Atlanta Thrashers vs. New Jersey Devils
- The fans at Prudential Center will be treated to a game between the Atlanta Thrashers and the New Jersey Devils when they take their seats on Friday.
The Thrashers scored twice in the shootout Wednesday, as they defeated the Capitals 3-2. The Thrashers won the game as -125 favorites, while the combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under (6).
Eric Perrin and Marian Hossa scored in regulation for the Thrashers. Kari Lehtonen stopped 39-of-41 shots in the win.
Brian Gionta scored the overtime winner Wednesday, lifting the Devils to a 3-2 win over the Senators. The Devils won the game as +100 underdogs, while the combined five goals fell UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Jamie Langenbrunner and Karl Rachunek scored for the Devils, and Patrick Elias collected two assists in the win.
Current streak:
Atlanta has won 2 straight games.
New Jersey has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Atlanta: 28-27-4
New Jersey: 32-21-4
Atlanta most recently:
When playing on Friday are 5-5
Before playing NY Rangers are 2-8
After playing Washington are 2-8
After a win are 4-6
New Jersey most recently:
When playing on Friday are 5-4-1
Before playing Buffalo are 9-1
After playing Ottawa are 5-5
After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing on the road against New Jersey
Atlanta is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Atlanta is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against New Jersey
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Jersey's last 5 games when playing at home against Atlanta
New Jersey is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta
New Jersey is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
New Jersey is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Next up:
Atlanta at NY Islanders, Saturday, February 16
New Jersey at Ottawa, Saturday, February 16
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Detroit Red Wings
- The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings will both be trying to pick up a win on Friday when they battle at Joe Louis Arena.
The Blue Jackets were dumped 7-2 by the Blackhawks last time out, as -140 favorites. The nine goals sailed OVER the posted over/under (5).
Dick Tarnstrom and Fredrik Modin scored in the loss for Columbus.
The Red Wings were doubled 4-2 by the Predators last time out, as -150 favorites on the road. The six goals made it OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Johan Franzen and Pavel Datsyuk scored on the power play for the Red Wings.
Current streak:
Columbus has lost 3 straight games.
Detroit has lost 4 straight games.
Team records:
Columbus: 26-24-9
Detroit: 41-13-5
Columbus most recently:
When playing on Friday are 3-7
Before playing St. Louis are 4-6
After playing Chicago are 3-7
After a loss are 3-7
Detroit most recently:
When playing on Friday are 7-3
Before playing Edmonton are 5-5
After playing Nashville are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Columbus's last 5 games when playing on the road against Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Columbus's last 7 games when playing Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Columbus's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Columbus's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit's last 5 games when playing at home against Columbus
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Detroit's last 7 games when playing Columbus
Detroit is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Columbus
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Columbus
Next up:
Columbus at St. Louis, Sunday, February 17
Detroit at Dallas, Sunday, February 17
Washington Capitals vs. Florida Panthers
- The Washington Capitals and the Florida Panthers will meet on the ice at BankAtlantic Center on Friday in a battle of division rivals.
The Capitals lost 3-2 to the Thrashers in a shootout Wednesday night, as +105 underdogs. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under (6).
Alexander Ovechkin scored his 48th of the season and assisted on Viktor Kozlov's goal for the Capitals.
The Panthers were caged 2-1 bu the Canadiens last time out, as -135 favorites. The three goals were UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Steve Montador scored the lone Panthers goal on the power play in the loss.
Current streak:
Florida has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Washington: 27-25-6
Florida: 26-27-6
Washington most recently:
When playing on Friday are 6-4
Before playing Calgary are 5-5
After playing Atlanta are 7-3
After a loss are 8-2
Florida most recently:
When playing on Friday are 4-6
Before playing NY Rangers are 6-4
After playing Montreal are 2-8
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Washington's last 10 games when playing on the road against Florida
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games when playing Florida
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Washington's last 10 games
Washington is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing Florida
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Florida's last 5 games
Florida is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Florida's last 10 games when playing at home against Washington
Florida is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing Washington
Next up:
Washington at Tampa Bay, Saturday, February 16
Florida at Carolina, Saturday, February 16
Dallas Stars vs. Anaheim Ducks
- The fans at Honda Center will be treated to a game between the Dallas Stars and the Anaheim Ducks when they take their seats on Friday.
Jussi Jokinen and Matt Niskanen potted goals for Dallas in its 5-2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night.
The Coyotes upset the Stars as +120 home underdogs as the game played over the 5-goal total set by oddsmakers.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 32 shots Tuesday, as the Ducks defeated the Avalanche 2-1. Anaheim won the game as -125 favorites, while the three goals were well UNDER the posted over/under (5).
Teemu Selanne and Samuel Pahlsson scored for the Ducks.
Current streak:
Anaheim has won 5 straight games.
Team records:
Dallas: 35-21-5
Anaheim: 32-22-7
Dallas most recently:
When playing on Friday are 6-4
Before playing Los Angeles are 5-5
After playing Phoenix are 4-6
After a loss are 4-6
Anaheim most recently:
When playing on Friday are 5-5
Before playing Calgary are 5-5
After playing Colorado are 7-3
After a win are 9-1
A few trends to consider:
Dallas is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
Dallas is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Anaheim
Dallas is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Dallas is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
Anaheim is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Anaheim is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
Anaheim is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Anaheim's last 7 games
Next up:
Dallas home to Detroit, Sunday, February 17
Anaheim home to Calgary, Sunday, February 17
Calgary Flames vs. Los Angeles Kings
- The Calgary Flames and the Los Angeles Kings will both be gunning for a victory on Friday when they meet at STAPLES Center.
Jarome Iginla scored the overtime winner in the Flames 4-3 win over the Sharks last time out, as +140 underdogs. The seven goals made it OVER the posted over/under (5).
Daymond Langkow, Mark Smith and Dion Phaneuf also scored for the Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff made 40 saves in the win.
The Kings were doubled 4-2 by the Blues last time out, as +130 road underdogs. The six goals made it OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Alexander Frolov and Dustin Brown tallied for the Kings. Jason LaBarbera stopped 30-of-34 shots in the loss.
Current streak:
Calgary has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Calgary: 29-20-8
Los Angeles: 24-32-3
Calgary most recently:
When playing on Friday are 3-7
Before playing Los Angeles are 4-6
After playing San Jose are 5-5
After a win are 7-3
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Friday are 3-7
Before playing Dallas are 4-6
After playing St. Louis are 2-8
After a loss are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
Calgary is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Los Angeles
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Calgary's last 6 games when playing Los Angeles
Calgary is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games on the road
Calgary is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 6 games when playing Calgary
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Los Angeles's last 8 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 6 games
Los Angeles is 6-12 SU in its last 18 games at home
Next up:
Calgary at Anaheim, Sunday, February 17
Los Angeles at Phoenix, Saturday, February 16
Puck betting: NHL wagering catch-up
Covers.com
It’s the time of year when your daily wagering options start dropping like flies. No more pigskin until the fall and March Madness will be here and gone before you know it. It’s a perfect time to catch up on the world of pucks before the NHL trade deadline later this month.
Recent news you need to know:
Just Ducky
The Anaheim Mighty Ducks have won five straight (covering all five on the puckline) since veteran sniper Teemu Selanne rejoined the team. Now the Ducks have last year’s Cup-winning nucleus in place with both Selanne and Scott Niedermayer back in the lineup after making do without the pair for the first half of the season.
From Russia with Love
If you haven’t seen Russian sensation Alexander Ovechkin play this season, you should hate yourself for it. I watched this guy sleepwalk through a home loss against the Hurricanes in D.C. last season, but he’s figured out what life in the NHL’s all about. He leads the league with 48 goals and 78 points through 58 games. Meanwhile, fellow country men Evgeni Malkin (tied for second), Pavel Datsyuk (eighth), and Ilya Kovalchuk (10th) are also among league scoring leaders.
Fight Night
All the talk about increased fighting in hockey gets a lot of TV time, but the numbers are far from eye-popping. There’s an average of 0.52 fights per game in the NHL this season, up from 0.40 fights last year. This year’s average is the highest since the league averaged 0.64 scraps per game in 2003-04. It’s also worth noting that Anaheim led the league in fights last season and tops the list this year with 52 tussles – two more than both Calgary and Philadelphia.
Peter the Great Sweepstakes
Peter Forsberg remains in limbo as a number of NHL teams court the 34-year-old, who’s working himself into playing shape in Sweden. Ankle and foot problems had Forsberg contemplating retirement, but now a handful of teams feel they are in the running to land the big center for the stretch run. The list of suitors changes daily, but right now the frontrunners appear to be the Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Avalanche, with the Minnesota Wild as another possibility.
Trading Places
The league trading deadline is Feb. 26. I won’t even begin to get into possible deals at this point, but some of the bigger names involved in rumors include Mats Sundin, Dan Boyle, Jaromir Jagr, Alex Tanguay, Rob Blake among many others. Stay tuned.
Moneymakers (puckline record – units won)
1. Detroit Red Wings 29-30 12.24
2. Boston Bruins 35-22 10.39
3. Montreal Canadiens 33-25 9.00
4. Phoenix Coyotes 35-22 7.41
5. Washington Capitals 33-25 7.33
Total takers (notable O/U records)
1. New Jersey Devils (18-31)
2. New York Islanders (20-34)
3. Boston Bruins (21-34)
4. Ottawa Senators (29-23)
5. Tampa Bay (30-25)
Power play powerhouse percentages
1 Montreal Canadiens 25.0
2 Philadelphia Flyers 24.3
3 Pittsburgh Penguins 20.9
4 Detroit Red Wings 20.8
5 Florida Panthers 20.7
Best home/away bets
1.San Jose Sharks (17-5-1-2 away)
2.Detroit Red Wings (21-6-0-2 home)
3.Nashville Predators (18-8-1-2 home)
4.Montreal Canadiens (18-9-3-1 away)
5.Dallas Stars (18-9-1-1 home)
So hot right now
1.Buffalo Sabres 8-0-2 streak
2.Dallas Stars 8-2 streak
3.Calgary Flames 7-3 streak
Not so loveable losers
1.New York Islanders 2-9 streak
2.Vancouver Canucks 2-9 streak
3.Chicago Blackhawks 6-14 streak