NHL Daily Picks: Blackhawks, Blues meet under national spotlight – CBSSports.com
The Blues and Blackhawks will meet again in a huge Central Division tilt Sunday. (USATSI)
Welcome to the NHL Daily Picks, where hockey writers Adam Gretz and Chris Peters make their picks for select games every day.
The Blues and Blackhawks meet for the third time this season after splitting the first two games. They’ll meet twice more toward the end of the season, but Sunday’s nationally televised game is a big one. The Blackhawks trail the Blues by six points in the standings, while St. Louis is just two points away from catching up to first-place Nashville. The Blackhawks have been somewhat middling of late, while the Blues have been surging with just two regulation losses since the calendar turned to 2015. One of those losses, however, was Friday night as they got thrashed by the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-1. If that rattled their confidence any, it could leave the Blues in a tough spot against their biggest rival, but it’s hard to imagine any lingering effects showing up in this tilt. This is a potential playoff matchup, so expect another heated tilt between the Blackhawks and Blues. Pick: Blackhawks 3, Blues 2
Fourteen points separate the Flyers and Capitals in the Metropolitan Division standings, with the Flyers trailing a playoff spot of any kind by 11 points. It’s not looking good for their chances. These clubs have played each other tough this season, though. Philadelphia took the first meeting in overtime, while Washington won the second matchup just a few weeks ago via a 1-0 shutout. The home team has had the advantage so far in this one and the Caps actually have more to play for. A win Sunday afternoon brings them even with Metropolitan Division leader Pittsburgh and they would leapfrog the New York Islanders in the process. It’s a big opportunity for Barry Trotz’s club. With three straight wins, it looks like it’s going to be tough to stop the Caps. Pick: Washington 4, Flyers 1
In a battle of Eastern and Western titans, the Ducks and Lightning will play the first of two games within 10 days. The Lightning have the benefit of playing on home ice, but that didn’t help them in a Saturday loss to the Los Angeles Kings, a team that had really struggled on the road. The Ducks haven’t really struggled anywhere this season as they still hold the league’s best record and appear to be the favorite to take the President’s Trophy. The Ducks may be without captain Ryan Getzlaf, however, as he will reportedly be a game-time decision while nursing an injury. Before the loss the the Kings, the Lightning had won 10 straight at home. A win for Tampa would put them back in sole possession of first place in the tight Atlantic Division. Pick: Ducks 4, Lightning 3
This great historic rivalry has also been heated in more recent years and this season has been no different. Sunday marks the final regular-season meeting between the Bruins and Canadiens. There have been some doozies so far in 2014-15. After their tense playoff series last spring, the Habs currently hold a 3-0 series advantage over the Bruins this season. Montreal shut out the Bruins 2-0 in the last meeting between the two teams way back in November. The Bruins appear to be a different team of late, however. Boston has won nine of its past 12 games and has been getting some strong goaltending out of starter Tuukka Rask. The Habs, meanwhile, have been great from start to finish this season. They trail first place in the Atlantic by just two points, so a win would help them keep pace with the Red Wings and Lightning, who each have 71 points in the standings to Montreal’s 69. With this being the last regular-season meeting between these two rivals, it should be a can’t-miss game. Pick: Bruins 4, Canadiens 2
The rest of Sunday’s NHL sechedule
Nashville Predators at Florida Panthers, 3 p.m. ET
New York Islanders at Buffalo Sabres, 5 p.m. ET
Dallas Stars at New York Rangers, 5 p.m. ET
Colorado Avalanche at Winnipeg Jets, 6 p.m. ET
Three stars
1. Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators: With eight points over his past eight games, the Preds rookie is on a roll. Over those eight games he has only been held off the score sheet once. Nashville would probably like to keep its cushion over the Blues, so expect the Predators’ best forward to bring it Sunday.
2. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals: Ovechkin hasn’t been held off the score sheet in consecutive games since early December. He didn’t register a point Friday against the Ducks, so it would appear he’s due. Additionally, he has terrorized the Flyers over his career with 45 points in 35 games against Philly.
3. John Tavares, New York Islanders: The Isles have been scuffling lately, having lost four of their past five. A game against the Sabres probably couldn’t come at a better time, even though Buffalo ended its extreme losing skid Saturday night. Tavares has been dominant over his career against Buffalo. He has 10 goals and 18 points in 17 career games against Buffalo, including a two-goal performance earlier this season.
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