Hockey Today
SCOREBOARD
Monday, Nov. 3
Columbus at New York Islanders (7 p.m. EST). The last-place Blue Jackets takes on an Islanders team that has lost six straight (0-5-1) and owns the worst record in the NHL.
STARS
Sunday
— Ales Hemsky, Oilers, had two goals and an assist as Edmonton ended Philadelphia’s four-game winning streak with a 5-4 victory.
— Ilya Kovalchuk, Thrashers, scored two goals and added an assist in Atlanta’s 5-3 win over Florida.
— Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Ducks, had 34 saves to preserve Anaheim’s 3-2 victory over Calgary that ended the Flames’ six-game win streak.
— Devin Setoguchi, Sharks, scored two goals to help San Jose beat Colorado 5-3.
STREAK BUSTER
New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur will miss at least one game with a bruised elbow, ending a career-high streak of 51 regular-season starts. The team said Brodeur will not start Monday against the Buffalo Sabres after being injured Saturday in a 6-1 win over Atlanta. He was set to undergo an X-ray and MRI examination Sunday. Brodeur’s streak began Jan. 8 last season.
SCORING AT WILL
Vancouver came in with the NHL’s only perfect penalty killing on home ice but was no match for the Red Wings’ league-leading power play. Detroit wasted little time improving on its 30.4 percent efficiency, scoring on their first shot with the man advantage to end the Canucks’ streak of 12-straight kills at home. The Red Wings finished 3-for-5 on the power-play.
MILESTONES
Todd White played in his 500th NHL game in Atlanta’s 5-3 loss to Florida. … Florida’s Jay Bouwmeester played in his 400th game and Kamil Kreps took part in his 100th.
STREAKS
Miikka Kiprusoff, who has played every minute for the Flames this season, had allowed a total of just nine goals during Calgary’s six-game win streak, a contrast to the 22 the Flames gave up during their 1-3-1 start. He gave up three goals in Sunday’s loss to Anaheim.
SPEAKING
“When you don’t come ready to play, that’s what you get. “I can live playing 1-0, and 2-1 games if that’s what we need to win. There is no excuse for not showing up ready to go to work.”—Panthers coach Peter DeBoer after Florida’s 5-3 loss to Atlanta.
Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils
The Sabres scored three goals in the first period and didn't look back, beating the Capitals 5-0 on Saturday night.
The Sabres won that game as -137 home favorites and nearly topped the 5.5-goal total by themselves.
New Jersey's 6-1 stomping of Atlanta on Saturday was bittersweet after star goaltender Martin Brodeur left with an elbow injury.
New Jersey was victorious as a -167 home favorite in that contest, while the final score played over the 5.5-goal total.
Team records:
Buffalo: 7-2-2
New Jersey: 6-2-2
Buffalo most recently:
When playing on Monday are 5-4-1
Before playing Colorado are 7-3
After playing Washington are 7-3
After a win are 5-5
New Jersey most recently:
When playing on Monday are 8-2
Before playing Buffalo are 9-1
After playing Atlanta are 10-0
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Buffalo's last 5 games when playing on the road against New Jersey
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Buffalo's last 12 games when playing New Jersey
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Buffalo's last 7 games on the road
Buffalo is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Jersey's last 5 games when playing at home against Buffalo
New Jersey is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Buffalo
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of New Jersey's last 12 games when playing Buffalo
New Jersey is 11-4 SU in its last 15 games when playing Buffalo
Next up:
Buffalo home to Atlanta, Friday, November 7
New Jersey home to Tampa Bay, Wednesday, November 5
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. New York Islanders
The Blue Jackets couldn't complete the comeback against the Blackhawks, losing 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night
Chicago won as a +105 road underdog. The final score played over the 5.5-goal total.
The Islanders took a 4-1 lead into the final 20 minutes of their game with the Canadiens on Saturday, but allowed four third-period goals to lose 5-4.
Montreal stole that win as a -207 road favorite. The final score played over the total of 5.5 goals.
Current streak:
New York has lost 6 straight games.
Team records:
Columbus: 4-6-1
New York: 2-7-1
Columbus most recently:
When playing on Monday are 5-5
Before playing Edmonton are 7-3
After playing Chicago are 4-6
After a loss are 3-7
New York most recently:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing New Jersey are 4-6
After playing Montreal are 3-7
After a loss are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
Columbus is 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing NY Islanders
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Columbus's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Columbus's last 9 games
Columbus is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the NY Islanders last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the NY Islanders last 5 games
NY Islanders are 1-6-1 SU in their last 8 games when playing Columbus
NY Islanders are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games at home
Next up:
Columbus home to Edmonton, Wednesday, November 5
NY Islanders at NY Rangers, Tuesday, November 4
Colorado Avalanche vs. Chicago Blackhawks
The Avalanche lost to San Jose 5-3 as a +110 underdog on Sunday. The eight goals scored went OVER the posted over/under total (5.5).
Milan Hejduk had a goal and an assist for Colorado and Peter Budaj stopped 24 of the 29 shots he faced.
The Blackhawks managed to avoid a third-period letdown to the Blue Jackets with a 4-3 shootout win Saturday night.
Chicago won as a +105 road underdog. The final score played over the 5.5-goal total.
Current streak:
Colorado has lost 3 straight games.
Chicago has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Colorado: 5-6-0
Chicago: 5-3-3
Colorado most recently:
When playing on Monday are 6-3-1
Before playing Buffalo are 8-8-1
After playing San Jose are 7-3
After a loss are 2-8
Chicago most recently:
When playing on Monday are 2-8
Before playing Edmonton are 6-4
After playing Columbus are 5-5
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Colorado's last 15 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Colorado's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado's last 6 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Colorado is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Chicago is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chicago's last 6 games when playing at home against Colorado
Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Colorado
Next up:
Colorado home to Minnesota, Thursday, November 6
Chicago home to Calgary, Sunday, November 9
Hot teams
-- Columbus is 4-1 in game following a loss this season.
-- Blackhawks won four of last five home games.
Cold teams
-- Islanders lost their last six games, outscored 23-14.
-- Devils, Sabres both lost three of their last four games.
-- Colorado lost its last three games, outscored 12-5.
Totals
-- Over is 6-2-1 in last nine Columbus games.
-- Three of Buffalo's last four road games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 5-1-1 in Chicago's last seven games.
COLUMBUS (4-6-0-1, 9 pts.) at NY ISLANDERS (2-7-0-1, 5 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
COLUMBUS is 7-22 ATS (+33.5 Units) in November games over the last 3 seasons.
COLUMBUS is 1-12 ATS (+21.5 Units) in road games after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
COLUMBUS is 7-28 ATS (+35.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
COLUMBUS is 4-14 ATS (+18.5 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NY ISLANDERS are 12-28 ATS (+45.5 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
NY ISLANDERS is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
NY ISLANDERS is 1-0-0 straight up against COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.0 Units)
BUFFALO (7-2-0-2, 16 pts.) at NEW JERSEY (6-2-0-2, 14 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW JERSEY is 5-3 (+1.8 Units) against the spread versus BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
NEW JERSEY is 5-3-0 straight up against BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
6 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+5.1 Units)
COLORADO (5-6-0-0, 10 pts.) at CHICAGO (5-3-0-3, 13 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 20-25 ATS (-17.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO is 20-13 ATS (+37.0 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 170-219 ATS (+429.4 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.
CHICAGO is 87-117 ATS (-53.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 5-3 (+2.9 Units) against the spread versus COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 5-3-0 straight up against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.6 Units, Under=-0.4 Units)
BUFFALO vs. NEW JERSEY
Buffalo is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games
Buffalo is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games on the road
New Jersey is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Buffalo
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Jersey's last 5 games when playing at home against Buffalo
COLUMBUS vs. NY ISLANDERS
Columbus is 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing NY Islanders
Columbus is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games on the road
NY Islanders are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the NY Islanders last 5 games
COLORADO vs. CHICAGO
Colorado is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado's last 6 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Chicago is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games at home
Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
NHL Forecast for November 3rd
by Ron Raymond
Columbus vs. NY Islanders
The Islanders gave up a 4-1 third period lead on Saturday night to the Montreal Canadiens and lost the game 5-4. Whenever you have a total collapse like the Islanders did on Saturday, just carries over and over to each game until there's a culture change. The best player on the ice tonight is wearing number 61 and he's a Blue jacket! The UNDER is 10-2-1 for the Blue Jackets as a road team the last 4 Years and they are coming off 2 or more OVERS.
Prediction: Columbus 3 NY Islanders 2
Buffalo vs. New Jersey
Life without Brodeur starts for the New Jersey Devils and now the Devils will see what type of team they are without their all star goalie. The Devils looked very slow vs. a quick Leafs team last Friday and the Sabres are a quicker team then the Leafs. Buffalo finally got off their 3 game losing streak last game, as they shutout the Capitals 5-0. The Sabres are 11-5 SU the last 2 years as a road underdog after scoring 5 or more Goals For in their last game.
Prediction: Buffalo 5 New Jersey 2
Colorado vs. Chicago
OK, gut check time for the Avalanche tonight and maybe playing in back to back games is a good thing for Colorado, as they can put last night's 5-3 lost to San Jose behind them. The Avs are playing against their old coach Joey Quenneville and Chicago has played some cup cake games the last few times out. Ryan Smyth stated to the Denver Post the team played strong last night, but conceded they got caught watching the game on some shifts. Therefore, look for the Avs to come out stronger tonight and great line value on Budaj who is 4-0 lifetime vs. Chicago. The Avs are 8-2 (SU as a Road team vs. a Western conference opponent and coming off a 3 game losing streak since 98.
Prediction: Colorado 3 Chicago 2
MVP Ovechkin returns to Capitals after week away
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) -Alex Ovechkin is back with the Washington Capitals.The NHL's reigning MVP and last season's leading scorer is on the ice at the team's practice facility Monday.Ovechkin missed two games while away from the Capitals for a week to be in Russia with his ailing grandfather.Ovechkin broke the league record for goals by a left wing with 65 last season, helping Washington win the Southeast Division title.He is off to a slow start this season, with only two goals and five points. He hasn't scored a goal in his past six games.