There are four NHL games on the schedule tonight. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Penguins vs Flyers ML -130 / +110 O/U 5.5 |
Bruins vs Flames ML -110 / -110 O/U 5.5 |
| Red Wings vs Avalanche ML -135 / +115 O/U 5 |
Blues vs Ducks ML +115 / -135 O/U 5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
The Game to Watch: Penguins vs Flyers.
For a moment, it looked like the Philadelphia Flyers were going to be able to salvage their Monday game against Columbus. And maybe, just maybe, they would subsequently keep their season afloat for just another day.
After falling behind 2-0 early, the Flyers rallied back to tie the game up minutes into the second period. Midway through the period, Travis Konecny netted his second of the game to put Philly up on top. Rookie Zach Werenski would even up the score for the Jackets before the end of the frame.
With every game critical, their season hanging in the balance, the Flyers had a simple task in front of them: win a period, win the game.
They could not get anything past Sergei Bobrovsky in the final frame. Brandon Dubinsky potted a powerplay goal to put the Jackets on top to stay. Add in an empty netter and the final score becomes 5-3.
The playoff picture is quite convoluted in the Eastern Conference, and the Flyers appear to be all but dead. Fortunately that same night, the Islanders were getting their heads bashed in by the Carolina Hurricanes 8-4, but Brooklyn rebounded and picked up an overtime win just last night on a home-and-home. Tampa Bay has pulled out four wins in a row. Philadelphia is seven points behind these two teams tied for the second Wild Card spot, with Toronto and Florida in between them.
So tonight on Wednesday Night Rivalry, prepare the dirge. The Flyers have lost their last six against Metro Division opponents and four of their last five Wednesday night games.
Pittsburgh has taken five of the last six of their encounters with their Pennsylvania rivals, including the Stadium Series game played earlier this year.
Plus, the Flyers have allowed seven powerplay goals in their last five games as they welcome a team featuring Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, two players racing for the Art Ross Trophy.
Prediction: Take the Penguins to win. Play the over.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Red Wings vs Avalanche: There was a Players’ Tribune article published this morning by former Red Wings grinder Kris Draper detailing the team’s heated rivalry with the Colorado Avalanche in the 1990s. Draper recalled chirping, line brawls, broken bones and intense playoff series that we may very well never see the likes of ever again in the NHL.
How times have changed.
Back then, Detroit and Colorado were two of the most feared teams in the world. Hall of Famers filled out the lineup at every position. Every matchup felt like the Stanley Cup was on the line.
Now, the Avalanche are the worst team in the NHL and the Detroit Red Wings are right there with them in the cellar. The Wings are going to miss the playoffs for the first time in my lifetime.
The road team has won the last seven meetings between these two teams. The Avs have been shut out 12 times this season, a mark that leads the league by a wide margin. Even when they do score, they do it so few and far between that it’s just a bore to watch. They have scored more than three goals in a game once in the last month.
Detroit has lost five of their last six, but hey, Jimmy Howard is the projected starter in net and he’s been one of the few bright spots of this dismal season for the Wings (when healthy, of course). Howard has made one start in 2017- a win against Chicago last week.
Prediction: Take the Red Wings to win. Play the under. On number of yawns you’ll emit during the game, take the over.
Bruins vs Flames: This game will hopefully be a bit more high-octane. The Calgary Flames are positively on a tear of late, rattling off 10 wins in a row to skyrocket to second place in the Pacific Division. The Pacific has been underwhelming all season, and a timely string of wins has put the Flames in a terrific position to capitalize on that.
San Jose has a nine-point cushion on the Flames for the division lead, so second place is the best possible outcome for Calgary. They are in a points-tie with Anaheim and hold a one-point lead on Edmonton, so they still feel the need to keep pushing for home-ice advantage.
Boston is 11-3 with their new head coach. Brad Marchand is in the running for the Art Ross Trophy, maybe even the Hart. The team has put up two six-spots in the past week.
This will be a remarkable matchup.
Marchand is going to be the man to mark for the Flames tonight. Calgary’s defense needs to play him tightly, because once he gets going, he’s very likely to put up multiple points in a night. He registered a hat trick (all in the third period) against the Canucks on Tuesday plus an assist. It was the third time this season he’s put up four or more points in a game.
The problem is that Marchand is so good at agitating, getting under is skin is near impossible.
Chad Johnson will be tested tonight. Brian Elliott has been tremendous during this winning streak, and had a phenomenal performance against Pittsburgh the other night in the shootout. Johnson has been the more consistent option this season, however, posting a 2.53 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. Elliott has been lit up by Boston in the past, while Johnson is a former member of the Bs. Perhaps that factors into the decision.
Tuukka Rask has been tremendous against Calgary in his career, but Anton Khudobin will start for the Bruins.
An unstoppable force and an immovable object meet tonight. I’ll bet that about a month or two ago, you would have never have guessed that Boston and Calgary are the two teams I am referring to. Hockey is crazy sometimes.
Prediction: Take the Flames to win. Play the over.
To make a play on these predictions, or any other NHL bets, visit our sportsbook at http://leftwinglock.com/starting-goalies/.
