Around the NHL: Predictions for April 5th

There are just two games on tonight’s NHL schedule. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.

Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.

Rangers vs Capitals: The New York Rangers do not have much to play for as a team at this point. Their spot in the postseason is already locked up, meaning that their job from here on out is simply to preserve their confidence and their health. With a date set with Montreal in the first round, it would make sense if their minds were elsewhere tonight.

Washington, on the other hand, does have something at stake tonight. With a win tonight, they would lock up the President’s Trophy for the second consecutive season. Theoretically, it would take three regulation losses and three Pittsburgh victories for the Capitals to lose the President’s Trophy at this point, but they would still like to put an exclamation point on winning it tonight at home.

Perhaps the only Ranger with something to prove tonight is Henrik Lundqvist. Since returning from injury, Lundqvist is 1-1-2 with 16 goals allowed. However, that overshadows just how well he’s played in his last two starts. He was admittedly very rough in California against the Ducks and Sharks.

But against Pittsburgh, Lundqvist had one of his best performances of the season. Without him at the top of his game, the Rangers would have easily given up a touchdown, if not more. The Rangers tied it with 11 seconds left and lost in a shootout. Then, Lundqvist was terrific through 58 minutes, allowing just one goal to the Philadelphia Flyers. His defense stopped skating, the Flyers tacked on two to make the game interesting, and instead of steamrolling ahead with confidence, Lundqvist escapes the game with a few more grey hairs in his beard.

All this is to say that Lundqvist is picking up his play lately, which is something that has to be seen outside of NHL.com to understand. He needs help and shelter from his defense, which is operating without Ryan McDonagh. McDonagh will sit out his third consecutive game tonight.

Oh, and New York will also be without Rick Nash, Mats Zuccarello and Jesper Fast tonight for purposes of rest. It would make sense if perhaps Antti Raanta took the net tonight so that Lundqvist does not completely lose his mind before the start of the postseason, right? No? Let him languish? Alright.

The Capitals will be at full strength. Braden Holtby will be in net, who is 6-1-0 in his last seven starts. He has allowed 12 goals in his last three, including six to the Arizona Coyotes. But he will be facing a toothless Ranger attack tonight. Expect a pretty easy workload for the Holtbeast tonight.

New York has lost four of their last five to teams with a winning record, and that’s with a full lineup. Washington has won their last four Wednesday night games.

Prediction: Take Washington to win. Play the over. This could get ugly if the Caps don’t get bored by the second period.

Canadiens vs Sabres: Montreal may have already clinched the Atlantic Division, but they are not letting their foot off the throttle. Their defense has been incredibly stingy, and their goaltending has been superb. Carey Price will gun for his fifth consecutive victory tonight. Needless to say, he has been scary good these last few weeks.

Price has allowed more than two goals in a game only three times since February 12th. That’s 17 starts. He probably does not have the numbers to beat Sergei Bobrovsky or Braden Holtby in the Vezina Trophy voting, but he certainly does deserve recognition for his unbelievable season. His record stands at 37-18-5 with a 2.20 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.

Shea Weber will sit out his second consecutive game with a lower-body injury. Whether that’s legitimate or a guise for rest, one cannot really be sure.

Jordie Benn will likely miss his fourth straight game, while Torrey Mitchell will likely miss his third with an illness.

For Buffalo, they will be missing Kyle Okposo for the fourth straight game as he too deals with an illness. Okposo had been heating up for the Sabres, tallying six assists in his last four games before sitting out.

The Sabres have lost three straight.

Montreal has won four of their last five meetings with Buffalo. The season series is currently 2-1 Habs. They have won four straight road games and five straight overall.

Essentially, so long as Price is in net, the Canadiens have the best chance to win. Especially against a team that is having a bit of trouble scoring with one of their offensive leaders out.

Prediction: Take the Canadiens to win tonight. Play the under.

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