There are nine NHL games on the docket tonight. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Devils vs Blue Jackets ML Off / Off O/U Off |
Red Wings vs Maple Leafs ML +155 / -175 O/U 5.5 |
| Rangers vs Panthers ML +105 / -125 O/U 5.5 |
Flyers vs Sabres ML -105 / -115 O/U 5.5 |
| Blues vs Wild ML +145 / -170 O/U 5.5 |
Hurricanes vs Avalanche ML -154 / +130 O/U 5 |
| Islanders vs Oilers ML +140 / -160 O/U 5.5 |
Canadiens vs Canucks ML -175 / +145 O/U 5 |
| Predators vs Ducks ML +105 / -125 O/U 5.5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
The Game to Watch: Blues vs Wild.
Try as they may and try as they might to fade from the picture, the St. Louis Blues are still holders of a playoff position. They currently have 69 points, giving them a one-point edge on the Los Angeles Kings with a game in hand.
St. Louis snapped a five-game losing streak with a shutout victory in Colorado Sunday. Paul Stastny tapped home his 16th of the season off a tic-tac-toe passing play early in the first. The Blues never looked back, with Jake Allen stopping all 27 shots thrown his way.
Minnesota rebounded from a frustrating 1-0 loss to the Blue Jackets by besting the San Jose Sharks 3-1. Eric Staal had two goals, one of them being an empty-netter. Staal’s game is at a point where even his empty netters are impressive, as he fought his way through two defenders to chip the puck ahead for himself.
The home team has won each of the four meetings between these two teams this season. Like tonight, the last two games have been in Minnesota, where the Wild have outscored the Blues 8-2.
Perhaps the most amazing thing about this time of year for the Blues is that even if they totally botch their upcoming week, in which they play Minnesota, Brooklyn and the Californian teams, they are far from out of the playoffs. They still have three games remaining against the Colorado Avalanche, three against the Arizona, one against the Vancouver Canucks and one against the Carolina Hurricanes.
That might be the easiest schedule in the NHL.
Which helps them out immensely, because I don’t see two points available to them tonight.
Prediction: Take the Wild to win. Play the under.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Hurricanes vs Avalanche: It must be really, really hard for players on either side of this one to get up and play. Neither side has anything to play for other than pride and maybe a contract.
Carolina is horrible away from home, but they squeaked out a 2-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes Sunday. Derek Ryan scored with less than four minutes remaining in regulation to put the Canes on top in what was otherwise a snoozer.
Colorado has been blanked more than any other team in the NHL and it isn’t really close. The Avs have been shut out 11 times this season after their aforementioned loss to St. Louis on Sunday.
The one thing worth noting in this game is that the Canes have lost 10 of their last 11 games in Colorado. Must be the thin air.
Prediction: Go with the tale of the tape, it’s a chance to cash in. Take the Avalanche to win. Play the under.
Rangers vs Panthers: The New York Rangers were in a track meet last night with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Antti Raanta had a career game, stopping 38 shots en route to a 1-0 overtime victory. Mika Zibanejad netted the game-winner.
After the game, MSG analysts Ron Duguay and Dave Maloney were waxing poetic about how impactful Tanner Glass was to the lineup. Glass fought Luke Witkowski, who has 38 NHL games, and played 5:17 of ice time.
But they won and they threw a couple hits, so clearly he was the difference and not Antti Raanta.
Raanta'd pic.twitter.com/9b9YbrsrjY
— Tweet Stemkowski (@TweetStemkowski) March 7, 2017
Nope, definitely was Glass.
Regardless, the Rangers are sure to be exhausted tonight. Playing on a back-to-back is always rough, but last night was an especially tiring task.
Florida has had not one, but two days off since their last game, which they sorely needed. The Panthers have lost their last two games. With the Islanders still on their lengthy road trip, this is an opportunity for the Cats to make up some ground. They will need a spirited effort tonight.
The Panthers won the first encounter with the Rangers this season at Madison Square Garden in the shootout. New York had won eight of the previous nine meetings. Home or away does not usually matter much in this particular matchup, since Sunrise is basically a second home for the Rangers. Spring break time plus retired New Yorkers equals a packed house decked out in blue.
Expect the Panthers to have some jump in their game tonight, but bet on the Rangers coming out on top. While last night may have sapped the energy out of the team, it could be the momentum shift the Blueshirts need.
Prediction: Take the Rangers to win. Play the under.
Islanders vs Oilers: The New York Islanders’ immense road trip has hit a speed bump. After a strong start, the Isles’ have lost three of the last four games to bring their overall record on the trip to 3-2-1.
Brooklyn has been bailed out by the fact that the Toronto Maple Leafs have lost four games in a row, two in overtime. With the Leafs and Panthers nipping at their heels, every game is critical for the Islanders.
Edmonton is in the exact opposite spot. With the playoffs comfortably within reach, they are starting an eight-game homestand to see if they can’t make a run at the Pacific Division title. It’s unlikely, but anything can happen.
The Oilers won the first game of the homestand 4-3 over the Detroit Red Wings. Just in case you forgot, Connor McDavid is really good at hockey. McDavid has a five-game point streak going and 14 points in his last 10 games.
It’s been 14 years since the Islanders last won in Edmonton. Granted, there’s only six games in Canada over that stretch, but it’s still worth noting. The last time the Islanders beat the Oilers on the road, their general manager Garth Snow was their starting goaltender.
The home team is 15-2 historically between these two teams.
To the here and now, Cam Talbot is 5-1-0 against the Isles in his career, including a 4-3 victory earlier this season.
Prediction: Take the Oilers to win. Play the under.
