There are three NHL games on the docket tonight. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Bruins vs Capitals ML +145 / -180 O/U 5 |
Wild vs Flames ML -120 / +100 O/U 5 |
| Avalanche vs Kings ML +240 / -300 O/U 5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
The Game to Watch: Bruins vs Capitals.
Tonight’s matchup between the Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals will be broadcast on NBC Sports from the Verizon Center, making it tonight’s “Game to Watch.”
The Bruins fended off the Tampa Bay Lightning last night with a crucial 4-3 victory in Amalie Arena. Brad Marchand and David Krejci both registered multi-point nights, as did blueliner Colin Miller. It was Miller’s first multi-point game of the season.
Boston outshot Tampa Bay 35-21, including a 16-4 bombardment in the second period.
Though it was a great win for the Bs as far as the standings are concerned, they have their work cut out for them tonight. Washington has won the last seven encounters between these two teams, including their only meeting so far this year.
In early December, the Caps topped the Bruins in overtime. Boston had scored three unanswered goals to overcome a 3-0 deficit, but Nicklas Backstrom buried the game-winner.
Playing even more into Washington’s favor is the goaltender situation. Tuukka Rask started for the Bruins last night, and is the projected starter again tonight. Braden Holtby got the night off last night against the New York Islanders.
Incidentally, the Caps lost 3-2 last night in Brooklyn. Braden Holtby went undefeated in January, as Philipp Grubauer was tagged with the loss.
For as rough a time as the Capitals have had on back-to-backs, the Bruins never seem to win these Wednesday Night Rivalry games. They are winless in their last five Wednesday games.
The under is 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings.
Predictions: Take the Capitals to win tonight. Play the under. Bet on Evgeny Kuznetsov on scoring tonight while you’re at it.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Wild vs Flames: Though the Calgary Flames are just a stone’s throw away from a spot in the NHL playoffs, they are having a devil of a time stringing together wins. They have lost their last four games following a win, and they won their last game before the All-Star break over the Ottawa Senators.
Minnesota was in action last night, and they bested the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 in Canada. Darcy Kuemper came up big in the win, turning aside 41 of 43 shots on goal. Tyler Graovac netted two goals, giving him six on the season. Jason Zucker tallied two points as well.
The over is 6-1-1 in the last eight Wild games against Western Conference foes. It has also hit in 10 of 12 games in which Calgary has had three days of rest or more.
Calgary has won the last three meetings between these two teams, all by one goal.
Even though the Flames have the home-ice advantage, and the Wild played last night, Minnesota is just too hot to handle.
Prediction: Take the Wild to win. Play the under.
Avalanche vs Kings: Poor, poor Colorado. It must be really bad when even Nathan MacKinnon says that life “sucks” for the Avalanche, you know it’s gotten to a really bad point. MacKinnon was in the All-Star game as the Avs’ lone representative. Perhaps the most jarring point in the skills competition for me was MacKinnon getting smoked by Connor McDavid in the fastest skater competition. MacKinnon was always one of the best in the game for me as far as skating was concerned. There is no shame in losing to Connor McDavid, but still. It just looked like he had lost a step.
Colorado must be sucking the life out of him. That must be what he meant.
I don’t have much to say on this game, other than take the Kings to win. In case you were curious, Matt Greene is still out with an undisclosed injury and will miss his sixth consecutive game.
Prediction: Take the Kings to win. Play the over.
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