There are 10 NHL games on the docket tonight. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Avalanche vs Bruins ML +155 / -175 O/U 5 |
Blues vs Islanders ML -125 / +105 O/U 5 |
| Oilers vs Flyers ML +110 / -130 O/U 5.5 |
Devils vs Canadiens ML +145 / -165 O/U 5 |
| Canucks vs Lightning ML +175 / -225 O/U 5 |
Penguins vs Panthers ML -135 / +115 O/U 5.5 |
| Rangers vs Jets ML +100 / -120 O/U 5.5 |
Predators vs Stars ML -120 / +100 O/U 5.5 |
| Flames vs Coyotes ML -135 / +115 O/U 5 |
Hurricanes vs Kings ML +170 / 200 O/U 5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Play of the Day: Islanders over Blues.
Brooklyn is bouncing back. After an abysmal start to their season, the Islanders are 4-0-1 in their last five games to get them back on track. Even though they are still technically last in the Eastern Conference, they are still within striking distance of the playoffs, eight points behind the second Wild Card spot.
Their most recent triumph came over the rival Rangers on home ice. Scott Mayfield opened the scoring with his first of the season (his second in his career). Jason Chimera and the embattled Andrew Ladd also scored, with captain John Tavares putting the game away with a powerplay goal in the third period.
The key to their success these past few games has been their penalty killing. The Isles are a perfect 19-for-19 in their last seven games. They have also struck first in scoring in each of their last six games, which coincides with their hot streak.
The Islanders’ play at home has kept them afloat this season. They are 8-4-4 in 16 games at the Barclays Center. They are on a five-game point streak on home ice, with a 3-0-2 record.
Brooklyn has a chance to fan their spark into a flame tonight against the St. Louis Blues, who are finally venturing back out onto the road after a five-game, two-week homestand. Though the Blues’ dominance on home ice has been prevalent all season long, their play on the road has been subpar. They are 3-6-1 as the visiting team this season, and have lost five of their last six.
Thomas Greiss will be in net for the Isles after Halak stopped 36 of 38 shots on Tuesday night. Jake Allen will be in net for St. Louis.
Prediction: Take a chance on the Islanders tonight at home. Play the over, which is 6-2 in the last eight meetings between these two teams.
The Game to Watch: Predators vs Stars.
“It’s kind of tiring to win one here and lose one.”
That’s Dallas Stars forward Curtis McKenzie, sounding off on the fact that the Stars have only one consecutive games on one occasion this entire season. Their chance to put together consecutive wins was denied Tuesday night after a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames on home ice.
The Stars have been incredibly disappointing this season. Despite their top of the line forward talent, their defensive core has been predictably weak this season. Their goal differential ranks among the worst in the league at -20. Nevertheless, they are just three points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the second Wild Card Spot.
In the Wild Card spots: Winnipeg and the Calgary Flames. On the outside looking in: Nashville, Los Angeles and Dallas. Hockey!
The Predators sit two points ahead of Dallas in the standings. Like the Islanders, their play at home has salvaged an otherwise disappointing start to their season, as they are just 3-7-2 away from Nashville.
Back on November 23rd, the Preds hosted the Stars and topped them, 5-2. At the start of the year, Dallas took a 2-1 victory from the Preds in Tennessee.
Dallas has been a house of horrors for the Predators, however. They have lost seven of their last eight and have been prone to blowouts.
Despite missing four games, James Neal has been on quite the hot streak. He scored nine times in 10 games before the injury, then returned to the lineup and scored again Tuesday night. Neal leads the team with 11 goals on the year.
Prediction: Take the Stars to rebound tonight and take this one on home ice. Play the over.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Rangers vs Jets: The New York Rangers will be without Mika Zibanejad, Pavel Buchnevich, Rick Nash and potentially Jimmy Vesey tonight. Plus Henrik Lundqvist will be on the bench in favor of Antti Raanta. So tonight’s not looking too good for the Rangers.
At least Michael Grabner will be back tonight.
New York improved on their shooting woes against the Islanders Tuesday night, firing 16 shots on net in the first period and 38 in the game. However, only two found their way to the back of the net, as the Blueshirts went 0-for-6 on the man advantage. Rick Nash, who had an assist in the game, has been playing extremely well for the Rangers, so his absence for the next week with a pulled groin is going to be brutal. Jimmy Vesey and Marc Staal scored in the game.
Winnipeg swept a tough weekend road trip, taking a back-to-back against the Blues and the Blackhawks. They returned home Tuesday, where they dropped their matchup against the Red Wings in the shootout. Patrik Laine tallied his 17th goal, pulling even with Sidney Crosby for the NHL lead once more.
Even though the Rangers are 8-1 in their last nine against the Western Conference, they are simply missing too many key components to make a bet on them worthwhile. The Rangers’ hot start may be for naught, as their injuries may cause them to slide down the NHL power rankings very soon.
Prediction: Take the Jets to win. Play the over.
Hurricanes vs Kings: Even though the Carolina Hurricanes fell to the Anaheim Ducks 6-5 in the shootout last night, Cam Ward should hold his head high. Wardo stopped 33 of 38 shots, coming up with some huge saves along the way. He looked sharp, saw the puck well, and managed to keep the Canes in this game. Ward is listed as the projected starter according to LeftWingLock, but I would be surprised if he handled both legs of a back-to-back in California.
Another bright spot in the loss last night was Teuvo Teravainen, who scored twice last night.
The Kings have had a chance to regroup after losing in the skills competition to the Montreal Canadiens. Three days off will do most any team good, but they will likely be turning to Jeff Zatkoff tonight, so those good feelings probably won’t last long.
I don’t know why I dislike Zatkoff so much. He performed well in his last start against the Arizona Coyotes, stopping 25 of 26 shots, but then again, it’s the Coyotes.
Regardless, go with the more rested team tonight.
Prediction: Take the Kings to win. Play the under.
