Around the NHL: Predictions for February 24th

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

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

Play of the Day: The under in Coyotes vs Stars.
I don’t quite know what it is, but the Dallas Stars ordinarily play down to their opponents. Setting the over/under at 6 for their matchup against the Arizona Coyotes seems extreme. The game being held in Dallas certainly helps their chances, but they have been so ice-cold that it does not really help matters.

Dallas is 3-7-0 in their last 10 games. They have lost their last eight games against Western Conference opponents, shooting their playoff chances down hard. They are now 10 points out of the second Wild Card spot and fading fast. With the deadline approaching, I would not be surprised to see them sell some assets as we get closer to the NHL trade deadline.

Amazingly, the Arizona Coyotes are only seven points behind the Dallas Stars. If Dallas really wanted to try, they could tank and possibly get a better lottery position than the Yotes. The Stars officially have a worse team goals-against average than Arizona, though they still score at a significantly higher clip than do the Coyotes.

Only two of the last 10 meetings between these two teams would have hit the over with it set at 6. Vegas is banking on these two teams having such defensive ineptitude that the ice will open up, significantly favoring the Stars.

I am not questioning the Stars’ likelihood of winning; they have taken the last seven home encounters with Arizona. However, I don’t see these two teams combining for more than five goals tonight.

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

Other Game Notes Around the NHL

Oilers vs Capitals: Verizon Center attendants will be getting their first look at Connor McDavid tonight. McDavid was injured in Edmonton’s last trip to Washington, D.C. The NHL’s leading scorer has faced off with Alex Ovechkin twice before, with their career series split at one victory a side.

In their first matchup this season, Connor McDavid had a pair of assists and Alex Ovechkin netted a goal but the Oilers came out on top 4-1.

Since that point early on in the season, the Caps have become the stingiest team in the NHL with a 2.07 goals-against average, nearly 30 points lower than the second-best team. They are the second-most dangerous offense in the league and are the current frontrunners for the President’s Trophy…again.

Edmonton is pretty comfortably in the playoffs at this point, with the Los Angeles Kings starting to taper off. With 74 points as a team, they are three points back of the division-leading San Jose Sharks, but even a first-round matchup with the Anaheim Ducks is perfectly reasonable for them. Incidentally, they are tied for the second-most road wins in the Western conference with 18.

Both teams will be missing some pieces from their blueline it would seem. Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen are both dealing with lower-body injuries for Washington and their status is uncertain. Adam Larsson, Andrej Sekera and Darnell Nurse will all likely miss tonight’s game for Edmonton, as will recent injured-reserve member Benoit Pouliot.

All the missing pieces on the blueline will likely open things up on the offensive side of things. Look for Ovi and company to take advantage of that.

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

Flames vs Panthers: The Florida Panthers wound up the loser in a hard-fought battle with the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night, but they still have plenty of reasons for optimism. They are 8-2-1 in their last 11 games as they surge towards the final Wild Card spot. A win tonight will pull them into a points tie with both the New York Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Florida’s offense is not just hot, it’s fun. Vincent Trocheck has eight points in his last seven games and has been a force in the attacking zone with his speed and silky-smooth mitts. Jonathan Marchessault has scored in back-to-back games continuing his run as one of the best bargain-bin signings of the offseason. Aleksander Barkov has nine points in the eight games since returning from injury.

Things are clicking for the Cats.

Calgary continues to surprise as well, as they are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Their most recent victory came last night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, as they put three goals past Andrei Vasilevskiy to take the game 3-2. Sean Monahan became the quickest Flame to reach 100 goals in his career.

Though the Flames are just as hot as the Panthers, I like the rested home team tonight. Calgary is 1-5 in their last six games on no rest.

Prediction: Take the Panthers to win. Play the over, which has hit in the last five meetings.

To make a play on these predictions, or any other NHL bets, visit our sportsbook at https://www.betdsi.eu/gms-hockey.