Betting news, trends, odds and predictions for Wednesday, March 7, 2018 from various handicappers and websites
Catch a Predator
For the longest time, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights were the talk of the league, with the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins and defending Western Conference champ Nashville Predators on the back burner. The Pens are sitting at 80 points, second place in the Metropolitan Division, but well back of the overall leaders. However, the Nashville Predators have streaked their way to the top of the Western Conference, leading the Winnipeg Jets by six points in the Central Division with 16 left to play. The Preds are on a nine-game winning streak and showing no signs of slowing down.
Tropical Depression
The Carolina Hurricanes are now under new ownership, but the story remains the same. The Canes are on the outside looking in after a 6-2 drumming from their former captain Eric Staal and the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night. Carolina heads into Wednesday's action down four points to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who hold the No. 8 spot in the East. The Florida Panthers are also right in the mix with 71 points, and they have three games in hand on Carolina. In fact, there are four teams within seven points of the Jackets, so the Hurricanes have plenty of company and can ill-afford any losses. They're 2-6-2 and losing their grip on a wild-card spot, which will not sit well with an increasingly angry fan base in the Raleigh/Durham area.
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Looking Ahead
Wednesday, March 7
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers do battle for Keystone State supremacy. A few weeks ago, this didn't look like a terribly attractive matchup. But the Flyers have been on fire, winning 10 of their past 14 games to vault to within two points of the Metro Division lead. So this will be a super important game, as the winner will come away with sole possession of second place, and perhaps a share or outright lead. The Penguins have held serve, winning eight of their past 11 overall, while going 11-5 in their past 16 against teams with a winning record. The 'over' is 5-1 in the past six meetings in this series, while the Pens have come away with seven of the past 10 meetings.
Thursday, March 8
The Ducks and the Predators meet for the third time this season. Anaheim has been hot lately, including a 4-0 win against Washington on Tuesday, completing a 3-0-1 homestand. Nashville has been hot, too, however, as they'll go for their 10th consecutive victory on Thursday night. The Predators have also won each of the first two meetings in this series, taking a 3-2 shootout victory on Dec. 2 in the most recent matchup, while besting the Ducks 5-3 in Anaheim back on Nov. 3. The Ducks are playing much better hockey these days, however, and this is likely to be a playoff preview.
As mentioned, the Capitals were whitewashed in Anaheim on Tuesday in the first stop of their West Coast road trip. The Caps have won three in a row at home, but they have dropped three stragiht on the road while averaging just 1.0 goals per game. They're allowing 4.0 GPG across the past three outings away from home. Los Angeles posted a 5-2 victory in D.C. back on Nov. 30, as Braden Holtby got the best of Jonathan Quick. Holtby was pulled after allowing three quick goals on Tuesday, so Philipp Grubauer might get the nod in L.A. based on his solid play as a stand-in.
Friday, March 9
The Wild and Canucks will tangle in the Pacific Northwest. It is the third meeting between these teams, and while the Canucks have won each of the first two battles, both contests remained in one-goal results. Vancouver won 3-2 in overtime in the most recent meeting on Jan. 14 in St. Paul, and Anders Nilsson and the Canucks blanked the Wild 1-0 on Oct. 24. In the past five meetings, the Wild have managed to pick up just one victory, which is amazing considering the disparity in the standings between these two clubs over the past couple of seasons.
Saturday, March 10
It's an Original Six battle on Saturday afternoon in Beantown, and we have two clubs going in completely opposite directions. The Blackhawks are normally at or near the top of the Western Conference standings and contending, but it's been a trying season with a turnstile in the crease since Corey Crawford went down. The Bruins won 6-5 on Tuesday night to stay hot, winning their fourth consecutive game. Three of those contests resulted in overtime, and 16 of their games have resulted in overtime or a shootout this season. Boston has won seven of the past eight at home, while Chicago has won consecutive games just twice since Jan. 10. They haven't won three in a row since cobbling together a season-best five-game winning streak from Dec. 8-17.
The New York Rangers and Florida Panthers battle in Sunrise on Saturday night, and these are two of a handful of teams jockeying for the No. 7 or 8 playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. This is the third meeting this season, and both games have resulted in 5-4 scores. The Panthers won 5-4 in regulation at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 28, while the Rangers won on the Panthers home ice on Nov. 4 in overtime. The road team has won five in a row in this series, with the home team last winning when the Rangers took a 4-2 decision at MSG back on March 21, 2016.
NHL
Long Sheet
Wednesday, March 7
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CALGARY (32-25-0-10, 74 pts.) at BUFFALO (21-34-0-11, 53 pts.) - 3/7/2018, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CALGARY is 13-9 ATS (+24.0 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
CALGARY is 8-2 ATS (+10.2 Units) in road games after allowing 4 goals or more this season.
CALGARY is 21-13 ATS (+35.4 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
CALGARY is 12-5 ATS (+17.5 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
BUFFALO is 21-45 ATS (-39.8 Units) in all games this season.
BUFFALO is 1-9 ATS (+12.3 Units) in home games in non-conference games this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
BUFFALO is 3-2 (+2.2 Units) against the spread versus CALGARY over the last 3 seasons
BUFFALO is 3-2-0 straight up against CALGARY over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+3.2 Units)
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PITTSBURGH (38-25-0-4, 80 pts.) at PHILADELPHIA (34-21-0-11, 79 pts.) - 3/7/2018, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 11-23 ATS (-14.4 Units) in road games after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 57-53 ATS (+2.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 106-59 ATS (+21.0 Units) second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 42-20 ATS (+14.9 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 76-87 ATS (-68.4 Units) in home games when playing with 2 days rest since 1996.
PHILADELPHIA is 0-6 ATS (-8.3 Units) in home games after 3 or more consecutive losses this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 7-3 (+2.8 Units) against the spread versus PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 7-3-0 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+5.3 Units)
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ARIZONA (20-34-0-11, 51 pts.) at VANCOUVER (25-32-0-9, 59 pts.) - 3/7/2018, 10:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
VANCOUVER is 7-3 (+3.5 Units) against the spread versus ARIZONA over the last 3 seasons
VANCOUVER is 7-3-0 straight up against ARIZONA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 8 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.9 Units)
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NHL
Wednesday, March 7
Trend Report
CALGARY @ BUFFALO
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Calgary's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Calgary's last 5 games when playing Buffalo
Buffalo is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Calgary
Buffalo is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Calgary
PITTSBURGH @ PHILADELPHIA
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 6 games when playing Pittsburgh
Philadelphia is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Pittsburgh
ARIZONA @ VANCOUVER
Arizona is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Arizona's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Vancouver's last 5 games at home
Vancouver is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Arizona
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Calgary Flames vs. Buffalo Sabres Preview and Predictions 03-07-2018
6th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Calgary Flames have remained in the postseason chase mainly on the strength of their superb play away from home, but that success has diminished over the past two weeks and so has the team's playoff chances. Calgary looks to end a four-game losing streak (0-3-1) when it resumes a three-game road trip at the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.
The Flames erased an early two-goal deficit before falling in overtime at two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh on Monday, but coach Glen Gulutzan called the performance -- and salvaging one point -- a "building block." Calgary has dropped three straight away from home to tumble into fifth place in the Pacific Division and 11th in the Western Conference with 15 games remaining. The Sabres are mired in last place in the East but have won three of their last four, knocking off the top three teams in the Atlantic Division in that span. "It's tough for us to go through this last little bit, but we're trying to build something," Buffalo forward Sam Reinhart said. "We're trying to improve and keep this consistent play going."
Video: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Buffalo Sabres – Mar. 05, 2018 | Game Highlights | NHL 2017/18
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Calgary), MSG-Buffalo
ABOUT THE FLAMES (32-25-10): Calgary has dropped nine of 11 since an injury to starting netminder Mike Smith, who was on the ice for the first time Tuesday since he was hurt. Smith was unable to provide his timetable to return to the lineup and will remain a spectator as the Flames go with the rookie tandem of David Rittich and Jon Gillies. "Listen, I'm the first one to tell you I want to be back in there tomorrow," Smith said. "But I think I need some time to get with the team, practicing, up to speed here. I'll know when the time is right."
ABOUT THE SABRES (21-34-11): Reinhart was one of four Buffalo players with a goal and an assist in Monday's 5-3 over Toronto as he continued his second-half revival. Since returning from the team's bye week in mid-January, Reinhart has amassed 23 points in 22 games after collecting 13 through the first 44 contests. "I'm just moving my feet, holding onto the puck," Reinhart said. "Just playing naturally. I think I use my knowledge of the game to my advantage but when I overthink things, it doesn't go too well for me or doesn't go as well for me."
OVERTIME
1. Calgary is 0-for-16 on the power play during the four-game skid.
2. Sabres C Kyle Criscuolo (upper body) will miss four to six weeks after he was hurt in Monday's game.
3. The Flames have lost 15 of their last 22 games (7-9-6), including a 2-1 home loss to Buffalo on Jan. 22.
PREDICTION: Sabres 4, Flames 3
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Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Preview and Predictions 03-07-2018
6th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers have enjoyed spirited surges as they climbed their way up the Metropolitan Division standings before a three-game skid halted the latter's progress. The Keystone State rivals look to improve their standing at the other's expense on Wednesday when they meet at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Evgeni Malkin, who leads the Penguins with 37 goals and 82 points, scored a goal and set up two others on Monday as Pittsburgh skated to its eighth win in 11 outings with a 4-3 overtime triumph versus Calgary. The 2012 Hart Trophy recipient has recorded 43 points (22 goals, 21 assists) in his last 24 games to remain hot on the heels of Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov for the scoring lead. The Penguins' torrid stretch has them one point ahead of Philadelphia, which has answered a 10-0-1 run to end February by being outscored 14-8 en route to posting an 0-2-1 mark in March. "It's a big challenge and big games for us this week. We have to regroup and get back to work," said goaltender Petr Mrazek, who has been gashed by Carolina, Tampa Bay and Florida after highlighting a superb three-game win streak with a 1-0 victory in Montreal on Feb. 26.
Video: Calgary Flames vs Pittsburgh Penguins – Mar. 05, 2018 | Game Highlights | NHL 2017/18.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TVAS
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (38-25-4): Sidney Crosby is aiming to rough up the Flyers in his 850th career game on Wednesday, as Pittsburgh's superstar captain has tormented Philadelphia to the tune of 88 points (37 goals, 51 assists) in 61 outings. The two-time Hart Trophy recipient padded those numbers by setting up two goals before scoring 1:48 into overtime of a 5-4 triumph on Nov. 27 and adding an assist in Pittsburgh's 5-1 romp on Jan. 2. Phil Kessel, who is slated to play in his 900th career contest on Wednesday, has notched two assists in back-to-back outings while extending his multi-point streak to three games.
ABOUT THE FLYERS (34-21-11): Rugged forward Wayne Simmonds is expected to provide some physicality to the lineup on Wednesday after being sidelined since Feb. 18 with an upper-body injury. "I feel pretty good. I'm looking to come into the lineup tomorrow and make an impact," the 29-year-old Simmonds said. "I feel good, skating and everything out there - shooting, passing and everything like that." Simmonds practiced on a line with Jordan Weal and Valtteri Filppula on Tuesday while Oskar Lindblom, who was called up from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League in place of Simmonds, was paired with fellow rookie Nolan Patrick and Jake Voracek (club-best 57 assists).
OVERTIME
1. Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux (team-best 78 points) has recorded at least a point in seven of the last eight games, during which he has four goals and eight assists.
2. Penguins C Jake Guentzel, who tallied twice in the first encounter against the Flyers, has been held off the scoresheet in three straight games after collecting eight points (two goals, six assists) in his previous four.
3. Philadelphia C Travis Konecny has scored twice in three outings this month and also tallied in the November meeting versus Pittsburgh.
PREDICTION: Penguins 5, Flyers 2
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Arizona Coyotes vs. Vancouver Canucks Preview and Predictions 03-07-2018
6th March 2018 by Gracenote
It's been another dud of a season for the Vancouver Canucks, who are on course for a third consecutive next-to-last finish in the Western Conference. The brightest part of the team's future, rookie Brock Boeser, won't be on display Wednesday -- and perhaps the rest of the season -- when the Canucks host the last-place Arizona Coyotes.
Boeser was injured when he tumbled into the open gate of Vancouver's bench on Monday night and suffered a non-structural, non-displaced fracture of the transverse process in his lower back that will sideline him for four to six weeks. "It's unfortunate, for sure," coach Travis Green said of Boeser, who leads the team in goals (29) and points (55). "Brock has had a great rookie season and the good news is he'll have a full recovery." Arizona is playing some of its best hockey of the season, earning points in 10 of 12 games (8-2-2) following Monday's 4-3 overtime loss at Edmonton. The Coyotes dropped a 3-1 decision at home to the Canucks on Feb. 25, but will get three more cracks at Vancouver, including a matchup in Arizona on Sunday night.
Video: New York Islanders vs Vancouver Canucks – Mar. 05, 2018 | Game Highlights | NHL 2017/18
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, Sportsnet1, Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE COYOTES (20-34-11): Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, who ended a drought of nearly 14 months with the tying goal late in the third period, likes what he's seen out of the team over the past month. "We've got a totally different confidence and just a different feeling in the group," Hjalmarsson said. "We've been playing great and taking a lot of points. We're just going to try to keep going here." The Coyotes are struggling on the power play, converting on 2 of 27 chances over the past eight games, including 1-for-6 against Vancouver
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (25-32-9): Boeser, who turned 21 when the teams met last month, had four goals in nine games in a late-season promotion last season and the former first-round pick continued to be a dynamic presence in 2017-18. "We're going to miss him on the power play and the respect he gets from other teams," forward Daniel Sedin said. "That's a guy, I think why fans in this city should be excited because you can see he is the real deal and we've seen it all year." The Canucks have had 11 players miss at least 10 straight games due to injury.
OVERTIME
1. Canucks F Brendan Leipsic, acquired from Vegas at the trade deadline, has two goals and five points in three games.
2. Arizona recalled G Adin Hill on an emergency basis from Tucson of the American Hockey League.
3. Canucks F Bo Horvat has six goals and 11 points in his last 11 games.
PREDICTION: Canucks 3, Coyotes 2
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