Thursday 3-22-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-22-2018, 08:13 AM

Loyola-Chicago Ramblers vs. Nevada Wolf Pack Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
Neither Loyola Chicago nor Nevada was supposed to be here, and that was before a miraculous bounce and an historic comeback put them in the Sweet 16. Two of the teams who helped shake up the NCAA Tournament South Region square off Thursday in Atlanta, and one will become an unlikely entry into the Elite Eight.

Nevada lived on the edge last weekend in Nashville, overcoming a 14-point, second-half deficit in an 87-83 overtime win over Texas before rallying from a 22-point hole to knock off No. 2 seed Cincinnati in the second-largest comeback in NCAA Tournament history. The seventh-seeded Wolfpack have matched the school record for wins and are in the Sweet 16 for just the second time. Loyola nearly squandered a late lead against No. 3 seed Tennessee on Saturday before Clayton Custer's jumper bounced around the rim and in for a 63-62 victory. The 11th-seeded Ramblers haven't lost in nearly two months, winning 12 straight contests since suffering a 69-67 setback at Bradley on Jan. 31 and 19 of their last 20.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, CBS

ABOUT LOYOLA (30-5): The Ramblers are disciplined on defense, ranking fifth in the nation in scoring defense (62.2 points) while committing the second-fewest fouls per contest. But they also have plenty of offensive prowess, with five players averaging double digits in points. Custer (13.3 points, 4.2 assists) leads the way, but Aundre Jackson (11.1 points) averaged a team-high 14 points in the first two games of the Tournament.

ABOUT NEVADA (29-7): The Wolfpack are the rare team that can push the pace - they average 83 points - without getting careless, as their 9.6 turnovers per game are the fourth-fewest in the nation. Caleb Martin (18.8 points, 5.4 rebounds), Jordan Caroline (17.7, 8.7) and Cody Martin (13.9, 6.3, 4.7 assists) are the team's most productive players, but reserve guard Josh Hall (6.8 points) was huge last weekend as he averaged 14.5 points and six rebounds. Kendall Stephens (13.4 points) is a prolific 3-point shooter, hitting 44.4 percent from beyond the arc.

TIP-INS

1. Stephens has made a Mountain West-record 126 3-pointers this season and registered at least five on 13 occasions.

2. The Ramblers are 21-0 when leading at halftime and 28-1 when scoring at least 60 points.

3. Caroline has recorded 27 career double-doubles, with the Wolfpack going 25-2 in those games.

PREDICTION: Nevada 73, Loyola Chicago 72

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-22-2018, 08:13 AM

Texas A&M Aggies vs. Michigan Wolverines Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
Third-seeded Michigan looks to build on one of its most memorable wins in the NCAA Tournament when it faces No. 7 seed Texas A&M on Thursday in Los Angeles. Jordan Poole buried a deep 3-pointer as time expired against Houston on Saturday to help the Wolverines, who are the highest seed remaining in the West Region, make their fourth Sweet 16 appearance in six years while reaching 30 victories for the fourth time in program history.

Michigan coach John Beilein set a school record for NCAA Tournament wins with 15 following the 64-63 victory against the Cougars and aims to lead the Wolverines to the Elite Eight for the third time in their last five postseason appearances. Texas A&M jumped all over second-seeded North Carolina midway through the first half and never looked back en route to an 86-65 victory Sunday over the reigning national champions. The Aggies, who were ranked as high as fifth nationally during the regular season, boast three key contributors that are 6-10 and hope to ride their size advantage to their first Elite 8 appearance in program history. "It's an absolutely great feeling to keep dancing," Texas A&M center Tonny Trocha-Morelos told reporters. "It means a lot because this is my senior year and I wanted to do something like this for the younger guys."

TV: 7:37 p.m. ET, TBS

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (22-12): TJ Starks led the way with 21 points and five assists against North Carolina to move within one assist of breaking David Goff's school record of 13 during the 1980 NCAA Tournament. Tyler Davis flirted with a double-double as he added 18 points and nine rebounds to move past Jeff Overhouse (739) for 11th place on the Aggies' all-time rebounding list with 745. D.J. Hogg produced 14 points and Robert Williams grabbed 13 rebounds as Texas A&M won the battle of the boards 50-36 against one of the nation's best rebounding teams.

ABOUT MICHIGAN (30-7): Moritz Wagner overcame a sluggish start to score 10 of his 12 points in the second half and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman also tallied 12 points to lift the Wolverines past Houston despite shooting a season-low 35.6 percent from the field. Charles Matthews and Duncan Robinson each added 11 points while Poole finished with eight, including the game-winning shot from 28 feet away. "Jordan does that all the time in practice," Beilein told reporters. "The guy has an overdose of swag and he's got everything you could ask for as he dreams of those shots and lives for those shots."

TIP-INS

1. Michigan has won 11 consecutive games, including eight in a row away from home.

2. Texas A&M has blocked 16 shots over its first two tournament games.

3. The winner will play Florida State or Gonzaga in the Elite Eight on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Michigan 77, Texas A&M 75

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-22-2018, 08:13 AM

Kansas State Wildcats vs. Kentucky Wildcats Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
Stars are made during the NCAA Tournament, and no one is shining brighter than Kentucky freshman Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The 6-6 point guard looks to continue his stellar play Thursday as fifth-seeded Kentucky faces No. 9 seed Kansas State in a South Region semifinal contest at Philips Arena in Atlanta.

Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 27 points, six rebounds and six assists in Kentucky's 95-75 second-round win over Buffalo and is averaging 21.8, 5.8 and 6.6 while shooting 57 percent in five postseason games - including the SEC Tournament. "He gives other teams hell," teammate Jarred Vanderbilt told reporters. "When he has the ball, he finishes well, and when they collapse on him, he's finding us for open shots, layups, dunks. He's turned into a great leader for us." Kentucky has won nine of its last 10 contests and enters as a prohibitive favorite against a Kansas State team that hopes to have leading scorer Dean Wade back after missing the last three games due to a foot injury. A First-Team All-Big 12 selection, the 6-10 Wade averages 16.5 points and 6.3 rebounds for Kansas State, which relied on its defense to open the NCAA Tournament with wins over Creighton (69-59) and UMBC (50-43).

TV: 9:37 p.m. ET, CBS

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (24-11): Barry Brown averages 16.1 points for the Wildcats, who defeated UMBC despite going 1-for-12 from 3-point range and committing 18 turnovers. Making its first appearance in the Sweet 16 since 2010, Kansas State allows an average of 66.9 points behind a tenacious defense led by Wade, who was optimistic about returning to action after practicing on Wednesday. If Kentucky turns the game into a shootout, Xavier Sneed (10.7 points) could play a key role from beyond the arc.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (26-10): The highest remaining seed in the South Region, Kentucky opened the NCAA Tournament with a 78-73 triumph over No. 12 Davidson before shooting 56.3 percent in a 20-point win over No. 13 Buffalo. Expect Kansas State to slow the pace in an effort to contain Gilgeous-Alexander and Kevin Knox, who averages a team-high 15.6 points and scored 25 in the victory over Davidson. The Wildcats, who forced both opponents to shoot under 40 percent, could receive a boost from Vanderbilt as the freshman forward has missed the last five games due to injury but hopes to return Thursday.

TIP-INS

1. The winner advances to face either No. 11 seed Loyola Chicago or seventh-seeded Nevada in the Elite Eight.

2. Kentucky holds a 9-0 lead in the all-time series, including a 56-49 win in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

3. Kentucky is 6-0 in the Sweet 16 under coach John Calipari, with an average margin of victory of 14.5 points.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 76, Kansas State 65

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-22-2018, 08:14 AM

Florida State Seminoles vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
Fourth-seeded Gonzaga is in the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive season but has higher aspirations as it faces ninth-seeded Florida State on Thursday in a West Region contest of the NCAA Tournament in Los Angeles. Gonzaga, which has won 16 straight contests, played in last season's NCAA title game and has had its odds of returning helped by the slew of upsets in the Tournament.

The Seminoles are in the Sweet 16 for the fifth time in school history after recording a shocking 75-70 upset of top-seeded Xavier, which caught the attention of Bulldogs coach Mark Few. "Physically, probably easily the most physically imposing and athletically gifted team we've faced maybe in the 20 years I've been head coach, I would say," Few said of Florida State during Wednesday's press conference. "Just the bodies, the size, the length, and the athleticism is really impressive." Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton may have gushed even more about the long-time success of the Gonzaga program and the challenge his team faces. "I'm just extremely impressed with how well they play together," Hamilton said of the Bulldogs at his team's press conference on Wednesday. "They're confident in what they do. They've got a little bit of a confident edge about who they are and what they represent."

TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, TBS

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (22-11): Terance Mann wasn't expected to be available against Xavier due to a groin injury before choosing to play just prior to game-time but now is closer to full health after having three days over which to recuperate. Mann ranks third on the squad in scoring (12.7 points) and is averaging a team-best 5.5 rebounds on a deep team that typically uses 10 players. Phil Cofer (12.9 points, five rebounds) and Braian Angola (12.8, team-best 63 3-pointers) share the bulk of the scoring load along with Mann, while Trent Forrest is a highly valuable contributor as he averages eight points while leading the Seminoles in assists (4.1) and steals (50).

ABOUT GONZAGA (32-4): The emergence of freshman guard Zach Norvell Jr. (12.7 points, 74 3-pointers) has been a big reason why the Bulldogs were able to reload this campaign, and he established season highs of 28 points, 12 rebounds and six 3-pointers in the 90-84 second-round win over Ohio State. "He's got a persona that we really need in our program right now, quite frankly," Few told reporters. "We have an overabundance of introverts, and that's one thing he's not. So I call him our spiritual leader." The Bulldogs feature four other double-digit scorers in Johnathan Williams (team-high 13.6 points), Killian Tillie (12.9), Josh Perkins (12.4) and Rui Hachimura (11.4).

TIP-INS

1. Gonzaga defeated Florida State 67-60 in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament in the lone previous meeting between the teams.

2. Seminoles G PJ Savoy ranks ninth on the squad in scoring (6.6 points), but it was he who drained the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:08 remaining in the win over Xavier.

3. Hachimura scored a career-best 25 points against Ohio State for his fifth 20-point performance of the campaign.

PREDICTION: Gonzaga 87, Florida State 83

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-22-2018, 08:15 AM

Utah Jazz vs. Dallas Mavericks Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
The Utah Jazz had their nine-game winning streak halted and seek to start a new one when they open a three-game road trip against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. Utah suffered a damaging defeat when it fell 99-94 to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday for just its third setback in the past 24 games.

The stunning home loss to one of the worst teams in the NBA dropped the Jazz into eighth place in the congested Western Conference playoff picture with just 11 games to play. "When you're not making shots, you've got to figure out other ways to score," Utah coach Quin Snyder told reporters after his team shot just 37.1 percent from the field. "We didn't make shots, and we weren't very good at the rim either. It's tough to overcome both of those things." Dallas is coming off a 115-105 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday and dropped three straight games and 18 of its last 24. Mavericks rookie point guard Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle) will miss his second straight game.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Utah), FS Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE JAZZ (40-31): Utah's offensive attack was never in sync against the Hawks and standout rookie guard Donovan Mitchell was one of the players experiencing an off-night as he was 9-of-28 shooting (1-of-10 from 3-point range) while scoring 24 points. "We weren't connected on offense," Mitchell told reporters afterward. "We missed too many easy shots and we turned the ball over too much. And when you do those things, it puts too much pressure on your defense." Point guard Ricky Rubio scored 23 points on 7-of-14 shooting after averaging 10 on 10-of-33 shooting over the previous three games.

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (22-49): Dallas gave up 114 or more points in each of its last three games and couldn't contain Pelicans All-Star power forward Anthony Davis (37 points) in Tuesday's loss. But coach Rick Carlisle found several things to be pleasing, particularly the effort and the fact his squad committed just eight turnovers. "We had some breakdowns defensively, but they're a very good offensive team," Carlisle said after the loss. "The matchups were tough when they went small a couple of times and we had to adjust to that. The guys that played did some good things."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Jazz are 2-0 against the Mavericks this season while holding Dallas to an average of 89.5 points.

2. Dallas PF Dwight Powell is averaging 14.5 points on 12-of-16 shooting over the past two games.

3. Utah PF Derrick Favors (left knee soreness) will likely miss his second straight game.

PREDICTION: Jazz 103, Mavericks 96

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-22-2018, 08:15 AM

Atlanta Hawks vs. Sacramento Kings Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
The Atlanta Hawks are in the running for worst record in the NBA and the most ping pong balls in the draft lottery, but they are still capable of some brilliant performances. The Hawks will try to secure back-to-back road wins for the first time this season when they visit the Sacramento Kings in the second of a six-game trip on Thursday.

Atlanta point guard Dennis Schroder scored a career-high 41 points in a 99-94 win at the playoff-hopeful Utah Jazz on Tuesday, giving the Hawks their first victory over an opponent with a winning record this month. Schroder, who leads the team in scoring at an average of 19.5 points, went 16-of-28 from the floor and added seven assists in the win. The Kings aren't too far off the pace in the battle for the worst record and dropped their last two games, including a 106-90 loss to the Detroit Pistons in the opener of a six-game homestand on Monday. Sacramento finishes March out at home but will play four of its five games in April on the road.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Southeast (Atlanta), NBCS California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE HAWKS (21-50): Schroder did not score more than 18 points in any of his previous five games but caught fire in the fourth quarter on Tuesday, pouring in 17 points in the period. Schroder's hot hand helped the team overcome a poor shooting night from small forward Taurean Prince. The 23-year-old Baylor product averaged 30.8 points in four previous games before slumping to 11 points on 3-of-13 shooting, including 0-of-6 from 3-point range, in Tuesday's win.

ABOUT THE KINGS (23-49): Sacramento shooting guard Buddy Hield is not participating in any tank job by his team and scored 20 points on Monday against Detroit to reach the plateau for the fourth straight game -- the longest such streak of his career. Hield is shooting 55.9 percent from the floor over the last four games and is 16-of-24 from 3-point range over the last three contests. Rookie small forward Justin Jackson is raising his level of play as well and is shooting 61.1 percent from the floor over the last five after collecting 15 points on 7-of-9 from the floor in Monday's setback.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Kings SG Vince Carter (24,817) moved past Patrick Ewing and into 22nd place on the all-time scoring list on Monday.

2. Hawks C Dewayne Dedmon recorded his 10th double-double of the season with 15 points and 15 rebounds on Tuesday.

3. Atlanta blasted Sacramento 126-80 at home on Nov. 15 as Schroder led eight players in double figures with 21 points.

PREDICTION: Kings 106, Hawks 102

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-22-2018, 08:15 AM

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
The Philadelphia 76ers have reached the 40-win mark for the first time since 2010-11, and they continue their pursuit of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference when they visit the Orlando Magic on Thursday. Philadelphia is on track to make its first postseason appearance since 2012 as it stands 8 1/2 games clear of ninth-place Detroit with just 12 contests remaining.

The 76ers recorded their 40th victory when they knocked off Memphis 119-105 on Wednesday and need two more to clinch a .500 season for the first time since 2004-05, but coach Brett Brown really fancies a postseason run. "The notion of the playoffs for me doesn't make me do somersaults," Brown told reporters. "I want more. I really want more." Orlando is 1-2 on its seven-game homestand, and Tuesday's 93-86 loss to Toronto was its 14th in 17 contests. The Magic have scored 88 or fewer points in five of their last eight games, including a season-low 72 against San Antonio on March 13.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia Plus, FS Florida (Orlando)

ABOUT THE 76ERS (40-30): All-Star Joel Embiid has been able to avoid injury setbacks and will play against Orlando in the second half of a back-to-back set. Embiid had been getting the second night off for most of the season after enduring foot and knee injuries during his brief NBA career, but he declared he no longer wants to be rested in those situations. "I'm playing in every game," Embiid told reporters. "We didn't come this far to rest me. I was always complaining about wanting to play every game and play in back-to-backs, and I'm sure the fans were too, and we're winning."

ABOUT THE MAGIC (21-50): Leading scorer Aaron Gordon (concussion) returned from a five-game absence on Tuesday to record 16 points and six rebounds. Gordon, who averages 18.2 points, played some minutes alongside rookie forward Jonathan Isaac for the one of the few times this season, and the first-round draft pick again displayed some promise with 10 points, five rebounds, a season-best five steals and two blocked shots against the Raptors. "Jon, his intangibles are amazing," Gordon told reporters. "His ability to get steals and deflect the ball help a ton. Having an elite defender out there is big time. He's just going to keep getting better and better."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The 76ers averaged 123 points while winning this season's first two meetings with the Magic.

2. Philadelphia F Robert Covington is 14-for-23 from 3-point range over his last four games.

3. Orlando SF Jonathon Simmons (wrist) is listed as doubtful after sitting out Tuesday's contest.

PREDICTION: 76ers 108, Magic 105

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-22-2018, 08:15 AM

Florida Panthers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
The Florida Panthers can complete a perfect three-game road trip and move into playoff position in the Eastern Conference when they visit the streaking Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. The Panthers earned a shutout win at Montreal on Monday before knocking off Ottawa 7-2 only 24 hours later to move within one point of New Jersey for the second wild-card spot in the East with two games in hand.

"I think these two games were pretty textbook, defensively," Florida goalie James Reimer told reporters. "Back end of a back to back, obviously, it's hard and sometimes your legs aren't there, so you've got to be mentally sharp and for the most part (Tuesday) the guys did really well." The Blue Jackets moved into third place in the Metropolitan Division with their ninth straight victory Tuesday - a 5-3 triumph against the New York Rangers - and have beaten the Panthers three times in a row, including both this season. "(The streak) is a cool feather in the cap but right now all we care about is getting into the playoffs," Columbus captain Nick Foligno told reporters. "I'm not taking anything away from what we've done here, but we know that it really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things." Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has won his last six starts for the Blue Jackets with a .930 save percentage in that span and is 11-1-2 lifetime against Florida.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Florida, FS Ohio (Columbus)

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (37-27-7): Forward Frank Vatrano, who was acquired from Boston before the trade deadline, has made quite an impression since returning from injury with three goals and an assist in six games with a plus-3 rating. All-Star center Aleksander Barkov has five of his team-leading 73 points in the last five games and needs one goal to reach 100 in his career. Second-leading scorer Vincent Trocheck (66 points) suffered an upper-body injury Tuesday and his status is uncertain while defenseman Alex Petrovic (lower-body) is questionable.

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (41-28-5): Left wing Artemi Panarin registered his first hat trick with Columbus on Tuesday and boasts 22 of his team-best 68 points in the last 16 games. "The teams that end up being there at the end of the year have a game-breaker and a guy who relishes being in those situations. A guy who wants the puck in key situation," coach John Tortorella told reporters of Panarin. "We're fortunate to have one." Defenseman Seth Jones (49 points, second on the team) has missed three straight games with an upper-body injury and is questionable.

OVERTIME

1. Foligno recorded five assists in the last three games to reach 400 points in his career.

2. Florida D Keith Yandle is one point from reaching 50 for the first time since 2013-14 while with Arizona.

3. Columbus LW Thomas Vanek boasts eight points in the last seven games after going pointless in his first four outings with the team.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 3, Panthers 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-22-2018, 08:15 AM

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Islanders Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
The Tampa Bay Lightning look to build off a momentum-changing victory when they begin a quick two-game trip with a matchup against the New York Islanders on Thursday night. The Lightning rallied from a three-goal deficit for a 4-3 victory over Toronto on Tuesday after losing two of the previous three and lead second-place Boston by four points.

"We just thought, 'Let's stick to our game and how good it would feel if we come back and win this game,'" Tampa Bay left wing Alex Killorn told reporters after scoring the winning goal. "We played one of our better third periods in a long time." The Lightning have split a pair of meetings this season against the Islanders, who won for the second time in 13 games Tuesday with a 4-1 triumph versus Pittsburgh at home. New York is 10 points behind New Jersey for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with nine games to go after a 2-7-4 stretch that followed two straight shutout wins. "We've just been struggling and it's a hole you've got to dig out of," Islanders forward Anders Lee told reporters. "I think we can finish the season strong and set ourselves up as much as we can for next season. That where we're at right now. Just nine games of hard hockey."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), MSG Plus (New York)

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (50-19-4): Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy turned aside 27 shots Tuesday to break Ben Bishop's franchise record with his 41st victory, and owns a .952 save percentage in six career appearances against the Islanders. Right wing Nikita Kucherov scored his team-leading 37th goal Tuesday and leads the league with a career-best 94 points - 12 of them coming in his last eight contests. Right wing Ryan Callahan (four goals, 15 points) suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday's victory and will not make the road trip that ends in New Jersey on Saturday.

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (31-32-10): Lee boasts five goals in his last five games to push his team-leading and career-best total to 36 while fellow forward Jordan Eberle has reached 25 for the fourth time in his first campaign with New York. Captain John Tavares owns six of his 75 points in the last three games and Calder Trophy frontrunner Mathew Barzal has two goals and four assists in the last four contests to tie him for the team lead in points. Goalie Christopher Gibson (2-1-2) earned the victory Tuesday and has stopped at least 35 shots in all four of his full games.

OVERTIME

1. New York RW Cal Clutterbuck sat out Tuesday's game because of migraines and is questionable for the Lightning contest.

2. Tampa Bay F Yanni Gourde is tied for the franchise rookie record with 24 goals and four of them have come against the Islanders.

3. New York is 6-for-13 on the power play over the last three games and sits tied for ninth in the league (21.8 percent) entering Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Lightning 5, Islanders 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-22-2018, 08:15 AM

New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
Alex Lyon recorded his first NHL win by turning aside 25 of 26 shots in relief against the New York Rangers last month. After another strong performance in relief in his last outing, the 25-year-old Lyon is expected to get the call on Thursday as the Philadelphia Flyers host the Rangers at Wells Fargo Center.

"He's shown a real good level of ability to be performance-ready, whether it's in a start or coming off the bench, which isn't always the easiest scenario," Philadelphia coach Dave Hakstol said of Lyon, who made 11 saves in relief of an ineffective Petr Mrazek in Tuesday's 5-4 shootout loss to Detroit. Captain Claude Giroux notched three assists for the third time this season in that outing and also joined Travis Konecny in recording a three-point performance (one goal, two assists) in the Flyers' 7-4 victory over the Rangers on Feb. 18. That triumph was just Philadelphia's second in the last nine meetings with New York, which didn't do the Flyers any favors after falling for the fifth time in seven outings with Tuesday's 5-3 setback to white-hot Columbus. The Blue Jackets inched past the Flyers into third place in the Metropolitan Division, with Philadelphia clinging to the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference following a 3-6-2 stretch.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), NBCS Philadelphia

ABOUT THE RANGERS (32-33-8): Kevin Hayes had a short-handed goal on Tuesday for his 17th point (10 goals, seven assists) in his last 19 games and enters Thursday's tilt with four tallies in his last four meetings with Philadelphia. Fellow forward Chris Kreider also scored versus the Blue Jackets to boost his point total to seven (two goals, five assists) in his last three games and has 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in 16 career encounters with the Flyers. Jesper Fast is riding a career-high six-game point streak with one goal and five assists, but he has been held off the scoresheet in both matches with Philadelphia this season.

ABOUT THE FLYERS (37-25-12): Sean Couturier and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere each collected a goal and assist versus the Red Wings, with the former netting his team-leading 30th tally and 100th career while also extending his point streak to five games (one goal, six assists). The 24-year-old Gostisbehere has five points (three goals, two assists) in his last five contests, with four coming with the man advantage. Jakub Voracek set up a goal against Detroit to boost his point total to 10 (five goals, five assists) in his last 10 games.

OVERTIME

1. Philadelphia's Ivan Provorov will break a tie with former D Chris Therien by appearing in his franchise-best 157th consecutive game to begin his NHL career.

2. New York's final nine games of the season are against Eastern Conference representatives, with seven of those versus Metropolitan Division foes.

3. The Flyers traded the rights to C Cooper Marody to Edmonton on Wednesday in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Flyers 3

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-22-2018, 08:16 AM

Arizona Coyotes vs. Carolina Hurricanes Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
The Carolina Hurricanes' postseason hopes get slimmer by the day, but they hope to keep them alive when they host the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. Carolina trails New Jersey by nine points for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with nine games remaining, digging that hole by losing six of its last eight contests.

The Hurricanes' latest setback was their fourth straight at home, a 7-3 loss to Edmonton on Tuesday. Sebastian Aho recorded his club-high 26th goal and an assist in the defeat to extend his point streak to six games and pull even for the team lead in points (59) with fellow Finn Teuvo Teravainen, who also tallied. Arizona is seeking its third consecutive victory as it continues a six-game road trip that began with Wednesday's 4-1 triumph in Buffalo. Clayton Keller set up a pair of goals for the Coyotes to give him 35 assists and 55 points, breaking the club records for a rookie respectively set by Max Domi in 2015-16 and Peter Mueller in 2007-08.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS Carolinas

ABOUT THE COYOTES (25-37-11): Luke Schenn was in the lineup Wednesday for the first time since March 10 due to the absence of fellow defenseman Jason Demers, who is out for the season with an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old Demers recorded six goals and 14 assists over 69 games during his first campaign with Arizona after being acquired from Florida in mid-September. Keller has registered two goals and five assists during his six-game point streak while Derek Stepan has collected a tally and six assists over his last six contests for the Coyotes, who have moved two points ahead of Vancouver to escape the basement in the Western Conference.

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (31-31-11): Carolina's playoff chances took another hit Wednesday as the team announced Victor Rask and defenseman Brett Pesce would miss the remainder of the season due to shoulder injuries. Rask, a 25-year-old Swedish center, has recorded 14 goals and 17 assists in 71 games while the 23-year-old Pesce has netted three tallies and set up 16 others in 65 contests. Aho has collected three goals and five assists during his point streak, with all three tallies coming on the power play to raise his team-leading total to eight.

OVERTIME

1. The Hurricanes have registered at least one power-play goal in five of their last seven games, going 6-for-21 in that span.

2. Schenn's next game will be his 700th in the NHL.

3. Carolina has recalled D Roland McKeown from Charlotte of the American Hockey League.

PREDICTION: Hurricanes 4, Coyotes 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-22-2018, 08:16 AM

Edmonton Oilers vs. Ottawa Senators Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
The Ottawa Senators dealt with plenty of adversity a year ago when goaltender Craig Anderson's wife was battling cancer and now are facing tragedy again this season. Captain and star defenseman Erik Karlsson will not be in the lineup for a second straight game when the Senators host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night.

Karlsson posted on Twitter about the circumstances surrounding the stillborn death of his son, expressing thanks for the love and support he and his wife received during the couple's ordeal. "Everybody's heartbroken. It's awful," Senators coach Guy Boucher said. "We definitely feel for Erik and his wife and his family and as a group in there. It's been a tough year. There's been all kinds of things that have been tough, but I think this is a real personal, devastating blow." Edmonton is wrapping up a four-game road trip in Ottawa, improving to 2-1-0 on the trek with a 7-3 rout of Carolina on Tuesday night. The Oilers have struggled against the Senators, dropping a 6-1 decision at home on Oct. 14 to extend their losing streak in the series to four games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Edmonton), RDS, TSN5 (Ottawa)

ABOUT THE OILERS (32-36-5): Leon Draisaitl eclipsed the 200-point mark by scoring one goal and setting up three others to draw him within 11 of matching last season's personal-best total of 77. Pontus Aberg, acquired at the trade deadline from Nashville, was scratched for two games for what coach Todd McLellan said were "for reasons beyond his play." Aberg, who reportedly missed a practice, returned to the lineup in Carolina and had a goal and two assists for his first three-point game.

ABOUT THE SENATORS (26-35-11): Defenseman Patrick Sieloff etched his name in the record books Tuesday, becoming the first player in history to score in each of his first two NHL games while playing for different teams, yet all that earned him was a demotion to Belleville of the American Hockey League. Marian Gaborik, acquired in a trade with Los Angeles in mid-February, has scored in three of the past four games. He has a strong track record against Edmonton with 26 goals and 57 points in 59 games.

OVERTIME

1. Oilers captain Connor McDavid has yet to score in five games versus the Senators, although he has six assists.

2. Ottawa has outscored Edmonton 17-5 over the past four matchups.

3. The Oilers acquired University of Michigan F Cooper Marody from Philadelphia in exchange for a 2019 third-round draft pick.

PREDICTION: Oilers 4, Senators 3

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-22-2018, 08:16 AM

Washington Capitals vs. Detroit Red Wings Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
The Washington Capitals are in the driver's seat as they pursue a third consecutive Metropolitan Division title, but they play five of their last nine away from home. The reigning two-time Presidents' Trophy winners have won five of their last six as they kick off a three-game road trip at the skidding Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.

Washington coach Barry Trotz is not about to overlook the Red Wings, who snapped a 10-game losing streak Tuesday with a 5-4 shootout victory over the Philadelphia Flyers -- a 6-3 winner over the Capitals on Sunday. "At this time of year, it doesn't really matter where teams are in the standings," Trotz said. "I think you don't look at any opponent right now any differently if you can." Although Washington is a pedestrian 16-15-5 on the road, Detroit has gone nearly a month since it last won in regulation (Feb. 24 versus Carolina). The Red Wings and Capitals have split a pair of meetings this season, with the away team winning in overtime, but since-traded Tomas Tatar scored half of Detroit's eight goals in the two matchups.

TV: 7:30 ET, NBC Sports Network

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (42-24-7): John Carlson scored the game-winning goal late in the third period and also set up Alex Ovechkin's NHL-high 44th tally in Tuesday's win to remain tied with Dallas' John Klingberg for the most points by a defenseman (61). Forward Tom Wilson did not record a point but he had six shots on goal, doled out nine hits and blocked three shots in a season-high 21:06. "You talk about hard to play against, different guys have different ways that they can have effect on opponents," Trotz said of Wilson.

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (27-35-11): Dylan Larkin, a 23-goal scorer as a rookie in 2015-16, halted a 17-game drought by converting twice in Tuesday's win to give him 11 tallies for the season. "He's done a real good job of playing a 200-foot game, and that's what's going to make him a great player in this league," Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. "He understands that." Frans Nielsen notched the only goal of Tuesday's shootout, giving him 48 for his career and 22 game-winning tallies in the format -- both league records.

OVERTIME

1. Capitals backup G Philipp Grubauer is expected to get the start against the Red Wings.

2. Detroit is 1-for-18 on the power play over the past seven games.

3. Capitals C Evgeny Kuznetsov (upper body), who missed the past two games, will travel with the team to Detroit.

PREDICTION: Capitals 3, Red Wings 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-22-2018, 08:16 AM

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Nashville Predators Preview and Predictions 03-22-2018

21st March 2018 by Gracenote
Pekka Rinne boasts a .950 save percentage during his 11-game winning streak to bolster his bid for the Vezina Trophy while the Nashville Predators have recorded at least one point in a franchise-best 15 games (14-0-1) to put themselves in the lead for the Presidents' Trophy. Rinne and the Predators aim to continue their torrid play on Thursday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Rinne reached the 40-win plateau for the third time and recorded his career-best eighth shutout in impressive fashion, turning aside all 35 shots he faced in Monday's 4-0 romp over Buffalo. "In our opinion, he's been the most valuable player for us, and definitely will be recognized for sure come award time in Vegas this summer," forward Ryan Johansen said of the 35-year-old Finn, who has permitted just five goals on 156 shots in his last five outings. Rinne wasn't as fortunate in his last encounter with Toronto, as James van Riemsdyk scored in regulation and again in the seventh round of the shootout of a 3-2 win on Feb. 7. The 28-year-old van Riemsdyk pushed his team-leading total in goals to 33 with seven in his last four games, including a pair in Tuesday's 4-3 setback to Tampa Bay.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Ontario (Toronto), TVAS, FS Tennessee (Nashville)

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (43-23-7): Auston Matthews skated with William Nylander and Zach Hyman during Wednesday's practice and declared himself good to go against Nashville after being sidelined for 10 games with a shoulder injury. "I felt good. Nice to kind of get in all the reps and everything so, in my mind, I think I'm ready to go, take it as I'm getting ready to play tomorrow so felt really good today," the 20-year-old Matthews said. Fellow forward Mitch Marner notched an assist versus the Lightning to extend his point streak to six games (two goals, six assists).

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (48-14-10): Viktor Arvidsson (team-leading 26 goals, 55 points) has scored eight goals and set up 10 others in his last 15 games. The 24-year-old Swede joined Colton Sissons with a tally versus Toronto, and the latter has two goals and an assist in his last two contests. Filip Forsberg has also been on a tear with 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in his past 10 games.

OVERTIME

1. Toronto G Frederik Andersen improved to 7-1-0 in his career versus Nashville after turning aside 44 shots in the first meeting.

2. Nashville's 13th-ranked power play is 0-for-19 in the last seven contests.

3. Maple Leafs D Connor Carrick boosted his point streak to four games (one goal, three assists) after setting up van Riemsdyk's first goal on Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 4, Predators 2

Thursday 3-22-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

Thursday 3-22-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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