It’s that time of the week again- the night you love to hate. There are only four games tonight thanks to the Wednesday Night Rivalry lull. So let’s take a look around the NHL at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Canadiens vs Capitals ML +193 / -215 O/U 5.5 |
Penguins vs Bruins ML +104 / -115 O/U 5.5 |
| Sharks vs Avalanche ML -140 / +127 O/U 5.5 |
Sabres vs Ducks ML +214 / -240 O/U 5 |
Here are today’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Play of the Day: The over in Sabres vs Ducks.
There are two games tonight that are incredibly slanted in their line. The Canadiens visiting Washington is not a wise play whatsoever. To be fair, neither is Buffalo over the Ducks tonight. One play that is safe, though, is the over 5.
Anaheim has scored five or more goals in their last four games by themselves. There have been five or more goals scored by both teams in each of their last 13 games. Buffalo has been getting into some high-scoring games as well, so the over/under mark only being set at five is pretty absurd.
I don’t use the phrase “can’t-miss” very often. Tonight seems like a can’t-miss, to-good-to-be-true play.
Buffalo will be playing their first game without Mike Weber in their organization since 2006. They dealt him away for a third-round pick just yesterday to the Washington Capitals.
The Ducks are 4-0 in their last four home games, and 4-0 in their last four against teams with losing records.
Prediction: No reason to take a risk tonight. Take Anaheim to win. Play the over.
The Game to Watch: Penguins vs Bruins.
Tonight’s nationally televised game will be a battle of the two current Wild Card holders. Boston currently sits at 70 points, with the Pens having 68.
Pittsburgh has been dreadfully inconsistent in their last few games. They have gone 3-3 since their last consecutive wins. To their credit, Marc-Andre Fleury seems to be finding his groove, with a 2.00 goals-against average in his last six starts. Phil Kessel, though he has had a down year, needs only one goal to hit the 20-goal marker for the eighth time in his career.
Their inconsistency pales in comparison to that of the Bruins at home. Boston and San Jose are the only two playoff teams with a losing home record at this point in time. The Bruins are 12-15-3 at TD Garden heading into tonight.
Prediction: The Penguins are 0-4 in their last four Wednesday games, 0-4 in their last four against the Bruins and 1-5 in their last six games in Boston. Take the Bruins to win at -115.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Canadiens vs Capitals: Montreal’s season has sunk so low that not even their Twitter account can win. Their celebration of hitting one million followers ended in repulsive fashion thanks to the immaturity of the internet.
Slightly less repugnant than Twitter, though not by much, is the Canadiens’ play on the ice. They fell in the shootout 2-1 to the Nashville Predators at home Monday. The game featured very few high danger scoring chances, only one powerplay opportunity a side, and only had one goal scored in the shootout. They have now lost four of their last five and eight of their last nine road games. Their skid has resulted in their being seven points out of the second Wild Card spot.
To add injury to insult, the Canadiens have now had three major losses to their starting lineup. Jeff Petry has been out for a while, but now Nathan Beaulieu will not travel with the team. Tom Gilbert will also undergo season-ending surgery. Beaulieau has two goals and 15 assists on the year, Petry has five goals and 11 assists. Gilbert has just one goal and one assist.
Washington has won four straight in their continued dominance over the rest of the NHL. They lead the race for the President’s Trophy by 10 points, and are only eight points away from hitting 100 on the year. Tonight will be the debut of Mike Weber, who was acquired for a third-round pick. The longtime-Buffalo Sabre will be added to the roster, while Jay Beagle will hit the long-term injured reserve.
Braden Holtby is 8-0-2 in his career against the Habs with a 1.36 goals-against average. His dominance perfectly offsets Max Pacioretty’s career ineptitude against Washington, as he has only tallied two goals in 22 games.
Prediction: Take Washington to win. Play the under.
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