We have six games on the docket tonight. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Blackhawks vs Devils ML Off / Off O/U Off |
Rangers vs Hurricanes ML -131 / +119 O/U 5.5 |
| Jets vs Avalanche ML +133 / -147 O/U 5.5 |
Senators vs Flames ML +117 / -129 O/U 5.5 |
| Oilers vs Canucks ML -124 / +112 O/U 5 |
Blue Jackets vs Ducks ML Off / Off O/U Off |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Play of the Day: The over in Rangers vs Hurricanes.
The Carolina Hurricanes got their first win in a long, long time over the New York Rangers at the end of March last season. The Blueshirts saw a nine-game string of dominance come to an end with a 4-3 loss in North Carolina.
Last season, the over hit twice between these two teams. To hit once was rare enough, but twice in a season was a drastic change in pace.
The over is 5-0-1 in Hurricanes games this season, while Carolina has posted a 1-3-2 record in that span. Cam Ward, tonight’s starter, is 0-2-1 with a .848 save percentage and a 4.03 goals-against average.
New York waived Dylan McIlrath yesterday. Words do not express how disappointed I am that the Rangers chose to make this move, given how favorably McIlrath ranks against right-side defensemen like Nick Holden or even Dan Girardi. Even if Alain Vigneault wanted to give Girardi and his deteriorating iron body a rest, McIlrath could easily have filled the void with deceptively good puck movement and a level of toughness unparalleled on this Rangers team. The former first-round pick provides an edge without sacrificing ability- a rare thing in this league nowadays. McIlrath cleared waivers at noon today and will return to Hartford.
The Blueshirts hardly played their finest game on Wednesday against the Boston Bruins, yet came away with a 5-2 victory anyway. Henrik Lundqvist, for the fourth time in six starts, allowed a goal on the first shot he faced in the game. I am not sure I have ever seen a stat so bizarre, especially for a goaltender of Lundqvist’s caliber. King Henrik will get a chance to redeem himself tonight.
Josh Jooris will miss a substantial amount of time with a separated shoulder. Given Oscar Lindberg’s speedy return to the team, this will not be too terrible a loss for New York. However, Jooris is a solid piece of the puzzle on the fourth line. More significant an absence is Chris Kreider, who will miss yet another game tonight per CBS Sports.
Pucks will be flying tonight towards the Carolina net. There are nine skaters on the Rangers with five points or more just seven games into the season. Two players are tied for the team lead in goal-scoring with four, and they are not the two you would think: Jimmy Vesey and Brandon Pirri. Jeff Gorton’s depth acquisitions are looking better and better by the day.
Ryan McDonagh leads the Rangers with six assists.
Six Carolina players have five points or more, including former Ranger Lee Stempniak.
Jordan Staal has three goals, meaning we get yet another dumb “Did You Know the Staal Brothers are Brothers” ad campaign promoting tonight’s game. It gets old after 11 years.
Prediction: Take the Rangers to win tonight. Play the over.
The Game to Watch: Oilers vs Canucks.
It seems unfathomable to be saying this given my expectations for the Vancouver Canucks this season, but if Edmonton wants to prove that they are the real deal, tonight is a must-win.
Vancouver is 4-1 at home this season, their first home loss coming on Tuesday against the Senators. Despite a three-game losing streak (one coming in the shootout), they are 4-2-1 and have been riding rock-solid goaltending. Vancouver has a team goals-against average of 2.29, though neither goaltender on their roster has a goals-against average higher than 1.97.
The only thing holding the Canucks back has been their offense, predictably. They are averaging just two goals per game, and were shutout in the aforementioned loss to Ottawa.
Edmonton continues to impress with win after win against quality opponents. On Wednesday, the Washington Capitals paid a visit to the Oilers’ new facility and paid the price, falling 4-1. Edmonton beat the Blues just last week as well. Their win streak has reached four games. Connor McDavid leads the NHL in scoring with 11 points.
Cam “Goalbuster” Talbot continues to rack up wins, improving his record to 6-1 along with the team. His .927 save percentage is impressive, though his goals-against average has room for improvement at 2.49.
The home team is 4-0 in the last four meetings between these two teams. Expect the tides to turn tonight.
Prediction: Take the Oilers Express to keep on rolling. Play the over, which is 5-1 in Edmonton’s last six road games.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Jets vs Avalanche: Colorado is finally returning home after a week on the road and five days off. Their schedule has been strange to say the least to start the season, but they stand at 3-2-0. Their lone home game was a back-and-forth scorefest against the Dallas Stars.
Winnipeg is on the tail-end of a back-to-back. They topped the Dallas Stars on home ice 4-1 last night, improving their record to 3-4-0 to start the season. Patrik Laine has been a standout thus far, leading the team with six goals and eight points.
Mike Hutchinson will start in net for the Jets. Like so many other goaltenders this year, Hutchinson’s start has been one to forget, allowing three or more goals in each of his first three starts. Arctic Ice Hockey on SB Nation did a funny breakdown of save percentages with such a small sample size which gives perspective to all these early season struggles (mostly because two of the league’s many happen to don Jets uniforms).
He will face off tonight against Semyon Varlamov, who has both a shutout and two games of five goals allowed under his belt already this year. Again, small sample sizes.
Colorado tends to play down to their opponent, as they are 0-4 in their last four against teams with a losing record. However, returning to home ice while Winnipeg has to travel for a back-to-back gives the Avs a huge advantage.
Prediction: Take Colorado to win tonight. Play the over, which is 4-0 in the last four games at the Pepsi Center.
Senators vs Flames: Who is the Flames’ leading scorer thus far? No, it’s not Johnny Hockey. Nope, it’s not Boring Sean Monahan. It’s Troy Brouwer. The 31-year-old vet is on a four-game point streak. He just seems to fit wherever he goes. Brouwer and goaltender Brian Elliott were on the receiving end of a very nice video tribute in their return to St. Louis on Tuesday.
Brouwer had 39 points as a Blue last season plus 13 points in the postseason. Elliott holds the Blues franchise record for shutouts. The video tribute can be found on the Blues’ Facebook page.
There is one play that is all but a guarantee tonight: the over. The over has hit in each of the last five meetings between these two teams, and it is 6-0 in the last six Flames home games. Plus, the over is 8-0 when Calgary has an extra day of rest between games.
Prediction: Take Ottawa to win, but bet on a scoring bonanza tonight. Play the over.
