There are five games on the schedule today. Let’s take a look around the NHL at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Bruins vs Blackhawks ML OFF / OFF O/U OFF |
Flyers vs Penguins ML +134 / -148 O/U 5.5 |
| Wild vs Jets ML -145 / +131 O/U 5 |
Blues vs Avalanche ML -152 / +137 O/U 5 |
| Stars vs Ducks ML +134 / -148 O/U 5.5 |
Here are today’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Play of the Day: The over in Blues vs Avalanche.
If you have not caught on by now, I love playing the over in Colorado Avalanche home games. The Avs have allowed four goals in each of their last three home games. Their season goals-against average is 2.85, which puts them at 22nd in the league. St. Louis has scored three or more goals in nine of their last 10 games.
Despite Colorado’s pitiful play at home on the whole this season, they are actually 7-1 in their last eight home games against teams with a winning road record. However, they are 0-3 in their last few while being outscored 12-4.
The Avs are 1-8 in their last nine against Central Division opponents. The Blues are 4-1.
The Avalanche are close to dead. Their tragic number is down to just three, meaning a regulation loss would all but put the final nail in the coffin. As they scramble to the end, they have to play four playoff teams in the Blues, Predators, Stars and Ducks. It’s an uphill battle.
Colorado will have to deal with Paul Stastny, who has four goals and 12 assists in his last 11 games.
Prediction: St. Louis demoralized Colorado earlier in the week with a 3-1 victory. Look for a similar result here. Take the Blues to win. Play the over.
The Game to Watch: Flyers vs Penguins.
The Battle of Pennsylvania holds a lot of influence over the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. The Philadelphia Flyers are in a position to put even more pressure on their Metropolitan Division rivals. With a win, they would pull into a points tie with the New York Islanders for the first Wild Card spot. They would only be two points behind the New York Rangers for the third divisional spot.
They could actually feasibly slip into a first round matchup with these Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Flyers have won three in a row and four of their last five. Their destiny is completely in their hands, as their final five games include two matchups against the Penguins, one against the Red Wings and one against the Islanders. If they want a leg up in the standings, they can go right out and take it directly.
The Penguins thrashed the Islanders last night in their first game without Marc-Andre Fleury, who will miss time with a concussion. It is unsure at this point whether Flower will be back for the postseason. Matthew Murray stopped 24 shots to win his sixth game of the year.
Can Murray be a long-term solution? Last night is not exactly the best litmus test of that. The Islanders handed Pittsburgh a win on a silver platter. Murray will be the starter again tonight.
Both teams will be on the tail end of a back-to-back. The Pens are 5-1 in their last six such games. The Flyers are 2-1-2 in their last five games, with three of their games being decided in extra time.
Philly has won five of the last six meetings in Pittsburgh, and eight of the last 10 overall.
Prediction: The Pens are hot, but at +134, the Flyers are a fun play. Take Philly to win. Play the over, which is 4-1 in the last five Pittsburgh meetings.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Wild vs Jets: The Minnesota Wild could officially eliminate the Avalanche tonight. If the Avalanche stumble against the Blues, the Wild could knock them out for good with a good game tonight- or even, just a long one. If the Avalanche fall in regulation, a loser point would be good enough to sink Colorado’s hopes.
Minnesota has dropped consecutive games now to Ottawa and Detroit, but have a layup in hand tonight as they take on the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets have lost four games in a row, all four games by only one goal. Two of those losses came in overtime.
Tonight could be a tight one, but Minnesota should ultimately have the upper-hand. Winnipeg is winless in their last four Sunday games. Even though they have won five of the last six meetings with the Wild, the Jets’ struggle far too much on home ice to give them a play tonight.
Prediction: Take the Wild to win and to clinch a postseason spot tonight.
Stars vs Ducks: The Dallas Stars are on a four game winning streak. They will be on the road tonight taking on the Ducks. Anaheim fell to the Canucks 3-2 in their first game after starting goaltender Frederik Andersen was diagnosed with a concussion.
Anaheim is also without David Perron, Kevin Bieksa and Simon Despres.
The home team has won both meetings between these two teams this season. The over hit both times.
Prediction: The Ducks are limping into the postseason. Take the Stars to win at +134. Play the over.
