Tuesday 12-18-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-18-2018, 05:01 PM

UAB Blazers vs. Northern Illinois Huskies Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18

NCAAF Predictions 5th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/05/2018

CHERIBUNDI BOCA RATON BOWL STORYLINES

1. A pair of conference champions who barely survived title games square off when Conference USA champion UAB takes on Northern Illinois of the Mid American Conference in the Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 18 at FAU Stadium. UAB, which shut down its football program for two years starting in 2015, set a school record for wins with 10, including a 27-25 triumph over Middle Tennessee to qualify for its third-ever bowl appearance. Northern Illinois rallied from a 19-point, third-quarter deficit and defeated Buffalo 30-29 when Marcus Childers threw his fourth touchdown of the game 35 yards to D.J. Brown with 1:09 left to win its fifth conference title overall.

2. Blazers sophomore Spencer Brown ran for 156 yards and a touchdown in the title game and gained 1,149 yards for the season with a school-record 16 touchdowns - seventh most in FBS. The Alabama native has 2,481 yards in his two-year career - ninth most in FBS - and needs 340 yards to become UAB's all-time leading rusher. Huskies running back Tre Harbison gained 985 yards for an offense that averaged 171 yards per game and is followed by Marcus Jones (523 yards, 5.6 per carry) and Childers (496 yards, 6 TDs).

3. The game will pair elite defenses as Northern Illinois yields 21.5 points per game (26th in FBS) and 2.7 yards per carry while UAB ranks 10th in points allowed (17.3 per game) and total defense (300.2). The Huskies lead the country in sacks (50) and rank sixth in tackles for loss (8.0 per game) and defensive end Sutton Smith is tied for the national lead in both categories (15 sacks, 24 TFL). The Blazers rank fourth in sacks (43) and fifth in tackles for loss (8.1) while setting the league record with three shutouts.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: UAB -1.5

ABOUT UAB (10-3, 9-1 C-USA): Senior A.J. Erdely (56.1 percent completion rate, 1,539 yards, seven TDs, seven interceptions) is the starting quarterback but has played just once since late October due to shoulder problems. Backup Tyler Johnston III (56.8 percent, 950 yards, seven TDs, eight interceptions) threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Texas A&M on Nov. 17 and was 9-of-15 for 140 yards with a TD in the conference title game. Defensive lineman Jamell Garcia-Williams led the team in both sacks (9.5) and tackles for loss (15.5), which ranked him third and sixth, respectively, in Conference USA, while linebacker Chris Woolbright was the team's leading tackler with 74 - 13.5 of which went for a loss.

ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS (8-5, 6-2 MAC): Childers completed 21-of-33 passes for 300 yards with four TDs in the conference title game and also led the team with 58 yards rushing. Childers completed 57.6 percent of his passes for 1,996 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and his favorite receiver was Brown, who caught 55 passes for 484 yards and a team-high five touchdowns. Linebacker Antonio Jones-Davis led the team with 119 tackles and added four sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss.

PREDICTION: UAB 24, Northern Illinois 17

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-18-2018, 05:01 PM

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18

NBA Predictions 17th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/17/2018

The red-hot Indiana Pacers seek to extend their season-long winning streak to eight games when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. The Pacers have won five games by double digits during the stretch, including Sunday's 110-99 victory over the New York Knicks.

Indiana is allowing just 96.3 points per game during the winning streak with a high of 101 and feels the strong defense is the reason for the impressive run. "That's just our makeup. It's just something that's embedded in our heads," veteran point guard Darren Collison told reporters. "We know we have to be in our spots to help our teammates. We're just caring about one another. Everybody's making the right plays." Cleveland has lost back-to-back games and is beginning a stretch in which it plays six of seven games on the road. Backup guard Jordan Clarkson scored 18 points in Sunday's 128-105 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers and is averaging 23 points over the past three games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cleveland), FS Indiana LINE: Pacers -12.5

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (7-23): Coach Larry Drew is trying to keep the team together as it struggles during the start of the second post-LeBron James era. Injuries to frontcourt stalwarts Kevin Love (toe) and Tristan Thompson (foot) have made it tough for Cleveland to compete against strong interior players and that was evident in the loss to the 76ers. "With our team, the margin for error is small," Drew told reporters. "We have to accept that. We have to do all the little things because they sum up to be big things for our ball club and that's just who we have to be."

ABOUT THE PACERS (20-10): Star guard Victor Oladipo put together his best performance against the Knicks since missing 11 games with a knee injury. Oladipo produced 26 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and a season-best five steals in the contest, just his third since returning from the injury. "He's letting the game come to him," center Myles Turner told reporters. "He's doing a great job of setting us all up and then taking the big shots when he needs to. And he's playing defense, too. He's back to being himself on the defensive end."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. SF Bojan Bogdanovic scored 25 points to lead the Pacers to a 119-107 home win over the Cavaliers on Oct. 27.

2. Cleveland SG Alec Burks is just 7-of-35 shooting over the past four games.

3. Indiana G Tyreke Evans (knee) is questionable after sitting out Sunday.

PREDICTION: Pacers 109, Cavaliers 98

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-18-2018, 05:01 PM

Washington Wizards vs. Atlanta Hawks Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18

NBA Predictions 17th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/17/2018

The Washington Wizards are fresh off an impressive performance and hoping they can produce another when they visit the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. Washington dismantled LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 128-110 on Sunday to halt a four-game slide.

Wizards point guard John Wall had his best game of the season with 40 points and 14 assists against Los Angeles and he hopes the trouncing is the start of a turnaround. "We haven't been the team we want to be and all we kind of do is take this as a positive step and try to move forward," Wall told reporters after the victory. Atlanta has dropped three straight games and seven of its past eight and its defense was atrocious in Sunday's 144-127 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. The Hawks allowed an average of 129 points during a three-game road swing against the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics and the Nets.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, FS Southeast (Atlanta) LINE: Wizards -4.5

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (12-18): Washington doesn't know yet if veteran forward Trevor Ariza will be suited up for the game on Tuesday to begin his second stint with the club. Ariza was acquired from the Phoenix Suns for forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and guard Austin Rivers and shooting guard Bradley Beal is looking forward to seeing him back on the floor. "Trev has a spark about himself. He has a true desire to win," Beal told reporters. "He doesn't care what it looks like - he is going to go out there and do it. He always accepts the challenge defensively and his leadership qualities and his [ability to be vocal], everything he's about, his morals on and off the floor, is everything that we need. He's a great character guy, perfect fit."

ABOUT THE HAWKS (6-23): Second-year power forward John Collins is looking like a future star and he has scored 20 or more points in five of the past six games. The 21-year-old had a streak of five double-doubles until contributing 29 points and eight rebounds in Sunday's loss to the Nets and he is averaging 23.3 points and 12.7 rebounds during the six-game stretch. Point guard Trae Young posted his ninth double-double of the season when he had 13 points and 10 assists against Brooklyn.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Beal scored a season-high 36 points as Washington posted a 131-117 road win over the Hawks on Dec. 5.

2. Young scored 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting and committed six turnovers in the loss to the Wizards.

3. Washington PF Markieff Morris (neck) departed Sunday's game and is questionable to play against Atlanta.

PREDICTION: Wizards 126, Hawks 117

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-18-2018, 05:01 PM

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Brooklyn Nets Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18

NBA Predictions 17th December 2018 by Gracenote
Lakers vs. Nets Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 12/17/2018

The Brooklyn Nets have knocked off two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference during their recent surge. They will now take aim at one of the West's better squads when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

The Nets have followed up an eight-game slide with a season-high five-game winning streak and they're averaging 122.8 points along the way while knocking off Toronto and Philadelphia. "I think just our commitment for wanting to see each other do better," guard D'Angelo Russell told reporters after scoring 32 points and handing out seven of the team's season high-tying 34 assists in 144-127 win over Atlanta on Sunday. "Like I said, everybody is aggressive at the appropriate time but still wanting to make that extra pass for the next guy, still having your teammates' back on the defensive end, that rotation. We're making those plays." The Lakers are 1-2 on their four-game road trip following a 128-110 loss at Washington on Sunday. LeBron James was held to a season-low 13 points and Los Angeles gave up 71 first-half points while falling to 7-8 on the road.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), YES (Brooklyn) LINE: Lakers -2

ABOUT THE LAKERS (18-12): James shot 5-for-16 and teamed with his fellow starters to make only two of their combined 18 3-point shots in a sluggish effort at Washington. "We're a team that's built on energy and depth," James told reporters. "We didn't have either tonight." Seemingly contrary to James' assessment was the play of a bench that shot 63.9 percent and received a season highs of 25 points and five assists from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

ABOUT THE NETS (13-18): Brooklyn's recent eight-game losing streak included several close losses and late-game malfunctions, but such issues have seemingly been kicked to the curb by a club displaying more of a killer instinct. "Our aggressiveness to close the game was different. I felt a different vibe. I can't describe it," coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters after the offensive onslaught against the Hawks. "In the past, teams -- I don't care who it was, whether it was a great team or average team -- we just let them back in the game. I just felt there was a conviction, a spirit on the bench [the Hawks] weren't going to come back. I hope that's going to continue." Russell, the former Laker, has scored at least 26 points in five of his last eight home games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Lakers PF Kyle Kuzma is averaging 22.9 points on 52.2 percent shooting in December.

2. Nets rookie SF Rodions Kurucs is averaging 13 points and six rebounds in two consecutive starts after 12 games coming off the bench.

3. Los Angeles took both meetings last season, including a 102-99 triumph at Brooklyn on Feb. 2.

PREDICTION: Nets 119, Lakers 117

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-18-2018, 05:01 PM

Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18

NBA Predictions 17th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/17/2018

The Denver Nuggets head into their 30th game as owners of the best record in the Western Conference. Denver attempts to win for the 11th time in the past 13 games when it hosts the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.

The Nuggets produced a 95-86 victory over the NBA-leading Toronto Raptors on Sunday as they once again displayed the strong start isn't a fluke. "I guess maybe it says we're the best team for the time being," Nuggets coach Michael Malone told reporters afterward. "There are a lot of games left. I think one thing we've done a really good job of is tempering our own excitement." The Mavericks have been surprisingly good as well but have lost back-to-back games after winning 12 of their previous 15 contests. Dallas has been energized by rookie forward Luka Doncic, who has 14 20-point outings after having 28 points and nine assists in Sunday's 120-113 loss to the Sacramento Kings.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), Altitude (Denver) LINE: Nuggets -4.5

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (15-13): Veteran forward Dirk Nowitzki is back from ankle surgery but played just 14 total minutes in his first two appearances. The plan is to increase his minutes slowly as he gets back into game shape and the 40-year-old played eight minutes against Sacramento after receiving six minutes in his season debut against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. "It was definitely a step forward," Nowitzki told reporters after Sunday's game. "I played a couple more minutes. I thought my wind was a little better. (I'm) plugging along, plugging along in the right direction. But we are 0-2 since I've been back. We lost two tough games, two games we feel like we should have had, so it's frustrating."

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (20-9): Star center Nikola Jokic has scored at least 24 points in each of the past four games and is averaging 25.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.5 steals during the stretch. The 23-year-old is picking up the pace at a time in which starters Gary Harris (hip) and Paul Millsap (toe) are out while potent swingman Will Barton (core muscle surgery) has been sidelined nearly two months. "He's doing what he's supposed to do," Malone told reporters of Jokic. "He's our franchise player. We're committed to him. We believe in him. He's the future of this team. Whether we have guys out or we have a full roster, we expect a lot from Nikola."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Nuggets have prevailed in four straight home games against the Mavericks.

2. Dallas PG Dennis Smith Jr. (wrist) will likely sit out for the sixth time in the past seven games, while G J.J. Barea (ankle) intends to return after missing two games.

3. Denver backup PG Monte Morris has scored in double figures in six straight games and is averaging 13.5 points during the stretch.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 105, Mavericks 99

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-18-2018, 05:01 PM

Detroit Red Wings vs. Philadelphia Flyers Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18

NHL Predictions 17th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/17/2018

The final shoe dropped on the Dave Hakstol era in Philadelphia as the free-falling Flyers fired their coach and named Scott Gordon as the interim bench boss ahead of Tuesday night's game against the visiting Detroit Red Wings. Gordon, who was the coach of Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League, takes the reins of a sputtering Flyers club that resides in the cellar of the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia, which is in the midst of a massive front-office overhaul, was outscored 22-8 en route to losing the final four contests of its five-game road trip. The Flyers' age-old issue with leaky goaltending has been underscored this season, with the team using a league-high five netminders and receiving a collective league-worst .874 save percentage. Detroit isn't setting the league on fire, either, as it dropped its third straight contest with Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the New York Islanders in the opener of its three-game road trip. Thomas Vanek collected a goal and two assists versus his former team after mustering two points in his previous eight contests.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, TVAS, NBCS Philadelphia

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (14-15-5): Dylan Larkin has enjoyed a December to remember despite playing in only nine games this month as he carries a seven-game point streak (four goals, six assists) into the Wells Fargo Center. The 22-year-old Michigan native's five goals and 11 points in December are one shy of his October totals. While Larkin leads the club in goals (14) and points (32), fellow forward Gustav Nyquist has erupted for 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in his last 11 games.

ABOUT THE FLYERS (12-15-4): Prized goaltending prospect Carter Hart has long since been envisioned as Philadelphia's netminder of the future, but the patient timetable has been sped up considerably as the 20-year-old was recalled from the Phantoms on Monday. "Make no mistake about it; we recognize where we are at," general manager Chuck Fletcher said of rushing Hart to the main club after the latter posted a 9-5-2 mark with Lehigh Valley. "It is a tight team. I recognize our inconsistencies and our talent." Fellow goaltender Anthony Stolarz (lower body) was placed on injured reserve and is expected to be sidelined 2-to-4 weeks.

OVERTIME

1. Detroit G Jimmy Howard allowed eight goals on 62 shots to split a pair of meetings with Philadelphia last season.

2. Flyers captain Claude Giroux has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in his last eight contests.

3. Red Wings speedy C Andreas Athanasiou is second on the team with 11 goals despite failing to score in each of his last nine games.

PREDICTION: Red Wings 4, Flyers 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-18-2018, 05:02 PM

Anaheim Ducks vs. New York Rangers Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18

NHL Predictions 17th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/17/2018

Mats Zuccarello has notched an assist in each of his two games since returning from a groin injury, but his presence hasn't been enough to propel the New York Rangers to victory. The club hopes to end its three-game slide at Madison Square Garden when it concludes its three-game homestand Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks.

Zuccarello missed 13 of the Rangers' 15 contests prior to the homestand, including a shootout loss to visiting Winnipeg on Dec. 2. New York, which has lost six of seven overall (1-3-3), has dropped overtime contests at home to Arizona and Vegas upon his return - with all three of the setbacks in its own arena being 4-3 decisions. Anaheim continues its six-game road trip after defeating Pittsburgh 4-2 on Monday for its fourth consecutive victory overall and ninth in 10 contests. Adam Henrique and captain Ryan Getzlaf each recorded a goal and an assist as the Ducks rallied from a 2-0 deficit to post their sixth straight road win.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Anaheim), MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE DUCKS (19-11-5): Daniel Sprong set up a tally against his former team on Monday, giving the 21-year-old from the Netherlands three goals and an assist in six games since being acquired from the Penguins on Dec. 3. Ondrej Kase has recorded six goals in as many contests and has notched at least one point in 10 of his last 14 after being kept off the scoresheet in each of his first three games this season. Getzlaf leads Anaheim with 28 points after registering his third two-point performance in four contests on Monday.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (14-13-5): Kevin Hayes ranks second on the team with 26 points after setting up three goals versus Vegas on Sunday for his fourth consecutive multi-point performance. The 26-year-old has collected three goals and six assists in that span, with his third assist against Vegas being his 200th NHL point. Mika Zibanejad, who tops the club with 29 points, has tallied in three of his last four contests - giving him four goals and six assists in his past eight games.

OVERTIME

1. Rangers LW Chris Kreider has scored nine of his team-leading 15 goals in the third period.

2. Anaheim is looking to match the franchise record of seven consecutive road wins set in 2006-07.

3. New York has earned at least one point in 13 of its last 16 home games (10-3-3).

PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Ducks 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-18-2018, 05:02 PM

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New Jersey Devils Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18

NHL Predictions 17th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/17/2018

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the midst of their worst stretch of the season, having lost four of their last five (1-2-2) heading into the finale of their five-game road trip Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. The Maple Leafs likely will receive little sympathy from the free-falling Devils, who were on the business end of a 6-1 shellacking in Toronto on Nov. 9 and have dropped 11 of their last 14 contests (3-5-6).

Mitch Marner recorded his third career multi-goal performance by scoring twice in the third period Saturday, but Aleksander Barkov one-upped him by scoring in overtime to seal Florida's 4-3 win. The 21-year-old Marner's road point total stands at 24 (five goals, 19 assists), one better than Morgan Rielly after the defenseman set up third-period tallies by John Tavares and Marner on Saturday. For all of the gloom and doom in the Garden State, the Devils received a bit of good news as reigning Hart Trophy recipient Taylor Hall participated in Monday's practice after missing the last two games with a lower-body injury. Hall, who leads the team with 23 assists and 31 points, told NJ.com that he needed to speak with trainers to get a better idea about his availability for Tuesday's contest.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN4 (Toronto), MSG Plus (New Jersey)

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (21-10-5): Mike Babcock isn't one who routinely publicly praises his charges, however the veteran bench boss applauded the recent effort of the line comprised of Auston Matthews, Andreas Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen. "Those guys are working," Babcock said Monday, via TSN. "When you got guys that work with you, you end up with the puck. So we have to get everyone working at the same pace. Those guys have energy right now; they're feeling good right now. They have some pop to them." Babcock likely isn't too thrilled with his club's special teams, as Toronto is mired in a 1-for-22 stretch on the power play in the last six games while its penalty kill has permitted a goal in four consecutive outings.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (11-13-7): New Jersey placed veteran Cory Schneider on injured reserve with an abdominal strain Monday and recalled fellow goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood from Binghamton of the American Hockey League. The 32-year-old Schneider, who last won Dec. 27, 2017, owns a dismal 0-15-3 mark since and was pulled after yielding three goals on seven shots in less than 10 minutes of action in Friday's 5-4 overtime win versus Vegas. Blackwood, who is expected to back up starter Keith Kinkaid, boasts a 6-7-0 mark with a 2.69 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in 15 games in the AHL this season.

OVERTIME

1. New Jersey RW Kyle Palmieri has scored five of his team-leading 17 goals in the last five games.

2. Toronto D Jake Gardiner has collected 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in seven contests this month.

3. Devils C Travis Zajac has recorded only eight points since scoring his team's lone goal in the first meeting with the Maple Leafs.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 5, Devils 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-18-2018, 05:02 PM

Florida Panthers vs. Buffalo Sabres Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18

NHL Predictions 17th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/17/2018

Captain Jack Eichel excelled in setting up goals during November and has turned his attention to scoring them this month as the Buffalo Sabres try to extend their point streak to five games Tuesday night against the visiting Florida Panthers. Eichel recorded 19 assists in 15 contests last month and the Sabres' center boasts nine goals in the past six games with a plus-7 rating in seven outings during December.

"He's just brought his game to another level," Buffalo coach Phil Housley told reporters of Eichel, who boasts 13 points during a six-game stretch and was named the NHL's Third Star of the Week Monday. ". ... He's attacking the game with speed offensively. He's reloading with meaningful strides coming back into our zone. He's playing a 200-foot game, a very complete game right now." The Sabres rebounded from a five-game winless streak by going 3-0-1 over the last four after a 4-2 win at Boston on Sunday, but have dropped six in a row to the Panthers after a 3-2 overtime setback in Florida on Nov. 30. The Panthers, who reside in the Atlantic Division cellar, snapped a four-game slide with an impressive 4-3 victory against Toronto on Saturday as captain Aleksander Barkov capped his first career hat trick with the overtime winner. "It's been a bit of a struggle, a lot of ups and downs," Florida coach Bob Boughner told reporters. "Maybe it's a game like this that can kick start something and (we can) play with that same compete we did (Saturday)."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Florida, MSG Buffalo

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (12-13-6): Barkov's hat trick gave him four goals and an assist in the past four games and tied fellow forward Mike Hoffman for second on the team with 31 points - seven behind left wing Jonathan Huberdeau. The 25-year-old Huberdeau has also raised his game since Thanksgiving with 21 points over the last 11 contests after registering a goal and an assist in the victory over Toronto. Power forward Nick Bjugstad (four goals, 10 points), who has missed the last four contests with an upper-body injury, could return on this four-game road trip.

ABOUT THE SABRES (20-9-5): Eichel's hot streak has pushed his season total to a team-high 45 points while his linemates Jeff Skinner and Sam Reinhart have also been quite productive. Skinner, who leads the team with 24 goals (four in the last four outings), owns a six-game point streak and Reinhart has been on the scoresheet in 10 straight contests with five tallies and 11 assists during the run. Rookie Rasmus Dahlin posted five of his 19 points in the last two games and fellow defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen owns six assists in seven games this month.

OVERTIME

1. Buffalo G Carter Hutton stopped 83-of-89 shots the last three games and is 2-0-0 with a .957 save percentage in three career games versus the Panthers.

2. Florida F Jayce Hawryluk made his NHL debut Saturday, registering two shots and a minus-1 rating in 5:55 of ice time.

3. The Panthers are 16-of-16 and Buffalo is 17-of-17 on the penalty kill over the last six contests.

PREDICTION: Sabres 3, Panthers 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-18-2018, 05:02 PM

San Jose Sharks vs. Minnesota Wild Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18

NHL Predictions 17th December 2018 by Gracenote
Sharks vs. Wild Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 12/17/2018

The San Jose Sharks are riding high on a four-game winning streak and have scored 30 goals while emerging victorious in six of seven overall, but their fortunes haven't been positive in recent treks to the Xcel Energy Center. The Sharks will look to buck that trend Tuesday when they visit the Wild, who are 9-1-1 in their last 11 home encounters in the series.

Logan Couture joined four other San Jose players in scoring and setting up a goal in Sunday's 7-3 romp in Chicago to boost his point total to nine (three goals, six assists) in his past seven games. "We're playing the right way now," the 29-year-old said. "... Defensively we've played some very strong hockey and when we do that, it may be hard to realize, but it always leads to offense. You're always going to score more goals when you're defending well." Minnesota had done precisely that by outscoring the opposition 12-2 in the first two contests of its four-game homestand before dropping a testy 2-1 setback to red-hot Calgary on Saturday. Mikael Granlund pulled into a tie with defenseman Ryan Suter with 22 assists after setting up his fifth goal in three games via Jordan Greenway's second-period tally.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), FS North (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE SHARKS (18-11-5): Defenseman Brent Burns set up three goals versus the Blackhawks to give him five assists in his last three games and boost his team-leading total to 30. The 33-year-old also had a pair of assists Nov. 6 in San Jose's 4-3 win over Minnesota, which selected him with the 20th overall pick of the 2003 NHL Draft. Evander Kane has answered a stretch of collecting one point in eight games by scoring three goals and setting up another in his last five.

ABOUT THE WILD (17-13-2): Captain Mikko Koivu is expected to end a four-game absence and return from a lower-body injury Tuesday night versus San Jose, against which he boosted his career total to 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in the series after setting up two scores in the season's first encounter. The 35-year-old Finn skated on a line with Jason Zucker and Luke Kunin during Monday's practice. While Koivu is set to join his mates for game action, coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters that the return of offensive-minded defenseman Matt Dumba (12 goals, 22 points) is at least one week away as he nurses an upper-body injury sustained in Saturday's setback versus the Flames.

OVERTIME

1. Minnesota C Eric Staal has scored 10 of his 12 goals this season at home heading into a tilt with San Jose, against which he has netted 13 in 20 career encounters.

2. Sharks C Joe Thornton, who has collected 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) in career 46 contests versus the Wild, is one assist shy of matching tie Hockey Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne (1,040) for 10th place in NHL history.

3. Minnesota LW Zach Parise has recorded 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 22 career meetings with San Jose.

PREDICTION: Wild 3, Sharks 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-18-2018, 05:02 PM

Calgary Flames vs. Dallas Stars Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18

NHL Predictions 17th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/17/2018

The first-place Calgary Flames will try to build off the second-best start in franchise history and complete a perfect three-game road trip when they visit the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. Calgary, the only team in the league to boast five players with at least 35 points, routed St. Louis 7-2 on Sunday as the No. 1 line of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm continues to stuff the scoresheet at a prolific pace.

"We're a deep team, we're a good team," Flames defenseman Mark Giordano, who has 35 points - 11 (three goals, eight assists) during a five-game streak - told reporters. "I think the belief is there right now. And we have to continue that feeling. Any time you can pile up points before the halfway point of the season - it's a good thing." Calgary is 12-2-1 in its last 15 games with Gaudreau (nine goals, 17 assists) and Monahan (11, nine) doing the most damage during that span. Dallas is riding a season-high four-game losing streak - on the heels of a season-high four game winning streak - after Saturday's 6-4 setback at Colorado, prompting coach Jim Montgomery to tell reporters: "I can't say we know what type of team we are. You're going to have ebbs and flows. We've got to get back on track here." The Stars prevailed 4-3 on Tyler Seguin's goal at 24 seconds of overtime on the road Nov. 28 in the first of three meetings this season, giving Dallas four straight victories in the series.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Calgary), FS Southwest Plus (Dallas)

ABOUT THE FLAMES (22-10-2): Gaudreau (team-high 45 points) and Monahan (club-most 20 goals, 39 points) are complemented by Lindholm, who has six goals and eight assists in the last 10 games. Matthew Tkachuk, who scored Sunday in his hometown of St. Louis, has 15 goals and 40 points with three and 10 coming in the past nine contests. David Rittich (11-3-1, 2.21 goals-against average, .925 save percentage) played on back-to-back nights for the first time in his career this weekend, stopping 60 of 63 shots as he continues to outplay Mike Smith (11-7-1, 2.99, .888).

ABOUT THE STARS (16-14-3): Tyler Seguin (10 goals) leads the team with 30 points after scoring twice Saturday - his first two goals to go along with three assists in seven December games. Captain Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov - Seguin's linemates - are second and third in points (26 and 25) with Benn scoring his club-high 13th goal Saturday and Radulov contributing two assists Saturday. The Stars continue to play without defensemen John Klingberg (broken hand) and Connor Carrick (fractured foot), who could be back right after Christmas, while the situation is less clear for blueliners Marc Methot (knee) and Stephen Johns (headaches).

OVERTIME

1. Calgary C Sam Bennett (five goals, 10 points, team-high 51 penalty minutes) played in 147 straight games before missing Sunday's contest with an undisclosed injury.

2. Dallas has lost three straight versus the Pacific Division after going 9-0-1 in its first 10 such games this season.

3. The Flames, who started 23-6-5 in 1988-89 en route to winning their only Stanley Cup, are tied with Colorado for the most road wins in the Western Conference (11) entering Monday.

PREDICTION: Flames 3, Stars 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-18-2018, 05:02 PM

New York Islanders vs. Arizona Coyotes Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18

NHL Predictions 18th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/18/2018

The Arizona Coyotes aim for their second win in seven contests when they begin a three-game homestand Tuesday against the New York Islanders. Arizona completed a 1-3-0 road trip with Sunday's 3-0 setback at Carolina - its fifth shutout loss of the season.

Clayton Keller tops the Coyotes with 23 points and shares the team lead in goals with eight despite entering Tuesday with a seven-game drought. The Islanders kicked off their four-game road trip in fine fashion as they posted a 4-1 victory over Colorado on Monday. Jordan Eberle and captain Anders Lee each recorded a goal and an assist as New York registered its second straight triumph after dropping four of its previous five games (1-3-1). Eberle, who is three goals shy of 200 for his career, had gone six games without a point and had been kept off the scoresheet in nine of his previous 10 contests.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, MSG Plus 2 (New York), FS Arizona

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (16-12-4): Valtteri Filppula scored his first goal since Nov. 26 on Monday, ending his eight-game point drought. New York's power play appears to be heating up as the team went 2-for-4 against the Avalanche after converting only two of its 34 opportunities over the previous 13 games. The team could be without a pair of players Tuesday as Brock Nelson (undisclosed), who recorded his 100th career assist Monday, and defenseman Thomas Hickey (upper body) both left the win over Colorado in the second period with injuries and did not return.

ABOUT THE COYOTES (14-16-2): Alex Galchenyuk returned to the lineup Sunday after missing three games with a lower-body injury and registered one shot in 13 minutes, 48 seconds of ice time. The 24-year-old former 30-goal scorer has been a disappointment thus far in his first season with Arizona, recording just three tallies and eight assists in 22 contests. Brad Richardson is tied with Keller for first on the team in goals as he has matched the amount he totaled in 92 games over the previous two seasons.

OVERTIME

1. Half of Keller's goals this season have been game-winners.

2. New York allowed 31 shots Monday - only the third time in the last 11 games it yielded 30 or more.

3. Arizona assigned LW Michael Bunting to Tucson of the American Hockey League.

PREDICTION: Islanders 3, Coyotes 1

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-18-2018, 05:03 PM

St. Louis Blues vs. Edmonton Oilers Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18

NHL Predictions 17th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/17/2018

Edmonton coach Ken Hitchcock is upset with how teams are playing Connor McDavid and hopes the two-time reigning Art Ross Trophy winner is afforded a bit more space when the Oilers host the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. Edmonton fell to 9-3-2 since Hitchcock replaced Todd McLellan on Nov. 20 with Sunday's 4-2 loss at Vancouver as McDavid extended his point streak to nine games with an assist despite limited room to work his magic.

"We're a league that's supposed to showcase our top players and you don't want to give him all the freedom," Hitchcock told reporters. "He's not allowed to play give and go. It's give and hold. We're going to have to figure out how to fight through it." McDavid, though, is still managing to get things done as he sits third in the league with 49 points after accumulating six goals and 10 assists during his streak. "He goes into areas that make me feel uncomfortable on the bench but he doesn't have a problem doing it," Hitchcock told the Edmonton Sun. "He's doing things that are uncomfortable with the puck. You spend your whole life teaching it and he already does it. It's a hard thing to teach and when a player has it in his DNA already it's pretty good, you really feel like you're fortunate to watch something like that." St. Louis is tied for the third-fewest points in the NHL after a 7-2 loss to Calgary on Sunday came on the heels of winning three of four.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), Sportsnet One (Edmonton)

ABOUT THE BLUES (12-15-4): Vladimir Tarasenko (nine goals, 20 points), whose averaged better than 37 goals and 34 assists over the last four seasons, hasn't recorded a point in his last seven games. Ryan O'Reilly (team highs of 13 goals, 31 points) was kept off the scoresheet for the fourth time in six games Sunday. Jake Allen was pulled before the second period Sunday for the second time in four starts after allowing four goals on 16 shots in the first stanza, and is 2-2-0 with a 4.99 goals-against average and .854 save percentage during that span.

ABOUT THE OILERS (18-13-3): Alex Chiasson (15 goals, 19 points) scored for the third straight game Sunday and continues to produce since joining McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the top line. Draisaitl (16 goals, 42 points) had his five-game point streak snapped Sunday (three goals, 12 points). Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (31 points) scored Sunday and has five of his 11 goals this season in the last seven games.

OVERTIME

1. The Oilers and the Blues each yielded three power-play goals in their last contest, dropping St. Louis into a tie for ninth in the league in penalty killing percentage entering Monday at 82.2.

2. The Blues have lost six straight versus the Pacific Division (0-5-1).

3. Edmonton prevailed 3-2 in a shootout Dec. 5 in St. Louis in the first of three meetings this season and has won six of the last eight encounters.

PREDICTION: Oilers 3, Blues 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-18-2018, 05:03 PM

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Vancouver Canucks Preview and Predictions 2018-12-18

NHL Predictions 17th December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/17/2018

The Vancouver Canucks have turned their season around in the past two weeks and will put a six-game point streak to the test when they host the NHL-best Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night. The Canucks were fading away during a 1-10-2 slump, but have found their best form this month during a 5-0-1 run that includes a win over Nashville and a 4-2 victory over red-hot Edmonton on Sunday.

"To see a group go through a lot of adversity and then to see them rebound, it means a lot," Vancouver coach Travis Green told reporters after his team scored three times on the power play Sunday. "It was as good a game as I've seen out of a lot of guys tonight." The Canucks have earned at least a point in five of the last seven matchups (4-2-1) against the Lightning, including a 4-1 triumph in Tampa Bay on Oct. 11 with four third-period goals. The Lightning saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end with a 5-4 overtime setback at Winnipeg to start a Western Canada trip Sunday, and have allowed 91 shots on net over the last two contests combined. "Two good teams playing," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper told reporters after the Lightning gave up 42 shots against the Jets. "Offensively, we played well enough to win the game. Defensively, we have better in us."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (25-7-2): Right wing Nikita Kucherov goes into his 400th NHL contest Tuesday on a hot streak, recording 30 of his team-high 48 points in the last 16 outings and riding a five-game point streak with goals in the last two. Captain Steven Stamkos is on a nice run as well with nine goals in his last nine games to bring his total to 16 on the season - second on the team behind fellow center Brayden Point (21). J.T. Miller (25 points) registered five assists in his past four games while linemate Alex Killorn scored three times in the same span and has notched six of his eight tallies in his past 11 contests.

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (16-16-4): Vancouver had converted just 3-of-30 on the power play during an 11-game stretch before cashing in on three of five chances Sunday, moving up to 19th in the league at 19.1 percent. "We have a lot of sharp shooters out there and a lot of guys who can put the puck in the net, so it was just a matter of time before they started flooding in," center Bo Horvat told reporters after setting up one of the power-play tallies and scored at even strength Sunday. Rookie center Elias Pettersson has four goals and nine assists during a seven-game point streak and right wing Brock Boeser owns goals in three straight outings.

OVERTIME

1. The Lightning are 7-of-14 on the power play over the last four games and sit second in the league at 30.5 percent overall.

2. Vancouver G Jacob Markstrom allowed six goals combined in the last four games and owns a .937 save percentage while winning five in a row.

3. Tampa Bay D Dan Girardi is slated to play his 900th NHL contest Tuesday and the 34-year-old boasts a plus-77 rating in his career.

PREDICTION: Lightning 5, Canucks 2

Tuesday 12-18-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

Tuesday 12-18-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment