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NHL— Not a lot to go on for the first week or 10 days. We’ll give you what we have.

Thursday’s games

Winnipeg won seven of its last eight games with Toronto; all eight games went over the total. Leafs were outscored 21-8 in losing their last four visits here (over 4-0). Toronto split its first two games, losing 5-4 in OT in its only road game. Winnipeg lost its last two games 4-3/4-1; two of their three games this year went over.

Bruins won five of last six games with New Jersey; under is 3-0-2 in last five meetings. Devils were outscored 9-3 in losing their last three visits here. New Jersey is off to a 1-2 start, scoring total of five goals (under 2-0-1). Bruins won two of first three games; this is their home opener.

Ducks won their last six games with Philly; over is 6-1-1 in last eight series games. Anaheim won its last five visits here, four by one goal, but Ducks are 0-4 already this year, scoring total of seven goals (under 2-1-1). Flyers went 1-2 (over 3-0) on their road trip; this is the home opener.

Penguins beat San Jose in six games in Stanley Cup finals last June; teams split last four games played here. Under is 8-2 in last ten series games. Sharks won three of first four games (under 3-1) this season. Penguins lost their last two games, scoring three goals- they’re 2-1 at home.

Arizona won four of last five games with Montreal; under is 3-2-1 in last six series games. Coyotes won last two visits here- they split first two games this season (over 2-0), losing 7-4 in first road game. Canadiens won two of first three games, winning 4-0 in only home game.

Home side won seven of last nine Colorado-Tampa Bay games; three of last four stayed under the total. Avalanche lost three of last four visits here. Colorado won two of its first three games (over 2-1). Lightning scored 13 goals in their 3-0 start (all home games, over 2-0-1).

Florida won last two games with Washington but is 4-6 in last 10 meetings; teams split last six meetings here. Under is 5-3-1 in last nine series games. Caps won two of first three games (under 2-0-1), allowing total of four goals. Panthers won 2-1ot/4-1 in first two home games.

Minnesota won its last five games with Toronto; last eight series games stayed under the total. Maple Leafs lost last three visits here, scoring total of two goals. Toronto Minnesota won 4-3/6-3 in its first two home games (over 2-0).

Dallas Stars are 5-3 in its last eight games against the Kings; under is 4-2 in last six series games. Teams split last four games played here. LA was outscored 12-6 in its 0-3 start (over 2-1); goalie Quick is out for three months. Dallas won two of its first three games (over 2-1).

Home side won nine of last ten Carolina-Calgary games; Hurricanes were outscored 20-8 in losing last four visits here. Under is 4-1-1 in last six series games. Carolina is off to an 0-3 start (over 2-1) with three one-goal losses (two in OT). Flames lost three of their first four games (over 3-1).

Blues won eight of their last nine games with Edmonton (over 7-2). Blues won four of last five visits to Edmonton. St Louis won three of its four games, allowing two goals in all four games. Oilers won three of their first four games (over 3-1).

Home side won last five Buffalo-Vancouver games (over 4-0-1); Sabres were outscored 14-6 in losing last three visits here. Buffalo lost two of its first three games (over 2-1). Canucks won their first three games, all at home- two in OT, one in a SO (under 2-1).

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Preview: Ducks (0-3) at Flyers (1-1)
Date: October 20, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

PHILADELPHIA -- A banner will be raised and a video tribute played Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center, where the Philadelphia Flyers will play their first-ever season opener -- a scheduled 7 p.m. start against the Anaheim Ducks -- without their late founder, Ed Snider, who died in April after a long battle with bladder cancer.

The Flyers dedicated their playoff series last year to Snider and fought valiantly in a six-game series defeat. They paid tribute to Snider in their home playoff opener and will do so again Thursday.

"He was the heart and soul of this organization," said suspended defenseman Radko Gudas on Wednesday, according to Calkins Media. "We appreciate everything he did for this team. The whole city wants to get another chance to thank him.

"I think this is a great opportunity to pay our respects to him."

Snider's name will live on in the memories of many, and he'll have a special place alongside other Flyers banners hanging from the Wells Fargo Center ceiling.

"It's going to be a big night and I'm excited about it," said general manager Ron Hextall, per Calkins Media. "He certainly deserves it. Hopefully things go off well. I would like to win a game for him."

The Flyers (1-1-1), coming off a 7-4 loss in Chicago, welcome back Brayden Schenn, who was suspended the first three games of the season for a hit he made in the playoffs last season. Schenn's return was supposed to help balance out Philadelphia's top three lines. But the Flyers learned Wednesday that first-line winger Michael Raffl would 10-14 days with what the team is calling an "upper-body injury." It was likely Schenn would take over for Raffl on the top line with Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds anyway, but now coach Dave Hakstol doesn't have to shake up much else with Raffl out.

Philadelphia hosts a Ducks (0-3-1) team playing their fifth consecutive road game to start the year. They're still trying to find their first win after Tuesday's 2-1 loss in New Jersey.

And Tuesday's loss was aided by a familiar theme in Anaheim: self-infliction.

The Ducks, who have been outscored 12-7 to start the year, committed seven penalties, including five in the second period to drop their fourth straight game.

"We talked about it from the start of the season, that discipline was going to have to be a focal point for our group," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said, according to the Orange County Register. "And if we weren't going to be more disciplined -- and our history has been that we've been one of the most penalized or a majority of this group has been one of the most penalized teams minor-wise in the league -- you're not going to be a quality team, a playoff team if you're going to continue to do that."

Per the Register, Carlyle put his team through a rough practice Wednesday.

"I really don't think you can be silent," Carlyle said. "You have to be matter of the fact and you have to be about why. What you're presenting. Why? ... The video doesn't lie in what we're doing.

"As we stated this morning, there's some areas that we designated that we want to improve on. Because obviously our offense hasn't been there. To carry our offense, we have to get stingier on the defensive side of it."


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Feb 9, 2016 Score ATS Results
ANA « 4 Cover: 323
PHI 1 Push: 5
Tools: Recaps

Dec 27, 2015 Score ATS Results
PHI 2 Over: 6
ANA « 4 Cover: 242
Tools: Recaps

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Preview: Devils (1-1) at Bruins (2-1)
Date: October 20, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

BOSTON -- After a successful 2-1 trip to start the season, the Boston Bruins finally get to play a home game on Thursday night.

"We're all excited to get to the home opener and we're happy we got four points out of six," David Pastrnak, who scored four goals in the three games, said as the Bruins prepared to host the New Jersey Devils. "So we're all really excited to get back and see our fans and just can't wait to play in the Garden."

The Devils, who also opened the season on the road, lost two low-scoring games to the Florida teams, one in overtime, before coming home to ride new acquisition Taylor Hall's two goals to a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.

New Jersey comes to Boston trying to succeed in a building that has been anything but kind to its club. The Devils have lost nine of their last 10 games at TD Garden.

Corey Schneider, a local product who will again play in front of family and friends, is expected to make his fourth straight start for New Jersey but comes in just 1-3-2 with a 2.81 goals-against average against his former hometown team.

The Bruins trailed in all three games on their opening trip -- 2-0 and 3-1 before winning 6-3 at Columbus, 3-0 before losing at Toronto and 1-0 before coming back to defeat Winnipeg.

And they did it all without team leader Patrice Bergeron, who stayed home because of a lower body injury. He skated with the team Wednesday and is expected to make his season debut Thursday night. Obviously, he makes a difference.

Asked where the Bruins missed Bergeron the most, coach Claude Julien told Bruins.com, "Everywhere. He's a leader. He's the best two-way centerman, I think, in the league. He can score some big goals and he can certainly shut down top players, so we miss him. But at the same time I think this has been a great test for our hockey club to show that we have guys that can come in and help us out."

Tuukka Rask missed the middle game of the trip because of soreness but was outstanding in the win at Winnipeg, where he made 34 saves and became the first Bruins goalie ever with two assists in a game. He is 4-3-2 with a 1.57 goals-against average against the Devils.

With Bergeron out, free agent signee David Backes centered Brad Marchand and Pastrnak, and all three players were a plus-7 in the three games. Rookie defenseman Brandon Carlo, who scored his first NHL goal at Winnipeg, is also a plus-7, and Zdeno Chara is a plus-6.

Hall, acquired from Edmonton for defenseman Adam Larsson in one of the major offseason transactions, scored two power play goals in the Devils' win over the Ducks. He is a prolific offensive player -- a welcome addition to a team that again missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season last year because of a lack of offense.

"It's fun to not only get the first win, but to get our power play going," Hall said Tuesday. "The energy in the rink was great. Everyone was in red and every chance they got, they were on their feet.

"As a player, sometimes you don't feel 100 percent and sometimes it's not clicking out there, and the crowd can get you into it; sometimes you rely on that at home."

The Bruins opened last season with three straight home games -- and lost all three, one of the factors in Boston failing to make the playoffs for a second straight season.


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Mar 29, 2016 Score ATS Results
BOS 1 Cover: 229
NJD « 2 Under: 3
Tools: Recaps

Jan 8, 2016 Score ATS Results
BOS « 4 Cover: 303
NJD 1 Push: 5
Tools: Recaps

Dec 20, 2015 Score ATS Results
NJD 1 Under: 3
BOS « 2 Cover: 166
Tools: Recaps

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Preview: Sharks (3-1) at Penguins (2-1)
Date: October 20, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Motivation abounds for the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks, who will renew acquaintances on Thursday at PPG Paints Arena.

Most obviously, it's the first meeting between the clubs since they squared off in the Stanley Cup final last spring.

That might be a bigger deal for San Jose, which lost in six games as the Penguins clinched the title and skated around with the Stanley Cup on the Sharks' home ice.

"Obviously, it doesn't feel good when you lose to a team in the final, so you take a little pride in wanting to beat them, and you definitely get a little more hyped up for those kinds of games," San Jose center Chris Tierney told the San Jose Mercury News.

The Sharks are 3-1 following a 3-2 win Tuesday against the New York Islanders.

The defending champion Penguins already have the bragging rights, but they are looking at this as a big game in part on what has happened much more recently.

After winning their first two games, the Penguins (2-1-1) have lost two in a row - including a 4-0 defeat at Montreal on Tuesday that left them largely dissatisfied with their effort and discipline.

That puts a bit different spin on the rematch with the Sharks.

"They're well aware of how good San Jose is and what the challenge is going to be," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said of his players. "The one thing about this league is there are no easy games. You've got to bring your A-game each and every night to give yourself a chance.

"But certainly, coming off the type of game we had (Tuesday) night and moving forward, there should be plenty of motivation for us to make sure that we respond the right way."

That doesn't mean the Sharks come in as a faceless opponent.

"I think it'll be ramped up a little bit," Penguins winger Bryan Rust said. "They're going to have a chip on their shoulder. And we obviously didn't play great (Tuesday), so we're going to have a little chip on our shoulder. I think it's going to be a good, physical, playoff-like atmosphere."

San Jose coach Pete DeBoer is interested in seeing what the atmosphere will be.

"I don't know what the emotions will be until I get there," he told the San Jose Mercury News. "It's tough to go on that long of a journey and then lose the way we did. I don't think there was any doubt that they deserved to win. But at the same time, for us, it's a chance to ... make a statement that we are a different team this year."

Pittsburgh returned its team almost completely intact, but there will be at least a couple of missing parts Thursday. Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sidney Crosby has yet to play this season because of a concussion and goaltender Matt Murray is out while he recovers from a broken thumb.

In addition, top defenseman Kris Letang (upper body) and winger Conor Sheary (eye) are day to day after leaving Tuesday's game.

San Jose was the bigger, more physical club in the final. It added a couple of players during the offseason in forward Mikkel Boedker and defenseman David Schlemko that appeared to be a direct attempt to add the kind of speed that Pittsburgh used to its advantage last spring.

The teams meet twice this season, with the second game coming Nov. 5 in San Jose. It just happens that this first rematch comes in the early days of the season.

"Now that it's here, it'll be good. It'll be fun," Sharks captain Joe Pavelski told the Mercury News. "We would have liked a better result the last time we played that team, but it's two points. It's a new year. It's important that we keep building our game and keep trying to get better. (We're) a long ways from getting back to that position, and this is another good team that we'll be playing."


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Jun 12, 2016 Score ATS Results
PIT « 3 Cover: 302
SAN 1 Under: 4
Tools: Recaps

Jun 9, 2016 Score ATS Results
SAN « 4 Over: 6
PIT 2 Cover: 183
Tools: Recaps

Jun 6, 2016 Score ATS Results
PIT « 3 Under: 4
SAN 1 Cover: 278
Tools: Recaps

Jun 4, 2016 Score ATS Results
PIT 2 Under: 5
SAN « 3 Cover: 251
Tools: Recaps

Jun 1, 2016 Score ATS Results
SAN 1 Under: 3
PIT « 2 Cover: 281
Tools: Recaps

May 30, 2016 Score ATS Results
SAN 2 Under: 5
PIT « 3 Cover: 261
Tools: Recaps

Dec 1, 2015 Score ATS Results
PIT « 5 Over: 6
SAN 1 Cover: 266
Tools: Recaps

Nov 21, 2015 Score ATS Results
SAN « 3 Under: 4
PIT 1 Cover: 273
Tools: Recaps

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Preview: Capitals (2-0) at Panthers (2-0)
Date: October 20, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Florida Panthers have to wipe away the disappointment, and they have to do so quickly.

The Washington Capitals, who had the best record in the NHL last season and are off to a 2-0-1 start, will visit the Panthers (2-1-0) on Thursday night at the BB&T Center. And this is no time for Florida to be thinking about the past.

True, Tuesday night's 4-3 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning was tough for Florida to swallow. The Panthers were so close to a third straight win before allowing Steven Stamkos' game-tying goal on a sharp-angled shot with just 5.5 seconds left.

Then in the shootout backup goalie James Reimer, who was making his Panthers debut, stopped four of the first five shots he faced before getting beaten by rookie Brayden Point. It was the first shootout attempt of Point's NHL career.

"You'd like to make those saves at the end," Reimer told the media after Tuesday's game, "but sometimes it's not possible."

Panthers starting goalie Roberto Luongo, who has allowed just two goals in his two games this year, is expected to return to the starting lineup on Thursday.

He will be opposed by Capitals goalie Braden Holtby, who won 48 games and the Vezina Trophy last season.

Luongo will have to contend with Capitals star left winger Alex Ovechkin, who scored 50 goals last season. It was the third straight year he reached that milestone, and he has done it seven times overall in his career.

The Capitals, who beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-0 on Tuesday, got off to a slow start on their power play this season, enduring a 0-for-8 drought. But they got two power-play goals on Tuesday, including one by Ovechkin, so that issue has seemingly been corrected heading into Thursday's game.

Ovechkin, who had 19 power-play goals last season, is certainly feeling confident about his team's play with the man advantage.

"We have so much skill with the five guys who play there, and we use it," Ovechkin told the media after Washington's 2-of-5 power-play performance. "You can't stop it."

Washington's Barry Trotz, who won the Jack Adams Award last season for the NHL's top coach, also had a quote that bordered on cockiness.

"I thought we could have scored every power play we got tonight," Trotz said. "We were sharp, and we got rewarded."

That Capitals brashness tends to disappear in the playoffs. Washington has never made it past the second round, including last season's loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

But in the regular season, it's hard to find much fault with the Capitals, who brought back almost their entire team from last year. This is a veteran team. Just about the only new addition is third-line center Lars Eller.

The Panthers, meanwhile, had a different offseason philosophy. Even though they won the Atlantic Division and set franchise records for victories (47) and points (103), the Panthers were aggressive in the offseason, changing their uniforms, promoting Tom Rowe to general manager and re-signing many of their core players.

Florida also brought in nine new players, and so far they have meshed well.

The Panthers don't have anybody of Ovechkin's caliber -- very few teams do -- but Finland native Aleksander Barkov, who also holds Russian citizenship, might be the player who emerges as Florida's singular star.

Barkov, who signed a six-year, $35 million contract extension in January, is still only 21 years old. But the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder has improved in each of his three NHL seasons, from eight goals as a rookie, 16 in his second year and then 28 last season.

This season, Barkov has two goals and one assist in three games, and he is a plus-four.

Ovechkin, a native of Russia who has one goal and one assist this season, is 31 -- a decade older than Barkov.

Besides the fact that the Panthers and Capitals are reigning division champs -- and besides the fact that Luongo vs. Holtby is an excellent goalie matchup -- there is also the subtext of Ovechkin, the proven superstar, against young gunslinger Barkov.


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Feb 2, 2016 Score ATS Results
FLA « 5 Over: 7
WAS 2 Cover: 237
Tools: Recaps

Dec 10, 2015 Score ATS Results
WAS 1 Cover: 237
FLA « 4 Push: 5
Tools: Recaps

Oct 31, 2015 Score ATS Results
WAS « 2 Cover: 266
FLA 1 Under: 3
Tools: Recaps

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Preview: Avalanche (2-1) at Lightning (3-0)
Date: October 20, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

TAMPA, Fla. -- Special teams will be in the spotlight when the Colorado Avalanche visit the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Thursday.

Both teams are looking for improvements on opposite sides of their respective special teams after a disappointing showing in the previous game.

The Avalanche suffered the first loss of the season in Washington on Tuesday in a 3-0 showing while allowing a pair of power play goals for the third consecutive game. In 14 penalty kills this season, Colorado has killed off just eight and sat in 29th place in the league rankings in the early stages of the season.

"Our penalty kill was not good enough," Colorado head coach Jared Bednar told the Denver Post after the loss in Washington.

It went beyond just the penalty kill for Bednar, who was displeased with his team's overall effort against the Capitals. Colorado allowed 20 shots on goal in the opening period and ended up being outshot 40-18 for the game.

"We'll talk about our response, how we're going to play after we win games, and how we're going to play when we lose games," Bednar said. "I think it's all about our response. That was a bad night. It was a tough turnaround for our guys. We'll give them a little slack there, but it's all about the response and what we do the next game."

That next game comes against an undefeated Tampa Bay team looking to close out a perfect four-game home stand to start the season. The Lightning have had to rally in each of their three victories this season, including scoring with 5.5 seconds left in the third period on Tuesday against Florida before picking up a shootout victory.

But in the last game against the Panthers, the Lightning went 0-for-3 on the power play, allowed a shorthanded goal while failing to generate a shot on goal with the man advantage, which included a 4-on-3 power play in overtime with a chance to win the game.

"Sometimes we get a little too comfortable," Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said of his power play unites. "So we've mandated to the players how many shots we need. And when you get to our power play, a big part of why we've had success (in the first two games) is we have been shooting pucks. But when you start getting 4-on-3 power plays, you can argue it's more of an advantage than a 5-on-4. And we were just too passive and too cute and when we had a chance to shoot, we didn't."

In the opening two games of the season Tampa Bay combined for 14 shots on the power play before putting up a goose egg in that department in Tuesday's victory. But Cooper didn't want to beat his team up over what he perceived to be just one below par performance.

"We've played nine periods of hockey, and I've been pretty happy," Cooper said. "If you want to sit here and say the first eight periods of hockey, we've played pretty well."


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Jan 12, 2016 Score ATS Results
TAM « 4 Cover: 284
COL 0 Under: 4
Tools: Recaps

Oct 29, 2015 Score ATS Results
COL « 2 Under: 3
TAM 1 Cover: 164
Tools: Recaps

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Preview: Coyotes (1-1) at Canadiens (2-0)
Date: October 20, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

MONTREAL -- While the Montreal Canadiens appear on the verge of getting their starting goaltender back, the Arizona Coyotes will be without theirs for at least one game.

Starter Mike Smith suffered a lower-body injury in the third period of the Coyotes' 7-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night and was replaced by Montreal native Louis Domingue. The 24-year-old made his first NHL start at the Bell Centre on Feb. 1, 2015, when he overcame two first period goals-against before helping the Coyotes to a 3-2 comeback win.

Last season, he took over between the pipes while Smith missed approximately three months while recovering from injury.

"He's done this before," Arizona coach Dave Tippett told the team's website. "He's a veteran of jumping in and being the lead guy for a team when a goaltender goes down ... He came in and played really well last year and we expect the same from him this year. He's matured as a player and as a person. He's done it before, there's no reason to believe he can't do it again."

The Coyotes (1-1-0) will be looking to bounce back after Tuesday's effort. Trailing 3-2 when Smith went down, the Senators scored a pair quickly and the visitors never recovered.

"After (Smith) goes down, they get two quick ones and that's tough," Arizona forward Jordan Martinook said to NHL.com following the game. "With Louis coming in there, you can't fault him on any of those but they get the two quick ones and we're pretty much out of it, we're just chasing."

Montreal, meanwhile, could have Carey Price back for his first start in nearly 11 months. Sidelined with a flu bug for about a week, during which time he says he lost about seven or eight pounds, which drained his energy, Price participated in his first full team practice on Wednesday. He'll see how he feels energy-wise on Thursday before deciding on his playing status.

The Canadiens (2-0-1) have fared well in his absence thanks to strong efforts from back-up Al Montoya. The 31-year-old was sharp in the first period against the Penguins on Tuesday, stopping all 17 shots he faced, and kept at it the rest of the night en route to a 36-save effort in 4-0 win over the defending Stanley Cup champions.

"He just looks so calm. He reminded me a lot of Pricey (Carey Price)," defenseman Nathan Beaulieu said of Montoya. "He was seeing everything, making everything look easy, and he made some really difficult saves, especially early on.

"It's nice knowing that we have two goalies that can step in and do the job."

It was also a good night for a couple of Montreal forwards who sputtered offensively in the first two games. Center David Desharnais scored twice and left winger Max Pacioretty showed off his talent with a goal just 23 seconds into the game and a no-look backhand feed to Desharnais in the third period. With both looked upon to produce, especially Pacioretty, both had just one assist heading into the game.


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Feb 15, 2016 Score ATS Results
MON 2 Cover: 296
PHO « 6 Over: 8
Tools: Recaps

Nov 19, 2015 Score ATS Results
PHO « 3 Under: 5
MON 2 Cover: 169
Tools: Recaps

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Preview: Maple Leafs (1-0) at Wild (2-1)
Date: October 20, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- Look no further than Jason Pominville for evidence that things are going better offensively for the Minnesota Wild under new coach Bruce Boudreau.

Heading into his third game of the season Thursday night vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pominville already has his first goal notched. Last season, that's a feat that took more than 20 games as Pominville slogged through one of the worst offensive seasons of his career.

"I felt good," Pominville said after scoring in Minnesota's 6-3 home win over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, which lifted them to a 2-1-0 record. "I've been shooting good in practice. I've missed a couple, actually one in the first game, one in the second but yeah, it's nice to be able to get one early and hopefully get going in the right direction. I don't have to worry about it now and just go out and play."

That's the freedom Boudreau has given the Wild, encouraging them to just play, move the puck, shoot the puck and have fun. After a rough season-opening loss in St. Louis, the Wild have put together back-to-back home wins over the Winnipeg Jets and the Kings, and now are prepping for the arrival of Maple Leafs rookie Auston Matthews and the accompanying circus.

After scoring four times in his NHL debut, Matthews -- the Arizona kid picked first overall by the Maple Leafs in June -- has quieted down offensively. His assist on Wednesday night in Toronto's 5-4 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets was his first point since the season-opener. That's a fact not lost on opposing fans, who have quickly made Matthews the object of their razzing. That was the case Wednesday, when the Maple Leafs (1-0-2) lost in Winnipeg after leading 4-0. When Jets rookie Patrik Laine, the second overall pick behind Matthews last summer, completed his first career hat trick in overtime, just seconds after Matthews had been stopped on a breakaway, it prompted a chant of "Laine's Better" from the Winnipeg audience.

"As players, you don't really think about it much," Matthews said on Wednesday of the rivalry with Laine. "It's not really a comparison, it's your team against theirs. You obviously want to better your team in any way possible, whatever it takes to win."

The Wild have owned their games with the Maple Leafs recently, winning five straight in the series, including both meetings last season. But four of those five Minnesota wins have been by one goal, and the all-time series is knotted 8-8-0.

Although it's a non-conference game, and one of only two meetings between the Maple Leafs and Wild this season, it could have some special meaning for Boudreau. He's a Toronto native who played pro hockey both in Minnesota of the WHA and in 134 games with the Maple Leafs over the course of six seasons. Two of Boudreau's assistant coaches, John Anderson and Darby Hendrickson, are also former Maple Leafs.


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Mar 3, 2016 Score ATS Results
MIN « 2 Cover: 166
TOR 1 Under: 3
Tools: Recaps

Dec 3, 2015 Score ATS Results
TOR 0 Under: 1
MIN « 1 Cover: 151
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Kings (0-3) at Stars (2-1)
Date: October 20, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

FRISCO, Texas -- Two teams on the opposite end of the Western Conference standings meet at American Airlines Center on Thursday evening as the Los Angeles Kings visit the Dallas Stars.

Currently one of five winless teams in the NHL, Los Angeles (0-3-0) dropped a 6-3 decision at the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

The Kings have scored just six goals, tying them for second-fewest in the league through three games.

Veteran center Anze Kopitar has a good idea why Los Angeles has yet to crack the win column.

"Obviously, we have to check better, and everything that they (the opposition) get, it's mostly off our mistakes, and we can't afford that," Kopitar said after the loss in Minnesota. "Teams are good, if you do (make) mistakes, they're going to punish you for that."

Dallas (2-1-0) returns home after splitting a two-game road trip. The Stars dropped their first road game of the season, 6-5 at Colorado on Saturday, before edging Nashville 2-1 at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.

Through three games, the Stars have two players tied for the team lead in goals with two apiece. Perennial NHL All-Star center Tyler Seguin is no surprise but he's accompanied by veteran forward Adam Cracknell, who has gotten an opportunity to play because fellow veteran Ales Hemsky has been sidelined with a groin injury.

"My play is the result of our guys playing well," Cracknell told the Stars' official website after practice on Wednesday. "We're all playing as a unit. I think we're buying into the system right now. We're getting rewarded, which is nice."

Stars coach Lindy Ruff said on Wednesday that Hemsky, who has been skating, will not play Thursday and neither will fellow forward Jiri Hudler (flu). Ruff said Hudler's illness is so severe right now that the Stars want him to stay away from the team facility to avoid infecting any of his teammates until his condition improves.

Johnny Oduya also missed practice on Wednesday, but Ruff said the veteran defenseman's absence was due to a maintenance day.

After starting the season last week with a 4-2 win against Anaheim, Dallas will be playing its second home game of the season on Thursday.

And even though the Stars are coming off their most complete game of the season Tuesday in Music City, Ruff still wants to see more.

"We've still got work to do," Ruff said. "We got to clean up our special teams. Our power play's got to become quicker. Our 5-on-5 play became a lot quicker, now our power play's got to become quicker."

One reason why the Kings have struggled to start the season is because they have been without top goaltender Jonathan Quick, a former Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the MVP of the 2012 playoffs. Quick sustained a lower-body injury in the first period of their season opener last Wednesday.

Quick is expected to miss between three and four months, leaving goaltending duties to be divided between Jeff Zatkoff and veteran Peter Budaj. The latter was recently recalled from the minors to serve as Zatkoff's backup.

Zatkoff is 0-3-0 with a 4.37 goals-against-average and an .839 save percentage, numbers which are a far cry from those posted by Quick.

But Kings coach Darryl Sutter knows his goaltending situation is out of his hands and all he can do is hope for the best.

"There's nothing you can do about it. There's not one thing," Sutter said after the loss in Minnesota. "I said it when Jonathan got hurt. There's not one thing that I can do about it or anybody can do about it, right? You expect the guys that are in there to play as well as they can, and if they play as well as they can, that's good."


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Oct 7, 2016 Score ATS Results
DAL « 6 Over: 9
LOS 3 Cover: 262
Tools:

Apr 2, 2016 Score ATS Results
DAL « 3 Under: 5
LOS 2 Cover: 239
Tools: Recaps

Mar 15, 2016 Score ATS Results
LOS « 5 Over: 7
DAL 2 Cover: 297
Tools: Recaps

Jan 19, 2016 Score ATS Results
DAL 2 Under: 5
LOS « 3 Cover: 241
Tools: Recaps

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Preview: Hurricanes (0-1) at Flames (1-2)
Date: October 20, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

CALGARY, Alberta -- Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau both signed monster contracts in the offseason with the expectation they would lead the Calgary Flames to a prosperous future.

The linemates got off to a slow start and right away tongues started to wag in Calgary after three losses.

But what happened to end the fourth game brought hope to Flames fans and those holding the purse strings that things are turning for the better. Gaudreau set up Monahan with the winning goal in a 4-3 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.

It was Monahan's second goal of the season to go with no assists. Gaudreau, who finished in the top 10 in league scoring in 2015-16, has yet to score but has two assists. Hardly a blazing start for two players who will make in excess of $6 million each this winter.

"Hopefully, it's the beginning of them getting their game going again," first-year head coach Glen Gulutzan said.

"I know both young guys have been putting pressure on themselves and I can see it. It just takes one of those things to turn it when you're the quality of player of both of those gentlemen. We underestimate confidence and that gives you a little confidence."

The Flames host the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night in what almost became a battle of winless teams. The Hurricanes started the season 0-1-2 and arrive in Calgary after dropping a second straight overtime decision on their four-game western Canada swing on Tuesday with a 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

The big story in Calgary during the summer was the restricted free agency of both Monahan and Gaudreau, who completed entry-level contracts.

Gaudreau and the Flames struggled to come to terms and the Salem, N.J., native didn't sign until a day before the regular season began. He got a six-year deal for $40.5 million. Monahan agreed to a seven-year, $44.625 million contract in August.

The question to be answered now: Was Monahan's game-winner the ice-breaker for the Flames' two stars?

"I think so," Monahan said. "When you win it brings confidence. As a group, it's home ice and the way that we battled back and found a way to win is big for our team."

It brought Gulutzan, who was hired to replace fired Bob Hartley in June, his first NHL win as a head coach. But he cared more about his stars getting going than his accomplishment.

"Everybody needed that goal and when I say everybody, probably the fans, the coaches and Mony himself," Gulutzan said.

"I was more excited for the guys. You get to be around your team for a month here and we've got a great group and they're trying. They're really putting it out there. They're squeezing a little bit. To get that off them, I think, will move us forward. So we needed it and they needed it."

Carolina comes into Thursday feeling no such optimism after falling behind 3-0 on Tuesday in Edmonton and losing 3-2 for their third straight one-goal loss.

"You don't want top start a losing streak and you've got to put an end to it," Hurricanes coach Bill Peters told the Raleigh News & Observer. "You've got to put the brakes on that and that's what we have to do Thursday in Calgary."

One positive for Carolina has been the play of well-traveled veteran right winger Lee Stempniak, who leads the Hurricanes in the early going with five points. He scored twice within 56 seconds in the third period to make it a one-goal game in Edmonton, but the rally ended there.

The Hurricanes signed the 33-year-old in the offseason for two years, making Carolina the 10th stop in his 12-year career.

"Lee Stempniak's an underrated guy," Peters said. "He's got a heavy stick, he's strong on the puck. He's a very intelligent player."


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Feb 3, 2016 Score ATS Results
CAR 1 Push: 5
CGY « 4 Cover: 303
Tools: Recaps

Jan 24, 2016 Score ATS Results
CGY 2 Over: 7
CAR « 5 Cover: 303
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Blues (3-0) at Oilers (3-1)
Date: October 20, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

EDMONTON, Alberta -- Thursday's game between the St. Louis Blues and Edmonton Oilers will mark a few homecomings.

All eyes will be on Nail Yakupov, who the Oilers traded to the Blues before the start of the season. Yakupov has been widely regarded as a draft bust; the first overall pick in the 2012 draft, the Russian right winger got only 50 goals in 252 games as an Oiler.

In four games with the Blues, Yakupov has a goal and an assist.

"It is weird," Yakupov told Oilers play-by-play man Jack Michaels in a 630 CHED interview. "When I was here, I didn't expect that I would stay in a hotel in this city, because I lived in this city. But, it's different. But, it's really good, now, we have a good team and a good group."

"He is fitting in," said Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo of his new teammate. "It's a different environment coming in -- and new linemates. I think he's playing a pretty hard game. He's created some really good chances. It's new systems for him ... but he's adjusting pretty well."

But it's another Russian who is lighting it up for St. Louis. Vladimir Tarasenko is tied for the league lead with four goals.

And, Thursday will also mark the final time Ken Hitchcock will coach an NHL game in his hometown.

Unless he has a change of heart, Hitchcock, an Edmonton native, is in his final season as a head coach. The Blues visit Rogers Place only once this season.

The Blues have started Hitchcock's final season in blistering fashion. Despite losing 2-1 in overtime in Vancouver on Tuesday night, the Blues are 3-0-1. It marks only the second time in team history that the Blues have earned points in the first four games of a regular season.

Meanwhile, the Oilers have won three of their first four, and scored 17 times in the process. Thursday's game, though, is the team's fourth home game of the season already -- the Oilers have played just one road date.

Because October is filled with so many home games for the Oilers, coach Todd McLellan said a good start to season isn't a want, it's a need.

"Having home games, and needing to put some points in the bank, knowing eventually you've got to go out on the road, we've been able to do that," he said. "I don't think anybody is comfortable yet, so we got some things we really need to work on. It keeps us on our edge, maybe I'm being too critical of our group."

The issue is that the Oilers have scored 17 (most in the Western Conference), but given up 15 (also most in the Western Conference). Each of the four games played so far this season have felt like a return to the Air Hockey Era of the 1980s.

But Oilers goalie Cam Talbot turned in his best performance of the season Tuesday, stopping 31 of 33 shots after giving up six goals in a loss to Buffalo on Sunday .

"I need a big bounce-back game, after the game I had last. As a team, I think that sometimes we let those losses kinda snowball in the past."

On Wednesday, Talbot and his wife welcomed twins to their family.

Oilers defenseman Mark Fayne left Tuesday's win over Carolina with a lower-body injury. He was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and the Oilers called up defenseman Ben Betker from their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield, Calif. The Oilers did not practice Wednesday.

The Blues placed Jori Lehtera, who hurt his hip Saturday in a win over the New York Rangers, on injured reserve Wednesday, which opens up a roster spot.


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Mar 16, 2016 Score ATS Results
STL 4 Cover: 238
EDM « 6 Over: 10
Tools: Recaps

Oct 15, 2015 Score ATS Results
STL « 4 Cover: 242
EDM 2 Over: 6
Tools: Recaps

Oct 8, 2015 Score ATS Results
EDM 1 Under: 4
STL « 3 Cover: 172
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Sabres (1-1) at Canucks (3-0)
Date: October 20, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Both the Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres are in a defensive state of mind these days -- but for different reasons.

The unbeaten Canucks (3-0-0) hope to maintain their strong defense as they host Buffalo (1-1-1) on Thursday night at Rogers Arena. On the other hand, the Sabres (1-1-1) are seeking to improve play in their own end. Vancouver has allowed only five goals against, while Buffalo has surrendered 10.

"We're not giving up nearly as many shots in the home plate area, which is just in front of the net," said Canucks center Bo Horvat. "We're generating a lot more off our turnovers and tracking back and stuff like that. Structurally, we're way better this year."

The Canucks continue to defy their critics, many of whom picked them to finish last in the 30-team NHL this season. With Tuesday's comeback 2-1 overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues, the Canucks have won three straight games when trailing after two periods. The three comeback wins already match Vancouver's 2015-16 total for wins when trailing after 40 minutes.

But Canucks coach Willie Desjardins wants more evidence of defensive dependability.

"We have worked at it," said Desjardins. "That was one of the things going in (this season), that we were going to take away some chances. (But) three games isn't a big enough sample size. We've got to keep proving it every day."

Along with consistent play from defenseman and steady two-way play by forwards, strong goaltending has been a key factor in Vancouver's quick start. But most of the saves have come from supposed backup Jacob Markstrom, who will make his third straight start. Markstrom is pulling No. 1 duty, because Ryan Miller was feeling "tight" Tuesday morning prior to his cancelled start against St. Louis.

As a result, the Canucks had to sign University of British Columbia goaltender Matt Hewitt to a one-day contract as an emergency backup.

"(The tightness) is something that, over the course of the season, you feel numerous times," Miller said Wednesday after taking part in practice. "But once you're able to get that rest, you're fine the next day. It just held on a little bit longer (this time)."

Miller said he should be available for "more exercise" Thursday. The Canucks did not announce a call-up from their AHL farm team in Utica, N.Y. He had a "slow" start to practice, but was able to stay on the ice late.

"I tried to react to shots rather than take scripted shots," said Miller. "It's reacting a lot better than I expected. It's not an injury. It's more a muscle didn't want to settle down after overtime and the shootout (in Saturday's opening win against Calgary.)"

Although the Canucks are not widely expected to make the playoffs, they have already set an NHL record this season. Vancouver has posted each win despite never having held the lead beforehand.

But coach Desjardins was not overly impressed with the record.

"We can't keep playing that way," he said. "We are not going to keep winning if we are behind in the third."

Meanwhile, the Sabres aim to stop squandering late leads. Buffalo led twice in the third period Tuesday in Calgary, but still fell 4-3 in overtime.

"Going forward, there's a lot more we have to improve on," said Sabres center Ryan O'Reilly, who was beaten on the winning goal and missed a number of scoring chances. "We did not have the jump or the compete (level Tuesday). It's embarrassing."

Winger Marcus Foligno said the Sabres have to make sure that they are "up" for their meeting with the Canucks.

"We can't hang our heads too low," he said. "But it's definitely something where we've got to go into Vancouver now and finish off a good road trip."


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Dec 7, 2015 Score ATS Results
BUF 2 Over: 7
VAN « 5 Cover: 173
Tools: Recaps

Nov 7, 2015 Score ATS Results
VAN 2 Cover: 219
BUF « 3 Push: 5
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Penguins, Sharks set to meet again
October 19, 2016

PITTSBURGH (AP) The stakes are nowhere near the same: hockey immortality versus two points in the standings in the second week of a long season.

Still, the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins expect the atmosphere to be a little more heated than the usual NHL October product when they meet Thursday night barely four months removed from Pittsburgh's six-game victory in the Stanley Cup Final.

''It was obviously tough to go on that long a journey and lose the way we did,'' San Jose coach Peter DeBoer said. ''I don't think there was any doubt at the end of the day they deserved to win, but at the same time I think for us it's a chance to go in, and we're a different team this year, and make a statement that we are a different team this year.''

The Penguins, in essence, are not. They brought back nearly the entire group that captured the franchise's fourth championship and led to a raucous downtown parade in mid-June. A week removed from a giddy opening night in which the 2016 Cup banner was raised at newly renamed PPG Paints Arena, the Penguins are trying to focus on the next chapter instead of the last one.

That shouldn't be a problem.

The Penguins are coming off sloppy performances in an overtime loss to Colorado on Monday and a 4-0 setback in Montreal on Tuesday. Captain Sidney Crosby - the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the MVP of the 2016 playoffs - remains out indefinitely with a concussion and goaltender Matt Murray is still on the mend from a broken hand.

Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan is focused on his team getting its act together. The fact the Sharks (3-1) happen to be next on the schedule is coincidental.

''You've got to bring your A-game each and every night to give yourself a chance,'' Sullivan said. ''But certainly, coming off the type of game we had (against Montreal) and our opponent moving forward, there should be plenty of motivation for us to make sure we respond the right way.''

The Penguins did relentlessly during the 2016 postseason, seizing control of the best-of-seven final by taking the first two games at home and eventually closing the Sharks out on the road in Game 6. The giddy celebration in the visiting locker room in San Jose will be long remembered. It also won't mean a thing when the puck drops on Thursday.

''They're probably going to have a chip on their shoulder and we obviously didn't play too great (in Montreal), so we're obviously going to have a chip on ours,'' forward Bryan Rust said. ''I think it's going to be a physical, playoff-like atmosphere.''

San Jose appears just as sharp as it was last spring when it reached the Cup Final for the first time ever. If the Sharks need a reminder of how close they came, they only need look up at Pittsburgh's banner-strewn rafters. There's no going back, however. Another long trek to the postseason awaits. Thursday night is just one more step in the process.

''It's important that we keep building our game and trying to get better,'' captain Joe Pavelski said. ''We understand it's a long ways from getting back to that position and this is a good team that we'll be playing.''

NOTES: Murray skated with a small group of teammates on Wednesday and has been cleared to practice but there remains no timetable for his return to the lineup. ... Crosby skated early Wednesday and remains out.

[StarDust Bum]

Shea Weber quickly making his presence felt in Montreal
October 19, 2016

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Shea Weber didn't have to turn far to get the lowdown on Montreal upon learning he had been traded to the Canadiens.

Standing immediately next to Weber was good friend and former Canadiens defenseman Josh Gorges, who was staring at his phone in disbelief. The two had just finished a boating excursion with their sons in Kelowna, British Columbia, and left their phones in the car when the blockbuster trade that sent P.K. Subban to Nashville was completed on June 29.

''We parked the boat and grabbed our phones and both were blown up by calls and messages,'' recalled Gorges, who now plays for the Sabres. ''It was kind of comical, to be honest with you.''

Once the shock wore off, Gorges told Weber what to expect in making the switch from relative anonymity in Music City to Montreal, one of the NHL's most passionate hockey markets.

''You'll be under the microscope,'' Gorges said. ''People are going to know everything that's going on.''

Gorges also knew that if anyone could handle the added attention, it was Weber, an 11-year NHL veteran and six-year captain of the Predators.

''He kind of just makes people around him follow him,'' Gorges said. ''He's got this intimidating presence to him where if you aren't going as hard as he is, you better watch out.''

Though both are elite NHL defensemen in their own regard, Weber and Subban are polar opposites in personality and styles of play.

The Predators gave up toughness but got younger by adding a 27-year-old play-maker.

For Montreal, the trade made sense for a variety of reasons.

Subban was the Canadiens' most popular player and highly regarded for his charitable work, but his defensive lapses and outgoing personality didn't exactly fit coach Michel Therrien's blue-collar philosophy or preferred leadership style.

The 31-year Weber is a big-bodied player who is sound defensively and adds offense with a blistering shot. Just as important is Weber's no-nonsense approach.

''He's got some maturity, he's got some experience. He's a true leader,'' Therrien said of Weber. ''And we've got some young kids who are going to learn to become pros because this guy is all business.''

That wasn't always the case with Subban, who drew attention to himself through his on-ice celebrations or off-ice run-ins with celebrity.

Weber, by comparison, is an introvert. Shortly before Montreal's season-opening 4-1 win at Buffalo last week, Weber wasn't yet ready to assess the differences between Montreal and Nashville.

''I've only been here a couple of weeks so it's tough to tell,'' Weber said. ''I'm going to prepare the same way I have over my career and try to be the same player and the same guy they brought me in here to be.''

Captain Max Pacioretty has already noticed a difference.

''I've seen it from the second he walked into the locker room. He has a presence,'' Pacioretty said. ''Every team is looking to improve their locker room and making sure they have the right guys off the ice. Ours is just magnified because of the market we play in.''

POPULAR PREDATOR

Subban is already making a splash in Nashville, where he will be featured in a Bridgestone Tire national ad campaign. On Sunday, Subban turns his attention to the NFL as the ''Honorary 12th Titan'' for Tennessee's home game against the Indianapolis Colts.

CATCHING UP WITH CARPENTER

With his three kids now out of high school, former NHL star Bobby Carpenter is considering a return to coaching.

Though nothing's firm, Carpenter expects to start at the American Hockey League ranks to re-familiarize himself with the job. Carpenter had 320 goals and 728 points in 1,178 career games over 21 NHL seasons split over six teams, including his final six in New Jersey, where he won a Stanley Cup in 1995. After retiring in 1999, he won two more Cups as a Devils assistant coach.

Carpenter was in Buffalo recently to watch his daughter, Alexandra, make her National Women's Hockey League debut with the Boston Pride.

At Boston College, Alexandra Carpenter was college hockey's top player in 2014-15, and she was a member of the U.S. team that won a silver medal at the Sochi Games. She already has four goals and five points in five games for the Pride.

''This is entertaining,'' Carpenter said of the second-year league during Boston's eventual 4-1 win over the Buffalo Beauts.

Before the game, Beauts defenseman Harrison Browne announced he identified as a male in becoming the league's first transgender player.

''I don't have any problems with any of that at all. It just makes everything more interesting,'' Carpenter said of Browne. ''It's such an open world.''

BEHIND THE MASK

Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby raised more than $20,000 for charity in auctioning off his Team Canada World Cup of Hockey mask, the National Hockey League Players' Association announced. The money will go toward two of Canadian rocker Gord Downie's charitable foundations. Downie, The Tragically Hip frontman, is being treated for a brain tumor.

MILESTONE WATCH

Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa scored his 500th goal and 1,093th point in his 1,240th career game in a 7-4 win over Philadelphia on Tuesday night.

GAME OF THE WEEK

The San Jose Sharks travel to Pittsburgh on Thursday in a rematch of last season's Stanley Cup Final, which the Penguins won in six games.

[StarDust Bum]

Bergeron to return for Bruins' home opener
October 19, 2016

BOSTON (AP) The Boston Bruins won twice and lost once during their season-opening trip despite missing center Patrice Bergeron because of a lower-body injury.

When they host the New Jersey Devils at TD Garden in their home opener Thursday night, the Bruins are expected to have their scoring leader back.

Bergeron, an alternate captain and a three-time 30-goal scorer, practiced with the Bruins on Wednesday at Warrior Ice Arena for the first time since he suffered the injury near the end of practice Oct. 12. There's a strong possibility he will be back in the lineup against the Devils.

''Of course. I want to be (back) as fast as possible,'' Bergeron said. ''That's the talk I've had all week with (the medical staff). But at the same time you have to respect their opinion that they're the ones that are putting the team and my interest in front and making sure we're all taking care of that. So we'll see what happens. Obviously I'd like to be on the ice, but ... hopefully I feel good tonight and tomorrow morning and we can go from there.''

Bergeron said he felt fine after going through the entire practice and not being limited in his activities. He wouldn't get more specific about his injury and would only say, ''It was in practice. I just hurt myself.''

Bruins coach Claude Julien expects to have Bergeron in the lineup.

''Unless I'm told otherwise today or tomorrow when he comes in and feels any different, I think we're hoping he's going to be in the lineup,'' Julien said.

The Bruins made do without Bergeron by moving David Backes from right wing to center between Bergeron's expected linemates Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. The line of Backes, Marchand and Pastrnak combined for 16 points in the Bruins' three games. Bergeron is expected to get his old spot back with Backes moving to another line.

The Bruins, who start a three-game homestand against the Devils, were 17-8-6 last season and their home struggles contributed to their missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for a second straight season. Coming off a relatively successful road trip, Boston knows it needs to exercise some home dominance to prove it's an improved team.

''We all know we've still got to improve as a hockey club,'' Julien said. ''And there's areas where we need to be better. But the fact that we were able to get through this road trip with a bunch of new players, the first road trip, and come out of there with a winning record is a good thing. So we've got to follow it up with this short home stretch here and hopefully we can build on that.''

Having Bergeron back should help the Bruins' attempt to keep improving.