Here are tonight’s top picks, plays and predictions.
| Flyers vs Islanders ML +132 / -146 O/U 5.5 |
Maple Leafs vs Sabres ML -101 / -109 O/U 5.5 |
| Oilers vs Rangers ML +153 / -170 O/U 5.5 |
Jets vs Capitals ML +201 / -225 O/U 5 |
| Devils vs Panthers ML +140 / -155 O/U 5 |
Bruins vs Lightning ML +140 / -155 O/U 5 |
| Canucks vs Senators ML +145 / -161 O/U 5.5 |
Blues vs Stars ML -105 / -105 O/U 5.5 |
| Avalanche vs Blackhawks ML +156 / -173 O/U 5.5 |
Predators vs Coyotes ML -145 / +131 O/U 5.5 |
| Penguins vs Kings ML -113 / +102 O/U 5.5 |
Flames vs Sharks ML +180 / -200 O/U 5.5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Play of the Day: The over in Flyers vs Islanders.
The Flyers are coming off a 4-3 overtime victory against the Detroit Red Wings last night. Claude Giroux managed to stay on top of the NHL point leaderboard (tied with Artem Anisimov at 13) with an assist on Jakub Voracek’s game-winner. Following a turnover in his own zone, Giroux collected the puck and stormed ahead into the Detroit zone with all the time and space in the world. Like NHL 17, Giroux used the 2-on-1 to dish it across the width of the ice to a streaking Voracek. Voracek blasted home a shot through the torso of Petr Mrazek, and that was that.
Shoutout to Flyer Chris VandeVelde for scoring after just becoming a father as well. If athletes were smart, they’d time it better so their kids were born come playoff time considering how well they play following the birth.
The over is the smart play in tonight’s game. The over has hit in each of Philadelphia’s last six games on no days’ rest, and is 9-1-1 in the Flyers’ last 11 overall. Meanwhile, the over is 4-0-1 in the Isles’ last five. The over has his four of five times for the Flyers on the road, and three of four times for the Isles at home. New York will be looking to rebound after getting run out of their own building against the Lightning, falling 6-1 Tuesday night.
Steve Mason will be in net tonight for Philly against Jaroslav Halak. The word on the street is that Halak is being shopped, meaning that Thomas Greiss will be handed the reins soon. Halak still has plenty left in the tank being just 31, though his injury problems have tortured him over the years. He is 2-3-0 this year with a 3.15 goals-against average and .898 save percentage.
Prediction: Take the Flyers to win, as they typically do abnormally well with a lot of games in a short amount of time. Play the over.
The Game to Watch: Bruins vs Lightning.
Tuukka Rask missed a bit of time due to injury, but has looked sharp to start the year. He is a perfect 5-0 to start the year, with only six goals allowed in that stretch. He has a 1.20 goals-against average and .960 save percentage.
His opponent tonight, Ben Bishop, has not had the same fortune. Bishop rebounded nicely after getting rocked in Madison Square Garden. Bishop, who normally dominates New York in the regular season, let up six goals on 37 shots. Two nights later, his team flipped the script, besting the Islanders 6-1 with Bishop stopping 26 of 27.
Fortunately for Tampa, their offense is rolling. Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov both have 12 points on the year, with Stamkos potting seven goals and Kucherov tallying nine assists.
The road team is 4-0 in the last four encounters between these two teams. The Bolts are 6-1 in their last seven against Atlantic Division rivals.
Jonathan Drouin will likely sit tonight’s game out after sustaining an upper-body injury against the Islanders last game. Ryan Callahan will skate on the third line with J.T. Brown and Valtteri Filppula.
Prediction: Even without Drouin, I like the Bolts in this game. Take the under.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Oilers vs Rangers: Jimmy Vesey has had quite the start to his NHL career. He has six goals in his first 10 professional games, something that has not been done by a New York Ranger since Darren Turcotte in 1989-1990. He is currently one goal behind Steven Stamkos and Artem Anisimov for the league lead in goals, tied with Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine.
The Rangers’ top line is rolling.
Vesey, Derek Stepan and Rick Nash have combined for 14 points between them over their last four games together.
Edmonton is on the road for the second of what will be a five-game trek. They lost their first game of the trip in overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Morgan Reilly sent a long lead pass through the neutral zone, looking to connect with Nazem Kadri. The puck looked to be landing on Connor McDavid’s stick, until Kadri stripped him clean and shouldered him to the side. Kadri broke to the net, and deked past Cam Talbot, who sat back too far in his net.
These two teams have lit the lamp with regularity this season. This will be a far more intriguing matchup than anyone could have predicted at the beginning of the season.
The difference could come on the powerplay. The Oilers are just 1-for-19 on the powerplay in their last few games, while New York has seven powerplay goals in their last six games.
Prediction: Take the Rangers to win. Play the over.
Canucks vs Senators: With a loss to the Canadiens last night, the Canucks are now winless in their last six games after starting the year 4-0. They have not won a game on the road this season, and the home team is 4-1 in the last five meetings between these two teams.
Vancouver is settling back into where they belong- the bottom.
Ottawa is 5-1 in their last six home games. Even though Vancouver played well last night, outshooting Montreal nearly 2-1, they still came away without a goal. They are snakebit, and a back-to-back does not help matters.
Prediction: Take the Sens to win. Play the under.
Predators vs Coyotes: Speaking of teams that don’t play well on the road, let’s look at the Nashville Predators. After starting 0-4-1 as the visitors allowing 23 goals in the process, the Preds finally came alive on Tuesday, topping the Avalanche at the Pepsi Center 5-1. Craig Smith scored twice, with Filip Forsberg collecting his sixth and seventh assists on the night.
If they wanted to get the ball rolling, Arizona is a prime opponent. The Coyotes are 3-6-0 to start the year, though they are 2-1 at home. Nashville has won seven of their last eight games against the Yotes.
Arizona is still waiting for their young guns to start firing on all cylinders. Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and Dylan Strome, all filling top six roles, have zero goals between them. Domi at least has six assists under his belt. Strome and Duclair each have one.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson has shouldered much of the offensive load, along with third-liner Brad Richardson. OEL holds the team lead in goals with five, while Richardson leads with eight points.
Prediction: Take the Preds to steal one on the road and pick up some steam. Play the over.
