In the Crease - Week 17
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com
Hab-bing Some Trouble
The Montreal Canadiens were the last NHL team to suffer a loss in regulation, and their hot play continued through the holidays. Hoiwever, things haven't been so great since flipping the calendar to 2017. Montreal hasn't won back-to-back games since a three-game run from Jan. 3-7, going 4-5-1 over their past 10 outings. They're also minus-388 against the moneyline during the span. In their first game out of the All-Star break, Montreal will face old nemesis Buffalo. The Sabres won 3-2 in overtime in the most recent meeting Jan. 21. While the Canadiens are 9-3 in their past 12 against teams with a losing overall record, the Sabres have won four of the past five trips to Bell Centre, and the road team is 7-2 in the past nine meetings.
Tampa Trouble
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been missing their biggest offensive weapon, Steven Stamkos, to injury for a majority of the season, and they have had difficulty on defense and in the goaltending department, too. It just hasn't gone very well for the Lightning, who are closer to the basement than to a playoff spot. They pulled into the All-Star break with a 3-7-2 mark in their previous 12 games, and Tampa Bay hasn't won back-to-back games since Dec. 20-22. Luckily for the Lightning, the Bruins pay a visit for the first game back in action on Tuesday. Boston is 1-4 in their past five road games, and 1-6 in their past seven on the road against teams with a winning home record. However, the B's are 6-2 in their past eight trips to Tampa, and the road team has won five of the past six in this series.
Looking Ahead
Wednesday, Feb. 1
The Bruins head to the nation's capital, and they haven't been very good on the road lately -- or good against Metropolitan Division teams. The B's skate in just 1-4 in their past five road games, and they're 2-9 in their past 11 attempts against Metro teams. In addition, Boston is just 2-5 in their past seven against teams with a winning overall mark. Their numbers are even worse against the Caps, or really non-existent. The Bruins are 0-4 in their past four trips to D.C., and 0-7 in their past seven meetings overall. The 'over' has been the play for both lately, going 4-1 in Boston's past five, and 8-2-1 in their past 11 against Metropolitan teams. The over is 4-0-2 in the past six home games for the Caps, and 15-5-3 in their past 23 against teams with a losing overall record.
The Wild have gone bonkers on the road lately, winning 11 of their past 12 games away from St. Paul. They're also 21-5 in their past 26 overall, and 11-3 in their past 14 against teams with a losing overall mark. They're also 16-5 in their past 21 against clubs from the Western Conference. The Flames, well, they kinda stumbled into the break. They won just once in their past five, and they're a dismal 17-43 in their past 60 attempts against clubs with a winning percentage over .600. Minnesota will be an overwhelming favorite in this game, but don't avoid if you don't like eating chalk. Total bettors will be happy to know the 'under' is 13-4-3 in the past 20 meetings in Calgary, although the 'over' is 18-6-5 in Minnesota's past 29 overall, and 6-2-2 in their past 10 on the road.
Thursday, Feb. 2
The Blackhawks invade Arizona, and that usually doesn't end well for the Coyotes, at least in recent seasons. The Blackhawks have won five straight in this series, and 6-1 in their past seven regular season skates in the desert. The 'over' has hit in three of the past four between these teams, and Chicago has averaged 5.5 goals per game, hitting the over themselves on two of the occasions. The over is also 5-2 in the past seven meetings in Arizona, with the Blackhawks scoring a total of 31 goals during the span, and that includes a shutout loss Feb. 7, 2014, only one of three times in the past 11 they failed to score at least four goals against the Coyotes. Look for another high-scoring affair.
Friday, Feb. 3
Hopefully the scoreboard operator in Pittsburgh is ready, as the Blue Jackets-Penguins game on Friday night could be quite the track meet. The last time these teams met on Dec. 22, Columbus was in the midst of their franchise-record 16-game winning streak, and they blasted the Penguins 7-1 in C-Bus. Don't think the Penguins will forget, and aren't looking for revenge in their home building.
The 'over' cashed in three straight for Columbus heading into the break, but mostly due to a breakdown on defense and in the crease. The Jackets allowed 14 goals in those three outings, and they have given up 49 goals over their past 17 outings (2.88 per game). They have scored 52 goals during the same 17-game span (3.06 per game), so that kind of production, and lack of defense, bodes well for the 'over', especially against a high-octane team like the Penguins.
Since being embarrassed in that 7-1 loss in Columbus, the Penguins have been on a tear with 55 goals over the past 14 games (3.92 per game), while allowing 37 goals (3.63 per game). Neither team has paid much mind to defense lately, and it's all offense on both ends. This game should have a total line set at 6 1/2, which we saw from Vegas when the Penguins skated in Raleigh against the Hurricanes. In that game on Jan. 20, the total still cashed 'over', as Pittsburgh won in a 7-1 rout of their own.