The Anaheim Ducks were on their way up the standings prior to the long All-Star break, and will be hoping the layoff did nothing to cool their hot streak when they visit the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday. It might seem strange to think that a team that was battling the Columbus Blue Jackets for the Western Conference basement a few weeks ago could envision making the playoffs, but Anaheim always had the talent and finally began to put it together with an 8-1-1 stretch leading into the break. The Ducks will begin their playoff push 12 points behind the eighth-place Minnesota Wild. One of the teams in the next group ahead of Anaheim and looking up at Minnesota are the Coyotes, who limped into the All-Star break having lost 12 of their last 16 games.
Anaheim Ducks at Phoenix Coyotoes (-122, 5.5u-120)
During its winning streak, Anaheim beat up Phoenix 6-2 on Jan. 18. The Ducks were scoring goals in bunches during the surge, putting up an average of 4.5 goals in the eight victories. Anaheim suffered a letdown with a 1-0 loss at Dallas in the final game before the break but get four straight at home after the trip to Phoenix. The stretch that will determine whether they are buyers or sellers comes after that, with an eight-game road trip leading to the trade deadline.
The optimism that surrounds Anaheim is absent from Phoenix, despite the Coyotes sitting nine points ahead in the standings and only three out of a playoff spot. Phoenix drew only 8,000 fans to its last home game and has developed a habit of treating the few that come to excruciating losses. The Coyotes have lost 10 of their last 11 one-goal games, including five that went past regulation.
Take the Ducks as underdogs on the money line
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Columbus Blue Jackets at San Jose Sharks (-260, 5.5e)
The Columbus Blue Jackets seek their first win on their six-game road trip when they take on the Pacific Division-leading San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Columbus is 0-2-1 on its trek and has lost five straight on the road. The Blue Jackets, who have dropped four in a row overall, have posted only three wins in their last 21 visits to San Jose. The Sharks are returning home following a 1-1-1 road trip. San Jose has lost four of its last six overall but is 5-1-1 in its last seven meetings with the Blue Jackets.
San Jose will have a special guest at practice on Wednesday as Nyjer Morgan of the Milwaukee Brewers will join the team on the ice. Morgan, who is a Bay Area native, grew up playing hockey and recorded two goals and 20 penalty minutes in seven games with Regina of the Western Hockey League in 1999-2000 before turning his focus to baseball. “I’m really excited to get on the ice with the team,” Morgan said. “I’ve been a diehard fan since the team came to San Jose in 1991. I will never forget the George Kingston and Patty Falloon days. I’m not sure the guys are ready for me!” Sharks captain Joe Thornton is anxious to practice with Morgan. “We’re excited to see what he can do out here,” he said.
Take the Sharks on the puck line (-1.5 +120)
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Charlotte Bobcats at L.A. Lakers (-13, 181)
Charlotte has the worst record in the league (3-18), the worst road record (1-10) and has lost an NBA-worst eight consecutive games. So why should the Bobcats be optimistic when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday? They have beaten the Lakers in eight of their last 11 meetings. The Bobcats are only one of two teams (Boston) to have an overall winning record against the Lakers. Kemba Walker had 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds to become the first rookie with a triple-double this season in Charlotte’s 102-99 loss to Washington on Saturday. The Lakers surpassed the century mark for the first time in 13 games with a 106-101 victory at Minnesota on Sunday for only their second road win of the season. Kobe Bryant was at his best with 35 points (5 of 9 on 3-pointers) and a season-high 14 rebounds. “We couldn’t stop him, no matter what we did,” Minnesota rookie guard Ricky Rubio said. “He was a scoring machine in the fourth quarter.”
The Lakers seemed determine to end their road woes as coach Mike Brown kept Bryant and Pau Gasol in the entire second half at Minnesota. Bryant also played 42 minutes the night before in Milwaukee. “We wanted to win it and I just felt that’s what needed to happen,” Brown said. “We’ll rest later.” Brown also started Metta World Peace for Matt Barnes at small forward, but the change produced little offense. World Peace was 0 for 4 and had two points.
Lakers win but don’t cover. Take Charlotte and the points tonight at the Staples Center
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North Carolina at Wake Forest (+17, 151)
North Carolina has traditionally experienced some turbulence when it pays a visit to Tobacco Road rival Wake Forest. The Tar Heels have won just 11 of the last 20 meetings at Winston-Salem (N.C.) – and settled for a split in the last four contests overall between the in-state rivals. Roy Williams’ club looks to right the ship Tuesday when fifth-ranked North Carolina faces Wake Forest in the clubs’ lone matchup this season. The Tar Heels have won three in a row and 12 of their last 13 while the Demon Deacons have been struggling in by January. Wake Forest has dropped six of the eight contests this month, including a 76-60 setback to Clemson on Saturday.
The Tar Heels made good on Williams’ vow that they would find their range from long distance. Sophomore F Harrison Barnes connected on eight of 14 shots from the field for a team-high 23 points and North Carolina benefited from 10 3-pointers in its 93-81 victory over Georgia Tech on Sunday. Despite the stellar shooting, the Tar Heels are still tied for 83rd in the nation, hitting on just 36.5 percent of their 3-point attempts this season. Sophomore swingman Reggie Bullock has fared well since replacing injured G Dexter Strickland in the starting lineup. Bullock has scored 11 points in both starts.
Junior G C.J. Harris scored a team-high 19 points on Saturday. He needs 19 more to reach the 1,000-point plateau in his career. He has scored in double figures for 20 straight games, becoming the first Demon Deacon to do so since Jeff Teague. Sophomore F Travis McKie rebounded from a brutal three-point effort in Wednesday’s 75-52 setback to ACC co-leader Florida State by scoring 13 points on Saturday.
Wake Forest will need a season mark in more than one category from McKie if they are to counter North Carolina’s large frontcourt, most notably C Tyler Zeller and F John Henson.
Take the Tar Heels and lay the double digits (-17)
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