Hockey Today
SCOREBOARD
Friday, Jan. 30
Pittsburgh at New Jersey (7 p.m. EST). The Pittsburgh Penguins look to continue their second-half playoff push against the Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey Devils, who have won a season-high seven straight.
STARS
Thursday
— Evgeni Nabokov, Sharks, made 24 saves to extended his personal shutout streak to a franchise-record 170 minutes, 10 seconds as San Jose beat Phoenix 2-0.
— Kyle Okposo, Islanders, had his first two-goal game in the NHL and New York beat Atlanta 5-3.
— Eric Staal, Hurricanes, scored with 1:36 remaining to lift Carolina past Tampa Bay 3-2.
— Jamie Langenbrunner, Devils, scored his second goal of the game with 1:11 gone in overtime in New Jersey’s 4-3 win over Boston.
— Tomas Vokoun, Panthers, made 35 saves for Florida in a 5-1 victory against Montreal and improved to 6-1-2 in his last nine starts.
STINGY
San Jose goalie Evgeni Nabokov, left off the West All-Star team despite having 25 wins at the break, extended his personal shutout streak to a franchise-record 170 minutes, 10 seconds in the Sharks’ 2-0 victory against Phoenix. San Jose has allowed 108 goals this season, matching Minnesota for the NHL’s fewest.
SURGE
The Dallas Stars beat Detroit 4-2, their third straight victory. The Stars are 5-1-1 in their last seven games, continuing a surge up from the bottom of the Western Conference. Since Nov. 30, they are 15-7-3. … New Jersey has won a season-best seven straight games.
SNAPPED
The New York Islanders broke a 14-game winless streak (0-13-1) on the road with a 5-3 victory against Atlanta. The Thrashers dropped to 9-14-2 at home. … Toronto ended a four-game losing streak by beating Colorado 7-4.
STAT
Chicago’s penalty-killing unit has allowed nine goals in 22 short-handed situations after killing 7-for-7 against Buffalo on Jan. 14.
SCORING
Colorado surrendered a season-high for goals with a 7-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
SLUMP
Montreal ended a five-game road trip with a 5-1 loss at Florida. The Canadiens have lost four consecutive games, their longest losing streak this season. Montreal allowed at least four goals in every game of the road trip.
SIGN AND REST
A day after signing a 12-year, $73 million contract, Red Wings winger Henrik Zetterberg did not play against Dallas because of a back injury. He was missed as Detroit lost 4-2. Zetterberg hopes to play Saturday at Washington.
STOPPER
Carolina goalie Cam Ward earned his 100th NHL victory as the Hurricanes beat Tampa Bay 3-2. Ward, making his 15th straight start, stopped 27 shots and improved to 6-1 in his last seven against the Lightning.
SENATORS’ FIRST
Peter Regin scored his first NHL goal in his third game to help the Ottawa Senators beat St. Louis 3-1. Regin’s goal with 1:57 left in the third proved the winner.
SWAP
The Minnesota Wild traded defenseman Erik Reitz to the New York Rangers on Thursday for left wing Dan Fritsche. The 23-year-old Fritsche tallied four points in 16 games with the Rangers this season. He has played in 222 career NHL games over five seasons with Columbus and New York. The 26-year-old Reitz had two points and 41 penalty minutes in 31 games with the Wild this season.
SPEAKING
“I’ve had zero wins here this century. I don’t want to date myself at all, but it has been a long time.”—Dallas goalie Marty Turco, who was 0-8-2 at Joe Louis Arena against the Reds Wings in the regular season before the Stars’ 4-2 victory Thursday night. Turco did have some success at the Joe when he played for the University of Michigan.
Ottawa Senators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Senators scored twice in the third period to pull out a 3-1 victory over the Blues on Thursday, as +110 underdogs. The four goals went UNDER the night's posted over/under (5.5).
Mike Fisher scored shorthanded and into an empty net, while Peter Regin added the other goal.
Rick Nash potted a hat trick, including the winner in overtime to lift the Blue Jackets over the Red Wings 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Columbus cashed as +150 home underdogs as the game played under the 5.5-goal total set by oddsmakers.
Team records:
Ottawa: 17-22-7
Columbus: 23-20-5
Ottawa most recently:
When playing on Friday are 8-2
Before playing Boston are 7-3
After playing St. Louis are 7-3
After a win are 3-7
Columbus most recently:
When playing on Friday are 5-5
Before playing Dallas are 5-5
After playing Detroit are 3-7
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Ottawa's last 6 games when playing Columbus
Ottawa is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Ottawa is 7-15 SU in its last 22 games
Ottawa is 3-16 SU in its last 19 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Columbus's last 6 games when playing Ottawa
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Columbus's last 12 games at home
Columbus is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Columbus's last 7 games
Next up:
Ottawa at Washington, Sunday, February 1
Columbus home to Dallas, Saturday, January 31
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils
Sidney Crosby had a goal and three assists, Kris Letang potted the winner and the Penguins ripped apart the Rangers 6-2 on Wednesday. The Penguins won the game as a -135 favorite, and the eight goals sailed OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Letang finished with a pair, and Petr Sykora also scored twice for the Penguins. Jordan Staal added the other marker, and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 32 shots in the victory
The Devils squandered a two-goal lead, but managed to sneak out a 4-3 win over the Bruins in overtime last time out. The Devils won that game as +140 underdogs, while the seven goals made it OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Jamie Langenbrunner scored the OT winner and added another in regulation to lead the way, while singles came from Zach Parise and Patrik Elias.
Current streak:
New Jersey has won 7 straight games.
Team records:
Pittsburgh: 24-21-4
New Jersey: 31-15-3
Pittsburgh most recently:
When playing on Friday are 5-5
Before playing Ottawa are 6-4
After playing NY Rangers are 7-3
After a win are 1-9
New Jersey most recently:
When playing on Friday are 6-3-1
Before playing Buffalo are 8-2
After playing Boston are 3-7
After a win are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing New Jersey
Pittsburgh is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against New Jersey
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games when playing on the road against New Jersey
Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Jersey's last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh
New Jersey is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
New Jersey is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Jersey's last 7 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
Next up:
Pittsburgh at Toronto, Saturday, January 31
New Jersey home to Washington, Tuesday, February 3
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Simon Gagne and Claude Giroux beat the goaltender for Philadelphia in its 3-2 loss to Florida on Tuesday night.
Florida won as a -110 home pick 'em, as the game played under the 5.5-goal total listed by sportsbooks.
The Lightning fell 3-2 to the Hurricanes last time out, as +130 road underdogs. That game's five goals went UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Mark Recchi and Ryan Malone scored, while Mike Smith made 28 saves in the loss.
Team records:
Philadelphia: 25-13-9
Tampa Bay: 17-22-10
Philadelphia most recently:
When playing on Friday are 7-3
Before playing Tampa Bay are 5-5
After playing Florida are 6-4
After a loss are 7-3
Tampa Bay most recently:
When playing on Friday are 6-3-1
Before playing St. Louis are 3-7
After playing Carolina are 2-8
After a loss are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Philadelphia's last 9 games
Philadelphia is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games when playing Tampa Bay
Philadelphia is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games at home
Tampa Bay is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Tampa Bay is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
Tampa Bay is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games when playing Philadelphia
Next up:
Philadelphia at St. Louis, Saturday, January 31
Tampa Bay at NY Islanders, Tuesday, February 3
Minnesota Wild vs. Edmonton Oilers
Pierre-Marc Bouchard had a pair of goals to go along with an assist, as the Wild slammed the Maple Leafs 6-1 on Tuesday night.
Minnesota won as -190 home favorites as the game played over the 5.5-goal total listed by oddsmakers.
Robert Nilsson tallied a goal to go along with an assist for Edmonton in its 10-2 loss to Buffalo on Tuesday night.
Buffalo won as +105 road underdogs as the game played over the 5.5-goal total listed by sportsbooks.
Team records:
Minnesota: 24-20-3
Edmonton: 24-20-3
Minnesota most recently:
When playing on Friday are 4-4-2
Before playing Florida are 4-4-2
After playing Toronto are 4-2
After a win are 2-8
Edmonton most recently:
When playing on Friday are 3-7
Before playing Detroit are 8-2
After playing Buffalo are 7-7-2
After a loss are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Minnesota's last 8 games when playing Edmonton
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games when playing on the road against Edmonton
Minnesota is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games when playing Edmonton
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Edmonton's last 8 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Edmonton's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 5 games when playing at home against Minnesota
Edmonton is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Next up:
Minnesota at Vancouver, Saturday, January 31
Edmonton home to Nashville, Sunday, February 1
Nashville Predators vs. Calgary Flames
J.P. Dumont scored the third goal on the power play to lift the Predators to a 5-3 victory over the Canucks on Wednesday, as +160 underdogs on the road. That game's eight goals sailed OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Joel Ward, Martin Erat, Jason Arnott, and David Legwand scored the other goals. Pekka Rinne stopped 24-of-27 shots for the win.
Michael Cammalleri potted a hat trick to lead the Flames past the rising Sabres 5-2 on Wednesday, as -175 favorites. The seven goals made it OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Todd Bertuzzi and Dion Phaneuf added singles, and Miikka Kiprusoff made 25 saves for the win.
Current streak:
Calgary has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Nashville: 21-23-3
Calgary: 29-14-4
Nashville most recently:
When playing on Friday are 4-6
Before playing Minnesota are 7-3
After playing Vancouver are 5-5
After a win are 3-7
Calgary most recently:
When playing on Friday are 6-4
Before playing Los Angeles are 5-5
After playing Buffalo are 4-4-1
After a win are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Nashville's last 20 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Nashville's last 11 games when playing on the road against Calgary
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Nashville's last 9 games on the road
Nashville is 6-9-3 SU in its last 18 games when playing on the road against Calgary
Calgary is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Calgary's last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Calgary's last 5 games
Calgary is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games
Next up:
Nashville at Edmonton, Sunday, February 1
Calgary at Colorado, Monday, February 2
OTTAWA vs. COLUMBUS
Ottawa is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Ottawa is 7-15 SU in its last 22 games
Columbus is 2-3-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Ottawa
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Columbus's last 6 games when playing Ottawa
PITTSBURGH vs. NEW JERSEY
Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing New Jersey
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing New Jersey
New Jersey is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games at home
New Jersey is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
PHILADELPHIA vs. TAMPA BAY
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Philadelphia's last 9 games
Philadelphia is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games when playing Philadelphia
Tampa Bay is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
MINNESOTA vs. EDMONTON
Minnesota is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games when playing Edmonton
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Minnesota's last 8 games when playing Edmonton
Edmonton is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Edmonton's last 6 games
NASHVILLE vs. CALGARY
Nashville is 6-9-3 SU in its last 18 games when playing on the road against Calgary
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Nashville's last 11 games when playing on the road against Calgary
Calgary is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Calgary's last 7 games at home
Hot teams
-- Penguins won three of their last four games. Devils won seven games in a row, allowing total of ten goals.
-- Columbus won four of its last five home games.
-- Tampa Bay is 5-2 in game after its last seven losses, Flyers are 7-3 in their last ten.
-- Flames won six of their last eight games.
-- Oilers won three of last four games, but lost last game 10-2 at home .
Cold teams
-- Red Wings lost their last four games, allowing nineteen goals.
-- Predators lost three of their last four games.
-- Minnesota is 2-8 in game after its last ten wins.
Totals
-- Three of last four Penguin games stayed under the total.
-- Four of last five Ottawa games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 7-1-1 in last nine Philadelphia games.
-- Under is 8-3 in last eleven Nashville games.
-- Over is 5-1-1 in last seven Minnesota games.
Back-to-Back
-- Penguins are 4-4 if they play again the next night.
-- Ottawa is 2-4 on road if they played the night before.
-- Flyers are 2-4 on road when they play again the next night.
-- Minnesota is 3-5 when it plays again the next night.
Series Records
-- Penguins won six of last eight visits to New Jersey.
-- Columbus won last two games vs Ottawa, 6-2/3-2so.
-- Lightning won four of last five games vs Philadelphia.
-- Flames are 3-0 vs Nashville this season: 5-3/7-6/3-2.
-- Minnesota won five of last seven games against Edmonton.
NHL Predictions for Friday
by Ron Raymond
Pittsburgh vs. New Jersey
Great spot for the Underdog here with Pittsburgh! The Devils have played 3 games in 4 nights and are coming off a huge upset win over the Boston Bruins. Play on Pittsburgh. When ANY NHL Team Played as Road team as a Underdog - Vs Conference Opponent - Last 2 years - Scored 6 or more goals FOR in their last game - Coming off a Home win as a Favorite; the Road Underdog is 11-4 SU in this role the L2Y.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 3 New Jersey 2
Ottawa vs. Columbus
Here's one of those spots where the road team is coming off a road underdog win and play again the following night. I've seen this before, teams like Ottawa want to keep the ball rolling and they are coming into this game with some good momentum. Plus, the Blue Jackets are coming off a big win over the Detroit Red Wings, so they are in a classic letdown spot here as well. When OTTAWA team played as a Road team - Last 2 years - 3 games in 4 nights - Scored 3 or more goals FOR in their last game; the Sens are 8-4 SU in this role the L2Y.
Prediction: Ottawa 4 Columbus 3
Philadelphia vs. Tampa Bay
It looks as though Antero Nittymaki will get the nod this evening vs. Tampa Bay and he's 0-4 SU lifetime vs. the Lightning. However, I'm going to side with my ATSDatabase.com NHL Hockey stats and back the road team tonight using this NHL system that is 12-4-2 since 1996. When ANY NHL Team Played as Road team as a Favorite - Before a non conference game - After a conference game - Total is 5.5 - Coming off a 1 game loss - Coming off 1 under - Scored 2 or less goals FOR in their last game.
Prediction: Philadelphia 5 Tampa Bay 4
Minnesota vs. Edmonton
Normally, when a team gets smoked in their last game like Edmonton did vs. Buffalo, I tend to play on them in their next game. However, this cut seems to be deep in Edmonton, because the Oilers have a great history of winning that dates back to the 70's and getting 10 against them in their last game is a warning shot! Plus, hard to go against Backstrom who's 10-0 lifetime vs. Edmonton! When MINNESOTA played as a road team - During Last 3 Years - With SU Record of 4 Win 3 Lost in L7G; the Wild are 24-12 SU in this cycle L3Y.
Prediction: Minnesota 5 Edmonton 2
Nashville vs. Calgary
If it wasn't for the Predators goaltending, they would be blown out each game, because you can't win hockey games averaging 2.47 goals per a game. When CALGARY team Played as Home team as a Favorite - After a non conference game - Scored 5 or more goals FOR in their last game; the Flames are 8-3-1 SU in this spot since ?96. When CALGARY played as a home team - During Current Season - With 4 Over or Less - Won Last Game by 3 Goals or Less - With SU Record of 2 Win 1 Lost in L3G; the Flames are 5-0 SU in this cycle this season.
Prediction: Calgary 4 Nashville 2