Betting news, trends, odds and predictions for Tuesday, March 20, 2018 from various handicappers and websites
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. New York Rangers Preview and Predictions 03-20-2018
19th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Columbus Blue Jackets are storming toward a postseason berth and look to continue their surge when they visit the New York Rangers on Tuesday. Columbus is even in points with Philadelphia for third place in the Metropolitan Division and sits in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference after posting its eighth consecutive victory on Monday, a 5-4 overtime triumph in Boston.
Cam Atkinson scored 2:55 into the extra session, giving him four goals over his last three games and points in nine of his last 12 contests. New York is looking to post its third straight home victory and extend its overall point streak, which reached four games (2-0-2) with Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss in St. Louis. Prior to the setback, the Rangers topped Carolina and Pittsburgh at Madison Square Garden last week, with the triumph over the Penguins coming in overtime. Mika Zibanejad has recorded back-to-back two-goal performances to raise his active team-leading - and career-high - total to 24 tallies while giving him five goals and three assists during his four-game point streak.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Columbus), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (40-28-5): Boone Jenner has scored in four straight contests and is riding a six-game point streak during which he has collected five goals and three assists. Nick Foligno notched a pair of assists against the Bruins, drawing him within two points of 400 for his career. The 30-year-old captain has recorded four points in as many games after registering just one over his previous eight contests.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (32-32-8): Mats Zuccarello also scored against the Blues, increasing his team-high point total to 49. The 30-year-old Norwegian has followed a five-game point drought by collecting five goals and an assist over his last seven contests. Chris Kreider has been wielding a hot stick for New York, registering a goal and five assists in his last two games.
OVERTIME
1. Zibanejad is slated to appear in his 400th NHL game on Tuesday.
2. Columbus LW Thomas Vanek has recorded three goals and four assists over his last six contests.
3. New York C Kevin Hayes is two assists shy of 100 for his career.
PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Blue Jackets 3
Edmonton Oilers vs. Carolina Hurricanes Preview and Predictions 03-20-2018
19th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Carolina Hurricanes are trying to stay in the hunt for a wild-card spot and start a run of four straight games against non-playoff position teams Tuesday night when the Edmonton Oilers pay a visit. The Hurricanes, who also play league-worst Arizona and Ottawa twice during the stretch, are nine points behind New Jersey for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference after knocking off the New York Islanders 4-3 on Sunday.
"I think our group's got mental toughness, I really do," Carolina coach Bill Peters told reporters. "We've had a few gut punches here this year, we've had a few recently. You've got to pick yourself off the canvas and keep going, and that's what we did here (Sunday)." The Hurricanes are 4-5-0 in March after ending February with six straight losses (0-4-2) to put themselves in a hole as they take on the Oilers, who are 1-1-0 in the middle of their four-game road trip. Edmonton knocked off Florida on Saturday afternoon before suffering a 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay a little more than 24 hours later. The Oilers, who reached the second round of the playoffs in 2016-17, are close to being officially eliminated from postseason consideration but captain Connor McDavid still has a shot at the scoring title with 89 points and will play his 200th NHL game Tuesday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Edmonton), FS Carolinas
ABOUT THE OILERS (31-36-5): McDavid was kept off the scoresheet against Tampa Bay, but still boasts seven goals and 11 assists in his last 11 games to pull within four points of the NHL lead. Goalie Cam Talbot likely will be back in net after being rested Sunday and is 4-1-0 in his last five starts with a .954 save percentage in that stretch. Defenseman Oscar Klefbom (21 points, 66 games) is flying back to Edmonton to have shoulder surgery later in the week that will end his season.
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (31-30-11): Teuvo Teravainen (58 points) and Sebastian Aho (57) continue to finish the season strong with two goals and four assists each during five-game point streaks. Carolina needs more from left wing Jeff Skinner, who is mired in a 12-game goal drought with four assists in that stretch, while veteran goalie Cam Ward has dropped four straight starts. All-Star defenseman Noah Hanifin (29 points, 71 games) suffered a concussion Saturday against Philadelphia and is out indefinitely.
OVERTIME
1. Edmonton C Leon Draisaitl is second on the team with 62 points and needs one to reach 200 in his career.
2. Carolina C Victor Rask registered his seventh multi-point game of the season Sunday with a goal and an assist.
3. The Hurricanes are 4-1-1 in the last six meetings, including a 5-3 win at Edmonton on Oct. 17.
PREDICTION: Hurricanes 4, Oilers 3
Dallas Stars vs. Washington Capitals Preview and Predictions 03-20-2018
19th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Dallas Stars must move forward without their No. 1 goaltender as they attempt to salvage a victory to end a demoralizing six-game road trip Tuesday night against the Washington Capitals. The Stars are 0-3-2 on their trek, lost goalie Ben Bishop for at least two weeks during a 4-2 loss at Winnipeg on Sunday and have fallen two points behind in the race for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
"We know we've got to win games, we know there is going to be movement," Dallas forward Mattias Janmark told reporters. "We're right there, and we've just got to stay alive here when we're going through this tough stretch. Then, I think once we can turn the page here, we can make a push." Kari Lehtonen must step up in net for the Stars and is 18-6-3 lifetime against the Capitals, who lead the Metropolitan Division by two points after seeing their four-game win streak end with a 6-3 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. Washington looks to take advantage of struggling Dallas before playing five straight games against teams outside of playoff position as it fights for a third straight division title. Captain Alex Ovechkin has three goals and three assists during a four-game point streak for the Capitals, who have not won in regulation against the Stars since 2006-07.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southwest Plus, NBCS Washington
ABOUT THE STARS (38-27-8): Bishop was making his second appearance after missing five starts with a left knee injury and likely won't be evaluated until later this month as Mike McKenna was recalled to back up Lehtonen. Dallas is also without center Martin Hanzal (back) and veteran defenseman Marc Methot is day-to-day with a hand injury, but it outshot Winnipeg 30-24 in Sunday's loss. Captain Jamie Benn scored his 26th goal Sunday and has recorded six of his 66 points in the last four games to sit second on the team behind Tyler Seguin (38 goals, 70 points).
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (41-24-7): Washington also has some injury concerns as defenseman Brooks Orpik (lower body) and second-leading scorer Evgeny Kuznetsov (left arm) are expected to miss their second straight game. Defenseman John Carlson has put up two goals and four assists during a five-game point streak while Nicklas Backstrom has matched that streak, scoring three times and setting up five during his string. Goalie Braden Holtby (30-15-4) is still trying to find his game after winning two of his previous three starts, stopping 22 of 25 against the New York Islanders on Friday.
OVERTIME
1. The Stars are 10-0-3 in the last 13 meetings with the Capitals, but dropped a 4-3 overtime decision Dec. 19.
2. Washington RW T.J. Oshie has scored three times in his last three contests after suffering through a 19-game goal drought.
3. Carlson and Dallas' John Klingberg lead all blue liners in the league with 59 points apiece.
PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Stars 3
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders Preview and Predictions 03-20-2018
19th March 2018 by Gracenote
Matt Murray could be in line to make his return from a nine-game absence on Tuesday when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Barclays Center bidding for a season sweep of the New York Islanders. The two-time Stanley Cup-winning goaltender participated in his second consecutive practice on Monday after sustaining a concussion on Feb. 26.
"He will be an option in goal (Tuesday) night. We'll see how he responds and we'll make decisions accordingly," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said of the 23-year-old Murray, who posted a 9-1-1 mark in 11 games prior to the injury. Pittsburgh has recorded a 5-3-1 mark in Murray's absence to reside within two points of first-place Washington in the Metropolitan Division. New York has dropped three straight and is 1-7-4 in its last 12 to plummet into the cellar of the Metro. "We're not getting the results and that can beat you down," said Islanders captain John Tavares, who had three assists in Sunday's 4-3 setback versus Carolina to increase his point total to nine (two goals, seven assists) in his past seven outings.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, MSG Plus (New York)
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (41-26-5): Crosby set up a goal in Thursday's 5-3 win at Montreal to move within one of 700 for his decorated career, and points seemingly haven't been hard to accumulate versus the Islanders. The two-time Hart Trophy recipient boosted his career point total to 108 (34 goals, 74 assists) against New York with seven this season (two goals, five assists), highlighted by his tally 3:48 into overtime in a 3-2 win on March 3. "It's important to be playing the right way, if that's something that puts us in the position to win the division, it's important," Crosby told reporters of the Penguins' current path. "That being said, we want to make sure we're playing the right way and hope that earns us the first spot."
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (30-32-10): Anders Lee scored twice with the man advantage versus the Hurricanes to set career-high totals in goals (35) and power-play tallies (11) while also boosting his point total to 200 in the process. "You continue to work hard and continue to look at your game and try to improve. ... But, you want to score two when you win," said the 27-year-old Lee, who has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his past seven games. Lee collected a goal and an assist in the match against the Penguins earlier this month, a game that saw Christopher Gibson make 47 saves before Crosby's heroics.
OVERTIME
1. Pittsburgh C Evgeni Malkin has 40 points (19 goals, 21 assists) in his last 22 games.
2. New York G Jaroslav Halak owns an 0-6-2 mark in his last eight decisions.
3. Penguins G Tristan Jarry, who was in net for all three victories versus the Islanders this season, was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Monday.
PREDICTION: Penguins 5, Islanders 2
Florida Panthers vs. Ottawa Senators Preview and Predictions 03-20-2018
20th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Florida Panthers are doing their best to climb into a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and continue their quest Tuesday, when they visit the Ottawa Senators. Florida has earned points in 11 of its last 13 games (10-2-1) but sits three behind New Jersey for the second wild card, although it has two games in hand.
Roberto Luongo made 28 saves in Monday's 2-0 win at Montreal to help the Panthers record their third shutout in six contests while Aleksander Barkov scored his 26th goal to end his six-game drought and increase his team-leading point total to 71. The 22-year-old Finn is two tallies away from matching the career high he set in 2015-16 and one shy of 100 in the NHL. Florida is hoping to avenge a 5-3 home loss on March 12 to Ottawa, which had its three-game winning streak snapped with Saturday's 2-1 defeat in Columbus. Magnus Paajarvi and Matt Duchene each scored twice for the Senators in the win over the Panthers, with the latter's effort beginning his run of three straight two-point performances.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Florida, TSN5, RDS (Ottawa)
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (36-27-7): Luongo's shutout Monday was his third of the season and the 76th of his career, tying him with Tony Esposito and Ed Belfour for ninth place on the all-time list. Vincent Trocheck was kept off the scoresheet in Montreal, ending a six-game point streak during which he registered four goals and five assists. The 24-year-old center leads the team with 28 goals, which is a career high, and ranks second with 66 points - also a personal best.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (26-34-11): Bobby Ryan remains one point shy of 500 for his career as he has been kept off the scoresheet in six straight contests. The 31-year-old right wing needs two goals to avoid finishing in single digits for the first time since his rookie season in 2007-08, when he recorded five in 23 games with Anaheim. Defenseman Erik Karlsson did not figure in the scoring Saturday, ending his string of three consecutive two-point performances.
OVERTIME
1. Panthers D Aaron Ekblad scored his 15th goal of the season Monday to match the career high he set in 2015-16 and extend his point streak to three games.
2. Ottawa LW Ryan Dzingel left Saturday's contest midway through the third period after being hit in the back of the head by a shot, but coach Guy Boucher believes he'll be in the lineup against the Panthers.
3. Florida D Alex Petrovic returned to the lineup Monday after missing two games with a lower-body injury and logged 11 minutes, 40 seconds of ice time.
PREDICTION: Senators 3, Panthers 1
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Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Preview and Predictions 03-20-2018
19th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Tampa Bay Lightning have sealed a playoff berth for the fourth time in five years and now look to keep hold of their lead in the Atlantic Division as they complete an eight-game homestand Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Lightning are 5-2-0 during their run at Amalie Arena after knocking off Edmonton 3-1 on Sunday and lead second-place Boston by three points.
"We had a chance to play out some scenarios (Sunday) that we have struggled with in the past," Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos told reporters. "Coming back in games after a tough bounce and playing with a one-goal lead in the third. I thought we did a great job of securing it, getting an extra one and not sitting back." The Lightning likely will get a break as Toronto coach Mike Babcock told reporters after Monday's practice that Auston Matthews (upper body), Nikita Zaitsev (illness) and Leo Komarov (lower body) are out for Tuesday while goalie Frederik Andersen (upper body) could be back in net after going through a practice. The Maple Leafs are nine points behind the Lightning and comfortably in a playoff position after winning four straight games and scoring 19 goals while doing it. Toronto has been especially lethal on the power play where it has converted eight of 12 attempts in the last five contests.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN4 (Toronto), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (43-22-7): Left wing James van Riemsdyk is set to play his 600th NHL game Tuesday and has posted five goals in his last three contests to push his season total to a career-high 31. Speedy forward Mitch Marner has registered seven of his team-leading 60 points during a five-game streak and William Nylander ended a 13-game goal drought Saturday in the 4-0 win over Montreal. Defenseman Morgan Rielly accumulated seven assists in the last five games and veteran forward Patrick Marleau has three of his 23 goals in the past four contests.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (49-19-4): Tampa Bay killed off all five Edmonton power-play opportunities Sunday after giving up 13 tallies while down a man in the previous 12 contests. "You can see what type of impact it can have on a game," Stamkos told reporters. "It went the other way against Boston (two power-play goals against Saturday) and (Sunday) we won the special teams battle and get a much-deserved win." Right wing Nikita Kucherov scored twice Sunday and leads the league with 93 points (36 goals) - nine ahead of Stamkos - while posting 11 in the last six games.
OVERTIME
1. Toronto C Nazem Kadri scored four goals in the last four games and is tied with Matthews for second on the team with 28.
2. Tampa Bay F J.T. Miller has five goals and five assists with a plus-3 rating in nine games since being acquired from the New York Rangers.
3. The Lightning have won two of the three matchups this season, including a shootout triumph in the last on Feb. 26.
PREDICTION: Lightning 3, Maple Leafs 2
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Detroit Red Wings Preview and Predictions 03-20-2018
19th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Philadelphia Flyers have applied the breaks on a disastrous stretch while the Detroit Red Wings effectively have skidded out of control. With former Red Wing Petr Mrazek in tow, the Flyers have answered a woeful 1-6-1 stretch with back-to-back victories heading into Tuesday's road tilt against a Detroit squad that been outscored 41-19 during its 10-game winless skid (0-9-1).
"You go small sample sizes and go one period at a time. We know we control our own destiny, so for us, it's just keep doing good things," said Philadelphia forward Wayne Simmonds, who recorded his first multi-goal performance since his season-opening hat trick in Sunday's 6-3 triumph over Washington. The 29-year-old Simmonds increased his point total to six (three goals, three assists) in his last five games for the Flyers, who reside two points behind second-place Pittsburgh in the Metropolitan Division. The ever-changing standings haven't been much of a concern for the Red Wings, who are inching closer to missing the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since a five-year drought from 1979-1983. "Sports isn't supposed to be easy, it's supposed to be hard. That's why it feels so good when you win. So we got to find a way to keep fighting here," coach Jeff Blashill told reporters after Detroit concluded a fruitless five-game road trip with a lackluster 5-1 setback at Colorado on Sunday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, NBCS Philadelphia
ABOUT THE FLYERS (37-25-11): Mrazek is expected to get the start on Tuesday, just four weeks after being acquired from Detroit for a pair of conditional draft picks as Philadelphia was left to address its ailing goaltender carousel. "It's gonna be nice to get back, but when the game starts, it doesn't matter who is on the other side," the 26-year-old Mrazek told Philly.com. "We are going there to get some good results, and we have to build from there." Travis Konecny, who scored 27 seconds into overtime in a 3-2 win at Detroit on Jan. 23, is expected to be elevated to the top line in place of Michael Raffl, who will be sidelined at least two weeks after sustaining an upper-body injury against the Capitals.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (26-35-11): Goaltender Jared Coreau has lost three straight decisions and yielded 15 goals on 104 shots in four appearances since being summoned from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League to replace Mrazek. "I'm not putting it on him. This is a team thing," Blashill said after the 26-year-old permitted all five goals against the Avalanche. "But I also would say I've talked to our team about guys have to step up and make plays. That's the goaltenders, too. You gotta step up and make tons of saves here." Luke Glendening set up Justin Abdelkader's goal versus Colorado and had two assists against Philadelphia in the January encounter.
OVERTIME
1. Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux has 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in his last 20 games to raise his career total to 659, tying Eric Lindros for fifth place in franchise history.
2. Abdelkader resides one goal shy of 100 for his career.
3. Flyers RW Jakub Voracek, who has nine points (five goals, four assists) in his past nine games, has one goal and two assists against the Red Wings this season.
PREDICTION: Flyers 4, Red Wings 2
Los Angeles Kings vs. Winnipeg Jets Preview and Predictions 03-20-2018
20th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Winnipeg Jets attempt to remain perfect on their six-game homestand and strengthen their hold on second place in the Central Division when they host the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. Winnipeg, which is six points ahead of third-place Minnesota in the Central, has won the first two games of its string at Bell MTS Place after topping Dallas 4-2 on Sunday behind a pair of goals from Patrik Laine.
Laine's effort tied him with Washington's Alex Ovechkin for the league lead with 43 goals and extended his point streak to 15 games, a run during which he has collected 18 tallies and eight assists while registering nine multi-point performances. The streak by the 19-year-old Finn, who scored 36 goals as a rookie last season, is the longest by a teenager in NHL history. Los Angeles climbed back into third place in the Pacific Division on Monday as it kicked off a four-game road trip with a 4-3 overtime victory in Minnesota. Jeff Carter capped his two-goal effort at 4:26 of the extra session as the Kings moved ahead of Anaheim in the division standings and pulled within three points of second-place San Jose.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), TSN3 (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE KINGS (40-27-6): Carter has performed well since returning from an ankle injury on Feb. 24, recording eight goals in 12 contests. Los Angeles could be without Trevor Lewis on Tuesday as the 31-year-old center departed the win over the Wild in the first period with an upper-body injury. Captain Anze Kopitar's assist on Monday was his team-leading 81st point, which matches the career high he set in 2009-10.
ABOUT THE JETS (43-19-10): Jacob Trouba's return to the lineup was a brief one as the defenseman is in concussion protocol after receiving a hit from Dallas captain Jamie Benn on Sunday in his second game back from an ankle injury. The 24-year-old Trouba, who notched a pair of assists against Chicago on Thursday after missing 20 contests, was scheduled to see a specialist Monday to determine the extent of his ailment. Fellow blue-liner Dmitry Kulikov has elected not to have back surgery and will be re-evaluated in 3-to-4 weeks.
OVERTIME
1. Kings LW Tanner Pearson is expected to appear in his 300th NHL game on Tuesday.
2. Winnipeg C Bryan Little is two goals shy of 200 for his career but has recorded only one over his last 13 games.
3. Los Angeles D Drew Doughty has notched three assists in two of his last three games and has registered 10 over his last six contests.
PREDICTION: Jets 4, Kings 2
Colorado Avalanche vs. Chicago Blackhawks Preview and Predictions 03-20-2018
19th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Colorado Avalanche's remarkable turnaround from a 48-point 2016-17 season can largely be traced to one player as they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. Nathan MacKinnon could be considered the favorite to win the Hart Trophy after a 12-game point streak has yielded 13 goals and 11 assists, and - more importantly - helped Colorado move into wild-card position in the Western Conference with 10 contests remaining.
MacKinnon scored twice in Sunday's 5-1 victory over Detroit, giving him 38 this season as the Avalanche have won four of five and are 7-1-3 in their last 11 games. "For me, if we get in the playoffs, he's the MVP," Colorado coach Jared Bednar told reporters about MacKinnon, the NHL's Second Star of the week. "I can't imagine there's another player that means more for their team and is doing more for their team than what Nate's doing for us. That's just the way I see it. I mean, he is the driving force to our offense." Chicago is on the verge of missing the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons, and is 1-4-1 in its last six games after a 5-4 overtime loss to St. Louis on Sunday. "I feel like we've played well and we just came up a little bit short," the Blackhawks' Alex DeBrincat told reporters after setting a club rookie record with his third hat trick of the campaign Sunday. "And I feel like that's been the theme of this whole season."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Colorado), NBCS Chicago
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (39-25-8): MacKinnon, who has 28 points in his last 14 games, Mikko Rantanen and captain Gabriel Landeskog form one of the NHL's elite and fastest lines. Rantanen recorded 13 of his 77 points and three of his 25 goals this season over the last six games while Landeskog (24 goals, 56 points) has two goals and five assists in his past three contests while adding grit. Top defenseman Erik Johnson returned Sunday after missing 13 games with an upper-body injury and was a plus-1 in 19 minutes, 52 seconds of ice time.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (30-34-9): Chicago was 17-13-5 when goaltender Corey Crawford went down with an upper-body injury as backups Anton Forsberg, Jeff Glass and Jean-Francois Berube haven't been able to keep the club afloat. All three have a goals-against average above 3.00 with Forsberg (.905) the only one with a save percentage above .900. Patrick Kane, who shares the team lead in goals with DeBrincat (25) and has a club-most 69 points, had a four-game point streak (goal, five assists) snapped Sunday.
OVERTIME
1. Colorado on Sunday also welcomed back LW Vladislav Kamenev, who played 10:03 in his first contest since breaking his arm Nov. 16 in his club debut. Kamenev was acquired from Nashville in the Nov. 5 three-team trade that sent Matt Duchene to Ottawa.
2. The Avalanche are 16-for-16 on the penalty kill over their last five games, and lead the NHL at 84.3 percent entering Monday.
3. The teams, who meet again March 30 in Denver, split the first two of four meetings this season with the Blackhawks prevailing 2-1 in overtime March 6 on Jonathan Toews' goal and Colorado winning 6-3 on Oct. 28 as MacKinnon and Rantanen each scored twice.
PREDICTION: Avalanche 3, Blackhawks 2
Vancouver Canucks vs. Vegas Golden Knights Preview and Predictions 03-20-2018
19th March 2018 by Gracenote
William Karlsson and the Vegas Golden Knights are in the midst of a fairy-tale season, with the former netting his second hat trick in 2017-18 to help the latter end a four-game home losing skid. Karlsson and the Golden Knights look to continue their good fortune on Tuesday when they face the visiting Vancouver Canucks, who have dropped six in a row.
"It's pretty incredible, something you dream about growing up. ... It's the second time now and it felt as great as the first time," Karlsson told the Las Vegas Review-Journal following Sunday's 4-0 win over Calgary. The 25-year-old Swede has 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in his past 13 games overall and five (three goals, two assists) in Vegas' decisive victories versus Vancouver this season. While the Golden Knights have won four of six to reside eight points ahead of San Jose atop the Pacific, the free-falling Canucks had been shut out in three straight contests before dropping a 5-3 decision to the Sharks on Saturday. Vancouver hasn't helped itself against Pacific Division foes, posting a 6-16-1 mark heading into Tuesday's tilt versus a club that boasts a sterling 17-3-2 record.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Vegas)
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (25-38-9): A promising start (14-10-4) gave way to harsh reality in short order for Vancouver, which has found itself officially eliminated from postseason consideration after posting just one regulation win in its last 13 outings (2-8-3). Daniel Sedin scored and set up a goal in the February tilt versus Vegas to ignite a nine-point performance (six goals, three assists) in a five-game stretch before being limited to just a pair of assists in his last seven. The 37-year-old Swede set up one of Vancouver's three man-advantage goals versus the Sharks after the team's seventh-ranked power play went 0-for-9 in its previous six games.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (46-21-5): While Karlsson (39 goals) has put himself in the conversation for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy for most goals this season, his 65 points have him one shy of David Perron and Jonathan Marchessault for the team lead. Perron isn't making it easy for Karlsson to catch up, as the former has six assists during his five-game point streak and 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in his past 13 contests overall. The 29-year-old Perron and Marchessault each scored and set up a goal in both Vegas' 5-2 over Vancouver on Nov. 16 and again in the 6-3 victory versus the Canucks on Feb. 23.
OVERTIME
1. Vegas G Marc-Andre Fleury, who turned aside all 42 shots he faced on Sunday to up his .945 save percentage in his past six starts, resides one win shy of surpassing Chris Osgood (401) for 12th place on the NHL's all-time list.
2. Vancouver captain Henrik Sedin has answered a five-game point streak by being held off the scoresheet in seven straight contests.
3. Golden Knights C Erik Haula has four goals and an assist in his last four games overall and owns one of each versus the Canucks this season.
PREDICTION: Golden Knights 5, Canucks 2
New Jersey Devils vs. San Jose Sharks Preview and Predictions 03-20-2018
19th March 2018 by Gracenote
The New Jersey Devils visit the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday as they continue a six-game road trip that also has them playing last season's Stanley Cup finalists, the best inaugural team in NHL history and a pair of desperate clubs trying to secure playoff berths. New Jersey, which began the trek with victories over Nashville and Vegas, split a pair of contests in Southern California over the weekend and concludes its stretch Friday at Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh.
The Devils have a three-point lead over Florida for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference while San Jose sits second in the Pacific Division, three points ahead of Los Angeles. Marc-Edouard Vlasic, the Sharks' top defensive blueliner, practiced Monday after taking a slap shot to the throat area and is expected to play Tuesday. "Big relief," San Jose coach Pete DeBoer told reporters. "He's obviously a big part for us as we know. It could have been a lot worse, and thankfully, it wasn't." San Jose won the first of two meetings this season 3-0 on Oct. 20 behind 28 saves from Martin Jones for its third straight victory in the series and eighth in the last 10 encounters, giving the road team seven wins in the last eight tries.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet West; MSG Plus (New Jersey), NBCS California (San Jose)
ABOUT THE DEVILS (37-27-8): Taylor Hall (team highs of 31 goals and 77 points) had an assist in Sunday's 4-2 loss at Anaheim and has a goal and two assists in his last five contests after totaling 18 and 20 during a 26-game point streak. Kyle Palmieri scored his 20th goal of the season Sunday, reaching the milestone for the third straight season, and is third on the club with 36 points. Jesper Bratt (35 points, minus-13 rating) has recorded only one goal and an assist while playing to a minus-6 in his last 13 games, and was a healthy scratch versus Anaheim for the second time in the last three contests.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (40-23-9): Joe Pavelski boasts a team-high 58 points after recording five assists during a four-game point streak, including one in Saturday's 5-3 victory at Vancouver. Defenseman Paul Martin, 37, played his fourth NHL game of the season and first since Dec. 7 on Saturday as Joakim Ryan will miss 7-to-10 days with an upper-body injury, according to DeBoer. Melker Karlsson, who hasn't recorded a point in his last 10 contests, is expected to play Tuesday after blocking a shot early in the first period and leaving Saturday's game while Joonas Donskoi (upper-body injury) skated before practice Monday and remains day-to-day.
OVERTIME
1. San Jose D Brent Burns (55 points) hasn't scored in 14 games and has 10 goals this season - well below the career-high 29 he scored in winning the Norris Trophy in 2016-17 - and is a club-worst minus-18.
2. New Jersey LW Miles Wood (17 goals, 29 points, 79 penalty minutes) injured his right elbow in the second period Sunday and did not return.
3. The Sharks allowed three power-play goals Saturday after going 16-for-16 on the penalty kill in their previous 10 games.
PREDICTION: Devils 3, Sharks 2