We’re nearing the end of the First Round. We have two games on the docket tonight, including a Game 7. Let’s take a look at the picks, plays and predictions.
| Ducks vs Predators ML -115 / +104 O/U 5 |
Blackhawks vs Blues ML -101 / -109 O/U 5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
#1 Ducks vs WC1 Predators: The home team finally won a game in this series! The Anaheim Ducks took Game 5 by a 5-2 score. Ryan Johansen struck first for the Predators on a gorgeous backhander, but Anaheim came roaring back with three unanswered goals.
Nashville can take away a lot of positives from what was an otherwise frustrating loss. They out-attempted and out-chanced the Ducks by a decent margin, and managed 12 high-danger scoring chances in the game. They held the best powerplay unit in the National Hockey League to 1-for-7 on the night. Shea Weber was a physical presence all night per the usual. David Perron’s equalizer in the second period was beyond lucky. Ryan Garbutt’s goal to take the lead shortly after was a good effort on his part, but equally lucky. Garbutt bodies Shea Weber and staples him to the boards before somehow slipping the puck under Pekka Rinne’s pad as he held the post.
Here is the close up angle of the #NHLDucks second goal. Past Rinne or through the mesh? pic.twitter.com/BWVDQNurnT
— Mark Harris (@itismarkharris) April 24, 2016
How is that even possible?
On the other hand, the Predators went 0-for-3 on the man advantage, bringing their marker to 1-for-22 on the series. In addition to having the best powerplay unit, the Ducks also have the best penalty kill unit. It’s stifling the Preds badly.
Frederik Andersen stopped 27 of 29 shots on goal, bringing his save percentage this postseason to .966. His goals-against average rose to 1.00. He has been spectacular to say the least. And he wears a Lego-themed mask, so how can you not love him?
Nashville needs a win tonight to keep their hopes alive of making the conference Conference Semi-final for just the third time in franchise history. They have never been to the Conference Final.
Prediction: Take the Ducks to win on the road at -115. Play the under.
#3 Blackhawks vs #2 Blues: Ah, Game 7. There really is nothing like it. As in there is nothing as assuredly life-shortening and grey-hair producing as Game 7. The St. Louis Blues are in Panic City. You thought that title belonged to the New York Mets? Not at all. The Blues had a 3-1 series lead over the hated Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks have come roaring back now to even things up and send the series to a winner-take-all Game 7.
In my series preview, I explained that the Blues have not been to a Game 7 since 2002-2003 against the Vancouver Canucks. How did they get there? By blowing a 3-1 series lead. They lost that series.
St. Louis also infamously blew a 2-0 series lead in back-to-back seasons to the Kings and the Blackhawks in 2013 and 2014.
Just to make sure that the panic is in the spotlight at full brightness, Vladimir Tarasenko was visibly frustrated either at Ken Hitchcock or took it out on him. Just another layer to this anxiety cake.
Tarasenko was reportedly frustrated at his lack of powerplay time during Game 6, despite having 12 powerplay goals on the year. Ken Hitchcock explained that since the Blues were pinning the Hawks in their own zone, he did not want to interrupt the play. Tarasenko may have more of a reason to be upset, however- in the double-overtime loss to the Blackhawks in Game 5, Tarasenko ranked seventh among forwards in time-on-ice with 21:28. Seventh. For someone with 14 career playoff goals in 19 games and a series-leading four goals this season, that is simply nonsensical.
The Blackhawks are now 14-1 in Game 6 since 2009. That is insanity. Under Joel Quenneville, they are 13-4 when facing elimination, and 8-1 in the last four years.
Dale Weise found the back of the net in Game 6, netting what would wind up being the game-winner. Richard Panik and Andrew Shaw tallied points as well.
Jonathan Toews has yet to score in this series. He is no stranger to playoff daggers, though. On this date two years ago, Toews was sprung for a breakaway where he beat Ryan Miller for an overtime winner in Game 5 against (who else) the Blues.
Toews also had two goals in Game 7 against the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference Final last season.
Prediction: The magic has to end for the Blackhawks at some point. I’m sticking with my gut and my pre-series prediction. Go with the Blues to win Game 7 at home. Play the over.
