Phoenix Joins Umberger From Washington

Hockey Betting Lines

Sabres forward Thomas Vanek, who leads Buffalo with 19 goals and is second on the club with 40 points, left Tuesday's tilt with an illness and is questionable for tonight.

Phoenix has lost eight of its last 10 games, but has points in four straight. Following an overtime loss at Los Angeles and a victory over the Islanders, the Coyotes have dropped shootouts to the Rangers and Red Wings. The 3-2 loss to Detroit came last night in the middle portion of a three-game road trip.

Radim Vrbata netted his team-leading 21st goal, Taylor Pyatt also scored and Mike Smith made 40 saves. Phoenix is 11th overall in the West with 47 points, three back of a playoff spot.

The Coyotes have lost six of their last seven on the road and close out their swing tonight in Columbus against a Blue Jackets club that has lost 10 of its last 12 games and is last in the NHL with 27 points.

Columbus wrapped up a four-game road trip with only one win and will play its next four at home. The Blue Jackets have lost four straight and seven of eight at home.

Umberger extended his club record of 288 consecutive games played on Tuesday, but that run will come to an end tonight after he left practice on Thursday with concussion-like symptoms. Umberger took an elbow to the head at Anaheim on Sunday, but played the entire game on Tuesday.

(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Five wins in seven games has the Washington Capitals back in the playoff picture. A season high-tying losing streak, and according to head coach Guy Boucher Tampa Bay's worst loss of the year, has the Lightning fading in the Eastern Conference.

Washington snapped a two-game slide on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over Pittsburgh, moving into a tie with the Penguins for the eighth spot in the East with 46 points. Tomas Vokoun made 30 saves for his second shutout of the season and 46th of his career, while Jason Chimera potted the only goal.

"I didn't think one goal would be enough, but it turned out to be enough. We'll take it," said Chimera.

The Lightning have also been a solid club at home this season, but dropped a 5-2 decision to the visiting Hurricanes last night. It marked the third time this year that Tampa Bay has dropped five games in a row and it will look to avoid suffering six straight defeats for the first time since Dec. 7-17, 2009.

"I would say that this is the hardest [loss] to take this year," Boucher admitted. "We always talk about attitude first, work ethic and discipline. In the first period, we had none of those."

comments

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•    I remember this period of time, 2 weeks, where I had a nose bleed. Every day. 14 days.

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•    Buffalo. Soldier^^

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•    #Habs Carey #Price stopped #Flyers Sean #Couturier with his back turned. With his record in shootouts, he may want to do it every time. #NHL

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•    Last calls for Honestdms an shootouts ..

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•    Yall wanna see some nasty shit go to youtube and type in lion eats buffalo alive shit crazy AF

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•    LOL. Bret Baier, Fox News's little pansy ass, wants to help navigate you through the election season. Thats some dumb shit. #iammyowngod

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•    Ms. Umberger got me f'd up, I'm not doing this shit!

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•    On my way home..

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•    i can hear coyotes howling outside #swag

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