There are seven games today, including two afternoon games for President’s Day. Let’s take a look around the NHL at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Red Wings vs Islanders ML +144 / -166 O/U 5.5 |
Ducks vs Flames ML -131 / +119 O/U 5.5 |
| Penguins vs Panthers ML -118 / +107 O/U OFF |
Stars vs Predators ML +107 / -118 O/U 5.5 |
| Maple Leafs vs Blackhawks ML +210 / -235 O/U 5 |
Canadiens vs Coyotes ML -115 / +104 O/U 5.5 |
| Wild vs Canucks ML -115 / +104 O/U 5 |
Here are today’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Play of the Day: Maple Leafs over Blackhawks.
There is not much logic going into this play here. By all accounts, the Chicago Blackhawks playing at home should be the heavy favorite and if the game were being played on paper, it would not really need to be played at all.
But just look at that line. Just last night, Toronto was listed at +242. That is by far the heaviest slant I have ever seen in an NHL line, bar-none. It has since been reduced to list the Maple Leafs at +210. Making a play on the Blackhawks is far too expensive to be worth your time. It’s the safer play, but not one that will cash in. The Maple Leafs at +210 is daring, yet enticing.
The Leafs are coming off of a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. They held the Canucks to just 19 shots on goal while taking 38 of their own. Mark Arcobello got his first two goals of the season.
James Reimer will be getting the start in goal for Toronto. He currently sits at seventh in the league in save percentage with .926. He is 3-2-0 in his last five starts.
Chicago has lost all three games on their homestand thus far. Their offense has gone cold, scoring just four goals over that three-game stretch. The Hawks’ most recent game was a 3-2 overtime loss to Anaheim in which they allowed an uncharacteristically whopping 44 shots.
Prediction: If you have some funds left over from Valentine’s Day and you’re feeling lucky, make a play on the Leafs. The Hawks are just cold enough and the line is certainly wide enough for it to be intriguing. Play the over.
The Game to Watch: Penguins vs Panthers.
The Panthers’ defense has gone awol. They have reverted back to their mid-January form when they cooled off following their huge winning streak. They are allowing a lot of chances right on the doorstep, allowing plenty of second-chance opportunities, and royal road is wide open for the opposition. They have allowed 20 goals in their last five games. They are 1-3-1 in that stretch.
The opponent that got the losing ball a-rollin’ for Florida was none other than their opponent tonight, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Pens spotted Florida two goals and still were able to come back and win it in overtime. Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists. Kris Letang had two goals and an assist.
Pittsburgh most recently topped the Hurricanes 2-1 in a shootout.
Sidney Crosby has been held off the scoresheet his last two games against the Rangers and Hurricanes respectively. Incidentally, Patric Hornqvist and Chris Kunitz have not scored in two games either. It’s no surprise at this point that the Penguins rely heavily on Crosby for their success. If he can be allowed space down low, as the Cats allowed to Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko against the Blues the other night, Crosby and the Pens will succeed.
Prediction: Take the Pens to win at -118. Play the over.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Wild vs Canucks: The Minnesota Wild are favorites on the money line when they have not won a game since January 21st. That’s an eight-game losing streak, for those keeping track. Eight games with just two loser points to show for it.
The Canucks have at least won a game this month, though they have not been playing stellar hockey lately either. Though they were donning their awesome black Pavel Bure-era jerseys Saturday, the Canucks fell flat against the Maple Leafs 5-2. Prior to that game, Vancouver had beaten Arizona and Colorado on a back-to-back.
It should be noted that this is the first game the Minnesota Wild will be playing without Mike Yeo at the helm. Wild fans should be jumping for joy at the prospect of getting a coach behind the bench who actually knows how to run a functioning powerplay. A team with Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek, not to mention Mikko Koivu and other solid depth forwards, should never struggle on the powerplay. Yet year after year, Yeo’s Wild underperformed on the man advantage.
Prediction: The Wild may have received the wake-up call they need, but that’s no reason to bet on them on the road. They are still banged up and starved for quality defense and goaltending. Take the Canucks to win. Play the under.
Canadiens vs Coyotes: The Canadiens slipped back to their January selves Friday night with a 6-4 loss to the lowly Buffalo Sabres. Marcus Foligno and Evander Kane both had two-goal games for Buffalo.
The Arizona Coyotes have been just as terrible, if not worse. The Habs at least had a three-game win streak to rebuild their confidence. The Coyotes have just one win in their last seven games. They are starting a three-game homestand.
Though the over is 8-1-1 in the last 10 meetings in Arizona between these two teams, neither team is much in a position to inspire confidence that the over 5.5 will hit.
Prediction: Take the Coyotes to win at home at +104. Play the under.
Red Wings vs Islanders: The Red Wings are, in theory, in a very good position to earn you some money. Detroit is listed at +144 on the road, and they have won four of their last five. However, they will be on the tail-end of a very tricky back-to-back. The 1PM start after a back-and-forth game against the Boston Bruins yesterday will likely cause a slow start.
The Islanders had a day off yesterday after falling 6-3 in a disappointing effort against the Carolina Hurricanes. They have been hit and miss since returning from the All-Star break, winning big and losing big with not much of an in-between.
In their last meeting, the Red Wings beat up on New York 5-1 in Detroit. It is worth noting that both teams had an off-day between their previous game.
Jimmy Howard will get the start against Thomas Greiss in goal.
Prediction: The time of the game works too much against the Detroit Red Wings. A more rested Islanders team holds the advantage. Take the Isles to win. Play the over.
Stars vs Predators: The Stars tried their hardest to blow a 4-0 lead against the Capitals, but managed to hang on for a 4-3 win. Dallas has now won three in a row and six of their last seven.
Nashville is 2-3-1 in their last six games. Their most recent game was a 5-0 rout of the Florida Panthers in Sunrise. The Preds are just 1-3 in their last four home games.
Prediction: Dallas is 4-0 in their last four road games, with the over being 6-0 in their last six overall. Take the Stars to win at +107 on the road. Play the over.
