Marian Gaborik spent the All-Star weekend engaged in some good-natured ribbing with goaltender Henrik Lundqvist as the New York Rangers teammates were pitted on opposite teams in the annual mid-season exhibition. SportsOptions.com has two National Hockey League free winners starting with the Rangers at Devils.
NY Rangers at New Jersey (+120, 5u-110)
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
THE STORY: Gaborik got the final laugh, scoring two of his three goals against Lundqvist while adding an assist in earning Most Valuable Player honors. “It’s always tough to score on him,” said Gaborik of Lundqvist. “It’s not easy. I was fortunate to be lucky against him, but I think he’s one of the best if not the best goalie in the league.” With the four-day break behind them, the duo has a more pressing issue to attend to – helping their team maintain the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers will kick start the season’s second half by making the short trip across the Hudson River to take on the rival New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus
ABOUT THE RANGERS (31-12-4): The Rangers closed the break with a pair of victories and will look to keep their winning ways going. The team’s first practice back showed that they certainly weren’t lacking sharpness. “I wanted to stop the practice after 20 minutes and bottle it, because I thought they were that good,” coach John Tortorella said Monday. The Rangers hold a two-point lead over Boston and a three-point edge over Philadelphia in the race for the East’s No. 1 seed.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (26-19-3): A season-long six-game homestand got off to a great start with a win over Winnipeg, but three straight losses heading into the break have sapped New Jersey of any momentum. The Devils, who have dropped six of eight meetings with the Rangers, hold the tiebreaker edge over Toronto for the final playoff spot in the East. Goaltender Martin Brodeur is 0-2-1 while allowing seven goals in his last three outings.
OVERTIME:
1. The teams will meet four times over the next 48 days.
2. Devils forward Patrik Elias has 12 points in his past nine outings.
PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Devils 2 (SO)
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Washington at Tampa Bay (-125, 5.5e)
When: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Where: Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
THE STORY: The Washington Capitals are where they want to be – in first place in the Southeast Division. But they have shown only glimpses of the team that many picked to win the Eastern Conference. Washington will start the post All-Star break portion of the season Tuesday at the Tampa Bay Lightning without its top two scorers Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin and top defenseman Mike Green. Washington plays nine of the next 14 on the road where it has earned only 18 of a possible 46 points. The Capitals will play a Tampa Bay team getting healthier and coming off four straight wins, but nine points behind them. Washington has beaten the Lightning twice – once in a shootout – this season.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, TSN2
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (26-19-3): Expect the Capitals to start firing from all angles. Under new coach Dale Hunter, Washington has only averaged 24.4 shots. Others will have to step up with Backstrom suffering from concussion symptoms and Ovechkin serving the second of a three-game suspension. Mathieu Perreault took Ovechkin’s place and scored his first career hat trick. Dennis Wideman has replaced injured Mike Green as the go-to defenseman with nine goals and 34 points. Goalie Tomas Vokoun is 13-7-3 all-time against the Lightning, but 5-8 on the road this season.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (21-23-4): The Lightning expect to get defenseman Victor Hedman and forwards Tom Pyatt and Ryan Shannon back from injuries for the second of a five-game homestand. Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis will try to extend six-game point streaks and Steven Stamkos leads the league in goals (32) by five. The return of Hedman helps a defense which has been better of late, but is still last in the NHL in goals against (3.38). Goalie Mathieu Garon has won three straight and has recorded his most victories (14) since 2007-08 with Edmonton.
OVERTIME:
1. Tampa Bay swept Washington in the playoffs last season, but has lost 22 of the last 28 regular-season meetings.
2. Washington has scored 135 goals and allowed 135.
3. Tampa Bay center Dominic Moore will play his 500th career game.
PREDICTION: Lightning 4, Capitals 2
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