Around the NHL: Predictions for December 15th

There are eight games on the docket tonight. Let’s take a look around the NHL at the top picks, plays and predictions.

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

Play of the Day: Red Wings over Kings.
Eventually, the Red Wings luck has to change in Detroit. Right?

The Wings have lost their last four home games, two of them in overtime. They are 2-8-3 in their last 13 games in Detroit. How is that even possible? Especially after starting off the year 4-0 at home? They have either been held to one goal or shutout in six home games this season. This includes their last four. That’s pitiful. Something has to give eventually, right?

Well, turning their fortunes may just be possible tonight against the Los Angeles Kings. The home team is 11-1 in the last 12 encounters between these two teams, and history definitely is on the Wings’ side for matchups in Detroit. Going back for years, the Kings are 5-25-1 at the Joe. LA is 4-8-1 on the road this season as they venture out on a three-week, nine-game road trip. It seems like insanity to keep pleading for a difficult result without major change, but what else needs to happen? They have already been shutout and blown out by Arizona this week. There is nowhere to go but up…right?

The Kings were routed by the Sabres Tuesday, 6-3. They blew a 2-0 lead, and despite cutting it somewhat close in the third, they could not solve Buffalo. Jeff Carter called the Kings a “fragile team” after the loss, apoplectic at the horrendous second periods they have been having this season and their weak road play. Carter has a right to be upset, as he scored twice in the game and leads the team with 14 goals and 24 points.

Jimmy Howard will be in net tonight for the Red Wings. He has a 1.65 goals-against average in Detroit this season. His reward? A 2-4-1 record. Again, the tides have to turn eventually.

These are two teams on the outside of the playoffs looking in. We are midway through December already. Detroit simply cannot justify their place as a playoff team without more wins at home this season. Conversely, the Kings cannot tolerate shoddy and inconsistent play on the road as they embark on the most important, most grueling road trip of the season.

Something’s gotta give. And my money is on the home team.

Prediction: Take a chance on the Wings tonight. Play the under.

The Game to Watch: Wild vs Predators.
Minnesota is going streaking. The Wild have won five games in a row, but will face a tough test tonight in one of the best home teams in the NHL, the Nashville Predators.

Devan Dubnyk is unbeaten in regulation in his last nine starts, as he is 7-0-2 in that span. Dubnyk has been unreal this season, as he is the NHL leader in goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts. If Dubnyk keeps rattling off wins, he is easily the league’s frontrunner for the Vezina trophy.

The Central Division is usually the craziest in the league in terms of just how tight the point standings are. Five playoff teams came from the Central last season. This year, the script has been flipped, and the Pacific is the far tighter division. Nashville is locked in a three-way tie for the second Wild Card spot. Minnesota sits comfortably in second with a six-point advantage on the Preds.

While the Wild are on a tear, the Preds have been rolling against good teams. They have won their last seven against teams with a winning record.

The winner in this one will be whoever can get their special teams to wake up first. Minnesota has not scored on the powerplay in their last eight games. Nashville is 1-for-25 in their last few.

Prediction: Tough matchup, but I will take the red-hot Wild. Play the under, which is 3-0-1 in the last four meetings.

Other Game Notes Around the NHL

Rangers vs Stars: After falling 2-1 to the Chicago Blackhawks at the Garden Tuesday night (yet another disappointing venture to the G for ya boy), Henrik Lundqvist will regain his rightful spot as the Rangers’ starter tonight. Look, don’t get me wrong. Antti Raanta has played very well, and he deserves all the credit in the world. But that’s what he’s supposed to do. A backup is supposed to provide quality coverage and a proper day off here and there for the All-World starter. Just because he has a good week while the number one has an off week, it does not mean he’s all of a sudden better, you knee-jerkers. Dance with the date that brung you, as the saying goes.

That said, this is a big game for Lundqvist. He has not been helped out whatsoever by his defense this season, but the King hardly had a banner week, so even that excuse doesn’t hold up this time. I’m sure Raanta appreciated getting a taste of what playing behind Marc Staal and Dan Girardi is like though, as the two of them allowed Trevor van Riemsdyk and Brian Campbell to dance past them on their way to goals Tuesday.

Also re-entering the Rangers’ lineup tonight will be Rick Nash. Nash was sorely missed during his four-game absence, over the span of which the Rangers managed eight regulation goals (five in one game against New Jersey). New York especially could have used Nash in their latest battle with the Chicago Blackhawks. While the Hawks carried the puck into the zone with ease thanks to the creative stickhandling of forwards like Artem Anisimov, Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin, the Rangers had a lot of trouble generating chances in an unpredictable, non-systemic way. Carry the puck, head behind the net, look for the pass in front and shoot. It all seemed very mechanized. Nash would have come in handy in the final minute as well to carry the puck in and rush the net.

For as good an Xs and Os coach as Alain Vigneault is, his gameplan for the final minute of play when trailing by one is for the birds. If I had a dollar for every time the Rangers tried a dump and chase with 10 seconds to go…

Ryan McDonagh will be back in the lineup after missing Tuesday’s game with the flu.

Dallas is coming off a 6-2 thrashing of the Anaheim Ducks. Seven of their next eight games are on home-ice. They still have just one instance of consecutive victories this season. Locked in a three-way tie for the second Wild Card spot, Dallas is one of many teams that need to pick up the slack now more than ever.

Prediction: Dallas is picking up steam, but their ability to string together wins this season has been rough. Take the Rangers to spoil their chance at starting a streak. Play the over.

Devils vs Blues: Pity the team venturing into St. Louis to play the Blues. Especially if that team is 4-9-4 on the road this season. The Devils have dropped their last four in St. Louis and their last six against the Blues. The pick is clear, here.

Prediction: Take the Blues to win. Play the over.

Blackhawks vs Islanders: Chicago is only a -110 playing a bottom-dwelling team like the Islanders? Take advantage, friends. The play here with an even line is definitely for the under, which has hit in each of the last seven encounters between these two teams.

Prediction: Take the Blackhawks to win. Play the under.