There are six NHL games on the docket tonight. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Kings vs Rangers ML +105 / -125 O/U 5.5 |
Hurricanes vs Capitals ML +158 / -180 O/U 5.5 |
| Flames vs Maple Leafs ML +125 / -145 O/U 5.5 |
Ducks vs Jets ML -105 / -115 O/U 5.5 |
| Sharks vs Avalanche ML -225 / +175 O/U 5 |
Panthers vs Coyotes ML -135 / +115 O/U 5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Play of the Day: Avalanche over Sharks.
Look. Let’s be a little honest here. The Avalanche are horrible. They have played a few tight games lately, which is a little encouraging, but they are objectively just a bad hockey team.
In order, they lost by one to the Nashville Predators, two to the Blackhawks, and one to the Ducks and Sharks this past week. Their loss to the Sharks came in overtime on the road.
For that reason and that reason alone, I am taking a look at betting on the home underdog tonight.
The Sharks have won their last four games. They have won six of their last eight against the Avs. I am fully aware that this is madness on the surface.
But I mean, it’s the NHL. Colorado is not going to lose their remaining 38 games. With a line this slanted, and their having played the Sharks tightly last game, why not take a chance to cash in big?
It’s a flimsy excuse, but I’m sticking to it.
Prediction: Take the Avalanche to win if you’re feeling fun. Play the over.
The Game to Watch: Kings vs Rangers.
Henrik Lundqvist earned his second shutout of the season yesterday afternoon against the Detroit Red Wings. Technically it was his third if you count his effort against the Dallas Stars in which he missed just a few minutes after taking a headshot from Cody Eakin. But whatever.
Yesterday’s game was bland and the Rangers offense generated very little for 60 minutes. Henrik Lundqvist was superb and the game-winner was pretty, so at least the overtime period was fun.
It says volumes that Mats Zuccarello broke into the Detroit zone literally all alone and still found a way to pass it (he hit J.T. Miller for the game-winner).
Lundqvist has now posted consecutive very good games. He has always needed time and patience to work through his struggles. Last season, he had a .905 save percentage at the midway point of the season. He finished with a .920 save percentage. The point is, there is a strong possibility that Lundqvist will be fine.
Tonight will be a huge test for him. Since Antti Raanta is still out with a lower-body injury, Lundqvist will start the second leg of their back-to-back tonight. If he is able to hold down the fort at the Garden tonight, it could spark something in the King.
His opponent tonight? The Los Angeles Kings. Peter Budaj and the Kings have lost three straight, two to the bottom two teams in the Eastern Conference in the Islanders and Lightning.
Recent stretch aside, the Kings typically have the Rangers’ number. L.A. swept the season series last year, with both wins coming in overtime. In their last game at the Garden, Anze Kopitar capped off a hat trick with 30 seconds remaining in regulation to tie things up. Tanner Pearson netted the game-winner. Antti Raanta was the goaltender for New York.
The Kings have won four of the last five regular season meetings between these two teams. Where the Kings flex their muscles is in the possession department. If they force long shifts from defenders and start to pepper the net, it could be a disastrous result for the Rangers.
Nic Dowd and Matt Greene are both questionable for tonight’s game on the Kings’ side. Tyler Toffoli is out indefinitely.
For the Rangers, Kevin Hayes missed the third period and overtime with an apparent lower-body injury. Apparently, he was seen walking in a brace and with a limp after the game. An injury to Hayes would be a major blow. Jesper Fast will sit out tonight.
UPDATE: Hayes will be out 2-3 weeks with a lower body injury. Matt Puempel will likely replace him tonight.
Prediction: Take the Kings to continue to be the Rangers’ kryptonite tonight and win. Play the over.
Flames vs Maple Leafs: Take a moment to look at the Eastern Conference playoff picture. It is astonishing to consider that quite literally every team in the East is in contention for a spot in the postseason. Though the Tampa Bay Lightning, Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders are all tied for the conference cellar, they are only five points behind the Flyers for the second Wild Card.
Toronto has 51 points, which puts them a point behind Boston in the Atlantic and, for the moment, out of the playoff picture.
Now, take a moment to also factor in that Toronto has a whopping six games in hand on the Boston Bruins. Six games! How does that even happen?
The Maple Leafs’ theoretical surge to the postseason is becoming more and more attainable with each passing day. They are 6-2-2 in their last 10 overall, with one of the hottest offenses in the league. Amazingly, they would be in even better position if they did not have the most shootout losses in the NHL (six).
Toronto will be the site for tonight’s matchup between the Leafs and the Calgary Flames, who have lost consecutive games. In their most recent contest, Chad Johnson was yanked after allowing three goals on just four shots in less than six minutes of play. Johnson posted a 39-save shutout against the Maple Leafs back in November, however.
Calgary has lost four of their last five road games. While the Leafs have won their last five against teams with a losing record, they have lost seven of their last eight home games against teams with a losing road record. That almost seems impossible.
Toronto has won the last four meetings in their neck of the woods.
Prediction: Take the Leafs to win. Play the under, which has hit in the Leafs’ last six against the Pacific.
Hurricanes vs Capitals: The Carolina Hurricanes are desperately trying to halt this skid they are on. After a tremendously successful four-game homestand, in which they took all four games against some tough competition, the Canes have dropped three in a row to the Jackets (twice) and the Penguins.
Tonight gets no easier, as they venture into the Verizon Center to take on the red-hot Capitals.
Carolina seemed to be on the precipice of the playoff picture. They were approaching the bubble, and while they are certainly not out of it, things look bleaker. Being in the Metro Division and not the Atlantic hurts their chances badly.
The Hurricanes are three points behind the Flyers for the second Wild Card spot.
Washington’s incredible play has pulled them back even with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the top spot in the Metro Division, which is incidentally also the top spot in the NHL. Their only loss of 2017 was their overtime defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins in an 8-7 scorefest.
The Capitals have won their last six home games. Carolina is just 6-13-6 as the visiting team this season.
Their turnaround likely will not start tonight.
Prediction: Take the Capitals to win. Play the over.
To make a play on these predictions, or any other NHL bets, visit our sportsbook at https://www.betdsi.eu/gms- hockey.
