If it's Thursday (it is Thursday, right?), it must be time for me to put on the blindfold and take out the dartboard. Well, actually, my picks aren't that scientific.
Still, if I don't better my combined 7-9 mark for the past two weeks, I might soon have to rely on the tried-and-true method of flipping a coin. Here are my Thursday selections.
Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins
Maybe the Bruins have decided to go green. That could be one explanation as to why they aren't turning on the red light behind opposing goalies. In their past four games, the Bruins lit the lamp just twice. And in the past two games, Boston didn't use any electricity in suffering back-to-back shutout losses to the New York Rangers (1-0) and Detroit Red Wings (2-0) on the road.
Maybe a return to home ice will help. The Bruins play their next four at the TD Garden. They should be able to mount some offense against the Canadiens, who have allowed 18 goals in their past four games. After an uninspiring performance in net from Carey Price in a 5-4 loss to the visiting Atlanta Thrashers on Tuesday, Jaroslav Halak might be back in goal. I'll take the Canadiens to knock off the banged-up B's in the first meeting of the season between these old rivals.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Atlanta Thrashers
The Thrashers enjoyed their little swing into Canada, beating the Ottawa Senators and Canadiens. They're now 2-1 since star sniper Ilya Kovalchuk went down with an injury. They have a great chance to keep things going against the Jackets, who likely got into Atlanta late after a tough 3-2 shootout loss to the Sharks in Columbus. I say the home team will make it three wins in a row.
San Jose Sharks at Detroit Red Wings
The Wings looked very much like the Wings in back-to-back wins over the Flames and Bruins. In those two games, they allowed just one goal. With the recent time change, goalie Chris Osgood must have set his clock six months ahead to the spring. He looked like the guy we're used to seeing in the playoffs. Mike Babcock's team will get a stiff test from the Sharks, who have won six straight and seven of their past eight. Still, I'll side with the guys from Hockeytown.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators
This one is simple: It's the third meeting of the season between the two clubs. The Sens rolled the Bolts in Ottawa. The Lightning returned the favor in Tampa. This game will be contested north of the border. I'll take the Senators.
Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild
The Roberto Luongo-less Canucks begin a five-game road trip in St. Paul against Northwest Division rival Wild. In Vancouver's past two games, understudy Andrew Raycroft has filled in nicely, allowing just one goal in wins over the Colorado Avalanche and the Rangers. The Wild bring their own two-game winning streak into this one. I'll say Minny will run it to three straight.
Calgary Flames at St. Louis Blues
Here's a Blue note -- when you're playing at home, you're supposed to mix in a few goals. Andy Murray's crew didn't manage a single tally in back-to-back shutout losses to the Phoenix Coyotes and Florida Panthers. The Blues have had four days to think about their offensive woes. The Flames, on the other hand, hit town after a 3-2 overtime road win over the Dallas Stars. Backup netminder Curtis McElhinney was surprisingly good, turning back 38 of 40 Stars shots. Miikka Kiprusoff figures to be back in the crease on Thursday. I'll play a hunch and take the Blues to snap their current slide.
Chicago Blackhawks at Phoenix Coyotes
Here's some good news for Hawks fans -- Jonathan Toews practiced on Wednesday for the first time since Oct. 21, when he suffered an apparent concussion as a result of a nasty collision with Canucks D Willie Mitchell. I'm not sure he'll play against the Coyotes, but the Hawks players have brought their dads on this short two-game road trip to Phoenix and Denver. I just can't pick against the dads. I like the Hawks.
New York Rangers at Edmonton Oilers
Strange schedule for the Oilers. This home game is wedged between a short Eastern swing and a five-game tour of North America. It's hard to figure how the odd travel will impact a group that has lost five of its past six. The Rangers, meanwhile, are making the middle stop on a three-game trip through western Canada. They dropped a 4-1 decision in Vancouver on Tuesday. John Tortorella's team hasn't been doing much scoring lately, netting just five goals in its past four games. You can give me the home team, but I'm not all that confident.
Nashville Predators at Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim played one of its better games on Tuesday against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins. Still, it couldn't help falling for sixth time in its past seven games. The Ducks get another challenge in the hot Preds, who've won three straight. Nashville G Pekka Rinne backstopped all three victories. I'll take a chance that the Ducks will build on their strong effort in their last game and beat the Predators.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Los Angeles Kings
This might be the game of the night. The defending-champion Pens against the up-and-coming Kings. L.A. has been playing well, going 5-0-2 in its past seven games. The Kings will get a chance to measure their progress against the 12-3 defending champs. The Penguins have continued to roll despite the injury absences of Sergei Gonchar and Evgeni Malkin. On Thursday, the club will visit former mate Rob Scuderi, who relocated to Hollywood via free agency during the summer after helping the Pens to win the Cup. Although I don't like to bet against Sidney Crosby & Co., I think the Kings will win this one.
Questions? Comments? Submit them here.
E.J. Hradek
