NHL Playoffs: Predictions for April 19th

Let’s take a look around the NHL playoffs at the top picks, plays and predictions.

Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.

#2 Lightning vs #3 Red Wings: The Detroit Red Wings finally got on the board and back in the series, taking Game 3 in Joe Louis Arena Sunday afternoon. Petr Mrazek stopped all 16 shots thrown at him for his third career postseason shutout. Of his four postseason victories, three have been shutouts. Incidentally, all of his playoff games have been played against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Mrazek was not exactly tested all that much. Jimmy Howard faced 30 or more shots a game in the first two meetings of the series. Mrazek saw half of that. The Lightning mustered only 12 scoring chances the entire game, with only five of them being high-danger chances (per War-on-Ice).

Vladislav Namestnikov was tops on the Bolts in shot differential at 0. Every other player was in the negatives at 5v5. Nikita Nesterov was a team worst -11. Niklas Kronwall was a +11 for the Red Wings.

Ben Bishop did all that he could to keep the Lightning in the game. Bishop faced an onslaught of odd-man rushes and breakaways. The shot battle was relatively even at 19-12 before Anthony Athanasiou broke through with a slapshot from the hashmarks. The Lightning managed just four shots goal after.

J.T. Brown will miss tonight’s game after sustaining an injury earlier in the week.

The Bolts are now 1-4 in their last five road games. The home team is 8-0 in the last eight encounters. The under is 5-1-1 in the last seven in Detroit.

Prediction: Tampa Bay will desperately need to improve on their offensive attack on the road. The Wings’ performance was enough to inspire some home confidence. Take the Wings to win. Play the under.

#2 Penguins vs #3 Rangers: Marc-Andre Fleury has been ruled out for tonight’s matchup, meaning that Jeff Zatkoff is the likely starter for the Penguins. Matt Murray has been listed as an “option,” but the Pens will likely stick with Zatkoff. The 28-year-old allowed four goals on 28 shots in Game 2.

Dan Girardi will sit out tonight, meaning that the Rangers will choose between either Dylan McIlrath and recent call-up Raphael Diaz. Alain Vigneault has intimated at Ryan McDonagh being a gametime decision as well, but don’t count on him being an option for tonight. My guess would be that the top pairing will remain as Marc Staal and Kevin Klein.

The Rangers are coming back to Madison Square Garden with home-ice advantage in what is now a best of 5 series. The Rangers had the third-best home record in hockey at 27-10-4. They have gotten very solid contributions out of players like Chris Kreider, Rick Nash and Derek Stepan. Keith Yandle picked up his first goal of the playoffs in Game 2 as well and has been tremendous.

The Penguins got Evgeni Malkin back in their lineup for Game 2. In an interesting move, the Pens have elected to have Malkin center Conor Sheary and Bryan Rust on the second line. Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin will skate on the third line to keep their connection with center Nick Bonino alive. Malkin, Hagelin and Kessel were lethal when Hagelin was first acquired but they forged strong chemistry with Bonino shortly after Malkin went down with an injury.

Stealing a game on the road was a huge momentum shift for the Rangers. Not having to face Marc-Andre Fleury is nothing short of a break for them. They can put their foot on the gas pedal tonight to really swing momentum in their favor. And they will need to. The instant Fleury goes back in the cage for the Pens, Pittsburgh will come roaring back. The key will be getting a hot start. The Penguins have scored first in each of the first two games in the series.

Prediction: For now, home ice is a saving grace for the Rangers. Take the Blueshirts to win. Play the under.

#2 Blues vs #3 Blackhawks The Blues managed to steal away Game 3 from the Blackhawks after two goals in the third period sealed a 3-2 victory. Taking a win away at the United Center is huge in making a statement that they can move on to the second round for the first time in four years. St. Louis smells blood in the water, and you can just sense it. Vladimir Tarasenko lodged an assist on Jaden Schwartz’s game-winner, giving him 13 points in 16 career playoff games. Brian Elliott has allowed just one goal at even-strength this entire series.

The insertion of Duncan Keith back into the Chicago lineup after having to miss Game 1 was a big difference-maker for the Hawks. They are 2-for-7 on the powerplay since his return after going 0-for-3 without him. Keith himself has a goal and an assist while averaging about 28 minutes of ice time in his two games this postseason. It’s par for the course for Keith. It’s just the rest of the offense that is having trouble solving the stingy Blues defense.

All five goals scored by the Hawks in this series have been scored by different players. Neither Patrick Kane nor Jonathan Toews have found the back of the net themselves, though they combine for five assists. Marian Hossa has been held pointless, as has Andrew Ladd and Teuvo Teravainen. So to summarize: The top line has 0 goals and 2 assists. The second line has two goals and four assists. The third and fourth lines combined have one goal. When only one line is clicking and it is entirely because of special teams play, that is not good. Again, one goal at even strength in the entire series.

If you think the Hawks are demoralized or discouraged, however, don’t. The Hawks are 43-14 in Games 4-7 under Joel Quenneville. They, like the Los Angeles Kings, are very hard to kill. Guess it’s no coincidence that they have been trading the Cup these last few years, huh.

Prediction: The Hawks are not going to roll over for a second time on home ice. Take Chelsea Dagger to win. Play the under.

#1 Ducks vs WC1 Predators: Nashville has shocked a lot of people by taking the first two games of the series with the Pacific-winning Ducks in Anaheim. They have done so by being surprisingly physical, banging bodies and bullying their way into the offensive zone. James Neal in particular has been a standout, leading the team with 11 shots.

Roman Josi has been a lockdown defender as well. Josi has seen some big minutes as to be expected, and has come through big time. His long reach has stifled many a scoring chance, including several in the final minutes of Game 1, and he has even added a goal and two assists. His play has helped spur on the success of Pekka Rinne, perhaps the biggest surprise of all. I like Rinne a lot, but I never saw 54 saves on 58 shots coming. He has looked like he has returned to form.

Frederik Andersen has been confirmed as the starting goaltender tonight after John Gibson was dealt the loss in the first two games. Gibson had been coming off of an injury and allowed six goals off 60 shots. Gibson was not abysmal; just not good enough. Andersen is more than competent. He is 17-1-2 in his last 20 starts. He is 14-7 lifetime in the postseason. Last season he had a .913 save percentage and a 2.34 goals against average in the playoffs.

Bruce Boudreau did not mince words following Anaheim’s Game 2 loss, lashing out at their lack of discipline and labeling them “selfish.” Give Nashville all the credit in the world. I certainly did not anticipate them being this good at getting under the Ducks’ skin and into their heads.

I simply cannot believe that the Ducks will fall down 3-0 after their string of dominance this season. I have to believe that the tides will turn tonight and we will have a series.

Prediction: Take the Ducks to win. Play the over.