Sunday NHL Picks
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their hockey picks and predictions for Sunday, February 8.
Philadelphia Flyers at Atlanta Thrashers, 3:05PM ET
The Philadelphia Flyers needed backup goaltender Antero Niittymaki to come off the bench to help them to a road victory over the NHL’s top team on Saturday.
On Sunday, he’ll be in the crease from the start of the game.
Niittymaki will put his 12-0-0 record against the last-place Atlanta Thrashers on the line at Philips Arena, where he has a 1.40 goals-against average in eight career appearances.
The Flyers (27-15-9) were in danger of a third straight loss on Saturday, trailing Boston 3-1 after the first period. Niittymaki replaced the ineffective Martin Biron at the beginning of the second, stopped all 22 shots and earned the victory after Randy Jones’ overtime goal gave Philadelphia a 4-3 win.
Biron came into the game with a four-start losing streak and left with a 2.96 GAA, while Niittymaki improved to 12-4-4 with a 2.50 GAA, sparking questions about a potential goalie controversy.
NHL Free Pick: Philadelphia – View Game Matchup | Best Line: -165 Sportsbook.com
Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars, 6:05PM ET
The last time the Dallas Stars took the ice, they turned in their best offensive performance in over 16 years. In fact, they scored as many goals in one game as the Nashville Predators have allowed since the All-Star break.
The Stars seek their seventh win in eight games Sunday night when they continue their four-game homestand against a Predators team that has tightened up defensively of late.
Dallas (25-19-7) held a 20-7 scoring advantage during a season-high five-game winning streak that began just before the All-Star break.
That run ended Thursday night with a 3-2 loss at Colorado, but the Stars rebounded by scoring six times on nine shots in the third period to complete a 10-2 rout of the visiting New York Rangers on Friday night.
It was the first double-digit goal-scoring game for the Stars franchise since a 10-3 win over on Nov. 28, 1992, when they were the Minnesota North Stars.
Jere Lehtinen, Steve Ott and rookie Fabian Brunnstrom – returning from an 11-game absence with a lower-body injury – each had a goal and two assists, and five other Dallas players had multi-point games.
NHL Free Pick: Nashville – View Game Matchup | Best Line: +155 Sportsbook.com
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Posted: 2/8/09 8:27PM ET
