There are six games on the docket tonight. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Rangers vs Maple Leafs ML -105 / -115 O/U 6 |
Islanders vs Canadiens ML +130 / -150 O/U 5 |
| Flames vs Lightning ML +125 / -145 O/U 5.5 |
Avalanche vs Predators ML +230 / -286 O/U 5.5 |
| Coyotes vs Blackhawks ML +220 / -275 O/U 5.5 |
Bruins vs Kings ML Off / Off O/U Off |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
The Game to Watch: Islanders vs Canadiens.
The New York Islanders are going for their fourth win and five games that would propel them into the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Every win is critical in their race with the Florida Panthers (and virtually every other team in the East). Tonight is stop #2 on their nine-game road trip.
Montreal was finally able to rebound and pick up their first win with Claude Julien behind the bench this season. Carey Price stopped 28 of 30 shots, including one Save of the Year candidate, and the Habs stole one in the skills competition at Madison Square Garden.
Brooklyn is looking for more out of their road performances. Though they took the first game of their trip in Detroit in impressive fashion, they need to improve on their 8-13-4 record as the visiting team. As they sit in the second Wild Card spot, looking for another trip to the NHL playoffs, everything rides on this road trip.
The Isles will be depleted in their pursuit of victory tonight. Casey Cizikas will likely miss a couple of weeks, and Cal Clutterbuck will miss time as well. Bracken Kearns, a 35-year-old, has been recalled from Bridgeport to fill the void. Kearns has amassed 40 points in 51 AHL games.
Montreal is still one of the toughest places to play, regardless of who is coaching the team at the time. They may have lost their last four at the Bell Centre, but that trend will not continue. The Isles have lost four of their last five trips to Montreal and seven of their last eight against the Canadiens overall.
My money is on the Habs. Expect an inspired desperation effort out of the Isles tonight though.
Prediction: Take the Canadiens to win. Play the under.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Rangers vs Maple Leafs: The New York Rangers were robbed by Carey Price several times with time winding down before eventually falling in the shootout. While they were able to come away with a point, it’s impossible to be disappointed by not coming away with a win against a team that historically dominates you.
All the same, the Blueshirts will be back in action taking on another Canadian Atlantic Division foe, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Unlike their track record against Montreal, New York has won five of their last six encounters with the Maple Leafs, including eight of their last 10 in Toronto.
Henrik Lundqvist will likely be back in net for the Rangers, and with good reason. He has been a force to be reckoned with in net. He’s undeniably on his best stretch of the season.
His opponent tonight, Frederik Andersen, has not been quite as tremendous. Andersen has allowed 12 goals in his last four starts, splitting the four decisions evenly. In all of February, Andersen has allowed 30 goals in eight starts- a goals-against average of 3.75. He has been good enough to win 24 games on the year for the Leafs, but there needs to be marked improvement if the Leafs are going to make a push for the playoffs.
Toronto squandered their handful of games in hand on the Bruins. Now the Bs are heating up, and the Leafs are spinning their wheels.
Playing a team with confidence is not the best thing for them.
Prediction: Take the Rangers to win. Play the over, which has hit in the last seven Canadian-based meetings between these two teams.
Bruins vs Kings: Bruce Cassidy had to lose at some point. The Boston Bruins’ four-game winning streak came to an end last night against the Anaheim Ducks. Though Frank Vatrano and David Backes both registered multi-point nights on the offensive end, four even-strength goals made their way past Tuukka Rask as the Ducks won 5-3.
Tonight is a major test for Cassidy and company. After a rough loss, the team is back at it on the road less than 24 hours after the previous game’s completion. How will they turn the page? Will they come out mad or will their fatigue take its toll?
Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak Tuesday night as they were able to top the league’s worst team 2-1. The Kings’ offense has run bone dry. They have managed just eight goals in their last four games, and were shut out by the Ducks this past Sunday.
Tyler Toffoli scored his 10th goal of the season on Tuesday to make him just the third player on the roster with double-digit goals.
Perhaps taking shots on one of the worst statistical backups in the league will jumpstart their confidence. Anton Khudobin is the likely starter tonight for the Bruins, sporting a 3.05 goals-against average and .888 save percentage on the year. He has just one start in 2017 under his belt, in which he allowed three goals but earned a victory.
A win tonight would make Darryl Sutter the winningest coach in Los Angeles Kings’ history. He is currently tied with Andy Murray at 215 wins with the franchise.
The last meeting between these two teams was a low-scoring affair, which comes as no surprise given the Kings’ season. Boston took the game 1-0 at the TD Garden. Perhaps a change in scenery will alter the outcome tonight.
Prediction: Take the Kings to win. Play the under.
Flames vs Lightning: Clinging ever-so-desperately to life are the Tampa Bay Lightning. They have 62 points in the standings, placing them 12th in the conference, but they are gunning for their third win in a row tonight.
Ben Bishop has rattled off five straight wins as the team inches closer and closer to competitive levels. It has been rumored that Ben Bishop might be on the move all season long, and if the team were worse off, a trade would be a no-brainer at this point. However, given his hot streak and the fact that the team is not quite dead yet, this is a sticky situation.
Bishop has a .953 save percentage during his five-game stretch.
A reunion appears to be just what the doctor ordered for the infamous “Triplets.” Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson are back together, and they are producing. They’ve been together two games, and the Bolts have won two games. Kucherov registered a four-point night Tuesday.
Calgary’s powerplay has been fruitless of late. The Flames are 0-for-18 in their last five games on the man advantage.
This will be the second and final meeting
Prediction: Take the Lightning to win tonight. Play the over.
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