The Bum's October's NHL POD's-News-Trends-Stats !

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Canucks (5-4) at Islanders (3-3)

Date: October 22, 2013 7:00 PM EDT


Captain John Tavares didn't mince words after the New York Islanders' latest defeat in order to hide his frustration stemming from the team's slump.

He probably isn't very happy New York will have to try to bust out of it without two of its top contributors, either.

Injured defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky and suspended forward Michael Grabner won't be in the lineup as the Islanders look to avoid a fifth defeat in six games when they conclude a four-game homestand Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks.

Tavares assisted on Matt Moulson's goal in the second period Saturday against Carolina, but New York (3-3-2) lost 4-3 after falling behind by three goals.

The Islanders are 1-3-1 in their last five - all one-goal games.

"Right now I don't think there's too much to be happy about," said Tavares, who has four goals and six assists during a seven-game point streak. "It's not good enough to respond the way we did. We can't play like that again.

"We've got to be better in all the little things of the game. We didn't seem to (dictate the play) for 45, 50 minutes of that game. We have to realize it takes that effort, that consistency, that mindset, that focus every game ... and we haven't done that yet."

Coach Jack Capuano agreed.

"We have the skill and resiliency, but we have to play a full 60 minutes," he said.

The losses of Visnovsky and Grabner won't make things any easier. Visnovsky was placed on injured reserve Monday after suffering a concussion against the Hurricanes, and Grabner's illegal check to the head of Nathan Gerbe landed him a two-game suspension.

Thomas Hickey, who is Visnovsky's regular defensive partner, said each player simply needs to focus on their own game.

"I think everyone just needs to step up a little bit more," Hickey said. "Lubo was a big part of our offense, a big part of our defense, but I've played a little bit with every guy throughout the year so you just go out there and play defense. You don't worry about who you're playing with."

New York looks to snap out of its funk against Vancouver, which is making its fifth stop on a season-high seven-game road trip.

The Canucks (5-4-1) won the first two contests before falling 4-3 in a shootout against Pittsburgh on Saturday and 3-1 to Columbus on Sunday. Henrik Sedin scored in the second period against the Blue Jackets to snap Vancouver's seven-game drought without a power-play goal, but it couldn't generate many other chances.

"It was tough to get good opportunities," said Sedin, who extended his point streak to five. "A lot of shots were outside and we didn't have a lot of traffic (in front of the net). If you don't have guys penetrating and getting to those areas, it's going to be tough to score goals."

Vancouver outshot the Blue Jackets 38-29, but coach John Tortorella wasn't pleased with his club's lack of pressure.

"Don't let the shots fool you," Tortorella said. "I don't think we played enough in the areas (you have to) to score goals. It's just a matter of willingness."

Roberto Luongo, who was drafted with the No. 4 overall pick by the Islanders in 1997 and played his rookie season with the club, should be back in net after resting Sunday. He's 3-1-1 with a 2.25 goals-against average in his last five starts versus his former team.

Evgeni Nabokov, who is 9-2-0 with a 1.73 GAA in his last 11 against the Canucks, could be in net for New York.

These teams haven't met since Sedin and Moulson each scored in Vancouver's 4-1 home win Nov. 13, 2011.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Ducks (7-1) at Maple Leafs (6-3)

Date: October 22, 2013 7:00 PM EDT


Randy Carlyle coached the Anaheim Ducks to their only Stanley Cup over six years ago.

Now, he's looking to stop them from recording the longest winning streak in franchise history.

Carlyle and the Toronto Maple Leafs attempt to deal the Ducks their first loss in eight games Tuesday night as he faces his former team for the first time since he was fired nearly two years ago.

Carlyle spent six-plus seasons behind the Ducks' bench, winning the Stanley Cup in 2007 before being fired Nov. 30, 2011.

He was hired by Toronto (6-3-0) in March 2012, but this will be his first meeting with the Ducks (7-1-0) due to the lockout that shortened last season.

"It seems like a long time ago because it was two years ago, but it's the first time you coach against your former team so it's always special," Carlyle said. "After that, again, my worries are always about my team playing at a higher level."

Carlyle may need the Maple Leafs to do that since Anaheim has reeled off seven straight wins after opening its 20th season with a 6-1 loss at Colorado on Oct. 2.

The Ducks are finding inspiration from their 7-1-1 start from last season, which ended with them winning the Pacific Division for the first time since doing it under Carlyle in 2006-07.

"I think we learned a lot last year in that shortened season," captain Ryan Getzlaf said. "We knew that we had to bring it right away, or otherwise we were going to be behind the 8-ball. So we're preparing the same way, and we're starting the right way."

That wasn't the case Sunday, when the Ducks surrendered three straight goals to end the first period before rallying with five in a row to beat Dallas 6-3.

"This team never stopped believing we could come back, even last year," said Teemu Selanne, who has one goal in each of the last three games. "That's the one strength we have right now."

Jonas Hiller has been another, but it's unclear if he'll get a chance to rebound from his worst performance of the season. He was pulled after the first period against the Stars, matching his season high by giving up three goals on 12 shots.

That effort combined with losing all three of his career meetings with Toronto behind a 5.05 goals-against average could be enough for him to remain on the bench, potentially giving Frederik Andersen his first start.

Andersen stopped all 24 shots in relief of Hiller in his NHL debut Sunday, two days after being recalled from Norfolk of the AHL with Viktor Fasth hampered by a lower-body injury.

Getzlaf and Corey Perry are tied for the team lead with nine points after getting four and three, respectively, against the Stars. Perry has three goals and four assists in five career meetings with Toronto, while Getzlaf has four assists in three games.

The Ducks haven't faced the Maple Leafs since a 5-2 home loss Nov. 27, 2011, the penultimate game of Carlyle's tenure.

Toronto's Joffrey Lupul, who spent three-plus seasons with Anaheim after being drafted seventh overall in 2002, sympathizes with Carlyle's desire to defeat his former team.

"Obviously, he wants to put his best foot forward, and for us to put our best foot forward against the team that fired him," said Lupul, the club leader with six goals and 10 points. "I think all players can relate to that with teams that have traded them."

That extra motivation might be needed after the Maple Leafs followed Thursday's 3-2 loss to Carolina by falling 3-1 at Chicago two days later, giving up 78 shots over that stretch.

They're near the bottom of the NHL with 35.6 shots allowed per game.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Devils (1-4) at Blue Jackets (3-5)

Date: October 22, 2013 7:00 PM EDT


The New Jersey Devils know there is plenty of work to be done even after recording their first victory of the season.

Looking to snap an eight-game road slide Tuesday night, the Devils try to further their success at the expense of a Columbus Blue Jackets team hoping to build on a much-needed victory of their own.

After earning three points in the first seven games, New Jersey (1-4-3) became the league's last team to win its first game, 4-0 over the rival New York Rangers on Saturday.

"It's nice," Cory Schneider said after he recorded 22 saves for his 10th career shutout. "It's way better than the other feeling."

Michael Ryder scored his third goal and Jaromir Jagr added two assists for his first points in four games as the Devils prevailed despite missing key forwards Patrik Elias (flu) and Damien Brunner (upper body soreness) and recording a season-low 19 shots.

"I think the effort has been there on a lot of nights, but not the results," said forward Adam Henrique, who scored his second of the season.

The Devils, however, understand things are far from perfect.

They matched a season high for goals and scored on the power play for the second straight game, but are 3 for 26 with the man-advantage and now must try to end an 0-6-2 road slide that dates to a 3-0 victory at Philadelphia on April 18.

"We can't sit here and say, 'Well, we figured it out,'" said Schneider, who has a 1.99 goals-against average despite a 1-2-1 record. "We have to keep at it and play like that all the time, and we'll have a lot more success."

Set to start consecutive games for the first time this season, Schneider went 6-0-1 with a 1.68 GAA as a starter versus Columbus while with Vancouver.

Though the Devils last faced Columbus on Nov. 23, 2011, they have outscored the Blue Jackets 14-5 during a five-game series winning streak and are 6-0-1 since a 4-2 loss at Nationwide Arena on Dec. 12, 2002.

The Blue Jackets (3-5-0), however, snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over Schneider's former team Sunday. R.J. Umberger and Ryan Johansen each had a goal and an assist, and backup Curtis McElhinney made 37 saves.

"It's a good feeling," said coach Todd Richards, whose team was outscored 14-6 over the previous four contests. "I (sensed) in the locker room there's some relief. As the losses started piling up, obviously the pressure amps up as well. The win will alleviate some of that."

After receiving his first day off the season, reigning Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky likely will be in net trying to snap a four-game slide during which he's posted a 3.04 GAA.

Like the Devils, Columbus still has issues to address.

The Blue Jackets are 0 for 8 on the power play in the last two games and allowed their last four opponents to convert 5 of 15 chances with the man-advantage.

Columbus' Marian Gaborik does not have a power-play goal this season, but has a goal and an assist in the last two contests. Gaborik's goal Sunday was his third in eight games, matching his total in 12 games last season after he was acquired from the Rangers at the deadline.

Gaborik, though, has been held without a point in six straight games against the Devils.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Blackhawks (5-1) at Panthers (3-6)

Date: October 22, 2013 7:30 PM EDT


The ability to bounce back from a defeat helped pace the Chicago Blackhawks' run to the Stanley Cup last season and has been a key reason for their strong play early in 2013-14.

Looking to build on their latest victory, the visiting Blackhawks try to continue their recent success over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.

En route to its second title in four years, Chicago (5-1-2) never lost more than two straight games during the last regular season. After consecutive 3-2 defeats to Tampa Bay and St. Louis, the Blackhawks reeled off three straight victories before falling 3-2 to the Blues in a shootout at home Thursday.

True to form, Chicago rebounded with a 3-1 victory over Toronto on Saturday.

"We played exactly like we needed to, and overall we were solid," goaltender Corey Crawford told the Blackhawks' official website after he stopped 19 shots to improve to 4-1-2 with a 2.07 goals-against average.

Chicago scored all its goals in the second period, then held a two-goal lead after failing to maintain a 2-0 advantage in last Tuesday's 3-2 shootout win at Carolina and a pair of one-goal leads at home to the Blues.

"I thought we got what we were looking for," coach Joel Quenneville said. "We didn't produce in the third period, but we did what we wanted to do much for effective."

"Start to finish it's what we're looking for."

Brandon Pirri scored in his second straight game and added an assist in his third contest since being recalled from the AHL on Oct. 12. He didn't have a goal in seven NHL games over the previous three seasons.

"The puck's just finding my stick right now, so it's a lot of fun," Pirri said. "I'm just trying to do the little things right."

Though Chicago has not faced Florida (3-6-0) since Jan. 20, 2012, it has outscored the Panthers 10-3 during a three-game series winning streak.

Patrick Kane has recorded five goals and five assists during a six-game point streak against the Panthers, while Jonathan Toews has two and three assists during the three-game run.

Florida snapped its second three-game slide of the season with a 2-1 shootout victory over Minnesota on Saturday. Aleksander Barkov, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft, tied the game in the third period with his third goal. Jonathan Huberdeau and Brad Boyes each scored in the shootout and Tim Thomas made 30 saves to snap a personal three-game skid during which he posted a 5.60 GAA.

"It was huge. To get the power-play goal, too," Huberdeau said after Barkov tallied Florida's fourth power-play goal in 34 chances this season. "I think we did everything (Saturday), that's why we found a way to win."

Florida last posted back-to-back victories in the same season during a three-game run March 28-April 2.

"We earned that win through hard work, and that's the level of output that we need to have every night," Thomas told the Panthers' official website. "The effort is awesome. That's how we need to win."

Boyes has a team-leading four goals but been held to only one assist in the last four contests. He's scored three and added an assist during his last four versus Chicago.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Oilers (2-6) at Canadiens (5-3)

Date: October 22, 2013 7:30 PM EDT


Injuries are mounting for the Montreal Canadiens.

The Edmonton Oilers are in no position to offer any sympathy.

With Danny Briere and Brandon Prust being added to the lengthy injury list, the Canadiens will try to rebound from their most recent result and beat the Oilers for the second time in less than two weeks Tuesday night.

Montreal (5-3-0) has eight players on injured reserve, including another stint by Max Pacioretty (hamstring) - the team's scoring leader in each of the last two seasons.

Two more Canadiens went down during Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Nashville, as Briere was lost indefinitely to a concussion while Prust is out four weeks with a right shoulder injury.

Despite the absences, coach Michel Therrien isn't looking for a new approach.

"We are not going to change our style of play in 24 hours. We'll need to continue on the same path," Therrien told the team's official website. "When you look at the last game, the first half of the game was challenging, but we played well in the second half. We had a lot of scoring chances and we could have won that game. Yes, we're facing adversity, but as a group we like the challenge."

The injuries could mean increased ice time for rookie Michael Bournival, who has one point in each of the last two games. He could find himself on Montreal's top line with center Tomas Plekanec and right wing Brian Gionta, who have combined for just seven points.

"I really like (Bournival's) quickness. It brings good things to the team," Therrien said.

Therrien may also like what he's seeing out of Brendan Gallagher, who scored his fourth goal Saturday. The second-year right wing had gone three games without a point after scoring one goal and assisting on another in a 4-1 win at Edmonton (2-6-1) on Oct. 10.

The Oilers won't be offering any compassion over the Canadiens' injury situation as they've got six players on injured reserve after adding star left wing Taylor Hall - tied for the team lead with eight points - to the list due to a left knee injury. He'll miss a month after getting hurt Saturday at Ottawa.

General manager Craig MacTavish also said that forward Ryan Smyth is expected to be out for a week with a groin injury. The Oilers recalled forwards Ben Eager and Tyler Pitlick from the minors.

"There are guys who are going to get some extra ice who have been looking for it, who have told me, 'Hey, I can handle the ice, I can do this, I can do that.' Well, all right, let's see," coach Dallas Eakins told the league's official website. "The time is now for them to grab that opportunity."

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two goals and an assist in the 3-1 victory over the Senators to improve to 1-3-1 on this six-game road trip.

Edmonton got some rare good news on the injury front with forward Jordan Eberle expected to play Tuesday after missing two practices. Tied for the team lead with eight points, Eberle is likely to skate with Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov on a powerful line that the banged-up Oilers need to produce.

Eberle has three goals and three assists on the trip after being held without a point by the Canadiens, while Smyth scored in that meeting.

Nugent-Hopkins is tied for the team lead with four goals. He set up Smyth's goal against Montreal earlier this month, but finished that loss a minus-2.

The center is a minus-6 on the season.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Capitals (3-5) at Jets (4-5)

Date: October 22, 2013 8:00 PM EDT


The Winnipeg Jets have failed to take advantage of a favorable early season schedule, putting together a mediocre record despite playing more home games than any team thus far.

They'll have another chance at a home victory Tuesday night when they face the Washington Capitals before embarking on a four-game trip.

Winnipeg (4-5-0) has gone 3-4-0 in a league-high seven home contests while being outscored 19-15. It lost 3-1 to visiting Nashville on Sunday.

Coach Claude Noel tinkered with his roster, adding forward Devin Setoguchi back into the mix after he was a healthy scratch for a 4-3 shootout win over St. Louis on Friday. The Jets had 39 shots for their second-highest total of the season, but Noel wants to see his team produce higher-quality chances.

"I think the shots would be an illusion. We needed to get secondary shots," he said. "I don't think we created a whole lot."

Washington coach Adam Oates' personnel changes proved far more effective in a 4-1 home victory over Columbus on Saturday. Martin Erat assisted on all but one of the Capitals' goals after Oates moved him from the fourth line to the second.

"He was flying tonight," said forward Alex Ovechkin, whose seventh goal of the season was assisted on by Erat. "He was the best player on the ice for us tonight."

Oates also moved Mikhail Grabovski from the second line to the third while Eric Fehr shifted from the third line to the fourth. Washington (3-5-0) had been held to two or fewer goals in four of its previous five games, while Erat didn't record a point in his first seven contests.

"You know what, Marty's a good hockey player, has been in this league," Oates said. "We lost a couple in a row, we had to make some changes, and he stepped in there and played great for us."

Winnipeg will look to curb its troubling trend of falling behind after surrendering the first goal in seven games this season, including three straight.

"We can't think we're going to make a comeback every single game," goaltender Ondrej Pavelec told the team's website. "We have to find a way to start winning games. The way we've been playing all season long is not the way to be successful. We have to change something and we have to change something now."

The Capitals haven't been much better, scoring first three times.

The Jets have gone 0 for 11 on the power play over the past four games, while Washington hasn't a power-play goal in its last three and ranks near the top of the league with an 85.7 penalty-kill percentage.

Dustin Byfuglien has three goals and six assists in his last nine games against Washington.

Nicklas Backstrom has recorded at least one point in each of his last seven against Winnipeg, totaling 10.

The Capitals took four of five matchups with the Jets last season by a 20-8 margin, with Ovechkin recording nine points.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Predators (5-3) at Wild (3-3)

Date: October 22, 2013 8:00 PM EDT


The Minnesota Wild's loss to the Nashville Predators early this month added to their sour start, but also served as a precursor to a winning streak.

Now the Wild find themselves in another slump going into the second meeting of the Central Division foes Tuesday night in Minnesota.

The Wild (3-3-3) fell 3-2 at Nashville on Oct. 8, dropping them to 0-1-2. They appeared to get on track immediately following the defeat with a three-game winning streak, but they've scored one goal each time in three losses since.

A 2-1 shootout defeat at Florida on Saturday marked the seventh time Minnesota has been held to two or fewer goals. Jonas Brodin scored for the Wild, who had 31 shots.

Minnesota is one of the best teams in the league on the power play despite its offensive struggles, converting 26.3 percent, but it squandered two 5-on-3 chances against the Panthers.

Dany Heatley recorded his second assist of the year Saturday, but the two-time 50-goal scorer has yet to find the back of the net. Heatley had 24 points in his first 18 career games against Nashville before going without one in each of the last three.

"I'm disappointed for our guys. They're playing their tails off," coach Mike Yeo said. "We're playing great defensively, generating chances, but we're not winning games. It's in their heads a little bit. You can see it on the 5-on-3, you can see it in the shootout."

In contrast, the Predators (5-3-1) come in confident, having gone 4-0-1 in their last five. Nashville beat Winnipeg 3-1 on the road Sunday as backup Carter Hutton made 38 saves.

Matt Cullen, who totaled 101 points over the last three seasons for Minnesota before signing with Nashville in July, scored his second goal in three games. That was among three for the Predators in the second period.

"We're playing pretty well right now," Cullen said. "We're getting some good goaltending and playing some good hockey. We're wearing teams down and have four lines that can skate."

Nashville has killed off 16 straight short-handed situations over the last five games after allowing six goals on 17 power-play opportunities in their first four contests.

Minnesota hasn't been nearly as effective in that area, giving up at least one power-play goal in all but one game.

Each team scored twice on four power-play chances in the first meeting. Top goaltender Pekka Rinne stopped 32 shots for Nashville, 8-1-2 in the past 11 matchups.

Mikko Koivu has 15 points in his last 15 games against the Predators, while Ryan Suter had four assists in as many meetings with his former club last season.

It's uncertain if Keith Ballard will play after missing three straight games due to an upper-body injury. He leads Wild defensemen with a plus-3 rating.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Flames (4-2) at Coyotes (5-2)

Date: October 22, 2013 10:00 PM EDT


Mike Ribeiro's offseason signing with Phoenix may have turned some heads, but the Coyotes certainly are happy with his decision.

He'll look to stay hot and help Phoenix earn at least a point for the seventh straight game when it hosts the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night.

Ribeiro has recorded at least 51 points in the last eight full NHL seasons and finished with 13 goals and 36 assists for Washington in the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign.

The 32-year-old surprised many by signing a four-year, $22 million free-agent contract given the uncertainty of the franchise at the time, but the acquisition is paying dividends for the Coyotes (5-2-2).

After going without a point through three games, Ribeiro has three goals and four assists over the last six - a stretch in which Phoenix has gone 4-0-2. He scored twice in the third period of Saturday's 5-2 win over Detroit.

"I'm getting more comfortable, that's for sure," Ribeiro told the team's official website. "When the team plays good everyone looks good, so it's getting easier and hopefully I can keep helping the team."

Ribeiro has seven goals and eight assists during a nine-game point streak against Calgary, and coach Dave Tippett expects him to keep playing at a high level.

'He finds a way to have an impact on the game,' Tippett said. 'He's a quirky player, but he can do things for you.'

Mike Smith made 31 saves Saturday and became the 11th goaltender in NHL history to score a goal when he fired the puck into an empty net as time expired. He's 3-0-2 with a 2.53 goals-against average during the team's hot stretch.

'Obviously I'm thrilled with the way we played. It's just a bonus to be able to score a goal in this league as a goaltender," Smith said. "We did a lot of really good things against a good hockey team.'

Phoenix, though, is 1-3-1 in its last five meetings with Calgary, with Smith starting each contest and posting a 2.96 GAA. He could be in net again against the Flames, who ended a two-game skid with a 3-2 win at Los Angeles on Monday.

Calgary (4-2-2) did all its scoring on the power play, including T.J. Brodie's goal with 29.7 seconds remaining. It went 5 for 28 with the man advantage in its first seven contests.

'We want to jump up into the play as much as possible, and if there's opportunities there, we want to take them,' Brodie said.

Sean Monahan, the sixth overall pick in this year's draft who turned 19 on Oct. 12, scored for the sixth time in seven games. Mike Cammalleri scored in his season debut after being on injured reserve with a hand injury.

'Real gutsy effort," coach Bob Hartley said. "There would be power plays on both sides, and I think we won the special teams battle.'

Karri Ramo made 27 saves Monday to earn his first win since beating Florida on March 14, 2009, with Tampa Bay, but Joey MacDonald should be back in net for this contest.

MacDonald is 3-1-1, though he has a 2.99 GAA and .891 save percentage. He made 29 saves opposite Smith in the most recent meeting with Phoenix on April 12, and Mark Giordano scored in overtime to give the Flames a 3-2 victory.

[StarDust Bum]

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

10/21/13 2-*4-*0 33.33% -*1965 Detail
10/20/13 3-*3-*0 50.00% -*355 Detail
10/19/13 17-*9-*0 65.38% +*2775 Detail
10/18/13 1-*3-*0 25.00% -*1185 Detail
10/17/13 13-*10-*1 56.52% +*315 Detail
10/16/13 1-*3-*0 25.00% -*1300 Detail
10/15/13 18-*5-*1 78.26% +*5775 Detail
10/14/13 3-*0-*1 100.00% +*1500 Detail
10/13/13 7-*1-*0 87.50% +*2850 Detail
10/12/13 14-*5-*1 73.68% +*4175 Detail
10/11/13 8-*4-*0 66.67% +*1300 Detail
10/10/13 11-*8-*1 57.89% +*25 Detail
10/09/13 2-*4-*0 33.33% -*1250 Detail
10/08/13 11-*4-*1 73.33% +*3175 Detail
10/07/13 1-*3-*0 25.00% -*900 Detail
10/06/13 0-*4-*0 0.00% -*2300 Detail
10/05/13 9-*13-*0 40.91% -*3225 Detail
10/04/13 3-*7-*0 30.00% -*2700 Detail
10/03/13 6-*7-*3 46.15% -*1000 Detail
10/02/13 3-*3-*0 50.00% -*85 Detail
10/01/13 4-*2-*0 66.67% +*735 Detail

Totals 137-*102-*9 57.32% +6360


Tuesday, October 22

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Anaheim - 7:00 PM ET Anaheim -106 500
Toronto - Over 5.5 500

Vancouver - 7:00 PM ET Vancouver -119 500
NY Islanders - Under 5.5 500

New Jersey - 7:00 PM ET Columbus -132 500
Columbus - Over 5 500

Edmonton - 7:30 PM ET Montreal -192 500
Montreal - Under 5.5 500

Chicago - 7:30 PM ET Chicago -176 500
Florida - Under 5.5 500

Nashville - 8:00 PM ET Minnesota -144 500
Minnesota - Over 5 500

Washington - 8:00 PM ET Winnipeg -107 500
Winnipeg - Over 5.5 500

Calgary - 10:00 PM ET Phoenix -200 500
Phoenix - Under 5.5 500

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Dunkel

Nashville at Minnesota
The Predators look to build on their 8-3 record in their last 11 games versus the Wild. Nashville is the pick (+130) according to Dunkel, which has the Predators favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Nashville (+130). Here are all of today's picks.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22

Game 51-52: Anaheim at Toronto (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Anaheim 12.276; Toronto 11.241
Dunkel Line & Total: Anaheim by 1; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Toronto (-110); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Anaheim (-110); Over

Game 53-54: Vancouver at NY Islanders (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Vancouver 12.468; NY Islanders 10.813
Dunkel Line & Total: Vancouver by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Vancouver (-115); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Vancouver (-115); Under

Game 55-56: New Jersey at Columbus (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: New Jersey 11.703; Columbus 10.811
Dunkel Line & Total: New Jersey by 1; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Columbus (-140); 5
Dunkel Pick: New Jersey (+120); Over

Game 57-58: Edmonton at Montreal (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Edmonton 10.998; Montreal 12.533
Dunkel Line & Total: Montreal by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Montreal (-200); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Montreal (-200); Under

Game 59-60: Chicago at Florida (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 11.877; Florida 10.311
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago (-200); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-200); Under

Game 61-62: Nashville at Minnesota (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Nashville 11.466; Minnesota 10.653
Dunkel Line & Total: Nashville by 1; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota (-150); 5
Dunkel Pick: Nashville (+130); Over

Game 63-64: Washington at Winnipeg (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 11.918; Winnipeg 10.826
Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 1; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Winnipeg (-120); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (+100); Over

Game 65-66: Calgary at Phoenix (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Calgary 11.501; Phoenix 12.950
Dunkel Line & Total: Phoenix by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix (-200); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Phoenix (-200); Under

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, October 22

Hot teams
-- Anaheim won its last seven games, scoring 29 goals.
-- Canadiens won four of their last five games.
-- Blackhawks won four of their last five games.
-- Predators won four of their last five games.
-- Phoenix won four of its last six games.

Cold teams
-- Maple Leafs lost their last two games after a 6-1 start, scoring three goals.
-- Vancouver lost four of its last six games. Islanders lost four of their last five.
-- New Jersey lost seven of its first eight games. Blue Jackets lost four of their last five.
-- Oilers lost five of their last six games.
-- Panthers lost six of their last eight games.
-- Minnesota lost its last three games, outscored 9-3.
-- Jets lost five of their last seven games. Washington lost four of last six games.
-- Flames are 2-3 on the road so far this season.

Series records
-- Ducks lost their last three games against Toronto.
-- Islanders lost four of their last six games with Vancouver.
-- Columbus/New Jersey split their last four meetings.
-- Canadiens won last two games with Edmonton, 5-3/4-1.
-- Chicago won last three games with Florida, outscoring Panthers 10-3.
-- Predators won eight of last eleven games with Minnesota.
-- Washington won last four games with Jets, outscoring them 18-4.
-- Flames won four of last five games with Phoenix.

Totals
-- Five of last six Toronto games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 5-1-1 in last seven Vancouver games.
-- Four of last five New Jersey games stayed under the total.
-- Six of last seven Montreal games stayed under the total.
-- Last seven Chicago games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 4-1-1 in last six Nashville games.
-- Six of last seven Winnipeg games stayed under the total.
-- Four of last five Calgary games stayed under the total; five of last seven Phoenix games went over the total.
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[StarDust Bum]

NHL

Tuesday, October 22

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
ANAHEIM vs. TORONTO
Anaheim is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Anaheim's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Toronto's last 9 games when playing Anaheim
Toronto is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games when playing Anaheim

7:00 PM
NEW JERSEY vs. COLUMBUS
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Jersey's last 6 games when playing on the road against Columbus
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Jersey's last 7 games on the road
Columbus is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Columbus's last 6 games when playing New Jersey

7:00 PM
VANCOUVER vs. NY ISLANDERS
Vancouver is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games
Vancouver is 2-4-2 SU in their last 8 games ,when playing on the road against NY Islanders
NY Islanders are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 7 of the NY Islanders last 9 games at home

7:30 PM
CHICAGO vs. FLORIDA
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Chicago's last 18 games on the road
Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Florida is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Chicago
Florida is 8-16 SU in its last 24 games at home

7:30 PM
EDMONTON vs. MONTREAL
Edmonton is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Edmonton's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Montreal's last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Montreal's last 6 games when playing at home against Edmonton

8:00 PM
NASHVILLE vs. MINNESOTA
Nashville is 6-13-2 SU in its last 21 games ,when playing on the road against Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Nashville's last 18 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games
Minnesota is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games

8:00 PM
WASHINGTON vs. WINNIPEG
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games
Washington is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Winnipeg's last 8 games when playing at home against Washington
Winnipeg is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Washington

10:00 PM
CALGARY vs. PHOENIX
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Calgary's last 12 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
Calgary is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Phoenix's last 12 games when playing at home against Calgary

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Long Sheet

Tuesday, October 22

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ANAHEIM (7-1-0-0, 14 pts.) at TORONTO (6-3-0-0, 12 pts.) - 10/22/2013, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 131-136 ATS (-20.0 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 since 1996.
TORONTO is 60-76 ATS (-53.1 Units) in home games after a non-conference game since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 1-0 (+1.1 Units) against the spread versus ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 1-0-0 straight up against ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.0 Units)

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VANCOUVER (5-4-0-1, 11 pts.) at NY ISLANDERS (3-3-0-2, 8 pts.) - 10/22/2013, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VANCOUVER is 58-76 ATS (-32.4 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season since 1996.

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

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NEW JERSEY (1-4-0-3, 5 pts.) at COLUMBUS (3-5-0-0, 6 pts.) - 10/22/2013, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW JERSEY is 61-46 ATS (+12.1 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 16-7 ATS (+8.9 Units) on Tuesday nights over the last 3 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 20-9 ATS (+10.9 Units) after a win by 2 goals or more over the last 3 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 21-10 ATS (+10.7 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 3 seasons.
COLUMBUS is 13-32 ATS (+50.1 Units) first half of the season over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
NEW JERSEY is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
NEW JERSEY is 1-0-0 straight up against COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.2 Units)

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EDMONTON (2-6-0-1, 5 pts.) at MONTREAL (5-3-0-0, 10 pts.) - 10/22/2013, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MONTREAL is 36-58 ATS (+120.9 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
MONTREAL is 7-15 ATS (-11.2 Units) in home games first half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
MONTREAL is 1-7 ATS (-8.2 Units) in home games after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MONTREAL is 2-1 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
MONTREAL is 2-1-0 straight up against EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.8 Units)

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CHICAGO (5-1-0-2, 12 pts.) at FLORIDA (3-6-0-0, 6 pts.) - 10/22/2013, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 248-278 ATS (-114.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.
CHICAGO is 127-145 ATS (-59.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season since 1996.
FLORIDA is 134-154 ATS (+307.6 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 since 1996.
FLORIDA is 78-123 ATS (+227.1 Units) when playing with 2 days rest since 1996.
FLORIDA is 53-82 ATS (-46.9 Units) in home games in non-conference games since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 2-0 (+2.0 Units) against the spread versus FLORIDA over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 2-0-0 straight up against FLORIDA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.0 Units)

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NASHVILLE (5-3-0-1, 11 pts.) at MINNESOTA (3-3-0-3, 9 pts.) - 10/22/2013, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NASHVILLE is 22-11 ATS (+10.6 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
NASHVILLE is 5-3 (+2.1 Units) against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
NASHVILLE is 5-3-0 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
5 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+4.1 Units)

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WASHINGTON (3-5-0-0, 6 pts.) at WINNIPEG (4-5-0-0, 8 pts.) - 10/22/2013, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 118-164 ATS (-68.2 Units) in non-conference games since 1996.
WINNIPEG is 17-7 ATS (+24.2 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
WINNIPEG is 5-5-0 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.5 Units)

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CALGARY (4-2-0-2, 10 pts.) at PHOENIX (5-2-0-2, 12 pts.) - 10/22/2013, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 293-264 ATS (-59.1 Units) first half of the season since 1996.
PHOENIX is 16-7 ATS (+8.8 Units) when playing with 2 days rest over the last 3 seasons.
PHOENIX is 192-166 ATS (+22.0 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 4-3 (+1.6 Units) against the spread versus PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 4-3-0 straight up against PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.1 Units, Under=-0.6 Units)

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Canucks (6-4) at Devils (1-5)

Date: October 24, 2013 7:00 PM EDT


There will be far less fanfare surrounding Cory Schneider's second start against his former Vancouver Canucks teammates than the first just over two weeks ago, leaving him to focus solely on helping the New Jersey Devils bust out of their slump.

New Jersey will be without captain Bryce Salvador, though, when it hosts Vancouver on Thursday night.

The Canucks traded Schneider to the Devils (1-5-3) on draft night for the No. 9 overall pick, and he made 29 saves against his former team Oct. 8 before Mike Santorelli deflected a Jason Garrison shot past him in overtime in New Jersey's 3-2 road defeat.

Roberto Luongo made 21 saves for Vancouver (6-4-1).

"With Louie at the other end, you have to match him save for save because he's not going to give you much,' Schneider said after that contest.

Luongo relished his first time going up against his former teammate.

"It was fun. Obviously we spent many years together so it was nice to battle it out head to head," Luongo said.

They may do so again in this matchup as Schneider, who is 1-3-1 despite a 2.21 goals-against average, looks to get New Jersey on track after making 20 saves in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to Columbus.

The Devils failed to score after Michael Ryder's power-play goal in the second period gave them the lead.

'We're all searching for answers," coach Peter DeBoer said. "The bottom line is ... you have to have 20 guys prepared to be in the fight and win battles. You can't go in with 15 or 16.'

New Jersey lost again after ending a seven-game skid to begin the season with a 4-0 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday.

'We definitely wanted to build off that win," Salvador said. "We started that way with the power-play goal, but we didn't do it."

Salvador, though, will miss his first game of the season Thursday due to a death in his family as the Devils host a Vancouver team making its sixth stop on a season-high seven-game road trip.

The Canucks are 3-1-1 on their swing after earning a sloppy 5-4 overtime victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday. They trailed 2-0 and 3-2 before Brad Richardson's goal 2:16 into the extra session.

"I give them credit,' coach John Tortorella said. 'It was ugly. We made a ton of mistakes, they made a ton of mistakes, but we found a way to win. I think if you're going to get there in the end, you have to win.'

Ryan Kesler and Daniel Sedin each finished with a goal and an assist, while Chris Higgins and Henrik Sedin also scored. Henrik has three goals and four assists during a six-game point streak.

Vancouver concludes its trip against St. Louis on Friday.

'As you go further and further, you wear down a bit. It's natural,' Tortorella said. 'It's a situation that teams have to fight through.'

Luongo made 28 saves Tuesday and has won his last five starts with a 0.79 GAA against New Jersey, but it's unclear if he'll be in net for this contest.

The Canucks likely won't have Jannik Hansen, who suffered an upper-body injury against the Islanders.

New Jersey could have Patrik Elias back after he missed the last two contests with an illness.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rangers (2-5) at Flyers (1-7)

Date: October 24, 2013 7:00 PM EDT


When looking at the numbers, it isn't hard to figure out why the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers are two of the worst teams in the NHL.

They're having a hard time scoring, mustering shots on goal and stopping opponents from putting the puck in the net - a recipe for disaster that has these teams reeling heading into Thursday night's matchup in Philadelphia.

The Rangers are close to concluding a stretch of nine straight road games to open the season due to renovations at Madison Square Garden, and it has not been kind to them.

New York (2-5-0) has been outscored 29-11 and is last in the NHL with 193 shots on goal. Its 11 goals are tied with Philadelphia (1-7-0) for the fewest in the league, and the 29 allowed rank among the worst.

The Flyers have the fewest points in the NHL and are 27th with 221 shots on goal while getting outscored 24-11.

Neither team showed any signs of breaking out in its last game.

New York had 22 shots on goal, its second-fewest of the season, in a 4-0 loss to New Jersey on Saturday. The Devils entered the game as the only team in the league without a win after opening 0-4-3.

Henrik Lundqvist allowed all four goals on just 19 shots, and he aggravated an injury that caused him to miss practice time this week. He won't dress for this game, giving Cam Talbot his first NHL start.

"I have been waiting a long time for this, working towards this, so I'll be ready," Talbot, an undrafted free agent, told the Rangers' official website. "I am extremely excited.

"It's every kid's dream that grows up playing hockey to one day get the chance to play in the NHL. I just can't wait until that time comes. I'll have to approach it like any other game. It'll be tough to control those emotions, but I'll have to do my best to settle myself down and just focus on the game."

Center Brad Richards, who has scored four of the Rangers' goals, expects his team to have the same approach in front of the rookie goaltender.

"We need this win," he said. "Every team goes through where their starting goalie doesn't play every night. We don't prepare any differently. We need a win."

The same can be said for the Flyers, who have scored six times and allowed 14 goals during a four-game losing streak. They've been idle since last Thursday's 4-1 home loss to Pittsburgh.

First-year Flyer Vincent Lecavalier missed his third straight game with a lower-body injury, but he practiced Tuesday and appears to be on track to return for this contest.

Lecavalier, though, left his customary center position and skated on the right wing along with center Claude Giroux and rookie left wing Michael Raffl as coach Craig Berube looks to get the offense going.

"We have a great group here, we've just got to put it all together," Lecavalier told the Flyers' official website. "I believe in this group. If we go to the net and score a couple more goals than we have so far, then good things will happen."

New York has won 11 of 13 in this series but lost 4-2 at Philadelphia in the last meeting April 16.