Today’s Slate:
Blues @ Blue Jackets, 5:00 ET
Predators @ Red Wings, 5:00
Senators @ Lightning, 6:00
Canucks @ Blackhawks, 7:00
Bruins @ Flyers, 7:00
Wild @ Oilers, 8:00
Avalanche @ Ducks, 8:00
Games of the Night:
Game #1: Vancouver Canucks @ Chicago Blackhawks
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks
Records:
Overall: Canucks (40-25-9) … Blackhawks (40-22-11)
Last Ten: Canucks (6-3-1) … Blackhawks (4-4-2)
Away/Home: Canucks (18-14-5) … Blackhawks (21-8-7)
Season Series: 2-1 Blackhawks
Players to watch:
VAN- Mats Sundin
Sundin lit up the ‘Hawks in their last meeting and has good career numbers against them.
CHI- Dave Bolland
Chicago will need a good all around game from Bolland tonight.
Projected Goaltenders:
VAN- Roberto Luongo (08-09 stats: 28-11-6, 2.43 GAA)
CHI- Nikolai Khabibulin (08-09 stats: 20-7-6, 2.50 GAA)
Injury Report:
VAN- Rick Rypien (personal, out)
CHI- Matt Walker (lower body, doubtful), Brent Sopel (elbow, out)
Game Thoughts:
A big, big game in the UC tonight… potential 1st round home-ice on the line. Vancouver smoked Chicago last time out, 7-3 at GM Place. Look for the ‘Hawks to have a bit of payback on their minds. On the Canucks’ side of things, they should be more worried about catching Calgary for the division. Chicago has won 3 in a row and I expect them to win another close one to extend their lead on the Canucks.
Prediction: Blackhawks 4, Canucks 3
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Game #2: Boston Bruins @ Philadelphia Flyers
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks
Records:
Overall: Bruins (47-17-10) … Flyers (41-23-10)
Last Ten: Bruins (5-4-1) … Flyers (6-4-0)
Away/Home: Bruins (22-11-4) … Flyers (22-11-4)
Season Series: 2-1 Flyers
Players to watch:
BOS- Dennis Wideman
Wideman, who had 3 A yesterday, needs to have similar 2-way performance tonight.
PHI- Joffrey Lupul
Lupul, who had 2 G yesterday, needs to come through in the clutch once again.
Projected Goaltenders:
BOS- Tim Thomas (08-09 stats: 31-11-7, 2.11 GAA)
PHI- Martin Biron (Last night @ NYI: 30 Saves, 3 GA)
Injury Report:
BOS- Marco Sturm (knee, out)
PHI- None
Game Thoughts:
Philly has had Boston’s number in Beantown this year, but not at home. The Bruins are coming off a wild 7-5 win in Toronto last night… while Philly needed a shootout to deposit the Isles. In the end, Tim Thomas is fresh so I like the Bruins to pick up the win in this possible 2nd or 3rd round playoff matchup.
Prediction: Bruins 3, Flyers 2
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Blue Jackets over Blues
Red Wings over Predators
Senators over Lightning
Wild over Oilers
Ducks over Avalanche
