PREMIUM
*$20 TUESDAY!* Rogers' *10* Coach's Clinic >> 3-0 SWEEP Monday!
(NHL) Edmonton vs. Carolina,
Money Line: -155.00 Carolina (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -155.00 Carolina (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 31-30-11 Carolina Hurricanes are trying to stay in the hunt for a wild-card spot and start a run of four straight games against non-playoff position teams Tuesday night when the 31-36-5 Edmonton Oilers pay a visit. The Hurricanes will also play league-worst Arizona and Ottawa twice during the stretch. They are nine points behind New Jersey for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, after knocking off the New York Islanders 4-3 on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Oilers are in the middle of a four-game road trip, knocking off Florida on Saturday, before suffering a 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay last night. The Oilers had a 103-point season last year and reached the second round of the playoffs but are close to being officially eliminated from postseason consideration this season, with just 67 points.
Edmonton: The Oilers are one of the NHL's biggest disappointments this season but Connor McDavid still has a shot at the scoring title with 89 points, including 34 goals. McDavid was kept off the scoresheet against Tampa Bay but still boasts seven goals and 11 assists in his last 11 games to pull within four points of the NHL lead. Goalie Cam Talbot likely will be back in net after being rested Sunday and is 4-1-0 in his last five starts with a .954 save percentage in that stretch. Some bad news comes in the form of defenseman Oscar Klefbom (21 points, 66 games) flying back to Edmonton to have shoulder surgery later in the week that will end his season.
Carolina: The Hurricanes are 4-5-0 in March, after ending February with six straight losses (0-4-2) to put themselves in a hole. Teuvo Teravainen (58 points) and Sebastian Aho (57) continue to finish the season strong with two goals and four assists each during five-game point streaks. Carolina needs more from left wing Jeff Skinner, who is mired in a 12-game goal drought with four assists in that stretch (just points on the season), while veteran goalie Cam Ward has dropped four straight starts. All-Star defenseman Noah Hanifin (29 points, 71 games) suffered a concussion Saturday against Philadelphia and is out indefinitely.
The pick: It's likely both teams will miss the playoffs but at least the Hurricanes are still alive. Just about every time the Hurricanes look to be down for the count, they give themselves a chance. Carolina snapped a three-game losing streak with Sunday's 4-3 road decision over the New York Islanders and now they get a stretch of four games with non-playoff teams, beginning with Edmonton, tonight. The Hurricanes are 4-1-1 in the last six meetings between the two clubs, including a 5-3 win at Edmonton back on Oct. 17. The Oilers limp in having the fewest power-play goals in the league (convert on just 14.4 percent, to rank last as well), a situation that was magnified with an 0-of-5 performance in man advantages in Sunday's 3-1 loss at Tampa Bay. Make Carolina an 8* play.
Edmonton: The Oilers are one of the NHL's biggest disappointments this season but Connor McDavid still has a shot at the scoring title with 89 points, including 34 goals. McDavid was kept off the scoresheet against Tampa Bay but still boasts seven goals and 11 assists in his last 11 games to pull within four points of the NHL lead. Goalie Cam Talbot likely will be back in net after being rested Sunday and is 4-1-0 in his last five starts with a .954 save percentage in that stretch. Some bad news comes in the form of defenseman Oscar Klefbom (21 points, 66 games) flying back to Edmonton to have shoulder surgery later in the week that will end his season.
Carolina: The Hurricanes are 4-5-0 in March, after ending February with six straight losses (0-4-2) to put themselves in a hole. Teuvo Teravainen (58 points) and Sebastian Aho (57) continue to finish the season strong with two goals and four assists each during five-game point streaks. Carolina needs more from left wing Jeff Skinner, who is mired in a 12-game goal drought with four assists in that stretch (just points on the season), while veteran goalie Cam Ward has dropped four straight starts. All-Star defenseman Noah Hanifin (29 points, 71 games) suffered a concussion Saturday against Philadelphia and is out indefinitely.
The pick: It's likely both teams will miss the playoffs but at least the Hurricanes are still alive. Just about every time the Hurricanes look to be down for the count, they give themselves a chance. Carolina snapped a three-game losing streak with Sunday's 4-3 road decision over the New York Islanders and now they get a stretch of four games with non-playoff teams, beginning with Edmonton, tonight. The Hurricanes are 4-1-1 in the last six meetings between the two clubs, including a 5-3 win at Edmonton back on Oct. 17. The Oilers limp in having the fewest power-play goals in the league (convert on just 14.4 percent, to rank last as well), a situation that was magnified with an 0-of-5 performance in man advantages in Sunday's 3-1 loss at Tampa Bay. Make Carolina an 8* play.
