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

Wednesday night brought a clean brand of great hockey.

Two teams, the Penguins and Canucks, were able to stave off elimination and book a ticket back to their home barns. We also saw the Senators rally to even the series, thanks to a Kyle Turris overtime goal.   

After the games last night, this prognosticator is 6-3 this week as we head into four contests tonight. That's right—four!

The Boston Bruins will look to extend their 2-1 series lead against the Capitals. Following some fireworks in Game 3 of the Blackhawks/Coyotes series, can the 'Hawks rebound to knot it up?

Are the Florida Panthers for real, or are the New Jersey Devils finally going to play with desperation? And finally, what are the Sharks going to do about the St. Louis Blues power play?

All of the questions will become answers tonight. Let's take a look.

Bruins vs. Capitals

With a late goal in Game 3, the Bruins were able to jump ahead of the Washington Capitals in the series, 2-1.

If that wasn't enough of a stinger, the Caps are going to be without center Niklas Backstrom for tonight's contest.

Backstrom will have to sit a game after his cross-check received a match penalty.

The Caps, clearly unhappy about the call, are going to have to put their emotions in check and play a sound game of hockey.

Right now, Boston appears to have the upper hand and cooler heads in the dressing room. The Caps will come out tonight guns blazing, but Tim Thomas and company should be able to handle the onslaught and weather a few storms.

While Braden Holtby has had a terrific series, you can see the glass slipper starting to fall off a bit, and the Caps may not have the depth to continue to compete for much longer.

Prediction

Keeping up with the 2012 theme of the road team winning games, the Bruins will take this one tonight and will have a commanding 3-1 series edge heading back to Boston. The Caps will fight the good fight, but the Bruins' second period will determine the outcome.

Bruins win 4-2. 

Panthers vs. Devils

Do the New Jersey Devils intend on playing for a full 60 minutes this postseason?

So far, they have not been up to it.

Through three games, the Devils have scored in spurts, and the rest of the time they've looked unorganized and rather pedestrian.

The Florida Panthers, on the other hand, have been very opportunistic and have been capitalizing on their chances.

The Panthers had three defensemen chip in goals in their 4-3 Game 3 win, and three of the team's four markers were on the power play.

The big question is: What kind of goaltending are we going to see tonight? Both the aging Martin Brodeur and the often enigmatic Jose Theodore were pulled after surrendering three goals apiece.

Time will tell, but perhaps you may see both netminders come with more focus tonight. And by the way, we still do not know if Theodore or Scott Clemmensen will get the call for the Panthers.

Prediction

Though not an elimination game, the Devils will finally come out with a do-or-die attitude this evening. If they can play their best hockey for even 40 minutes and not 60, they should have a great shot at winning.

Though Florida will get their tallies and keep it tight, the Devils will take it late.

Devils win 5-4. 

Coyotes vs. Blackhawks

High drama, late equalizers, speculative play, suspensions and three straight overtime thrillers have already made this an epic series.

It's hard to believe that these teams are only three games deep.

Tonight, the 'Hawks are without injured star Marian Hossa following—well, you know what happened.

Many think that the 'Hawks will insert 19-year-old Pittsburgh native Brandon Saad into the lineup. While this will be exciting for him, it probably won't make the difference.

If the 'Hawks are to be victorious tonight, they will need better balance in the back. Both Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook had splendid performances in Game 3, but you cannot say that for the rest of the 'Hawks defensive corps.

Niklas Hjalmarrson has been decent, but both Johnny Oduya and Nick Leddy have been shaky. In fact, the majority of the time Nick Leddy was on the ice in Game 3, the puck was buried in the 'Hawks zone. Those two will need to step up.

On the Phoenix side of the coin, until the "hit heard 'round the world," Raffi Torres was an absolute asset to the Coyotes. Do not discount what his value means to this club.

What will his departure mean? The Coyotes defense has been terrific, led by Keith Yandle, and it is very clear that Olivier Ekman-Larsson will be a star in this league. Also, if Ray Whitney continues to age like a fine wine, the 'Yotes will be in business.

Prediction

So tough to call, considering how close these games have been, but the 'Hawks will feel incentivized, rallying behind their fallen mate and will take this game. Corey Crawford will need to be huge.

As I have said before, this series will go seven games, and tonight the 'Hawks even it up.

'Hawks win 3-1. 

Blues vs. Sharks

The Sharks came back and made Game 3 interesting with two late goals.

Ultimately, the game concluded 4-3 in St. Louis' favor, but it wasn't that close. 

For the Sharks to stay in this series, they will need to stay out of the box, as it is clear they do not have an answer for the St. Louis power play. 

The Blues have weapons, and they have had too much room to skate against the Sharks. Patrik Berglund has been a beast, and you can count on that to continue. 

The Sharks are looking to retool some things before the game, as Patrick Marleau will be moved to the second line and swap spots with Logan Couture.

This may make little difference against a backstop like Brian Elliot, who continues to proudly represent half of the best goaltending tandem in hockey.

The change may be a desperate move for a desperate team in San Jose, but I like the way these Blues look right now. 

Prediction

This could be bold, but I'll take the Blues in a walk-away tonight. No late hopes for the Sharks in this one as the Blues take a strangle hold on the series.  

Blues win 4-1.