Around the NHL: Predictions for March 24th

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

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

The Game to Watch: Islanders vs Penguins.
A lot of people have been talking about Sidney Crosby lately, and for all the wrong reasons. Crosby has had a bad couple games in the whole “player safety” department. First, there was his spear on Ryan O’Reilly on Tuesday night. Then there was his slash on Marc Methot that hacked off a piece of Methot’s finger (if you have not seen the video of that…don’t).

Detractors of Crosby see this as classic Sid, typical dirty play that make him one of the most detestable players in the NHL.

Then again, holy cow, did you see his one-handed backhand goal?

"Sidney Crosby could score with one hand tied behind his back."

CONFIRMED. https://t.co/cYGcFSU8Du pic.twitter.com/RK7ak6iO7e

— SB Nation NHL (@SBNation_NHL) March 22, 2017

Jeezum crow, how cool is that?!

There have been musings that Crosby will be suspended, which will most likely not come to fruition. Firstly, he’s Sidney Crosby. It just won’t happen. Secondly, even though his spear and his slash were pretty egregious, and certainly worthy of penalties, maybe even misconducts, they really are not suspension-worthy. At least, the slash is not. The result was gruesome, but it’s a garden-variety slash any other day.

So Crosby will be in the lineup tonight. You know who else will be on the ice tonight? Jaroslav Halak.

Yes, Halak is back as the Prodigal Son, returning from Bridgeport in a desperate attempt to save the Islanders’ season. Thomas Greiss’ performance has been frustratingly volatile down the stretch and it has become apparent that Jean-Francois Berube simply cannot get the job done as the backup. Berube has a 3.42 goals-against average in 14 appearances this season, while Greiss’ has risen to 2.67.

Jaro Halak lost his starting job last season and Greiss carried the team to their first playoff series victory in over 20 years. In the words of Michael Scott, how the turntables…

Halak had terrific numbers in the AHL. In 27 appearances, he had a 17-7-3 record with a .925 save percentage and 2.12 goals-against average. These numbers a farcry from his numbers in the NHL earlier this season. Perhaps this will build the veteran’s confidence. Halak has had some rotten luck in that he has been either injured or pulled in his last few postseasons. He can head into this surge with a clean slate.

Remember when ESPN analysts labeled him the best goaltender in the World Cup of Hockey? Good times.

Of course, the first game being in Pittsburgh is a trial by fire. That said, the Islanders have won four of their last five road games.

The season series is 2-1 Pittsburgh, though these two teams have not met since November.

Prediction: Perhaps its Halak’s return, maybe it’s the fact that the Penguins are on a back-to-back in which they had to travel after going to a shootout. But take a chance on the Islanders tonight. Play the over.

Other Game Notes Around the NHL

Sharks vs Stars: This is the third time in the last two weeks that these two teams have met. In their first encounter in San Jose, the Sharks cruised to an easy 5-1 victory. Then on Monday in Dallas, one second period goal from Curtis McKenzie was all it took for the Stars to blank the Sharks. Kari Lehtonen stopped 30 in the 1-0 victory.

San Jose needs to rebound, and how. They have lost four in a row and hold a mere two point lead on the Pacific Division’s top seed. With Anaheim also in action tonight, the Sharks could use a win to keep a leg up on the competition.

Melker Karlsson, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Jannik Hansen all skated yesterday. Vlasic has been cleared to play tonight, which is a major boon for the San Jose blueline.

Tonight is the night that Sharks fans would love to see an offensive explosion. Over the course of their four-game losing streak, they have managed only four goals. This, of course, coming after a stretch in which they scored 17 in five games. Scoring comes and goes.

Dallas is playing on the tail-end of a back-to-back. They took the Blackhawks to the skills competition last night and came out with a loser point. The extra play may take enough out of them so the Sharks can pounce.

Can sharks pounce? I don’t know. According to “The Shallows,” sharks can pounce out of water, but then again, the ocean can catch fire in that film, a woman can swim a football field with a leg that likely needs amputation and GoPro batteries can last four days. So I suppose that’s not the best reference.

Where was I? Oh yeah, hockey.

Prediction: Take the Sharks to win tonight. Play the under.

Lightning vs Red Wings: The Boston Bruins have done everything in their power to allow the Tampa Bay Lightning back in the playoff race. Boston has now lost four games in a row, with their most recent defeat coming last night at the TD Garden. Though the score was tied heading into the final frame, three unanswered third period goals lifted the Bolts over the Bruins.

So now, Tampa is back to being only three points behind the second Wild Card spot with nine games remaining in their schedule. Tonight they make up the game in hand they hold on the Bruins.

They take on the Detroit Red Wings, the second-worst team in the Eastern Conference.

Tonight will define the Lightning’s season. In a year that has been abhorrently frustrating for the Bolts, one in which they have been without their star player for the entire season and they have been utterly unable to maintain strong play for long stretches of time, one in which they have failed to live up to the exceedingly high expectations set for them, they are still hanging on by a thread.

And the team that could cut the cord is the team they have played twice in the postseason the last two years.

Tampa has won their last four road games, yes. But the home team has won 11 of the last 13 encounters between these two teams. The Wings are 1-5 on two days’ rest, yes. But they would love to play spoiler tonight.

Detroit is looking to win their fourth in five games. However, they will be trotting out Petr Mrazek in net tonight, rather than Jimmy Howard- a break for the Lightning.

A loss tonight would all but kill the Lightning. Yes, they still have games against Toronto and Boston remaining on the schedule. But these are gimme points. Playoff teams win these games.

Prediction: Take the Lightning to win tonight. Play the over. They will need to light Mrazek up tonight to win.