In the Crease - Week 9
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com
Penguin Power
The Pittsburgh Penguins bludgeoned the Ottawa Senators by an 8-5 score Monday night for their eighth consecutive over result. They will travel to Sunrise to meet the Florida Panthers Thursday night. The two sides met in the Steel City Oct. 25 with the Pens coming out on top 3-2 in a push on the total. The past four meetings between the Penguins and Panthers have resulted in no overs, one under and three pushes. In the past 11 road outings the 'over' is 7-3-1 for the Pens.
Tropical Depression
The Carolina Hurricanes have had a power outage lately, posting two or fewer goals in each of their past four games, and seven of their past eight. During the eight-game span the Canes are averaging 1.6 goals per game, and it's no surprise the 'under' is 7-1-3 in the past 11 games for Carolina. The Hurricanes are also struggling to produce wins, going 2-4-1 in the past seven outings. They begin a three-game West Coast road swing Tuesday evening in Anaheim. The Hurricanes are 0-4-1 in their past five road games, and 3-7-3-2 overall on the road this season.
Looking Ahead
Tuesday, December 6
The Rangers and Islanders battle for Gotham supremacy at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Rangers are 32-15-1 in their past 48 trips to Uniondale/Brooklyn, and the road team is 13-5 in the past 18 meetings in this series. The Islanders are just 3-15 in their past 18 games against Eastern Conference teams and 2-6 in their past eight against the Metropolitan Division. ... The Flyers are streaking, winners of past in a row. They'll face a Panthers team which is 1-4 in their past five, and 1-4 in their past five on the road. In addition, Florida is 0-4 in their past four on the road against teams with a winning home record. The home team has won five of the past seven in this series, with the 'under' hitting in each of the past four in Philly and 13 of the past 18 overall.
Wednesday, December 7
The Bruins head to the nation's capital with four victories in the past five, and they're 8-2 in their past 10 games playing on a days' rest. The B's have dropped six straight meetings in this series, and they're 1-5 in their past six trips to D.C. The 'under' is 3-1-1 in the past five meetings in Washington, while going 34-16-1 in the past 51 meetings overall. For Boston, the 'under' is 5-0-2 in the past seven road games and 4-1-2 in the past seven games overall. The 'under' is 3-1-1 in the past five overall for the Caps, while going 3-1-2 in the past six at home. ... Two red hot teams square off in the Bay Area, as the Senators have won four of their past five road games, and the Sharks have won six of the past seven overall and five of the past six at home. The Sens have won four straight in the series, and the 'over' is a perfect 5-0 in the past five meetings.
Thursday, December 8
The Bruins host the Avalanche, looking for their third win in the past four in this series. They won 2-0 in the first meeting Nov. 13 in Denver, as the 'under' cashed for the seventh time in eight meetings. Last season the Bruins topped the Avalanche 6-2, ending a 7-0-1 run by Colorado in Boston which dated back to March 30, 1998. The 'under' is 10-4-1 in the past 15 meetings overall, and the 'under' is 4-1-2 in the past seven meetings in Massachusetts. ... New Jersey heads to Montreal looking to hand the Canadiens just their second loss at home in regulation. The Devils enter the week just 1-4-2 in their past seven games on the road. Total bettors will be interested to know the 'over' is 5-0-1 in the past seven for New Jersey.
Friday, December 9
The Wild host the Oilers, as they look to stay hot against Edmonton. Minnesota won 2-1 in overtime Dec. 4, and they have had good luck in Northern Alberta. They have struggled against the Oilers on home ice, however, winning just one of their past four in St. Paul, while going 4-4-1 in their past nine home meetings with Edmonton. The 'under' has cashed in five of the past seven in this series. ... The Ducks welcome the Sharks to town for the third meeting of the season. Both teams have a win in two meetings in San Jose, with the Ducks coming out on top 3-2 in the most recent outing. The 'under' is 4-0-2 in the past six in this series and 6-1-2 in the past nine. San Jose has tallied a total of eight goals with Anaheim scoring a total of nine goals in the six-game span.