Hockey Today
SCOREBOARD
Sunday, Nov. 23
New Jersey at Tampa Bay (5 p.m. EST). New Jersey has won its last three games, while Tampa Bay beat Nashville 4-1 on Friday night for its first victory since Rick Tocchet took over as interim coach after Barry Melrose’s firing on Nov. 14.
STARS
— Eric Staal, Hurricanes, scored three goals in less than 24 minutes for his fifth career hat trick in Carolina’s 5-2 victory over Phoenix.
— Martin Biron and Jeff Carter, Flyers. Biron made 40 saves for his first shutout of the season and 24th overall, and Carter scored twice in Philadelphia’s 3-0 win over Buffalo.
— Vincent Lecavalier, Lightning, had two goals to help Tampa Bay beat Nashville 4-1.
— Kevin Weekes, Devils, made 25 saves for his 100th NHL victory in New Jersey’s 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders.
— Lee Stempniak, Blues, scored an unassisted goal with 2:21 left in overtime to give St. Louis a 3-2 victory over Anaheim.
STREAKING
Boston beat Florida 4-2 on Friday night for its eighth victory in nine games. The Bruins, 11-1-1 in their last 13 games and the winners of seven straight at home, tied the idle New York Rangers for the Eastern Conference lead with 30 points. … Buffalo has lost four straight to fall to 1-5-1 in its last seven games. … St. Louis beat Anaheim 3-2 in overtime to end the Ducks’ road winning streak at five games.
START
Tampa Bay interim coach Rick Tocchet won for the first time since taking over for the fired Barry Melrose on Nov. 14, directing the Lightning to a 4-1 victory over Nashville on Friday night. Tampa Bay lost its first two games under Tocchet, both in shootouts. The Lightning also snapped a five-game losing streak.
SIDELINED
Dallas captain Brenden Morrow will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He was injured Thursday night against Chicago. … Montreal defenseman Mike Komisarek will be sidelined at least a month because of an upper-body injury, believed to be to the right elbow. He was hurt in a fight with Boston’s Milan Lucic on Nov. 13.
SCOUTING
Adam Munro made 25 saves for his first shutout of the season, and Jeremy Williams had two goals and an assist to help visiting Toronto (Maple Leafs) beat Binghamton (Senators) 3-0 on Friday night in the American Hockey League.
SPEAKING
“It’s great. It’s like scoring your first NHL goal. The last couple games and how hard we worked, it was nice to get the win.”—Tampa Bay interim coach Rick Tocchet after winning for the first time since taking over for the fired Barry Melrose on Nov. The Lightning beat Nashville 4-1 on Friday night after losing Tocchet’s first two games in shootouts.
Nashville Predators vs. Carolina Hurricanes
The Predators were defeated 4-1 by the Lightning last time out, as +110 road underdogs. The five goals fell UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Jordin Tootoo scored the lone goal for the Predators.
Eric Staal potted three goals to lead the Hurricanes to a 5-2 victory over the Coyotes on Friday, as -145 favorites. The Hurricanes won the game as a -145 favorite, and the seven goals made it OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Ray Whitney scored a pair of goals, and Joni Pitkanen collected three assists in the win.
Current streak:
Nashville has lost 2 straight games.
Carolina has won 3 straight games.
Team records:
Nashville: 9-9-1
Carolina: 11-7-2
Nashville most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Minnesota are 7-3
After playing Tampa Bay are 3-3-1
After a loss are 5-5
Carolina most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 7-3
Before playing Boston are 4-6
After playing Phoenix are 6-6-2
After a win are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Nashville's last 5 games when playing Carolina
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Nashville's last 10 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Nashville's last 6 games when playing on the road against Carolina
Nashville is 2-3-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Carolina
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Carolina's last 5 games when playing Nashville
Carolina is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Carolina's last 6 games when playing at home against Nashville
Carolina is 2-4-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Nashville
Next up:
Nashville home to St. Louis, Tuesday, November 25
Carolina at Florida, Monday, November 24
New Jersey Devils vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
The Devils got out to a three-goal lead and defeated the Islanders by a final score of 5-2 on Friday, as -170 favorites. The seven goals made it OVER the posted over/under (5).
David Clarkson and Paul Martin scored power play goals, while Brian Gionta added a shorthanded marker. Travis Zajac and Bryce Salvador rounded out the goal scorers in the win.
Vincent Lecavalier scored a pair of goals as the Lightning defeated the Predators 4-1 on Friday, as -130 favorites. The five goals fell UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Mark Recchi and Vaclav Prospal scored the other markers for the Lightning. Mike Smith was outstanding in net with 34 saves.
Current streak:
New Jersey has won 3 straight games.
Team records:
New Jersey: 10-7-2
Tampa Bay: 6-7-6
New Jersey most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 7-3
Before playing Buffalo are 9-1
After playing NY Islanders are 7-3
After a win are 5-5
Tampa Bay most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing St. Louis are 3-7
After playing Nashville are 2-2-2
After a win are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
New Jersey is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New Jersey's last 7 games on the road
New Jersey is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 7 games at home
Tampa Bay is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games at home
Tampa Bay is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
Tampa Bay is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing New Jersey
Next up:
New Jersey at Florida, Wednesday, November 26
Tampa Bay home to NY Rangers, Wednesday, November 26
NASHVILLE (9-9-0-1, 19 pts.) at CAROLINA (11-7-0-2, 24 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
NASHVILLE is 22-12 ATS (+9.4 Units) in November games over the last 3 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 52-50 ATS (+118.8 Units) in road games after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
NASHVILLE is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
NASHVILLE is 1-0-0 straight up against CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.1 Units)
NEW JERSEY (10-7-0-2, 22 pts.) at TAMPA BAY (6-7-0-6, 18 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
NEW JERSEY is 15-27 ATS (-20.0 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 7-1 ATS (+8.0 Units) in road games on Sunday games over the last 3 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 37-64 ATS (-58.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 21-37 ATS (-16.4 Units) first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW JERSEY is 9-6 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
NEW JERSEY is 9-6-0 straight up against TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.1 Units)
NASHVILLE vs. CAROLINA
Nashville is 2-3-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Carolina
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Nashville's last 6 games when playing on the road against Carolina
Carolina is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home
Carolina is 2-4-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Nashville
NEW JERSEY vs. TAMPA BAY
New Jersey is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Tampa Bay
New Jersey is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing New Jersey
Tampa Bay is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
Hot teams
-- Hurricanes won last three games, allowing five goals.
-- Devils won their last three games, scoring 14 goals.
Cold teams
-- Nashville lost its last two games, both by 4-1 scores.
-- Lightning lost seven of their last nine games.
Totals
-- Three of last four Carolina games stayed under the total, as did the last three Nashville contests.
-- Under is 5-2 in Tampa Bay's last seven games.
Series Records
-- Devils won seven of last eight games against the Lightning.