PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* TOP TICKET
(NHL) New Jersey vs. Anaheim,
Money Line: -153.00 Anaheim (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -153.00 Anaheim (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The 37-26-8 New Jersey Devils are jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference playoff race, as they continue a six-game road trip in Anaheim on Sunday against the Ducks. The Devils sit in the second wild-card spot in the East (own a five-point margin) plus are just one point behind Philadelphia and Columbus in battle for second and third-place in the Metropolitan Division with one game in hand. They kept pace in the race on Saturday by improving to 3-0-0 on their trek with a 3-0 triumph in Los Angeles against the Kings. As for the 36-24-4 Ducks, they are fighting for their postseason lives in the West. The Ducks are even in points with the Kings, Avs and Stars (all have 84 points) in the West but find themselves out of a playoff spot with 10 games remaining. Anaheim has posted back-to-back victories after losing three straight and is 9-1-2 in its last 12 at Honda Center as it concludes a four-game homestand during which it is 2-1-0.
New Jersey: Goalie Keith Kinkaid (19-9-2, 2,85 GAA & .910) put on quite the performance in his 100th NHL appearance on Saturday, turning aside 38 shots en route to the fourth shutout of his career. New Jersey shares the league lead with 10 short-handed goals after Michael Grabner scored for just the second time in 10 games since being acquired from the New York Rangers on Feb. 22. Taylor Hall, who leads the team with 76 points (as well as with 31 goals) and is four shy of matching his career high, has been kept off the scoresheet in three of his last four games after notching a point in 26 consecutive contests.
Anaheim: Rickard Rakell leads the club with 60 points. He is riding a 13-game point streak against Eastern Conference opponents during which he has collected 10 goals and 10 assists. Defenseman Hampus Lindholm needs two assists to reach 100 for his career and is one goal away from setting a new career high of 11. Captain Ryan Getzlaf began the season hurt but now has 52 points in 47 games.
The pick: Anaheim goes on the road for four games against Western Conference teams, after tonight's game with New Jersey. The Ducks can ill-afford a loss in this one. Anaheim has been a strong home team this season (21-10-5), including coming in on a 9-1-2 run in its last 12 games on home ice. Make the Ducks a 10* play.
New Jersey: Goalie Keith Kinkaid (19-9-2, 2,85 GAA & .910) put on quite the performance in his 100th NHL appearance on Saturday, turning aside 38 shots en route to the fourth shutout of his career. New Jersey shares the league lead with 10 short-handed goals after Michael Grabner scored for just the second time in 10 games since being acquired from the New York Rangers on Feb. 22. Taylor Hall, who leads the team with 76 points (as well as with 31 goals) and is four shy of matching his career high, has been kept off the scoresheet in three of his last four games after notching a point in 26 consecutive contests.
Anaheim: Rickard Rakell leads the club with 60 points. He is riding a 13-game point streak against Eastern Conference opponents during which he has collected 10 goals and 10 assists. Defenseman Hampus Lindholm needs two assists to reach 100 for his career and is one goal away from setting a new career high of 11. Captain Ryan Getzlaf began the season hurt but now has 52 points in 47 games.
The pick: Anaheim goes on the road for four games against Western Conference teams, after tonight's game with New Jersey. The Ducks can ill-afford a loss in this one. Anaheim has been a strong home team this season (21-10-5), including coming in on a 9-1-2 run in its last 12 games on home ice. Make the Ducks a 10* play.
