PENGUINS (-130) at PANTHERS (+110), 7 p.m.
The Penguins (28-19-6) are headed to sunny Florida to take on the Panthers (21-22-8), a team with whom they made a pretty sizeable trade last week. The Penguins sent F Derek Brassard, F Riley Sheahan, a second-round pick and two fourth-rounders to Florida in exchange for F Nick Bjugstad and F Jared McCann. This was a huge deal that will have those involved looking to extract revenge on their old teammates.
The Penguins have cooled off and the Panthers are almost out of the playoff hunt. We think the Penguins will take the cake on this one and Bjugstad will pot a goal in the matchup against his old team. Line rushes at Wednesday’s practice had him lining up to the right of F Sydney Crosby and good things can happen with him as your line mate.
Pick: Penguins To Win (-130)
Pick: Nick Bjugstad to Score (+280)
ISLANDERS (-135) at DEVILS (+115), 7 p.m.
The Devils (20-25-7) just suffered a devastating loss to the Kings on Tuesday night as F Ilya Kovalchuk made his return to the rock after six years in the KHL. The boos could be heard throughout the entire building and over the MSG Broadcast whenever Kovalchuk set foot on the ice or touched the puck. He even scored a goal at the end to pour salt in the wound of the 5-1 Kings win.
The Devils are currently playing without any heart. The fans showed up in full force to support them in Tuesday’s game and they just let them down entirely. Couple that with trading F Brian Boyle (the heart and soul of the New Jersey locker room) on Wednesday afternoon to Nashville for a 2019 second round pick (a great deal talent-wise for the Devils), and you have a recipe for failure. The Devils have committed to tanking this season, while the Islanders (30-16-6) on the other hand are going for the glory.
New York sits at the top of the Metropolitan Division with 66 points, eclipsing the Capitals and the Penguins. They are 6-2-2 in their last 10 and have had the Devils’ number all season long. New Jersey can’t get out of their own way. This one is a no brainer.
Pick: Islanders To Win (-135)
KINGS (+150) at FLYERS (-170), 7 p.m.
We talked about New Jersey playing with no heart but it’s exactly the opposite in Philly. The Flyers (24-23-6) have been playing with more Hart than anyone . . . G Carter Hart, that is. This rookie netminder has been incredible for the franchise this season and is the reason they keep stealing games. Night in and night out this kid gets the job done. Without him, this eight-game winning streak never happens.
The Kings (22-27-4) just defeated the Devils and the Rangers on this road trip and look to make it a trifecta with a Broad Street victory. This time however, we don’t think they will get the job done. Philly has been a different animal the past few weeks. We think the Flyers will make it nine wins in a row Thursday.
Pick: Flyers To Win (-170)