Morning Skate: April 17

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Rangers 1, Senators 0
Bruins 4, Capitals 3
Blues 4, Sharks 3

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (39 saves, shutout)
2. Zdeno Chara, BOS (1 goal, 2 assists)
3. Andy McDonald, STL (1 goal, 2 assists)
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Tonight’s slate:
Panthers @ Devils, 7:00 ET, Game 3
Predators @ Red Wings, 7:30, Game 4
Coyotes @ Blackhawks, 9:00, Game 3

#3 Florida Panthers @ #6 New Jersey Devils
Game 3… 7:00 ET… TV: TSN, NHL Network, Local Networks

Series: Tied 1-1

Projected starting goaltenders:
FLA- Jose Theodore (Playoff stats: 1-1, 2.53 GAA)
NJ- Martin Brodeur (Playoff stats: 1-1, 2.53 GAA)

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

Game thoughts:
There was a popular trend in the first two games of the series – one team scores three goals early, the other responds with two goals but comes up short. Each team was successful in that strategy, meaning the series is tied 1-1 going back to New Jersey.

The Panthers have done a good job keeping the Devils’ top guns in check, but that started to change in the third period of Game 2. If Ilya Kovalchuk, Zach Parise and Travis Zajac carry over that momentum, they’ll be tough to beat tonight. If the Devils’ top-ranked penalty kill steps up tonight, this one will be difficult for Kevin Dineen’s club.
Prediction: Devils 3, Panthers 1
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#4 Nashville Predators @ #5 Detroit Red Wings
Game 4… 7:30 ET… TV: NBC Sports Network, CBC, Local Networks

Series: 2-1 Predators

Projected starting goaltenders:
NSH- Pekka Rinne (Playoff stats: 2-1, 2.34 GAA)
DET- Jimmy Howard (Playoff stats: 1-2, 2.71 GAA)

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

Game thoughts:
Like Florida/New Jersey, there has been a trend throughout the first three games of this series. The Predators dominated the first 30 minutes of Games 1 and 3 – both wins – but had to hang on for dear life in the third period. It was vice versa for Detroit in Game 2.

Detroit has to have a must-win mentality for this one. A loss puts them down 3-1 with the series shifting back to Nashville. The Red Wings’ starts have to be better, too; the Preds have taken it to them in the first 5-10 minutes of each game. If switches to Detroit’s favor here in Game 4, I really like their chances to make it a three-game series.
Prediction: Red Wings 4, Predators 2
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#3 Phoenix Coyotes @ #6 Chicago Blackhawks
Game 3… 9:00 ET… TV: CNBC, TSN, Local Networks

Series: Tied 1-1

Projected starting goaltenders:
PHX- Mike Smith (Playoff stats: 1-1, 2.57 GAA)
CHI- Corey Crawford (Playoff stats: 1-1, 2.61 GAA)

Injury report:
PHX- Lauri Korpikoski (upper body, questionable), Martin Hanzal (lower body, questionable)
CHI- Steve Montador (concussion, out), Dan Carcillo (knee, out)

Game thoughts:
More trends! Each of the first two games between the Coyotes and Blackhawks needed overtime to decide a winner. Phoenix took Game 1; Chicago responded in Game 2. You have to wonder how the Coyotes will bounce back from the devastating loss on Saturday, as they had a win all but wrapped up before Brent Seabrook had other ideas.

The physicality found another level in Game 2, and I would expect that to persist tonight. The United Center will certainly be revved up, so it’ll be important for the Coyotes to lull them to sleep and then pounce. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks can’t keep relying on scoring goals within the last minute of games. If the Coyotes play with the lead tonight, they should win.
Prediction: Coyotes 3, Blackhawks 2

Video of the day:


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