In the Crease – Week 25

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Hurricane Warning
The Carolina Hurricanes are showing no signs of letting up, as they attempt to break the NHL's longest playoff drought dating back to the 2008-09 NHL season.Carolina has posted a 16-4-2 mark across the past 22 outings. They'll hit the road for a crucial battle against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night in Ohio's capital city. The Canes have posted victories in six of the past seven on the road, and they're 4-1 in their past five as an underdog while going 5-2 in the past seven against winning teams. They've also won 23 of the past 32 games overall.

As far as the Jackets are concerned, they're one of a handful of teams jockeying for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Their best asset is their penalty kill unit, ranking second overall in the NHL, killing 84.78 percent of their penalties. However, they have struggled on the offensive side of things, which is why they went all-in at the trade deadline to acquire offensive talent. So far the new faces haven't made much of a difference, as they have alternated wins and losses over the past five.

Looking Ahead

Thursday, March 14

Dallas at Minnesota: The Stars have been on a roll in the Western Conference, as they lock horns with the Minnesota Wild in the Twin Cities. Goaltender Ben Bishop has been the reason for the hot streak, as he rolls into the game with three consecutive shutouts, just the third goaltender in franchise history to accomplish that feat. He needs to 15:07 of scoreless action on Thursday to set the franchise's all-time streak for a netminder. He has posted an impressive 1.73 goals-against average and .938 save percentage in eight career starts against the Wild, and he has won two of his three meetings with the Wild this season. On the flip side, Devan Dubnyk has managed an 8-9-3 mark in 21 career appearances vs. Dallas.

Boston at Winnipeg: The B's and Jets jook up at MTS Centre in Manitoba, and it could be a high-scoring affair. The Jets won in Boston by a 4-3 score on Jan. 29 in the first meeting between these teams, and the over is 4-2-1 in the past seven meetings, and two of the past three in Winnipeg. The Bruins lost their last trip to Winnipeg, but won the previous two. The B's have been slumping a bit, allowing 11 goals over the two outings after having their 19-game streak with at least one point snapped. The Jets have dropped three of the past four, and they have allowed 14 total goals over their past four outings.

Florida at San Jose: This series has been heavily in favor of the road team in recent seasons. Florida won 6-2 at home on Jan. 21 against San Jose, but that was the first win by a home team in this series over the past six meetings dating back to Nov. 5, 2015. The underdog has connected in each of the past four meetings in this series, too. Florida has won four of the past five at the Shark Tank, too.

Friday, March 15

N.Y. Rangers at Calgary: The Rangers head into Calgary on Friday night with just one victory over the past nine outings, and they're 1-6 in the past seven on the road after their 4-1 loss in Vancouver on Wednesday evening. The Rangers are non-contenders and were major sellers at the deadline. The Flames are major contenders, and they piled up nine goals, including six third-period goals, in Tuesday's win over New Jersey. Calgary leads the NHL in third-period tallies. The 'over' is 3-0-1 in Calgary's past four at home, too. For the Flames, the over is also 7-1-1 in the past nine at home vs. Eastern Conference teams.

New Jersey at Vancouver: The Devils were roughed up for a season-high nine goals on Tuesday in Calgary, but they bounced back nicely with a 6-3 win in Edmonton on Wednesday night. They'll be looking to make it a season sweep against the Canucks, blanking Vancouver 4-0 back on New Year's Eve in the first meeting. The 'over' has cashed in six straight road games vs. Western Conference teams for the Devils.

Saturday, March 16

Columbus at Boston: The B's and Jackets just met in C-Bus on Tuesday, with Columbus coming away with a 7-4 victory. Believe it or not that was the first meeting of the season between these two Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls, and they'll also meet again on April 2 in Ohio. The Jackets head into this one with a tough back-to-back situation. In the second end of a back-to-back Columbus is 5-6 this season. They also headed in Friday's game with Columbus on a 4-1 'under' run.

Washington at Tampa Bay: The defending Stanley Cup champions against the potential champs this season? The Lightning have the league's best record, so this is gonna be a war. It's hard to believe, but these teams have yet to face each other this season. This is the first of two meetings in the next five days, and they'll square off three times between now and March 30. The Lightning have won four in a row at home since a 4-2 setback to the Maple Leafs on Jan. 17. The Caps will be decisive underdogs in this one, and they're 2-1 (+190) in their past three as a 'dog.

Nashville at San Jose: This will be the third and final meeting between the Predators and Sharks, although there is a real good chance they'll meet in the postseason. San Jose has won each of the first two meetings by a 5-4 score, as the 'over' comfortably hit in both. Each of the four meetings in this series have cashed the 'over', too. The road team is 5-1 across the past six meetings in this series, too.

Sunday, March 17

Edmonton at Vegas: These teams split a pair of meetings in Edmonton earlier this season, and this will be the first meeting at T-Mobile Arena. It's the sixth all-time meeting in the series since Vegas' inception, ans the Oilers have more than held their own with three wins in five tries. All three of their wins have been one-goal victories, while the two wins by Vegas are each by three goals apiece. The Golden Knights have hit the 'under' in four of their past six at home, and the under is 7-1-1 in their past nine at T-Mobile Arena vs. Western Conference foes.

VegasInsider Staff

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