Sunday's Best NHL Bets
Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks (-154,5.5)
The Ducks started the season 0-3, allowing at least 40 shots in each of those three losses. Since then, they are 10-4-1 and have won six straight following Friday night’s 4-2 win over Dallas.
A big reason for that is a revamped penalty-killing unit, coached up by new assistant Mike Foligno. After a dismal start to the year, Anaheim’s penalty-killing percentage is 83.5 percent, good for a respectable 16th in the NHL.
The Ducks have enjoyed 14 consecutive kills and they are 20 for 22 during their six-game surge.
"The players have done a better job of controlling the pucks on their clears (down the ice)," said head coach Randy Carlyle said. "We made some adjustments. We changed some things which we were doing historically. Right now it's been one of the areas that over the last three or four games has helped us get points."
Pick: Ducks
Minnesota Wild at Tampa Bay Lightning (-154, 5.5)
Neither team is playing well at the moment. Tampa Bay is 1-5 in its last six overall and Minnesota is 1-4 in its last five games against the Eastern Conference, 1-9 against Southeast Division opponents.
But things are especially bad for the Lightning. Forwards Vincent Lecavalier (fractured knuckle), Simon Gagne (neck), and Steve Downie (neck) are all injured. On Friday the team had to call up Marc-Antoine Pouliot and Johan Harju from the AHL in order to compensate.
"The problem isn't we're missing guys in terms of numbers," lamented head coach Guy Boucher said. "The problem is you're asking guys to play above what they normally can. It's okay for the short term, but after a while what's happening is we're going to have the same guys on the power play and penalty kill. We're going to drain everybody."
Based on recent results, it’s safe to say that has already happened.
Pick: Wild
Lightning, Wild end NHL betting week
By: Barry Daniels
A pair of NHL teams attempting to snap short two-game losing skids meet in a Sunday matinee when the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Minnesota Wild. Special teams should be a key here, as Tampa Bay ranks second in penalty killing, while Minnesota ranks first in power play efficiency.
Minnesota is concluding a four-game road excursion in this spot. The Wild defeated Columbus 3-2 to begin the trip, but then lost a 5-1 decision at Atlanta and suffered Friday’s 2-1 setback at Florida in the most recent game.
The combined three goals against the Panthers dipped below the 5 ½-goal closing total, which enabled the ‘under’ to improve to 7-1 in Minnesota’s last eight encounters.
The Wild have now scored two goals or less in eight of their last nine outings despite owning the league’s best power play at 27.7 percent. Part of the problem on offense is a lack of shots on goal. Todd Richards’ troops are averaging a league-low 25 shots per contest.
Minnesota’s lone goal in Friday’s loss at Florida occurred with the man advantage, giving the club at least one power play marker in five of its last seven contests.
The Wild, outshot by the Panthers, 27-23, have now been outshot in each of their last 10 contests. Backup goalie Jose Theodore stopped 25 of those 27 shots for the Wild in a losing effort, and saw his record drop to 1-2-0.
Niklas Backstrom, who is Minnesota’s No.1 netminder, is expected to get the nod in Sunday’s matinee. Backstrom is 6-4-0-2 in 12 starts with a 2.06 GAA, .933 save percentage and one shutout.
Minnesota is scoring and allowing an identical 2.3 goals per game. The offensive mark ranks a poor 27th, while the defensive number is a much better seventh.
Though the Wild are 7-3-1 in the last 11 series meetings against Tampa Bay, they did suffer a 4-3 shootout loss in the lone meeting last season as 115 road underdogs on the NHL odds board.
Injuries might be a concern for the Wild in this spot as right winger Chuck Kobasew (groin) and defenseman Marek Zidlicky (lower body) are both listed as “questionable.” In addition, Wild defenseman Brent Burns could be facing a possible suspension for a fighting incident as the buzzer sounded in Friday’s loss.
Tampa Bay returns home after getting spanked in both contests of its short two-game road trip. The Lightning were on the short end of Thursday’s 6-3 contest at Washington, and then were clobbered at Pittsburgh the next night, 5-1.
The Lightning have now yielded five goals or more in three of their last four games. That goes a long way in explaining why they are now ranked 23rd on defense, allowing an average of 3.1 goals per game. They are scoring 2.9 GPG (ranked 11th), despite putting up an average of 32.4 shots on goal, which ranks sixth.
Mike Smith stopped 15-of-20 shots during Friday’s 5-1 loss at Pittsburgh. The setback lowered Smith’s ledger to 4-3-0-0 and raised his goals-against average to a bloated 3.62. He also has a poor .869 save percentage and has yet to register a shutout.
Dan Ellis saved 20-of-25 shots in the loss at Washington to see his record fall to 4-3-2-0. However, Ellis does have a respectable 2.47 GAA and .910 save percentage. He has collected one shutout.
Tampa Bay ranks sixth on the power play, connecting on 22.5 percent of its opportunities. However, the club ranks second in penalty killing, fighting off 89.9 percent of its opponents’ chances with the man advantage.
Right winger Steve Downie is listed as “questionable” for Sunday’s contest against the Wild.
Minnesota is off until Wednesday when it returns home to meet the Anaheim Ducks. Tampa Bay begins a three-game road trip Wednesday with a stop in New York to play the Islanders.