NHL Playoffs 2012: Previewing and Predicting Wednesday Night's Games

Tonight, I will be hopeful. Not hopeful that my predictions ring true. Not hopeful that a home team will break the streak of six straight road wins. I will be hopeful that tonight will be about hockey. I will be hopeful that we can get through tonight without talking about illegal hits or who is going to have a conversation with Brendan Shanahan.

Let's hope that nobody gets hurt, the hockey is passionate but clean and there is a lot of end-to-end action tonight. 

So far this week with predictions, I am 4-2 and shockingly enough, all six wins this week have been by the road team. That has to end tonight, right? Can you imagine nine straight road wins? I guess I'll have to play the odds and bet against it. 

Let's get to it, shall we? We've got two teams thinking sweep and one series that could even up with the home team winning.  

Here are Wednesday's previews and predictions.

Penguins vs. Flyers

Is help on the way for the Penguins? Out of the lineup are Aaron Asham, Craig Adams and James Neal. All were suspended for actions in Game 3.

But let's talk hockey. Unfortunately for the Pens, they have played a back-and-forth style of hockey that has not worked in their favor. The goaltending of Marc-Andre Fleury has been weak and their defensive corps has been helplessly out of sync.

If the Pens have any chance to win tonight, Evgeni Malkin should feel free to join the cause. 

The Flyers, on the other hand, are burning on all cylinders offensively. Players like Claude Giroux, Maxime Talbot and Sean Couturier are having way too much fun. It's hard to see that not happening again tonight.

Prediction: The Pens may try to slow the Flyers down tonight, desperately trying to hold onto life in the series. This game will be a bit tighter than Sunday's contest, but the Fly-boys will bring out their brooms tonight. As entertaining as this series has been, it's time for it to end.

Flyers win 5-3. 

Rangers vs. Senators

Here's the skinny on the Senators' chances tonight. You need to find a way to score on Henrik Lundqvist early and somebody needs to find a way to shut Brian Boyle down.

Boyle has been playing with relentless determination and has scored timely goals in the last two games. Because of his and Lundqvist's play, the Rangers escaped with a 1-0 win in Game 2 on Monday night.

The Sens played a pretty decent game as well. Craig Anderson was steady and the offense certainly had their chances. However, Jason Spezza needs to assert himself in this series if the Sens are to even things up.

By the way, how good is Erik Karlsson? So nasty.

Anyway, Karlsson continues to move the puck well and contribute offensively, but unless the Sens can figure out the opposition's netminder, it's all for nothing. They will need the first goal without question.

Prediction: The Sens come out guns blazing and take the lead. It will be another tight game, but the Rangers will chase the Sens in this one. While I think the Rangers will win this series in six games, the home team will tie it 2-2 this evening.

Senators win 2-1.

Canucks vs. Kings

Regardless of who is in net for the Vancouver Canucks tonight, they will need to let it all hang out and stay alive. 

The Canucks have outshot the Kings in the last two games by a big margin, but nobody has been able to put the pea by Jonathan Quick. That, coupled with the fact that Dustin Brown has as many goals as the entire Canucks team in this series, doesn't bode well for those wearing blue and green.

While Canucks fans are hoping Daniel Sedin will return to action tonight, the fate of the team will rest on another Canuck forward. Ryan Kesler has not scored a goal in his last 15 games. Instead, he has spent most of his time flopping to the ice trying to draw penalties. I am hopeful that he can use that time getting to the net as opposed to his recent theatrics.

In Game 3, it looked as though the Kings were holding on and hoping a bit. Mike Richards and company will need to be a little more aggressive on the attacking end if they want to put the Canucks away.

Prediction: Kesler returns to form tonight and Vancouver stays alive. They have the talent to do so and were on the opposite end of this scenario last season. While I am not betting against the Kings to fold in this series, I think Vancouver has the road victory tonight.

Canucks win 2-1.