BTP: NOW THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR……
Steve Mason to take control of the Flyer’s crease with Michal Neuvirth out with injury. Neuvirth was a godsend early on in the season when Mason couldn’t seem to get his footing down. Mason has started the last 3 and has gone 2-0-1 with the Flyers power play becoming a force to be reckoned with. We all know that Mason has the ability to be Vezina-like in net and that is what Philadelphia is hoping for down the stretch so as not to miss the playoffs again. Look for a stellar second half from the former Rookie of the Year.
Roberto Luongo to shift into high gear and get his Florida Panthers back to the playoffs. With the team missing the playoffs the past three seasons, it looks like this squad is playing team hockey and will gain some valuable experience as GM Dale Tallon has built a strong team just like he did in Chicago. Expect Luongo to play 3 out of every 4 games as Al Montoya has proven to be a more than capable backup going 8-2-1 with a 1.93 GAA and a .931 SP.
Antti Niemi to show the NHL once again that he is capable of carrying a team to the Stanley Cup finals like he did in Chicago. Just like in Chicago, Niemi has plenty of support with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin at #2 and #3 in the scoring race behind a torrid Patrick Kane. Niemi has started the last 5 games and has gone 4-1-0 and it looks like Head Coach Lindy Ruff is going with the hot hand in Niemi so start the ex-San Jose Shark with confidence right now as Kari Lehtonen has just started just 4 of the past 15 games and losing 3 of those.
Ben Bishop to be that wall the Tampa Bay Lightning saw in the Stanley Cup playoffs last season. You just knew that the Bolts would get that high-powered offense on track sooner or later and the team has responded of late winning 10 of the past 11 with Bishop going 6-1-0. BB has given up 1 goal in three of those starts and a shutout in another. You can say that bishop is in the zone now so leave him in your starting lineup.
Jaroslav Halak to bring his A game with the New York Islanders in a battle for a playoff spot in the highly competitive Metropolitan Division. Halak hasn’t been that guy the past two games giving up 3 and 4 goals but if the Islanders look to expand on last year’s playoff experience, they will need Halak to find that magic he has displayed so often. Halak has been inconsistent at best this season but there is no time like the present to shake that off and ride the magic bus to the playoffs.
Cam Talbot to show that last season’s run with the New York Rangers wasn’t just a one-hit wonder. Talbot had an incredible run to save the Blueshirts season when Henrik Lundqvist was lost for a few months in the middle of the season. Now the young Oilers need that same type of performance in order to make a run for a playoff spot but it may be tough because the Oilers defense doesn’t match up with the Rangers defense, but one right move at the deadline and Connor McDavid back in the lineup anything is possible if they can just get on a run.