Around the NHL: Predictions for March 7th

There are seven games slated for tonight. Let’s take a look around the NHL for the top picks, plays and predictions.

Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.

Play of the Day: Canucks over Kings.
This is the biggest opportunity to cash in tonight. The most slanted line of the day, and one of the biggest on the season, favors the Kings at -260 over the visiting Canucks.

It is not without reason. The Canucks once found themselves in the hunt for a Pacific Division playoff spot. They now sit 10 points back of the Minnesota Wild for the second Wild Card Spot. They snapped a three game losing streak Saturday with a 4-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. The Canucks will also be without Henrik Sedin and Radim Vrbata for tonight’s game. Chris Tanev is questionable.

They are, however, 6-2-1 in their last nine road games. Vancouver played with a lot of fire against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, and it was largely due to the fact that it was the third time they were meeting within a week. That kind of intensity can carry over, especially when the next game is against a division rival that is just as despised.

Tonight could also be one of the final games for Alex Burrows tonight. Burrows currently skates on the Canucks’ first line, though he will likely sit once Vrbata comes back any day now. Burrows acknowledged that his time to sit for younger players has come, and the writing is on the wall. The 34-year-old has one goal and two assists in his last 16 games.

The Kings have finally been ousted from the top of the Pacific Division, as the streaking Ducks have surged into first place. Los Angeles has seen a significant dip in offensive production. They have only netted more than two goals once in their last 10 games, going 5-4-1 in that stretch.

Kris Versteeg is questionable for tonight’s game after his fight with Rickard Rakell.

Prediction: There are enough injuries to go around to make tonight’s game more of a crap shoot than it appears. Take a chance on the Canucks tonight. Play the under.

The Game to Watch: Capitals vs Ducks.
The top team in the league is paying a visit to the hottest team in the league. Anaheim is looking to protect their 11-game win streak, the longest active streak in the league.

Anaheim can further their incredible 22-3-2 stretch that they have been on since December. They will have to fight history in order to do so, as Washington has emerged victorious in each of the last five games in Anaheim. They are 5-1 against the Ducks in their last six overall. They have not met this season though. Their last scheduled game was cancelled due to the snowstorm that struck Washington back in December. Funny to think that the Capitals would have been playing a very different Ducks team on that day.

Washington is also 4-0 in their last four games against the Pacific division.

The over has been a safe bet for the Ducks while on their hot streak, and the potency of Washington’s offense makes it tempting. It should be noted that these are two of the toughest defenses going against one another- Anaheim allows the fewest goals-per-game at 2.28. Washington is third at 2.29. Not much difference.

Prediction: This is going to be a very close call. Take Anaheim to win. Play the under.

Other Game Notes Around the NHL

Coyotes vs Avalanche: The over is the smart play tonight. The over has hit in five of the last six meetings between these two teams. It is 4-0 in Arizona’s last four games, and it is 5-0-1 in Colorado’s last six.

This will be Alex Tanguay’s return to Colorado after being traded for Mikkel Boedker. In his lone game as a Coyote, Tanguay tallied two goals and an assist. He has slotted into the top line with Antoine Vermette and Anthony Duclair.

Mikkel Boedker has a goal and an assist in three games since the trade.

Patrick Roy has indicated that Eric Gelinas could make his Avalanche debut tonight.

Prediction: While the Coyotes have won both games against the Avalanche this season, they are winless in their last eight road games. Take the Avalanche to win. Play the over.

Lightning vs Flyers: The second-longest active win streak in the league will also be tested tonight, as the Lightning shoot for double-digits against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Philly has won four of their last five games, all at home. Tonight they’ll be defending The Farg from a team averaging 3.8 goals per game during their win streak.

The one chance the Flyers may have tonight is in net. Steve Mason will be starting against backup Andrei Vasilevskiy. Vasilevskiy is 11-5-0 on the year, but his performance greatly varies from outing to outing. If pressure is put on him, he could easily open the flood gates and allow four goals or more. Unfortunately, so can Steve Mason, who has allowed three goals or more in five of his last eight starts.

Prediction: It will be a very tough draw tonight for Philly, and it’s just not worth it at +105. Take the Bolts to win. Play the over.