3 Expert Picks
The Blackhawks are short-handed in Toronto. ...
San Jose returns home after their largest comeback in franchise history...
Is the wrong team favored in San Jose? ....
There appears to be a bit of a bug going around the Kings' locker room as they will be without two centers in Quinton Byfield (19 points, +5) and Phillip Danault (five points, +3). The Kings are slumping offensively anyways with three total goals in a two-game skid that both included overtime. It is Stars backup Casey DeSmith, but he has better numbers (2.23 GAA, .920 SV) than No. 1 Jake Oettinger does. Dallas is also getting a bit heathier on the blueline. It has gotten points in their last seven games played vs. Los Angeles at American Airlines Center (6-0-1).
Goals-goals-goals, lots of them lately for Nashville. The Blues know first-hand after the Preds put seven past them last Thursday at Bridgestone Arena when Steven Stamkos scored four times for just the second time in his career. Though several have chipped in lately for Andrew Brunette, whose team seems to have solved its earlier offensive issues, scoring 35 times across the past nine games. Joel Hofer, in the net for St Louis tonight, came on late last Thursday, and gets another chance tonight after posting some very so-so numbers this season (including 3.10 GAA and .893 saves). Play Preds-Blues Over
It took the powerhouse Avs to cool down the rejuvenated Preds on Saturday night but Nashville still emits go-with vibes. The Blues could attest after getting run off of the ice at Bridgestone Arena by the Preds last Thursday in a 7-2 romp featuring four goals by Steven Stamkos (for just the second time in his career). Nashville had won six of eight, including against the Avs last Tuesday, before losing Saturday in Denver, but importantly for the Preds, the offense looks alive again. Meanwhile, St Louis continues to have issues on offense, held to three goals or fewer in eight straight games. Play Preds on Money Line
Extremely fair price on the Jets after reigning Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck returned from injury over the weekend and dominated in a win over Washington. Third different city since Thursday for Ottawa, which is down three injured regulars in forwards in Lars Eller and Shane Pinto and blueliner Thomas Chabot. The Jets swept this series last season pretty easily.
Vancouver will unveil their new look line-up for the 1st time on Sunday; gone is all world D-man Quinn Hughes replaced by Zeev Buium and Marco Rossi. Long term it takes time without a lynch pin on the back end but short term I believe in a bump. NJ meanwhile plays their 3rd game in 4 days, 4th in 6 before heading out to Vegas to start a west coast trip. Devils will also most turn to Jacob Markstrom on the 2nd game of a back to back and he's struggled mightily in the crease all year. This is just too big a price for me as my number is more in the -114 range once every variable is factored into the mix.
Can't say I love this as the Devils have some injuries, but the Canucks got significantly worse when they traded All-Star defenseman Quinn Hughes to Minnesota. I don't get that at all but maybe wasn't gonna re-up. Almost feels like a punt year now. Whatever is Canadian for punt (rouge?). Where did Hughes want to go? New Jersey to play with his brothers. Alas, Jack is still out. Maybe the best remining player the Nucks have in Elias Pettersson will not play due to injury. This should at worst push but so should Kings have on Saturday. It's the NHL ...
Calgary is playing much better of late but Dustin Wolf is 3-8-0 away with a 4.05 GAA. And he has been confirmed in net. The Kings are rested and healthy. Regulation is fine. L.A.'s Anze Kopitar has scored 10 power-play goals vs. Calgary, tied for his highest total against any one opponent. He also leads the Kings with seven points over the last two seasons in head-to-head matchups with the "I will be the Flame" -- great 80s hair band song by Cheap Trick.
Colorado needed Cale Makar to score in the last eight seconds to force OT on Tuesday at Nashville (a game the Avs would lose in a shootout), but it allowed yet another Colorado game to land over in the eventual 4-3 loss. Returning home on Thursday to bounce the Panthers 6-2 means the Avs have pumped in 22 goals across their last four home games in Denver. Obviously, there's nothing wrong with the Colorado offense, with six different scorers in Thursday's win over Florida. There's more to tonight, however, as the visiting Preds are on a heater with wins in six of eight, and streaky Steven Stamkos just off of the second four-goal game of his career on Thursday vs. the Blues. Play Preds-Avs Over
Will just do a half here because maybe Habs rookie goalie Jacob Fowler is the real deal. He got me Thursday in Pittsburgh, but I mean against Igor Shesterkin? And it's the front end of a B2B. The Rangers are not playing well but it hasn't been Shesterkin's fault as the former Vezina winner has been quite good. The books can't tell what to make of Fowler, either, as the totals are all over the place.
The Edmonton Oilers are the more talented team and should elevate their play in this rivalry matchup. Edmonton is ranked 7th in shots against and has a +60 shot differential. Toronto is ranked 30th in shots allowed and owns a -127 shot differential. Both teams have comparable PK units, but the Oilers are ranked 2nd in PP% while the Maple Leafs are 31st. Tristan Jarry is expected to start in goal after the big trade on Friday. He’s a major upgrade over Stuart Skinner, sporting a 2.66 GAA and .909 save percentage. The last time these teams played, Toronto won 4-3 in Edmonton despite getting outshot 48-28. Mitch Marner played a big role, and he’s now in Vegas. These Canadian teams take revenge games seriously.
The books keep pricing Edmonton like it is last year(s). I'm not saying they won't win. When you have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, you can always win. But there is no way they should be favored in Toronto. I have been to a Maple Leafs game (back then the fans smoked like chimneys). Just a different vibe, really, really cool. I will go to a Leafs-Habs game in Montreal before I leave this earth. It's just so different up there how they care. Cannot wait for the Olympic hockey tournament (I'll be playing Canada +140 with a splash on Sweden longshot), if, you know, they actually build the arena.
We don't mind taking a spin with a Tampa Bay side that looks on the upswing. Fourteen goals across the past two games for the Lightning in wins over the Canadiens and Devils on this road trip, following a pair of shutout losses (one vs. the Islanders at home). We like the quick rematch angle especially as Tampa Bay also lost 2-1 vs. the same Isles just five nights earlier on December 2. Tampa Bay has picked up the offense while GK Andrei Vasilevsky has been out the past few games as the Lightning has won back-to-back with Jonas Johansson in goal, jumping all over opposing goalies Jakub Dobes, Sam Montembeault and Jacob Markstrom in the process. Play Lightning on Puck Line