Good game. The Devils (and the Bruins) are teams that rely on hard work and four lines with a couple of key players that can finish. They make it tough on teams to create in the middle. The goalies aren't overly aggressive - so the opponent gets nothing easy. Severson NJD-D was impressive. He isn't flashy but he wasn't making mistakes. If I had known that Tavares was out of the lineup due to illness - I may have made this a toss-up. Tavares changes everything. The Isles have lapses that give up middle ice - this may haunt them in big games.
New York Islanders 6/4
15 San Jose 3 4 Dallas 5 YES
San Jose is missing something - I blame Marleau and Thornton, because it is associated with own zone toughness. Seems they always through the Marleau/Thornton years give up the hard-working goals to the better teams. Dallas, in moments owned the offensive zone creating easy goals. Dallas is going to get in trouble though - they seem to give up some easy goals in spurts. Not sure what that is - a specific player? But if they stop finishing with precision, they could lose a few in a row. Their forward talent is deep.
Dallas 7/3
3 Nashville 3 9 Los Angeles 4 (OT) YES
I believe in this Nashville team - I do. BUT I believe this Los Angeles team is just deeper, than any team in the league. They are built on hard-work from the defense out. Drew Doughty playing at 100% can tilt the ice away from his end as well as any player. He makes it look easy, even when he makes a mistake he often cleans it up. Nashville has some of the ingredients. Guys like Forsberg and Weber and Josi need to be perfect against a team like LA (Chicago too). It's a long season, we'll see where these two go. This was a really good game. Good good hockey by both and Nashville certainly controlled moments, so it's not like LA is far better than them.
Los Angeles 6/4
16 Pittsburgh 4 27 Toronto 0 YES
Pittsburgh playing defense is scary. I thought they shut Toronto out well. With the exception of some van Riemsdyk efforts, Toronto was basically empty. Phaneuf is like Paul Martin to me - swap hand for toughness though. But both are close to being in that top-tier yet they truly aren't. Both can be part of a solid defense corps when paired with someone that is near top-tier and can cover their weaknesses. Pittsburgh at this point is in the top of the East.
Pittsburgh 7/3
19 Detroit 5 21 Ottawa 3 --
These two are in the middle class zone - they have elements that can shine at times and they also can give up some easy ones too. Some teams they match up well against and others, not so much. At the beginning of the season, I thought Ottawa would rise up a little from last season, but now I don't think so. They haven't improved and may actually not be as difficult to play against. Detroit - their core impresses me more and more as the years go by - guys like Zetterberg and Abdelkader. They are better than stats or anything show. They still don't have a defensive depth and it shows. There were some sweet goals in this one.
Toss-up 5/5
20 Boston 3 12 Tampa Bay 1 YES
Tampa Bay makes no sense. Boston makes no sense to me too. I feel like Stamkos and company are the same team as last season. How can that group have trouble scoring?! Boston is a shell of their former Cup winning teams. Boston is working, four lines. Defense is still anchored by the still impactful Chara. I guess that can be enough. Long term, I still think this Boston is not real and this Lightning IS real. Not in this game. The chances Tampa had weren't finished. And Boston's work generated opportunities and they DID finish them.
Boston 6/4
2 Washington 2 18 Florida 1 (OT) YES
Washington 8/2
8 Winnipeg 3 30 Columbus 2 YES
Winnipeg 7/3
10 Minnesota 2 7 St. Louis 3 (OT) YES
St. Louis 7/3
24 Calgary 5 22 Edmonton 4 NOPE
Edmonton 7/3
7-2-1 Tonight
Predictor Score: 60/10 = 6.00/6.60
Predictor Score: 60/10 = 6.00/6.60
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