The Bum's NHL Best Bets-Trends-News Etc. !

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Friday, October 21

Home side won six of last seven Arizona-Islander games; Coyotes lost last three visits here by combined score of 16-4. Over is 7-2 in last nine series games. Arizona lost its last two games overall, allowing 12 goals. Islanders lost three of first four games- their last three games all stayed under the total.

Columbus won three of last four games with Chicago; over is 4-2 in last six series games. Blackhawks lost last two visits here, one in OT, one in SO. Chicago won last two games overall, scoring 12 goals (over 3-0-1). Blue Jackets lost their first two games, 6-3/3-2.

Detroit won its last four games with Nashville, last three al by a goal. Over is 4-0-1 in last five series games. Predators lost last two games, 5-3/2-1. Detroit won its last two games, 5-1/2-1. Over is 2-1-1 in its games this season

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NHL

Friday, October 21

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Trend Report
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8:00 PM
ARIZONA vs. NY ISLANDERS
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Arizona's last 5 games when playing on the road against NY Islanders
Arizona is 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against NY Islanders
NY Islanders are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games at home
NY Islanders are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing Arizona

8:00 PM
CHICAGO vs. COLUMBUS
Chicago is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Chicago's last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Columbus's last 19 games when playing Chicago
Columbus is 3-14 SU in its last 17 games when playing Chicago

8:30 PM
NASHVILLE vs. DETROIT
Nashville is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Nashville's last 12 games when playing on the road against Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 5 games when playing Nashville
Detroit is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games


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NHL
Dunkel

Friday, October 21


Nashville @ Detroit

Game 55-56
October 21, 2016 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Nashville
13.349
Detroit
9.747
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Nashville
by 3 1/2
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Nashville
-115
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Nashville
(-115); Under

Chicago @ Columbus

Game 53-54
October 21, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Chicago
9.459
Columbus
10.494
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Columbus
by 1
3
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Chicago
-145
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Columbus
(+125); Under

Arizona @ NY Islanders

Game 51-52
October 21, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Arizona
13.494
NY Islanders
10.681
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Arizona
by 3
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Islanders
-115
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Arizona
(-105); Under

-------------------------------

NHL
Long Sheet

Friday, October 21

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ARIZONA (1-2-0-0, 2 pts.) at NY ISLANDERS (1-3-0-0, 2 pts.) - 10/21/2016, 7:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
NY ISLANDERS is 3-1 (+1.4 Units) against the spread versus ARIZONA over the last 3 seasons
NY ISLANDERS is 3-1-0 straight up against ARIZONA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.2 Units)

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CHICAGO (2-2-0-0, 4 pts.) at COLUMBUS (0-2-0-0, 0 pts.) - 10/21/2016, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 314-324 ATS (-139.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.
CHICAGO is 164-162 ATS (-60.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season since 1996.
COLUMBUS is 138-131 ATS (+318.1 Units) in non-conference games since 1996.
CHICAGO is 25-7 ATS (+13.9 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
COLUMBUS is 3-1 (+3.6 Units) against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
COLUMBUS is 3-1-0 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.1 Units)

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NASHVILLE (1-2-0-0, 2 pts.) at DETROIT (2-2-0-0, 4 pts.) - 10/21/2016, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NASHVILLE is 39-79 ATS (+131.0 Units) in road games when playing with 2 days rest since 1996.
NASHVILLE is 185-163 ATS (+355.7 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game since 1996.
DETROIT is 22-24 ATS (-16.8 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
DETROIT is 4-9 ATS (-12.4 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 4-0 (+4.9 Units) against the spread versus NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 4-0-0 straight up against NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+3.2 Units)

-------------------------------

NHL
Short Sheet

Friday, October 21

Arizona at NY Islanders, 7:05 PM ET
Arizona: 8-16 SU off 2 or more consecutive road losses
New York: 20-13 SU after 2 consecutive non-conference games

Chicago at Columbus, 7:05 PM ET
Chicago: 25-7 SU after a non-conference game
Columbus: 5-21 SU at home after failing to cover the spread in 2 or more consecutive games

Nashville at Detroit, 7:35 PM ET
Nashville: 23-15 SU as a road favorite
Detroit: 10-15 SU off a road win by 1 goal

[StarDust Bum]

MLB PLAYOFF RECORD:

10/20/2016 1-1-0 50.00% -50

WLT PCT UNITS

M/L Picks.............13 - 11.....................54.16%............ + 6.46

O/U Picks.............8 - 13 - 1.................38.09 %............ - 2.00

TRIPLE PLAYS - ***** 7 - 10

M/L-.......... 4 - 8 - 0
O/U-..........7 - 6 - 0


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

CHI at CLB 07:00 PM

CLB -101

U 5.5

ARI at NYI 07:00 PM

O 5.5

NAS at DET 07:30 PM

NAS -115

U 5.5

[StarDust Bum]

NHL Capsules
October 22, 2016

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Rookie defenseman Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist, and teammates Nick Foligno and William Karlsson picked up their first goals of the season as Columbus beat Chicago 3-2 on Friday night.

Columbus' Sergei Bobrovsky blocked 32 shots as the Blue Jackets picked up their first win of the season, avoiding a repeat of last season's disastrous 0-8 start.

Tyler Motte and Richard Panik scored for Chicago (2-3-0), and Corey Crawford had 25 saves.

The Blue Jackets (1-2-0) took the lead when the 19-year-old Werenski netted a wrist shot from the point during a power play at 9:10 in the first period. It was his team-leading second goal of the season.

ISLANDERS 3, COYOTES 2

NEW YORK (AP) - Johnny Boychuk's short-handed goal early in the third period lifted New York to the victory.

Dennis Seidenberg and Ryan Strome also scored for New York, and Jaroslav Halak stopped 23 shots in the Islanders' second win in three home games after opening with two road losses.

Brad Richardson and Radim Vrbata scored 13 seconds apart in the first period to tie the score for the Coyotes. Louis Domingue had 28 saves as Phoenix lost its third straight on the road after one home win.

The game marked the first NHL meeting between the Strome brothers. Dylan Strome, 19, was the third overall pick by the Coyotes in the 2015 draft and made his debut earlier this week. Ryan Strome, 23, was the fifth overall pick in the Islanders in the 2011 draft.

RED WINGS 5, PREDATORS 3

DETROIT (AP) - Gustav Nyquist had a goal and an assist for Detroit.

Justin Abdelkader, Drew Miller, Tomas Tatar and Darren Helm also scored as Detroit won its third straight. Petr Mrazek stopped 30 shots.

P.K. Subban, Mike Ribeiro and Mike Fisher scored for Nashville, which has lost three straight. Pekka Rinne finished with 38 saves.

Fisher's power-play goal with 4:46 left pulled the Predators within 4-3. It was Fisher's third goal, all on the power play.

Helm had an empty-net power-play score with 22 seconds left, his fourth goal of the season, to seal the win.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rangers (2-2) at Capitals (3-0)
Date: October 22, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- Even as they were rolling to 120 points and the Presidents' Trophy last season, the Washington Capitals had stretches where they started games slowly, falling behind early before rallying.

This season they're starting strong and finishing strong.

Washington (3-0-1) scored first in each of its four games and has yet to allow a third period goal. The Capitals overcame a sluggish second period and scored twice in the third for a 4-2 win at Florida on Thursday to earn their third straight victory.

"I think in the first we said, "let's do it the right way,'" coach Barry Trotz said. "'Let's get on their defense.' That's the way you have to do it in this league, you have to put some pressure on their back end."

Washington will try to continue its strong play on Saturday, when it hosts a New York Rangers team that started very fast in its last game.

The Rangers scored 69 seconds in and outshot Detroit 33-18, but Jimmy Howard was perfect the rest of the way -- including stopping three breakaways -- as the Red Wings rallied for a 2-1 win on Wednesday night.

New York (2-2) scored 15 goals in its first four games, led by Chris Kreider's three goals and four assists. Mika Zibanejad owns two goals and three assists.

"I like our process. I like the way we're playing," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said Wednesday. "We're not giving up much to the opposition and we're definitely generating some Grade A opportunities."

New York's offensive task won't get any easier Saturday night against Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby and a Washington defense that's allowed six goals in four games.

"They're a good team with a lot of skill and it's going to be a good test for us," New York's Jimmy Vesey told Madison Square Garden network. "Their forward group is extremely skilled and Holtby's one of the best goaltenders in the league."

The Rangers have had some success against the Washington goalie. For his career, Holtby is 6-8-1 with a 2.69 goals-against average versus New York.

In 44 games against the Rangers, Alex Ovechkin, who has two goals this season including the go-ahead tally Thursday night, has 27 goals and 15 assists. Justin Williams has 28 points in 35 games against New York and Nicklas Backstrom has 23 assists in 35 games.

Williams picked up his first goal of the season against the Panthers and the first for the Capitals' third line, which also includes newcomers Lars Eller and Zach Stanford.

"We've gotten better marginally every game we've played," Williams said. "We're talking a little bit more, we're supporting a little bit more, we're getting to know each other a little bit more."

Saturday's game marks Washington's fourth in five contests against teams -- including New York -- that notched at least 100 points last season.

"I think we usually, in terms of last year I guess, play better against good teams it seems," Holtby said. "There's a lot of depth in the Eastern Conference this year. There's a lot of good teams."

Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist is 19-9-4, with a 2.65 goals against versus the Capitals, while Rick Nash has 10 goals and 12 assists in 22 games.

Washington was 3-2 against the Rangers last season, including an overtime win.


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Mar 4, 2016 Score ATS Results
NYR « 3 Push: 5
WAS 2 Cover: 174
Tools: Recaps

Jan 17, 2016 Score ATS Results
NYR 3 Over: 8
WAS « 5 Cover: 212
Tools: Recaps

Jan 9, 2016 Score ATS Results
WAS « 4 Cover: 321
NYR 3 Over: 7
Tools: Recaps

Dec 20, 2015 Score ATS Results
WAS « 7 Cover: 304
NYR 3 Over: 10
Tools: Recaps

Nov 3, 2015 Score ATS Results
WAS 2 Over: 7
NYR « 5 Cover: 303
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Avalanche (3-1) at Panthers (2-1)
Date: October 22, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

SUNRISE, Fla. -- In the past two games, the Florida Panthers have been beaten, in essence, on third-period goals by two superstars -- Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.

Those are two of the top five players in the NHL, according to a recent list posted on an NHL website.

Perhaps fortunately for the Panthers, the Colorado Avalanche -- their next opponent on Saturday night at the BB&T Center -- do not have any players of that caliber. The closest the Avs have are forwards Nathan McKinnon and Matt Duchene, who are top-50 guys.

The Panthers (2-1-1), the defending Atlantic Division champs, are off to a decent start. After winning their first two games, the Panthers were 5.5 seconds away from going 3-0-0 before a Stamkos goal forced overtime and an eventual Florida shootout loss.

Then on Thursday against the Capitals, the Panthers had battled back from a two-goal deficit to tie the score 2-2. And that's when Ovechkin's deflection created the 90th game-winning goal of his career.

Colorado (3-1-0) is off to an even better start than Florida, including an impressive 4-0 win at the Lightning on Thursday.

Goalie Semyon Varlamov, who joins McKinnon, Duchene and forward Gabriel Landeskog as Colorado's four representatives on the NHL top-100 list, seems to already be in peak form.

"When we need a save, Varly is there," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said Thursday

When the Panthers need a save, they turn to goalie Roberto Luongo, who made the espn.com list along with young defenseman Aaron Ekblad, center Aleksander Barkov and injured winger Jonathan Huberdeau. Defenseman Keith Yandle could also merit attention on any such list.

The Panthers are a curious blend between old and young.

In Thursday night's loss to the Capitals, Florida's two goal-scorers were 44-year-old Jaromir Jagr and a man half his age, rookie defenseman Michael Matheson, 22. It was career goal No. 2 for Matheson while Jagr has 750, which ranks third in NHL history behind record-holder Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe.

Jagr is one of the keys to the Florida power play, which got off to a slow start this season -- 0-for-10 -- before finally converting on Thursday. Jagr said Panthers coach Gerard Gallant made adjustments.

"We put two defensemen on our (power play) unit," Jagr said. "They are a little more comfortable on the blue line, and we moved the puck pretty well."

The Panthers also made a roster move on Friday in anticipation of the Avalanche game, recalling forward Kyle Rau, 23, from the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League.

Rau isn't big -- just 5-8 and 178 pounds -- but the Panthers like the Minnesota native's quickness and his feisty attitude. He was their third-round pick in 2011, and they are hoping he can now provide a spark.

It isn't as if the Panthers are playing poorly, though. They badly outplayed the Capitals for a long stretch on Thursday -- the last 10 minutes of the first period and the entire 20 minutes of the second all went to the Panthers, who piled up shot totals and scored two unanswered goals during that span.

For the game, Florida had more shot attempts 57-45 and also won the face-offs battle with Washington, 31-24.

But the Panthers have to do what all teams must do -- rely on a short memory, shaking off a loss and getting ready for the next challenge, which, in this case, is the red-hot Avalanche.


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Mar 3, 2016 Score ATS Results
FLA 2 Cover: 299
COL « 3 Push: 5
Tools: Recaps

Oct 27, 2015 Score ATS Results
COL 1 Under: 5
FLA « 4 Cover: 213
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Wild (3-1) at Devils (1-2)
Date: October 22, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The New Jersey Devils were the NHL's worst offensive team in 2015-16, finishing dead-last in goal-scoring. To address this, general manager Ray Shero acquired left winger Taylor Hall from the Edmonton Oilers and signed depth forwards known for having an offensive knack.

Through four games in 2016-17, the Devils are again at the bottom of the league in goals with six in four games and just three goals at 5-on-5. New Jersey failed to score an even-strength goal over its past 175 minutes and 34 seconds, and that lack of even-strength offense proved detrimental in their 2-1 road loss to the Boston Bruins on Thursday.

With the Minnesota Wild visiting Prudential Center, Devils coach John Hynes is going back to the drawing board with his line combinations after a 1-2-1 start.

"Unfortunately for us, we've just had inconsistencies throughout the lineup," Hynes said to the Bergen Record. "(Against Boston), we couldn't find a line combination that got anything done 5-on-5. Is that ideal? No. We would like to have line combinations and have things going but we've got to get better performances from guys on our team, more consistent performances.

"We just have to be better. Even in games, there are pockets where it's real good and times when we're not doing things. Until we get better performances, you're going to keep making decisions, whether that's line combinations or guys in the lineup, guys out of the lineup. Right now it's not good enough to be consistent."

Center Sergey Kalinin, who has yet to play a game this season because of an illness, is expected to be activated Saturday. But it will likely take more than the return of a 25-year-old depth forward that had seven goals last season to thwart the Wild.

New coach Bruce Boudreau has Minnesota off to a 3-1-0 start and new center Eric Staal has been a big part of it. He owns three goals in four games, including two in the Wild's 3-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.

"He wasn't happy with his game last game, and real good players, they bounce back because they've got a lot of pride," Boudreau said of Staal to the StarTribune. "I thought he was really good. He had the puck a lot, his legs were moving, so when that happens, good things happen."

Staal had a disastrous 2015-16 season that ended with 39 points in 83 games (he got an extra game because of a trade to the New York Rangers from the Carolina Hurricanes), which was his worst total since his rookie season in 2003-04. He signed a three-year deal with the Wild, and his three goals match what he had in 20 regular-season games with the Rangers.

"I mean, yeah, it feels good to contribute," Staal said to the StarTribune. "Anytime you come to a new team, you want to be a contributing player right away. I never felt like I forgot how to play. I knew I could play and I've been in this league a long time. But I needed to come here and be ready in training camp, and be fit and hungry.

"I've done that, and now it's about continuing to build. It's only been four games. I got a long way to go but it's been a good start for me and hopefully this team keeps picking up wins, because that's what it's all about."

Left winger Erik Haula and defenseman Jared Spurgeon were injured Thursday and did not practice Friday, which leaves their status for Saturday unclear. Boudreau could choose to dress seven defensemen if Haula doesn't play, but that may not be decided until Saturday morning.


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Mar 17, 2016 Score ATS Results
MIN 4 Cover: 227
NJD « 7 Over: 11
Tools: Recaps

Jan 10, 2016 Score ATS Results
NJD « 2 Under: 3
MIN 1 Cover: 229
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Hurricanes (1-1) at Flyers (1-2)
Date: October 22, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

PHILADELPHIA -- After a season-opening 1-1-1 road trip and Thursday night's 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, the Philadelphia Flyers will try again for their first win on home ice Saturday night when they take on the Carolina Hurricanes, who are coming off their first win of the season.

The Flyers (1-2-1) will be without veteran right winger Dale Weise, who on Friday was suspended three games for an illegal check to the head of Anaheim defenseman Korbinianb Holzer. Weise is a repeat offender, having been suspended three games to start the 2013-14 season with the Vancouver Canucks after another check to the head.

With Weise out of the lineup, look for Flyers rookie Roman Lyubimov to return to the lineup.

The Flyers already have seen three players suspended for 12 games this season. Defenseman Radko Gudas has two games remaining on his six-game suspension, while center Brayden Schenn returned Thursday night from his three-game suspension that carried over from an illegal hit in last year's first-round playoff loss to the Washington Capitals.

The Flyers received goals from Wayne Simmonds (his third of the season) and Matt Read (his fourth), but went 0-for-7 win the power play in their 3-2 loss to the Ducks, generating just five shots on the man-advantage.

Read has been a pleasant surprise for the Flyers after netting just 11 goals in 79 games last season.

"I was a perimeter player," Read told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "It's easy to be a perimeter player if your making plays and stuff like that, but to score goals, you've got to get in those tough areas and have tenacity around the net and battle for those loose pucks."

The Hurricanes (1-1-2) finally put together their best game of the season with a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames. They grabbed a 3-0 lead and never looked back, getting power-play goals from Victor Rask and Jeff Skinner and a standout performance between the pipes from Eddie Lack.

The Swedish goaltender made 24 saves on Thursday night for his fifth win in seven career starts against the Flames.

"In the beginning of my career (with Vancouver) we played good team games and it was the same today," he said.

"It's just circumstantial."

Carolina coach Bill Peters was pleased with how his team played overall Thursday, and he hopes to jump out to an early lead Saturday.

"More poise and confidence in each other, in the system," Peters told the News & Observer. "I'd love to have a three-goal lead every night. We'll get better playing with the lead. We'll get better managing situations as we go and we'll learn as we go."

The Hurricanes were outstanding on the penalty kill against the Flames, shutting them down on six opportunities.

Lack served notice that he could give No. 1 goalie Cam Ward some competition this season, limiting Calgary's potent offense to two goals.

The Hurricanes wrap up a six-game road trip to start the season on Saturday and Detroit on Tuesday.


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Feb 23, 2016 Score ATS Results
PHI 1 Under: 4
CAR « 3 Cover: 252
Tools: Recaps

Dec 15, 2015 Score ATS Results
CAR 3 Over: 7
PHI « 4 Cover: 281
Tools: Recaps

Nov 23, 2015 Score ATS Results
CAR 2 Push: 5
PHI « 3 Cover: 281
Tools: Recaps

Nov 14, 2015 Score ATS Results
PHI « 3 Push: 5
CAR 2 Cover: 239
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Canadiens (3-0) at Bruins (3-1)
Date: October 22, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

BOSTON -- It's always fun for the players and fans when the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens get together for the latest renewal of one of the great rivalries in sports.

It's even better when both are healthy and playing well, which is the case for their first 2016-17 meeting Saturday night at TD Garden.

Both got their most important player back for Thursday night's fourth game of the season, with the Canadiens getting goaltender Carey Price back while Bruins center Patrice Bergeron made his return.

Both were factors in wins as Montreal moved to 3-0-1 with a 5-2 home win over the Arizona Coyotes and the Bruins to 3-1-0 with a 2-1 home decision over the New Jersey Devils.

"In our mind, and I think most people in the league, he's the best goalie in the world, and you just can't replace that," Brendan Gallagher said after Price made 27 saves in his first regular season game with the Habs since last Nov. 25. He missed the rest of last season with a knee injury and the first three games of 2016-17 with the flu.

In Boston, Bergeron, out for the first three games with a lower-body injury, scored with 1:15 left to give his team the win in his first game back.

"He does so much for our team ... having Bergy back is great," linemate Brad Marchand said after setting Bergeron up for the winner. "He brings so many things to the table."

Both Price and Bergeron were keys to Team Canada winning the World Cup of Hockey. Both returned to their teams, Price playing one preseason game before getting sick and Bergeron two for the Bruins, before going down.

Their respective teams did well without them, but are clearly better off than they were before Thursday.

"He was good, as good as always," said newly acquired Montreal defenseman Shea Weber, who played his first game in front of Price. "He made some big saves at key times, and obviously we know what we're going to get with him. He's a great player, he's a great competitor, and he's going to give us a chance to win every night."

Bergeron was replaced during his absence by the newly signed David Backes, who centered Marchand and David Pastrnak -- and the line didn't miss a beat. Backes slid down to right wing on the line centered by David Krejci on Thursday.

Marchand scored the first goal and both he and Pastrnak were a plus-2 in the win -- raising both to an NHL-best plus-9 through the first four games. Marchand, armed with a new $49 million contract, has three goals and nine points while Pastrnak owns four goals and seven points in four games.

The Canadiens have had the better of the rivalry in recent years, but the Bruins did win two of the last three between the two last season -- Montreal's win in that span a 5-1 outdoor drubbing of the Bruins at Gillette Stadium in the Winter Classic.

Tuukka Rask, who has allowed just five goals in his 3-0 start to the season, is just 5-15-3 lifetime against the Canadiens, while Price is an impressive 22-8-3 against Boston. Rask has been battling soreness and was held out of practice on Friday. He is questionable for Saturday.

One major change in the rivalry involves Weber, acquired from the Nashville Predators in an even swap for P.K. Souban, the latter the No. 1 villain of the TD Garden crowd. No one in Boston hates Shea Weber.

The Bruins opened last season with three straight home games, losing all three en route to 17-18-6 season home record (25-13-3 on the road) and missed the playoffs for the second straight season. That's what made it important for them to win Thursday in the opener of a three-game homestand.

"We talked about our home record in the last few years and we wanted to do the job early, especially in the first game -- and it's one step but we're happy with it, said Bergeron.

The Canadiens are 1-0-1 on the road.


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Oct 4, 2016 Score ATS Results
BOS 3 Cover: 299
MON « 4 Over: 7
Tools:

Jan 19, 2016 Score ATS Results
BOS « 4 Push: 5
MON 1 Cover: 297
Tools: Recaps

Jan 1, 2016 Score ATS Results
MON « 5 Over: 6
BOS 1 Cover: 256
Tools: Recaps

Dec 9, 2015 Score ATS Results
BOS « 3 Under: 4
MON 1 Cover: 248
Tools: Recaps

Nov 7, 2015 Score ATS Results
BOS 2 Over: 6
MON « 4 Cover: 222
Tools: Recaps

Oct 10, 2015 Score ATS Results
MON « 4 Cover: 282
BOS 2 Over: 6
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Lightning (3-1) at Senators (3-1)
Date: October 22, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

OTTAWA -- -- Guy Boucher claims it's just another game.

But when Ottawa hosts the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre, it will mark the first chance for the Senators coach to strike back against the team that fired him on March 24, 2013.

Tampa was 13-17-1 when GM Steve Yzerman replaced Boucher with Jon Cooper. In two plus-seasons behind the Lightning bench, Boucher had a 97-78-20 record.

"I'm very calm and almost cold about it ... I don't know how to explain it," Boucher said about facing the Lightning. "It's been too long. I guess if it was last year or a few months ago, and it was all the people I had worked with and all the players I had, then I guess there would be emotion there. We're talking almost four years and so much has changed."

Only defenseman Victor Hedman and center Steven Stamkos are still with the Lightning team that Boucher coached.

"None of these guys are my guys except for those two," said Boucher.

The Senators are off to a 3-1-0 start under Boucher, winning all three games they've played in Ottawa including their last one, a 7-4 decision over the Arizona Coyotes.

The Lighting are also 3-1-0 and are venturing on the road for the first time. Their four game homestand concluded with a 4-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

Tampa Bay rallied from behind to win each of its first three games.

"You can't keep testing fate," Cooper told the Tampa Bay Times. "Because eventually you're not going to be able to come back."

Craig Anderson will start in goal for the Senators. Despite his 3-0 record, Anderson says he's been no better than average and his .887 save percentage supports that claim.

His biggest issue has been rebound control.

"It's a work in progress," Anderson said. "Right now, it's just tracking the puck, following the puck off my body. I've showed it in spurts. Where I could do it, and there's been other times where it's just been a grenade in there and everything turns into chaos.

"If I could kind of calm things down back there for us we would be better off and I think you'd see less scoring chances."

Former Senators goalie Ben Bishop is expected to start between the pipes for Tampa Bay. Against his old team, Bishop has a 9-0-3 record, with a .933 save percentage and a 2.02 goals against average.

The stop in Ottawa will mark the first of a six-game, 11 day road trip for the Lightning. Outside of the Sunshine State, the team will try to find the consistency it has lacked thus far.

"We haven't seen our best side yet," defenseman Anton Stralman told the Times.

Added Stamkos: "Sometimes you get on the road, guys get together and you don't try to impress your fans, you just go out and play your game. We're looking forward to our first road trip against some divisional opponents. We should have no problem getting up for those games."


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Mar 3, 2016 Score ATS Results
TAM « 4 Cover: 233
OTT 1 Under: 5
Tools: Recaps

Feb 8, 2016 Score ATS Results
TAM 1 Cover: 256
OTT « 5 Over: 6
Tools: Recaps

Dec 20, 2015 Score ATS Results
OTT 2 Over: 7
TAM « 5 Cover: 203
Tools: Recaps

Dec 10, 2015 Score ATS Results
OTT 1 Under: 5
TAM « 4 Cover: 183
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Maple Leafs (1-1) at Blackhawks (2-3)
Date: October 22, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- Even with budding star Auston Matthews emerging as the face of one of the NHL's youngest rosters and most storied franchises, the Toronto Maple Leafs are experiencing growing pains.

Toronto will try to come away with a win in the finale of their three-game road trip on Saturday night against the Chicago Blackhawks in a matchup of Original Six clubs.

The Maple Leafs (1-1-2) fell 3-2 at Minnesota on Thursday, one night after seeing a four-goal lead disappear in a 5-4 overtime loss at Winnipeg. However, coach Mike Babcock isn't disappointed.

"I think we've done a lot of good things," Babcock said after the loss to the Wild. "We're .500 after four (games), and so as we grow up here a little bit, we've just got to hang in the hunt as best as we can because we're going to get better fast."

That might be a difficult task against a team that has won three Stanley Cups since 2010. Toronto has been outscored 15-3 in three consecutive losses to the Blackhawks, including a 7-2 setback on Feb. 15 at the United Center where the Maple Leafs surrendered four power-play goals.

Matthews, the top overall pick in last June's NHL Draft, is tied for the league lead with five goals but has just one since his record-setting debut in a loss to Ottawa on Oct. 12.

"It's a learning process. We're still a young team, but we're competing day in and day out, so I think we're heading in the right direction," the 19-year-old center said after the loss to Minnesota.

One player looking forward to Saturday is Toronto defenseman Connor Carrick, who grew up in suburban Orland Park, about 25 miles from the United Center. He scored his only goal of the season in Wednesday's loss to the Jets.

"You want to close the opportunities you get in this league, make sure you finish, stomp on the other team's will, so to speak," Carrick told the Toronto Sun. "It's hard to get the full two points in this league and you just don't want it to slip away. We want to reverse that trend."

After backup goaltender Jhonas Enroth played against Minnesota, Fredrik Andersen will likely face the Blackhawks. In his only start at Chicago early last season while with Anaheim, Andersen surrendered the lone goal in a 1-0 overtime loss.

Chicago (2-3-0) opens a stretch in which it plays four of the next five at home after falling 3-2 decision on Friday at Columbus. Rookie Tyler Motte scored his first NHL goal and Richard Panik, a former Maple Leafs player, produced his fifth in five games to tie Matthews for the league lead.

Panik posted a career-high 11 goals in 76 games with Toronto in 2014-15. He leads Chicago with seven points even though the Blackhawks feature two of the league's dynamic players in Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin.

Last season en route to winning the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP, Kane had four goals and four assists in both wins over Toronto with five of those points coming on the power play.

Panarin, the Calder Trophy winner as the NHL's top rookie in 2015-16, had two goals and three assists in two games against the Leafs.

But a big issue for Chicago this season has been penalty killing. The Blackhawks are last in the NHL, having surrendered 11 goals in 19 short-handed situations.

"We have to hit the reset button and just bear down and find a way to get it done because it's losing us games right now," defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson told the Blackhawks' official website.

Corey Crawford stopped 25 shots Friday. However, with games on back-to-back nights, the Blackhawks could start Scott Darling, who recorded a 1.51 goals-against average while winning both matchups with the Maple Leafs in 2015-16.

Chicago played Friday without Marian Hossa, who became the 44th player in NHL history to score 500 goals in a win over Philadelphia on Tuesday. Hossa is day to day with a lower body injury.

Trevor van Riemsdyk, a healthy scratch the previous three games, left Friday's game with an upper-body injury and could be out "a bit," according to the team.


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Feb 15, 2016 Score ATS Results
TOR 2 Over: 9
CHI « 7 Cover: 145
Tools: Recaps

Jan 15, 2016 Score ATS Results
CHI « 4 Cover: 263
TOR 1 Under: 5
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Sharks (3-2) at Red Wings (3-2)
Date: October 22, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings are on a three-game winning streak and the San Jose Sharks are fresh off of being stunned by the team that beat them in the Stanley Cup Final last season.

The teams are scheduled to play at 7 p.m. Saturday at Joe Louis Arena. Both are 3-2-0.

After losing its first two games of the season, Detroit has reeled off three consecutive wins, the latest a 5-3 decision over the Nashville Predators Friday night at Joe Louis.

In that game, two players who have to produce a lot of offense for the Red Wings to be successful scored their first goals of the season.

Right winger Gustav Nyquist had a goal and an assist and left winger Tomas Tatar had a goal.

Tatar's goal, 1:10 into the third period, broke a tie and put Detroit ahead for good and Nyquist scored later in the period to make it 4-2.

"I'm just worried about one game at a time and I'm worried about getting better every day and I thought we took a step in getting better today," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said after Friday night's game. "I thought we did a real good job of spending time in their end. We did a real good job of winning puck battles. We did a real good job of reloading hard and getting back above people and when we do that, we're a real good team.

"I thought we transitioned well, I thought a lot of guys were playing. I thought we took a step forward. Now we got to take another step forward tomorrow."

Veteran fourth line left winger Drew Miller scored his second goal in two games Friday.

"We definitely had some times in the first couple of games here where we didn't play the way we wanted to play," Miller said. "We're cleaning that up and trying to play a 60-minute game. I think that's the biggest thing, just moving forward and finding the positives and continuing to build off of those."

Defenseman Ryan Sproul made his season debut for Detroit and had an assist on Justin Abdelkader's power-play goal in the second period. In his second NHL game, Sproul was even in 14:57 of ice time.

San Jose, which closes out a five-game road trip Saturday, lost 3-2 on the road to the Pittsburgh Penguins Thursday night after leading 2-0 going into the third period.

It was the first time under coach Pete DeBoer that the Sharks had lost in regulation time when they held a lead after two periods. They were 28-0-2 in the 2015-16 regular season, and 9-0 in the playoffs, when leading after 40 minutes.

"The biggest thing is we were playing for a 4-1 record going into that third," captain Joe Pavelski said. "Not because it was the Penguins. It's early in the year. It's not easy to start coming on the road with all of these games. Now we're staring at 3-2 and we move on."


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Jan 7, 2016 Score ATS Results
DET « 2 Under: 3
SAN 1 Cover: 249
Tools: Recaps

Nov 13, 2015 Score ATS Results
SAN « 3 Push: 5
DET 2 Cover: 319
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Blue Jackets (1-2) at Stars (2-1)
Date: October 22, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

DALLAS -- When the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Dallas Stars meet Saturday night at American Airlines center, they will do so coming off distinctively different results earlier in the week.

Columbus (1-2-0) got its first win of the season Friday night, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-2 at Nationwide Arena, the perfect way to leave town to start a four-game road trip.

"We needed this one," Columbus forward Nick Foligno told the Columbus Dispatch. "We needed to win at home. This has got to be a tough place for people to come into, and we didn't make it tough enough on the first two opponents. We had a whole week to think about it and really let it stew. There were a lot of guys with a little bit of a chip on the shoulder tonight."

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 32 of 34 shots for the Jackets to earn his first win of the season.

But the Columbus netminder was quick to credit his teammates for those two points.

"I thought we played great," Bobrovsky told Fox Sports Ohio. "We started really good. We put lots of shots on net. We just went after them. It was fun to watch. We played with some confidence, it was a great game."

However, this win came with a notable asterisk as defenseman Ryan Murray left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury and did not return. Columbus coach John Tortorella said postgame that Murray likely wouldn't travel with the team, meaning either Scott Harrington or Dalton Prout will replace Murray at the blueline.

Columbus also recalled forward Sonny Milano, the 16th pick in the 2014 draft after the game. Milano, 20, has three games of NHL experience from a stint in Columbus last spring.

Tortorella would not name a starting goaltender for Saturday's game following the win against Chicago, meaning he could go with Bobrovsky for a second straight night or give the nod to Curtis McElhinney, which would be his first action of the season.

Dallas (2-1-1) heads into Saturday's game still stewing a bit over a disappointing 4-3 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, a rough way to start a three-game homestand.

"We didn't win enough puck battles, we didn't get above the puck, we didn't play well enough defensively to win a hockey game," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said of the loss to the Kings after practice on Friday.

The Stars lost two forwards to injury in that game, Patrick Eaves and Patrick Sharp. Eaves picked up a lower-body injury late in the second period and did not return for the third period while Sharp experienced concussion-like symptoms after a hard hit into the boards during the second period.

Ruff said Eaves might be able to play on Saturday but said Sharp was placed on injured reserve and will not.

One player who will be returning to the ice for Dallas on Saturday is veteran forward Ales Hemsky, who will likely make his season debut against the Blue Jackets.

Hemsky has missed the first four games recovering from a groin issue he picked up during training camp. And after skating for the past few weeks, he is happy to say he now feels ready to return.

"Definitely feel better, I feel stronger," Hemsky said after practice on Friday. "Again, I had a good week and hopefully I'm ready for a game. So we'll see what they're thinking and what will happen tomorrow (Saturday)."

Ruff also has a decision to make in net of whether to start Kari Lehtonen, who largely performed well in the loss to the Kings or go back to Antti Niemi? Both veteran goalies have started two games thus far.


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Dec 29, 2015 Score ATS Results
DAL 3 Cover: 197
COB « 6 Over: 9
Tools: Recaps

Dec 15, 2015 Score ATS Results
COB 1 Over: 6
DAL « 5 Cover: 139
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Penguins (3-1) at Predators (1-3)
Date: October 22, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Some back-to-backs are tougher than others. For the Nashville Predators, this one figured to be one of the toughest of the season - and that was before they lost two top six forwards and their third straight game Friday night in Detroit.

When Nashville welcomes the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins to Bridgestone Arena Saturday night, it could do so without Ryan Johansen and Craig Smith. Each left its 5-3 loss to the Red Wings in the second period suffering from the flu and their status for Saturday night is uncertain.

While the Predators (1-3-0) lost Friday night, Pittsburgh (3-1-1) got to spend the evening in their hotel rooms in Nashville, fresh off a rousing 3-2 comeback win Thursday night against San Jose in an early rematch of last season's Cup finals.

And the Penguins needed a night of rest and relaxation in the worst way. They played most of the last two periods Thursday night with just four defensemen after the pairing of Olli Maatta and Derrick Pouliot both left with injuries.

Trevor Daley, Justin Schultz, Brian Dumoulin and Ian Cole shouldered a heavy load after that, but played efficiently to help Pittsburgh wipe out a 2-0 deficit.

"Any time you go down two defensemen that early in the game, it's tough. It puts a lot of pressure on those guys," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "I thought they did a great job simplifying their game. The third period, I thought our forwards took some pressure off them, playing a north/south game and holding onto pucks."

Pouliot went on injured reserve Friday, joining a growing list of teammates in the infirmary. Sidney Crosby (concussion) is nowhere near returning to game action and top defenseman Kris Letang (upper-body injury) also sat out Thursday after being injured in Montreal Tuesday night.

While Pittsburgh is thriving despite being shorthanded, the Predators are stumbling as their depth is undergoing an early test. The illnesses of Johansen and Smith, coupled with last weekend's upper-body injuries to depth defenseman Anthony Bitetto and fourth-line forward Miikka Salomaki that landed both on injured reserve, could lead to call-ups from AHL affiliate Milwaukee for this game.

Regardless of who plays and who sits, Nashville needs a more detailed performance to change its fortunes. The Predators want to forecheck aggressively and maintain possession, but have allowed a whopping 80 shots on net this week, and have stayed in games only because of good work by goalie Pekka Rinne and their power play.

"I thought we played hard, especially with a short bench," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said Friday night. "We just shot ourselves in the foot too many times. You can't make that many mistakes when you're trying to come from behind."

Breakdowns in discipline harmed the Predators in Detroit, as they took eight minors, enabling the Red Wings to net two man-advantage markers. Had Rinne not saved 38 of 42 shots, the final margin could have been worse.

All three Nashville goals in Detroit came on the power play, continuing an early trend. The Predators are 8-for-15 with the man advantage through four games and has potted just two even strength tallies.


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Mar 31, 2016 Score ATS Results
NAS 2 Over: 7
PIT « 5 Cover: 248
Tools: Recaps

Oct 24, 2015 Score ATS Results
PIT « 2 Under: 3
NAS 1 Cover: 239
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Blues (3-1) at Flames (1-3)
Date: October 22, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

CALGARY, Alberta -- Somewhere out there in hockey coach exile, Bob Hartley is quite possibly giggling to himself.

Fired after last season because management no longer could motivate the Calgary Flames, Hartley now watches from a safe distance as his old team stumbles out of the gate to start the 2016-17 season.

It's been left to new head coach Glen Gulutzan to find a way to light a fire under a team that is off to a 1-3-1 start and in danger of heading into a brutal stretch in their schedule already in a hole.

The Flames host the tough St. Louis Blues on Saturday night before they head out to play the Chicago Blackhawks and Blues again next week. Eleven of their next 12 games are against teams that made the playoffs last spring.

Calgary is coming off a 4-2 home-ice loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, which left Gulutzan standing in the same spot Hartley found himself after frustrating losses last season, being grilled during his post-game session in the media lounge.

It was clear that Gulutzan would have spent Friday's off day trying to figure out how to fix his lame power play, which was 0-for-6 and pedestrian.

"I don't think we're shooting the puck and winning battles enough," he said. "You can't shoot the puck if you don't win battles."

Gulutzan was then asked if frustration had already set in his dressing room.

"Just parts of our game are frustrating right now. What's frustrating me is the specialty teams. It was 3-2 until the last five-on-three. The Hurricanes were one-for-six on the power play and we were zero-for-six. That's the difference for me."

The Flames stumbled out of the gate under Hartley in October of 2015 and never recovered. They were 3-8-1 after the first month. After Thursday's loss, a similar start appears quite possible.

What's going on?

"We're trying to make plays that aren't there and we've got to just make those simple plays," said Flames center Sean Monahan, who signed a six-year, $40 million contract in August. "It almost feels like we're not on the same page. It's not working well right now and we've got to figure it out."

Flames general manager Brad Treliving went out and got two veteran goaltenders to try and solve a problem at that position, but through five games nothing has changed.

New No. 1 Brian Elliott is 0-3 and gave up three goals on his first 13 shots on Thursday. He was acquired from the Blues at the draft for a second round pick and conditional third round choice.

Gulutzan will have to decide whether to go with Elliott against his former team Saturday or switch to Chad Johnson, a free agent signing from Buffalo and a winner against those Sabres in his only start of the season on Tuesday.

"(Brian's) a pro. He will find whatever rhythm he needs. I don't know if he is lacking confidence or anything. I think the focal point is getting some run support for our goalie."

The Blues arrive in Calgary with a 3-1-1 record. They got off to a perfect start but lost in overtime in Vancouver on Tuesday and fell 4-1 to the Edmonton Oilers in the Alberta capital on Thursday.


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Mar 14, 2016 Score ATS Results
STL 4 Cover: 217
CGY « 7 Over: 11
Tools: Recaps

Dec 19, 2015 Score ATS Results
CGY 2 Push: 5
STL « 3 Cover: 201
Tools: Recaps

Oct 13, 2015 Score ATS Results
STL « 4 Cover: 261
CGY 3 Over: 7
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Canucks (4-0) at Kings (1-3)
Date: October 22, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES -- Unlike the Los Angeles Kings, the Vancouver Canucks are off to a solid start.

A club that many hockey experts picked to be at the bottom of the barrel in the NHL, the Canucks are the only unbeaten team heading into Saturday night's clash at Staples Center with the Kings.

"Expectations are whatever they are. You have to play the games," said Jannik Hansen, who scored his 100th NHL goal in a 2-1 decision over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. "Every player in this league is so good. If you put your best game forward, you have a pretty good chance of winning.

"Where we are going to get into trouble is if we start slacking a little bit, not playing to our system, not doing the right execution. Then we are going to have a hard time if we are going to rely on individual performances. This team isn't deep enough for that."

Vancouver is embarking on its first road trip of the season. After successful outings at home against Calgary, Carolina, St. Louis and Buffalo, the Canucks open a two-game swing in L.A. followed by a back-to-back game at Anaheim on Sunday.

"We have a tough road trip. We are playing two good teams and it's never easy going down to California," said Vancouver center Brandon Sutter, nephew of Kings head coach Darryl Sutter. Brandon Sutter leads the Canucks with four points (one goal, three assists), with two of those against the Sabres.

"It will be a good test for us. We've played some good teams so far."

Hansen said, "I'd love to keep playing at home. It seems to be working for us right now. It's a very tough road trip. I know it's only two games, but it's back-to-back in California. Two teams that haven't got off to the best start. I know they are going to be hungry."

The Kings (1-3-0), last in the Pacific Division, dropped their opening three games before posting a 4-3 overtime victory in a chippy and controversial finish Thursday at Dallas against the Stars. Alec Martinez delivered the winning goal at 1:20 of the extra period that had the Stars screaming for interference on goalie Kari Lehtonen.

"It was a terrible call at the end of the game," said Dallas coach Lindy Ruff, according to the Dallas Morning News. Ruff challenged the goal to no avail.

The win provided a significant boost to the Kings, who started the season reeling from the loss of standout goalie Jonathan Quick in their opener at San Jose with a groin injury that is expected to sideline him for three months.

Los Angeles has been outscored 15-9 in four games.

Jeff Carter and Tanner Pearson, both of whom have a team-high four points, each scored a goal against the Stars. Pearson has provided a sudden burst on a line with Carter after sitting out the initial two games of the season because of a suspension.

"I like the speed of our team, quite honest," Darryl Sutter said, according to LAKingsInsider.com. "Other than parts of one period this year, it's given us a chance to win every game."


NHL HEAD TO HEAD

Apr 4, 2016 Score ATS Results
LOS 2 Cover: 174
VAN « 3 Push: 5
Tools: Recaps

Mar 7, 2016 Score ATS Results
VAN 1 Over: 6
LOS « 5 Cover: 134
Tools: Recaps

Dec 28, 2015 Score ATS Results
LOS « 5 Cover: 245
VAN 0 Push: 5
Tools: Recaps

Dec 1, 2015 Score ATS Results
VAN 1 Under: 3
LOS « 2 Cover: 166
Tools: Recaps

Oct 13, 2015 Score ATS Results
VAN « 3 Under: 3
LOS 0 Cover: 182
Tools: Recaps