NHL Playoff Previews and Predictions – Tuesday, April 21
If you’re into NHL betting, you’ve got to be licking your lips tonight, because there’s a packed slate of games tonight.
In Anaheim, it’s as must-win as they come for San Jose, who’s in deep trouble after losing the first two games at home to the Ducks. Going from the west to the Midwest, St. Louis will be trying to avert the sweep, while Columbus will be looking to inject a little life into their series against mighty Detroit in Game 3 of that series. And all eyes won’t be on the Western Conference, as in the East, Philadelphia and Carolina will be looking to even up their series at home with wins over higher seeds.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins – PIT 2-1 (Versus, 7 P.M. ET)
The Flyers won a game that they needed on Sunday, clobbering the Penguins 6-3, and they could really make things interesting by evening the series up with a win tonight. I said previously that I liked the Penguins’ chances of leaving Philly with a split, and I’m sticking to that. Sunday’s defeat won’t shake Pittsburgh’s resolve, and they’ll head back to Pittsburgh with a chance to put the series on ice in five.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Detroit Red Wings – DET 2-0 (7 P.M. ET)
If the Blue Jackets are going to provide the least bit of a resistance to the Red Wings waltzing on into the conference semis, they need to put on a good show tonight in the franchise’s first-ever home playoff game. Detroit had easy wins in the first two games, winning 4-1 and 4-0, but the tide could turn tonight in front of a rowdy crowd. Columbus won two of three at home against Detroit this season, and they’ll trim Detroit’s series lead to one by winning tonight.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils – NJD 2-1 (7:30 P.M. ET)
After losing Game 3 to the Devils, tonight is a must-win for Carolina. Going on the road down 3-1 isn‘t an impossible deficit to overcome, but it‘s certainly not a favorable position. After consecutive overtime games, are we going to have another tight one on our hands? The extra period didn’t go Carolina’s way in Game 3, but it did in Game 2, allowing them to even the series then. I’m looking for another close one tonight, but this time, the breaks go Carolina’s way. Hurricanes win and even the series at 2 heading back north.
St. Louis Blues vs. Vancouver Canucks – VAN 3-0 (8 P.M. ET)
The Canucks could be the first team to advance to the conference semifinals if they win tonight. After getting blanked 3-0 in Game 2, the Blues kept it close throughout in Game 3, but the Canucks found the net three times on the power play to take a 3-2 win and a 3-0 series lead. This one’s nearly done and dusted, but the Blues do have a little fight left in them, but for their sake, they best leave that fighting to their play, and not for dropping the gloves, because as Vancouver showed in Game 3, giving them a man advantage is asking for trouble. The Canucks are going to clinch this one before long, but it’ll be in Game 5, not Game 4.
Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks – ANA 2-0 (Versus, 10:30 P.M. ET)
As I stated in last night’s post, the Sharks are in deep, deep trouble. Can they make their hole a little smaller tonight? San Jose has played well in Anaheim this season, winning two of the three games they played there against their division rivals, and if they can get a few bounces and breaks to go their way, they can be right back in this series. It says something about how confident the odds makers are in San Jose even after the first two games that they have the Sharks as the favorite for tonight’s game, but will they make good on that confidence? I’d like to have that confidence in them too, but I’m thoroughly impressed by the way the Ducks came through in the first two games on the road, and I think the beat goes on for them tonight, which isn’t good news for the Sharks.
Dont Agree? Let us Know. We love hearing your thoughts and picks!
Loading ...
