There are nine NHL games on the docket tonight. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Canucks vs Flyers ML +140 / -175 O/U 5 |
Penguins vs Senators ML -154 / +125 O/U 5.5 |
| Sabres vs Lightning ML +140 / -160 O/U 5.5 |
Bruins vs Predators ML -120 / +100 O/U 5 |
| Canadiens vs Wild ML +125 / -145 O/U 5 |
Red Wings vs Stars ML +120 / -140 O/U 5.5 |
| Devils vs Oilers ML +160 / -190 O/U 5 |
Ducks vs Avalanche ML -150 / +140 O/U 5 |
| Blues vs Kings ML +120 / -140 O/U 5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
The Game to Watch: Devils vs Oilers.
Tonight is Taylor Hall’s return to Edmonton. Adam Larsson got a nice salute in his return to the Rock just last week. I genuinely hope Hall gets a nice reception. Though his career as an Oiler was injury-riddled, he was undeniably a tremendous player. His shipment out of town came as a shock to him, though he has admitted that the bitterness has worn off a bit.
I doubt that.
It’s nice of him to say, but I would not be surprised one bit if he scores tonight just to stick it to management.
That would require the New Jersey Devils to score tonight, which they have had a hard time doing lately. They were shut down by the Panthers Monday night, and stymied by Toronto and these same Oilers a few days prior to that.
The under has hit in four of New Jersey’s last five games. It has also hit in five of the last six meetings between these two teams.
Edmonton is looking to avoid dropping their third game in a row. In their 2-1 victory over the Devils, the Oilers outshot New Jersey 43-20. If the same sort of thing happens on home ice, expect a similar result.
Prediction: Take the Oilers to win. Play the under. But expect Taylor Hall to net one.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Canucks vs Flyers: The Philadelphia Flyers are trying desperately to escape this rut that they have fallen into. In their last eight games, they are just 1-5-2. Their play since the conclusion of their impressive winning streak has been shaky, ranging from flashes of dominance to utter ineptitude.
A home win against Tampa Bay has been their lone victory in that stretch.
All-star Wayne Simmonds has one assist in his last six games. Conversely, Brayden Schenn has five points in five games. But then again, he also did this in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Jackets…
Brayden_Schenn.gif pic.twitter.com/DeSsZVbpa3
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) January 9, 2017
Philly looked to be safe and secure in the second Wild Card spot just a couple weeks ago. Now, the Carolina Hurricanes (of all teams) can pass them in the standings if they win the two games they have in hand. The same goes for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Vancouver is in a points tie with the Los Angeles Kings for the second Wild Card spot in the West, though L.A. has two games in hand.
Both of these teams need this game badly to keep pace in the standings. The difference-making factor is the Canucks’ complete inability to win games on the road. They are 5-13-2 as the visiting team this season. They have lost the first two games of this three-game road trip they are on, one of those losses coming in overtime. Vancouver is 1-5-1 in their last seven road games, with their lone win coming in the skills competition.
While both teams need this game, this is a must-have in every way for the Flyers.
Prediction: Take Philly to win. Play the over.
Sabres vs Lightning: I think we all would have guessed before the season started that the Buffalo Sabres would have a chance at passing the Tampa Bay Lightning in the standings come mid-January. The Lightning have yet to win a game in 2017, spiraling into a four-game losing streak starting January 3rd. Buffalo, 3-0-1 in 2017, is now just a point behind them in the standings with two games in hand.
A loss tonight on home ice would be a dagger to the heart for the Tampa Bay Lightning. It would not kill their playoff hopes by any stretch of the imagination- there is far too much hockey to be played to declare that. But to lose a game on home ice to a team that has a very hard time winning on the road this season would be absolutely killer.
The Bolts have allowed six goals in three of their last four games. Andrei Vasilevskiy has a .852 save percentage over these last four games. Yikes.
Buffalo can actually catapult themselves into playoff contention with a pair of wins on this road back-to-back. They play Tampa Bay tonight and Carolina tomorrow. There are some weird names in contention for playoff spots around the NHL this year.
However, they have lost eight of their last nine to Tampa Bay.
Prediction: Take the Lightning to right the ship a bit and win tonight. Play the over.
Red Wings vs Stars: This seven-game road trip cannot end soon enough for the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings are 2-2-2, with their final game tonight in Texas.
Their most recent game was a back-and-forth battle with the Chicago Blackhawks, but in the end, Duncan Keith potted the game-clincher in overtime.
Dallas has been equally bad lately. The Stars are 1-3-1 in their last five games, sliding back down the Western Conference standings just when it looked like they might turn a corner and start making a serious run at a Wild Card spot. On the bright side, they are 3-1-2 in their last six home games, meaning they at least pick up points when playing in Texas.
The Stars have lost nine of their last 10 games against the Eastern Conference. Not only have the Wings won five of their last six against the Stars, they have won seven in a row in Dallas.
These two teams are among the worst in the NHL at stringing together solid performances. Perhaps some solace can be taken in the fact that one team will have to win tonight.
Prediction: Take the Red Wings to win tonight. Play the under.
Canadiens vs Wild: It looks like we will have another matchup of Carey Price and Devan Dubnyk. Dubnyk held the upper hand in the first meeting this season, as the Wild took a 4-2 victory in the Bell Centre. Tonight, they will host the Habs who are on the tail-end of a back-to-back.
Montreal won a scorefest last night in Winnipeg, besting the Jets 7-4. Artturi Lehkonen tallied two goals and an assist. Sven Andrighetto scored his first of the season as well.
Minnesota has had the luxury of three days off since their last game. They won two of three on the road in Southern California. This will be the Wild’s first home game since their winning streak came to a halt against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Prediction: The Wild are still incredibly hard to beat at home and they have had rest. Take Minny to win tonight. Play the over.
To make a play on these predictions, or any other NHL bets, visit our sports book here at https://www.betdsi.eu/gms-hockey.
