There are 10 NHL games on the docket tonight. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Flyers vs Stars ML Off / Off O/U Off |
Coyotes vs Wild ML Off/ Off O/U Off |
| Penguins vs Maple Leafs ML -105 / -115 O/U 5.5 |
Devils vs Senators ML +100 / -120 O/U 5 |
| Ducks vs Red Wings ML -130 / +110 O/U 5 |
Canadiens vs Capitals ML +130 / -150 O/U 5 |
| Sabres vs Hurricanes ML +125 / -150 O/U 5 |
Blackhawks vs Blues ML +120 / -145 O/U 5 |
| Rangers vs Predators ML +115 / -135 O/U 5 |
Lightning vs Oilers ML +165 / -190 O/U 5.5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Play of the Day: The over in Blackhawks vs Blues.
Not only will this be one of the more fun games to watch tonight, my money is on that it will be one of the higher-scoring games of the night.
The over happens to be 4-1-3 in the last eight meetings between these two teams. Plus, St. Louis happens to be a hotbed of scoring. The over is 4-0-2 at the Scottrade Center in the Blues’ last six.
Chicago has had a successful road trip thus far, taking both games against the New York teams. Their most recent victory was a scorefest against the Islanders. After six combined goals in the first period, the Hawks managed to squeak out a 5-4 victory. Their powerplay went a perfect 3-for-3, with Artemi Panarin striking twice on the man advantage.
Scott Darling will be in net for Chicago. Corey Crawford has skated now for three consecutive days, though there is no date set for his return. There is fortunately no rush, as Scott Darling has been all the Hawks could have hoped for and more. Darling is 8-2-2 on the year with a .928 save percentage and 2.18 goals-against average.
Of course, Darling has his work cut out for him tonight. The Blues have only lost one regulation game on their home ice this season. They put five past Cory Schneider in a 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
Chicago is comfortably in first place in the Central, six points ahead of Minnesota and St. Louis. Given the nature of this rivalry, the Blues want this one bad. All of this, of course, is building up to the Winter Classic on January 2nd.
Prediction: Take the Blues to win. Play the over.
The Game to Watch: Canadiens vs Capitals.
Carey Price got pulled at the Bell Centre last night. Price lasted less than half the duration of the game after the Sharks put four unanswered on the board. He was apparently less than thrilled at head coach Michel Therrien, but it does make sense. Price will be back in net tonight. There was no reason to squander his chances of playing tonight by wasting his efforts in a lost game.
Price can pout all he wants. It was the right move.
Also, if you see anyone saying that Price could be on the move as a result of this alleged rift between him and the coaching staff, punch them.
The Habs are on the road tonight, where they have had significantly less success than at home. They are just 5-5-2 as the visiting team, taking on a Washington squad that is 11-4-0 at the Verizon Center.
Washington has won six in a row. Their surge, along with Philly’s, has put a huge cushion between them and the rest of the pack pursuing a Wild Card spot. Since the Metro is so tight, they are just three points back of the division lead.
It’s strange to consider that even though the Caps have been red-hot, Alex Ovechkin has not been lighting the lamp to lead the way. Ovi has just two goals in his last 10 games, leaving him with 14 goals on the season. It’s uncharacteristic of the 31-year-old Russian sniper.
He is still second on the team in points with 22.
On the surface, it would seem even more disappointing is Evgeny Kuznetsov, who is following up a 20-goal, 77-point campaign with just three goals and 17 points through 29 games. The hot streak has done Kooz well, though. He has eight assists over a six-game point streak, coinciding perfectly with the win streak.
Prediction: Take the Caps to win. Play the over.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Penguins vs Maple Leafs: Pittsburgh is coming off a 1-0 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings on their home ice last night. The Pens’ ability to bounce back after a blowout is brilliant. Their ability to bounce back after an overtime game? Not so much. They are 1-9 in games the day after overtime.
Earlier in the season, Toronto was the only place the Leafs could win. Now, even that is not the case. They have dropped their last four home games.
The over has hit in the last five Pitt road games. The under has hit in the last seven overall for Toronto.
Pittsburgh has taken eight of the last nine. Even though their offense has been rocking this season, the long game last night coupled with the travel could hinder their energy.
Prediction: Take the Pens to win. Play the under.
Devils vs Senators: This is a stone-cold under play. The Devils have lost four in a row, managing just five goals in that four-game stretch. Meanwhile, Ottawa’s offense is so unpredictable from night to night that betting on the over against the Devils is unwise.
Mike Hoffman will sit out tonight after a retaliatory cross-check to the neck of Logan Couture. Hoffman is third on the team in scoring.
Prediction: Take Ottawa to win. Ride that under.
Sabres vs Hurricanes: Believe it or not, the over might just be the way to go in this one. The Canes are 7-1 in their last eight home games. They are 5-1 against teams with a losing record. Not to mention they are 4-1 in their last five tail-ends of back-to-backs.
The over is 5-1-1 in the Sabres’ last seven back-to-backs. It is 6-0-1 in the last seven meetings in Carolina.
Though Buffalo has taken the last four encounters, Carolina could be serving up some home cooking tonight.
Prediction: Take the Canes to win. Play the over.
