NHL Thursday Roundup Part 1 - NHL News
Another big day in the exciting National Hockey League 2011-12 season beckons and the teams have completed practice, ready to continue a push to the playoffs or give their fans something to cheer about.
Only victory will suffice and we at bettor.com have the complete take on this Thursday’s fixtures, as 22 teams square up in 11 mouth-watering matchups.
Let’s Start! The roundup.
1. Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins
We start off our latest match roundup with one of the biggest games in the National Hockey League. The Boston Bruins take on the Montreal Canadiens at the TD Garden and this fixture will showcase one of the biggest recent rivalries in the NHL.
The Canadiens are in a slump with a shocking 16-19-7 record but this fixture clearly brings out the best in them. The Habs are the one of only two teams to have beaten the defending Stanley Cup holders twice this season. The Canadiens fans will be praying
for victory and no win will give them greater joy than seeing their team beating the Bruins at their own home after what has been frankly a very poor season.
Not to discount the Bruins though, the Boston based franchise may have had one of the worst starts this season for any defending Stanley Cup side but the team has responded greatly.
Bruins powered themselves to second place in the Eastern Conference with a 27-11-1 record and are currently in great form.
It would take a major effort from the slumping Canadiens to win over Boston and it will be safer to place your bet on the Bruins to emerge victorious.
2. Philadelphia Flyers vs New York Islanders
The Flyers are the clear favourites in this mismatched encounter. The Islanders are one of the worst teams in the NHL this year and remain at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. They did beat the Detroit Red Wings in their previous game to snap a two game
losing streak but a record of 15-19-6 does not really provide confidence.
The Flyers meanwhile are sitting pretty in fourth in the Eastern Conference and have a brilliant record against the Islanders beating them almost every time the two sides meet. The Flyers have a 25-12-4 record in the league this year and look sure shot in
their current form to progress to the playoff rounds.
Philadelphia has too much skill and talent in their side to fall to the Islanders but stranger things have happened this year. Having said that expect the Flyers to fly away with a win Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
3. Ottawa Senators vs New York Rangers
This is a tough one to judge. Both teams are in great form with the Rangers on a five game winning streak and seemingly unstoppable at the Madison Square Garden. The Senators meanwhile are in some good form of their own with a two game winning streak including
a 5-1 mauling of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Rangers started off slowly with a long road trip early in the season, but their current form is scary.
Madison Square Garden is a fortress with Rangers enjoying a 13-3-2 record at home and it will take a huge effort to stop the Eastern Conference toppers.
Rangers have lost just nine games this season for a 27-9-4 record.
Senators are fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 23-15-6 record and will be a tough nut to crack.
Senators also have a great record at the MSG and will take heart from the fact that their record at the Rangers home stands at 10-1-1 in their last 12 games.
Expect the Senators to give it a good shot but the Rangers will emerge victorious in the end.
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