The Panthers are really struggling with a 5 game losing streak. The team is dealing with a bunch of injuries since 2-3 weeks and the coach and GM are angry at players... go figure !!! To be honest, this team is not that good and the management had undervalued the departure of star center Ollie Jokinen.
Panthers have a reliable goalie and 3 decent defensemen but the offense is terrible. Panthers recent problems started with some forwards falling to injuries confirming the fact that the team is very thin on scorers up front. Florida struggled without center Stephen Weiss and now they have to play two more games without their leading scorer up front Cory Stillman. Goalie Thomas Vokoun has to stand on his head to win game for the Panthers right now. The LA Kings completely outplayed the Panthers in their last game despite a close final score (3-2 lost) in a game they were outshot 32-15.
Phoenix beat the Flames 4-2 in Calgary before being blanked
1-0 by the Vancouver tight defense in their last game in Vancouver. Phoenix returns home tonight, and you can expect Coyotes forwards to have more room to work on the ice against the Panthers defense. Phoenix also more comfortable on their home ice.
Well, Florida is getting outshot in every game right now (7 straight games), outshot 31-21 (Atlanta) , 32-15 (Los Angeles) in their last 2 games against two of NHL less successful teams this year. Penalty killing gave up a goal in 7 straight and is only 75.4 %. Panthers have been outscored by avg 1.30 goal on the road this year, and are 1-6 on the road.
Phoenix PP is clicking at 17.4 % and should strike against struggling Panthers PK. Coyotes PK perfect in last 3 games. Ilya Bryzgalov has a stellar .944 save % and a 1.68 GAA at home this year.
I expect former Panthers to deliver tonight in first game against his former team. Some bad blood between him and Panthers GM. Phoenix catching Panthers in a good spot, team in a long West Coast trip and not scoring. I like the Coyotes chances, some favorable matchups.
The New Jersey Devils have been hit by a rash of injuries in the last few weeks and bodies are falling fast. The team had to go deep into the farm team and the Lowell Devils are going through a bad stretch. Lowell dropped 4 straight games and lost another forward in their last game. The team is down to their 4 th goalie on the depth chart.
Lowell is playing Bridgesport tonight. The Sound Tigers are 8-3-0 this year and are catching opponent in good spot.
We have some lineup issues in the NY Rangers-Washington game tonight. Indeed, the Capitals will have to deal with some missing bodies tonight. Captain Chris Clark, top two ways forward Sergei Fedorov and defenseman Shane Morrissonn are out tonight. Defenseman Tyler Sloan just recalled and coming from injury is in for Morrissonn. Goalie Brent Johnson gets the call.
Caps have to shuffle the lines tonight. They go with a big line with Ovechkin and Semin on the same unit along Niklas Backstrom. Third and fourth lines are suspect.
I like the Rangers chances here. Rangers can throw 3 good lines at the Caps tonight and they should have some favorable matchups. I think Fedorov is very important for the Capitals on both special units and he will be missed. Goalie Henrik Lundquist won 5 of his last 6 games posting an amazing .931 + save % in 5 of those games. Lundquist is 7-2 lifetime against the Capitals. Will go with healthy team and the attractive price.
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