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.