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NHL
Wednesday, February 4
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Ice picks: Wednesday's best NHL bets
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Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres (-191, 6)
The banged-up Buffalo Sabres are searching for consistency as they try to stay in playoff position in a crowded Eastern Conference.
Playing just their second home game in nearly four weeks probably can't hurt.
Coming off their longest road trip of the season, the Sabres will now play five of their next six at HSBC Arena, starting on Wednesday against the Northeast Division rival Toronto Maple Leafs.
Nine of Buffalo's last 10 games have been on the road, including the last six in a row spanning the All-Star break. The club's difficult January slate included visits to a trio of top contenders in Boston, Detroit and Calgary.
The Sabres went 4-5-0 in their last nine road games, but hung on to seventh place in the East - leading three teams by four or fewer points in the standings. A return home should help considering they're 5-1-1 in their last seven at Buffalo.
But their recent stretch has been even more difficult with coach Lindy Ruff's club missing four regular defensemen, as Jaroslav Spacek, Henrik Tallinder, Teppo Numminen and Andrej Sekera are injured. All except Spacek are on injured reserve.
It was no surprise the Sabres (26-20-5) were outshot 37-23 in Monday's 3-2 loss at Anaheim, but Ruff was more upset with his offense, which has scored two goals in three consecutive games since a 10-2 win at Edmonton.
Pick: Toronto +178
Anaheim Ducks at Minnesota Wild (-135, 5)
Minnesota has struggled on offense in two matchups versus the Ducks this season. After the Wild fell 4-2 in Anaheim on Dec. 14, Ducks backup Jonas Hiller made 30 saves in a 3-0 win at Xcel Energy Center on Jan. 17.
Hiller is 2-0 with a 1.89 goals-against average in four career appearances against Minnesota.
He is 7-4-0 with a 2.13 GAA in his last 12 games overall, and made 21 saves Monday in his fourth outing since the break. All-Star starter Jean-Sebastien Giguere, meanwhile, is 1-5-2 with a 3.68 GAA in his last nine contests for the Ducks.
While Anaheim's goaltending situation is uncertain for Wednesday, Minnesota is likely to open its four-game homestand with Niklas Backstrom in net.
The All-Star has won six of his last nine starts at Xcel Energy Center, and is 8-4-0 with a 2.17 GAA in his last 12 games overall.
To continue his recent success, Backstrom will have to contain a Ducks offense which has scored 16 goals in four games since the All-Star break. Anaheim has at least one power-play goal in nine consecutive games, and scored two on Monday.
Perry has five goals and three assists during a five-game point streak against the Wild.
Anaheim, which is opening a three-game road trip, has won two of its last three visits to Minnesota after losing five straight there.
Pick: Over 5
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Wednesday, February 4
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Ice picks: Wednesday's best NHL bets
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Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres (-191, 6)
The banged-up Buffalo Sabres are searching for consistency as they try to stay in playoff position in a crowded Eastern Conference.
Playing just their second home game in nearly four weeks probably can't hurt.
Coming off their longest road trip of the season, the Sabres will now play five of their next six at HSBC Arena, starting on Wednesday against the Northeast Division rival Toronto Maple Leafs.
Nine of Buffalo's last 10 games have been on the road, including the last six in a row spanning the All-Star break. The club's difficult January slate included visits to a trio of top contenders in Boston, Detroit and Calgary.
The Sabres went 4-5-0 in their last nine road games, but hung on to seventh place in the East - leading three teams by four or fewer points in the standings. A return home should help considering they're 5-1-1 in their last seven at Buffalo.
But their recent stretch has been even more difficult with coach Lindy Ruff's club missing four regular defensemen, as Jaroslav Spacek, Henrik Tallinder, Teppo Numminen and Andrej Sekera are injured. All except Spacek are on injured reserve.
It was no surprise the Sabres (26-20-5) were outshot 37-23 in Monday's 3-2 loss at Anaheim, but Ruff was more upset with his offense, which has scored two goals in three consecutive games since a 10-2 win at Edmonton.
Pick: Toronto +178
Anaheim Ducks at Minnesota Wild (-135, 5)
Minnesota has struggled on offense in two matchups versus the Ducks this season. After the Wild fell 4-2 in Anaheim on Dec. 14, Ducks backup Jonas Hiller made 30 saves in a 3-0 win at Xcel Energy Center on Jan. 17.
Hiller is 2-0 with a 1.89 goals-against average in four career appearances against Minnesota.
He is 7-4-0 with a 2.13 GAA in his last 12 games overall, and made 21 saves Monday in his fourth outing since the break. All-Star starter Jean-Sebastien Giguere, meanwhile, is 1-5-2 with a 3.68 GAA in his last nine contests for the Ducks.
While Anaheim's goaltending situation is uncertain for Wednesday, Minnesota is likely to open its four-game homestand with Niklas Backstrom in net.
The All-Star has won six of his last nine starts at Xcel Energy Center, and is 8-4-0 with a 2.17 GAA in his last 12 games overall.
To continue his recent success, Backstrom will have to contain a Ducks offense which has scored 16 goals in four games since the All-Star break. Anaheim has at least one power-play goal in nine consecutive games, and scored two on Monday.
Perry has five goals and three assists during a five-game point streak against the Wild.
Anaheim, which is opening a three-game road trip, has won two of its last three visits to Minnesota after losing five straight there.
Pick: Over 5
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