Thursday 12-14-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

MIKE LUNDIN
NBA | Dec 14, 2017
Knicks vs. Nets
Nets-120

The New York Knicks enter this contest on a two-game winning streak after just barely defeating Atlanta and the Lakers home at Madison Square Garden. They have however won just once in nine attempts (2-7 ATS) outside of their own building all season, and I think they'll better prepare for another defeat when they visit their crosstown rival Brooklyn Nets Thursday night.

The Nets have won three of their last four games, all as underdogs, and they're 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games overall. The Knicks have the better season record at 14-13 vs. 11-15, but the Nets are 9-1 ATS when playing against a team with a winning record.

The home team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 head-to-head meetings.

My free pick is on the Brooklyn Nets.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

DUSTIN HAWKINS

Free Play on Pistons -3½ -109

[Can'tPickAWinner]

SCOTT SPREITZER
NBA | Dec 14, 2017
Pistons vs. Hawks
Pistons-3½

I'm recommending a play on the Pistons minus the points on Thursday night. After a strong start to the season, Detroit has been in free fall, losing seven in a row SU (2-4-1 ATS). The offense has left a lot to be desired, but we feel they're getting "just what the doctor ordered," tonight. The Hawks are playing very little defense, allowing 109 ppg on the season and 113 ppg in their last five contests. The Hawks rank 28th in FG percentage allowed and they're bottom-third in the league in 3-point defense, also. We know the Pistons like the deep perimeter on the offensive end. Detroit enters on a 12-5-1 ATS run on the road and we'll back them here. I'm recommending a play on the Pistons minus the points on Thursday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

BIG AL

Our complimentary selection for Thursday, Dec 14 is:

Northwestern -9.5 over Valparaiso

[Can'tPickAWinner]

JEFF BENTON

Your Thursday freebie is the Atlanta Hawks plus the points against the Detroit Pistons.

Why would you lay any wood with the Pistons right now?

This is a team that has totally lost their way here in the month of December, as Tuesday's 103-84 home loss to the Denver Nuggets marked the Pistons 7th straight loss. They are just 2-4-1 against the spread during their current tumble.

Atlanta has only won 3 times straight up over their last 9 games, but the Hawks have gone 7-2 against the spread with 4 straight covers heading into tonight's home clash with the non-firing Pistons.

The Hawks covered the first meeting between these teams in November, and they have covered in 5 of the last 7 games played against the Pistons.

Until we see some signs that Detroit is out of their current funk, I say play against them.

Hawks your freebie.

4* ATLANTA

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Pistons vs. Hawks Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/13/2017

The Detroit Pistons are in an offensive funk that has seen them average 92.9 points during a seven-game slide, including two straight losses in which they failed to reach 85 points. The Pistons will try to snap the slide on the road when they visit the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.

Detroit was run over 103-84 at home by the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday while playing what coach Stan Van Gundy called "extremely bad basketball," and the players are searching for answers for the offensive funk. "I feel like lately we haven't been shooting the ball very well and part of that is just not shooting the ball well, but part of that is too many guys trying to force it," forward Anthony Tolliver told reporters. "It's not in a selfish way, but in a like, 'oh, man, we've got to get it going' instead of trusting the process and trusting each other. It's not just one person, it's several guys trying to overcompensate." The Pistons could be in for a welcome respite from tough defenses against the Hawks, who allow an average of 109.3 points and surrendered at least 110 in each of their last five games - four losses. Atlanta had the misfortune of running into the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday and gave up 20 3-pointers while dropping a 123-114 decision.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Southeast (Atlanta)

ABOUT THE PISTONS (14-13): Tuesday's loss seemed to mark rock bottom for Detroit, which saw its starting five go 10-of-36 from the floor. "It's my job to put a product on the floor," Van Gundy told reporters. "We didn't play well on Sunday (in a loss to Boston), but our guys competed. I've got to try to find answers. We didn't do anything right (Tuesday). We didn't compete. We didn't bring any energy to the game. That's on me as a coach." The worst of the bunch was leading scorer Tobias Harris, who struggled to two points on 0-of-7 shooting in 30 minutes.

ABOUT THE HAWKS (6-21): A recent surge by the Chicago Bulls suddenly has Atlanta with the worst record in the Eastern Conference, and the defense is the main culprit. The Hawks allowed the Cavaliers to shoot 55.8 percent from the field on Tuesday and are getting lit up at 47.5 percent on the season, making them 28th in the NBA in field-goal percentage defense. The bright spot was the play of small forward Taurean Prince, who scored a team-high 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting and is 25-of-38 from the floor over the last four contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Hawks rookie PF John Collins (shoulder) sat out the last six games and is day-to-day.

2. Tolliver left Tuesday's loss with a broken nose and is day-to-day.

3. Detroit beat Atlanta 111-104 at home on Nov. 10 behind 16 points and 20 rebounds from center Andre Drummond.

PREDICTION: Pistons 106, Hawks 101

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Knicks vs. Nets Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/13/2017

Kristaps Porzingis seems to be heating back up for the New York Knicks, who will try for a rare road win when they head to Brooklyn to meet the Nets on Thursday. Porzingis scored 37 points in Tuesday's 113-109 home win over the Los Angeles Lakers in his fourth game since returning from an ankle injury, during which the Knicks are 3-1.

However, the one loss in that stretch was on the road and New York has an NBA-low one road win in nine tries as it begins a harrowing stretch in which it plays 19 of 26 away from Madison Square Garden. "It was a long, entertaining game," Porzingis told reporters after his team needed overtime to get rid of the Lakers. "It was a good show for the fans." Porzingis is averaging nearly four points more and shooting significantly better at home and had 30 points and nine rebounds in a 21-point win over Brooklyn at home on Oct. 27. That setback began a 3-10 slide for the Nets, who have recovered with five wins in their last eight games, including Tuesday's 103-98 triumph over Washington.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), YES (Brooklyn)

ABOUT THE KNICKS (14-13): Guard Frank Ntilikna had another solid all-around effort Tuesday opposite fellow rookie Lonzo Ball while finishing with 13 points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench, and he has made 6-of-9 3-pointers over a three-game span. "Frank deserved his minutes tonight," Porzingis told the media. "He hit big shots, played well. It was fun to watch them going at each other -- two rookies with a lot of talent. I enjoy Lonzo's game. He is not selfish. He definitely showed up tonight." Center Enes Kanter has played through hip pain the last two games and notched his team-leading 12th double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

ABOUT THE NETS (11-15): Newly acquired center Jahlil Okafor and guard Nik Stauskas were in uniform Tuesday but neither played as they get integrated into Brooklyn's system. "I do think there's a plan in place," coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters. "We want to put them in a good position to succeed and help our team and make sure when I call a play they know what the heck we're doing and when I call defensive adjustments they know what they're doing. There's a natural process of them building. So, it's going to take a little bit." The new additions watched seven Nets score in double figures against the Wizards, led by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Caris LeVert with 16 apiece.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Knicks SG Courtney Lee is 13-for-37 from the floor over his last three games after shooting better than 50 percent in nine consecutive contests.

2. LeVert is averaging 16.5 points while shooting 52.5 percent over his last four games.

3. New York is 14-9 with Porzingis in the lineup and he is averaging 28.4 points on 50.5 percent in the victories.

PREDICTION: Nets 108, Knicks 106

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Kings vs. Timberwolves Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/13/2017

The Minnesota Timberwolves are capable of looking like a contender one night and a lottery team the next, and consistency is coming slowly for the young squad. The Sacramento Kings, who visit the Timberwolves on Thursday, are earlier on the rebuilding curve and don't have much to lose as they try to get their younger players more experience.

Minnesota was outscored 41-26 over the final 11 minutes of the game while dropping a 118-112 decision in overtime at home against the similarly young and talented Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. The Timberwolves were coming off back-to-back wins for the first time in over three weeks and were on the verge of a three-game streak heading into a stretch of favorable opponents at home before coming apart late on Tuesday. The Kings are showing similar inconsistency and sandwiched a pair of wins around a 102-87 home loss to Toronto in their last three games. Sacramento, which is embarking on a four-game road trip, won three of its last five away games and hits the road with some momentum after holding the Phoenix Suns to 41.1 percent from the floor in a 99-92 victory on Tuesday.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS North (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE KINGS (9-18): De'Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Willie Cauley-Stein and Skal Labissiere might be the future for Sacramento, but the present still belongs to veterans like Zach Randolph and George Hill. Randolph, 36, leads the Kings in scoring (15.2 points) and is averaging 22.7 points on 59.4 percent shooting in six games this month, including a 35-point, 13-rebound effort in a 116-109 overtime win at New Orleans on Friday. Hill got off to a slower start and is averaging 9.3 points - the lowest mark since his 2008-09 rookie season - but broke out for 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting in Tuesday's victory.

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (16-12): Karl-Anthony Towns delivered 19 points, 16 rebounds, four steals and three blocks on Tuesday but was called for a foul in the final seconds of regulation that allowed the 76ers to make the tying free throws, and he took the setback hard. "I should have made the play I needed to make," Towns told reporters. "I failed my team tonight. Things like that happen. I've got to look in the mirror and I have to be better next game. It's not good for me not to come through for my teammates." Veteran swingman Jimmy Butler, who scored 38 points in the loss while logging 46 minutes - the sixth straight game in which he played at least 40 minutes - was brought in to serve as a leader on the young team and refused to let Towns shoulder all the blame after the contest, telling reporters, "It's about this team and us as a unit."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Timberwolves SF Andrew Wiggins is 2-of-20 from 3-point range over the last five games.

2. Cauley-Stein (back) returned from a three-game absence on Tuesday and collected 13 points and six rebounds in 30 minutes off the bench.

3. Sacramento took three of the four meetings last season, including wins in both of its trips to Minnesota.

PREDICTION: Timberwolves 105, Kings 99

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Lakers vs. Cavaliers Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/13/2017

The Cleveland Cavaliers are streaking toward the top of the Eastern Conference as LeBron James continues to add to his already sparkling legacy. James will try to follow up another transcendent performance and lead the Cavaliers to their 16th win in 17 games when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

James tied a career high with 17 assists to go along with 25 points in a 123-114 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, and his teammates are struggling to describe his impact. "I've run out of ways to explain his greatness," shooting guard Kyle Korver told ESPN.com. "He's just amazing. He makes all of us better than we really are. That's just the way he plays, the way he leads the game. He's had to be in attack mode a lot of nights this season, but (Tuesday) you kind of feel the guys were hitting shots and he just went into playmaker mode." The Lakers are trying to get rookie point guard Lonzo Ball to enter playmaker mode on a more consistent basis, and he handed out six assists in 40 minutes on Tuesday as Los Angeles dropped a 113-109 decision at the New York Knicks in overtime. The Lakers took the first two of the four-game road trip before falling at New York and are staring at a difficult stretch with Cleveland, Golden State (twice) and Houston over the next four games.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, FS Ohio (Cleveland)

ABOUT THE LAKERS (10-16): Ball captures the headlines but fellow rookie Kyle Kuzma is coming through more often, and he scored 10 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter on Tuesday to help force overtime. The Utah product was held to three points on 1-of-7 shooting in the opener of the road trip at Philadelphia before posting a double-double in a win at Charlotte and coming alive late in New York. Kuzma helped make up for an off night by second-year small forward Brandon Ingram, who was held to a season-low five points on 2-of-12 shooting in 41 minutes against the Knicks.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (20-8): Kuzma, Ingram and Ball will all likely find themselves matched up at some point on Thursday against James, though they might be better off crashing the passing lanes. James is averaging nine assists after Tuesday's barrage and gives all the credit to his teammates. "Individuals who make the shots on the 17 assists that I had, they put in the work," James told reporters. "My job is when I have two on the ball, or I see a guy running or I see a guy open, just try to put it in his pocket. I know how my teammates like the ball, I know if my teammates, each individual, if they like laces or no laces or laces out or whatever the case may be. I just try to make them comfortable."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cavaliers SG Dwyane Wade (knee) sat out Tuesday and is day-to-day.

2. Lakers C Brook Lopez is averaging 12.6 points in five games this month after scoring in single figures in each of the last four games in November.

3. James averaged 30 points, eight assists and 6.5 rebounds in a pair of wins over Los Angeles last season.

PREDICTION: Cavaliers 122, Lakers 109

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Mavericks vs. Warriors Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/13/2017

The Golden State Warriors don't seem to need Stephen Curry or Draymond Green as long as Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson are still around. The Warriors expect to at least get Green back in the lineup when they try to push their latest winning streak to eight straight against the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

Curry sat out the last three games and is expected to be out the rest of this week at least while nursing an ankle injury, and Green is day-to-day and sat out two of the last three with a shoulder injury, but Durant is averaging 33 points, 10 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 3.3 blocks in the last three games to keep Golden State in the win column. "Our focus level is just on another level because of the injuries that we have on our team," Durant told reporters. "We have to be locked in on every single play; and that's hard to do in this league, and that's hard to do in December, especially after winning a championship." The Mavericks dropped their last four road games but head to Golden State with a positive outlook after earning a 95-89 win over the San Antonio Spurs at home on Tuesday. "We just finished the game," shooting guard Wesley Matthews told the team's website. "This has been our brand of basketball as of late. You know, if we continue to play this way, like we have been, more often than not we'll pull these games off. We're a lot better than the record shows. We didn't play the way we were supposed to during the early part of the season, so we've got a lot of uphill battling to do. But we're equip to do it."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT, FS Southwest (Dallas), NBCS Bay Area (Golden State)

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (8-20): Dallas suffered single-digit losses at Boston, Milwaukee and Minnesota before coming home and putting it all together against the Spurs. The Mavericks watched guards Matthews, Yogi Ferrell and J.J. Barea score 16 points apiece while holding San Antonio's backcourt trio of Tony Parker, Danny Green and Manu Ginobili to a combined 14 points. "Well, tonight we did a great job," Barea told reporters after the win. "In the second half, it wasn't a good start. But we got some good rhythm, especially offensively there in the second half, and we kept attacking throughout the second half. I think that was the key tonight."

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (22-6): While Durant and Thompson are carrying the scoring load with Curry out, Golden State is also getting solid performances from role players like Jordan Bell, David West and Omri Casspi. Those three all scored in double figures in Monday's 111-104 win over the Portland Trail Blazers while going a combined 14-of-18 from the floor. "These night are really powerful for a team where guys are able to get out there who aren't usually in the lineup," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters. "It makes them feel good, it makes us feel good and it just strengthens the depth."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Warriors SG Nick Young left Monday's game and is in the concussion protocol.

2. Mavericks rookie PG Dennis Smith Jr. (hip) sat out the last three games and is not expected to play on Thursday.

3. Golden State took the last seven in the series, including a 133-103 trashing at Dallas on Oct. 23.

PREDICTION: Warriors 112, Mavericks 101

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Sabres vs. Flyers Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/13/2017

The Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres have answered disastrous stretches over double-digit games with promising results in the last four contests. The two Eastern Conference foes will look to continue their recent good fortune at the other's expense on Thursday when they meet at the Wells Fargo Center.

Sean Couturier matched his career high with his 15th goal on Monday, a go-ahead tally that lifted Philadelphia to a 4-2 triumph over Toronto. "I think I'm shooting the puck more. ... This year, I'm trying to focus on just shooting the puck as quick as I can," said the 25-year-old Couturier, who has eight points (three goals, five assists) in his last nine games. While Philadelphia has answered a 10-game skid (0-5-5) with a four-game winning streak, Buffalo has secured at least a point in a season-high four straight games (2-0-2) after dropping 11 of its previous 12 (1-9-2). Robin Lehner has turned aside 149 of 159 shots during the last four games for the Sabres, although he was gashed for six goals in last season's meeting with the Flyers to drop his career mark to 1-3-0 with a 4.02 goals-against average and .871 save percentage versus Philadelphia.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG-B (Buffalo), NBCSN Philadelphia

ABOUT THE SABRES (8-17-6): Evander Kane continues to produce despite being shuffled to the third line in a bid by coach Phil Housley to have a more balanced attack an offense that is generating a league-worst 2.2 goals per game. The 26-year-old Vancouver native added to his team-leading goal (14) and point (28) totals with a tally in Buffalo's 3-2 win over Ottawa on Tuesday to extend his point streak to five (two goals, three assists). Kane's power-play goal marked the third straight game that Buffalo scored with the man advantage after going 0-for-29 in its previous 10 contests.

ABOUT THE FLYERS (12-11-7): Captain Claude Giroux matched Couturier by scoring and setting up a goal versus the Maple Leafs, marking his third multi-point performance in his last three games. The 29-ear-old Ontario native referenced the team's successful trek through Western Canada as perhaps a turning point in its season. "I think our identity kind of changed a little bit with that road trip," Giroux said. "We're excited right now in the room. We played a lot of good hockey games when we lost, but we didn't get the results and now were playing some good hockey and we're getting the results, so we've got to keep building on this."

OVERTIME

1. Buffalo RW Kyle Okposo has scored a goal in two of his last three games after mustering one in his previous 12.

2. Philadelphia fourth-line C Scott Laughton scored three times during the team's win streak after recording just six points (two goals, four assists) in the previous 26 games.

3. Sabres C Jack Eichel has one goal and four assists in his last five games.

PREDICTION: Sabres 3, Flyers 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Islanders vs. Blue Jackets Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/13/2017

The Columbus Blue Jackets should be very focused for Thursday's home game against the New York Islanders after what was perhaps their worst performance of the season last time out. Columbus coach John Tortorella apologized to the media about having nothing to say about Tuesday's 7-2 setback against visiting Edmonton, the team's third loss in five contests.

"We weren't ready to go," Columbus captain Nick Foligno told reporters after the defeat. "They fed it to us. A disappointing game. Sloppy, no execution. No nothing. We were sloppy with the puck. Every time we had it, we gave it back to them. It was a lack of focus tonight that we normally have." In addition to the humbling defeat, the Blue Jackets lost Brandon Dubinsky for 6-8 weeks with a fractured orbital bone near his left eye after his fight with Edmonton's Zack Kassian. The Islanders have lost four of their last five games after dropping a 5-2 decision to visiting Dallas on Wednesday, and they'll enjoy five more contests at home after the quick trip to Columbus. New York has surrendered 29 goals in seven games this month and is 8-9-1 on the road, including three consecutive setbacks.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New York), FSN Ohio (Columbus)

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (17-11-3): Josh Bailey's goal-scoring drought reached 10 games on Wednesday, but the veteran notched two assists to maintain his team lead with 35 points - one better than captain John Tavares. Anders Lee, the linemate of Bailey and Tavares, netted both tallies in the loss to Dallas and leads New York with 19, leaving him one shy of his third 20-goal season. Veteran defenseman Johnny Boychuk (eight points, plus-6 rating) missed Monday's victory over Washington with an undisclosed injury but returned the lineup against the Stars.

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (19-11-1): Cam Atkinson (six goals) was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch in Saturday's win against Arizona, but his point drought reached seven games. Oliver Bjorkstrand recorded a goal and an assist in Tuesday's loss, giving him four points in as many contests and his first multi-point performance since Nov. 2. Artemi Panarin was kept off the scoresheet by Edmonton but leads the team with 26 points after posting 10 in his first five games this month.

OVERTIME

1. New York RW Cal Clutterbuck has recorded just two points in his last nine games but is just two away from 200 for his career.

2. The Blue Jackets have outscored the Islanders 15-2 in three straight wins, including a 5-0 triumph on Oct. 6.

3. Columbus G Sergei Bobrovsky, who was pulled on Tuesday, is 13-5-0 with a .928 save percentage in his career versus New York.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 4, Islanders 1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Capitals vs. Bruins Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/14/2017

The Washington Capitals look to continue their dominance in the all-time series and climb into first place in the Metropolitan Division when they visit the surging Boston Bruins on Thursday. The Capitals have won eight of 10 overall to tie Columbus for the top spot in the division and will go for their 11th consecutive victory over the Bruins, a streak that includes a 3-2 win on Nov. 4 in Boston.

Washington, which is averaging 3.8 goals over its last 10 contests, rebounded from Monday's 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders with a 5-2 triumph over Colorado the following night, and coach Barry Trotz told reporters, "I think we have a pretty prideful group that wants to respond." The Capitals start a stretch of five of six games on the road against the red-hot Bruins, who rallied to beat Detroit 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday for their ninth win in 11 contests. David Pastrnak tied the affair with 1:26 remaining in regulation to extend his point streak to nine games (five goals, six assists) and Brad Marchand tallied in the extra session to complete a two-point effort and give him 10 in six games. The Bruins have allowed 22 goals in their last 11 contests and four during their three-game winning streak.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Pacific, NBCSN Washington, NESN (Boston)

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (19-12-1): Evgeny Kuznetsov recorded three assists Tuesday to take over the team lead with 34 points - one better than captain Alex Ovechkin, who shares the NHL's top spot with 21 goals. "Pretty deceptive guy and he's pretty creative," defenseman Matt Niskanen told reporters of Kuznetsov. "When he's wheeling and dealing and feeling like that, get to the scoring area and get ready." T.J. Oshie, who is tied for fourth on the team with 23 points, is expected to miss his fifth straight game due to an upper-body injury.

ABOUT THE BRUINS (15-9-4): Pastrnak (28) and Marchand (25) lead the team in points while defenseman Torey Krug tied Patrice Bergeron for third with 18 after registering four assists over his last two contests. Noel Acciari scored his second goal of the season Wednesday while Tim Schaller recorded an assist for his first point since posting two on Nov. 6 against Minnesota. Tuukka Rask has turned around his season by posting a 5-1-0 record and .958 save percentage in his last six games, but backup Anton Khudobin (7-1-2) is expected to start on Thursday.

OVERTIME

1. Boston D Kevan Miller missed Wednesday's game to be with his wife for the birth of their child and his status for Thursday is uncertain.

2. Washington RW Brett Connolly, who has scored four goals in his last six contests, is slated to play in his 300th NHL game on Thursday.

3. The Capitals are 18-for-18 on the penalty kill over their last eight games while the Bruins are 14-for-15 over their last five.

PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Bruins 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Devils vs. Canadiens Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/13/2017

The return of star goaltender Carey Price woke the Montreal Canadiens out of their slumber and ignited a five-game winning streak, but that momentum has come to a halt in the wake of three consecutive losses -- all at Bell Centre. Montreal looks to snap out of its funk when it wraps up a five-game homestand against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.

The Canadiens have had four days off since a 6-2 pummeling by Edmonton on Saturday and are heading out on a seven-game road trip following Thursday's game. "Right now, what I'm going to do is I'm going to look at the next five games before the Christmas break," coach Claude Julien said. "I'm not going to go any further than that. Why should we look any further than that? Because if we don't do the job there, we'll already be in trouble." The Devils appeared to be in trouble after losing three of four entering a matchup against the league's hottest team, but they ended the Los Angeles Kings' eight-game winning streak with a 5-1 victory Tuesday. "We found our game," observed No. 1 overall draft pick Nico Hischier said. "We played 60 minutes and when we do we feel we can beat anyone in this league."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus2 (New Jersey), RDS, TSN2 (Montreal)

ABOUT THE DEVILS (17-9-4): Taylor Hall scored twice in New Jersey's rout of Los Angeles, giving him five goals and five assists in the past 10 games and boosting his team-leading total to 31 points. However, he absorbed a knee-on-knee hit and will miss Thursday's game. "The real positive news is that there is no structural damage," Devils coach John Hynes said. "Bad news, he won't play at Montreal, but it's just a contusion." Forward Marcus Johansson, who suffered an ankle injury in Saturday's game, will not travel with the team.

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (13-14-4): Defenseman Shea Weber returned to practice after taking Tuesday off while he continues to deal a lower-body injury that sidelined him for the final six games last month. "Nobody plays at 100 percent. Everyone deals with different sorts of pain and grinds away. You've just got to get your job done," Weber said. "I'm dealing with it day to day. Obviously, you want it to get better, but it's tough when you're skating every day." Rookie Daniel Carr saw some action with the power-play unit during Wednesday's practice.

OVERTIME

1. Price has won half his 22 starts versus New Jersey, posting an 11-10-1 record and 2.37 goals-against average.

2. The Devils have snuffed out 24 of 26 short-handed situations over the past eight games.

3. Carr has two goals and five assists during a five-game point streak since he was called up.

PREDICTION: Canadiens 2, Devils 1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Blackhawks vs. Jets Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/13/2017

The Winnipeg Jets lost two of their first three home games this season, but that early October stumble seems like ancient history as they host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. The Jets are 10-0-1 in their past 11 home games after Monday's impressive 5-1 victory over Vancouver, their seventh consecutive victory on home ice to tie a franchise record, and it is Winnipeg's play on home ice that has vaulted it to the third-most points in the Western Conference entering Wednesday.

"Coming home and playing in front of this crowd every night is pretty amazing," Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers told reporters after scoring one of four unanswered goals as Winnipeg improved to 11-2-1 on the season at home. "We needed the extra energy and the crowd gave us a boost." The Blackhawks finished a sweep of a three-game homestand Tuesday by beating Florida 3-2 in overtime, getting the game-tying goal from Jonathan Toews and the winner from Patrick Kane. "It's nice to get some confidence and score goals late in games when we're down a goal or two," Toews told the media afterward. Chicago, which started Wednesday in a three-way tie for fourth in the Central Division, plays its next three games against division foes.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN Chicago, TSN3 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (15-11-5): Goaltender Corey Crawford made 35 saves Tuesday and is third in the NHL in goals against average (2.20) and save percentage (.933) entering Wednesday. Toews finished with a goal and an assist Tuesday, and in six games this month he has three goals and three assists. Defenseman Jan Rutta left Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury and his status is day-to-day.

ABOUT THE JETS (18-8-5): Forward Mathieu Perreault finished with two goals (including the 100th of his career) and an assist Monday, giving him 15 points in 14 games since returning from injury. Ehlers scored his third goal in three games to give him 14 on the season, while Blake Wheeler is tied for the league lead in assists with 30 through Tuesday. Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien missed Monday's game with a lower-body injury and is expected to be sidelined until after Christmas.

OVERTIME

1. Chicago, which is 6-6-3 on the road, plays seven of its next eight games away from home.

2. The Jets' seven consecutive home victories matches the mark the franchise set in Atlanta in 2007.

3. Winnipeg beat Chicago four times in five games last season, outscoring the Blackhawks 16-10.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Blackhawks 2