Games to Watch
Some people think that we?re going to have to wait until the Winter Olympics to see some top flight hockey. Those folks obviously don?t know what in the hell they?re doing as there is a good month of NHL action left to bet on. In fact, we have three games this week that I believe are actually worth watching?and maybe even get down on.
Panthers at Devils ? Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. EST
The Panthers may not seem like the sexiest team to watch (just look at their home attendance for proof), but they are playing quality hockey right now. Florida has won three straight games to put themselves in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, just two points behind the Islanders for the final playoff spot. They?ve got Nathan Horton sitting at 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) so far this year. Compare that to last season when he had 45 points (22 goals, 23 assists) in 67 games.
New Jersey still has the lead in the Atlantic Division, but a three-game slide has them in a funk we?ve not seen since the middle of November. Even worse for the Devils is the loss of Patrik Elias for the time being. Elias hadn?t contributed much over the month (2 goals, 3 assists in January), but is a strong veteran voice in the lineup. The Devs could desperately use a win here to give them a little confidence before hosting Phoenix the following evening.
What should give the Devils some hope to turn things around is the fact that they?ve won five of the last eight head-to-head meetings. Of course, Florida did win its last game 4-2 in Newark as a 2/1 road pup on Dec. 11. This should be a fun one to watch unfold.
Capitals at Penguins ? Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST
Last year, these two teams played a fantastic seven-game Eastern Semifinal (we?ll ignore how Game 7 played out). Now it?s finally time for the Caps and Pens to renew this budding rivalry.
Washington?s offense appears to be clicking on all cylinders as they?ve lit the lamp 37 times in their last seven games. Alex Ovechkin is on a six-game point streak, scoring a goal in each of his last three appearances. His run is a good thing for Caps? fans and bettors as there isn?t much out there to stop Ovechkin if he?s on a hot streak.
Pittsburgh had a decent trip in Western Canada, picking up two wins in three games. But the Penguins are now a little thin between the pipes with Marc-Andre Fleury favoring a broken left ring finger and backup John Curry shudders at pucks coming his way like a fan of ?Glee? hearing that the show is about to be cancelled.
Even though the Penguins took the playoff series against them, the Capitals dominated in the regular season. The Caps won three of last year?s four regular season meetings, which made me think they could take the postseason series. We should expect a high scoring contest as well since the ?over? went 9-2 in the 11 showdowns last year.
Predators at Avalanche ? Friday, 9:00 p.m. EST
Anyone out there think that a late January game between Nashville and the Avalanche would actually be meaningful? Yeah, I didn?t think so.
A home setback to Toronto should not take away from how strong the Predators have been on the road. The Preds went into Western Canada and walked out with three wins. In fact, Barry Trotz?s team has won 15 of their 22 road tests this season and are on a 5-1 run away from home. That certainly can?t hurt a team that is currently in fourth place in the Western Conference.
I personally thought that Colorado was going to end up being a fraud. However, you can?t argue against a team being good when they?re leading their division like the Avs are right now.
The Avalanche are rolling right now because of former Panthers backup netminder Craig Anderson. Colorado?s starting goalie has won his last four starts with a goals against average of 1.41, while stopping 96 percent of the shots he saw in that stretch. The only thing you can see being an issue with Anderson is that he is 2-3-3 with a 2.85 GAA against Florida for his career.
Some people think that we?re going to have to wait until the Winter Olympics to see some top flight hockey. Those folks obviously don?t know what in the hell they?re doing as there is a good month of NHL action left to bet on. In fact, we have three games this week that I believe are actually worth watching?and maybe even get down on.
Panthers at Devils ? Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. EST
The Panthers may not seem like the sexiest team to watch (just look at their home attendance for proof), but they are playing quality hockey right now. Florida has won three straight games to put themselves in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, just two points behind the Islanders for the final playoff spot. They?ve got Nathan Horton sitting at 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) so far this year. Compare that to last season when he had 45 points (22 goals, 23 assists) in 67 games.
New Jersey still has the lead in the Atlantic Division, but a three-game slide has them in a funk we?ve not seen since the middle of November. Even worse for the Devils is the loss of Patrik Elias for the time being. Elias hadn?t contributed much over the month (2 goals, 3 assists in January), but is a strong veteran voice in the lineup. The Devs could desperately use a win here to give them a little confidence before hosting Phoenix the following evening.
What should give the Devils some hope to turn things around is the fact that they?ve won five of the last eight head-to-head meetings. Of course, Florida did win its last game 4-2 in Newark as a 2/1 road pup on Dec. 11. This should be a fun one to watch unfold.
Capitals at Penguins ? Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST
Last year, these two teams played a fantastic seven-game Eastern Semifinal (we?ll ignore how Game 7 played out). Now it?s finally time for the Caps and Pens to renew this budding rivalry.
Washington?s offense appears to be clicking on all cylinders as they?ve lit the lamp 37 times in their last seven games. Alex Ovechkin is on a six-game point streak, scoring a goal in each of his last three appearances. His run is a good thing for Caps? fans and bettors as there isn?t much out there to stop Ovechkin if he?s on a hot streak.
Pittsburgh had a decent trip in Western Canada, picking up two wins in three games. But the Penguins are now a little thin between the pipes with Marc-Andre Fleury favoring a broken left ring finger and backup John Curry shudders at pucks coming his way like a fan of ?Glee? hearing that the show is about to be cancelled.
Even though the Penguins took the playoff series against them, the Capitals dominated in the regular season. The Caps won three of last year?s four regular season meetings, which made me think they could take the postseason series. We should expect a high scoring contest as well since the ?over? went 9-2 in the 11 showdowns last year.
Predators at Avalanche ? Friday, 9:00 p.m. EST
Anyone out there think that a late January game between Nashville and the Avalanche would actually be meaningful? Yeah, I didn?t think so.
A home setback to Toronto should not take away from how strong the Predators have been on the road. The Preds went into Western Canada and walked out with three wins. In fact, Barry Trotz?s team has won 15 of their 22 road tests this season and are on a 5-1 run away from home. That certainly can?t hurt a team that is currently in fourth place in the Western Conference.
I personally thought that Colorado was going to end up being a fraud. However, you can?t argue against a team being good when they?re leading their division like the Avs are right now.
The Avalanche are rolling right now because of former Panthers backup netminder Craig Anderson. Colorado?s starting goalie has won his last four starts with a goals against average of 1.41, while stopping 96 percent of the shots he saw in that stretch. The only thing you can see being an issue with Anderson is that he is 2-3-3 with a 2.85 GAA against Florida for his career.
