Sabres the best team in the NHL?
Home is where the wins are
Mike Heika of the Dallas News points out that the Dallas Stars are 11-2-2 in their last 15 games at home and in the midst of a 1-9-3 stretch on the road.
?We feel confident at home. Now we have to bring that confidence and attitude on the road. Points are tough to come by on the road. It's going to be a battle," Stars forward Brad Richards told reporters after Monday?s home victory over the Wild.
It will be Alex Auld, not Marty Turco in net for Dallas in the immediate future.
"He's played very well," coach Marc Crawford told the Dallas News of Auld?s efforts. "We will most likely ride his goaltending here into the next game."
Is it Over for the Coyotes?
The under in Phoenix Coyotes games may be one of the best bets in the NHL this season (Coyotes have an o/u record of 15-30-5), but that trend may be changing.
Goaltenders Ilya Bryzgalov and Jason LaBarbera have allowed 33 goals over the Coyotes? last eight games and the Coyotes have an o/u record of 5-2-1 during that stretch.
"He's (Bryzgalov is) just like the rest of our group," coach Dave Tippett told Jim Gintonio of the Arizona Republic. "He needs to play better.?
The Coyotes have been struggling as a team, winning three of their last nine games.
Beasts of the East?and West?
Are the Buffalo Sabres the best team in the NHL?
The Sabres, currently on an 11-game point streak (8-0-3), are tied atop the Eastern Conference standings with the Capitals and have a game in hand.
Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News points out that the Sabres are 8-0-1 against the dominant Western Conference.
"There's a lot of good teams over there, and we've been able to rise to the occasion against good teams," winger Mike Grier told Harrington. "We seem to be more prepared and ready for the start of the game and we've been able to do that a lot against the West teams."
Long Island iced wins
When the season began, oddsmakers had the New York Islanders as the longest shot on the board to win the Stanley Cup.
More than halfway through the season, the Isles are contending for a playoff spot with a record of 22-19-8.
Franchise goaltender Rick DiPietro has returned from injury and the Isles are on a 9-2-1 run that includes shutout victories over New Jersey and Detroit.
"I think we're playing with a lot of confidence," Islanders coach Scott Gordon said after Monday?s victory over the Devils.
The Isles are 34-14 ATS this season.
On the schedule
Thursday Jan. 21 ? St. Louis Blues at Ottawa Senators
St. Louis plays three road games in four nights, including a back-to-back in Montreal Wednesday and Thursday in Ottawa, against a suddenly-surging Senators team.
Thursday Jan. 21 ? Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning
Toronto must play three road games in four nights. After games Monday in Nashville and Tuesday in Atlanta, the Leafs play in Tampa Bay on Thursday where the Lightning are 11-6-5 at home.
Sunday Jan, 24 - Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche
Dallas, having lost nine in a row on the road, ends a three-game, four-day road trip in Colorado Sunday night after games against the Canucks Thursday and Oilers Friday.
Home is where the wins are
Mike Heika of the Dallas News points out that the Dallas Stars are 11-2-2 in their last 15 games at home and in the midst of a 1-9-3 stretch on the road.
?We feel confident at home. Now we have to bring that confidence and attitude on the road. Points are tough to come by on the road. It's going to be a battle," Stars forward Brad Richards told reporters after Monday?s home victory over the Wild.
It will be Alex Auld, not Marty Turco in net for Dallas in the immediate future.
"He's played very well," coach Marc Crawford told the Dallas News of Auld?s efforts. "We will most likely ride his goaltending here into the next game."
Is it Over for the Coyotes?
The under in Phoenix Coyotes games may be one of the best bets in the NHL this season (Coyotes have an o/u record of 15-30-5), but that trend may be changing.
Goaltenders Ilya Bryzgalov and Jason LaBarbera have allowed 33 goals over the Coyotes? last eight games and the Coyotes have an o/u record of 5-2-1 during that stretch.
"He's (Bryzgalov is) just like the rest of our group," coach Dave Tippett told Jim Gintonio of the Arizona Republic. "He needs to play better.?
The Coyotes have been struggling as a team, winning three of their last nine games.
Beasts of the East?and West?
Are the Buffalo Sabres the best team in the NHL?
The Sabres, currently on an 11-game point streak (8-0-3), are tied atop the Eastern Conference standings with the Capitals and have a game in hand.
Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News points out that the Sabres are 8-0-1 against the dominant Western Conference.
"There's a lot of good teams over there, and we've been able to rise to the occasion against good teams," winger Mike Grier told Harrington. "We seem to be more prepared and ready for the start of the game and we've been able to do that a lot against the West teams."
Long Island iced wins
When the season began, oddsmakers had the New York Islanders as the longest shot on the board to win the Stanley Cup.
More than halfway through the season, the Isles are contending for a playoff spot with a record of 22-19-8.
Franchise goaltender Rick DiPietro has returned from injury and the Isles are on a 9-2-1 run that includes shutout victories over New Jersey and Detroit.
"I think we're playing with a lot of confidence," Islanders coach Scott Gordon said after Monday?s victory over the Devils.
The Isles are 34-14 ATS this season.
On the schedule
Thursday Jan. 21 ? St. Louis Blues at Ottawa Senators
St. Louis plays three road games in four nights, including a back-to-back in Montreal Wednesday and Thursday in Ottawa, against a suddenly-surging Senators team.
Thursday Jan. 21 ? Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning
Toronto must play three road games in four nights. After games Monday in Nashville and Tuesday in Atlanta, the Leafs play in Tampa Bay on Thursday where the Lightning are 11-6-5 at home.
Sunday Jan, 24 - Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche
Dallas, having lost nine in a row on the road, ends a three-game, four-day road trip in Colorado Sunday night after games against the Canucks Thursday and Oilers Friday.
