Announcement

**Udog** · 02-01-2019, 08:13 AM

Armadillo: Friday's six-pack

Nevada casinos’ profits for 2018:

— Sports betting: $301M

— Roulette: $386.1M

— Craps: $386.4M

— Blackjack: $1.1B

— Baccarat: $1.2B

— Penny slots: $3.3B

**********

Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Random stuff with weekend here…….

13) New York Knicks traded Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas Thursday, in a surprising trade that results in New York having around $75M in cap space this summer, when the following players will be free agents:

Durant, Irving, Klay Thompson, Kemba Walker, Cousins, Jimmy Butler.

Knicks would conceivably have room for two max contract players, but the question is this: Who the hell wants to play for one of the most dysfunctional franchises in sports?

12) Knicks sent Porzingis, Courtney Lee, Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr to Dallas for DeAndre Jordan, Dennis Smith, Wesley Matthews and two first round picks.

11) Mark Cuban has seen the light; he has Luca Doncic and Porzingis now, following in the footsteps of Dirk Nowitzki. He still has to get Porzingis to commit longterm to the Mavericks.

Cuban isn’t fond of the grassroots basketball system in this country and believes that kids from other countries, generally speaking, work harder and are more coachable.

Look at the Spurs; during their run of five NBA titles, they often had a majority of foreign players on their roster.

10) There are only two D-I college basketball teams with two players averaging 20+ points/game this season; Duke and………Cal State-Northridge.

Duke: RJ Barrett 23.9 ppg, Zion Williamson 21.7
Northridge: Lamine Diane 23.5 ppg, Terrell Gomez 20.1

Three of those four players are freshmen.

9) Mississippi State DT Jeffrey Simmons won’t be invited to the NFL Combine, even though he is a projected top 10 pick in the draft. Simmons doesn’t meet the criteria under the NFL’s policy about past issues involving violence; he was seen on video in 2016 striking a woman.

8) Sacramento Kings won their last five home games, first time they’ve done that since 2008.

7) Twitter can be a lot of fun when people aren’t so serious; someone posted a quiz the other night on which movie people preferred, Forrest Gump or Road House? Reading the various responses made me laugh for a while.

I chose Road House, by the way, even though Tom Hanks was a soda vendor at the Oakland A’s games in the Coliseum when he was 14 years old, back in the early 70’s.

6) Hofstra of the CAA has college basketball’s longest current win streak, winning their last 16 games.

5) Is Kevin Garnett the Bobby Bonilla of the NBA? Garnett is still making money from his Celtics contract, banking $5M a year until 2024.

4) You know your college is having a cruddy sports year when NCAA puts your school’s girls’ softball team on probation.

Missouri’s football, baseball, softball teams all were fingered by the NCAA, which put the athletics department on three years of probation as a result of academic fraud.

3) Nolan Arenado and the Colorado Rockies agreed on a one-year, $26M contract as he begins what is likely his last year with the Rockies. Arenado will be a highly sought after free agent next winter.

2) Arizona State 95, Arizona 88 OT— Bad beat if you had the Wildcats +5.5; ASU get its first win in last seven tries against its in-state conference rival.

1) Georgetown 80, Xavier 73— James Akinjo scored 23 points for the Hoyas, all after halftime.

**Udog** · 02-01-2019, 08:39 AM

NHL
Long Sheet

Friday, February 1

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NASHVILLE (30-18-0-4, 64 pts.) at FLORIDA (20-20-0-8, 48 pts.) - 2/1/2019, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NASHVILLE is 12-13 ATS (-12.4 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
FLORIDA is 16-7 ATS (+6.4 Units) in February games over the last 3 seasons.
FLORIDA is 20-6 ATS (+11.9 Units) in home games second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
FLORIDA is 11-3 ATS (+7.5 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 23-9 ATS (+12.2 Units) in a road game where where the total is 6 or more over the last 2 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 37-17 ATS (+13.5 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
FLORIDA is 20-28 ATS (-25.5 Units) in all games this season.
FLORIDA is 171-253 ATS (+462.0 Units) in non-conference games since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
FLORIDA is 4-1 (+4.2 Units) against the spread versus NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
FLORIDA is 4-1-0 straight up against NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.3 Units, Under=-0.1 Units)

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CALGARY (33-13-0-5, 71 pts.) at WASHINGTON (27-17-0-6, 60 pts.) - 2/1/2019, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CALGARY is 5-17 ATS (+24.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 93-64 ATS (+166.1 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 52-36 ATS (+2.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 28-20 ATS (+4.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
CALGARY is 33-18 ATS (+8.5 Units) in all games this season.
CALGARY is 14-5 ATS (+8.9 Units) in a road game where where the total is 6 or more this season.
CALGARY is 16-8 ATS (+25.3 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
CALGARY is 14-6 ATS (+7.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
WASHINGTON is 3-9 ATS (+3.0 Units) second half of the season this season.
WASHINGTON is 207-239 ATS (-88.0 Units) in non-conference games since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 44-54 ATS (-40.8 Units) in home games after 3 or more consecutive overs since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 3-2 (+0.7 Units) against the spread versus CALGARY over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 3-2-0 straight up against CALGARY over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.9 Units)

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OTTAWA (19-26-0-5, 43 pts.) at PITTSBURGH (27-17-0-6, 60 pts.) - 2/1/2019, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OTTAWA is 57-61 ATS (+143.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
OTTAWA is 7-8 (+1.7 Units) against the spread versus PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 8-7-0 straight up against OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
8 of 13 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.1 Units)

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TAMPA BAY (37-11-0-2, 76 pts.) at NY ISLANDERS (29-15-0-5, 63 pts.) - 2/1/2019, 7:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 6-2 (+2.6 Units) against the spread versus NY ISLANDERS over the last 3 seasons
TAMPA BAY is 6-2-0 straight up against NY ISLANDERS over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.1 Units)

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CHICAGO (18-24-0-9, 45 pts.) at BUFFALO (25-19-0-6, 56 pts.) - 2/1/2019, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 51-83 ATS (-40.3 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 18-37 ATS (-22.6 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 3-1 (+1.7 Units) against the spread versus BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 3-1-0 straight up against BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.3 Units)

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TORONTO (30-17-0-2, 62 pts.) at DETROIT (19-25-0-7, 45 pts.) - 2/1/2019, 7:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 9-2 (+4.8 Units) against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 9-2-0 straight up against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.9 Units)

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VEGAS (29-19-0-4, 62 pts.) at CAROLINA (24-20-0-6, 54 pts.) - 2/1/2019, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VEGAS is 94-61 ATS (+15.3 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
VEGAS is 20-5 ATS (+12.9 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
VEGAS is 17-6 ATS (+8.9 Units) after playing 3 consecutive home games over the last 2 seasons.
VEGAS is 19-6 ATS (+9.1 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
CAROLINA is 60-72 ATS (-78.1 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CAROLINA is 13-18 ATS (-7.5 Units) in a home game where the total is 6 or more over the last 3 seasons.
CAROLINA is 7-16 ATS (-16.1 Units) in February games over the last 3 seasons.
CAROLINA is 24-30 ATS (-22.2 Units) in home games second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
CAROLINA is 66-100 ATS (-49.0 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest since 1996.
CAROLINA is 5-13 ATS (-11.3 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
CAROLINA is 45-61 ATS (-43.1 Units) in home games after playing 3 consecutive road games since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
VEGAS is 2-1 (+0.4 Units) against the spread versus CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
VEGAS is 2-1-0 straight up against CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.0 Units)

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MINNESOTA (26-21-0-3, 55 pts.) at DALLAS (25-21-0-4, 54 pts.) - 2/1/2019, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 4-9 ATS (-9.2 Units) after a division game this season.
MINNESOTA is 0-6 ATS (-6.4 Units) in road games after a 3 game unbeaten streak over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 14-3 ATS (+9.6 Units) in home games on Friday nights over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 226-151 ATS (-14.4 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game since 1996.
DALLAS is 26-41 ATS (-27.7 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 21-33 ATS (-14.6 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 7-4 (+2.5 Units) against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA is 7-4-0 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.5 Units)

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**Udog** · 02-01-2019, 08:41 AM

NHL

Friday, February 1

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Trend Report
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Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games
Chicago is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Chicago's last 8 games
Chicago is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Chicago is 5-16 SU in its last 21 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Chicago's last 13 games on the road
Chicago is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Buffalo
Chicago is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games when playing Buffalo
Chicago is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Buffalo
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 6 games when playing on the road against Buffalo
Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Buffalo is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Buffalo's last 8 games
Buffalo is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Chicago
Buffalo is 1-12 SU in its last 13 games when playing Chicago
Buffalo is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Buffalo's last 6 games when playing at home against Chicago

Nashville Predators
Nashville is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Nashville is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Nashville is 6-13 SU in its last 19 games on the road
Nashville is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Florida
Nashville is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Florida
Florida Panthers
Florida is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Florida is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
Florida is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Nashville
Florida is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Nashville

Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games
Tampa Bay is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Tampa Bay's last 12 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games when playing NY Islanders
Tampa Bay is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games when playing NY Islanders
Tampa Bay is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against NY Islanders
Tampa Bay is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against NY Islanders
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Tampa Bay's last 18 games when playing on the road against NY Islanders
New York Islanders
NY Islanders is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
NY Islanders is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of NY Islanders's last 5 games
NY Islanders is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games when playing Tampa Bay
NY Islanders is 2-10 SU in its last 12 games when playing Tampa Bay
NY Islanders is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
NY Islanders is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 12 of NY Islanders's last 18 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay

Ottawa Senators
Ottawa is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games
Ottawa is 4-11 SU in its last 15 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Ottawa's last 7 games
Ottawa is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Ottawa is 8-15 ATS in its last 23 games on the road
Ottawa is 6-17 SU in its last 23 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Ottawa's last 5 games on the road
Ottawa is 10-4 ATS in its last 14 games when playing Pittsburgh
Ottawa is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Pittsburgh
Ottawa is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Pittsburgh is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games
Pittsburgh is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games
Pittsburgh is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games when playing Ottawa
Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Ottawa
Pittsburgh is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Ottawa

Calgary Flames
Calgary is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Calgary's last 8 games
Calgary is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Calgary's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Calgary's last 22 games on the road
Calgary is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Washington
Calgary is 7-14-2 SU in its last 23 games when playing Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Calgary's last 6 games when playing Washington
Calgary is 5-10-2 SU in its last 17 games when playing on the road against Washington
Washington Capitals
Washington is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Washington is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Calgary
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games when playing Calgary

Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Vegas is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games
Vegas is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Vegas is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games on the road
Vegas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Vegas's last 6 games on the road
Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Carolina is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Carolina's last 7 games
Carolina is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Carolina is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home

Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Toronto is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Toronto's last 9 games
Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games on the road
Toronto is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Detroit
Toronto is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing Detroit
Toronto is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Toronto's last 10 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Detroit Red Wings
Detroit is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Detroit is 5-15 SU in its last 20 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Detroit's last 8 games
Detroit is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games at home
Detroit is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games at home
Detroit is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Toronto
Detroit is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 5 games when playing Toronto
Detroit is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Detroit's last 10 games when playing at home against Toronto

Minnesota Wild
Minnesota is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Minnesota is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games on the road
Minnesota is 12-4 ATS in its last 16 games when playing Dallas
Minnesota is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing Dallas
Minnesota is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Minnesota's last 11 games when playing on the road against Dallas
Dallas Stars
Dallas is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Dallas is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Dallas's last 7 games
Dallas is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 6 games at home
Dallas is 4-12 ATS in its last 16 games when playing Minnesota
Dallas is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Minnesota
Dallas is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Dallas's last 11 games when playing at home against Minnesota

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**Udog** · 02-01-2019, 09:49 AM

NHL
Dunkel

Friday, February 1

Nashville @ Florida

Game 11-12
February 1, 2019 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Nashville
12.277
Florida
11.264
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Nashville
by 1
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Nashville
-120
6
Dunkel Pick:
Nashville
(-120); Under

Calgary @ Washington

Game 13-14
February 1, 2019 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Calgary
12.403
Washington
8.880
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Calgary
by 3 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Calgary
-115
6
Dunkel Pick:
Calgary
(-115); Over

Ottawa @ Pittsburgh

Game 15-16
February 1, 2019 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Ottawa
11.763
Pittsburgh
10.309
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Ottawa
by 1 1/2
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Pittsburgh
-250
6 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Ottawa
(+210); Under

Tampa Bay @ NY Islanders

Game 17-18
February 1, 2019 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Tampa Bay
10.106
NY Islanders
12.680
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NY Islanders
by 2 1/2
4
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Tampa Bay
-150
6 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
NY Islanders
(+130); Under

Chicago @ Buffalo

Game 19-20
February 1, 2019 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Chicago
11.429
Buffalo
10.645
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Chicago
by 1
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Buffalo
-160
6
Dunkel Pick:
Chicago
(+140); Over

Toronto @ Detroit

Game 21-22
February 1, 2019 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Toronto
9.949
Detroit
11.508
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Detroit
by 1 1/2
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Toronto
-175
6 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Detroit
(+155); Under

Vegas @ Carolina

Game 23-24
February 1, 2019 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Vegas
10.594
Carolina
13.099
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Carolina
by 2 1/2
8
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Carolina
-110
6
Dunkel Pick:
Carolina
(-110); Over

Minnesota @ Dallas

Game 25-26
February 1, 2019 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Minnesota
11.285
Dallas
12.220
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Dallas
by 1
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Dallas
-135
5
Dunkel Pick:
Dallas
(-135); Under

**Udog** · 02-01-2019, 01:41 PM

High-flying Bolts vs stout Islanders highlights this weekend's NHL odds and analysis
Monty Andrews

The Lightning have been the class of the NHL for the majority of the season, leading the league in points thanks in large part to an absurd 3.96 goals-per-game average.

With a host of teams coming off their bye, the next three days will feature a ton of hockey – and bettors, we have you covered. This weekend's schedule includes the offensively-gifted Lightning facing the hottest goaltending tandem in the league, Phil Kessel looking to finally make an impact against one of his former teams, and the Carolina Hurricanes starting to see their puck luck turn around. Here are the top games, trends and tips for the next three days of puck action:

Offense vs. Defense

The highest-scoring team in the NHL visits the best defensive club in the league when the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the host New York Islanders on Friday night. The Lightning have been the class of the NHL for the majority of the season, leading the league in points thanks in large part to an absurd 3.96 goals-per-game average. But that offensive prowess will be put to the test Friday against an Islanders goaltending duo of Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss that is limiting opponents to a league-low 2.41 goals per contest. Totals bettors take heed: the Isles are 21-6-1 to the under in their past 28 games overall.

Not-so-Special Teams

The Buffalo Sabres can only hope that flipping the calendar to February will put an end to their demoralizing special teams woes. The Sabres enter Friday's showdown with the visiting Chicago Blackhawks owning the dubious distinction of ranking last in the league in power-play success rate (four percent) and 30th out of 31 teams on the penalty kill (71.4 percent). It's no surprise, then, that Buffalo enters the end of the week having lost nine of 13 to fall to seventh overall in units won (5.13). Chicago comes in with the league's No. 1 power play for the month, having converted 40 percent of its chances.

Ready for a Kessel Run?

Phil Kessel was a polarizing figure during his time in Toronto, but the lovable winger hasn't made nearly the same impact when facing the Maple Leafs in his career. Kessel looks to improve on a dreadful showing vs. Toronto as he and the Pittsburgh Penguins head to Scotiabank Arena for a Saturday night encounter with the Leafs. Bettors considering a player prop might want to steer clear of Kessel, who has just nine goals and five assists in 29 career games against Toronto. He could learn a thing or two from teammate Evgeni Malkin, who has racked up 62 points in 37 games against the Leafs.

Hurricane Relief

The Carolina Hurricanes are finally reaping the benefits of their shot-heavy approach – though they wouldn't mind a little more luck at the other end of the ice. The Hurricanes welcome the Calgary Flames to Raleigh on Sunday having averaged a robust 3.83 goals per game in January – more than a goal higher than their season rate (2.78), which ranks among the lowest in the league despite the Hurricanes leading the league in shots per game at 35.8. Unfortunately, they've surrendered 3.33 goals per contest in January despite limiting opponents to 27.9 shots over the month. The over is a strong option in this one.

Goalie Profile

Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens: Is Carey Price all the way back? It's impossible to say, but it's certainly encouraging that he was one of the top netminders in the league in January. The much-maligned netminder posted a 5-3-0 mark with a 1.52 goals-against average, a .953 save percentage and two shutouts for the month, and is a significant reason why the Canadiens have cashed the under in 11 of their previous 12 games overall. Montreal resumes its schedule with four games in a six-night span against New Jersey, Edmonton, Anaheim and Winnipeg; the Canadiens went above the total in their previous game against all four teams.

Injury Update

Shayne Gostisbehere, Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers have made progress in their Herculean quest to rally for a postseason spot – and they're doing it without the services of their top offensive defenseman. Shayne Gostisbehere missed his third consecutive game Thursday with a lower-body injury, and it isn't known when he'll be able to return to action. Gostisbehere leads all Flyers blue-liners in points with 20, and while his minus-12 rating is among the worst on the team, Philadelphia is an impressive 9-3-2 SU in games in which "Ghost Bear" earns at least one point. The Flyers enter the weekend having won a season-best six in a row.

Hat Trick Trends

Unders have a slight edge in January heading into the final day of the month, having converted at a 51.6-percent clip over the previous 30 days worth of games. Strangely, overtime games in January have fallen below the total (14) more often than they've finished above it (12). Unders have a 372-364 edge on the overs as of Thursday.

January has also been a strong month for the underdogs, particularly those playing at home. The previous 30 days have seen home 'dogs prevail at a 49-percent rate, well above its 45.6-percent win clip for the season. Underdogs overall have won 46.9 percent of games SU in January, raising the season-to-date average to 43.5 percent.

MmmBop! There's never a bad time for a 90s music reference, and this one is of particular interest to totals bettors. Veteran official Trevor Hanson has provided the best return on investment for over players, earning a whopping 11.06 units thanks to an incredible 30-18-2 O/U record. Teams are averaging nearly 6.5 combined goals in the 50 games he has worked.

Announcement

Friday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 2/1

Friday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 2/1

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