PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* NHL Total MASSACRE (Early Game!) >> 4-2 Friday!
(NHL) Arizona vs. Minnesota,
Total: 5.00 | 105.00 Under
Result: Push
Total: 5.00 | 105.00 Under
Result: Push
The set-up: The 11-14-5 Arizona Coyotes wrap up a four-game road trip on Saturday afternoon in Minnesota and have to face one of the hottest teams (the 17-8-4 Wild) and maybe the hottest goaltender (Devan Dubnyk). Dubnyk, the league leader in goals-against average (1.62) and save percentage (.947) is 8-0-2 in his past 10 starts with a 1.65 GAA and .944 save percentage. The Coyotes have won three of four and two straight on this road trip after Thursday's 3-2 shootout win over Toronto, after dropping six in a row.
Arizona: Despite the team's recent "mini-surge," the Coyotes' 27 points leaves them in last place in the Pacific Division and only Colorado (23) has fewer points among all NHL teams. However, like the Wild, Arizona's recent good play has had a lot to do with goaltending. Mike Smith made 44 saves in the team's 3-2 shootout win over Toronto on Thursday and he's stopped 125 of 129 shots in that trio of wins in these last four games. "He was really good, excellent," head coach Dave Tippett said. "That's what you've seen from him the last little bit here. We're still giving up too many chances but he's been there to clean a lot of it up." He's right about that, as Arizona is allowing a league-high 35.8 shots per game. Smith has played just 16 games due to a knee injury costing him a dozen potential starts but has faced 40 or more shots six times, which leads the NHL.
Minnesota: The Wild's 5-2 win in Nashville on Thursday night gives them a six-game winning streak, as well as picking up least a point in 11 of their last 12 games (8-1-3). Minnesota is also getting contributions team-wide, as the Wild boast an NHL third-best 13 players with 10 or more points. "We've got a solid team and a great goalie right now," said veteran Minnesota center Eric Staal who scored his eighth and ninth goals of the season on Thursday. "We got the job done, now we've got to keep going, big one on Saturday."
The pick: This isn't exactly a "big one" as Staal said but it looks as if Minnesota will try to beat the Coyotes without Dubnyk in net. "I'm playing (Saturday), so I'm looking forward to the start," the 26-year-old Kuemper (2-2-1) told the Minneapolis Star Tribune ahead of making his first start since Nov. 29. "It's awesome watching all the success (Dubnyk is) having and all the success the team is having. It's fun coming to the rink right now and I'm excited to get the chance to contribute to it." It may be "awesome" but Kuemper's last start was also Minnesota's last loss. Let me also note that Arizona is 7-2-2 in its last 11 visits to Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota. The Over is a 10* play..
Arizona: Despite the team's recent "mini-surge," the Coyotes' 27 points leaves them in last place in the Pacific Division and only Colorado (23) has fewer points among all NHL teams. However, like the Wild, Arizona's recent good play has had a lot to do with goaltending. Mike Smith made 44 saves in the team's 3-2 shootout win over Toronto on Thursday and he's stopped 125 of 129 shots in that trio of wins in these last four games. "He was really good, excellent," head coach Dave Tippett said. "That's what you've seen from him the last little bit here. We're still giving up too many chances but he's been there to clean a lot of it up." He's right about that, as Arizona is allowing a league-high 35.8 shots per game. Smith has played just 16 games due to a knee injury costing him a dozen potential starts but has faced 40 or more shots six times, which leads the NHL.
Minnesota: The Wild's 5-2 win in Nashville on Thursday night gives them a six-game winning streak, as well as picking up least a point in 11 of their last 12 games (8-1-3). Minnesota is also getting contributions team-wide, as the Wild boast an NHL third-best 13 players with 10 or more points. "We've got a solid team and a great goalie right now," said veteran Minnesota center Eric Staal who scored his eighth and ninth goals of the season on Thursday. "We got the job done, now we've got to keep going, big one on Saturday."
The pick: This isn't exactly a "big one" as Staal said but it looks as if Minnesota will try to beat the Coyotes without Dubnyk in net. "I'm playing (Saturday), so I'm looking forward to the start," the 26-year-old Kuemper (2-2-1) told the Minneapolis Star Tribune ahead of making his first start since Nov. 29. "It's awesome watching all the success (Dubnyk is) having and all the success the team is having. It's fun coming to the rink right now and I'm excited to get the chance to contribute to it." It may be "awesome" but Kuemper's last start was also Minnesota's last loss. Let me also note that Arizona is 7-2-2 in its last 11 visits to Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota. The Over is a 10* play..
