Lightning Strikes: California Road Trippin'

The Tampa Bay Lightning are heading to the West Coast to finish 2018 and ring in 2019.

The Lightning will face an Anaheim team that has somehow managed to keep its head above water even with all the injuries that they've had all season. The Kings have been awful from the start of the season, and the injuries are starting to pile up. The Bolts finish the week with a trip to San Jose to visit the Sharks, who are heating up at just the right time.

Monday, Dec. 31 @ Ducks- 8 p.m.

The Bolts look to continue their winning ways when they take on the Ducks on New Years Eve. The Ducks have been injury riddled this year, but are still keeping pace for the playoffs. The Bolts have been one of the most consistent teams all season.

The Lightning should get some pucks on net with traffic in front for deflections and to take the goalie's eyes off the puck. The Bolts need to take advantage of the power play opportunities when they have them since the Ducks penalty kill is only at 79.6% for the season. The Ducks need to be aware of the Bolts speed, which needs to be used whenever possible and don't get roped into playing a slower game by the Ducks. The Lightning have a good chance to get off to a fast start in this game, since the Ducks have only scored 26 first period goals. The key to this game for the Lightning will be to take advantage of all the injured players out of the lineup for the Ducks and to get off to a fast start.

Thursday, Jan. 3 @ Kings- 10:30 p.m.- ESPN+

The Kings are one of the biggest disappointments so far this season, and look like they'll finish with a good chance at winning the NHL Lottery, while the Lightning look as though they are the one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup.

The Bolts need to be aware of when Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown are on the ice since they are the leading point-getter and goal scorer for the Kings. The Kings don't have a regulation win when trailing after two periods so the Bolts want to make sure that have the lead entering the final period of play. The Lightning should be able to take advantage of a weak penalty kill by Kings this season. The key to this game will be the Lightning getting the first goal of the game and to keep the attack going, not to sit back and get comfortable.

Saturday, Jan. 5 @ Sharks-11 p.m.

The Sharks look to continue their winning ways of late. The Bolts are just looking to build on their lead in the standings.

The Lightning will need their goaltender to come up big since the Sharks average over three goals per game. They should establish the forecheck and cycle game early to keep the Sharks balanced lineup defending their own zone and not having their way in the offensive zone. The Sharks have a top-10 ranked power play so it would be a good idea for the Lightning to play with some discipline, even though their penalty kill is much improved over last year. The Bolts should try to establish the pace early in the game and get plenty of pucks on net because the Sharks score goals, but they also give up just under three goals per game too.

Lightning Strikes Weekly Prediction

The Lightning will come out of this road trip no worse for the ware with a 2-1-0 record. The team will take the first two games of the trip against the Ducks and Kings. The Sharks are playing decent hockey right now and they'll get the saved needed by the goalie to pull off a regulation win. 

Sabres Slashes: Divisional Rivalries and a Metro Division Foe

The Buffalo Sabres have a tough week ahead with facing three teams with above .500 records. It will also be a week where two of their three games played will be against teams in the Atlantic Division.

The Sabres will take on the New York Islanders at home in a New Years Eve tilt beginning at 6 p.m. They won't play again until Thursday night when they face take on divisional rivals, Florida Panthers at home. The Sabres will end the week with a trip to Boston to face the Bruins in what could be a revenge game.

Monday, Dec. 31 vs. Islanders- 6 p.m.

The Sabres have lost two straight games and are looking to bounce-back from a tough overtime loss to the Bruins on Dec. 29. The Islanders are looking to extend their winning streak to four straight games. The Isles have been a surprise team after losing John Tavares in free agency, but Barry Trotz has done a decent job as the boss bench.

The Sabres need to be aware of the speed that the Islanders can play with especially in transition so the turnovers should be limited. If the Sabres can get a lead then they need to keep attacking and not sit back because the Isles have nine wins when the opposition scores first. The Islanders play a strong even strength game and have outscored the opposition by 18 goals while playing at five-on-five so the Sabres need to play smart and make good plays while at even strength. The key to this game is going to be if the Sabres can take advantage of their power play opportunities since the Isles are ranked 23rd in the League on the kill.

Thursday, Jan. 3 vs. Panthers- 7 p.m.

The Florida Panthers have not gotten off to a good start to the season and the goaltending is at the center of that poor start. Lunogo has missed some time and Reimer's numbers have not been good. Despite the Panthers poor start, the Sabres are 0-1-1 against them this season.

The Panthers scoring has mostly come from the top line so far this season, so if the Sabres can manage to shut them down then they should be able to grab two points. The Sabres need to establish a forecheck and cycle game early and often to keep the speed of the Panthers at bay. They will need to play a full 60 minute game and not take any shifts off because Florida will make them pay if they do. The goaltending is going to be key for both teams, but the Sabres need to get pucks on net with screens and deflections in front.

Saturday, Jan. 5 @ Bruins- 7 p.m.- ESPN+

The Sabres will be looking to avenge the overtime loss suffered on Dec. 29 at the hands of the Bruins when the two meet again. It should be a good game since this will be the second time in seven days that the teams will play each other. 

The Sabres will want to make sure that they have the lead entering the final period of play since the Bruins only have one regulation win when trailing after two periods. The Sabres should be able to get off to a fast start since the Bruins have only scored 28 goals in the first period of games this season. Buffalo needs to keep an eye on David Pastrnak since he has found the back of the net 23 times so far this year. The key to the game is going to be the goaltending since both teams can use their speed to create chances. 

Sabres Slashes Weekly Prediction

The Sabres will finish the week with a 1-0-2 record and grab four of a possible six points. They'll win tonight in regulation over the Islanders since they are playing on home ice. The Panthers will take the extra point in a shootout. The Bruins and Sabres will have another entertaining game, but the Sabres will lose again in overtime. 

Preds Prey: Road Bumps & a Home Game

The Nashville Predators look to break their six game losing streak and get some points while playing three of four games on the road.

The Predators get off to an early start this week with a matinee game against the Washington Capitals on New Years Eve. They will then round out the week with a home game against the Philadelphia Flyers, followed by two road games, one against the Detroit Red Wings and another in Montreal to take on the Canadiens.

Monday, Dec. 31 @ Capitals- 12:30 p.m.- NHLN

The Capitals and Preds seem to be heading in two different directions at this point in the season. The Caps have one four straight while the Predators have managed to lose six straight. Nashville is finally starting to get some players back from injury so that should help the team turn things around going into the new calendar year.

If the Predators want to steal two points on the road they'll need to get good goaltending since the Capitals have no problem creating chances and burying them. Discipline is also going to be a key factor in this game since the Capitals have a dangerous power play. The road has not been a kind place to play for the Preds lately so the team is going to want to get off to a good start by establishing the pace early with a good cycling game to spend some time in the offensive zone. The biggest keys to this game is going to be keeping Alex Ovechkin and company off the board and avoiding costly turnovers.

Tuesday, Jan. 1 vs. Flyers- 8:30 p.m.- NHLN

The Predators will look to avenge their loss to the Flyers on Dec. 20 in Philadelphia where they lost 2-1 in regulation. This will be a game of two teams who just can't seem to get it going right now, but a revenge game at home is something that could get the Preds going in the right direction. The Flyers aren't getting blown out as much lately, but they are having a problem closing out games.

If you can stop Claude Giroux and his line, then you'll likely shut down the Flyers offense since it goes as he goes. This would be the perfect game for the Predators to get their awful power play going because the Flyers are one of the worst teams at killing penalties in the League. The Flyers will need to keep an eye on the Predators blue line since they like to create offense and play solid defense. The pace needs to be set early in this game with either some extended offensive zone time or a goal. The key to this game is going to be getting pucks on net and plenty of them since the Flyers goaltending has been anything but stellar so far.

Friday, Jan. 4 @ Red Wings- 7:30 p.m.

The Predators will have off for two days before playing a game against the Red Wings. The Predators should easily be able to get the regulation win and pick up two points, but this team just can't seem to win on the road right now. The Red Wings just can't seem to win games right now as they have struggled to put the puck in the back of the opposition net and keep it out of their own.

The two bright spots for the Red Wings have been Dylan Larkin and Gustav Nyquist, and they rank first and second on the team in points. The Red Wings are only killing 69.3% of their penalties on home ice so the Preds need to find a way to simplify their power play and cash in on some opportunities. They shouldn't have a problem getting some pucks on net, as the Red Wings give up over 34 shots per game, but finishing will be the key to this game.

Saturday, Jan. 5 @ Canadiens- 7 p.m.

The Canadiens have been one of the surprise teams of the first half of the season, and are currently fifth in the Atlantic Division. For the Predators, this will be the second game of a back-to-back situation having played Friday night and travelled.

The Predators need to jump on the Canadiens early and often because they may not have a late game comeback in them. They'll need to be smart with and without the puck to limit turnovers especially when Max Domi and Jonathan Drouin are on the ice together. The Preds want to avoid the penalty box and establish the cycle game early. The key to this game will be testing Antti Niemi early and often since he can let in some goals.

Preds Prey Prediction for the Week

The Predators will finish the week out with a 2-1-1 record. The road stuggles with continue with a loss to the Capitals on New Years Eve. The team will bounce back with regulation wins against the Flyers and Red Wings, who are two teams towards the bottom of the League standings. They will finish off the week with an overtime loss to the Canadiens, since they'll be coming off of a game the night before in Detroit.

Flying Forward: Building Momentum, Gaining Points

The Philadelphia Flyers look to continue to build momentum and gain some points in the standings this week. The Flyers are 3-1-1 since Scott Gordon was named the team's interim head coach on Dec. 17.

This week is no easy task as they will face the Carolina Hurricanes twice, the Nashville Predators in Nashville and the red-hot Calgary Flames.

Monday, Dec. 31 at Carolina Hurricanes- 6 p.m.

The first game of the week sees the Flyers in Carolina on New Year's Eve. The Hurricanes have struggled to put the puck in the back of the opposition's net this season. The Orange and Black have struggled to keep opponents off the board. It will be interesting to see which team can do what needs to be done to get the two points in the standings. 

The Flyers should be aware of when Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen are on the ice. Aho leads the Hurricanes in goals, assists, and points with Teravainen second on the team in assists and points. The Orange and Black need to get the first goal of the game since they are better when playing with the lead rather than trying to come from behind. Neither team is especially good when trailing after two periods and have combined for only one win while forcing overtime five times in 32 attempts. The Flyers should try to have the lead entering the final period if they want to get two points.

Tuesday, Jan. 1 at Nashville Predators- 8:30 p.m.

The Flyers managed to get a win over the Predators on Dec. 20, but the Predators are a different team at home versus on the road. The Preds have gotten a few important players back from injury recently in Viktor Arvidsson and P.K. Subban. The Flyers have been known rise to the occasion when playing against the top teams in the NHL. 

The Predators' defensemen have no problem moving the puck and joining the play in the offensive zone so the Flyers will need to be aware of the trailing player in the rushes. The Flyers need to establish the forecheck early in the game to keep the Preds defending their own zone instead of attacking in the offensive zone. There needs to be plenty of traffic in front of the Predators net for deflections or tips because if Pekka Rinne is in net then he is stopping what pucks he can see. The Flyers need to limit their mistakes and play smart hockey especially since the Predators can gain speed in the neutral zone off the rush.

Thursday, Jan. 3 vs. Carolina Hurricanes-7 p.m.

The Flyers face-off against the Hurricanes for the second time in four days, but this time it'll be on home ice. The Canes will get their chances in the game since they average just over 37 shots for per game, but the problem has been finishing those chances this season. The Flyers have to be smart with the puck since the Hurricanes will take the puck away and force turnovers.

The Orange and Black should get plenty of pucks on the net since the goalies for the Hurricanes can be shaky at times. If there is an open look then don't overthink it or overpass, put the puck on the net especially on the power play, where the Flyers have been struggling. Amazingly, the Flyers have been an okay team at even strength, and that has been what is keeping them alive so far this season. The goaltending has been a lot better since the rookie Carter Hart has taken over the net. Hart has been solid making saves that the other five goalies couldn't make this season. The Flyers have gotten some secondary scoring of late and that will need to continue in this game.

Saturday, Jan. 5 vs. Calgary Flames- 1 p.m.

The Flames are one of the best teams in the NHL, and one of the hottest too. The Flyers lost an overtime game to them on Dec. 12, where the Flyers managed to blow a two-goal lead with 1:08 left in regulation. The Orange and Black are a different team with a new leader since that last game. The Flames have gotten some decent goaltending from David Rittich, while Mike Smith has given up some really soft goals.

A good way to keep the top line of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm off the board is to neutralize their speed and establish a good forecheck and cycle game early to keep the Flames in their own end. The Flyers may want to stay out of the penalty box since the Flames have a decent power play, and should they take a penalty don't give defenseman Mark Giordano any time or space to make a play. The Orange and Black hopefully have learned from their game on Dec. 12 that they need to keep attacking and play smart hockey with the lead or the Flames will burn them taking advantage of their chances and putting pucks in the net.

Flying Forward Weekly Prediction

The Flyers play two games at home this week and two games on the road. They will win both games over the Hurricanes and take all four points against them. The Predators will avenge their loss to the Flyers on Dec. 20 with a regulation win on home ice. The Flyers will keep it competitive against the Flames and then manage to lose in overtime. The Orange and Black will gain five of a possible eight points in a busy week. 

Lightning Strikes: Western Conference Road Trip

The Tampa Bay Lighting will have their first extended road trip of the season starting tonight, and it won't be an easy one. They'll have four games in seven days visiting the Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, and the Arizona Coyotes.

Sunday, Oct. 21: Tampa Bay Lighting @ Chicago Blackhawks: 7 p.m.- 

The Lightning start their road trip in Chicago where they'll be facing Patrick Kane and company. The Bolts will need to stop the top six forwards of the Blackhawks and make the bottom six beat them. Tampa Bay should get a forecheck game established early so they can get extended offensive zone time to get some shots on goal. They will want to get the first goal of the game to take the home crowd out of the game. The Lightning are going to want to limit their mistakes and take advantage of the Blackhawks weak special teams.

What to Watch For: Special Teams Battle

The one area where the Lightning have a substantial advantage is on special teams. Their power play can be deadly and is ranked 13th in the League at 24%. In recent years, the penalty kill has been pretty bad, but the Lightning have yet to allow a power play goal against while being shorthanded 25 times in six games. The Blackhawks power play just hasn't been able to click just yet, but with the units that they have, the power play can get going at anytime. Chicago is also struggling killing penalties (71.4%), which was also an area of weakness last season. If the Lightning can win the special teams battle then they will have a good chance of steal two points.

Wednesday, Oct. 24: Tampa Bay Lightning @ Colorado Avalanche- 9:30 p.m.

The Lightning have a tough task just two days later when they take on the Avalanche, who are off to a good start. The team is going to need to find a way to stop Nathan MacKinnon and his line mates, who are off to a hot start to the season. The Lighting should try to establish the forecheck early so they can have some extended offensive zone time, which could make the MacKinnon line defend instead of going to work in the offensive zone. Tampa Bay needs to play with some kind of energy to start the game, maybe a big hit or play to get the team going because the Avalanche have looked really good. The Bolts need to get the first goal to get the quiet the crowd and get some traffic in front of the goalie.

What to Watch For: The Goaltending for Both Teams

It doesn't seem to matter who Jared Bednar starts between the pipes because that goalie seems to have a good game. Semyon Varlamov and Philipp Grubauer have been really good early and they are helping their team win some games. Andrei Vasilevskiy has gotten off to a good start himself, and has started a majority of the games for the Bolts. Vasilevskiy is known for his athleticism and ability to recover to make the unbelievable save so expect this game to be low scoring, if the goalies are on their game.

Friday, Oct. 26: Tampa Bay Lighting @ Vegas Golden Knights- 6 p.m.

The schedule doesn't get any easier as the Lighting take on the defending Western Conference Champions in the Vegas Golden Knights. The Golden Knights got off to a slow start, but have been on their game lately. The Lighting need to find a way to limit the damage done by Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson and Reilly Smith since they are basically the offense for Vegas. Marc-Andre Fleury has been much better since starting the season struggling, so the Bolts want to make sure that they have plenty of traffic in front of him. In order to slow down the Golden Knights, Tampa Bay needs to be very aware of their positioning in the neutral zone and play a tight checking game there since the transition game of Vegas is exceptional.

What to Watch For: Lightning Penalty Kill vs. Golden Knights Power Play

The Lightning have gotten off to a really good start on the penalty kill after struggling last season. They haven't allowed a goal in 25 opportunities. The Golden Knight power play has been a struggle in the early part of the season, much like everything else. They'll need to find a way to get their power play going since it will be an integral part of their offense the rest of the season.

Saturday, Oct. 27: Tampa Bay Lighting @ Arizona Coyotes- 9 p.m.

The Bolts end their tough week with a game against the Coyotes, who haven't been able to score this year. They need to get in on the forecheck and pressure the puck carrier to force some turnovers. The Bolts will want to win the battle at even strength since the Coyotes have a decent penalty kill. Tampa Bay should get plenty of pucks on net with traffic in front of the goalie to make it harder for him to see and track the puck. The Bolts will want some extended offensive zone time and make sure that they take advantage of their scoring chances. 

What to Watch For: Lightning Can't Look Down on Opposition

The Lightning can't assume that this game won't take any effort to win. Tampa Bay needs to come into this game ready to play, and with some energy. The Coyotes aren't just going to roll over and give them the two points easily so the Lightning players better be ready to work for the win and two points.

Lighting Strikes Weekly Preview

The Lighting will finish a tough road trip with a 2-1-1 record. They will start off the trip with a win against the Blackhawks. The goaltending will steal them a point in Colorado, but they'll lose in overtime or a shootout. They'll go to Vegas and make it a close game, but Vegas is heating up so they'll lose the game in regulation. The team will bounce back against the Coyotes and pick up the win. 

Leafs Notes: Home Cooking

The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to a hot start, thanks to its balanced lineup and speed. The Maple Leafs will be at home this week facing the Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues.

Monday, 10.15.18 vs. Los Angeles Kings-7:30 p.m.

The first test of the week for the Maple Leafs will be the Los Angeles Kings, who are without starting goaltender, Jonathan Quick. There is no doubt that the Maple Leafs need to be better defensively to help out their goaltender. They should get plenty of pucks to the net to test the Kings goalie early and often. Toronto will want to get off to a fast start and put some pucks in the back of the net to get going and keep the home crowd in the game. The Maple Leafs should take advantage of their power play opportunities since they have one of the best power plays in the League, while the Kings have one of the worst penalty kills.

Matchup of the Game

The goalies will be the players of this game to keep an eye on. Frederik Andersen is injured for the Leafs so Garret Sparks get the start between the pipes. It will likely be Jack Campbell, who has started the majority of the games while Jonathan Quick has been out, but it could also be Petr Budaj for the Kings. The Kings are going to need a spectacular showing from whichever goalie gets the start because the Maple Leafs have one of the best offenses in the League. Sparks is going to need to be sharp as well since the team tends to play wide open and gives up a lot in front of him. 

Thursday, 10.18.18 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins- 7 p.m. 

The Maple Leafs have a few days off between games but then the Penguins come to town. The Maple Leafs are going to need to make sure that they play with discipline since the Penguins have deadly power play. Toronto needs to play a strong game at even strength and keep the top six of the Penguins in-check. They want to get plenty of pucks to the net since Matt Murray has had a rough start to the season, while Casey DeSmith has been better, but can be beat. The Leafs will want to have the lead entering the final period of play since they can finish out games when leading.

Matchup of the Game

There will be two big matchups to watch in this game, and that will be how each team handle the opposition's top two lines. Who does Mike Babcock matchup against Sidney Crosby? Does he go with Nazem Kadri's line or does he go with Matthews' line for power against power? Who gets the job of trying to defend the Malkin line? Is it Tavares' line or does he save Tavares for the Crosby line and matchup Kadri's line against Malkin and company?

Saturday, 10.20.18 vs. St. Louis Blues- 7 p.m.

The St. Louis Blues are off to a slow start after the hype of the offseason and acquiring some offensive help. The Maple Leafs will need to get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game. Toronto will want to play a discipline game since the Blues power play is operating over 30% on the season. They should try to get in on the forecheck to force turnovers and get some pucks toward the net. The Leafs want to play a smart hockey game and use their speed to draw some penalties.

Matchup of the Game

The power play units for both teams are ranked in the top 10 in the League. The Maple Leafs are ranked 2nd , while the Blues have a 6th ranked power play. The Blues have two balanced units, while the Leafs have depended on the first unit to get the power play scoring.

Weekly Prediction

The Maple Leafs will finish the week at 1-2-0 in their three games. They will win against the Kings, but then lose back-to-back games to the Penguins and Blues. The Penguins will be a good challenge for the Leafs to see if they can beat a perennial playoff team, or if they are not quite there yet. If the Leafs want to steal some points, then they are going to need to play better on the defensive side of the puck and be aware of what is going on around them on the ice. 

Shooting Stars: Eastern Conference & a Division Rival

The Dallas Stars look to continue their hot start to the season, but it won't be an easy week. They will face the Ottawa Senators and New Jersey Devils on the road before coming home to end the week against the Minnesota Wild.

Monday, 10.15.18 @ Ottawa Senators- 7:30 p.m.

The Stars start the week off in Ottawa to face a surprising Senators team. The Stars are going to need to watch out for the speed of the Senators especially in transition. They should keep an eye on where defenseman Thomas Chabot is when he is on the ice since Chabot is the Senators leading scorer with eight points on the young season. Dallas needs to be sure to have the lead after the second period since they are 3-0-0 when leading after two periods, while Ottawa is 0-2-0 when trailing heading into the final period. If the Stars establish a good forecheck early and pressure the Senators, they can force turnovers and try to capitalize on them.

Matchup of the Game

The special teams could have the biggest impact on this game for either team. The Ottawa power play is ranked 5th in the League converting on over 30% of its power play chances, while the Stars are ranked 26th in penalty killing. If the Senators can manage to take advantage of their power play opportunities then they should be able to get at least a point out of this game, and maybe even steal two. Dallas needs to play a discipline game and try to avoid the penalty box whenever possible since it has been one of the weak spots for the team early on.

Tuesday, 10.16.18 @ New Jersey Devils- 7 p.m.

The New Jersey Devils have gotten off to a really good start sparked by the play of goaltender Keith Kinkaid. Dallas will need to find a way to beat Kinkaid, which they can do by getting plenty of pucks on net with traffic in front of him. The Stars will need to find an answer for Kyle Palmieri, who is off to a hot start with six goals in the early season. Palmieri is just one player in a balanced Devils' lineup, and the Stars are going to need a good forecheck to keep them pinned in the defensive zone to keep the scoring chances against to a minimum. The Stars are going to need to play a solid team game in order to steal two points while on the road.

Matchup of the Game

It will be interesting to see how the teams plan to stop two players who have had hot starts to the season. Tyler Seguin has 10 points in just four games so far on the season, with seven of those points being assists. Kyle Palmieri has six points and he has found the back of the net for all of his six points. The Stars will have played the previous night so it will be interesting to see how they matchup against a balanced lineup of the Devils. 

Friday, 10.19.18 vs. Minnesota Wild- 8 p.m.

The Minnesota Wild seem to like playing hockey early in the season with two of the four games going to overtime. The Stars will want to come out with good energy and get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game. Dallas should keep attacking even if they are up in the game because the Wild have allowed six goals in the third period. The Wild offense is dependent on how the top six forwards play so if the Stars can limit the damage then they have a good shot at winning the game. 

Matchup of the Game

T

Flying Forward: Back-to-Back & Vegas

The Philadelphia Flyers have a tough week ahead with their home opener, a back-to-back situation and facing the defending Western Conference Champions for the second time in 10 days.

Tuesday, 10.9.18 vs San Jose Sharks- Home Opener- 7 p.m. -NBCSN

The Flyers will start off the week against a struggling San Jose Sharks team. The Sharks have only scored five goals while allowing 11. If Philly wants to impress in the home opener, they will need to get the nerves out early to establish a good forecheck and put some pressure on the goalie. The Flyers should get pucks to the net since the puck seems to be finding the back of the net for opposing teams against San Jose. Philadelphia wants to watch out for the defense of the Sharks because they can move the puck and produce in the offensive zone.

The Flyers are going to need to play a team defense game and make sure they cover for each other. The team needs to clog the neutral zone and take away the potential speed of the Sharks especially in transition. Philadelphia should avoid turning the pucks over because San Jose has the ability to make you pay, and put the puck in the back of the net. The Flyers need to play smart hockey and be aware of where all the opposing players are on the ice and be ready from the drop of the puck.

Wednesday, 10.10.18 @ Ottawa Senators- 7:30 p.m.

There is no rest between games for the Flyers as they travel to Ottawa for the second game of a back-to-back. The Senators have allowed 13 goals, but have scored 11 so whichever goalie is in net for the Flyers, he will need to make some saves. It is the early part of the season, but the penalty kill numbers are great for the Senators so the Flyers need to take advantage of their opportunities

on the power play. They should try to stay out of the penalty box since the Sens have a pretty good first unit while a man up. 

The Flyers want to get the first goal of the game to try to take the home crowd and team out of the game. They will also have to keep an eye on defenseman Thomas Chabot, who has five points to lead the way for the Senators. The Flyers should attack the defense of Ottawa since it isn't exactly one of the top ranked in the NHL. 

Saturday, 10.13.18 vs. Vegas Golden Knights- 1 p.m.

After the back-to-back situation, the Flyers will have a few days off before facing the Golden Knight for the second time in 10 days, this time at home. Philadelphia wants to duplicate the performance of opening night when they played a good game against the Golden Knights. The Flyers want to clog the neutral zone and have active sticks to make it hard for Vegas to get into their zone to get good scoring chances. 

The Flyers need to take advantage of their power play chances. The team will also need to keep an eye on Jonathan Marchessault, who leads the Golden Knights in points. They need to take the speed of the Golden Knights away with a good forecheck and spend some time in the offensive zone. Philadelphia wants to get the puck towards the net since it hasn't been the best start for the Vegas goalies. 

Predicting the Flyers' Week Ahead

The Flyers will go 2-1-0 this week to get four of a possible six points. They will lose against the Sharks, who will come out hungry since they've been struggling. The Flyers will bounce back on Wednesday night and take the win in Ottawa. They will have a few days off and then play an afternoon game against Vegas, which they will win to get the two points. 

Sabres Slashes: Squaring Off Against the Western Conference

The Buffalo Sabres look to continue their winning ways this week against some tough opponents from the Western Conference. They will face the defending Western Conference champions Vegas Golden Knights, a fast Colorado Avalanche team, and an Arizona Coyotes team looking to take that next step.

Monday, 10.8.18 vs. Vegas Golden Knights- 3 p.m.

The Sabres will play a rare weekday afternoon game as it is Columbus Day in the U.S. and Thanksgiving in Canada. Buffalo will face a tough opponent in the Golden Knights, but the team can be beaten. The Sabres need to come out of the gate fast and establish a good forecheck. They'll need to be aware of the transition speed of the Golden Knights and make sure that they have players back to make it a little easier on the goalie. They can't leave the goalie out to dry or it could be a very long game.

Buffalo's play in the neutral zone will have to be good to slow down the Golden Knights. They want to clog the neutral zone, put bodies on the opposing players, and force the Golden Knights to dump the puck into the offensive zone, instead of skating it in. If the Sabres manage to get a lead, then they don't want to sit back, but attack because the Golden Knights keep coming. 

Thursday, 10.11.18 vs. Colorado Avalanche- 7 p.m.

The Avalanche have a balanced lineup so the Sabres need to figure out a way to slow them down. They may want to try to establish a solid forecheck and offensive zone time early to force the Avs to defend rather than to be on the attack. The Sabres will want to keep an eye on Nathan MacKinnon, who can make a team's defenders look silly. The Avalanche have allowed some goals in the first and second periods, but then shut it down in the third. Buffalo wants to come out with energy and get some shots on goal with some traffic in front of the goalie. 

The Sabres need to watch out for the Avalanche defense since can move the puck and will join the play in the offensive zone. Buffalo is going to need to play a solid, team defensive game while taking some chances offensively to get the puck in the net. They will need to play with discipline and need their top guys like Jack Eichel and Conor Sheary to use their speed to get open and create in the offensive zone. The biggest thing the Sabres need to do to try to get the two points is to have the lead after two periods since the Avalanche are 2-0 when leading after two periods.

Saturday, 10.13.18 @ Arizona Coyotes- 9 p.m.

The Sabres will play their first road game of the season and it just happens to be against a team that is struggling very early to put the puck in the net. The Coyotes have played two games and have been shutout in both, but in their defense, they've played two good teams. Buffalo can't play down to its opponent and just think they can win this game without playing solid hockey. The Sabres should come out with some energy to start the game and force some turnovers. 

Buffalo needs to establish a good forecheck and use it throughout the game, not just in the first period to try to get a lead. They'll need to avoid mistakes and have the goalie bail them out at times throughout the game. If the team should get down in the game then they need to keep attacking because the Coyotes will give up some chances and goals. The Sabres need to take advantage of their opportunities, don't overpass, but rather take the shot if it's there.

Predicting the Sabres' Week Against the Western Conference

The Sabres could get anywhere from zero to six points this week. It is unlikely that they will go undefeated against these three teams. The Golden Knights and Avalanche will be a good challenge to see where the Sabres stand. The game against the Coyotes doesn't automatically mean two points, they are going to have to work for those points.

The Sabres have a tough schedule this week, so I see them going 1-1-1 and getting three points. If they play up to their ability, then I think they could steal two points from either Vegas or Colorado, but I'll play it safe until the Sabres prove that they can consistently beat the playoff caliber teams.

Shooting Stars: Offseason Review

The Dallas Stars made a few splashes in the offseason, but will be going with a lot of the same players from last season.

The first order of business for the team was to name a new head coach. They decided to go with Jim Montgomery, who is a former NHL player. He was the head coach of Denver University before taking the job with the Stars. He will have the players to compete in his first season, but the real question is how fast will the players grasp his system.

Dallas then signed Jason Robertson, a second round 2017 Draft pick, to a three-year entry level contract. They then made sure that they got Stephen Johns, an important part of their blue line locked up to a three-year extension. One of the bigger stories in the offseason for the Stars was the fact that they re-signed right wing Valeri Nichushkin to a two-year contract. Nichuskin played in the KHL in Russia for the past two seasons.

The key offseason free agent signings included depth defenseman Roman Polak, left wing Michael Mersch, defenseman Joel Hanley, left wing Blake Comeau and goalie Anton Khudobin. The Stars blue line has the potential to have some youngsters back there, but it is always good to have some depth defenseman in case of injuries. Blake Comeau will add something to the third or fourth line and he can also be used on the penalty kill. The Stars needed to upgrade in the crease and they did exactly that with signing Khudobin, who is a viable option should Ben Bishop get hurt for an extended period of time.

Dallas lost goalie Kari Lehtonen, defenseman Greg Pateryn, defenseman Dan Hamhuis and left wing Antoine Roussel. Lehtonen was not going to be re-signed after struggling in his time with the Stars. Pateryn could turn out to be a big loss on the blue line, but that is an area that is overcrowded for Dallas right now. Hamhuis' leadership and veteran presence has a chance to be missed on the blue line, but he would have been the seventh defenseman for the Stars. Roussel was an energy guy who could play on any line. He also added a few goals, but the Stars have younger options to fill that role.

The Stars went to work giving their own player some new contracts. The first player was goalie Colton Point, who signed his entry level deal. Dallas then re-signed the following players to one-year deals: left wing Remi Elie, center Jason Dickinson, goalie Philippe Desrosiers, defenseman Dillion Heatherington, center Mattias Janmark, and center Gemel Smith. Devin Shore signed a new two-year deal.

The biggest move of the offseason came when the Stars gave Tyler Seguin a contract extension. The new contract is for eight years, $78.8 million. The deal comes with a $9.85 million cap hit per season.

The Stars were pretty quiet this offseason, but did upgrade the goalie situation, while managing to re-sign key parts of their roster.

Sabres Slashes: Offseason Review

The Buffalo Sabres finished last season with only 62 points for last place in the NHL. There was some work to be done in the offseason, and it started with the draft.

The Sabres managed to win the 2018 NHL Entry Draft Lottery and get the number one pick overall. With that first pick, they snagged defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Dahlin is expected to be a franchise number one defenseman and will start the year with the Sabres.

The team then went to work in the offseason by adding some speed and goal scoring. The first order of business was to sign some of their own players to contracts. Casey Nelson signed a two-year contract extension followed by the signings of Rasmus Asplund and Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen to three-year entry level contracts. Then the Sabres added some speed and goal scoring to the lineup with the addition of Conor Sheary in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins. They also added veteran defenseman Matt Hunwick in that same deal.

The biggest loss of the offseason was when they traded center Ryan O'Reilly to the St. Louis Blues for forwards Vladimir Sobotka, Tage Thompson, and Patrik Berglund. The team lost some veteran players to free agency like goalie Robin Lehner, center Jordan Nolan, goalie Chad Johnson and center Jacob Josefson.

They signed two new goalies in Scott Wedgewood and Carter Hutton. Hutton figures to be the starter come the regular season. The Sabres signed Dahlin to his entry level contract and then got back to business with taking care of their own players. Buffalo signed the following players to new one year deals: center Sean Malone, right wing Nicholas Baptiste, right wing Justin Bailey, center Danny O'Reagan and left wing CJ Smith. Another big move made by the Sabres was to acquire Jeff Skinner from the Carolina Hurricanes for Cliff Pu and a couple of draft picks.

Skinner will add some much needed scoring to the Sabres top six. He is a good skater and can put the puck in the net. Skinner has scored 20 or more goals in six of his eight seasons in the NHL. He has also added 40 or more points in six of eights seasons in the League.

The Sabres had one of the better summers in the League by having some luck with the Draft Lottery and filling some gaping holes in the roster. The biggest differences this season could be a healthy Jack Eichel and a break out season by Sam Reinhart.

Rapid Review: Atlantic Division Offseason

The NHL preseason will start in less than a week with the regular season to follow shortly. The Atlantic Division off season has been a fairly busy one to say the least. 

1.) BOSTON BRUINS OFFSEASON

The Boston Bruins off season was a mixed bag since they lost some quality veterans, but re-signed a few key restricted free agents. Center Sean Kuraly signed a new contract with the black and gold for the next three years, while defenseman Matt Grzelcyk was rewarded for his play last season with a two-year contract extension. In the off season, the Bruins lost centers Riley Nash and Austin Czarnik, right wing Rick Nash, and goaltender Anton Khudobin. Jaroslav Halak will be the backup goalie after he signed a new two year deal with the Bruins. Joakim Nordstrom will have a shot at making the team since he was signed to a two-year deal in free agency. The biggest move made by Boston in the off season was the signing of defenseman John Moore to a five-year deal.

2.) BUFFALO SABRES

The Buffalo Sabres had one of the better off seasons in the Atlantic Division. They drafted defenseman Rasmus Dahlin with the first overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The Sabres managed to sign center Rasmus Asplund and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to three-year entry-level contracts. Buffalo then went out and got some help via trades. The team acquired forwards Tage Thompson, Patrik Berglund and Vladimir Sobotka in a trade with the St. Louis Blues for center Ryan O’Reilly. They added some speed and goal scoring with the additions of Connor Sheary and Jeff Skinner. After they were finished making trades, the team managed to lock up its key restricted free agents to short-term deals. 

3.) DETROIT RED WINGS

The Red Wings lucked out when right wing Filip Zadina fell to seventh in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, and then later signed him to his entry-level deal. They re-signed key forwards Andreas Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha to new two year deals, while center Dylan Larkin got a new five-year contract. The Red Wings added goalie Jonathan Bernier, defenseman Mike Green and left wing, Tomas Vanek. Detroit had somewhat of a slow off season and didn’t make the big splash that some teams in the Atlantic made. 

4.) FLORIDA PANTHERS

The Florida Panthers went out and got another big name goal scorer to add to an already deep set of forwards. The Panthers had to go the long route to get Mike Hoffman, but they landed the 28-year-old forward. Hoffman managed to produce 56 points last year despite playing on an awful Ottawa Senators team. Florida also added goalie Michael Hutchinson and right wing Troy Brouwer. The team re-signed Alex Petrovic to a one year deal and Jared McCann to a two-year contract. 

5.) MONTREAL CANADIENS

The Canadiens had an off season to forget with trading two of its best players. The Habs managed to get rid of a guy who had 51 points last year in Alex Galchenyuk and its captain Max Pacioretty. They did deeper at the center position, which is considered a weakness of the team, with the additions of prospect Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Max Domi and Nick Suzuki. Domi and Suzuki were acquired in the Galchenyuk and Pacioretty trades. Montreal also re-signed some key restricted free agents in Jacob De La Rose and Phillip Danault. The Habs also acquired Joel Armia, Tomas Tatar and Tomas Plekanec.

6.) OTTAWA SENATORS

The Senators off season is finally over, but that doesn't mean that all of the focus is off of them. They traded Mike Hoffman in the off season, and were close to trading Erik Karlsson, but couldn't get a deal done. Hoffman was traded to the San Jose Sharks but found his way back to the Atlantic Division when the Sharks traded him to the Florida Panthers. The Pens acquired Mikkel Boedker and Julius Bergman in the Hoffman trade. They took Brady Tkachuk fourth overall in the Entry Draft and signed him to his entry-level contract in the summer. They also re-signed Mark Stone and Codi Ceci to new deals.

7.) TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

The Tampa Bay Lightning didn't make any free agent splashes in the off season but did manage to get their own players under affordable contracts. The Bolts gave goalie Louis Domingue a two-year extension followed with a five-year contract to JT Miller. Tampa Bay then went and signed defenseman Ryan McDonagh to a seven-year deal and Slater Koekkoek to a one year contract. The biggest move of the off season for the Lightning was to get Nikita Kucherov signed for the next eight seasons.

8.) TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

The Maple Leafs manage to land the biggest free agent this summer. John Tavares left the only team he'd played for in the New York Islanders to play for his hometown team. Tavares signed a new seven-year deal with the Leafs, and will firepower to an already loaded lineup. They also signed Connor Carrick, Calvin Pickard, Tyler Ennis, and Andreas Johnson to one-year deals. The Leafs also signed center Frederik Gauthier to a new two-year deal. 

NHL Awards: Vezina Trophy Finalists

The NHL Playoffs are upon us, which means the finalists for the NHL Awards are being announced. First up, were the finalists for the Vezina Trophy, which is awarded to the top goaltender in the League.

The three finalists were Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets, Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The winner will be announced on June 20th at the NHL Awards in Vegas. The General Managers will have the final say in which goalie gets to take home the hardware.

Connor Hellebuyck was slated to start the season as the backup goaltender for the Jets until the veteran Steve Mason struggled early and then got hurt. Once Hellebuyck got a chance at being the number one goalie, he never looked back. He played in 67 games this season and finished with a 44-11-9 record to go with a .924 save percentage and a 2.36 GAA. He finished eighth in goals against average and 10th in save percentage. The 67 games were tied for the most played by a goalie, while his 3,966 minutes were the most played. 

The 24-year-old is the first Vezina finalist in Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers history, and it is also his first time being a finalist for the award. His 44 wins were tied for most in the league with Vasilevskiy, and were the most by a U.S. born goalie ever, breaking Tom Barasso’s record of 42 wins. Hellebuyck’s six shutouts were the third most in the league behind Rinne & Vasilevskiy. He won nine straight games to end the season, which is a franchise record. He faced the third most amount of shots (2,048) and made 1,892 saves. 

Pekka Rinne, 35, is a finalist for the Vezina for the fourth time in his career. He has never won the award, but came in second in the 2010-11 & 2014-15 seasons. Rinne finished third in voting in the 2011-12 season. He finished the season with a record of 42-13-4 to go with a 2.31 goals against average and a .927 save percentage in 59 games played. His 2.31 GAA was the fifth best in the league and his .927 save percentage was ranked seventh best. Rinne’s eight shutouts were tied for tops in the league with Vasilevskiy and set a franchise record.

Rinne was the most consistent of the three finalists this year. He managed to keep his team in games and give them a chance to win with timely saves. The goalie helped his team to win 11 straight games from February 19-March 19, which helped the Predators clinch the Presidents Trophy and the Central Division.The 42 wins were third in the NHL, and it marked the third time in his career that Rinne has reached 40 or more wins in a season. Yes, his number may not have been as good as the two other finalists, but without him the Predators may not even win the Central Division.

Andrei Vasilevskiy took over the starting goaltending position this season after splitting some time with other goalies the past two seasons. This is his first time as a finalist for the award and if he wins, he could be the first ever goalie to win the award in Tampa Bay Lighting history. The numbers could have been better, but he admitted towards the end of the season that he was starting to get tired due to the heavy load this year. He was 44-17-3 with a 2.62 GAA and a .920 save percentage in 65 games played in the regular season. His 3.825 minutes played were the fourth most in the league as were his 65 games played. 

The 23-year-old was tied for first in wins (44) and shutouts (8), which were both franchise records. He led his team to the best record in the Eastern Conference and to the best season in franchise history. Vasilevskiy won in straight on the road from October 9-30, which is a new Lightning record. He became the 12th goalie in NHL history to finish the season with a share of the NHL lead in wins prior to his 24th birthday. He did allow a lot of goals on the power play, but that was a product of his team not being very good in front of him.

My projected winner for the Vezina Trophy is Pekka Rinne. He did so much for his team this year, and led them to a franchise record in wins (53) and points (117). Rinne kept his team in games, and was the most consistent goaltender from start to finish despite only playing in 59 games this year. 

Leafs Notes: Weekly Preview 3/11/18-3/17/18

The Toronto Maple Leafs will finally get to play some games this week after playing just three games in the last 11 days.

The Leafs will still have off until Wednesday night, but then play three games in four days. It won't be an easy stretch as they'll face the Dallas Stars as home on Wednesday night. The Leafs will then travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Thursday night. Toronto will finish the week on Saturday night at home against the Montreal Canadiens.

Toronto will want to use their speed in transition to create odd man rushes and draw penalties. The Leafs should try to get involved early in this game and create chances. The Maple Leafs need a good game from the goaltender with no soft goals and not allowing everything to get past him. Toronto should try to win the battle at even strength since this game could very well come down to even strength goals.

Dallas  will need to contain the speed of the Maple Leafs since they have plenty of it. The Stars want to play a good game in the neutral zone by limiting mistakes and turnovers. Dallas needs the goaltending to be very good in this game and not allow any soft goals. The Stars should watch Patrick Marleau since he has 65 career points in 101 games played against the Stars.

The Sabres need to limit their mistakes with and without the puck since the Leafs have the ability to finish. Buffalo will want to play the game with some discipline since their penalty kill has been in the bottom of the League for a majority of the season. The Sabres need to get the first goal of the game and keep attacking along with getting shots on net since Freddie Andersen has been giving up some goals lately. Buffalo will need a solid 60 minute effort if they hope to gain two points in the standings.

The Leafs need to find a way to win in Buffalo. They lost lost 5-3 on March 5, which has been the only time the two teams have met so far this year. The Maple Leafs needs to get off to a good start by getting pucks on net, getting scoring chances, pressuring the Sabres players into turning the puck over. Toronto will want to be engaged in this game from the drop of the puck. The Leafs will want to get the first goal of the game and take the home crowd out of the game. Toronto will want to establish their forecheck and cycle game early and often in this one to keep the Sabres hemmed in their own zone.

The Leafs will need to get off to a fast start against the Canadiens on Saturday night. Toronto will need to pressure the puck carrier to force some turnovers. The Maple Leafs will want to limit their mistakes and get plenty of shots on goal.

The Canadiens will also want to get off to a good start and try to get the first goal of the game. The Habs will want to have the led entering the final period of the game. Montreal will need the starting goaltender to step up his game and make some saves to keep them in the game.

Sabres Slashes: Weekly Preview 3/11/18 - 3/17/18

The Buffalo Sabres veteran players will look to finish out the stretch run strong, while the young kids will look to make an impression for next season.

The Sabres only play twice this week and have off until Thursday night when the Toronto Maple Leafs come to town. On Saturday they will take on the struggling and underachieving Chicago Blackhawks.

Buffalo will look to steal two points from the Maple Leafs when they come to town on Thursday night. The Sabres need to limit their mistakes with and without the puck since the Leafs have the ability to finish. Buffalo will want to play the game with some discipline since their penalty kill has been in the bottom of the League for a majority of the season. The Sabres need to get the first goal of the game and keep attacking along with getting shots on net since Freddie Andersen has been giving up some goals lately. Buffalo will need a solid 60 minute effort if they hope to gain two points in the standings.

The Leafs need to find a way to win in Buffalo. They lost lost 5-3 on March 5, which has been the only time the two teams have met so far this year. The Maple Leafs needs to get off to a good start by getting pucks on net, getting scoring chances, pressuring the Sabres players into turning the puck over. Toronto will want to be engaged in this game from the drop of the puck. The Leafs will want to get the first goal of the game and take the home crowd out of the game. Toronto will want to establish their forecheck and cycle game early and often in this one to keep the Sabres hemmed in their own zone.

On Saturday, the Blackhawks will take on the Sabres. It will be a battle of two teams that have really struggled this year. Buffalo will need to take advantage of a struggling road penalty kill of the Blackhawks. The Sabres want to get off to a fast start and get plenty of pucks on net since goaltending hasn't exactly been Chicago's strong suit with Corey Crawford sidelined. They should try to have the lead entering the final period since they are 15-0-5 when leading after two periods. The Sabres need to get a good game from the starting goaltender.

The Blackhawks need to take advantage of playing a team below them in the standings, who could still be without their best player. Chicago needs to come out with a ton of energy to start the game and be willing to grind it out. The Blackhawks should try to take advantage of a not-so-hot penalty kill of the Sabres. Chicago needs to play a good defensive game and have the goalie make some saves. The Blackhawks need to get the first goal of the game.

Preds Prey: Weekly Preview 3/11/18-3/17/18

The Nashville Predators look to add some distance between them and the rest of the playoff contenders this week as they play three games. They will have to gain some points while on the road since two of the three games are away from Bridgestone Arena.

The Preds will take on the Winnipeg Jets at home on Tuesday night, which should be an entertaining game. They will then travel to Arizona to take on the Coyotes, whom they should not underestimate since the Coyotes have been play decent hockey of late. Nashville will end the week in Colorado facing an Avalanche team that has surprised everyone and is right in the thick of the playoff race this year.

Nashville will face the Jets on Tuesday night and this game has the potential to be bonkers. The last time these two teams met, the Predators pulled out a 6-5 regulation win. The Preds will want to play with some discipline since the Jets power play is the second best in the NHL. Nashville will want to get the first goal of the game to keep a raucous crowd involved in the game. The Predators will want to get the forelock established in this game and be willing to win the board battles. Nashville is going to need to find a way to keep Patrik Laine and Blake Wheeler in check since they are the two leading scorers for Winnipeg.

The Jets need to have Connor Hellebuyck to have one of his best games of the year, if they want to steal two points on the road against the team directly in front of them in the standings. Winnipeg should be aware of how Nashville's defensemen like to jump up and be involved on the offensive side of the puck. The Jets need to get off to a fast start, and be engaged in this game from the drop of the puck. Winnipeg wants to limit their mistakes and turnovers while playing some really good team defense.

On Thursday night, the Preds need to be careful not to take the Coyotes lightly or overlook them. Nashville wants to get off to a fast start and get the first goal of the game. If the Predators can get an early  lead then they need to keep attacking and not sit back to allow Arizona to get back in the game. Nashville should try to take advantage of a weak Coyotes penalty kill. They will need to win the battle at even strength and just make sure that they come out ready to play with energy and effort.

The Coyotes will want to get the first goal of the game to build their confidence. Arizona needs to have the lead entering the final period since they are 14-3-3 when leading after two, while being 4-25-4 while trailing after two periods. The biggest key to winning this game or even competing against the Predators is to avoid the mental mistakes and turnovers because they can turn into goals for Nashville pretty quickly. Arizona needs to get some bodies in front of the net to take away the goalie's eyes.

Nashville ends the week with another game against a Central Division opponent, the Colorado Avalanche. The Preds should try to get the first goal of the game since the Avs are 30-6-3 when scoring first. Nashville will want to play with discipline because the Avalanche can score some goals while on the man advantage. The Preds need to make sure that they have energy from the drop of the puck because if they aren't ready to play then the Avs could jump all over them and take the early lead. The Predators need to get a really good game from the starting goalie, who needs to make saves when needed and not allow any soft goals.

Colorado will want to get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game, which could feel like a playoff game. The Avalanche needs to have the lead entering the third period since they are only 2-20-4 when trailing after two periods this year. The Avs will also need their starting goalie to come up big when called upon because the Preds will get their opportunities to score. Colorado will have to play a complete 60  minute game to have a shot at beating their Central Division foe.

Lightning Strikes: Weekly Preview 3/11/18-3/17/18

The Tampa Bay Lightning will play only two games this week, but those games are against Atlantic Division opponents so there are some important points up for grabs. The Bolts will also have the advantage of playing in front of the home crowd for both games.

On Tuesday night, an underachieving Ottawa Senators team visits Amalie Arena. The red hot Boston Bruins will then come to town for an all important game on Saturday night. The Sens will be look to play the role of spoiler, while the Bruins will be trying their best to gain ground on the Lightning and put some distance between them and the Leafs.

The Bolts should get off to a fast start against an Ottawa team that has been outscored by 10 goals in the first periods of games this season. They will want to set the tone early and be ready to play early in this one. Tampa Bay needs to not play down to their opponent and look ahead to the Bruins game because that could cost them two valuable points in the standings. The Lightning want to get plenty of pucks on net with traffic in front since the Sens goalies have been anything but solid this year. The Bolts should have an easy time winning the special teams battle even though the penalty kill has been an area of concern all season long.

The Senators are going to want to figure out a way to stop the balanced lineup of the Bolts. They have four lines that can beat you at any given time during a game. Ottawa needs to play solid team defense, have the forwards help out and the goalie make some saves. The Sens want to take away the time and space of the Lightning so they can't create in the offensive zone. The Senators needs to play with discipline since the Lightning have one of the best power play units in the League. Ottawa needs the goaltending to come up big for them in order to steal two points in this game.

The Lightning will have three days off before they face the Bruins in a huge divisional game at home. The Bolts want to be involved from the drop of the puck since they will have had three days without seeing any game action. Tampa Bay should get the forecheck and cycle games going early and often in this game to keep the Bruins busy defending. The Lightning need to get plenty of traffic in front of the net and shots on goal. The Bolts should limit their mistakes and turnovers because the Bruins can and will take advantage of sloppy play. Andrei Vasilevskiy will likely be the starter and he needs to play at the Vezina level that he has been playing at all year for the Lightning to have a shot at this game.

The Bruins have been red hot lately, and the loss of Patrice Bergeron hasn't seemed to affect them. Boston needs to get off to a fast start and be engaged from the drop of the puck since the Lightning will have had three days off. The Bruins will want to get plenty of traffic and screens in front of the net because if Vasilevskiy can see the puck then he is going to stop it. The team may also want to try elevating the net since the Bolts goalie can cover the bottom portion of the net well. Boston needs to get a good game from their starting goalie. The Bruins should try to have the lead when entering the final period of play since they are 28-0-2 when leading after two periods.

Flying Forward: Weekly Preview 3/11/18-3/17/18

The Philadelphia Flyers will look to move up the playoff standings this week, but it won't be easy.

On Monday night, they'll face the Vegas Golden Knights, who are first in the Pacific Division. The Blue Jackets come to town on Thursday night in a game that could loom big for both teams. The Flyers end their week with a visit to Carolina on St. Patrick's Day.

The Flyers need to get off to a fast start against the Golden Knights tonight. They should set the tone early and be prepared to play with some energy from the beginning of the game. Philadelphia will want to establish the forecheck and cycle game early to get sustained offensive zone pressure to get some pucks on net and scoring chances. Petr Mrazek needs to have a stellar game and make saves. The Flyers should keep an eye on Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlson since they are the two top point producers for Vegas.

Vegas should get plenty of shots on goal in this game and test the Flyers goalie early, who has been inconsistent the past few games. The Golden Knights need to get the first goal of the game to take the home crowd out of the game. Vegas should try to win the battle of special teams with some power play goals. The Golden Knights want to play a solid road game and keep an eye on the Flyers top line since they have been playing well since being put together.

The Orange and Black will host the Blue Jackets on Thursday night and expect this game to be a close one. The Flyers need to be discipline because they have a poor penalty kill. The team is going to need to limit their mistakes and watch out for the speed of the Blue Jackets. Philly will need to get a ton of traffic around the front of the net for screens and deflections. The goaltending for the Flyers will need to come up big since Columbus has been playing good hockey of late and averages 34 shots per game.

Columbus will also want to play with some discipline even with the Flyers power play struggling of late. The Blue Jackets should try to win the special teams battle since the teams are both decent at even strength hockey. Columbus needs to get off to a fast start and get a goal early or make a play that gets the team energized. The Blue Jackets will want to have the lead after two periods since they are a much better team when leading heading into the third period then when trailing. Columbus should know where Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek are on the ice at all times ice since they have decent career numbers against them.

The Flyers end the week with another divisional foe in the Carolina Hurricanes. Philly needs to get the first goal of the game to take the home crowd out of the game. The Orange and Black want to play a solid road game and not make it easy for the Canes to do whatever they want on the ice. The Flyers need to win the battle at even strength since the opposition has outscored the Hurricanes 142-118 at even strength play this year; The Flyers will need to keep an eye on Jeff Skinner and Justin Williams since those two have not been kind to the Flyers in their careers.

The Hurricanes will want to play a team defense game with the forwards helping out. Carolina needs to get a good game from the starting goaltender. The Canes need to get the first goal of the game and keep attacking and not sit back. The Hurricanes should avoid the penalty box at all costs since their penalty kill has been an area of concern this season. Carolina will need to be aware of then defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is on the ice since he has 10 points in 11 career games played against them.

Shooting Stars: Weekly Preview 3/11/18-3/17/18

The Dallas Stars will look to position themselves in a good spot for playoff contention with only four weeks left in the regular season. It won't be an easy week even though they will face some teams that will not make the playoffs, but will try to play the role of spoiler.

If the Stars want to gain some valuable points this week then they will have to do it on the road where they haven't play well this season. Dallas is currently in the first wild card position, but there are four teams that are not far behind them including the Avalanche, who are only two points behind them for that first wild card spot.

The Stars will start the week off facing the Penguins, who played in Toronto last night and lost. On Tuesday, they will face the Canadiens, who are looking to play the role of spoilers, so the Stars better be ready to play from puck drop. Dallas then will face the Maple Leafs on Wednesday night, and finish the week off in Ottawa on Friday night.

The Stars want to take advantage of the fact that the Penguins are coming off of playing a game last night and had to travel after the game. Dallas needs to get off to a solid start by spending some time in the offensive zone and getting the forecheck and cycle game established early. The Stars will need to stay out of the penalty box with the Pens having the best power play in the League. Dallas will want to get a solid game from the goaltending since the Penguins will get their chances to score. The Stars should keep an eye on when and where Sidney Crosby and Evegeni Malkin are on the ice since they have good career numbers against the Stars.

Pittsburgh needs to get off to a fast start themselves and make sure that they have the legs early in the game and feed of the energy of the crowd. The Penguins will need to find a way to stop the balanced lineup of the Stars. They should also try to have the lead entering the second period since they are only 5-19-2 when trailing after two periods, while Dallas is only 2-18-2 when trailing after two periods. The Pens need to keep an eye on Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza since they have a combined 62 points in their careers against the Penguins.

On Tuesday night, the Stars will visit the Canadiens, who have underachieved this year. Dallas should try to get the first goal of the game to take the home crowd out of the game. The Stars need to get off to a fast start and make sure they have some energy to start the game. Dallas should try to put a ton of pressure on the puck carrier and outnumber in board battles since the Habs will turn the puck over. The Stars need to be aware of when Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk are on the ice since they've done most of the damage for the Habs this year offensively.

Montreal needs to get the first goal of the game to get them off to a fast start. The Canadiens want to establish the forecheck early along with their cycle game since that is one way to stop the balanced lineup of the Stars. The goaltending will need to step up in a big way in this game to give the Habs a chance at stealing two points. The Canadiens need to keep an eye on Jason Spezza when he is on the ice since he has 69 points in 61 games played against them in his career.

The Stars will have a tough game on Wednesday night with it being the second game of a back-to-back situation and the opposition being the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dallas  will need to contain the speed of the Maple Leafs since they have plenty of it. The Stars want to play a good game in the neutral zone by limiting mistakes and turnovers. Dallas needs the goaltending to be very good in this game and not allow any soft goals. The Stars should watch Patrick Marleau since he has 65 career points in 101 games played against the Stars.

Toronto will want to use their speed in transition to create odd man rushes and draw penalties. The Leafs should try to get involved early in this game and create chances. The Maple Leafs need a good game from the goaltender with no soft goals and not allowing everything to get past him. Toronto should try to win the battle at even strength since this game could very well come down to even strength goals.

Dallas finishes their week on Friday against the Senators, who have been a big disappointment this year. The Stars need to win the special teams battle since the Senators are not good at special teams. Dallas should try to get the first goal of the game and take the home crowd out of the game. The Stars want to be patient with the puck, but not overly patient, because the Sens tend to black a lot of shots. Dallas will want to establish the forecheck and cycle game, and they'll also need to keep an eye on Mark Stone, since he is the leading point producer on the team.

The Senators should try to play a solid team defense with the gaps between the defense and forwards not too big. They'll need to avoid turnovers since the Stars have plenty of offensive fire power to score off those mistakes. Ottawa should stay out of the penalty box since the penalty kill has been awful this year. The Sens need to be better  all around and make sure that they are staying focused during the game. Ottawa will want to keep an eye on Tyler Seguin since he leads the Stars in points and goal.