Morning Skate: April 15

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Capitals 2, Bruins 1 (2OT)
Senators 3, Rangers 2 (OT)
Blues 3, Sharks 0
Blackhawks 4, Coyotes 3 (OT)

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Braden Holtby, WSH (43 saves)
2. Bryan Bickell, CHI (2 goals)
3. T.J. Oshie, STL (2 assists)
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Today’s slate:
Predators @ Red Wings, 12:00 ET, Game 3
Penguins @ Flyers, 3:00, Game 3
Devils @ Panthers, 7:30, Game 2
Canucks @ Kings, 10:30, Game 3

#4 Nashville Predators @ #5 Detroit Red Wings
Game 3… 12:00 ET… TV: NBC, CBC

Series: Tied 1-1

Projected starting goaltenders:
NSH- Pekka Rinne (Playoff stats: 1-1, 2.52 GAA)
DET- Jimmy Howard (Playoff stats: 1-1, 2.53 GAA)

Injury report:
NSH- Hal Gill (lower body, questionable)
DET- Ian White (foot, probable), Darren Helm (forearm, out), Joey MacDonald (back, out), Patrick Eaves (concussion, out)

Game thoughts:
Game 2 was a role reversal from Game 1. The Predators were the better team Friday, but the Red Wings won via their depth stepping up at key times. The opposite happened on Wednesday. Now it’s a five-game series as the scene shifts to the Motor City.

With the Red Wings now holding the last change, it will be interesting to see the matchup game between Mike Babcock and Barry Trotz. Babcock believes his team will be better today, but so does Trotz. There isn’t much separating these two teams and I expect them to split these next two games. If the Preds can play with the lead and stay out of the box, I like their chances in this one.
Prediction: Predators 3, Red Wings 2 (OT)
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#4 Pittsburgh Penguins @ #5 Philadelphia Flyers
Game 3… 3:00 ET… TV: NBC, TSN

Series: 2-0 Flyers

Projected starting goaltenders:
PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (Playoff stats: 0-2, 5.45 GAA)
PHI- Ilya Bryzgalov (Playoff stats: 2-0, 3.93 GAA)

Injury report:
PIT- Matt Niskanen (upper body, doubtful)
PHI- Marc-Andre Bourdon (upper body, questionable), Andrej Meszaros (back, out), Chris Pronger (concussion, out), James van Riemsdyk (foot, out), Blair Betts (knee, out)

Game thoughts:
Before the playoffs, many pundits picked Pittsburgh to win the Cup. Peter Laviolette’s gang has taken exception to that and took care of business in the Steel City in Games 1 and 2. The Flyers scored 12 goals in the pair of comeback victories, creeping into the heads of the Penguins in the process.

This game will obviously be a test for the Penguins. This is their season. They have to come out with a better defensive effort and they have to play a full 60 minutes. But will it matter? Fleury has been shaky and the Flyers are getting contributions all throughout their lineup. It will certainly be a hostile environment in Philly today, but the Penguins have too much pride to fall down 0-3 to their rival.
Prediction: Penguins 4, Flyers 3
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#6 New Jersey Devils @ #3 Florida Panthers
Game 2… 7:30 ET… TV: NHL Sports Network, TSN, Local Networks

Series: 1-0 Devils

Projected starting goaltenders:
NJ- Martin Brodeur (Career playoff stats: 100-82, 2.00 GAA)
FLA- Jose Theodore (Career playoff stats: 19-29, 2.82 GAA)

Injury report:
NJ- Jacob Josefson (wrist, out), Henrik Tallinder (leg, out)
FLA- Jack Skille (shoulder, out), Matt Bradley (upper body, out)

Game thoughts:
Playing in their first postseason game since 2000, Florida fell flat out of the gates in Game 1 and surrendered three goals to the Devils. And the Devils won that game without their big stars really producing.

The Panthers obviously need this game. Peter DeBoer’s club is the better team, and if the Panthers go down 0-2 it could very well be a quick series. They must get off to a good start and strike first. I’ll say this is the only game the Panthers win in this series.
Prediction: Panthers 3, Devils 2
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#1 Vancouver Canucks @ #8 Los Angeles Kings
Game 3… 10:30 ET… TV: NBC Sports Network, CBC, Local Networks

Series: 2-0 Kings

Projected starting goaltenders:
VAN- Cory Schneider (Career playoff stats: 0-0, 2.58 GAA)
LA- Jonathan Quick (Playoff stats: 2-0, 2.00 GAA)

Injury report:
VAN- Daniel Sedin (concussion, out), Keith Ballard (concussion, out), Aaron Volpatti (shoulder, out)
LA- Kyle Clifford (upper body, doubtful), Brad Richardson (appendectomy, out), Simon Gagne (concussion, out), Scott Parse (hip, out)

Game thoughts:
Los Angeles won both games in Vancouver and are in the driver’s seat to pull the upset. The Canucks didn’t have to play any must-win games this season, and it has shown early in their series against the eighth-seeded Kings who played playoff hockey for the better portion of the entire season.

Now the Canucks have a must-win game in front of them. Without Daniel Sedin for their two games in L.A., the Canucks will need to find a way to grind out a win tonight to get back in the series. The Kings are playing to their potential and Quick has been stellar in goal. Whether it’s Schneider or Luongo, I think the Kings smell blood and put the Canucks on the verge of elimination.
Prediction: Kings 2, Canucks 1

Video of the day:


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