Sports.com
Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter VI Mobile College Basketball March Mayhem Picks College Basketball March Mayhem Picks VegasInsider.com VegasInsider.com
Handicapper Bios Sports Picks Free Odds Contests Sportsbook
Sports.com
VI Home NFL NBANHLMLBNCAA FBNCAA BKGolfAutoHorsesBoxingVI More Sports
 
NHL Scores Matchups Teams Standings Schedules Injuries News
 
 · Latest News
 · Player Updates
 · Transactions
Buy Picks Vegas Odds
 
 · Vegas Odds
 · Offshore Odds
 · Future Odds
 
Preview: Predators (32-18) at Ducks (21-24)
BT Movements  ·  Line Movements
Date: November 05, 2009 10:00 PM EDT
  

The Nashville Predators closed October with their longest winning streak of the season. They look to keep that surge going as they open November with a four-game road trip.

The Predators go for their fourth straight win Thursday night when they meet the Anaheim Ducks, who remain mired in an unexpected slow start.

Last week, Nashville (6-6-1) posted wins over Minnesota and Chicago before topping Dallas 4-2 at home Saturday. The Predators got third-period goals from Steve Sullivan, Patric Hornqvist and Kevin Klein while Pekka Rinne finished with 27 saves.

"Overall our game has been improving over the last week or so,' Rinne said.

Advertisement

Rinne has been a big reason behind the Predators' recent success. He came on in relief of Dan Ellis on Oct. 28 against the Wild, stopping all 12 shots faced to get the win. The next night, Rinne made 22 saves to blank the Blackhawks.

Rinne, who had a goals-against average of 0.76 in the three victories, was named the NHL's second star of the week Monday. He's 1-0-2 with a 2.26 GAA in three career starts versus Anaheim.

Having a healthy J.P. Dumont in the lineup has also helped Barry Trotz's team. Dumont missed four games last month with a concussion, but has two goals and seven assists over his last five contests. He also has goals in three straight games in Anaheim.

Dumont leads the club with eight assists and 11 points, and he will be counted upon to continue producing with defenseman Shea Weber expected to miss this game with a foot injury. Weber leads Nashville with five goals, and was the club's top scorer against the Ducks last season with a goal and four assists in four games.

Following this contest, the Predators will visit Los Angeles and San Jose before wrapping up the trip Nov. 12 in St. Louis.

Anaheim (4-7-2) lost for the sixth time in seven games Tuesday, falling 4-3 to Pittsburgh. The 2007 Stanley Cup champions reached the West semifinals last season, but now have the fewest wins in the conference and are tied with Minnesota for last with 10 points.

Corey Perry scored twice, including his 100th career goal, to extend a pair of streaks. The right wing has six goals in a career-high four-game run, and 10 points in his last six contests.

"We're working hard, and if we keep playing the way we played tonight, we're going to get bounces and create chances for ourselves. Everybody in here is trying their hardest," said Perry, who led the Ducks with three goals as they went 2-1-1 versus Nashville last season.

Teemu Selanne was Anaheim's top scorer against the Predators in 2008-09, with five assists and six points. The 17-year veteran - playing his final NHL season - is second on the team with six goals, but has only two in his last nine games.

Facing the Predators may help the future Hall of Famer snap out of his slump, as he has done well in recent games at the Honda Center against Nashville. The 10-time All-Star has recorded points in his last six of those matchups, totaling six goals and eight assists while helping Anaheim to a 5-0-1 record.

With Jean-Sebastien Giguere still day-to-day with a groin injury, Jonas Hiller will probably be back in goal for the Ducks.

The Switzerland native is 4-5-1 with a 3.04 GAA in 10 starts, but has one win in his last six outings. He lost his only career start against Nashville, stopping 29 shots in a 4-2 defeat in December 2007.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2012
The Associated Press
All Rights Reserved

 BETTING TRENDS
 Team  ML   PUC   O/U 
 NAS         
 ANA         
BT MOVEMENTS

 
 
  
GOLD Membership
Receive a 20% discount on all Daily Picks. Signup Today!
 
 
Las Vegas Travel
 
 

NFL
NFL Picks
NFL Odds
NFL Matchups
NFL Scores

NBA
NBA Picks
NBA Odds
NBA Matchups
NBA Scores

MLB
MLB Picks
MLB Odds
MLB Matchups
MLB Scores


NCAA FB
NCAA FB Picks
NCAA FB Odds
NCAA FB Matchups
NCAA FB Scores

NCAA BK
NCAA BK Picks
NCAA BK Odds
NCAA BK Matchups
NCAA BK Scores

NHL
NHL Picks
NHL Odds
NHL Matchups
NHL Scores


More Sports
Golf
Auto Racing
Horse Racing
Boxing
UFC
WNBA
Soccer

Features
Free Odds
Mobile Odds
Contests
Newsletters
VI Radio
Las Vegas Travel
Follow us on Twitter
Join us on Facebook


Sports Betting Tools
Live Odds
Parlay Calculator
Gaming Terms
TV Listings
Handicapping Records
Sportsbook Reviews

VegasInsider Info
About Us
Help Center
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Contact Us
User Feedback

Sportsbooks
BetOnline.com
Bodog.ca
Bovada.lv
SBG Global.com
Sportsbook.com
TopBet.com

Rotation Schedules
Hockey:
 
 
Basketball:

Jan 31 - Feb 27
Feb 28 - Apr 07
 
Jan 31 - Feb 27

Copyright © 1997-2012, VegasInsider.com Inc., The Global Leader In Sports Gaming Information. All rights reserved.
For questions or comments, please contact us at 1-800-211-4759.