Monday 11-26-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 11-26-2018, 05:29 AM

Marc Lawrence Incredible Stat of the Day:

Tennessee has played OVER the total in 11 of its last 13 away games when coming off an away game. Houston has played OVER the total in the first of three straight home game 5 consecutive times.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 11-26-2018, 08:48 AM

Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans Preview and Predictions 11-26-2018

NFL Predictions 23rd November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/23/2018

Their ugly start to the season now a distant memory, the Houston Texans can set a franchise record when they host the Tennessee Titans on Monday night. The Texans own a two-game lead atop the AFC South and will go for their eighth consecutive victory after opening the campaign with three straight losses, including a 20-17 setback at Tennessee in Week 2.

Surging Houston is coming off consecutive two-point triumphs at Washington and Denver, giving the team four victories by three points or fewer during its winning streak. "We just try to keep on stacking wins and put us in position for later on down the season," Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson told reporters. "It's a very important game. It's a home game. We want to win those. It's a division game. We have to make sure we prepare well and get ready for it." The Titans squandered a chance to make Monday's matchup a showdown for division supremacy, following a pair of decisive wins over Dallas and New England with a 38-10 loss to Indianapolis last week (as the Titans were +2 point underdog at intertops). Tennessee quarterback Marcus Mariota was knocked out of that game with a stinger, but he practiced fully on Friday and Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur pronounced him "ready to roll."

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Texans -6 O/U: 41.5

ABOUT THE TITANS (5-5): Mariota had his two best games in the wins over the Cowboys and Patriots, and it was feared that last week's injury was related to the elbow issues that have plagued him for most of the season and forced him to miss the Week 2 matchup versus Houston. Running back Derrick Henry, who was used out of the wildcat in the first meeting, could be in line for a heavier workload as part of a backfield tandem with Dion Lewis, LaFleur said after Friday's practice. Corey Davis is Mariota's top target with 45 receptions, but it's unclear if fellow wideout Taywan Taylor will return after a two-game absence. Tennessee had the NFL's top-ranked scoring defense until it was shredded by the Colts.

ABOUT THE TEXANS (7-3): Watson had his NFL coming-out party against Tennessee last season in his third career start, throwing for four touchdowns and rushing for another as Houston set a franchise record for points in a 57-14 rout. He has not thrown for more than 239 yards in his last five starts and the Texans have scored more than 23 points just twice, but wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has at least one TD catch in five straight games and eight overall after posting an NFL-high 13 receiving scores last season. Running back Lamar Miller is providing balance to the offense with at least 18 carries and 86 yards rushing in three of the last four games. The Texans are fifth in scoring defense (20.5 points).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Hopkins has at least 100 yards in three of his last four versus Tennessee, including 110 and a TD in Week 2.

2. Mariota had a passing and rushing touchdown in his last matchup against Houston.

3. Texans DE J.J. Watt has registered 10 sacks on the season, including one in each of his last three games.

PREDICTION: Texans 23, Titans 20

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 11-26-2018, 08:48 AM

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Preview and Predictions 11-26-2018

NBA Predictions 25th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/25/2018

The Cleveland Cavaliers are suddenly playing great basketball and just knocked off a pair of teams with NBA Finals aspirations in wins over Philadelphia and Houston. The Cavaliers will try to make it three in a row when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.

The Cavaliers were sitting at 2-14 after watching former star LeBron James lead his new team, the Los Angeles Lakers, to a win at Cleveland on Wednesday, but something finally clicked as they handed the 76ers their first home loss on Friday before returning home and knocking off the Houston Rockets 117-108 on Saturday. "This is two big wins," center Tristan Thompson told reporters. "I think like I've been saying for the last couple of weeks and (coach Larry Drew) said, if we stay the course then we're going to get our fair share of wins. ... I think we are figuring out if we play 48 minutes, play hard, play fast and always in attack mode then it gives ourselves a chance to be in these ballgames." The Timberwolves are still climbing out of a hole they dug with their own slow start but are winners of five of the last seven and took their own back-to-back with victories over Brooklyn and Chicago on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Star center Karl-Anthony Towns rescued Minnesota against the Bulls by collecting 35 points, 22 rebounds and six assists in the 111-96 triumph.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Ohio (Cleveland)

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (9-11): Towns' performance on Saturday helped Minnesota overcome a terrible shooting effort on the wings, where starters Andrew Wiggins and Robert Covington combined to go 1-of-30 from the floor. "The first thing we told Andrew is he came in here and we just laughed with him," Towns told reporters of Wiggins, who went 0-of-12. "Everyone has a night like that. We have pretty good confidence he will come out and be just fine next game." Covington, who finished 1-of-18, was ready to move on quickly as well and expressed confidence in his shot and his abilities as a two-way player.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (4-14): Saturday's win featured another strong performance from rookie point guard Collin Sexton, who scored a season-high 29 points on 14-of-21 shooting while going up against Rockets star James Harden. "I'm just going out there and playing my game, getting to my shots that I know I'm capable of making nine out of 10 times," Sexton told reporters. The 19-year-old Alabama product is averaging 21.2 points on 53.7 percent shooting over the last five contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Thompson grabbed 20 rebounds Saturday in his third straight double-double.

2. Timberwolves PG Derrick Rose scored 20 or more points in each of the last three games and is 26-of-41 from the floor in that span.

3. Wiggins scored 22 points in a 131-123 home win over Cleveland on Oct. 19.

PREDICTION: Timberwolves 119, Cavaliers 111

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 11-26-2018, 08:48 AM

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Charlotte Hornets Preview and Predictions 11-26-2018

NBA Predictions 25th November 2018 by Gracenote
Bucks vs. Hornets Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 11/25/2018

The Milwaukee Bucks will play their first road game in over two weeks when they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. The Bucks capped a 4-2 homestand with a 135-129 win over San Antonio on Saturday behind a 34-point, 18-rebound performance by star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

"It was a big game today," Antetokounmpo told reporters after his team bounced back from a surprising loss to lowly Phoenix on Friday. "As I said yesterday, we're a winning team now. Always, no matter what's going on, no matter if we lost the game before, we're always going to try to bounce back and get back on track. That's what we did today." The two-time All-Star recorded 25 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists in a season-opening 113-112 win at Charlotte. The Hornets will be opening a four-game homestand after falling 124-123 at Atlanta on Sunday, with Kemba Walker having a potential game-winning shot blocked in the closing seconds. Walker finished with 22 points, nine assists and just one turnover - a shot-clock violation in the final minute - as Charlotte dropped to 3-7 on the road.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Southeast (Charlotte)

ABOUT THE BUCKS (14-5): Antetokounmpo led a quartet of 20-point scorers in the win over the Spurs as Milwaukee shot 57 percent, just shy of its season high. Malcolm Brogdon was the most accurate of the bunch with 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting, and the third-year pro - who sealed the win with a 3-pointer in the closing seconds - is averaging 22.5 on 72 percent shooting over his last two games. Eric Bledsoe recorded the assist on Brogdon's late basket en route to a 20-point, 10-assist effort, giving him his second double-double of the season.

ABOUT THE HORNETS (9-10): Malik Monk came off the bench to score a career high-tying 26 points in 24 minutes in the loss to Atlanta after producing a total of 27 over his previous five contests. He hit a personal-best seven 3-pointers one game after never getting off the bench - a first this season - in a loss at Oklahoma City. "He was great tonight," coach James Borrego said of Monk during a postgame television interview. "Didn't play last game. I thought he was great tonight. Came out with an aggressive mentality. He was ready for the moment, stepped up and gave us a chance to get back in that game."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Walker scored 41 points in the loss to the Bucks earlier this season.

2. Hornets PG Tony Parker (ribs) has missed the last two games and is day-to-day.

3. Milwaukee PF Ersan Ilyasova (knee) sat out Saturday's win.

PREDICTION: Bucks 114, Hornets 110

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 11-26-2018, 08:48 AM

Houston Rockets vs. Washington Wizards Preview and Predictions 11-26-2018

NBA Predictions 25th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/25/2018

The Washington Wizards aren't exactly playing up to expectations 19 games into the season but may finally be finding the formula to lead them back to a winning record. The Wizards will try to secure their sixth win in nine games when they host the Houston Rockets on Monday.

Reported infighting between players and between players and coaches marred the first month of the season but Washington is still capable of putting together a good showing and ran away from the New Orleans Pelicans late on Saturday thanks to a rare display of defensive intensity. "We just did what we needed to do, and it was all on the defensive end," Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal told reporters. "That's where it came from. Our shots were equal, and we put up a nice amount of points, but our defense is what won us the game. We accepted the challenge." The Rockets were rolling right along with wins in five straight but could not survive a back-to-back on the road and fell at Detroit and Cleveland to drop back to .500. Houston star James Harden continued his torrid pace with 40 points against the Cavaliers and is averaging 37.5 points over the last four contests.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBATV, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), NBCS Washington

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (9-9): Harden's uptick in scoring is coming with an uptick in turnovers, and his nine on Saturday marked the fourth straight game in which he committed at least six miscues. The reigning MVP was forced to do more ball handling with point guard Chris Paul out on Saturday, and he remains day-to-day after sitting out Sunday's practice with a sore left leg. Paul's absence forced sixth man Eric Gordon into the starting lineup on Saturday and robbed the reserve unit of its most potent scorer.

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (7-12): Washington guard Austin Rivers matched a season high with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting in 27 minutes off the bench Saturday. "One thing I've learned, one thing I've got down now, is you can't defer when you're on the court with John (Wall) or Brad (Beal)," Rivers told reporters. "If anything, you have to be more aggressive, and they actually like that, too, because it makes it easier for them because you attack, and they get easy shots." Wall and Beal each handed out eight assists in the 124-114 triumph while combining for 40 points on 15-of-31 shooting.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Wizards C Dwight Howard (glute soreness) sat out the last three games and is day-to-day.

2. Rockets C Clint Capela recorded a double-double in each of the last five games.

3. The teams split two meetings last season, with each protecting homecourt.

PREDICTION: Rockets 119, Wizards 112

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 11-26-2018, 08:56 AM

Boston Celtics vs. New Orleans Pelicans Preview and Predictions 11-26-2018

NBA Predictions 25th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/25/2018

When their offense has struggled, the Boston Celtics have -- at times -- been able to rely on their defense, but now that's become an issue as well. The struggling Celtics will try to bounce back from their fourth loss in the last five games when they finish a three-game road trip Monday at the New Orleans Pelicans, who hope to have superstar forward Anthony Davis available.

Boston, considered by many the favorite in the Eastern Conference before the season, lost eight of 12 since a 6-2 start, giving up an uncharacteristic average of 115.7 points in the last three defeats. "I thought we were a step slow all night," coach Brad Stevens told reporters after Saturday's 113-104 loss at Dallas. "I thought they put us on our heels. They made a ton of effort plays, they got a bunch to the rim, and then we couldn't contain the drive ... those drives really hurt us. They turned the corner, laid it in, and had a couple of and-1s, lobs ... those are just killers." The Pelicans are more accustomed to giving up loads of points and they struggled without Davis (hip), who ranks second in the NBA in blocks (2.69), in a 124-114 loss at Washington on Saturday. New Orleans has been incredibly streaky thus far and their current three-game slide comes on the heels of a 6-1 stretch.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Boston, FS New Orleans

ABOUT THE CELTICS (10-10): One issue in Boston's mediocre start is a slight dip in production from youngsters Jayson Tatum (field-goal percentage down from 47.5 last season to 44.3) and Jaylen Brown (11.1 points on 39.8 percent shooting after 14.5 on 46.5 in 2017-18), but they were not the problem at Dallas with a combined 37 points on 16-of-23 from the floor. Star guard Kyrie Irving added 19 points but missed all five of his 3-point tries and is shooting 36.7 percent over the last three games. Brown is considered day-to-day after he was forced to leave Saturday's loss after landing on his back.

ABOUT THE PELICANS (10-10): Julius Randle stepped into the starting lineup in place of Davis and had 29 points and 15 rebounds in the defeat at Washington, and New Orleans made no excuses for their leader's absence. "Our defense is atrocious right now," coach Alvin Gentry told the media. "Especially on the road. You're not going to be able to win games on the road until you can at least control the ball somewhat and take away all the driving lanes and take away the open 3s." The Pelicans are 0-4 while allowing an average of 126 points without Davis in the lineup.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Randle has five double-doubles and a triple-double in the last six games while averaging 20.8 points and 11.7 rebounds.

2. Celtics PG Marcus Smart scored a season-high 19 points off the bench at Dallas

3. Davis averaged 39.5 points and 13.5 rebounds to help New Orleans win both meetings last season.

PREDICTION: Pelicans 112, Celtics 110

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 11-26-2018, 08:56 AM

San Antonio Spurs vs. Chicago Bulls Preview and Predictions 11-26-2018

NBA Predictions 25th November 2018 by Gracenote
Spurs vs. Bulls Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 11/25/2018

The San Antonio Spurs are struggling to generate any positive momentum and dropped one game under .500 with a 135-129 loss at Milwaukee on Saturday - their eighth setback in 11 games. The Spurs will try to bounce back when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Monday for the third stop of a four-game trip.

The 135 points allowed on Saturday marked the most San Antonio allowed in a non-overtime game this season, and the final number looks even worse when considering the 40 points surrendered in the fourth quarter alone. "We scored enough points to win," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. "You've got to be able to get stops in the fourth quarter." The Bulls are losers of six of their last seven contests and know all about poor fourth quarters after being outscored 27-17 in the final period of Saturday's 111-96 home loss to Minnesota. "You can only say so much because we keep doing the same thing over and over again," Chicago guard Zach LaVine told reporters. "You can only say so much about it. I'm doing the best I can. We do some things out there just - you guys see it. It makes you turn your head. 'What the hell are we doing?'"

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (San Antonio), NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE SPURS (9-10): DeMar DeRozan matched a season high with 34 points and handed out seven assists on Saturday but was upset with a team defensive performance that allowed Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo to take over down the stretch. "We've got to be better," DeRozan told reporters. "We know a key guy like Giannis is going to be extremely aggressive. We've got to be disciplined and understand how we can help the guy who is guarding him and make things as difficult as possible. It's not just a one-guy thing. It's a team thing. We kind of slacked on that." DeRozan is averaging 24.9 points and 6.3 assists while settling in in his first season with San Antonio.

ABOUT THE BULLS (5-15): Power forward Jabari Parker did his best to try to pull the team to a win Saturday and finished with a season-high 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting and seven rebounds. "I'd say overall for me - I can just speak for myself - I am just trying to keep fighting and do what I can to make it easier for everybody," Parker told the team's website. "Just trying to improve myself; that's all I can focus on. All I know is if I am doing what I can, improving, then I can look myself in the mirror; it's just about trying to improve. The game is about makes and misses and also what you do to stay in the game, so it's a bigger picture than just the jumper." Parker scored 20 or more points in three straight games and four of the last five.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Spurs SG Bryn Forbes is 20-of-37 from 3-point range over the last seven games.

2. Chicago SG Justin Holiday recorded a double-double in each of the last two games and is averaging 12 rebounds in that span.

3. San Antonio took the last three in the series, including a 133-94 drubbing in the last meeting on Nov. 11, 2017.

PREDICTION: Spurs 116, Bulls 103

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 11-26-2018, 08:56 AM

Indiana Pacers vs. Utah Jazz Preview and Predictions 11-26-2018

NBA Predictions 25th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/25/2018

The Indiana Pacers may be operating once again without star guard Victor Oladipo when they kick off a four-game road trip Monday against the Utah Jazz. The Pacers' leader in scoring (21.4 points per game), assists (4.7) and steals (1.56), Oladipo has missed three consecutive contests due to a knee issue and is considered a game-time decision for this one.

He and forward Domantas Sabonis (ankle) both missed practice on Saturday and coach Nate McMillan seems to want to see more from Oladipo before thrusting him back into game action. "He hasn't done anything live on the floor in a week," McMillan told reporters over the weekend. "He's a lot farther away from coming back than those two guys (Sabonis and Myles Turner). He's going to have to go through a couple of live practices before he is allowed to play." The Pacers are 1-2 without Oladipo, with the win coming in the form of a 121-94 rout of the Jazz at home last Monday. Utah followed that with two more defeats before taking out its frustrations with a 133-112 triumph at Sacramento on Sunday, producing 50 more points than it did in a setback at the Los Angeles Lakers two nights earlier.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Indiana, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Utah)

ABOUT THE PACERS (11-8): Bojan Bogdanovic scored 21 points and Sabonis added 19 and 16 rebounds before suffering the ankle injury late in Friday's 111-100 loss to San Antonio. Indiana also played that game without Turner (ankle), who has recorded at least three blocked shots in each of his last five contests and will be a game-time decision on Monday. "Hopefully, I can get it good to go on Monday," Turner told the Indianapolis Star. "It's good I got another day to try to get it right."

ABOUT THE JAZZ (9-11): Sunday's offensive breakout came without leading scorer Donovan Mitchell, who sat with a rib contusion. Fellow guard Ricky Rubio scored 27 points against the Kings for his third effort with at least 20 in the last five contests, including a season high-tying 28-point performance at Indiana. Center Rudy Gobert added 18 points and 15 rebounds on Sunday for his Western Conference-leading 18th double-double.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Bogdanovic led six players in double figures with 21 points in last week's win over the Jazz.

2. Utah SG Alec Burks is averaging 15.5 points over his last two games after producing a total of 22 in his previous five contests.

3. Pacers SG Tyreke Evans was 1-for-12 from the floor while tying a season low with two points in the loss to the Spurs.

PREDICTION: Jazz 113, Pacers 110

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 11-26-2018, 08:56 AM

Orlando Magic vs. Golden State Warriors Preview and Predictions 11-26-2018

NBA Predictions 25th November 2018 by Gracenote
Magic vs. Warriors Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 11/25/2018

The Golden State Warriors have put together consecutive wins for the first time in nearly three weeks and hope to pick up one more home victory before a challenging road trip when they host the Orlando Magic on Monday. Following an uncharacteristic 2-6 swoon that featured multiple injuries and plenty of drama in the locker room, the Warriors defeated Portland and Sacramento in a back-to-back set.

Kevin Durant has emerged from a mild shooting slump to produce 76 points to go along with 21 rebounds and 14 assists during the two-game winning streak for Golden State, which begins a five-game trek Thursday against Eastern Conference-leading Toronto. "Phenomenal," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters of Durant after Saturday's 117-116 victory over the Kings. "He's taking on such a big responsibility, along with Klay (Thompson). You see the shot distribution; those guys are really carrying the load offensively. Kevin was just amazing. There were so many possessions that were dead in the water, and he bailed us out late." The Magic have had a very uneven start to their six-game road trip, first losing by 25 points at Denver and then stopping the surging Los Angeles Lakers 108-104 on Sunday. Center Nikola Vucevic had another big game with 31 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists as Orlando improved to 4-4 on the road.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), NBCS Bay Area (Golden State)

ABOUT THE MAGIC (10-10): Vucevic averaged 33.5 points and 14 rebounds in two wins over the Lakers in a span of just nine days. "He's had our number this year," Lakers superstar LeBron James told reporters of Vucevic. "He has been good inside and outside." Aaron Gordon chipped in 17 points and Terrance Ross added 16 off the bench, including a key hoop in the final minute.

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (14-7): The road trip could feature the return of two-time MVP Stephen Curry, who will miss Monday's game - his 10th in a row - due to a strained groin. His eventual return will help ease things for Durant and Thompson, who had 31 points in the win over the Kings - including the decisive basket with five seconds to go. Forward Draymond Green has missed five games due to a toe injury and remains day-to-day.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Magic SG Evan Fournier was 2-for-10 from the field in each of the first two games of the road trip while missing all seven of his 3-point attempts.

2. After scoring fewer than 20 points in each of his first seven games, Thompson has reached that mark in 12 of the last 14 contests.

3. Golden State has won each of the last 10 meetings.

PREDICTION: Warriors 115, Magic 107

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 11-26-2018, 08:57 AM

Washington Capitals vs. New York Islanders Preview and Predictions 11-26-2018

NHL Predictions 25th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/25/2018

Coach Barry Trotz faces the team he led to a Stanley Cup for the first time when his New York Islanders host the Washington Capitals on Monday in a battle of two of the top teams in the Metropolitan Division. Trotz went 205-89-34 in the regular season and 36-27 during the playoffs over the past four years with the Capitals, ending with an impressive run to the championship last spring before resigning due to a contract dispute.

While Trotz is turning the Islanders into a contender again, Washington is beginning to resemble the team that won its first title last campaign after extending its season-high winning streak to five games with a 5-3 win at the New York Rangers on Saturday. "This is the way we want to play," Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom told reporters. "We've got to keep building and playing the way we are. It's still early, you don't find out what kind of identity you have until playoffs come, but we're in a good spot now." The Islanders are three points behind division-leading Washington with one game in hand after winning two in a row, including a convincing 4-1 victory over Carolina on Saturday. "We just played a good team game," Islanders goaltender Thomas Greiss told reporters after improving to 8-3-1 with a 26-save performance. "We didn't give them too many chances. We scored early and took the momentum away."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, NBCS Washington Plus, MSG Plus (New York)

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (13-7-3): Captain Alex Ovechkin has been on a roll as he has recorded five of his team-leading 17 goals, along with two assists, in the last five games and tops the team with 27 points - two more than Backstrom (19 assists). Evgeny Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie both are expected to miss their sixth straight game due to head injuries, and Jakub Vrana has stepped up in their absence with five points in four contests. Tom Wilson also has made a big difference since returning from a lengthy suspension, posting four goals and five assists in seven games.

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (12-8-2): Valtteri Filppula, who is slated to play in his 899th NHL game on Monday, scored the first goal Saturday after setting up a pair of tallies in a win over New Jersey the previous day. "I probably didn't have the appreciation for what he does, all the little things," Trotz told reporters of Filppula. "You see a guy day in, day out, I get it. Totally. He's come in and done exactly what (general manager Lou Lamoriello) wanted and he's been a big part of any success we have." Josh Bailey leads the team with 21 points and Mathew Barzal has notched eight of his 20 in the last eight games.

OVERTIME

1. Ovechkin has 624 career goals after his recent surge, moving within one of Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla for 15th place on the all-time list

2. Bailey is two points away from 400 for his career while Islanders RW Cal Clutterbuck (99) and C Brock Nelson (98) are closing in on 100 assists.

3. The Capitals have won three of the last four meetings, scoring a total of 13 goals in the last two victories.

PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Islanders 3

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 11-26-2018, 08:57 AM

Ottawa Senators vs. New York Rangers Preview and Predictions 11-26-2018

NHL Predictions 25th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/25/2018

The New York Rangers have answered a sizzling 9-1-1 stretch heading into Thanksgiving by dropping a pair of matinees following the holiday, including a late setback in their last contest that halted a seven-game home winning streak. The Rangers aim to dust themselves off at Madison Square Garden on Monday, when they open a home-and-home set against the Ottawa Senators.

"We've got to keep our heads up, know what makes us successful and just go from there," New York defenseman Marc Staal told reporters after seeing his team get shut out in Philadelphia on Friday and drop a 5-3 decision versus Washington the following afternoon. Kevin Hayes continued his November to remember with two assists against the Capitals, boosting his point total to 11 in his last 10 games. New York could be licking its chops against a generous Ottawa club that has yielded 19 goals during its season-high three-game losing streak and dropped eight of its 10 road games (2-7-1). "We can score goals," coach Guy Boucher told reporters, "but we can't prevent them from scoring against us. On the road, it's a lot tougher, and we're paying for it."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN5, RDS (Ottawa), MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE SENATORS (9-11-3): Mark Stone participated in Sunday's practice wearing a full face shield and is expected to skate against the Rangers, the Ottawa Citizen reported. The 26-year-old, whose nine goals trail only Matt Duchene (10) and Ryan Dzingel (10) for the team lead, was hit with a puck during the third period of Friday's 6-4 loss to Dallas. Bobby Ryan set up three goals versus the Stars while defenseman Thomas Chabot added two assists to run his point streak to four games (one goal, four assists).

ABOUT THE RANGERS (12-10-2): Former Senator Mika Zibanejad (team-leading 12 assists) has followed a nine-point performance over a nine-game stretch by being kept off the scoresheet and posting a minus-4 rating in his last two contests. The 25-year-old Swede has scored two goals in two contests against the team that selected him with the sixth overall pick in the 2011 draft. Countryman Henrik Lundqvist owns a 16-20-3 career record versus Ottawa, although he turned aside all 20 shots he faced in a 3-0 win on Nov. 19, 2017.

OVERTIME

1. New York D Neal Pionk has collected 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in his last 18 games.

2. Senators G Craig Anderson, who made 48 saves in his last outing, is 12-6-3 with four shutouts and a 1.82 goals-against average in 22 career contests against the Rangers.

3. New York LW Jimmy Vesey has recorded nine points (five goals, four assists) in his last 12 games.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Senators 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 11-26-2018, 08:57 AM

New Jersey Devils vs. Florida Panthers Preview and Predictions 11-26-2018

NHL Predictions 25th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/25/2018

The Florida Panthers' eight-game homestand got off to a disappointing start, as the team dropped an overtime decision to Chicago for its third consecutive loss overall (0-2-1). Florida attempts to snap the slide and post its second win in seven contests when it hosts the New Jersey Devils on Monday.

The Panthers squandered a pair of two-goal leads on Saturday and allowed the game-tying goal with two seconds remaining in the third period before falling in the extra session. Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau notched two assists for the second time in three contests but saw his goal-scoring drought reach seven games, keeping him stuck on 99 for his career. The Devils began their three-game road trip with Sunday's 5-2 loss at Tampa Bay, which dropped them to 2-9-0 away from home and 1-2-2 in their last five overall contests. Stefan Noesen may have earned more playing time as he opened the scoring for the Devils with his second goal of the season after being a healthy scratch for the previous two games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus 2 (New Jersey), FS Florida

ABOUT THE DEVILS (9-10-3): Tampa Bay kept reigning Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall off the scoresheet on Sunday, preventing him from recording his third straight two-point performance and keeping him one assist away from 300 for his career and three points shy of 500. Jesper Bratt continued to provide offense since returning from injury, as he scored his first goal of the campaign on Sunday to give him six points in nine games. Keith Kinkaid likely will be in the crease on Monday after Cory Schneider allowed five goals on 35 shots in the loss to the Lightning to fall to 0-5-0 with a 4.27 goals-against average and .863 save percentage in six appearances this season.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (8-9-4): A day after having his franchise-record 17-game point streak halted, Mike Hoffman celebrated his 29th birthday on Saturday by registering a goal and an assist against the Blackhawks. The left wing, who leads the team with 11 goals and 22 points, has been kept off the scoresheet in only three of his 21 contests this season. Right wing Evgenii Dadonov notched an assist on Saturday to put an end to his season-high two-game point drought.

OVERTIME

1. Panthers D Keith Yandle has recorded four assists in as many contests to pull within three of 400 for his career.

2. New Jersey C Nico Hischier appeared in his 100th NHL game on Sunday but was kept off the scoresheet for the fourth time in five contests.

3. Florida D Aaron Ekblad has netted four tallies in his last seven games after beginning the season with a 14-game goal-scoring drought.

PREDICTION: Devils 3, Panthers 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 11-26-2018, 08:57 AM

Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Preview and Predictions 11-26-2018

NHL Predictions 25th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/25/2018

The Toronto Maple Leafs have changed the narrative in regard to their troubles at home this season, rebounding from a 3-5-0 start to outscore the opposition 19-4 en route to winning four in a row at Scotiabank Arena. The Maple Leafs aim to continue their strong showing in front of their fans when they play the second contest of a three-game homestand Monday against the Boston Bruins.

Andreas Johnsson, who registered only three points (two goals, one assist) over his first 18 games, became the eighth Maple Leaf to record a first-period hat trick when Toronto breezed to a 6-0 romp over Philadelphia on Saturday. The speedy 24-year-old Swede has received additional ice time as a result of the shoulder injury sustained by Auston Matthews, who is expected to return sometime this week. Speaking of hat tricks, David Pastrnak registered his second of the season and third career in the Bruins' 5-1 triumph over the Maple Leafs on Nov. 10. The 22-year-old Czech scored and set up a goal in each of his next two contests before being kept off the scoresheet in four of his last five - including Saturday's 3-2 win at Montreal that extended Boston's point streak to five games (3-0-2).

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), TSN4, TVA (Toronto)

ABOUT THE BRUINS (13-6-4): Defenseman John Moore found an opportune time to score his first goal of the season, converting during a power play with 2:57 remaining in the third period versus the Canadiens. Jake DeBrusk also tallied, giving the 22-year-old five goals in his last six games and nine points (seven goals, two assists) in his past 10. Tuukka Rask picked up his first win in nearly three weeks with a 31-save performance, although the former Vezina Trophy winner has flourished (16-7-2, two shutouts, 2.14 goals-against average) versus the franchise that selected him with the 21st overall pick of the 2005 draft.

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (16-8-0): Patrick Marleau, who will skate in his 1,600th NHL game on Monday, scored his second goal in 10 games versus the Flyers. The 39-year-old tallied twice in four meetings with Boston last season and has notched 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 31 career contests against the team. John Tavares netted his team's lone tally versus the Bruins and recorded his fourth point (three goals, one assist) in his last four games by capping the scoring in the third period against Philadelphia.

OVERTIME

1. Boston C David Krejci, who has notched three assists in his last two games, is one point shy of tying Cam Neely (590) for 10th place on the franchise list.

2. Maple Leafs G Garret Sparks turned aside all 35 shots he faced on Saturday to improve to 4-1-0 on the season, with the lone blemish coming against the Bruins.

3. Boston LW Brad Marchand, who set up two goals in the first encounter with Toronto this season, has recorded just one assist in his last six games.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 3, Bruins 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 11-26-2018, 08:57 AM

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Detroit Red Wings Preview and Predictions 11-26-2018

NHL Predictions 25th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/25/2018

Cam Atkinson attempts to break the franchise record by scoring in his eighth consecutive game when the Columbus Blue Jackets visit the Detroit Red Wings on Monday. Atkinson, who leads the Blue Jackets with 24 points, has recorded nine tallies and four assists during his seven-game goal-scoring streak that equals the team record set by Geoff Sanderson during the 2002-03 season.

"It's nice, lucky goal, I guess," Atkinson told reporters after scoring in Saturday's 4-2 loss at Pittsburgh. "I used their guy as a screen and it just happened to go in. That's my game. I keep shooting. When you have the hot stick, you have to shoot a little bit more, and good things happen." The loss to Pittsburgh was the second in regulation during a 10-game stretch (6-2-2) for the Blue Jackets, who have split a pair of meetings with the Red Wings this campaign - including an overtime win at Detroit in the season opener. The Red Wings are 9-3-1 over their last 13 contests but have dropped two in a row after Saturday's 3-2 shootout loss to red-hot Buffalo and a 3-1 defeat against Washington one day earlier. "We had plenty of opportunities in each of these games, but we aren't finishing them," Detroit coach Jeff Blashill told reporters on Saturday. "We've got to find a way to put pucks in the net."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Columbus), FS Detroit

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (13-8-2): Artemi Panarin's goal-scoring drought has reached 12 games, although the left wing has recorded eight assists during that stretch and 23 points on the season - second on the team behind Atkinson. Sergei Bobrovsky began to turn around his season when he came on in relief to stop 23 of the 24 shots he faced during the 5-3 loss to Detroit on Oct. 30 and has posted a .946 save percentage over his last nine appearances. Josh Anderson has recorded two goals in his last two games to tie Pierre-Luc Dubois for second on the club with 10 - behind only Atkinson's 15.

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (10-10-3): Dylan Larkin scored one goal on 10 shots in Saturday's loss and leads the team with 20 points while Andreas Athanasiou has netted three of his team-leading 10 tallies in the last three contests. Gustav Nyquist is second on the team with 16 points but has notched just one in his last six games while Tyler Bertuzzi has collected a goal and three assists in his last four contests. Anthony Mantha recorded a goal and an assist on Saturday for his second multi-point effort of the season, moving within two of 100 points for his career.

OVERTIME

1. Detroit D Trevor Daley is two points shy of 300 for his career but has been kept off the scoresheet in four straight games.

2. Columbus D Ryan Murray leads the team's blue-liners with 10 assists and a plus-9 rating.

3. The Red Wings snapped their seven-game losing streak against the Blue Jackets with the win on Oct. 30.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 3, Red Wings 2

Monday 11-26-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

Monday 11-26-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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