There are three games to be played tonight on this Easter Sunday. There are some crucial points at stake here tonight, so let’s take a look around the NHL at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Devils vs Hurricanes ML +114 / -126 O/U 5 |
Penguins vs Rangers ML +111 / -123 O/U 5 |
| Blackhawks vs Canucks ML -165 / +149 O/U 5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Play of the Day: Devils over Hurricanes.
There is zero doubt in my mind that the Devils are out of the playoff hunt. Just don’t tell the Devils that. New Jersey is five points behind Philadelphia for the second Wild Card spot, and after tonight Philadelphia will have two games in hand. Detroit is already breathing down the Flyers’ collective neck, but the Devils do still consider themselves to be a dark horse.
The Devils went shot-for-shot with the Washington Capitals, losing 1-0 in overtime. Rookie goaltender Scott Wedgewood stopped 25 shots and looked sharp. The bounces looked to be going his way as he got plenty of help from his defenders who did a solid job clogging shooting lanes blocking 12 shots, and on more than one occasion, the post. Wedgewood has been spectacular since getting called up, stopping 91 of 93 shots in three starts (.978 save percentage).
Wedgewood is the probable starter against Carolina tonight.
The offense was quiet for New Jersey against the Capitals to say the least. The Devils managed only 22 shots and only one player managed more than two shots on goal, that being defenseman David Warsofsky.
Fortunately for the Devils they are going up against a Hurricanes team that is starved for scoring as well. Nine of the last 10 games have been decided by one goal for Carolina, with a record of 3-2-5 in that span. They have dropped six of their last seven.
If this game heads into overtime, which it very well might considering how many of Carolina’s games have reached extra time lately, then the advantage falls to New Jersey. The Devils are 9-2 in games decided in the 3-on-3 overtime.
Prediction: The under is 7-1-1 in the last nine encounters between these two teams. Take New Jersey to win. Play the stone-cold under.
The Game to Watch: Penguins vs Rangers.
There is not much competition for which game means the most for both parties tonight. The Penguins and Rangers are virtual locks to make the playoffs at this point. The only matter that remains to be settled is the matter of home-ice advantage. The Penguins are four points behind the second-place Rangers with a game in hand, meaning that a regulation win tonight would be enormous for the Black and Gold. The Islanders are just a point behind the Pens.
Both the Penguins and the Rangers will be in the tail-end of a back-to-back scenario, though both games wound up being blowouts. The Penguins beat up on the Red Wings at the Joe 7-2. Both Phil Kessel and Nick Bonino had five-point nights with a goal and four assists. Carl Hagelin scored twice.
The Rangers were in Montreal meanwhile skating rings around the Canadiens. Derick Brassard and Chris Kreider had three points each, with Keith Yandle adding another two assists. J.T. Miller had perhaps the prettiest goal of the night on a toe-drag backhander. The ice was so tilted in the second period that the Bell Centre faithful were raining boos down at the Habs during sustained pressure by the Rangers. The third period was a snorefest with no goals scored and neither team particularly interested anymore.
The X-factor tonight will come in the form of goaltending. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 21 of 23 shots last night in Detroit. Henrik Lundqvist was given the night off. With both number ones slated to start tonight, the extra rest could be huge for two reasons:
1) The Rangers have been able to hang with the Pens this year mostly because of Henrik’s handiwork. Though he is 1-2 against Pittsburgh this year, the losses are hardly on him when one reviews the game film. Lundqvist is also 21-5-2 with three shutouts at home this season as the Rangers own the second-best home record in hockey.
2) Marc-Andre Fleury has the tendency to allow a lot of goals with full-sight and some juicy rebounds if he is worn down. Fleury is one of the game’s best, but he can beat himself if not adequately protected.
The Penguins are tied with St. Louis as the winningest team in the league over their last 10 games at 8-2-0. They have won their last four road games, their last four against teams with winning records, and four of their last five back-to-back second legs. Something of note is that they could have used up all their offense, however- they are 1-6 in their last seven games after scoring five or more in the previous match. The Rangers are 1-4 in such games, so take that with a grain of salt.
Prediction: Close, but take the Rangers to win on home ice. Play the over.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Canucks vs Blackhawks: The over is 7-2-1 in the Hawks’ last 10 road games. The Canucks have lost seven in a row as they race for the top Lottery spot. Chicago needs a win to put space between them and the surging Nashville Predators.
Prediction: Take the Hawks to win. The over is the fun play in this game.
