Thursday 11/29/2018 ... Comps / Bonus Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Requests Etc

New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys Preview and Predictions 11-29-2018
BY GRACENOTE


The Dallas Cowboys have cobbled together three straight wins to alter the complexion of their season and vault into a share of first place in the mediocre NFC East. The Cowboys will encounter quite the litmus test on Thursday when they host the surging New Orleans Saints, who have won a staggering 10 in a row since their season-opening loss to Tampa Bay.

Ezekiel Elliott leads the NFL with 1,074 rushing yards and has amassed 531 scrimmage yards (394 rushing, 137 receiving) and four touchdowns in his last three games, including 143 (121 rushing, 22 receiving) with a 16-yard scoring run in Dallas' 31-23 win over Washington on Thanksgiving Day. The 23-year-old Elliott likely would need a similar performance against New Orleans' top-ranked rush defense (73.2 yards) as a means to control the clock and keep NFL MVP candidate Drew Brees (league-best 76.4 completion percentage) on the sideline. With Brees under center, the high-octane Saints have scored an NFL-best 37.2 points per game and are fifth in yards (416.6). New Orleans had no issue continuing its frenetic pace last Thursday, as Brees tossed four touchdown passes in a 31-17 win over Atlanta and has 11 scoring strikes against one interception in his last four meetings with the Cowboys.

TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, FOX, NFL Network. LINE: Saints -7.5. O/U: 53

ABOUT THE SAINTS (10-1): The electric Alvin Kamara has shown no signs of slowing down with 575 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns (six rushing, three receiving) in his past six games. Fellow running back Mark Ingram has three scores in his last three outings and Michael Thomas has proven to be Brees' most trusted target with an NFL second-best 86 receptions. While the offense receives its fair share of headlines, the defense is getting plenty of press too, as it forced four turnovers, registered a season-high six sacks and held Falcons running backs Tevin Coleman and Ito Smith to just six rushing yards on 10 carries last week. "We all know what Dallas is gonna want to do -- hand it to Zeke as many times as they can and try to pound out a win," defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins said. "So it's gonna be fun."

ABOUT THE COWBOYS (6-5): Louisiana native Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper look to exploit New Orleans' 30th-ranked pass defense after the pair hooked up for two long touchdown passes against the Redskins. Prescott has a rushing score in each of his last three games while Cooper joined Kansas City speedster Tyreek Hill in recording his second 180-yard, two-touchdown performance in the last two seasons with his sterling effort versus Washington. Cooper has seen eight-plus targets in three of four games since being acquired from Oakland, giving Dallas a new version of a familiar three-pronged attack made famous by "The Triplets" of Pro Football Hall of Famers Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. "I think the sky's the limit," the 24-year-old Cooper said. "Obviously we'll have to wait and see, but Dak is a great player. Zeke is a great player. So who knows?"

EXTRA POINTS

1. New Orleans WR Tre'Quan Smith was limited in practice on Tuesday as he attempts to return from a one-game absence due to a foot injury.

2. Dallas DE Demarcus Lawrence has three of his team-leading 8.5 sacks in the last four games.

3. The Saints have a league low-tying nine turnovers, one fewer than the Cowboys.

PREDICTION: Saints 38, Cowboys 16

Golden State Warriors vs. Toronto Raptors Preview and Predictions 11-29-2018
BY GRACENOTE


The Toronto Raptors host the Golden State Warriors on Thursday in what could be an NBA Finals preview - if the teams are at full strength. The Warriors could get some of their major pieces back in the lineup on Thursday with Stephen Curry (groin) and Draymond Green (toe) both participating in practice.

Green and Curry are both expected to return sometime during the team's five-game road trip, and Curry has progressed to the point that he is participating in team scrimmages. "He's just trying to get his rhythm and his conditioning down," Golden State coach Steve Kerr told reporters of Curry, who is averaging 29.5 points while shooting 51.5 percent from the floor and 49.2 percent from beyond the arc. "He's doing well." The Raptors are looking like the best team in the NBA and extended the current winning streak to six straight by recovering from a 17-point deficit to earn a 122-114 win at Memphis on Tuesday. "We didn't really bring our game with us, but we found it," Toronto coach Nick Nurse told reporters.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State), TSN (Toronto) LINE: Check for the latest line

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (15-7): Golden State is 5-5 in the 10 games that Curry has missed, though they managed to win the last three behind some strong performances from Kevin Durant. The former MVP collected 49 points, nine assists and six rebounds in a 116-110 win over Orlando on Monday that capped a four-game homestand. "Incredible," Kerr told reporters of Durant's performance. "The guy is just amazing. He's so talented. I think the last few games he just kind of knew he had to put us on his shoulders because of the four-game losing streak, the struggles."

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (18-4): Toronto leans on its depth and got 18 points on 6-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range, from reserve point guard Fred VanVleet in Tuesday's triumph. "Obviously, we all know I haven't been shooting the ball well, so to get back on track is always fun," VanVleet, who scored in double figures in each of the last four games after reaching the mark three times in the first 10 games this month, told reporters. The Raptors are third in the NBA in scoring at an average of 117 points and shot 60.9 percent from the floor in Tuesday's win.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Warriors PG Quinn Cook is 5-of-21 from the floor over the last two games.

2. Raptors SF Kawhi Leonard posted his third straight double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds on Tuesday.

3. Golden State took the last eight in the series, including four straight in Toronto.

PREDICTION: Raptors 123, Warriors 119

LA Clippers vs. Sacramento Kings Preview and Predictions 11-29-2018
BY GRACENOTE

The Los Angeles Clippers look to win in Sacramento for the 12th consecutive time when they visit the Kings on Thursday. Los Angeles has consistently outplayed the Kings in California's capital city since dropping a 116-101 decision on March 19, 2013.

The Clippers routed the Phoenix Suns 115-99 on Wednesday and have won 10 of their past 12 games to boast the top record in the Western Conference and third best in the NBA. "I don't know how to judge it," Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers said after the victory over the Suns. "Every game, it seems, is like a fight. We're going to (Sacramento) and they have had two or three days off. It is going to be another tough one." The Kings have dropped back-to-back games and seven of their last 11 after getting off to a strong 6-3 start. Shooting guard Buddy Hield has stepped up as the lead scoring option and has nine 20-point outings while averaging a team-best 18.8 points.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (14-6): Forward Danilo Gallinari recorded his first double-double of the season as he matched his season high of 28 points and collected 10 rebounds in the victory over the Suns. Gallinari is averaging 21.7 points and nine rebounds over the past three games and is thriving while healthy after being limited to 21 games last season in his first campaign with the club. Reserve guard Lou Williams scored 20 points against Phoenix to bounce back from his worst effort of the season -- four points on 2-of-13 shooting versus the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.

ABOUT THE KINGS (10-10): Second-year point guard De'Aaron Fox is an emerging star with five double-doubles and six games of 10 or more assists during the first quarter of the campaign. Fox is averaging 17.5 points and 7.5 assists - his rookies averages were 11.6 and 4.4 - while also asserting himself as a leader and symbol of the franchise's improved product. "He's done a great job of taking it to the next level," Sacramento coach Dave Joerger told reporters. "Who knows where he can go or how good he can be, but he's given himself every chance by working really hard."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Clippers have outscored the Kings by an average of 15.2 points while winning the past five overall meetings.

2. Los Angeles C Marcin Gortat (back spasms) missed Wednesday's game and is doubtful to play against the Kings.

3. Sacramento SG Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 20 points in Sunday's loss to Utah for his seventh straight double-digit outing.

PREDICTION: Kings 113, Clippers 111

Indiana Pacers vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview and Predictions 11-29-2018
BY GRACENOTE


The Los Angeles Lakers suffered through a terrible performance at Denver on Tuesday, but the next chance to redeem themselves is right around the corner. The Lakers will try to bounce back and avoid a three-game slide when they host the Indiana Pacers on Thursday.

Los Angeles shot 39.1 percent from the floor and went 5-of-35 from 3-point range in the 117-85 setback at Denver, and veteran center Tyson Chandler felt the team let its shooting impact other areas of the game. "It can't be just about hitting shots and feeling good about yourself," Chandler told the Los Angeles Daily News. "It has to be all the time. Like, we got to be able to hit teams with waves. That's the only way we're going to have real success and try to wear teams down. And if we're relying on our shots, we'll have long nights." The Pacers took the first two stops of a four-game road trip, blowing out the Utah Jazz on Monday before sneaking past the Phoenix Suns 109-104 the next night. "We weren't sharp in this game, but you have to find a way to win games like that," Indiana coach Nate McMillan told reporters after beating the Suns. "I thought they gutted it out in that fourth quarter. We didn't even win that fourth quarter. We were able to get this one."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS Indiana, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles) LINE: Check for the latest line

ABOUT THE LAKERS (11-9): LeBron James scored a season-low 14 points on Tuesday but the most concerning part of the loss for Los Angeles was when point guard Lonzo Ball went down with a sprained ankle and had to be removed from the game. X-rays came back negative and Ball insisted that he will play on Thursday, but the Lakers are being cautious. "It hurts," coach Luke Walton told reporters of being without both Ball and fellow point guard Rajon Rondo (wrist). "We have other guys that we trust - Brandon (Ingram), LeBron that can play that for us - but they do other things for us, too. So, it's not ideal, but we'll get a better feel for what we're looking at probably after this flight and into tomorrow morning with (Ball)."

ABOUT THE PACERS (13-8): Indiana played its last five games without leading scorer Victor Oladipo (21.4 points) due to a knee injury, but is finding ways to score up and down the roster. The reserves took charge in Tuesday's win, with power forward Domantas Sabonis collecting 21 points and 16 rebounds and small forward Doug McDermott scoring 21 points while knocking down 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. "I think I'm just getting a little better rhythm, getting some screens, some pin-downs, just getting a little ball movement out there," McDermott told reporters. "It's really helping us out a lot. Domantas has done a really good job of setting the tone and finding me and screening me, which has been huge, because as a shooter I rely on big guys like him."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pacers PG Darren Collison handed out 11 assists in each of the last two games.

2. Lakers SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is 4-of-20 from the floor over the last three games, including 2-of-13 from beyond the arc.

3. The home team took the last five meetings in the series.

PREDICTION: Lakers 110, Pacers 107

Georgia Southern Eagles vs. Arizona Wildcats Preview and Predictions 11-29-2018
BY GRACENOTE


Arizona carries a two-game losing streak into Thursday night's home game with Georgia Southern. But Wildcats coach Sean Miller believes those two losses to No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 10 Auburn last week at the Maui Invitational in Hawaii will prove to be beneficial in the long run for his rebuilding team.

Arizona, which lost all five starters from a 27-8 squad including No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick Deandre Ayton, opened the Maui Invitational with a 71-66 victory over Iowa State before losing to the Zags (91-74) and then Auburn (73-57). "Thank God we took one win home," Miller told reporters after the loss to the Tigers last Wednesday. "Very easily you can leave this tournament 0-3. ... You play in a tournament like this in November, you learn through trial and error, you learn through baptism by fire. We're going to be a better team when we return to Tucson because we came on this trip." Next up is a Georgia Southern squad picked to finish tied for second in the Sun Belt's preseason coaches' poll that is off to a 5-1 start but comes in off a 69-64 home loss to East Tennessee State on Tuesday night.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT GEORGIA SOUTHERN (5-1): Senior guard Tookie Brown was a preseason first team all-Sun Belt pick after averaging 18.9 points last season and is second on the team in scoring (17.8) while leading the way in assists (4.8). Sophomore guard Quan Jackson paces the Eagles at 18.8 points per contest and grabs 6.8 rebounds while senior guard Ike Smith (13.8 points) - a third team preseason all-Sun Belt selection - and senior forward Montae Glenn (11.3) are also averaging in double figures with Glenn also pulling down a team-best 7.7 rebounds per game. The Eagles are shooting 55.2 percent from the floor but have struggled behind the arc, shooting just 26.9 percent from 3-point range and ranking just 330th nationally.

ABOUT ARIZONA (4-2): Guard Justin Coleman, a grad transfer from Samford, earn all-tournament honors in Maui after averaging 20.7 points and dishing off nine total assists while also shooting 58.3 percent from 3-point range, including 28 points on 6-of-9 from 3-point range in the loss to Gonzaga. "He was outstanding," Miller told reporters of Coleman. "If he didn't play the way he played, I'm not sure where we would have been in any of the three games." Sophomore guard Brandon Rudolph (17.3) leads the Wildcats in scoring, followed by Coleman (13.3), freshman guard Brandon Williams (12.8) and 6-10 Duke transfer Chase Jeter (11.5).

TIP-INS

1. Arizona has won 50 straight non-conference home games dating back to 2011.

2. Randolph has scored 18 or more points in four of the Wildcats' six games.

3. Coleman is shooting 50 percent (15-of-30) from 3-point range. which ranks second in the Pac-12 Conference.

PREDICTION: Arizona 76, Georgia Southern 65

McNeese St. Cowboys vs. Southern Methodist Mustangs Preview and Predictions 11-29-2018
BY GRACENOTE


Senior guard Jarrey Foster's return from a mid-January knee injury seemed to lift the SMU offense on Tuesday. The Mustangs will try to repeat the performance when they host McNeese State on Thursday in the second contest of a four-game homestand.

The Mustangs had 23 assists in Tuesday's win against Lamar after recording 15 total assists in two games at the Cancun Challenge last week. SMU coach Tim Jankovich credited Foster, the only Mustang entering 2018-19 with more than one season at the school, with calming the offense. "He's got a high IQ, a high-competitive motor and he's a winner," Jankovich told reporters after the game. "Having that is contagious. I think it calms our players, they get another sense of confidence when he's on the floor. Playing like a winner is playing completely unselfishly, always talking to your teammate, always making the extra pass, play, block-out, rotation." The Cowboys hit the road after back-to-back wins against smaller schools, beating Division II Mississippi College and NAIA-member Mobile by a combined 52 points.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT MCNEESE STATE (2-3): Center Malik Hines, a 6-10 graduate transfer from Massachusetts, leads the Cowboys with 13.6 points per game on 72.5 percent shooting while senior guard James Harvey averages 11 points. Junior guard Roydell Brown (9.6 points) is ranked 13th nationally - entering Wednesday - with 10.8 rebounds per contest and is only player listed as a guard in the top 40. Hines and 6-8 junior Sha'markus Kennedy (6.0 points, 6.2 rebounds) have recorded 21 of McNeese State's 23 blocks.

ABOUT SMU (4-3): Foster went 4-of-5 from the floor for 11 points in 18 minutes in his first action since Jan. 17. Senior guard Jahmal McMurray leads the Mustangs with 19 points per contest and 6-9 sophomore forward Ethan Chargois adds 15.1 points, a team-best 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. Junior Jimmy Whitt Jr. chips in 12.3 points per game on 53.8 percent shooting and averages a team-high 3.7 assists for SMU, which has shot better than 53 percent from the floor in back-to-back games.

TIP-INS

1. SMU has led at halftime in its five home games, but lost a pair of them to Southern Miss and Lipscomb.

2. The Mustangs are 22-1 under Jankovich when they record at least 20 assists.

3. McNeese State is 0-2 on the road, losing at Saint Mary's and Arizona State by a combined 50 points to start the season.

PREDICTION: SMU 78, McNeese State 60

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Central Florida Knights Preview and Predictions 11-29-2018
BY GRACENOTE


Central Florida has used a suffocating defense to win four straight games and will need another big effort on that side of the floor to extend the streak when it hosts Alabama on Thursday night. The Knights have allowed an average of 56 points during their winning streak and limited previously-unbeaten Northern Kentucky to 32.2 percent from the field in a 66-53 win last time out on Saturday.

"Over the last three or four games, I think our defensive intensity has really picked up for 40 minutes and that has been a difference for us," UCF coach Johnny Dawkins told reporters. "We are back to playing UCF defense, which like I have said before is blue collar, workman-like defense and when we play that way I think our offense is better." The Knights will try to match last season's performance against the Crimson Tide, when guard Terrell Allen recorded 16 points and eight assists in a 65-62 triumph -- Central Florida's first true road victory over a ranked team in its history. Alabama is also on a roll with three victories in a row after freshman guard Kira Lewis Jr. scored 20 points -- his third game of at least that many -- in a hard-earned 78-72 win over Murray State on Monday. "Ball security was poor," Crimson Tide coach Avery Johnson told reporters after his team turned the ball over 21 times. "We didn't have as many two-hand catches and two eyes that we needed to secure the ball. Spacing was bad. But overall, I'm proud of the way our guys fought through adversity."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT ALABAMA (5-1): Lewis had a season-high 24 points in the win over Wichita State on Nov. 18 -- two games back -- and leads the team in scoring (14.3) while topping the Crimson Tide overall with 17 assists. Sophomore guard John Petty is the only other player averaging in double figures scoring (13.8) after pouring in 16 points against Murray State and sophomore guard Herbert Jones contributes 9.8 to go along with 5.8 rebounds per game. Senior forward Donta Hall, who scored 20 against UCF last season, leads the team in rebounding (6.5) but has just four total points in the last two games.

ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (5-1): Senior Tacko Fall, a 7-6 center, has raised his production level during the winning streak and scored a season-high 20 points in the win over Northern Kentucky to go along with nine boards. "(Fall) has been building towards this all season long and we have seen it coming in practice," coach Dawkins told reporters after Saturday's win. "He was terrific on both ends of the floor." Senior guard B.J. Taylor leads the team in scoring (15.5), but went 1-of-8 from the field Saturday, while junior guard Aubrey Dawkins adds 15.2 points per contest and is 24-of-45 from the field the last four games.

TIP-INS

1. Alabama junior G Dazon Ingram averages nine points overall and is 11-of-16 from the field the past four games.

2. Allen averages 10.5 points, a team-high 5.2 assists and is among the national leaders in assist-turnover-ratio (7.75).

3. The Crimson Tide boasts a plus-6.3 rebounding margin and UCF is even better at plus-7.2.

PREDICTION: Central Florida 72, Alabama 68

Sacred Heart Pioneers vs. Boston College Eagles Preview and Predictions 11-29-2018
BY GRACENOTE


Boston College looks for its fourth straight win as it plays the second of a three-game homestand Thursday night against visiting Sacred Heart. The Eagles won the inaugural Fort Myers Tip-Off last week and followed that up with a 68-56 win over Minnesota as part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge on Monday.

Junior reserve Nik Popovic scored all 18 of his points in the second half to break open a one-point game at intermission as BC pulled away. "I thought he was patient in the post. Took his time. I thought he played a solid game around the basket. When he's patient, he's a good player," Eagles coach Jim Christian told reporters after the game. Sacred Heart snapped a three-game losing streak with a 98-89 win over Hartford on Tuesday where the Pioneers used a 13-2 run midway through the first half to open up a lead that they wouldn't surrender. Freshman guard Cameron Parker recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 assists in the win.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ACC Network

ABOUT SACRED HEART (3-4): Senior guard Sean Hoehn scored a team-high 22 on 7-of-13 shooting, including 2-of-5 from behind the arc, and has now scored 20 or more points in five of seven games this season. The Pioneers shot 58.6 percent against Hartford and are now shooting 50 percent on the season, which ranks them tied for 28th in the country. Defense has been an issue, however, as they rank 335th in the nation in allowing opponents to score 83.7 points per game.

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (5-1): Popovic was perfect from the field on nine attempts and also added six rebounds in just 19 minutes, bringing his season averages to 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds. Junior guard Ky Bowman, the team's leading scorer at 20.2 points per game, added 12 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season and ninth of his career. Freshman guard Wynston Tabbs posted a career-high 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting and added five assists, four rebounds and three steals against Minnesota.

TIP-INS

1. BC held Minnesota to 8-of-34 shooting, including 2-of-16 from behind the arc, in the second half.

2. Bowman is third in the ACC in scoring, trailing only Duke's RJ Barrett (22.7) and Zion Williamson (21.3).

3. Hoehn is averaging 21.9 points per game, good for third in the Northeast Conference.

PREDICTION: Boston College 92, Sacred Heart 85

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Vancouver Canucks Preview and Predictions 11-29-2018
NHL PREDICTIONS 28TH NOVEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


The Vegas Golden Knights have shaken off their early-season malaise and are looking more like the team that barnstormed its way to the Stanley Cup Finals in the franchise's inaugural season. The surging Golden Knights look to make it five consecutive victories when they continue a three-game road trip at the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.

Vegas moved above the NHL's version of .500 for the first time this season following Tuesday's 8-3 romp in Chicago and has piled up 19 goals during the four-game winning streak. "I think we're getting better and better," Golden Knights forward Cody Eakin said. "We're hoping that we can maintain this level of play, the play that's allowed us to have success and wins moving forward." The Canucks were among the NHL's biggest surprises over the first five weeks, but they have come back to the pack with one win in the last 10 games (1-7-2). Vancouver was swept in the four-game season series by Vegas in 2017-18 but came away with a 3-2 shootout victory on the road in this season's first meeting on Oct. 24.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, AT&T-Sportsnet-Rocky Mountain (Las Vegas), Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (13-12-1): Despite a season-high goal total on Tuesday, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has sparked Vegas' turnaround by winning his last five starts. Fleury, named the league's Second Star of the Week after posting a pair of shutouts among three wins, has surrendered five goals over the past four games. ""My teammates have been helping a lot," Fleury said. "The forwards are coming back and cutting those cross-ice passes. The defense lets me see the puck and they take the rebounds away. Just little things have been making a difference defensively."

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (11-13-3): Vancouver halted an eight-game slide at Pacific Division cellar dweller Los Angeles on Saturday, but its offensive woes continued in a 2-1 overtime loss to the visiting Kings in Tuesday's rematch. The one positive for the Canucks was the return of forward Brock Boeser, a 29-goal scorer as a rookie last season who had missed the previous 11 games due to a groin injury. Rookie center Elias Pettersson has scored in three of the last six contests to boost his team-high total to 13 but he has only one assist over the past 10 games.

OVERTIME

1. Golden Knights F Alex Tuch has a four-game point streak, including a goal and an assist in three straight.

2. Canucks G Jacob Markstrom beat Vegas earlier this season after allowing 12 goals in three meetings in 2017-18.

3. Vegas F Max Pacioretty has six goals and three assists during a six-game point streak.

PREDICTION: Golden Knights 4, Canucks 2

Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers Preview and Predictions 11-29-2018
NHL PREDICTIONS 28TH NOVEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


The Los Angeles Kings will look to defeat the Edmonton Oilers for the second time this week and push their winning streak to a season-high three games on Thursday when the Pacific Division rivals meet at Rogers Place. Jonathan Quick, who was a spectator in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime victory versus Vancouver, is expected to get the nod and end a 12-game absence due to a lower-body injury.

While rookie Cal Petersen has filled in admirably, Quick is a 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner and a two-time Vezina Trophy finalist that has scribbled his name next to a majority of the franchise's goaltending records. This season hasn't gone according to plan for the 32-year-old Quick, who owns an 0-3-1 mark with a 4.55 goals-against average and .845 save percentage in four games. Edmonton has been pushing itself to the limit in its last four contests, venturing past regulation for the third time in that span on Tuesday by opening a three-game homestand with a 1-0 overtime win versus Dallas. Oscar Klefbom converted a 2-on-1 rush with Leon Draisaitl in overtime to give new coach Ken Hitchcock his first coaching victory with the Oilers in his native Edmonton.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), Sportsnet West (Edmonton)

ABOUT THE KINGS (9-14-1): Dustin Brown followed up his fifth career hat trick in Los Angeles' 5-2 win over Edmonton on Sunday by setting up a goal and scoring 53 seconds into overtime versus Vancouver. Like Brown, captain Anze Kopitar registered a three-point performance against the Oilers (one goal, two assists) before pushing his point total to five (one goal, four assists) in the last two contests after setting up both goals against the Canucks. Defenseman Drew Doughty was held off the scoresheet versus Vancouver, two days after he pushed his point streak to four games by registering his team-leading 12th assist against the Oilers.


ABOUT THE OILERS (11-11-2): Former Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid is known for the sizzling speed and creativity on the ice, but that style of play is taking a backseat with a new bench boss in town. "I think we're getting the message how (Hitchcock) wants us to play. It's not pretty hockey. It's a grind, it's defensive but it's effective," the 21-year-old McDavid said. The NHL scoring leader in each of the last two seasons, McDavid is still providing offense -- albeit to the tune of five points (one goal, four assists) during the 2-1-1 stretch under Hitchcock.

OVERTIME

1. While Edmonton's Cam Talbot has dropped six straight decisions, fellow G Mikko Koskinen turned aside all 28 shots he faced against the Stars to improve to 3-1-1 in his last five outings.

2. Los Angeles C Alex Iafallo, who scored a goal in his last outing, will skate in his 100th career game on Thursday.

3. The Oilers have dropped four of five encounters (1-3-1) versus Pacific Division representatives.

PREDICTION: Oilers 4, Kings 2

Arizona Coyotes vs. Nashville Predators Preview and Predictions 11-29-2018
NHL PREDICTIONS 28TH NOVEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


The Nashville Predators look to rebound after seeing their six-game home winning streak come to a halt when they host the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. The Predators answered a 2-1 setback at Arizona on Nov. 15 by winning four of their next five before dropping a 3-2 decision versus Colorado on Tuesday.

Filip Forsberg recorded his seventh point in eight games with an assist on Kevin Fiala's goal midway into the second period against to the Avalanche, but Nashville failed to solve Semyon Varlamov again despite unleashing 38 shots on goal. "We've won games we haven't played well and we've lost games we could have won. That kind of cancels each other out," the 24-year-old Forsberg said. "We know we can play better. At the same time, it's a long run." Arizona knows that all too well, as it answered a season-best five-game winning streak by losing eight of 10 before rallying from a two-goal deficit in the third period for a 4-3 win at Minnesota on Tuesday. "It was unbelievable actually how the team rallied together there," said rookie Adin Hill, who relieved an injured Antti Raanta and stopped all five shots he faced in the third period.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, TVAS, FS Tennessee (Nashville)

ABOUT THE COYOTES (10-11-2): The injury bug has been a prevalent one for Raanta, who has appeared in just 12 of the team's 23 games this season due to a lower-body ailment. "We're still evaluating 'Rants.' He had to go get looked at today. Everything's kind of on hold," coach Rick Tocchet said of the 29-year-old Finn. Hunter Miska was recalled as a precaution, although he could find himself backing up Hill on Thursday with the two combining for seven NHL appearances.

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (17-7-1): Reigning Vezina Trophy winner Pekka Rinne yielded two goals on 23 shots in a losing effort earlier this month versus Arizona, against which he owns an 18-8-2 mark with six shutouts and a .928 save percentage in 29 career encounters. Defenseman Roman Josi set up a goal versus the Coyotes and did the same against Colorado to give him seven points -- all assists -- in his last seven games. Fiala scored versus the Avalanche to extend his point streak to three games while fellow forward Ryan Hartman tallied for the second time in that stretch.


OVERTIME

1. Arizona RW Josh Archibald returned from a two-game suspension to record his first career three-point performance (two goals, one assist) in his last outing.

2. Nashville has yielded three power-play goals in the last two contests after preventing being scored upon while short-handed in its previous five games.

3. Coyotes D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (team-leading 10 assists) has been held off the scoresheet in each of his last five contests.

PREDICTION: Predators 5, Coyotes 2

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Winnipeg Jets Preview and Predictions 11-29-2018
NHL PREDICTIONS 28TH NOVEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


The Chicago Blackhawks are just 3-5-2 in the first 10 games since Jeremy Colliton took over for Joel Quenneville as coach and they have dropped three of the past four. Chicago heads to Winnipeg on Thursday to take on the Jets, one of the top offenses in the league, and Colliton recognizes his team has to play better defense after giving up eight goals in a blowout loss at home to Vegas on Tuesday.

"If you don't defend hard enough, then you don't give yourself a chance to win," Colliton told reporters after Tuesday's game, in which the Blackhawks allowed three goals in each of the opening two periods of an 8-3 loss. Winnipeg continued its frustrating trend Tuesday of falling apart in the third period of games, blowing a one-goal lead in a 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh. "Gave up a tight one, got a bad break on one and it's in the back of the net," Jets coach Paul Maurice told the media after Winnipeg dropped to 7-3-2 when leading after two periods. Forward Patrik Laine, who scored 11 goals in four games last week, was held scoreless for the first time since Nov. 16.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, TSN3 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (9-11-5): Center Dylan Strome - acquired with forward Brendan Perlini on Sunday from Arizona - finished with a goal and an assist in his Chicago debut. Gustav Forsling scored his first goal of the season Tuesday while fellow defenseman Henri Jokiharju was inactive and did not practice Wednesday due to illness. Chicago has been outscored 11-1 in the first period during its past four games, and is 28th in the league in both goals allowed per game (3.56) and shots allowed per contest (33.5).

ABOUT THE JETS (13-8-2): Center Mark Scheifele scored twice Tuesday and forward Brandon Tanev added his third goal in the past four games, but again the Jets could not hold the early advantage. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has surrendered seven goals in losing his past two starts, five of the tallies coming in the final period. Forward Blake Wheeler recorded two assists against Pittsburgh and began Wednesday third in the NHL with 25.

OVERTIME

1. Laine is one goal away from becoming the fourth-youngest player in NHL history (20 years, 224 days old on Thursday) to reach 100 career goals.

2. The Blackhawks entered Wednesday last in the NHL on the power play (12.3 percent).

3. Chicago won the season series 3-2 last season, holding the Jets to 14 goals in five games.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Blackhawks 2