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MINI
LEADERBOARDS: MOST PROFITABLE SERVICES |
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LAST 30-DAYS |
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ACCESS
PICKS FOR TODAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020 |
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NBA |
 |
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2/21/2020 |
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FOUND
8
GAMES |
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COMING
UP
7:05 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-163
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-3.5 (-110)
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Over 219.5 (-104)
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+147
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+3.5 (-101)
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Under 219.5 (-108)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 20, 2020With the NBA All-Star break now complete, the push to the playoffs kicks into high gear Friday for the host Orlando Magic and the Dallas Mavericks.The Magic went into the break with some positive momentum, winning two straight at home -- against Atlanta and Detroit -- after dropping eight of their previous nine. The mini-surge allowed Orlando to hold a three-game lead in the race for the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference.Aaron Gordon, who dazzled at the Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend, went into the break off of a near-triple-double. He scored 25 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out nine assists in the win over Detroit."If he plays like he did tonight, then we'll have a chance to make progress," Magic coach Steve Clifford said of Gordon in his postgame news conference. "We're obviously going to have to play better, but if he can play like that, it's a big plus." Orlando will take offensive production anywhere it can get. The Magic rank No. 29 in the league at 103.9 points per game. They failed to break 100 points over a four-game stretch from Jan. 24 through Feb. 1.In its wins leading into the break, however, Orlando scored 135 and 116 points.The Magic's search for offensive consistency ran into some added difficulty last month when injuries sidelined double-figure point-per-game scorers Jonathan Isaac and D. J. Augustin.Isaac, who was averaging 12.0 points per game at the time of his knee injury sustained on Jan. 1, will be out until at least March. Augustin, however, returned to practice this week and could play on Friday.Should Augustin return, he will rejoin a backcourt in which Markelle Fultz has recently flourished. Fultz scored 22 points and added 10 assists against Detroit."He's playing with more aggressively, which is what we need," Clifford said of Fultz.Dallas heads into Orlando on Friday having welcomed back its own player returning from injury: All-Star Luka Doncic.Doncic missed seven games ahead of the break, during which time the Mavericks went 3-4. He returned to lead them in a 130-111 win over Sacramento on Feb. 12, however, recording 33 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.Doncic worked well in concert with post player Kristaps Porzingis against the Kings, the two feeding off one another in screen-and-roll situations. Porzingis scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds."You need to have chemistry to be able to win games in this league," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle told reporters at the team's practice Wednesday. "In the Sacramento game, they both scored a lot of points, so perception was it was all good. But it wouldn't be about who's scoring what points: It should be about the chemistry." Doncic's near-triple-double average of 28.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game had him prominently in the early-season Most Valuable Player discussion. He played in both the Rising Stars and All-Star games last weekend in Chicago.With its star player back, and with the addition of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who received a buyout from the Charlotte Hornets, Dallas returns to action aiming to improve its standing in the competitive Western Conference race.The Mavericks are tied with Oklahoma City at 33-22 and would be the No. 7 seed if the playoffs started today.--Field Level Media
 Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
7:35 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-234
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-6 (-109)
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Over 211.5 (-112)
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+206
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+6 (-102)
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Under 211.5 (-101)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 20, 2020As the Indiana Pacers begin their march toward the playoffs with Friday's visit to the New York Knicks, they'll be doing so with a healthy Victor Oladipo, who is ready to ramp up his minutes.Oladipo will be playing in his eighth game since missing a little more than a year with a ruptured quadriceps injury. In the first seven games, he averaged 25 minutes and did not play more than 29 minutes in any game.On Wednesday, coach Nate McMillan told reporters that doctors cleared Oladipo to start playing 32 to 34 minutes, which is on par with his career average of 33.1 minutes per game."He's pretty happy about that," McMillan said. "But we're going to be smart about it. I can play him as many minutes as I want, but we'll look at how he comes out of those games with increased minutes and adjust accordingly." Last season, Oladipo averaged 31.9 minutes and 18.8 points before getting hurt. Two years ago, in his first season with the Pacers, he averaged 23.1 points while playing 34 minutes.So far, Oladipo is averaging 11.1 points while shooting 32.9 percent from the floor. He entered the All-Star break on an encouraging note by scoring 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting in a 118-111 home win over Milwaukee on Feb. 12.The win over the Bucks broke a season-high six-game losing streak that saw the Pacers lose two one-point games but did little to negatively impact their hold on sixth in the Eastern Conference."They're starting to get used to me being back out there, but now it's time to focus on bigger goals," Oladipo said.One of the games in the losing skid was a 92-85 home loss to the Knicks on Feb. 1. Oladipo was 2-of-14 shooting in that game, and the Pacers scored just 11 points in the first quarter and 14 in the fourth.The win in Indiana began a four-game winning streak for the Knicks, but two defeats followed. New York headed into the All-Star break with a 114-96 home loss to Washington on Feb. 12 when they were outscored 37-23 in the fourth quarter and missed 20 of 23 3-point tries.While the Knicks are playing better of late and are 13-20 since firing David Fizdale and replacing him with Mike Miller on Dec. 6, most of the focus over the final two months will be on who the next coach could be.Steve Stoute, New York's branding consultant, told ESPN recently that a new coach would be in place next season. The Knicks eventually released a statement to disavow those comments, and Miller has shrugged off the speculation."He's focused on us every day, preparing us every day the best way he can," Knicks forward Julius Randle said of Miller after practice on Wednesday. "He's never too high, never too low. If we have a loss, after the game, he's not super emotional." Miller's first game was a 104-103 home loss to Indiana on Dec. 7 when Randle missed a free throw with 0.1 seconds left.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
7:35 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+263
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+7.5 (-107)
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Over 227.5 (-106)
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-306
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-7.5 (-103)
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Under 227.5 (-106)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 20, 2020The Phoenix Suns visit the Toronto Raptors on Friday night as both teams look forward to the return of injured players following the All-Star break.Suns forward Dario Saric is hoping to play Friday after missing seven games with a sprained left ankle."I want to be ready for the next game," Saric recently told reporters. "I think I'll be ready to play. For sure something is going to bother me in the next couple of games, but I need to just go through that." The Suns open a three-game road trip against the Raptors, who hope to have center Marc Gasol back from a hamstring injury soon, but that's unlikely for the game on Friday.Raptors guard Norman Powell also has been out with a broken finger, and his return is at least a week away."Marc came in for some continued treatment today, he's looking good," Raptors coach Nick Nurse said after a Wednesday evening practice. "Norm's a bit away from his next check-up. Within a week we'll get a look at that and see where he's at as well ... We're getting closer to healthy bodies." Nurse said the team would "wait all the way until we see him go through testing" before determining whether Gasol can play against Phoenix. But the playoffs are the goal, so he might be given even more time off.Gasol has missed the past eight games and Powell has been out for the past six.Both teams have dealt with several injuries this season.Frank Kaminsky (right patella stress fracture) has missed the past 22 games for the Suns and Aron Baynes (sore left hip) has missed 13 in a row.Kaminsky is expected to be evaluated in another three weeks, but Baynes could return Friday with Deandre Ayton, who has missed the past two games with a sore left ankle.This will be the first meeting of the season between the teams.Phoenix has lost six of eight and Toronto has won 15 of the past 16 games. The Raptors had a franchise-best 15-game winning streak stopped by a 101-91 road loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 12, their final game before the break.The Raptors would like to finish the season with the second seed in the Eastern Conference, but a return to health also is a priority."Getting healthy, I think that's about it," Raptors guard Fred VanVleet said. "We've got to continue to play well and go out there and try to win every game we can, but I think more so than that, if we're healthy and feeling good towards the end, I think we'll feel good about ourselves."Obviously try to get the best seed possible. We'll be fighting for whatever spot we're in, while trying to get healthy and tuning up and just starting to sharpen up a little bit." The defending NBA champion Raptors won both games between the teams last season and have won four in a row against the Suns.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
8:05 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-274
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-6.5 (-113)
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Over 227.5 (-105)
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+238
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+6.5 (+103)
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Under 227.5 (-107)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 20, 2020Two teams that won't see their home courts much for the next month meet Friday night in Minneapolis when the Boston Celtics visit the Minnesota Timberwolves.One of the league's hottest teams entering the All-Star break with eight wins in their last nine games, the Celtics open a four-game trip that features a showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers in a nationally televised affair on Sunday.Boston will also visit Portland and Utah on the six-day venture, which begins a stretch in which the Atlantic Division contender will play 12 of 18 on the road.The Celtics will face Minnesota without All-Star point guard Kemba Walker, who is dealing with left knee soreness. Walker, a four-time All-Star, is averaging 21.8 points and 5.0 assists this season.Boston has been far better at home (23-5) than away (15-11) this season, but has begun to turn things around on the road with three wins in the last four outings.The Celtics have not faced Minnesota yet this season.That being the case, it's possible the Celtics could go the entire season without having to deal with Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns, who missed Minnesota's final game before the break last Wednesday with a sprained left wrist. He remains out indefinitely.The Celtics and Timberwolves meet for a second and final time on March 29 in Boston.Towns had been on a nice roll before suffering the injury, having recorded five consecutive double-doubles in which he averaged 24.0 points, 11.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists.Without Towns, the Timberwolves started four relative strangers in their 115-108 home loss to Charlotte last Wednesday.Malik Beasley and Juan Hernangomez, both acquired from Denver in a four-team trade that saw the Timberwolves send Robert Covington to Houston, combined for 44 points and 18 rebounds against the Hornets, while D'Angelo Russell, picked up from Golden State at the expense of Andrew Wiggins, went for 26 points and 11 assists.James Johnson, acquired from Miami in a three-team swap in which the Timberwolves delivered Gorgui Dieng to Memphis, was a fourth newcomer in the starting lineup against Charlotte. He chipped in with five points, five rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks.Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders noted earlier this week that Johnson will be a focal point of the offense with Towns out of action."In a way it will allow us to install more of our kind of free-flowing game with guards, with wings, with James handling the ball," he told reporters. "We know we're thin on the front line right now. We're going to have to be creative." For the time being, most of that creativity will have to come on the road. After hosting the Celtics, Minnesota will play 11 of 15 away from home.In the Celtics, the new-look Timberwolves will see a group that's become well acquainted with one another."We've got what a lot of teams don't have: We have five core players who have been playing two or more years together in a system that they're familiar with," Celtics guard Marcus Smart said of a group that also includes Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward and Walker. "They're all unique and versatile in their position where they can play multiple positions, and you don't find that very often." Brown, who missed Boston's most recent game last Thursday against the Los Angeles Clippers with a sore calf, is expected to face the Timberwolves.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
8:05 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+106
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+2 (-111)
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Over 215 (-107)
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-117
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-2 (+101)
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Under 215 (-105)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 20, 2020The Oklahoma City Thunder look to continue their rise in the Northwest Division when they host the first-place Denver Nuggets on Friday night.The Nuggets took a five-game lead over the Thunder into the All-Star break, a gap that was one game wider before Denver lost 120-116 to the Los Angeles Lakers while Oklahoma City was winning 123-118 at New Orleans in their respective final games before the time off.Including Friday's showdown, the Nuggets and Thunder will meet three times over the final 27 games of the season, including twice at Oklahoma City.Denver got the jump on the season-series tiebreaker with a 110-102 home win over the Thunder in December. Nikola Jokic's 28-point, 14-rebound, 12-assist triple-double trumped Steven Adams' 18-point, 14-rebound double-double in their big-man head-to-head.The triple-double was Jokic's fourth of 11 this season. He went into the All-Star break with the third-most triple-doubles in the league, trailing only co-leaders LeBron James and Luka Doncic, each of whom had 12.The nine days off couldn't have come at a worse time for Jokic, who played brilliantly in January, averaging 23.4 points and 10.3 rebounds, and has been even better in February, during which he's put up 27.0 points and 12.0 rebounds in six games.The Nuggets used the break to get healthier. Mason Plumlee, who missed the last 12 games with an ankle injury, and Michael Porter Jr., who sat six in a row with an ankle ailment, have been cleared to return to face the Thunder.Porter has ranked among the most productive rookies in the league since Jan. 15, averaging 14.9 points and 9.6 rebounds."The break was good for me," he told reporters at practice Wednesday. "Injuries happen. I'm just happy that it wasn't more serious. I'm ready to play again. I'm excited." The Thunder were just 11-14 after they lost at Denver in December. They have since gone 22-8, getting balanced production from a lineup that was significantly impacted by offseason deals that netted Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari.Oklahoma City went into the break having won 10 of 13, with Dennis Schroder (22.4), Paul (20.8), Gallinari (20.4) and Gilgeous-Alexander (18.1) all averaging at least 18 points over that stretch.Schroder admitted over the break that life after Russell Westbrook, dealt to Houston in a draft pick-laden deal that netted Paul, has been an adjustment."I mean, Russell's my guy," he admitted to reporters this week. "But Russell is Russell Westbrook. He's earned everything he's done in the NBA. He's a hell of a player."With Chris Paul (running the offense), I think it's just a different vibe we have in this locker room, and it works. This year we're on the same page. Shai, Chris, everybody's sacrificing." The cohesion surely has helped the Thunder on the road, where they have won eight straight.However, they've lost six of their last 10 at home, including the last two to Boston and San Antonio.The Nuggets have won two straight on the road.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
9:05 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+251
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+7 (+101)
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Over 222 (-102)
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-291
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-7 (-112)
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Under 222 (-110)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 20, 2020The Utah Jazz will host the San Antonio Spurs on Friday in Salt Lake City with the All-Star break in the rearview mirror and 28 games left in the regular season.The two teams carry different agendas into the final third of the campaign.The Jazz, in fourth place in the West, have their sights set on moving up or, at the very least, keeping home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs. San Antonio, meanwhile, is fighting an uphill battle just to get into the postseason.After the Jazz beat the Miami Heat 116-101 on Feb. 12 in their final game before the All-Star break, Utah coach Quin Snyder lauded his team for playing hard and adjusting to both heightened expectations and up-and-down results."Tonight we just started playing really hard, and ... we've also learned to be a little smarter," Snyder said. "If we can keep building on those things, we've got a chance to improve in the second half of the year. That's what we need to do, keep getting better." The Jazz return from the break a half-game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for third and 1 1/2 games back of the Denver Nuggets for second.The two Utah players chosen to participate in the All-Star Game performed well in Chicago. Rudy Gobert scored 21 points on 10-of-11 shooting and added 11 rebounds, two assists and a block in 19 minutes for Team Giannis. Donovan Mitchell compiled seven points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block in 14 minutes for the same team.San Antonio, which has also been off since Feb. 11, resumes its annual Rodeo Road Trip in Utah before completing the stretch of eight straight road games in Oklahoma City on Sunday.The Spurs' run of 22 straight playoff appearances is tied for the top spot in NBA history with the Philadelphia 76ers, who were the Syracuse Nationals when they started their streak in 1950. San Antonio's postseason run is the longest active streak in any major North American pro sports league, and it will have to do a lot more, and play a lot better, to keep that run alive.The Spurs' 23-31 record is their worst at the All-Star break since the 1996-97 season, which is the last time they failed to make the playoffs.San Antonio went into the All-Streak break stuck in 10th place in the rough-and-tumble Western Conference.After San Antonio beat Oklahoma City 114-106 in its last game before the All-Star break, coach Gregg Popovich had one directive for his players. The Spurs did not send a player to the All-Star Game."Just get away from basketball," Popovich said. "Don't even think about it. You need to clear your mind sometimes, and you'll be more ready when you come back." The victory against the Thunder ended a five-game slide for the Spurs, with all the losses coming on their current trip.Popovich has described this season's team as being "defensively challenged." A number of close losses can be attributed to the Spurs' defensive breakdowns and untimely lapses, especially late in games.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
10:35 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+483
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+11 (-105)
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Over 232.5 (+100)
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-618
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-11 (-105)
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Under 232.5 (-112)
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COMING
UP
10:35 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-169
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-4 (-105)
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Over 236.5 (-109)
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+152
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+4 (-105)
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Under 236.5 (-103)
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GAME PREVIEW
Feb 20, 2020The New Orleans Pelicans figure to have their two young standouts on the floor Friday night, while Portland Trail Blazers star guard Damian Lillard will be in street clothes.Rookie sensation Zion Williamson, All-Star Brandon Ingram and the rising Pelicans will look to complete a four-game sweep of the season series when the teams clash in Portland.Lillard said Thursday that he will miss three to four games due to the groin injury he sustained on Feb. 12 in the Trail Blazers' final game prior to the All-Star break. The injury also forced him to miss last Sunday's All-Star Game.Lillard hopes the recovery period will be short and said he has to remain patient."You can't say, 'All right, I'm going to play through it' because it can be bad," Lillard told reporters. "I've been doing all the training and rehab that I can possibly do, so I'm sore as hell."I have to take time off to let it heal completely. Once that happens, I will be back out there." Portland (25-31) certainly will miss Lillard as it sits in ninth place in the Western Conference, on the outside of the playoff race.New Orleans (23-32) also is on the outside in 11th place.However, the Pelicans are charging with six wins in their past nine games and have a now-healthy Williamson ready to lead a strong push over the final third of the season. Williamson is averaging 22.1 points and 7.5 rebounds through his first 10 NBA games."I'm very hungry for it," Williamson told ESPN of making the postseason. "I want to be in the playoffs. That's the stage you dream about being on, and when you have a chance to be on it, you want to leave it all on the court." Williamson, who missed the season's first three months after knee surgery, topped 30 points in each of the past two games.The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft recorded 31 points, nine rebounds and five assists in a 138-117 home romp over the Trail Blazers on Feb. 11. Two nights later, he poured in a season-best 32 points in a 123-118 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.Ingram appears ready for full action after missing three games with an ankle injury and being limited to nine minutes in the All-Star Game. He averages 24.9 points and 6.4 rebounds.Ingram told reporters earlier this week that he expects "to be a full-go" against Portland. Like Williamson, he also is bullish on his team's stretch-run possibilities."I'm excited for it," Ingram said. "I think all our guys are healthy right now. We have a pretty good rhythm and pretty good group right now. I think it's going to be some fun basketball. I think while I was out the last three games, they found a rhythm pushing the break. On the defensive end, they've been really good. Hopefully, we can continue to find our identity." Portland's identity is wrapped up in Lillard, who ranks fourth in the NBA with a 29.5 scoring average and also averages 7.9 assists (sixth in the league).Lillard's play helped revive Portland as the club won seven of 10 games before losing back-to-back road games to the Pelicans and Grizzlies to end play before the break.But Lillard professes there is still time for the Trail Blazers to make a strong push with 15 of their remaining 26 games being at home."It's a long way to go, we've got a lot of home games, we've got a lot of winnable games," Lillard said. "Just know that I'm not gonna go away. ... After this break is over, it's on." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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NCAAB |
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2/21/2020 |
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FOUND
13
GAMES |
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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|
OFF
|
-1 (-108)
|
Over 139 (-114)
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OFF
|
+1 (-108)
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Under 139 (-116)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
OFF
|
-12 (+100)
|
Over 136 (-112)
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OFF
|
+12 (-117)
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Under 136 (-118)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
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OFF
|
-1 (-117)
|
Over 133 (-118)
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OFF
|
+1 (+100)
|
Under 133 (-112)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
OFF
|
+1 (-113)
|
Over 166.5 (-115)
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|
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OFF
|
-1 (-103)
|
Under 166.5 (-115)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
OFF
|
+4 (-108)
|
Over 126 (-123)
|
|
|
OFF
|
-4 (-108)
|
Under 126 (-107)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
OFF
|
+7.5 (-108)
|
Over 142 (-110)
|
|
|
OFF
|
-7.5 (-108)
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Under 142 (-120)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
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|
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OFF
|
+1.5 (-104)
|
Over 148 (-115)
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OFF
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-1.5 (-112)
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Under 148 (-115)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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OFF
|
+4 (-115)
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Over 150.5 (-118)
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OFF
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-4 (-101)
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Under 150.5 (-112)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
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OFF
|
+1.5 (-106)
|
Over 124 (-115)
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OFF
|
-1.5 (-110)
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Under 124 (-115)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
OFF
|
-3.5 (-111)
|
Over 135.5 (-123)
|
|
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OFF
|
+3.5 (-105)
|
Under 135.5 (-107)
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COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
OFF
|
+2 (-103)
|
Over 149 (-111)
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OFF
|
-2 (-113)
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Under 149 (-119)
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COMING
UP
8:00 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
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OFF
|
+4 (-102)
|
Over 138.5 (-116)
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OFF
|
-4 (-115)
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Under 138.5 (-114)
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COMING
UP
9:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
OFF
|
-2 (-110)
|
Over 128 (-118)
|
|
|
OFF
|
+2 (-106)
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Under 128 (-112)
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NHL |
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2/21/2020 |
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FOUND
6
GAMES |
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COMING
UP
7:08 PM EST |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
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+144
|
+1.5 (-169)
|
Over 6 (-117)
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-160
|
-1.5 (+152)
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Under 6 (+104)
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GAME PREVIEW
The Carolina Hurricanes have a tendency to be hot and cold this season, and that has brought considerable highs along with notable concerns.So riding the wave of the successes is one of the key components that confronts the team on a regular basis.The Hurricanes attempt to display a semblance of consistency on Friday when facing the visiting New York Rangers in Raleigh, N. C."It's time to get this going in the right direction," Hurricanes forward Justin Williams said. "It's not the first 20 games right now, it's the last 20." The Hurricanes have points in three consecutive games (2-0-1).Carolina enjoyed solid performances across the ice in a 4-1 win at Nashville on Tuesday, prompting coach Rod Brind'Amour to say "it looks like we know what we're doing. ... I thought we were engaged, everybody." The Hurricanes are aiming to bottle the performance in Music City and carry it with them. They saw so many things come together that it was barometer to where they can be."There wasn't really much letdown," said captain Jordan Staal, who called it one of the most complete games of the season. "I really loved the effort from everyone. It was all good things." Staal came through with his first goal since Jan. 16, so that was one of the boosts the team received."I've been fighting it for a while," Staal said. "It's no question, it's no secret that I need to be more offensive if we're going to make a push." Only two of Staal's eight goals this season have come on home ice.The Rangers are among the teams contending with the Hurricanes for a playoff spot."It's going to be a playoff-type game for us in a lot of ways," New York coach David Quinn said of Friday night's contest.New York has won six consecutive road games, including a 6-3 decision in Chicago on Wednesday night. The franchise record for consecutive road victories is seven."Our guys feel really good about themselves, whether on the road or at home," Quinn said. "Listen, you've got to win games when you're not playing great." Many mothers of the Rangers players are on the trip with the team for the stops in Chicago and Carolina. The Hurricanes' players had their mothers with them for the game at Nashville.The Rangers could have forward Julien Gauthier in the lineup after he made his debut with the team Wednesday night. He was acquired in a trade earlier in the week from Carolina, with which he made his NHL debut this season."He didn't play a lot of minutes (at Chicago)," Quinn said. "I thought he did a good job of feeling more comfortable." The Hurricanes are 0-3-0 against the Rangers this season, with the most recent meeting coming Dec. 27.Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist has been in the net for each of the first three meetings. He made 39 saves in the latest conquest of Carolina, including stopping all 14 shots when the Rangers were shorthanded.Lundqvist owns a 33-12-1 record with two shutouts, a 2.00 goals-against average and .934 save percentage in 46 career starts versus Carolina.-Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
8:08 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+249
|
+1.5 (-103)
|
Over 5.5 (+110)
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|
|
-288
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-1.5 (-107)
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Under 5.5 (-123)
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GAME PREVIEW
Few teams in the NHL could use a break right now more than the New York Islanders.However with no rest on the horizon, the closest thing to a respite for the Islanders could be a visit from the Detroit Red Wings on Friday in Uniondale, N. Y.The Islanders were off Thursday after completing their worst road trip in more than six years Wednesday, when they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Colorado Avalanche to finish an 0-4-0 trek.The Red Wings haven't played since Tuesday, when they snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.The Islanders arrive home after a Western Conference road trip in which they were outscored 11-2. It was the longest winless road trip for New York since an 0-4-0 stretch from Nov. 5-10, 2013.That trip set the tone for a season in which the Islanders finished last in the Metropolitan Division. New York can only hope there's enough time to prove this winless trek won't define a season that once appeared destined to include a deep playoff run.The Islanders set a franchise record with a 17-game point streak (15-0-2) from Oct. 12 to Nov. 23, but they are just 17-17-4 since.New York's three-game homestand against a trio of non-contenders -- the NHL-worst Red Wings, the San Jose Sharks (Sunday) and rival Rangers (Tuesday) -- offers a chance for the undermanned club to regain its footing. Fourth-liners Cal Clutterbuck (wrist) and Casey Cizikas (leg) are both out indefinitely, and Derick Brassard sustained an upper-body injury Wednesday night."Right now we're going through some adversity, some guys are drying up, we've got some people out and we need some people to step up," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said Wednesday night. "We can't look back on this trip, we can't do anything (to) repair this trip, but we can repair our next game and the following game and focus on what's ahead of us." A spot near the top of the June draft is next for the Red Wings, who are in the midst of a massive rebuilding season. Detroit, however, has proven it can play the role of spoiler.The Red Wings own a pair of multi-goal victories over NHL-leading Boston Bruins, whom Detroit defeated 4-2 on Nov. 8 and 3-1 on Feb. 9.And the win Tuesday capped a four-game season sweep of the Canadiens, whose inability to beat the Red Wings likely is the difference between playing out the string and battling for a playoff spot.The Red Wings had lost eight straight games to the Canadiens prior to this season."It's one of those things you can't explain," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said Tuesday night. "It isn't like we have great matchups against them, and before this, there was a long stretch where they totally owned us." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
8:38 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-113
|
-1.5 (+216)
|
Over 6.5 (-104)
|
|
|
+101
|
+1.5 (-253)
|
Under 6.5 (-110)
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
GAME PREVIEW
The Nashville Predators have sorely missed defenseman Ryan Ellis since he took an elbow to the head while playing in the Winter Classic against the Dallas Stars on New Year's Day.On Friday night, Ellis could make his return -- and boost the Predators' playoff chances in the meantime -- when Nashville visits the Chicago Blackhawks.Ellis, 29, has missed 20 games but took part in practice Thursday alongside fellow defenseman Roman Josi, marking another step forward in his gradual recovery.Before his injury, Ellis had 28 points (six goals, 22 assists) and a plus-15 rating in 39 games."We wanted to push him (Thursday) in practice and put him on a D-pair and play in the situations he could possibly play in," Predators coach John Hynes said to reporters. "(We gave) him a real good look on the power play, and then we had a little bit of some battle drills in there."We'll see how he responds (Friday) and probably make a decision (Friday) morning." For his part, Ellis spoke with reporters for the first time since Dec. 31. The team has been vague about his injury, but Ellis confirmed that he had dealt with a concussion and its aftermath.Stars forward Corey Perry drew a five-game suspension for the hit, but Ellis said he was not bitter about the incident."(I'm feeling) much better," Ellis said. "(It's been a) long road, and I've never really been down that one, so it's nice to be feeling more like myself." Although Monday's trade deadline is fast approaching, the Predators hope Ellis' return serves as a key acquisition.Nashville and Chicago are both trying to crawl into playoff positions, but the Blackhawks' journey seems especially daunting.The Blackhawks are 1-5-2 in their past eight games and could turn into sellers before the deadline.A 6-3 loss on home ice against the New York Rangers on Wednesday night was the latest blow to Chicago's hopes."We didn't prepare well enough," Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said to reporters. "This time of year, it's about 90 percent mental. Physically, you are who you are. You've got to prepare yourself mentally to do what you need to do, and the body will kick in." Although the Blackhawks have struggled of late as a team, a couple of players have achieved individual milestones.Patrick Kane recently tallied his 1,013th career point, tying him with Pat LaFontaine for eighth all-time among American-born players. Next on the list is Brian Leetch at No. 7 with 1,028 career points. Mike Modano is the all-time leader with 1,374.Meanwhile, earlier this week, Dominik Kubalik became the eighth Blackhawks rookie to score at least 25 goals in a season. Steve Larmer holds the franchise record with 43 goals as a rookie in the 1982-83 campaign.Nashville's options in net include 37-year-old Pekka Rinne (18-13-3, 3.04 goals-against average) and his 24-year-old counterpart, Juuse Saros (11-10-4, 2.96 GAA). Saros boasts a slightly higher save percentage (.903) than Rinne (.898).Chicago also has featured a timeshare in net this season. Robin Lehner is 16-10-5 with a 3.01 GAA but has struggled as of late, while Corey Crawford is 10-16-3 with a 2.89 GAA. Lehner's save percentage (.918) remains well ahead of Crawford's (.912), although Crawford has posted an impressive .931 save percentage over his past seven contests.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
9:08 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-150
|
-1.5 (+164)
|
Over 5.5 (-119)
|
|
|
+133
|
+1.5 (-188)
|
Under 5.5 (+104)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAME PREVIEW
Mark Giordano has been skating on Calgary ice the last few days but he won't see NHL action Friday against the Boston Bruins.The Flames' captain has missed seven games since a hamstring injury pulled him out of his team's 3-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 4.Giordano, the 2018-19 Norris Trophy winner as the league's best defenseman, is likely to get back into the lineup Sunday when the Flames start a five-game road trip in Detroit. The Flames are 4-3 without their leader in the lineup."Gio skated today on his own this morning," said Flames general manager Brad Treliving on Wednesday. "He's making his way back. ... I would suspect Gio will be going on this road trip and we'll have a better sense in the next couple of days."He's progressing. It's always good to see a guy get on the ice, so that was a real positive step from the last two days." Travis Hamonic, another key defender on the injured roster for the Flames, is listed as week-to-week. He suffered an undisclosed upper-body injury on Feb. 8 in a 6-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.For some GMs, it could be tempting to start playing the phone lines, heading into the Feb. 24 trade deadline."You're taking your cues from your team and part of that is injuries," said Treliving, who acknowledges his team's lack of consistency and current holes in the lineup. "We're going to get both guys back. It's just when. ... We're looking for ways to help ourselves in way that makes sense."Chasing it with high prices for rental players ... I don't know if that's the direction we're in favor of, but if there's ways to help us, we certainly want to do it." He intends to keep a close eye on Giordano's progression to determine whether the Flames make a big move."The next few days will determine that, knowing that (Giordano and Hamonic) are on the horizon," Treliving said. "If we're sitting there and there's no hope in sight for Gio, that's a different situation. You always want to help your team, but you have to measure that with what's available and at what price." While the Flames play a waiting game, the Bruins could be one of those teams looking for a rental to beef up their lineup heading into the playoffs. A top-six forward would certainly give the Stanley Cup contenders a boost.The Bruins have won 10 of their last 11, including a 2-1 overtime victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. The win kicked off a three-game mini-road swing to the western Canadian provinces on the heels of a road win over the New York Rangers on Feb. 16. The Bruins head home after a Saturday tilt against the Canucks in Vancouver.The Bruins have the league's stingiest defense, allowing only 140 goals in 61 games. Their penalty kill is a big part of that, one of the NHL's best at 84.1 percent effectiveness (ranks third in NHL).On Wednesday, the Bruins' special teams killed off five of six Oilers power-play opportunities, allowing just one goal."We were battling hard," said goaltender Tuukka Rask. "We kept them to the outside. And I think the second period, they had the most dangerous chances on their power play. We, I think, whenever rebounds were laying there, guys cleared them out ... good battle." The Bruins and Flames hit the ice again in Boston on Feb. 25.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
9:08 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+100
|
+1.5 (-244)
|
Over 5.5 (-116)
|
|
|
-113
|
-1.5 (+208)
|
Under 5.5 (+101)
|
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|
GAME PREVIEW
Alex Galchenyuk was just happy to have an opportunity. Even if his new coach, Dean Evason, was too nervous to watch.Galchenyuk scored the tying goal with less than five minutes left in regulation and then the winner in the fifth round of the shootout as the Minnesota Wild defeated the host Vancouver Canucks 4-3 Wednesday night, giving Evason his first victory as an NHL coach.The Wild, entered Thursday five points out of a wild card in the Western Conference, look to continue their push toward a playoff spot when they play Friday night in Edmonton.Evason, who took over as the interim coach when Bruce Boudreau was fired on Feb. 14, improved to 1-1-0."It's amazing," Evason said. "You hear things happen for a reason and all of those things. To have my three children here was awesome." Evason's son was with the team as part of a fathers and mentors trip. His two daughters, who live in British Columbia, were also in attendance.As Galchenyuk skated in on goal in the shootout, Evason admitted he turned away from the action."I knew where the kids were and all the dads and mentors," he said. "I just looked up at my three kids sitting in the front and watched their reaction."All three of them jumped up in the air, so I knew we scored." It was nearly as momentous for Galchenyuk, acquired last week in a trade that sent Jason Zucker to Pittsburgh. He scored the tying goal with 4:45 left in regulation.Galchenyuk played just five shifts, for a total of 3:02, in his final game with the Penguins on Feb. 8."The second I got traded here, I knew that I was going to have a great opportunity and got to stick with it, work hard and do the best I can to help the team win," Galchenyuk said. "Happy I contributed (Wednesday)." It was Galchenyuk's first goal in four games with Minnesota."I think obviously getting the first one, it's a weight off your shoulders," Galchenyuk said. "But the win, the way we did it, was an extra special feeling, especially with the dads in the crowd. Can't be better than that." The short-handed Oilers suffered a 2-1 overtime defeat at home to league-leading Boston on Wednesday.Sam Gagner tallied the lone Edmonton goal on the power play early in the third period to tie the score at 1-1."It's a valuable point for us, but what we want to learn from that game is we need some swagger early on," Gagner said. "Making plays under pressure and having confidence with the puck in the first period (when the Oilers were outshot 10-2) would have set us up better. But we clawed our way to a point. There was a lot to like against a really good team." The Oilers played without Connor McDavid (quad injury), Joakim Nygard (hand), Kris Russell (concussion), James Neal (foot) and Oscar Klefbom (shoulder). They were also missing Zack Kassian because of a suspension."If you want to be a good team and make the playoffs, you have to have that depth," Oilers defenseman Ethan Bear said. "Guys are stepping up and it's good to see." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
10:08 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-162
|
-1.5 (+154)
|
Over 5.5 (-119)
|
|
|
+142
|
+1.5 (-176)
|
Under 5.5 (+104)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAME PREVIEW
The Colorado Avalanche are among the higher-scoring teams in the NHL, but they will continue to look for scoring options as they hit the road for a quick two-game swing through California that begins a long stretch of away games.The Avalanche arrive in Anaheim to face the Ducks on Friday, and they will visit the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.Colorado still is led by Nathan MacKinnon, but forwards Mikko Rantanen (upper body), Nazem Kadri (lower body) and Matt Calvert (lower body) are out.Rantanen, who was injured after getting tripped into the boards Monday, is one of four Avalanche players with 40 or more points, and Kadri is right behind that group. Forward Martin Kaut made his NHL debut with the Avalanche on Wednesday during a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders.Before that win, the Avalanche had lost three consecutive games, although two were to a pair of solid Eastern Conference teams, the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The other defeat came to a struggling Los Angeles Kings team on Saturday amid the outdoor conditions at the U. S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.Colorado also is without goalie Philipp Grubauer, who was injured in the Saturday game. Pavel Francouz has made two consecutive starts, giving up a late goal against the Islanders to spoil his shutout bid but finishing with 27 saves.The Avalanche will lean on Francouz to start a stretch in which they play eight of their next 10 games on the road."I feel like we'll just get our confidence back, and I really hope we're going to start a stretch where we keep winning and winning," Francouz said.Because Francouz has made just 21 starts this season, coach Jared Bednar said he is considering using the goalie in both games of the back-to-back at Anaheim and Los Angeles. The Avalanche also will take advantage of the close geographical proximity of the contests."The one thing about this back-to-back, Anaheim and L. A., we're not going to pregame skate, no travel involved once we get there," Bednar said. "We're trying to manage everyone's workload and give our guys as much rest as we can so we can come out energized." The Ducks can't seem to find that energy, at least not at home. They had earned points in six consecutive road games before losing at home to the Calgary Flames on Monday, 6-4. They have lost three consecutive games on home ice, including a 4-1 decision to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday.Now the Ducks are without defenseman Cam Fowler, who was a late scratch Wednesday due to a nagging lower-body injury after participating in the morning skate.With three defeats in their past four games overall, and a 2-3-2 record going back to Feb. 6 (not including the Feb. 11 postponed game against the St. Louis Blues), the Ducks are dragging into the final two months of the schedule."It's a learning process for (the young players), and we have to get more out of our veteran players as well," Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. "Our young guys are going to have ups and downs. They have all gotten better, and that's what's important, but the one thing they need to take home here is that we're not going to accept losing." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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