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Philadelphia Flyers v. Pittsburgh Penguins
These two instate rivals matched up on Tuesday and Pittsburgh came away with the win despite missing their captain, Sidney Crosby. Crosby is out again tonight due to Covid-19 protocol which means if Pittsburgh wants a repeat of the last game, they will need others to step up. In goal tonight for the Flyers is backup netminder Brian Elliot, who has actually enjoyed a good season in his limited game exposure thus far. The Crosby absence will hit harder this time around and Philly will battle through to get a win in Western PA.
The Bet: Flyers Moneyline
Prediction: Flyers 4-2 Penguins
Buffalo Sabres v. New York Islanders
The Sabres are in an absolute free fall at the moment. This dumpster fire of a team has lost 4 in a row and have looked dreadful each game. In net tonight for Buffalo is unproven 25 year old Jonas Jonassonn who has played in just two games all year. The Islanders pride themselves on an aggressive and relentless forecheck that loves to pounce on opportunities afforded to them by the opponent's mistakes. This entire game tonight is an opportunity to pounce for the boys from Long Island.
The Bet: Islanders Puckline, Over 5.5 Total Goals
Prediction: Sabres 2-5 Islanders
New York Rangers v. New Jersey Devils
The Devils received bad news today as their young team captain, Nico Hischier, will be out several weeks due to injury. He had just returned to the lineup and was just beginning to get his legs underneath him. This injury affects the Devils at 5-on-5 and on the powerplay, where they already struggle to convert opportunities into goals. With Rangers goalie, Igor Shesterkin, playing better as of late and Devils goalie, Mackenzie Blackwood, boasting one of the best expected save percentages in the league, we could be in for a low scoring Tri-State showdown.
The Bet: Rangers Moneyline, Under 5.5 Total Goals
Prediction: Rangers 3-2 Devils
Detroit Red Wings v. Carolina Hurricanes
Detroit knows where its team stands and they aren’t going to shy away from it, they are tanking to help their rebuild. The Red Wings have lost their last two games by a combined score of 11-3 and tonight are again missing captain Dylan Larkin. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, are a legit playoff team who maintain high energy levels regardless of their opponent which allows them to avoid let down games. Take the favorite and ride them to a multi-goal win.
The Bet: Hurricanes Puckline, Over 5.5 Total Goals
Prediction: Red Wings 1-5 Hurricanes
Winnipeg Jets v. Montreal Canadiens
This game is a tough one to call, I am not going to lie. Winnipeg has been flying lately, winners of 5 out of their last 6 and finally getting a healthy top-6 forward group that's been clicking. Montreal finally received its new coach bump when they beat Ottawa last time out and if they want to make the playoffs, it is teams like Winnipeg that you have to be able to beat. With backup goalie Jake Allen in net tonight for Les Habitantes I think we could see more scoring than a game between these two sides would typically produce.
The Bet: Over 5.5 Total Goals
Prediction: Jets 4-3 Canadiens
Tampa Bay Lightning v. Chicago Blackhawks
The reigning Stanley Cup champs continue to play the best hockey out of anyone in the NHL, and they are doing it without several key contributors. The question as to whether the Lightning can win games does not exist, it is more a matter of if they decide to win games. The Blackhawks have far overachieved most people's expectations and a lot of that is due to star rookie goalie, Kevin Lankinen. Lankinen is in net again tonight but it is one thing to win games against Columbus and Detroit and another thing to get wins against Tampa.
The Bet: Lightning Puckline
Prediction: Lightning 4-1 Blackhawks
Florida Panthers v. Nashville Predators
Many people are calling the Panthers this year's shockingly good team, but those who truly know the game and the importance of depth and coaching could have seen this coming. As a man with a future on the Panthers to make the playoffs at plus money, I am fully on the Cats bandwagon. Nashville continues to be a team that does not excite and I can not overestimate the detrimental loss of defenseman Ryan Ellis. I do not see a way the Predators can hang with the Panthers, and Florida’s head coach, John Quenneville, knows this Nashville team well from his days in Chicago.
The Bet: Panthers Moneyline, Over 5.5 Total Goals
Prediction: Panthers 4-2 Predators
Columbus Blue Jackets v. Dallas Stars
Columbus broke their losing streak last time out and now encounter a Dallas team who is riding a losing streak of its own. Both these teams play similar styles in the way they forecheck hard consistently and refuse to give away anything easy in their own zone. Every inch of the ice will be a battle tonight and the end result will be determined by which team is hungrier. With no side to pick in this game I am going to put a nickel on this game to finish level after 60 minutes and hope for an entertaining 3-on-3 overtime period.
The Bet: Game to go to Overtime
Prediction: Blue Jackets 2-3 Stars
Ottawa Senators v. Calgary Flames
Well the last double down I did for a Western Canadian team did not end well, but that is not going to make me gun shy. The Flames had a bad run of games, broke their losing streak against Ottawa, and then followed that up by getting killed by the Senators on Monday. The Flames have done their best Jekyll and Hyde impression all year but after getting several days off to rest and regroup, I have to assume their quality will shine through against an Ottawa team that cares more about future draft picks than current wins.
The Bet: 2 Units on Flames Moneyline, Flames Puckline, Over 6.5 Total Goals
Prediction: Senators 3-5 Flames
Toronto Maple Leafs v. Vancouver Canucks
3 straight games I bet against the Leafs. The Leafs have won 3 straight games. Funny how that works. Toronto played last night and are starting backup goalie Michael Hutchinson. Conventional wisdom is telling me to take the Canucks, but if I drink this kool-aid anymore I am going to drown. The Canucks have the offense to hang with anybody but they also have the defense of an AHL team. With Auston Matthews back, and still looking for a goal since his wrist injury, I’m banking on a red light show in the former Olympic City.
The Bet: Over 6.5 Total Goals
Prediction: Maple Leafs 3-4 Canucks
Fancy a Parlay?
Hurricanes, Lightning & Islanders to Win
All three of these former Eastern Conference teams are playoff contenders facing off against teams that are more likely to be focusing on the NHL Draft Lottery.
Daily Fantasy Plays of the Day:
Center: Evgeni Malkin-Historically, when Sidney Crosby is out for the Penguins there is only one man who steps up, Malkin. All those minutes that Crosby typically eats up fall to the veteran Russian who loves the spotlight. If the Penguins have any chance of winning tonight, it will all fall on #71’s shoulders.
Wing: Matthew Tkatchuk-Ottawa has given up the most goals against of any team in the league this year. The Senators also employ a below average penalty kill. In a game the Flames need to win against an opponent that is easy to win against, there is no reason to doubt Tkatchuk’s abilities to get on the scoresheet, and under your skin.
Defense: Dante Fabro-This young, former college hockey player, is a skilled, puck moving defenseman who can help generate offense for a Nashville team that struggles to find the back of the net. With typical top-4 defenseman Ryan Ellis out, there is more ice time for this young burgeoning star.
Goalie: Andrei Nedjelkovich-He began the year as the third string goalie for the Hurricanes but due to an injury to regular starter Petr Mrazek, he got to dress every night. Shaky play from their other goalie, James Reimer, has allowed Nedjelkovich to get more starts and a game against Detroit is always an opportunity to increase your career winning percentage.
Utility: Vincent Trocheck-Another Hurricane to end the column. Trocheck has been very useful for Carolina this season and eats up valuable minutes in all game situations. The matchup against Detroit speaks for itself and his play recently is just the cherry on top. I still do not know why Florida ever traded him...
