There are three NHL games on the docket tonight. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Sabres vs Devils ML +100 / -120 O/U 5 |
Maple Leafs vs Islanders ML -110 / -110 O/U 6 |
| Blues vs Flyers ML +105 / -125 O/U 5.5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
The Game to Watch: Maple Leafs vs Islanders.
Home is where the New York Islanders have been racking up some points lately. There’s a joke to be made about how it’s ironic that their play at the Barclay’s Center is picking up just in time for them to leave it, but I’ll save it. You’re welcome.
Brooklyn has amassed 12 of a possible 14 points in their last seven home games. Slowly but surely, they have crawled out from the rock they were under to come within striking distance of the postseason. It is still a longshot, but they are just five points behind the Philadelphia Flyers with three games in hand. With the Flyers playing against the St. Louis Blues tonight, a win is crucial here for the Isles.
The Toronto Maple Leafs can cruise on past the Boston Bruins if they stay on course. They are just a point behind Beantown, but they hold five games in hand. With a run of success, they can start to jockey with Ottawa for the second spot in the Atlantic Division.
John Tavares is the man leading the turnaround in Brooklyn. He has nine goals and seven assists in his last 11 games. The surge ahead starts with him, naturally.
The over has hit in eight of the last 10 meetings between these two teams in New York. Given how high-powered the offenses of these two teams have become, I am surely putting my money on the over.
Prediction: Take the Islanders to win tonight. Play the over.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Sabres vs Devils:Amazingly, even though the Prudential Center seemed to be the only safe haven for the New Jersey Devils at the beginning of this season, that home ice advantage has been completely stripped. The Devils have lost their last seven home games.
Fortunately, they are playing a team they usually handle when at the Rock. Buffalo has lost five of their last six games in New Jersey, and seven of their last eight against the Devils overall.
Even though the Devils own the worst goal differential in the Eastern Conference (tied for third-worst in the NHL), they are still miraculously in the mix for the postseason. Crazier things have happened. But they will need some home wins and pronto. They have regressed to 10-9-4 at home this season.
Eight of their next nine games will be in Newark. So, now would be a good time to start winning.
Prediction: Take the Devils to win. Play the under.
Blues vs Flyers: The Philadelphia Flyers are hearing the footsteps coming. It would be impossible not to hear them at this point. With so many teams scrambling to catch up with them, they are in dire need of some wins. Spending this week at home will hopefully work to their advantage.
Philly’s last home game on Saturday was a 1-0 loss in overtime to the Los Angeles Kings. On the bright side, it marked the third consecutive home game in which the Flyers allowed just one goal to their opposition. Michal Neuvirth, who stopped 27 of 28 shots in the loss, will get the start again tonight.
Neuvy also stopped 15 of 16 in a 3-1 victory over the Habs. This will be his third consecutive start.
St. Louis will be trotting Carter Hutton out in goal tonight after Jake Allen allowed three goals on 30 shots Saturday to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Though the Blues responded to their head coach being fired with a dominant 5-1 victory over the Leafs on Thursday, they had no answer for the Pens’ offensive attack.
The Blues will head out on a five-game road trip that could very well make or break their standing in the NHL playoffs. They currently sit two points behind the Calgary Flames for the second Wild Card spot and three points behind the Nashville Predators for the third Central Division spot. St. Louis holds a three-game advantage on Calgary.
Mike Yeo and company need goals, and they unfortunately have lost one of their better men at providing such things. Robby Fabbri injured his knee in the first period against the Pens and is out for the next few games at least. Fabbri has 29 points on the season, though it has been 16 games since his last goal.
Incidentally, the last time Fabbri scored was a hat trick against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Prediction: Philly is trending upwards at home. Take the Flyers to win tonight. Play the under.
To make a play on these predictions, or any other NHL bets, visit our sports book at https://www.betdsi.eu/gms-hockey.
