There are five games on the schedule tonight, so let’s take a look around the NHL at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Penguins vs Blue Jackets ML -119 / +108 O/U 5.5 |
Flyers vs Lightning ML +144 / -160 O/U 5 |
| Ducks vs Blues ML +103 / -114 O/U 5 |
Blackhawks vs Stars ML +100 / -110 O/U 5.5 |
| Coyotes vs Flames ML OFF / OFF O/U OFF |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Play of the Day: The over in Flyers vs Lightning.
Tampa Bay and Philadephia met on Monday, with the Flyers taking a 4-2 victory at the Farg. Philly dominated possession, outshooting the Lightning 40-18. Tonight will be a tougher challenge as the Bolts will have the home-ice advantage and will be starting their number one, Ben Bishop.
Perhaps most impressive is that the Flyers have won four of five games without Jakub Voracek in their lineup, and are averaging 4.75 goals scored in those four victories. Voracek will be out of the lineup again tonight, eyeing a return on Tuesday.
Picking up the slack in Voracek’s absence has been the top line. Claude Giroux and Brayden Schenn both have eight points in their last five games, with Wayne Simmonds adding six points of his own.
The Lightning have dropped back-to-back games after going on a nine-game tear in the month of February. After their game against the Flyers, Tampa dropped a 1-0 overtime contest against the Bruins.
The over is 9-1 in the last 10 games the Lightning have played against Metropolitan opponents.
Anton Stralman will be a game-time decision tonight as he fights illness. He missed Tuesday’s game against the Bruins. The flu has been making the rounds in various NHL locker rooms. At least it isn’t the mumps outbreak of 2014-2015, right?
Prediction: The Flyers are rolling and they will be harder to contain if Anton Stralman is not at 100%. Take a chance on Philly at +144. Play the over.
The Game to Watch: Blackhawks vs Stars.
It is almost unfair at this point that Chicago, Dallas and St. Louis have a monopoly on the most exciting games. After all, only the Metropolitan Division has an all-but-secure leader in the Washington Capitals, who are running away with the President’s Trophy.
But since the three frontrunners for the Central Division are all in action tonight and taking on elite competition, tonight is a key night.
Dallas holds the series lead this season, taking two of three thus far. Dating back to last season, they have taken four of the last five. Recently, Dallas lost to Montreal in overtime on Tuesday on the road.
Chicago grabbed a loser point against the Blues on Wednesday night as they lost in the skills competition. They are 3-1-1 in their last five.
One thing to keep an eye on tonight, as highlighted by Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune, is that even though the Hawks and Stars are tied with 88 points through 68 games, the Stars are vastly superior at scoring at even strength. The Blackhawks are used to being towards the top of the league in that category, yet they sit at 22nd in the league in 5v5 goals. Dallas sits at second in the league.
It does not bode well then that in six of the last seven years, the eventual Stanley Cup winner has not placed lower than fourth in the league in that category. The only exception was the 2011-2012 Kings, who placed 16th. The Kings that year were an eight-seed out of the West and went on what can only be described as a miracle run from the second-half on.
Looking at the smaller picture for now, the Stars are 1-4 in their last five home games and the over is 6-0-1 in Chicago’s last seven road games. Dallas will be without John Klingberg and Patrick Sharp tonight.
Prediction: Take the Hawks to win at +100. Play the over.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Penguins vs Blue Jackets: If the Penguins could actually put together a string of wins, they would be a threat to steal a divisional playoff spot away from either the Islanders or Rangers. They are 2-3-0 in the month of March. They dropped key games against the Capitals and Islanders, but managed to pick up two points against the Rangers.
At the very least, Pittsburgh can take solace in the fact that they tend to beat up on teams with losing records. They are 9-1 against sub-.500 teams in their last 10, with their lone such loss coming last Saturday against the Calgary Flames.
Carl Hagelin (illness), Eric Fehr (lower-body) and Beau Bennett (upper-body) will all be game-time decisions, per Mike Sullivan.
Columbus may be a lottery team come season’s end, but they have at least defended home ice. They are 15-12-4 in Ohio this season, which is surprisingly good for a cellar-dwelling team. They have won their last four home games as well.
Sergei Bobrovsky will be making his first start since January 21st tonight. Marc-Andre Fleury will be starting opposite him, looking for win number 350.
Prediction: Take the Penguins to win. Play the over.
Ducks vs Blues: The other big Central Division game tonight is Ducks-Blues. St. Louis needs a two-point game tonight out of Chicago and Dallas- no loser points allowed. If that is the case, St. Louis can slip into second place with a win. They will also be looking to extend their winning streak to five games.
The Ducks are doing some jockeying of their own, fighting with Los Angeles for control of the Pacific Division. After their impressive win streak came to an end, the Ducks have now dropped back-to-back games. Their most recent loss was a shutout at the hands of the Avalanche.
Jake Allen will be getting the start tonight for the Blues, who has dominated Anaheim in his career. He is undefeated in three decisions against St. Louis, with a 0.87 goals-against average and .966 save percentage. After stumbling back from injury, Allen has won his last four starts with a .938 save percentage.
Their last meeting was a 4-3 victory for the Ducks with Brian Elliott in net.
Prediction: Take the Blues to win at -114. Play the under.
