There are three games on the docket tonight. Here are the top picks, plays and predictions.
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Play of the Day: Ducks over Penguins.
The money line for this game is -126 / +114 in favor of the Penguins, with the over/under set at 5.5.
Matt Murray is back in action tonight. After breaking his hand during the World Cup of Hockey this summer, the young goaltender who led the Pittsburgh Penguins to a Stanley Cup will man the cage tonight once more for the first time this season.
The Matt Murray saga was almost one of the coolest plot lines to follow this season. I suppose in a way it still can be given his quick recovery. Murray was so spectacular in his run to the Cup that many wondered if he would win the starting job from Marc-Andre Fleury outright in camp. Now it is a wait-and-see game if Matt Murray can return to his former self.
While Pittsburgh has had much home success thus far this young season, they have not suffered through much of a test on the road. They are 1-2-0 as visitors this year. Yet they are favored because of their dominance over Anaheim in recent years. The Pens are 6-1 in their last 7 against the Ducks.
Tonight will be a test of Matt Murray’s mettle more than Anaheim’s though. Look for rust to factor into the young goalie’s performance tonight.
Prediction: Take the Ducks to win. Play the under.
The Game to Watch: Canucks vs Canadiens.
How ’bout those Habs, eh? Montreal is trending up, so much so that they should be atop many an expert’s power rankings. Shea Weber has been extraordinary, Carey Price has been an impenetrable wall and the team is undefeated in regulation.
What is the result? The Montreal Canadiens are favored -225 to +205. Given the way the Canucks have regressed, it is a more than justifiable line.
The Canucks got off to a hot start before crashing and burning upon reentry to the stratosphere. Their offensive support has totally disappeared, as Henrik Sedin leads the team with just 5 points. Sedin is tied with Brandon Sutter.
After starting the season unbeaten, Vancouver has struggled mightily to support their goaltenders. Naturally, the last thing they needed was to run into the burning-hot Montreal Canadiens as the visitors.
Prediction: Take the Habs to win and further advance this crazy run they are on. Play the under.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Red Wings vs Flyers: Claude Giroux has been doing Claude Giroux things, skyrocketing to the top of the NHL leaderboards. His remarkable playmaking abilities are in mid-season form and it has been fun to watch.
The Flyers go where Giroux goes. He makes his teammates better in, dare I say, Crosby-like fashion. Wayne Simmonds has been electric historically with G. Matt Read has quietly gotten off to a stellar start. And we have not even seen the best out of Jakub Voracek or Shayne Gostisbehere yet.
Or their goalies.
Where Detroit can pounce tonight is on backup Michal Neuvirth. The veteran backup was great last season but has hiccupped thus far. Neuvirth is a very serviceable backup and has been for many years. There was even controversy last season as to whether or not he should take over the starting job from Steve Mason. Neuvy was 18-8-4 last season with a 2.26 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.
How Philly would long for the return of the old Neuvy, especially given Mason’s run of bad luck this season.
All the same, I like the Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center tonight. Once they turn things around, and they will, they will be one of the tougher teams in the Metro Division. Not necessarily one of the best, but they have enough talent to make a run at a Wild Card. Why not start that run tonight?
Prediction: Take Philly to win tonight over the Red Wings. Play the over.
