We have a pair of Western Conference games on tap. Let’s take a look at tonight’s NHL playoff predictions.
| Predators vs Blues ML -105 / -115 O/U 5 |
Oilers vs Ducks ML +120 / -140 O/U 5.5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Predators vs Blues: The Nashville Predators have pushed the St. Louis Blues up against the wall. By taking both games on home ice, the Preds have taken a 3-1 series lead heading back to Missouri.
Game 4 was back and forth in terms of scoring chances for two periods, yet it was scoreless heading into the final frame. It took until four minutes into the third period for the Predators to get a powerplay opportunity following a skirmish with Cody McLeod. McLeod drew Ryan Reaves and Joel Edmundson into roughing penalties.
On the ensuing powerplay, Ryan Ellis pounced on a loose puck in the low slot and buried a wrist shot. Jake Allen was bowled over by his own defenseman Jay Bouwmeester and did not have much of a chance.
James Neal would make it 2-0 later in the third with a shot that I’m still not sure how it found the net. Neal forced a turnover in the offensive zone against two defenders. All alone with no reinforcements, Neal spun around and flung the puck in the general direction of Allen. He just so happened to snipe the top corner over Allen’s blocker.
Just a ridiculous goal from James Neal pic.twitter.com/pXmbZxpWQZ
— Rob Coté (@rcote5) May 3, 2017
Joel Edmundson blasted a slapshot to the top corner of the net as with just under four minutes remaining in regulation time, but it was not enough. The Blues would not be able to beat Pekka Rinne again. Rinne stopped 32 shots in the game, improving on what was already the best goals-against average and save percentage in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Blues now find themselves on the brink. Their long chance in the series is winning three consecutive games, the first being on home ice. There are many reasons why the Blues find themselves in this position. The bottom line is they need to score. Riveting analysis, I know. But when Joel Edmundson, scorer of three regular season goals, has as many playoff goals as the entire second line combined (Steen has three, Perron and Berglund have zero), then the team clearly has issues.
It is frustrating considering how even the series has been when played at 5-on-5. When these two teams are at even strength, the Preds only hold a one-goal advantage over the Blues. It’s the number of penalties that the Blues have been drawn into that has been a major problem. I wrote in my series preview that Nashville is very good at drawing penalties, and it is showing. The Blues have been burned for four powerplay goals this series.
St. Louis has only scored one powerplay goal this series as a rebuttal.
The Blues scored six goals in St. Louis and only two in Nashville. Home ice could be the rejuvenation they need. While a three-game winning streak is not necessarily out of the question, it starts with one win at home.
And the home team has won eight of the last 10 meetings between these two teams.
Plus, the fact that the Predators have been slapped with a -105 as a result of their home dominance makes me want to capitalize on the cheap line on the home team tonight.
Prediction: Take the Blues to stay alive tonight (barely). Play the over.
Oilers vs Ducks: It’s been a road series so far between the Edmonton Oilers and the Anaheim Ducks. After the Oilers made a statement in two games at the Honda Center to start the series, the Ducks answered right back with a pair of victories in Edmonton.
Game 3 was a 6-3 victory that got away from the Oilers in a hurry once the third period started. Game 4 was crushing to Edmonton’s spirit. The Oilers saw a 2-0 lead slip away in the second period. Ryan Getzlaf had two goals and a primary assist in the frame to propel the Ducks to a 3-2 lead.
Magic seemed to be in the air once again for the orange and blue, though. With under two minutes to play in the game and a powerplay expiring, Patrick Maroon went behind the net and slid a pass to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The one-timer was saved by John Gibson, but Drake Caggiula was there in front of the net to bang home the rebound.
It seemed like a replay of a game from Edmonton’s opening series. The last-minute drama was back to save them again.
The magic feeling would last 45 seconds.
Jakub Silfverberg and Rickard Rakell teamed up for an aggressive forecheck in the Oilers’ zone early in the overtime period. Adam Larsson had his clearing attempt stuffed, and the puck landed right on the stick of Ryan Getzlaf.
Silfverberg snuck into perfect position. Game, set match.
Getzlaf had a primary point for all four Anaheim goals. He now has eight points in the series.
Edmonton had the series entirely in their control. One win at home could have really made the Pacific Division champs sweat. But in a best of three series, Anaheim is coming back home with a clean slate. The pressure is off them and back on the underdog Oilers to weave magic on the road in at least one of their next three games.
Sami Vatanen had a stronger game. He eclipsed the 20 minute mark in playing time and though he did not have a shot on goal was active in all three zones. Every day he grows stronger which is huge for the Ducks.
In case you guys have not caught on yet, every game in this series is an over play that you need to pounce on. Only in Game 2 did the over not hit. There is scoring galore in this series because of the exciting forward talent- and, if we’re being brutally honest, the appalling number of defensive gaffes on each side.
Count on there being a lot of scoring tonight.
The Oilers are 3-2 in the Honda Center this season. For my money though, they are not on solid ground.
Prediction: Take the Ducks to seize a series lead tonight. Play the over.
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