There are 11 NHL games on the docket tonight, one already in progress. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Capitals vs Rangers ML Off / Off O/U Off |
Red Wings vs Penguins ML +255 / -310 O/U 5.5 |
| Jets vs Senators ML +115 / -135 O/U 5.5 |
Blackhawks vs Sabres ML Off / Off O/U Off |
| Devils vs Islanders ML Off / Off O/U Off |
Predators vs Blue Jackets ML +155 / -165 O/U 5.5 |
| Maple Leafs vs Hurricanes ML Off / Off O/U Off |
Lightning vs Avalanche ML -155 / +140 O/U 5 |
| Bruins vs Sharks ML -105 / -115 O/U 5 |
Kings vs Ducks ML +120 / -130 O/U 5 |
| Flyers vs Canucks ML -115 / +105 O/U 5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
The Game to Watch: Devils vs Islanders.
It’s apparently Hockey Day in America. How about that. But there are four Canadian teams playing today, so it’s not too exclusive I guess. I forgot this “holiday” existed, to be honest.
Anyway, the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders will be facing off for the second day in a row in a good ol’ fashioned home-and-home. The Devils staved off an offensive skirmish from the Isles in the waning minutes of the third period to hold on to a 3-2 victory. Nick Leddy hit the post on an open-net chance with under two minutes to go.
Devante Smith-Pelly was sprung for a breakaway in the opening frame. He breezed by Calvin de Haan and slipped a backhander under the pads of Thomas Greiss to give the Devils the early lead. Smith-Pelly had sat out the previous six games for the Devils as a healthy scratch. It was his first goal since November 17th.
As the Islanders continued to dominate puck possession, they found themselves on the man advantage midway through the second period. Finally, New Jersey escaped their own zone and started a 2-on-1 shorthanded rush. Travis Zajac received a feed and wired a wrist shot to the back of the net for his first shorthanded goal of the season.
Pavel Zacha would net a powerplay goal in the third to ensure the Devils had a point at all three strengths. Though Andrew Ladd and Anthony Beauvillier would tally for the Islanders, they could not find the equalizer in the final six minutes of play.
Both the Islanders and Devils are in hot pursuit of the Boston Bruins for the final Wild Card spot. The Devils have come back from the dead to bring themselves within four points of the Bs, despite having the worst goal differential in the Eastern Conference.
Brooklyn, meanwhile, is only two points back but holds a game in hand. With Metropolitan Division spots all but locked up barring an apocalyptic meltdown, both teams need to put together a winning streak and fast.
This is the Devils sole road game before returning to the Rock for a three-game homestand. Brooklyn begins their dreaded nine-game road trip following this game.
Tonight is imperative for both teams. The Devils have won their last six road games to somehow become one of the hottest visiting teams in the NHL, while the Isles are 6-1 in their last seven home games. However, the Isles have taken the last five meetings at the Barclay’s Center.
Mike Cammalleri, who sat out last night as a healthy scratch for missing the back of the net for 18 games straight, was not happy. It is unclear whether he will sit out again tonight. I would say it’s unlikely, but it certainly is a possibility.
Though the Islanders are historically weak on back-to-backs, I like them in this one. There is simply too much at stake to be swept by a division rival on home ice. Look for John Tavares to take over.
Prediction: Take Brooklyn to win. Play the under.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Red Wings vs Penguins: The lines have officially become absurd at the PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh is so filthy in their home rink that the oddsmakers are taking no chances. The Pens are now 24-3-3 in the Burgh, with their most recent home win coming in overtime against the Winnipeg Jets.
The following night, Pittsburgh went into overtime once more against the Columbus Blue Jackets and lost 2-1.
Why is the line so tilted, you ask? Detroit being one of the coldest teams in the NHL might have something to do with it. While everyone else surges towards the Wild Card in the Eastern Conference, Detroit has been slowly sinking to the bottom. They have lost five of their last six, including eight of their last nine as the visiting team. Additionally, they have dropped nine of their last 11 in Pittsburgh.
The Wings snapped a five-game losing streak last night in the shootout against the Washington Capitals. On the bright side, they won a game! Unfortunately, it means that they will be playing a back-to-back with travel against a somewhat rested Penguins team.
Petr Mrazek will start again tonight. Mrazzle Dazzle is finally settling into a bit of a groove, only allowing five goals in his last three starts. His save percentage in that span is .951, against playoff teams like Washington, St. Louis and Columbus no less.
In their last encounter, the Red Wings ran the Penguins out of the building with a 6-3 victory in Detroit. I would not bet on the same thing happening here, though I would advise taking the over.
Prediction: Take the Penguins to win. Play the over.
Jets vs Senators: Here we have the only all-Canadian matchup of Hockey Day in America. Surely this is a treasonous move by the NHL and we should not even dignify this game with a watch on this most sacred of holy Sundays, but let’s talk about it anyway.
Ottawa has crept up on the Montreal Canadiens, who were so panicked by the footsteps coming up behind them that they fired their head coach and replaced him with longtime rival Claude Julien. The Sens are two points back of the Atlantic Division lead with three games in hand. Considering Montreal has had a stranglehold on the standings all season long, that would be a momentous shift if Ottawa could take the lead away.
Winnipeg is still around, which is about the best one can sell their current position. Though they have been given ample opportunity to catch up in the standings to Nashville or Calgary, they simply cannot string together a slew of wins that would get them to take the next step.
The Jets did manage to beat the Canadiens last night in the Bell Centre, a move that helped their opponents in tonight’s game.
Home betting is the way to go tonight. Ottawa has won six of the last seven games against Winnipeg, and the Jets are playing on a back-to-back.
Prediction: Take the Sens to win. Play the under, which has hit in each of the last four meetings.
Predators vs Blue Jackets: Nashville is one of several teams operating on a back-to-back tonight, but last night was especially rough for the Preds. Their trip to Minnesota ended poorly, as they fell 5-2 to the Wild. Colin Wilson registered a multi-point night, but beyond that, there were not a whole lot of positives to take away.
The Preds’ defense has been non-existent of late. They have allowed 19 goals in their last four games. A bye-week did not help fix things much.
They will be back at it tonight against one of the best offenses in the NHL in the Columbus Blue Jackets. CBJ is looking for their third win in a row, as they have topped the Maple Leafs and Penguins on their home ice earlier in the week.
Brandon Dubinsky is heating up at the right time for the Jackets. He netted the overtime winner against Pittsburgh, and is currently riding a four-game point streak. What was a down year for Dubi is turning around quickly. Keep an eye on him, as he may be a good pick for all those participating in daily fantasy hockey.
Prediction: Take the Jackets to win. Play the over.
Kings vs Ducks: The season series is currently split between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks blanked the Kings in Los Angeles back in November, then the Kings got revenge at the Honda Center three weeks later.
The Ducks have won seven of the last 10 meetings. They will need to overcome their offensive woes in order to take this one, though. They have had difficulty generating high-danger chances. In order to fix that, it starts at the top down. Corey Perry only has 11 goals this season, when he normally leads the charge. Ryan Kesler has one goal in 14 games, though he only needs one more to reach the 20-goal mark.
Los Angeles may be moving some pieces at the deadline this season. There are rumors that Teddy Purcell and Alec Martinez may be on the move. They have lost four of their last five as they have sunk to two points out of the postseason.They are 10 points behind the Ducks in the Pacific, but they play twice in the next week.
Sami Vatanen will be in the lineup tonight after dealing with a knee injury. Antoine Vermette will continue to serve his 10-game suspension for abuse of an official.
Prediction: Take the Ducks to win. Play the under.
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