Tampa Bay Lightning at Detroit Red Wings (-200, 5.5)

Rick Tocchet is fed up. After watching his team lose its eighth game in nine tries, the Lightning head coach decided there needed to be a shakeup.

Forwards Alex Tanguay and Jeff Halpern were benched for Tuesday’s game against the Predators. Tampa Bay lost 4-7 despite dressing eight defensemen.

“We have to get this thing straighten out,” Tocchet told the St. Petersburg Times. “We lose because teams are better than us, you can live with that. But there are some games wewere outplaying a team and for whatever reason we just went the other way.

“It’s mind boggling and it’s not going to happen any more. If I have to play a defenseman at center because we don’t have a guy doing a job, we’re going to do it until we do other things. But right now, I can only control the guys that are here.”

Tanguay, who has just four goals in 32 games, wasn’t surprised by the benching.

“What’s there to say? I try my hardest. I guess it’s not good enough. The team is slumping and I’m a big part of it.”

Those don’t sound like words of a motivated player.

Pick: Red Wings


Nashville Predators at Edmonton Oilers (-120, 5.5)

It’s funny how things go sometimes. The Oilers won five of six games on their road trip and they had time off to prepare for the Kings on Tuesday.

Maybe that’s why Edmonton coach Pat Quinn was beside himself after his club fell 3-2.

“I haven’t felt angry this year,” he told the Edmonton Sun. “But I am angry about how we played. We have lots of goddamn excuses, but the result is the same.”

Expect the Oilers to put together a more complete game Thursday against the visiting Predators.

Pick: Oilers

DALLAS (14-9-0-10, 38 pts.) at ATLANTA (17-12-0-3, 37 pts.) - 12/17/2009, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 42-20 ATS (+19.7 Units) in a road game where where the total is 6 or more since 1996.
DALLAS is 25-17 ATS (+6.6 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 138-79 ATS (+36.0 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.
DALLAS is 53-44 ATS (+105.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 19-12 ATS (+33.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 1-0-0 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.0 Units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


PHOENIX (20-12-0-2, 42 pts.) at COLUMBUS (14-14-0-6, 34 pts.) - 12/17/2009, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
COLUMBUS is 86-77 ATS (+183.0 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.
PHOENIX is 20-14 ATS (+35.2 Units) in all games this season.
PHOENIX is 20-14 ATS (+35.2 Units) first half of the season this season.
PHOENIX is 153-129 ATS (+22.0 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.
COLUMBUS is 1-7 ATS (-9.2 Units) in December games this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 6-4 (+1.9 Units) against the spread versus COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 6-4-0 straight up against COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
7 of 10 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.8 Units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


MINNESOTA (16-14-0-3, 35 pts.) at MONTREAL (15-17-0-3, 33 pts.) - 12/17/2009, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 80-59 ATS (+17.9 Units) in non-conference games since 1996.
MONTREAL is 56-65 ATS (-29.9 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
MONTREAL is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
MONTREAL is 1-0-0 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.2 Units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NY RANGERS (14-16-0-3, 31 pts.) at NY ISLANDERS (13-15-0-6, 32 pts.) - 12/17/2009, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NY RANGERS are 26-36 ATS (-19.0 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
NY ISLANDERS are 86-131 ATS (+251.1 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 since 1996.


Head-to-Head Series History
NY ISLANDERS is 8-8 (+5.9 Units) against the spread versus NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
NY ISLANDERS is 8-8-0 straight up against NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
9 of 15 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.5 Units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


PITTSBURGH (23-10-0-1, 47 pts.) at PHILADELPHIA (15-16-0-1, 31 pts.) - 12/17/2009, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 37-54 ATS (-59.4 Units) in home games revenging a loss versus opponent since 1996.
PHILADELPHIA is 57-62 ATS (-49.6 Units) in home games after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game since 1996.
PHILADELPHIA is 6-12 ATS (-10.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 6-12 ATS (-8.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 17-10 (+5.2 Units) against the spread versus PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 17-10-0 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
16 of 25 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+5.4 Units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TAMPA BAY (11-13-0-9, 31 pts.) at DETROIT (17-11-0-5, 39 pts.) - 12/17/2009, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TAMPA BAY is 35-78 ATS (+131.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 60-132 ATS (+239.3 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 since 1996.
TAMPA BAY is 21-46 ATS (+70.6 Units) first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 1-9 ATS (+12.5 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
TAMPA BAY is 9-30 ATS (+54.4 Units) in road games after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 3 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 19-47 ATS (+84.4 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game over the last 3 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 15-32 ATS (+48.9 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 3 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 5-25 ATS (+47.0 Units) in road games after 3 or more consecutive losses over the last 3 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 14-40 ATS (+73.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 8-27 ATS (+43.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 2-0 (+2.0 Units) against the spread versus TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 2-0-0 straight up against TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.0 Units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NASHVILLE (20-11-0-3, 43 pts.) at EDMONTON (15-14-0-4, 34 pts.) - 12/17/2009, 9:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NASHVILLE is 19-14 ATS (+34.6 Units) in all games this season.
NASHVILLE is 19-14 ATS (+34.6 Units) first half of the season this season.
NASHVILLE is 32-23 ATS (+57.2 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
NASHVILLE is 7-2 (+5.2 Units) against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
NASHVILLE is 7-2-0 straight up against EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+3.2 Units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


LOS ANGELES (22-11-0-3, 47 pts.) at CALGARY (19-10-0-4, 42 pts.) - 12/17/2009, 9:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 22-14 ATS (+7.8 Units) in all games this season.
LOS ANGELES is 12-5 ATS (+17.9 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
LOS ANGELES is 22-14 ATS (+7.8 Units) first half of the season this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 8-2 (+5.7 Units) against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 8-2-0 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.4 Units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


ANAHEIM (13-14-0-6, 32 pts.) at SAN JOSE (19-8-0-7, 45 pts.) - 12/17/2009, 10:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ANAHEIM is 50-60 ATS (-24.8 Units) first half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 1-5 ATS (-8.5 Units) in December games this season.
SAN JOSE is 8-12 ATS (-11.8 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 3 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 18-21 ATS (-25.2 Units) in home games vs. division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 36-38 ATS (-28.6 Units) after a division game over the last 3 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 129-100 ATS (-29.7 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.
SAN JOSE is 12-14 ATS (-23.6 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
ANAHEIM is 11-11 (+2.3 Units) against the spread versus SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
SAN JOSE is 11-11-0 straight up against ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
13 of 17 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+8.1 Units)