There are 12 NHL games on the schedule tonight. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Lightning vs Bruins ML +170 / -200 O/U 5.5 |
Blue Jackets vs Capitals ML Off / Off O/U Off |
| Devils vs Maple Leafs ML Off / Off O/U Off |
Hurricanes vs Canadiens ML +160 / -185 O/U 5 |
| Penguins vs Senators ML -135 / +115 O/U 5.5 |
Coyotes vs Panthers ML +165 / -200 O/U 5.5 |
| Canucks vs Blues ML +188 / -240 O/U |
Flames vs Predators ML +125 / -145 O/U 5.5 |
| Flyers vs Wild ML +165 / -200 O/U 5.5 |
Stars vs Blackhawks ML +199 / -240 O/U 6 |
| Oilers vs Avalanche ML Off / Off O/U Off |
Jets vs Kings ML +125 / -150 O/U 5.5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
The Game to Watch: Blue Jackets vs Capitals.
Since the Metropolitan Division standings are still very much so up in the air, it is entirely possible that this is a preview for a first-round matchup tonight. The Washington Capitals currently sit atop the Metro with 102 points, while the Penguins trail by just one. Columbus is just two points behind Washington, creating quite a cluster at the top.
The Capitals have managed to right the ship after a turbulent Californian tour last week. They have responded to their four-game losing streak by going 3-0-1 in their last four. Tonight they will try for their third in a row.
Columbus is trying to put the cherry on top of their ridiculously surprising season. The odds of their winning the President’s Trophy are not quite insurmountable, which is incredible. They were in action last night, falling to the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 at home.
Joonas Korpisalo was in net for the loss last night, meaning Sergei Bobrovsky will get the call tonight.
This will be an intense offensive showdown. Both teams are capable of erupting on any given night. The Capitals have scored 14 goals in their last four games. They are third in the NHL with 3.21 goals-for per game. Just behind them in that category are the Blue Jackets at 3.17 goals-for per game.
Washington has won seven of the last nine meetings in D.C. Though the Jackets have not lost against a Metro Division rival in eight matchups, tonight could be the night. Washington is simply a tough place to play, and the Caps do not want to surrender the President’s Trophy that easy.
Prediction: Take the Capitals to win. Play the over.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Lightning vs Bruins: The Tampa Bay Lightning have played themselves out of playoff contention. They have lost three games in a row in games where a win or at least a loser point was a necessity.
Tampa laid an egg against the Toronto Maple Leafs last Thursday. Despite the home-ice advantage and the fuel of their opponent being their direct competitor for the final Wild Card spot, the Leafs quickly ripped the heart out of the Bolts. By the minute 23 of action, Toronto already held a 3-0 lead. The final score was 5-0.
Redemption could have been found if the Lightning were able to steal a home win against the Washington Capitals. Tampa rallied back from down 2-0 to enter the third period tied, but the Caps struck twice early in the third and wound up earning a 5-3 victory.
All was not yet lost. There was still one more game to be played on the three-game homestand against the lowly Arizona Coyotes. A win would at least help the team keep pace in the frantic Wild Card hunt. Two easy points could be grabbed.
The Bolts allowed three unanswered goals in the third period and the Coyotes came from behind to win 5-3.
So now, the Lightning have one final stand to make against the Boston Bruins, who sit in the second Wild Card spot five points ahead with 82 points. There is no other way to interpret this game other than a loss kills the Tampa Bay season. It’s as simple as that. A win would not necessarily salvage their playoff chances, but as the saying goes, hope dies last.
Boston has lost three games in a row as well. A four-game losing streak came to a halt last Thursday in Edmonton, then the Bs dropped both legs of a back-to-back earlier this week against Toronto and Ottawa.
Leafs may have won but Tuukka Rask is about to do some DAMAGE to the visitor’s locker room pic.twitter.com/HowOGGGmGT
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) March 21, 2017
With both teams frustrated and feeling like this is a crucial win, this will be a fast-paced, high-energy game. To their credit, Tampa has won four of their last five road games, though they have never performed well in Boston in their franchise’s history.
The Bruins have won their last six home games against teams with a losing road record. Since Tampa has allowed five goals in three straight games, the Bruins (namely Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak) ought to be licking their chops.
Prediction: Take the Bruins to win. Play the over.
Devils vs Maple Leafs: A common theme in the above game preview is the Maple Leafs pulling out big wins against division rivals. The Leafs are 3-0-1 in their last four games, with their most recent being a 5-2 victory over the Blue Jackets last night in Ohio. They have scored 15 goals in their last four games.
New Jersey earned two points they did not deserve Tuesday night in overtime against the New York Rangers. Race to the bottom aside, any win over the Rangers is a good win for the team. Now they can revert back to Tank Mode.
The Devils have lost their last four games following a win. They have also lost six of their last seven in Toronto.
If the Leafs keep up the energy and don’t take their opponent for granted, this should be an easy two points tonight. A win would be huge to keep a leg up on the Bruins, too.
Prediction: Take the Maple Leafs to win. Play the under.
Stars vs Blackhawks: Man, I remember this time last year writing about Stars-Blackhawks games like they were the most important in the NHL. Now, only one fanbase should be even remotely invested.
Dallas has earned a couple of surprising wins the last few weeks. Amongst the smattering of losses are triumphs against the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers and just on Monday, the San Jose Sharks. However, the Stars will likely again be without Jason Spezza tonight. Spezza was held out of Monday’s contest with back spasms, and it looks like he will miss tonight as well.
Chicago will be without Artem Anisimov for another three weeks or so. That injury loses a bit of its sting when one considers just how well the Blackhawks have been playing, with or without Anisimov. They are still 5-0-1 in their last six games averaging 3.67 goals-for over that stretch.
The Stars have lost 10 of their last 11 against the Central Division.
A broom may be a necessary prop at the United Center tonight, as the Hawks look for the five-game season sweep tonight. All four games to this point have been close on the scoreboard, and only two would have hit the over on tonight’s mark of six.
I don’t feel that the Stars are going to go down so easy. Preventing a season sweep will be motivation to play a relatively tight game. For whatever reason, I don’t foresee a final score beyond 4-2.
Prediction: Take the Blackhawks to win tonight. Play the under.
Flames vs Predators: The two Wild Card teams collide tonight in Nashville, with both teams trying to leapfrog into a divisional spot. Calgary has 86 points, one behind the Edmonton Oilers. With the Oilers on the road tonight in Colorado, a win would be very nice as they continue their fight to avoid facing the San Jose Sharks in the first round.
Nashville, meanwhile, has 83 points. While they are also pursuing the St. Louis Blues for the third spot in the Central Division, they are also trying to pass Calgary in the Wild Card standings so as to avoid playing the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round.
One is trying to avoid San Jose, while one would prefer it. Playoffs!
The Flames have won five of their last six road games, and the Predators have won five of their last six home games. However, Calgary has won their last four in Tennessee.
This will be one of the more fun games to watch tonight, as it is loaded with young elite talent. Gaudreau, Monahan, Forsberg, Josi, Subban. It’s going to be a wild time.
Prediction: Take the Flames to win. Play the over.
