Welcome to NHL Picks where CBSSports.com hockey writers Chris Peters and Adam Gretz make their picks for all of the day’s games.
Chicago Blackhawks at New York Rangers, 8 p.m., NBCSN
Madison Square Garden will play host to two of the NHL’s marquee teams squaring off as the Blackhawks travel to Manhattan for a date with the Rangers. The two clubs both currently sit in second place in the respective divisions, with Chicago still pushing for first place in the Central and the Rangers looking to hold their ground with the Washington Capitals 16 points ahead in first place.
These two clubs last met on the opening night of the season. The Rangers spoiled the Blackhawks’ banner night with a 3-2 win. Since then, the two teams have forged very different paths. New York was one of the fastest starting teams in the league before going through a lull in late November through much of December that had them spiraling a bit. More recently, they've stabilized and are now surging with wins in five of their last six games.
The Blackhawks' season has ebbed and flowed a bit, but they've been mostly good despite constant roster movement. More recently, Chicago has gone 7-5-1 over the last month, which is a rough patch by their standards. That includes a recent three-game skid before throttling the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-2 on Monday. That may have lifted their spirits a bit, but head coach Joel Quenneville has been less than impressed with his team’s play in the defensive zone. He has a point, too, as the Blackhawks have been allowing more shots than we’re used to seeing from them. Starting goalie Corey Crawford has been a big reason that’s going largely unnoticed, though.
Crawford has a .930 save percentage this season while posting a 31-14-3 record and 2.19 goals-against average. He also has seven shutouts. He’s playing the best hockey of his career presently and the Blackhawks have really needed it.
Wednesday night, he’ll line up across from a goaltender that is also in the midst of a really strong season. Henrik Lundqvist has been his usual, reliable self of late, and has a 28-14-4 record with a .924 save percentage and 2.29 goals-against average. He’s really rolling in February, though. He has won each of his last five starts and has posted a .942 save percentage through six starts in February.
Lundqvist also should have some help back in the lineup as Ryan McDonagh is expected to return from a concussion Wednesday. The Rangers captain had been sidelined since Feb. 6 when he was dropped by a gloved punch from Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds. Though McDonagh is expected to return, the status of both Dan Boyle and Marc Staal is in doubt for the game. Boyle has been struggling with an illness and Staal’s wife is due to give birth to the couple’s child Wednesday morning.
The Blackhawks will have a hole in their lineup as well, though. Marian Hossa remains sidelined after suffering a lower-body injury over the weekend. His absence is a big one as Chicago loses one of its best two-way forwards and some secondary scoring as well. The Blackhawks have had a hard enough time filling the left wing spot on Jonathan Toews’ line, but now they need to fill the right side, too, with Hossa sidelined.
This is a major test for both of these teams that look like they can go on pretty deep playoff runs this year if they play their cards right. Wednesday night's meeting will be the last time these two clubs see each other this season. Based on all of the various injuries and possible absences from this game, it’s a tough one to call, but we’ll look for the Blackhawks to lean on their top scorers to eek one out in New York. Pick: Blackhawks 3, Rangers 2
The rest of Wednesday’s picks
Colorado Avalanche 4, Montreal Canadiens 2
Calgary Flames 4, Minnesota Wild 2
