut on Nov. 26, playing nine minutes. But on the team's two-game trip through North Carolina, Manderson logged more than 20 minutes in each game, connecting on 9-of-19 shots and pulling down 10 rebounds in the two games. "We know when Isaiah comes into the game, we have to go to him, because he gives us a low post scoring threat,'' USF coach Brian Gregory told reporters. "I'm pleased with that.''

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3

ABOUT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (4-4): The Jaguars are coming off consecutive victories following a decisive win against South Alabama, led by a career-high 26 points from Trejon Jacob. The sophomore guard is one of four active players averaging double figures in scoring. Eric Lockett leads the way at 17.4 points per game followed by Jacob (16.1), Willy Nunez, Jr. (13.3) and Brian Beard, Jr. (12.4).

ABOUT USF (4-5): Senior guard Stephan Jiggetts is closing in on reaching 1,000 career points. The transfer from Fairleigh Dickinson scored 863 points before joining USF and has opened up the season with 109, leaving him 28 from reaching the milestone. Jiggetts leads the Bulls in playing time at 32.3 minutes per game, which includes a 41-minute performance at Elon on Nov. 30 to become the first player to play at least 40 minutes in a game for USF since Jan. 31, 2015.

TIP-INS

1. This marks the first of five consecutive games at home for USF, ending with the start of play in the American Athletic Conference against Houston on Dec. 28.

2. FIU is seeking its first three-game winning streak since winning four consecutive games from Dec. 22, 2015 to Jan. 7, 2016.

3. USF leads the all-time series 12-2, including 8-0 at home, and this will be the first meeting since Nov. 26, 2007.

PREDICTION: USF 67, FIU 65

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Bryant vs. Louisville Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/10/2017

Louisville recorded its first notable victory of the season last time out and looks to continue gaining confidence when it hosts struggling Bryant on Monday night. The Cardinals pulled away down the stretch to earn a 71-62 victory over Indiana at home Saturday afternoon as four players scored in double figures and 6-10 junior Ray Spalding notched his second straight double-double and fourth of the campaign.

"I don't think we can use just one game," Louisville interim coach David Padgett told reporters after the win. "Obviously, I don't want to call it a feel-good win, every win feels good. But we wanted to get some momentum going." Deng Adel registered 16 points in the victory to match his team-high scoring average, and the best sign for the Cardinals was on the other end of the floor where they limited Indiana to one field goal in the final 6:51 of the contest. "You eventually learn you can't let your offense dictate what you do on defense," Louisville's 7-foot senior center Anas Mahmoud told reporters. ". ... In the crucial parts, we held it down." Bryant has lost five straight after Saturday's 90-72 setback at Memphis and is expected to be without leading scorer Adam Grant (sprained ankle) for the second straight game.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT BRYANT (1-9): Grant, a sophomore guard averaging 15.7 points, went down after playing six minutes against Albany on Dec. 6. Sophomore guard Ikenna Ndugba (13.5 points, team-high 5.4 assists) is scoring 18 per game over the last four while freshman forward Brandon Carroll averaged 14.5 points the past two after totaling seven in the first eight contests. Senior guard Bosko Kostur (11.3 points) is the top threat from the perimeter, draining 20 of his 37 attempts from behind the arc.

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (6-2): Spalding is nearly averaging a double-double (9.8 points, 9.8 boards) after hauling in a career-high 14 rebounds against Indiana, and senior guard Quentin Snider pushed his scoring average to 10 after posting 44 in the past three games. Mahmoud (8.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 56.6 field goal percentage) has also raised his production level by scoring 27 and grabbing 20 boards in the past two contests. Malik Williams, a 6-11 freshman forward, stepped up with a season-high nine points on 3-of-4 shooting in 12 minutes against Indiana.

TIP-INS

1. Louisville sophomore G Ryan McMahon had four points Saturday in his first game back after missing the first seven with a rib injury.

2. Bryant freshman F Ryan Layman tops the team in rebounding (5.3) and pulled down 14 in the last two games combined.

3. The Cardinals lead the nation with 8.4 blocks per game, led by Mahmoud (30) and Spalding (18).

PREDICTION: Louisville 86, Bryant 60