Friday 12-29-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NCAAF
Dunkel

Bowl Season

Friday, December 29

Texas A&M @ Wake Forest

Game 247-248
December 29, 2017 @ 1:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Texas A&M
90.976
Wake Forest
96.404
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Wake Forest
by 5 1/2
61
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Wake Forest
by 3
65
Dunkel Pick:
Wake Forest
(-3); Under

NC State @ Arizona State

Game 249-250
December 29, 2017 @ 3:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NC State
100.780
Arizona State
92.665
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NC State
by 8
65
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NC State
by 6
59 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
NC State
(-6); Over

Kentucky @ Northwestern

Game 251-252
December 29, 2017 @ 4:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Kentucky
95.559
Northwestern
99.677
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Northwestern
by 4
57
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Northwestern
by 7 1/2
51
Dunkel Pick:
Kentucky
(+7 1/2); Over

Utah State @ New Mexico St

Game 253-254
December 29, 2017 @ 5:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Utah State
80.782
New Mexico St
78.665
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Utah State
by 2
53
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Utah State
by 4
62
Dunkel Pick:
New Mexico St
(+4); Under

USC @ Ohio State

Game 255-256
December 29, 2017 @ 8:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
USC
101.987
Ohio State
114.886
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Ohio State
by 13
69
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Ohio State
by 7
64 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Ohio State
(-7); Over

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NCAAF

Friday, December 29

Sun Bowl Betting Preview and Odds: North Carolina State vs. Arizona State

North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. Arizona State Sun Devils (+7, 59.5)

Game to be played at Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas

North Carolina State surprised some by challenging Clemson for the ACC Atlantic Division crown and has a shot at its first nine-win season since 2010. The Wolfpack finished No. 24 in the final College Football Playoff rankings and will cap their campaign by facing Arizona State in the Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 29. The Sun Devils averaged 40 points while winning three of their last four games to reach bowl eligibility and will wave goodbye to coach Todd Graham, who was fired at the end of the regular season but is staying on with his staff to coach the bowl game.

Herm Edwards is a big personality and a famous name in football coaching circles after his stints as head coach with the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets, and he accepted an offer to succeed Graham with the Arizona State. "Athletes from all over the country, or whether it's here locally, should be coming back here," Edwards told reporters. "Guys in California and Los Angeles should be coming here. Why is this not the destination? Why can't it be? That's my job. That's my job to go into those homes, tell those parents this is the place you want to send your son." Edwards, who spent the last nine years as an analyst at ESPN, will not be on the sideline during the Sun Bowl but certainly will be a presence.

North Carolina State avoided the coaching carousel at the end of the regular season, fending off an effort by Tennessee to hire head coach Dave Doeren and signing him to a five-year extension. "Dave has made significant strides in developing a complete program at NC State, and this new contract continues our commitment to his leadership," athletic director Debbie Yow said in a statement. Doeren is guiding the Wolfpack to their fourth consecutive bowl appearance after reaching eight wins by beating rival North Carolina in the regular-season finale.

TV: 3 p.m. ET, CBS.

LINE HISTORY: North Carolina State opened as a 6-point favorite in this matchup and have been bet as high as -7, before settling down at the current number of NC State -6.5. The total hit the board at 59.5 and has yet to move off that number.

INJURY REPORT:

NC State - G T. Adams (Probable Friday, leg) WR S. Louis (Questionable Friday, ankle), DE B. Chubb (Questionable Friday, upper body).

Arizona State - DL G. Lea (Questionable Friday, upper body).

WEATHER REPORT: 66 to 68 degrees and clear - 3 to 4 mph winds throughout

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (8-4, 4-7-1 ATS, 4-8 O/U): Wolfpack senior defensive end Bradley Chubb took home the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation's top defensive player after recording 10 sacks in 2017 and 25 in his career. Chubb anchors the defense while the offense is led by junior quarterback Ryan Finley, who threw for 3200 yards and 16 touchdowns and was at his best in the biggest games - averaging 373.3 yards and totaling six TD passes against Louisville, Clemson and South Carolina this season. Finley's biggest target is tight end Jaylen Samuels, who was named third-team All-American after hauling in a team-best 69 receptions and four TDs.

ABOUT ARIZONA STATE (7-5, 7-5 ATS, 5-7 O/U): Edwards is keeping most of the coaching staff, but defensive coordinator Phil Bennett elected to leave the program and will be coaching his last game after guiding a unit that allowed opposing offenses to score an average of 31.3 points in the regular season. The Sun Devils made up for some of the defensive struggles on the other side of the ball as dual-threat quarterback Manny Wilkins passed for 2,918 yards and 17 scores while rushing for 269 yards and six TDs. Arizona State averaged 180.3 yards on the ground and totaled 26 rushing TDs, led by senior Demario Richard (977 yards, 12 TDs).

TRENDS:

* North Carolina State is 0-4 ATS in its last four non-conference games.
* Arizona State is 0-4 ATS in their last four non-conference games.
* Over is 7-0 in North Carolina's last seven neutral site games.
* Over is 4-1 in Sun Devils last five games overall.

CONSENSUS: Bettors are giving a slight edge to the favorite in this matchup, with 53 percent of wagers backing the Wolfpack. When it comes to the total bettors like the game to eclipse the total, with 61 percent of wagers on the Over.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NCAAF

Friday, December 29

Music City Bowl betting preview and odds: Kentucky vs. Northwestern

Kentucky Wildcats vs. Northwestern Wildcats (-7.5, 51)

Game to be played at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

No. 20 Northwestern looks to win 10 games for the second time in three seasons when it takes on Kentucky in the Music City Bowl Dec. 29 in Nashville, Tenn. Northwestern has won seven consecutive games - its longest winning streak since the memorable Rose Bowl run in 1996 - and has a chance to cap off a successful campaign by posting back-to-back postseason victories for the first time in program history. Kentucky backed into a bowl game after dropping three of its last four contests, but has a chance to win eight games for the first time since 2007 and hand coach Mark Stoops some momentum on the recruiting trail.

Justin Jackson will be appearing in his final game after setting a slew of Northwestern rushing records during his stay in Evanston. Jackson became the first Big Ten player since Ron Dayne to rush for over 1,000 yards in four straight seasons after gaining 1,154 on the ground in 2017. Jackson ran for 144 yards and a touchdown in the 42-7 win against Illinois in the regular season finale to move past Montee Ball (5,140) for fourth place on the Big Ten's all-time rushing list and hopes to feast on a Kentucky defense, which surrendered an average of 363.5 yards on the ground over its final two games.

Kentucky has a dynamic running back of its own in sophomore sensation Benny Snell Jr. Snell has built upon a historic freshman campaign, which saw him break the school record for most rushing yards by a first-year player (1,091) by registering 18 touchdowns in 2017, including 12 over his final five games of the regular season. Snell racked up 1,318 rushing yards to become the first running back in Kentucky history to notch back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and hopes to lead the Wildcats to their first postseason win since a 25-19 victory against East Carolina in the 2008 Liberty Bowl.

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: Northwestern opened as a touchdown favorite and has nudged up a half point to 7.5. The total hasn't budged since opening at 51.

INJURY REPORT:

Kentucky - DE Denzil Ware (Disciplinary, Out), TE C.J. Conrad (Undisclosed, Out)

Northwestern - No new injuries.

WEATHER REPORT: 37 dropping to 30 degrees and partly cloudy during the game - negligible winds

ABOUT KENTUCKY (7-5 SU, 3-9 ATS, 6-6 O/U): Snell, who was named to the All-SEC second team, rushed for 211 yards and two touchdowns in the disappointing 44-17 loss to Louisville on Nov. 25 to bring his career total to a school-record 31. "I'm going to keep giving it my all and I don't really care about that," Snell told reporters. "I like competition and I like it when another running back has good stats coming into the game against me." Wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. was named to the freshman All-SEC Team as a kick returner after averaging 23.1 yards per return.

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (9-3 SU, 9-3 ATS, 5-5-2 O/U): Clayton Thorson threw for 140 yards and a score in the win over Illinois in the regular-season finale to equal the program record for most touchdown passes (44) held by Len Williams and Brett Basanez. Jackson posted his 26th career 100-yard rushing game in the victory against the Fighting Illini to move past the legendary LaDainian Tomlinson (5,263) into 11th place on the NCAA's all-time rushing list. Garrett Dickerson earned all-Big Ten honorable mention honors after catching a career-high 37 passes for 401 yards and four touchdowns in 2017.

CONSENSUS: Just over 60 percent of players are backing Northwestern to cover as a 7-point fave.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NCAAF

Friday, December 29

Arizona Bowl betting preview and odds: New Mexico State vs. Utah State

New Mexico State Aggies vs. Utah State Aggies (-4, 63)

Game to be played at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona.

New Mexico State ended the nation's longest bowl drought when it accepted the bid to play Utah State in the Arizona Bowl on Dec. 29 at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. The Aggies will be making their first bowl appearance since the 1960 Sun Bowl where they played, ironically, Utah State. New Mexico State, which is 2-0-1 all-time in bowl games, defeated Utah State 20-13 that year.

Last one out of Las Cruces turns out the lights. As one might imagine after such a long bowl drought, New Mexico State fans are fired up for the contest and quickly sold out their original required Sun Belt Conference allotment of 5,000 tickets. Las Cruces is just a four-hour drive down I-10 from Tucson and school officials expect around 10,000 fans to make the 275-mile trip which should give New Mexico State a pretty fair home field advantage.

Besides the 1960 Sun Bowl, New Mexico State and Utah State have a history, having played in the same conference for 26 years, the Big West (1985-2000) and the Western Athletic Conference (2001-2012). Utah State, which sweated out selection day because the Mountain West had just five contracted bowls for six bowl eligible spots, leads the all-time series 30-7 and will be making its sixth bowl appearance in seven years after missing out last season following a 3-9 finish.

"When you get the call you're in, it's an extreme amount of joy and relief," Utah State coach Matt Wells said. "I'm excited for our players to go play another game, because they deserve it."

TV: 5:30 ET, CBS Sports Network.

LINE HISTORY: New Mexico State opened as a 3.5-point favorite but the line flipped a couple days after opening to Utah State -4. The total opened at 61 and has moved up to 63.

INJURY REPORT:

New Mexico State - WR OJ Clark (Shoulder, Questionable)

Utah State - No new injuries

WEATHER REPORT: 77 dropping to 66 and clear for the game - 2 to 4 mph winds

ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE (6-6 SU, 6-5-1 ATS 5-7 O/U): Led by senior quarterback Tyler Rogers, who passed for 3,825 yards, 26 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, New Mexico ranks fourth among all FBS programs in passing offense (352.6 yards) with Rogers also ranking sixth nationally in total offense (348.1 yards). Jaleel Scott, a 6-6 wide receiver, was a first team all-conference pick after finishing with 73 receptions for 1,042 yards and eight touchdowns, while running back Larry Rose III was a second-team pick after rushing for 807 yards and nine TDs. The defense, which is tied for sixth with Texas A&M with 40 sacks, is led by a pair of first team All-Sun Belt performers in defensive end Cedric Wilcots II (8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles) and linebacker Dalton Herrington, who led the Sun Belt with 124 tackles, including 15 for loss, to go with 5.5 sacks.

ABOUT UTAH STATE (6-6 SU, 6-6 ATS, 9-3 O/U): The Aggies won three of their final five games to become bowl-eligible but come in off a 38-35 loss at Air Force to finish tied for fourth with the Falcons in the Mountain Division behind league champion Boise State, Wyoming and Colorado State. Freshman quarterback Jordan Love leads the offense and passed for 1,377 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions, while senior running back LaJuan Hunt rushed for a team-high 695 yards on 149 carries and scored 10 TDs. Senior cornerback Jalen Davis was a first-team all-conference selection after tying for the Mountain West lead with five interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns, while sophomore placekicker Dominik Eberle also earned first team all-league honors after connecting on 16-of-18 field goals, including a 52-yarder, and going 45-of-45 on extra-point tries.

CONSENSUS: About 52 percent of players are backing New Mexico State to cover as a 4-point underdog.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 7:00 PM ET, Friday, December 29, 2017
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Matchup Edge
BUF Edge in: NJ
Offense
Defense
Power Play
Penalty Kill
Face Offs
Discipline
Goaltending

Preview: Sabres at Devils
Gracenote
Dec 28, 2017

The New Jersey Devils are the surprise leaders of the ultra-competitive Metropolitan Division with goaltender Cory Schneider leading the way as they wrap up a six-game homestand against the struggling Buffalo Sabres on Friday. New Jersey came out of the break with a 3-1 victory over Detroit on Wednesday for its season-high fifth straight win, with Schneider allowing 10 goals during that span and improving to 17-6-4.

"I felt like that's kind of been the story all season, right? Cory's got our back," Devils defenseman Steven Santini told the Newark Star-Ledger. "You look at Stanley Cup teams the last few years, everyone's got good goaltending. So obviously we try to play our best and teams will have pushes, and thankfully we have Cory ..." Buffalo coughed up the lead with 1:09 left in regulation Wednesday at the New York Islanders and lost 3-2 in overtime, falling to 1-3-2 in its last six games and 4-12-6 in its past 22 contests. The Sabres score the fewest goals in the NHL at 2.16 per game, and are the worst team in the Eastern Conference - ahead of only Arizona in the overall standings. New Jersey has won four straight and nine of the last 10 meetings, including 6-2 on Oct. 9 in the first encounter this season with Jesper Bratt and Marcus Johansson scoring two goals apiece.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Buffalo, MSG Plus (New Jersey)

ABOUT THE SABRES (9-20-8): Evander Kane leads the club with 15 goals and 34 points, and is on pace to record career highs in each category as his trade value continues to increase. Jack Eichel (13 goals, 33 points this season) has five goals and nine points in his last five contests while Kyle Okposo has three of his six goals in the past nine games after scoring Wednesday against his old team. Zemgus Girgensons (three goals) has scored in back-to-back contests after snapping a 25-game drought.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (22-9-5): Taylor Hall has a team-most 36 points and shares the club lead in goals (12) with Brian Gibbons after recording four goals and five assists in his last eight games. Nico Hischier, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, recorded the second two-goal game of his career Wednesday, and has seven goals and 16 assists overall. Gibbons, who has one goal in his last 13 games, is a team-best plus-13 but only a plus-1 in 12 December contests.

OVERTIME

1. New Jersey, which had the third-best penalty-killing unit entering Friday at 84.4 percent, hasn't allowed a power-play goal in four games (12 chances) and has extinguished 23 of its last 24 penalties over the past eight contests.

2. Buffalo is 0-for-12 on the power play in its past six games and converts at an NHL-worst 11.8 percent (tied with Columbus) after leading the league at 24.5 last season.

3. Devils D Will Butcher's 21 assists - 13 on the power play - are second-most among NHL rookies to New York Islanders C Mathew Barzal (23).

PREDICTION: Devils 3, Sabres 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - Buffalo at New Jersey

W/L Trends
Buffalo

Sabres are 70-154 in their last 224 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Sabres are 22-51 in their last 73 vs. Eastern Conference.
Sabres are 31-81 in their last 112 vs. a team with a winning record.
Sabres are 15-40 in their last 55 vs. Metropolitan.
Sabres are 19-51 in their last 70 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Sabres are 16-44 in their last 60 overall.
Sabres are 2-6 in their last 8 Friday games.
Sabres are 13-41 in their last 54 road games.
Sabres are 7-23 in their last 30 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Sabres are 2-9 in their last 11 games playing on 1 days rest.

New Jersey

Devils are 4-0 in their last 4 games following a win.
Devils are 5-0 in their last 5 overall.
Devils are 6-0 in their last 6 home games.
Devils are 191-91-12 in their last 294 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Devils are 24-49 in their last 73 games playing on 1 days rest.
Devils are 16-36 in their last 52 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Devils are 19-49 in their last 68 Friday games.

OU Trends
Buffalo

Under is 4-0 in Sabres last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 10-2-1 in Sabres last 13 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Sabres last 5 road games.
Under is 4-1 in Sabres last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 10-3-1 in Sabres last 14 vs. Eastern Conference.
Under is 16-6-2 in Sabres last 24 overall.
Under is 5-2 in Sabres last 7 Friday games.
Over is 9-4-4 in Sabres last 17 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

New Jersey

Under is 5-0 in Devils last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 6-1 in Devils last 7 vs. Atlantic.
Over is 16-6-4 in Devils last 26 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Devils last 7 home games.
Under is 37-16-10 in Devils last 63 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Under is 30-13-11 in Devils last 54 vs. a team with a winning % below .400.

Head to Head

Under is 20-8-5 in the last 33 meetings in New Jersey.
Under is 35-15-7 in the last 57 meetings.
Road team is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
Sabres are 1-6 in the last 7 meetings in New Jersey.
Sabres are 0-4 in the last 4 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 7:30 PM ET, Friday, December 29, 2017
Where: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
Matchup Edge
CLB Edge in: OTT
Offense
Defense
Power Play
Penalty Kill
Face Offs
Discipline
Goaltending

Preview: Blue Jackets at Senators
Gracenote
Dec 28, 2017

The Ottawa Senators, who were one goal from making the Stanley Cup final last season, continue to fade farther from playoff position and it doesn’t get any easier when the Columbus Blue Jackets pay a visit Friday. The Senators have lost four in a row (0-3-1) and nine of the past 11 games (2-7-2) after dropping a 5-1 decision at Boston on Wednesday despite allowing only 23 shots.

“It’s just problems after problems that keep mounting up. We’re in a pretty tough situation right now,” Ottawa center Nate Thompson told reporters. “I don’t think there’s any grey areas here. I think it’s black and white. I think we have to play a certain way and do it throughout the whole game. We don’t have the luxury right now of taking minutes off during a game because when we do that, it ends up in our net.” While the Senators sit four points above the cellar in the Eastern Conference, Columbus is two points from first place in the Metropolitan Division. The Blue Jackets own points in four straight games (2-0-2), but coughed up a two-goal lead in the final six minutes and lost 5-4 in a shootout at Pittsburgh on Wednesday. “We played well enough to win (Wednesday),” Columbus coach John Tortorella told reporters. “But we did not make the final plays of the game.”

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Columbus), RDS, TSN5 (Ottawa)

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (22-13-3): Artemi Panarin scored twice Wednesday and boasts five points (three goals) in the last three games while rookie forward Pierre-Luc Dubois continues to produce with four points in his past four contests. Defenseman Seth Jones, who went 11 games without a point from Nov. 7-Dec. 1, owns three goals and three assists during a five-game point streak. Zach Werenski (undisclosed), who leads all NHL defensemen with 10 goals, has been skating and could return to the lineup soon after missing the last four contests.

ABOUT THE SENATORS (11-16-8): Ottawa was 10th in the league in goals against per game last season (2.56) and has dropped to 28th in 2017-18 through Wednesday at 3.26 after allowing 35 in its last nine losses. Right wing Mark Stone, who has a team-best 32 points, boasts seven assists in his last seven games but has not registered a goal in 12 contests while Mike Hoffman (24 points) has not scored in his past 11 outings. Defenseman Fredrik Claesson (two points, 31 games) was suspended two games for his illegal check to the head of Boston’s Noel Acciari on Wednesday.

OVERTIME

1. Ottawa G Mike Condon (2-4-4, .909 save percentage), who has lost four straight, is expected to be in net Friday.

2. Columbus G Sergei Bobrovsky, who is 5-4-1 all-time versus the Senators, needs one victory to reach 200 in his career.

3. The Blue Jackets defeated Ottawa 5-2 at home Nov. 24, scoring three unanswered goals in the third period.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 4, Senators 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - Columbus at Ottawa

W/L Trends
Columbus

Blue Jackets are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Blue Jackets are 5-1 in their last 6 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Blue Jackets are 21-6 in their last 27 Friday games.
Blue Jackets are 6-2 in their last 8 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Blue Jackets are 8-3 in their last 11 vs. Atlantic.
Blue Jackets are 5-2 in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Blue Jackets are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. a team with a losing record.
Blue Jackets are 0-4 in their last 4 road games.

Ottawa

Senators are 4-0 in their last 4 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Senators are 7-20 in their last 27 overall.
Senators are 3-9 in their last 12 vs. Metropolitan.
Senators are 3-10 in their last 13 vs. Eastern Conference.
Senators are 2-10 in their last 12 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Senators are 1-6 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
Senators are 0-6 in their last 6 games following a loss of 3 or more goals.
Senators are 0-6 in their last 6 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Senators are 0-4 in their last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.

OU Trends
Columbus

Under is 4-1-1 in Blue Jackets last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Over is 5-2 in Blue Jackets last 7 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Under is 22-9-1 in Blue Jackets last 32 Friday games.
Over is 7-3 in Blue Jackets last 10 games playing on 1 days rest.

Ottawa

Over is 5-0-2 in Senators last 7 Friday games.
Over is 6-1-2 in Senators last 9 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Senators last 6 home games.
Under is 4-1 in Senators last 5 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Over is 13-5 in Senators last 18 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 18-7-1 in Senators last 26 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

Head to Head

Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Ottawa.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 7:30 PM ET, Friday, December 29, 2017
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Matchup Edge
NYR Edge in: DET
Offense
Defense
Power Play
Penalty Kill
Face Offs
Discipline
Goaltending

Preview: Rangers at Red Wings
Gracenote
Dec 29, 2017

With ice-cold temperatures expected for the upcoming Winter Classic, the New York Rangers have been heating up by collecting at least a point in five of their last six games (4-1-1) heading into Friday's tilt against the host Detroit Red Wings. The Rangers have had their way with the Red Wings, against whom they have a 10-2-2 mark in the last 14 encounters.

Mats Zuccarello scored in overtime of a 2-1 triumph versus Detroit on Nov. 24, giving him five points (one goal, four assists) in his last five games against the Red Wings. The 30-year-old Norwegian also joined Mika Zibanejad by converting in the shootout in a 1-0 win over Washington on Wednesday, although the latter has been held off the scoresheet in all four contests since returning from a concussion. Detroit has larger issues at hand, namely its sputtering offense that has mustered five goals during its three-game losing skid and a 3-8-5 mark in its last 16 contests overall. "We can't feel bad for ourselves. We can't dwell too long or else you are really going to find yourself out," Justin Abdeldaker said after netting his team's lone goal in a 3-1 loss to New Jersey on Wednesday.

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

ABOUT THE RANGERS (20-13-4): Forward Chris Kreider is sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his right arm, the team announced Thursday. "The only thing that I know is, just before the first period he felt some swelling in his arm," coach Alain Vigneault told the New York Daily News on Thursday. "Docs checked him out, didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Then in between the first and second, it got to a point where this was out of the ordinary." Henrik Lundqvist's play versus Detroit could also be categorized as "out of the ordinary," considering the 2012 Vezina Trophy winner has posted a 7-1-1 mark with a 1.09 goals-against average and .963 save percentage in his last nine meetings.

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (13-16-7): Tyler Bertuzzi was a bit incredulous when learning that he would be paired with captain Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist on the team's top line. "If that's the case, obviously it's an honor playing with Zetterberg and then Gus is always on his line for a reason," the 22-year-old Bertuzzi said. "They have good chemistry and hopefully I can bring energy to the line." Zetterberg assisted on Tomas Tatar's power-play goal in the first meeting with New York, but the latter has registered a minus-4 while being kept off the scoresheet in each of his last three games.

OVERTIME

1. Nine of the last 10 games between the Original Six rivals have been decided by one goal.

2. Detroit has gone 0-for-7 on the power play after a 5-for-11 stretch in its previous four contests.

3. With his next victory, Vigneault (634) will snap a tie with Darryl Sutter for 11th place on the NHL's all-time coaches wins list.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Red Wings 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - NY Rangers at Detroit

W/L Trends
NY Rangers

Rangers are 7-1 in their last 8 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Rangers are 6-2 in their last 8 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Rangers are 19-7 in their last 26 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Rangers are 7-3 in their last 10 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Rangers are 11-5 in their last 16 games following a win.
Rangers are 17-8 in their last 25 overall.
Rangers are 35-17 in their last 52 vs. a team with a losing record.
Rangers are 7-16 in their last 23 road games.
Rangers are 3-8 in their last 11 Friday games.
Rangers are 1-5 in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.

Detroit

Red Wings are 7-2 in their last 9 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Red Wings are 234-104-19 in their last 357 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Red Wings are 20-42 in their last 62 vs. a team with a winning record.
Red Wings are 18-38 in their last 56 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Red Wings are 15-36 in their last 51 vs. Eastern Conference.
Red Wings are 9-23 in their last 32 games playing on 1 days rest.
Red Wings are 2-6 in their last 8 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Red Wings are 2-8 in their last 10 home games.
Red Wings are 3-13 in their last 16 overall.
Red Wings are 1-6 in their last 7 vs. Metropolitan.
Red Wings are 1-9 in their last 10 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.

OU Trends
NY Rangers

Under is 5-1 in Rangers last 6 vs. Atlantic.
Under is 4-1 in Rangers last 5 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Rangers last 5 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Rangers last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 4-1 in Rangers last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Under is 6-2-1 in Rangers last 9 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Over is 11-4 in Rangers last 15 games following a win.

Detroit

Under is 4-0 in Red Wings last 4 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Red Wings last 4 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Red Wings last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 11-3 in Red Wings last 14 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 5-2 in Red Wings last 7 overall.
Under is 5-2 in Red Wings last 7 vs. Eastern Conference.

Head to Head

Under is 5-0-2 in the last 7 meetings in Detroit.
Rangers are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Home team is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings.
Under is 15-6-5 in the last 26 meetings.
Rangers are 3-9 in the last 12 meetings in Detroit.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 7:30 PM ET, Friday, December 29, 2017
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
Matchup Edge
PHI Edge in: TB
Offense
Defense
Power Play
Penalty Kill
Face Offs
Discipline
Goaltending

Preview: Flyers at Lightning
Gracenote
Dec 29, 2017

The red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning go after their franchise record-tying ninth straight win on home ice and 11th in 12 games overall when they host the inconsistent Philadelphia Flyers on Friday. The Lightning pulled away in the third period for a 3-1 victory over Montreal on Thursday as captain Steven Stamkos registered his third multi-goal performance of the season with a pair.

Nikita Kucherov set up Stamkos’ first goal to extend his point streak to eight contests and leads the league with 52 points while Tyler Johnson is riding a 10-game streak during which he has scored five times and recorded 10 assists. The Lightning own a 16-2-1 record at Amalie Arena and begin a five-game road trip after taking on the Flyers, who dropped a 3-2 decision at Florida on Thursday for their third straight loss (0-2-1) following a stretch during which they won seven of eight. Captain Claude Giroux notched his ninth assist during a six-game point streak in Thursday’s setback, but the Flyers could not climb all the way back from a 3-0 deficit. Sean Couturier recorded his team-leading 17th tally in the loss for Philadelphia, which has managed just 14 goals in its last seven contests.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TVA, NBCSN Philadelphia, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay)

ABOUT THE FLYERS (15-14-8): Jakub Voracek has been kept off the scoresheet in the last two games but leads the team with 36 assists and 44 points - one better than Giroux. Scott Laughton snapped his six-game goal-scoring drought with his sixth tally of the season on Thursday while defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, a Florida native, has notched six points in as many contests. Brian Elliott made his 12th straight start on Thursday, dropping to 7-4-1 in that span, which could give backup Michal Neuvirth (2-5-1) his first appearance since Nov. 28.

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (27-7-2): Brayden Point scored his 15th goal on Thursday to draw within three of his total from his rookie season in 2016-17 and is tied for second on the team with Stamkos and Vladislav Namestnikov. Defenseman Victor Hedman also is making a major push for his first Norris Trophy of late with two goals, seven assists and a plus-13 rating over his last seven contests. Blue-liner Anton Stralman, who leads the league with a plus-24 rating, missed Thursday’s game with a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day.

OVERTIME

1. Tampa Bay RW Cory Conacher has logged fewer than nine minutes of ice time in four of his last five games but posted an assist in two of those contests.

2. Philadelphia RW Wayne Simmonds (11 goals) has been kept off the scoresheet in seven of his last eight contests.

3. The Flyers are 4-2-1 in their last seven meetings with the Lightning but dropped two of the three matchups last season.

PREDICTION: Lightning 5, Flyers 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - Philadelphia at Tampa Bay

W/L Trends
Philadelphia

Flyers are 3-7 in their last 10 vs. Eastern Conference.
Flyers are 13-32 in their last 45 road games.
Flyers are 3-8 in their last 11 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Flyers are 2-6 in their last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
Flyers are 2-6 in their last 8 games playing on 0 days rest.
Flyers are 3-9 in their last 12 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Flyers are 1-4 in their last 5 overall.
Flyers are 0-5 in their last 5 Friday games.
Flyers are 0-4 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

Tampa Bay

Lightning are 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Lightning are 21-5 in their last 26 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Lightning are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a losing record.
Lightning are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
Lightning are 23-6 in their last 29 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Lightning are 39-14 in their last 53 overall.
Lightning are 21-8 in their last 29 games following a win.
Lightning are 61-30 in their last 91 home games.
Lightning are 3-7 in their last 10 Friday games.
Lightning are 1-4 in their last 5 games playing on 0 days rest.

OU Trends
Philadelphia

Under is 4-0-1 in Flyers last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-1 in Flyers last 6 games playing on 0 days rest.
Under is 4-1 in Flyers last 5 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Under is 6-2-1 in Flyers last 9 overall.
Over is 10-4-2 in Flyers last 16 vs. Eastern Conference.
Under is 7-3-1 in Flyers last 11 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 32-14-7 in Flyers last 53 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.

Tampa Bay

Over is 6-1 in Lightning last 7 games playing on 0 days rest.
Under is 9-2 in Lightning last 11 vs. a team with a losing record.
Over is 4-1 in Lightning last 5 vs. Metropolitan.
Over is 10-3 in Lightning last 13 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Over is 8-3 in Lightning last 11 home games.

Head to Head

Home team is 14-5 in the last 19 meetings.
Over is 5-2-2 in the last 9 meetings in Tampa Bay.
Over is 11-5-2 in the last 18 meetings.
Flyers are 5-12 in the last 17 meetings.
Flyers are 8-20 in the last 28 meetings in Tampa Bay.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 7:30 PM ET, Friday, December 29, 2017
Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina
Matchup Edge
PIT Edge in: CAR
Offense
Defense
Power Play
Penalty Kill
Face Offs
Discipline
Goaltending

Preview: Penguins at Hurricanes
Gracenote
Dec 28, 2017

The Pittsburgh Penguins are coming off a win that many of the players felt was their biggest of the season, but the afterglow of the come-from-behind victory did not last long. Goaltender Matt Murray will be among four players sidelined when Pittsburgh opens a three-game road trip at the resurgent Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night.

Star defenseman Kris Letang missed Wednesday's 5-4 shootout victory over Columbus, a game in which the Penguins erased a two-goal deficit on three occasions. The victory came at a cost as Murray, forward Bryan Rust and defenseman Chad Ruhwedel suffered injuries -- with the latter two expected to miss significant time. Carolina has turned things around since a four-game skid early in the month, winning three straight and six of seven to move into a tie with Pittsburgh for sixth place in the Metropolitan (with two games in hand). The Hurricanes have been unable to solve the Penguins, however, losing seven in a row and getting outscored 10-2 in their two home losses last season.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, AT&TSN-Pittsburgh, FSN Carolina

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (19-16-3): Murray (upper body), who missed the first six games this month due to a lower-body injury, is listed as day-to-day and has been ruled out Friday along with Letang, prompting the recall of defenseman Frank Corrado from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. Rust was listed as longer-term and Ruhwedel is week-to-week, both with upper-body injuries. Tristan Jarry, who started all six games when Murray was hurt, is 5-2-2 with a 2.43 goals-against this season.

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (17-12-7): After scoring in only one of the previous 14 games, second-year forward Sebastian Aho has three goals and consecutive multiple-point games in the last two. The turnaround for Carolina, though, has been sparked by veteran Cam Ward, who seemingly had been relegated to backup goalie status before winning five consecutive starts as part of a seven-game point streak (6-0-1) in December. He has started three in a row for the first time this season and surrendered four goals.

OVERTIME

1. Penguins F Evgeni Malkin has scored four goals in the past five games and also tallied in Wednesday's shootout.

2. The Hurricanes are 4-for-13 on the power play during the three-game winning streak.

3. Penguins F Phil Kessel had a goal and five points in four games versus Carolina last season.

PREDICTION: Hurricanes 3, Penguins 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - Pittsburgh at Carolina

W/L Trends
Pittsburgh

Penguins are 6-1 in their last 7 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Penguins are 11-4 in their last 15 Friday games.
Penguins are 52-21 in their last 73 vs. Metropolitan.
Penguins are 85-40 in their last 125 vs. Eastern Conference.
Penguins are 57-28 in their last 85 vs. a team with a losing record.
Penguins are 4-9 in their last 13 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Penguins are 4-10 in their last 14 road games.
Penguins are 1-4 in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Penguins are 0-4 in their last 4 games following a win.
Penguins are 0-4 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

Carolina

Hurricanes are 5-0 in their last 5 home games.
Hurricanes are 6-1 in their last 7 overall.
Hurricanes are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Eastern Conference.
Hurricanes are 4-1 in their last 5 games following a win.
Hurricanes are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.

OU Trends
Pittsburgh

Over is 4-1 in Penguins last 5 vs. Metropolitan.
Over is 4-1-1 in Penguins last 6 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 4-1-1 in Penguins last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 6-2-1 in Penguins last 9 vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 8-3-2 in Penguins last 13 games following a win.
Over is 8-3 in Penguins last 11 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Over is 5-2-1 in Penguins last 8 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 7-3 in Penguins last 10 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game.

Carolina

Over is 4-1 in Hurricanes last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Over is 6-2-2 in Hurricanes last 10 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Under is 8-3-2 in Hurricanes last 13 vs. Metropolitan.
Over is 10-4-2 in Hurricanes last 16 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Under is 9-4-1 in Hurricanes last 14 overall.

Head to Head

Penguins are 7-2 in the last 9 meetings in Carolina.
Under is 5-2-2 in the last 9 meetings.
Penguins are 20-8 in the last 28 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, December 29, 2017
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Matchup Edge
NAS Edge in: MIN
Offense
Defense
Power Play
Penalty Kill
Face Offs
Discipline
Goaltending

Preview: Predators at Wild
Gracenote
Dec 28, 2017

The Minnesota Wild emerged from the Christmas break to put together a strong performance and hope it works as a springboard when they host the Nashville Predators on Friday for the first of a home-and-home set. The Wild knocked off Dallas 4-2 on Wednesday to earn a point for the ninth time in their last 10 home contests (8-1-1) after dropping four of the previous five overall.

“I didn’t want to talk about it being a huge game, but it was a huge game,” Minnesota coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters after Wednesday’s win. “We called it the start of the second half. You get a chance to reset.” The Wild woke up Thursday in playoff position in the tight Western Conference and plays eight of the next 11 at home while the Predators are on top of the Central Division after ending a three-game slide with a 2-1 victory at St. Louis on Wednesday. Nashville is 7-2-2 in December and allowed nine goals combined in the seven victories - two in the last four. Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne earned his 19th victory with 29 saves Wednesday and has won four straight on the road - yielding only two goals total - and is 15-10-4 lifetime versus Minnesota.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (22-9-5): Coach Peter Laviolette has been trying new combinations up front lately, including the all-Swede trio of Filip Forsberg (team-leading 34 points), Calle Jarnkrok (seven goals in December) and Pontus Aberg. “I know it’s not ideal slotting of the lines, but you go on the road and you don’t get the matchups,” Laviolette told reporters. “. … What it does is gives me a really good balance on the lines.” Forward Kevin Fiala has posted eight goals and 12 points in 11 December contests while defenseman P.K. Subban owns seven points (three goals) in the past seven games.

ABOUT THE WILD (19-15-3): Devan Dubnyk (lower-body) was the backup goalie during Wednesday’s victory and could return this weekend after missing six games, but Alex Stalock is 5-4-0 this month with a solid .923 save percentage in his place. Jason Zucker snapped a seven-game point drought with a goal and an assist in the win over Dallas and has 27 points overall - five behind team leader Eric Staal. While Minnesota has struggled on the power play with four conversions in 39 chances over the last 14 games, the Wild is 33-for-36 on the penalty kill in an eight-game span.

OVERTIME

1. Nashville RW Viktor Arvidsson and team-leader Forsberg (15) have each gone six games without a goal.

2. Minnesota D Ryan Suter, who leads the league in average ice time (27:13), has registered five points in his last five games.

3. The Wild earned a 6-4 victory over the Predators on Nov. 16 after winning three of five in the series last season.

PREDICTION: Predators 4, Wild 2