NHL Monday night Match Preview Roundup –Part 1
We have an action packed National Hockey League (NHL) Monday ahead of us and this two part special round-up will give you all the information on the twelve teams facing off in the six exciting games scheduled on January 16.
Who will win and what drama can we expect, keep reading further to see how it all might play out.
Nashville Predators vs. New York Islanders
The Predators are in brilliant form having won four games in a row, two against the Colorado Avalanche, while also beating the Philadelphia Flyers who have been struggling lately.
Nashville’s success is due to its in-form goalie, Pekka Rinne, who has put in brilliant performances throughout their winning run as the Predators find themselves sixth in the Western Conference, with a 25-15-4 record and 54 points.
The New York Islanders will not provide much threat to the Predators.
Islanders are currently sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and above the last placed Tampa Bay Lightning, having lost fewer games in regulation. The Islanders' record stands at 16-20-6, with just 38 points this season.
New York has won three of their previous six games and forward, Matt Moulson, has found some form, but their defensive woes and inconsistent performances make them the underdogs for this game.
2. Colorado Avalanche vs. Phoenix Coyotes
This game will be tough to call since both the Coyotes and Avalanche are evenly matched, but Colorado has a small advantage.
Colorado enters the game with a 2-1 victory over Dallas Stars, after losing their previous three games, two of which were against the Nashville Predators.
The Coyotes meanwhile, are on a long losing streak and have performed poorly. Phoenix lost three straight games and has won just one game over the New York Islanders, out of their previous six.
Phoenix is two places below Colorado in the Western Conference, with a 20-18-7 record and will hope to turn around their poor run against an inconsistent Avalanche side.
Colorado, meanwhile is 24-20-2 and three points ahead of the Coyotes, while they remain just a single point behind Minnesota Wild, that occupies the final playoff berth.
Avalanche will not get a better shot at building some sort of winning run than against the Coyotes and if the game goes to the wire, their experience in winning close encounters will serve as a great advantage.
3. Winnipeg Jets vs. Ottawa Senators
This will be a great Eastern Conference battle as these two polarised Canadian teams face each other at the ScotiaBank Place in Ottawa, Ontario.
The Senators are focused in terms of winning as they charge towards the top spots in the Eastern Conference.
Ottawa has won four games in a row and has a great chance to beat a struggling Jets' side to get a fifth straight victory.
Ottawa is fifth in the Eastern Conference, with a 25-15-6 record and 56 points, just three points behind divisional leaders, New York Rangers.
Senators have lost just once in their previous seven games and are more than a match for the Jets, whose dipping form pushed them in the bottom half of the East.
Winnipeg is on a three-game losing streak and has won just once in their previous six games. The Jets' record is a poor 20-19-5 and 45 points, with Monday might being the day that the club manages to get back in winning form.
To be continued in Part 2...
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