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Old School Meets New School
After a grueling 82-game regular season, the NHL playoffs are set and now 16 teams will try to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup. The action is sure to be intense as although there are a few clear favorites, anything can happen during the NHL postseason. Five of the seven Canadian teams made it, so Canada is hoping that one of its teams can return the Cup to the Great White North. The squads south of the border will have something to say about that though....
Can the Nashville Predators finally top the Chicago Blackhawks? Chicago has ousted Nashville from the postseason twice in the last decade, including two seasons ago when the Blackhawks beat the Predators in the first round 4-2 on their way to their most recent Stanley Cup. This would be a great time for some comeuppance as no one is expecting anything from a Nashville squad that limped into the playoffs, while almost every expert is calling for Chicago to win the West....
Two members of the Original Six will square off in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs when the Montreal Canadiens take on the New York Rangers. This matchup has looked like a lock for the last few weeks because of the quirky structure of the NHL playoffs with both sides knowing who they were most likely to face. The winner will face a relatively easy path to the playoffs by getting to face the winner of the two top wild cards in the Atlantic Division....
It’s a shame that either the Pittsburgh Penguins or the Columbus Blue Jackets will be ousted from the NHL playoffs after the first round. These two teams will finish with two of the top five records in the NHL but must face each other in the first round because of the eccentricities of the NHL playoff format. However, their loss is our gain as we have one of the most captivating opening round series in years. Who will win this battle between two of the beasts in the East?...
The Washington Capitals are going for broke this year. Washington has won the President’s Trophy for the second straight season but that isn’t enough for this year’s squad. Losing to Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last season stung all offseason long and this team retooled, added some pieces at the trade deadline, and now looks poised to finally hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history. Washington is the favorite to win it all according to Las Vegas, but first must get past the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opening round....
The Minnesota Wild may have lessened the bleeding, but the team that once looked like it was going to run away with the Western Conference still is searching for its form. Minnesota closed the season out with four straight wins, but three of the four were against the two worst teams in the league and the fourth was against a non-playoff team in Carolina. The Wild are just 2-6 in their last eight games against other playoff teams and that bodes well for their first-round opponent, the St. Louis Blues....
A potential first round playoff preview takes place on Saturday afternoon on NBC, as the Washington Capitals visit the Boston Bruins. The Capitals are going to finish with the best record in the league while the Bruins could finish second or third in the Atlantic Division or they might be the second Wild Card. If they finish as the second Wild Card they would play the Capitals in the first round of the playoffs next week. Let’s look at this Saturday matinee....
Atlantic Division rivals meet on Thursday night on NBCSN, as the Ottawa Senators visit the Boston Bruins. This could easily be a first round playoff preview depending on how each team finishes, but both teams must hold off Tampa Bay for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Ottawa has dominated this series of late, winning 8 of the last 10 including all three meetings this season. Let’s take a look at Thursday’s game and NHL picks....
Division leaders meet on Thursday night on NBCSN, as the Chicago Blackhawks visit the Anaheim Ducks. The Blackhawks have already wrapped up the Central Division and the top seed in the Western Conference, but Anaheim is in a battle with Edmonton and San Jose for first place in the Pacific Division. The Blackhawks and Ducks have met twice this season, with each team winning on the road. Chicago won 3-2 in Anaheim in late November, while the Ducks won 1-0 in Chicago last month....
It is a must-win game for the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night, as they visit the Boston Bruins on NBCSN. The Lightning trail the Bruins for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, so this is simply a game they have to win. Boston has won three of the four meetings against Tampa Bay this season, with three of the four going over the total. The one win for the Lightning came a couple of weeks ago, as they won 6-3 in Boston....
The late game on Tuesday night on NBCSN has the Edmonton Oilers visiting the Los Angeles Kings. In a reversal of fortunes, the Oilers are the team headed to the playoffs, while the Kings are going to miss out. Edmonton could actually finish in first place in the Pacific Division, so this is actually a more important game for the Oilers than it is for the Kings. The Oilers have won the last three in this series after dropping the previous six....
Metropolitan Division rivals meet on Wednesday night, as the New York Rangers visit the Washington Capitals on NBCSN. The Rangers are going to finish in the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Capitals are probably going to finish with the league’s best record. This is a great matchup on Wednesday, as the Rangers have the best road record in the league at 27-12, while the Capitals have the best home record at 31-8....
The Philadelphia Flyers will try and keep their faint playoff hopes alive, as they visit the New York Rangers on Sunday on NBCSN. The Flyers trail Boston for the last Wild Card spot and they are also battling with Tampa Bay, the Islanders and Carolina for that last spot. On the other side, the Rangers have already clinched a playoff spot and they are probably going to finish with the top Wild Card in the Eastern Conference....
The Boston Bruins continue their playoff push, as they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday on NBC. The Bruins are battling for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and every game is critical to their chances. They face a tough task on Sunday, as they face a Chicago Blackhawks team that has the best record in the Western Conference. These teams met earlier this season in Boston and it was Chicago winning 1-0....
The Boston Bruins are favored at home on Thursday night, as they host the Dallas Stars on NBCSN. It is another must-win game for the Bruins who are trying to get the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Boston will be facing a Dallas team that has done really well lately in the role of spoiler, as the Stars beat San Jose twice last week. The Bruins have won six of the last ten against Dallas, including 6-3 in Dallas last month....
It’s a potential Stanley Cup preview on Wednesday night on NBCSN, as the Chicago Blackhawks visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Blackhawks are the top team in the Western Conference, while the Penguins are battling with Washington and Columbus for the top mark in the Eastern Conference. With the Stanley Cup Playoffs set to begin in just over two weeks, the Capitals are favored to win the Cup, with the Blackhawks the second choice, and the Penguins the third choice....
The Minnesota Wild are road favorites on Sunday afternoon, as they visit the Detroit Red Wings on NBC. The Wild broke a five-game losing streak by defeating San Jose on Tuesday night but it still appears the Wild are going to finish behind Chicago in the Central Division. On the other side, the Red Wings are going to miss the playoffs, ending their 25-year streak. The Wild and Red Wings have split their last ten meetings....
It is rivalry night on NBCSN on Wednesday, as the New York Islanders visit the New York Rangers. The Islanders are in a fight simply to make the playoffs, while the Rangers are almost assuredly going to land in the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers have not played well at home of late, but they will still be listed as home favorites in this contest. The Islanders have won 7 of the last 10 in this series, including two of three this season....
Two of the top teams in the Western Conference meet on Tuesday night, as the San Jose Sharks visit the Minnesota Wild. The Sharks are leading the Pacific Division, while the Wild are in second place in the Central Division. This is a tough spot for San Jose, as they are playing their third game in four days and with no rest. The Wild are also in a 3-in-4 situation, but they were off on Monday. Minnesota has taken both meetings this season, winning 3-1 at home and 5-4 on the road....
Two teams looking to next year meet on Wednesday night on NBCSN, as the Detroit Red Wings visit the Colorado Avalanche. The Red Wings are last place in the Atlantic Division, while the Avalanche are in last place in the Central Division. The Red Wings should be small road favorites in this contest. These teams met twice last season with each team winning on the road, as the Red Wings won 5-3, while the Avalanche won 3-2....
Two of the top teams in the NHL meet on Tuesday night, as the Chicago Blackhawks visit the Montreal Canadiens in a game that can be seen on NBCSN. The Blackhawks are battling with Minnesota for the best record in the Western Conference, while the Canadiens lead the Atlantic Division. It has been all Chicago in this series of late, as the Blackhawks have won the last six meetings. Let’s look at Tuesday’s game and NHL picks....
Rivalry night on NBCSN on Wednesday has the Pittsburgh Penguins visiting the Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins have surged into second place in the Metropolitan Division and now they are right behind the Washington Capitals for first place. On the other side, the Philadelphia Flyers are in must-win mode, as they trail Toronto and the Islanders for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Let’s look at Wednesday’s game and NHL picks....
The New York Rangers are favored at the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night on NBCSN. The Rangers are battling for second place in the Metropolitan Division, while the Red Wings are essentially out of playoff contention. New York has been an excellent road team this season while Detroit has been rotten at home, so bettors should be backing the Rangers in this contest. New York has won six of the last ten in this series....
Two teams fighting an uphill battle to make the playoffs meet on Tuesday night, as the Philadelphia Flyers visit the Buffalo Sabres on NBCSN. The Flyers are three points out of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Sabres are five points out. This is simply a must-win game for Buffalo if they hope to make any kind of late push for a playoff spot. These teams have met twice this season with each team winning at home, as the Flyers won 4-3 in October, while the Sabres won 4-1 in January....
The Boston Bruins are favored at home on Wednesday night, as they host the Detroit Red Wings on NBCSN. The Red Wings are on the fringe of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference, while the Bruins are in third place in the Atlantic Division. Every game is a must-win for the Red Wings whose long streak of making the playoffs is just about over. Boston has taken 8 of the last 10 in this series against Detroit....
