We have arrived at our weekly Wednesday Night Rivalry slow day. There are only three games tonight, so make your plays wisely! Let’s take a look around the NHL at today’s top picks, plays and predictions.
| Blackhawks vs Rangers ML -108 / -102 O/U 5 |
Canadiens vs Avalanche ML +114 / -126 O/U 5.5 |
| Wild vs Flames ML -127 / +115 O/U 5 |
Play of the Day: Wild over Flames.
Minnesota managed to grab their first win in nine games Monday against the Vancouver Canucks. It was the coaching debut of John Torchetti, the loudmouthed Bostonian who coached Charlie Coyle previously in the American Hockey League. His first foray behind Minnesota’s bench was a success to the tune of a 5-2 victory.
Torchetti is a hard-nosed, fast talking coach unafraid of wearing his heart on his sleeve. For a team that had been slumping for a solid month and a half, a swift kick in the pants is exactly what the Wild needed. Mike Yeo had run his course. Eventually, a change in voice is needed, even if it is a complete 180-degree turn. I liken the change to the soft-spoken, conservative Tom Renney being replaced by John Tortorella by the New York Rangers in 2009.
While the coaching change will surely light a fire under the Wild, they still have quite a bit of work to do. They will be on the road tonight facing Calgary. They are 10-12-5 as the visiting team this year. The hardest adjustment will be for Torchelli’s changes in special teams to take hold. Mike Yeo’s shortcomings were always headlined by his utter failure with the Wild’s powerplay, despite their big name acquisitions over the years. Minnesota scored on the powerplay Monday against Vancouver, but their penalty kill was just 2-for-4.
The Flames held three different leads against Anaheim, and if it were any other team other than one of the hottest offenses in the NHL, they probably would have held on for a victory. Calgary outshot Anaheim 37-28, and were 2-for-5 on the powerplay against the third-best penalty kill in the league. Their downfall was in their penalty kill. Much like the Wild, Calgary’s penalty kill is a fatal flaw, coming in at a 73.4% success rate- last in the league. Minnesota is only marginally better at 78.3%, 25th best. Calgary has allowed seven more powerplay goals than Minnesota for frame of reference.
Calgary is 16-12-0 at home.
Prediction: If there’s a team for Minnesota to get the ball rolling against, it’s Calgary and their extraordinarily weak penalty kill. The Wild are also 4-0 in their last four meetings. Take Minnesota to win. Play the under.
The Game to Watch: Blackhawks vs Rangers.
Surprise, the Wednesday Night Rivalry game is the “Game to Watch” of the night. Although, I have to laugh when NBC Sports advertises this “rivalry” by showing clips of such classic Rangers as Derek Dorsett, Mike Rupp, and Stu Bickel. You know, guys who haven’t been with the team in years. I guess no clips of Steve Larmer vs Dave Maloney were available.
Chicago is heading out on the road after a disappointing homestand in which their only win was a blowout of the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-2. Their powerplay was 4-for-7 against Toronto. Patrick Kane had himself a four point night, which at this point is pretty ho-hum for him. He has 82 points on the year.
The Rangers inability to win anywhere other than Madison Square Garden will eventually hurt them, but for now they can rely on their 8-0-2 record in their last 10 home games. Ryan McDonagh will be making his return to action tonight after suffering a concussion on the 6th against the Flyers. Expectations should always be tempered for players going up against top-of-the-line competition when returning from such a severe injury. If the Rangers knew what was good for them, they would limit McDonagh’s minutes as a precaution and keep playing Keith Yandle as often as possible to balance it out.
Rick Nash also remains out of the Rangers’ lineup with no real timetable for his return. The Blueshirts are treating his bone bruise like a fracture. While their offense could certainly use him, especially on special teams both sides, New York’s depth scoring is finally starting to pick up the slack.
Marian Hossa is out for Chicago.
Prediction: Take the Rangers to win. Play the under.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Canadiens vs Avalanche: Max Pacioretty has been held to just one goal and two assists in his last 11 games. The Habs have completely undone the improvements they had made the past few weeks, allowing six goals in each of their last two games to the lowly Sabres and Coyotes.
Adding injury to insult, David Desharnais will be out of their lineup tonight.
Lars Eller will be sliding up to play with Max Pacioretty on Montreal’s top line. Pacioretty admitted that he has not played with Eller in “probably [his] whole career,” but perhaps the new linemate connection can bring a much needed spark to the Habs’ offense.
Their last two blowout losses to bad teams bring the Canadiens to 1-6-1 on the road since the Winter Classic, with their lone win coming in the shootout.
Colorado was handed a clean four-game sweep in their last homestand, collecting just one point from an overtime loss to the Stars.
Prediction: Someone has to win. That’s the silver lining to take from this game. Take the Avalanche to win. Play the under 5.5.
