Tonight’s Slate:
Islanders @ Sabres, 7:00 ET
Canadiens @ Penguins, 7:00
Bruins @ Hurricanes, 7:00
Flyers @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Devils @ Rangers, 7:30
Panthers @ Lightning, 7:30
Ducks @ Stars, 8:00
Sharks @ Blues, 8:30
Red Wings @ Avalanche, 9:00
Kings @ Coyotes, 9:00
Senators @ Flames, 10:00
Games of the Night:
Game #1: Montreal Canadiens (18-9-6) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (19-12-4)
7:00 ET… TV: CBC, NHL Net. (US), Local Networks
Players to watch:
MTL- Robert Lang
Lang has stepped up in the absence of Saku Koivu.
PIT- Ryan Whitney
How does he fare in just his third game back from the heel injury??
Projected Goaltenders:
MTL- Carey Price (08-09 stats: 13-4-5, 2.39 GAA)
PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (Last night @ NJ: 37 Saves, Shutout)
Injury Report:
MTL- Saku Koivu (foot, out), Andrei Kostitsyn (knee, questionable), Christopher Higgins (shoulder, out), Mathieu Dandenault (arm, out)
PIT- Tyler Kennedy (knee, out), Hal Gill (shoulder, out), Kris Letang (undisclosed, doubtful), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder, out), Mike Zigomanis (undisclosed, doubtful)
Last Ten Games:
Canadiens (5-3-2) … Penguins (4-6-0)
Season Series:
1st Meeting
Game Thoughts:
Pittsburgh picked up a big (and controversial) win last night in New Jersey, but continued to struggle offensively. I don’t foresee their luck getting any better against a well-rested Habs team. The Pens will do enough to steal a point, but Montreal will get the two points.
Prediction: Canadiens 4, Penguins 3 (OT)
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Game #2: New Jersey Devils (19-11-3) @ New York Rangers (22-12-3)
7:30 ET… TV: Local Networks
Players to watch:
NJ- Zach Parise
Parise has two… two four-assist games this month. He needs to help the Devils get back on the winning track.
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist
‘King Henrik’ gave up 8 goals in their last meeting. He’s 14-3-4 in his career against Jersey, with a 1.77 GAA.
Projected Goaltenders:
NJ- Scott Clemmensen (08-09 stats: 11-4-1, 2.22 GAA)
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (08-09 stats: 18-10-3, 2.59 GAA)
Injury Report:
NJ- Martin Brodeur (elbow, out), Bryce Salvador (upper body, questionable)
NYR- None
Last Ten Games:
Devils (6-3-1) … Rangers (5-4-1)
Season Series:
2-1 Rangers
Game Thoughts:
The Devils cross the Hudson River tonight after a stinging 1-0 defeat to Pittsburgh last night. The last time these two met, the Devils pulled out a crazy 8-5 victory. If I was a betting man, I would highly doubt that 13 goals will be scored in this one! New Jersey is in a scoring drought, and the Blueshirts are looking to rebound from a stunning 5-4 overtime loss to Washington on Tuesday night. Rangers in a tight one.
Prediction: Rangers 2, Devils 1
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Sabres over Islanders
Bruins over Hurricanes
Flyers over Blue Jackets
Panthers over Lightning
Stars over Ducks
Sharks over Blues
Avalanche over Red Wings
Coyotes over Kings
Flames over Senators
For more predictions and analysis on the NHL like this, stop by the Red Light District.
