There are six games on the docket tonight, so let’s go around the NHL at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Red Wings vs Blackhawks ML +133 / -147 O/U 5 |
Stars vs Senators ML -157 / +142 O/U 5.5 |
| Islanders vs Rangers ML +111 / -123 O/U 5 |
Penguins vs Devils ML -148 / +134 O/U 5 |
| Oilers vs Jets ML +109 / -120 O/U 5 |
Blues vs Wild ML +100 / -110 O/U 5 |
Here are today’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Play of the Day: Islanders over Rangers.
The New York Rangers pulled out a victory over the Washington Capitals on Friday against all reason. Derek Stepan notched the game winning goal and an assist to bring him up to 33 points on the year. Keith Yandle netted his fifth goal of the year on the powerplay.
Antti Raanta stopped 32 of 34 shots. It was yet another win the Rangers were able to pull out despite being outshot by a significant margin.
The Rangers have now won four of five games.
The Islanders have won five of their last six, and are on the seventh and final installment of a long but successful road trip. They are entering the Garden having dominated there in the past couple of seasons, boasting a 5-1 record in Manhattan.
Brooklyn’s lone trade deadline acquisition, Shane Prince, scored in his second game in an Isles’ uniform.
The under is 5-1 in the last six encounters, and 6-1-1 in the Isles’ last eight overall.
Special teams is going to be a deciding factor tonight. The Islanders have the best penalty kill in the league, while the Rangers have one of the worst penalty kills in franchise history, let alone the league. And they are only getting worse, as they are down to 77.3%. Meanwhile, the powerplay units are fairly even, as the Islanders only have three more powerplay goals in six more opportunities.
Prediction: Take the Islanders to win. Play the under.
The Game to Watch: Blues vs Wild.
The Blues can pull into a tie with the Blackhawks for first place in the Central Division. After a three-game skid, they are back on track with victories in Carolina and Ottawa. They have had four days off now since their last game, a rare luxury during a long road trip. Moreover, they are 6-1 in their last seven road games.
Minnesota has gotten four important wins in a row. They have beaten Florida and direct Wild Card competitor Colorado, as well as cellar-dwellers Buffalo and Toronto. The Wild are 7-3 in 10 games under John Torchetti’s tutelage.
Jason Pominville has probably experienced the biggest turnaround with a new coach. Though he has been held off the scoresheet in his last two games, he has 12 points in 10 games with Torchetti behind the bench and has been overall a more impactful player. Charlie Coyle has five goals with his former AHL coach on board.
Prediction: The home team is 4-1 in the last five meetings, and the Blues are 1-4 in their last five in Minnesota. Take the Wild to win. Play the over.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Stars vs Senators: Both teams could desperately use a win tonight. The Stars snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over the backsliding New Jersey Devils. Ottawa, meanwhile, has won two of their last five against Toronto and Vancouver.
For the Senators, Sundays have been a major issue. Something about lazy Sundays I suppose, as they are 2-9 in their last 11 on this day of the week. They are also 2-10 in the last 12 back-to-back trailers.
Dion Phaneuf has been by and large a success since his acquisition from the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has a goal and six assists in 12 games. His possession numbers have been volatile, depending on who he is paired with. Surprise surprise, his numbers skyrocket when he is paired with Erik Karlsson and plummet when he is with Cody Ceci.
Prediction: Dallas holds a 7-1 series lead against the Sens, and are 4-1 in Ottawa. Take the Stars to win. Play the over.
Oilers vs Jets: This will be a preview of the Tim Horton’s Heritage Classic coming next October. Winnipeg will be hosting Canada’s outdoor game against Edmonton, as it was announced just today.
For now, the Jets won a home game for the first time in six attempts last night against Montreal. They are 5-1 against the Oilers in their last six. Despite their woes at home, the Jets are 10-4 against teams with a losing road record this season.
The Oilers were bested by the Columbus Blue Jackets Friday, ending their three-game winning streak.
Prediction: Take the Jets to win. Play the over.
