With 10 games scheduled today, let’s go around the NHL to get the best NHL predictions and plays.
| Rangers vs Flyers ML OFF / OFF O/U OFF |
Devils vs Coyotes ML +112 / -124 O/U 5 |
| Senators vs Kings ML +180 / -201 O/U 5 |
Maple Leafs vs Bruins ML OFF / OFF O/U OFF |
| Capitals vs Sabres ML -181 / +163 O/U 5 |
Avalanche vs Blue Jackets ML -104 / -106 O/U 5.5 |
| Canadiens vs Blues ML +117 / -129 O/U 5 |
Wild vs Predators ML OFF / OFF O/U OFF |
| Flames vs Oilers ML -105 / -105 O/U 5.5 |
Stars vs Sharks ML +105 / -116 O/U 5.5 |
Play of the Day: Stars over Sharks.
You know you’re cold when you’re the underdog against the Sharks.
Not to take anything away from the Sharks, who have won four games in a row, but those four wins were against pretty weak teams – Toronto, Calgary, Winnipeg and Edmonton. Those games were important to get their offense going though, as they scored 18 goals over that four-game stretch.
The Stars have cooled off a lot, going 2-6 in their last eight games. They simply are not scoring at the same clip as they were, and when they do they are allowing too many. It’s almost as if they have reverted back to last year’s team. Get one, give two back.
Dallas is not an underdog very often, so when they are it’s pretty appealing to take them to win. At +105, no matter how cold the team is, it’s an appealing play. Especially since the Sharks don’t play well in their own home “tank.”
NHL Prediction: Take the Stars to win this one. It should be a high-scoring game, so take the over.
The Game to Watch: Rangers vs Flyers.
The Flyers could really put the pressure on the Metro Division with a win over the Rangers today. With a win the Flyers would pull even with the Penguins and Devils jockeying for a wild card spot. The Penguins are still in a buying mood too, as they traded for Carl Hagelin just this morning.
The key for the Rangers is going to be getting their powerplay back on track. Even though it has looked a lot crisper and generated more chances of late, they are 0-for-18 in their last seven games. More powerplay time for Keith Yandle may fix that, as he saw longer shifts on the man advantage last game against the Islanders.
New York will have their hands full with the Flyers’ top line, as Giroux and Voracek both exploded for three points each last game. Wayne Simmonds always seems to step up against the Rangers too. Shayne Gostisbehere should be back in the lineup.
The Rangers will need to tighten up late in the game and churn out quality powerplay chances if they want a chance in this game.
Henrik Lundqvist is 28-13-4 against the Flyers, one of his best single-team records.
Prediction: Take the Flyers to win this one. The Rangers have been just too cold on the road.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Devils vs Coyotes: New Jersey’s offense has gone completely flat. Mike Cammalleri’s absence has essentially shut down all offensive pressure on the forward lines. John Moore’s injury does not help, either. The Devils have averaged just one goal per game the last six games.
The Coyotes have been winning hockey games, most of them by a slim margin. They are 5-0-2 in their last seven games. Five of their last six game-winning goals have come in either the third period or overtime. They will surely be reeling from the removal of offensive powerhouse and NHL All-Star John Scott from their roster via trade. (Note: John Scott is not an offensive powerhouse. And though he may not be playing in the game anymore, he is an All-Star in our hearts.)
There has been a push in four of the last five meetings between these two teams on the over/under. With the O/U once again at 5, why break from tradition? If it’s not going to push, it is going to be an under game.
Prediction: Take the Coyotes at -124. If you want to play the over/under, take the under 5.
Senators vs Kings: The word on the street is that the Kings are going to be signing star center Anze Kopitar to a mega-extension this weekend at some point. That’s fantastic news for both sides, since it was believed that talks were either slow or nonexistent.
The Senators have been lit up their first two games of their road trip, losing by a combined score of 11-2. They will be going up against the top possession team in the NHL. It will be a rough go of it for the Senators.
An important note is that Andrew Hammond is questionable to be in goal for Ottawa, as he is away from the team on a personal matter. Jonathan Quick will likely be the Kings’ starter.
Prediction: The Kings will win this one easily. With an over/under of 5, Ottawa’s porous defense and an excited Kopitar point towards taking the over.
Maple Leafs vs Bruins: Boston got back on the right track last night with a sound thumping of the Buffalo Sabres to the tune of 4-1. Though Buffalo is among the weakest teams in the league, beating up on them is a huge confidence boost. For a team on the skids, it is easy for a game against a seemingly inferior opponent to become something more strenuous. So an easy win sends the Bruins into today’s matchup at home against Toronto with self-assurance.
Prediction: Take Boston for the win.
Capitals vs Sabres: I’m trying to think of the adjective one would use if the Buffalo Sabres were the team to snap Braden Holtby’s streak of games gone by without a regulation loss. Is it astonishing? Unbelievable? Anti-climactic?
We won’t have to contemplate that for long.
Prediction: Take the Capitals in tonight’s game at -181.
Avalanche vs Blue Jackets: Just so we are all on the same page here today, the line for this game is -104/-106. This the line for a playoff team against the worst team in the NHL. Now that is a bold line.
Colorado’s offense has perked up. Matt Duchene has gotten national attention this season for being one of the league’s most prolific scorers. He tallied his 22nd goal of the season against the Devils the other night, giving him 10 points in nine games. Defenseman Tyson Barrie has four goals in six games.
I understand that the Avalanche, in general, is an overrated team given the quality of their goaltending and possession metrics. But to have them at about even against the Blue Jackets? Now that’s cold.
A glimmer of hope down the line for Columbus is that Sergei Bobrovsky is believed to make his return from injury as a backup tonight.
Prediction: Take Colorado. Take the under 5.5.
Canadiens vs Blues: The money line at +117 for the Montreal Canadiens makes me want to bet for them to win so badly. But their offense has deteriorated so badly that every game now becomes a “will they turn it around yet?”
The Habs’ powerplay is 1-for-16 lately. Tomas Plekanec has one goal in 28 games. Even P.K. Subban only has two goals on the season. There is a scoring issue in Montreal, and the road is not the best place to fix it.
The Habs are 1-9 against teams with a winning record. They have been imploding without Carey Price to back them up. They are 0-7 against the Western Conference.
Prediction: Don’t be lured in by the money line. Play the Blues to win and take the under.
Flames vs Oilers: This is another game like the Avalanche and Columbus where it’s almost hard to believe that a team like the Oilers is even on the money line with anyone. The Flames beat up on the Panthers 6-0 last game and have played very tight games in their previous four. The Oilers are….well, the Oilers.
Prediction: Take the Flames at -105. Take the under.
Wild vs Predators: No line on this is a shame, because I would have enjoyed seeing which one of these Wild Card contenders would be favored since they are both in backslide mode. The Preds will be coming home after a winless four-game roadtrip. The Wild are going on the road after a winless three-game homestand.
Prediction: I’m calling a one-goal game in the Predators’ favor.
