Around the NHL: Predictions for December 4th

There are seven NHL games on the docket today. Let’s take a look at the top picks, plays and predictions.

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

Play of the Day: Oilers over Wild.
The Edmonton Oilers have had an up-and-down week. They started off last week in frustrating fashion, losing yet another game to the lowly Arizona Coyotes. They followed that up by dropping a 4-2 game to the Maple Leafs in which the Leafs blocked a whopping 31 shots. Edmonton got 30 shots on goal. The Leafs blocked more shots than there were shots on goal. That is unbelievable.

But then the Oilers picked things back up. Mark Letestu and Leon Draisaitl had three-point nights to best the Winnipeg Jets, 6-3. Then, Draisaitl banged home a point-blank shot to lift Edmonton over the Ducks in overtime last night. College hockey star Drake Caggiula netted his first career goal.

I count myself among the many who probably should not be as surprised the Oilers are doing well this year but still am. A healthy Connor McDavid means the world, but I genuinely thought the loss of Taylor Hall would hurt more than it has. That trade was still dumb as anything, but the orange-and-blue are in second in the Pacific through 26 games. That is something.

The Wild have lost their last four road games, but they have dominated Edmonton. Minnesota has won 11 of their last 12 trips to the Oilers’ home rink.

Prediction: The tides will turn tonight. Take the Oilers to win as the underdogs on their home ice. Play the under.

The Game to Watch: Ducks vs Flames.
Johnny Hockey is back. According to the player himself, Johnny Gaudreau is good to go and expected to return tonight after being out since November 15th. Gaudreau missed 10 games to injury, and he will have the opportunity to make his comeback in front of his home crowd. That’s always fun to see.

Gaudreau had 11 points in 17 games before hitting the injured reserve.

Technically, the Flames are tied with the Nashville Predators for the second Wild Card spot. Of course, Nashville has four games in hand, but hey, glass half full, right? Calgary is looking to sweep this three-game homestand after besting the Maple Leafs and Wild this past week.

Anaheim is currently third in the Pacific Division, but can pull even with the first-place Sharks with a victory tonight. Though they lost in overtime last night in Edmonton, the Ducks historically do very well on back-to-backs, winning eight of their last 10.

Ryan Getzlaf had two assists last night to give him sole possession of second place on the league leaderboard in that category. He leads Anaheim with 19 assists and 21 points. Rickard Rakell is currently the only Duck with double-digit goals with 10 on the year.

Getzlaf has more assists than the Flames’ leading scorer has points. Michael Frolik has 15 points on the year. No one on Calgary has more than six goals yet.

The over has hit in six of the last seven encounters between these two teams in Calgary. Though the two projected starters tonight, Jonathan Bernier and Chad Johnson, both have excellent numbers, the over/under being set at just five makes the over an intriguing play.

Prediction: Take the Flames to rally behind the return of Gaudreau and win. Play the over.

Other Game Notes Around the NHL

Canadiens vs Kings: Peter Budaj has appeared in 22 straight games for the Los Angeles Kings, 20 of them starts. He has held his own admirably, posting a 12-7-1 record in that stretch with a 2.15 goals-against average and .912 save percentage. All the same, the Kings have to be tapping their foot and checking their watch for when Jonathan Quick can return to the lineup. Budaj can only shoulder so much burden, since Jeff Zatkoff has been battling injuries all year.

That and Zatkoff stinks.

Of those that have returned from injury, Marion Gaborik has recorded an assist in his last two games and is skating with Anze Kopitar and Trevor Lewis. Gaborik has 10 shots in his last two games as well.

Montreal’s return down to earth has put their lead over the Atlantic Division in jeopardy. They have just a two-point lead on the surging Ottawa Senators, and it is largely due to their sub-par play on the road. They are 1-5 in their last six road games, with their lone win coming in overtime.

The Kings are 6-1 in their last seven overall and have won the last three games in L.A. over the Habs.

Prediction: Take the Kings to win. Play the under.

Flyers vs Predators: Nashville is coming off one of their more frustrating losses of the season. After leading the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on their home ice, the Devs came rallying back to beat the Preds in overtime, 5-4. Nashville allowed two goals in the opening minute of the third to let New Jersey right back in the game. Mike Cammalleri eventually buried the game-winner in OT.

Now they must defend Bridgestone Arena from the Philadelphia Flyers, who enter this game on a four-game winning streak.

Looking at the scoresheet, there is not much to fix for the Predators. They are 8-1-2 at home this season, and generated 42 shots on goal while only allowing 22. The Devils were allowed back into the game on two rebound goals. The first was a fortunate bounce right onto the stick of Cammalleri, but the second was thanks to a slow backcheck on the part of the Preds. Nashville had lead in their skates to start the final frame, and New Jersey capitalized.

Philly’s Ivan Provorov made history yesterday by becoming the only Flyers defenseman in franchise history to beat a goaltender twice within the same minute. The 19-year-old scored the game-tying and game-winning goals within 31 seconds against the Chicago Blackhawks. Provorov has been quietly having a very impressive season for the Flyers this season.

Prediction: The travel could make all the difference in this one. Take Nashville to win. Play the over.