In the Crease - Week 14
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com
Hab-itutal OT Offender
The Montreal Canadiens have won four of their past five games, but they're making bettors work for their money lately. Over the past six games for the Habs, five of the outings have been decided in overtime. The Canadiens have won three of their past four games decided in the 3-on-3 overtime session, with all three of those wins coming on the road. Over the past 24 games, Montreal has played nine overtime games and a shootout during the span. They're 4-5 in OT games this season, splitting each of their two games decided in a shootout.
Defense is King
The Los Angeles Kings defense and goaltending has been on point since mid-December, allowing three or fewer goals in 10 of the past 12 outings. They're allowing just 1.92 goals per game, and that includes the seven they've given up over the past two outings. In the past nine games with Peter Budaj in between the pipes, the Slovakian netminder is 5-3-1 with a 1.43 Goals-Against Average (GAA). He has been particularly effective on the road, giving up two or fewer goals each of his past seven outings.
Looking Ahead
Monday, Jan. 9
The Capitals and Canadiens hook up in Montreal, and each team has managed 25 victories and nine losses this season. Lately, though, Washington has been the hotter team, posting five straight victories, including four wins in a row against teams with a winning overall record. The Caps have won five of their past seven on the road, and they're an impressive 42-10 in their past 52 games against Atlantic Division teams. And for what it's worth, the Caps are 14-2 in their past 16 games played on Monday. The Habs have won four of their past five, and they're 16-5 in their past 21 games at home. Washington has had the upper hand in this series, too, going 9-1 in their past 10 trips to Montreal, and 13-6 in their past 19 against the Habs. The team team is also 19-7 in their past 26 meetings in this series.
The Stars head to Los Angeles trying to solve the defense and goaltending of the Kings. Dallas has had plenty of success in La La Land lately, winning seven of their past 10 trips to the left coast. The Stars are just 2-8 in their past 10 road games, and 0-5 in their past five road games against a team with a home winning percentage over .600. The Kings have won 12 of their past 17 home games, but they're just 5-11 in their past 16 against Central Division teams and 1-5 in their past six against a team with a losing record.
Tuesday, Jan. 10
The Flyers meet the Sabres in Buffalo for the second games between these Eastern Conference rivals this season. The Flyers edged the Sabres 4-3 in a shootout in the first meeting on Oct. 25. Philly has won three of their past four trips to Buffalo. The 'over' is 6-3 in the past nine meetings in this series, although the 'under' is 2-0 in the past two in Buffalo. The Fly Guys headed into Columbus Monday night with five straight losses on the road, while has split their past six games overally while averaging 3.0 goals per game over the span.
The Sharks head to Northern Alberta to battle the Oilers. While San Jose has won just four of the past seven meetings in this series lately, including a 3-2 overtime victory in the first meeting on Dec. 23, the Sharks have enjoyed plenty of success between these two teams overall. San Jose is 7-3 in their past 10 trips to Edmonton, and the 'under' has cashed in five of the past seven meetings in this meetings in the Oilers' arena. Four of the past seven in this series has been decided in overtime or a shootout, with the teams splitting two OT games and two in the SO. In fact, seven of the past 11 meetings have resulted in one-goal games.
Wednesday, Jan. 11
The slate is short and sweet Wednesday night, but there is a huge rivalry game. The Penguins and Capitals do battle in the nation's capital, and Pittsburgh will have revenge on its mind. The Caps embarrassed Sidney Crosby and the boys back on Nov. 16, winning 7-1. In the first meeting back on Oct. 13, it was the Pens eeking out a 3-2 shootout victory in the Steel City. The 'over' is 3-0-1 in the past four regular season meetings in this series, and three of the past five have been one-goal games. The past four meetings in this series have resulted in an average of 7.0 total goals per game.
The Canadiens and Jets meet in MTS Centre, as Montreal looks to stay hot. The Habs have won four of their past seven visits to Winnipeg, with the 'over' cashing in three of the past four trips. The Habs are victorious in 11 of the past 15 overall in this series. While the Jets have amassed 10 goals over the past three meetings, they have averaged just 1.9 goals per game over the past 15 meetings in this series. During the same 15-game span, the Habs are averaging 3.3 goals per game against the Jets.
Thursday, Jan. 12
The Red Wings and the Stars hook up in the Metroplex, and Dallas will be looking for a little payback after dropping a 3-1 decision Nov. 29 in their final visit to Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. These two former Western Conference rivals do not meet as frequently since the Red Wings moved to the East, but Detroit probably wishes they could petition the league to play in Dallas more. The Red Wings have won seven straight trips to Dallas dating back to Oct. 14, 2010. In fact, the Stars have won just three of the past 14 meetings overall in this series.The 'under' is 8-4 in the past 12 meetings. Three of the past seven in this series have required overtime to find a winner, but just six of the past 14 have been one-goal games.
The Blues and Kings do battle in Southern California, and these games have been tight recently. The past three meetings have been one-goal games, and the 'under' has cashed in each of the past four in this series. Three of the past 13 meetings have resulted in 1-0 scores, with two of those games decided in a shootout. The Kings have defended home ice well in the past six regular season meetings, topping the Blues five times. The 'under' is 7-1 in the past eight meetings at Staples Center, too.