Wed 20/04/2016 - 10:14 EDT

NHL Playoff Game Matchup Comparisons

NHL Playoff Game Matchup Comparisons

We could see our first team eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs tonight if the Washington Capitals can sweep the Philadelphia Flyers. Elsewhere, the Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings and Minnesota Wild will seek to pull even at 2-2 in their series.

NHL Game Previews & Betting Lines Analysis

By Bob Duff

Washington Capitals (-165) at Philadelphia Flyers (+149)

mason 

Down 3-0, it's now or never for the Flyers. The Flyers were last swept by the Boston Bruins in the 2011 Eastern Conference semifinals. Will the Flyers stay with Steve Mason in goal, or switch to Michal Neuvirth, who's played one game in the last month?

Philly will be without Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, suspended one game by the NHL for his check from behind on Washington defenseman Dmitry Orlov in Game 3. Orlov will play, but Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik, crashed into the boards earlier in the game by Philly's Ryan White, will not. Either Mike Weber or Tyler Chorney will draw in.

The Capitals have never swept a playoff series.

Pick: The Capitals (-165)

Florida Panthers (-105) at New York Islanders (-105) 

reilly 

The Panthers blew a 2-0 lead in Game 3 to fall behind 2-1 to the Isles. Florida forward Jaromir has gone 34 playoff games without a goal. Panthers forward Reilly Smith has 4-4-8 numbers through three games. Panthes defenseman Steven Kampfer (ankle) was declared healthy but it's not certain whether he will play. Forward Vincent Trocheck (ankle), a 25-goal scorer during the regular season, is out.  Slow starts haven't hurt the Islanders, who've allowed a goal in the first five minutes in each game of the series. The Isles will go with the same lineup that won Game 3.

Pick: The Panthers (-105)

Dallas Stars (-115) at Minnesota Wild (+104)

niemi 

Blowing a 2-0 lead they fashioned in the game's first four minutes, the Stars dropped the first playoff game the team had played in the state since the former Minnesota North Stars left for Dallas in 1993. There's speculation that the Stars, who've alternated goalies all season long, may make the move from Kari Lehtonen to Antti Niemi for Game 4.

Stars captain Jamie Benn didn't skate Tuesday but the team called it a maintenance day. Defenseman Kris Russell, who missed Game 3 due to illness, is questionable. Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk ended a six-game losing streak with his Game 3 triumph.

Wild coach John Torchetti dropped veteran forwards Jarret Stoll and Ryan Carter for Game 3 in favor of rookies Zac Dalpe and Kurtis Gabriel, but was still weighing which way he'd go for Game 4. Forwards Zach Parise (back) and Thomas Vanek (upper body) remain out.

Pick: The Wild (+104)

Los Angeles Kings (+105) at San Jose Sharks (-115)

lewis

The Sharks, who dropped a 2014 opening-round series to the Kings after taking a 3-0 series lead, fell for the first time in this series in Game 3, leaving people to wonder if it's going to be a case of here we go again. The home team has yet to win in this series and the Sharks were a disappointing 18-20-3 at home this season.

San Jose's fourth line of Tommy Wingels, Nick Spaling and Chris Tierney took six penalties in Game 3 and coach Peter DeBoer was contemplating a shake up of that unit.

Kings coach Darryl Sutter juggled his lines for Game 3, putting Dwight King on the top line with Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik, inserting Kyle Clifford on the fourth line and moving Trevor Lewis to center with that group.

Pick: The Kings (+105) 

Category : News

More articles...
News - 11/08/25
England is a Strong Favorite to Win the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup 

What: 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup When: August 22 to September 27 Where: Eight cities in England How to watch: Paramount Plus Who's ready for the Rugby World Cup to get here? That's right, after a long wait, the summer event is coming later this month and people can't wait for it to get started. […]

News - 05/08/25
Jannik Sinner is a Small Favorite to Win the 2025 U.S. Open 

What: 2025 U.S. Open When: Aug. 24 - Sept. 7 Where: Billy Jean King National Tennis Center on Queens, NY How to watch: ESPN It seems like not too much time passes without another fun, major tennis tournament arriving. That's right, people are still talking about how things went down at Wimbledon, but the focus […]

News - 17/07/25
Scottie Scheffler is the Clear Favorite to Win the 2025 Open Championship 

What: 2025 Open Championship Where: Royal Portrush Golf Club in Antrim, Northern Ireland When: July 17 to July 20 How to watch: CBS Here we go again, folks. Each and every summer, countless people can't wait for the British Open to arrive and this year is no different. Later this week, the top golfers in […]

News - 02/07/25
Oleksandr Usyk is a Huge Favorite Over Daniel Dubois for Their Rematch 

Who: Daniel Dubois vs. Oleksandr Usyk Where: Wembley Stadium in London, England When: Saturday, July 19 at 3pm ET How to watch: DAZN Remember how exciting the matchup between Daniel Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk was back in 2023? It was a heavyweight showdown that people loved to witness and now another exciting showdown is on […]