There are 12 NHL games on the docket tonight. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Flyers vs Devils ML -110 / -110 O/U 5 |
Jets vs Islanders ML +125 / -145 O/U 6 |
| Predators vs Capitals ML +150 / -170 O/U 5.5 |
Wild vs Hurricanes ML -135 / +115 O/U 5.5 |
| Panthers vs Blue Jackets ML +145 / -175 O/U 5.5 |
Blackhawks vs Senators ML -125 / +105 O/U 5.5 |
| Maple Leafs vs Lightning ML +115 / -135 O/U 5.5 |
Bruins vs Oilers ML -105 / -115 O/U 5.5 |
| Stars vs Canucks ML -111 / -105 O/U 5.5 |
Red Wings vs Coyotes ML -105 / -115 O/U 5 |
| Sabres vs Kings ML +185 / -230 O/U 5 |
Blues vs Sharks ML +140 / -165 O/U 5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
The Game to Watch: Maple Leafs vs Lightning.
Toronto and Tampa Bay are both fighting for their playoff lives. Tonight, two desperate teams loaded with young talent will scratch and claw at each other and it’s sure to be great.
The Lightning are currently in a points-tie with the Brooklyn Islanders for the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. With the Isles holding the advantage in the tie-breaking regulation-overtime win category, it is not enough to merely keep pace. Now, for what would be the first time just about all season, the Bolts have the potential to hold a playoff spot by the end of the night.
They have gone from life support to cusp of the NHL playoffs in record time. After battling tough times, Jon Cooper has righted the ship and rattled off four wins in a row. As a matter of fact, they are 6-1-1 since dealing away forward Valtteri Filppula on deadline day and 7-1-1 since shipping off Ben Bishop.
What appeared to be a pair of deconstructive moves has instead served as a wakeup call.
Toronto has gone through an interesting period this past month. Their February was rough, but they still were picking up loser points to keep them in contention. Last week, they strung together a three-game winning streak, only to have it burst into flames Tuesday night against the Florida Panthers.
It took just 18 seconds for Aleksander Barkov to put the Cats on top, and they never looked back. Florida would put seven goals past Frederik Andersen and Curtis McElhinney before the night was through, winning 7-2.
The main conclusion to derive from the game is that the Leafs are still laying eggs on the road. They have now lost four of their last five away from Toronto and are just 14-13-8 all season as the visiting team.
Considering the Bolts are 7-0-1 in their last eight home games, that could mean trouble for Mike Babcock and company.
Tampa has won five of six home games against the Maple Leafs, specifically.
Prediction: Take the Bolts to win. Play the under, which has hit in the last six for Tampa overall.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Panthers vs Blue Jackets: A strong performance against the Toronto Maple Leafs unfortunately will not be enough to salvage the Panthers’ season. Florida is 2-7-1 in their last 10, falling six points behind the second Wild Card position.
It’s such a shame, because there was a period going where the Panthers were one of the most fun teams to watch. When their young talent takes off, they are a very likable team. Unfortunately, this is a team prone to droughts, and this is one of them. It just happens to be coming at the worst possible time.
Florida has lost their last four games to teams with a winning record.
Columbus has amassed 44 wins this season. They are three points behind the division-leading Capitals and hold a game in hand.
The Jackets happen to be playing on an extra day of rest tonight after beating the Flyers on Monday. When given two days off between games, they are 11-1 in their last 12. Whatever it is, they keep fresh and how.
Home teams historically prevail between these two teams. Columbus has won seven of the last eight held in Ohio.
Prediction: Take the Blue Jackets to win. Play the over.
Blues vs Sharks: The St. Louis Blues must have taken a swig of Mike’s Secret Stuff from “Space Jam.”
Get it? Cuz their coach is named Mike? Mike Yeo? Forget it, I’ll show myself out.
The Blues took on the Los Angeles Kings, their last direct competitor for a playoff spot out west on Monday. Even though the Blues have had a terrible run of success in the Staples Center in recent years, they pulled out a 3-1 victory. The Kings lost in overtime the next night to Arizona. Despite a final-period flurry, the Blues lost to the Ducks 2-1 last night in Anaheim, ending their winning streak at five.
St. Louis has only a few more competitive games sprinkled into their schedule and they are home free. Tonight is one of them. Honestly, tonight is not even that much of a “must-win” because of who they play. They still have six games against Colorado and Arizona alone. Mix in Vancouver and Carolina and that makes one easy schedule. All St. Louis has to do is not have their talent sucked out by Monstars and they are home free.
But really, if anyone was going to have their talent taken away on the ice surface tonight, it would be Brent Burns. Seriously, how funny would an animated Brent Burns Monstar look? Make it happen, guys.
The San Jose Sharks are in the midst of a weeklong home-stand over which they have doubled their opponents’ scoring, 14-7. They have won three of their first four and still have games against St. Louis tonight and Anaheim on Saturday before heading back out on the road.
Though the Blues are actually quite good on back-to-backs in their history (14-3 in their last 17), they have too tough a customer tonight. But that’s okay. Believe it or not, this is one that is more than acceptable to punt away.
If the Blues win the games they should win, they will have nothing to worry about.
Prediction: Take the Sharks to win. Play the under.
Blackhawks vs Senators: Chicago simply does not know how to lose. Their incredible month-plus of hockey has propelled them ahead of the Minnesota Wild and earned them sole possession of first place in the Central Division.
Isn’t that how it always goes for the Wild. Everything is fine and dandy until the Chicago Blackhawks come and take it all away.
The Hawks are touring Eastern Canada. Their first stop was successful against Montreal on Tuesday, besting the Habs 4-2. Johnny Oduya grabbed his first goal back with the Blackhawks this season. Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin and Jonathan Toews also scored, to the surprise of no one.
Ottawa is quietly making a nice little run themselves. They have slowly closed the gap and are only one point behind the Montreal Canadiens for the Atlantic Division title with two games in hand. Their six-game winning streak came to an end on Tuesday, but they still picked up a point for losing in overtime.
The Sens have a home-and-home with the Montreal Canadiens to look forward to this weekend.
Getting Craig Anderson back is a major boon for the team, but holy cow has Mike Condon turned up the heat his last two performances. Though his February had a disappointing end, he has come back with a clear head. He has stopped 74 of 78 shots, giving him a .949 save percentage his last two starts.
He will get another shot tonight against Chicago.
Prediction: Close call, but take the Hawks to win tonight. Play the under.
To make a play on these predictions, or any other NHL bets, visit our sportsbook at https://www.betdsi.eu/gms-hockey.
