There are 10 NHL games on the docket tonight. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Rangers vs Bruins ML +144 / -160 O/U 5.5 |
Coyotes vs Sabres ML +145 / -165 O/U 5.5 |
| Panthers vs Flyers ML +105 / -125 O/U 5 |
Devils vs Capitals ML +230 / -290 O/U 5 |
| Wild vs Blue Jackets ML +110 / -130 O/U 5.5 |
Predators vs Canadiens ML +120 / -130 O/U 5 |
| Avalanche vs Senators ML +210 / -250 O/U 5 |
Islanders vs Stars ML +115 / -135 O/U 6 |
| Maple Leafs vs Kings ML +135 / -155 O/U 5 |
Canucks vs Sharks ML +210 / -260 O/U 5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Play of the Day: Islanders over Stars.
The Dallas Stars are still considered to be the favored team tonight, even though they lost several regular lineup players to the trade deadline. Defensemen Johnny Oduya and Jordie Benn were both shipped out to the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens, respectively. Lauri Korpikoski was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Patrick Eaves was also dealt to the Anaheim Ducks the week prior.
Benn and Oduya will be the most impactful departures. Oduya is well past his prime and his salary coming off the books is a relief. Benn was a solid depth defenseman forever living in the shadow of his superstar brother, Jamie. Though he is not a spectacular offensive talent, he deserves credit for his consistency and skating ability. If utilized correctly, he can fill out half of a second-pair on the blueline quite nicely.
Patrick Sharp, who many speculated would be moved, stayed put when the dust cleared.
Brooklyn was in the running for the Matt Duchene sweepstakes, but like a Powerball jackpot, there were no winners by the March 1st deadline. The Islanders were strangely silent on Deadline Day. They definitely could have used some help, be it a middle-six forward or a defenseman, but Garth Snow decided to stand pat. Jaroslav Halak is still in the organization, which is a surprise as well.
The Isles’ roll came to a screeching halt on Saturday, as they were annihilated by the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-0. It was their first loss on this nine-game road trip they are currently on. Regardless, they are 4-0 following losses of three goals or more this season.
Even though the home team has won the last five meetings between these two teams, and the Stars have been playing well in their own building lately, the moves Dallas has made will surely weaken them in the short-term. New York is well-rested, and Dallas has a patchwork blueline.
Brooklyn is 11-2-3 against the Western Conference this year.
Prediction: Take the Islanders to win. Play the under.
The Game to Watch: Rangers vs Bruins.
Tonight is the Brendan Smith’s debut in a New York sweater. Smith skated with Ryan McDonagh on the top pairing in practice the other day, meaning he is being thrown right into the mix. How long that lasts once Girard and Klein return remains to be seen. My guess is that he will be juggled in this game with McDonagh, Marc Staal and Nick Holden to see what sticks.
Beyond that one trade, Boston and New York were both content at the deadline. Boston certainly has no reason to try and upset the apple cart. The Bruins have won seven of eight under their new head coach, scoring 33 goals along the way. David Pastrnak has 14 points in his last 10 games to give him 52 on the season. Brad Marchand has 12 multi-point games since the turn of the calendar year, as he leads the team with 28 goals and 38 assists.
New York will be missing one of their more effective depth players in Jesper Fast, as he will sit out two-to-three weeks. Fast had been playing exceptionally well in the bottom six alongside fellow Swede Oscar Lindberg. Matt Puempel will likely skate on the fourth line in his stead with Lindberg and Brandon Pirri.
Pavel Buchnevich is toiling in the American Hockey League, for some ungodly reason. Not like they could use his help on the powerplay or anything. Not like the Blueshirts could use some security since Fast is out, Michael Grabner tweaked his hip in practice yesterday, Chris Kreider didn’t practice and Mika Zibanejad missed last game with a hand injury.
EDIT: Buchnevich was called up from the minors and will join the NHL club this afternoon. He netted the overtime winner for the Hartford Wolfpack last night against the Springfield Thunderbirds, and didn’t even celebrate. Dude knows he should be playing with Rick Nash.
Buchnevich nonchalantly wins it in OT. Why is he in the AHL, again? pic.twitter.com/LztfFEdgIk
— Adam Herman (@AdamZHerman) March 2, 2017
With as banged up as the Rangers are, they will have a devil of a time keeping up with the Bruins tonight. Boston has scored the first goal of the game in their last six games. Knowing how the Rangers have struggled in the first period this season, that could be problematic. Lest we forget when David Pastrnak scored just 10 seconds into play in their first meeting this season.
Should Henrik Lundqvist be in net for a victory, he would tie Grant Fuhr for 10th on the all-time wins list.
The Rangers have won both meetings this season 5-2. In fact, they have won the last four encounters.
Tonight, the bough breaks.
Prediction: Take the Bruins to win. Play the over.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Avalanche vs Senators: Craig Anderson’s return to the net has been nothing short of triumphant. He is 4-2-0 since his comeback on February 11th, and has a .947 save percentage in those six games with a shutout. As Ottawa continues to apply pressure on the Montreal Canadiens in the Atlantic Division, Anderson has been leading the charge.
Anderson’s last four starts have been on the road. This will be his first start in two weeks in Ottawa.
Believe it or not, this will be a big dragon for the Senators to slay tonight. The Colorado Avalanche, though they are the worst team in the NHL, have won five of their last six games in Ottawa and nine of their last 11 against the Senators overall. Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog are still Avs, meaning that they still have players worth keeping an eye on on a nightly basis.
Jarome Iginla was the lone notable name to exit Denver at the trade deadline. He will play out what is likely to be the remainder of his career in Los Angeles with the Kings.
The over has hit in each of the last four matches between these two teams.
Prediction: Take the Senators to win. Play the over.
Maple Leafs vs Kings: Ben Bishop’s Kings debut ended disappointingly on Tuesday night, as Los Angeles fell in overtime to the Calgary Flames 2-1. Bishop did play well, stopping 28 of 30 shots thrown his way.
It was business as usual for the Kings. Their goaltender makes enough stops to win the game and the offense goes bone dry.
It was pretty funny to see Ben Bishop in his black and white Kings gear offset by his shocking neon-blue Bolts mask.
Regardless, the Kings will be back in action tonight with Jonathan Quick between the pipes. Quick has made two starts since returning from injury. His first went quite well, as he saved 32 of 33 shots. His second did not go as well, letting up five goals to the Minnesota Wild and ultimately losing in overtime.
LA will be trotting out their new trade acquisition tonight, as Jarome Iginla will be making his Kings debut. The Kings traded away Dwight King to the Habs in order to make room for Iginla. Iggy has not had a season to write home about, but then again, neither have the Kings. Maybe a minor shakeup and a couple of fresh faces can spark something.
Toronto tried to shore up their bottom-six with the addition of two defensive centers in Brian Boyle and Eric Fehr. Boyle has been a part of several deep playoff runs with the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning, while Fehr has a Stanley Cup ring on his finger from last season.
The under has hit in each of the last five California meetings between these two teams. Given how the Kings’ offense has performed, I expect more of the same tonight.
Prediction: Take the Kings to win. Play the under.
Wild vs Blue Jackets: It seems like only yesterday that Wild-Blue Jackets was the most anticipated matchup of the season. After all, they were two teams in the midst of crazy winning streaks that never seemed like they would end.
Things are a bit different now, but only marginally.
The Metropolitan Division title is most likely out of reach for Columbus at this point now. However, they can still earn home-ice advantage in the opening round if they continue their strong play. They are currently in a points tie with the Pittsburgh Penguins with a game in hand. Both Columbus and Pittsburgh are two points up on the Rangers with at least one game in hand as well.
Minnesota is probably the only team that has a shot at catching the Washington Capitals for the President’s Trophy. With 88 points, they are the top seed in the Western Conference. Insert joke about how Bruce Boudreau is leading a star-studded regular season juggernaut here. But for now, Wild fans can enjoy the ride.
Mikael Granlund has taken a monster step forward this season. He is currently riding a five-game point streak while leading the team in goals and points. His emergence as a legitimate star forward, along with Nino Niederreiter’s career year and Eric Staal’s return to form, has made this season one of incredible offense for Minnesota.
Columbus got a little bit tougher and a little bit more John-Tortorella-esque by acquiring depth defenseman Kyle Quincey from the New Jersey Devils and Lauri Korpikoski from the Dallas Stars.
The Jackets are scary good at home. Expect a great game, but bet on CBJ to come out on top.
Prediction: Take Columbus to win. Play the over.
