Thursday 2-21-19 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 02-21-2019, 06:41 AM

Phoenix Suns vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Preview and Predictions 2019-02-21

NBA Predictions 20th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/20/2019

Two of the worst teams in the NBA square off when the Phoenix Suns visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday. The Suns have lost 15 straight games to match the longest losing streak in franchise history, while the Cavaliers dropped 23 of their past 27 games.

Phoenix isn't close to matching last season's 21 victories and needs six wins to surpass the franchise-worst mark of 16-66, set in the team's first season (1968-69). "Fresh start. We have a stretch of games, very winnable games for us," Suns shooting guard Devin Booker told reporters. "Cleveland, Atlanta, Miami -- so we're about to go out East for the last time and hopefully come out with some big wins." The Cavaliers have been largely noncompetitive but are expecting to have standout power forward Kevin Love (foot) the rest of the season, barring any more misfortune. "He's gradually getting his legs under him and gradually getting to the point where he can play extended minutes," Cleveland coach Larry Drew told reporters. "I'm certain that once he is able to get out there and really play extended minutes he's going to make the most of it."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), FS Ohio (Cleveland)

ABOUT THE SUNS (11-48): Phoenix has had issues shooting the ball and taking care of it as the club ranks last in 3-point shooting (32.6 percent) and tied for 28th in turnovers (15.5 per game). Just being competitive has been a problem as 31 of the team's 48 losses have come by double digits, including 16 by 20 or more points. Booker is averaging 24.6 points and a career-best 6.7 assists while rookie center Deandre Ayton (16.5 points, team-leading 10.5 rebounds) recorded 30 double-doubles.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (12-46): Love missed 50 games after undergoing foot surgery and has seen action in two games since returning -- playing six minutes in the first and 16 in the second. He is itching to get sustained playing time despite the season being a loss and told reporters on Wednesday and that he is still working on getting his conditioning back. "You just have to continue to find motivation and know that there's a bigger picture involved and you know, for me, it is tough," Love said. "It's the longest I've missed consecutively in my whole career but I just gotta find opportunity, find ways to get better and in a lot of ways my body feels really fresh. I guess that's the good thing in this and just continue to get better in my game."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Cavaliers won the past seven meetings.

2. Cleveland SG Jordan Clarkson is averaging 24.8 points over the past four games, including a career-high 42 points in a 148-139 triple-overtime loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 13.

3. Phoenix G De'Anthony Melton (ankle) is slated to play after a nine-game absence.

PREDICTION: Cavaliers 125, Suns 121

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 02-21-2019, 06:41 AM

Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers Preview and Predictions 2019-02-21

NBA Predictions 20th February 2019 by Gracenote
Heat vs. 76ers Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 02/20/2019

The Philadelphia 76ers would not have homecourt advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs if the season ended at the All-Star break and are looking for more. The 76ers will try to continue their push up the standings when they return from the break by hosting the Miami Heat on Thursday.

Philadelphia made two of the biggest deals prior to the trade deadline by bringing in Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris and will spend the remaining games of the regular season working out rotations and building chemistry while trying to chase down the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks in the East. The 76ers are just 3-8 against the four teams ahead of them in the standings with four matchups remaining, including two against the NBA-best Bucks. The Heat are tied with the Detroit Pistons for the No. 8 spot in the East heading into the final stretch and are finishing off a six-game road trip that bridged the break. Miami closed out the Western Conference portion of that trip with a 112-101 victory at Dallas and will play 10 of its next 12 at home after finishing up with Philadelphia, including a pair of games against the Pistons.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Miami), NBCS Philadelphia

ABOUT THE HEAT (26-30): Miami began to surge after former All-Star point guard Goran Dragic went down and the team inserted small forward Justise Winslow into the starting lineup and let him take over playmaking duties. Dragic, who averaged 15.3 points and 4.9 assists in 14 games, is on the verge of returning from arthroscopic knee surgery and will be welcomed back by Winslow. "I'm excited to have Goran back," Winslow told reporters. "Him being left-handed, there are a lot of things I have taken from him and put in my game. I love playing with Goran. I love his passion and his fight that he plays with."

ABOUT THE 76ERS (37-21): Philadelphia is third in the league in scoring offense (115.9) but 20th in scoring defense (112.2) and recognizes that it needs to get better on that end of the floor to compete for the East title. "We know that offensively we are a top-power team," Harris told reporters. "We also know that if we become a top-power defensive team that's going to make us really tough to play against so that's how we've got to look at it." Harris is averaging 17.8 points on 51.9 percent shooting in four games since joining the team from the Los Angeles Clippers.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. 76ers PG Ben Simmons and C Joel Embiid combined for 20 points and 18 rebounds while playing on opposite sides in Sunday's All-Star Game.

2. Miami SG Dwyane Wade played in his final All-Star Game on Sunday and is down to 26 regular-season games remaining in his NBA career.

3. Philadelphia, which knocked the Heat out in the first round of the playoffs last spring, earned a 124-114 road win at Miami on Nov. 12.

PREDICTION: 76ers 121, Heat 111

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 02-21-2019, 06:41 AM

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Brooklyn Nets Preview and Predictions 2019-02-21

NBA Predictions 20th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/20/2019

The Brooklyn Nets are one of the biggest surprises of the season and they resume their pursuit of an Eastern Conference playoff spot when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. Brooklyn opened 8-18 before recovering with a 20-6 stretch and stands in sixth place in the East despite losing five of its final seven games before the All-Star break.

The Nets have already surpassed last season's win total of 28 and know the final stretch of the season will be challenging as they seek their first playoff berth since 2015. "I'm glad we're kind of ahead of those expectations right now," Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters. "But I look at the schedule and I think it's going to be a fight to be in the playoffs. I think it's going to be a down to the wire type of thing. That's how much respect I have for the teams we have to play and the schedule we have coming up. It's not a done deal by anything." Portland star point guard Damian Lillard (ankle) is listed as questionable for the contest. The Trail Blazers stand fourth in the Western Conference but are just 10-15 on the road as they begin a seven-game road trip.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Northwest (Portland), YES (Brooklyn)

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (34-23): Portland added big man Enes Kanter for the stretch drive and figures he can provide some much-needed scoring punch from the bench. The Trail Blazers once signed Kanter to a four-year, $70 million offer sheet in the summer of 2015 when he was a restricted free agent but the Oklahoma City Thunder matched the offer. Kanter averaged 14 points and 10.5 rebounds in 44 games for the New York Knicks this season and is a major upgrade over second-year pro Zach Collins (6.8 points, 4.3 rebounds).

ABOUT THE NETS (30-29): Sharpshooter Joe Harris is averaging a career-high 13.9 points and shooting a career-best 47.1 percent from 3-point range and the first-year starter saw his status raise by outdueling Stephen Curry to win the 3-point shooting contest during All-Star Weekend. Harris carved himself a role over the previous two seasons but has been a solid fixture on the much-improved current edition of the Nets. "A lot of guys in this league have got a unique path," Harris told reporters. "It sometimes takes guys longer than others. Some guys come in right away and are able to contribute. But I think you look at the makeup of our Brooklyn Nets team, and it's a lot of guys that were sort of cast off and had a second opportunity. I personally was one of those guys, and I got lucky."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Trail Blazers C Jusuf Nurkic averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds as the teams split last season's two meetings.

2. Nets F Jared Dudley (hamstring) practiced on Wednesday and is set to return after missing the previous 16 games.

3. Portland SG Rodney Hood (stomach illness) is listed as probable.

PREDICTION: Nets 112, Trail Blazers 105

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 02-21-2019, 06:42 AM

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks Preview and Predictions 2019-02-21

NBA Predictions 20th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/20/2019

The Boston Celtics were the preseason favorites to win the Eastern Conference but are instead fighting for homecourt advantage while the Milwaukee Bucks run away with the top spot. The Bucks will try to assert their dominance over the rest of the top competitors in the East once again when they host the Celtics on Thursday.

Milwaukee is 7-3 against the Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and Boston and breezed into the All-Star break with wins in 14 of the last 16 games behind All-Star captain Giannis Antetokounmpo. The "Greek Freak" scored 38 points on 17-of-23 shooting in a losing effort in Sunday's All-Star Game but remains an MVP candidate and took the Bucks into the break by collecting 33 points, 19 rebounds and 11 assists in a 106-97 win at the Pacers. The Celtics were well-represented during the All-Star festivities as point guard Kyrie Irving contributed 13 points in 25 minutes to Team LeBron's 178-164 win over Team Giannis and second-year forward Jayson Tatum starred in the Rising Stars game before winning the Skills Challenge. Boston won 12 of 15 going into the break and is opening a three-game trip at Milwaukee that will also send it through second-place Toronto.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT THE CELTICS (37-21): Irving sat out the final two games before the All-Star break to rest a sore knee but worked hard to get back for the annual exhibition and get right for the stretch run. "I'm happy. My strength and conditioning coach, my own training staff that I hired myself, every single day has been communication, making sure I can play in the game," Irving told reporters after the game. "We understand it's an All-Star Game, but to go up and down before Thursday comes, I'd be a lot worse if that was my first time playing in basically two weeks. Five days in the NBA season is a lot of time. I'm not sure people realize that. Being away from the game, especially if you have to get off your feet. Getting up shots tonight, being around this camaraderie and competition, was good." Irving, who can become a free agent after the season, is averaging 23.6 points and 6.9 assists.

ABOUT THE BUCKS (43-14): Milwaukee's big splash at the trade deadline was bringing in power forward Nikola Mirotic in a deal from the New Orleans Pelicans. The 28-year-old, who is averaging 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 36.8 percent from beyond the arc, has been out with a calf injury since Jan. 23 but was on the verge of making his team debut before the break and could play Thursday. Mirotic joins a lineup headlined by Antetokounmpo and fellow All-Star Khris Middleton, who scored 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting in 22 minutes for Team Giannis on Sunday.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Celtics PG Terry Rozier (illness) joined Irving on the bench before the break but is expected back Thursday.

2. Bucks C Brook Lopez is 4-of-24 from 3-point range in the last three games.

3. Antetokounmpo scored 30 points in the most recent meeting, a 120-107 Milwaukee win at Boston on Dec. 21.

PREDICTION: Bucks 120, Celtics 111

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 02-21-2019, 06:42 AM

Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview and Predictions 2019-02-21

NBA Predictions 20th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/20/2019

James Harden aims to resume his high-scoring ways when the Houston Rockets visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. Harden scored at least 30 points in each of the last 31 games to tie Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain for the second longest such streak in NBA history.

The Rockets are 21-10 since Harden became a one-man band and the star guard indicated he wouldn't mind a return to normalcy. "The scoring streak is obviously amazing, but it's something that I just had to do because of our situation," Harden told ESPN. "We had all the injuries and guys in and out of the lineup and things like that. So I think the streak just started happening, and now it's like something to talk about." The Lakers lost 10 of their final 15 games before the All-Star break and are hoping a fully healthy LeBron James can help improve the fortunes. "That's the job, that's our goal," James said of ending the franchise's five-season playoff drought. "It's been our goal from the beginning of the season and it's still our goal. We're working our tails off to get there."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (33-24): Starting center Clint Capela (thumb) is expected back in the lineup after missing the last 15 games. Houston badly missed the big man, who is averaging 17.6 points and 12.6 rebounds, even though the club added power forward Kenneth Faried, who has eight double-doubles in the past 10 games. "It felt great," Capela told reporters about the thumb after the team's practice at USC. "I was really happy about it, so now I'm ready to go."

ABOUT THE LAKERS (28-29): James has been part of the playoffs for the past 13 seasons and he doesn't intend to miss out during his first season in Los Angeles. The Lakers will rely on the 34-year-old even more than they have been as coach Luke Walton attempts to find the proper balance to keep fresh James. "We know we have who we view as the best player in the world on our team, but we also know that it takes a team to win," Walton told reporters. "So we expect him to lead us and we expect the other guys on the team to continue to make plays and help us win games. This league is too tough to do it by yourself."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Rockets are 3-0 against the Lakers this season and have won 21 of the past 27 meetings.

2. Los Angeles C Tyson Chandler (neck) is questionable while G Josh Hart (knee) and PF Mike Muscala (ankle) are probable.

3. Houston G Iman Shumpert (knee) has been ruled out of the next two games.

PREDICTION: Rockets 125, Lakers 123

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 02-21-2019, 06:42 AM

Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors Preview and Predictions 2019-02-21

NBA Predictions 20th February 2019 by Gracenote
Kings vs. Warriors Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 02/20/2019

The Golden State Warriors enter the stretch run with the best record in the Western Conference and are looking to find their highest gear as they get set for another run at an NBA title. The Sacramento Kings, who visit the Warriors on Thursday, are among a group of teams fighting or a spot in the top eight while looking to end a playoff drought that that saw them miss out on the postseason in each of the last 12 seasons.

The Kings have 25 games left on the regular-season schedule and begin the final two months one game behind the eighth-place Los Angeles Clippers and just four games shy of the fourth-place Portland Trail Blazers in a tightly-packed race. Sacramento signaled its intention to compete this season with a pair of moves at the trade deadline, headlined by the arrival of forward Harrison Barnes from the Dallas Mavericks, and will get a chance to prove they can do just that with games at Golden State and Oklahoma City over the next three days. The Warriors went into the break with a dud, dropping a 129-107 decision at Portland, but are winners of 16 of their last 18. Superstar Kevin Durant deftly deflected questions about his impending free agency during All-Star weekend and ended up winning the MVP award in Sunday's contest after scoring 31 points on 10-of-15 shooting in Team LeBron's 178-164 win over Team Giannis.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), NBCS Bay Area (Golden State)

ABOUT THE KINGS (30-27): Barnes, who won a championship as a member of the Warriors in 2015, started off slow in his first two games with Sacramento but contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds in a 120-118 loss at the Denver Nuggets going into the break and is expected to be a big piece of the rotation moving forward. "I think Harrison Barnes fits really well," Kings guard Buddy Hield told the Sacramento Bee. "He's a guy who can play (small forward) and he keeps everybody honest. He can shoot the 3, he can post up and he can drive the ball to the basket. He's a three-dimensional scorer. He's been in (two NBA Finals). He's won a championship. He has experience, so he brings all that to our team." Fellow newcomer Alec Burks, who arrived in a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers, went scoreless in two of his first three games with Sacramento.

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (41-16): Golden State dealt with injuries and inconsistent play over the first few months but is confident the team is heading in the right direction. "We're locked in on what the goal is," All-Star guard Stephen Curry told reporters. "Regardless of the storylines and headlines that have been on our team since October, at the end of the day you understand who's in that locker room, how much we appreciate each other, the true potential we have as a team. And honestly now, with 25 games left, just going to lock in and focus on working out the kinks and raising the level of play so that when the playoffs comes around we feel like we've really hit our stride." Center DeMarcus Cousins is integrating well with the team through his first 11 games and is averaging 13.9 points on 42.4 percent shooting and 6.8 rebounds while working his way back from Achilles surgery.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Kings PG De'Aaron Fox handed out 16 assists in 23 minutes in the Rising Stars game during All-Star weekend.

2. Curry finished second in the 3-point contest during All-Star weekend.

3. Golden State took the first three meetings this season by a total of 10 points.

PREDICTION: Warriors 126, Kings 121

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 02-21-2019, 10:23 AM

San Jose Sharks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Preview and Predictions 2019-02-21

NHL Predictions 20th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/20/2019

The Pittsburgh Penguins are relying on a pair of familiar faces in their quest to improve their standing in the Metropolitan Division. Former Hart Trophy recipients Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin look to continue their torrid ways as the Penguins bid for their fifth win in six outings on Thursday against the visiting San Jose Sharks.

Crosby extended his point streak to six games (two goals, 10 assists) with his team-leading 48th assist in Tuesday's 4-3 victory over New Jersey while Malkin has secured at least a point in his last eight contests (four goals, eight assists) for Pittsburgh, which resides two points behind second-place Washington. Crosby and Malkin were both held off the scoresheet and combined for a minus-5 rating in the Penguins' 5-2 setback in San Jose on Jan. 15. Tomas Hertl recorded a hat trick in that encounter and Joe Thornton registered his fifth career three-goal performance and first this season in Monday's 6-5 overtime loss to Boston. The 39-year-old Thornton also scored versus Pittsburgh and has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in his last 14 contests for the Sharks, who are kicking off a four-game road trip in the Steel City.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific, NBCS California (San Jose), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

ABOUT THE SHARKS (35-17-8): Captain Joe Pavelski, who leads the team with 32 goals, scored once and set up two others versus the Bruins to record multi-point performances in back-to-back games and three of his last four. Logan Couture collected a goal and an assist for the second straight game to give him eight points this month, helping San Jose post a 6-1-1 mark in that stretch. Evander Kane, who had three assists in the first meeting with Pittsburgh, registered three multi-point performances earlier this month before being limited to just one assist in his last three games.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (32-21-7): Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford came to the defense of much-maligned blue-liner Jack Johnson, telling reporters that the offseason acquisition hasn't been treated fairly since signing a five-year, $16.25 million contract on July 1. "From the media to the fans, nobody has given him a chance from the first day he got here," Rutherford told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "And Jack Johnson's doing fine." The 32-year-old Johnson has 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) with a minus-6 rating in 60 games while averaging a career-worst 19:01 of ice time.

OVERTIME

1. San Jose D Brent Burns has eight of his club-best 54 assists and 10 of his team-leading 65 points this month.

2. Pittsburgh F Jake Guentzel, who leads the team with 28 goals, has collected a point in six of his last seven contests.

3. The Sharks claimed F Micheal Haley on waivers Wednesday from Florida, bringing the 32-year-old back to the franchise with which he played from 2014-17.

PREDICTION: Penguins 4, Sharks 3

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 02-21-2019, 10:23 AM

Minnesota Wild vs. New York Rangers Preview and Predictions 2019-02-21

NHL Predictions 20th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/20/2019

The Minnesota Wild are free-falling back to the pack in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, the victims of a swoon that has produced one win in their last 10 games since the All-Star break. Mired in a five-game losing streak, the Wild will attempt to avoid a third consecutive shutout when they visit the New York Rangers on Thursday night.

Minnesota earned just one point on its four-game homestand after it suffered its second consecutive 4-0 defeat to Anaheim on Tuesday night to fall to 1-6-3 over the last 10 games. "I guess any way it can go wrong, it will," Wild forward Jason Zucker said. "That's what's happening this year." The Rangers salvaged a split of their four-game road trip with a 2-1 win at Carolina on Tuesday but they are 5-5-1 in 11 games since the All-Star break and nine points out of the second wild card in the East. "I don't think the chase and the hunt for the playoffs is over by any means for us here in the locker room," forward Mika Zibanejad said. "For us, we just take it game by game. It's that simple. We can't look ahead."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS North, FS Wisconsin (Minnesota), MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE WILD (27-27-6): After blowing two big leads to start the homestand, Minnesota had been held without a goal for 156 minutes and is approaching the franchise record of 180:07 set in 2002. "I think we're playing better. That's a good thing," defenseman Ryan Suter insisted. "We just can't score right now. I think if we can figure that out, I think we're getting the rest of our game in order. If we can figure out the scoring side of it I think we'll be fine." With trade rumors swirling, the Wild traded forward Charlie Coyle to Boston on Wednesday in exchange for forward Ryan Donato and a fifth-round draft pick.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (26-25-8): Henrik Lundqvist had been struggling for New York, serving as backup for three of the previous four games before turning in a stellar outing against the Hurricanes with a season-high 43 saves. While the No. 1 line has been carrying the Rangers, Vladislav Namestnikov scored for the third time in three games at Carolina while Connor Brickley notched his first goal of the season. "It's taken me a little while to get back into the NHL," said Brickley, acquired from Nashville last month. "I'm getting a little second opportunity here and I'm trying to make the most of my opportunity."

OVERTIME

1. Donato, 22, had six goals and nine points in 34 games with Boston this season.

2. Rangers F Mats Zuccarello has 10 points in 11 games against Minnesota.

3. Wild F Eric Staal had five points in two wins over New York last season but has been held off the scoresheet in nine straight games.

PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Wild 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 02-21-2019, 10:24 AM

Ottawa Senators vs. New Jersey Devils Preview and Predictions 2019-02-21

NHL Predictions 20th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/20/2019

The Ottawa Senators own the worst record in hockey but perhaps no team is garnering more attention throughout the league as the NHL inches closer to Monday's trade deadline. With their top three forwards all headed for free agency after the season, trade rumors continue to swirl around the Senators as they prepare to visit the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.

Matt Duchene reportedly is almost certain to be dealt by Ottawa, leading to speculation that he would be held out of the lineup so as not to risk injury and blow up a possible trade. "I'm waiting to hear from (coach Guy Boucher)," Duchene said Wednesday. "I haven't heard anything yet, so I'm preparing as if I'm playing." Similar to the Senators in the Atlantic Division, New Jersey is bringing up the rear in the Metropolitan and thus also mentioned among the teams willing to sell off impending free agents at the deadline. Kyle Palmieri has two goals and two assists in two meetings against the Senators this season for the Devils, who avenged a 7-3 loss at Ottawa with a 5-2 home win on Dec. 21.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, RDS2, TSN5 (Ottawa), MSG-Plus (New Jersey)

ABOUT THE SENATORS (22-32-5): Mark Stone, also the subject of trade chatter along with Duchene and Ryan Dzingel, has six goals and four assists over the past six games and erupted for a five-point game in Ottawa's 7-3 victory over New Jersey on Nov. 6. Anders Nilsson, who was yanked in the first period of Monday's 8-7 loss to Chicago after giving up four goals in the first period, will get the start against the Devils in what could be his last game with Ottawa. "There are a lot of rumors, a lot of talks, but for me, personally, I can't control anything," Nilsson said. "We'll see what happens when Monday is over."

ABOUT THE DEVILS (23-29-8): Forward Marcus Johansson, who appeared in only 29 games last season with New Jersey and was sidelined for more than three weeks this season, had a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh to give him seven points in six games. Johansson, a two-time 20-goal scorer during his tenure with the Washington Capitals, also could be headed out of town before the trade deadline. "I play for the Devils and I go out every night and try to do my best," Johansson said. "That's all I can do. That's all I can control. I'm here to play hockey and that's what I'm trying to do now."

OVERTIME

1. Senators D Thomas Chabot has seven points in his last seven games.

2. Devils G Cory Schneider, who has won his last two decisions after an 0-17-4 drought, is 6-4-1 with a 2.21 goals-against average versus the Senators.

3. Ottawa is a league-worst 8-20-1 away from home and tied with New Jersey for the fewest road wins.

PREDICTION: Devils 4, Senators 3

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 02-21-2019, 10:24 AM

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers Preview and Predictions 2019-02-21

NHL Predictions 20th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/20/2019

The Carolina Hurricanes hit a speed bump last time out despite recording 44 shots on net and look to resume their climb toward a playoff position in the Eastern Conference when they visit the surging Florida Panthers on Thursday. The Hurricanes suffered a 2-1 loss at home against the New York Rangers on Tuesday after winning six of their previous seven games, remaining one point out for the final wild-card spot.

"Tough loss because we played well enough, played a good 60 minutes and couldn't score," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour told reporters. "I thought it was our best game we've probably played in seven or eight and it just didn't work out. You come with that mindset and play that hard and I think we'll be where we want to be at the end of the year." The Hurricanes have earned points in six of the last seven meetings (5-1-1) after recording a 4-1 victory Nov. 23 against the Panthers, who are nine points out of a playoff spot despite going 9-4-0 in their last 13 outings. Florida notched its third straight victory Tuesday as red-hot captain Aleksander Barkov registered three more points and James Reimer made 32 saves in a 4-2 victory against Buffalo at home. "We feel good about the way we've been playing and the recipe for success that's been working for us," Panthers coach Bob Boughner told reporters Tuesday. "Now you have to scoreboard watch and worry about other teams. It's fun plugging away and winning games and getting on a roll."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Carolina), FS Florida

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (31-23-6): Veteran center Jordan Staal (11 points, 29 games) is hoping to return on the two-game trip, which concludes in Dallas on Saturday, after sitting out since just before Christmas with a concussion. Sebastian Aho has recorded 16 of his team-high 67 points in the last 13 games and fellow forward Teuvo Teravainen is second on the team with 52 despite being held off the scoresheet in the past two contests. Goalie Curtis McElhinney is 4-1-0 with a .942 save percentage in February after turning aside 24 shots Tuesday.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (26-24-8): Barkov recorded four goals and three assists the last two games and tops the team with 60 points - four better than fellow forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who scored twice Tuesday. Mike Hoffman leads Florida with 26 goals and needs one point to reach 50 for the fourth straight season while defenseman Keith Yandle notched three assists in the past three games. James Reimer stopped 101-of-108 shots in winning the last three games while veteran No. 1 goalie Roberto Luongo has returned from bereavement leave.

OVERTIME

1. Florida D Mike Matheson (lower body) left the last game and is questionable for Thursday's contest.

2. Carolina RW Nino Niederreiter has eight goals and five assists with a plus-4 rating in 14 games since being acquired from Minnesota.

3. The Panthers placed F Michael Haley on waivers Tuesday and he was claimed by San Jose on Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Hurricanes 4, Panthers 3

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 02-21-2019, 10:24 AM

Washington Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Preview and Predictions 2019-02-21

NHL Predictions 20th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/20/2019

The Toronto Maple Leafs have refused to let two straight setbacks extend to a three-game losing skid on eight separate occasions this season. The Maple Leafs look to nip their latest two-game streak in the bud on Thursday when they bid for a season sweep of the visiting Washington Capitals.

Although Toronto dropped the final two contests of its season-high six-game road trip (3-2-1), coach Mike Babcock generally was pleased with the team's overall body of work. "I liked our road trip a lot," Babcock said after the Maple Leafs settled for a 3-2 overtime setback to white-hot St. Louis. "I didn't like our game in Phoenix (a 2-0 loss to Arizona). Other than that, I liked our game every night." Washington has alternated losses and wins in the first four contests of its six-game trek, although superstar captain Alex Ovechkin pushed his NHL-leading goal total to 42 with four in the last three outings -- including two in a 3-2 victory at Los Angeles on Monday. The three-time Hart Trophy recipient joined Russian countryman Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom in recording a goal and two assists this season against Toronto, although former Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby permitted nine goals on 64 shots to lose both encounters.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, TVAS, TSN4 (Toronto)

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (33-20-7): Washington waived pending unrestricted free agent Devante Smith-Pelly on Wednesday after initially planning to part ways with fellow forward Dmitrij Jaskin. "Right now, there is a lot of movement going on, especially for teams that are salary-capped strapped like we are," coach Todd Reirden said. "Earlier in the day, we had made the decision to put Jaskin on waivers and we changed our mind and were notified during practice. We made that adjustment and now Devante has been put on waivers." The 26-year-old Smith-Pelly has eight points (four goals, four assists) in 54 games this season after scoring seven goals and setting up one other during the Capitals' run to their first Stanley Cup title in 2017-18.

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (36-19-4): William Nylander, who has struggled mightily since signing a six-year contract extension, publicly welcomed the added responsibilities that come with playing the center position with Nazem Kadri sidelined with a concussion. "I thought we were able to create some chances, so it was fun," the 22-year-old Nylander told the Toronto Sun of his line of Andreas Johnsson and Connor Brown. "I'm feeling pretty good, skating well and the chances are there. They're coming, that's all you can say." The 25-year-old Brown had a pair of assists in Toronto's 4-2 win over Washington on Oct. 13 and two more in a 6-3 victory versus the Capitals on Jan. 23.

OVERTIME

1. Toronto C Auston Matthews has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his last four games overall and three (two goals, one assist) against Washington this season.

2. Capitals D John Carlson has four of his club-best 45 assists in his last three contests.

3. Maple Leafs RW Kasperi Kapanen has six points (three goals, three assists) in his last five games.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 5, Capitals 4

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 02-21-2019, 10:25 AM

Buffalo Sabres vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Preview and Predictions 2019-02-21

NHL Predictions 20th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/20/2019

The Buffalo Sabres have gone from being one of the best surprise stories in the league to a fading team six points out of a playoff spot and it won't get any easier when they visit the NHL-best Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night. The Sabres have dropped three straight and are 8-15-2 in their last 25 games after giving up four goals in the third period of Tuesday's 4-2 loss at Florida.

"I believe in the group," Buffalo coach Phil Housley told reporters after the setback. "I like our game at times. It's just mistakes. We're developing young players right now. We have to keep fighting and pushing. ... We've got to keep believing in each other." The Sabres are 1-2-0 this season against the red-hot Lightning, who have won seven straight while scoring a total of 35 goals after a 5-2 victory at Philadelphia on Tuesday. Tampa Bay was without reigning Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman (lower body), 78-point scorer Brayden Point sat out after missing a team meeting, Vezina finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy was rested and the NHL's top scorer Nikita Kucherov (99 points) did not make the scoresheet, but the Lightning flaunted their depth Tuesday. "We've had situations before where guys are out and our depth really shows," Tampa Bay defenseman Ryan McDonagh told reporters. ". ... We don't really like to change the way we play no matter what line's out there or who's in the lineup, so it's a good sign that some other guys got rewarded for playing the right way."

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

ABOUT THE SABRES (28-24-7): Captain Jack Eichel, who told reporters his team is a "fragile group" after Tuesday's setback, has 10 of his team-best 63 points in nine games this month but owns a minus-11 rating in that span. Jeff Skinner has registered five of his team-best 36 goals this month while posting a minus-12 rating during the stretch and Buffalo has lost right wing Kyle Okposo (concussion) along with defenseman Marco Scandella (upper body) indefinitely. The Sabres are not getting much help from their goalies as Linus Ullmark owns an .888 save percentage and Carter Hutton .877 in February.

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (46-11-4): Kucherov recorded 18 points in five games before being held to one shot in Tuesday's victory, but captain Steven Stamkos extended his point streak to seven games (five goals, seven assists). Point is expected back in the lineup carrying a six-game point streak (four goals, eight assists) and leads the team with 35 tallies - two more than Stamkos. Vasilevskiy should be back between the pipes with a 6-0-2 record and .957 save percentage in eight games this month after backup Louis Domingue (19-4-0) won his franchise-record 11th straight decision Tuesday with 28 saves.

OVERTIME

1. Tampa Bay F Tyler Johnson needs two points for 300 in his career and RW Ryan Callahan is one assist shy of 200.

2. Buffalo D Rasmus Ristolainen has been kept off the scoresheet in five straight games after notching five points in the previous four.

3. The Lightning leads the league in power-play percentage (30.2) after converting 10-of-24 opportunities in the last six games.

PREDICTION: Lightning 5, Sabres 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 02-21-2019, 10:26 AM

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Montreal Canadiens Preview and Predictions 2019-02-21

NHL Predictions 20th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/20/2019

The Philadelphia Flyers' fast track toward success over the last month saw a rare misstep in the last outing, with celebrated rookie Carter Hart receiving an unexpected seat on the bench midway into the first period. After surrendering three goals on nine shots, Hart and the Flyers look to regain their footing on Thursday when they visit the Montreal Canadiens.

"We didn't give Carter a chance," interim coach Scott Gordon said after Philadelphia lost for just the third time in 15 games (12-2-1) with Tuesday's 5-2 setback to white-hot Tampa Bay. "He's bounced back before. I don't have any concerns. I want him to be ready for Thursday." Hart had emerged victorious in 10 of his previous 11 starts, including a 33-save performance in a 5-2 victory in Montreal on Jan. 19 that allowed the Flyers to extend their winning streak to five games in the series. The Canadiens, who are 5-0-2 in their last seven contests at Bell Centre since that defeat, snapped a four-game skid overall with Tuesday's 3-2 win versus Columbus. "We knew, everyone knew, that this was the biggest slump of the year. That one's out of the way, now we just got to focus on the next one," said Max Domi (club-best 32 assists, 52 points), who has scored three times in his last two contests overall to reach the 20-goal plateau for the first time in his career.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, TSN2, RDS (Montreal)

ABOUT THE FLYERS (28-25-7): Oskar Lindblom extended his point streak to three games after scoring his third goal in two contests, but the 22-year-old Swede fixated on Philadelphia being struck down by a porous start on Tuesday. "We can't start like that if we want to win games," Lindblom said. "... We can't get out there in the first period and don't want to play. We can't do that." The Flyers will be without burly defenseman Radko Gudas, who was suspended two games by the NHL on Wednesday for high-sticking Tampa Bay forward Nikita Kucherov.

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (32-21-7): Former Hart and Vezina Trophy recipient Carey Price helped Montreal elevate to the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference by turning aside 31 shots against the Blue Jackets for his first win since Feb. 7. "Teams that are winning are getting great goaltending. We've got that right now from him," Canadiens head coach Claude Julien said. "Even the games we didn't win, he's been good. He's been good for quite a while now. He's back to the Carey that we all know." The 31-year-old Price sat out the first meeting with Philadelphia but is expected to get the nod on Thursday and boasts a 13-11-1 mark with two shutouts, a 2.65 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 26 career appearances versus the Flyers.

OVERTIME

1. Philadelphia C Sean Couturier, who leads the team with 24 goals, collected his fourth straight multi-point performance on Wednesday to boost his point total to 27 (nine goals, 18 assists) in his last 19 games.

2. Canadiens LW Tomas Tatar has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his last 12 contests, including an assist on Domi's third-period goal against the Flyers.

3. Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux, who leads the team in assists (44) and points (61), has been held off the scoresheet in three consecutive games.

PREDICTION: Canadiens 2, Flyers 1

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 02-21-2019, 10:26 AM

Los Angeles Kings vs. Nashville Predators Preview and Predictions 2019-02-21

NHL Predictions 20th February 2019 by Gracenote
Kings vs. Predators Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 02/20/2019

Monday's trade deadline serves as an elephant in the room - a distraction for some clubs but Christmas day for others who need a final piece in their postseason equation. The Nashville Predators have already made a big move - literally - in acquiring 6-foot-7 center Brian Boyle from New Jersey and could have more deals up their sleeve as they continue to jockey for playoff position by hosting the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.

"Each guy (deals with) it in their own little way," Nashville's Ryan Ellis told The Tennessean. "Some may worry more than others, depending on your situation or your contract. The players, I don't think there's a ton of communication between each other, especially for the guys that happen to be in the rumor mill or whatever. It's part of the business. You have to deal with it." The Predators are nipping at the heels of first-place Winnipeg in the Central Division and are all but assured to make the playoffs. The same cannot be said for Los Angeles, which is last in the Western Conference and will likely be a seller as it tries to build for the future. "Times like this, you got to stick together and keep striving every day to get better as a team and individually," the Kings' Alex Iafallo told reporters.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network

ABOUT THE KINGS (23-30-6): Dustin Brown (33 points this season) recorded an assist in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to Washington, giving him 600 career points (272 goals) in 1,094 games. Two-time Stanley Cup winning goaltender Jonathan Quick served as a backup Tuesday after missing Saturday's 4-2 loss to Boston (illness) while his .899 save percentage would be his lowest for a full season. Iafallo (13 goals, 26 points) has scored in two straight games and Anze Kopitar (team highs of 17 goals, 44 points) has 13 points (four goals) in his last 11 contests after recording an assist versus Washington.

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (35-22-5): Boyle recorded his second goal in seven games with Nashville in Tuesday's 5-3 victory at Dallas when he skated 200 feet to score from close range after plastering the Stars' Tyler Seguin into the boards behind his own net. Roman Josi, whose 49 points are sixth among league defensemen, scored twice Tuesday and has five goals and eight assists in 10 February contests. Ryan Johansen (team-high 53 points) has been kept off the scoresheet in the last two games after registering two goals and seven assists in the previous six contests.

OVERTIME

1. Predators C Craig Smith (16 goals, 29 points) missed his first game of the season Tuesday with a lower-body injury.

2. Los Angeles is 8-for-13 on the penalty kill over its last five games while Nashville is 1-for-18 on the power play during that span.

3. The Predators have won four straight meetings, including 5-3 on Nov. 17 in the first of three encounters this season behind Calle Jarnkrok's first and only career hat trick.

PREDICTION: Predators 3, Kings 2

Thursday 2-21-19 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

Thursday 2-21-19 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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