The Bum's Monday's NHL Best Bets !

[StarDust Bum]

Sharks try to close out unbeaten road trip

SAN JOSE SHARKS (6-3-0, 12 points)

at NEW YORK RANGERS (3-3-3, 9 points)


Puck drops: Monday, 7:00 p.m. EDT
Line: San Jose -135, New York +115, Total: 5

San Jose tries to cap off an unbeaten six-game road trip when it visits newly-renovated Madison Square Garden on Monday night.

Although these teams are tied with 2.33 goals per game allowed, San Jose is fifth in the league in scoring (3.0 goals per game) while New York is 24th at 2.22 GPG. This is no accident as the Sharks are creating many more chances, out-shooting their opponents 37 to 27 on average. Meanhwile, the Rangers are being out-shot by an average of 33 to 24. San Jose also has a superior power play at 24.2% (4th in NHL), while the Rangers are a mediocre 14.7% (20th in NHL) with the man advantage. All signs point to SAN JOSE closing out the road trip in style.

This pair of FoxSheets trends also supports the Sharks:

N.Y. RANGERS are 71-104 ATS (40.6%, -74.9 Units) in home games after allowing 4 goals or more since 1996. The average score was N.Y. RANGERS 2.8, OPPONENT 3.0 - (Rating = 2*).

SAN JOSE is 22-8 ATS (73.3%, +10.7 Units) off a road win over the last 2 seasons. The average score was SAN JOSE 3.0, OPPONENT 2.2 - (Rating = 1*).

San Jose ran its unbeaten streak to five with Brent Burns’ overtime winner against the Islanders on Saturday. Joe Pavelski has been on fire all season, with a team-high seven goals and 11 points. He had two points (1 G, 1 A) in Saturday’s victory, giving him nine points (5 G, 4 A) in the past four contests. Center Logan Couture (22 years old) has also had a strong second season, as his goal against the Isles gave him five points (3 G, 2 A) in his past five games.

Antti Niemi (4-1-0, 2.18 GAA, .917 SV Pct.) will likely start in net for the Sharks after being given the night off Saturday. Niemi has won four straight starts on the road trip, posting a 1.96 GAA and .927 SV Pct. in this span. Niemi has only faced New York once in his career, saving 20-of-22 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss last March.

The Rangers haven’t hosted San Jose for more than two years, losing 7-3 in the Sharks last visit to MSG on Oct. 19, 2009. New York has dropped both of its first two games on its current six-game homestand, losing 4-2 to Toronto on Thursday and getting edged 5-4 to Ottawa in a shootout on Saturday. The Rangers blew a three-goal lead in the final period in the loss to the Senators. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist (2-3-3, 2.35 GAA, .929 SV Pct.) allowed all eight of these goals with a subpar .895 Save Pct. in the two contests. New York’s netminder is 2-1-0 with a 2.35 GAA and .924 Save Pct. in four career meetings with San Jose.

The one good thing that came from the Ottawa loss is the play of high-priced free agent Brad Richards who had two goals and one assist in the defeat. Richards had just one goal in his first eight games of the season. He has had success against the Sharks though, netting a goal and three assists in five meetings with San Jose last season. Marian Gaborik also had three points (1 G, 2 A) in Saturday’s loss, and he leads the Rangers with five goals this season.

The Rangers have some injury concerns as D Marc Staal is out indefinitely with concussion-like symptoms and forwards Mike Rupp (knee) and Wojtek Wolski (possible suspension) are also not expected on the ice for Monday’s game.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Jets (3-6) at Panthers (5-4)

Date: October 31, 2011 7:30 PM EDT

Every meeting last season between the Florida Panthers and the Winnipeg Jets' franchise was decided by one goal.

A potential matchup Monday night between Jose Theodore and Ondrej Pavelec could also be tight.

Each goaltender has enjoyed success against his next opponent heading into these Southeast Division rivals' first meeting of the season.

Florida (6-4-0) lost four of six to Atlanta last season. The last three matchups all went beyond regulation, with the Thrashers winning two of three.

Theodore is new to this rivalry after signing a two-year deal, and the veteran has been solid in seven starts for the Panthers. He went 14-5-0 with a 2.63 goals-against average in 21 starts against Atlanta.

Pavelec, meanwhile, is 4-1-0 with a 2.04 GAA in six career starts against Florida - 3-0-0 with a 1.63 GAA in three at the BankAtlantic Center.

Theodore returned Saturday after missing two games with a lower-body injury and made 24 saves in a 3-2 win at Buffalo.

"We played a solid game," Theodore said. "I saw the puck well. When you can see the puck you can control the rebounds and play all the shooters well."

Tomas Fleischmann and Jason Garrison scored in the final four minutes to help the Panthers rally past the Sabres.

Florida won two of three on its road trip, with each game decided by one goal. The Panthers won 2-1 at Montreal last Monday and fell 4-3 to Ottawa on Thursday when they allowed the winning goal with four seconds left.

"We talked a lot about all this new personnel we have, and you can do all the team bonding stuff you want, (but) it's games like that that make a difference for you," coach Kevin Dineen said about Saturday's win. "So it turns into a good road trip, could have been a great road trip but you've gotta like the bounce-back game."

Winnipeg (3-6-1) has started a seven-game road stretch with a pair of one-goal games that could not have been more different. The Jets won 9-8 at Philadelphia on Thursday and fell 1-0 at Tampa Bay on Saturday.

"I think that we recognize that we're not going to have the ability to score nine every night," coach Claude Noel said. "I thought we played hard. I thought Pavelec was outstanding. I thought he was great. I thought he rebounded real well in the game."

Pavelec made 26 saves against the Lightning. He allowed seven goals on 43 shots versus the Flyers and was forced to re-enter the game after backup Chris Mason left with an apparent groin injury.

"It's a difficult one," Pavelec said Saturday. "You let eight goals in and you get the two points, and now it's a one-goal game and you get the loss. I mean, it is what it is. That's why hockey's so nice."

He'll try to slow down Stephen Weiss, who led Florida with six points in the 2010-11 season series. Weiss had three goals and no other Panther tallied more than one in the six matchups.

Blake Wheeler, who has yet to score this season, had a team-high three goals for Atlanta against Florida last season despite playing only two games in the series after coming over from Boston.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Sharks (4-3) at Rangers (2-3)

Date: October 31, 2011 7:00 PM EDT

The San Jose Sharks are rather comfortable - and quite productive - on the road.

A visit to renovated Madison Square Garden and the sputtering New York Rangers may keep it that way.

Enjoying their longest road winning streak in two seasons, the Sharks try to complete an unbeaten six-game trip road trip when they face the Rangers on Monday night.

San Jose (6-3-0) opened its trip Oct. 21 by beating New Jersey 4-3 in a shootout and ending a three-game losing streak. The Sharks haven't lost since, turning a seemingly daunting stretch into their longest road winning streak since taking nine in a row Dec. 21, 2009-Feb. 8, 2010.

Brent Burns' third goal of the season gave them a 3-2 overtime win against the New York Islanders on Saturday. Joe Pavelski added a goal and an assist, giving him five goals and four assists in his last four games after failing to record a point in his previous three. Pavelski's seven goals and 11 points lead the Sharks.

Meanwhile, Logan Couture appears to be re-establishing himself as one of the top young players in the NHL after his 32 goals and 56 points earned him a 2010-11 Calder Trophy nomination. The left wing, who scored against the Islanders, has three goals and two assists in his last five contests after managing only one point in his previous four.

Antti Niemi should be back in net for the Sharks after being rested Saturday in favor of backup Thomas Greiss, who had 35 saves to improve to 2-2-0 with a 2.26 goals-against average.

Niemi has won all four of his starts on the current road trip while posting a 1.96 GAA in those contests.

The Sharks, who fell 3-2 in a shootout to the Rangers (3-3-3) at home March 12, are visiting MSG for the first time since a 7-3 victory Oct. 19, 2009.

New York is still seeking its first home win after opening the season with a seven-game road trip (3-2-2) that spanned three countries and 10 time zones due to renovations at the Garden.

The Rangers seemed headed for their first home victory Saturday, but blew a three-goal, third-period lead over Ottawa before falling 5-4 in a shootout.

"We didn't get the job done," coach John Tortorella said. "It's on us to keep working. Some of the details of our game are still weak and until we get that solid foundation of the details we will sputter."

Brad Richards is looking to build on his best performance since joining the Rangers as a free agent from Dallas last summer. The center had two goals and one assist against the Senators after finding the net once in the first eight games of the season.

Richards had one goal and three assists in five meetings with San Jose in 2010-11.

Right wing Marian Gaborik is tied with Richards with a team-high eight points, and leads the Rangers with five goals. Gaborik had one goal and two assists in Saturday's loss.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Predators (5-4) at Blackhawks (5-2)

Date: October 31, 2011 8:30 PM EDT

Pekka Rinne and the Nashville Predators appear to be finding their stride, and the timing couldn't be better.

The Predators look to win their third in a row Monday night when they open a difficult five-game road trip against the Central Division-leading Chicago Blackhawks.

Nashville (5-4-1), which trails the Blackhawks (6-2-2) by three points, arrives in Chicago after defeating Anaheim 3-0 on Saturday. Patric Hornqvist, Martin Erat and Shea Weber each scored, while Rinne stopped 20 shots to earn his 100th career victory.

Rinne also established a franchise record with his 22nd shutout, breaking the mark held by Tomas Vokoun. He managed to set the record despite playing in 196 fewer games than Vokoun.

"They are individual stats and records, but they are also team records. I'm really proud," Rinne said. "There have been great goalies in this organization. Being able to do these things is more than I ever imagined."

Rinne, who has established a club record by starting each of the first 10 games this season, is 3-1-0 with a 1.26 goals-against average and two shutouts in the last four.

Rinne, who was 2-1-0 with a 2.23 GAA against Chicago in 2010-11, finally didn't have to outwork his counterpart Saturday. The Predators outshot the Ducks 29-20 after being outshot in each of their first nine contests.

"We're getting better," Weber said. "I still don't think we are as good as we can be. We haven't quite played a 60-minute game."

Nashville will likely need to put together some stronger efforts to get good results on this trip.

After visiting the United Center, where the Blackhawks are 4-0-2, the Predators head west to face four more 2011 playoff teams in Phoenix, San Jose, Los Angeles and Anaheim. Nashville, which is 3-2-0 on the road, went 3-3-0 against the Blackhawks last season.

Chicago, off to its best home start since opening 6-0-2 in 2008-09, could be putting extra importance on this game, as it plays 10 of its next 13 on the road.

The Blackhawks are coming off Saturday's 5-2 win over Columbus after losing 3-0 to Carolina the night before. Viktor Stalberg scored his first two goals of the season just 1:58 apart early in the third period to snap a 2-all tie for Chicago, which also got goals from Dave Bolland, Michael Frolik and rookie Marcus Kruger.

"The biggest thing is taking two points and not losing two games in a row," Stalberg said.

Chicago coach Joel Quenneville rested No. 1 goaltender Corey Crawford for the second time this season Saturday and backup Ray Emery made 27 saves. The Blackhawks were also playing without Dan Carcillo, who sat out the first game of a two-game suspension for an illegal check on the Hurricanes' Joni Pitkanen.

Crawford, who has allowed three or more goals in two of his last three starts after yielding two or fewer in each of his first five, went 2-1-1 with a 1.48 GAA and a shutout against the Predators last season.

Bolland, tied with Marian Hossa for the team lead with five goals, had three goals and two assists against Nashville last season.

The Blackhawks may not have to face Predators center Mike Fisher, who left Saturday's game with an upper-body injury. He has two goals and two assists in three games after missing the start of the season because of shoulder surgery.

[StarDust Bum]

Monday’s betting tips: Can Chargers snap ATS skid?

Who’s hot

NFL: Kansas City is riding a 4-0 stretch against the spread.

NHL: San Jose has won five straight on its current road trip.

NHL: Chicago is 6-2 in its last eight home games.

Who’s not

NFL: San Diego is 2-5-1 against the spread in its last eight games overall and is 4-9-1 in its last 14 games at Arrowhead.

NHL: The under is 0-4-1 in New York’s last five home games.

NHL: The Predators are 1-4 in their last five games in Chicago.

Key stat

438.4 – The Toledo Rockets are averaging 438.4 passing yards and 36.5 points per game with their dual-quarterback system, trailing only Northern Illinois in the MAC. The Rockets face off against the Huskies Tuesday night.

Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked

Mike Tolbert, San Diego Chargers – Chargers running back and short-yardage specialist Mike Tolbert is expected to sit out Monday’s game at Kansas City. Tolbert suffered hamstring and hand injuries in last week's road loss to the New York Jets. Tolbert has rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns and caught 28 balls for 231 yards and three TDs this season. The Chargers are 3-point favorites at Arrowhead.

Game of the day

San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (+3, 44.5)

Notable quotable

“We keep talking about all this stuff and changing rules and head shots and all that kind of stuff. That’s not the stuff that’s hurting our game. It’s the lack of respect on the ice. I’m tired of watching Jordin Tootoo out there, a guy who runs around and hits and does everything else but the first little slash, he’s laying on the ice and he’s out the next shift. It’s embarrassing and I’m sick of it. If they want to change the game and they want things to be better and they want more respect on the ice, get guys like that off the ice then. I’m sick of it.” – Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf on Nashville Predators agitator Jordin Tootoo, who drew a couple of penalties when Nashville dropped Anaheim 3-0 Saturday. Nashville visits Chicago Monday night.

Notes and tips

The San Diego Charges may lead the AFC West with a 4-2 straight up record, but they’re just 2-4 against the spread overall and only 1-3-1 against the number in their last five road games. As of Sunday evening, about 62 percent of *********** Consensus bettors were supporting the Chargers as 3-point favorites at Kansas City even though the Chiefs have covered in four straight games overall.