In the Crease - Week 7
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com
In the Crease - Week 7
November 22, 2016
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com
No Jacket Required
The Columbus Blue Jackets lost back-to-back games in regulation to kick off the 2016-17 regular season, but they haven't done so since. They're 6-0-1 over their past seven games at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, and they're 8-1-2 over their past 11 games overall. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been on point so far this season, posting a 10-4-1 record with a 2.19 Goals-Against Average (GAA) and .931 save percentage. The Jackets also have seven players with at least 10 points through 17 games, including LW Nick Foligno averaging more than one point per game, and RW Cam Atkinson and C Alexander Wennberg contributing exactly one point per contest. Bettors do not care who is scoring or saving the shots, but what's uncanny about Columbus is that a cast of relative unknowns is banding together and playing better than more heralded squads.
Sweet and Sour Notes
The St. Louis Blues have been making sweet music at home, while hitting sour notes on the road. St. Louis has won three straight in regulation at home, while posting a 6-0-1 mark over their past seven dating back to Oct. 29. On the road it has been a different story, as they have dropped four in a row while scoring just seven total goals and allowing 22. As it stands, the Blues will play in Boston Tuesday and in Washington Wednesday before returning home Saturday against Minnesota.
Looking Ahead
Tuesday, Nov. 22
The Blues travel to Beantown to battle the Bruins. St. Louis is 3-7 in their past 10 against teams with a winning record, while losing their past five road outings against a team with a winning home mark. They're working on two days' rest, and they're also 1-4 in the past five such situations. The Bruins are the complete opposite, going 4-1 n their past five overall and 4-1 in their past five on two days' rest. ... The Hurricanes streak into Toronto on a four-game winning streak, although they're just 1-7 in their past eight on the road against a team with a home winning percentage over .600. The Leafs have won six of their past seven at home while going 36-17 in their past 53 home games against a team with a road winning percentage under .400. Carolina has dominated this series of late, going 10-4 in the past 14 head-to-head battles. As an extra bonus, the 'under' is 6-0 in the past six meetings, and 8-2 in the past 10 played at Air Canada Centre.
Wednesday, Nov. 23
The Penguins and Rangers renew acquaintances at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Penguins have won their past four trips to Madison Square Garden, and they're 7-2 in the past nine overall meetings in this series. The road team is also 4-1 in the past five meetings in this series. ... The Jets hit the road for St. Paul to battle the Wild, and something's gotta give with these two clubs. The Jets have dropped their past four road outings, while the Wild are 0-4 in their past four against teams with a losing record while going 0-4 in their past four against Western Conference foes. Winnipeg has won six of the past eight in this series. ... The Blackhawks visit the Bay Area looking to hook the Sharks. The 'under' is the prevailing trend, going 5-1-4 in the past 10 road games for Chicago and 3-1-3 in the past seven overall. The under is 9-1-1 in the past 11 home games for San Jose, and 19-4-3 in their past 26 overall.
Thursday, Nov. 17
The Canadiens look for revenge against the Hurricanes at Bell Centre Thursday evening. The Hurricanes won 3-2 at PNC Arena in Raleigh Nov. 18 with Cam Ward besting backup Al Montoya. While the Hurricanes have won four in a row, all at home, they're just 2-3-4 in nine games away from home this season. Six of their road games have resulted in one-goal losses. ... The Bruins face off against the Senators in Canada's capital city, as these rivals meet for the first time this season. The Senators won three of four meetings last season, including both meetings in Ottawa. The B's have won just once in the past six trips to Ottawa since the start of the 2013-14 season.
Friday, Nov. 18
The Rangers and Flyers battle on Friday afternoon in the City of Brotherly Love for the first time this season. There isn't much love lost in this series. Last season these teams met three times in Philadelphia, with each game ending in a 3-2 shootout. The Rangers won two of those games, and they're 4-0-1 in their past five regular season trips to Philly. ... The Oilers invade the desert Friday night, battling the Coyotes for the first time this season. Last season the Oilers were 0-2-1 in three trips to Glendale, and the Coyotes outscored them 12-6 in those games. Overall Arizona took two points in four of the five meetings. It has been six trips to Arizona since Edmonton came away with two points, a 3-2 shootout win April 4, 2014. It has been 12 trips to Arizona, dating back to Jan. 25, 2011, that the Oilers skated away with two points in regulation.