Boston Bruins vs. Carolina Hurricanes
- The Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes will both be trying to pick up a win on Tuesday when they battle at RBC Center.
Tim Thomas allowed four goals on 36 shots in Boston's 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.
The Leafs had been listed as -135 favorites at home in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the posted total (5.5).
The Hurricanes were blown away 5-1 by the Devils last time out, as +165 road underdogs. The six goals made it OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Jeff Hamilton scored shorthanded in the loss, and Cam Ward made 26 saves for the Hurricanes.
Team records:
Boston: 29-23-6
Carolina: 30-28-4
Boston most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 7-3
Before playing Ottawa are 5-5
After playing Toronto are 7-3
After a loss are 6-4
Carolina most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 4-4-2
Before playing Boston are 4-6
After playing New Jersey are 6-4
After a loss are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games when playing on the road against Carolina
Boston is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Boston's last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Carolina's last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
Carolina is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Boston
Carolina is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
Carolina is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
Next up:
Boston at Florida, Thursday, February 21
Carolina home to Atlanta, Thursday, February 21
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Ottawa Senators
- The Philadelphia Flyers and the Ottawa Senators will both be trying to pick up a win on Tuesday when they battle at Scotiabank Place.
The Flyers lost to Montreal 5-3 as a -135 favorite last time out. The eight goals scored went OVER the posted over/under total (6).
Braydon Coburn had a goal and an assists for Philadelphia, while R.J. Umberger notched two assists in the loss.
Jason Spezza and Chris Kelly tallied for Ottawa in their 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.
The Devils were winners as +170 road underdogs on that night, while the combined score fell UNDER the game's posted total (5.5).
Current streak:
Philadelphia has lost 7 straight games.
Ottawa has lost 3 straight games.
Team records:
Philadelphia: 30-24-5
Ottawa: 34-20-5
Philadelphia most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 4-6
Before playing Tampa Bay are 4-6
After playing Montreal are 3-7
After a loss are 4-6
Ottawa most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 5-5
Before playing Boston are 8-2
After playing New Jersey are 7-3
After a loss are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games when playing Ottawa
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 7 games on the road
Philadelphia is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Ottawa's last 5 games when playing Philadelphia
Ottawa is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Philadelphia
Ottawa is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
Ottawa is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games
Next up:
Philadelphia home to San Jose, Thursday, February 21
Ottawa home to Columbus, Thursday, February 21
New York Rangers vs. Montreal Canadiens
- The New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens will both be gunning for a victory on Tuesday when they meet at Bell Centre.
The Rangers defeated San Jose 3-1 as a -120 favorite last time out. The four goals scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (5).
Ryan Callahan scored a pair of goals for the Rangers, while Chris Drury had a goal and an assist in the win.
The Canadiens defeated Philadelphia 5-3 as a +115 underdog last time out. The eight goals scored went OVER the posted over/under total (6).
Alexei Kovalev had a goal and two assists for Montreal, while Andrei Markov had three assists in the win.
Current streak:
New York has won 2 straight games.
Montreal has won 3 straight games.
Team records:
New York: 30-24-7
Montreal: 32-19-9
New York most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 5-5
Before playing Florida are 7-3
After playing San Jose are 3-3-1
After a win are 4-6
Montreal most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 4-5-1
Before playing Pittsburgh are 8-2
After playing Philadelphia are 3-7
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
NY Rangers are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the NY Rangers last 6 games on the road
NY Rangers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the NY Rangers last 5 games when playing on the road against Montreal
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Montreal's last 5 games when playing at home against NY Rangers
Montreal is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home
Montreal is 4-7-4 SU in their last 15 games when playing at home against NY Rangers
Montreal is 1-6 SU in their last 7 games when playing NY Rangers
Next up:
NY Rangers at Buffalo, Saturday, February 23
Montreal home to Pittsburgh, Thursday, February 21
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
- The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Toronto Maple Leafs will both be gunning for a victory on Tuesday when they meet at Air Canada Centre.
The Blue Jackets lost to St. Louis 5-1 as a -115 favorite last time out. The six goals scored caused this game to be a PUSH on the posted over/under total (6).
Rick Nash scored the Blue Jackets lone goal, while Pacal Leclaire stopped 23 of the 28 shots he faced.
Darcy Tucker scored the winner in overtime on Saturday night as the Maple Leafs got past the Boston Bruins 4-3.
The Leafs had been listed as -135 favorites at home in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the posted total (5.5).
Team records:
Columbus: 27-25-9
Toronto: 24-27-9
Columbus most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 4-6
Before playing Ottawa are 2-2-1
After playing St. Louis are 5-5
After a loss are 4-6
Toronto most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 7-2-1
Before playing San Jose are 3-3-2
After playing Boston are 4-6
After a win are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
Columbus is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games on the road
Columbus is 1-3-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
Columbus is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Toronto is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games at home
Next up:
Columbus at Ottawa, Thursday, February 21
Toronto home to Buffalo, Thursday, February 21
Florida Panthers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
- The fans at Mellon Arena will be treated to a game between the Florida Panthers and the Pittsburgh Penguins when they take their seats on Tuesday.
Nathan Horton tallied twice in Florida's 5-4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.
Carolina had been listed as a -160 home favorite in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the night's posted total (5.5).
The Penguins defeated Buffalo 4-1 as a+135 underdog last time out. The five goals scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (5.5).
Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora each had a goal and an assist for Pittsburgh, while Jarkko Ruutu and Colby Armstrong also scored in the win.
Team records:
Florida: 27-28-6
Pittsburgh: 33-21-5
Florida most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 3-7
Before playing NY Rangers are 6-4
After playing Carolina are 5-5
After a loss are 6-4
Pittsburgh most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 3-7
Before playing Ottawa are 4-6
After playing Buffalo are 5-5
After a win are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Florida's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Florida's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Florida's last 7 games when playing Pittsburgh
Florida is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games when playing Florida
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Florida
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Next up:
Florida home to Boston, Thursday, February 21
Pittsburgh at Montreal, Thursday, February 21
Vancouver Canucks vs. Minnesota Wild
- The fans at Xcel Energy Center will be treated to a game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Minnesota Wild when they take their seats on Tuesday.
Markus Naslund and Daniel Sedin each scored a goal and added an assist to lead the Canucks to a 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night.
Vancouver cashed as -165 home favorites as the teams played over the 5-goal total posted by sportbooks.
The Wild defeated Nashville 5-4 in overtime as a -180 favorite last time out. The nine goals scored went OVER the posted over/under total (5.5).
Marian Gaborik scored a pair of goals, including the overtime winner for Minnesota, while Pierre-Marc Bouchard added a goal and an assist in the win.
Current streak:
Minnesota has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Vancouver: 29-22-8
Minnesota: 34-21-4
Vancouver most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 3-7
Before playing San Jose are 5-5
After playing Edmonton are 7-3
After a win are 3-7
Minnesota most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 6-4
Before playing Florida are 2-2-2
After playing Nashville are 3-7
After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Vancouver's last 5 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Vancouver's last 9 games
Vancouver is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Minnesota
Vancouver is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games when playing Vancouver
Minnesota is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Vancouver
Next up:
Vancouver at Nashville, Thursday, February 21
Minnesota at Chicago, Wednesday, February 20
Edmonton Oilers vs. Nashville Predators
- The Edmonton Oilers and the Nashville Predators will both be gunning for a victory on Tuesday when they meet at Sommet Center.
Kyle Brodziak and Marty Reasoner potted goals for Edmonton in its 4-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.
Vancouver cashed as -165 home favorites as the teams played over the 5-goal total posted by sportbooks.
The Predators lost to Minnesota 5-4 in overtime as a +160 underdog last time out. The nine goals scored went OVER the posted over/under total (5.5).
Martin Erat and Ryan Suter each had a goal and an assist for Nashville, while Alexander Radulov had two assists in the loss.
Team records:
Edmonton: 27-28-5
Nashville: 31-23-7
Edmonton most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 4-6
Before playing Detroit are 8-2
After playing Vancouver are 4-6
After a loss are 6-4
Nashville most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 4-6
Before playing Minnesota are 7-3
After playing Minnesota are 5-5
After a loss are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Edmonton's last 9 games on the road
Edmonton is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Edmonton is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games on the road
Edmonton is 1-5-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Nashville
Nashville is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Edmonton
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Nashville's last 6 games
Nashville is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Edmonton
Nashville is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games at home
Next up:
Edmonton at Dallas, Friday, February 22
Nashville home to Vancouver, Thursday, February 21
Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues
- The Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues will meet on the ice at Scottrade Center on Tuesday in a battle of division rivals.
The Blackhawks defeated Colorado 2-1 as a -140 favorite last time out. The three goals scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (5.5).
Martin Havlat scored the game-winning goal for Chicago, while James Wisniewski collected a pair of assists in the win.
The Blues defeated Columbus 5-1 as a -105 favorite last time out. The six goals caused this game to be a PUSH on the posted over/under total (6).
Eric Brewer had four assists for St. Louis, while Andy McDonald scored a goal and added an assist in the win.
Current streak:
Chicago has won 3 straight games.
Team records:
Chicago: 27-25-6
St. Louis: 27-22-9
Chicago most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 6-4
Before playing Edmonton are 6-4
After playing Colorado are 5-5
After a win are 7-3
St. Louis most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 7-3
Before playing Tampa Bay are 3-3-1
After playing Columbus are 6-4
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chicago's last 5 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
Chicago is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Chicago is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing St. Louis
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chicago's last 9 games when playing St. Louis
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of St. Louis's last 5 games when playing at home against Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 7 of St. Louis's last 10 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of St. Louis's last 9 games when playing Chicago
St. Louis is 5-12 SU in its last 17 games
Next up:
Chicago home to Minnesota, Wednesday, February 20
St. Louis at Los Angeles, Thursday, February 21
Calgary Flames vs. Phoenix Coyotes
- The Calgary Flames and the Phoenix Coyotes will both be gunning for a victory on Tuesday when they meet at Jobing.com Arena.
The Flames lost to Anaheim 4-2 as a +165 underdog last time out. The six goals scored went OVER the posted over/under total (5).
Daymond Langkow and Wayne Primeau scored for the Flames, while Miikka Kiprosoff made 22 saves in the loss.
Mikael Tellqvist stopped all 34 shots for the shutout, as the Coyotes defeated the Kings 4-0 on Monday. The Coyotes won the game as +100 underdogs, while the four goals were UNDER the posted over/under (6).
Ed Jovanovski, Radim Vrbata, Daniel Carcillo and Daniel Winnik scored for the Coyotes.
Current streak:
Calgary has lost 2 straight games.
Phoenix has won 3 straight games.
Team records:
Calgary: 29-22-8
Phoenix: 31-25-4
Calgary most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 7-3
Before playing Los Angeles are 5-5
After playing Anaheim are 6-4
After a loss are 4-6
Phoenix most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 5-5
Before playing Chicago are 4-6
After playing Los Angeles are 7-3
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Calgary's last 8 games when playing Phoenix
Calgary is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Phoenix
Calgary is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Calgary's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Phoenix's last 8 games when playing Calgary
Phoenix is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 6 games when playing at home against Calgary
Next up:
Calgary at Dallas, Wednesday, February 20
Phoenix home to Colorado, Friday, February 22
Floundering Flyers are hurting, losing on seven-game skid
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Not even a month ago, the Flyers talked about earning a No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, home-ice advantage in the playoffs and how great it would be for Peter Forsberg to return and add to all the fun.
Instead, after a seven-game losing streak, panic is now the p-word of choice around the team. Desperate is getting some play, too.
And the hopeful comeback of Forsberg, their former captain? Well, that's over, as well.
The Flyers - or any other NHL team - won't be adding the two-time Stanley Cup winner and former MVP to their roster this season. Forsberg, who has not played since ending last season with Nashville, decided Monday he was not healthy enough to attempt a comeback.
His agent, Don Baizley, told teams Forsberg did not have enough confidence in the strength of his surgically repaired right foot to play this season.
''He's been hopeful that he would get the level of confidence that he needed, but he can't,'' Baizley said by phone. ''I don't know how close or how far away he feels. He was hopeful up until this weekend that he would be able to do it.''
Surely, Forsberg would have helped the sputtering Flyers.
General manager Paul Holmgren had wanted to sign Forsberg ever since the former Flyers center decided to train for a possible return to the NHL. Forsberg, who spent 1 1/2 seasons with the Flyers, has been rehabilitating in Sweden and practicing with his hometown club, Modo.
''We certainly weren't counting on it because Peter was very clear he was going to test his foot and see if he could play or not,'' said Peter Luukko, president and chief operating officer of Comcast-Spectacor, which owns the Flyers and Sixers. ''If he was going to play, it would have been great to see him in a Flyers uniform.''
Baizley said Forsberg had not made a decision about attempting a comeback next season.
The Flyers went 0-13-3 without Forsberg in the lineup last season before he was dealt at the trade deadline. This month's problems go far deeper than the absence of one star.
Injuries, mental lapses, and shaky defense have all plagued the Flyers during a season-long losing skid that dropped them from the top of the Atlantic Division to seventh place in the East, only one point ahead of Boston and Buffalo (64).
''It's seven games now. I would call that a little panic already,'' defenseman Kimmo Timonen said.
Center R.J. Umberger said ''desperation is the word right now'' after the Flyers lost 5-3 to Montreal on Sunday, their second loss in two nights to the Canadiens. The loss prompted coach John Stevens to hold a closed door meeting to try and restore some confidence before the season really does slip away and the Flyers miss the playoffs for the second straight season.
''You love the effort and the intensity and the resilience, but we're making mistakes that are costing us hockey games,'' Stevens said.
No play exemplified Philadelphia's breakdown quite like the one that led a Montreal goal in the final seconds of the first period. Montreal's Josh Gorges goaded Flyers defenseman Jim Vandermeer into an apparent fight near the Canadiens' net. Scottie Upshall and Mike Knuble stood nearby waiting for punches to be thrown, leaving Francis Bouillon all alone on a 3-on-1 break to score his first goal in a year.
Gorges laughed at Vandermeer as he skated away.
''That's a play where we're not thinking,'' Stevens said.
Perhaps if the Flyers were at full strength, some of this losing would be avoided. The Flyers dressed only seven defenseman against the Canadiens and injuries keep piling up.
Simon Gagne has played in only 25 games and might miss the rest of the season with a concussion. Joffrey Lupul, who has 18 goals, could miss up to three weeks with a high ankle sprain. Defenseman Derian Hatcher (knee) might be out for three weeks, and forwards Stevie Downie and Denis Tolpeko are out with concussions.
''You can't hide behind the injuries,'' Timonen said. ''Everyone has injuries.''
The ones who are playing have done nothing to show that a turnaround is imminent heading into Tuesday's game at Ottawa. After a strong start, center Daniel Briere is a staggering minus-21 in plus/minus and has started to hear some boos from the Philly diehards. He has only one goal in the last 12 games, no points in his last three and Mike Richards has one goal and five points in the last seven games.
The Flyers called up forward Claude Giroux, the 22nd overall pick in the 2006 entry draft, and he will play against Ottawa. He has 33 goals and 88 points this season for the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The Flyers trailed the Senators by only three points in the Eastern Conference standings on Feb. 5. Philadelphia is still stuck on 65 while the Senators, New Jersey and Montreal all lead the East with 73 points.
With the Feb. 26 trade deadline looming and Forsberg out of the picture, the Flyers need to turn to other alternatives to snap out of their funk.
''We're very happy with our team,'' Luukko said. ''Peter would have been an added bonus, but we like where we're going in the future. We're playing for the long haul.''
The 34-year-old Forsberg was an unrestricted free agent and the Flyers, Minnesota, Chicago and Colorado were among the teams considered in the hunt to sign him.
''I think there's more disappointment that he's not playing in the league. He's such a great player,'' Luukko said.
Injuries & Issues - Feb 19
C. Beckford-Tseu (STL) - signed NHL contract, new backup to Legace
Mike Brodeur (CHI) - re-assigned to the ECHL
D. Cloutier (LA) - unable to finish Saturday start due to the flu
M. Fernandez (BOS) - knee surgery, likely done for entire season
M. Fleury (PIT) - completed his 3rd rehab start in AHL, return is near
T. Greiss (SJ) - up from Worcester for a few games, expect a start this week
D. Hasek (DET) - will return to practice mid-week
J. Howard (DET) - will backup Osgood in Hasek’s absence
N. Khabibulin (CHI) - will backup Lalime tonight
D. Patzold (SJ) - sent down to Worcester
Islanders Andy Sutton out 4-to-6 weeks
February 19, 2008
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -Islanders defenseman Andy Sutton tore a hamstring and will be sidelined from four to six weeks.
Sutton was injured in the closing seconds of Monday's 3-2 victory over San Jose and was helped off the ice. An MRI taken Tuesday revealed a partial tear of the hamstring.
It is the latest blow to the Islanders defense already missing Brendan Witt and Bruno Gervais.
Witt, who was replaced by Sutton on New York's top defense pairing with Radek Martinek, has missed three games since spraining his knee Feb. 12 and is expected to be out 1-to-2 more weeks. Gervais is day-to-day with an oblique strain that has forced him to sit out four games.
In January, New York lost defenseman Chris Campoli to a season-ending shoulder injury.
The Islanders, who play at Washington on Wednesday, recalled defenseman Drew Fata from Bridgeport (AHL). In 48 games with the Sound Tigers, Fata had three goals, five assists and 156 penalty minutes. He had one goal in three games for the Islanders last season.
Flyers acquire Modry from Kings for pick
February 19, 2008
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -The Flyers acquired defenseman Jaroslav Modry from the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday for a third-round draft pick in 2008.
Modry has a goal and six points in 61 points for the last-place Kings. The Flyers needed help on their injury-plagued blue line. They've also been prone to giveaways near the net on their seven-game losing streak entering Tuesday night's game at Ottawa.
Modry played with the Kings two times - from 2007-08 and from 1995-04 - and is seventh in career games played (454) and ninth in points (164) among Kings defenseman.