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NHL
Tuesday, March 11
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Pucking the Trends: NHL's weekly betting news and notes
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For the week of March 3-9
Hot team
Boston Bruins (4-0 SU)
There's a new top team in the Eastern Conference - at least for now - and it's a familiar one if you've been following the standings for the past few years. The Bruins assumed their place atop the conference with a four-win week, moving one point ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins in what should be a spirited battle for the remainder of the season. Boston opened the week with impressive home wins over Washington and Florida - outscoring them by a combined 7-1 tally - before hitting the road for victories over the Lightning and Panthers.
Cold team
Nashville Predators (0-3 SU)
Speaking of changes to the ledger, the Predators have become the lowest-scoring team in the Western Conference after a dreadful stretch that has seen them score just three goals over their last four games. That includes a three-loss week in which they squandered the finale of a six-game homestand with defeats to the Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets. The Predators enter Monday with just 152 goals on the season - one fewer than the Vancouver Canucks - and will now hit the road for games against Ottawa, Buffalo and Chicago.
Best Over play
New Jersey Devils (3-0 O/U)
Goals have come fast and furious for both the Devils and their opponents of late, as they're riding a six-game over streak that includes three high-scoring affairs last week. New Jersey opened the stretch by splitting a home-and-home series with the Detroit Red Wings, earning a 4-3 home victory before getting thumped 7-4 at Joe Louis Arena. The Devils closed out the week with a thrilling 5-4 home victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, marking the fifth time in the previous six games that they've scored at least four goals.
Best Under play
Buffalo Sabres (0-4 O/U)
Who else? The Sabres have been strong under plays all season - and last week was no exception, as the retooled roster managed just six goals in four games while stumbling to a 1-3-0 record. Buffalo opened with a 3-2 loss in Dallas, then defeated Tampa Bay 3-1 and dropped a 2-0 decision against the Panthers to split a pair of games in Florida. The Sabres finished strong, hanging in against the defending-champion Chicago Blackhawks before ultimately losing 2-1 to fall to 12-14-8 in one-goal games on the season.
Surveying the schedule
Time is running out for the Vancouver Canucks, who open the week four points out of eighth place in the Western Conference with just 16 games remaining. The Canucks are going through their worst stretch in recent memory, with only a pair of one-goal victories over the St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames keeping them from 13 consecutive losses. Vancouver opens with what could be the easiest game of the week - a home date with the New York Islanders - before embarking on a four-game road trip that begins with visits to Winnipeg, Washington and Florida.
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Tuesday, March 11
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pucking the Trends: NHL's weekly betting news and notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the week of March 3-9
Hot team
Boston Bruins (4-0 SU)
There's a new top team in the Eastern Conference - at least for now - and it's a familiar one if you've been following the standings for the past few years. The Bruins assumed their place atop the conference with a four-win week, moving one point ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins in what should be a spirited battle for the remainder of the season. Boston opened the week with impressive home wins over Washington and Florida - outscoring them by a combined 7-1 tally - before hitting the road for victories over the Lightning and Panthers.
Cold team
Nashville Predators (0-3 SU)
Speaking of changes to the ledger, the Predators have become the lowest-scoring team in the Western Conference after a dreadful stretch that has seen them score just three goals over their last four games. That includes a three-loss week in which they squandered the finale of a six-game homestand with defeats to the Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets. The Predators enter Monday with just 152 goals on the season - one fewer than the Vancouver Canucks - and will now hit the road for games against Ottawa, Buffalo and Chicago.
Best Over play
New Jersey Devils (3-0 O/U)
Goals have come fast and furious for both the Devils and their opponents of late, as they're riding a six-game over streak that includes three high-scoring affairs last week. New Jersey opened the stretch by splitting a home-and-home series with the Detroit Red Wings, earning a 4-3 home victory before getting thumped 7-4 at Joe Louis Arena. The Devils closed out the week with a thrilling 5-4 home victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, marking the fifth time in the previous six games that they've scored at least four goals.
Best Under play
Buffalo Sabres (0-4 O/U)
Who else? The Sabres have been strong under plays all season - and last week was no exception, as the retooled roster managed just six goals in four games while stumbling to a 1-3-0 record. Buffalo opened with a 3-2 loss in Dallas, then defeated Tampa Bay 3-1 and dropped a 2-0 decision against the Panthers to split a pair of games in Florida. The Sabres finished strong, hanging in against the defending-champion Chicago Blackhawks before ultimately losing 2-1 to fall to 12-14-8 in one-goal games on the season.
Surveying the schedule
Time is running out for the Vancouver Canucks, who open the week four points out of eighth place in the Western Conference with just 16 games remaining. The Canucks are going through their worst stretch in recent memory, with only a pair of one-goal victories over the St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames keeping them from 13 consecutive losses. Vancouver opens with what could be the easiest game of the week - a home date with the New York Islanders - before embarking on a four-game road trip that begins with visits to Winnipeg, Washington and Florida.
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