Thursday 11-8-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Arizona Coyotes vs. Philadelphia Flyers Preview and Predictions 11-08-2018

NHL Predictions 8th November 2018 by Gracenote
Coyotes vs. Flyers Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 11/08/2018

The Philadelphia Flyers look to feed off the momentum of a successful road trip on Thursday when they bid to complete a home-and-home sweep of the Arizona Coyotes in the opener of a season-high five-game homestand. The Flyers went 3-0-1 on their four-game trek versus Pacific Division foes to improve to 5-3-1 on the road, but they have yielded 26 goals while posting a 2-4-0 mark at Wells Fargo Center.

"We're happy with our trip," forward Sean Couturier said, per Philly.com. "Seven out of eight points is pretty good. But we can't be satisfied. We have to have a good stretch at home and build on this trip and keep climbing the standings." Couturier scored and set up a goal in Monday's 5-2 win at Arizona to give him four points on the trek, while fellow forwards Nolan Patrick and Oskar Lindblom each had two goals and four assists during their respective four-game point streaks. The Coyotes, who saw their five-game winning streak halted on Monday, will look to regain their footing in the face of a challenging road trip that features four games in six days. "You might not feel good, your best, but you've still got to have that mental toughness, and you can still win games when you don't feel good," Arizona coach Rick Tocchet said. "... I thought on the homestand there was a couple games we were a little sluggish, but we hung in there and won the game and that's the mentality we have to have."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Arizona Plus, NBCS Philadelphia

ABOUT THE COYOTES (7-6-0): Michael Grabner has spurred Arizona's recent run of good fortune by scoring in his second straight game Monday to boost his point total to six (four goals, two assists) in his last five contests after mustering just one in his previous eight. "We wanted to work our way back in the picture and we did that (on the homestand)," the speedy 31-year-old said. "We're right in the mix now, but obviously still a lot of games, a lot of hockey left until the end here." Like Grabner, Clayton Keller is also enjoying a five-game point streak (two goals, three assists) while fellow forward Alex Galchenyuk's power-play tally on Monday earned him his fifth point (two goals, three assists) in his last five contests.



ABOUT THE FLYERS (7-7-1): Captain Claude Giroux collected two goals and an assist on Monday to give him three of each on the just-completed trek and boost his point total to 12 (four goals, eight assists) on the road as opposed to just five at home this season. "Before the road trip, we thought this could be a good thing for us," the 30-year-old said. "Get on the same page, play as a team. We did a really good job of that." Fellow forwards Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds are riding three-game point streaks while defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere scored and set up a goal against Arizona to give him three points in his last four.

OVERTIME

1. Arizona's Darcy Kuemper will draw the start after the team placed fellow G Antti Raanta (lower body) on injured reserve Wednesday.

2. The Flyers' 29th-ranked penalty kill (69.1 percent) has yielded at least one power-play goal in eight straight contests.

3. Coyotes D Oliver Ekman-Larsson has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his last eight games after failing to dent the scoresheet in his previous five.

PREDICTION: Coyotes 4, Flyers 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins Preview and Predictions 11-08-2018

NHL Predictions 7th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/07/2018

The Boston Bruins remain, for the most part, a one-line team and that's something that coach Bruce Cassidy expects to change when his club continues a four-game homestand against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night. Boston ended a two-game slide with a 2-1 overtime win over Dallas on Monday night but has produced only five goals in the past four games.

David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand each scored on the power play Monday, giving Boston's No. 1 unit 22 of the team's 37 goals, but Cassidy saw signs of offense coming from other lines. "Three posts, a goal we scored that ... got waved off," noted Cassidy. "It's coming. That's the way I look at it and usually it takes a game or two before the floodgates open." The Canucks opened their six-game road trip with a 3-2 shootout loss at Detroit after squandering a two-goal lead but they extended their point streak to four games (3-0-1). Vancouver edged the visiting Bruins 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 20 despite the absence of rookie sensation Elias Pettersson, who has made history in his first season.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver), NESN (Boston)

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (9-6-1): Pettersson sat out the first matchup due to a concussion that sidelined him for six contests, but he scored against Detroit to become the fifth player in league history to notch 10 goals in his first 10 career games. The 2017 No. 5 overall pick had a five-point game in Friday's 7-6 win over Colorado to give him 16 points -- most among league rookies. "There's some guys that you can tell are wired for success, and I feel like he is," Canucks coach Travis Green said. "He talks like he is, and he's been very humble still and not getting too far ahead of himself."



ABOUT THE BRUINS (8-4-2): Tuukka Rask allowed four goals in his last three starts after a rocky beginning to the season, but he understands why Cassidy is giving the nod to backup netminder Jaroslav Halak against Vancouver. Halak has earned the confidence of the team by posting league-leading marks in goals-against average (1.45) and save percentage (.952). "The schedule hasn't been crazy and Jaro has played unbelievable, that's how it goes," Rask said. "If you're a hot goalie like that then you've got to let him play, I totally get it, it hasn't affected me mentally really that much."

OVERTIME

1. Pastrnak had an NHL-best 12 goals in 14 games through Tuesday's action.

2. Canucks F Brock Boeser missed Tuesday's game due to a groin injury and is day-to-day.

3. Boston ranks fifth in the league on the power play, converting 13 of 44 chances (29.5 percent).

PREDICTION: Bruins 4, Canucks 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Preview and Predictions 11-08-2018

NHL Predictions 7th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/07/2018

The Edmonton Oilers look to finish their four-game road trip with a .500 record and extend their winning streak at the Florida Panthers to 10 when the teams meet Thursday night. The Oilers won the opener of their trek at Detroit before dropping back-to-back contests at Washington (4-2 on Monday) and Tampa Bay (5-2 on Tuesday), but have not lost against the Panthers on the road since March 8, 2002.

Two-time reigning NHL scoring champion Connor McDavid was held off the scoresheet for the second time in 13 games this season in Tuesday's loss and Edmonton could not finish several prime opportunities. "We need to bear down a little bit, especially me more than anyone," Oilers center Leon Draisaitl told reporters. "I didn't think we played terrible or bad by any means, but it's something we can look at and try to get better from." The Panthers have not played since Friday, when they finished off a split with Winnipeg with a 4-2 victory in the two-game NHL Global Series at Helsinki, Finland. Forward Evgenii Dadonov leads Florida with 13 points and has at least one in eight straight games while teammate Mike Hoffman boasts a nine-game point streak that includes six goals.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Edmonton), FS Florida

ABOUT THE OILERS (8-6-1): Ryan Nugent-Hopkins notched his third assist in two games Tuesday to push his team-leading total to 14 and Draisaitl scored his ninth goal - one behind McDavid - against the Lightning for his eighth point in the past seven contests. Right wing Ty Rattie returned to the lineup after missing nine games with an upper-body injury, skating with McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins, while center Ryan Strome finally netted his first goal of the season Tuesday. Forward Alex Chiasson, who had scored in three of his previous four games, sat out the game in Tampa Bay with an undisclosed injury.



ABOUT THE PANTHERS (3-5-3): Goalie Roberto Luongo returned to the lineup for the first time since suffering a knee injury on opening night and made 32 saves for his 472nd career victory Friday in Helsinki. "That was huge for us," Florida coach Bob Boughner told reporters. "Watching (Luongo) play so composed after being off for a month, he is a big reason why we won (the last game)." Defenseman Keith Yandle has five points in the last four games and 12 overall to place second on the team while captain Aleksander Barkov has gone seven games without a goal, but recorded six assists in that stretch.

OVERTIME

1. Edmonton LW Milan Lucic was fined $10,000 after his misconduct penalty Tuesday.

2. Florida C Derek MacKenzie, who has not played since opening night, underwent shoulder surgery recently and is out indefinitely.

3. The Oilers have won four of the last five meetings overall and the road team has taken seven of the last eight encounters.

PREDICTION: Panthers 4, Oilers 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

New York Islanders vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Preview and Predictions 11-08-2018

NHL Predictions 7th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/07/2018

The New York Islanders try to rebound from what first-year coach Barry Trotz called their "worst game of the year" when they begin a quick trip to the Sunshine State against the Eastern Conference-best Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. The Islanders, who also visit Florida on Saturday, coughed up a two-goal lead before losing 4-3 in a shootout to Montreal on Monday but extended their point streak to seven (5-0-2).

"We didn't do the things we should do. It happens," New York right wing Leo Komarov told Newsday. "A good team has to lose some nights also and we've been playing good so far. A point is important but I think we had a good chance to get two. ... We just need to be ready next game." The Islanders have dropped five of the last six in the regular season against the Lightning, who rolled over Edmonton 5-2 for their third straight win Tuesday and sixth in eight contests at home in 2018-19. Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy earned his eighth win of the campaign with 33 saves and captain Steven Stamkos told reporters, "(Vasilevskiy) is undoubtedly the reason why we win a lot of hockey games. He was outstanding again (Tuesday)." Center Brayden Point leads Lightning with nine goals, 19 points and a plus-12 rating after registering 10 points in the past five contests.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New York), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (8-4-2): Forward Josh Bailey saw his eight-game point streak come to an end Monday, but leads the team with 15 - two better than captain Anders Lee and three more than Calder Trophy winner Mathew Barzal. Goalie Thomas Greiss allowed five goals on 101 shots over the last three games and owns the same record (4-2-1) as Robin Lehner, who last played on Oct. 30. Jordan Eberle (four goals, three assists) did not practice Wednesday, but Trotz told reporters he is expected to be in the lineup against Tampa Bay, and fellow forward Matt Martin (upper body) did not make the trip.



ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (11-3-1): Stamkos and right wing Nikita Kucherov accounted for three goals in Tuesday's victory and the two All-Stars have recorded eight points apiece in the last five games after relatively slow starts. "The last couple of games we've got back to playing with the puck," Stamkos told reporters of playing with Kucherov. "We try to create room for each other out there. Obviously we've developed that chemistry. It was nice to have a couple nice plays and contribute to a win." Forward Yanni Gourde (16 points) has scored in three straight games since signing a six-year contract extension.

OVERTIME

1. Tampa Bay D Victor Hedman (upper body) will likely miss his seventh straight game, but coach Jon Cooper told reporters the reigning Norris Trophy winner could return soon.

2. New York C Casey Cizikas scored twice Monday after managing two points (both assists) over the previous seven games.

3. The Lightning gave up three power-play goals in the last two games after allowing three total in the first 13 contests.

PREDICTION: Lightning 5, Islanders 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Ottawa Senators Preview and Predictions 11-08-2018

NHL Predictions 8th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/08/2018

The Ottawa Senators rebounded from an embarrassing viral video and put a significantly better performance on tape, scoring a season-high seven goals for just their second win in eight outings. The Senators aim to complete a three-game homestand on a positive note Thursday when the Vegas Golden Knights pay a visit to Canadian Tire Centre.

Matt Duchene set up three goals as Ottawa breezed to a 7-3 win over New Jersey on Tuesday in the wake of a video clip depicting seven players - including Duchene himself - insulting assistant coach Martin Raymond during an Uber ride. "I want to take this opportunity to extend my absolute sincere apologies to Marty Raymond," the 27-year-old Duchene said, per the Ottawa Citizen. "He is a heck of a person, and coach, and he didn't deserve what we said." Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore extended his assist streak to four games by setting up Cody Eakin's second-period goal during Tuesday's 3-1 setback at Toronto. Jonathan Marchessault has been held off the scoresheet in back-to-back contests following a three-game point streak that began with his goal on a penalty shot in overtime of a 4-3 win against the Senators on Oct. 28.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountains (Vegas), RDS2, TSN5 (Ottawa)

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (6-8-1): Erik Haula sustained a gruesome right leg injury when he was hit by Maple Leafs forward Patrick Marleau along the side boards, resulting in the 27-year-old Finn being removed from the ice on a stretcher. Coach Gerard Gallant told reporters on Wednesday that Haula will remain with the team but won't play in the remaining three games of the road trip. Haula, who posted career highs in goals (29), assists (26) and points (55) last season, had been playing on the second line in place of an injured Paul Stastny (lower body).



ABOUT THE SENATORS (6-6-3): Thomas Chabot pushed his point streak to four games after scoring a goal and setting up two others against the Devils. The 21-year-old Quebec native certainly has stepped in up the absence of the former captain Erik Karlsson, leading all NHL defensemen in assists (16) and points (20) this season. Mark Stone is hot on his heels in regard to the team lead, as he recorded five points (two goals, three assists) versus the Devils to give him 10 during his four-game point streak and 18 overall.

OVERTIME

1. Vegas RW Alex Tuch has three goals in three career meetings with Ottawa, including two last month.

2. Senators G Craig Anderson, who had 49 saves in the previous encounter versus the Golden Knights, will draw the start despite exiting Tuesday's tilt for an undisclosed reason.

3. All four of Eakin's goals this season have been scored against Eastern Conference representatives.

PREDICTION: Golden Knights 4, Senators 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens Preview and Predictions 11-08-2018

NHL Predictions 7th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/07/2018

The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres each put together three-game winning streaks last month, but neither team has been able to generate much consistency since then. The Canadiens have alternated losses and wins over their past nine games while the Sabres have dropped four of five entering Thursday night's matchup in Montreal.

The Canadiens were denied a chance at back-to-back victories after surrendering four unanswered goals, including three in the third period, in Tuesday's 5-3 loss at the New York Rangers. "At times in key crucial moments of the game, I think we have to have a better killer instinct," Montreal forward Brendan Gallagher said. "It's tough to sit here at the end of the day when those things are in your control and we could have had a better outcome." Buffalo also is coming off a road loss to the Rangers, although coach Phil Housley had no issues with his team's effort after it poured 40 shots on goal. "I liked the way we played the game tonight," Housley said. "If we continue to play like that, we're going to win a lot of hockey games."

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

ABOUT THE SABRES (7-6-2): Buffalo's No. 1 line of captain Jack Eichel, Jeff Skinner and Jason Pominville was held off the scoresheet Sunday after erupting for nine points in the previous game versus Ottawa and 38 in the previous seven contests. Conor Sheary netted the team's lone goal in Monday's loss and has scored in back-to-back games after managing only one assist during an eight-game goalless drought. Housley said that defenseman Nathan Beaulieu, who has appeared in only one of the past eight games, will return to the lineup Thursday against his former team.



ABOUT THE CANADIENS (8-5-2): Forward Max Domi has scored in four consecutive games and his nine tallies in his first season with Montreal have all come in the past nine contests, matching his total from 82 games with the Arizona Coyotes in 2017-18. Such consistency has been lacking in net, however: Carey Price was singed for three goals on eight shots in the third period against the Rangers and has surrendered a combined 13 tallies in his last three starts. For the season, Price owns a 5-4-2 record with an unsightly 2.81 goals-against average and .901 save percentage.

OVERTIME

1. Domi has seven goals in his last seven games, including two in a 4-3 loss at Buffalo last month.

2. Skinner had three assists versus Montreal last month and has 11 goals and 20 points in 26 games against the Canadiens.

3. The Canadiens recalled F Kenny Agostino from Laval of the American Hockey League.

PREDICTION: Canadiens 4, Sabres 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

San Jose Sharks vs. Dallas Stars Preview and Predictions 11-08-2018

NHL Predictions 7th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/07/2018

The Dallas Stars stumbled at the end of what was a promising road trip, but they will look to regain momentum when they kick off a rugged four-game homestand against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night. The Stars capped their six-game trek (3-2-1) with losses to Boston and Columbus, but they will have a rematch against both teams on the homestand.

Playing its sixth game in 10 days to close out its trek, Dallas was overmatched by Columbus 4-1 one night after dropping a 2-1 overtime decision in Boston. "Overall, two things come to mind," Stars coach Jim Montgomery said of the road trip. "One, results were pretty good for us, and the other thing was I felt we came together. We worked for each other, and we became a little tougher to play against." San Jose lost the first two contests of its four-game homestand but rebounded to post a pair of 4-3 victories over Philadelphia and Minnesota, respectively. Sharks center Joe Thornton will skate in his 1,500th game Thursday, surpassing Mike Modano for 19th place on the all-time list and for the most games ever by a No. 1 draft pick.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), FS Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE SHARKS (8-4-3): Thornton scored his 399th career goal after being shifted to the third line alongside Marcus Sorensen and Barclay Goodrow, and the move paid off as both linemates also tallied in Tuesday's victory over the Wild. In fact, Sorensen added a pair of assists for his first career three-point game while Goodrow capped a two-point night with the game-winning goal in the third period. "It's an honor to play with him," Sorensen said of the pairing with Thornton. "It was fun playing with him. He was good. He was great. He made some great plays and he scored a goal."



ABOUT THE STARS (8-6-1): Center Tyler Seguin has piled up 173 goals during his six-season tenure in Dallas, but he remains stuck on three this season and is mired in a career worst-tying 12-game drought. "If it was earlier in my career, it might bother me, but I think I can do more now," said Seguin, who still tops the Stars with 14 points. "At times like this, you try to set up your teammates more and help anyway you can. I think I'm doing that." Forward Alexander Radulov is the team's fourth-leading scorer but has missed four consecutive games and eight of the last nine.

OVERTIME

1. The Stars have won four straight at home against San Jose.

2. Sharks D Brent Burns has amassed 18 points over his past 12 games.

3. Dallas recalled F Denis Gurianov and reassigned F Justin Dowling to Texas of the American Hockey League.

PREDICTION: Stars 4, Sharks 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Chicago Blackhawks Preview and Predictions 11-08-2018

NHL Predictions 7th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/07/2018

The Chicago Blackhawks will play under a different coach for the first time since the fifth game of the 2008-09 season when they host the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday in a matchup of struggling teams. Joel Quenneville, the second-winningest coach in NHL history who won Stanley Cups with Chicago in 2010, 2013 and 2015, was relieved of his duties Tuesday after the Blackhawks missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2007-08 and got off to a slow start this year.

Jeremy Colliton, 33, was promoted from Rockford of the American Hockey League and named the 38th coach in franchise history while becoming the youngest coach in the NHL. "When I first heard the news, I'm just kind of thinking I wish I wasn't sick in Vancouver or I wish I maybe felt better on the road trip I could have played better and then maybe something like this doesn't happen," Chicago's Patrick Kane, one of four players to win all three Cups with Quenneville, told reporters. "Just thoughts running through your head." The Blackhawks have lost five straight, completing a three-game swing through western Canada with a 5-3 loss to Calgary on Saturday while Carolina is riding the same slide after a 4-1 loss at St. Louis on Tuesday. The Hurricanes lead the NHL in shots (41.6) while allowing the fewest per game (24.3) but are 2-7-1 since a 4-0-1 start, scoring 17 goals during that span.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Carolinas, NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (6-7-2): Sebastian Aho (team highs of 17 points and 13 assists) has been kept off the scoresheet for the last three games after flying out of the gate with a 12-game point streak - the best run to start a season in franchise history. Micheal Ferland (club-most seven goals) has scored only once during the losing streak and is minus-3 over his last two contests. Defenseman Jaccob Slavin (team-high 22 minutes, 58 seconds of ice time per game) scored his first goal of the season Tuesday, Carolina's only power-play goal in its last three games (14 chances).



ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (6-6-3): Kane leads the club with 11 goals - all in the first 11 games - and 19 points after he was a minus-2 while recording an assist with zero shots Saturday. Alex DeBrincat (15 points) and Jonathan Toews (13) have eight goals apiece with Toews scoring twice in the last three games while DeBrincat has one assist in his past five contests. Corey Crawford (3-4-0, 2.92 goals-against average, .907 save percentage) has allowed 14 goals on 104 shots over his last three games - all losses.

OVERTIME

1. Colliton is younger than four of his players - LW Chris Kunitz, 39; D Duncan Keith, 35; G Cam Ward, 34; and G Corey Crawford, 33, who was born 13 days earlier.

2. Carolina (12.5 percent) and Chicago (14.0) have the fourth- and fifth-worst power plays in the NHL while the Hurricanes' penalty-killing unit is 29th among the 31 teams at 69.8 percent through Tuesday's games.

3. The clubs have split the last pair of two-game season series - all one-goal games - with the visiting team prevailing in both contests in 2017-18.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 3, Hurricanes 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Minnesota Wild vs. Los Angeles Kings Preview and Predictions 11-08-2018

NHL Predictions 8th November 2018 by Gracenote
Wild vs. Kings Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 11/08/2018

The Los Angeles Kings bid for a bit of payback from the Minnesota Wild on Thursday when the clubs meet at Staples Center. The Wild pushed the then-spiraling Kings' losing skid to six games with a 4-1 decision on Oct. 25, with Los Angeles announcing a head coaching change four days later.

Minnesota had won seven of eight overall before losing 4-3 to San Jose on Tuesday to fall to 2-2-0 on its seven-game road trip. Matt Dumba pushed his point streak to three games with a goal in the third period for the Wild, who have received an NHL second-best 14 tallies from their blue-liners this season. The Kings answered their loss in Minnesota with wins in three of their last four outings, including two in a row since Willie Desjardins replaced John Stevens as the team's bench boss. "It was a wakeup call for everybody," said veteran forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who leads the team in goals (five) and points (14) and shares top honors in assists with defenseman Drew Doughty. "We're taking responsibility for what happened, and we're responding to it. We looked in the mirror, and we all know we can do a better job."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS North, FS Wisconsin (Minnesota), Sportsnet, FS West (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE WILD (8-4-2): Veteran Eric Staal could be in line to miss his second straight game as he fell victim to illness shortly after scoring his 400th career goal in St. Louis on Saturday. "To me, he'd have to feel really good (Wednesday night) and have a real good morning skate to feel strong enough to go, so I would say he's questionable," coach Bruce Boudreau said. Mikael Granlund, who is tied with Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter with a team-best 13 points, scored a goal against Los Angeles as part of an impressive 10-game point streak that came to a halt at San Jose.



ABOUT THE KINGS (5-8-1): Kovalchuk recorded his third multi-point performance in four outings on Tuesday as he scored a goal and set up two others for Los Angeles, which skated to a win in the first installment of the Freeway Face-Off with a 4-1 triumph over Anaheim. Fellow forward Dustin Brown, who was the Kings' second-leading scorer last season, has scored three goals and set up two others in four games since returning from a broken finger that he sustained in the preseason. Jeff Carter pushed his point total to five in his last three outings with an assist on Brown's first-period power-play goal.

OVERTIME

1. Los Angeles has scored a power-play goal in four straight games and killed off all 17 short-handed situations over its last five.

2. The Wild have secured a point in 10 of their last 11 encounters (6-1-4) with the Kings.

3. Los Angeles LW Kyle Clifford scored against Anaheim as well as the first meeting with Minnesota.

PREDICTION: Wild 3, Kings 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NBA

Thursday, November 8

Houston won its last three games after a 1-5 start; they’re 4-1 on road, 2-2 as AF. Under is 4-2 in their last six games. Thunder won their last six games, covered last five; they’re 3-2 at home, 2-3 as HF. Over is 3-1-1 in their home games. Rockets won seven of last ten games with Oklahoma City; they’re 3-1 vs spread in last four visits here. Four of last five series games stayed under the total.

Boston lost its last two games after a 6-2 start; they’re 3-3 on road, 1-2 as AF. Three of their last four games went over. Phoenix lost eight of its last nine games; they’re 2-4 at home, 3-3 as HU. Suns’ last four games all stayed under. Celtics won six of their last seven games with Phoenix but Suns covered the last five; Boston is 1-4 vs spread in its last five visits to the desert. Over is 5-3 in last eight series games.

Clippers won last two games by 25-11 points; they’re 2-3 on road, 1-3 as AU. Four of their last six games went over. Trailblazers won five of their last six games; they’re 5-2 at home, 4-2 as HF. Five of their last six games stayed under the total. Portland won/covered its last three games with the Clippers; under is 3-1 in last four series games. LA covered three of its last four visits to Oregon.

Milwaukee lost two of its last three games after a 7-0 start; Bucks are 2-2 on road, 0-1 as AU. Over is 7-3 in their games this season. Warriors won their last eight games (7-1 vs spread); they are 5-1 as HF. Five of their last seven games went over. Golden State won eight of last ten games with Milwaukee, but Bucks covered six of last nine; Milwaukee covered four of its last five visits to Oakland.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NBA

Thursday, November 8

Trend Report

Houston Rockets
Houston is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston's last 10 games on the road
Houston is 12-5-1 ATS in its last 18 games when playing Oklahoma City
Houston is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing Oklahoma City
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games when playing Oklahoma City
Houston is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Oklahoma City
Houston is 7-14 SU in its last 21 games when playing on the road against Oklahoma City
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Houston's last 15 games when playing on the road against Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Oklahoma City is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Oklahoma City's last 6 games
Oklahoma City is 4-8-1 ATS in its last 13 games at home
Oklahoma City is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Oklahoma City's last 5 games at home
Oklahoma City is 5-12-1 ATS in its last 18 games when playing Houston
Oklahoma City is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oklahoma City's last 5 games when playing Houston
Oklahoma City is 1-7-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing at home against Houston
Oklahoma City is 14-7 SU in its last 21 games when playing at home against Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Oklahoma City's last 15 games when playing at home against Houston


Boston Celtics
Boston is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
Boston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Boston is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games on the road
Boston is 4-13 SU in its last 17 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games on the road
Boston is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Phoenix
Boston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Phoenix
Boston is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
Boston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
Phoenix Suns
Phoenix is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
Phoenix is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games
Phoenix is 6-13 ATS in its last 19 games at home
Phoenix is 3-18 SU in its last 21 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games at home
Phoenix is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Boston
Phoenix is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Boston
Phoenix is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games when playing at home against Boston


Los Angeles Clippers
LA Clippers is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
LA Clippers is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Clippers's last 6 games
LA Clippers is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
LA Clippers is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Clippers's last 6 games on the road
LA Clippers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Portland
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Clippers's last 6 games when playing Portland
LA Clippers is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Portland
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Clippers's last 6 games when playing on the road against Portland
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Portland is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Portland's last 6 games
Portland is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Portland is 17-6 SU in its last 23 games at home
Portland is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing LA Clippers
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Portland's last 6 games when playing LA Clippers
Portland is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against LA Clippers
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Portland's last 6 games when playing at home against LA Clippers


Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Milwaukee is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 19 of Milwaukee's last 25 games
Milwaukee is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Milwaukee is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 14 of Milwaukee's last 18 games on the road
Milwaukee is 10-4 ATS in its last 14 games when playing Golden State
Milwaukee is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Golden State
Milwaukee is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Golden State
Milwaukee is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Golden State
Golden State Warriors
Golden State is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games
Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 7 games
Golden State is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Golden State's last 6 games at home
Golden State is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games when playing Milwaukee
Golden State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Milwaukee
Golden State is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games when playing at home against Milwaukee
Golden State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Milwaukee

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NBA
Dunkel

Thursday, November 8


Houston @ Oklahoma City

Game 701-702
November 8, 2018 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Houston
116.754
Oklahoma City
122.175
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Oklahoma City
by 5 1/2
206
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
by 4
214
Dunkel Pick:
Oklahoma City
(+4); Under

Boston @ Phoenix

Game 703-704
November 8, 2018 @ 9:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston
116.609
Phoenix
112.075
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boston
by 4 1/2
208
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston
by 9 1/2
213 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Phoenix
(+9 1/2); Under

LA Clippers @ Portland

Game 705-706
November 8, 2018 @ 10:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
LA Clippers
120.232
Portland
128.126
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Portland
by 8
229
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Portland
by 5
226 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Portland
(-5); Over

Milwaukee @ Golden State

Game 707-708
November 8, 2018 @ 10:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Milwaukee
125.091
Golden State
133.536
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Golden State
by 8 1/2
231
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Golden State
by 6
238
Dunkel Pick:
Golden State
(-6); Under

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Inside the Paint - Thursday
Chris David

Thursday’s NBA slate has four games on tap, which includes a TNT double-header. Last night’s action watched favorites go 8-2 straight up and 5-4-1 against the spread. Bettors riding the ‘over’ had a rough night took it on the chin as the ‘under’ posted an eye-opening 9-1 mark on Wednesday.

Let’s break down the card!

Houston (4-5 SU, 4-5 ATS) at Oklahoma City (6-4 SU, 6-4 ATS)

Not an easy game to handicap as both teams have finally found their form after terrible starts. Oddsmakers opened Houston as a 4 ½-point road favorite over Oklahoma City and I feel like the guys behind the counter are still giving the Rockets respect for what they’ve accomplished last season. Most books have dropped the number to 4 and BookMaker.eu is holding 3 ½ as of Thursday morning.

After opening the season 1-5, the Rockets have rebounded with three straight wins (2-1 ATS). Two things that have stood out during this streak is that all of victories have come on the road and the last two wins were slugfests over the Bulls (96-88) and Pacers (98-94).

It’s surprising to see the Rockets holding anybody under 100 points, but what’s more alarming with this year’s Houston team is its offense which is ranked dead last in shooting percentage (42.4%). They’re only averaging 105.3 PPG and they’re only getting to the free throw line 22.1 times per game, which is ranked 21st. Last season, they attempted 24.6 shots from the charity stripe and that was the third best mark. They still lead the league in 3-point shots attempted (41.9) and while James Harden (27.8 PPG) has been connecting above his average (43.1%), the same can’t be said for Chris Paul (29.5%) or Eric Gordon (23.6%).

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City has quietly ripped off six straight wins after beginning with an 0-4 record. All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook sat out two of those losses but he also skipped last night’s 95-86 lackluster win over Cleveland as a 6 ½-point road favorite. Six wins are six wins in the NBA but four of them came against teams below .500.

Westbrook remains ‘questionable’ with an ankle injury for Thursday but I would expect him to go. The Thunder have played on no rest once this season and it had its best effort with a wire-to-wire 134-111 road win over Washington last Friday. If OKC can somehow win this game, it won’t be a stretch to see the club pushing this win streak to double-digits with its upcoming slate (Mavs, Suns (2), Knicks, Kings).

The total (214 ½) isn’t exactly high and even though Houston’s offensive form could scare you from an ‘over’ wager, the Thunder have seen the high side go 4-1 at home due to strong offensive (116.4 PG) and weak defensive (113.6 PPG) numbers.

The pair met three times last season and Oklahoma City went 2-1 both SU and ATS. Houston’s lone win did come on the road, a 122-112 decision as a 5 ½-point favorite.

TNT will provide coverage of this matchup at 8:05 p.m. ET.

Boston (6-4 SU, 4-6 ATS) at Phoenix (2-8 SU, 4-6 ATS)

Oddsmakers sent out Boston as an 8 ½-point road favorite and the number has moved to 9 ½. While laying a large number away from home doesn’t seem like a sound investment, I have no issues doing it with a great defensive team. Boston is ranked first in defensive efficiency (98.3) while Phoenix (112.6) is near the bottom.

The Suns have two wins on the season and they gave up exactly 100 points in each of those victories. Boston’s offense hasn’t clicked yet and the rotation seems off right now but this seems like a ‘get-right’ game for them. Especially after allowing a season-high 115 points in a loss to Denver on Monday.

The Celtics have won five of the last six encounters between the pair over the last three seasons but the Suns have been a better investment in these matchups with a 5-1 ATS mark. Make a note that Boston was laying nine-plus points in five of the matchups, which is in the same range as tonight’s spread.

L.A. Clippers (6-4 SU, 6-4 ATS) at Portland (8-3 SU, 8-3 ATS)

Portland won and covered three of the four meetings against Los Angeles last season and the lone win by the Clippers came at the Moda Center, which was a tight game (104-103). The ‘under’ went 3-1.

While you shouldn’t ignore those games, this Clippers team has been overhauled and the last soldier standing is head coach Doc Rivers. Los Angeles has had a nice start to the season but its record has been padded with a 5-1 mark versus sub .500 teams. They have beaten the Rockets twice but Houston was without Harden for one game and CP3 for another. Los Angeles comes into this game with two straight wins and it hasn’t won three in a row yet, going 0-2 in its first two attempts.

The Trail Blazers have also won two in a row and Tuesday’s 118-103 win over Milwaukee as a two-point home underdog was impressive. Is this a letdown spot? You can argue that but knowing the Clippers won’t have Avery Bradley (ankle) and Luc Mbah a Moute (knee) available certainly helps Portland’s cause. I believe the tougher test for Portland will come on Sunday when it wraps up its six-game homestand versus Boston.

Make a note that the point-spread hasn’t mattered for either team this season. Meaning, Portland has covered in all of its wins as a favorite (5-0) and the Clippers haven’t kept it close enough for bettors as they are 0-4 ATS in their four losses as underdogs.

Milwaukee (8-2 SU, 6-4 ATS) at Golden State (10-1 SU, 7-4 ATS)

It’s rare to see the Warriors laying a short price (-6) to anybody at home these days but the line is based on a key injury and VI Expert Tony Mejia weighed in on how that we’ll affect the matchup versus the Bucks.

He explained, “Not having Draymond Green to help defend Giannis Antetokounmpo puts the Warriors in a huge bind since Andre Iguodala can only do so much since he’s been banged up himself. Steve Kerr has already addressed what a disadvantage this puts his team in since asking Kevin Durant to play Greek Freak outside of switches would compromise his offensive flow. The Warriors also lose the lynchpin of their defense, their best communicator, against a team that ranks third in offensive efficiency. That’s not ideal.”

He added, “Look for Kevon Looney and Alfonzo McKinnie to play much larger roles in addition Iguodala, so the Bucks are certainly a live ‘dog in Oakland. In a case of numbers sometimes not being reliable to tell the entire story, Golden State won its first 10 games without Green last season before losing its last two. Antetokounmpo shot 24-for-37 (64.9 percent) against the Warriors last season with Green in the mix, but he went 14-for-18 in the most recent meeting when Green was just coming back from an injury. With him gone altogether, he could have a huge night at Oracle."

The road team went 2-0 in this series last season and that included a 116-107 win by the Bucks at Oracle Arena on Mar. 29. Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 32 points but the Warriors didn’t have Curry available and Kevin Durant was ejected late in the first-half. Prior to that win, Milwaukee was just 3-6 in its previous nine trips to Golden State but it did post a solid 7-2 ATS mark in those contests.

The Warriors have gone 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS at home this season and while the Bucks are also perfect at home (6-0), their road mark (2-2 SU, 1-3 ATS) is pedestrian and the losses came to quality opponents in the Celtics and Trail Blazers.

The total on this game opened 238 and is up to 240. The Bucks (7-3) and Warriors (6-5) have both leaned to the ‘over’ this season but Golden State has watched the ‘under’ go 4-2 in its six home games.

Make a note that the Warriors have gone 4-0 versus teams (3-1 ATS) from the Eastern Conference this season and they averaged 135.3 PPG in those games, which helped the ‘over’ cash in all four.

TNT will provide national coverage at 10:35 p.m. ET.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NBA
Long Sheet

Thursday, November 8

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HOUSTON (4 - 5) at OKLAHOMA CITY (6 - 4) - 11/8/2018, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 59-38 ATS (+17.2 Units) in road games over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 22-9 ATS (+12.1 Units) in November games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 7-5 against the spread versus OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
HOUSTON is 8-4 straight up against OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
7 of 12 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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BOSTON (6 - 4) at PHOENIX (2 - 8) - 11/8/2018, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 64-43 ATS (+16.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 60-41 ATS (+14.9 Units) in road games over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 28-15 ATS (+11.5 Units) in road games in the first half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
PHOENIX is 17-29 ATS (-14.9 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 4-0 against the spread versus BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 3-1 straight up against PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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LA CLIPPERS (6 - 4) at PORTLAND (8 - 3) - 11/8/2018, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PORTLAND is 53-37 ATS (+12.3 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PORTLAND is 21-10 ATS (+10.0 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
LA CLIPPERS are 28-16 ATS (+10.4 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
PORTLAND is 4-3 against the spread versus LA CLIPPERS over the last 3 seasons
LA CLIPPERS is 4-3 straight up against PORTLAND over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MILWAUKEE (8 - 2) at GOLDEN STATE (10 - 1) - 11/8/2018, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MILWAUKEE is 270-324 ATS (-86.4 Units) in non-conference games since 1996.
GOLDEN STATE is 115-82 ATS (+24.8 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game since 1996.
MILWAUKEE is 45-25 ATS (+17.5 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
GOLDEN STATE is 2-2 against the spread versus MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
GOLDEN STATE is 3-1 straight up against MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[Can'tPickAWinner]

By: Monique Vág


HUGE IMPACT OF POTENTIAL INJURIES

The Rockets look for their fourth straight victory to get back to .500 on the season as they travel to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder who have won six straight games.

The Thunder enter today’s game scoring 111.4 points on 44.6 percent shooting and allow opponents to score 108.8. They are led by Russell Westbrook’s 48.9 percent from the field and 24.1 points per game. Pay attention to the injury report as he’s still on there and listed and questionable for today’s contest with an ankle injury. The biggest injury news on the Rockets sideline is Eric Gordon who is questionable with a leg injury.

The total has gone Under in 11 of Oklahoma City's last 15 games when playing at home against Houston and today looks no different in this contest. Take Under 214.5 for the full game total.


OUT OF HAND EARLY

The Celtics find themselves as 9.5 road favorites as they travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns. The Celtics are coming off a big loss to the Nuggets on Monday night where they allowed Jamal Murray to score 48 points. Unfortunately for the Phoenix Suns entering the contest scoring only 100.6 points per game isn’t going to cut it versus a Celtics team allowing only 101.3 points per game and playing some solid defense.

This game could get out of hand early. One of the biggest mismatches occurs in first half scoring with Boston allowing a league’s best 48.8 first half points, 20.9 in the first quarter. The Suns average the lowest first quarter points in the Association with 22.8 and 48.2 for the half. Look into taking the Celtics in a first half spread.


THE SUNS' BRIGHT SPOT

The Suns are as good as Devin Booker is shooting and unfortunately for him, the Celtics are only allowing opposing shooting guards to shoot 39.1 percent from the floor, contribute 20.4 points per game.

There is no reason to believe the Suns will be able to keep things close versus a Celtics defense that forces opponents into taking tough shots. Doubling down on a game total and taking the Under in the full game also looks like a profitable angle. With the total going Under in four of the last five games when Boston travels to Phoenix, and Boston’s under hitting in four of their last five overall, take Under the 215 as the Suns will likely be held to Under 100 in this contest.


INSIDE THE PAINT

The Los Angeles Clippers have won six of their first 10 games. They are led by Tobias Harris’ 53 percent field goal percentage and 21.3 points per game. As a team they are scoring 116.2 points per game at 47.5 percent from the field and surrender 109.8 points per game. Today they travel to Portland to take on the Blazers who enter averaging 117.3 points per game on 47 percent shooting, they are surrendering 107.4 points per game and have won two straight contests.

The Blazers are coming off a 118-103 home victory versus the Bucks. Confidence should be high for all players, especially CJ McCollum who posted a season high 40 points. The Blazers shot an incredible 52 percent from the field.

Blazers’ center Jusuf Nurkic looks to be in for a big night as he finds himself in a very favorable matchup. The Clippers are surrendering 28.1 points per game and allowing opposing centers to shoot 57.2 percent from the floor and accumulate 14.4 average rebounds per game. With the Clippers giving up 49.8 points in the paint per contest, look for the Blazers to target their big man inside and take his points, rebounds, and assists total Over.


OFFENSIVE FIREWORKS

The 8-2 Bucks travel to Golden State to take on the 10-1 Warriors in what projects to be a high scoring matchup with the total set at 241. Both teams enter atop the Association in points scored per game, with Milwaukee averaging 120 on 47.6 shooting and Golden State 123.5 on an astounding 51.9 percent shooting.

Bucks point guard Eric Bledsoe is coming off a 2-12 shooting performance, but despite that he’s still averaging 12.7 points per game and contributing offensively averaging 4.2 rebounds per game and 6.3 assists. Last year in their two meetings, he shot 8 of 16 from the floor including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc in the first meeting, then in their second contest shot 9 of 11 from the floor. The good thing about backing Bledsoe is even if he’s not shooting well, he’ll contribute to help orchestrate plays and make up for the lack of points through the assist game. Look into taking his total Over 23.5 as points in general should be easy to come by in this matchup.