PREMIUM
Rogers' NHL Total MASSACRE >> Won 8 of Past 12 Days!
(NHL) Arizona vs. Columbus,
Total: 5.50 | 115.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 5.50 | 115.00 Over
Result: Win
The set-up: The 8-11-4 Arizona Coyotes will play at Columbus tonight and the 14-5-4 Blue Jackets own the fewest regulation losses in the league. Columbus entered the league back in 2000 but has reached the postseason just twice, getting eliminated in the opening round each time. However, it may not be too early to say that the Blue Jackets are the biggest surprise team in the NHL and appear to have the pieces to get in the playoffs and to stick around for a while.
Arizona: The playoffs are something Arizona isn't likely to see in 2016-17, as the Coyotes are currently last in the Pacific Division, just one point ahead of the Colorado Avalanche at the bottom of the entire Western Conference. Arizona is in the middle of a stretch of four games in six days and will be looking to avoid its fourth straight loss. "We're trying to be as competitive as we can," coach Dave Tippett told the Arizona Republic. "We're scratching and clawing trying to get points. We feel like we're in every game." Don't blame M goalie Mike Smith for Arizona's woes. He stopped a career-best 58 shots Saturday, the third time in four games that he's faced at least 40 shots. "Frustrating would be a good word but it's even worse than that right now," Smith said. "At some point, you'd like to see your team move forward and take steps in the right direction to start having your chance to win hockey games. It seems like once we take one step forward we're taking a couple back. It's tough to play like that in this league and expect to come out and win hockey games."
Columbus: The Blue Jackets' play has turned heads to be sure. Columbus is averaging 3.13 goals per game, just barely ahead of the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins and trailing only the New York Rangers. The Blue Jackets have lost in regulation just once in their last 11 contests and own the second-best goal differential in the league at plus-21, as they've climbed into third place in the Metropolitan Division, trailing Pittsburgh for second by only one point. Head coach John Tortorella has been getting balanced scoring at home. Four players each have totaled at least 10 points in Columbus, Cam Atkinson (15), Alexander Wennberg (12), Zach Werenski (12) and Nick Foligno (11). Scott Hartnell and Brandon Saad added nine points apiece. Goalie Sergie Bobrovsky is 11-2-1 with a 1.96 goals-against average, a .930 save percentage and two shutouts in his last 14 games.
The pick: The Blue Jackets have dominated the Coyotes in a three-game winning streak over Arizona, scoring 15 goals. However, Arizona goalie Mike Smith is hot (see above), as is Columbus' Sergie Bobrovsky. The Under is an 8* play.
Arizona: The playoffs are something Arizona isn't likely to see in 2016-17, as the Coyotes are currently last in the Pacific Division, just one point ahead of the Colorado Avalanche at the bottom of the entire Western Conference. Arizona is in the middle of a stretch of four games in six days and will be looking to avoid its fourth straight loss. "We're trying to be as competitive as we can," coach Dave Tippett told the Arizona Republic. "We're scratching and clawing trying to get points. We feel like we're in every game." Don't blame M goalie Mike Smith for Arizona's woes. He stopped a career-best 58 shots Saturday, the third time in four games that he's faced at least 40 shots. "Frustrating would be a good word but it's even worse than that right now," Smith said. "At some point, you'd like to see your team move forward and take steps in the right direction to start having your chance to win hockey games. It seems like once we take one step forward we're taking a couple back. It's tough to play like that in this league and expect to come out and win hockey games."
Columbus: The Blue Jackets' play has turned heads to be sure. Columbus is averaging 3.13 goals per game, just barely ahead of the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins and trailing only the New York Rangers. The Blue Jackets have lost in regulation just once in their last 11 contests and own the second-best goal differential in the league at plus-21, as they've climbed into third place in the Metropolitan Division, trailing Pittsburgh for second by only one point. Head coach John Tortorella has been getting balanced scoring at home. Four players each have totaled at least 10 points in Columbus, Cam Atkinson (15), Alexander Wennberg (12), Zach Werenski (12) and Nick Foligno (11). Scott Hartnell and Brandon Saad added nine points apiece. Goalie Sergie Bobrovsky is 11-2-1 with a 1.96 goals-against average, a .930 save percentage and two shutouts in his last 14 games.
The pick: The Blue Jackets have dominated the Coyotes in a three-game winning streak over Arizona, scoring 15 goals. However, Arizona goalie Mike Smith is hot (see above), as is Columbus' Sergie Bobrovsky. The Under is an 8* play.
