There are only three games on the schedule tonight with some very slanted lines. Let’s take a look around the NHL at the top picks, plays and predictions.
| Rangers vs Capitals ML +169 / -188 O/U 5 |
Oilers vs Blue Jackets ML +153 / -170 O/U 5.5 |
| Devils vs Stars ML +197 / -220 O/U 5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Play of the Day: Oilers over Blue Jackets.
Connor McDavid has had himself quite the season. Breaking his collarbone certainly has not quelled his confidence any, as he continues to score at a ridiculous clip. He has 32 points in 29 games and his play is only getting flashier by the day.
If there was any doubt who was the right choice for first overall in last year’s amateur draft, McDavid put it to rest with an overtime winner against Jack Eichel’s Sabres. After Eichel was stopped on a backhander, McDavid carried the puck down the ice and scored on a backhander of his own. Take that, eh?
McDavid is on a nice three-game point streak with two goals and two assists. The Oilers have won all three games, and will be looking to take their fourth in a row for the first time since early December.
The Blue Jackets are 3-1-1 in their last five games.
The Oilers won their previous meeting decisively, taking a 5-1 victory back on February 2nd.
Prediction: McDavid’s inspired play is enough to take a chance on the Oilers at +153. Play the under, which is 7-0 in the last seven overall for Edmonton.
The Game to Watch: Rangers vs Capitals.
This one is going to hurt for the Rangers. Like, hard.
The Rangers were stifled and frustrated by the end of their game against the Penguins. The worst piece of news that emerged from after the game was obviously the health of Henrik Lundqvist, who was pulled at the start of the third period and never made his way back to the bench. After a nasty collision, it came out that Lundqvist had injured his neck and will miss an undetermined amount of time. Lundqvist did not take the lack of stoppage when he was collided with well.
Antti Raanta will be the starter tonight. Magnus Hellberg has been called up on an emergency basis.
Here are the shot charts, courtesy of War-On-Ice:
As the Rangers entered the third period down 3-1, they managed only five shots on goal in the proceeding 20 minutes. The number of legitimate scoring chances they had in the third period is detailed in the second chart. They flatlined. Their third period was atrocious considering their first two were actually by and large not horrible until the final few minutes of the second.
In a game where the Penguins attempted 33 shots at 5v5, Dan Girardi was on the ice for 21 of them. He was worst on the team as a -11 in shot attempts. That is impressively appalling. And if you think they were low in quality, look again. All but five shot attempts taken by the Pens in the game were within the parameters of Royal Road.
The next lowest was Keith Yandle as a -4 (10 for, 14 against). Ryan McDonagh was a +3, Kevin Klein was a +7, Dylan McIlrath was a +11 and Dan Boyle was a team-best +15. This is an isolated issue.
Antti Raanta has faced the Capitals once this season. He stopped just 19 of 23 shots.
Braden Holtby will continue his march to 50 wins this season. The Caps are 7-2 in their last eight games. They are averaging an even three goals-per-game in that stretch.
Washington has the best powerplay in the league, and it is uber-successful against the Rangers. But don’t just take my word for it, I painstakingly provided video evidence.
The over is 5-0 in the tail-end of back-to-backs for the Rangers this season and 4-0 in the last four encounters between these two teams.
Prediction: Take the Capitals to win. Play the over.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Devils vs Stars: Devante Smith-Pelly grabbed a goal and an assist in his Devils debut against the Nashville Predators last night. Adam Henrique scored both the equalizer in the final minute of play and the overtime winner.
Cory Schneider will start tonight for the Devils, as Keith Kinkaid started last night.
The Dallas Stars are 0-3-1 in their last four games, with their play in the defensive zone deteriorating. Patrick Sharp and Patrick Eaves are both out tonight, limiting Dallas’ options for the top line. Brett Ritchie will likely be skating with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. Jordie Benn will likely be out with an injury as well.
Prediction: New Jersey will still face an uphill battle, but they have an opportunity to trounce an already deflated Stars team tonight. If Oilers over Jackets is not your speed, try Devils over Stars at +197. Play the under.
