Good morning, we will let Captain Ryan take this thing over and steer you towards another night in the NHL. Remember to tip your hat to the Captain as your are leaving.
The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Thrashers 2, Islanders 1 (OT)
Red Wings 5, Flames 4 (OT)
Oilers 4, Ducks 2
Coyotes 3, Canucks 2
Predictions record: 2-2
My 3 stars of the night:
1. Nicklas Lidstrom, DET (1 Goal, 2 Assists)… Captain Nash netted a hat trick to help Columbus get their first win in San Jose since 2004.
2. Taylor Pyatt, PHX (2 Goals)
3. Dustin Byfuglien, ATL (1 Goal, 1 Assist)
—
If the playoffs started today…
Eastern Conference:
1) WSH vs. 8) ATL
2) PHI vs. 7) NYR
3) MTL vs. 6) PIT
4) BOS vs. 5) TB
Western Conference:
1) DET vs. 8) VAN
2) LA vs. 7) CHI
3) COL vs. 6) CBJ
4) STL vs. 5) PHX
—
Tonight’s Slate:
Stars @ Maple Leafs, 7:00 ET
Capitals @ Devils, 7:00
Flames @ Rangers, 7:00
Canadiens @ Flyers, 7:00
Predators @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Kings @ Senators, 7:30
Bruins @ Lightning, 7:30
Penguins @ Panthers, 7:30
Games of the Night:
Montreal Canadiens @ Philadelphia Flyers
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks
Records:
Overall: Canadiens (13-6-1) … Flyers (13-6-2)
Last Ten: Canadiens (6-4-0) … Flyers (7-2-1)
Away/Home: Canadiens (6-2-0) … Flyers (8-4-0)
Season Series: 1-0 Canadiens
Players to watch:
MTL- P.K. Subban
The rookie D-man will be target No. 1 for the Flyers tonight.
PHI- Mike Richards
Captain Richards has 10 points in the last six games.
Projected Goaltenders:
MTL- Carey Price (2010/11 stats: 12-6-1, 2.00 GAA)
PHI- Sergei Bobrovsky (2010/11 stats: 11-3-1, 2.29 GAA)
Injury Report:
MTL- Andrei Markov (knee, out)
PHI- Dan Carcillo (knee, out), Matt Walker (hip, out), Ian Laperriere (head, out)
Game Thoughts:
Everyone quickly circled their calendar for this game after last Tuesday’s chippy affair in Montreal, featuring Subban and Richards. Philadelphia is coming off a big win in Washington, while Price posted his fourth shutout. He’s been successful against the Flyers in his career, but I see the Flyers avenging last week’s loss in a game that is sure to have a taste of postseason.
Prediction: Flyers 3, Canadiens 2
—
Boston Bruins @ Tampa Bay Lightning
7:30 ET… TV: VERSUS, TSN2
Records:
Overall: Bruins (11-5-2) … Lightning (11-7-2)
Last Ten: Bruins (5-3-2) … Lightning (4-5-1)
Away/Home: Bruins (7-1-0) … Lightning (4-2-1)
Season Series: Tied 2-2
Players to watch:
BOS- Zdeno Chara
‘Big Z’ has compiled a plus-7 rating in the last four games.
TB- Martin St. Louis
Because of some guy named Stamkos, St. Louis is under-the-radar at third in the league in points.
Projected Goaltenders:
BOS- Tim Thomas (2010/11 stats: 10-1-1, 1.49 GAA)
TB- Dan Ellis (2010/11 stats: 5-4-2, 2.81 GAA)
Injury Report:
BOS- Marc Savard (concussion, out), Marco Sturm (knee, out), Trent Whitfield (Achilles, out)
TB- Vincent Lecavalier (hand, out), Simon Gagne (neck, questionable), Matt Smaby (ankle, out)
Game Thoughts:
Tim Thomas and company will take their game to Tampa to face a club that went 3-0 on the road last week. The Bolts responded to a rough patch with a trio of key wins, while the B’s have been playing well of late, too. Boston has had success in Tampa in recent years and could catch the Lightning on a letdown night. Go with the B’s in a close one…
Prediction: Bruins 3, Lightning 2 (OT)
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Maple Leafs over Stars
Capitals over Devils
Rangers over Flames
Predators over Blue Jackets
Kings over Senators
Penguins over Panthers