PREMIUM
Rogers' TOTAL MASSACRE >> 10-5 Overall Last 3 Days!
(NHL) Arizona vs. Buffalo,
Total: 5.50 | -130.00 Under
Result: Loss
Total: 5.50 | -130.00 Under
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 24-37-11 Arizona Coyotes open a six-game road trip Wednesday night in Buffalo against the 23-37-12 Sabres. Arizona is the West's worst team (59 points) and Buffalo is "worst in the East," with 58 points. The 'race' for the No. 1 spot in the NHL Draft enters its 'home stretch' with this contest (note: Vancouver may yet have a say, as the Canucks have just 59 points, as well)..
Arizona: The Coyotes appeared to be a lock for the worst record in the league until a late-season turnaround in which they have gone 12-5-2 over their last 19 games. "We understand we are not in the playoffs, but we understand we are playing teams that are going in the playoffs," Coyotes assistant coach John MacLean said after Monday's 5-2 victory over the Flames." Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored his 100th NHL goal for the game-winning score. He became the sixth Swedish defenseman to ever reach 100 goals in the league. He also added an empty-net goal to end the game. Veteran defenseman Jason Demers, in his first season in the desert, has been dealing with an upper-body injury and on Tuesday was ruled out for the season by Arizona. That prompted the recall of center Dylan Strome, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 draft, and defenseman Trevor Murphy from Tucson of the American Hockey League. Strome has one goal in 11 games with the Coyotes this season, but he is the No. 2 leading scorer among AHL rookies with 50 points and has nine power-play goals among his 22 tallies. Clayton Keller has two goals and three assists during a five-game point streak and he leads the Coyotes in scoring with 53 points (20 goals, 33 assists) in 72 games.
Buffalo: The Sabres have dropped three of four (1-2-1) on their six-game homestand, following Monday's 4-0 loss to NHL-leading Nashville. The Sabres got a boost on Saturday with the return of top center Jack Eichel in a 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Eichel leads the Sabres in scoring with 54 points (22 goals, 32 assists) in 57 games. He has notched a team-high five shots in each of his first two games since missing five weeks with a high-ankle sprain.
The pick: These are two of the NHL's worst defensive teams (that should be no surprise), as Arizona ranks 24th in allowing 3.12 GPG and Buffalo ranks 29th in allowing 3.25. The Coyotes allow 3.42 GPG on the road, whlel the Sabres allow 3.24 GPG at home. Let's make the Over a 10* play.
Arizona: The Coyotes appeared to be a lock for the worst record in the league until a late-season turnaround in which they have gone 12-5-2 over their last 19 games. "We understand we are not in the playoffs, but we understand we are playing teams that are going in the playoffs," Coyotes assistant coach John MacLean said after Monday's 5-2 victory over the Flames." Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored his 100th NHL goal for the game-winning score. He became the sixth Swedish defenseman to ever reach 100 goals in the league. He also added an empty-net goal to end the game. Veteran defenseman Jason Demers, in his first season in the desert, has been dealing with an upper-body injury and on Tuesday was ruled out for the season by Arizona. That prompted the recall of center Dylan Strome, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 draft, and defenseman Trevor Murphy from Tucson of the American Hockey League. Strome has one goal in 11 games with the Coyotes this season, but he is the No. 2 leading scorer among AHL rookies with 50 points and has nine power-play goals among his 22 tallies. Clayton Keller has two goals and three assists during a five-game point streak and he leads the Coyotes in scoring with 53 points (20 goals, 33 assists) in 72 games.
Buffalo: The Sabres have dropped three of four (1-2-1) on their six-game homestand, following Monday's 4-0 loss to NHL-leading Nashville. The Sabres got a boost on Saturday with the return of top center Jack Eichel in a 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Eichel leads the Sabres in scoring with 54 points (22 goals, 32 assists) in 57 games. He has notched a team-high five shots in each of his first two games since missing five weeks with a high-ankle sprain.
The pick: These are two of the NHL's worst defensive teams (that should be no surprise), as Arizona ranks 24th in allowing 3.12 GPG and Buffalo ranks 29th in allowing 3.25. The Coyotes allow 3.42 GPG on the road, whlel the Sabres allow 3.24 GPG at home. Let's make the Over a 10* play.
