There are 12 games total on the docket today, with a few afternoon games already in progress. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Bruins vs Sabres ML Off / Off O/U Off |
Hurricanes vs Rangers ML Off / Off O/U Off |
| Blackhawks vs Flyers ML Off / Off O/U Off |
Devils vs Predators ML Off / Off O/U Off |
| Panthers vs Senators ML -143 / +110 O/U 5 |
Capitals vs Lightning ML -125 / +105 O/U 5 |
| Red Wings vs Penguins ML +200 / -240 O/U 5.5 |
Maple Leafs vs Canucks ML -145 / +125 O/U 5.5 |
| Jets vs Blues ML +150 / -170 O/U 5 |
Blue Jackets vs Coyotes ML -150 / +125 O/U 5.5 |
| Stars vs Avalanche ML -115 / -105 O/U 5.5 |
Ducks vs Oilers ML +105 / -125 O/U 5.5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Play of the Day: Canucks over Maple Leafs.
For as bad as the Vancouver Canucks are on the whole this season, they actually have a winning record on home ice. They are 7-5-1 at Rogers Arena, 1-1 on their current homestand. Their success at home has actually, miraculously kept them in sort of contention, as they are four points back of the second Wild Card spot. That will change, mind you, but it is still something of note. Minor victories.
Vancouver is playing host to the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight, whose abysmal play on the road has kept them from reaching their full potential. They are three points back of the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, but a 2-6-4 record as the visiting team is dragging them down. Though they beat the Edmonton Oilers on the road earlier this week, they followed that up by getting shutout in Calgary the following night.
It doesn’t help matters that the home team is 7-1 in the last eight encounters between these two teams. Since they don’t play often, that means two different trends emerge from this: the Leafs have won five of the last six meetings overall. However, the Canucks have won seven of the last eight in Vancouver.
Since Toronto has had so much trouble on the road, and the Canucks are only capable of winning in Vancouver, I say take a chance on the +125 in favor of the home team tonight.
Prediction: Take the Canucks to win. Play the over.
The Game to Watch: Panthers vs Senators.
Florida is in the same boat as the Nashville Predators to me. They may not be the best team in the league, but they have an interesting enough cast and play enough tight, competitive games against anyone in the league to make them one of the most entertaining teams to track game-to-game.
Which is ironic and a shame considering their attendance record, but I digress.
The Panthers managed to win a huge game in overtime against the Detroit Red Wings. Allowing a loser point was not ideal, but Aleksander Barkov’s game-winner was a major lift. Now, they turn their attention to a team four points above them in the standings in the Atlantic in the Ottawa Senators.
The Sens are 4-1-1 in their last six overall. They picked up a loser point against Philadelphia on Thursday to keep them three points ahead of the Bruins for second in the Atlantic.
Mike Hoffman has been red-hot for Ottawa, highlighted by a four-point night in a 5-4 loss to Buffalo. Hoffman had himself a hat trick and an assist. He has seven points in his last five games and is on a three-game point streak.
Roberto Luongo will be in net for the Cats against Mike Condon.
Prediction: This one could very well go into overtime, maybe even a shootout. Take the Senators to win a tight game here. Play the under.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Capitals vs Lightning: Here we have another great matchup between the two teams currently occupying the Eastern Conference Wild Cards. Columbus’ surge has propelled them ahead of the Caps in the standings, meaning last year’s President’s Trophy winners are on the playoff bubble a quarter of the way through the season.
Washington has dropped two in a row, getting shutout at home by the Islanders after four days off. They will hop down to Tampa tonight before heading back home for a pair of games next week.
Tampa Bay finished second in the Atlantic last year, and feel the heat of the league breathing down their neck. A field including Philly, New Jersey and last year’s top seed from the Atlantic Florida are all within a point.
Though they came close, the Bolts could not beat the Blues in St. Louis. Many have tried, many have failed. The Lightning have now lost four games in a row.
The one positive in the game was the return of Anton Stralman. Stralman was a +1 with a shot on goal in 25 minutes of ice time. Give him time and he will return to form.
Washington has won the last five meetings with Tampa.
Prediction: Take the Caps to steal one on the road. Play the over.
Red Wings vs Penguins: Detroit will be trotting out goaltender Jared Coreau tonight against the Penguins in Pittsburgh. That’s a rough NHL debut right there.
Nevertheless, Coreau is 8-5 this season in the AHL for Grand Rapids, with a .923 save percentage and 2.39 goals-against average. For the AHL, those are some pretty solid numbers.
Coreau has a lot on his shoulders tonight. The Wings have lost five games in a row to teams with a winning record. His team has not had a lot of success in Pittsburgh, or against the Penguins in general.
Conversely, the Penguins have dropped their last five games following a win. After trouncing the Dallas Stars 6-2 Thursday night, Pittsburgh will have a chance to break that trend. This is the first time since November 12th that they will be playing a consecutive game at home.
Prediction: This will be a fun matchup, but I just have a very hard time picking a rookie goaltender in his debut against one of the best teams in the league on the road. Play it safe and take the Penguins. Play the over.
To make a play on these predictions, or any other NHL bets, check out the Diamond Sports Book Lines over at https://www.betdsi.eu/gms-hockey.
