Morning Skate Xtra: Tuesday, 4/7

Tonight’s Slate:
Maple Leafs @ Devils, 7:00 ET
Canadiens @ Rangers, 7:00
Panthers @ Flyers, 7:00
Islanders @ Hurricanes, 7:00
Capitals @ Thrashers, 7:00
Bruins @ Senators, 7:30
Penguins @ Lightning, 7:30
Blackhawks @ Predators, 8:00
Stars @ Wild, 8:00
Kings @ Oilers, 9:00
Flames @ Canucks, 10:00
Blues @ Coyotes, 10:00
Avalanche @ Sharks, 10:30

Games of the Night:
Montreal Canadiens (41-28-10) @ New York Rangers (40-30-9)
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
MTL- Roman Hamrlik
NYR- Sean Avery

Projected Goaltenders:
MTL- Jaroslav Halak (Last night vs. OTT: 20 Saves, 3 GA)
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (08-09 stats: 35-25-7, 2.46 GAA)

Season Series: 2-1 Canadiens

Game Thoughts:
A win tonight will clinch a playoff berth for the Habs. But do you actually think they’ll make it that easy on themselves in this year of turmoil?? Rangers in a tight one.

Prediction: Rangers 3, Canadiens 2 (SO)
--
Florida Panthers (39-29-11) @ Philadelphia Flyers (42-25-11)
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
FLA- Cory Stillman
PHI- Scott Hartnell

Projected Goaltenders:
FLA- Tomas Vokoun (08-09 stats: 24-22-6, 2.48 GAA)
PHI- Martin Biron (08-09 stats: 27-17-5, 2.80 GAA)

Season Series: 2-1 Panthers

Game Thoughts:
A couple weeks ago, the Panthers won at Philly to give a boost to their playoff hopes. They’ll try to do the same tonight, but I don’t see it happening. The Flyers will respond from their SO loss to the Sens on Saturday.

Prediction: Flyers 4, Panthers 2
--
Washington Capitals (48-23-8) @ Atlanta Thrashers (34-39-6)
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
WSH- Mike Green
ATL- Rich Peverley

Projected Goaltenders:
WSH- Jose Theodore (08-09 stats: 31-16-5, 2.82 GAA)
ATL- Ondrej Pavelec (08-09 stats: 3-6-0, 3.55 GAA)

Season Series: 3-2 Capitals

Game Thoughts:
I would pick Atlanta… but knowing that Pavelec will likely get the start, I like Washington’s chances to win this one.

Prediction: Capitals 5, Thrashers 3
--
Boston Bruins (51-17-10) @ Ottawa Senators (35-34-10)
7:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
BOS- Blake Wheeler
OTT- Dany Heatley

Projected Goaltenders:
BOS- Tim Thomas (08-09 stats: 34-11-7, 2.07 GAA)
OTT- Brian Elliott (08-09 stats: 16-7-3, 2.72 GAA)

Season Series: 5-0 Bruins

Game Thoughts:
The Bruins are gonna win this one. Ottawa played spoiler last night in Montreal, but I don’t see it tonight against a hot Boston team.

Prediction: Bruins 2, Senators 1
--
Chicago Blackhawks (43-24-11) @ Nashville Predators (39-32-8)
8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
CHI- Patrick Kane
NSH- Jason Arnott

Projected Goaltenders:
CHI- Nikolai Khabibulin (08-09 stats: 23-8-6, 2.39 GAA)
NSH- Pekka Rinne (08-09 stats: 28-13-4, 2.28 GAA)

Season Series: 3-2 Predators

Game Thoughts:
The Predators absolutely have to win this one, as they’re final 2 will be played on the road. To me, it’s a battle of the top lines – Chicago’s Kane/Toews/Havlat vs. Nashville’s Sullivan/Arnott/Dumont. I think the Preds will take this one…

Prediction: Predators 3, Blackhawks 2
--
Dallas Stars (35-34-10) @ Minnesota Wild (37-33-9)
8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
DAL- Fabian Brunnstrom
MIN- Mikko Koivu

Projected Goaltenders:
DAL- Matt Climie (08-09 stats: 1-0, 3.98 GAA)
MIN- Niklas Backstrom (08-09 stats: 35-24-8, 2.33 GAA)

Season Series: 3-0 Stars

Game Thoughts:
Let’s face it, the Wild are facing an ECHL goalie. Since they’re still mathematically alive, Gaborik & company could have a field day with Climie.

Prediction: Wild 4, Stars 1
--
Los Angeles Kings (32-36-11) @ Edmonton Oilers (37-33-9)
9:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
LA- Drew Doughty
EDM- Sam Gagner

Projected Goaltenders:
LA- Jon Quick (08-09 stats: 19-17-2, 2.54 GAA)
EDM- Dwayne Roloson (08-09 stats: 28-23-9, 2.78 GAA)

Season Series: 2-1 Oilers

Game Thoughts:
This is a gut feeling pick. The road team has won each game in this season series this year, and the Kings will want to rebound from their awful performance last night in Calgary.

Prediction: Kings 3, Oilers 2
--
Calgary Flames (45-28-6) @ Vancouver Canucks (42-27-10)
10:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
CGY- Mike Cammalleri
VAN- Ryan Kesler

Projected Goaltenders:
CGY- Miikka Kiprusoff (08-09 stats: 45-22-5, 2.81 GAA)
VAN- Roberto Luongo (08-09 stats: 30-13-7, 2.46 GAA)

Season Series: 3-2 Canucks

Game Thoughts:
Calgary can basically win the division tonight with a regulation win. The Canucks are playing with heavy hearts and lost to Colorado on home-ice on Sunday; the Flames steadily pounded LA 4-1 last night. But I think Vancouver is gonna be jacked up for this game, and will make it harder on the Flames to win the Northwest.

Prediction: Canucks 4, Flames 2
--
St. Louis Blues (38-31-10) @ Phoenix Coyotes (34-38-7)
10:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
STL- David Backes
PHX- Scottie Upshall

Projected Goaltenders:
STL- Chris Mason (08-09 stats: 24-21-7, 2.51 GAA)
PHX- Al Montoya (08-09 stats: 2-1-0, 2.34 GAA)

Season Series: 3-0 Blues

Game Thoughts:
This could be a tricky one for the Blues as they look to avoid a 2nd straight loss on the road to a non-playoff team. I think they’ll win, but Phoenix has the capability to make this one closer than it should be.

Prediction: Blues 3, Coyotes 2
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Devils over Maple Leafs
Hurricanes over Islanders
Penguins over Lightning
Sharks over Avalanche