Saturday 2-23-19 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Detroit Pistons vs. Miami Heat Preview and Predictions 2019-02-23

NBA Predictions 23rd February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/23/2019

The Miami Heat have struggled mightily at home this season and have a big chance to change that trend with 10 of the next 12 at American Airlines Arena, starting with a visit from the surging Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. The Heat are an ugly 11-16 at home, including four consecutive losses, and have dropped out of playoff position after finishing a 2-4 road trip with a 106-102 setback at Philadelphia on Thursday.

"I think it'll be good for our confidence to get a couple of wins under our belt at home, because we haven't been great at home this year," Miami leading scorer Josh Richardson told reporters. "So I think it's a good time to turn it around." The Heat will have to raise their level of play against the Pistons, who have a one-game lead on them for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference after rallying past Atlanta 125-122 on Friday for their fifth win in the last six contests. Detroit trailed by four with 1:25 to go before Andre Drummond made a basket, followed that up with two free throws and Thon Maker drained a 3-pointer to give the Pistons an important victory. "I thought we just did a good job of staying collected," Pistons leading scorer Blake Griffin, who scored 15 before being ejected in the third quarter, told reporters. "Over the course of the season we've been in this position so many times and hopefully some of that experience is starting to pay off."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Sun (Miami)

ABOUT THE PISTONS (27-30): Griffin averaged 26.5 points in the first six games of February before having his night cut short Friday, but guard Reggie Jackson stepped up to score a season-high 32 to go along with eight assists and zero turnovers. Drummond recorded his 10th consecutive double-double Friday, averaging 23.1 points along with 16.2 rebounds during that streak, and has been better at the free-throw line this month (64.2 percent) than overall this season (55.8). Rookie guard Bruce Brown scored 12 against Atlanta, his highest total since pouring in 15 points against Sacramento on Jan. 10.

ABOUT THE HEAT (26-31): Richardson (17.5 points) has cooled off a bit, scoring 13 per game the last three, and fellow guard Dion Waiters picked up the slack while averaging 18.3 over the past four with 14 makes from 3-point range. Veteran guard Goran Dragic (knee) is close to returning to the lineup after missing more than two months and forward Derrick Jones Jr. scored nine Thursday following a eight-game absence with a bruised knee. Center Hassan Whiteside has struggled the last three contests, averaging just 5.3 points and seven boards - well below his season averages of 12.6 and 12.2, respectively.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Miami veteran G Dwyane Wade scored 19 on Thursday against Philadelphia and is averaging 20.4 points in his career against the Pistons.

2. The teams have split a pair of games in Detroit this season as Griffin averaged 28 points and Richardson scored 27 in one of the games.

3. Maker scored nine points - his highest total in four games since arriving from Milwaukee in a trade - in 18 minutes Friday.

PREDICTION: Heat, 111, Pistons 102

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Sacramento Kings vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Preview and Predictions 2019-02-23

NBA Predictions 23rd February 2019 by Gracenote
Kings vs. Thunder Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 02/23/2019

Russell Westbrook's record triple-double streak is over, but he continues to mix well with star teammate Paul George for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. Westbrook fell two assists shy of stretching his streak to 12 games while George knocked down the winning floater with 0.8 seconds left in the second overtime as the Thunder edged visiting Utah 148-147 on Friday.

George scored 45 points and Westbrook added 43 to mark just the sixth time that two teammates scored 40 in the same game over the last 25 seasons. "We had time to be around each other, and learn each other and learn each other's families," George said in a postgame television interview of his strong bond with Westbrook in their second season as teammates. "I think it just developed, and it developed at a good pace." The Kings are just 2-17 all-time in Oklahoma City, but one of the wins occurred on Oct. 21 as they recorded a 131-120 victory. Sacramento is 0-2 on its four-game trip that began with two-point losses to Denver and Golden State.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS Oklahoma

ABOUT THE KINGS (30-28): Buddy Hield is averaging 26.7 points in three contests against Oklahoma City this season, including a career-best 37 in a 132-113 setback on Dec. 19. Hield has reached double digits in scoring in 23 straight games, recording 20 or more points in 12 of those contests. Rookie forward Marvin Bagley III is becoming more of a factor as he registered 28 points and 14 rebounds in Thursday's 125-123 loss at Golden State and is averaging 21.3 points over his last four games.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (38-20): Westbrook, who grabbed 15 rebounds, was in scoring mode with 29 shots (making 15), but he fouled out with 1:09 left in the first overtime to end his streak at 11 - two better than the former record set by Hall-of-Famer Wilt Chamberlain in 1968. Westbrook posted his third 40-point outing of the season while George scored at least 45 for the third time in four contests and has seven 40-point efforts this season. "There were just a lot of different things in this game," coach Billy Donovan said during his press conference, "and, of course, Paul was a big part of that with the plays he made and the shots he made during the course of the game."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Kings are 2-1 against the Thunder this season and 10-30 in the all-time series since the former Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City.

2. Thunder backup PG Dennis Schroder was just 3-of-16 shooting while scoring nine points against the Jazz.

3. Sacramento PG De'Aaron Fox is averaging 16.7 points and nine assists over his last three games.

PREDICTION: Thunder 117, Kings 109

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls Preview and Predictions 2019-02-23

NBA Predictions 23rd February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/23/2019

The Boston Celtics stumbled in their first game following the All-Star break but hope to get back into the win column against a team they've embarrassed twice already this season when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. The Celtics routed the Bulls 111-82 at home in November and then set a franchise record for largest margin of victory in a 133-77 triumph at Chicago in December.

Boston shot 53.8 percent from the floor in that one-sided win, but it finished at 38.2 percent in Thursday's 98-97 loss at Milwaukee, with All-Star Kyrie Irving's off-balance attempt in the closing seconds the final miss. "It happens," Irving told reporters of the loss coming after a week off. "Just part of the break and coming off and playing the first game, getting the cold ones out." The Bulls will be aiming for their first three-game winning streak of the season after knocking off Memphis prior to the break and then Orlando after it. Lauri Markkanen capped a 25-point effort with two free throws with 1.5 seconds left in Friday's 110-109 triumph over the Magic on the road.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Boston, NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE CELTICS (37-22): Irving missed the final two games before the break due to a knee issue before playing 25 minutes in the All-Star Game and then shooting 9-for-27 from the floor in 41 minutes Thursday night. Al Horford chipped in 21 points and a season-high 17 rebounds to go along with five assists, three blocks and two steals. The team played without reserve forward Gordon Hayward, who sprained an ankle in a workout Tuesday, but he has been upgraded to probable for this one.

ABOUT THE BULLS (15-44): Markkanen owns nine double-doubles in his last 10 games and has reached the 20-point mark in seven consecutive contests. Also on a roll for Chicago is center Robin Lopez, who scored 18 points in Friday's win and is shooting 67.5 percent from the floor over a span of eight games, the last three of which have seen him play more than 30 minutes. "Any NBA player always is going to be happy to be playing," Lopez, who entered Friday averaging 17.8 minutes, told reporters. "Base motivation right there."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Celtics SG Jaylen Brown averaged 20.5 points on 64 percent shooting in the first two matchups.

2. Bulls SF Otto Porter Jr. is 14-for-25 from 3-point range in five games since being acquired from Washington.

3. Boston has claimed each of the last five meetings.

PREDICTION: Celtics 110, Bulls 102

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors Preview and Predictions 2019-02-23

NBA Predictions 22nd February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/22/2019

James Harden is in sole possession of the second-longest 30-point scoring streak in NBA history at an astounding 32 games, but his Houston Rockets are coming off a tough loss. The Rockets will try to solve some of their road woes and pick up a signature victory when they visit the Western Conference-leading Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

Harden collected 30 points, six assists and five rebounds before fouling out with 1:24 remaining on Thursday and watched from the bench as Houston finished squandering a 19-point lead in a 111-106 setback at the Los Angeles Lakers. The loss dropped the Rockets to 13-16 on the road and they sit in fifth place in the West, two games behind the fourth-place Portland Trail Blazers and nine shy of Golden State. The Warriors were a little rusty in their first game after the All-Star break on Thursday but rode All-Stars Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant to a 125-123 win over the Sacramento Kings. "A win is a win for us coming out of the break," Curry told reporters. "It was a good feeling, but we know that we can play better."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (33-25): Harden was heated after Thursday's loss due to what he felt were incorrect calls going against him, specifically four offensive fouls. "Scott Foster, man. I never really talk about officiating or anything like that, but just rude and arrogant," Harden told reporters of the 25-year veteran ref. "I mean, you aren't able to talk to him throughout the course of the game, and it's like, how do you build that relationship with officials? And it's not even that call (on the sixth foul). It's just who he is on that floor." The likely fine coming for those comments won't keep Harden from his pursuit of Wilt Chamberlain's NBA-record streak of 65 straight games scoring 30 or more points.

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (42-16): Durant, who was named the MVP of Sunday's All-Star Game in Charlotte, showed off his skills at both ends of the floor in Thursday's triumph. The free-agent-to-be collected 28 points, nine rebounds and four assists while matching a career high with seven blocked shots, including five against Sacramento rookie Marvin Bagley III. Curry added 36 points while going 10-of-16 from 3-point range, setting an NBA record with his fifth game this season with 10 or more made 3-pointers.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Rockets C Clint Capela (thumb) returned from a 15-game absence on Thursday and collected 12 points and 11 rebounds in 33 minutes.

2. Warriors PG Shaun Livingston (personal) sat out Thursday and is questionable for Saturday.

3. Capela recorded 29 points and 21 boards and Harden collected 44 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds in a 135-134 overtime win at Golden State on Jan. 3.

PREDICTION: Warriors 128, Rockets 118

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Milwaukee Bucks Preview and Predictions 2019-02-23

NBA Predictions 22nd February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/22/2019

The Milwaukee Bucks are a season-best 30 games over .500 and look to continue their dominating play when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. Milwaukee has won 15 of its last 17 contests and can surpass last season's win total of 44 if it defeats the Timberwolves.

Bucks All-Star power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 30 points and 13 rebounds to lead his team to a 98-97 home victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday. "It was a good game, we didn't play our best basketball," Antetokounmpo told reporters, "but they're a really dangerous team." The Timberwolves posted a 115-104 victory over the host New York Knicks on Friday despite All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns missing the first game of his career because of a concussion suffered in a car accident. "I'd just like to have him out there because he's a pretty good player," Minnesota interim coach Ryan Saunders told reporters. "So the streak, I think that is something that everybody should definitely take note of with Karl's durability and his toughness and how he approaches the game, but from a coach's viewpoint you'd like to have like Karl on the floor whenever you can."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (28-30): Towns was injured Thursday in the Minneapolis area when he was driving to the airport to catch the team flight to New York. He later took a commercial flight to join the team and was examined Friday and placed in the concussion protocol, which ended his streak to 303 consecutive games, and also indicates he will be unavailable against the Bucks. Point guard Derrick Rose (20 points) and power forward Taj Gibson (season-best 19 points) picked up the slack against the Knicks in an effort Saunders described as "a next-man up mentality."

ABOUT THE BUCKS (44-14): Forward Nikola Mirotic made his Milwaukee debut against Boston and scored eight points in 14 minutes after missing his first four games with the team because of a calf injury. Mirotic, who averages 16.4 points and 8.1 rebounds, was acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans at the trading deadline and the Bucks are looking for him to stretch defenses with his 3-point shooting stroke (87 makes in 33 games). "That's what I do, I also play defense, that's true," Mirotic told reporters of his skills. "A lot of guys think I just shoot the basketball, shoot 3s. I feel fresh. Seriously. I've been out for more than 10 days. ... I know I can guard."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Bucks have won seven of the past nine meetings, including a 125-95 road win over the Timberwolves on Oct. 26.

2. Milwaukee All-Star SF Khris Middleton had 15 points and a season-best 13 rebounds against Boston for his fourth double-double of the campaign.

3. Minnesota PG Tyus Jones (ankle) returned from a 13-game absence and had four points in 17 minutes against the Knicks.

PREDICTION: Bucks 118, Timberwolves 102

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz Preview and Predictions 2019-02-23

NBA Predictions 23rd February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/23/2019

Star rookie Luka Doncic likely will miss his second straight game with a right ankle injury when the Dallas Mavericks visit the Utah Jazz on Saturday. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was non-committal when asked about Doncic's status for the meeting with the Jazz, who have won five straight home games in the all-time series.

Doncic, who averages 20.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists, missed his third game of the season when Dallas dropped a 114-104 home decision to Denver on Friday. The Mavericks have dropped three straight contests and will be offensively challenged if they don't have Doncic, who has recorded three triple-doubles in his last 11 appearances. The Jazz have lost their last two games and will be looking to bounce back from an intense 148-147 double-overtime road setback against Oklahoma City on Friday. "Eventually, your execution, no matter how hard you're competing, you have to be able to execute," Utah coach Quin Snyder said in a postgame television interview. "We had some possessions where we didn't, and those cost you. The margin for error isn't that great."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Utah)

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (26-32): Carlisle was discouraged by his squad's play against the Nuggets as Dallas shot just 40.5 percent from the field - including 10-for-41 from 3-point range - and was dominated by a 63-42 count on the boards. "We have to rebound better and get more stops, and that will help our offense," Carlisle told reporters after Friday's game. "Our execution can always be better, even when it's good." Rookie guard Jalen Brunson took advantage of Doncic's absence to score a season-best 22 points in 31 minutes against Denver.

ABOUT THE JAZZ (32-26): Utah has zero time to rest on the second end of the back-to-back set after a high-energy, 58-minute contest against the Thunder, and the players know it will be hard to rebound against the Mavericks but also are aware that is part of life in the NBA. "We have to ignore it and move on," star guard Donovan Mitchell told reporters. "I think you have to accept the fact that you're going to be tired. ... They are going to be feeding off that, but we've got to be ready." Mitchell poured in 38 points to exceed 20 for the fifth straight game and 18th in his last 19 contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Jazz have won two of this season's three meetings, but Dallas' victory was a 118-68 pounding on Nov. 14.

2. Mavericks PF Dwight Powell scored a season-best 20 points against Denver and has reached double digits in five of his last six games.

3. Utah C Rudy Gobert scored a season-best 26 points and collected 16 rebounds on Friday for his sixth straight double-double.

PREDICTION: Jazz 105, Mavericks 99

[Can'tPickAWinner]

New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers Preview and Predictions 2019-02-23

NHL Predictions 22nd February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/22/2019

The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils sit in seventh and eight place, respectively, in the Metropolitan Division and that lowly status is why both clubs expect to see some roster turnover by Monday's NHL trade deadline. The Devils will play for the only time away from home in a seven-game stretch when they make a short trek to visit the Rangers on Saturday afternoon.

New Jersey has won three of four to pull within four points of New York, which is 5-6-1 in its last 12 and has not posted consecutive wins since the All-Star break. The Rangers are expected to part with at least one of their two impending free agents, forwards Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes, before the deadline. "As I stand here now, guys that are on the roster will be in the lineup until I'm told differently," New York coach David Quinn said Friday. The Devils have taken a different tact, sitting top trade targets Marcus Johansson and defenseman Ben Lovejoy for Thursday's game, and are expected to hold them out Saturday.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus, MSG

ABOUT THE DEVILS (24-29-8): Goaltender Cory Schneider continued his improbable revival by making 30 saves for his first shutout of the season in Thursday's 4-0 win over Ottawa and has turned aside 79 of 80 shots in winning his last three appearances following a 21-game winless drought. Johansson, who has collected seven points in his last six games, and Lovejoy both practiced Friday and will accompany the team to Madison Square Garden. "It's a weird spot. I've never been in this situation before and just going to take it for what it is," Johansson said. "I don't know how to put it into words."

ABOUT THE RANGERS (26-26-8): The line of Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Zuccarello has been the most productive for New York, but Quinn decided to change things up in Thursday's 4-1 home loss to Minnesota, sliding Jimmy Vesey into Kreider's spot in an effort to jump-start the offense. "I was looking for something different," Quinn said. "The way things were going for most of our lines, and our game in general, I just thought, we'll try something different." Rookie netminder Alexandar Georgiev, who had his three-start winning streak snapped in Sunday's loss at Pittsburgh, will get the nod against the Devils.

OVERTIME

1. Rangers F Pavel Buchnevich has three goals in the last five games.

2. Devils F Jesper Bratt has two goals and five assists during a five-game point streak.

3. Georgiev is 5-2-0 with a 1.78 goals-against average at Madison Square Garden.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Devils 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Washington Capitals vs. Buffalo Sabres Preview and Predictions 2019-02-23

NHL Predictions 22nd February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/22/2019

Captain Alex Ovechkin has haunted opposing goaltenders in his last four games, scoring five times to boost his NHL-leading total to 43 this season while reaching 650 in his decorated career. The three-time Hart Trophy recipient aims to continue his torrid ways on Saturday afternoon as the Washington Capitals conclude their season-high six-game road trip against the Buffalo Sabres, who have lost four in a row (0-3-1).

"If you look at the standings, especially on the road, if you get a win or can get a point, it's a good result," Ovechkin said after scoring his 20th goal in his last 22 road games in Thursday's 3-2 win over Toronto. Ovechkin scored in the Capitals' 4-3 victory against Buffalo on Dec. 15 to extend his point streak to a career-best 14 games at the time before netting the winner in the shootout. Sabres captain Jack Eichel tallied twice in that contest and set up rookie defenseman Rasmus Dahlin's first-period goal in Thursday's 2-1 shootout loss to Tampa Bay, boosting his point total to 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in his last 15 contests. The 18-year-old Dahlin, the top overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft, collected a goal and two assists in the first encounter with Washington.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, NHL Network, NBCS Washington, Sportsnet, MSG-B (Buffalo)

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (34-20-7): Braden Holtby turned aside 40 shots against the Maple Leafs to improve to 2-2-0 on the road trip despite yielding just 10 goals on 138 shots. The 2016 Vezina Trophy winner improved to 9-3-1 in his career versus Buffalo after making 36 saves -- including 16 in the final 20 minutes -- of a 2-1 win on Dec. 21. Tom Wilson, who netted the go-ahead tally with seven minutes remaining in the third period of that contest, scored and set up a goal for the second time in four games on Thursday.

ABOUT THE SABRES (28-24-8): Evan Rodrigues was taken back to yesteryear by joining former Boston University teammate Eichel -- as well as Jeff Skinner (club-best 36 goals) -- on the same line Thursday. "(Eichel) can make such incredible plays that you can't ever be shocked by the things he does," the 25-year-old Rodrigues told the Buffalo News. "One thing that's overlooked is that he's such a dynamic player that you actually try to get away from him on the ice, let him do his thing one on one. ... You try to find open areas, the weak side of the ice, and be prepared for what he's capable of doing." Rasmus Ristolainen has recorded two of his 31 assists versus Washington, but the defenseman owns a minus-7 rating while being held off the scoresheet in his last six games.

OVERTIME

1. Washington acquired Nick Jensen and a 2019 fifth-round draft pick from Detroit on Friday in exchange for fellow D Madison Bowey and a second-round selection in 2010.

2. Buffalo G Carter Hutton, who is mired in a four-game losing skid, has yielded just six goals in his last three contests.

3. Capitals D John Carlson, who leads the team with 46 assists, has scored one goal and set up five others during his four-game point streak.

PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Sabres 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Boston Bruins vs. St. Louis Blues Preview and Predictions 2019-02-23

NHL Predictions 22nd February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/22/2019

After seeing their franchise-record 11-game winning streak finally come to a halt, the surging St. Louis Blues may find it hard to bounce back when they face a team that has been almost equally as hot. The Blues will look to erase the memory of a 5-2 loss in Dallas on Thursday night when they return home to face the sizzling Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon.

St. Louis had not even trailed over a stretch of eight games before Dallas scored the first three goals on Thursday to hand the Blues their first loss since Jan. 21. "This time of the year everybody's trying to push for something, whether it's a playoff spot or playoff seed," captain Alex Pietrangelo said. "So we know every single game's gonna be important." Boston, which is in second place in the Atlantic Division, has won seven in a row entering the finale of a five-game road trip and takes a 12-game point streak into the matchup against St. Louis. "The whole month we've been good, consistent," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Part of that is to do with our lineup has become consistent because our injured guys are back. They've got some time under their belt."

TV: 4 p.m. ET, NHL Network, NESN (Boston), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

ABOUT THE BRUINS (36-17-8): Boston made a move to bolster its depth down the middle when it acquired center Charlie Coyle from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Ryan Donato and a fifth-round pick in this year's draft. Coyle, who scored a career-high 21 goals in 2015-16 and had 10 tallies and 28 assists this season with the Wild, has plenty of ties to his new club, growing up in nearby East Weymouth and playing collegiately at Boston University. "You envision you're playing for the hometown team, and I definitely did some of that when I was younger," the 26-year-old Coyle said. "So obviously it's a cool moment right now."

ABOUT THE BLUES (32-23-5): St. Louis' No. 1 line of Vladimir Tarasenko, Ryan O'Reilly and Brayden Schenn carried the offense during the 11-game run, but Schenn sat out Thursday's game after suffering an upper-body injury two nights earlier. Tarasenko and O'Reilly each accounted for the goals at Dallas while playing alongside Jaden Schwartz, who has collected points in six of his last seven games overall and has posted four goals and five assists during a seven-game point streak against Boston. Rookie Jordan Binnington had his nine-start winning streak snapped, giving up more than three goals for only the second time.

OVERTIME

1. Bruins F Jake DeBrusk has scored in five straight games to go along with five assists in that span.

2. Tarasenko has 11 goals in his last 12 games and has scored three in nine meetings with Boston.

3. Boston G Tuukka Rask is 12-0-2 in his last 15 starts, including a 5-2 win over St. Louis on Jan. 17.

PREDICTION: Blues 3, Bruins 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Dallas Stars Preview and Predictions 2019-02-23

NHL Predictions 22nd February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/22/2019

Captain Jamie Benn broke out of a long scoring slump last time out and hopes to follow up the big night when his Dallas Stars resume their hunt for a Western Conference playoff spot Saturday against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes. Benn managed one goal in 14 games before scoring twice as Dallas, which holds the first wild-card spot, snapped a three-game slide with a 5-2 victory over red-hot St. Louis at home Thursday

"Hopefully, he's back and he's good for us," Stars right wing Alexander Radulov told the Dallas Morning News of Benn. "Sometimes, things not going your way and we all get frustrated, but we're just going to keep working. He showed everybody an example of that." Benn, who reached 20 goals for the ninth time in 10 seasons Thursday with 21, and Dallas were blanked 3-0 at Carolina last Saturday and will need a big effort against the hard-charging Hurricanes - 10-3-1 in their last 14 contests. Carolina held a one-point lead for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference entering Friday after coughing up a two-goal lead and then rallying with two power-play tallies in the final 20 minutes - the winner from veteran forward Justin Williams - for a 4-3 victory at Florida on Thursday. "Got to give full marks for everyone who got on board in the third, but especially our top guys," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour told reporters. "(Williams), what a game. He gets banged up. He's the catalyst for everything and everyone followed behind him and pulled it out."

TV: 5 p.m. ET, FS Carolinas, FS Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (32-23-6): Williams finished with two goals and an assist against Florida to push his total to 13 points in 11 games this month and 41 on the season - third on the team. Sebastian Aho leads Carolina with 24 goals and 68 points - 17 of them coming in his last 14 contests - and Teuvo Teravainen had a pair of assists Thursday to increase his point total to 54, only 10 shy of his career high in 2017-18. Right wing Nino Niederreiter continues to pay dividends since being acquired from Minnesota for Victor Rask, posting 15 points in 15 games - eight in the past six.

ABOUT THE STARS (30-25-5): Center Tyler Seguin has scored in back-to-back games and boasts 12 of his team-leading 57 points in 10 games this month while reaching 26 goals for the sixth straight season. No. 1 goalie Ben Bishop (19-12-2, .924 save percentage) could make his return to the lineup Saturday after missing seven games with an upper-body injury after Anton Khudobin went 2-4-1 in his absence with a .914 SP. Defenseman Esa Lindell registered four points (one goal) in the last two games to push his season total 28 - one better than his previous career best set last season.

OVERTIME

1. Carolina's veteran C Jordan Staal (concussion), out since Dec. 22, could return as early as Saturday.

2. Dallas is 1-of-17 with the man advantage the past seven games and allowed six power-play goals in the last six contests.

3. Hurricanes G Petr Mrazek, who shut out Dallas with 33 saves on Feb. 16, allowed six goals in his last four starts.

PREDICTION: Stars 4, Hurricanes 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

San Jose Sharks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Preview and Predictions 2019-02-23

NHL Predictions 22nd February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/22/2019

Matt Duchene was kept off the scoresheet against his former team just hours after being traded, but the Columbus Blue Jackets managed to come away with a victory anyway. Duchene and the Blue Jackets look to make it two in a row when they begin a five-game homestand Saturday against the San Jose Sharks.

The 28-year-old Duchene registered three shots in 19 minutes, 11 seconds of ice time for Columbus in Friday's 3-0 triumph at Ottawa, which dealt the veteran center - along with defenseman Julius Bergman - for a pair of prospects and two first-round draft picks (one of them conditional). Sergei Bobrovsky made 22 saves en route to his fourth shutout of the campaign and Cam Atkinson scored his team-leading 33rd goal for the Blue Jackets, who climbed into third place in the Metropolitan Division. San Jose began its four-game trek by extending its road winning streak to six games with a 4-0 victory in Pittsburgh on Thursday. Tomas Hertl scored twice while defenseman Brent Burns notched a goal and two assists for the Sharks, who entered Friday one point behind Calgary for first place in the Pacific Division.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), FS Ohio (Columbus)

ABOUT THE SHARKS (36-17-8): Micheal Haley began his second stint with San Jose on Thursday, registering two hits and blocking a shot in 8 1/2 minutes of ice time. The 32-year-old forward, who recorded three goals, 10 assists and 187 penalty minutes in 78 games with the Sharks from 2014-17, was claimed off waivers from Florida on Wednesday. Burns' multi-point effort was his fifth in 10 games, a stretch during which he has collected three goals and 12 assists.

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (34-23-3): A two-time All-Star who was selected by Colorado with the third overall pick in the 2009 draft, Duchene has eclipsed the 20-goal plateau seven times in his career and has been held without a point in back-to-back games only twice this season - most recently on Nov. 3 and 4. He recorded 27 goals and 31 assists in 50 contests with the Senators and posted two-point performances in four of his final six games with the club. Center Pierre-Luc Dubois landed on the scoresheet for just the second time in six contests on Friday with an assist, which was his 100th career point.

OVERTIME

1. Atkinson is two goals away from matching the career high he recorded in 2016-17.

2. San Jose is 8-1-1 in its last 10 overall contests.

3. Columbus D Ryan Murray (upper body) was placed on injured reserve and is out indefinitely.

PREDICTION: Sharks 4, Blue Jackets 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Los Angeles Kings vs. Florida Panthers Preview and Predictions 2019-02-23

NHL Predictions 22nd February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/22/2019

The Florida Panthers look to rebound from a demoralizing loss last time out as they continue their quest to climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff race Saturday night when they host the struggling Los Angeles Kings. The Panthers had won three in a row and nine of 13 games before coughing up a third-period lead and suffering a 4-3 setback against Carolina on Thursday.

"Right now every game for us is crucial," Florida captain Aleksander Barkov told reporters after his team fell double digits out of the second wild card in the East. "It doesn't matter who we play against, but of course it's tough to lose the game like that when it's a four-point game and a team we're chasing. But we just need to keep our heads up and look to the next game." Barkov is doing his part with nine points in the last three games as the Panthers look to take advantage of the Western Conference-worst Kings, who have won five of the last six meetings with Florida. Los Angeles, which is open for business with the trade deadline just a few days away, has lost six in a row (0-4-2) to take away any chance of joining the crowded playoff chase after a 2-1 setback at Nashville on Thursday. "We're just not good enough right now," Kings forward Dustin Brown told reporters. "We've got to figure it out, individually, how to be better and collectively, to be better. ... We have a lot of guys who are learning on the fly right now. I think it's a good opportunity for guys to play in these games."

TV: 5 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), FS Florida

ABOUT THE KINGS (23-31-6): Captain Anze Kopitar tops the team in goals (17) and has posted 13 of his club-high 44 points in the last dozen games, but no one else on the team has reached 34. Brown and former Norris Trophy winner Drew Doughty are next with 33 points while forwards Ilya Kovalchuk and Alex Iafallo each have two goals in the last three games to push their totals to 13 - second on the team. Tyler Toffoli did not post a point in his past four games and fellow forward Jeff Carter has been kept off the scoresheet in five straight for Los Angeles, which is second-to-last in the league in scoring (2.37).

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (26-25-8): Barkov tops the team with 62 points and fellow forward Jonathan Huberdeau is next with 58 after recording three goals and three assists in his last three contests. Mike Hoffman leads Florida with 26 goals and had an assist Thursday to reach 50 points for the fourth consecutive season while Evgenii Dadonov registered five of his 47 points in the past four contests. Veteran Roberto Luongo (12-13-1, .895 save percentage) could make his first appearance between the pipes since Feb. 12 after being on bereavement leave and seeing James Reimer win three of his past four starts.

OVERTIME

1. Los Angeles G Jonathan Quick has allowed 16 goals in his last four games, but is 8-2-0 with a .941 SP career versus the Panthers.

2. Florida D Mike Matheson (lower body) is day-to-day, but D Mackenzie Weegar returned Thursday after missing a week because of illness.

3. The Panthers are third in the league on the power play (25.7 percent) and the Kings rank 30th in penalty killing (74.9).

PREDICTION: Panthers 5, Kings 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Colorado Avalanche vs. Nashville Predators Preview and Predictions 2019-02-23

NHL Predictions 23rd February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/23/2019

The Nashville Predators are starting to resemble a Stanley Cup contender as they continue their three-game homestand Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche in a big Central Division clash. Nashville has won two straight and three of its last four games after Thursday's 2-1 victory over Los Angeles as it continues to jockey with Winnipeg for Central supremacy.

"We talked about having some consistency and having a couple of good games in a row," Predators captain Roman Josi told reporters. "I thought we played two good games, and now we've got to focus on the next one and do it again." Colorado is one point behind Minnesota for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference after Friday's 5-3 victory at Chicago. The Avalanche, who have won four of their last five games after losing eight straight (0-5-3), are among four teams within four points of the Wild - with Dallas one ahead of Minnesota. Nashville won two of the first three meetings this season, including 4-1 at Colorado on Jan. 21 behind a 35-save performance by Pekka Rinne as the road team has won the last six encounters.

TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Colorado), FS Tennessee (Nashville)

ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (26-24-11): J.T. Compher scored two goals in his homecoming on Friday, giving him a career-high 14 after he recorded 13 last season. "It's always fun coming back to play here," Compher, who grew up some 25 miles away from United Center in Northbrook, Ill., told reporters. "I've done it a few times now, and to get a big win like this is extra special." Carl Soderberg, the oldest player on the team at 33, also scored twice against Chicago to increase his career-high goal total to 21.

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (36-22-5): Josi (51 points) has collected six goals and nine assists in 11 games this month and notched one of each on Thursday to become the first defenseman in club history with four seasons of at least 50 points. Ryan Johansen (team-high 53 points) hasn't hit the scoresheet in three contests since recording two goals and seven assists during a six-game point streak. Viktor Arvidsson (club-best 26 goals) hasn't scored in three contests after tallying seven times in his first eight games in February.

OVERTIME

1. Nashville is 4-for-28 on the power play over its last nine games after going 0-for-31 in the previous nine contests.

2. Colorado RW Mikko Rantanen (team-high 78 points - one more than Nathan MacKinnon) recorded an assist Friday for his 200th career point.

3. Rinne (22-15-3, 2.44 goals-against average, .917 save percentage this season) is 25-8-2 with a 2.23 GAA and .918 save percentage in 38 games versus the Avalanche - including marks of 2-1-0, 1.69 and .942 in 2018-19.

PREDICTION: Predators 3, Avalanche 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Preview and Predictions 2019-02-23

NHL Predictions 22nd February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/22/2019

The Toronto Maple Leafs have dropped three in a row to open the door for the fourth-place Montreal Canadiens to inch closer to them in the Atlantic Division standings. The Maple Leafs aim to get back on track and defeat the Canadiens for the third time in as many meetings this season when the Original Six rivals reconvene in Toronto on Saturday night.

"You can't outscore your defensive mistakes. You have to be good defensively," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock told TSN after Thursday's 3-2 setback to Washington in the opener of a four-game homestand. "There was lots of good opportunity here, no question about it. I thought we had exceptional looks ... but the bottom line is you have to get points." John Tavares scored his team-leading 34th goal versus the Capitals to boost his point total to 10 (four goals, six assists) in his last nine games heading into the meeting with Montreal, against which he has tallied twice this season -- including in overtime of a 4-3 win on Feb. 9. The Canadiens, who begin a stretch of playing seven of their next eight on the road, answered a four-game skid by posting wins over Columbus and Philadelphia to move within three points of the Maple Leafs. "We're heading on a little bit of a tough road trip here, so we're feeling good about ourselves. Hopefully we continue it and it carries over," Brendan Gallagher (team-leading 26 goals) said after netting his first career hat trick in Thursday's 5-1 win over the Flyers.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBC, Sportsnet, CITY (Montreal), TVAS

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (33-21-7): Andrew Shaw has scored a goal in both meetings with the Maple Leafs while Gallagher joined Tomas Tatar in tallying in the teams' recent encounter this month. Tatar also scored on Thursday to reach the 20-goal plateau for the fourth time in his career while Max Domi, the son of former Toronto tough guy Tie Domi, notched his club-high 33rd assist on that tally to set a personal best with 53 points. Phillip Danault had an assist on Gallagher's opening goal on Thursday to lift his point total to a career-high 41, surpassing his previous best campaign in 2016-17 in 22 fewer games.

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (36-20-4): Andreas Johnsson continued his torrid stretch with a third-period goal against Washington, boosting his point total to 10 (six goals, four assists) in his last eight games. "I don't have the dominant feeling, but I feel when I skate hard I can create chances and this was one of my more energetic games. I feel I have to come with that level every game," the 24-year-old Swede said. Auston Matthews, who picked up an assist on Johnsson's tally to give him 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in his last dozen games, capped a two-goal performance by scoring 1:01 into overtime in a 3-2 win over the Canadiens on Oct. 3.

OVERTIME

1. Montreal G Carey Price owns an 18-9-1 mark since the start of December.

2. Maple Leafs G Frederik Andersen improved to 6-3-1 in 10 career encounters versus the Canadiens after turning aside 69 of 74 shots in two matches this season.

3. Montreal captain Shea Weber sits two goals shy of 200 for his career.

PREDICTION: Canadiens 3, Maple Leafs 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Preview and Predictions 2019-02-23

NHL Predictions 22nd February 2019 by Gracenote
Penguins vs. Flyers Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 02/22/2019

Sidney Crosby has tormented fans of the Philadelphia Flyers from the moment he was selected by the Keystone State-rival Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring 40 goals among his 97 points in 65 career encounters. Designated as Public Enemy No. 1 in the City of Brotherly Love, Crosby is bracing himself to be booed in front of nearly 70,000 fans on Saturday night as the Penguins play the Flyers in an outdoor game at Lincoln Financial Field.

"It'll be a difficult environment. It's going to be a lot, but at the same time it's fun to play in those environments sometime," said Crosby, who will play in his fifth outdoor game and first since scoring a goal in a 4-2 win over Philadelphia at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh in 2017. The two-time Hart Trophy recipient, who has a six-game point streak (four goals, nine assists) against the Flyers, saw his overall six-game point streak (two goals, 10 assists) halted in Thursday's 4-0 setback to San Jose. Crosby and the Penguins look to rebound versus celebrated rookie Carter Hart, who is hoping the crisp air of a February night in Pennsylvania will breathe new life into his game after being pulled midway into the first period of back-to-back contests. "I know that the last two games haven't been our best, but we'll put this behind us, go back to work and get ready for Saturday against Pittsburgh," said the 20-year-old Hart, who will wear a specially painted mask that pays homage to the Eagles.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet1, TVAS2

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (32-22-7): Evgeni Malkin scored four goals and set up eight others during an interrupted eight-game stretch before joining the rest of his team in being held off the scoresheet versus the Sharks. Jake Guentzel netted four of his team-leading 28 goals this month, including one in the third period of a 4-1 win over Philadelphia on Feb. 11. Veteran forward Matt Cullen, who scored the game-winning goal in the previous outdoor game versus the Flyers, is expected to compete in his 1,496th game to move past Hall of Famer Phil Housley for the third most by an American-born player.

ABOUT THE FLYERS (28-26-7): Travis Konecny set up Michael Raffl's goal in Thursday's 5-1 setback to Montreal to give him 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in his last 14 games. The 21-year-old Konecny scored in Philadelphia's 4-2 win at Pittsburgh on Dec. 1, with Sean Couturier (team-leading 24 goals) collecting an assist in that contest and 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) in a 19-game stretch heading into the tilt versus the Penguins. "There should be a lot of atmosphere in the building," the 26-year-old Couturier said. "Philly fans are always emotional and there's always a lot of atmosphere. And in front of 70,000, it should be a lot of fun, so hopefully we can put on a good show, a good effort and get a win."

OVERTIME

1. Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux, who has club-best totals in assists (44) and points (61), has 47 points (15 goals, 32 assists) in 46 career encounters with Pittsburgh.

2. The Penguins will play in their fifth outdoor game on Saturday, moving them within one of Chicago for the most in the NHL.

3. Flyers LW James van Riemsdyk will suit up for his fifth NHL outdoor game, with three coming while playing for Toronto.

PREDICTION: Penguins 5, Flyers 2