There are only three games today after an eventful day yesterday. Five of the six teams playing will be working the second half of a back-to-back weekend. So, let’s take a look around the NHL at today’s top picks, plays and predictions.
February 7th, 2016 – NHL Schedule
Flyers vs Capitals
ML OFF / OFF
O/U OFF
Hurricanes vs Canadiens
ML +106 / -117
O/U 5
Oilers vs Islanders
ML OFF / OFF
O/U OFF
Play of the Day: Canadiens over Hurricanes.
Cam Ward is back in net for the Carolina Hurricanes. He made his first appearance Friday night after missing six games to injury. He stopped 33 en route to a 5-3 win over the Jets.
Ward being back in the fold does not mean a whole lot. Though he is 4-0-1 in his last five decisions, it has been more of a virtue of goal support and solid play in overtime. Ward has allowed three goals in three of his last five games, and on not a whole lot of shots. It’s been the story of the season, really. Ward sports a .905 save percentage, but still has a respectable record of 15-11-5. He somehow gets support from the 23rd best offense in the league.
Montreal finally got a win yesterday by beating up on Edmonton, 5-1. They came out looking rejuvenated, especially Brendan Gallagher and P.K. Subban. Gallagher’s aggressive forecheck generated the third goal of the game. It was a great confidence booster, as the Habs found time and space, looked much quicker in transition, and took Cam Talbot’s eyes away with traffic.
The Canes lit up the scoreboard early with three goals in under five minutes to start the game against Winnipeg. Two of the goals came off rebounds and second-chance efforts. They chased Connor Hellebuyck, then scored again five minutes later. They allowed the Jets to slowly but surely crawl back into the game, as Winnipeg cut the lead to one with six minutes to go in regulation. Carolina tallied a put-away goal with 1:20 to go.
The last time these two teams met, Carolina took a 3-2 victory home, but were outshot 38-29. The trouble for Carolina will come from their inability to solve the Bell Centre. They are 0-5 in Montreal, and 1-5 against the Habs overall in their last six.
Even though the money line has the Canadiens as the favorite at -117, betting for them is still a pretty sizable risk given the way they have been playing. Take a chance on them, though.
Prediction: Take the Canadiens to win. Play the over.
The Game to Watch: Flyers vs Capitals.
Andre Burakovsky has been as hot as can be for the Washington Capitals. He extended his goal-scoring streak to five games last night against the New Jersey Devils, and will be looking for more tonight. The Capitals’ ability to roll four lines this season has been a tremendous asset, but their top six in particular has been stellar. The Burakovsky-Kuznetsov-Williams line is so poised with the puck. Their possession numbers as a unit are almost always dominant, always moving, constantly generating shots and not allowing very much the other way at all.
The one possible improvement Washington can make is to their special teams. They are 0-for their last-15 now, and just are not getting the same looks as they usually do. The safe assumption is that they are in a natural cyclical lull. They will spring back to life, as they always do.
If we’re looking for minute critiques, Nick Backstrom could stand to win a few more faceoffs. He went 3-12 in the dot yesterday. Not much else negative to say about his play other than that.
The Flyers missed a prime opportunity to stomp on the Rangers yesterday. They were outshot 11-1 in the third period, with their lone shot being a go-ahead goal early in the period by Ryan White. Keith Yandle wired a one-timer past Steve Mason with 12.9 seconds to go in regulation to tie it. Philly would fall in the skills competition.
The whole “one shot in the third period” thing is not going to fly against the Washington Capitals tonight. According to LeftWingLock, both Braden Holtby and Steve Mason will be starting after a game yesterday.
Philadelphia is going to need more from those outside their top four or five players to score. Wayne Simmonds was ejected early in the game yesterday for a punch to Ryan McDonagh’s face, from which McDonagh did not return to the game. Jakub Voracek lodged yet another assist and Shayne Gostisbehere scored once again.
The Flyers are 7-2 in the last nine meetings, but the Caps are 5-1 against Metro Division opponents. The big difference comes in weekends with a flurry of games. Typically, the Caps are a much better team in back-to-backs and three-in-four scenarios than the Flyers.
Prediction: Take the Caps to win. Play the over.
Other Game Notes Around the NHL
Oilers vs Islanders: The Oilers got roughed up pretty badly by the Montreal Canadiens yesterday. I guess the Connor McDavid honeymoon period is over. The kid still played well, but the Oilers looked terrible in transition on the whole. Their defense allowed a whole lot of odd-man rushes, their support in the defensive zone was atrocious, and Cam Talbot had his crease crashed all game.
The Islanders are coming off a pretty brutal 5-1 loss of their own, this at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings. Jaroslav Halak has struggled hard, losing his last three starts with three or more goals allowed in each game. He was pulled yesterday after allowing four to the Wings.
The Islanders will be on the rebound. They need to be to keep pace with the rest of the Metro Division. Thomas Greiss will be in net for the Isles today against Anders Nilsson. Greiss is 13-6-2 with a .927 save percentage and 2.32 goals against average. Nilsson’s stats are considerably worse, with a 10-11-2 record, .903 save percentage and 3.04 goals against average.
Prediction: Take the Isles to win. Play the over.
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Casey is GetMoreSports' resident hockey fanatic and host of "Jersey Corner" on the GMS YouTube channel. He is the play-by-play voice of Marist College Hockey and the New York AppleCore. He currently works as a traffic coordinator for MSG Networks. Steve Valiquette once held a bathroom door for him.
