Tuesday 1-2-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach

CBB Game #558 Tuesday Free Pick DePaul Blue Demons (-) vs Georgetown Hoyas @ 9 ET

The Hoyas are already paying for that ultra-weak non-conference schedule they faced. Georgetown is coming off of back to back losses in Big East action and they were fortunate to even be "in it" in the home loss to Butler as the Bulldogs shot an uncharacteristic 14% from beyond the arc in that one. The Hoyas now visit DePaul and, even though the Blue Demons got the upset win the most recent match-up, Georgetown has had the upper hand in most of the recent meetings including knocking DePaul out of the Big East tourney two years ago. In other words, there is no shortage of motivation here for the Blue Demons. DePaul has played the tougher schedule so far this so don't be fooled when looking at the overall records of these two teams. Also, the Blue Demons are 7-0 SU (and 5-2 ATS) as a favorite this season. Georgetown is 6-12 SU and ATS in road games with a posted total between 145 and 149.5 points. Free Pick DEPAUL

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JOEY JUICE

Let's back the Boston Bruins as they face off against a New York Islanders team that has been all over the place lately. The Islanders are coming off a horrible road loss to Colorado 6-1, while the Bruins have been red hot lately thanks to Goalie Tuukka Rask going 10-1 last 11 and allowing only 13 goals in those 11 games.

On the other hand the Islanders are headed in a different direction as they are just 3-6 in their last nine games. Huge edge to Boston as they are 13-3 last 16 games that they played in New York.

Boston plays extremely well when they are rested, they are 5-0 when playing on two days rest. They also play well vs the East, they are 5-1 last six vs. the Eastern Conference. New York, on the other hand, does not fare well against good teams, they are 3-7 last 10 vs teams with winning records.

This one is all Boston.

3* BOSTON

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Trail Blazers vs. Cavaliers Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/02/2018

Isaiah Thomas is slated to make his long-awaited Cleveland debut Tuesday when the Cavaliers host the Portland Trail Blazers. Thomas has been recovering from a hip injury suffered in the 2017 playoffs, and his first Cleveland appearance comes four months after he was acquired in the deal that sent Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics.

Thomas averaged a career-best 28.9 points for the Celtics last season and he is ecstatic to return to the court. "It's been a long process for me," Thomas told reporters after Monday's practice. "It's been a frustrating and tough process but at the same time you got to trust it. Each and every day, I just attacked it every day to try to get better and now that day is here." Thomas also will look to help the Cavaliers halt a three-game losing streak - all on the road - and help the squad stretch its home floor winning streak to 13. Portland has won three of its last four games after producing a 124-120 overtime victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday and is expected to get star guard Damian Lillard (hamstring) back after a five-game absence.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS Northwest (Portland), FS Ohio (Cleveland)

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (19-17): Shooting guard CJ McCollum has topped 30 points in two of the past three contests and his 32 points against the Bulls came on substandard 11-of-30 shooting. McCollum drained five 3-pointers and registered a season-best eight assists and he wasn't too thrilled about his team being scheduled on a road back-to-back while an angry Cleveland squad last played Saturday. "We know they're going to come out with lot of energy, having two days rest," McCollum told reporters. "The NBA didn't do us any favors."

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (24-12): Coach Tyronn Lue said Thomas will come off the bench Tuesday and his minutes will be watched closely as he gets himself into game shape. "Now it's finally here and just seeing how he can play with pace and getting into the paint, the speed and quickness and ability to shoot the basketball, it really changes our team," Lue told reporters. "Really excited (in Thomas' progress) from Day One to now. It's a good moment for us." Thomas also is aware it will take time - "my hip is better but I have no rhythm. I have no feel for the game right now," he said - and the expectation is that he will eventually take pressure off star forward LeBron James.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Cavaliers have won their past three home encounters with the Trail Blazers, including the memorable 137-125 victory last season when C Kevin Love scored 34 first-quarter points and finished with 40.

2. Portland swingman Evan Turner scored a season-best 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting against Chicago after averaging only 7.8 points over the previous four games.

3. Cleveland swingman Kyle Korver is nine 3-pointers away from passing Paul Pierce (2,143) for fourth place on the all-time list.

PREDICTION: Cavaliers 121, Trail Blazers 108

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Spurs vs. Knicks Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/01/2018

The New York Knicks snapped a four-game slide with a win at the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday and return home for their first game of 2018 on Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs, who knocked off the Knicks at home last week, kicked off a stretch with nine of 11 on the road in tough fashion with their lowest-scoring performance of the season at Detroit on Saturday.

New York's losing streak hit four in a row with a 119-107 setback at San Antonio on Thursday, but Kristaps Porzingis scored seven of his 30 points in the final 90 seconds on Saturday to lift the Knicks to a 105-103 win at New Orleans. "We lost four in a row and all of them were really tough losses. They were last-second, last-minute, last quarter, something close," Porzingis told reporters. "So a lot of times it brings the energy down and the good vibes. To get a win like this in the last minute to come back and do all that, that brings it back up. So we want to keep that positive atmosphere going forward and keep that going." The Spurs averaged 112 points during a three-game winning streak but shot 36.9 percent from the floor, including 5-of-26 from 3-point range, in Saturday's 93-79 loss at Detroit. San Antonio shot 51.3 percent from the field in the win over the Knicks, led by 25 points from LaMarcus Aldridge.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (San Antonio), MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE SPURS (25-12): Pau Gasol scored 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds to compliment Aldridge in Thursday's win over the Knicks, his fourth consecutive double-double, but slumped to eight points on 4-of-9 shooting at Detroit. Aldridge managed 15 points in the loss -- seven fewer than his season average -- but there was one bright spot in the form of Kawhi Leonard's playing time. The star forward logged a season-high 28 minutes and scored a team-high 18 points in the loss after sitting out Thursday's game against New York.

ABOUT THE KNICKS (18-18): Jarrett Jack scored 15 points on Saturday, including the two clinching free throws in the final seconds, and was just happy to get the win. "We need all of them," Jack said, according to the New York Daily News. "I always say all of them look the same in April. At the end of the season when you tally them up, no matter if they're home or away, no matter if they were won by 20, triple overtime. They all look the same in April. We're trying to get as many marks in that W column as we can." The Knicks are 15-6 at home but are making only a one-game stop at Madison Square Garden before playing 13 of the next 16 on the road.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Spurs F Rudy Gay (right heel) sat out Saturday and is expected to miss two weeks.

2. Knicks rookie PG Frank Ntilikina is 1-of-10 from 3-point range over the last four games.

3. San Antonio lost 94-90 in its trip to New York last season despite getting 36 points from Leonard.

PREDICTION: Spurs 103, Knicks 97

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Hawks vs. Suns Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/01/2018

The Atlanta Hawks are beginning to play better and are trying to crawl out of the basement in the Eastern Conference, but winning on the road still eludes them. The Hawks will try to win on the road for the first time in a month when they open a five-game trip by visiting the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

Atlanta last won on the road Dec. 2 at Brooklyn but won three of its last four games overall -- with the lone loss coming at Toronto on Friday -- to finally reach double figures in victories. The recent surge is being sparked by point guard Dennis Schroder, who averaged 25.3 points on 53.7 percent shooting in the three wins but slumped to 14 on 6-of-20 shooting in the loss at the Raptors. The return of Devin Booker helped elevate the Suns to back-to-back wins, but the defense remains a work in progress. Booker scored 32 points on Sunday, but Phoenix allowed the Philadelphia 76ers to shoot 55.8 percent from the field in a 123-110 home loss, just the team's third setback in its last eight games.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE HAWKS (10-26): Second-year small forward Taurean Prince kept Atlanta in the game on Friday with a career-high 30 points on 12-of-16 shooting against Toronto and continued his high level of play the next night. Prince did not light up the scoreboard in quite the same fashion in a 104-89 win over the Portland Trail Blazers but buried four 3-pointers and grabbed 10 rebounds to go with five assists. Prince scored in double figures in 11 of the 15 games in December and is one of seven players on the roster averaging double figures, led by Schroder's 19.8 points.

ABOUT THE SUNS (14-24): Sunday's loss did little to diminish the team's high regard for itself internally, and the players believe a young roster led by Booker and TJ Warren is starting to turn the corner toward contender status. "I don't think people realize how close we are," veteran forward Jared Dudley told the Arizona Republic. "We are knocking on the front door." Warren finished up December with 28 points against the 76ers -- his highest total of the month -- and is averaging 24.4 points on 55.4 percent shooting over the last five games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Suns C Tyson Chandler recorded his third double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds on Sunday.

2. Hawks PF Mike Muscala (ankle) has been out since Nov. 3 but could make his return on Tuesday.

3. The home team took each of the last five in the series, with Atlanta last winning in Phoenix on March 13, 2015.

PREDICTION: Suns 120, Hawks 103

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Hornets vs. Kings Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/01/2018

The Charlotte Hornets have struggled on the road this season but recently notched their most impressive victory of the campaign. Charlotte plays the third contest of a four-game excursion when it visits the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.

Charlotte owns a porous 3-13 road record but stunned the Golden State Warriors 111-100 on Friday to open the trip. Yet the momentum didn't carry over as the Hornets dropped a 106-98 decision to the Los Angeles Clippers two nights later. Sacramento experienced its own letdowns after opening a six-game homestand with an impressive 109-95 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Kings followed up with back-to-back double-digit setbacks against below-.500 teams Phoenix and Memphis, including trailing by as many as 33 points in Sunday's 114-96 loss to the Grizzlies.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), NBCS California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE HORNETS (13-23): Point guard Kemba Walker scored 30 points in the loss to the Clippers and knocked 18 3-pointers while averaging 24.2 points over the past five games. Walker topped 30 on four occasions this season and two came in the past five games. Center Dwight Howard struggled to four points on 1-of-9 shooting against the Clippers after delivering 29 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in the upset of the Warriors.

ABOUT THE KINGS (12-24): Sacramento's performance and effort on Sunday was highly disappointing to coach Dave Joerger, who struggled to pinpoint the reasons for such a collective collapse. "Lack of focus and lack of force," Joerger told reporters. "They looked at us and shot over us, and then looked us and drove around us. Each guy has to own their own stuff." Center Willie Cauley-Stein collected 21 points and eight rebounds against the Grizzlies and is averaging 16.8 points and 8.8 boards over the past six contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The teams split two meetings last season, with Charlotte's victory being a 99-85 triumph in Sacramento.

2. Hornets PF Marvin Williams missed all eight of his shot attempts while going scoreless in back-to-back games.

3. Kings PG De'Aaron Fox (quadriceps) will likely miss his seventh straight contest.

PREDICTION: Kings 106, Hornets 102

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Grizzlies vs. Clippers Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/01/2018

Blake Griffin's return is providing a boost to the Los Angeles Clippers, who look to post their sixth victory in seven games when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. Griffin averaged 24.5 points in his first two games since being sidelined for 14 games due to a knee injury.

Griffin contributed 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists as Los Angeles recorded a 106-98 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. The recent uptick in success has elevated the Clippers to ninth place in the Western Conference as the franchise aims to make a strong second-half run toward securing its seventh consecutive playoff berth. The Grizzlies have struggled most of the season but are averaging 112.6 points while winning three of their last five contests. "I think if you take a look at our past five games, our scoring is up, our shooting percentages are up, our assists are up and our turnovers are down," interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters. "So that's the growth that we've been looking for in our offense."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Southeast (Memphis), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (12-25): Memphis is a stellar 29-of-51 from 3-point range over the past two games, going a torrid 15-of-21 in a loss to the Golden State Warriors and following up with a 14-of-30 effort in Sunday's 114-96 road win against the Sacramento Kings. Guard Tyreke Evans continues to be a force and had 26 points versus the Kings for his eighth 20-point outing in the past nine contests. "He's had that edge all year," Memphis center Marc Gasol told reporters after Evans torched his former team. "He's had that same mentality, so don't take it like he came in here and did something he hasn't done every game. He's come with that aggressiveness."

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (16-19): High-octane guard Lou Williams poured in 40 points and contributed eight assists in Sunday's 106-98 victory over the Charlotte Hornets to continue his strong play. Williams, who made six 3-pointers in the contest, drained 24 3s over the past five games while averaging 30.4 points. "I always feel like I can get it going, but to see it early, it puts me in a different mindset, in an attack mode," Williams said afterward. "Once I get two or three early, that way I can just get everybody else involved."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Clippers are 2-0 against the Grizzlies this season, including a 115-112 victory on Dec. 23 behind a career-best 38 points from G Austin Rivers.

2. Rivers (Achilles) is questionable after sitting out Sunday.

3. Memphis F Jarell Martin is averaging 12.5 points on 22-of-35 shooting over the past four games.

PREDICTION: Clippers 113, Grizzlies 104

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Capitals vs. Hurricanes Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/01/2018

Although their overall winning streak is over, the Carolina Hurricanes hope to continue their run at home when they face off against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. Carolina had captured four straight before dropping a 3-2 decision at St. Louis on Saturday but seeks its seventh victory in a row at PNC Arena when it hosts Washington.

The Hurricanes won all five of their home games in December and have not lost in their own building since being edged 5-4 on Nov. 24 by Toronto. Washington appears to have bounced back from a three-game slide that included a pair of shutout losses as it is coming off back-to-back home wins over Boston and New Jersey. The Capitals recorded a total of eight goals in the triumphs after amassing only two during the 0-1-2 skid. Captain Alex Ovechkin collected three assists in Saturday's 5-2 victory over the Devils and is among the league leaders with 24 goals.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCSN Washington, FSN Carolinas

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (24-13-3): Barry Trotz passed Lindy Ruff to become the fifth-winningest coach in NHL history with Saturday's triumph, which raised his career total to 737. Next on Trotz's radar is Al Arbour, who recorded 782 victories during his Hall-of-Fame coaching career. Nicklas Backstrom recorded a goal and two assists versus New Jersey to end his four-game point drought.

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (18-13-7): Lucas Wallmark made his season debut Saturday and scored the first goal of his NHL career. The 22-year-old Swedish center, who was a fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft, notched a pair of assists in eight games last campaign - his first in the league. Jeff Skinner leads Carolina with 12 goals but has recorded just one in his last 11 contests.

OVERTIME

1. Ovechkin's next game will be his 962nd, moving him past Peter Bondra for second place in franchise history and putting him 21 behind Calle Johansson for the top spot.

2. Carolina C Marcus Kruger is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

3. Washington C Lars Eller is two points shy of 200 for his career.

PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Hurricanes 1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Lightning vs. Maple Leafs Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/01/2018

The NHL-best Tampa Bay Lightning opened their five-game road trip with a dominant performance and hope to build off that when they visit the scuffling Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night. The Lightning won for the 11th time in 13 games Sunday as they scored four second-period goals en route to a 5-0 victory at Columbus to lead second-place Toronto and Boston by 10 points in the Atlantic Division.

Tampa Bay is 9-1-0 following a loss this season and showed that bounce-back ability again Sunday, after a dull performance against Philadelphia two nights earlier, as Tyler Johnson and league scoring leader Nikita Kucherov increased their point streaks to 12 and 10 games, respectively. "What I've really liked about our team is our response," Lightning coach Jon Cooper told reporters. ". ... We haven't gone through any prolonged losing streaks. If we did get a loss, we nipped it right away. That shows the leadership and character in the room." Toronto was rolling along right on Tampa Bay's tail earlier in the season, but has not been as good of late with a 3-5-1 mark over the last nine after a 6-3 setback at Vegas on Sunday. "Defense is a five-man unit, I'm not just blaming (the blue line)," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock told reporters after the loss Sunday, "we were all guilty today. ... Sometimes when you play a quick team like (Vegas), some guys get exposed."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TVA, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), Sportsnet Ontario (Toronto)

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (28-8-2): Johnson has found his top form since moving to right wing at the very end of November, recording eight goals and 10 assists in the last 12 games, while Kucherov tops the NHL in goals (25) and points (56) after putting up eight and 20, respectively, in December. Captain Steven Stamkos decided he needed to shoot the puck more about a week ago and registered four goals in his last three games to push his point total to 49. Andrei Vasilevskiy earned his league-leading fifth shutout Sunday and tops the NHL is wins (25), goals-against average (2.02) and save percentage (.935).

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (23-15-2): Center Auston Matthews picked up where he left off before missing 10 games with a concussion, notching four goals in the last four games and reaching the 100-point plateau in his 112th NHL contest. Defenseman Morgan Rielly owns six assists in his last four games and right wing William Nylander has recorded three goals and set up four others in his past six contests. Frederik Andersen, who is 1-4-0 with an .842 SP career against the Lightning, gave up 14 goals in his first seven appearances in December before surrendering nine tallies in the past two games.

OVERTIME

1. Toronto C Nazem Kadri (13 goals) missed the last two games with an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day.

2. Tampa Bay D Victor Hedman is tied for fifth on the team with 29 points and registered 12 of them in the last nine games along with a plus-13 rating.

3. The Lightning are 6-2-1 in the last nine games against the Maple Leafs and won in their last two trips to Toronto.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 4, Lightning 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Penguins vs. Flyers Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/01/2018

As the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins prepare to resume their bitter rivalry with their second meeting this season, the primary concern is their respective place in the standings. The Flyers are buried at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, one point behind visiting Pittsburgh entering Tuesday's clash at Wells Fargo Arena.

Philadelphia did manage to end the 2017 calendar year on a high note, halting a three-game losing streak by knocking off league-best Tampa Bay. "That's the way we want and need to play games. We need it to carry over," said goalie Brian Elliott, who will be in net when the Flyers kick off a four-game homestand. The two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Penguins are reeling with seven losses in their last 10 games - and two of the wins have come via shootouts. "We all have to look in the mirror," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan told reporters. "We all have to make sure we stay together and we try to find ways to help each other to get out of this."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (19-18-3): Pittsburgh was limited to one goal in each of its past two games, marking the seventh time in nine games it has produced two goals or fewer. "I think we're trying. I don't think anyone's out there not trying," captain Sidney Crosby told reporters. "Sometimes you just gotta simplify things and make sure you don't hurt yourself with mistakes." Evgeni Malkin has been the lone exception, scoring five times in his last seven games.

ABOUT THE FLYERS (16-14-8): Sean Couturier had three points at Tampa Bay, giving him 18 goals and 18 assists - three points shy of his career high set in 2013-14 and 2015-16. He forms a potent top line along with Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek, who are tied for fifth in the league in scoring with 46 points apiece. Elliott will make his 14th consecutive start after posting an 8-4-1 mark and 2.15 goals-against average in December.

OVERTIME

1. Crosby, who scored the OT game-winner versus Philadelphia on Nov. 27, has 37 goals and 87 points in 60 games versus the Flyers.

2. Giroux collected two assists in the November meeting, giving him 43 points in 41 games versus Pittsburgh.

3. Penguins G Matt Murray, injured in the first matchup, is 2-2-0 with a 3.08 GAA against the Flyers.

PREDICTION: Flyers 4, Penguins 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Bruins vs. Islanders Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/01/2018

The New York Islanders were among the league's hottest clubs entering December, but they endured a rocky final month of 2017 that was capped by a 6-1 drubbing at Colorado on New Year's Eve. The Islanders hopes a return to home ice will reverse their sagging fortunes when they host the surging Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

Much of New York's early-season success was fueled by dominance at home as it enters Tuesday's matchup with a 12-3-3 record at Barclays Center. "Starting with myself, we have to look ourselves in the mirror and know we have a big week ahead where we have to challenge ourselves to be better," Islanders captain John Tavares told reporters after the team was outscored 10-3 in a two-game trip to Winnipeg and Colorado. New York will need to raise its game against the Bruins, who are coming off a 5-0 romp in Ottawa and are on an eight-game point streak (6-0-2) that has carried them into second place in the Atlantic Division. "We're feeling good. We're taking it game by game," Boston center David Krejci told reporters. "You don't want to get too ahead of yourself. Just stay in the moment, focus on the next game, what happened today, enjoy tomorrow and come back at it."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, NESN (Boston), MSG Plus (New York)

ABOUT THE BRUINS (21-10-6): Ryan Spooner played center during Krejci's six-game injury absence, but moved to right wing upon Krejci's return in Ottawa and promptly delivered a pair of goals, giving him seven points in seven games since returning from his own injury. "It is just a matter of his health, and now it seems to be he is getting through these games without any re-occurrences," coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters. Forward David Backes, named the NHL's Third Star of the Week, has four consecutive two-point games.

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (20-15-4): Slow starts have been a troublesome issue throughout the season for New York, which has surrendered the opening goal an NHL-high 25 times in 39 games and has allowed a league-worst 45 goals in the opening period. Josh Bailey accounted for the lone goal against the Avalanche, his seventh in the past eight games, and became the second NHL player to reach 50 points this season - six away from his career high. Bailey is riding an 11-game point streak with 12 assists in that span.

OVERTIME

1. Bruins G Tuukka Rask is in the midst of a career-best, 11-game point streak (10-0-1).

2. New York has lost five straight and eight of nine at home to Boston.

3. The Bruins have won 15 of their last 20 (15-3-2), including a 3-1 win over the Islanders on Dec. 9.

PREDICTION: Bruins 3, Islanders 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Sharks vs. Canadiens Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/01/2018

The Montreal Canadiens return home after a disastrous road trip but their first game of 2018 is against an opponent that has dominated the series. After dropping the last four of their seven-game road trip (2-5-0), the Canadiens hope to bounce back against the visiting San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.

Montreal scored only three goals during the four-game skid and wrapped up the lengthy trek with a 2-0 defeat at Florida on Saturday, but Tuesday's matchup is the opener of a five-game homestand. "When we look at the schedule, we're happy to be back home," Canadiens center Jonathan Drouin told reporters. "You feel good here. We're going to try to use it to our advantage." San Jose had won three in a row before it was trounced 6-0 in Dallas on Sunday in the first stop of a five-game road trip. The Sharks extended their winning streak in the series to five games with a 5-2 victory over Montreal on Oct. 17, their ninth win in the last 10 against the Canadiens.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), RDS, TSN2 (Montreal)

ABOUT THE SHARKS (20-12-4): There was one silver lining in San Jose's most lopsided defeat of the season as leading goal scorer Logan Couture returned to the lineup after missing four games due to a concussion. "My legs weren't there; timing and everything was off," Couture told reporters. "I didn't play very well, but I'm back. I made it through the game and I'm ready for the next one." Couture scored twice and had a season-high four points in the win over Montreal in mid-October.

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (16-19-4): Captain Max Pacioretty, who scored at least 30 goals in each of the last four seasons, has been the subject of endless trade rumors. Pacioretty is mired in a deep slump, failing to score in 12 straight games and notching one goal in his last 21. "You just live your life and worry about your family. If that happens, it happens," Pacioretty said of the trade talk. "I've played here for 10 years and I've never gone through something like this."

OVERTIME

1. Sharks G Martin Jones has yielded at least four goals in seven of his last nine starts.

2. Canadiens G Carey Price is 2-7-1 with a 3.07 goals-against average versus the Sharks.

3. San Jose had scored 14 power-play goals in nine games before getting blanked in Dallas.

PREDICTION: Canadiens 3, Sharks 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Panthers vs. Wild Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/01/2018

After completing a perfect four-game homestand, the Florida Panthers attempt to extend their overall winning streak to six as they begin a five-game road trip Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. Florida made it five victories in a row on Saturday, when it completed its string at BB&T Center with a 2-0 triumph over Montreal.

Connor Brickley scored one goal and set up another while James Reimer made 38 saves en route to his second shutout in three games as he made his 11th consecutive start for the Panthers, who allowed a total of four goals during the homestand. Minnesota aims for its third straight home win as it begins a stretch during which it plays seven of nine at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild, who have gone 9-1-1 in their last 11 at home, are coming off their second straight shutout loss on the road - a 3-0 setback at Nashville on Saturday. Minnesota is looking to avenge a 4-2 defeat in Florida on Dec. 22 in which the Panthers erased a 2-1 deficit with three third-period goals, including a pair by Jonathan Huberdeau.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Florida, FSN North (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (17-16-5): Brickley's two-point performance on Saturday was his third of the season and first since Oct. 26 against Anaheim. The 25-year-old forward has scored the winning goal twice during Florida's winning streak, including the previous meeting with Minnesota. Vincent Trocheck, who tops the club with 15 goals and shares the lead with 36 points, is two assists away from 100 for his career.

ABOUT THE WILD (20-16-3): Minnesota continues to regain its health as Devan Dubnyk (lower body) returned to action Friday while Nino Niederreiter and Zach Parise hope to get back into the lineup this week. Niederreiter has not played since the previous game against Florida due to a foot ailment and Parise has yet to make his season debut due to a back injury that required surgery. Jason Zucker is tied for the team lead with 15 goals but has scored just once in his last 11 games.

OVERTIME

1. Wild C Matt Cullen needs three points to reach 700 for his career while D Matt Dumba is one shy of 100.

2. Ten different players have scored a game-winning goal for Florida but none have recorded more than two.

3. Minnesota RW Mikael Granlund recorded four goals and an assist in his previous two games before the team was blanked in Nashville.

PREDICTION: Wild 3, Panthers 1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Devils vs. Blues Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/01/2018

The New Jersey Devils look to avoid a third consecutive defeat when they continue their four-game road trip Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. New Jersey had its five-game overall winning streak and six-game run at home halted with an overtime setback against Buffalo on Friday and began its trek the following night with a 5-2 loss at Washington.

Travis Zajac celebrated appearing in his 800th NHL game by recording a goal and an assist, matching the point total he produced over his first 20 contests of the season. St. Louis accomplished what New Jersey is hoping to when it halted a two-game skid Saturday with a 3-2 triumph over Carolina. The Blues squandered a 2-0 lead in the second period, but Scottie Upshall tallied 8:58 into the third to help give the team just its third victory in 10 games. Brayden Schenn notched an assist on the goal, increasing his team-leading point total to 41 while ending his three-game drought.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, MSG Plus 2 (New Jersey), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

ABOUT THE DEVILS (22-10-6): Zajac wasn't the only member of the team to reach a milestone on Saturday, as Marcus Johansson registered a pair of assists to increase his career total to 300 points. The 27-year-old Swede has notched three points in his last two contests after being kept off the scoresheet in each of his previous four. Cory Schneider has made nine consecutive starts in net, going 6-1-2 while allowing three goals or fewer in each of the first seven games before yielding four in each of the last two.

ABOUT THE BLUES (24-15-2): Jay Bouwmeester was activated from injured reserve and returned to the lineup Saturday, recording two shots and a plus-3 rating in 17 minutes, 34 seconds of ice time. The 34-year-old defenseman, who sat out St. Louis' first 21 contests this season after fracturing his ankle during training camp, had missed nine games with a lower-body injury. Blue-liner Alex Pietrangelo collected four assists during his current three-game streak but has gone 20 contests without a goal.

OVERTIME

1. Two of Upshall's six goals this season have been game-winners.

2. New Jersey added goaltending depth prior to its previous game, acquiring Eddie Lack from Calgary and assigning him to Binghamton of the American Hockey League.

3. To make room on the roster for Bouwmeester, St. Louis assigned D Jordan Schmaltz to San Antonio of the AHL.

PREDICTION: Blues 3, Devils 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Blue Jackets vs. Stars Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/01/2018

The top performers are doing their jobs and the supporting actors are chipping in as the Dallas Stars surge toward the top of the Central Division standings while notching at least a point in six of the last seven games (4-2-1). The Stars look to continue the trend and earn a fifth straight victory on home ice when they host the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.

Jamie Benn owns a six-game point streak, Tyler Seguin has five goals in the last five contests and goaltender Ben Bishop boasts a .946 save percentage over his past five outings for Dallas, which is 13-6-2 over its last 21 encounters. "I think the fans are starting to see that this is a team that has an identity," Stars coach Ken Hitchcock told reporters after Sunday's 6-0 victory over San Jose. "They can see it on the ice, they can see the way we play, and I think they're really into what we're doing right now." Columbus is beginning to show the effects of having three of their top nine forwards and a top-four defenseman out with injuries, losing three in a row (0-2-1) and managing two wins in its last eight outings (2-4-2). "No one's coming to help us," Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno told reporters after the 5-0 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday. "No one's feeling sorry for us. The league keeps coming. We've got to find a way out of it. It starts with our mentality of who we are as a team."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Columbus), FSN Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (22-15-3): Columbus won't have forwards Cam Atkinson (foot), Alexander Wennberg (back) and Brandon Dubinsky (facial fracture) back in the near future while defenseman Ryan Murray (upper-body) could return soon. Left wing Artemi Panarin registered 18 of his team-high 34 points in 15 games during December and reportedly skated with Foligno and rookie Pierre-Luc Dubois as coach John Tortorella shuffled his top two lines at practice Monday. Josh Anderson, who owns a team-high 14 goals, dropped down to team with Sonny Milano and Boone Jenner on the second forward unit.

ABOUT THE STARS (22-15-3): Benn has three goals and five assists during his six-game run and leads the team with 37 points - two better than Seguin, who needs one goal for his fifth straight season with at least 20. Tyler Pitlick registered a pair of goals and Radek Faksa notched three assists in the win over San Jose as the duo skated with Antoine Roussel on an emerging strong third line for Dallas. Right wing Alexander Radulov, who is fourth on the team with 32 points, was limited to 9:16 of ice time Sunday by an upper-body injury but Hitchcock said he should be fine for Tuesday.

OVERTIME

1. Blue Jackets G Sergei Bobrovsky (199 career victories) has one win (1-2-2) and an .896 save percentage in his last five games, but shut out the Stars in Dallas last season.

2. Stars D John Klingberg, whose 29 assists lead all NHL blueliners, boasts seven points in his last six games and has been key on a power play that has converted once in each of the last six contests.

3. Columbus D Zach Werenski leads all blue liners in the league with 11 goals and top-pair partner D Seth Jones has seven points in his last seven games.

PREDICTION: Stars 4, Blue Jackets 2