NHL: Toronto Mapleleafs, New York Islanders and Carolina Blackhawks take to the rink
NHL: Toronto Mapleleafs, New York Islanders and Carolina Blackhawks take to the rink
The NHL has gripped us all this season and there have been some stunning performances. This week will be no different as there are some fabulous match ups to look forward to over the coming days including the Toronto Mapleleafs v the Edmonton Oilers and the Pittsburgh Penguins v the New York Islanders. We’ll cast our eye over these games and check the latest odds.
Toronto Mapleleafs bounce back from recent slump
The Mapleleafs’ recent woes have been well documented. However, they halted a three-game losing streak by blanking out the Calgary Flames 2-0 last weekend. At the time of writing, the Mapleleafs top the Scotia North standings and possess a record of 20-10-2. Against the Flames, goaltender Jack Campbell, who was making his first start in nearly a month, still needed to pull off a remarkable 31 saves to manage a second consecutive shut out.
Edmonton Oilers facing fixture pile-up after Montreal Canadiens series postponed
The Oilers have been left in limbo after learning that their three-game series with the Montreal Canadiens has been postponed. The first game had to be postponed shortly before the Oilers took to the rink for their warm-up. NHL chiefs have a tricky task on their hands in trying to reschedule these matches. Meanwhile, facing a resurgent Mapleleafs on Saturday presents its own problems.
Can the Edmonton Oilers catch the Toronto Mapleleafs?
After a somewhat shaky start to the season, the Oilers are level on points with the Mapleleafs. If things go their way over the next few days, then they could overtake their rivals. But a cursory look at the head-to-head shows that the Mapleleafs have come out on top in this fixture. They have 57 wins to their name from 111 meetings.
Ilya Sorokin dialled in for the New York Islanders
The Islanders have been flourishing at both ends of the rink in recent weeks. In their two-game series against the Philadelphia Flyers, they netted eight times with the loss of just two goals. But it was the hard work of goaltender Ilya Sorokin that tipped the balance in the Islanders’ favour.
After starting consecutive games for the Islanders, Sorokin dealt with everything that came his way in the second leg of his side’s two-game series against the Flyers. He faced 37 sheets, and although he was beaten by a shot that cannoned into the net off the skate of Oskar Lindblom, he made a big impact in the game.
The Islanders will also be glad to see Anthony Beauvillier rediscover his form. Despite going eight games without finding the target, Beauvillier finally netted in both games against the Flyers. He will be eager to carry this form into Saturday’s clash against the Penguins. Usually, Beauvillier — who is in his fifth season with the Islanders — scores in bursts.
Chicago Blackhawks are capable of grinding out wins
The Blackhawks withstood a late assault earlier this week against the Florida Panthers before prevailing 3-2. It was momentous, as the Blackhawks recorded their first win over the Panthers this campaign, while Dominik Kubalik notched his 11th strike. For two periods, the Blackhawks were ahead in shot attempts and the share of expected goals against one of the NHL’s best possession sides.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are trying to convince Dougie Hamilton to stay, although contract talks have been put on pause. The defenceman will become an unrestricted free agent after the current campaign finishes, and Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell would be loath to see him leave. He said: “We want to keep Dougie. He fits in well with our team.” Enjoy all the NHL action and keep yourself up to date with all the latest news, results and stats here.
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Sports: All odds are subject to change