Week 20 of the 2022 NHL season is winding down. The schedule is packed for the weekend with several high stake games in the mix, including a rematch of the top two teams in the Western Conference on Sunday, when the Colorado Avalanche look to get even with the Calgary Flames following an overtime loss last week.
Before we look at three of the most intriguing games on the weekend’s NHL schedule, check out the odds for the 2022 NHL Playoffs and the latest odds on Stanley Cup Futures.
Vegas vs. Pittsburgh
Date & Location: Friday, March 11 at PPG Paints Arena
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Sportsnet NOW, NHL Live
The Vegas Golden Knights are fighting for a playoff position. They are currently the No. 7 team in the Western Conference. Vegas faces the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight in Pittsburgh. The Pens are not a lock for the postseason either. They are the No 6. team in the East.
Tonight marks the second and final meeting of these teams during the 2022 NHL season. Vegas won the first game, beating Pittsburgh 5-3 in Vegas in January. The Golden Knights are 16-9-1 on the road this year, while the Penguins are a 15-9-5 home team.
Vegas has scored 185 goals this season and allowed 169 for a goal differential of +16. Pittsburgh has put the puck in the net 188 times and let in 156 goals for a goal differential of +32.
Robin Lehner is having an off-year in the Vegas net. He is posting the worst numbers of his Golden Knights career with a 2.77 GAA to go with a .909 SVPCT. Pittsburgh’s Tristan Jarry is having a career year in Pittsburgh. The young goaltender has played a career-high 45 games this year and has a 2.34 GAA, a .920 SVPCT and four shutouts.
Jack Eichel has played well since making his Vegas debut. Eichel has seven points in 10 games. He’ll provide a boost to the Vegas offence, but he’s no Sidney Crosby, who has eight points in Pittsburgh’s past five games and 56 points in 46 games played this year.
Pick: Pittsburgh to beat Vegas.
Tampa Bay vs. Edmonton
Date & Location: Saturday, March 12 at Rogers Place
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Sportsnet NOW, NHL Live
The Tampa Bay Lightning are in the midst of a Western Conference road trip. The Lightning beat Chicago on Sunday and lost to Winnipeg on Tuesday. Tampa Bay faces Calgary on Thursday before matching up with Edmonton on Saturday. In the first meeting of the season between these teams, the Lightning topped the Oilers 5-3 in Tampa on February 23.
Tampa has scored 196 goals this season and allowed 162 for a differential of +34. Edmonton has 189 goals for and 186 goals against for a differential of +3.
Tampa goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has been solid in net for the team this year with a 2.39 GAA, a .918 SVPCT and two shutouts. He leads the NHL in wins with 30. Mikko Koskinen is struggling in the Edmonton net. He’s posted a 3.05 GAA and a .904 SVPCT.
Edmonton has the two top-scoring players in the NHL in Connor McDavid (81 points) and Leon Draisaitl (79 points), but their play can’t make up for the defensive liabilities the club has. Victor Hedman continues to be the focus of the Lightning. The veteran defenceman has scored six points in Tampa’s past five games.
Pick: Tampa Bay to beat Edmonton
Calgary vs . Colorado
Date & Location: Sunday, March 13 at Ball Arena in Denver, CO
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Sportsnet NOW, NHL Live
The top two teams in the NHL’s Western Conference face off for the second time in less than two weeks when the No. 1 Colorado Avalanche host the No. 2 Calgary Flames. Calgary and Colorado played an overtime game on March 5 in Denver. The Flames won that game 4-3 in extra time. That game was the first of three meetings between the clubs on the 2022 NHL season.
Johnny Gaudreau scored the game-winner 37 seconds into overtime. He has three points on the night (1G, 2 assists) as did Elias Lindholm (2G, 1 A), Two Avalanche players had 2 points in the game as Nazem Kadri and Valeri Nichushkin each had two assists.
Calgary goaltender Dan Vladar got the start in the contest over Jacob Markstrom. Vladar posted a 2.97 GAA to go with a .917 SVPCT in the win. Colorado gave starting goalie Darcy Kuemper the hook after he allowed three goals on 15 shots. Pavel Francouz replaced Kuemper in goal. Francouz did not allow a goal in regulation time, but he did let in the game-winner in overtime. He finished the game with 21 saves on 20 shots for a .955 SVPCT.
The Flames are one of the hottest teams since February 1. They are 13-2 ahead of games against Tampa Bay (March 10) and Detroit (March 12). Colorado is 9-6 over the same period. The Avalanche face Carolina on the road prior to Sunday’s home game against Calgary.
Colorado is 23-3-3 at home, Calgary is an 18-10-2 road team.
Pick: Calgary to beat Colorado.
