Tuesday 4-3-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns Preview and Predictions 04-03-2018

2nd April 2018 by Gracenote
The Phoenix Suns are running out of time to snap a long losing streak but they may have their best remaining chance to do so when the Sacramento Kings pay a visit to Arizona on Tuesday. The Suns' 15-game slide is a team record and has them on a verge of clinching the worst record in the NBA.

Breaking into the win column has proven difficult without leading scorer Devin Booker, who has missed eight straight games with a hand issue and is listed as questionable for this one. Phoenix put up an admirable fight while visiting Western Conference heavyweights Houston and Golden State, falling on a buzzer-beater at the Rockets and then dropping a 117-110 decision against the Warriors on Sunday. "I think our guys compete well for young guys playing against this team," Suns interim coach Jay Triano told reporters in Oakland. The Kings are also giving their young players plenty of experience down the stretch and one of them - Buddy Hield - has heated up, scoring 19 points to lead his team to an 84-83 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE KINGS (25-53): Hield has scored at least 19 points in eight of his last nine games and is 11-of-17 from 3-point range over a three-game stretch as he continues to lead the second unit. "We have a lot of energy and we try to build off the (starters)," Hield told the media after Sacramento's bench outscored Los Angeles' reserves 37-19. "If they bring energy or not, we try to capitalize." Bogdan Bogdanovic led the starters with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting.

ABOUT THE SUNS (19-59): Josh Jackson has become the go-to guy with Booker and TJ Warren (knee) both sidelined, and the rookie out of Kansas averaged 24.5 points on the 0-2 road trip. Troy Daniels had been providing solid support on the offensive end but was limited to two points in 18 minutes before aggravating an ankle injury against the Warriors. "When Troy went down we lost all of our experience, four years of experience," Triano - who gave 222 of the 240 available minutes to first- or second-year players - told reporters.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Suns PF Marquese Chriss averages 7.5 points but has scored in double figures in eight straight games.

2. Kings PG De'Aaron Fox is 1-for-19 from beyond the arc over a span of 10 contests.

3. Phoenix took two of the first three meetings.

PREDICTION: Kings 112, Suns 110

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Detroit Red Wings vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Preview and Predictions 04-03-2018

2nd April 2018 by Gracenote
With only three games remaining, the Columbus Blue Jackets' future regarding the postseason still is unclear as they prepare to host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night. Columbus occupies third place in the Metropolitan Division but ultimately could finish second, in a wild-card spot or out of the playoffs in the muddled Eastern Conference.

The Blue Jackets trail second-place Pittsburgh by two points with a game in hand, are even with top wild card Philadelphia and lead second wild card New Jersey by one point as they gear up for their penultimate home game of the regular season. The club completed a 2-0-1 road trip Saturday with a 5-4 overtime loss at Vancouver in which Artemi Panarin and defenseman Seth Jones each posted four-point performances. Panarin set up all four goals for Columbus, giving him eight points over his last three games and a team-leading - and career high-tying - 77 on the season. The Red Wings, who will be playoff spectators for the second straight campaign following a 25-season participation streak, aim for their fourth straight victory as they play their final road game of 2017-18.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Ohio (Columbus)

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (30-38-11): Dylan Larkin leads the team with a career-high 59 points, nine of which he has registered over his last seven contests. Captain Henrik Zetterberg has scored just one goal in his last 18 games for Detroit, which endured a 1-12-1 slump prior to its current winning streak. Anthony Mantha tops the club with 24 goals but has recorded just one in his last 13 contests.

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (44-29-6): Columbus earned the point in Vancouver by scoring three times in the final 3:58 of the third period to erase a 4-1 deficit and force overtime. Jones recorded a goal and three assists to give him 54 points and eclipse the franchise record for a defenseman set in 2013-14, when James Wisniewski notched 51. Blue-liner Markus Nutivaara could miss the game against Detroit as the 23-year-old Finn exited Saturday's contest in the second period with an upper-body strain.

OVERTIME

1. Blue Jackets RW Cam Atkinson is riding a seven-game point streak (five goals, five assists) and has collected 11 goals and 11 assists over his last 18 contests.

2. Detroit LW Justin Abdelkader is mired in a seven-game goal-scoring drought, keeping him one shy of 100 for his career, while D Danny DeKeyser needs one point to reach the century mark.

3. Columbus has a showdown at home with Pittsburgh on Thursday before concluding the season at league-leading Nashville two nights later.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 5, Red Wings 1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Philadelphia Flyers vs. New York Islanders Preview and Predictions 04-03-2018

2nd April 2018 by Gracenote
An eight-game point streak (5-0-3) has powered the Philadelphia Flyers to the cusp of a return to the playoffs after missing the NHL's second season in 2016-17. The surging Flyers head into the last road game of their season on Tuesday looking to ascend in the Metropolitan Division by defeating the cellar-dwelling New York Islanders.

Captain Claude Giroux capped a two-goal performance by scoring on a breakaway with 1:21 remaining in overtime of Sunday's 4-3 win over Boston, moving Philadelphia within two points of second-place Pittsburgh while residing behind Columbus based on the fourth tiebreaker. "That's one thing we can't do, look up at the standings. We just have to worry about our next game here," said Giroux, who has posted career highs in goals (29) and points (95) - with one and five, respectively, coming in three games versus the Islanders. New York didn't do Philadelphia any favors on Saturday, as it dropped a 4-3 decision to New Jersey for its 16th loss in 19 games (3-12-4). Anthony Beauvillier has scored in three straight contests and five times in his last six to creep within one of the 20-goal plateau.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia Plus, MSG Plus 2 (New York)

ABOUT THE FLYERS (40-25-14): Travis Konecny is a confident kid, likely bolstered by scoring six times in his eight games as well as Philadelphia's 16-6-6 mark in its last 28 contests. "I think we're confident as a team that we'll be able to play anybody. I don't really think we look at matchups," the 21-year-old Konecny told Philly.com after he scored his 24th goal in highlight-reel fashion on Sunday - the most by a Flyers player 21-or-younger since Simon Gagne netted 33 at age 21 in 2001-02. Konecny also tallied in Philadelphia's 6-4 win over New York on Jan. 4.

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (32-37-10): Rookie Mathew Barzal reached the 20-goal total on March 20 and has set up four tallies in his last six games to boost his season total to a team-leading 59 assists. Barzal has scored two goals and set up two others versus Philadelphia this season and captain John Tavares also has four points (one goal, three assists) in the season series to raise his club-best total this season to 81. New York's 31st-ranked penalty kill has permitted seven power-play goals in the last six games overall and three versus Philadelphia in the last encounter.

OVERTIME

1. Philadelphia D Ivan Provorov, who scored two goals and set up another in the last meeting versus New York, has recorded back-to-back multi-point performances during his three-game point streak.

2. The Islanders have posted a 9-18-2 mark in their last 29 games at Barclays Center after notching an 8-0-2 record at home to open the season.

3. Flyers RW Jakub Voracek has one goal and four assists versus New York this season.

PREDICTION: Islanders 4, Flyers 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils Preview and Predictions 04-03-2018

2nd April 2018 by Gracenote
Taylor Hall is riding high on the strength of yet another pronounced point streak to put the New Jersey Devils on the cusp of their first playoff appearance since 2011-12. Hall carries an eight-game point streak (six goals, seven assists) into Tuesday's tilt versus the visiting New York Rangers, who have dropped six of their last eight as they prepare to miss the NHL's second season for the first time since 2009-10.

Hall scored New Jersey's NHL-best 12th short-handed goal late in the third period of Sunday's 2-1 win over Montreal, improving the Devils to 5-0-1 in their last six and moving them within one point of third-place Columbus and Philadelphia in the Metropolitan Division. "I scored a shortie. I'm not much of a shorthanded threat, but it's nice to get one," said the 26-year-old Hall, who has been quite the threat by denting the scoresheet in 35 of his last 38 contests to push his career-high totals in goals (37) and points (89). While New Jersey bids for a postseason berth, New York made certain that Carolina was removed from the picture with a 2-1 triumph on Saturday. Kevin Hayes, who scored a short-handed goal versus the Hurricanes to extend his point streak to three games, joins teammate Jimmy Vesey with two tallies in three meetings this season with New Jersey.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus, MSG 2

ABOUT THE RANGERS (34-36-9): Mats Zuccarello (undisclosed) and Jesper Fast (groin) are expected to miss the final three games of the season, coach Alain Vigneault told reporters on Monday. "He blocked a couple of shots the last couple games," Vigneault said of the 30-year-old Zuccarello, who leads the team in both assists (36) and points (52). The 26-year-old Fast had been heating up with 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in his last 12 contests.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (42-28-9): Nico Hischier, whose 51 points trail only Hall for top honors on the team, scored his 19th goal of the season on Sunday to move into fourth-place ties on a pair of franchise rookie lists. The top overall pick of the 2017 NHL draft, Hischier pulled even with Scott Gomez (1999-2000) for the fourth-most goals while his 51 points matched Adam Henrique (2011-12). "It's not just one guy, it's the whole team that believes," said Hischier, who opted to talk about team accomplishments. "We stick (together) for each other and battle for each other."

OVERTIME

1. New Jersey G Keith Kinkaid, who is a New York native, has started six in a row and owns a sterling 14-3-1 mark since Feb. 13.

2. The Rangers have collected at least one point in 18 of their last 23 meetings (14-5-4) with the Devils.

3. Tuesday's game features the last two Hobey Baker Award winners in Vesey (2015-16, Harvard) and New Jersey D Will Butcher (2016-17, Denver).

PREDICTION: Devils 4, Rangers 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Nashville Predators vs. Florida Panthers Preview and Predictions 04-03-2018

2nd April 2018 by Gracenote
The Nashville Predators rebounded from a poor performance with a brilliant one and can clinch the Central Division title by completing a sweep of the Sunshine State portion of their road trip when they visit the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. The Predators gave up four power-play goals en route to a loss at home to NHL-worst Buffalo on Saturday before going on the road to knock off Tampa Bay 4-1 just 24 hours later.

"I thought it was great," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette told reporters after Sunday's win. "I think the guys played smart, and that's all on them. They had a meeting. They weren't happy with it and they straightened it out. They played a smart, hard game, especially with the turnaround." The Predators lead Winnipeg by five points with three games remaining as they prepare to face Florida, which is hanging on in the race for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers stayed alive with a 3-2 home victory over Carolina on Monday, moving within five points of New Jersey for the final playoff spot with one game in hand, but three of their final four contests are against the top two teams in the league in points (Nashville, Boston twice). "The boys know it's do or die, but we're not going to go without a fight," Florida defenseman MacKenzie Weegar told the Sun Sentinel. "We know what's at stake here and we've worked too hard this year to go easy."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Tennessee (Nashville), FS Florida

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (51-17-11): Filip Forsberg has produced back-to-back three-point performances to take over the team lead with 61 - one more than Viktor Arvidsson, who missed Sunday's game and is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. "When he's going, he's a big-time threat out there," center Ryan Johansen told the Tennessean regarding Forsberg. "Great time for him to start ramping his game up. ... He's a motivated player right now." Craig Smith scored his 23rd goal on Sunday to forge a tie for second on the team and pull within one of the career high he set in 2013-14.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (40-30-8): Aleksander Barkov set up a pair of goals in Monday's win to push his team-leading total to 77 points - five more than Vincent Trocheck, who notched an assist against Carolina. Evgenii Dadonov scored for the fourth time in five games Monday to increase his total to 27 goals, second only to Trocheck (30), while defenseman Alex Petrovic netted his second tally of the season to snap a 2-2 tie. Roberto Luongo made 27 saves against the Hurricanes to post his 469th career victory in his 998th NHL appearance after losing four of his previous five starts.

OVERTIME

1. Panthers D Keith Yandle has recorded two goals and six assists in his last eight games, pulling within four of his career high of 59 points set in 2010-11.

2. The Predators have converted two of their six power-play chances over the last two games after going 2-for-41 in their previous 12 contests.

3. Nashville defeated Florida 4-3 on Jan. 20 behind two goals from LW Kevin Fiala and three points from C Nick Bonino.

PREDICTION: Predators 4, Panthers 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Winnipeg Jets vs. Montreal Canadiens Preview and Predictions 04-03-2018

3rd April 2018 by Gracenote
The Winnipeg Jets are proving they won't be a pushover when they make their second playoff appearance in seven seasons since relocating from Atlanta. Winnipeg aims for its ninth win in 10 contests - and 50th overall - Tuesday as it faces off against the Montreal Canadiens in its final road game of the regular season.

Winnipeg occupies second place in the Central Division but still has an outside shot at the crown as it trails first-place Nashville by five points with three games remaining. The Jets improved to 2-1-0 on their four-game trek on Monday as they outlasted Ottawa 6-5 behind a pair of goals from Blake Wheeler. The 31-year-old captain has landed on the scoresheet in nine of his last 10 contests, collecting four tallies and nine assists in that span, and hasn't been held without a point in consecutive games since Jan. 23 and 25. Montreal, which will be playing at home for the final time this season, looks to avoid a third straight loss after dropping a 2-1 decision to New Jersey on Sunday.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), TSN2, RDS (Montreal)

ABOUT THE JETS (49-20-10): Connor Hellebuyck posted his 42nd victory of the season Monday despite allowing five goals, tying Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy for the league lead. Patrik Laine avoided the sophomore jinx this season as his 68 points eclipse the total from his fantastic rookie campaign (64) while he ranks second in the league with 43 goals. The 19-year-old Finn is in the midst of a slump, however, as he has been held without a point in seven consecutive contests.

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (28-39-12): Carey Price put his name in the franchise record book Sunday as he appeared in his 556th game, tying Jacques Plante for first place among Montreal goaltenders. "It's a legendary name," Price told reporters. "Being able to be spoken of in the same breath as him is quite humbling." The 30-year-old Price, who is a former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner, is three wins away from pulling even with Patrick Roy (289) for second place on the team list and 28 shy of matching Plante for first.

OVERTIME

1. Jets C Paul Stastny has registered 11 points in 16 games since being acquired from St. Louis, giving him his first 50-point season (51) since notching 60 in 2013-14 with Colorado.

2. Montreal D Mike Reilly, who appeared in his 100th NHL game on Sunday, has notched an assist in three straight contests.

3. Winnipeg D Sami Niku hopes to make his NHL debut against the Canadiens after being a healthy scratch on Monday - one day after being recalled from Manitoba of the American Hockey League.

PREDICTION: Canadiens 4, Jets 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Preview and Predictions 04-03-2018

2nd April 2018 by Gracenote
The Tampa Bay Lightning could be without their captain when they host the first-place Boston Bruins Tuesday night for what may be the decisive Atlantic Division showdown. Steven Stamkos, who is second on the team with 86 points, suffered a lower-body injury in Sunday's 4-1 loss to Nashville and is questionable for Tuesday while the Lightning hold out hope he could play before the end of the regular season.

Tampa Bay missed an opportunity to set a franchise record for points in a season and to tie the Bruins for first place with the setback Sunday - its fourth in five contests - and managed five goals in its last four losses. Boston has a two-point lead with four games to go - one more than the Lightning - and has earned at least a point in nine straight outings (5-0-4), including two wins over Tampa Bay in that stretch. The Bruins scored in the final seconds to tie before losing 4-3 in overtime at Philadelphia on Sunday, but gained a valuable point on the second of a tough back-to-back. "We're proud of the way we battled and got that extra point from that situation towards the end," Boston captain Zdeno Chara told reporters Sunday. "It's a battle and we kept the puck in and we got rewarded, so obviously everybody was pretty happy about that comeback."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, Sportsnet One, TVA, NESN (Boston)

ABOUT THE BRUINS (49-17-12): Special teams have played a big part in the team's streak as the power play is 6-for-11 in the last four games and the penalty kill is 21-for-22 over the past nine contests. Chara, a former Norris Trophy winner, returned to the lineup for the first time in almost three weeks Sunday and Boston could get talented rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy (knee) back for the first time since March 3 on Tuesday. Wing David Pastrnak has five goals and eight of his 78 points in the last six games while center Patrice Bergeron owns seven points in five games since his return from injured reserve.

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (52-23-4): Coach Jon Cooper reshuffled the lines without Stamkos at practice Monday with Brayden Point (30 goals, 64 points) centering leading scorer Nikita Kucherov (38, 97) and Ondrej Palat, who scored the only goal Sunday. Right wing Ryan Callahan returned to the lineup Sunday and versatile forward Cory Conacher is likely to take Stamkos' spot if the center can't go. Andrei Vasilevskiy (.919 save percentage) shares the league lead with a franchise-record 42 wins, but is just 2-5-0 in his last seven and has allowed at least three goals in nine of his past 10 appearances.

OVERTIME

1. The Bruins have won eight of the last nine meetings with the Lightning, including all three this season by a combined score of 10-4.

2. Tampa Bay D Victor Hedman is one goal from equaling his career high of 16 and has 11 of his 60 points in the last 10 contests.

3. Boston LW Brad Marchand, who leads the team with 84 points, was fined $5,000 for his cross check on Philadelphia's D Andrew MacDonald on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Lightning 4, Bruins 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Arizona Coyotes vs. Calgary Flames Preview and Predictions 04-03-2018

2nd April 2018 by Gracenote
The Arizona Coyotes are playing like a team that is steamrolling toward the postseason - not one that was long ago eliminated from playoff contention - as they visit the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. Arizona, which started 0-10-1 and was 12-32-9, is 16-8-2 since Feb. 7 after dominating playoff-hopeful St. Louis 6-0 on Saturday - the latest sign that the Coyotes intend to finish the campaign strong and carry plenty of momentum into 2018-19.

"They've bought in. I've got to give a lot of guys credit for that," Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet told reporters. "It's easy when you're out of the playoffs to give up, and we haven't given up." Calgary snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over Edmonton on Saturday as it wraps up a disappointing campaign without the likes of front-line players such as Sean Monahan, Matthew Tkachuk and defenseman T.J. Brodie, who are shut down for the season. "It's been hard on our guys emotionally,'' Flames coach Glen Gulutzan told reporters. "I felt today they looked a little bit like themselves. That's what I felt this morning and that's what showed here in the game." Calgary won the first two of four meetings this season, 3-0 and 5-2, behind a combined three goals from Mark Jankowski before Arizona recorded a 5-2 victory March 19 when Max Domi and Oliver Ekman-Larsson each scored twice.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Arizona Plus, Sportsnet West (Calgary)

ABOUT THE COYOTES (28-40-11): Antti Raanta (20-16-6, 2.27 goals-against average, .929 save percentage) was named the NHL's second star of the week and is 8-1-0, 1.34, .956 in his past nine games, with Saturday's shutout his second during that span. Clayton Keller (team highs of 23 goals, 63 points) is finishing his rookie season strong with six goals and 19 points in March, recording at least a point in 14 of 17 games this month. Derek Stepan (club-most 42 assists, 55 points) has a goal and nine assists in his last eight games.

ABOUT THE FLAMES (36-33-10): Johnny Gaudreau (team highs of 82 points and 59 assists) returned Saturday after missing two games to be with his ailing father, and hasn't recorded a point in three straight contests for only the third time this season. Spencer Foo had a shot on goal in 12 minutes, 45 seconds of ice time in his NHL debut Saturday. Former Coyote Mike Smith snapped a five-game losing streak in which he posted a 4.40 goals-against average and .865 save percentage by making 34 saves versus Edmonton while Dougie Hamilton scored his 17th goal - most among NHL defensemen.

OVERTIME

1. Arizona is 5-1-1 in its last seven games versus the Pacific Division after winning only four of its first 19 such contests (4-10-5).

2. Calgary is 1-for-47 on the power play in its last 16 games, including 0-for-29 in the last 11 contests.

3. Coyotes C Christian Dvorak (15 goals, 37 assists) missed his first game of the season Saturday because of a lower-body injury.

PREDICTION: Coyotes 3, Flames 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Vancouver Canucks Preview and Predictions 04-03-2018

2nd April 2018 by Gracenote
The Vegas Golden Knights look to continue their momentum after wrapping up the Pacific Division title when they open a three-game road trip against the Vancouver Canucks and Henrik and Deniel Sedin on Tuesday in their second-to-last home game. The Sedin twins, who have combined for 2,106 points in 2,630 career games, announced Monday they would retire at the end this season and play their final home game Thursday against Arizona.

"We started the year with the mindset that a decision would be made in the postseason," the Sedins said in a letter to Canucks fans. "But it became clear, after discussions with our families throughout the year, that this will be our last season. This feels right for all of us." The 37-year olds have helped Vancouver build a season high-tying four-game winning streak, but the Canucks have not had much luck against Vegas - getting outscored 15-6 in three losses. The expansion Golden Knights clinched the division title with a 3-2 win over San Jose on Saturday in their final home game of the season and are 5-1-2 in their last eight outings. "It's all about the points," coach Gerard Gallant told the the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "You never know what the scenario is going to be down the road so let's win as many games as we can. We'll see what happens and try to keep our guys fresh and ready to go. I'm confident that our team is going to be ready, no matter what, the next three games."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, AT&T Rocky Mountain (Vegas), Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (50-22-7): Vegas hopes to have forwards David Perron (undisclosed) and Reilly Smith (shoulder) back at some point during the trip that includes stops in Edmonton and Calgary. Perron is third on the team with a career-high 66 points and Smith is fourth with a career-best 60 while center Erik Haula needs one goal to reach 30 for the first time. William Karlsson leads the league with a plus-46 rating and shares the top spot on the team with fellow forward Jonathan Marchessault at 75 points after posting nine in the last four games.

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (30-40-9): Daniel Sedin has four assists in the last six games and sits three away from catching injured rookie Brock Boeser (55) for the team lead in points. Captain Henrik Sedin needs two points to reach 50 for the 12th straight full season while center Bo Horvat scored his career-best 21st goal and added an assist in Saturday's victory. Jacob Markstrom is 4-0-0 in his last four starts, giving up five goals combined, and Thatcher Demko got the win in his NHL debut against Columbus after making 26 saves.

OVERTIME

1. Vegas G Marc-Andre Fleury (29-12-4, 2.14 goals-against, .931 save percentage) can reach 30 wins for the ninth time.

2. Vancouver F Adam Gaudette, who led the NCAA in scoring this season, registered five shots on net and no points in his first two NHL games.

3. The Golden Knights have killed off 25-of-26 power-play opportunities over the last nine contests.

PREDICTION: Golden Knights 4, Canucks 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Dallas Stars vs. San Jose Sharks Preview and Predictions 04-03-2018

2nd April 2018 by Gracenote
The San Jose Sharks were on the fast track toward the postseason with eight straight wins before stumbling in their last three outings to conclude a four-game road trip. The Sharks needed help Monday to clinch their 13th playoff berth in 14 years and look to regain their footing versus the Dallas Stars in the opener of a season-ending three-game homestand on Tuesday.

Captain Joe Pavelski (team co-leading 63 points) collected a goal and an assist in San Jose's 3-2 setback on Saturday, a result that allowed expansion Vegas to add another chapter in its storybook season. The 33-year-old Pavelski traditionally has tormented Dallas to the tune of 46 points (20 goals, 26 assists) in 55 career encounters, with a goal and two assists coming in the Sharks' 5-2 win over the Stars on Feb. 18. While San Jose is fending off fellow California contingents Anaheim and Los Angeles for second place in the Pacific, an eight-game winless skid last month all but effectively ended Dallas' bid for the postseason. The Stars' road woes did them no favors as well, as the club has dropped eight straight to plummet to 14-19-5 away from American Airlines Center.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One, FS Southwest Plus (Dallas), NBCS California Plus (San Jose)

ABOUT THE STARS (40-31-8): John Klingberg scored and set up a goal in Saturday's 4-1 victory over Minnesota, with the assist giving him a league-best 56 among defensemen while his 64 points trail only Washington's John Carlson in that department. The 25-year-old Swede has powered Dallas' 19th-ranked power play with 23 points (one goal, 22 assists), with one assist coming with the man advantage in a 6-0 rout of San Jose on New Year's Eve. Tyler Pitlick scored twice in that contest and also tallied in a 5-2 setback on Feb. 18, but has just three goals since then.

ABOUT THE SHARKS (44-25-10): Logan Couture leads San Jose with 32 goals but owns just one in his last five outings overall and has failed to dent the scoresheet in two encounters with Dallas this season. Former Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns, who has also failed to contribute to the offense versus the Stars, has nine of his club-best 52 assists and 10 of his team high-tying point total in his last 10 games. Martin Jones has yielded seven goals over back-to-back losses after permitting 17 during his seven-game winning streak.

OVERTIME

1. Dallas C Tyler Seguin (team-leading 40 goals, 76 points) scored a goal and set up four others during his three-game point streak.

2. San Jose is second in the league on the penalty kill entering Tuesday after thwarting 21 of its last 22 opportunities over the last seven contests.

3. Stars captain Jamie Benn is one tally shy of his fourth 30-goal season in the past five years.

PREDICTION: Sharks 4, Stars 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Mike Wynn

Free Play: Free Pick LA Dodgers w/Kershaw -170 Over Arizona

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Free Selection from Jim Feist

Jim Feist's Comp Pick, Tuesday, April 3, 2018

04/03 04:05 PM PT / 7:05 PM ET

NBA (701) BROOKLYN NETS VS (702) PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Take: OVER

Reason: Your free play for Tuesday, April 3, 2018 is in the NBA scheduled contest between the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers. Your free play is on the 76ers!

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Jeff Allen Sports

Tuesday's Free Selection is on the NJ Devils

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Razor Sharp

YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR TUESDAY: Take TORONTO/CLEVELAND UNDER the total of 223½

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Totals4U

Tuesday's Free Selection: Charlotte Hornets/Chicago Bulls over 216 1/2